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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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THE SAY PAPERS , t ' i ,, - • *
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jfo Mr . Say . D EAR SIR , StQC&holtk , Aug . I . 'Tis impossible to tell you how much 1 was joy'd at the sight of your dear and most obliging , kind , sweet * and most delightful-letter ; and my satisfaction was the greater , it corning sooner than I expected . My captain arriv'd here
yesterday , who brought me seven in a parcel from my sister and good friends in England ; but your's I had about a fortnight before thena . Their letters are all excellent in their kind : they all being my dd friends and acquaintance , are as full of love and kindness in their words as they
have been in their deeds £ their fashion and station in life , though it be high , is the meanest part of their character , for they have admirable good sense arid sweetness of temper , joined with religion , which crowns all . I am persuaded could I but waft the letters over to you ,
they vrould entertain and divert Mr . Say , if I judge his last aright , I Aias go * ing to say , as much as your ' s did me ; but I recollect myself , and say that is impossible ; for there is a vast difference between reading an agreeable letter to a friend , and the having one from one , fill'd with so many kind , endearing
expressions of regard , love , and esteem for their persons , and anxiety for their welfare here , as your ' s , and instructing and comforting of them for a happy world hereafter ; ( this 1 say makes the case widely different ;) at the reading of
which my heart was fill'd with all the tenderest sentiments of love , esteem , and gratitude ; and the sweetest passions reign'd for a time , that could pos-» cis a mortal . Sure I am , Mr . Say can ^ t be guilty of flattery , therefore am determined for . the future to believe I ' ve
sense ,, ( and to entertain a better opinion of ' myself than I ' ve been wont to have , ) because he says so , and 1 believe him to be a judge , and till he alters his notion of me , shall remain in that good opinion flf myself . It being in your power to
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humble me when you please , you need not fear my being proud ; but I fear 1 am not far of ! it , because I am so happy as to know , Sir , you havs a good esteeni and opinion of me . Voti were exceeding gdod to write me so long a letter too ; and I fear it was a sort of a
violence offer d to your nature , knowing you love not writing ; but you were so —I don ' t know "what word to find good enough to express my sense of the .. favour , for I think it was more than the word good we use in common cases , it was a super-excellent thought in you to force your hand to put down the
sentiments of your heart , to please and entertain your exile friend , in this uncouth , odd , barren corner of the world ; tho' had 1 been in a fruitful * pleasant soil , and been treated with every thing that could charm and delight the five senses , at that time , It
wou'd not have afforded half the pleasure and satisfaction your letter g * W the internal and superior part of me—I mean the faculties of my sold ; for that is solid and durable ; the other but transitory . Solomon well expressed it when he said a friend Was the medicine of life ; and in short , I think
life , surrounded with all what the world calls good and delightful , if it want this one ingredient , must be rendered ftat and insipid , for this brightens up all , and gives every thing else a higheV taste ; nay , in the want of all things , this noble tincture , like the philosopher ' s stone , turns all to gold which was dross be * -
fore . O ! could I but keep this happy temper of mind , how agreeable shou'd I be to myself ! but there are so many hideous intervening things in life , from the elements above me , and the earth beneath me , and from rny own wretched
self , which is worse than all , that I doubt I shall soon be robb'd of this ' changing inhabitant * viz . peace of rilind : 1 shall endeavour to hold her fast , but fear she wiH not think me a convenient , proper receptacle for her . I find my paper fills
* For an account of Mrs . Shept > a rd , see p . 303 and 343 .
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* Jo . XV , blilGlNAl * LETTER OP MRS . SHEPPARD ^ S , ( a WRITER IK THB SPECTATOR *) FROM STOCKIlOLM .- ^ -I . fcTTER I * .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1809, page 481, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1740/page/7/
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