DEAR SIR,

LETTER XXXII.

Thursday Morn.

You may reasonably wonder to have not heard of

me fo long; but for four or five days I intended to fee you in town, and have been prevented by a terrible cold, which yet confines me to my chamber. The first day I can get to you I will; in the mean time I write to tell you I cannot forget you and yours. I hope you and they are well. I just now hear Mr. Gay is come to town. I hope to meet all together about Sunday at fartheft, for I have three or four days' business, which is very inconveniently put off by my present indifpofition. Mrs. Blount fends you her fervices, and will be in town on Saturday. Believe no man more affectionately yours. I am your faithful friend and fervant,

To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. in Bell-yard, near Lincoln's Inn.

A. POPE.

I

DEAR SIR,

LETTER XXXIII.

Monday, April. Was two nights in town, and aimed at feeing you on both; but the curfed attendance on the excife bill deprived me of it, and I grumble with the rest, upon that score, at it. Your prefent life is labour; I hope your future will be in more repose, and that you may sleep either on the bench or off, just as you please. Twickenham will be as much at the fervice of my Lord Judge, as it was of my learned Counsel; and I flatter myself in the imagination that your hours and days in general will be more mine, when they are more yours. Adieu! and keep my fecret as long as it will keep I think myself so happy in being approved by you, and fome few others, that I care not for the public a jot.

To Wm. Fortefcue, Efq. in Bell-yard,

near Lincoln's Inn, London.

I

LETTER XXXIV.

DEAR SIR,

AM forced to write to you upon this red-lined paper, for I've not a fheet in the houfe befide. I fent Bowrey to ask you when I might hope to fee you.

I really want it, for I am very near funk in melancholy, having been full fix weeks here, attending a very melancholy care. I would otherwise have tried to fix a day to meet you at Sir R. W.'s (with his permiffion, and your coadjutorship). I have a particular reason to defire to know a thing, which I believe he will tell me if you ask it,-Who was author of a book called "An Effay on the Taste and Writings of this Age" dedicated to him, as a libel upon me. I formerly fent it to Sir R. by you (as I think). Pray afk him, and affure him of my respectful fervices. I am ever, dear Sir,

Yours,

A. POPE.

Pray fend me fome paper; 'tis all I can get by you men in place.

It does not appear that Pope learned the name of this Writer. S.c Vol. V. p. 352.

C.

LETTER XXXV.

DEAR SIR,

THE

Wednesday. HE very melancholy fituation I have been in, from the very day you begun the journey to Devonfhire, made me not willing to break the enjoyment and peace of your domeftic fatisfactions in your family there; and poor Mr. Gay's great danger added to my concern. My mother still keeps her bed, and, I fear, is very unlikely to rise again: the distemper, which probably will finish all her decays, holds upon her, and does not yield to any remedies; the most is an interval from pain into weakness and flumbers. God knows when I fhall fee you or any body; in the mean time I thank you for many offices of your friendship, and beg you will continue to affift my fister's * affairs I prefume Effington is now in town, and would fend you his account, if demanded. Mrs. Blount has charged me with many fpeeches to be made you upon your care in her annuity. But I am unable to say, or almoft do any thing, my own spirits are fo funk. I wish you fincerely joy of what I am told is given you, and shall always make it my wish to Heaven for you. Det vitam, det opes, aquam animam

tibi ipfe parabis.

Your very faithful fervant,

*Mrs. Racket.

A. POPE.

Pray

Pray make my compliments to Mr. Horace Walpole, whom I would have waited on with my thanks, but for this confinement on account of my mother.

To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. at his House, in Bell-yard, near Lincoln's Inn.

LETTER XXXVI.

DEAR SIR,

FIRST thank you for your kind vifit, and hope you

are not the worse for the cold day. I find by the inclosed that there must be more money fomewhere to be found of my fifter's affair; for the principal fum was 1700l. befide interest: and, as I understand no part of the principal ever was paid, I therefore beg you to cause inquiry to be speedily made of Mr. Thurston, the master in chancery. Pray, ought you not to require a fight of Effington's books themselves, where the account was kept, if his extract prove not satisfactory? The queftion my fifter afks about one Abbot I cannot anfwer, unless you find it in the writings and papers the fent you. I have troubled you with the parcel for New England. For all your

kindneffes