Nothing should have caused me to /delay/ thanking you for your very interesting and kind letter but a painful disorder in my eyes, not the sight but lids. For these 8 Weeks I have not read as many pages, and I ought not to write. When my eyes are better I hope to say more, and express my /interest in/ all your concerns, as nothing that relates to you can be indifferent to me.

You will see by the inclosed that I have embarked in another of my adventurous Sallies. Will you /will/ have the goodness to circulate it It pleases my heavenly Father to have spared me to a great age, to give me more time for repentance and preparation. Thro the piety and kindness of an excellent young Lady, a Niece to Lord Exmouth who almost lives with me, I am enabled to carry on my numerous distant Schools, Female friendly Societies &c. She is hands and eyes to me.

I see too much company, most of them indeed are among ‘ the excellent of the Earth'^[1] and such as delight in virtue. But I need more retirement.