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of Mrs W's which came on Saturday by the Post and which
she wrote least I should not have received or not have done any
thing in consequence of her first.
After the conversation I had with W. on Thursday night, and
it ran in my head so strongly that he was thinking of going off,
that in the answer which I wrote that night to Mrs W. I did what
I now had rather have let alone. I knew from her having said that by means of
Mrs D's letter she was informed that I
as well as Mrs D. &c knew
how desperate his affairs are. I therefore told her without disguise,
tho' without any unfavourable comment, what had passed between him and me on
the subject of her letter. I thought that might be a means of preparing
her for the event of his going off should it take place:
and that it was better so, than that it should come all at once upon her like a clap
of thunder. At the same time I did not give her the most distant
hint of my own suspicion: only that I looked upon it as a matter
of uncertainty whether she would see him on the Friday so soon as she wished.
I did another thing. I was apprehensive he might have left her
destitute of money, and thinking there might be nobody on the spot
she could apply to decently. I sent her a Bank note of £10, giving
reasons and making apologies such as you may imagine. I thought that
if he were to go off her situation might be dreadful: and Mrs
D. is so far off in point of hostage, that if it would be a long time before
she could get any assistance from her. Luckily I had a
frank by me. All this I made two letters of: one which she wou'd
have to shew to W. of course: and another which I told her she might shew
to him or not as she thought proper. I saw inconveniences in all
this as you may imagine: but they seemed less than the mischiefs
which I dreaded. I took that opportunity of sending her my poetical
Epistle.
When W. was with me on the Friday morning he gave me a
note as for me which upon looking at I found was designed for you.
You will find it herewith enclosed.
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Identifier: | JB/538/102/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 538.
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1777-03-09 |
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538 |
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102 |
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001 |
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Correspondence |
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Jeremy Bentham |
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