I DEAR SIR, LETTER XXV. June 24, 1720. HAVE a great many obligations to you, and I may fay, the lampreys are of the fresh water, fince they are very fresh and good. I am really piqued at the stocks, which put a stop, at present, to all trade and all friendship, and, I fear, all honour too. I am fure, however, they do you as little prejudice, and your morals, as any man's; your memory of your friends is proved by the good offices you continue to do them; and I affure you I heartily with fome occafion may offer itself of my proving to you my fenfe of this which I fay. Pray, if it is poffible to remember a mere word of course in such a place as Exchangealley, remember me there to Gay; for any where elfe (I deem) you will not fee him as yet. I depend upon feeing you here now the books are closed. Dear Sir, adieu! To Wm. Fortefcue, Efq. at Tom's Coffee house, in Devereux-court, near the Temple. A. POPE. DEAR SIR, LETTER XXVI. Twitnam, Sept. 17, 1724. YOUR friendly and kind Letter I received with real joy and gladnefs, to hear, after a long filence, of the welfare of a whole family, which I fhall ever unfeignedly wifh well to in all regards. I knew not in what part of the land to level a letter at you, or elfe you had heard firft from me. My mother, indeed, is very ill; but as it feems only the effect of a cold, which always handles her feverely, I hope not in any danger. I am in the old way,-this day well, however, and the past and future are not in my power, fo not much in my care. Gay is at the bath with Dr. Arbuthnot. Mrs. Howard returns your fervices, and Marblehill waits only for its roof,-the rest finished. The little Prince William wants Mifs Fortefcue, or, to say truth, any body else that will play with him. You fay nothing at what time we may expect you here; I wish it foon, and thought you talked of Michaelmas. I am grieved to tell you, that there is one Devonshire man not honeft; for my man Robert proves a vile fellow, and I have difcarded him: auri facra fames is his crime; a crime common to the greatest and meaneft if any way in power, or too much in truft! I am going upon a fhort ramble to my Lord Oxford's, and Lord Cobham's, for a fort night, this Michaelmas; and the hurry I am at prefent in, with preparing to be idle, (a common case,) makes it difficult for me to continue this Letter, though I truly defire to fay many things to you. Homer is advanced to the eighth book, I mean printed fo far. My gardens improve more than my writings; my head is still more upon Mrs. Hd. and her works, than upon my own. Adieu! God bless you; an ancient and Christian, therefore an unmodifh and unusual falutation. I am ever, fincerely and affectionately, I HAD no fooner received your kind Letter, with the ill news of your being feized with the gout, at Buckland, but your clerk acquainted me that you were extremely ill, which gives me unexpreffible concern. My fears of your being distant from your family, and what help by phyficians may be to be procured in a lone country, do fincerely much trouble me. I beg to know by the firft opportunity, by a line either from yourself, or any other hand, how you are; and that you are not in fo much danger as I apprehended. I will add no more words, fince none can tell you how much I am in pain about you, and fince they can only be troublesome to yourfelf, if you are very ill. But God and my own heart know with what warm affection, and wishes for your recovery, and for your every happiness and comfort, I am ever, dear Sir, To Wm. Fortefcue, Efq. to be left at his House, in Bell yard, near Lincoln's Inn, London.-Speed. Yours, A. POPE. LETTER XXVIII. DEAR SIR, MRS. RS. Howard will be glad to fee you either Thuffday or Friday, which fuits your conveniency; but it must be at the hour of eleven (as I fancied before), and not fooner. I fhould be glad to have you in your whole felf, (i. e. your family and pofterity,) dine here that day, and will not meet you, therefore, at Richmond, where you would be alone with her, but attend the Ladies here at any hour you will direct. I thank you for your laft kind vifit, and am fincerely, dear Sir, Your affectionate friend and obliged fervant, To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. at his Houfe, in Bell-yard, near Lincoln's Inn, London. LETTER XXIX. A. POPE. DEAR SIR, I AM fo ill to-day with the head-ach and wind, that I am utterly incapable of company or fupping, or even converfing with any comfort. I must lie in an arm-chair til bed-time, and the motion of a chair makes me quite fick. I am forry to be now twice disappointed of you. I will come to-morrow afternoon or night, and take my chance. I am ever truly To Wm. Fortescue, Esq. in Bell-yard. Yours, A. POPE. |