grievous disappointment you must feel in the cruel and unjust disposition your uncle has made of his fortune, indeed, indeed, I feel for you from the bottom of my heart, and most sincerely do I wish I could say or do any thing to alleviate your vexation and sorrow.
I called on you this morning, however, merely to know how you were, and not with a design or hope of suggesting any motives of consolation ; your own well regulated mind and superior understanding will do that better than any one can do it for you my visit I fear was unseasonable, but I meant it well, and when I have been distressed, the soothing attentions of a kind heart have often alleviated sorrows, so I did as I would be done by.
( This is the second false assertion this lady has made in these letters, on her disinterested observance of that injunction its which all christian and brotherly love is included, if she acted by me as she asserts, how came it that her friendship has made me so miserable, where is the martyrdom she has inflicted on herself. Alas! my sorrows are the effects of her professions and actions the very contrary of those professions.)
Part of my errand too was to say that I would certainly play at Manchester, and wherever else you may think me serviceable as far as I am able. (After saying this and much more to the same purpose in our conversation, assuring me in the strongest manner that there was nothing she would not do, to assist the concern in which we were engaged, particularly on mine and my children's account - yet in a short time after, when she chose to quarrel with Mr. G. she made Mr. Siddons endeavour to break her engagements as I have before stated.)

Mr.— wishes me to go to —in part of May and June ; how this may suit with Mr. M'Cready's scheme, I know not, therefore I will defer my answer till I hear from you, whether that will or will not interfere with his arrangements for Manchester, &c. &c.
God bless, prosper, and console you, prays your sincere friend,

S. SIDDONS

As Mr. G. did not appear to wish me to go into the house, I did not know but it might be inconvenient to you that I should do so, and therefore I thought it just possible that you would rather I would not.
(What a false and contemptible excuse, if she came really to see me what had Mr. G. to do with her visit.)

LETTER XVIII

Sunday, Manchester.

My dear Mrs. G.
(I received this after Mrs. Siddons and I had parted at Birmingham on her going to Manchester.)
Mr. G. has just been here to—about the plays, he offered me his hand, but I had not duplicity enough to receive it. I need only tell you that he was as, violent as usual, and wondered what lie had done to offend me.
I endeavoured, but in vain, for he had all the talk to himself, to