He then very solemnly embraced me, as I did him:  and we parted.

I heartily congratulate your Lordship on the narrow escape each gentleman has had from the other:  for I apprehend that they could not have met without fatal consequences.

Time, I hope, which subdues all things, will subdue their resentments.  I am, my Lord,

Your Lordship’s most faithful and obedient servant,
J. Belford.

Several other letters passed between Miss Howe and Mr. Belford, relating
      to the disposition of the papers and letters; to the poor’s fund;
      and to other articles of the Lady’s will:  wherein the method of
      proceeding in each case was adjusted.  After which the papers were
      returned to Mr. Belford, that he might order the two directed
      copies of them to be taken.

In one of these letters Mr. Belford requests Miss Howe to give the
      character of the friend she so dearly loved:  ’A task, he imagines,
      that will be as agreeable to herself, as worthy of her pen.’

‘I am more especially curious to know,’ says he, ’what was that
      particular disposition of her time, which I find mentioned in a
      letter which I have just dipt into, where her sister is enviously
      reproaching her on that score.* This information may
      enable me,’ says he, ’to account for what has often surprised me: 
      how, at so tender an age, this admirable lady became mistress of
      such extraordinary and such various qualifications.’

* See Vol.  I. Letter XLII.

LETTER LV

Miss Howe, to John Belford, Esq. 
Thursday, Oct. 12.

SIR,

I am incapable of doing justice to the character of my beloved friend; and that not only from want of talents, but from grief; which, I think, rather increases than diminishes by time; and which will not let me sit down to a task that requires so much thought, and a greater degree of accuracy than I ever believed myself mistress of.  And yet I so well approve of your motion, that I will throw into your hands a few materials, that may serve by way of supplement, as I may say, to those you will be able to collect from the papers themselves; from Col.  Morden’s letters to you, particularly that of Sept. 23;* and from the letters of the detestable wretch himself, who, I find, has done her justice, although to his own condemnation:  all these together will enable you, who seem to be so great an admirer of her virtues, to perform the task; and, I think, better than any person I know.  But I make it my request, that if you do any thing in this way, you will let me see it.  If I find it not to my mind, I will add or diminish, as justice shall require.  She was a wonderful creature from her infancy:  but I suppose you intend to give a character of her at those years when she was qualified to be an example to other young ladies, rather than a history of her life.