Sidney
Dorothy
My beloved Sidney,
I find age and infirmities are advancing
a-pace upon me. My last illness
shook me severely, and has left a memorandum
of what I may expect in the next
visit it makes me. Your family cares
are now so much enlarged, that I cannot
expect, nor do I desire that you should
undertake a journey to Sidney Castle to
pay me a short visit; yet, my dear, as you
are the comfort of my age, I cannot, in
the present precarious state of my health,
bear to be at such a distance from you;
while God permits me strength I will lay
hold of his bounty, and endeavour to get
to London. You have told me that you
are not conveniently circumstanced at
South-park as to room; I will not therefore
incommode you, but shall content
myself with waiting your arrival in town,
at your house in St. James's street; but
do not hasten your departure from the
country on this account. I am in no immediate
danger, my dear, only willing to
lay hold of an interval of health, to get
nearer to you. If God prolongs my
life, what joy will it be to me to spend
next winter with my darling, and her dear
good Arnold, and to feast my eyes with
my lovely grandchildren!
If I am called from you, I shall have
the comfort of my child's affectionate
hands to close my eyes; and shall leave
the world without regret, as I have lived
to see my Sidney happy in the arms of a
good man, who will supply the loss of
parents, and unite in himself those tender
ties which nature must soon dissolve.
My prayers for yours, and my dear
son's prosperity, I never fail to offer up
to heaven. Your brother George is with
me, and desires to be remembered to you;
he purposes staying here the greatest part
of the winter.
As I hope to reach London by the latter
end of the week, direct your next to
me at your own house in town.
I am,
My dear love,
Your most sincerely
affectionate mother,
DOROTHY BIDULPH.
