Ignatius Sancho

“ May God’s providence watch over and protect them—and all such!—Your brother Frank is a sweet boy—a painter, who would wish to draw a cherub, will find no fitter subject.—The C——ds—but what have I to do with good people, who will of course all write for themselves?—so let them.—Your father—Oh Jack! what a cordial!—what a rich luxury is it to be able to contribute, by well-doing, to a father’s, nay a whole family of kindred love, and heart-felt affection! what a bliss to add to all their happiness—and to insure your own at the same time!—May this high pleasure be thine! ”

“ The world affords me many such instances—but in the course of my reading, I have not met with his likeness, except in mere goodness of heart—in that, perhaps, Jack M—— may equal him—but then he is so confounded jingle-headed!—Read, boy, read—give Tom Jones a second fair reading!—Fielding’s wit is obvious—his humour poignant—dialogue just, and truly dramatic—colouring quite nature—and keeping chaste.—Sterne equals him in every thing; and in one thing excels him and all mankind—which is the distribution of his lights ”

“ I——, who—like a simple fellow with a palish phiz—crazy head—and hair of a pretty colour—an aukward loon—whom I do sometimes care about—who has more wit than money—more good sense than wit—more urbanity than sense—and more pride than some princes—a chap who talks well—writes better—and means much better than he either speaks or indites—a careless son of nature, who rides without thinking—tumbles down without hurt—and gets up again without swearing—who can—in short, he is such an excentric phizpoop—such a vessel!—a new skin full of old wine is the best type of him—know you such a one? ”

“ For my own part, I feel myself ten years older this year than the last.—Time tries us all—but, blessed be God! in the end we shall be an over-match for Time, and leave him, scythe and all, in the lurch—when we shall all enjoy a blessed Eternity.—In this view, and under the same hope, we are as great, yea, as respectable and consequential—as Statesmen! ”

“ You much surprize us in the account of your late fair visitant—but pleased us more in the account of O——’s success: the season has been, through God’s blessing, as favourable as his friends;—he is a lucky soul.—The S——s are both well, I hope, to whom pray be so kind to remember us:—as to friend R——, tell him, that whatever censure his omissions in writing may draw upon him, when the goodness of his heart, and urbanity of soul, is flung into the other scale, the faulty scale kicks the beam—we forgive, because we love—and love sees no faults. ”

“ Fie, fie upon him! how can he enjoy any good alone? He should take a partner, to lead him gently down the hill of life—to superintend his linen and his meat;—to give sweet poignancy to his beverage—and talk him to sleep on nights.—Pray tell him all I say—and also that the majority are killing up the minority as fast as they can:—nothing but duels, and rumours of duels.—But is it now time to finish? ”

“ I have to thank you for a very obliging and friendly letter—which I should have done much sooner, could I have complied with your kind wishes in giving a better account of myself;—my better self has been but poorly for some time—she groans with the rheumatism—and I grunt with the gout—a pretty concert!—Life is thick-sown with troubles—and we have no right to exemption.—The children, thank God! ”

“ She looks open—honest—intelligently sensible—good-natured—easy—polite and kind;—knowledge enough of the world to render her company desireable—and age just sufficient to form her opinions, and fix her principles;—add to all this an agreeable face, good teeth, and a certain Je ne sai quoi (forgive the spelling, and do not betray me) :—but I say again, and again—when one has formed a great opinion of either male or female, ’tis best, for that opinion’s sake, to look no further—there, rogue! ”

“ After a long tedious voyage, you happily reached the haven of your repose—found your friends well—and rejoiced their hearts by presenting, not a prodigal, but a duteous, worthy, and obedient child;—theirs be the joy—but yours will be the gain.—As sure as light follows the rising of the sun, and darkness the setting of it;—so sure is goodness even in this life its own reward of course. ”

“ Gardner has hit off her likeness exceeding well;—my chimney-piece now—fairly imitates the times—a flashy fine outside—the only intrinsic nett worth, in my possession, is Mrs. Sancho—whom I can compare to nothing so properly as to a diamond in the dirt—but, my friend, that is Fortune’s fault, not mine—for had I power, I would case her in gold.—When heard you from our friend Mr. ”

