THE EARL OF ROCHESTER'S LETTERS. ALTHOUGH the blaze of this nobleman's reputation as a man of genius is not yet quite extinguished, it is principally as a great wit, a great libertine, and a great penitent, that he is at present known. His biographers, not contented with loading him with every vice, have denied him the possession of a single virtue. Dr. Johnson, following the coarse invectives and unauthorized accusations of his predecessors, says, that the earl passed his life" in a course of drunken gaiety, and gross sensuality, with intervals of study perhaps more criminal, with an avowed contempt of all decency and order; a total disregard of every moral, and a resolute denial of every religious obligation." A charge so serious, it might have been expected, would have been supported by some proof; but it rests almost wholly on traditional and gratuitous assertion. But the measure of Rochester's crimes and vices would have been incomplete, without the imputation of cowardice; and this nobleman, who, when at sea, under the earl of Sandwich, "distinguished himself at Bergen, by uncommon intrepidity;" and, when afterwards serving on board the flag-ship of Sir Edward Spragge, during an engagement, was the only man found to carry a message of reproof to one of the captains, in an open boat, amidst a storm of shot, has been reproached as a coward, on the authority of the duke of Buckingham, who says, that Rochester refused to fight a duel with him, at a time when he was in an acknowledged bad state of health. It is not now meant to deny many of the charges made against the character of Rochester, though some of them rest on very slender foundation; and when his memory has, for a century and a half, been loaded with unalloyed obloquy, it might seem the height of folly to offer any thing in its vindication; but if we can shew his character in a more amiable or less odious light, justice demands that his memory should have the benefit of it: and if we can prove that, notwithstanding all his dissipation, and lavish voluptuousness," he was an affectionate husband, and a fond father, we shall at least exhibit him in a light in which he has not hitherto been regarded. Happily, the evidence on which this will rest, is indisputable: it is drawn from his own domestic letters; and if there be a moment in which a man exhibits his real character, it is in that family intercourse, which is carried on without precaution and without restraint. 66 The following letters are selected from a collection of about forty, which are preserved in a volume of the Harleian MSS. No. 7003, in the British Museum. It is to be re gretted, that there is no date to any of them; but though written at various times, and those to his wife, often under different emotions, yet they are not only untainted with the vulgarity and freedom which distinguished the correspondence of that period, but breathe throughout, the sentiments of an amiable temper and a good heart. In the same volume of MSS. there are some of his letters to his friend Mr. Savile; but as these are not necessary to the elucidation of that feature in his character which we have noticed, it has not been deemed necessary to insert them, particularly as they have been printed. The first eleven are from Dear Wife, The Earl of Rochester to his Wife. I. I have no news for you, but that London grows very tiresome, and I long to see you; but things are now reduced to that extremity on all sides, that a man dares not turn his back for fear of being hang'd; an ill accident, to be avoided by all prudent persons, and therefore by Your humble servant, ROCHESTER. II. It were very unreasonable should I not love you, whilst I believe you a deserving good creature. I am allready soe weary of this place, that, upon my word, I could bee content to pass my winter at Cannington, though I apprehend the tediousness of it for you. Pray send me word what lyes in my power to doe for your service and ease, here or wherever else you can employ mee; and assure yourselfe I will neglect your concerne no more than forgett my owne. 'Twas very well for your son, as ill as you tooke it, that I sent him to Adderbury, for it proves at least to be the king's evill that troubles him; and hee comes up to London this weeke to bee touch't. My humble service to my aunt Rogers, and Nan. I write in bed, and am affraid you can't reade it. III. I should be infinitely pleased, madam, with the newes of health. Hitherto I have not bin soe fortunate to heare any of you; but assure yourselfe my wishes are of your side your as much as possible. Pray only that they may be effectuall, and you will not want for happiness. Paris, the 22d of Aprill, For the Countess of Rochester. IV. 