and country, and be able to give your friend a pint of port; for the domestick season of life will come on. I had never much hopes of your vamped play, although Mr. Pope seemed to have, and although it were ever so good: but you should have done like the parsons, and changed your text, I mean your title, and the names of the persons. After all, it was an effect of idleness, for you are in the prime of life, when invention and judgment go together. I wish you had 100l. a year more for horses-I ride and walk whenever good weather invites, and am reputed the best walker in this town and five miles round. I writ lately to Mr. Pope. I wish you hád a little village in his neighbourhood; but you are yet too volatile, and any lady with a coach and six horses would carry you to Japan.

FROM DR. ARBUTHNOT.

LONDON, MARCH 19, 1728-9.

THIS is the second or third time, dear sir, that I have writ to you without hearing a word of you, or from you; only, in general, that you are very much out of order; sometimes of your two old complaints, the vertigo and deafness, which I am very sorry for. The gentleman who carries this has come better off than I did imagine: I used my little interest as far as it would go, in his affair.

He will

friends,

be able to give you some account of your many of whom have been in great distress this win

you, and will take an Other Course to gett My Money, so I Remain your Hon's

ye 30

Humble Sarvt to Command

MARTHA SHARP.

SIR,

FROM CHEVALIER RAMSAY.

LONDON, APRIL 10, 1729.

ONE of the greatest pleasures I proposed to my self in a journey to England, was that of seeing you at London; and it is a very sensible mortification to me to find myself disappointed in so agreeable an expectation. It is now many years since I had the highest esteem of your genius and writings; and when I was very young, I found in some of them certain ideas, that prepared me for relishing those principles of universal religion, which I have since endeavoured to unfold in Cyrus. I could not

let our common friend Mr. Lesley* go back to Ireland, without seizing the opportunity of acknowledging the obliging zeal you have shown to make my work esteemed. Such marks of friendship do me a great deal of honour as well as pleasure, and I hope I have a thorough sense of them. As I have much enlarged my book, I am going to publish a new edition by subscription. I have given a hundred copies of the proposals to our friend, and flatter myself, that I may count upon the continuation of

* Son of the reverend Mr. Charles Lesley, the famous nonjuror.

your

your friendship. I am, with great respect, sir, your most obliged and most obedient humble servant, A. RAMSAY.

FROM DR. ARBUTHNOT.

DEAR SIR,

LONDON, MAY 8, 1729.

I HAVE writ three times to Mr. dean of St.-Pa

trick's, without receiving so much as an acknowledgment of the receipt of my letters.

At the same

time, I hear of other letters, which his acquaintances receive from him. I believe I should hardly have brought myself to have written this, were it not to serve you and a friend at the same time.

I recommended one Mr. Mason, son of Mason gentleman of the queen's chapel, a barytone voice, for the vacancy of a singer in your cathedral. This letter was writ from Bath last September. The same Mason* informs me, that there is another vacancy: therefore I renew my request. I believe you will hardly get a better: he has a pleasant mellow voice, and has sung several times in the king's chapel this winter, to the satisfaction of the audience. I beg at least your answer to this. Your friends in town, such as I know, are well. Mr. Pope is happy again, in having his mother recovered. Mr. Gay is gone to Scotland with the duke of Queensberry. He has about twenty lawsuits with booksellers for

This gentleman was provided for by Dr. Swift.

pirating

pirating his book. The king goes soon to Hanover. These are all the news I know. I hope you do not imagine I am so little concerned about your health, as not to desire to be informed of the state of it from yourself. I have been tolerably well this winter, I thank God. My brother Robin is here, and longs, as well as I, to know how you do. This with my best wishes and respects, from, dear sir, your most faithful humble servant,

DEAR SIR,

JO. ARBUTHNOT.

FROM THE SAME.

LONDON, JUNE, 9, 1729.

THIS is given you by Mr. Mason, whom I believe

you will find answer the character I gave of him, which really was not partial; for I am not so much as acquainted with his father or himself. I explained every thing to him according to the tenour of the letter which I received from you some time ago, and for which I most heartily thank you. Let him now speak for himself. I have been inquiring about a counter tenor; but have, as yet, no intelligence of any.

I am really sensibly touched with the account you give of Ireland. It is not quite so bad here, but really bad enough: at the same time, we are told, that we are in great plenty and happiness.

Your friends, whom you mention in yours, are well. Mr. Gay is returned from Scotland, and has recovered his strength by his journey. Mr. Pope is

well;

well; he had got an injunction in chancery against the printers, who had pirated his Dunciad: it was dissolved again, because the printer could not prove any property, nor did the author appear. That is not Mr. Gay's case; for he has owned his book. Mr. Pulteney gives you his service. They are all better than myself; for I am now so bad of a constant convulsion in my heart, that I am likely to expire sometimes. We have no news, that I know of. I am apt to believe, that in a little time, this matter of the provisional treaty will be on or off. The young man waits for my letter. I shall trouble you

no more at present, but remain with my best wishes, and most sincere affection, dear sir, your most faithful humble servant,

JO. ARBUTHNOT.

My family all send you their love and service.

FROM LADY CATHERINE JONES*.

SIR,

CHELSEA, JUNE 11, 1729.

I RECEIVED the favour of your letter the 22d

of May, and own my obligation to Mr. dean for the information of the decay of my grandfather's monument in the cathedral church of St. Patrick.

* Daughter of Richard, earl of Ranelagh.

+ A monument erected to the memory of archbishop Jones, and his son, lord viscount Ranelagh. It was then in a ruinous con. dition; but repaired by the order of this lady. See another letter June 15, 1732.

Mr,