adelphi.

My late state of confinement renders unnecessary all apologies for delaying to write till now. I shall, therefore, my dear friend, waive the subject, and give you instead, the pleasing information that I am perfectly well – have been out twice – and, next week, the Major and I intend setting out for Fir-grove, and joining your select social party of friends, to all of whom we wish much to be introduced. – But, my dear Rhoda, I must beg leave to take with me a stranger, one too for whose politeness I will not take upon me to be accountable. On the contrary, I fully expect he will be sometimes so rude as to cause a general disturbance to the whole company, and lay them under an absolute necessity of expressing their resentment by voting his expulsion from their/ presence. Yet, notwithstanding these disagreable circumstances, humanity forbids me to leave him behind, as he depends entirely upon me for support. To be plain, you know I am not so much the woman of fashion as to transfer to another the pleasing task of fostering my children; so pray let your nursery be put in order; it will only be preparing it a few months before its time.

The subject of the following part of this letter, will, I doubt not, affect your and Mr. Montgomery's feelings; as much as it has already affected Major Herbert's and my own. The wretched Mrs. Wilkins has, at last, suffered the natural consequence of her abandoned conduct; a conduct, it seems, shockingly depraved to the last moment of her existence. The Major, a few days ago, passing thro’ the city, saw her taken out of an hackney coach, and carried into the Poultry-compter, so totally unlike her former self, that if he had not heard her voice, he thinks he should not have known her. – Her face flushed with liquor; her person emaciated by disease; and reduced almost to a skeleton.