Octr. 1757? Madam,

I recd. yr. kind present & the few lines that inclos'd it, & really I was not a little surprised to find so slight & brittle a piece of Chaffe presented as the Emblem part of yr. honesty. Indeed I do not think it any defect in me to want such sort of honesty nor any great50encomium on yr. Charity to give it, much less can I think it any proof of yr. Sincerity to part with any of yr. honesty for that Charity which consents to part with any of its honesty can boast but little of Sincerity; in fact I could not but think of mother Eve of old Whose honesty after her sincerty we are told consisted in a fig-leaf, & I should send it back to you again to Answer the same End, were it not that I esteem'd it rather as an Emblem of yr. Innocence, and if it be so you then will not think me to stand in need of such trifling honesty. Yet Madam I still look on my self as an Object of yr. Charity & should think my self much enriched if you would impart to me of any of yr. many Worthy Accomplishments but do not as the farmer of Old did to the prodigal Son feed me on husks. Pray Excuse the freedom I take in rappartee, for I was not willing to frustrate the design of yr. kind present & if my Answer does but raise as many Conceits in yr. Mind as yr. present did in my whimsical Brain you will spend a very Merry half hour & not repent yr. having Exposed yr. honesty to Yr. freind & hble. Servt.

P.S., Pray be so kind as for the future as to excuse one b in my first name unless you really think I am a robber.

Dft .