Part 22 (2/2)

What a family is this to take a wife from!--Lord Darcey's happiness is insur'd:--in my conscience, there will not be such another couple in England.

Preparations are making to welcome the lovely successor of this ancient house;--preparations to rejoice those whose satisfactions are scanty,--to clothe the naked,--to feed the hungry,--to let the stately roof echo with songs and mirth from a croud of chearful, honest, old tenants.

I often hear Mrs. Jenkings crying out in extasy,--My angel!--my sweet angel!--As to the old gentleman and Edmund, they actually cannot refrain from tears, when Miss Powis's name is mention'd.--Sir James and her Ladys.h.i.+p are never easy without these good folks.--It has ever been an observation of mine, that at an unexpected fortunate event, we are fond of having people about us who feel on the same pa.s.sion.

Mr. Morgan is quite his own man again:--he has been regaling himself with a fine hunt, whilst I attended Sir James and my Lady in an airing round the park.--After dinner we were acquainted with all his losses and crosses in the dog and horse way.--He had not seen _Filley_ rubb'd down this fortnight:--the huntsman had lost three of his best hounds:--two spaniels were lame;--and one of his running horses glander'd.--He concluded with swearing, as things turn'd out, he did not matter it _much_;--but had it happen'd three weeks since; he should have drove all his servants to the devil.--Enough of Mr. Morgan.--Adieu, Molesworth!--Forget not my congratulations to your n.o.ble, happy, friend.

RISBY.

LETTER XL.

The Honourable GEORGE MOLESWORTH

to RICHARD RISBY, Esq;

_Dover_.

All is happiness, d.i.c.k!--I see nothing else; I hear of nothing else.--It is the _last_ thing I take leave of at night;--the _first_ thing I meet in the morning.--_Yesterday_ was full of it!--_yesterday_ I dined with Mr. and Mrs. Powis and their charming daughter, at the Banker's.--To look back, it seems as if I had gone through all the vexations of my life in the last three weeks.

Darcey would not let me rest 'till I had been to congratulate them, or rather to satisfy his own impatience, being distracted to hear how Miss Powis bore the great discovery.--Her fort.i.tude is amazing!--But Sir James has had every particular from his son, therefore I shall be too late on that subject.

The following short epistle I receiv'd from Mr. Powis, as I was setting off for Town.

Mr. Powis to the Honourable GEORGE MOLESWORTH.

_London_,

”The first moment I can tear myself from the tender embraces of all my hopes;--the first moment I can leave my belov'd daughter, I come to Dover;--I come to acknowledge my grat.i.tude to the n.o.ble-minded Molesworth--I come to testify my affection to the generous, disinterested Lord Darcey.--We pray for the recovery of his. Lords.h.i.+p's health.--When that is establish'd, not one wish will be wanting to complete the felicity of

J. Powis.”

The more I know of _this_ family, the more I admire them.--I _must_ be their neighbour, that's certain--_Suppose_ I pet.i.tion for a little spot at one end of the park; _suppose_ you throw up your commission; and we live together two snug batchelors.

Darcey vows he will go to Town next week.--If fatigue should cause him to relapse, what will become of us _then?_--But I will not think of that _now_.

We shall come down a joyful, cavalcade to the Abbey.--I long to see the doors thrown open to receive us.--School-boy like, I shall first count days;--next hours;--then minutes: though I am your's the same here, there, and every where.

MOLESWORTH.

LETTER XLI

The Honourable GEORGE MOLESWORTH to the same.

_London_.

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