brance, without the help of another. I cannot say I have a great inclination to write to you; for I have no great vanity that way, at least not enough to support me above the fear of writing ill: but I would fain have you know how truly well I wish you.

I am sorry to hear no good account of your health: mine has been, since Christmas (at which time I had my fever and rash) neither well nor ill enough to be taken notice of: but within these three weeks I have been sick in form, and kept my bed for a week, and my chamber to this day.

This confinement, together with the mourning", has enabled me to be very easy in my chair-hire: for a dyed black gown and a scoured white one have done my business very well; and they are now just fit for Petersham, where we talk of going in three weeks : and I am not without hopes I shall have the same squire that I had last year. I am very unwilling to change and, moreover, I begin to fear I have no great prospect of getting any new danglers; and therefore, in order to make a tolerable figure, I shall endeavour to behave myself well, that I may keep my old ones.

As a proof that I continue to be well received at court, I will tell you where the Royal Family design to pass their summer: two months at Richmond Lodge, the same time at Hampton-Court, and six weeks at Windsor. Mrs. Howard is well, and happier than ever you saw her; for her whole affair with her husband is ended to her satisfaction.

Dr. Arbuthnot I am very angry with: he neglects me for those he thinks finer ladies. Mr. Gay's fame continues, but his riches are in a fair way of diminishing he is gone to the Bath. I wish you were ordered there; for I believe that would carry Mr. Pope, who is always inclined to do more for his friends than

• General mourning for the death of George I.

himself. He is much out of order, and is told nothing is so likely to do him good.

My illness has prevented my writing to you sooner. If I was a favourite at court, I would soon convince you that I am, very sincerely,

Your faithful friend, and very humble servant,

M. B

LETTER II.

DR. JONATHAN SWIFT TO MARTHA BLOUNT.

MADAM PATT,

Twitenham Garret, Thursday Morn. at nine. YOU are commanded by Mr. Pope to read that part of the inclosed which relates to Mr. Gay and yourself, and to send a direct answer to your humble servant by my humble servant the bearer. Being at an end of all my shoes and stockings, I am not able to wait on you to-day, after so rainy a night and so suspicious a morning.

Mrs. Pope is yours; but I, with the greatest respect, Madam,

Your most obedient and devoted servant,
JONATH. SWIFT.

Pray do not give a copy of this letter to Curl the bookseller.

LETTER III.

THE DUCHESS OF QUEENSBERRY TO MARTHA
BLOUNT.

DEAR MADAM,

Ambresbury, July 23, 1752. AS I am not the first, nor, I fear, the last person, who has occasionally neglected their best friend for the sake of a glut of racketting passengers, I shall be less ashamed to own to you I might have answered yours sooner; and I wish this unnatural delay would provoke you to come directly hither, to ask why I am so tardy; whereas no answer is worth receiving unless it comes glibly, and I find mine does not occur currently, and, besides, (is) very much clogged with

but's.

Dear Mrs. Blunt has formerly honoured little Petersham, which fitted her as a glove; but now comes my But: but how can I accommodate her sister? for my own apartment must remain empty absolutely, though the King himself were to borrow our little habitation at Petersham; and the number of residers are considerably increased since Mrs. Blunt was last there under the care of Kaites and Price Lambert.

I wish you and I were sitting tête a tête, for that would be every way best of all; and I think, supposing I could not prevail on you to continue with me, I could in talk, better than by writing, mumble over that I have no mind to make a compliment to a lady I have never been acquainted with; and yet am very sorry to dissent from any proposal made to me by an acquaintance I really love and honour sincerely, and very sincerely invited to do herself good in our nut-shell, which she herself is still heartily welcome to. Though she inquires after all our healths, with

out saying one word of her own, which we all wish good, with all our hearts; we are extremely well, and much obliged to dear Mrs. Blunt for her kind remembrance. I am really and truly, very faithfully and affectionately,

Your, etc. etc.

CATHERINE, QUEENSBERRY and DOVER.

I have no gilt paper at hand: pray excuse this unadorned letter. Pray let the bearer know when you intend being at Petersham, because he will write to the family there to get your bed well aired.

LETTER IV.

LADY TEMPLE TO THE SAME.

FORGIVE me, dear Mrs. Blunt, if I have no sooner performed my promise of writing to you: but I need not beg pardon, since you will easily excuse it; for I fear my letters will have nothing in them entertaining, and I can't flatter myself that I have any share in your friendship, since happy Mrs. Moore is my rival. With this melancholy reflection, I had once resolved never to write; but when I considered, that perhaps you would sometimes make me happy by your letters, I was no longer in suspense what to do, but resolved to write till your silence forbids me. I don't hear much news yet; the town is going into mourning for six months for the Prince's sister, in cloth and Norwich stuff. I suppose you hear that pretty Mrs Foresthur (qu. Forrester) is the new maid of honour, and that my Lord Dorset ia married to Jenny Roach, a common woman he has kept. They say she is ugly, but has a great deal of wit. We have a new play-house a-building, and a

new actor, which people like mightily. I wish any thing could bring you to town. Dear Madam, Your very humble servant,

C. TEMPLE.
If you

My very humble service to Mrs. Blount.

do me the favour to write, direct for me at Mama's, in Golden-square, London.

November 7th, 1704.

LETTER V.

MR. POPE TO MRS. PRICE, AT SPAW.

PRAY, Madam, tell my Lord Cornbury, I am not worse than he left me, though I have endured some uneasiness since, besides that which his indisposition, when I parted, gave me. I am amply rewarded by his very kind letter, and the good news it brought me of his amendment. I have had a correspondence with my Lord Clarendon, who has in the most obliging manner imputed his journey to Spa to the encouragement I gave him to travel, and to the experience that he was abler to do so than he imagined himself. I earnestly wish his return, but not till he can bring him. self whole to us, who want honest and able men too much to part from him: I hope, therefore, to see him this sessions in full health and spirit. Madam, as to yourself, it would be some compliment in me to put any lady in the same line with him; but as I know he likes your company, and as I know you deserve he should, I make no apology either to you or to him. Sint tales anima concordes! (as you very well understand) is the best wish I can form for you both: and I leave it to his Lordship to translate, if you pretend you cannot. Sure I am you have already translated

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