attend you home. home. I should be glad you had leisure to do this, which would be a true pleasure to Your ever obliged friend and faithful servant. A word in answer will find me at Lord Bathurst's. LETTER XXXIX. DEAR SIR, September 13. I TAKE your letter the more kindly, as I had not written to you myself; at least it must have been so, for all you could know; for, though, indeed, I did write once, yet I know it never reached you. I am sorry for poor White, who died just then. I could wish, if you are not fixed on a successor, you had a relation of mine in your eye; but this, I fear, is a hundred to one against my hopes. I am truly glad you have safely performed your revolution, and are now turning round your own axle in Devonshire; from whence may we soon behold you roll towards our world again! I can give you no account of Gay, since he was raffled for, and won back by his Duchess, but that he has been in her vortex ever since, immoveable to appearance, yet I believe with his head turning round upon some work or other. But I think I should not in friendship conceal from you a fear or a kindhearted jealousy, he seems to have entertained, from your never having called upon him in town, or corresponded with him since. This he communicated to me in a late letter, not without the appearance of extreme concern on his part, and all the tenderness imaginable on yours. This whole summer I have passed at home; my mother eternally relapsing, yet not quite down; her memory so greatly decayed, that I am forced to attend to every thing, even the least cares of the family, which you will guess, to me is an inexpressible trouble, added to the melancholy of observing her condition. I have seen Sir R. W. but once since you left. I made him then my confidant in a complaint against a lady, of his, and once of my acquaintance, who is libelling me, as she certainly one day will him, if she has not already. You will easily guess I am speaking of Lady Mary. I should be sorry if she had any credit or influence with him, for she would infallibly use it to belie me; though my only fault towards her was, leaving off her conversation when I found it dangerous. I think you too vastly ceremonious to Mrs. Patty, but I showed her what you wrote. I beg your family's acceptance of my heartiest services, and their belief that no man wishes them and you more warmly all prosperity, than, dear Sir, Your ever affectionate friend and servant. I have only seen Mrs. Howard twice since I saw you, but hear she is very well, since she took to waterdrinking. If you have any correspondence at Lincoln or Peterborough, a friend of mine desires to procure a copy of Mr. 's last will. LETTER XL. DEAR SIR, Monday, Jan., 1734-5. MRS. BLOUNT'S party with Mrs. Knight, to pay your family a visit, is desired to be to-morrow, if it suit with your conveniency; and if so, they choose to dine with you. The evenings they are engaged for all this week. I, who know your spirit of hospitality, conclude, you will like the dinner best. Adieu, and let them have your answer to-night, or per bearer. Believe me ever with true affection, dear Sir, Yours. DEAR SIR, LETTER XLI. Thursday, One o'clock, Jan., 1734-5. I HAVE been not only in and out of town so often, but so ridiculously employed (as I tell you at large), that I could not get one hour to see you. Pray tell me when I shall be sure of you at home. This day, at any hour? Mrs. Blount has now disposed very well of her money, which a friend of ours will pay at 4 per cent. for, from this day. Therefore, if you will order it me, I will take it for her forthwith, and bring you any proper receipt you shall send me. I write this from her house. Adieu! All happiness attend you; dear Sir, Yours. DEAR SIR, LETTER XLII. London, March 22, 1734-5. I DEFERRED this two or three posts to send you an answer from Dr. Mead, of the truth of what you heard. But he knows no example that can quite be depended on, of the pulvis A. curing, after any one began to rave, or otherwise than if taken very soon after the wound. I gave Mr. Bl. the account, which will be paid as soon as you please, if your clerk have the receipts from the attorneys; or if not, when you return. Mr. Bethel has been with Mr. Cs about it, who told him to defer it till you come. I have seen your family twice, once at Mr. Jervas's, and last night at home; they are all well, except a little cold which Miss Fortescue has, but was very merry. I hope you have this week seen Buckland with pleasure, and in a state of improvement; and that you will see Fallapit with the same. Twitnam is very cold these easterly winds; but I presume they do not blow in the happy regions of Devonshire. My garden, however, is in good condition, and promises fruits not too early. I am building a stone obelisk, making two new ovens and stoves, and a hot-house for ananas, of which I hope you will taste this year. The public news and votes tell you all the business of the season: it is generally thought the Parliament will be up in the middle of April. Adieu! May success, health, and money attend you in all your circulations! I am faithfully and affectionately, dear Sir, Yours. DEAR SIR, LETTER XLIII. Oct. 5, 1734. I SHOULD have told you, that if you have any occasion to direct to Mr. Bethel, it must be at Bestwick, near Beverley, Yorkshire: this I had told you last Saturday, when I intended to have passed the evening with you; but one of my fits of illness sent me to bed at eight o'clock, after a tiresome day. I came to Twitnam, where I am in my garden, amused and easy this is a scene where one finds no disappointment; the leaves of this year that are fallen, are sure to come on again the next: it is far otherwise in the great world (I mean the little world) of a court, &c. Get to be a judge, the sooner the better, and go to rest. Adieu! Believe me truly yours. I think to see you at the end of the week. In the mean time, if you have any thing satisfactory from Eadnell or Roberts, tell me; for my friends' concerns are more than my own; or if you have not, at least tell me you are well, and when I may be securest to find you at home. I am, most affectionately, Yours. DEAR SIR, LETTER XLIV. Friday morning, Nov., 1734. YOUR letter (by the negligence of our post, which often delivers them not here till ten o'clock) came too late for me to get any conveyance to town to-day. But certainly you have just as much authority as I, as a friend of Mrs. Blount, to determine in this affair, as to the quarter's rent; or if you scruple it, apply to her: you and I, I am sure, shall be of the same opinion of it. As to the bill of charges, I think that is out of the question of their rent and principal, and may be decided separately, but doubtless to be insisted on. I want to see you very much: shall you come this way on Saturday? For though I intended to be in town, I find I must take physic, being in a very ill way this week; though if I had found a coach to-day, I had come; as I often have for my friends, when really I have been little able. Adieu! I am truly, dear Sir, Yours. Have you lately seen Lady Suffolk? She was ill when I left the town. DEAR SIR, LETTER XLV. Friday, Dec. 1734. I FULLY intended to have dined with you yesterday, and the day before; but the first of them I was taken in at Court, and yesterday and to-day am so ill of a most troublesome cold, which has brought down the uvula of my mouth, that I cannot dine at all. Would you go to-morrow to Twitnam, and could you spare the coach, I would go gladly with you; if not, I must stay, perforce, till Sunday morning. I hope all |