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his happiness in London, it was not on account of any discontent or wayward disposition of his, but only the Strong prepossession prepossession that he has for Solitude & his native Spot made me doubt how far he may ever be reconciled to our great scene of Action, his conduct as I have always told you has been amiable & pleasing, his Even Temper, Modesty & patience are remarkable & You well know his talents for his profession could not fail to satisfy me: I have uniformly discountenanced Time being frittered in trifling employments as the bane of excellence \as we see/ particularly in the higher & lower ranks of Society, but when the health required attention after having eluded the power of Medicine as is Thomas's case, it seems that his Native Air &c is the only remedy & it my [sic] serious wish that he may follow his present regimen 'till his Constitution is confirmed which will give him the best chance of proceeding in the study of his profession with adequate Success when he returns to town; as to his being removed from our family, believe me my Dear Friend we never had the most distant Idea of it, much less of giving you the trouble & expence of sending M:^rs Mary to town we only wish his health to be restored that we may go on according to our first intention, & I wish him as much felicity & success as Yourself in all his undertakings, one Thing I must hint which may have something to do with his present Complaint illeg