your state of health, and almost quarrelled with me that I had not writ sooner. Indeed I forget no old friend a day together; and I bear you, in particular, all the goodwill and good wishes I can harbour for any one; though, as to writing, I grow more and more remiss. The whole purpose of it is only to tell, now and then one is alive, and to encourage one's friends to tell us the same, in the consciousness of loving and being loved by each other. All news, if important, spreads of itself; and, if unimportant, wastes time and paper; few things can be related as certain truths, and to hunt for pretty things belongs to fops and Frenchmen. Party stories are the business of such as serve their own interests by them, or their own passions. Neither of all these is my case, so that I confine myself to mere howd'yes, and repeated assurances that I am concerned to know what I ask of my friends. Let me, then, sometimes be certified of your ways and welfare; mine are pretty uniform, neither much mended nor worse. But such as I ever was, I am; and I ever was, and shall be, dear Sir, Faithfully yours. DEAR SIR, LETTER LXV. Monday, Seven o'clock, March, 1743. It is indeed very long since we have met; but I do not forget you, nor do I think you forget me, since you were so kind as to call yesterday. I did not expect you while Lord Bolingbroke was with me (though I saw any friend alone). Since he left me I have been in Kent for some time, and had Mr. West's family here a fortnight; have never been two days in town, nor one Sunday at home, without being confined to company. This is the truth; and I had written as much to you, but for the hope every week of seeing you the next. If this find you, dear Sir, at Richmond, I will take boat instantly. I truly am, and ever shall be, as I ever have been, Your most obliged and faithful humble servant. DEAR SIR, LETTER LXVI. Twitnam, Wednesday, April, 1743. I THANK you for your kind invitation to dine with you, but I have not dined this long while, so as to be fit for any man's table or food. I am not yet free from a fever, and yet must be carried in a coach to-morrow to London, to be the nearer the doctor. If you could as well take the air this way, I would get you a chicken, and enjoy here what I wish I could there, an hour or two of your company. The waterman gives me but an imperfect account of the state of your health, which I answer no man desires with more sincerity, than, dear Sir, Your most affectionate and ever faithful servant. DEAR SIR, LETTER LXVII. Saturday Night, June, 1743. I HAVE twice had the ill fortune to miss you when I went to the Rolls; the last time Mr. Solicitor and I were together; and now that he and I are at Twitenham (for one day only), my Lord Bolingbroke happens to be so, which hinders us from seeing you. I shall be in town again in two or three days, and hope then to dine and sup with you. I am really troubled to meet you so rarely, as I preserve the memory of so many hours and days formerly passed together; and am, with that sort of truth which was to be found in oldfashioned friendships, dear Sir, Your faithful and ever most affectionate servant. DEAR SIR, LETTER LXVIII. Twickenham, Friday. I AM in the condition of an old fellow of threescore, with a complication of diseases upon me, a constant head-ache, ruined tone of the stomach, &c. Some of these succeed the moment I get quit of others; and upon the whole, indeed, I am in a very uncomfortable way. I could have wished to see you, but cannot. I wish you all health, wherever you are. Pray, if you can, do not forget to try to procure the annuity for life for 10007., which I recommended to you in behalf of a lady of our acquaintance. Make my sincere services to all yours as acceptable as they are sincere. I am, dear Sir, yours affectionately. If you have an opportunity, pray give my services to Sir R. W. whom I will wait upon the first Sunday I am able. |