Richardson to Lady Bradshaigh

Monday 2 January 1758

MS: FM XI, ff. 227–9. Copy in another hand.

Endorsement: London. Jan. 2. 1758. (in another hand).

Most joyfully do I congratulate my dear Lady <Bradshaigh> on her Restoration to “that comfortable State of Health,” which she gratefully so piously, acknowledges! Many happy Seasons attend you & your best Friend!

Your Ladiship's kind Sollicitude for my Health must ever engage my Gratitude.

How considerate the Return of the untranscribed Letter, wrote in a disturbed State of Mind (discoursing of all things with a Friend, as we were used to do) which yet from the Nature of the Case, is not quite calmed — And why? Because, my Justice, in my own Opinion, is impeachable: & the latter Days are advancing so fast, that there can be no Prospect of Retrieving the Step I was, as I may say, precipitated to take. But, however indelicately treated in the Progress of the affair, I am not a little comforted in the good Account I have from every mouth of my Girl's Happiness, & the Man's Behaviour to her & good Character, upon the Whole. No more at present on this Subject; which an ungrateful attempt meditated against my Family when I am no more, by a Man I had by my Confidence in him, & the good offices I had done him, enabled him most unprovokedly to hurt me, aggrevated. –

“You will pity Mrs. R. for all him.” Why so do, Madam: But I am glad you find something to chide her for, notwithstanding.

I have taken the Liberty to read your Excellent Rules to Servants, to two Ladies you esteem; Miss <Talbot> & Mrs <Donnellan.> They both very much admire them; & each very earnestly requested a Copy of them. I presume you will not disallow Copies to those two Ladies. I was most agreeably surpriz’d to be acquainted in your Favour before me, that, unknown to each other, we were both employ’d in the same Work. Sympathy surely in ourMinds as your Ladiship observes.

It would be hardly pardonable (Would it?) after you have so complaisantly acquitted me of the Power of Disguising, to refer that Part of our joint Work to your Ladiship? The Delicacy of Sex, your own peculiar Delicacy, & worthiness of Heart, will, in some Measure, justify my Reference.