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for a dyed black gown, and a scoured white one, have done my business very well; and they are now just fit for Petersham, where we talk of going in three weeks; and I am not without hopes I shall have the same squire * I had last year. I am very unwilling to change; and moreover I begin to fear I have no great prospect of getting any new danglers; and therefore, in order to make a tolerable figure, I shall endeavour to behave myself mighty well, that I may keep my old ones.

As a proof that I continue to be well received at court, I will tell you where the royal family design to pass their summer: two months at Richmond lodge, the same time at Hampton court, and six weeks at Windsor. Mrs. Howard is well, and happier than ever you saw her; for her whole affair with her husband is ended to her satisfaction.

Dr. Arbuthnot, I am very angry with: he neglects me for those he thinks finer ladies. Mr. Gay's fame continues, but his riches are in a fair way of diminishing, he is gone to the Bath: I wish you were ordered there, for I believe that would carry Mr. Pope, who is always inclined to do more for his friends than himself. He is much out of order, and is told nothing is so likely to do him good.

My illness has prevented my writing to you sooner. If I was a favourite at court, I would soon convince you that I am very sincerely your faithful friend and very humble servant,

* Dr. Swift.

M. B.

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TO LORD CARTERET.

MY LORD,

MAY 10, 1728.

I TOLD your excellency, that you were to run on my errands. My lord Burlington has a very fine monument of his ancestor the earl of Corke, in my cathedral, which your excellency has seen. I and the chapter have written to him in a body, to have it repaired, and I in person have desired he would do it. And I desired likewise, that he would settle a parcel of land, worth five pounds a year (not an annuity) to keep it always in repair. He said, "He "would do any thing to oblige me; but was afraid "that in future times, the five pounds a year would "be misapplied, and secured by the dean and chapter

"to

to their own use." I answered, "That a dean and "twenty-four members of so great a chapter, who, "in livings, estates, &c. had about four thousand

pounds a year among them, would hardly divide "four shillings among them, to cheat his posterity; " and that we could have no view but to consult the "honour of his family." I therefore command your excellency to lay this before him, and the affront he has put upon us, in not answering a letter written to him by the dean and chapter in a body.

The great duke of Schomberg is buried under the altar in my cathedral. My lady Holderness is my old acquaintance; and I writ to her about a small sum, to make a monument for her grandfather. I writ to her myself; and also, there was a letter from

the

the dean and chapter, to desire she would order a monument to be raised for him in my cathedral. It seems Mildmay, now lord Fitzwalter, her husband, is a covetous fellow; or whatever is the matter, we have had no answer. I desire you will tell lord Fitzwalter, "That if he will not send fifty pounds, " to make a monument for the old duke, I and the "chapter will erect a small one of ourselves for ten pounds; wherein it shall be expressed, That the posterity of the duke, naming particularly lady "Holderness and Mr. Mildmay, not having the

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66 rosity to erect a monument, we have done it of our"selves." And if, for an excuse, they pretend they will send for his body, let them know it is mine; and rather than send it, I will take up the bones, and make of it a skeleton, and put it in my registry office, to be a memorial of their baseness to all posterity. This I expect your excellency will tell Mr. Mildmay, or, as you now call him, lord Fitzwalter: and I expect likewise, that he will let sir Conyers D'Arcy know how ill I take his neglect in this matter; although, to do him justice, he averred, "That "Mildmay was so avaricious a wretch, that he would "let his own father be buried without a coffin, to "save charges."

I expect likewise, that if you are acquainted with your successor, you will let him know how impartial I was in giving you characters of clergymen, without regard to party; and what weight you laid on them and that having but one clergyman who had any relation to me, I let him pass unpreferred. And lastly, That you will let your said successor know, that you lament the having done nothing for Mr. Robert Grattan; and give him such a recommenda

tion, that he may have something to mend his for

tune.

These are the matters I leave in charge to your excellency and I desire that I, who have done with courts, may not be used like a courtier; for, as I was a courtier when you were a schoolboy, I know all your arts. And so God bless you, and all your family, my old friends and remember, I expect you shall not dare to be a courtier to me. I am, &c.

DEAR SIR,

FROM MR. GAY.

BATH, MAY 16, 1728.

I HAVE been at the Bath about ten days, and I have played at no game but once, and that at backgammon with Mr. Lewis, who is very much your humble servant. He is here upon account of the ill state of health of his wife, who has as yet found very little benefit from the waters. Lord and lady Bolingbroke are here; I think she is better than when I came here they stay, as I guess, only about a fortnight longer. They both desired me to make their compliments; as does Mr. Congreve*, who is in a very ill state of health, but somewhat better since he came here. Mr. Lewis tells me, that he is promised to receive a hundred pounds upon your account at his return to London; he having (upon request) complied to stay for the payment till that time. The two hundred pounds you left with me

He died 19th January, 1728-9.

are

are in the hands of lord Bathurst, together with some money of mine, all which he will repay at Midsummer, so that we must think of some other way of employing it; and I cannot resolve what to do. I do not know how long I shall stay here, because I am now, as I have been all my life, at the disposal of others. I drink the waters, and am in hopes to lay in a stock of health; some of which I wish to communicate to you. Dr. Delany told me you had been upon a journey, and I really fancy, taking horse is as good as taking the waters: I hope you have found benefit by it. The Beggar's Opera is acted here; but our Polly has got no fame, though the actors have got money. I have sent by Dr. Delany the opera, Polly Peachum and captain Macheath. I would have sent you my own head (which is now engraving to make up the gang,) but it is not yet finished. I suppose you must have heard that I have had the honour to have had a sermon preached against my works by a court chaplain*, which I look upon as no small addition to my fame. Direct to me here when you write; and the sooner that is, the sooner you will make me happy.

+ Dr. Thomas Herring, then preacher to the society in Lincoln's Inn, and afterward archbishop of Canterbury. Dr. Swift, in the Intelligencer, No. III, published in Ireland, speaks with great asperity of Dr. Herring, on account of his sermon against the Beggar's Opera.

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