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tain Hones saying, it would be, if practicable at all, a very bloody and difficult attempt. If, therefore, he asserts, what you have been told, it is very strange. When I see you, I shall tell you more ; and even this, if you do not hear it publicly said, I should wish you would not mention.

I want to know what is said of our captain general's resignation*, and the causes of it, for this seems a more extraordinary thing than the other. Adieu, dear Sir,

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I HAVE received the draught you were so good to send me, and the money is paid. You apprehend too much from my resolutions about writing. They are only made to be broken, and after all, it will be just as the maggot bites. You have a very

* I suppose that this relates to the resignation of the D. of Cumberland, after the capitulation of Closter-Seven.-Ed.

mean opinion of the epic, if you think it consists only in laying out a plan. In four and twenty years, at a moderate computation, I may have finished twelve books, and nine years after I hope to publish. I shall then be 74 years old, and I shall get 5001. for the copy, to make me easy for the remainder of my days. Somebody has directed a letter to the Rev. Mr. G. at StrawberryHill, which was sent me yesterday hither. It is anonymous, consists of above nine pages, all about the Bard, and if I would hear as much more about his companion, I am to direct to the Post House at Andover*. I do not know but I may have that curiosity, for his observations (whoever it is) are not nonsense. He takes the liberty of a person unknown, and treats me with abundance of freedom. I guess it to be some reading clergyman. Mr. Brown and I join in our best compliments to Mrs. Wharton, and I am, dear Sir,

Most sincerely yours,

T. G.

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*Gray's, then unknown, critic and correspondent, was, I believe, Mr. J. Butler, of Andover.' In a M.S. letter from Gray to Dodsley (which Mr. Bindley purchased at the sale of Mr. Isaac Reed's books); after he has mentioned how he wishes his poems to be printed, and added some notes, &c. he says, "When you have done. I shall desire you to present, in my name, a copy to Mr. Walpole, in Arlington Street; another to Mr. Daines Barrington (he is one of the Welch judges) in the Inner Temple. And a third, to Mr. J. Butler at Andover. Whether this latter gentleman is living or not, or in that neighbourhood, I am ignorant; but you will oblige me in making the enquiry. If you have no better means of knowing, a line directed to the post mistress, at Andover, will bring you information; after this, you may, if you please, bestow another copy or two on me. I am, &c."-Ed.

LETTER LXIX.

MR. GRAY TO DR. WHARTON.

DEAR DOCTOR,

YOU will wonder, why I trouble you so soon with another letter; it is about the great box, which I committed to the care of your John, which does not yet make its appearance at Cambridge In it are all my shoes, clogs, Encyclopedia, and other rich moveables, and I begin to fear, it has miscarried. I shall be much obliged to you, if you will let him make enquiry after it.

What are we to believe about Silesia*? am I to make bonfires, or keep a general fast? pray rid me of this suspense, for it is very uneasy to me.

I am ever yours,

T. G.

Cambridge, December 12, 1757.

* This alludes to the various turns of fortune in the contest then taking place between the King of Prussia and the Austrians. The latter, it will be recollected, took Schweidnitz, and afterwards defeated the Prince of Bevern, at Breslaw, by which they got possession of that town. They were, however, defeated by the K. of Prussia himself, at Lissa; who then retook Schweidnitz and Breslaw, and thus became master of Silesia.-Ed.

LETTER LXX.

MR. GRAY TO MR. MASON.

Cambridge, Dec. 19, 1757,

A LIFE spent out of the world has its hours of despondence, its inconveniences, its sufferings, as numerous and as real, though not quite of the same sort, as a life spent in the midst of it. The power we have, when we will exert it over our own minds, joined to a little strength and consolation, nay, a little pride we catch from those that seem to love us, is our only support in either of these conditions. I am sensible I cannot return you more of this assistance than I have received from you; and can only tell you, that one who has far more reason than you, I hope, ever will have to look on life with something worse than indifference, is yet no enemy to it; but can look backward on many bitter moments, partly with satisfaction, and partly with patience; and forward too, on a scene not very promising, with some hope, and some expectations of a better day. The cause, however, which occasioned your reflection, (though I can judge but very imperfectly of it) does not seem, at present, to be weighty enough to make you take any such resolution as you meditate. Use it in its season, as a relief from what is tiresome to you, but not as if it was in consequence of of any thing you take ill; on the contrary, if such a thing had happened at the time of your transmigration, I would defer it merely to avoid that appearance.

As to myself, I cannot boast, at present, either of my spirits, my situation, my employments, or fertility. The days and the

nights pass, and I am never the nearer to any thing, but that one to which we are all tending; yet I love people that leave some traces of their journey behind them, and have strength enough to advise you to do so while you can. I expect to see Caractacus completed, and therefore I send you the books you wanted. I do not know whether they will furnish you with any new matter; but they are well enough written, and easily read. I told you before, that (in a time of dearth) I would borrow from the Edda, without entering too minutely on particulars: but, if I did so, I would make each image so clear, that it might be fully understood by itself; for in this obscure mythology we must not hint at things, as we do with the Greek fables, that every body is supposed to know at school. However, on second thoughts, I think it would be still better to graft any wild picturesque fable, absolutely of one's own invention, on the Druid-stock; I mean on those half dozen of old fancies that are known to be a part of their system. This will give you more freedom and latitude, and will leave no hold for the critics to fasten on.

I send you back the Elegy *, as you desired me to do. My advices are always at your service to take or to refuse, therefore, you should not call them severe. You know I do not love, much less pique myself on criticism; and think even a bad verse as good a thing or better than the best observation that ever was made upon it. I like greatly the spirit and sentiment of it (much of which you perhaps owe to your present train of thinking); the disposition of the whole too is natural and elegiac; as to the expression, I would venture to say (did not you forbid me) that it is sometimes too easy. The last line I protest against (this, you

*Elegy in the Garden of a Friend.

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