island is likely to be, when they assemble, &c. Our impatience to see you should not draw you into uneasiness. We long to embrace you, if find you it may be of no inconvenience to yourself.

FROM MR PRIOR.

Heathrop, Aug. 24, 1717.

YOURS, my good friend, of the sixth finds me in Oxfordshire with the Duke of Shrewsbury, which would sooner have been acknowledged, had I stayed in London, Before I left that pious city, I made due inquiry into the methods and regularity of your correspondence with the earl.* He has received your letters; he will answer them-but not to-day, sicut olim. Nothing can change him. I can get no positive answer from him, nor can any man else; so trouble yourself no more on that head thạn hẹ does. He is still in London, and possibly has answered you, while I am a little arraigning his neglect; but in all cases liberavi animam meam.

I wish you were in England, that you might a little look over the strange stuff, that I am to give our friends for their money. I shall be angry if you are near and not with me; but when I see you, that weighty question may easily be decided. In the mean time, I am taking your good counsel, and will be in the country as much as I can.

You have found two mistakes in the list, but have

* Of Oxford.-H.

+Alluding to Lord Oxford's dilatory habits.

not corrected them. I presume we shall have it of the best edition, when you send the list back again; of which, I say, no haste is required.

Give my service and thanks to all friends; reserve only to yourself the assurance of my being, beyond expression, my friend,

Yours, &c.

FROM MR ADDISON.*

March 20, 1717-18.

DEAR SIR, MULTIPLICITY of business and a long dangerous. fit of sickness have prevented me from answering the obliging letter you honoured me with some time since but, God be thanked, I cannot make use of either of these excuses at present, being entirely free both of my office † and my asthma. I dare not, however, venture myself abroad yet, but have sent the contents of your last to a friend of mine, (for he is very much so, though he is my succes

*It is to be regretted that we have not the letter from Swift, which appears to have renewed, after a long interval, the corre spondence between these distinguished men. It would seem, from the readiness with which Addison embraces the proffered amity of the Dean, that he had entertained no prejudice against him from his quarrel with Steele: So that it may be fairly argued he had more reason in that unfortunate affair, than has been conceded in his favour by some of his biographers.

Of secretary of state, which post Mr Addison resigned on the fourteenth of March 1717-18, and had a pension granted him of one thousand five hundred pounds a-year...-H.

sor *) who I hope will turn it to the advantage of the gentlemen whom you mention. I know you have so much zeal and pleasure in doing kind offices for those you wish well to, that I hope you represent the hardship of the case in the strongest colours that it can possibly bear. However, as I always honoured you for your good nature, which is a very odd quality to celebrate in a man who has talents so much more shining in the eyes of the world, I should be glad if I could any way concur with you, in putting a stop to what you say is now in agitation.

I must here condole with you upon the loss of that excellent man the bishop of Derry,† who has scarce left behind him his equal in humanity, agreeable conversation, and all kinds of learning. We have often talked of you with great pleasure: and, upon this occasion, I cannot but reflect upon myself, who, at the same time that I admit no opportunity of expressing my esteem for you to others, have been so negligent in doing it to yourself. I have several times taken up my pen to write to you, but have been always interrupted by some impertinence or other; and to tell you unreservedly, I have been unwilling to answer so agreeable a letter as that I received from you, with one written in form only; but I must still have continued silent, had I deferred writing, till I could have made a suitable return. Shall we never again talk together in laconic? Whenever you see England, your company will be the most acceptable in the world at

* James Craggs, Esq.-B.

Dr St George Ashe, often mentioned as a friend of the Dean.

Holland House,* where you are highly esteemed by Lady Warwick, and the young lord; though by none any where more than by, Sir,

Your most faithful,

and most obedient humble servant,

J. ADDISON.

FROM LORD HARLEY.

April 12, 1718.

His lordship writes to the Dean, "that he hopes to see him at Wimple this year; that Lord Oxford was well, and talked of going into Herefordshire." He adds, "Your sistert is obliged to go to Bath; presents her humble service, and desires you to accept of a little etui. I beg you will not deny me the favour to take the snuff-box, which comes along with it to supply the place of that which was broke by accident some time ago.

I am, with true respect,

Your most humble servant and brother,

HARLEY."

*The Dean had lodgings at Kensington in the summer of 1712; and Mr Addison lived there at the same time, being some years before his marriage with the Countess of Warwick.

+ Lady Harley.

FROM MR PRIOR.

DEAR SIR,

May 1, 1718.

A PRETTY kind of amusement I have been engaged in commas, semicolons, italics, and capitals, to make nonsense more pompous, and furbelow bad poetry with good printing. My friends letters, in the mean time, have lain unanswered; and the obligations I have to them, on account of the very book itself, are unacknowledged. This is not all; I must beg you once more to transfer to us an entire list of my subscribers, with their distinct titles, that they may, for my honour, be printed at the beginning of my book. This will easily be done by revising the list which we sent to you. I must pray of you, that it may be exact. The money I received of Mitford as mentioned in your last.

The Earl of Oxford has not at all disappointed my expectations. He is semper idem, and has as much business to do now, as when he was governing England, or impeached for treason. He is still in town, but going in a week or ten days into Herefordshire. Lord and Lady Harley are at the Bath, and as soon as I shall have settled my affairs of the printingpress, (sad business! as you very well call it,) I shall go into the country to them.

My health, I thank you, is pretty good. My courage better. I drink very often to your health, with some of our friends here; and am always, with the greatest truth and affection, dear Sir,

Your obliged and most obedient servant,

M. PRIOR.