I hope this will find you before you fet out. For I think (on all confiderations) your best way will be to take London in your way. It will fecure you from accidents of weather to travel in the coach, both thither and from thence hither. But

in particular, I think you should take fome care as to Mr. G's executors. And I am of opinion, no man will be more ferviceable in fettling any fuch accounts than Mr. Knapton, who fo well knows the trade, and is of fo acknowledged a credit in it. If you can stay but a few days there, I should be glad; tho' I would not have you omit any neceffary thing to yourself. I wish too you would just see ***, tho' when you have pass'd a month here, it will be time enough for all we have to do in town, and they will be less busy, probably, than just before the Seffion opens, to think of men of let

ters.

When you are in London I beg a line from you, in which pray tell us what day you shall arrive at Bath by the coach, that we may fend to meet you, and bring you hither.

You will owe me a real obligation by being made acquainted with the mafter of this house; and by sharing with me, what I think one of the chief fatisfactions of my life, his Friendship. But whether I shall owe you any

in contributing

tributing to make me a fcribler again a, I know

not.

LETTER CXI.

April 23, 1742.

M

Y letters are fo fhort, partly because I could by no length of writings, (not even by fuch as lawyers write) convey to you more than you have already of my heart and efteem; and partly because I want time and eyes. I can't fufficiently tell you both my pleafure and my gratefulness, in and for your two laft letters, which fhew your zeal so strong for that piece of my idlenefs, which was literally written only to keep me from fleeping in a Dull winter, and perhaps to make others fleep unless awakened by my Commentator; no uncommon cafe among the learned. I am every day in expectation of Lord Bolingbroke's arrival: with whom I fhall feize all the hours I can: for his ftay (I fear by what he writes) will be very fhort. I do not think it impoffible but he may go to Bath for a few weeks to fee (if

a He had concerted the plan of the fourth book of the Dunciad with the Editor | the fummer before; [fee the advertisement to this ed.]

and had now written a great part of it; which he was willing the Editor should fee.

he

he be then alive, as yet he is) his old fervantIn that cafe I think to go with him, and if it fhould be at a feafon when the waters are beneficial (which agree particularly with him too) would it be an impoffibility to meet you at Mr. Allen's? whofe house, you know, and heart are yours. Tho' this is a mere chance, I should not be forry you saw fo great a genius, tho' he and you were never to meet again—Adieu.

The world is not what I wish it; but I will not repent being in it while two or three live.

I am, &c.

LETTER CXII.

Bath, Nov. 27, 1742.

HIS will fhew you I am ftill with our

THH friend, but it is the last day; and I would

rather you heard of me pleased, as I yet am, than chagrin'd as I fhall be in a few hours. We are both pretty well. I wish you had been more explicite if your leg be quite well. You fay no more than that you got home well. I expect a more particular account of you when you have repofed yourself a while at your own fire-fide. I fhall inquire as foon as I am in Lon

don,

don, which of my friends have seen you? There are two or three who knew how to value you! I wish I was as fure they would study to ferve you.-A project has arisen in my head to make you, in fome measure, the Editor of this new edition of the Dunciada, if you have fcruple of owning fome of the graver notes, which are now added b to thofe of Dr. Arbuthnot. I mean it as a kind of prelude, or advertisement to the public, of your Commentaries, on the Effays on Man, and on Criticism, which I propofe to print next in another volume proportioned to this. I only doubt whether an avowal of these notes to fo ludicrous a poem be fuitable to a character so established as yours for more serious studies. It was a fudden thought fince we parted; and I would have you treat it as no more; and tell me if it is not better to be fupprefs'd; freely and friendlily. I have a particular reason to make you intereft yourself in me and my writings. It will caufe both them and me to make the better figure to pofterity. A very mediocre poet, one Drayton, is yet taken fome notice of because Selden writ a few notes on one of his poems.

2 That is, of the four books, and diftinguished in books complete. this edition of his works.

b Added in the three first

3

Adieu.

Adieu. May every domeftic happiness make you unwilling to remove from home; and may every friend, you do that kindness for, treat you so as to make you forget you are not at home.

I am, &c.

LETTER CXIII.

Dec. 28, 1742.

I

Have always fo many things to take kindly of you, that I don't know which to begin to thank you for. I was willing to conclude our whole account of the Dunciad, at least, and therefore ftaid till it was finished. The encouragement you gave me to add the fourth book first determined me to do fo; and the approbation you seem'd to give it was what fingly determin'd me to print it. Since that, your Notes and your Difcourfe in the name of Ariftarchus have given its last finishings and ornaments. I am glad you glad you will refresh the memory of fuch readers as have no other faculty to be readers, especially of fuch works as the Divine Legation. But I hope you will not take too much notice of another and duller fort; those who become writers thro' malice, and must die whenever you please to fhine out in the com

pletion