kindneffes I thank you cordially, and am, with fincere

esteem,

Your faithful friend and fervant,

My mother is rather worfe, than better.

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

near Lincoln's Inn, London.

A. POPE.

LETTER XXXVII.

DEAR SIR,

Down-Hall, in Effex, Jan. 5.

I

HAD writ the poft after my receipt of

yours,

but it followed me thirty miles beyond London, where

yet

I have spent part of the Christmas. I yet hope this will find and you; I wish the very next day you may begin your journey, becaufe fincerely I cannot fee you too foon. I am rejoiced that your gout left you the day after I did; may it never return! though it bring many compliments along with it: for, let my friends wish me as long a life as they pleafe, I should not wish it to myself with the allay of great or much pain. My old Lord Dorset faid very well in that cafe, the tenure is not worth the fine. I hope the joys of a marriage, both to thofe who poffefs, and to you who procure, (modeftly fpeaking,) will obliterate all those melancholy thoughts. I wish the new couple all feli

city.

And pray make hafte to town with the remainder of your family, and put them into the like happy condition with all speed. I had lately an opportunity of telling my Lord Harcourt what we had miffed of, when at Sir W.'s, and of making him the compliment of his cyder merchants. His reply was, that he defired to treat with you further, both in that capacity and in your other of a lawyer. To which purpose I have promised to bring you to dine with him as foon as you return to town, which I earnestly expect, and doubt not you will improve the acquaintance with each other. After thanking you for your kind Letter, and returning you my mother's fervices, (who is pretty well,) I have only to add, that I will not fail, upon my return to town, to make all your compliments to Mrs. Howard, and to affure you I am, with truth, dear Sir,

Your ever affectionate friend and servant,

To Wm. Fortescue, Efq. at Fallapit,

near Totnes, Devon.-Frank,

Oxford.

A. POPE.

LETTER XXXVIII.

DEAR SIR,

MRS.

Monday, Jan. 1734-5. RS. Blount's party with Mrs. Knight, to pay your family a vifit, is defired to be to-morrow, if it fuit with your conveniency; and if fo, they chufe to dine with you. The evenings they are engaged for all this week. I, who know your fpirit of hofpitality, conclude, you'll like the dinner beft. Adieu, and let them have your answer to-night, or per bearer. Believe me ever, with true affection, dear Sir,

I

HAD fully hoped to have feen you ere now; but though I was in town two days and half, I could find no evening; and am now unwilling to be there till all the bustle of the wedding is over. In the mean time I hope you'll fecure Mrs. Blount, by infuring Roberts' life the moment he comes to town.

VOL. X.

е

If

If it were but for two or three months, or less, (if the money be not actually paid fooner,) I have fent the last assurance, in case it can be any direction to the next. I employ these few days in putting the last hand to my Essay, and I will then immediately print it. I meditate a fine edition of the whole, which I will foon have the pleasure to see in your library, with an inscription of the love the author bears you. Sincerely, dear Sir, I am always

Yours,

A. POPE.

I am told that Mifs Fortescue is perfectly well (I hope truly).

DEAR SIR,

LETTER XL.

Friday, 1733.

I

HAVE been hindered by an accident of ceremony, which could not be waved, from lying at your houfe laft night or this. I muft juft look at my own home to-morrow, and, as it is Saturday, wifh for your company. I am to be conveyed by a party of your friends. Mifs Patty Blount, never having feen late, defires you will be of it. We go to pafs fome hours at Chifwick Gardens, and fet out by water from Whitehall at eight to-morrow morn: thence I would

you

of

attend

attend you home. I'd be glad you had leisure to do this, which would be a true pleasure to

Your ever obliged friend and faithful fervant,

A. POPE.

A word in anfwer will find me at Lord Bathurst's.

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

by Lincoln's Inn.

DEAR SIR,

YOUR

LETTER XLI.

Friday Morning, Nov. 1734.

YOUR Letter (by the negligence of our poft, which often delivers 'em not here till ten o'clock) came too late for me to get any conveyance to town to-day. But certainly you have just as much authority as I, as a friend of Mrs. Blount, to determine in this affair, as to the quarter's rent; or if you fcruple it, apply to her: you and I, I am fure, fhall be of the fame opinion of it. As to the bill of charges, I think that is out of the question of their rent and principal, and may be decided separately, but doubtlefs to be infifted on. I want to fee you very much; fhall you come this way on Saturday? For though I intended to be in town, I find I must take physic, being in a very ill way this week; though if I had found a coach to-day, Q 2 I had