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but I reached Home before 4 on Sunday, & luckily Administered at that Hour the very Medecine [sic] which our Physician, illeg, who was abroad, could not send over till 9 the same Evening – Indeed the sight of me did the poor Patient some service, for all my domestics are foolish enough to think, that they are much securer from death, when their master is at Home, than when He is abroad, & there is so much affection in this Folly, that I am myself fool enough to be pleased with it - my Gardiner [sic] once lost a fine little Boy, while I was absent, & on my return, as I endeavoured to console Him, the poor Fellow burst into Tears & said: “ah Sir!” if you had been at Home, I should not have lost Him” — My sick Handmaid has I believe been a little indebted to this foolish Confidence in her Master^s medical skill, for her hasty recovery; for recovered She is in a great degree, tho still very weak & languid & most wretchedly emaciated since I set out for the North — my old Woman however is more blooming than ever, & the dear little adopted Alphonso is all Life & Spirit – His Eye did not at first recollect me, & He stared at me as a stranger, but the moment I addressed Him in my usual Language, He flew to me & expressed his delight at my return by a thousand little whimsical Endearments of the most engaging Nature.

Adieu I frequently in Idea transport myself to those scenes yr Verses so sweetly describe - would I could as quickly do so in reality - God bless you - Farewell & believe me ever yr affec

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