But I hope you have, I am fure you have, furely you must have done this already. In any other house you will breathe, and recover yourfelf. The Bethels are good. The ladies are well-bred, and you will be in a state both of body and mind not to intimidate your poor foul to death, but confult on the easiest means either to stay or go. All I infist upon is, that you do not directly go to London, without a fervant who may come back to give an account how you got that part of the way, and that John may be with you the reft, unless (which I think beft, if you don't except to it) you write to him to come quite to you. I have drawn up an order, which you may fill up as you like for either purpose, and date and fix the day and place.

you

have

Pray make me eafy, with the news that left their house. I fully hoped it when I writ to you laft poft (for your letter I did not receive till night, by the postmaster's great care, who, instead of letting it be at the poft-houfe where we ordered our letters to be left, had found out our lodgings, and fent them while we were abroad thither). I hope you hope you had a little box, with fome wine; and Lord Cheft (erfield) did as he promised me, as to franks. Sir John Swinburn and his Lady, and Mr. Southwell, afked much of you. I have not been at the Long Room or Wells, and feen no company more; so I cannot say any thing about the venifon; but I doubt not they had it, or will have the other. I think it beft ftill to

inclose to Mr. Edwyn. I fhould not wonder if lifteners at doors fhould open letters. W. is a fneaking parfon*, and I told him he flattered.

LETTER XXII.

TO MRS. TERESA BLOUNT.

As s the weather proves very bluftering and uncertain, we would by no means give you all the trouble or the ceremony of taking leave of us. But my mother will wait upon you in a chariot soon after dinner (if you are not otherwise engaged). I am engaged to be with Mr. Craggs till five or fix; after which I fhall be very glad to pass the evening with you, if you have nothing to do. But if you prefer coming hither, the fame chariot may carry you back. I beg you to do just what is most convenient to yourselves; for ceremony is to no purpose, I think, either with those that are friends, or with thofe that are not. We are

* Can this be Warburton? Warburton, whom he constituted his perpetual editor, and in whofe hands he left his fame?

C.

LETTER XXIII.

TO THE MISSES BLOUNT.

DEAR LADIES,

γου

Thursday.

have here all the fruit Mr. Dancastle's garden affords, that I could find in any degree of ripenefs. They were on the trees at eleven o'clock this morning, and I hope will be with you before night. Pray return, fealed up, by the bearer, every single bit of paper that wraps them up; for they are the only copies of this part of Homer *. If the fruit is not fo

good as I wish, let the gallantry of this wrapping paper make

up

for it.

I am

Yours.

*This Letter is not otherwife worthy of publication, than as a curious example of that affected carelessness which Pope displayed on fome occafions. It is well known, that his Homer was written on scraps of paper, backs of letters, etc. and here he fends the only copies he had, as wrappers to fruit, and to be carefully returned; although he must have known that nothing was more likely than their being destroyed in the carriage.

C.

I

LETTER XXIV.

TO MARTHA BLOUNT.

MADAM,

AM here ftudying ten hours a day, but thinking of you in fpite of all the learned. The Epiftle of Eloifa grows warm, and begins to have fome breathings of the heart in it, which may make pofterity think I was in love. I can fcarce find in my heart to leave out the conclufion I once intended for it*.

I am to pass three or four days in high luxury, with fome company, at my Lord Burlington's. We are to walk, ride, ramble, dine, drink, and lie together. His gardens are delightful, his music ravishing; yet I shall now and then caft a thought on Charles-street.

May you have all poffible fuccefs both in your devotions this week, and your masquerade the next. Whether you repent or fin, may you do all you wish; you think of me, either laugh at me, or pray for me, which you please.

and when

* In Vol. II. p. 56-7, Mr. Bowles has a conjecture on the nature of Pope's " personal feelings," when he wrote the Epiftle of Sappho, and his Eloifa. Perhaps the hint in this Letter may afford a farther illuftration.

C.

LETTER XXV.

TO THE MISSES BLOUNT..

F my memory had not deceived me, this was the volume of Clarendon which you commanded. It is accompanied with a book which I think a very pretty one, and I believe you have never read. I can't express the defire I have of being happy with you a few days (or nights, if you would give me leave) at Maple-Durham; where, I dare fay, you relish the delights of folitude and fhades, much better than I can be able to do till I fee you. For, in very deed, Ladies, I love you both, very fincerely and paffionately, though not fo romantically (perhaps) as fuch as you may expect, who have been used to receive more complimental letters and high flights from your own fex, than ever I am like to reach to. In earnest, I know no two things I would change you for, this hot weather, except two good melons.

I have hitherto been detained here by a Doctor of Divinity, whom I am labouring to convert from the Proteftant Religion; and in two days I must be at Hampton-Court, and (for all I know) at London. Upon my return, Mr. Harcourt has promised me to be here; after which, I will try if you will admit me. I am without any more nonsense than I was born to;