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Julian
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This letter is part of the correspondence calendar of the complete correspondence of Thomas Gray. The calendar contains detailed bibliographic records for all known original, copied, or published letters written by or to the poet as well as the full-text, where available. Each record is accompanied by digitised images of the manuscript, where available, or digitised images of the first printed edition.
I am ashamed, but not astonish'd at poor Mr Whithed's Insensibility. yet I had settled it with
myself before, that he would give Mr Chute 500£ a Year, wch I thought at least by half too little. but this was just the Thing, in wch
Mr Chute neither would, nor could, suggest to him what he ought to do; & so he has done accordingly. I hope, it was only negative
Ingratitude; but (I own to you) I do suspect, there was a little Reflection in it, & that his Conversations with Mr L:, &
perhaps with another Person, who knows the Value of Money, better than that of Friendship, might have had their Effect upon his Mind. I
do not wonder, that Mr Chute is satisfied with every Thing: I even believe, that when Time shall convince him, that Whithed has fall'n
extremely short in his Acknowledgements to him, it will rather add to his Concern, than diminish it. my best Wishes always accompany
him; & I can only wish, that they were of more Consequence. what a Change this Loss will make in his future
Life! I can only guess at the Extent of it. the Brothers are nasty People, that don't deserve
mentioning. I see Alexander sets himself up in his Brother's Room, wch (I hope in God) will considerably reduce
his Share in the Inheritance.
You surprise me with the Account you give me of the Alteration in your own Family. what a Man must my Ld O: have been, who might so easily have prevented it? I am heartily concerned for the Share you must bear in it. sure Your Uncle, & Mrs H:, have it in their Power, if not to retrieve, at least much to alleviate, this Misfortune; for from the Mother no body would expect anything. perhaps the good Qualities you mention in your Nephew may go farther in repairing his Loss, than any of his Relations could have done. from the little I had seen & heard of him, it did not seem probable, that he could continue long in the thoughtless Ways of Folly. You were very good, when you found Time to let me know, what I am interested in, not barely from Curiosity, but because it touches you so nearly. I can return that kindness no otherwise, than by not taking up your Attention longer, when it is so fully employed on your own Affairs.