The Appearance of this letter will inform you I have been left a widow. Poor Mr Cosway was Suddenly taken by an Apopletic fit—And being the third proved his last. at the time we had hopes he would enjoy a few years—for he never had been So well & So happy—the change of Air was recond necessary for his health; I took a very Charming house & fitted it up handsome & Comfortable, with those pictures & things he liked most—all my thoughts & actions were for him—He had neglected his affairs very much and when I was obliged to take them in my hands was astonished, I took every means to ammelliorate them & had Succeded, at least for his Comforts. And my Consolation was his constantly repeating how well & how happy he was. We had an Auction of all his effects & house, in Stratford place, which lasted two months, my fatigue has been excessive—the Sale did not produce as much as we expected, but enough to make him Comfortable & free from embarassement, as he might have been if I had not acted accordingly—every body thought he was very rich, & I was astonished when put to the real knowledge of his Situation.—He made his will two years Ago & left me Sole executrice & Mistress of every thing. After having Settled every thing here & provided for three Cusins of Mr C. I shall retire from this bustling & insignificant world, to My favorite College at Lodi, as I always intended, where I can employ myself So happily in doing good.—I wish Monticello was not So farr! I would pay you a visit if it was ever So Much out of my way, but it is impossible—

I long to hear from you—the remembrance of a person I so highly esteem & venerate, affords me the happiest Consolation & your Patriarcal Situation delights me—Such as I expected from you.—notwithstanding your indiference for a World you make one of the most distinguished members & ornament, I wish you may still enjoy many years & feel the happiness of a Nation which produces Such Caracters.

I will write again before I leave this Country at this Moment in So boisterous an occupation as you must be inform’d of—& I will Send you my direction, I shall pass thro’ Paris & taulk of you with Madme de Corny, believe me ever your most affte & obliged