RICHARDSON’S CORRESPONDENCE WITH LAETITIA PILKINGTON

Summary

Laetitia Pilkington to Richardson

June 1743

Printed source: B, II, 113-16

First printing: Barbauld, Correspondence (1804)

King-street, Wesminster, June 1743.

Sir,

The sin of ingratitude would lie heavy on me, did I not, with the most perfect thankfulness, acknowledge your goodness. Every favour most perfect thankfulness, acknowledge your goodness. Every favour you confer receives a ten-fold value from your manner of conferring it; and as they are at least not bestowed on an insensible heart, I hope you will indulge me so far, as that without offending you, I may acquaint you with the sentiments of it.

Give me leave then to inform you, that the cruel treatment I have received from numbers of those falsely styled virtuous, has made me fearful of applying to any of them (but such to whom my misfortunes were entirely unknown); for instead of the relief my calamities required, they were heightened by some bitter insult; and the best comfort I received, was to be informed, I deserved all that I could suffer here. It was consequently with dread I addressed even the Doctor Delany; for although I had long been a witness to his humanity to others, I was not sure but I might have been so misrepresented to him, as to persuade him I was unworthy of it. You may judge then, Sir, when I found my letter, and his answer, in your hand, how much I was startled; for being a stranger to you, I know not what proofs you would require as to the sincerity of my reformation. But how agreeably was I surprised, when, instead of an awful severe judge, I met with a gentleman truly polite and compassionate! I know, Sir, I am entirely indebted to you for the Doctor’s bounty, both as you have run the hazard of advancing it, been an intercessor for me to him, and encreased my store by your own charity.