Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

you believe it of me; and my poor old woman heartily (though feebly) expresses her service to you all.

MY LORD,

LETTER LV.

TO THE SAME.

October 20, 1733.

I AM returned a week since from my Lord Peterborow, with whom I past three weeks as agreeably and as healthfully as I ever did in my life. I was not a little disappointed to find your Lordship in London, though, considering the fine weather, and how late in the season you enjoyed it, I ought not to lament an absence which must both give you health and pleasure. Your house I found totally at my service, and took up my choice (like a young and ambitious man) in no room of it but Lady Margaret's. How much might I say upon that subject, were I a poet! but the misfortune of being what seldom consists with that character, a bashful and backward man, keeps me silent. I shall be little in town (if at all) till your return, and, in truth, since I came home, I have had my health so ill, that I must in a manner live by myself; and think I must either lead such a life as I did at Southampton, which is inconsistent with a town life, or lock myself up from all conversible hours while I am in town. I beg to hear a line of your satisfactions and amusements, for of your state of health I am daily informed by your honest porter: but the other he knows not, and I am

may be

your

whole

not quite contented without it. That all enjoyments and all good things attend yours, worthy family, is the sincere prayer always of, my Lord, your faithfullest servant.

MY LORD,

LETTER LVI.

TO THE SAME.

December 26, 1733.

I SINCERELY Wish yourself, Lady Oxford, and Lady Margaret, the happiest New Years to come. I have so many things to tell you, that I can tell you none, and therefore I am inclined not to write at all. Whatever I can say of my zealous desires for your felicity, is short of the truth; and as to the rest, it is too long a story to begin till I have the pleasure to meet your Lordship, and can at the same time make an end of it.

This I writ a week ago, and having nothing more material to say, was ashamed to send it. But seeing they can't tell me when you return to town, I was resolved not to let the season pass without sending you all this poor wish at least. I hope my Lady Oxford is perfectly well, though I heard she has not been so, notwithstanding your porter has often told me all was well at Wimpole. Believe me to be with the truest esteem and unalterable sincerity, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient, affectionate, and obliged servant.

If Lord Duplin be with you, I hope he will accept my humble services.

SIR,

LETTER LVII.

TO JOHN VANDR. BEMPDEN, ESQ. PRESENT.

Thursday.

UPON what you told me when I was last to wait on you, I deferred treating further for the rentcharge, till you could be more certain what sum you could conveniently raise in present, towards the purchase. If there were only 3 or 400l. wanting, we would take your bond; for as to a mortgage on the rent-charge, my father is not qualified to take it; for by an Act of Parliament he cannot buy land, though he may sell. However, if you desire to make the purchase soon, I believe I have a friend who will lend you the 1000/. on the same security you offer us. If you have any other scruple, you'll please to tell it me fairly; but if this purchase be convenient to you, we shall think of treating with no other, and be ready upon your answer; since I think what I here propose, entirely accommodates all the difficulty you seem to be at. I am, Sir,

Your, etc.

LETTER LVIII.

TO MR. JERVAS.

No date.

I BEG you to let me know if you have any thoughts of your Devonshire journey this summer. If you have, I will stay for you, and let Mr. For

tescue and Gay travel together. This resolution must be made with some haste, because they go next week, and I shall want time to prepare. I thought Mrs. Cecil had receipts before: The names of Lady Ranelagh and Lady Cavendish were inserted long since in the list.

You may tell Mr. Rollinson that Gay was not sure he should go to Lord Bolingbroke's when he came hither; or help him to some excuse, for his neglect was scandalous, and has given him much vexation of spirit.

I should have been glad to have had the Report of the Committee, and have since writ to Lintott for it. If the Whigs now say, that B. is the hero of my preface, the Tories said (you may remember) three years ago, that Cato was the hero of my poetry. It looks generous enough to be always on the side of the distressed; and my patrons of the other party may expect great panegyrics from me when they come to be impeached by the future party rage of their opponents. To compliment those who are dead in law, is as much above the imputation of flattery, as Tickell says it is, to compliment those who are really dead. And perhaps too there is as much vanity in my praising Bolingbroke, as in his praising Halifax. No people in the world are so apt to give themselves airs as authors.

I have received the report, but have not yet had time to read any of it. I have gone through the 5th, 6th, and 7th books, except a small part of the latter end of the 6th.--Pray tell me if hear any thing said about Mr. Tickell's, or my translation,

you

if the town be not too much taken up with great affairs, to take any notice of either.

I hold the resolution I told you in my last, of seeing you if you cannot take a trip hither before I go. But I would fain flatter myself so far as to fancy we might travel together. Pray give me a line by Saturday's post.

I am at all times, and in all reigns, whatever be the fate of the world, or of myself, sincerely and affectionately, Dear Mr. JERVAS,

All here most truly your servants.

Yours, etc.

SIR,

LETTER LIX.

TO JABEZ HUGHES, ESQ.

I HAVE read over again your brother's play, with more concern and sorrow than I ever felt in the reading any tragedy.

The real loss of a good man may be called a distress to the world, and ought to affect us more than any feigned or ancient distress, how finely drawn

soever.

This Letter to Mr. Hughes, with the excellent character of his deceased brother, being so contradictory to one addressed to Dean Swift, in which he says, The author of the Siege of Damascus was of the class of the mediocribus in prose and verse, made it necessary to sink the first.

The Siege of Damascus, written by John Hughes, Esq. who died Feb. 17, 1719, the first night of its representation.

« AnteriorContinuar »