write, Stella, until you are mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty well in your eyes,
and are sure it won't do you the least hurt. Or come, I'll tell you what;
you, Mistress Stella, shall write your share at five or six sittings, one
sitting a day; and then comes Dingley all together, and then Stella a little
crumb towards the end, to let us see she remembers Presto; and then conclude
with something handsome and genteel, as your most humblecumdumble, or, etc. O
Lord! does Patrick write word of my not coming till spring? Insolent man! he
know my secrets? No; as my Lord Mayor said, No; if I thought my shirt knew,
etc. Faith, I will come as soon as it is any way proper for me to come; but,
to say the truth, I am at present a little involved with the present Ministry
in some certain things (which I tell you as a secret); and soon as ever I can
clear my hands, I will stay no longer; for I hope the First-Fruit business
will be soon over in all its forms. But, to say the truth, the present
Ministry have a difficult task, and want me, etc. Perhaps they may be just as
grateful as others: but, according to the best judgment I have, they are
pursuing the true interest of the public; and therefore I am glad to
contribute what is in my power. For God's sake, not a word of this to any
alive.--Your Chancellor?[9] Why, madam, I can tell you he has been dead this
fortnight. Faith, I could hardly forbear our little language about a nasty
dead Chancellor, as you may see by the blot.[10] Ploughing? A pox plough
them; they'll plough me to nothing. But have you got your money, both the ten
pounds? How durst he pay you the second so soon? Pray be good huswifes.
Ay, well, and Joe, why, I had a letter lately from Joe, desiring I would take
some care of their poor town,[11] who, he says, will lose their liberties. To
which I desired Dr. Raymond would return answer, that the town had behaved
themselves so ill to me, so little regarded the advice I gave them, and
disagreed so much among themselves, that I was resolved never to have more to
do with them; but that whatever personal kindness I could do to Joe, should be
done. Pray, when you happen to see Joe, tell him this, lest Raymond should
have blundered or forgotten--Poor Mrs. Wesley!--Why these poligyes[12] for