Eternally reproaching, eternally upbraiding me, are my impertinent relations.  But they are fond of occasions to find fault with me.  Their love, their love, Jack, and their dependence on my known good humour, are their inducements.

TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.  WED. MORN.  JUNE 7.

Dear nephew,

I understand that at length all our wishes are answered in your happy marriage.  But I think we might as well have heard of it directly from you, as from the round-about way by which we have been made acquainted with it.  Methinks, Sir, the power and the will we have to oblige you, should not expose us the more to your slights and negligence.  My brother had set his heart upon giving to you the wife we have all so long wished you to have.  But if you were actually married at the time you made him that request (supposing, perhaps, that his gout would not let him attend you) it is but like you.*—­If your lady had her reasons to wish it to be private while the differences between her family and self continue, you might nevertheless have communicated it to us with that restriction; and we should have forborne the public manifestations of our joy upon an event we have so long desired.

* I gave Mrs. Moore and Miss Rawlins room to think this reproach just, Jack.

The distant way we have come to know it is by my steward; who is acquainted with a friend of Captain Tomlinson, to whom that gentleman revealed it:  and he, it seems, had it from yourself and lady, with such circumstances as leave it not to be doubted.

I am, indeed, very much disobliged with you:  so is Lady Sarah.  But I have a very speedy opportunity to tell you so in person; being obliged to go to town to my old chancery affair.  My cousin Leeson, who is, it seems, removed to Albemarle-street, has notice of it.  I shall be at her house, where I bespeak your attendance of Sunday night.  I have written to my cousin Charlotte for either her, or her sister, to meet me at Reading, and accompany me to town.  I shall stay but a few days; my business being matter of form only.  On my return I shall pop upon Lord M. at M. Hall, to see in what way his last fit has left him.

Mean time, having told you my mind on your negligence, I cannot help congratulating you both on the occasion.—­Your fair lady particularly, upon her entrance into a family which is prepared to admire and love her.

My principal intention of writing to you (dispensing with the necessary punctilio) is, that you may acquaint my dear new niece, that I will not be denied the honour of her company down with me into Oxfordshire.  I understand that your proposed house and equipages cannot be soon ready.  She shall be with me till they are.  I insist upon it.  This shall make all up.  My house shall be her own.  My servants and equipages her’s.

Lady Sarah, who has not been out of her own house for months, will oblige me with her company for a week, in honour of a niece so dearly beloved, as I am sure she will be of us all.