even so far as to see me, I know is in vain or I certainly would ask it.  You impose Carthusian shackles on Yourself, Will not quit your cell, nor will speak above once a week.  I am glad to hear of you, and to see your hand, though you make that as much like print as you can.  If you were to be tempted abroad, it would be a pilgrimage:  and I can lure you even with that.  My chapel is finished, and the shrine will actually be placed in less than a fortnight.  My father is said to have said, that every man had his price.  You are a Beatus, indeed, if you resist a shrine.  Why should not you add to your claustral virtues that of a peregrination to Strawberry?  You will find me quite alone in July.  Consider, Strawberry is almost the last monastery left, at least in England.  Poor Mr. Bateman’s is despoiled.  Lord Bateman has stripped and plundered it:  has sequestered the best things, has advertised the site, and is dirtily selling by auction what he neither would keep, nor can sell for a sum that is worth while.  I was hurt to see half the ornaments of the chapel, and the reliquaries, and in short a thousand trifles, exposed to sneers.  I am buying a few to keep for the founder’s sake.  Surely it is very indecent for a favourite relation, who is rich, to show so little remembrance and affection.  I suppose Strawberry will have the same fate!  It has already happened to two of my friends.  Lord Bristol got his mother’s house from his brother, by persuading her he was in love with it.  He let it in a month after she was dead band all her favourite pictures and ornaments, which she had ordered not to be removed, are mouldering in a garret!  You are in the right to care so little for a world where there is no measure but avoirdupois.  Adieu!  Yours sincerely.

Letter 67 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Strawberry Hill, May 28, 1774. (page 91)

Nothing will be more agreeable to me’, dear Sir, than a visit from you in July.  I will try to persuade Mr. Granger to meet you; and if you had any such thing as summer in the fens, I would desire you to bring a bag with you.  We are almost freezing here in the midst of beautiful verdure, with a profusion of blossoms and flowers; but I keep good fires, and seem to feel warm weather while I look through the window; for the way to ensure summer in England, is to have it framed and glazed in a comfortable room.

I shall be still more glad to hear you are settled in Your living.  Burnham is almost in my neighbourhood; and its being in that of Eton and Windsor, will more than console you, I hope, for leaving Ely and Cambridge.  Pray let me know the moment you are certain.  It would now be a disappointment to me as well as you.  You shall be inaugurated in my chapel, which is much more venerable than your parish church, and has the genuine air of antiquity.  I bought very little of poor Mr. Bateman’s.  His nephew disposed of little that was worth houseroom, and Yet pulled the whole to pieces.