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R to B May (B, VI, 116-121);
B to R May-June (B, VI, 123-127).
Richardson's letter of May answers Lady Bradshaigh's of 8 April and makes references to hers of 16 April. Eaves and Kimpel date the letter [Apr.-Oct.?], but a May dating can be made upon the basis of what Richardson says in the first paragraph about his health. He writes, "I have passed more than a month of grievous and incapacitating suffering. Behind-hand with all my correspondencies; and almost careless of business." On 25 March Richardson wrote both Mrs. Chapone and Philip Skelton, and he was obviously in good health. He must have fallen ill in late March or early April because no letter written between 25 March and 2 May from Richardson exists. By 2 May, though, he had recovered and wrote his friend Thomas Edwards, who replied on 8 May telling Richardson that he was glad that he was once again well. From his words to Lady Bradshaigh, "I have passed more than a month . . . ," it is obvious that he was writing her immediately upon his recovery.
She answers Richardson in either May or June. It is difficult to be more precise because she wrote, "I have been the longer in sending this, because you said you were behind-hand with all your correspondencies." She sends her prayers for his health, and then she writes of the young woman whom she had spoken of in "two last." This places her letter before hers of Late May-June, which Eaves and Kimpel place after it.
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