I can’t say I like him, either in the pulpit or out of it:  I, who had a father one of the soundest divines and finest scholars in the kingdom; who never made an ostentation of what he knew; but loved and venerated he gospel he taught, preferring it to all other learning:  to be obliged to hear a young man depart from his text as soon as he has named it, (so contrary, too, to the example set him by his learned and worthy principal,* when his health permits him to preach;) and throwing about, to a christian and country audience, scraps of Latin and Greek from the Pagan Classics; and not always brought in with great propriety neither, (if I am to judge by the only way given me to judge of them, by the English he puts them into;) is an indication of something wrong, either in his head, or his heart, or both; for, otherwise, his education at the university must have taught him better.  You know, my dear Miss Clary, the honour I have for the cloth:  it is owing to that, that I say what I do.

* Dr. Lewen.

I know not the day he is to set out; and, as his inquiries are to be private, be pleased to take no notice of this intelligence.  I have no doubt that your life and conversation are such as may defy the scrutinies of the most officious inquirer.

I am just now told that you have written a second letter to your sister:  but am afraid they will wait for Mr. Brand’s report, before farther favour will be obtained from them; for they will not yet believe you are so ill as I fear you are.

But you would soon find that you have an indulgent mother, were she at liberty to act according to her own inclination.  And this gives me great hopes that all will end well at last:  for I verily think you are in the right way to a reconciliation.  God give a blessing to it, and restore your health, and you to all your friends, prays

Your ever affectionate,
Judith Norton.

Your mother has privately sent me five guineas:  she is pleased to say to
      help us in the illness we have been afflicted with; but, more
      likely, that I might send them to you, as from myself.  I hope,
      therefore, I may send them up, with ten more I have still left.

I will send you word of Mr. Morden’s arrival, the moment I know it.

If agreeable, I should be glad to know all that passes between your
      relations and you.

LETTER LXIV

Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Mrs. Norton
Wednesday, Aug. 2.

You give me, my dear Mrs. Norton, great pleasure in hearing of your’s and your son’s recovery.  May you continue, for many, many years, a blessing to each other!

You tell me that you did actually write to my mother, offering to enclose to her mine of the 24th past:  and you say it was not required of you.  That is to say, although you cover it over as gently as you could, that your offer was rejected; which makes it evident that no plea could be made for me.  Yet, you bid me hope, that the grace I sued for would, in time, be granted.