“ Improve yourself, my dear Jack, that if it should please God to return you to your friends with the fortune of a man in upper rank, the embellishments of your mind may be ever considered as greatly superior to your riches—and only inferior to the goodness of your heart. ”

“ DO not you condemn me for the very thing that you are guilty of yourself;—but before I recriminate—let me be grateful, and acknowledge that heartfelt satisfaction which I ever feel from the praise of the good.—Sterne says—‘every worthy mind loves praise’—and declares that he loves it too—but then it must be sincere. ”

“ Sancho smiles in the pains which it has pleased Providence to try her with—and her belief in a better existence is her cordial drop,—Adieu; bring health with you, and the sight of you will glad us all. ”

“ In short, such arts and minds (if there be many such, so much the better) , such beings I say, as the one I am now scribbling to, should make elections of wide different beings than Black-a-moors, for their friends:—the reason is obvious;—from Othello to Sancho the big, we are either foolish, or mulish—all, all without a single exception.—Tell me, I pray you—and tell me truly—were there any Black-a-moors in the Ark?—Pooh! ”

“ I am convinced that the general inhumanity of mankind proceeds—first, from the cursed false principle of common education;—and, secondly, from a total indifference (if not disbelief) of the Christian faith;—a heart and mind impressed with a firm belief of the Christian tenets, must of course exercise itself in a constant uniform general philanthropy:—such a being carries his heaven in his breast!—and such be thou! ”

“ I do not know, in the whole circle of human beings, two people whom I would sooner wish to have got it;—neither, in my poor judgement, could it have fallen with a probability of being better used in any other hands. The blessings of decent competency you have been used to from early childhood:—your minds have been well cultivated—virtuous and prudent in your conduct, you have enjoyed the only true riches (a good name) long;—your power of doing good will certainly be amply increased ”

“ I do not wish you to be any other than nice in what new acquaintance you make. As to friendship, it is a mistake—real friendships are not hastily made—friendship is a plant of slow growth, and, like our English oak, spreads—is more majestically beautiful, and increases in shade, strength, and riches, as it increases in years. I pity your poor head, for this confounded scrawl of mine is enough to give the head-ach to the strongest [p. 11] brain in the kingdom—so remember I quit the pen unwillingly, having not said half what I meant ”

“ S*** is a riddle—I will serve him if I can—were I rich, he should have no reason to despise me—but he must learn to try to serve himself—I wish you would throw your good sense upon paper for him—advice from one of his own years would sink deeper than the fusty phlegmatic saws of an old man—do, in charity, give him half an hour’s labour—I do really think that you and S*** have sense enough for a dozen young fellows—and if it pleased God it were so divided—they would each be happier, wiser, and richer, than S*** or M——. ”

“ But stop—we know good from evil; and, in serious truth, we have powers sufficient to withstand vice, if we will choose to exert ourselves. In the field, if we know the strength and situation of the enemy, we place out-posts and centinels—and take every prudent method to avoid surprize. In common life, we must do the same;—and trust me, my honest friend, a victory gained over passion, immorality, and pride, deserves Te Deums, better than those gained in the fields of ambition and blood.—Here’s letter for letter, and so farewell,
Yours—as you behave,
I. SANCHO. ”

“ I labour up hill against many difficuties; but God’s goodness is my support, and his word my trust.—Mrs. Sancho joins me in her best wishes, and gives you joy also: the children are well—William grows, and tries his feet briskly—and Fanny goes on well in her tambour-work;—Mary must learn some business or other—if we can possibly atchieve money;—but we have somehow no friends—and, bless God!—we deserve no enemies. ”

“ Young man, thou canst not discern wood from trees;—with awe and reverence look up to thy more than parents—look up to thy almost divine benefactors—search into the motive of every glorious action—retrace thine own history—and [p. 39] when you are convinced that they (like the All-gracious Power they serve) go about in mercy doing good—retire abashed at the number of their virtues—and humbly beg the Almighty to inspire and give you strength to imitate them.—Happy, happy lad! what a fortune is thine!—Look round upon the miserable fate of almost all of our unfortunate colour. ”

