fo does that malignant air of calumny fooneft attack the found and elevated in mind, as ftorms of wind the tallest and most fruitful trees; whilft the low and weak, for bowing and moving to and fro, are by their weakness secure from the danger and violence of the tempeft. But fo much for ftinking rumour, which weakest minds are most afraid of; as Irifhmen, though the nastieft of mankind, are most offended at a f―t,

LETTER LIII.

FROM MR. TRUMBULL.

June 15, 1706.

SIR,

IT is alwayes to my advantage to correspond with you; for I either have the ufe of your bookes, or (which I value much more) your converfation. I am fure it will be my fault if I do not improve by both, I wish alfo I could learn fome more fkill in gardening from your father (to whome with your good mother all our services are prefented, with thankes for the hartichokes) who has fet us a pattern that I am afraid we shall copie but in miniature; for fo our hartichokes are in refpect of his. In all things I am ready to yield, except in the affurances that nobody can be more than

I am,

Yours, etc.

Poor Jeunie is ftill afflicted with her ague.

SIR,

LETTER LIV.

FROM MR. WALSH.

Abberley, July 21, 1707.

HAVING received the favour of your Letter of the third of this month, wherein you give me hopes of feeing you before the end of it, I am in dayly ex pectation of receiving your commands to fend a coach or horfes to meet you at Worcester, and not put you to the inconvenience of fuch horfes as you will finde at the post-house. It was nothing but the fear that you should not fend me word time enough for me to fend horses to meet you, that makes me give you the trouble of this letter. And I expect no other answer but to that point; as for all others,

Nil mihi refcribas, attamen ipfe veni.

Dear Sir,

LETTER LV.

FROM MR. STEELE.

Your, etc.

January 20, 1711.

I

HAVE received your very kind letter. That part

of it which is grounded upon your belief that I have much affection and friendship for you, I receive with great pleasure. That which acknowledges the honour

done

done to your Effay*, I have no pretence to; it was written by one whom I will make you acquainted with, which is the best return I can make to you for your favour to,

Sir,

Your, etc.

LETTER LVI.

FROM THE SAME.

SIR,

July 26, 1711.

WRIT to you the other day, and hope you have received my letter. This is for the fame end, to know whether you are at leisure to help Mr. Clayton, that is, me, to fome words for mufick against winter. Your answer to me at Will's will be a great favour

to,

Sir,

LETTER LVII.

Your, etc.

I

Dear Sir,

FROM MR. ROWE.

Thursday, May 20, 1713.

DON'T know that I have a long time received a billet with greater pleasure than yours. Depend upon it, nothing could have been more agreeable but yourself.

*Effay on Criticism.

WARTON.

yourself. To do fomething then that is perfectly kind, come and eat a bit of mutton with me to-morrow at Stockwell. Bring whom Bring whom you will along with you, though I can give you nothing "but the aforesaid mutton and a cup of ale." It is but a little mile from Fox-hall; and you don't know how much you will oblige

Your, etc.

I

LETTER LVIII.

FROM MR. CARYLL *.

W. Grinfted, July 16, 1737. HAVE not had a word from your holinefs fince my laft to you, nor any account of the receipt of fome pictures that I defired you to get framed and fecured. This, and the earnest defire I have of kiffing your toe at Grinstead, or rather a pretty lady's cheek,

* The widow of this refpectable gentleman lived at West Grinfted many years. She had one daughter. The estate defcended to a nephew. He fold it, and afterwards went to Boulogne, where he died. The family were rigid Catholics, but of great refpectability. The Caryll mentioned here left a fum of money to support a Catholic chapel, which is used for that purpose at prefent, though there are none of the family, which was once fo rich and extensive, remaining. Gay fays, in his "Welcome," the Caryls come by dozens."

66

The park and eftate now belong to Walter Burrel, Efq. fecond fon of Sir William Burrel, of Deepden, near Dorking, Surry.

cheek, (whom you talked of as a companion in your journey,) occafions you the trouble of this, to know the reason why you flag in your good refolutions, or rather in the execution of them. But I enjoy you in fpirit, though I cannot in perfon; for your works are my daily lecture, and with what fatisfaction I need not to repeat to you. But pray in your next tell me who was the unfortunate Lady you addrefs a copy of verfes to *. I think you once gave me her history, but it is now quite out of my head. But now I have named such a perfon, Mrs. Cope occurs to my mind. I have complied with her defires, though I thinke a fecond voyage to fuch a rafcall is the most preposterous thing imaginable; but mulierem fortem quis inveniet! 'Tis harder to find than the man Diogenes lookt for with a candle and lantern att noon-day. Adieu. I am, moft abruptly, but moft fincerely,

Yours, etc.

* See Verses to the "Unfortunate Lady." Pope, for fome reasons with which we are not now acquainted, declined answering this question.