Letter from Aaron Hill, Plaistow, to Samuel Richardson, 1743/44 January 20 : autograph manuscript signed.

Wishing him a happy New Year; adding "I began to fear, for the state of your Health, and almost dreaded to ask how your Spirits sustain'd ye late sharp weather, quite unheedful as I was; y't I myself had been the Cause of your long Silence, by forbearing to inform you, that we were condemn'd (for one year, still, from Christmas last) to bear with the bad Air of Plaistow. Tis a quiet, & not quite unpleasant, (were it but a healthy) Solitude : a Place, y't seems to have been only form'd for Books, and Meditation, & the Muses. - God give to you and All you love, Those Pleasures, and a thousand Livelier - for a long --- long --- happy Length of years to come - & Every year still mending!"