My Dearest Ju, I came last night to Witham, & have
since been very Solitary, not having a mortal w^th me
that I can converse with, my L^t being oblig’d to leave
this place in a Quarter of an Hour after my arrival,
x the occasions of it, to him, I believe is not very Greivous,
no more than it is to y^r Friend Cap^t Hunt, the indis=
=position of M^rs Hunt, who is at the point of Death, Oblig’d
them to flie to Northamptonshire, their Concern seems
to be very moderate, advantage seeming to take place
of Grief, The Gentleman I speak of is her Grandson, who will
get abt 7000^£ & Cap^t Hunt is dismiss’d from the Fetters of
an old ill natur’d Woman. My ever Dearest Life how
different is our situation! W^t Pain, w^t Grief s^d I feel was
I in the same state? how could I suffer my only Happiness
to be taken from me? parting my Dear Soul makes me
too sensible of my Love, & tenderness for you, distance can
= not diminish in the least my more than Love for you, The
indolence I am so often accus’d off I find proceeds not so much
from a laziness of the Body, as the natural disposition of
my Soul, y^t hates to be separated from y^rs; They have made
an intimacy, & a Freindship, have you never Thought so? I am

[f.71v]

sure you have as you will tell me in y^r Letter, this Evening, w^ch
I expect w^th impatience, I am persuaded I shall please you
when I tell you I shall be in Town sooner than I expected, till
then I leave you to the Care of y^r good Mother, to whom
pray give my humble Duty. let me hear from you as often
as possible, & don’t measure the length of y^r Letters by mine.
{^^{Some People}} would say I am very Vain, & say {^^think} they are long enough, or too long,
but you, my Dearest always tell me, & I believe w^thout flattery,
that I cannot tire you, but in this case, I am confident you
judge partially, Adieu my Eternal Joy adieu y^rs for ever
M: Madan

Witham July 22^d. 1725

My Dearest Ju, I came last night to Witham, & have
since been very Solitary, not having a mortal w^th me
that I can converse with, my L^t being obliged to leave
this place in a Quarter of an Hour after my arrival,
x the occasions of it, to him, I believe is not very Grievous,
no more than it is to y^r Friend Cap^t Hunt, the indis=
=position of M^rs Hunt, who is at the point of Death, Obliged
them to flie to Northamptonshire, their Concern seems
to be very moderate, advantage seeming to take place
of Grief, The Gentleman I speak of is her Grandson, who will
get abt 7000^£ & Cap^t Hunt is dismissed from the Fetters of
an old ill natured Woman. My ever Dearest Life how
different is our situation! W^t Pain, w^t Grief s^d I feel was
I in the same state? how could I suffer my only Happiness
to be taken from me? parting my Dear Soul makes me
too sensible of my Love, & tenderness for you, distance can
= not diminish in the least my more than Love for you, The
indolence I am so often accused off I find proceeds not so much
from a laziness of the Body, as the natural disposition of
my Soul, y^t hates to be separated from y^rs; They have made
an intimacy, & a Friendship, have you never Thought so? I am

[f.71v]

sure you have as you will tell me in y^r Letter, this Evening, w^ch
I expect w^th impatience, I am persuaded I shall please you
when I tell you I shall be in Town sooner than I expected, till
then I leave you to the Care of y^r good Mother, to whom
pray give my humble Duty. let me hear from you as often
as possible, & don’t measure the length of y^r Letters by mine.
{^^{Some People}} would say I am very Vain, & say {^^think} they are long enough, or too long,
but you, my Dearest always tell me, & I believe w^thout flattery,
that I cannot tire you, but in this case, I am confident you
judge partially, Adieu my Eternal Joy adieu y^rs for ever
M: Madan

Witham July 22^d. 1725