writing. Cannot you dictate to Dingley, and not strain your little, dear
eyes? I am sure it is the grief of my soul to think you are out of order.
Pray be quiet; and, if you will write, shut your eyes, and write just a line,
and no more, thus, "How do you do, Mrs. Stella?" That was written with my
eyes shut. Faith, I think it is better than when they are open: and then
Dingley may stand by, and tell you when you go too high or too low.--My
letters of business, with packets, if there be any more occasion for such,
must be enclosed to Mr. Addison, at St. James's Coffee-house: but I hope to
hear, as soon as I see Mr. Harley, that the main difficulties are over, and
that the rest will be but form.--Take two or three nutgalls, take two or three
---galls, stop your receipt in your--I have no need on't. Here is a clutter!
Well, so much for your letter, which I will now put up in my letter-partition
in my cabinet, as I always do every letter as soon as I answer it. Method is
good in all things. Order governs the world. The Devil is the author of
confusion. A general of an army, a minister of state; to descend lower, a
gardener, a weaver, etc. That may make a fine observation, if you think it
worth finishing; but I have not time. Is not this a terrible long piece for
one evening? I dined to-day with Patty Rolt at my cousin Leach's,[22] with a
pox, in the City: he is a printer, and prints the Postman, oh hoo, and is my
cousin, God knows how, and he married Mrs. Baby Aires of Leicester; and my
cousin Thomson was with us: and my cousin Leach offers to bring me acquainted
with the author of the Postman;[23] and says he does not doubt but the
gentleman will be glad of my acquaintance; and that he is a very ingenious
man, and a great scholar, and has been beyond sea. But I was modest and said,
may be the gentleman was shy, and not fond of new acquaintance; and so put it
off: and I wish you could hear me repeating all I have said of this in its
proper tone, just as I am writing it. It is all with the same cadence with
"Oh hoo," or as when little girls say, "I have got an apple, miss, and I won't
give you some." It is plaguy twelvepenny weather this last week, and has cost
me ten shillings in coach and chair hire. If the fellow that has your money