To let you see I did not repent me of the last commission, I’ll give you another.  Here is a seal that Walker set for me, and ’tis dropt out; pray give it him to mend.  If anything could be wonder’d at in this age, I should very much how you came by your informations.  ’Tis more than I know if Mr. Freeman be my servant.  I saw him not long since, and he told me no such thing.  Do you know him?  In earnest, he’s a pretty gentleman, and has a great deal of good nature, I think, which may oblige him perhaps to speak well of his acquaintances without design.  Mr. Fish is the Squire of Dames, and has so many mistresses that anybody may pretend a share in him and be believed; but though I have the honour to be his near neighbour, to speak freely, I cannot brag much that he makes any court to me; and I know no young woman in the country that he does not visit often.

I have sent you another tome of Cyrus, pray send the first to Mr. Hollingsworth for my Lady.  My cousin Molle went from hence to Cambridge on Thursday, and there’s an end of Mr. Bennet.  I have no company now but my niece Peyton, and my brother will be shortly for the term, but will make no long stay in town.  I think my youngest brother comes down with him.  Remember that you owe me a long letter and something for forgiving your last.  I have no room for more than

Your.

Letter 23.

SIR,—­I will tell you no more of my servants.  I can no sooner give you some little hints whereabouts they live, but you know them presently, and I meant you should be beholding to me for your acquaintance.  But it seems this gentleman is not so easy access, but you may acknowledge something due to me, if I incline him to look graciously upon you, and therefore there is not much harm done.  What has kept him from marrying all this time, or how the humour comes so furiously upon him now, I know not; but if he may be believed, he is resolved to be a most romance squire, and go in quest of some enchanted damsel, whom if he likes, as to her person (for fortune is a thing below him),—­and we do not read in history that any knight or squire was ever so discourteous as to inquire what portions their ladies had,—­then he comes with the power of the county to demand her, (which for the present he may dispose of, being Sheriff), so I do not see who is able to resist him.  All that is to be hoped is, that since he may reduce whomsoever he pleases to his obedience, he will be very curious in his choice, and then I am secure.

It may be I dreamt it that you had met my brother, or else it was one of the reveries of my ague; if so, I hope I shall fall into no more of them.  I have missed four fits, and had but five, and have recovered so much strength as made me venture to meet your letter on Wednesday, a mile from home.  Yet my recovery will be nothing towards my leaving this place, where many reasons will oblige me to stay at least all this summer, unless some great alteration