I have no novelties to entertain you with from hence; for here we lead a very retired and perfectly rural life; but when I get to London, (which I believe will not be till after Christmas, because, as I am within ten or a dozen miles of Bath, I have some thoughts of making a trip thither, and try what good those waters will do me,) you may depend upon having an account of what passes in the political and learned world that is possible for me to come at and convey to you, and I hope to be then honoured with all your commissions and commands in that place; for I wish for nothing more than an opportunity of shewing how much gratitude and true esteem for all your favours, I am, Sir, your most obedient and much obliged and humble servant,

MARMADUKE PHILIPS. ·

I have seen your friend Mrs. Cope at Bath, and she desired me to send her compliments to you.

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN.

London, Nov. 7, 1734.

Do not accuse me of forsaking you: indeed it is not the least in my thoughts; but I heard you were ill, and had no letter from you, so doubted being troublesome. I was, about two months ago, at my own house, and had my duke and duchess with me. The rest of my time was divided between lord president and Knowle. I have now left their * graces

* Spencer, Earl of Wilmington.-H.

in the country, where I hope they will not stay long ; for she has been very ill, though now recovered.

*

I am always more frighted when my friends are sick there, because there is neither physic nor physician that is good for anything. Indeed I cannot answer, whether your lord lieutenant will be the same or not. All that I can say is, that if he asks my consent for it, he shall not have it. I have no acquaintance with the Duke of Chandos, nor I believe has the Duke of Dorset much. And to be sure it would be to no purpose to ask him for those records again, because, if he would have parted with them, he would have done it on your asking. And whether it be useful or not, just to him, yet few people would care to part with what must enhance the value of their libraries; but if he succeeds the Duke of Dorset, then for certain he will be easily persuaded to make a compliment of them to the kingdom. Your friend Dr. Arbuthnot, I hear, is out of order again. I have not seen him lately, and I fear he is in a very declining way. I fancy it would be prodigiously good for your health to come to England, which would be a great pleasure to Your most sincere old friend,

and humble servant,

E. G.

* See the Dean's letter to the Duke of Chandos, 31st August, 1734.

P

VOL. XVIII.

SIR,

FROM MRS. PENDARVES.

St. Mary's Square, Gloucester, Nov. 20, 1734.

I AM truly concerned at your having been so much out of order; I most heartily wish you constant health and happiness, though that is of little use to you, and only serves to do honour to myself, by shewing I know how to prize what is valuable.

I should have returned you thanks much sooner for the favour of your last letter; but when I received it I was preparing for my journey hither, and have ever since had so great a disorder in one of my eyes, that till this moment I have not been able to make my acknowledgments to you. I wonder you should be at a loss for a reason for my writing to you: we all love honour and pleasure; were your letters dull, do you imagine my vanity would not be fond of corresponding with the Dean of St. Patrick's? But the last reason you give I like best, and will stick by, which is, that I am a more constant nymph than all your goddesses of much longer acquaintance; and farthermore, I venture to promise you are in no danger of receiving a boutade, if that depends on my will. As for those fasting days you talk of,* they are, I confess, alluring baits, and I should certainly have been with you in three packets, according to your commands, could I either fly or swim; but I am a heavy lump, destined for a few years to this earthly element, and

* That is, dining upon two or three dishes at the Deanery, which, in comparison of magnificent tables, the doctor used to call fasting.-D. S

cannot move about without the concurrent assistance of several animals that are very expensive.

Now for business: As soon as I received your letter, I went to your brother Lansdown, and spoke to him about the Duke of Chandos. He desired me to make his compliments to you, and to tell you he was very sorry he could be of no service to you in that affair; but he has had no manner of correspondence or even acquaintance with the duke these fifteen years. I have put it, however, into hands. that will pursue it diligently, and I hope obtain for you what you desire; if they do not succeed, you must not call me negligent; for whatever lies in my power to serve you, is of too much consequence for me to neglect.

I have left my good friend, and your humble servant, Mrs. Donnellan, behind me in London, where she meets with little entertainment suitable to her understanding; and she is a much fitter companion for the Dublin Thursday Society, than for the trifling company she is now engaged in ; and I wish you had her with you, (since I cannot have her,) because I know she would be happier than where she is, and my wish I think no bad one for you. Neither my eyes nor paper will hold out any longer. I am, Sir, your most faithful humble servant,

M. PENDARVES.

I beg my compliments to all your friends.

FROM MR. JARVIS.*

DEAR MR. DEAN,

Hampton, Nov. 24, 1734.

You can hardly imagine how rejoiced I am at finding my old friend the Bishop of Worcester † so hale at 83-4! No complaint; he does but begin to stoop, and I am forced myself, every now and then, to awaken myself to walk tolerably upright, famous as I was lately for a wight of uncommon vigour, and consequently spirits to spare. If ever I see Dublin again, and your Teague escapes hanging so long, I will myself truss him up for non-admittance when you were in a conversable condition. I am sure the lady will send you Mr. Conolly's picture with pleasure, when I tell her you expect it. Our friend Pope is off and on, here and there, everywhere and nowhere, à son ordinaire, and therefore as well as we can hope, for a carcase so crazy. He assures me, he has done his duty in writing frequently to the Dean, because he is sure it gives you some amusement, as he is rejoiced at all yours; therefore you must write away. Upon inquiry, I learn, that exercise is the best medicine for your giddiness. Penny made Mrs. Pendarves happy with a print of yours, and I do not fail to distribute them to all your well-wishers. I am, dear Dean,

Yours most affectionately,

CHA. JARVIS.

* A celebrated painter, contemporary with Sir Godfrey Kneller. -H.

† Dr. John Hough, Bishop of Worcester.-H.

Speaker of the House of Commons, one of the lords-justices, and a commissioner of the revenue in Ireland.-N.