Date: 1782

"You also are indebted to Mr. O--, Bond-street--what little things of that kind you can recollect--pay as soon as you are able--it will spunge out many evil traces of things past--from the hearts and heads of your enemies--create you a better name--and pave the way for your return some years henc...

— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)

Date: 1782

"Let not the levity of frothy wit--nor the absurdity of fools break in upon your happier principles--your dependence upon the Deity--address the Almighty with fervor--with love and simplicity--carry his laws in your heart--and command both worlds;--but I meant mere fatherly advice, and I have wro...

— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)

Date: 1782

"I chewed the cud of sweet remembrance, and with a heart and mind in pretty easy plight, gained the castle of peace and innocence about nine o'clock."

— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)

Date: 1782

"Alas! there are some stupid souls, formed of such phlegmatic, adverse materials, that you might sooner strike conception into a flannel petticoat--or out of one--(now keep your temper I beg, sweet Sir) than convince their simple craniums that six and seven makes thirteen."

— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)

Date: 1782

"No! why then thou art a silly fellow--incumbered with three abominable inmates;--to wit--Conscience--Honesty--and Good-nature--I hate thee (as the Jew says) because thou art a Christian."

— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)

Date: 1782

"Mine and Mrs. Sancho's thanks for your genteel present attend you, Mrs. W--, and the worthy circle round!--may every year be productive of new happiness in the fullest sense of true wisdom--the riches of the heart and mind!"

— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)

Date: 1782

"I shall fancy myself amongst you about the time you will get this--I paint in my imagination the winning smiles, and courteously kind welcome, in the face of a certain lady, whom I cannot help caring for with the decent pleasingly demure countenance of the little C-- Squire B--, with the jovial ...

— Sancho, Charles Ignatius (1729-1780)

Date: w. October 27, 1777, printed 1788

"In a man's letters, you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirror of his breast, whatever passes within him is shown undisguised in its natural process."

— Johnson, Samuel (1709-1784)

Date: w. August 30, 1783, printed 1788

"I advised our Miss H--- to the same remedy, but have a notion her mind is haunted by one particular image; if so, nothing will cure her; for if the heart be broken 'tis broken like a looking-glass, and the smallest piece will for ever preserve and reflect the same figure till 'tis again ground d...

— Piozzi, [née Salusbury; other married name Thrale] Hester Lynch (1741-1821)

Date: April 5, 1781, 1788

"Cultivated ground has few weeds; a mind occupied by lawful business, has little room for useless regret."

— Johnson, Samuel (1709-1784)