Revised Jun 6 2021

No. 101. A. Graham Esq'r. to Mrs. Heywood.

Great Russel Street Oct^r 16^th 1792

My dear Madam

If feeling for the Distresses & rejoicing in the Happiness of others, denote a Heart which entitles the Owner of it to the Confidence of the Good & Virtuous, I wou'd fain be persuaded that mine has been so far interested in your Misfortunes, & is now so pleased with the Prospect of your being made happy, as cannot fail to procure me the Friendship of your Family; which, as it is my Ambition, it cannot cease to be my Desire to cultivate.

Unused to the common rewards which are sought after in this World, I will profess to anticipate more real Pleasure & Satisfaction from the simple Declaration of you & your's, that, "We accept of your Services & we thank you for them" — than it is in common Minds to conceive; — but fearful lest a a [sic] too grateful sense shou'd be entertained of the friendly Offices I have been engaged in (which however I ought to confess I was prompted to, in the first Place by a remembrance of the many Obligations I owed to Commodore Pasley) I must beg you will recollect that by sending to me your charming Nessy (& if strong Affection may plead such a privilege I may be allowed to call her my Daughter also) you wou'd have overpaid me if my Troubles had been ten times & my Uneasinesses ten thousand times greater than they were, upon what I once thought, the melancholy, but now deem the fortunate Occasion which has given me the Happiness of her Acquaintance —— Thus far my dear Madam I have written to please myself — now for what must please you — & in which too I have my share of Satisfaction — The Business tho' not publicly known, is most certainly finished; — & what I had my Doubts about Yesterday I am satisfied of to Day — happy — happy — happy Family! — accept of my Congratulations! — not for what it is in the Power of Words to express — but for what I know you will feel upon being told that your beloved Peter will soon be restored to your Bosom with every Virtue that can adorn a Man & ensure to him an Affectionate, a tender, & truly welcome reception. —

I have the Honor to remain

  (dear Madam in particular)

    your most faithful

      & affec't. hbl Serv't.

        A: Graham

Miss N: Heywood in Continuation ——— Now my dearest Mama did you ever in all your Life read so charming a Letter? — be assured it is exactly characteristic of the benevolent Writer — What wou'd I give to be transported (only for a Moment tho') to your Elbow that I might see you read it! — What will you feel when you know assuredly that you may with Certainty believe its Contents! — Well may Mr. Graham call us happy — for never Felicity cou'd equal our's — don't expect connected sentences from me at present for this Joy makes me almost delirious — Adieu — Love to all — I need not say be happy & blest as I am at this dear Hour! — My beloved Mother your

most affectionate

  & dutiful Daughter

    Nessy Heywood