rec^d April 12^th. 1785
24

MarchApril 7 -- I am now ma chere Amie at
my estimable friend's, at Moston near
Chester -- M^rs. Mosley has lately presented
her husband with a very fine Boy, and
I came here to make him personally
my Compl^ts. of Congratulation -- M^r. M——
has given me a convincing proof of his
friendship for me -- which may be of Servic[e]
to us -- he wishes very much that I w^d.
contrive to live near him in Staffordshir[e]
where he is building an house -- which is
only a few miles distant from y^r- amiable
Relation Lady F. Harpur -- in a cheap & pleasant
country -- we sh^d. be excellent Neighbours --
for we have a very great regard for each other
and I must do him the justice to say -- that
he poʃseses the best Heart and the best princi-

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ples of any Man I ever met with -- his failings
(of which he has only a moderate share) are
merely foibles -- Vice of every Kind, he is an
entire and perfect Stranger to -- and his
Virtues have endeared him to me -- he has
a good fortune and lives within it --
On the 3^d I wrote to my dear Mary and on
the 5^th-- came here to spend a few days -- The
Assizes are now at Chester -- 6^th. We paʃsed
the greatest part of our time in hearing
the trials of the poor Culprits -- one Man was
condemned for burglary -- Pepper Arden my
Lord Judge^[1] -- was so much affected previous to
the delivery of the awful Sentence, that I thought
he w^d. not have been able to have gone thrō. it
We dined with a relation of mine -- who lately
married a Lady with a fortune of 3000^£ -- and the
pretty creature, to shew her taste -- laid out
no more than 5000^£ for the furniture of their
house -- in the evening we returned to the

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Castle to hear a curious trial -- in consequence
of an Action that was brought against a Man
for presuming to give a young Lady a Kiʃs --
as to my part, I hardly understand the meaning
of the word -- but hope that you will not
allways allow me to remain in a State of
Ignorance -- This extraordinary trial -- lasted
5 hours -- in the course of it a very beautiful
Woman of Character underwent a long Examination to the
infinite entertainment of the Court -- I was
quite in pain for her -- The poor Man was
condemned to pay a fine of 20 Shillings, and
probably would pay it with the greatest Reluctan[ce]
and think the favor a very dear purchase --
      How superlatively happy sh^d. I be to steal a
Kiʃs from my deareʃt and most amiable friend
and afterwards be condemned to take a 1000
more -- that pleasure I hope will not be
long denied to me -- as a little time
will give me a right to claim that favor

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won't you say that I am very impertinent
or some such sort of thing? -- Had I been
a determined old Batchelor -- the happineʃs
which my friend enjoys with his amiable
Partner would have staggered the firmest
resolutions -- I never saw two people more
adapted for each other, and consequently are
as happy as they can be in this world --
M^r. M—— has been upon many Accounts extremely
fortunate -- from his strong partiality to
a domestick Life -- which I think he carries
too far -- there was great reason to suppose
that he would not meet with a woman of
his turn of Mind -- particularly when fortune
alone was the first Consideration -- in
this instance he has been succeʃsful, as M^rs. M
is every thing he c^d. poʃsibly wish, and has
brought him a fortune of 40,000£ -- and

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much more is settled upon his Children --
He tells me, that he does not know what
will become of him if his Father should
die before him -- for an increase of income
of 5000^£ a Year w^d ruin his happineʃs,
as he would not know how to make a proper
use of so much Money -- his present In-
-come being fully adequate to supply
all his Neceʃsities, and to procure him
all the enjoyments of Life that would
be suitable to his Ideas and disposition
      I have heard of an instance of generosity
in the Inhabitants of Chester, which
pleased me -- there was lately a dreadful
Fever in the town which raged with the
greatest violence amongst the poor American
Refugees -- A M^r. Skinner who had given

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up an Estate in America of 3000^£ a Year was
attacked, to gether with his wife, and a
beautiful and amiable Daughter, with
this dire disease -- they were reduced to
the last extreme of misery and despair, not
having a single morsel of Bread or one
poor penny in the world -- their situation
being made known to the opulent -- there were
none who were blest with tender feelings
that did not contribute to the relief
of this unhappy family -- a great many
Bank Notes were sent to them in blank
Covers, and presents were made to them, in
such a manner, as could not wound their
delicacy -- to the amount of 260^£ in one day --
      This unfortunate Man was bereft of his
Wife and D—— -- and upon his recovery, being  ------ the first
time he went to church he gave thanks

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publickly for the restoration of his Health -- to
his Maker -- and expreʃsed his Gratitude to his
unknown and generous Benefactors in a
very handsome Manner. -- --

I don't know my very dear friend how
long I shall remain here -- I believe it will
be neceʃsary for me to be in Lancashire in
a few days -- M^r. M—— has had half an Inclina-
tion to treat with me about T——axal -- Mos[t]
probably I shall be at home the beginn[ing]
of next week -- You are constantly in my
Thoughts -- both Night and Day -- I long to
see you again to tell you how much I Love
you -- Our next happy Meeting will unite
us for Ever and Ever -- Adieu my Love
      I am always and forever will be
                             Y^r. J. Dickenson --

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Miʃs Hamilton
      Clarges Street
      London