IF DEAR SIR, LETTER XXII. F this reaches you, I beg we may meet at the Doctor's about fix to night. I must run again out of town, for my mother is very ill of a jaundice, and I come to speak to the Doctor chiefly; I am afraid fhe will be too ill to let me have the pleasure of feeing you on Sunday, but the first day I can, I will fend to beg it of you; being, with great truth and efteem, dear Sir, Ever yours, A. POPE. Two o'clock. I've been every where about to find you about your lodgings, Chambers, Dutton's, Merin's, Tom's, Lintot's. Pray try if you can find Gay. To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. DEAR SIR, THIS LETTER XXIII. Dec. 1735. HIS is only to tell you, I love you not the less for not feeing you more. Ever fince we dined in the Park, I have been planting at home, have catched two colds on the neck of one another, but still plant on, being refolved to finish this fine feason. My alterations are what you would not conceive. Befides, my fhell temple is fallen down; and yet I live! Whether I fhall fee you before the end of the week in town, I know not. I dare not cross the water to lie abroad, with this cold upon me. I hope you are well; I heartily love you, and wifh you fo. Adieu. A. POPE. LETTER XXIV. DEAR SIR, Twitnam, April 2. I BEGAN a Letter to you about a fortnight past, which Gay was to finish, and accordingly put it in his pocket, I believe; for I never fince could find it here. you received it, it would look oddly enough; for intending to fill a page, I had left a large blank, and If VOL. X. P probably probably he fent it you just as it was. I have ever fince been engaged in country-houfes and gardens, with one friend or other, and know nothing of the town, but that Bowry gave my mother fometimes an account of the state of the family, and of their drink. Dr. Swift is come into England, who is now with me, and with whom I am to ramble again to Lord Oxford's and Lord Bathurst's, and other places. Dr. Arbuthnot has led him a courfe through the town, with Lord Chesterfield, Mr. Pulteney, etc. Lord Peterborow and Lord Harcourt propofe to carry him to Sir R. Walpole, and I to Mrs. Howard, etc. I wish you were here to know him. I have juft now a very illtimed misfortune, a lame thigh, which keeps me from these parties; but I hope, fince fo many of my friends' prayers are on this occafion joined to my own, that I may be blessed with a speedy recovery, and make one amongst them. Many good wishes of mine attend you! May no fimilar accident, fuch as a fall from your horfe by day, or a fprain in your back by night, retard your return to us! Pray acquaint me, more largely than you did in your laft concife Letter, and in a style more fuitable to the length and duration of a pleader and writer in law, of all your fortunes fince we parted. In each and all of which, be affured, no man takes a truer part, and more wishes your welfare and profperity, than, dear Sir, Your faithful, ever affectionate fervant, To Wm. Fortefue, Efq. A. POPE. DEAR SIR, LETTER XXV. June 24, 1720. I may HAVE a great many obligations to you, and I fay, the lampreys are of the fresh water, fince they are very fresh and good. I am really piqued at the stocks, which put a stop, at present, to all trade and all friendship, and, I fear, all honour too. I am fure, however, they do you as little prejudice, and your morals, as any man's; your memory of your friends is proved by the good offices you continue to do them; and I affure you I heartily wifh fome occafion may offer itself of my proving to you my fenfe of this which I fay. Pray, if it is poffible to remember a mere word of course in fuch a place as Exchangealley, remember me there to Gay; for any where elfe (I deem) you will not fee him as yet. I depend upon feeing you here now the books are clofed. Dear Sir, adieu ! To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. at Tom's Coffee house, in Devereux-court, near the Temple. A. POPE. LETTER XXVI. Twitnam, Sept. 17, 1724 DEAR SIR, YOUR OUR friendly and kind Letter I received with real joy and gladness, to hear, after a long filence, of the welfare of a whole family, which I fhall ever unfeignedly with well to in all regards. I knew not in what part of the land to level a letter at you, or elfe you had heard first from me. My mother, indeed, is very ill; but as it feems only the effect of a cold, which always handles her feverely, I hope not in any danger. I am in the old way,-this day well, however, and the past and future are not in my power, fo not much in my care. Gay is at the bath with Dr. Arbuthnot. Mrs. Howard returns your fervices, and Marblehill waits only for its roof,-the reft finished. The little Prince William wants Mifs Fortefcue, or, to fay truth, any body elfe that will play with him. You fay nothing at what time we may expect you here; I wish it foon, and thought you talked of Michaelmas. I am grieved to tell you, that there is one Devonshire man not honeft; for my man Robert proves a vile fellow, and I have discarded him: auri facra fames is his crime; a crime common to the greatest and meaneft if any way in power, or too much in truft! I am going upon a fhort ramble to my Lord Oxford's, and Lord Cobham's, for a fort |