LETTER IX.

TO THE SAME.

I

SIR,

HAD very long ago found a day liable to no accident of preventing me from feeing yourself and Mrs. Knight; but for a very tedious series of wretched ill health, that almost renders every day of my life wearifome and vexatious. My mother too has relapsed twice or thrice; and it is fo melancholy to her to be quite alone, that I have in a manner kept home entirely. Twice I endeavoured to find you, as I think, fince we last met. I wish it now; and, if I am not downright ill, will wait on you both next week. Guelfi fent me a letter this poft, to whom I owed an arrear, thinking fome things were wanting to be done, particularly to conceal better the joining of the urn. Pray fend to him about it, and tell him (it will fave me writing, and my head aches extremely), that, as foon as that is done, or if it be already done, I will pay him.

Be affured, dear Sir, of our hearty services to yourfelf and your lady.

I am, etc.

I hope you have read the book of the Bathos, and the laft volume of our Mifcellanies.

LETTER X.

TO THE SAME.

DEAR SIR,

Twitnham, Nov. 24.

I HAD some view of seeing you in the country; but

the weather proved fo cold, that the Duchefs of Bucks came back to town before I was ready to go to Lees. I am forced now to content myself with fuch informations of Mrs. Knight's ftate of health, as your people give me in Dover-street. If these be true, fhe is pretty well; and I hope the cheerfulness you two can give one another, will make all that bad seasons, ill air, and uncomfortable prospects can do, ineffectual to moleft or cloud you. Here the most unhappy gay people are reduced to mere children's play, and childish fights, to divert them. They go every day to ftare at a mock coronation* on the stage, which is to be fucceeded by a more ridiculous one of the Harlequins (almost as ridiculous a farce as the real ftate one of a coronation itself). After that, they hope for it again in a puppet-show, which is to recom. mend itself by another qualification, of having the exact portraits of the most confpicuous faces of our nobility in wax-work, fo as to be known at fight, without Punch's help, or the master's pointing to

each

* The Coronation of George II. which nearly ascertains the

date of this Letter.

C.

each with his wand as they pass. So much for news! 'Tis what paffes most material in this metropolis; till you, Sir, with your fellow-members, come to find us greater bufinefs after Christmas.

At last I have seen the statue up, and the statuary down at the fame time. The poor man has not been out of bed fince. I fent part of the money to him, and offered him more, which he refused, till he has been at the Abbey, to do fome little matter more to the hair (as I understand) and feet. The infcription on the urn is not done yet, though they (promifed) it two months ago, and had the draught: but yesterday they fent to me again for it, which I can't conceive the meaning of, for I faw it fcored on in the Abbey. I have fent it over again to Mr. Bird this day, however.

I fhall think it a favour to hear of you both, when your leisure permits. Believe me a fincere well-wifher to you both, and (if you will allow me a higher title), dear Sir,

a faithful friend and affectionate fervant.

My mother is well, and very much your's and Mrs. Knight's.

LETTER XI.

THERE

TO THE SAME.

Thursday, 7 in the Morning.

HERE has arisen such a tempest to-night, and in the morning is fo bluftering, that I think it unreafonable to tax Mrs. Knight's good-nature at fuch a rate, as to expect her here to-day. If fhe were one of those fine ladies who goes no where but for her own fake, and for her own dear amufements, and vifits those whom she would hang in her paffion, or beggar in her play; why then I fhould not be forry to fee her foufed and mortified one wet day in the country for it. But as fhe intends to please me, and as I gratefully with her to be pleased, I will not expect her if the weather does not perfectly change, so as you may be here before one o'clock: and pray name any day whatever elfe (after to-morrow, on which I am indifpensably engaged). Nevertheless, as for you, Sir, if you fear neither wind, nor thunder, nor storm, according to your wonted alacrity, come on horfeback forthwith, and appoint your other day yourself in perfon, I am very truly Mrs. Knight's, and, dear Sir, Your, etc.

I

WAS unlucky not to be able to find

you

the only

day I have been in town: and the season now keeps me to the country, where all the business I have in the world is to be. I was, if I could have feen you, to have informed you of fome curiofities (as I know you to like things of that nature) in shells, corals, and mineral ores, and congelations, which, I'm told, are very beautiful, and to be had at a very reasonable rate. I heard of them by chance: they belong to one Mrs. Dering, who brought them from the Indies, and lives at Mrs. Le Grand's. If you care to fee them, Mrs. Patty Blount * will wait upon you thither, and be glad of the opportunity of becoming better acquainted with you. I faid fomething from you to her, which I have forgot, and was to fay fomething from her to you fince, which I have also forgot; but you may take my word it was very civil, very reasonable, and very well intended. I hope you will meet fome way or other upon better terms than filly civilities (as you desired, I know, to do): if you don't meet at your own houses, let it be at mine. Pray acquaint me how

foon

bis C.

* Pope was generally anxious to introduce this lady among friends. Terefa is never mentioned in this way.