“ When Royal David—in the intoxication of success and fullness of pride—imprudently insisted upon the numbering of his people—we are told, the Prophet was sent to announce the Divine displeasure—and to give him the choice of one of the three of the Almighty’s heaviest punishments:—in his choice—he shewed both wisdom and true piety—you know the rest.—Now, my friend—thou knowest my weakness;—I sincerely believe the Sacred Writ—and of course look upon war in all its horrid arrangements as the bitterest curse that can fall upon a people ”

“ You may safely conclude now, that you have not many friends in England:—be it your study, with attention, kindness, humility, and industry, to make friends where you are.—Industry, with good-nature and honesty, is the road to wealth.—A wise œconomy—without avaricious meanness, or dirty rapacity—will in a few years render you decently independent. ”

“ I have only time to thank you for the leaves, and to lament your want of perspicuity in writing.—My love to George when you see him—and two loves to Nancy—tell her I could fold her to my bosom with the same tender pressure I do my girls—shut my eyes—draw her to my heart—and call her Daughter!—and thou, monkey-face, write me a decent letter—or you shall have another trimming from yours,
I. SANCHO.
[p. 102]
Look’ye Sir, I write to the ringing of the shop-door bell—I write—betwixt serving—gossiping—and lying. Alas! what cramps to poor genius! ”

“ Sancho had no cloaths off;—but you know the woman. Nature never formed a tenderer heart—take her for all in [p. 232] all—the mother—wife—friend—she does credit to her sex—she has the rare felicity of possessing true virtue without arrogance—softness without weakness—and dignity without pride:—she is ——’s full sister, without his foibles—and, to my inexpressible happiness, she is my wife, and truly best part, without a single tinge of my defects—Poor Kitty! happy Kitty I should say, drew her rich prize early—wish her joy! and joy to Mortimer! ”

“ Tell your girls that I will kiss them twice in the same place—troth, a poor reward;—but more than that—I will respect them in my heart, amidst the casual foibles of worldly prejudice and common usage.—I shall look to their charitable hearts, and that shall spread a crown of glory over every transient defect.—— The poor woman brings this in her hand;—she means to thank you—your noble L——, your good girls—her benefactors—her saviours. ”

“ The circle of your acquaintance is at present circumscribed—I mean in the artist line:—now in case you connect yourself in a business which requires constant daily perambulation—the chances are on your side for forming acquaintance—perhaps friendships—with men of genius and abilities, which may happily change the colour of your fortunes—the old proverb is on your side—“two heads,” &c.—and very fortunately in your case, where in fact one has wit, and the other judgement,—the chair of interest will have its compleat furniture in the two top ornaments—and honesty for its basis. ”

“ I hope he will take example by what he sees in you—and you, young man, remember, if you should unhappily fall into bad company, that example is only the fool’s plea, and the rogue’s excuse, for doing wrong things:—you have a turn for reflection, and a steadiness, which, aided by the best of social dispositions, must make your company much coveted, and your person loved.—Forgive me for presuming to dictate, when I well know you have many friends much more able, from knowledge and better sense—though I deny—a better will. ”

“ Portsmouth.—I have now to inform you, that his Grace followed her October 21st this year; just fifteen months after his good Dutchess, full of years and honors: he is gone to join his Dutchess, and share in the rewards of a righteous God, who alone knew their merits, and alone could reward them.
Thus it has pleased God to take your props to himself;—teaching you a lesson, at the same time, to depend upon an honest exertion of your own industry—and humbly to trust in the Almighty. ”

“ Garrick’s letter night and morning—put it next your heart—impress it on your memory—and may the God of all Mercy give you grace to follow his friendly dictates!—I shall ever truly rejoice to hear from you—and your well-doing will be a comfort to me ever; it is not in your own power and option [p. 38] to command riches—wisdom and health are immediately the gift of God—but it is in your own breast to be good—therefore, my dear child, make the only right election—be good, and trust the rest to God ”