Thursday noon
[10th January 1788]
I am certain I saw you, Clarinda; but you don’t look to the proper
story for a Poet’s lodging—
“Where Speculation roosted near the sky”—
I could almost have thrown myself over, for very vexation—Why
didn’t you look higher? It has spoilt my peace for this day—To be
so near my charming Clarinda; to miss her look when it was
searching for me—I am sure the soul is capable of disease, for mine
has convulsed itself into an inflamatory fever.—
I am sorry for your little boy: do, let me know tomorrow how he
is—You have converted me, Clarinda.—(l shall love that name while
I live: there is heavenly music in it.—) Booth and Amelia I know
well.— Your sentiments on that subject, as they are on every
subject, are just and noble.—”To be feelingly alive to kindness—and
to unkindness,” is a charming female character.—
What I said in my last letter, the Powers of fuddling sociality only
know for me—By yours, I understand my good Star has been partly
in my horizon, when I got wild in my reveries—Had that evil Planet
which has almost all my life shed its baleful rays on my devoted
head, been, as usual, in my zenith [sic], I had certainly blab’d
something that would have pointed out to you the dear Object of
my tenderest friendship, and, in spite of me—something more—Had
that fatal information escaped me, and it was merely chance or kind
stars that it did not; I had been undone! you would never have wrote
me, except perhaps once, more!—O, I could curse circumstances!
and the coarse tie of human laws which keep fast what Common
Sense would loose; and which bars that happiness itself cannot give—
Happiness which otherwise Love and Honor would warrant! But
hold—I shall make no more “hairbreadth ‘scapes”—
My friendship, Clarinda, is a life-rent business—My Likings are both strong, and eternal—I told you I had but one Male friend: I have but
two female—I should have a third, but she is surrounded by
the blandishments of Flattery and Courtship—Her I register in my
heart’s core—by Peggy Chalmers—Miss Nimmo can tell you how
divine she is—She is worthy of a place in the same bosom with my Clarinda.—That is the highest compliment I can pay her.—
Farewel, Clarinda! Remember
Sylvander
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