May 6^th 1724 Northampton
My Dearest Judy, Last Night brought me a Letter
From you, the reception of it, fully repaid me, for
My impatient longing, I coud wish there was a daily
Post betwixt this & Hertford, or a means of correspond=
=ing every minute. I am the happiest man upon Earth
to think my Dearest Soul, remember me, I am sure
she loves me, all my senses are gratified at y^t one
Thought – Wand’ring ab^t I met w^th three Ladies
Whose Characters I believe will divert you, They are
Sisters. The Eldest is a Widdow, By Whose Joynture amounts
To ab^t 130^£ pr. an: The Other 2 are Maidens of 52 & 53.
Their Fortunes consist mostly in an annuity of £30 a year
Each besides 300^£ that a Gentleman left them ab^t 2 years ago,
Formerly had made his addresses to M^rs Alice, w^ch is the
youngest, xxx in her youth she was usually said

[f.49v]

To be the Handsomest, M^rs Jenny, w^ch is the Second was always
Averse to Marriage, her Inclinations were chiefly bent upon
Preserving & distilling, she was look’d upon as the Woman
In the Countrey that had the best receipts, especially for making
Gooseberry Wine, the Widdow was married to a Sea Cap^t who
Died ab^t Eleven Years ago, I understand she was always inclinable
To be fat & much given to have shrew’d sayings attend w^th a particular
Loud laugh, (she was chiefly brought up w^th an old Aunt), who
Y^t infallibly cures 150 Distempers tho of never so different natures.
They now live together, and take the air ab^t the streets of North^ton
Every night in a Chariot, that was their Grandfathers, when
He was sherriff of the Country, in the year 1653. M^rs Jenny being
the least, generally rides in the middle, she is thin & had the
misfortune to drop from her nurses arms, when 3 quarters old,
w^ch dislocated her Hip & has occasion’d her left legg to be shortest
by my next, I may possibly {^^have} learn’t something more of them – I send you
enclos’d a Song Bland made upon you 2 Days ago. I am my Dearest Soul
y^r sincere friend, y^r faithfull & affect. Husband. M Madan.

[f.50]
A Song

Fair Silvia does my Soul inspire
With Tend’rest, Softest Love:
The Flame, in others, may Rage Higher,
But Mine will constant Prove.

The Conquests gain’d by her bright Eyes!
Her brighter Wit! Maintains;
At every Pause New thoughts arise
To fix us in her Chains.

Beauty may Fade or Die away,
By Sickness or by Time;
True Wit, like hers, feels no decay;
But will for ever shine,

Yet tho’ Fair Silvia does preside
O’er Wit and judgments’ Seat
The Golden Ball she may Divide,
Her Beauty’s so compleat

‘Gainst Silvia’s Pow’r there’s no Defence
We Such Perfections Find;
She, Like Fair Venus, Charms the Sense,
Minerva=like, the mind.

May 6^th 1724 Northampton
My Dearest Judy, Last Night brought me a Letter
From you, the reception of it, fully repaid me, for
My impatient longing, I could wish there was a daily
Post betwixt this & Hertford, or a means of correspond=
=ing every minute. I am the happiest man upon Earth
to think my Dearest Soul, remember me, I am sure
she loves me, all my senses are gratified at y^t one
Thought – Wandering ab^t I met w^th three Ladies
Whose Characters I believe will divert you, They are
Sisters. The Eldest is a Widow, By Whose Jointure amounts
To ab^t 130^£ pr. an: The Other 2 are Maidens of 52 & 53.
Their Fortunes consist mostly in an annuity of £30 a year
Each besides 300^£ that a Gentleman left them ab^t 2 years ago,
Formerly had made his addresses to M^rs Alice, w^ch is the
youngest, xxx in her youth she was usually said

[f.49v]

To be the Handsomest, M^rs Jenny, w^ch is the Second was always
Averse to Marriage, her Inclinations were chiefly bent upon
Preserving & distilling, she was looked upon as the Woman
In the Country that had the best receipts, especially for making
Gooseberry Wine, the Widow was married to a Sea Cap^t who
Died ab^t Eleven Years ago, I understand she was always inclinable
To be fat & much given to have shrewd sayings attend w^th a particular
Loud laugh, (she was chiefly brought up w^th an old Aunt), who
Y^t infallibly cures 150 Distempers though of never so different natures.
They now live together, and take the air ab^t the streets of North^ton
Every night in a Chariot, that was their Grandfathers, when
He was Sherriff of the Country, in the year 1653. M^rs Jenny being
the least, generally rides in the middle, she is thin & had the
misfortune to drop from her nurses arms, when 3 quarters old,
w^ch dislocated her Hip & has occasioned her left leg to be shortest
by my next, I may possibly {^^have} learned something more of them – I send you
enclosed a Song Bland made upon you 2 Days ago. I am my Dearest Soul
y^r sincere friend, y^r faithful & affect. Husband. M Madan.

[f.50]
A Song

Fair Silvia does my Soul inspire
With Tenderest, Softest Love:
The Flame, in others, may Rage Higher,
But Mine will constant Prove.

The Conquests gained by her bright Eyes!
Her brighter Wit! Maintains;
At every Pause New thoughts arise
To fix us in her Chains.

Beauty may Fade or Die away,
By Sickness or by Time;
True Wit, like hers, feels no decay;
But will for ever shine,

Yet though Fair Silvia does preside
O’er Wit and judgments’ Seat
The Golden Ball she may Divide,
Her Beauty’s so complete

Against Silvia’s Power there’s no Defence
We Such Perfections Find;
She, Like Fair Venus, Charms the Sense,
Minerva=like, the mind.