1789 ENLARGING THE INDEX 213 



I can assure you of one thing, which you, in your kindness 

 to your friends, will be glad to hear of. I depended upon 

 having the pleasure, V.D., of spending my Christmas at 

 Selborne before your obliging invitation arrived, and on that 

 account declined D^ Loveday's invitation to pass the holidays 

 at Williamscot, where, however, I hope to be for two nights 

 towards the latter part of this week, and then, after speaking 

 twenty pounds worth of Latin on St. Thomas's day, and 

 eating mince pies with the Principal, to set off for Reading, 

 Tuesday the 22nd, and proceed for Selborne next day. So 

 far so good. But this is not all. I inquired for the volume 

 left at the Bear ; and it is no discredit to the house that the 

 book was found safe in a drawer in the bar, and is now safe 

 in my room waiting to be put up in my portmanteau. 

 D"^ Chandler Wife and son arrived at Clapham about a 

 week ago safe and well, as you will probably have heard 

 by some means before this reaches you. Alas ! I have 

 only found time to read, and with much satisfaction, 

 the ' History of Selborne,' but not to do much in enlarging 

 the Index. However, the loss is less material as D^ Loveday 

 has already or will soon undertake it, and do it effectually. 

 Marvellous indeed is the state of things on the Continent, 

 and when and how good order and good government will be 

 restored is far beyond my ken. But an all-wise Providence, 

 which can controul the madness of the people, superintends 

 the whole, and seems, as you justly remark, to have some 

 great work in hand. I did not know till you told me that 

 the " fatherlanders," as the papers call them, seized D' 

 Chandler's portmanteaus ; and I was afraid they were lost 

 through negligence. I hope they were restored ; but I have 

 not positively heard so. I shall be glad to learn the 

 particulars of the honour received from Lady Coterel 

 Dormer, and other matters, ex ore tuo. And among these 

 I am curious to hear more about worry hreese and hyant; 

 for if the distemper known in Cheshire by the latter name 



