We are at Present y^e reverse of y^e happy
family you left us, I never spent so melancholy a week in my Life, I
believe I bear it y^e worse having lately known so many cheerfull ones. I am
continualy with poor L^dy Sally, whose greif can Only be Express’d, by saying it is
Equal to y^e Object of it: nothing was ever so moving! I have too much
Tenderness (I ought to have said weakness) in my own nature for y^e office of a
{^^comforter} which has been y^e task alloted me, all this melancholy week, but such as
I am I cannot forbear going, while it is my power: I think it wrong
to save one self a Pain by keeping from those we love in any Circumstance
of Life – Pitty me if you Will, & Remember me, if you can.
I wish you at this nights assembly, a more agreeable partner then you
had condemn’d your self to - & I believe you might possibly have had, if I

[f.5v]

were less unhappy then I am. Y^e Freedome I have ever, I scarce know why
us’d in my conversation with you, may perhaps make you Fancy I have less
reserve in my temper then I have, I can only say I do not use to be so
easily acquainted, you are almost a stranger to me, & if you have as
much artifice in you, as I to be fashionable, ought to have, you will
Laugh at me for answering your Letter with so much Gravity, & think
y^e Creature more rediculus then Ever. I never knew a reason y^t
could justifie hippocrisy, & am afraid now it is too Late to Learn
If you can be sincere, I can Esteem you – adiue

Hertingfordbury. 1723

J Cowper

We are at Present y^e reverse of y^e happy
family you left us, I never spent so melancholy a week in my Life, I
believe I bear it y^e worse having lately known so many cheerful ones. I am
continually with poor L^dy Sally, whose grief can Only be Expressed, by saying it is
Equal to y^e Object of it: nothing was ever so moving! I have too much
Tenderness (I ought to have said weakness) in my own nature for y^e office of a
{^^comforter} which has been y^e task allotted me, all this melancholy week, but such as
I am I cannot forbear going, while it is my power: I think it wrong
to save one self a Pain by keeping from those we love in any Circumstance
of Life – Pity me if you Will, & Remember me, if you can.
I wish you at this nights assembly, a more agreeable partner then you
had condemned your self to - & I believe you might possibly have had, if I

[f.5v]

were less unhappy then I am. Y^e Freedom I have ever, I scarce know why
used in my conversation with you, may perhaps make you Fancy I have less
reserve in my temper then I have, I can only say I do not use to be so
easily acquainted, you are almost a stranger to me, & if you have as
much artifice in you, as I to be fashionable, ought to have, you will
Laugh at me for answering your Letter with so much Gravity, & think
y^e Creature more ridiculous then Ever. I never knew a reason y^t
could justify hypocrisy, & am afraid now it is too Late to Learn
If you can be sincere, I can Esteem you – adieu

Hertingfordbury. 1723

J Cowper