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LETTER ONE
19

and went there thinking that John might be able to tell me where I could get a lodging; but, after wasting all the morning, and being treated with 'London gin' at my own expense, I was as forward as ever. In the afternoon I saw Hornblower, but I succeeded no better for that day with him. He could do nothing for the first two or three hours but tell me how glad he was to see me, and stuff me with good things, and he then took me through the streets till nearly eight o'clock to show me the fine places. All the time Clarinda was waiting at the coffee house. The next morning he got me a very comfortable lodging at a respectable house in Hatton Gardens. We have a furnished room, and a good sized dressing closet, where we keep our bread and cheese, and our coals, &c., on the fourth floor, for six shillings per week, and find our own linen and crocks. Staying at the coffee house was very expensive, but I was afraid of going to strange lodgings, and am glad I did not. We have got out of about 24s. since we have been in London, though we have been as careful as we could.

I can say nothing of how we are likely to succeed at present, but I am in good spirits. We were both so ill the first night after we got in