Herefordshire, and says I shall see you very soon in England. I would tell you with what pleasure this would be, if I knew upon what certainty the hopes of it were founded. Write me word of this too; for upon it I would order my matters so, that I may be as much with you as I can; and this you will find no little favour; for, I assure you we are all so changed that there is very little choice of such company as you would like; and, except about eighteen hundred that have subscribed to my book, I do not hear of as many more in this nation that have common sense. My cousin, Pennyfeather, and Will. Phillips, drink your health. I cough, but I am otherwise well; and, till I cease to cough, i. e. to live, I am, with entire friendship and affection, dear Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

M. PRIOR.

FROM MR ADDISON.

DEAR SIR,

Bristol, Oct. 1, 1718.

As

I HAVE received the honour of your letter at Bristol, where I have just finished a course of waterdrinking, which I hope has pretty well recovered me from the leavings of my last winter's sickness. for the subject of your letter, though you know an affair of that nature cannot well nor safely be treated of in writing, I desired a friend of mine to acquaint Sir Ralph Gore, that I was under a pre-engagement, and not at my own choice to act in it, and have since troubled my Lady Ashe with

a letter to the same effect, which, I hope, has not. miscarried. However, upon my return to London, I will farther inquire into that matter, and see if there is any room left for me to negotiate as you propose.

I live still in hopes of seeing you in England, and if you would take my house at Bilton* in your way, (which lies upon the road within a mile of Rugby) I would strain hard to meet you there, provided you would make me happy in your company for some days. The greatest pleasure I have met with for some months is in the conversation of my old friend Dr Smalridge,† who, since the death of the excellent man you mention, is to me the most candid and agreeable of all bishops; I would say clergymen, were not deans comprehended under that title. We have often talked of you: and when I assure you he has an exquisite taste of writing, I need not tell you how he talks on such a subject. I look upon it as my good fortune, that I can express my esteem to you, even to those who are not of the bishop's party, without giving offence. When a man has so much compass in his character, he affords his friends topics enough to enlarge upon, that all sides admire. I am sure a sincere and zealous friendly behaviour distinguishes you as much as your many more shining talents;

* A small village in Warwickshire, where Mr Addison's only daughter long resided, and died in 1797, at a very advanced age....N. + Bishop of Bristol.

Addison, it must be remembered, was a witness appealed to by both parties in the dispute between Swift and Steele, nor was he likely to have paid this very pointed compliment to our author on the steadiness of his friendships, had there been real ground for charging him with gross injustice towards a person with VOL. XVI.

Y

and as I have received particular instances of it, you must have a very bad opinion of me, if you do not think I heartily love and respect you; and that I am ever, dear Sir,

Your most obedient, and most humble servant,

J. ADDISON.

FROM DR ARBUTHNOT.

DEAR SIR,

London, Oct. 14, 1718..

THIS serves for an envelope to the enclosed; for I cannot tell whether you care to hear from any of your friends on this side. In your last, I think, you desired me to let you alone to enjoy your own spleen. Can you purchase your fifty pounds a-year in Wales as yet? I can tell you, beforehand, Lewis scorns to live with you there. He keeps company with the greatest, and is principal governor in many families. I have been in France; six weeks at Paris, and as much at Rouen; where I can assure you, I hardly heard a word of news or politics, except a little clutter about sending some impertinent presidents du parliament to prison, that had the impudence to talk for the laws and liberties of their country. I was asked for Monsieur Swift by many people, I can assure you; and particularly by the Duke d'Aumont. I was respectfully and kindly treated by many folks,

whom Addison himself was still more intimately connected, both by private intercourse and party habits.

and even by the great Mr Law.* Amongst other things, I had the honour to carry an Irish lady † to court, that was admired beyond all the ladies in France for her beauty. She had great honours done her. The hussar himself was ordered to bring her the king's cat to kiss. Her name is Bennet. Among other folks I saw your old friend Lord Bolingbroke, who asked for you. He looks just as he did. Your friends here are in good health; not changed in their sentiments towards you. I left my two girls in France with their uncle, which was my chief business. I do not know that I have any friends on your side, beside Mr Ford, to whom give my service, and to Dr Parnell and Mr Jervis.

If it be possible for you, obey the contents of the enclosed; which, I suppose, is a kind invitation. The dragon is just as he was, only all his old habits ten times stronger upon him than ever. Let me beg of you not to forget me, for I can never cease to love and esteem you; being ever,

Your most affectionate and obliged
humble servant,

Jo. ARBUTHNOT.

* The projector of the Mississippi scheme in France. + The celebrated beauty Miss Nelly Bennet, on whom the lines were written, which begin,

For when as Nelly came to France,

(Invited by her cousins,) &c.--See Vol. XIII. p. 347.

In these verses, which were written probably by Arbuthnot himself, the incident respecting the king's tabby cat is faithfully commemorated.

FROM THE DUKE OF WHARTON.

DEAR DEAN,

Monday Morning.

It

I SHALL embark for England to-morrow. would be necessary for me to take leave of Lord Molesworth on many accounts; and as Young* is engaged in town, I must infallibly go alone, unless your charity extends itself to favour me with your company there this morning.

I beg you would send me your answer, and believe me sincerely your faithful friend and servant, WHARTON.

P. S. If you condescend so far, come to me about eleven of the clock.

*Sir Herbert Croft thus records the patronage extended by this libertine nobleman to the author of the Night Thoughts:

"Wharton, after he became ennobled, did not drop the son of his old friend. In him, during the short time he lived, Young found a patron; and, in his dissolute descendant, a friend and a companion. The marquis died in April 1715. In the beginning of the next year the young marquis set out upon his travels, from which he returned in about a twelvemonth. The beginning of 1717, carried him to Ireland; where, says the Biographia, on the score of his extraordinary qualities, he had the honour done him of being admitted, though under age, to take his seat in the house of lords."---Johnson's Works, by Murphy, Lond. 1806, 8. Vol. XI. p. 297. Young accompanied this extraordinary personage to Ireland. It does not appear how Swift, who "hated Wharton like a toad," came to extend his favour and intimacy to his son.