creature, fo blind to the other's excellencies and charms?

This then shall be a letter of News; and fure, if you did not think me the humbleft creature in the world, you could never imagine a Poet could dwindle to a brother of Dawks and Dyer, from a rival of Tate and Brady.

The Earl of Oxford has behaved fo bravely, that in this act at least he might feem above man, if he had not just now voided a stone to prove him subject to human infirmities. The utmost weight of affliction from minifterial power and popular hatred, were almost worth bearing, for the glory of fuch a dauntless conduct as he has fhewn under it.

You may foon have your wish, to enjoy the gallant fights of armies, incampments, standards waving over your brother's corn-fields, and the pretty windings of the Thames ftained with the blood of men. Your barbarity, which I have heard fo long exclaim'd against in town and country, may have its fill of deftruction. I would not add one circumftance ufual in all descriptions of calamity, that of the many rapes committed, or to be committed upon those unfortunate women that delight in war. But God forgive me--in this martial age, if I could, I would buy a regiment for your fake and Mrs.

P----'s and some others, whom, I have caufe to fear, no fair means will prevail upon.

Those eyes, that care not how much mischief is done, or how great flaughter committed, fo they have but a fine show; those very female eyes, will be infinitely delighted with the camp which is fpeedily to be formed in Hyde-park. The tents are carried thither this morning, new regiments with new cloaths and furniture (far exceeding the late cloth and linen defigned by his Grace for the foldiery.) The fight of fo many gallant fellows, with all the pomp and glare of war yet undeform'd by battles, thofe fcenes which England has for many years only beheld on stages, may poffibly invite your curiosity to this place.

By our latest account from Dukeftreet, Westminster, the converfion of T. G. Efq. is reported in a manner fomewhat more particular. That upon the seizure of his Flanders mares, he feem'd more than ordinarily disturbed for fome hours, fent for his ghostly father, and refolved to bear his lofs like a Chriftian; till about the hours of seven or eight the coaches and horfes of feveral of the Nobility paffing by his window towards Hyde-park, he could no longer endure the disappointment, but instantly went out, took the oath of Abjuration, and re

cover'd his dear horfes, which carry'd him in triumph

triumph to the Ring. The poor diftreffed Roman Catholicks, now unhors'd and uncharioted, cry out with the Pfalmift, Some in Chariots and fome in Horfes, but we will invocate the name of the Lord.

I am, &c.

LETTER XII.

HE weather is too fine for any one that

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loves the country to leave it at this feafon; when every fmile of the fun, like the smile of a coy lady, is as dear as it is uncommon and I am fo much in the taste of rural pleasures, I had rather see the fun than any thing he can shew me, except yourself. I despise every fine thing in town, not excepting your new gown, till I fee you dress'd in it, (which by the way I don't like the better for the red; the leaves, I think, are very pretty.) I am growing fit, I hope, for a better world, of which the light of the fun is but a shadow: for I doubt not but God's works here, are what come nearest to his works there; and that a true relish of the beauties of nature is the most eafy preparation and gentleft tranfition to an enjoyment of those of heaven: as on the contrary, a true town-life of hurry, confufion, VOL. VII. noise,

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noife, flander, and diffenfion, is a fort of apprenticeship to hell and its furies. I'm endeavouring to put my mind into as quiet a fituation as I can, to be ready to receive that stroke which, I believe, is coming upon me, and have fully refign'd myself to yield to it. The feparation of my foul and body is what I could think of with less pain; for I am very fure he that made it will take care of it, and in whatever state he pleases it shall be, that state must be right: But I cannot think without tears of being separated from my friends, when their condition is fo doubtful, that they may want even such affistance as mine. Sure, it is more merciful to take from us after death all memory of what we lov'd or pursued here: for elfe what a torment would it be to a fpirit, ftill to love those creatures it is quite divided from? Unless we suppose, that in a more exalted life, all that we esteemed in this imperfect state will affect us no more, than what we lov'd in our infancy concerns us now.

This is an odd way of writing to a lady, and, I'm fenfible, would throw me under a great deal of ridicule, were you to fhow this letter among your acquaintance. But perhaps you may not yourself be quite a ftranger to this way of thinking. I heartily wish life your fo long and fo happy, as never to let you think

may

be

quite fo far as I am now led to do; but, to think a little towards it, is what will make you the happier, and the easier at all times.

There are no pleasures or amufements that I don't wish you, and therefore 'tis no small grief to me that I fhall for the future be lefs able to partake with you in them. But let for ́tune do her worst, whatever she makes us lose, as long as she never makes us lose our honesty and our independance; I defpife from my heart whoever parts with the firft, and I pity from foul whoever quits the latter.

my

I am griev'd at Mr. G---'s condition in this laft refpect of dependance. He has Merit, Good-nature, and Integrity, three qualities, that I fear are too often loft upon great men; or at leaft are not all three a match for that one which is oppos'd to them, Flattery. I wish it may not foon or late difplace him from the favour he now poffeffes, and feems to like. I'm fure his late action deferves eternal favour and efteem: Lord Bathurft was charm'd with it, who came hither to see me before his journey. He afk'd and spoke very particularly of you. To-morrow Mr. Fortefcue comes to me from London about B--'s fuit in forma pauperis. That poor man looks ftarved: he tells me you have been charitable to him. Indeed 'tis wanted; the poor creature can fcarce ftir or speak; and I ap

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