SIR, LETTER LXX. FROM THE SAME. December 23, 1724. I CANNOT poffibly see you at Twitnam myself. I have therefore fent you the Preface from Lord Cobham, and a proof of the Monument with the draft. I requeft the favour of you to fettle the Inscription as you would have it, and return it to me, then the plate may be worked. I do affure you I fhall all in my always be very glad to oblige and ferve you power, and am, Your, etc. I was with the Speaker yesterday; he told me you had promised to dine with him at Chifwick in the holydays, and bring your Preface (with fome alterations) with you. After that, I beg to have it, for I am impatient to publish. γου LETTER LXXI. FROM THE SAME. ou have, enclosed, the account of the profit of works. For the books fold I have allow ed you all the money I have received, and the bind ing, etc. I have charged at the price it coft me. You will please to call and bring with you the agreement which be executed.—I will give you between us, may my note to deliver the books left when required. I wish you would send me the Merchant of Venice by the waterman. Your, etc. Dear Sir, LETTER LXXII. FROM THE SAME. Thursday, eleven at night. I HAVE just now received yours, and indeed it is not my fault I have not feen you, having been hindered by business I could not help minding; but I will not fail seeing you on Sunday morning early, but must return to dinner, having a little company to dine with me that day. Do but excuse me till I fee you, and I will fatisfy you that I have not neglected you. As for Shakspear, Watts's brother died lately, which has hindered his bufinefs a little; but now things will go on better. Your, etc. fend Mr. Broom the fheets of all the notes PRAY that are printed, that he may avoid the repetitions, etc. but I would not have the poetry fent, knowing the confequences of its being fhown about to every body before it's published, which I will not have done; nor, I fuppofe, would you. I am You It is already condemned here, and the malice and juggle at Button's is the converfation of those who have spare moments from politics. Sir John Germain has his book. All your books are delivered pursuant to the direc tions, the middle of the week after you left us. The Princess is extremely pleafed with her book. You You fhall have your folios preferved. Mr. Broom I have not heard from. Pray detain me not from publishing my own book, having delivered the greatest part of the fubfcribers already upwards of four hundred. I defigned to publish Monday sevennight. Pray interrupt me not with an errata. I doubt not the fale of Homer, if you appoint me by delaying publication. Service to Mr. Gay. do not dif Your, etc. Lord Bolingbroke is impeached this night. The noise the report makes does me some present damage. SIR, LETTER LXXV. FROM THE SAME. June 22, 1715. THE hurry I have been in by the report from the Committee of Secrecy, to get it published, has prevented the publication of Homer for the prefent, till the noise be over; and those whom I expected to be very noify on account of your translation, are buried in politics. Mr. Thornhill fent to me for his own book, which he paid for to you, as he fays, and paid me eight guineas of the fubfcriptions of Sarah, Countefs of Winchelsea. Mrs. Seymour. Berkley Seymour, Efq. Charles Frotherby, Efq. Mr. Harcourt and Lord Harcourt have had thirteen books to their house, ten of which were of the finest paper. I will obferve your directions about Mr. Broome. The second volume of Homer shall be sent in a day or two. The project for printing the first book of Homer, with Mr. Dryden's, and Mr. Tickle's, and Mr. Manwarrings, together, is well thought of. I propofed it to Mr. Tonson, but it will not do. I will confider further of it. The Duke of Ormond is to be impeached for hightreafon, and Earl of Stafford for high crimes and mifdemeanors. May fuccefs attend your ftudies, is the hearty prayer of Yours, to command. |