To Henry Mandeville, Esq;
Belmont, 18th September.
I AM commissioned by Lady Anne, my
dear Mr. Mandeville, to insist on your
immediate return; she declares she can no
longer support the country without you,
but shall die with chagrin and ennui; even
play itself has lost half its charms in your
absence. Lady Mary, my wife, and daughter,
join in the same request; which I have
a thousand reasons to press your complying
with, as soon as is consistent with what politeness
exacts in regard to Lord T — .
One, and not the weakest, is the pleasure
I find in conversation, a pleasure I never
taste more strongly than with you, and a
pleasure which promiscuous visitors have
for some time ceased to give me. I have
not lost my relish for society, but it grows,
in spite of all my endeavors, more delicate.
I have as great pleasure as ever in the conversation
of select friends; but I cannot so
well bear the common run of company. I
look on this delicacy as one of the infirmities
of age, and as much a symptom of decay,
as it would be to lose my taste for roast
beef, and be able only to relish ortolans.
Lord Fondville is next week to marry
Miss Westbrook; they have a coach making,
which is to cost a thousand pounds.
I am interrupted by a worthy man, to
whom I am so sorry as to be able to do a
service: to you I need make no other apology.
Adieu! my amiable friend!
