costs but fixpence a jobb; and you fhall have Catholicity as much as you please, and the Catholic, Dean of St. Patrick's, as old again as I, for Adieu again, dear Patty..

your

Confeffor.

THE ANSWER*.

TO DR. SWIFT.

I

SIR,

May 7, 1728.

AM very much pleafed with your letter: but I fhould have thought myself much more obliged, had you been lefs fincere, and not told me I did not owe the favour entirely to your inclination, but to an information that I had a mind to hear from you; and I mistrust you think even that as much as I deferve. If fo, you really are not deferving of my repeated inquiries after you, and my conftant good wishes and concern for your welfare; which merit fome remembrance, without the help of another. I cannot fay I have a great inclination to write to you; for I have no great vanity that way, at least not enough to fupport me above the fear of writing ill: but I would fain have you know how truly well I wish you.

I am forry to hear no good account of your health: mine has been, fince Christmas (at which time I had

my

*We have but few fpecimens of Mifs Blount's Letters. This is here reprinted as one of the most favourable: it was first publifhed by Deane Swift, Efq. in 1775.

C.

my fever and rafh) neither well nor ill enough to be taken notice of: but within thefe three weeks I have

been fick in form, and kept my bed for a week, and my chamber to this day.

This confinement, together with the Mourning*, has enabled me to be very eafy in my chair-hire: for a dyed black gown and a fcoured white one have done my business very well; and they are now just fit for Petersham, where we talk of going in three weeks and I am not without hopes I fhall have the fame fquire that I had last year. I am very unwilling to change and, moreover, I begin to fear I have no great prospect of getting any new danglers; and therefore, in order to make a tolerable figure, I fhall endeavour to behave myself well, that I may keep my old ones.

As a proof that I continue to be well received at Court, I will tell you where the Royal Family defign to pass their fummer: two months at Richmond Lodge, the fame time at Hampton-Court, and fix weeks at Windfor. Mrs. Howard is well, and happier than ever you faw her; for her whole affair with her husband is ended to her fatisfaction †.

* General mourning for the death of George I.

Dr.

C.

This fhameful intrigue is minutely detailed by Lord Orford, in his "Reminifcences ;" and the event alluded to in this Letteris, that "during the fummer a negociation was commenced with the obftreperous husband, and he fold his own noisy honour, and the poffeffion of his wife, for a penfion of twelve hundred a year."

C1

Dr. Arbuthnot I am very angry with: he neglects me for those he thinks finer ladies. Mr. Gay's fame continues, but his riches are in a fair way of diminishing he is gone to the Bath. I wish you were ordered there; for I believe that would carry Mr. Pope, who is always inclined to do more for his friends than himself. He is much out of order, and is told nothing is fo likely to do him good.

My illness has prevented my writing to you fooner. If I was a favourite at Court, I would foon convince you that I am, very fincerely,

Your faithful friend, and very humble fervant,

ou are commanded by Mr. Pope to read that part

γου

of the inclosed which relates to Mr. Gay and yourself, and to fend a direct answer to your humble fervant by my humble fervant the bearer. Being at an end of all my shoes and stockings, I am not able

to

to wait on you to-day, after fo rainy a night and fo fufpicious a morning.

Mrs. Pope is yours; but I, with the greatest respect, Madam,

Your most obedient and devoted fervant,

JONATH. SWIFT.

Pray do not give a copy of this Letter to Curl the bookfeller.

LETTER III.

THE DUCHESS OF QUEENSBERRY TO MARTHA

As

DEAR MADAM,

BLOUNT.

Ambresbury, July 23, 1752. s I am not the first, nor, I fear, the last person, who has occafionally neglected their best friend for the fake of a glut of racketting paffengers, I fhall be less ashamed to own to you I might have answered yours fooner; and I wish this unnatural delay would provoke you to come directly hither, to ask why I am fo tardy; whereas no answer is worth receiving unless it comes glibly, and I find mine does not occur currently, and, befides, (is) very much clogged with but's.

Dear Mrs. Blunt has formerly honoured little Petersham, which fitted her as a glove; but now comes my But: but how can I accommodate her fifter? for my own apartment must remain empty abfolutely, though the King himself were to borrow our little habitation at Peterfham; and the number of refiders are confiderably increafed fince Mrs. Blunt was laft there under the care of Kaites and Price Lambert.

I wish you and I were fitting tête a téte, for that would be every way beft of all; and I think, fuppofing I could not prevail on you to continue with me, I could in talk, better than by writing, mumble over that I Irave no mind to make a compliment to a Lady I have never been acquainted with; and yet am very forry to diffent from any propofal made to me by an acquaintance I really love and honour fincerely, and very fincerely invited to do herfelf good in our Nut-fhell, which fhe herself is ftill heartily welcome to. Though fhe inquires after all our healths, without faying one word of her own, which we all wifh good, with all our hearts; we are extremely well, and much obliged to dear Mrs. Blunt for her kind remembrance. I am really and truly, very faithfully and affectionately, Your, etc. etc.

CATHERINE, QUEENSBERRY and DOVER,

* So spelt by her Grace, and ly other Coirespondents.

C.

I have