Buffon, and edified with the divine Ashton. The first (they say) was a good man, as much as he has been abused; and we will hope the best of the two latter. Mr. [ ] who as [ ] sent me word, desired to be acquainted with me, called here, before I came down, and would pay a visit to my rooms. He made Dr. Long conduct him thither, left me a present of a book (not of his own writing) and a note with a very civil compliment. I wrote to him to thank him, and have received an answer, that fifteen years ago might have turned my head. I know [ ] will abuse him to you, but I insist he is a slanderer, and shall write a satire upon him, if he does not do justice to my new admirer. I have not added a line more to old Caradoc. When I do, you will be sure to see it. You who give yourself the trouble to think of my health, will not think me very troublesome, if I beg you to bespeak me a rope-ladder (for my neighbours every day make great progress in drunkenness, which gives me reason to look about me) it must be full thirty-six feet long, or a little more, but as light and manageable as may be, easy to unroll, and not likely to entangle. I never saw one, but I suppose it must

a

profound acquaintance with all those arts of dissimulation and intrigue, which in the petty Cabinets of Italy were then universally confounded with political wisdom. An imagination familiarized to the cool contemplation of whatever is perfidious or atrocious in the history of conspirators and of tyrants:-combined with a graphical skill in holding up to laughter the comparative harmless follies of ordinary life. His dramatic humour has been often compared to that of Moliere; but it resembles it rather in comic force, than a benevolent gaiety, or in chastened morality. Such as it is, however, it forms an extraordinary contrast to that strength of intellectual character, which, in one page, reminds us of the deep sense of Tacitus, and in the next of the dark and infernal policy of Cæsar. Borgea. To all this, must be superadded a purity of taste, which has enabled him as an historian to rival the severe simplicity of the Grecian masters; and a sagacity in combining historical facts, which was afterwards to afford lights to the school of Montesquieu," See also Noto C. p. 152. of the same Work.--Ed.

have strong hooks, or something equivalent at top, to throw over an iron bar to be fixed withinside of my window. However you will chuse the properest form, and instruct me in the use of it. I see an Ephraim Hadden, near Hermitage-stairs, Wapping, that advertises them, but perhaps you may find a better artisan near you. This with a canister of tea, and another of snuff, which I left at your house, and a pound of soap from Mr. Field (for mine is not so good here) will fill a box, which I beg the favour of you to send me when you can conveniently. My best compliments to Mrs. Wharton. I am ever yours,

THOUGH I had no reasonable excuse for myself before I received your last letter, yet since that time I have had a pretty good one; having been taken up in quarrelling with * Peter-House, and in removing myself from thence to

* The reason of Mr. Gray's changing his College, which is here only glanced at, was in few words this: Two or three young men of fortune, who lived in

Pembroke. This may be looked upon as a sort of era in a life so barren of events as mine, yet I shall treat it in Voltaire's manner, and only tell you that I left my lodgings because the rooms were noisy, and the people of the house dirty*: this is all I would chuse to have said about it; but if you, in private, should be curious enough to enter into a particular detail of facts, and minute circumstances, Stonehewer, who was witness to them, will probably satisfy you. All I shall say more is, that I am for the present extremely well lodged here, and as quiet as in the Grande Chartreuse; and that every body, (even the Dr. Longs and Dr. Mays) are as civil as they could be to Mary of Valenst in person. With regard to any advice I can give as to the hospital, I freely own it ought to give way to Dr. Heberden's counsels, who is a much better judge, and (I should think) disinterested. I love refusals no more than you do. But as to your effluvia, I maintain that one sick rich, has more of pestilence and putrefaction about him, than a whole ward of sick poor.

You should have received Mason's present as last Saturday. I desire you to tell me your critical opinion of the new Ode;

the same stair-case, had for some time intentionally disturbed him with their riots, and carried their ill behaviour so far as frequently to awaken him at midnight. After having borne with their insults longer than might reasonably have been expected, even from a man of less warmth of temper, Mr. Gray complained to the governing part of the Society; and not thinking that his remonstrance was sufficiently attended to, quitted the College. The slight manner in which he mentions this affair, when writing to one of his most intimate friends, certainly does honour to the placability of his disposition.-Mason.

* Uncivil-Mason.

+ Foundress of the College.-Mason.

The four Odes which I had just published separately.-Mason.

and also whether you have found out two lines, which he has inserted in another of them, that are superlative. * We do not expect that the world, which is just going to be invaded, will bestow much attention on them; if you hear any thing, you will tell us.

The similitude between the Italian Republicks and ancient Greece, has often struck me, as it does you. I do not wonder that Sully's Memoirs have highly entertained you; but cannot agree with you, in thinking him or his master or his master two of the best men in the world. The king was, indeed, one of the best natured men that ever lived; but it was owing only to chance that his intended marriage with Mad. d'Estrées, or with the Marqse. de Verneuil, did not involve him and the kingdom in the most inextricable confusion. And his design upon the Princess of Condé (in his old age) was worse still. As to the Minister, his base application to Concini, after the murther of Henry, has quite ruined him in my esteem, and destroyed all the merit of that honest surly pride for which I honoured him before. Yet I own that as kings and ministers go, they were both extraordinary men. Pray look at the end of Birch's State Papers of Sir T. Edmondes, for the character of the French Court, at that time, written by Sir George Carew.

* I should leave the Reader to guess (if he thought it worth his while) what this couplet was, which is here commended so much beyond its merit, did not the Ode conclude with a compliment to Mr. Gray, in which part he might probably look for it, as those lines were written with the greater care. cure, therefore, my friend from any imputation of vanity, whatever becomes. of myself, I shall here insert the passage.

While thro' the west, where sinks the crimson Day,

To sc

Meek Twilight slowly sails, and waves her banners gray.—Mason.

Pray don't suspect me of any such suspicions as you mention. I would hardly believe you were tired of me, though you told me so yourself, sensible, as I am, nevertheless, that you might have reason enough to be so. To prove prove what Í say, I have thoughts of coming to you for three days in April; there is to be a Concerto Spirituale, in which Me. Mingotti (who has just lain in) and Riccioralli will sing the Stabat Mater of Pergolesi. You and Mason and I are to be at it together; so pray make no excuses, nor put-offs, saving to you however the liberty of saying whether you have a bed to spare, (I mean for me, not for him) in your house. Adieu, dear Sir,

My best compliments to Mrs. Wharton. I give you joy of the divine Ashton; it is indeed a conquest you have made.

LETTER LIII.

MR. GRAY TO MR MASON.

Stoke, July 25, 1756.

I FEEL a contrition for my long silence; and yet perhaps it is the last thing you trouble your head about. Nevertheless I will be as sorry as if you took it ill. I am sorry too to see you so punctilious as to stand upon answers, and