it; but he told me, he could not grant a writ of error in a criminal case, without direction from the king; so that Waters is not likely to have much relief from hence, and therefore I am glad you have some hopes it will drop in Ireland. I think the chief-justice should have that regard to his own reputation, to let it go off so; for I believe the oldest man alive, or any law-book, cannot give any instance of such a proceeding. I was informed who was aimed at by the prosecution, which made me very zealous in it; which I shall be in every thing, wherein I can be serviceable to that gentleman, for whom nobody has a greater esteem, than

Your most faithful humble servant,

CON. PHIPPs.

DEAR SIR,

FROM MR PRIOR.

Westminster, Feb. 28, 1720-21.

IF I am to chide you for not writing to me, or beg your pardon that I have not writ to you, is a question, for our correspondence has been so long interrupted, that I swear I do not know which of us wrote last. In all cases, I assure you of my continual friendship, and kindest remembrance of you; and with great pleasure, expect the same from you. I have been ill this winter. Age, I find, comes on; and the cough does not diminish.

*Whitshed.-H.

Non sum qualis eram bonæ

Sub regno Cynara--Pass for that.

I am tired with politics, and lost in the South Sea. The roaring of the waves, and the madness of the people, were justly put together.

send you no sort of news, that holds either connection or sense. It is all wilder than St Anthony's dream; and the bagatelle is more solid than any thing that has been endeavoured here this year. Our old friend, Oxford is not well, and continues in Herefordshire. John of Bucks * died last night, and Coningsby was sent last night to the Tower. I frequently drink your health with Lord Harley, who is always the same good man, and grows daily more beloved as more universally known. I do so too with our honest good-natured friend Ford, whom I love for many good reasons, and particularly for that he loves you.

As to the subscriptions, in which I have given you a great deal of trouble already, to make the rest of that trouble less, I desire you to send the enclosed letter to Mr Hyde, that he may raze out the names of those gentlemen who have taken out their books, and take what convenient care he can of the remaining books. And as to the pecuniary part, I find no better way than that you will remit it, as you did the former sum, by bill of exchange. Mr Ford likewise judges this the best and securest method.

How do you do as to your health? Are we to see

* John Sheffield, Duke of Buckinghamshire.-B.

+ Thomas, Earl of Coningsby, so created by King George I. in 1719.-B. He was the leader in the prosecution against Oxford.

you this summer? Answer me these questions. Give my service to all friends, and believe me to be ever, with great truth and esteem, dear Sir,

Yours,

M. PRIOR.

DEAR SIR,

FROM THE SAME.

Westminster, April 25, 1721.

I KNOW very well, that you can write a good letter, if you have a mind to it; but that is not the question. A letter from you sometimes is what I desire. Reserve your tropes and periods for those you love less; and let me hear how you do, in whatever humour you are; whether lending your money to the butchers, protecting the weavers, treating the women, or construing propria quæ maribus to the country curate. You and I are so established authors, that we may write what we will, without fear of censure; and if we have not lived long enough to prefer the bagatelle to any thing else, we deserved to have had our brains knocked out ten years ago.

I have received the money punctually of Mr Dan. Hayes, have his receipt, and hereby return you all the thanks, that your friendship in that affair ought to claim, and your generosity does contemn. There is one turn for you: good.

The man you mentioned in your last * has been in

*The Earl of Oxford, whose influence, it would seem, was still dreaded, though he had so long retired from public busi

ness.

the country these two years, very ill in his health, and has not for many months been out of his chamber; yet what you observe of him is so true, that his sickness is all counted for policy, that he will not come up, till the public distractions force somebody or other (whom God knows,) who will oblige somebody else to send for him in open triumph, and set him in statu quo prius. That, in the meantime, he has foreseen all that has happened; checkmated all the ministry; and to divert himself at his leisure hours, he has laid all those line twigs for his neighbour Coningsby, that keep that precious bird in the cage, out of which himself slipped so cunningly and easily.

Things, and the way of men's judging them, vary so much here, that it is impossible to give you any just account of some of our friends' actions. Roffen* is more than suspected to have given up his party, as Sancho did his subjects, for so much a head, l'un portant l'autre. His cause, therefore, whch is something originally like that of Lutrin, is opposed or neglected by his ancient friends, and openly sustained by the ministry. He cannot be lower in the opinion of most men than he is; and I wish our friend Harcourt were higher than he is.

Our young Harley's vice is no more covetousness, than plainness of speech is that of his cousin Tom. His lordship is really amabilis; and Lady Harriette, adoranda.

I tell you no news, but that the whole is a com

* Dr Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester. Far from having deserted to the Whigs, as Prior's suspicions would seem to imply, it appeared soon afterwards that he had gone a step beyond Toryism, and espoused the cause of the Pretender.

plication of mistakes in policy, and of knavery in the execution of it: of the ministers I speak, for the most part as well ecclesiastical as civil. This is all the truth I can tell you, except one, which I am sure you receive very kindly, that I am ever

Your friend and

your servant,

M. PRIOR.

Friend Shelton, commonly called Dear Dick, is We drink your health. Adieu.

with me.

1

TO [STELLA] MRS JOHNSON.*

Deanery-House,

Sunday Morning, April 30, 1721.

JACK GRATTAN said nothing to me of it till last night; it is none of my fault: how did I know but you were to dine abroad? You should have sent your messenger sooner; yes, I think the dinner you provided for yourselves may do well enough here, but pray send it soon. I wish you would give a body more early warning; but you must blame yourselves. Delany says he will come in the evening; and, for aught I know, Sheridan may be here at dinner which of you was it that undertook this frolic? Your letter hardly explained your meaning, but at last I found it. Pray do not serve me these tricks often. You may be sure if there be a good bottle you shall have it. I am sure I never refused you, and therefore that reflection might have

Indorsed by Mrs Johnson, "An answer to no letter.”