Pray, know, our com-
mon Friend was lately very well: And,
as to your Flame, Sir, for your Comfort
I tell you; she assures us, she is fixed
&and firm in her Professions, whatever
may be insinuated by her Enemies to
the contrary, who are ever watchful
to give the most unfavourable Turn
to all her Motions, &and little inoffen-
sive Gaieties as she thinks them.

To B.Bishop G.Gordon Feb.February 23. 1767. I long much,
very much, to hear full Accounts of
my Favorite Lady, as there is one
in Edina, who was lately with Her
&and her Sister, &and who gives out that
my Favourite Lady, is for [] certain
a Papagee1, that she goes frequent-
ly to Mass, &and that She has two
Priests in her Family. How much
this galls me to the Heart, &and how
manfully I contradict it, I leave
you to guess. One thing I constantly
affirm, That, if Friends can do no
Good with their Talking, they should
do no ill with their idle Tales. 1898 (1898)
This same idle Prattler is a Pa-
pagee2, &and you shall know name
&and SirnameSurname &and all about her, a
Lady indeed, without Loss of
Time, as a private Bearer of-
fers soon, who must be recom-
mended to your Care &and sacred
Offices. I am desirous to have
it in my Power to reprimand
such hurtful Whispers.