LETTER CCXXIV 341 



I have had a Eheumatism in my Head, face, Jaws, &ca which 

 has confined me & plagued me much. Mrs Mulso has been much 

 worse, having undergone such Torment, especially in her hands 

 & arms, that She has very nearly lost the Use of them, & being 

 heavy & helpless has undergone the more Inconvenience as well 

 as Pain from her Kheumatic Case. You have not been out of my 

 head, but it has been too addled, & our Household Intelligence of 

 80 melancholy a Cast, that I would not plague You wth it. I 

 thank God that my Wife is now better, can help herself a little 

 more, & is not attended by Setters-up on Nights ; but She has 

 still great pain & weakness & cannot carve her Victuals. She 

 was glad to see your handwriting again, & so was I. 



My Son John & his Wife came to Us last Thursday, & intend 

 to stay some little Time here, & will be succeeded by my Sister 

 Chapone who comes to Us in August ; & so goes on to Mrs Ogle 

 when She returns from Cheltenham, & ends her Summer Jaunts 

 at St Marie's. This is the present Plan. My Daughter in law 

 shews evident marks of the ij.l(ryes0ai 4v ^jAor^rt; & my Wife 

 intends to be with her, if She is able, at the Products & fruits 

 of it in October (if then it should be, as expected.) They camo 

 in their Chair, which is Equipage enough for a Vicar of S. 

 Stoneham,* with their Lad on horseback. They are got into 

 their house, tho' it is not quite set in Order. It is very small 

 but neat, & in a sweet part of the County. There is a great 

 Neighbourhood about them, but they accept of no Dinner Invi- 

 tations, as they must be upon a retired Plan ; they receive a 

 thousand civilities from all around them. My Son desires to be 

 kindly remember'd to you, & yr Brother &ca & Mrs J. White, 

 as We all jointly do. I hope your Brother Thomas will be quite 

 well after his medicinal Gout, & enjoy old Selbourne & all it's 

 Sweets. I hope your Hanger is not down ; I think You would 

 have mention'd so melancholy, yet so expected a Loss. 



I rejoyce excessively at your being now committed to the 

 Press. As to your Frights & Fears, they become You well 

 enough as a modest Man, but they are unnecessary as an Author. 

 But I will put You in great Heart : Dr Chelsum told me that he 

 had seen your Booh, that it seem'd a very promising Performance, 

 & likely to get into great Favour, that it was well put forth & 

 decorated with very pleasing Prints & Views. Dr Chelsum is 

 a Man of knowledge, a Connoscenti, & deep in Virtu. What 

 would you have more in your prae-existing State ? this is but 

 your Embrio Glory; your material & Substantial happiness & 

 Enjoyment is to come. 



My two Girls are to take their turns in assisting their Sister 

 in her new Housekeeping, if their Mother can spare them. 



* Near Southampton. 



