Can time, can di&longs;tance, can ab&longs;ence
allay, or extingui&longs;h the &longs;entiments of refined affection,
the ardor of true love? No, my dear
Eliza. If I may judge by my own heart, I &longs;hall
&longs;ay they cannot. Amid&longs;t the parade which
has attended me, the intere&longs;ting &longs;cenes in which
I have been engaged, and the weighty cares,
which have occupied my attention, your idea
has been the &longs;olace of my retired moments;
the &longs;oother of every anxious thought. I recal,
with plea&longs;ure, the conver&longs;ation which we have

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&longs;hared. I dwell with rapture on the marks of
favor which I have received from you. My
fir&longs;t wi&longs;h is the continuance and increa&longs;e of the&longs;e
favors; my highe&longs;t ambition, to de&longs;erve them.
I look forward and anticipate with impatience,
the future enjoyment of your &longs;ociety; and hope
we &longs;hall one day experience the reality of tho&longs;e
beautiful lines of Thomp&longs;on:


—“An elegant &longs;ufficiency,
Content, retirement, rural quiet, friend&longs;hip;
Books, ea&longs;e and alternate labor, u&longs;eful life;
Progreflive virtue, and approving heaven;
The&longs;e are the matchle&longs;s joys of virtuous love.”

Mr. Selby, my particular friend, will have the
honor of delivering this letter. He will be able
to give you any information, relative to our public
tran&longs;actions, which you may wi&longs;h. May I
&longs;olicit the favor of a line, through him, in return?
It will relieve, in &longs;ome mea&longs;ure, the tediousness
of this &longs;eparation. I intend to pay my
re&longs;pects to you per&longs;onally, in about a fortnight;
till when, I &longs;ub&longs;cribe my&longs;elf your &longs;incere and affectionate
friend,

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