height, would be very well satisfied to part with I WRITE to you at the command of a gentleman, for whom I have a perfect friendship and esteem, and the request he desires me to make, appears to me altogether reasonable. The gentleman I mean is doctor Helsham, the most eminent physician of this city and kingdom, There is a person of qua lity, an intimate friend of the doctor's, my lord Tyrone, formerly sir Tristram Beresford, who is a tenant to the Londonderry society. His lordship is going to build two houses upon their estate; and, to assist him in so good work, I desire that when the particulars of the request shall be laid before the society, you, who are the governor, will please, if you find them just and reasonable, to forward them as far as lies in your power; by which you will much oblige me, and several worthy persons, particularly my friend doctor Helsham. Do you sometimes honour poor Mrs. Barber with a visit? We are afraid here, that the gout has got too strong a possession of her, and pray let me have some account of your own health: I wish we three valetudinarians were together, we should make excellent company; but I can drink my pint of wine twice a day, which I doubt both of you could not do in a week. I long excessively to be in England, but am afraid of being surprised by my old disorder in my head, far from help, or at least from conveniency; and I dare not so much as travel here without being near enough to come back in the evening to lie in my own bed. These are the effects of living too long: and the publick miseries of this kingdom add to my disease. I am, Dear sir, with true esteem and friendship, Your most obedient humble servant, FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN. LONDON, JULY 12, 1735. I HAVE not answered yours of the 15th of June so soon as I should; but the duke of Dorset had answered all yours ere your letter came to my hands. So I hope all causes of complaint are at an end, and that he has showed himself, as he is, much your friend and humble servant, though he wears a garter, and had his original from Normandy, if heralds do not lie, or his grannams did not play false; and while he is lord lieutenant, (which I heartily wish may not be much longer) I dare say will be very glad of any opportunity to do what you recommend to him. Thus far I will answer for his grace, though he is now in the country, and cannot subscribe to it himself. Now to quite another affair. The countess of Suffolk (whom you know I have long had a great esteem and value for) has been so good and gracious as to take my brother George Berkeley * for better, for worse; though I hope in God the last will not happen, because I think he is an honest good natured man. The town is surprised; and the town talks, as the town loves to do, upon these ordinary extraordinary occasions. She is indeed four or five years older than he, and no more; but for all that, he has appeared to all the world, as well as me, to have long had (that is, ever since *Fourth and youngest son of Charles earl of Berkeley. He was many years representative for Dover, and master of the hospital of St. Catharine's near the Tower. N. · she she has been a widow, so pray do not mistake me) a most violent passion for her, as well as esteem and value for her numberless good qualities. These things well considered, I do not think they have above ten to one against their being very happy: and if they should not be so, I shall heartily wish him hanged, because I am sure it will be wholly his fault. As to her fortune, though she has been twenty years a court favourite, yet I doubt she has been too disinterested to enlarge it, as others would have done. And sir Robert *, her greatest enemy, does not tax her with getting quite forty thousand pounds. I wish---but fear it is not near that sum. But what she has, she never told me, nor have I ever asked; but whatever it is, they must live accordingly; and he had of his own wherewithal to live by himself easily and genteelly. In this hurry of matrimony, I had like to forgot to answer that part of your letter, where you say, you never heard of our being in print together. I believe it was about twenty years ago, Mr. Curll set forth "Letters amorous, satirical, and gallant, between Dr. Swift, lady Mary Chambre, lady Betty Germain, and Mrs. Anne Long, and several other persons. I am afraid some of my people used them according to their desert; for they have not appeared above-ground this great while. And now to the addition of writing the brave large hand you make me do for you, I have bruised my fingers prodigiously, and can say no more but adieu. * Walpole, afterward earl of Orford. H. I FROM DR. SHERIDAN. DEAR SIR, JULY 16, 1735. RECEIVED your twenty pounds from lord Lanesborough's agent yesterday, and it travels to you from this on Saturday next, by one John Donaldson, one of our nobility. You will get it, I believe, on Monday. I have nothing to say to the 2801. you mention. That is, as I told you, the fine and rent of Drumlane, which I owe the bishop, and which will be paid him August 26th. I cleared off the rent which I owed him for your purchase, the other day, or I should have sent your poor money, poor as I am, before this. Now are you satisfied that I am not negligent or giddy? But what, in the name of God, is the matter with you to delay so long? Can I oversee my workmen and a school too? If you will not come and take your charge in hand, I must employ somebody else. There is a long walk begun: stones a drawing home for an addition to my house: the schoolhouse repaired at the charge of the county: a gravel walk from the market-cross to my house, at the town's expence; item, a gravel walk by the river, which will all require your attendance. As you were a good and faithful overseer of my improvements at Quilca, I am willing to employ you rather than another: therefore I expect your answer immediately, for the summer is flying off apace. My lord Orrery writ to me, that he would come from Munster to see me soon; if you will but have the prudence to be here, you may have a fair opportunity of recom mending |