LETTER LXXXI. FROM MR. WALSH. Abberley, July 21, 1707. SIR, HAVIN AVING 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 expectation of receiving your commands to fend a coach or horses to meet you at Worcester, and not put you to the inconvenience of such horses as you will finde at the post-house. It was nothing but the fear that you should not send 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. Your, etc. I Dear Sir, LETTER LXXXII. FROM MR. STEELE. January 20, 1711. 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 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. I SIR, LETTER LXXXIII. FROM THE SAME. 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, Your, etc. I Dear Sir, LETTER LXXXIV. 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. yourself. To do fomething then that is perfectly kind, come and eat a bit of mutton with me to-mor row at Stockwell. Bring whom you will along with you, though I can give you nothing "but the aforefaid 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 LETTER LXXXV. FROM MR. CARYLL. Your, etc. W. Grinfted, July 16, 1717. I HAVE not had a word from your holinefs fince my last 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, (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 verses to. I think I think you once gave me her history, but it is now quite out of my head. But now I have named fuch 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 prepofterous 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, most abruptly, but most fincerely, Yours, etc. Dear Sir, LETTER LXXXVI. FROM THE SAME, Auguft 18, 1717. WHEN yours of the 6th instant arrived here, I was gott into the Eaft, not among the wyfe men of that corner, butt amidft the fools of Tunbridge. My stay with them was butt of four days, butt I had spent the three preceding ones, I think, in worse company, the knaves of the law att our country affizes at Lewes. A caufe called me thither, which, though I gained, I may brag of like my brother Teague, that it was just nothing att all, nor had I gott that neither had I not beftirred my ftumps. When my pictures are done, be pleafed to order them down to Ladyholt by the Stanfted carrier, who inns in Gerrard-street.-You answer not my question who who the unfortunate Lady was was that you infcribe a copy of verses to in your book. I long to be retould her story, for I believe you allreddy tould me formerly; but I fhall referr that and a thousand other things more to chatt over at our next meeting, which I hope draws near; prefume my wife has fixed on a time with my dear Patty, to whom I pray my humble fervice, as also to her fair fifter. I am in more haste, or rather hurry, than usual, but not lesse, I A AM very forry to hear of your ill health, and that my message came fo unseasonable as to give you fo much trouble to anfwer it. I hope by your mentioning your coming to town, that you are on the mending hand, and that the fpring coming on will be favourable to you. If you should not come in a day or two, I must beg your return of the copy, which is much wanted, the time of acting drawing very near. Your not being in a condition to supply me with a Prologue |