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and family: You muſt excuſe me when I tell you, that I am obliged to decline making any ſuch enquiry. However, as your behaviour, when in my company, was always agreeable, I ſhall treat you with as much reſpect as is conſiſtent with common decorum. My worthy guardian, Mr. Melvill, is now at his ſeat in Devonſhire; and his conduct to me has been ſo much like that of a parent, that I don't chuſe to take one ſtep in an affair of ſuch importance, without both his conſent and approbation. There is an appearance of ſincerity runs thro' your Letter; but there is one particular to which I have a very ſtrong objection, which is this: You ſay that you live along with your mother, yet you don't ſay that you have either communicated your ſentiments to her, or your other relations.—I muſt freely and honeſtly tell you, that as I would not diſoblige my own relations, ſo neither would I on any conſideration, admit of any addreſſes contrary to the inclinations of your's. If you can clear up this to my ſatisfaction, I ſhall ſend you a more explicit anſwer, and am, Sir,
FORM OF A NOTE OF HAND.
On demand (or ſpecified time after date) I promiſe to pay Mr. Longman, or order, the Sum of — pounds — Shillings, and — pence, for value received. J. H.
