Revised Jun 6 2021

No. 40. Miss N. Heywood to Mr. P. Heywood

Isle of Man – July 22d. — 1792

Yes, my ever dearest Peter, I am still at Douglas, & shall not without your express Permission leave it till I have the inconceivable Happiness of knowing you are once more restored to Liberty — my last Letter wou'd I hope make you easy respecting my intended Journey. — Thanks to Heaven & our kind Friends you now I doubt not enjoy every Indulgence & Comfort a Situation of Confinement can admit of, & the Knowledge of that makes me feel much less the Mortification of being obliged to remain here — but for Gods Sake take Care of yourself my dear Love & remember my whole soul is with you. — A thousand Thanks for the sketches of the Pandora which pleased, & yet pained us exceedingly — I will not say the sight of them brought your past Sufferings to our Minds for alas! the recollection of them is ever present with us — & yet how indescribably happy are we to think our beloved Peter has escaped such Dangers, & will at length meet the reward of his Virtues in the Bosom of Friendship & domestic Felicity! I have another request to make my dear Peter — don't you think you cou'd accomplish a Sketch of something else for your Nessy? I mean of that dear Face I have so long, & so ardently wished to see — it is impossible for me to procure a Minature of you at Present, but perhaps you cou'd draw a Likeness strong enough to give me an Idea of the Attraction in your Face & Person since we parted Ah! how happy shou'd I be to gaze on your Portrait were it even the most distant resemblance! — suppose you try — perhaps it will amuse you in your leisure Hour — & how wou'd the possession of it delight me! what do you think dear Brother? I had the most charming *Letter from my Uncle Pasley Yesterday that you can possibly conceive; about you, you may be assured, for no other Subject cou'd be charming
* see No. 34
he mentions a Circumstance which gives me singular Pleasure; that Captain Montague of the Hector is his particular Friend — & sure I am my dear Uncle Pasley's Friend must possess a Degree of Worth & Goodness which will also prompt him to be yours, & that under his kind Protection every possible Indulgence will be granted you.

I think I have not yet in any of my Letters my dearest Peter mentioned one single Article of News — indeed I was, & am still too much interested in one Subject to think with Pleasure on any other; but it is selfish not to consult your Gratification as well as my own, & tis natural to suppose you must wish to know something of our Transactions during your long, long Absence — I shall be sufficiently happy in affording you some Amusement be it ever so trifling (this Part of the Letter is omitted as it has no Connection with the principal Subject) We do not live in the same House as when you left us, but in the one Mr. Bacon had on the Parade where we have a fine Prospect of the Sea, & shall one Day I hope look with longing Eyes towards it for the Vessel which will bring our adored Peter do you recollect the drawing room? my Organ (upon which I practice with unceasing Assiduity that I may entertain my lov'd Peter, & which while sorrowing for his mournful & tedious Absence was my chief Amusement & Consolation) forms no inconsiderable Part of its ornamental Furniture — over the Mantle Piece hangs your Drawing of Nadir Shah and round the room Mary's & my Drawing. — how often have I sat for Hours in this very room (where I now write) to contemplate that Picture the Performance of my dear Brother! — Adieu my best, my ever lov'd Peter — Take Care of yourself, & may the God of Mercies bless & preserve you from all Dangers, may he protect your injured Innocence, & soon, very soon restore you to those who love you better than any other earthly Being! — Mama, Brothers, & Sisters desire me to say every thing that Love & Tenderness can express, & all other Friends offer most kind remembrances — keep up your Spirits dear, dear Peter, for the sake of

your most fond

  & faithfully aff't. Sister

    Nessy Heywood