you

are but just two apartments, for the mafter and mif trefs, below; and but two apartments above (very much inferior to them) in the whole houfe. When look upon the outside, you'd think it large enough for a prince; when you fee the infide, it is too little for a fubject, and has not conveniency to-lodge a common family. It is a houfe of entries and paffages; among which there are three vifta's through the whole, very uselessly handfome. There is what might have been a fine gallery, but spoiled by two arches towards the end of it, which take away the fight of feveral of the windows. There are two ordinary ftair-cafes instead of one great one. The best things within the house are the hall, which is indeed noble and wellproportioned; and the cellars and offices underground, which are the most commodious, and the beft contrived of the whole. At the top of the building are feveral cupola's and little turrets, that have but an ill effect, and make the building look at once finical and heavy. What feems of the best taste, is that front towards the gardens, which is not yet loaded with thefe turrets. The two fides of the building are entirely fpoiled by two monftrous bow-windows, which stand just in the middle, instead of doors: and, as if it were fatal, that fome trifling littleness should every where deftroy the grandeur, there are in the chief front two femi-circles of a lower ftructure than the reft, that cut off the angles, and look as if they were purposely defigned to hide a loftier and nobler piece of building, the top of which appears above them. In a

word,

word, the whole is a moft expenfive abfurdity; and the Duke of Shrewsbury gave a true character of it, when he said, it was a great quarry of stones above ground.

We paid a vifit to the Spring where Rofamond bathed herself; on a hill, where remains only a piece of a wall of the old palace of Henry II. We toasted her fhade in the cold water, not without a thought or two, scarce fo cold as the liquor we drank it in. I dare not tell you what they were, and so hasten to conclude,

Your, etc.

IT

LETTER XXIX.

MR. POPE TO LORD OXFORD.

My Lord,

September 22, 1732. T was a grief to me not to be able to fnatch one day more to be happy with you, before you left the town; and it added to the vexation, when I found myself, within a week after, obliged to do that for bufinefs which I could not for pleasure, for I was kept four days there, multa gemens. I am extremely sensible, my Lord, of the many great diftinctions you have fhewn me, the original of all which I attributed to your piety to your father, for whom my refpect was too fincere to be expreft in poetry: and if, from the continuance

7

continuance of your good opinion I may derive fome imagination that you thought me not a worse man than a poet, it is a greater obligation to me personally, than even the other. I hope my having taken an opportunity, the only way my poor abilities can, of telling all men I no less esteem and love the fon, will not be ungrateful to you, or quite difpleafing. If any ob. jection to the manner of it occur to your Lordship, I depend on you, both as a friend and a judge, to tell me fo. Otherwise I will interpret your filence as a confent to let me acquaint every body that I am, what I truly feel myfelf,) my Lord, your ever affectionate and obliged humble fervant.

My Lady and Lady Margaret don't know how much I am theirs, unless your Lordfhip will tell them you believe it of me; and my poor old woman heartily (though feebly) expreffes her fervice to

you all.

My Lord,

LETTER XXX.

TO THE SAME.

O&tober 20, 1733

I

AM returned a week fince from my Lord Peterborow, with whom I paffed three weeks as agreeably and as healthfully as I ever did in my life. I was not a little.

VOL. VIII.

X

disappointed

disappointed to find your Lordship in London, though, confidering the fine weather, and how late in the feafon you enjoyed it, I ought not to lament an abfence which must both give you health and pleasure. Your house I found totally at my fervice, 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 fubject, were I a poet! but the misfortune of being what seldom confifts with that character, a bafhful and backward man, keeps me filent. I fhall 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 muft either lead fuch a life as I did at Southampton, which is inconfiftent with a town life, or lock myself up from all converfible hours while I am in town. I beg to hear a line of your fatisfactions 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 not quite contented without it. That all enjoyments may be yours, and all good things attend your whole worthy family, is the fincere prayer always of, my Lord, your faithfullest servant.

I

My Lord,

LETTER XXXI.

TO THE SAME.

December 26, 1733

I

SINCERELY with yourself, Lady Oxford, and Lady Margaret, the happieft New Years to come. have fo many things to tell you, that I can tell you none, and therefore I am inclined not to write at all. Whatever I can fay of my zealous defires for your felicity, is fhort of the truth; and as to the reft, it is too long a story to begin till I have the pleasure to meet your Lordship, and can at the fame time make an end of it.

This I writ a week ago, and having nothing more material to fay, was afhamed to fend it. But feeing they can't tell me when you return to town, I was refolved not to let the feafon pafs without fending you all this poor wifh 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 fincerity, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient, affectionate, and obliged fervant.

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