1784 



A HECTIC HEAT 113 



After indulging, like a candid friend, in a little 

 criticism, Mulso continued — 



" I do not love to hear of your small inward fever ; it was 

 well enough to have a Hectic heat when you was young ; but 

 I cannot see by your present poetic fury, but that you may 

 be entitled to an honest burning fever, that perspires off in 

 warm verse, and ends in fame to the Doctors and apothe- 

 caries; I mean the printers and booksellers, that have 

 watched the crisis and carried your distemper to its end." 



To Miss White. Selborne, Feb. 13, 1784. 



Dear Molly, — Having suffered much from the severity of 

 the season, I long for the weather described on the other 

 side of the paper. 



According to the Scotch Bishop I am as great a monster 

 as the faithless ^neas ; for I 



". . . sowkit never womanis breist " ; 



having been bred up by hand. Caucasus belongs to the 

 passage you sent me : but one would wonder how the 

 translator could think of lugging in Araby ! The " milk 

 unmild " is an extraordinary sort of milk in the second 

 translation; and puts me in mind of Bristol milk, a sort 

 of beverage which has destroyed many a morning whetter, 

 some of whom I have known. Mrs. J. White and I thank 

 your father and you for your kind invitation. We begin to 

 turn our thoughts towards S. Lambeth; and hope the 

 rigor of the season will soon abate, that we may set out, if 

 convenient to you, on Tuesday the 24th instant. The frost 

 has lasted just 28 days this evening. Last night we had a 

 great snow again, which is much drifted. All friends are 

 well, or mending fast, we hope. I have just received a letter 

 from the Provost of Oriel, who, finding that the extreme 



VOL. II. — I 



