CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS FAMILY. 117 



sunny day when the sun shines they abound ; and in warm 

 lanes and under hedges the air swarms with them. Within 

 doors woodlice, spiders, and Lepismce are in motion, and many 

 Muscce in the stable ; and earthworms come forth every mild 

 evening; so that in mild weather insects are not so much 

 laved up as is imagined. Some Phalcence fly also all the 

 winter. * * * * 



G. W. 



LETTER XV. 



TO MRS. BARKER. 



Thames Street, Feb. 7, 1776. 



Dear Sister, 

 Mr. Etty, Charles, and I came to town on Jan. the 22 and 23, 

 and found the public roads better than we expected. Mr. E. 

 brought up his son and has placed him at St. Paul's school, 

 hoping that by means of good friends he may procure him 

 some considerable exhibitions, that may help to support him 

 in an university education. 



As to Mr. W. you must not wonder or resent because he 

 does not write ; for when his daughter had a fever more than 

 an year ago, Mrs. E. wrote to him every post for many 

 weeks ; yet he never returned one answer. However, when 

 all was over he sent her a very handsome set of tea-china. 

 And now during inoculation he never wrote once in the time 

 or since, but is going to make a very handsome present of 

 plate. Thus you see some men are of a very unwriting con- 

 stitution, and yet neither want gratitude nor generosity. 



Bro. Tho. talks of leaving off, and is letting down his stock 

 in trade by degrees. Bro. Harry I found here : he was 

 snowed in for a fortnight or more, and when he went away 

 on Jan. 25 wrote word that it was with the utmost difficulty 

 that he got along, and that if he had attempted a week sooner 

 he would have been stopped by the way. 



