LETTER CXXXIX 229 



get my Heel to ye Ground, from ye Contraction of some Sinews 

 in my Ham & in my Heel, yet I can venture to hobble about 

 the Eoom a little without my Crutches, but not after I have set 

 a great while. But this Contraction is so stubborn, that tho' 

 I am promised it by those that should know, yet I can hardly 

 flatter Myself that I shall ever walk again in a natural Step : 

 quaere, whether when I come to Winton I had not better learn 

 to dance ? The Storm did us no great Harm hereabouts ; Miss 

 Allot writes fm Burnham on ye North Coast of Norfolk, where 

 She & her Father & Mother winter, being detained by a pleuretic 

 Feaver upon old Mr Allot, which is so well cured, that he was 

 out Coursing by way of amusement, tho' in a State of Convales- 

 cence at 77 Years of Age. What Stamina ! What Spirits ! 



Pray let Us know how your shelter'd Village escaped from 

 this Storm, & that You & your good Neighbours the Ettyes are 

 well. Mrs Mulso thinks me too good for writing a second Time 

 to you ; at least allow me that it is no Mark of my Pride. Let 

 Us hear of the Welfare of your family. Jacky talks much of 

 being your Neighbour at Mr. Willis's* at Alton : & I bespeak 

 him ye friendship of your Nephews, especially Gibraltar Jack. 



My Sister Mulso loses Ground in London ; we had set her 

 up purely at Witney ; & have had some chearfuU Letters from 

 her since She went ; but it will not hold out there, & it will be 

 well if She can stay to the Spring for her Bath Journey. The 

 rest of my friends are well : Sisr Chapone was at Chelsea when 

 She wrote last. 



Great are the Altercations about the paving of Oxford, & the 

 enlarging the Bridge, but I beleive it will be done, as Dr 

 Bentham told me it would a great while ago : the Dr has 

 enquired much after me, but has not been over. Dr Sandford 

 calls & enquires often, & generally asks after You. I find his 

 Father left him little or nothing, depending upon his Aunt who 

 is supposed to intend to give him £10,000. But I think it foolish 

 in a father to defeat a Certainty for an Uncertainty ; especially 

 as the Aunt might easily contract her Bounty, & leave the Eldest 

 Son the Proportion that was given by the Father to the Second. 

 But what have I to do with these children of avarice ? a Vice, 

 from which our old Acquaintance has got loose, tho' it runs 

 in ye blood ; so that he will be the happiest Man of his family. 



It is almost too late to wish you a merry Christmas. God 

 knows, it is no merry one to Us. But may you enjoy many 

 happy Years, in Health, Plenty, & Content, to the mutual Enjoy- 

 ment & Satisfaction of, 



Dear Gil, Your's ever Afftely, 



J. M. 



My Gardener has given me warning, my Garden is in ye most 



* A School at Alton. 



