chatham-place.

Dear Charles,

Had it been any other man but my late dear and much lamented friend, your father, who had died intestate, leaving a son born under such circumstances as yourself, and brought up with such flattering expectations as you have been, – I believe I should be tempted to inveigh most bitterly against his memory; and, perhaps, should not scruple to pronounce him either a fool, or a villain; but Frederick Montgomery was neither, and I confess I am utterly at a loss to account for this instance of weakness in his conduct. It must have proceeded from an idea that he was likely to live many years longer; and, according to all human probability, his expectation appeared to be well founded; but, I think, we have instances enough/ of the uncertainty of life, to convince us of the imprudence of delaying so important a concern; therefore, when I consider the benevolence and integrity of his mind, I am amazed he did not make his will twenty years ago. – I should really as soon have expected to hear that he had died insolvent as intestate. He has, however, left you reason to regret that he was not bred up totrade; as he would then have learned that grand maxim which every man of business finds it necessary to adhere stedfastly to, viz. defer not till to-morrow what should be done to-day. I am sorry for you, Charles; and I am sorry, likewise, for myself: for I have, at all times, business enough upon my hands; but more just now than usual, and I wanted not the troublesome addition to it which your father's estates will unavoidably give me. The new arrangements I must make, will take up no small portion of time. – But murmuring over it will not do it, so I shall say no more of the matter now.