SIR,—I am truly concerned that any mistake of mine should have caused you uneasiness, but I hope we have got a clue to William’s absence, which may clear up all apprehensions. The people where he lodges in town have received direction from him to forward one or two of his shirts to a place called Winterslow, in the county of Hants [Wilts] (not far from Salisbury), where the lady lives whose Cottage, pictured upon a card, if you opened my letter you have doubtless seen, and though we have had no explanation of the mystery since, we shrewdly suspect that at the time of writing that Letter which has given you all this trouble, a certain son of yours (who is both Painter and Author) was at her elbow, and did assist in framing that very Cartoon which was sent to amuse and mislead us in town, as to the real place of his destination.
And some words at the back of the said Cartoon, which we had not marked so narrowly before, by the similarity of the handwriting to William’s, do very much confirm the suspicion. If our theory be right, they have had the pleasure of their jest, and I am afraid you have paid for it in anxiety. But I hope your uneasiness will now be removed, and you will pardon a suspense occasioned by Love, who does so many worse mischiefs every day.
The letter to the people where William lodges says, moreover, that he shall be in town in a fortnight.
| 1808 | NEWS FOR MANNING | 381 |
My sister joins in respects to you and Mrs. Hazlitt, and in our kindest remembrances and wishes for the restoration of Peggy’s health.
I am, Sir, your humble servt.,
