FROM MRS. CÆSAR.*

August 6, 1732.

PERMIT me to congratulate you upon the return of Mrs. Barber, with thanks for pleasures enjoyed in her company; for had she not come recommended by the Dean of St. Patrick's, likely I had passed her by unheeded, being apt to follow a good author, in shunning those of my own coat. But hold; I must look if it runs not from corner to corner, which I more fear than length. For Pope says, though sometimes he finds too many letters in my words, never too many words in my letters. So with Mr. Cæsar's and my best wishes, thou worthy, witty, honest Dean, adieu.

M. ADELMAR Cæsar.

SIR,

FROM LADY WORSLEY.t

August 6, 1732.

I FLATTER myself, that if you had received my last letter, you would have favoured me with an answer; therefore I take it for granted it is lost.

I was so proud of your commands, and so fearful

*Wife to the treasurer of the navy during Lord Oxford's administration, in the reign of Queen Anne.-H.

† Indorsed, "Lady Worsley, with a present of a writing-box japanned by herself."-N.

of being supplanted by my daughter,* that I went to work immediately, that her box might not keep her in your rememberance, while there was nothing to put you in mind of an old friend and humble servant. But Mrs. Barber's long stay here, (who promised me to convey it to you,) has made me appear very negligent. I doubt not but you think me unworthy of the share (you once told me) I had in your heart. I am yet vain enough to think I deserve it better than all those flirting girls you coquet with. I will not yield (even) to dirty Patty, whom I was the most jealous of when you was last here. What if I am a great-grandmother, I can still distinguish your merit from all the rest of the world; but it is not consistent with your goodbreeding to put one in mind of it; therefore I am determined not to use my interest with Sir Robert for a living in the Isle of Wight, though nothing else could reconcile me to the place. But if I could make you Archbishop of Canterbury, I should forget my resentments, for the sake of the flock, who very much want a careful shepherd. Are we to have the honour of seeing you, or not? I have fresh hopes given me; but I dare not please myself too much with them, lest I should be again disappointed. If I had it as much in my power, as my inclination, to serve Mrs. Barber, she should not be kept thus long attending but I hope her next voyage may prove more successful. She is just come in, and tells me you have sprained your foot, which will prevent your journey till next summer; but assure yourself the Bath is the only infallible cure for such an accident. If you have any regard remaining for

* Lady Carteret.

† Where her husband, Sir Robert Worsley, possessed the estate of Appuldercombe.

me, you will shew it by taking my advice: if not, I will endeavour to forget you, if I can. But, till that doubt is cleared, I am as much as ever, the Dean's

Obedient humble servant,

F. WORSLEY.

TO ALDERMAN BARBER.

MR. ALDERMAN,

Dublin, August 10, 1732.

I AM very angry with my friend Doctor Delany, for not applying to you sooner, as I desired him, in favour of Mr. Matthew Pilkington, a young clergyman here, who has a great ambition to have the honour of being your chaplain in your mayoralty. I waited for the doctor's answer before I could write to you, and it came but last night. He tells me you have been so very kind as to give him a promise upon my request; I will therefore tell my story. This gentleman was brought to me by the doctor about four years ago, and I found him so modest a young man, so good a scholar and preacher, and of so hopeful a genius, and grew still better upon my hands the more I knew him, that I have been seeking. all opportunities to do him some real service; from no other motive in the world, but the esteem I had of his worth. And I hope you know me long enough to believe me capable of acting as I ought to do in

*Pilkington believed that Mrs. Barber and Dr. Delany returned the Dean's first letter of 22d July upon this subject, and rendered this second application necessary, which proved successful.

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such a case, however contrary it may be to the present practice of the world. He has a great longing to see England, and appear in the presence of Mr. Pope, Mr. Gay, Dr. Arbuthnot, and some other of my friends, wherein I will assist him with my recommendations. He is no relation or dependant of mine. I am not putting you upon a job, but to encourage a young man of merit upon his own account as well as mine. He will be no burden upon you, for he has some fortune of his own, and will have a much better from his father; and has also a convenient establishment for a church in this city.

Mr. Pilkington will be ready to attend you upon your command, and I wish he may go as soon as possible that he may have a few weeks to prepare him for his business, by seeing the Tower, the Monument, and Westminster Abbey, and have done staring in the streets.

I am so entirely out of the world, that I cannot promise a hope ever to requite your favour, otherwise than with hearty thanks for conferring this obligation upon me. And I shall ever remain, with true esteem, your most obedient and obliged humble

TO MR. GAY AND THE DUCHESS OF

QUEENSBERRY.

Dublin, Aug. 12, 1732.

I KNOW not what to say to the account of your stewardship, and it is monstrous to me that the South Sea should pay half their debts at one clap. But I will send for the money when you put me into the way, for I shall want it here, my affairs being in a bad condition by the miseries of the kingdom, and my own private fortune being wholly embroiled, and worse than ever; so that I shall soon petition the duchess, as an object of charity, to lend me three or four thousand pounds to keep up my dignity. My one hundred pounds will buy me six hogshead of wine, which will support me a year; provisa frugis in annum copia. Horace desired no more: for I will construe frugis to be wine. You are young enough to get some lucky hint which must come by chance, and it shall be a thing of importance, quod et hunc in annum vivat et in plures, and you shall not finish it in haste, and it shall be diverting, and usefully satirical, and the duchess shall be your critic; and between you and me, I do not find she will till this time seven years. grow weary of you I had lately an offer to change for an English living, which is just too short by £300 a-year, and that must be made

* Gay, as well as his friend Pope, ventured some money in the famous South Sea scheme. And there was a print by Hogarth, representing Pope putting one of his hands into the pocket of a large fat personage, who wore a hornbook at his girdle, designed for the figure of Gay; and the hornbook had reference to his Fables, written for the young Duke of Cumberland.-Dr. WARTON.