LETTERS. 291 



I have only one thing more to tell you of about my 

 illness ; it is, that I have found in a young man, with 

 whom I had little acquaintance, that kind care and at- 

 tention which I looked for in vain from those who pro- 

 fessed themselves my nearest friends. At a time when 



could not find leisure to devote a single evening to 



his sick friend, even when he earnestly implored it, 

 William Leeson constantly, and even against my wishes, 

 devoted every evening to the relieving of my melancholy, 

 and the enlivening of my solitary hours. With the most 

 constant and affectionate assiduity he gave me my medi- 

 cines, administered consolation to my broken spirits, and 

 even put me to bed. 



* * * * 



TO MR P. THOMPSON. 



London, 1st January 1S06. 

 Sir, 



I owe it both to my feelings and my duty, that I should 

 thank you for the kind inquiries you have thought it 

 worth while to make concerning me and my aiFairs. I 

 have just learned the purport of a letter received from 

 you by Mr Robinson, the bookseller ; and it is a pleasing 

 task to me, at the same time that I express my sense of 

 your benevolent concern in my behalf, to give you, my- 

 self, the infor-mation you require. 



The little volume which, considered as the production 

 of a very young man, may have interested you, has not 

 had a very great sale, although it may have had as much 

 countenance as it deserved. The last report I received 

 from the publishers was 450 sold. So far it has an- 

 swered the expectations I had formed from it, that it 

 has procured me the acquaintance, and perhaps I may 

 say the friendship, of men equally estimable for their 

 talents and their virtues. Rewarded by their counte- 

 nance, I am by no means dissatisfied with my little book ; 

 indeed, I think its merits have, on the whole, rather been 

 over- rated than otherwise, which I attribute to the lenity 



