August y^e 28^th 1725
My Dearest Life!
May this find y^o Easie, & perfectly happy,
Without one painfull reflection – free from every Real, or w^t is almost
as much to be Dreaded, every Imaginary concern: I think, I could
be content to be banish’d from your remembrance, if I it is possible
I am in y^e number of those things y^t Prevent your being as Happy as
you Deserve to Be. Thou Idol of my Soul! Why am I to hope for a
place in y^rs, only by y^e plain & out of fashion merit of a sincere
Heart – nay even this, looses in Value when y^o are but thought
off where is y^e merit of Having Eyes? tis impossible to see y^e
most Lovly & Desirable Object in nature, & not be sincerely an admirer
of it, w^t am I then to hope for? Unless it Be that you, blind to
your own Worth, may fancy y^o self oblig’d to you {^^me} for Loving y^o
Do if you can - & Be assur’d if that can be an obligation, y^o
are under greater to me, then ever any of y^r Sex ever as to
any of mine.
Gratefull & Humble grant me to Employ
My Life, subservient only to thy Joy;
and at my Death to Bless thy Kindness Shown
To Her, who of mankind, could Love but thee alone.

I hope Monday will inform me of all I wish to know, till then I will

[f.73v]

perswade my self you are well, & rejoyce in y^e Satisfaction I am sure
you have so much reason to take where y^o are. My Dear Soul adieu
tis w^th reluctance I release y^o, but I am Endeav’ring to retrench my
Letters to a reasonable compass. That last I sent to Witham was too
Long – I am my Dear Madan’s most tenderly aff: &
faithfull
J Madan.

My service to y^r Fellow Traveler

August y^e 28^th 1725
My Dearest Life!
May this find y^o Easy, & perfectly happy,
Without one painful reflection – free from every Real, or w^t is almost
as much to be Dreaded, every Imaginary concern: I think, I could
be content to be banished from your remembrance, if I it is possible
I am in y^e number of those things y^t Prevent your being as Happy as
you Deserve to Be. Thou Idol of my Soul! Why am I to hope for a
place in y^rs, only by y^e plain & out of fashion merit of a sincere
Heart – nay even this, looses in Value when y^o are but thought
off where is y^e merit of Having Eyes? tis impossible to see y^e
most Lovely & Desirable Object in nature, & not be sincerely an admirer
of it, w^t am I then to hope for? Unless it Be that you, blind to
your own Worth, may fancy y^o self obliged to you {^^me} for Loving y^o
Do if you can - & Be assured if that can be an obligation, y^o
are under greater to me, then ever any of y^r Sex ever as to
any of mine.
Grateful & Humble grant me to Employ
My Life, subservient only to thy Joy;
and at my Death to Bless thy Kindness Shown
To Her, who of mankind, could Love but thee alone.

I hope Monday will inform me of all I wish to know, till then I will

[f.73v]

persuade my self you are well, & rejoice in y^e Satisfaction I am sure
you have so much reason to take where y^o are. My Dear Soul adieu
tis w^th reluctance I release y^o, but I am Endeavouring to retrench my
Letters to a reasonable compass. That last I sent to Witham was too
Long – I am my Dear Madan’s most tenderly affectionate &
faithful
J Madan.

My service to y^r Fellow Traveller