LETTER XXIV
MR. BELFORD, TO RICHARD MOWBRAY, ESQ.SUNDAY, SEPT. 10. FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON.
I have your's, with our unhappy friend's enclosed. I am glad my Lord iswith him. As I presume that his phrensy will be but of shortcontinuance, I most earnestly wish, that on his recovery he could beprevailed upon to go abroad. Mr. Morden, who is inconsolable, has seenby the will, (as indeed he suspected before he read it,) that the casewas more than a common seduction; and has dropt hints already, that helooks on himself, on that account, as freed from his promises made to thedying lady, which were, that he would not seek to avenge her death.
You must make the recovery of his health the motive for urging him onthis head; for, if you hint at his own safety, he will not stir, butrather seek the Colonel.
As to the lock of hair, you may easily pacify him, (as you once saw theangel,) with hair near the colour, if he be intent upon it.
At my Lord's desire I will write on, and in my common hand; that you mayjudge what is, and what is not, fit to be read to Mr. Lovelace atpresent. But as I shall not forbear reflections as I go along, in hopesto reach his heart on his recovery, I think it best to direct myself tohim still, and that as if he were not disordered.
As I shall not have leisure to take copies, and yet am willing to havethe whole subject before me, for my own future contemplation, I mustinsist upon a return of my letters some time hence. Mr. Lovelace knowsthat this is one of my conditions; and has hitherto complied with it.
Thy letter, Mowbray, is an inimitable performance. Thou art a strangeimpenetrable creature. But let me most earnestly conjure thee, and theidle flutterer, Tourville, from what you have seen of poor Belton's exit;from our friend Lovelace's phrensy, and the occasion of it; and from theterrible condition in which the wretched Sinclair lies; to set about animmediate change of life and manners. For my own part, I am determined,be your resolutions what they may, to take the advice I give.
As witness,J. BELFORD.