( 325 )
TO DR. SHERIDAN[1].
SIR,
Dec. 14, 1719, Nine at Night.
IT is impossible to know by your letter whether the wine is to be bottled tomorrow, or no.
If it be, or be not, why did not you, in plain English tell us so?
For my part, it was by mere chance I came to sit with the ladies[2] this night:
And if they had not told me there was a letter from you; and your man Alexander had not gone, and come back from the deanery; and the boy here had not been sent to let Alexander know I was here; I should have missed the letter outright.
Truly I don't know who's bound to be sending for corks to stop your bottles, with a vengeance.
Make a page of your own age, and send your man Alexander to buy corks; for Saunders already has gone above ten jaunts.
Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnson say, truly they don't care for your wife's company, though they like your wine; but they had rather have it at their own house to drink in quiet.
However, they own it is very civil in Mrs, Sheridan to make the offer; and they cannot deny it.
- ↑ In this letter, though written in prose, the reader upon examining, will find each second sentence rhimes to the former.
- ↑ Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Dingley.
Y 3
I wish
