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WESTBOURNE FARM.
225

Stemming this torrent of adversity with a manly fortitude, Serenity, and even hope, that almost bursts my heart with an admiration too big to bear, and blinds my eyes with the most delicious tears that ever fell from my eyes. Oh! he is a glorious creature! did not I always tell you so? Yes, yes, and all will go well with him again! She bears it like an Angel too. Lord Guilford and Lord Mountjoy have nobly offer'd to raise him any sum of money—and a thousand instances of generous feeling have already offer'd that evince the goodness of human nature, and its Sense of his worth. All this is so honorable to him, that I shall soon feel little regret except for the poor beings who perished in the devouring fire.

"James Ballantyne—God bless and prosper all the desires and designs of a heart so amiable, a head so sound! prays most fervently his truly affectionate friend,

"S. Siddons."

"My head is so confused I scarce know what I have written; but you wish'd me to answer your kind letter immediately, therefore excuse all defects."

The result of John Kemble's thirty years of hard service was swept away in the flames that destroyed Covent Garden. Mr. Heathcote's loan was still unpaid. Boaden gives us a tragi-comic account of a visit he paid at the Kembles' house the morning after the fire. Mrs. Kemble loudly expressing her sorrow. Charles Kemble sitting listening, a tragic expression on his naturally melancholy face; John shaving himself before the glass. "Yes," he said to his visitor