’I cannot but think that in my languid and anxious state, I have some reason to complain that I receive from you neither enquiry nor consolation.  You know how much I value your friendship, and with what confidence I expect your kindness, if I wanted any act of tenderness that you could perform; at least, if you do not know it, I think your ignorance is your own fault.  Yet how long is it that I have lived almost in your neighbourhood without the least notice.  I do not, however, consider this neglect as particularly shown to me; I hear two of your most valuable friends make the same complaint.  But why are all thus overlooked?  You are not oppressed by sickness, you are not distracted by business; if you are sick, you are sick of leisure:—­And allow yourself to be told, that no disease is more to be dreaded or avoided.  Rather to do nothing than to do good, is the lowest state of a degraded mind.  Boileau says to his pupil,

     ’Que les vers ne soient pas votre eternel emploi,
      Cultivez vos amis[1091].’—­

That voluntary debility, which modern language is content to term indolence, will, if it is not counteracted by resolution, render in time the strongest faculties lifeless, and turn the flame to the smoke of virtue.  I do not expect nor desire to see you, because I am much pleased to find that your mother stays so long with you, and I should think you neither elegant nor grateful, if you did not study her gratification.  You will pay my respects to both the ladies, and to all the young people.  I am going Northward for a while, to try what help the country can give me; but, if you will write, the letter will come after me.’

Next day he set out on a jaunt to Staffordshire and Derbyshire, flattering himself that he might be in some degree relieved.

During his absence from London he kept up a correspondence with several of his friends, from which I shall select what appears to me proper for publication, without attending nicely to chronological order.

To Dr. BROCKLESBY, he writes, Ashbourne, July 20:—­

’The kind attention which you have so long shewn to my health and happiness, makes it as much a debt of gratitude as a call of interest, to give you an account of what befals me, when accident recovers[1092] me from your immediate care.  The journey of the first day was performed with very little sense of fatigue; the second day brought me to Lichfield, without much lassitude; but I am afraid that I could not have borne such violent agitation for many days together.  Tell Dr. Heberden, that in the coach I read Ciceronianus which I concluded as I entered Lichfield.  My affection and understanding went along with Erasmus, except that once or twice he somewhat unskilfully entangles Cicero’s civil or moral, with his rhetorical, character.  I staid five days at Lichfield, but, being unable to walk, had no great pleasure, and yesterday (19th) I came hither, where I am to try what air and