I was favoured with your letter,
“which puzzled me not a little to get it read.
“I see, you still keep some of your Norland Lingo.
“I gave it to read to a particular Friend of
“mine here, who cou’dcould not make it out. At last
“he swore by G—[od], it was a Shame for me to keep
“Correspondence with a person that cou’dcould not
“spell better. But what was his SurprizeSurprise, when
“I told him, the Writer of the Letter was not
“only a good English Scholar, but a latinist, &and
“a Grecian? He then swore, that Language is
“only fit for the Devil! You surprizesurprise me not a
“little with regard to my fair Cousin &and Ama-
“zon. Tell her, that I say, ‘tisit is a Shame for a
“person of her Capacity to be fifty years in the
“right, &and then turn wrong. But we have a pro-
“verb, that old people are twice Bairns. I believe,
“this may be her Case; or, she is fond of Solo- 1960(1960)“mon’s Example, to doatdote after strange men,
“as he did after strange Women in his old age.
“O Nanny! Nanny! who ^would have thought it? I
“wish, She does not, like Solomon, adore strange
“Gods; for I never knew any yet, that set
“Justice aside, but turned indifferent about
“their Creator. What have I to tell you? but
“that that very Man She has abandon’dabandoned,
“is just now married to a German Princess,
“tho’though not of much Money, yet of very good
“blood, as any of the Buggs ever had
“their leg aur. This you may depend is
“truth. Her Name &and family you shall have
“soon. So this will be adding an Article you
“know when. I had almost lost this Winter
“my poor old Caillich1, by a fall she got from
“the top to the bottom of the Stair. She was
“greatly hurt, but, thank God, now on the
“way of recovery, tho’though slowly. Otherwise she
“&and I keep health pretty well considering our
“years. We have had a very great mortality
“in this town all this winter, &and it continues
“still; but, thank God, the Scots bodies are
“teuch2 &and hold out. ‘TisIt is only amongst the
“flabby Flamans &and silly French. My poor
“half-bruised Callach joins me most
“heartily in ComplimtsCompliments to yourself and
“Lady, &and as sure as a Candle is a Candle
“I am yours to serve you while