e were to die, he would be most inconsolable; yet his
grief would not be more than mine, nor would he be more ready to
exclaim,--

'I, nunc; et, numina non posse nega'

which, as you are a lady, I translate for you, 'go now and say, that
angels cannot die.' But you must not read this to her, for she will
absurdly say 'tis flattery, as if I could have any motive to flatter
her.

My love to Will [meaning myself]. He is so much improved as to be an
engaging boy, and I begin to like him very much.

I am, dear Madam,
Yours very faithfully,
HENRY COOPER.

P.S.--If Mr. Boardman [an old friend of his] should call, pray
remember me most particularly to him. He has long behaved to me with
the affection of a brother. He has even, in no few instances,
preferred my interests to his own. I am most deeply obliged to him,
and I like to tell people of it."

The next letter bears date,--

_London_, 31_st_ _Dec._ 1815.

To the same,--

"I send you the only coin I have, my very warm thanks for one of the
finest and best turkeys that entered the metropolis to be devoured in
celebration and honour of Christmas. A Christian of the utmost degree
of faith, that is as great as you ladies place in physicians, who
devoured with a devout and religious pique, could not have eaten more
or with more pleasure than I, though I sat down with no other zeal
than an hungry appetite, and little better than a mere heathen
stomach. When I reflected that you good people at Norwich were
rioting on just such a dinner (upon my honour), I could not help
blushing for your preposterous consciences, that, could expect to
enjoy so much pleasure in this world, and be saved in the next too.
'Tis well for me that no one offered to bet with me, that the
pheasants did not come from you; but, I pray, do not think of
returning me the thanks, which I paid for them. They are all due, and
a vast sum more on the old account, though you, like a liberal
creditor, may have no idea of urging the payment of the balance
against me, and I beg they may be carried to it. I had almost
forgotten to add Alfred's thanks to mine for the turkey [he was the
youngest brother, who was an ensign in the 14th Foot, and had been
wounded in the recent battle]. He was here in time, and made a dinner
that contrasts rather vividly with his first meal after the battle