I suppose you will be going out of town soon, now the parliament is rising.  My Lord is resolved to put his proxy into another hand, and intends I believe, to take my brother’s advice in it.  Both the Earl and his Lordship are highly pleased with my brother’s moderate and independent principles.  He has got great credit among all unprejudiced men, by the part he acted throughout the last session, in which he has shown, that he would no more join to distress and clog the wheels of government, by an unreasonable opposition, than he would do the dirty work of any administration.  As he has so noble a fortune and wants nothing of any body, he would be doubly to blame, to take any other part than that of his country, in which he has so great a stake.

May he act out of the house, and in the house with equal honour; and he will be his country’s pride, and your pride, and mine too! which is the wish of your affectionate sister,

B. DAVERS.

LETTER LXV

MY DEAREST LADY,

I have been a little in disorder, that I have.  Some few rubs have happened.  I hope they will be happily removed, I am unwilling to believe all that is said.  But this is a wicked town.  I wish we were out of it.  Yet I see not when that will be.  I wish Mr. B. would permit me and my Billy to go into Kent.  But I don’t care to leave him behind me, neither; and he is not inclined to go.  Excuse my brevity, my dearest lady—­But I must break off, with only assuring your ladyship, that I am, and ever will be, your obliged and grateful, P.B.

LETTER LXVI

MY DEAREST PAMELA,

I understand things are not so well as I wish.  If you think my coming up to town, and residing with you, while you stay, will be of service, or help you to get out of it, I will set out directly.  I will pretend some indisposition, and a desire of consulting the London physicians; or any thing you shall think fit to be done, by your affectionate sister, and faithful friend, B. DAVERS

LETTER LXVII

MY DEAREST LADY,

A thousand thanks for your goodness to me; but I hope all will be well.  I hope God will enable me to act so prudent a part, as will touch his generous breast.  Be pleased to tell me what your ladyship has heard; but it becomes not me, I think, till I cannot help it, to make any appeals; for I know those will not be excused; and I do all I can to suppress my uneasiness before him.  But I pay for it, when I am alone.  My nursery and my reliance on God (I should have said the latter first), are all my consolation.  God preserve and bless you, my good lady, and my noble lord! (but I am apt to think your ladyship’s presence will not avail), prays your affectionate and obliged, P.B.

LETTER LXVIII