[From Letters of Bishop Hildesley]

Letter LXVIII

Bishopscourt, January 19, 1768.

Tell me, dear Sir. how you do? I mean as to your corporeal state, for your mental, I know how it is with you. You have hitherto been in a sort of dream, or consternation, not well able to believe what, you know to be true The number of comforters swarming about you, though well-meant, helps only to feed your affliction. But the more tangible pangs of your sorrow are but now commencing; when calm recollection will take place, and lead you. gradually, to feel immense loss. You have hitherto. I conceive, been upon the strain of resignation, produced by efforts of reason aad religion; but the struggles of nature will be found not so readily subdued, as endeavoured for.

I would wish you to come over hither to unburthen your grief in these solitary quiet retirements, but that I think it will be best for you to stay where you are a few weeks longer; as you will thereby be the more inured to the place, where the scene of your trouble commenced, and be the better enabled to return to it with less striking revivals of painful sensations; otherwise, my sister and I did not care how soon you were here. My coming over to you I know you will not expect, how much soever I am disposed to it; as the season of the year, and the roads, forbid my attempting it in the only manner of travelling I am well able to undergo. Consult therefore your own inclination and convenience for changing your situation, and coming to your friends here, to stay with them as long as you can like, or find any satisfaction with us: not that I think you want sufficiency of wise and prudent frienels to consult, with where you are. Such as you think or believe us to be, you will be welcome to us; and I will add that, probably, it would have been agreeable to your good woman's advice, if she could give it, for you to repair to those very cordial friends at Bishopscourt, for whom she had a regard. The only difference, with respect to her, is to show our whole share of it to her half remaining. We therefore, for her sake and your own, dear sir, your faithful and affectionate fellowsuffers.

M. S. MANN & H. Hildesley