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Eartham July 21
1782

My dear Sister

The severe disappointment, which your last affectionate Letter announced to us, stiffled [sic] the delight, which would otherwise have instantly arisen from the poetical Treasure it inclosed.— I could only reply to you, in the moment, by a few sorry Verses, expressive of the pain we felt in the unwelcome Idea of not seeing you at Eartham – But as our nature is too sanguine to let a delightful Hope expire, while there is any possibility of keeping it alive, we are now amusing ourselves with new prospects of attracting you to this beautiful village in the glowing Month of August, when our Scenery is peculiarly enchanting, & when the presence of our Friend Romney will furnish us with new attractive powers to draw you Hither — We reluctantly subscribe to the Truth of your good Father^s Opinion, that a journey to the South is too great an attempt for his Age & Infirmities — But as He has most generously expressed a Wish (for which we love & admire Him) that you should visit Sussex without that painful Anxiety, which