“Dear Wm.—What you say
respecting your dear cousin’s deth is very consolitory and a just remark.
It was rather the pleasure of knowing she was a live than use we could be of to
each other, and upon reflection mater of thankfulness on her account, as the
change to her is so far superior to the infirm body she carried about, only
this that her letters were always incourag-
| A MOTHER’S CONGRATULATIONS. | 237 |
“Your broken resolution in regard to mattrimony
incourages me to hope that you will ere long embrace the Gospel, that sure word
of promise to all believers, and not only you, but your other half, whose souls
should be both one, as Watts says of his
friend Gunston, the sooner the better. My dear
Wm., the apoligy I have to make for not answering
yours is, Mrs G. was going to send a box to H. soon, and was willing to save ye postage.
You might have been so good as told me a few more particulars about your
conjugal state, as when you were married, as being a father as well as a
husband; hope you will fill up your place with propriety in both relations; you
are certainly transformed in a moral sense, why is it impossable in a spiritual
sense, which last will make you shine with the radiance of the sun for ever.
Mrs G. and, I may say, all your friends and mine wish
you happiness, and shall be glad to see you and your wife in Norfolk, if I be
spared. You must not expect great exactness, as I have a young servant, and
myself able to do nothing at all. I hope you are good walkers, for I have ho
horse, and have not entered my Cart, so can go nowhere but to meeting with it.
I have for many days had the cramp, I call it, rather than ye Rhumatism. I
can’t put on my own stockens, and am obliged to stand to eat my vituals,
and get up and walk about perhaps 40 times while I write this letter. I intend
sending you a few eggs with this in Hannah’s box. Could send you a small fether bed, would do
for a servant, by wagon, if acceptable. If you give me a direction, you may
write by ye return of the box, or Mr Jo.
Godwin, whome, John says, intends coming
into the country in about a fortnight or three weeks, or by post for me at
Mr Munton’s, shopkeeper, Foulsham, will cost but
7d., any other
| 238 | WILLIAM GODWIN |
“My dears, whatever you do, do not make invitations and entertainments, that was what hurt Jo. Live comfortable with one another. The Hart of her husband safely trusts in her. I cannot give you no better advice than out of Proverbs, the Prophets, and New Testament. My best affections attend you both.—From yr. Mother,
“I am informed Mr Harwood’s mother is dead; that’s all I know. Your eggs will spoil soon if you don’t pack them up in sawdust, bran, or something of the kind, and turn them often. ’Tis pitty to pay carriage for them if they don’t keep.”
