loftiness, and he begins to think I have some genius:  as if genius and assurance were the same thing!  But his imbecile attempts to depress me only deserve laughter.  I say thus much to you, knowing that you will not make a bad use of it.  But it is a fact too true that, if I had only depended on mortal things, both myself and my wife must have been lost.  I shall leave every one in this country astonished at my patience and forbearance of injuries upon injuries; and I do assure you that, if I could have returned to London a month after my arrival here, I should have done so.  But I was commanded by my spiritual friends to bear all and be silent, and to go through all without murmuring, and, in fine, to hope till my three years should be almost accomplished; at which time I was set at liberty to remonstrate against former conduct, and to demand justice and truth; which I have done in so effectual a manner that my antagonist is silenced completely, and I have compelled what should have been of freedom—­my just right as an artist and as a man.  And if any attempt should be made to refuse me this, I am inflexible, and will relinquish any engagement of designing at all, unless altogether left to my own judgement, as you, my dear friend, have always left me; for which I shall never cease to honour and respect you.

When we meet, I will perfectly describe to you my conduct and the conduct of others towards me, and you will see that I have laboured hard indeed, and have been borne on angels’ wings.  Till we meet I beg of God our Saviour to be with you and me, and yours and mine.  Pray give my and my wife’s love to Mrs. Butts and family, and believe me to remain

Yours in truth and sincerity.

MARY LEADBEATER

1758-1826

TO EDMUND BURKE

Reply to his last letter

28 May, 1797.

With a heart melted to overflowing, I cannot restrain the attempt to express my grateful sensations on receiving the greatest, and, alas!  I fear, the last proof of that unvarying friendship with which our ever-loved, our ever-honoured friend has favoured us!  I may transgress the bounds by intruding at this awful period; but I cannot help it.  My affection and my sorrow will be excused, I believe, for thou hast ever looked kindly and partially upon me, and so has thy beloved wife, with whose feelings I sympathize, could that avail.  This day’s post brought me thy letter of the 23rd instant, dictated and signed by thee.  Such attention, at such a time, and in such a situation!  It was like Edmund Burke!  It was like few others, but it is not bestowed upon hearts who do not feel it.—­I look back on that friendship formed in the precious days of innocent childhood, between thee and my lamented parent.—­I trace its progress, which is so imprinted on my mind, that I almost seem to myself to have been a witness to it.—­I