printed in your town, or only sent from hence.--Sir Andrew Fountaine is
recovered; so take your sorrow again, but don't keep it, fling it to the
dogs. And does little MD walk indeed?--I'm glad of it at heart.--Yes, we
have done with the plague here: it was very saucy in you to pretend to
have it before your betters. Your intelligence that the story is false
about the officers forced to sell,(12) is admirable. You may see them
all three here every day, no more in the army than you. Twelve shillings
for mending the strong box; that is, for putting a farthing's worth of
iron on a hinge, and gilding it; give him six shillings, and I'll pay
it, and never employ him or his again.--No indeed, I put off preaching
as much as I can. I am upon another foot: nobody doubts here whether
I can preach, and you are fools.--The account you give of that weekly
paper(13) agrees with us here. Mr. Prior was like to be insulted in the
street for being supposed the author of it; but one of the last papers
cleared him. Nobody knows who it is, but those few in the secret, I
suppose the Ministry and the printer.--Poor Stella's eyes! God bless
them, and send them better. Pray spare them, and write not above two
lines a day in broad daylight. How does Stella look, Madam Dingley?
Pretty well, a handsome young woman still. Will she pass in a crowd?
Will she make a figure in a country church?--Stay a little, fair ladies.
I this minute sent Patrick to Sterne: he brings back word that your box
is very safe with one Mr. Earl's sister in Chester, and that Colonel
Edgworth's widow(14) goes for Ireland on Monday next, and will receive
the box at Chester, and deliver it you safe: so there are some hopes
now.--Well, let us go on to your letter.--The warrant is passed for the
First-Fruits. The Queen does not send a letter; but a patent will be
drawn here, and that will take up time. Mr. Harley of late has said
nothing of presenting me to the Queen: I was overseen(15) when I
mentioned it to you. He has such a weight of affairs on him, that he
cannot mind all; but he talked of it three or four times to me, long
before I dropped it to you. What, is not Mrs. Walls' business over
yet? I had hopes she was up and well, and the child dead before this
time.--You did right, at last, to send me your accompts; but I did not
stay for them, I thank you. I hope you have your bill sent in my last,
and there will be eight pounds' interest soon due from Hawkshaw: pray
look at hi