LETTER CCXX 337 



frequent; but, I thank God, not very near; or, as yet low 

 enough to be dangerous. Every additional Day of this tem- 

 pestuous weather gives us Hopes that it will finish the Fistula 

 lacrymalis of St Swithin, because violent things do not last long. 

 I suppose poor Timothy is prop'd up edgeways agst the Border 

 or ye wall. 



Mrs Mulso has been very poorly of late, with a Want of 

 Appetite & Lowness ; and indeed we are severally called upon, 

 with one little Ailment or another. We have an Expectation 

 of my Sister Chapone wth Us soon, but I am not sure, as 

 She has not answer'd my last to her. My Brother Mulso had 

 not seen You in Town : My Sister Mulso is in a dropsical way ; 

 they are in Lodgings at Hampstead & agreeably situated : Her 

 Physicians tell her that her Complaint is of such Sort, that She 

 might live with it half a Century: credat Judaeus Apella ! — it 

 is very troublesome to her at present : She is very patient under 

 the Visitation, & I dare say considers her Age as a great Subduer 

 of the Powers of Nature to make strong Kesistance to Malady. 

 My Sister Chapone is at Hadley. We have heard fm my Son 

 John lately ; he is now pretty well, but had a Relapse to a very 

 dangerous Illness in his Stomach & Bowells, that set him very 

 hard some time ago. 



I have lost a very chearfull acquaintance in Mr Dyer, ye 

 Father, who lived wth his Son, ye Curate of Bishopstoke ; he 

 dyed of a Carbuncle in the Poll of his Neck. He outlived a 

 severe operation, & thought himself on the Recovery ; but 1 

 heard a Post or two ago from young Dyer that his Father is 

 dead & buried ; so it must have been sudden, for we had heard 

 nothing of it. 



Did You consult your Brother about your Book, & it's Publi- 

 cation ? I feel impatient. As it is your only Child, I hope you 

 will not let it be a posthumous One. You cannot imagine the 

 Pleasure you would take in daddling & nursing it, and in the 

 Speeches that would be made You on it's being so promising, 

 & ye features of it so handsome. Then the Pride you would take 

 in seeing it dress'd in it's red & Gold, & keeping Company wth 

 Ld Leigh in ye new Library at Oriell. — But seriously speaking, 

 your Diffidence prevents a great deal of Credit to yourself & of 

 Satisfaction to ye World. In point of Profit, there is certainly 

 a White day, to every Author ; which if You seize it, is well ; if 

 You let go, it is difficult to recover. The Aid of your Brother in 

 giving a Ton & a Currency is of vast Importance ; & the Zeal of 

 your friends to recommend it & forward it's Notoriety ; all this 

 depends on ye present Time ; & will grow languid & cold, when 

 You are less on the public Stage yourself, & cannot second ye 

 Efforts of yr friends. Too frigid caution will make you listen to 

 Discouragements ; &, believe me, there is more Jealousy stirring 

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