LETTER74

letter74

charleslambtowilliamgodwin

dec.10th,1800.

wednesdaymorning.

dearsir,—iexpectedagooddealofpleasurefromyourcompanyto-morrow,butiamsorryimustbegofyoutoexcuseme.ihavebeenconfinedeversinceisawyouwithoneoftheseverestcoldsieverexperienced,occasionedbybeinginthenightaironsunday,andonthefollowingday,veryfoolishly.iamneitherinhealthnorspiritstomeetcompany.ihopeandtrustishallgetoutonsaturdaynight.youwilladdtoyourmanyfavours,bytransmittingtomeasearlyaspossibleasmanyticketsasconvenientlyyoucanspare,—yourstruly,

c.l.

ihavebeenplottinghowtoabridgetheepilogue.buticannotseethatanylinescanbespared,retainingtheconnection,exceptthesetwo,whicharebetterout.

"whyshouldiinstance,&c.,

thesickman'spurpose,&c.,"

andthenthefollowinglinemustrunthus,

"thetruthbyanexamplebestisshown."

excusethisimportantpostscript.