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LETTER VI.

To the fame.

IF you afk how the waters agree with me, I must tell you, fo very well, that I queftion how you and I fhould agree if we were in a room by our felves? Mrs. T---- has honeftly affured me, that but for fome whims which fhe can't intirely conquer, she would go and fee the world with me in man's cloaths. Even you, Madam, I fancy (if you wou'd not partake in our adventures) would wait our coming in at the evening with some impatience, and be well enough pleased to hear 'em by the firefide. That would be better than reading Romances, unless Lady M---- would be our Hiftorian; for as fhe is married, she has probably leifure hours in the night-time, to write or do what he will in. What raises these defires in me, is an acquaintance I am beginning with my Lady Sandwich, who has all the fpirit of the laft age, and all the gay experience of a pleasurable life. It were as fcandalous an omiffion to come to the Bath and not to fee my Lady Sandwich, as it had formerly been to have travelled to Rome without vifiting the Queen of Sweden. She is, in a word, the best thing this Country has to boast of; and as he has been all that a woman of spirit could be, fo fhe ftill continues that eafy and independent creature that a fenfible woman always will

be.

I must tell you a truth, which is not however much to my credit. I never thought so much of your felf and your fifter, as fince I have been fourfcore miles diftance from you, In the Foreft I look'd upon you as good neighbours; at London as pretty kind of women; but here as divinities, angels,

goddeffes,

In the fame manner

goddefles, or what you will. I never knew at what a rate I valu'd your life, till you were upon the point of dying. If Mrs. T--and you will but fall very fick every feafon, I fhall certainly die for you. Serioufly I value you both fo much, that I efteem others much the lefs for your fakes; you have robb'd me of the pleasure of esteeming a thousand pretty qualities in them, by fhowing me fo many finer in your felves. There are but two things in the world which could make you indifferent to me, which I believe you are not capable of; I mean ill-nature and malice. I have feen enough of you not to overlook any Frailty you could have, and nothing less than a Vice can make me like you lefs. I expect you fhou'd difcover by my conduct towards you both, that this is true, and that therefore you should pardon a thoufand things in me for that one difpofition. Expect nothing from me but truth and freedom, and I fhall always be thought by you what I always am,

I

Your, &c.

LETTERS VII.

To the fame.

Return'd home as flow and as contemplative after I had parted from you, as my Lord -------- retir'd from the Court and Glory to his Country feat and Wife, a week ago. I found here a difmal defponding letter from the son of another great Courtier, who expects the fame fate; and who tells me, the great one's of the earth will now take it very kindly of the mean one's, if they will favour them with a vifit by Day-light. With what Joy wou'd D 3

thev

they lay down all their schemes of glory, did they but know you have the generofity to drink their healths once a day, as foon as they are fallen? Thus the unhappy by the fole merit of their misfortunes become the care of heaven and you. I intended to have put this laft into verfe, but in this age of Ingratitude best friends forfake me, I mean my rhymes.

my

I defire Mrs. P-- to ftay her ftomach with these half hundred Plays, till I can procure her a Romance big enough to fatisfy her great Soul with Adventures. As for Novels, I fear fhe can depend upon none from me but That of my Life, which I am ftill, as I have been, contriving all poffible me-. thods to fhorten, for the greater eafe both of my Hiftorian and the Reader. May fhe believe all the paflion and tenderness exprefs'd in thefe Romances to be but a faint image of what I bear her; and may you (who read nothing) take the fame truth upon hearing it from me: You will both injure me very much, if you don't think me a truer friend than ever any romantick lover, or any imitator of their style could be.

The days of Beauty are as the days of Greatness and as long as your Eyes make their fun fhine, all the world are your adorers. I am one of those un

ambitious people, who will love you forty years hence, when your eyes begin to twinkle in a retirement, for your own fakes, and without the vas nity which every one now will take to be thought

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You have ask'd me News a hundred times at the first word you spoke to me, which fome would interpret as if you expected nothing better from my

lips: And truly 'tis not a fign two Lovers are together, when they can be fo impertinent as to enquire what the world does. All I mean by this is, that either you or I are not in love with the other: I leave you to guefs which of the two is that stupid and infenfible creature, fo blind to the other's excellencies and charms ?

This then fhall be a letter of News: And fure if you did not think me the humbleft creature in the world, you could never imagine a Poet could dwindle to a brother of Dawks and Dyer, from a rival of Tate and Brady.

The Earl of Oxford has behaved fo bravely, that in this act at least he might feem above Man, if he had not just now voided a Stone to prove him fubject to human infirmities. The utmost weight of affliction from princely power and popular hatred, were almoft worth bearing, for the glory of fuch a dauntless conduct as he has fhewn under it.

You may foon have your wish, to enjoy the gallant fights of armies, incampments, ftandards waving over your brother's corn-fields; and the pretty windings of the Thames about M------ ftained with the blood of men. Your barbarity, which I have heard fo long exclaimed against in town and country, may have its fill of deftruction. I would not add one circumftance ufual in all defcriptions of calamity, that of the many Rapes committed or to be committed upon those unfortunate women that delight in war. But God forgive me -------- in this martial age, if I could, I would buy a regiment for your fake and Mrs. P-----'s and fome others, whom I have caufe to fear no fair means will prevail upon. Those eyes that care not how much mifchief is done, or how great flaughter committed, fo they have but a fine Show; thofe very female eyes will be infinitely delighted with the camp which is fpeedely to be formed in Hyde-Park. The tents are carried

D. 4

carried thither this morning, new regiments, with new cloths and furniture (far exceeding the late cloth and linnen defigned by his Grace for the foldiery.) The fight of fo many gallant fellows, with all the pomp and glare of War yet undeformed by Battle; thofe Scenes which England has for many years only beheld on Stages, may poffibly invite your curiofity to this place.

Mrs. expects the Pretender at her lodgings by Saturday fe'nnight. She has bought a picture of Madam Maintenon to fet her features by against that time. Three Priefts of your acquaintance are very pofitive by her intereft to be his Father Confeffor.

By our latest account from Duke-ftreet, Westminfter, the converfion of T. G. Efq; is reported in a manner fomewhat more particular: That upon the seizure of his Flanders-mares, he feemed more than ordinarily disturbed for fome hours, fent for his ghoftly father, and refolved to bear his lofs like a Chriftian; till about the hours of feven or eight the coaches and horfes of feveral of the Nobility paffing by the window towards Hyde-Park, he could no longer endure the disappointment, but inftantly went out, took the Oath of Abjuration, and recovered his dear horfes which carried him in triumph to the Ring. The poor diftreffed Roman Catholicks, now unhorfed and uncharioted, cry out with the Pfalmift Some in Chariots and fome in Horfes, but we will invocate the name of the Lord.

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