[Catherine Talbot to Elizabeth Carter, during convalescence from illness, 1 January 1759:] 'I have run over a heap of most ridiculous French books, and think with real grief how shameful it is that people should sit down to study such trash in perfect health -- in [italics] real [end italics] illness they woud be a still more unfit occupation, and I can scarce excuse myself for turning over so many, even in the state of langour in which I am, and which makes me unfit for application, and under a necessity of amusement. Indeed many of them are so vile that a page at a time was quite enough.'