By our latest account from Duke-street, Weftminster, the converfion of T. G. efq. is reported in a manner fomewhat more particular. That upon the feizure of his Flanders mares, he feemed more than ordinarily disturbed for fome hours, fent for his ghoftly father, and refolved to bear his loss like a Christian; till about the hours of seven or eight the coaches and horfes of feveral of the Nobility paffing by his window towards Hyde-park, he could no longer endure the disappointment, but inftantly went out, took the oath of abjuration, and recovered his dear horfes, which carried him in triumph to the ring. The poor diftreffed Roman Catholics, now unhorsed and uncharioted, cry out with the Pfalmift, Some in Chariots and fome on Horfes, but we will invocate the name of the Lord †.

I am, etc.

is this morning gone off for Devonshire, without daring to call at Mapledurham in his way. Some people figh, and fay Mr. Holman

ftands fair.

"Sir Samuel Garth's journey into Italy is put off for three days; that of fome others into Devonshire is neither off nor on, like moft modern matches, though all the parties are agreed. "I must ftop here till further advices, which are expected from the Lady Mary Wortley this afternoon." C.

"There are feveral other advices from the Lady M. W. which you fhall have in our next. So much for the prefent ; and as for the future, I neither know what will become of myself, or of the nation." Orig.

C.

LETTER XII.

THE HE weather is too fine for any one that loves the country to leave it at this feafon; when every fimile of the fun, like the fmile of a coy lady, is as dear as it is uncommon: and 1 am fo much in the taste of rural pleasures, I had rather fee the fun than any thing he can fhew me, except yourself. I despise every fine thing in town, not excepting your new gown, till I fee you dreffed in it (which by the way I don't like the better for the red; the leaves, I think, are very pretty). I am growing fit, I hope, for a better world, of which the light of the fun is but a fhadow: for I doubt not but God's works here are what come nearcft to his works there; and that a true relish of the beauties of nature is the most easy preparation and gentleft tranfition to an enjoyment of those of heaven: as, on the contrary, a true townlife of hurry, confusion, noise, slander, and diffention, is a fort of apprenticeship to hell and its furies. I am endeavouring to put my mind into as quiet a fituation as I can, to be ready to receive that stroke which, I believe, is coming upon me, and have fully refigned myself to yield to it. The feparation of my foul and body is what I could think of with lefs pain; for I am very fure he that made it will take care of it, and in whatever state he pleases it fhall be, that state must

be right but I cannot think without tears of being separated from my friends, when their condition is fo doubtful, that they may want even fuch affistance as mine. Sure, it is more merciful to take from us after death all memory of what we loved or purfued here: for else what a torment would it be to a fpirit, ftill to love those creatures it is quite divided from? Unless we fuppofe, that in a more exalted life, all that we esteemed in this imperfect state will affect us no more, than what we loved in our infancy concerns us now.

This is an odd way of writing to a lady, and, I am fenfible, would throw me under a great deal of ridicule, were you to fhow this letter among your acquaintance. But perhaps you may not yourself be quite a stranger to this way of thinking. I heartily your life may be fo long and fo happy, as never to let you think quite fo far as I am now led to do: but to think a little towards it, is what will make you the happier, and the eafier at all times.

wifh

There are no pleasures or amufements that I do not wish you, and therefore 'tis no small grief to me that I fhall for the future be less able to partake with you in them. But let fortune do her worst, whatever fhe makes us lofe, as long as fhe never makes us lofe our honesty and our independance; I defpife from my heart whoever parts with the firft, and pity from my foul whoever quits the latter.

I am grieved at Mr. Gay's condition in this laft respect of dependance. He has Merit, Good-nature,

and Integrity, three qualities that I fear are too often loft upon great men; or at least are not all three a match for one which is opposed to them, Flattery. I wifh it may not foon or late difplace him from the favour he now poffeffes, and feems to like. I am sure his late action deferves eternal favour and esteem: Lord Bathurst was charmed with it, who came hither to see me before his journey. He asked and spoke very particularly of you. To-morrow Mr. Fortescue comes to me from London about B's fuit in forma pauperis. That poor man looks ftarved: he tells me you have been charitable to him. Indeed 'tis wanted; the poor creature can scarce ftir or speak; and I apprehend he will die, juft as he gets fomething to live upon. Adieu.

THIS

LETTER XIII. *

is a day of wishes for you, and I hope you have long known, there is not one good one which I do not form in your behalf. Every year that paffes, I wish fome things more for my friends, and fome things lefs for myself. Yet were I to tell you what I wish for you in particular, it would be only to repeat

*To Martha Blount.

repeat in profe, what I told you laft year in rhyme (fo fincere is my poetry): I can only add, that as I then wished you a friend, I now wish that friend were Mrs.

*

Abfence is a fhort kind of death; and in either, one can only wish, that the friends we are separated from, may be happy with those that are left them, I am therefore very solicitous that you may pass much agreeable time together: I am forry to say I envy you no other companion; though I hope you have others that you like; and I am always pleafed in that hope, when it is not attended with any fears on your own

account.

I was troubled to leave you both f, just as I fancied we should begin to live together in the country. 'Twas a little like dying the moment one had got all one defired in this world. Yet I go away with one generous fort of fatisfaction, that what I part with, you are to inherit.

I know

a To Mrs. Blount on her Birth-day.

❝ O be thou bleft with all that Heav'n can fend,

Long health, long youth, long pleasure, and a friend."

Mrs. Howard.

WARBURTON.

In a note figned, Terefa and Martha, Pope is invited to meet them; and they fay, if there is any company he disliked, they will retire with him into any room.

Pope in anfwer requests they will write their fir-names, as he fays, Teresa and Martha may be two faints, for what he knows to the contrary. The conclufion of the note is too grofs to be publifhed.

8