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pray let nothing hinder me fometimes from hearing you are well. I have had that contentment from time to time from Mr. G.

Scriblerus a will or will not be published, according to the event of fome other papers coming, or not coming out, which it will be my utmost endeavour to hinder b. I will not give you the pain of acquainting you what they are. Your fimile of B. and his nephew, would make an excellent epigram. But all Satire is become fo ineffectual (when the laft Step that Virtue can ftand upon, shame, is taken away) that Epigram. muft expect to do nothing even in its own little province, and upon its own little fubjects. Adicu. Believe I wish you nearer us; the only power I wish, is that of attaching, and at the fame time fupporting, fuch congenial bodies as you are to, dear Sir,

Your, &c.

IF

LETTER CV.

Bath, Feb. 4, 1740-1

F I had not been made by many accidents fo fick of letter-writing, as to be almoft afraid of the fhadow of my own pen, you would be

a The Memoirs of Scriblerus.

b The letters published by Dr. Swift.

VOL. IX.

the

the perfon I should ofteneft pour myself out to: indeed for a good reafon, for you have given me the strongest proofs of understanding, and accepting my meaning in the best manner; and of the candour of your heart, as well as the clearness of your head. My vexations I would not trouble you with, but I must just mention the two greatest I now have. They have printed in Ireland, my letters to Dr. Swift, and (which is the ftrangeft circumftance) by his own confent and direction, without acquainting me till it was done. The other is one that will continue with me till fome profperous event to your fervice fhall bring us nearer to each other. I am not content with thofe glympfes of you, which a fhort fpring vifit affords; and from which carry nothing away with you but my fighs and wifhes, without any real benefit.

you

I am heartily glad of the advancement of your fecond Volume b; and particularly of the Digreffions, for they are fo much more of you; and I can trust your judgment enough to depend upon their being pertinent. You will, I queftion not, verify the good proverb, that the furtheft way about, is the nearest way home

from no ill-will to him, tho' it exposed him to the ill-will of others.

a N. B. This was the ftrongest refentment he ever exprefs'd of this indifcretion of his old friend, as being perfuaded that it proceeded tion.

Of the Divine Legaand

and much better than plunging thro' thick and thin, more Theologorum; and perfifting in the fame old track, where fo many have either broken their necks, or come off very lamely.

This leads me to thank you for that very entertaining, and, I think, inftructive story of Dr. W***, who was, in this, the image of ***, who never admit of any remedy from a hand they dislike. But I am forry he had fo much of the modern Chriftian rancour, as, I believe, he may be convinced by this time, that the kingdom of Heaven is not for fuch.

I am just returning to London, and shall the more impatiently expect your book's appearance, as I hope you will follow it; and that I may have as happy a month thro' your means as I had the last spring.

LETTER CVI.

I am, &c.

April 14, 1741.

You

OU are every way kind to me; in your partiality to what is tolerable in me; and freedom where your ror. Such, I own, is the inftance given of

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You owe me much friendship of this latter fort, having been too profufe of the former.

I think every day a week till you come to town, which, Mr. G. tells me, will be in the beginning of the next month: When, I expect, you will contrive to be as beneficial to me as you can, by paffing with me as much time as you can: every day of which it will be my fault if I do not make of fome ufe to me, as well as pleasure. This is all I have to tell you, and, be affured, my fincereft efteem and affection are yours.

TH

LETTER CVII.

Twitenham, Aug. 12, 1741.

HE general indifpofition I have to writing, unless upon a belief of the neceffity or ufe of it, muft plead my excuse in not doing it to you. I know it is not (I feel it is not) needful to repeat affurances of the true and conftant friendship and esteem I bear you. Honeft and ingenuous minds are fure of each other's; the tye is mutual and folid. The use of writing letters refolves wholly into the gratification given and received in the knowledge of each others welfare: Unless I ever fhould be fo fortunate (and a rare fortune it would be) to be able to

procure

procure, and acquaint you of, fome real benefit done you by my means. But fortune feldom fuffers one difinterefted man to ferve another. "Tis too much an infult upon her to let two of those who moft defpife her favours, be happy in them at the fame time, and in the fame instance. I wish for nothing fo much at her hands, as that she would permit fome great Perfon or other to remove you nearer the banks of the Thames; tho' very lately a nobleman whom you efteem much more than you know, had deftined &c.—

I thank you heartily for your hints; and am afraid if I had more of them, not on this only, but on other fubjects, I fhould break my refolution, and become an author anew: nay a new author, and a better than I yet have been; or God forbid I should go on jingling only the fame bells!

I have received fome chagrin at the delay of your Degree at Oxon a. As for mine, I will

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This relates to an acci- C. C. returning to London. - dental affair which happened On this day the Vice-chanthis fummer, in a ramble that cellor, the Rev. Dr. L. fent Mr. P. and Mr. W. took to him a meffage to his lodggether, in which Oxford fell ings, by a perfon of emiin their way, where they nence in that place, with an parted; Mr. P. after one ufual compliment, to know day's ftay going weftward, if a Doctor's degree in Diand Mr. W. who ftaid a day vinity would be acceptable after him, to vifit the dean of I to him; to which fuch an

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