“I shall expect an answer with impatience;—­believe me, there is nothing at this moment could give me greater delight than your letter.”

LETTER 6.

TO MR. PIGOT.

“London, August 18. 1806.

“I am just on the point of setting off for Worthing, and write merely to request you will send that idle scoundrel Charles with my horses immediately; tell him I am excessively provoked he has not made his appearance before, or written to inform me of the cause of his delay, particularly as I supplied him with money for his journey.  On no pretext is he to postpone his march one day longer; and if, in obedience to Mrs. B., he thinks proper to disregard my positive orders, I shall not, in future, consider him as my servant.  He must bring the surgeon’s bill with him, which I will discharge immediately on receiving it.  Nor can I conceive the reason of his not acquainting Frank with the state of my unfortunate quadrupeds.  Dear Pigot, forgive this petulant effusion, and attribute it to the idle conduct of that precious rascal, who, instead of obeying my injunctions, is sauntering through the streets of that political Pandemonium, Nottingham.  Present my remembrances to your family and the Leacrofts, and believe me, &c.

“P.S.  I delegate to you the unpleasant task of despatching him on his journey—­Mrs. B.’s orders to the contrary are not to be attended to:  he is to proceed first to London, and then to Worthing, without delay.  Every thing I have left must be sent to London.  My Poetics you will pack up for the same place, and not even reserve a copy for yourself and sister, as I am about to give them an entire new form:  when they are complete, you shall have the first fruits.  Mrs. B. on no account is to see or touch them.  Adieu.”

LETTER 7.

TO MR. PIGOT.

“Little Hampton, August 26. 1806.

“I this morning received your epistle, which I was obliged to send for to Worthing, whence I have removed to this place, on the same coast, about eight miles distant from the former.  You will probably not be displeased with this letter, when it informs you that I am 30,000_l._ richer than I was at our parting, having just received intelligence from my lawyer that a cause has been gained at Lancaster assizes,[49] which will be worth that sum by the time I come of age.  Mrs. B. is, doubtless, acquainted of this acquisition, though not apprised of its exact value, of which she had better be ignorant.  You may give my compliments to her, and say that her detaining my servant’s things shall only lengthen my absence; for unless they are immediately despatched to 16.  Piccadilly, together with those which have been so long delayed, belonging to myself, she shall never again behold my radiant countenance illuminating her gloomy mansion.  If they are sent, I may probably appear in less than two years from the date of my present epistle.