Leigh Hunt letter to Marianne Kent Hunt, February 23, 1806

              Gainsborough Sunday 23d. Feby. 1806.   
My dearest Marian, 
Your letter relieved me from much anxiety, for I have had a violent return of my illness this last week, which as usual subjected me to melancholy in spite of myself. However neither the palpitation was so alarming nor the vapours so powerful as they have been, and though the Gainsborough people were astonished at the alteration so suddenly made in my countenance; which was getting ruddy and chearful, yet I am recovering very fast, and this morning took three hard gallops with Mr. Robertson in a lady's park near the town.  I found out a way the other evening to get rid of my melancholy:  I will tell you what it is presently.—  Mr. Robertson attributed my illness to too much exercise, but a medical man here tells me that it is owing to the rainy weather, which has a peculiar effect in Lincolnshire from the general humidity of the atmosphere. This makes me leave Gainsborough with greater pleasure, which I shall do some days sooner than I expected; my brother John sent me a letter last night begging that I would come to town as soon as possible, as the first number of the Statesman will be published on the 26th., so that I shall see you on Wednesday, most probably in the morning. The Earl of Moira[1] has taken the paper under his immediate patronage, and it will no doubt have a large circulation in the ministerial circles.—  Now for my cure of melancholy: my best plan is to think of you, so I sat down the other day and if you turn over you'll see an