of every day's
parting but made the morrow's meeting more delightful; and when we
separated we ran home and wrote each other those precious letters which
we and other young gentlemen and ladies write under such circumstances;
but though my wife has them all in a great tin sugar-box in the closet
in her bedroom, and, I own, I myself have looked at them once, and even
thought some of them pretty,--I hereby desire my heirs and executors
to burn them all, unread, at our demise; specially desiring my son the
Captain (to whom I know the perusal of MSS. is not pleasant) to perform
this duty. Those secrets whispered to the penny-post, or delivered
between Molly and Gumbo, were intended for us alone, and no ears of our
descendants shall overhear them.

We heard in successive brief letters how our dear Harry continued with
the army, as Mr. General Amherst's aide-de-camp, after the death of his
own glorious general. By the middle of October there came news of the
Capitulation of Montreal and the whole of Canada, and a brief postscript
in which Hal said he would ask for leave now, and must go and see the
old lady at home, who wrote as sulky as a bare, Captain Warrington
remarked. I could guess why, though the claws could not reach me. I had
written pretty fully to my brother how affairs were standing with me in
England.

Then, on the 25th October, comes the news that his Majesty has fallen
down dead at Kensington, and that George III. reigned over us. I fear we
grieved but little. What do those care for the Atridae whose hearts are
strung only to erota mounon? A modest, handsome, brave new Prince, we
gladly accept the common report that he is endowed with every virtue;
and we cry huzzay with the loyal crowd that hails his accession:
it could make little difference to us, as we thought, simple young
sweethearts, whispering our little love-stories in our corner.

But who can say how great events affect him? Did not our little Charley,
at the Chartreux, wish impiously for a new king immediately, because on
his gracious Majesty's accession Doctor Crusius gave his boys a holiday?
He and I, and Hetty, and Theo (Miss Theo was strong enough to walk
many a delightful mile now), heard the Heralds proclaim his new Majesty
before Savile House in Leicester Fields, and a pickpocket got the watch
and chain of a gentleman hard by us, and was caught and carried to
Bridewell, all on account of his Majesty's accession. Had the king not
died, the