DEAR SIR,

LETTER XXXV.

Wednesday.

THE very melancholy fituation I have been in, from the very day you begun the journey to Devonfhire, made me not willing to break the enjoyment and peace of your domeftic fatisfactions in your family there; and poor Mr. Gay's great danger added to my concern. My mother ftill keeps her bed, and, I fear, is very unlikely to rife again: the distemper, which probably will finish all her decays, holds upon her, and does not yield to any remedies; the most is an interval from pain into weaknefs and flumbers. God knows when I fhall fee you or any body; in the mean time I thank you for many offices of your friendfhip, and beg you will continue to affift my fifter's * affairs I prefume Effington is now in town, and would fend you his account, if demanded. Mrs. Blount has charged me with many speeches to be made you upon your care in her annuity. But I am unable to say, or almost do any thing, my own spirits are fo funk. I wish you fincerely joy of what I am told is given you, and shall always make it my wish to Heaven for you. Det vitam, det opes, aquam animam tibi ipfe parabis.

Your

very faithful servant,

Mrs. Racket.

A. POPE.

Pray

Pray make my compliments to Mr. Horace Walpole, whom I would have waited on with my thanks, but for this confinement on account of my mother.

To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. at his House, in Bell-yard, near Lincoln's Inn.

LETTER XXXVI.

DEAR SIR,

1

FIRST thank for

you your

kind vifit, and hope you

are not the worse for the cold day. I find by the inclosed that there must be more money fomewhere to be found of my fifter's affair; for the principal fum was 1700. befide interest: and, as I understand no part of the principal ever was paid, I therefore beg you to cause inquiry to be speedily made of Mr. Thurston, the master in chancery. Pray, ought you not to require a fight of Effington's books themselves, where the account was kept, if his extract prove not fatisfactory? The queftion my fifter afks about one Abbot I cannot answer, unless you find it in the writings and papers fhe fent you. I have troubled with the parcel for New England. For all your

you

kindneffes

kindneffes I thank you cordially, and am, with fincere

esteem,

Your faithful friend and servant,

My mother is rather worse, than better.

To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. in Bell-yard,

near Lincoln's Inn, London.

A. POPE.

I

LETTER XXXVII.

DEAR SIR,

Down-Hall, in Effex, Jan. 5.

HAD writ the poft after my receipt of yours, but it followed me thirty miles beyond London, where I have spent part of the Christmas. I yet hope this will find you; and yet I wish the very next day you may begin your journey, because fincerely I cannot see you too soon. I am rejoiced that your gout left you the day after I did: may it never return! though it bring many compliments along with it: for, let my friends with me as long a life as they pleafe, I should not wish it to myself with the allay of great or much pain. My old Lord Dorset said very well in that cafe, the tenure is not worth the fine. I hope the joys of a marriage, both to those who poffefs, and to you who procure, (modeftly fpeaking,) will obliterate all thofe melancholy thoughts. I wish the new couple all fell

city.

And pray make hafte to town with the remainder of your family, and put them into the like happy condition with all speed. I had lately an opportunity of telling my Lord Harcourt what we had missed of, when at Sir W.'s, and of making him the compliment of his cyder merchants. His reply was, that he defired to treat with you further, both in that capacity and in your other of a lawyer. To which purpose I have promised to bring you to dine with him as foon as you return to town, which I earnestly expect, and doubt not you will improve the acquaintance with each other. After thanking you for your kind Letter, and returning you my mother's services, (who is pretty well,) I have only to add, that I will not fail, upon my return to town, to make all your compliments to Mrs. Howard, and to affure you I am, with truth, dear Sir,

Your ever affectionate friend and servant,

To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. at Fallapit,

near Totnes, Devon. - Frank,

Oxford.

A. POPE.

LETTER XXXVIII.

DEAR SIR,

RS. Blount's

MRS.

party

Monday, Jan. 1734-5.

with Mrs. Knight, to pay your

family a visit, is defired to be to-morrow, if it suit with your conveniency; and if fo, they chufe to dine with you. The evenings they are engaged for all this week. I, who know your spirit of hofpitality, conclude, you'll like the dinner best. Adieu, and let them have your answer to-night, or per bearer. Believe me ever, with true affection, dear Sir,

To Wm. Fortefcue, Efq. in Bell-yard,

Lincoln's Inn.

Yours,

A. POPE.

LETTER XXXIX.

DEAR SIR,

Twitnam, Nov. 13, 1733.

I

HAD fully hoped to have seen you ere now; but though I was in town two days and half, I could find no evening; and am now unwilling to be there till all the bustle of the wedding is over. In the mean time I hope you'll fecure Mrs. Blount, by infuring Roberts' life the moment he comes to town.

VOL. X.

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