Orrery*, whose praises are that precious ointment Solomon speaks of, which can be given only by men of virtue: all other praise, whether from poets or peers, is contemptible alike: and I am old enough and experienced enough to know, that the only praises worth having, are those bestowed by virtue for virtue. My poetry I abandon to the criticks, my morals I commit to the testimony of those who know me: and therefore I was more pleased with your libel, than with any verses I ever received. I wish such a collection of your writings could be printed here, as you mention going on in Ireland. I was surprised to receive from the printer that spurious piece called The Life and Character of Dr. Swift, with a letter telling me the person who " published it had assured him the dedication to me was what I would not take ill, or else he would not have printed it." I cannot tell who the man is, who took so far upon him as to answer for my way of thinking; though had the thing been genuine, I should have been greatly displeased at the publisher's part, in doing it without your knowledge.

* Curll says, in the account of his examination before the House of Peers, that he "had more Lords than Pope."

Perhaps lords Orrery and Bathurst were the most respectable noblemen with whom Pope could boast much communication; but, with all his affected contempt of greatness, he was sufficiently ready to offer incense wherever he thought it might be acceptable, and sometimes his flattery was such as a truly wise and virtuous man

(To virtue only, and her friends a friend) would disdain.-Swift and Pope were equally servile in their adulation, in general, to those noblemen by whom they were countenanced, as they were petulant to those whom they affected to despise. BowLES.

I am as earnest as you can be in doing my best to prevent the publishing of any thing unworthy of Mr. Gay; but I fear his friends' partiality. I wish you would come over. All the mysteries of my philosophical work shall then be cleared to you*, and you will not think that I am merry enough, nor angry enough: It will not want for satire, but as for anger I know it not; or at least only that sort of which the Apostle speaks, "Be ye angry, and sin not.”

have been metaphysi

My neighbour's writings cal, and will next be historical. It is certainly from him only that a valuable history of Europe in these later times can be expected. Come, and quicken him; for age, indolence, and contempt of the world, grow upon men apace, and may often make the wisest indifferent whether posterity be any wiser than we. To a man in years, health and quiet become such rarities, and consequently so valuable, that he is apt to think of nothing more than of enjoying them whenever he can, for the remainder of life; and this I doubt not has caused so many great men to die without leaving a scrap to posterity.

I am sincerely troubled for the bad account you give of your own health. I wish every day to hear a better, as much as I do to enjoy my own, I faithfully assure you.

* It is clear from this passage, that Swift doubted the tendency of the Essay on Man, which was founded on Bolingbroke's Philo sophical Creed. BowLES.

+ Bolingbroke's Philosophical Works. BowLES.

my

SIR,

FROM MRS. PENDARVES.

LONDON, MAY 29, 1733.

you meant

YOU will find, to your cost, that a woman's pen, when encouraged, is as bad as a woman's tongue: blame yourself, not me: had I never known the pleasure of receiving a letter from you, I should not have persecuted you now. I think (a little to justify this bold attack) that I am obliged, by all the rules of civility, to give you an account of the letter you charged me with: I delivered it into lord Bathurst's hands; he read it before me: I looked silly upon his asking me, What by the Fosset affair? and was obliged to explain it to him in my own defence, which gave him the diversion I believe you designed it should. We then talked of your vineyard: he seemed pleased with every subject that related to you, and I was very ready to indulge him that way. I did not forget to brag of your favours to me; if you intended I should keep them a secret, I have spoiled all; for I have not an acquaintance of any worth that I have not told, how happy I have been in your company. Every body loves to be envied, and this is the only way I have of raising people's envy. I hope, sir, you will forgive me, and let me know if I have behaved myself right: I think

* Dr. Swift could not endure to hear the phrase Behaved: Behaved what? he would say with some emotion. He once gave his cousin Deane Swift an account of his rebuking lord Bathurst for this, and that my lord promised him not to be

guilty

I can hardly do wrong as long as I am, sir, your most obliged and most obedient servant,

M. PENDARVES.

Mrs. Donnellan is much your humble servant, and as vain of your favours as I am.

FROM THE DUCHESS OF QUEENSBERRY.

DEAR SIR,

AMESBURY, MAY 31, 1733.

I AM now again your Tunbridge correspondent, His grace and I have been here this fortnight, with no other company than bricklayers and labourers. We are throwing down a parcel of walls, that blocked us up every way, and making a sunk fence round the house. This will make the place as cheerful again, and we find great entertainment by inspecting the work. Since I came here, even I have often got up by six in the morning, designed it always, and the whole house are fast asleep before twelve. This I call good hours. I walk as much as I am able, sometimes rather more. We sometimes ride, though not often: for the evenings and mornings are very cold, and the middle of the day violently hot. North-east winds continually, and such want of rain, that the ground is as hard as iron. I am the most temperate creature in my diet you ever knew; yet, with all my care, I can

guilty of the like for the future. The words being here marked under by Mrs. Pendarves prove that she refers to some rebuke of that kind.

N.

not

not be well. I believe, if I am never guilty of a greater fault, I shall meet with very little resentment, either publick or private. They are the faults in the world soonest forgot, and the seldomest truly resented. Let that be as it will, since health is undoubtedly the most valuable thing in life, I shall do all I can to obtain it. This makes me consent to a thing in the world I am most averse to; that is, going to the Spa about a month or six weeks hence. I wish it was good for your complaints, that we might be there together. Really, if you think it will be of any use to you, and that you can order your affairs so as to make it possible, depend upon it we shall make it our study, (and a very agreeable one too,) to make you as easy and happy as it is in the power of people (not of a very troublesome disposition) to contrive. Your complaint and mine are not very different, as I imagine. Mine is a sort of dizziness, which generally goes off by the headach. Some learned people give it a name I do not know how to spell, a vertico, or vertigo. Pray understand that I, really and truly, do not only say, but mean, that I wish you could either meet us at the Spa, or at London to go on with us; and in this I am sure I shall never change my mind. If it can do you any good, I feel myself enough your friend to resent it extremely if you miss this miss this opportunity. This you would believe, if you knew what obligations I have to you. I am generally poor in spirit, or quarreling with myself for being good for nothing. When a letter comes from you, it does not only entertain and revive me, but instantly I fancy I ought to have a good opinion of myself; which is of very great

use