My ever Dearest Soul, yesterday afforded me a double
Happyness, it brought me two Letters from my Dearest
Judy, They found me in a melancholy mood, con=
=templating on Death, I was led to it by the Death
Of my Corporal, who died last Saturday, He is a
Great Loss to me, being the sole manager of all my
Affairs in this Part of the World; He is lamented
By all that knew him, & w^th much reason, He was
A Valiant old Soldier, a trusty Corporal, & Generous
To his Comrades – I cease to greif {^^ve},when I think
He has only paid a Debt, that nature required of
The greatest Hero – He is now return’d to his
Centre, & is in a state of Anarchy w^th the greatest
xxx Alexander, Cesar, Marlborough &c, Not=
=withstanding the Wealth, Honours, & Powers they
Enjoy’d in this Life, it will be impossible to distin=
=guish his Dust, from theirs – If men that enjoy

[f.52v]

A superiority in this Life, wou’d but reflect how
Many Thousand Ways there are of ranking them
xxx with the Beggar, it wou’d be a means
Of banishing Pride & Vanity, they would find
Fortune had bestow’d her favours only to
Capacitate them to help & assist their fellow
Creatures – my Dearest Life, forgive me
For writing in this stile, remember you gave
Me leave to communicate to you every Thought
& Passion of my Soul – you have made me
The happiest man in Life, I’ll be profuse in
My Love to you, for I’m sure it can have
no End – when you write to my Father, present
My Duty to him, ‘twas Him my Dearest Judy gave
You to me, Judge how much I’m indebted to Him
but I’ll be ever sensible of my Obligation – The
Enclosd you sent me was from Maj^r Gery, He con=
=sents to the discharging Betty’s Brother, Tenn Guineas.

[f.53]

Will do the affair, His Letter was dated the beginning of April,
& mention’d his being in Town, 4 Days after, if M^rs Betty
Woud apply to him, he doubtless wou’d give Her a Satisfactory
Answer, pres^t my Duty to my Good mother, and tell the Doctor
I’m oblig’d to Him for His Letter, it is now 12 at night, or I wou’d
Answer it, you know I’m lazy, & the post goes at 8 to morrow morn.
I am my ever Dearest Soul, y^r sincere Friend and affect Husband
May 9^th 1724 let me know w^t Price Oranges bear
M Madan.

[f.52v]

To
The Hon^ble Spencer Cowper Esq.
Member of Parliament at Hertingfordbury
Park near Hertford
Hertfordshire

My ever Dearest Soul, yesterday afforded me a double
Happiness, it brought me two Letters from my Dearest
Judy, They found me in a melancholy mood, con=
=templating on Death, I was led to it by the Death
Of my Corporal, who died last Saturday, He is a
Great Loss to me, being the sole manager of all my
Affairs in this Part of the World; He is lamented
By all that knew him, & w^th much reason, He was
A Valiant old Soldier, a trusty Corporal, & Generous
To his Comrades – I cease to greif {^^ve},when I think
He has only paid a Debt, that nature required of
The greatest Hero – He is now returned to his
Centre, & is in a state of Anarchy w^th the greatest
xxx Alexander, Cesar, Marlborough &c, Not=
=withstanding the Wealth, Honours, & Powers they
Enjoyed in this Life, it will be impossible to distin=
=guish his Dust, from theirs – If men that enjoy

[f.52v]

A superiority in this Life, would but reflect how
Many Thousand Ways there are of ranking them
xxx with the Beggar, it would be a means
Of banishing Pride & Vanity, they would find
Fortune had bestowed her favours only to
Capacitate them to help & assist their fellow
Creatures – my Dearest Life, forgive me
For writing in this stile, remember you gave
Me leave to communicate to you every Thought
& Passion of my Soul – you have made me
The happiest man in Life, I’ll be profuse in
My Love to you, for I’m sure it can have
no End – when you write to my Father, present
My Duty to him, ‘twas Him my Dearest Judy gave
You to me, Judge how much I’m indebted to Him
but I’ll be ever sensible of my Obligation – The
Enclosed you sent me was from Maj^r Gery, He con=
=sents to the discharging Betty’s Brother, Tenn Guineas.

[f.53]

Will do the affair, His Letter was dated the beginning of April,
& mentioned his being in Town, 4 Days after, if M^rs Betty
Would apply to him, he doubtless would give Her a Satisfactory
Answer, pres^t my Duty to my Good mother, and tell the Doctor
I’m obliged to Him for His Letter, it is now 12 at night, or I would
Answer it, you know I’m lazy, & the post goes at 8 to morrow morn.
I am my ever Dearest Soul, y^r sincere Friend and affect Husband
May 9^th 1724 let me know w^t Price Oranges bear
M Madan.

[f.52v]

To
The Hon^ble Spencer Cowper Esq.
Member of Parliament at Hertingfordbury
Park near Hertford
Hertfordshire