uced as a friend to my fair Indian disciple, and to see her
eclipse all other Nabobesses as much in wealth, as she does already in
exterior, and what is far better" (for Sterne is nothing without his
morality)--"and what is far better, in interior merit. This nobleman is an
old friend of mine. You know he was always the protector of men of wit and
genius, and has had those of the last century, Addison, Steele, Pope,
Swift, Prior, &c., always at his table. The manner in which his notice
began of me was as singular as it was polite. He came up to me one day as
I was at the Princess of Wales's court, and said, 'I want to know you, Mr.
Sterne, but it is fit you also should know who it is that wishes this
pleasure. You have heard of an old Lord Bathurst, of whom your Popes and
Swifts have sung and spoken so much? I have lived my life with geniuses of
that cast; but have survived them; and, despairing ever to find their
equals, it is some years since I have shut up my books and closed my
accounts; but you have kindled a desire in me of opening them once more
before I die: which I now do: so go home and dine with me.' This nobleman,
I say, is a prodigy, for he has all the wit and promptness of a man of
thirty; a disposition to be pleased, and a power to please others, beyond
whatever I knew: added to which a man of learning, courtesy, and feeling."

"He heard me talk of thee, Eliza, with uncommon satisfaction--for there was
only a third person, _and of sensibility_, with us: and a most sentimental
afternoon till nine o'clock have we passed!(166) But thou, Eliza! wert the
star that conducted and enlivened the discourse! And when I talked not of
thee, still didst thou fill my mind, and warm every thought I uttered, for
I am not ashamed to acknowledge I greatly miss thee. Best of all good
girls!--the sufferings I have sustained all night in consequence of thine,
Eliza, are beyond the power of words.... And so thou hast fixed thy
Bramin's portrait over thy writing desk, and will consult it in all doubts
and difficulties?--Grateful and good girl! Yorick smiles contentedly over
all thou dost: his picture does not do justice to his own complacency. I
am glad your shipmates are friendly beings" (Eliza was at Deal, going back
to the Counsellor at Bombay, and indeed it was high time she should be
off). "You could least dispense with what is contrary to your own nature,
which is soft and gentle, Eliza; it would civilize savages--though pity