prefent to him from the King of Sicily, whofe arms and Infignia are graved on the inner-cafe; on the outer, I have put this infcription. Victor Amadeus, Rex Sicilia, Dux Sabaudiæ, &c. &c. Carolo Mordaunt, Comiti de Peterborow, D. D. Car. Mor. Com. de Pet. Alexandro Pope moriens legavit, 1735

Pray write to me a little oftner: and if there be a thing left in the world that pleases you, tell it one who will partake of it. I hear with approbation and pleasure, that your prefent care is to relieve the moft helpless of this world, those objects * which most want our compaffion, tho' generally made the fcorn of their fellow-creatures, fuch as are lefs innocent than they. You always think generously; and of all charities, this is the most difinterested, and leaft vain-glorious, done to such as never will thank you, or can praise you for it.

God bless you with cafe, if not with pleasure; with a tolerable ftate of health, if not with its full enjoyment; with a refign'd temper of mind, if not a very chearful one. It is upon these terms I live myfelf, tho' younger than you, and I repine not at my lot, could but the presence of a few that I love be added to these. Adieu.

# Idiots,

LETTER LXXVII.

From Dr. SwIFT.

Oct. 21, 1735.

Anfwer'd your letter relating to Curl, &c. I believe my letters have efcap'd being publish'd, because I writ nothing but Nature and Friendship, and particular incidents which could make no figure in writing. I have obferv'd that not only Voiture, but likewife Tully and Pliny writ their letters for the public view, more than for the fake of their correfpondents; and I am glad of it, on account of the Entertainment they have given me. Balfac did the fame thing, but with more stiffness, and confequently lefs diverting: Now I muft tell you. that you are to look upon me as one going very faft out of the world; but my flesh and bones are to be carried to Holy-head, for I will not lie in a Country of flaves. It pleafeth me to find that you begin to diflike things in fpite of your Philofophy; your Muse cannot forbear her hints to that purpose. I cannot travel to see you; otherwife, I folemnly protest I would do it. I have an intention to pass this winter in the country with a Friend forty miles off, and to ride only ten miles a day; yet is my health fo uncertain that I fear it will not be in my power. I often ride a dozen miles, but I come to my own bed at night: My best way would be to marry, for in that cafe any bed would be better than my own,

6

I found you a very young man, and I left you a middle-aged one; you knew me a middle-aged man, and now I am an old one. Where is my Lord- ? methinks I am enquiring after a Tulip of laft year."You need not apprehend any Curl's meddling with "your letters to me; I will not destroy them, but "have order'd my Executors to do that office." I have a thousand things more to say, longevitas eft garrula, but I must remember I have other letters to write if I have time, which I spend to tell you fo. I am ever, dearest Sir, Your, &c.

I

LETTER LXXVIII.

From Dr. SWIFT.

Feb. 9, 1735-6.

Cannot properly call you my best friend, because I have not another left who deferves the name, fuch a havock have Time, Death, Exile, and Oblivion made. Perhaps you would have fewer complaints of my ill health and lowness of spirits, if they were not fome excufe for my delay of writing even to you. It is perfectly right what you fay of the indifference in common friends, whether we are sick or well, happy or miferable. The very maid fervants in a family have the fame notion: I have heard them often say, Oh, I am very sick, if any-body car'd for it! I am vexed when my visitors come with the compliment ufual here, Mr. Dean I hope you are

very well. My popularity that you mention, is wholly confined to the common people, who are more conftant than those we mif-call their betters. I walk the streets, and fo do my lower friends, from whom and from whom alone, I have a thousand hats and bleffings upon old scores, which those we call the Gentry have forgot But I have not the love, or hardly the civility, of any one man in power or ftation; and I can boast that I neither vifit nor am acquainted with any Lord Temporal or Spiritual in the whole kingdom; nor am able to do the least good office to the most deferving man, except what I can difpofe of in my own Cathedral upon a vacancy. What hath funk my fpirits more than even years and fickness, is reflecting on the most execrable Corruptions that run through every branch of public management.

I heartily thank you for thofe lines tranflated, Singula de nobis anni, &c. You have put them in a ftrong and admirable light; but however, I am so partial, as to be more delighted with thofe which are to do me the greatest honour I fhall ever receive from pofterity, and will outweigh the malignity of ten thousand enemies. I never faw them before, by which it is plain that the letter you fent me mifcarry'd.-I do not doubt that you have choice of new acquaintance, and fome of them may be deferving: For youth is the feafon of Virtue; Corruptions grow with years, and I believe the oldest rogue in England is the greatest. You have years enough

before you to watch whether these new acquaintance will keep their Virtue, when they leave you and go into the world; how long will their spirit of inde pendency last against the temptations of future Minifters, and future Kings.-As to the new Lord Lieutenant, I never knew any of the family; fo that I shall not be able to get any jobb done by him for sny deferving friend.

LETTER LXXIX.

From Dr. SWIFT.

Feb. 7, 1735-6.

Tis fome time fince I dined at the bishop of

Derry's, where Mr. Secretary Cary told me with great concern, that you were taken very ill. I have heard nothing fince, only I have continued in great pain of mind, yet for my own fake and the world's more than for yours; because I well know how little you value life both as a philosopher and a Chriftian, particularly the latter, wherein hardly one in a million of us heretics can equal you If you are well recover'd, you ought to be reproached for not putting me especially out of pain, who could not bear the lofs of you; although we must be for ever diftant as much as if I were in the grave, for which my years and continual indifpofition are preparing me every season. I have staid too long from preffing you to give me some ease by an account of