DEAR SIR, LETTER XVII. Down-Hall, in Essex, Jan. 5. I HAD writ the post 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 I wish that the very next day you may begin your journey, because sincerely 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 wish me as long a life as they please, I should not wish it to myself with the allay of great or much pain. My old Lord Dorset said very well in that case, the tenure is not worth the fine. I hope the joys of a marriage, both to those who possess, and to you who procure, (modestly speaking,) will obliterate all those melancholy thoughts. I wish the new couple all felicity. And pray make haste 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 cider merchants. His reply was, that he desired 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 soon 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 assure you I am, with truth, dear Sir, Your ever affectionate friend and servant. DEAR SIR, LETTER XVIII. Twitenham, Feb. 17, 1726. I WAS sorry I missed of you the other day when you called; I was gone to Mrs. Howard's, as I told you. I send you part of what wholly belongs to you, and, as the world's justice goes, that is a fair composition; I mean some of the Devonshire pease. If the ring be done, pray give it the bearer. I intend to wear it for life, as a melancholy memorandum of a most honest, worthy man. I told you I dined the other day at Sir Robert Walpole's. A thing has happened since which gives me uneasiness, from the indiscretion of one who dined there at the same time; one of the most innocent words that ever I dropped in my life, has been reported out of that conversation, which might reasonably seem odd, if ever it comes to Sir R.'s ears. I will tell it you the next time we meet; as I would him, if I had seen him since; and it was not (otherwise) of weight enough to trouble him about. We live in unlucky times, when half one's friends are enemies to the other, and consequently care not that any equal moderate man should have more friends than they themselves have. Believe me, dear Sir, Most affectionately yours. LETTER XIX. DEAR SIR, Twitnam, April 2 (1726). I BEGAN a letter to you about a fortnight past, which Gay was to finish, and accordingly put it in his pocket, I believe; for I never since could find it here. If you received it, it would look oddly enough; for intending to fill a page, I had left a large blank, and probably he sent it you just as it was. I have ever since been engaged in country-houses and gardens, with one friend or other, and know nothing of the town, but that Bowry gave my mother sometimes an account of the state of the family, and of their drink. Dr. Swift is come into England, who is now with me, and with whom I am to ramble again to Lord Oxford's and Lord Bathurst's, and other places. Dr. Arbuthnot has led him a course through the town, with Lord Chesterfield, Mr. Pulteney, &c. Lord Peterborough and Lord Harcourt propose to carry him to Sir R. Walpole, and I to Mrs. Howard, &c. I wish you were here to know him. I have just now a very ill-timed misfortune, a lame thigh, which keeps me from these parties; but I hope, since so many of my friends' prayers are on this occasion joined to my own, that I may be blessed with a speedy recovery, and make one amongst them. Many good wishes of mine attend you! May no similar accident, such as a fall from your horse by day, or a sprain in your back by night, retard your return to us! Pray acquaint me, more largely than you did in your last concise letter, and in a style more suitable to the length and duration of a pleader and writer in law, of all your fortunes since we parted. In each and all of which, be assured, no man takes a truer part, and more wishes your welfare and prosperity, than, dear Sir, Your faithful, ever affectionate servant. DEAR SIR, LETTER XX. FROM an information given me by Mr. Gay, correspondent with what I formerly heard from you, that estates were yet to be had in Devonshire, at twenty and twenty-five years' purchase, I beg it of you as a particular kindness to interest yourself so much in my affairs, as to get (if possible) about the yearly value of two hundred pounds, entirely, or in parcels, as it falls out, and as to your judgment shall seem meet. If Mr. Gay and I, by this means, become effectually your countrymen, we hope (in conjunction with you) to come in time to represent Devonshire itself. To which happy county, fertile in its productions, abounding in its wits, delicious in its ciders, be all honour, praise, glory, &c.-I am ever, sincerely, dear Sir, Yours. LETTER XXI. DEAR SIR, Twitnam, May 16 (1726). I SHOULD, without compliment, come to town any day you desired, on any account, as well as on so agreeable an one as you propose; but (which I wonder my communicative waterman never told your people) my mother has been and is extremely ill, and dangerously so, of an intermittent fever, which requires my constant attendance. There is nobody with me but the Dean of St. Patrick's, who would hardly be here if he were not the best-natured and indulgent man I know; it is so melancholy a way of passing his time. I could be glad to see you, if you have a day of leisure, and indeed there are few friends to whom I could make this request. I wish you and yours well and happy in every circumstance of life, and am truly, dear Sir, Yours. LETTER XXII. DEAR SIR, I QUITE forgot, in the place of business where I last saw you, to mention a commission of Lady Walpole's, that you will not forget her laver. I shall readily speak to Cheselden what you desire, and to St. Andre, if you will; the others I have not the least knowledge of: I will put Mrs. Howard also in mind of it: that lady is now better; she has been in some danger of a fever, and in extreme pain, since you saw her on Sunday; she has hitherto kept her bed since that day. I will see her as soon as I can. If Dr. Arbuthnot knows Mr. Boucher, I will speak to him on his return to town; or in any thing, any way in my power, do my utmost that you can suggest: being, with lasting truth, and all good wishes and yours, Ever your affectionate friend. for you Pray leave me a memorandum where Mr. C-s is to be found, and give him all directions needful. I heartily wish you health, and a good journey. Sit tibi cura mei; sit tibi cura tui. DEAR SIR, LETTER XXIII. You see by the inclosed my sister is in an alarm, I suppose, occasioned by a mere mistake of Mr. C's clerk; or by her own too much haste in running to administer before him. I beg you will cause that mistake forthwith to be removed, that she may, without loss of time, proceed with full powers. I must entreat your vigilance as to her great affair, that it may be done with all convenient speed. It seems C-s says there is some difference in the account, as kept by Mr. Racket, and by the other party in the chancery suit. If you please to have a meeting with Mr. Essington, and examine this account of what has been paid into his hands, it will be the readiest way, and is very necessary. I am glad you had not the mortification of seeing the country this sad and gloomy day. I heartily wish |