night, I had the force to cover up my head in the bed-clothes, so that I could not hear another word that was said. The only inconvenience attending a similar prudential line of conduct in the present case is, that it may seem like a deficiency of spirit; but I am not much afraid of that being laid to my charge--my fault in early life (I hope long since corrected) having lain rather the other way. And so I say, with mine honest Prior,-- "Sleep, Philo, untouch'd, on my peaceable shelf, Nor take it amiss that so little I heed thee; I've no malice at thee, and some love for myself-- Then why should I answer, since first I must read thee?" [Footnote 56: _Twelfth Night_, Act II. Scene 3.] So you are getting finely on in London. I own I am very glad of it. I am glad the banditti act like banditti, because it will make men of property look round them in time. This country is very like the toys which folks buy for children, and which, tumble them about in any way the urchins will, are always brought to their feet again, by the lead deposited in their extremities. The mass of property has the same effect on our Constitution, and is a sort of ballast which will always _right_ the vessel, to use a sailor's phrase, and bring it to its due equipoise. Ministers have acted most sillily in breaking up the burgher volunteers in large towns. On the contrary, the service should have been made coercive. Such men have a moral effect upon the minds of the populace, besides their actual force, and are so much interested in keeping good order, that you may always rely on them, especially as a corps in which there is necessarily a common {p.141} spirit of union and confidence. But all this is nonsense again, quoth my Uncle Toby to himself. Adieu, my dear Lady Louisa; my sincere good wishes always attend you. W. S.