'Tis not an easy thing to be entirely happy, but to bee kind is very easy, and that is the greatest measure of happiness. I say not this to put you in mind of being kind to mee; you have practised that so long, that I have a joyful confidence, you will never forget it. But to shew that I myself have a sence of what the method of my life seems so utterly to contradict. I must not bee too wise about my own follies; or else this letter had been a booke dedicated to you, and published to the world. It will be more pertinent to tell you, that, very shortly, the king goes to Newmarket; and then I shall wait on you at Adderbury; in the mean time, thinke of any thing you would have me doe, and I shall thank you for the occasion of pleasing you. the Present my service to Mrs. H. Mr. Morgan I have sent in this errant, because he plays rogue here in towne so extremely, that he is not to be endured. Pray, if he behave himself so at Adderbury, send me word, and let him stay till I send for him. Pray let Ned come up, I have a little business with him, and he shall be back in a week. Deare Wife, V. I recover soe slowly, and relaps soe continually, that I am allmost weary of myself; if I had the least strength, I would come to Adderbury, but in the condition I am, Kensington and back is a voyage I can hardly support. I hope you excuse my sending you noe money, for, till I am well enough to fetch it myself, they will not give mee a farthing; and if I had not pawn'd my plate, I believe I must have starved in my sickness. Well, God bless you and the children, whatever becomes of Your humble servant, ROCHESTER. VI. I am sorry, madame, to heare that you are not well, and as much troubled that you should believe I have not writt to you all this while. I, who am not used to flatter, doe assure you that, if two letters from mee came not to your hands this last weeke, and that before, they have miscarried. Nothing is soe much my business now, as to make hast to waite on you. I think, in that, I comply with your commands, as I doe with the hearty inclination of I kiss my deare wife a thousand times, as farr as imagination and wish will give mee leave. Thinke upon mee as long as it is pleasant and convenient for you to doe soe, and afterwards forgett me; for though I would faine make you the author and foundation of my happiness, yet I would not bee the cause of your constraint or disturbance, for I love not myselfe soe much as I doe you, neither doe I value my owne satisfaction equally as I doe yours. I'll hould you six to fower, I love you with all my heart; if I would bett with other people, I'me sure I could get two to one, but because my passion is not so extensive as to reach every body, I am not in graine to satisfy many. It will content me, if you believe mee, and love me. IX. Wood and firing, which were the subject matter of your last, I tooke order for before, and make noe question but you are served in that affaire before this; Mr. Cary seldome failing in any thing hee undertakes. When you have other service for mee, you will informe mee of itt, and not doubt of the utmost observance from Yours, ROCHESTER. X. I am very glad to heare news from you, and I think it very good when I heare you are well. Pray be pleased to send mee word what you are apt to be pleased with, that I may shew you how good a husband I can bee. I would not have you so formall as to judge of the kindness of a letter by the length of it, but believe of every thing that it is as you would have it. XI.* Soe greate a disproportion 'twixt our desires, and what is ordained to content them! But you will say this is pride and madness; for theire are those so intirely satisfyed wth theire shares in this worlde, that theire wishes and theire thoughts have not a farther prospect of felicity and glory. I'll tell you, were that man's soule tac't in a body fitt for it, hee were a dogg that could count anything a benifitt obtain'd wth flattery, fear, and service. Is there a man, yee gods, whom I doe hate, And very much a slave, and very proude. Remember mee to my dearest aunt, and my good unkle. I would not have you lose my letter-it is not fitt for every body to finde. ROCHESTER. These for the Countess of Rochester, at Adderbury, neare Banbury, Oxfordshire. XII. The Earl of Rochester to his Son, Lord Wilmot.+ I hope, Charles, when you receive this, and know that I have sent this gentleman to bee your tutor, you will be very glad to see I take such care of you, and be very grateful, which is best shewn in being obedient and diligent. You are now grown big enough to be a man, if you can be wise enough; and the way to be truly wise, is to serve God, learn your book, and observe the instructions of your parents first, and next your tutor, to whom I have entirely resigned * This appears to be the fragment of a letter only. + Lord Wilmot died, Nov. 12, 1681, surviving his father only fifteen months. |