Both will soon, very soon be
past, and small, indeed, is the difference between past pleasure and
past pain. Be assured, madam, that I, in return, as warmly wish you
prosperity and happiness; I wish not only that the approaching, but
many succeeding years, may have both hands full of plenty and delight
for you; and I trust that it is not so unreasonable in you to believe,
that future events may give a character of prophecy to my present
wishes, as it would be in me to expect the fulfilment of yours.

Pray, have the goodness to tell my father, that the vol. of Pickering,
from Priestleys, is procured, and that the copy of the Manuel
Libraire, at Longman's is still to be sold at four guineas. Pray,
make my thanks to him for letting me know the day of the sessions at
Norwich; I shall be present to help to do the nothing there. I
suppose he knows that the Corporation of Yarmouth have elected Mr. W---
, to the stewardship. I hear him say 'How stupid of them to elect
that fellow.' I beg his pardon; it shewed exquisite judgment; and
yet, after all, there was somewhat of a felicity in it. They thought
it would be deserting propriety to have a man in the lower office of
steward of higher understanding than their Recorder. Now, under all
the fleecy cloud of wigs that lowers in the court of King's Bench,
they could not have found a second rate head to A---s, but that of W---
d, and nothing but 'a lucky hit of nature' that mended her design when
she was determined to make as thick a skull as she had ever yet turned
out of her hands, could have given existence even to this instance of
inferiority. He says he was quite ignorant of their intention of the
honour that has been done him. If this be not affectation, I can
imagine nothing with which to compare or illustrate his surprise,
except that which must have come over the onion, when it discovered
that the Egyptians had made a God of it. I am wrong: surprise is the
effect of perception and he has none; his is like the genuine night,
that admits no ray, and in his very stupidity he is involved from the
least glimmering of consciousness of it. Pray, lessen the anxiety of
Harriet, which an unmerited affection for me betrays her into, by
telling her that I am getting better, and excuse the want of turn to
the conclusion of my letter in the want of paper; and allow me
abrupt