From a Picture by Sir Godfrey Hneller. in the Marques of Buckingham's Collection at Gosfielel

Published by Cadell & Davies, Strand, and the other Proprietors. May 1.1807.

MADAM,

LETTER XVII.

TO MRS. NUGENT*.

Sept. 6, 1736.

TAKE your rebuke in Mrs. Blount's letter kindly; but indeed I know nothing fo fruitless as letterwriting. It can amount only to this, to be certified that our friends live, and that we live mindful of them; the first of which one may generally know otherwise, and the latter no friend can or ought to doubt. I have often heard of you; and, without hearing prticulars, am fatisfied, that while you are alive, you are doing fome good, and remembering those of hom you have the fame opinion. Indeed, I know ht one circumftance in which it is very pleafing f not very reasonable) on both fides, to demand, nd to tell, all particulars of, and to one another is, when two people are in love. Now you fee, hadam, that whenever I write to you often,

it

*On the 3d March 1736, Mrs. Knight was married to Robert Nugt, Efq. who, after filling feveral offices of ftate, was, in 176 advanced to the peerage of Ireland, by the titles of Baron Nuge of Carlanftown, and Viscount Clare, and afterwards was ated Earl Nugent, with remainder, in default of iffue male, tGeorge Grenville-Nugent-Temple, now Marquis of Buckingh, who married his daughter Mary, now Marchionefs of Ekingham, Earl Nugent died O&t. 13, 1788. C.

it will amount to a direct declaration, which I fear would immediately make you yourself put a stop to it. Therefore, not to be impertinent at my age, I'll be content with putting you in mind (though I think myself happy enough not to believe it neceffary) that I wish to be your fervant in any thing. But it would be downright impudence to imagine your regard for me extended to a defire of knowing a thoufand things about a person fo little fignificant to your real service or welfare.

I like better the Chriftian language, of faying I pray for yours here and hereafter; which is true, and which is, in reality, all we can do for one another, for the most part and I think Mrs. Elliot ill be on my fide.

If we both join in these prayers, I hope more good may accrue to your foul, than I dare name or than the Rev. Mr. Harte may allow of.

your

In the mean time, I will only pray that ya may be delivered from all evil, and particularly, in the first place, from all evil workers, or workmen, ho are as dirty and as noify as devils, in houfe. But you may wish me joy of workmen in my gard; which I think as delightful, as the others are dreadl. You may as much expect to fee a new garden, when you come to Twitnam, as I to fee a new houfe hen I to Gosfield. I hope they will drive you t to London, fince I fhall be kept hereabouts all tl autumn. I guess Mr. Harte is in his element, amog builders

go

and

and bookcafes: I wish him happy fincerely in every thing.

I foresee Mr. Newfham's return is approaching. I doubt not he will bring you back the completion of your happiness; and if he does, I must say you will owe fomething to Mr. Mallet, in not only restoring you a fon as good as he carried him out (which few tutors do), but in a great degree making and building up, as well as strengthening and improving, what is the greatest work man or woman ought to be proud of, a worthy mind and found body. May the just occafion of fo much pride and pleasure to you, ever continue! Nothing on earth better than this can be wifhed you by

LETTER XVIII.

TO THE SAME.

DEAR MADAM,

A. P.

Saturday, Oct. 30, 1736.

A

FTER hoping to be able to dine with you this day,

my very uneafy indifpofition of cholic and headach rendered it impracticable: and it has continued in fuch a manner all this day too, that I find I must never attempt to dine fo late as a fashionable hour. I really dread the confequences of doing it at MarbleHill;

14

Hill*; when you set out thence after twelve, it will be three before you can be there, and four before they'll dine. I can, therefore, upon ferious confideration, no more propofe any enjoyment in waiting on you on Monday; but rather will meet you at Lady Suffolk's that day or the next, and go home in the mean time as I can, dreading a fresh cold. You fee what an unable man you have to do with! Well may he call himself an humble, very humble fer

vant.

I

LETTER XIX.

TO THE SAME,

FROM MARTHA BLOUNT AND MR. POPE.

December 10, 1736.

RESOLVE to write to you once before you come to town, though you make ever so much haste, as I think both by inclination and neceffity you will; and though I have nothing to fay to you but to Mrs. Elliot, and nothing to fay to her but about horses. Mr. Noell hears fhe no longer hires horfes of the man fhe employed last year, therefore begs me to defire he may have her custom again. I hope this petition will operate foon, as I hope her devotion this Christmas will