juft the fame now, for I am just the fame, that is, faithfully, Madam, Your most obliged (why not affectionate) Mrs. Elliot will believe me fincerely her fervant, when I assure her fo in all Chriftian truth, not in worldly compliment. MADAM, γου LETTER XVI. TO THE SAME. Twitenham, Nov. 25, 1735. will not think my filence any evidence of my forgetting you, after what I have declared to you long ago. It is a pain to me to be writing things I cannot exprefs, to friends I cannot fee; for both my zeal for them, and my concern not to be nearer them, puts me into an uneafinefs not to be told. I was much disappointed in not finding Mrs. Elliot: I was at her door the day before I left London, and the first day that I returned to it, which was the morning after fhe went. If a defire to be with you fome days would transport me beyond fuch neceffary business as my relations and friends find for me, I affure you my own business would not hinder my complying with it. I have I 2 I have not, for I cannot forget what you mention in relation to Mr. Harte: one of the livings I can have no poffible view of, knowing nothing towards the Duke of Rutland. The other, of Lord Effex, I'll fpeak to Lord Cornbury upon, who is but just returned from abroad. I've hopes of seeing him soon : but God knows, these are remote views. To prove to you how little effential to friendship I hold letter-writing, after the experience of thirty years (for fo long Mr. Curl tells you I kept a regular correfpondence), I have not yet written to Mr. Mallet, whom I love and esteem greatly, nay whom I know to have as tender a heart, and that feels a friendly remembrance as long as any man. Pray fend him the inclosed: 'tis all I can fay, for (as I told you before) it makes me quite fick to be put upon the pikes, to be faying fuch things as can only be felt, not faid. When do you come to town? The rafcally builders, as you call them, do not deferve that name; they pull down more than they build up, and will keep you out of your houfe for ever, if you don't come and drive them out. Mrs. Patty loves you, and hopes no wornan of quality can love you better; for then she would wish to be a woman of quality. I love you (modeftly speaking), and I love Mrs. Elliot (Christianly speaking); fo pray love and forgive him who is truly and morally hers, and, dear Madam, From a Picture by Sir Godfrey Kneller. in the Marquis of Buckingham's Collection at Geofield. Published by Cadeli & Davies, Strand, and the other Proprietors. May 1.1807. I MADAM, LETTER XVII. TO MRS. NUGENT*. Sept. 6, 1736. TAKE your rebuke in Mrs. Blount's letter kindly but indeed I know nothing fo fruitlefs as letterwriting. It can amount only to this, to be certified that our friends live, and that we live mindful of them; the first of which one may generally know otherwise, and the latter no friend can or ought to doubt. I have often heard of you; and, without hearing particulars, am fatisfied, that while you are alive, you are doing fome good, and remembering those of whom you have the fame opinion. Indeed, I know but one circumftance in which it is very pleafing (if not very reasonable) on both fides, to demand, and to tell, all particulars of, and to one another it is, when two people are in love. Now you fee, Madam, that whenever I write to you often, it * On the 23d March 1736, Mrs. Knight was married to Robert Nugent, Efq. who, after filling feveral offices of state, was, in 1767, advanced to the peerage of Ireland, by the titles of Baron Nugent of Carlanftown, and Viscount Clare, and afterwards was created Earl Nugent, with remainder, in default of iffue male, to George Grenville-Nugent-Temple, now Marquis of Buckingham, who married his daughter Mary, now Marchionefs of Buckingham, Earl Nugent died Oct. 13, 1788. C. |