Dear Willy,—­These, I hope, will find you in Health, as they leave me, but not in so much Perplexity:  for I have endeavoured to do as directed by yours, with the Contents of your Presents, and they will not mix properly.

The old Woman that chars sometimes in the House, having drank a little Liquor in which I had put some is very bad:  and I am conscious of the Affair being discovered, without you can put me into some better, or more proper Method of using them.  When you write, let it be as mystically as you please, lest an Interception should happen to your Letter, for I shall easily understand it.  When I think of the Affair in Hand, I am in great Distress of Mind, and endeavour to bear up under it as well as I can:  but should be glad if you was near me, to help to support my fleeting Spirits:  But why should I say so, or desire any such Thing, when I consider your cogent Reasons for being at a Distance:  as it might, as soon as the Affair is compleated, be the Occasion of a bad Consequence to us both.

    I have nothing more to add, but only desire you would not be long
    before you send me your Answer.

    Yours affectionately, &c.

    June 30, 1751.

(The superscription of this letter, and the next following, was almost rubbed out, so could not be exactly seen:  but as the word Berwick was quite plain, as well as his name, it is supposed they were directed as the third letter was.)

  LETTER.  II.

Dear Willy,—­I received yours safe on the 11th Instant, and I am glad to hear you are well.  I particularly understand what you mean, and I’ll polish, the Peebles as well as I can, for there shall not be wanting any Thing in my Power, to do the Business effectually.  They begin to come brighter by the new Method I have taken:  and as soon as I find the good Effects of the Scheme, you shall have Intelligence with all convenient Speed.  Adieu, for this Time, my Spirits damping much:  but pray God keep us in Health, till we have the Happiness of seeing each other.

    Yours affectionately, &c.

    July 16, 1751.

LETTER III.

Dear Willy,—­I have been in great Anxiety of Mind since last Post-Day, by not hearing from you.  Your letter of the 24th of last Month, I received safe Yesterday, and am somewhat enlivened in my Spirits by understanding you are well.  I am going forward with all convenient Speed in the Business:  and have not only a fatiguing Time of it, but am sometimes in the greatest Frights, there being constantly about me so many to be kept insensible of the Affair.  You may expect to hear again from me soon:  and rest yourself assured, that tho’ I suffer more Horrors of Mind than I do at this Time, which I think is impossible, I will pursue that, which is the only Method, I am sensible, left, of ever being happy together.  I hope, by my next, to inform you that the Business is compleated.

    Yours affectionately, &c.