It is not easy to surmise the
reason why the reverend doctor, your predecessor, concealed it. Being
a subject of a free government, and I suppose fall of the divinity most
in fashion, he could not fear lest his riches should expose him to
persecution. Nor can I suppose that he held it any disgrace for a
dignitary of the church to be wealthy, at a time when churchmen in
general spare no pains to become so. But the wisdom of some men has a
droll sort of knavishness in it, much like that of a magpie, who hides
what he finds with a deal of contrivance, merely for the pleasure of
doing it.
"Mrs. Unwin is tolerably well. She wishes me to add that she shall be
obliged to Mrs. Newton, if, when an opportunity offers, she will give
the worsted-merchant a jog. We congratulate you that Eliza does not
grow worse, which I know you expected would be the case in the course
of the winter. Present our love to her. Remember us to Sally Johnson,
and assure yourself that we remain as warmly as ever,
"Yours,
W.
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