with fome circumstances under which he could not properly represent his Britannic Majesty.

Lastly, I shall hear how, the first night you lay at Pera, you had a vifion of Mahomet's Paradife; and happily awaked without a foul, from which bleffed moment the beautiful body was left at full liberty to perform all the agreeable functions it was made for.

I fee I have done in this letter as I have often done in your company, talk'd myself into a good humour, when I begun in an ill one; the pleasure of addreffing to you makes me run on, and 'tis in your own power to shorten this letter as much as you please, by giving over when you please; fo I'll make it no longer by apologies.

LETTER XI.

OU have asked me news a hundred times

You

at the first word you spoke to me, which fome would interpret as if you expected nothing better from my lips and truly 'tis not a fign two lovers are together, when they can be fo impertinent as to enquire what the world does. All I mean by this is, that either you or I are not in love with the other: I leave you to guess which of the two is that stupid and insensible

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 would 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 seem above man, if he had not just now voided a stone to prove him fubject to human infirmities. The utmost weight of affliction from ministerial power and popular hatred, were almoft worth bearing, for the glory of such a dauntless conduct as he has shewn under it.

You may foon have your wifh, to enjoy the gallant fights of armies, incampments, standards waving over your brother's corn-fields, and the pretty windings of the Thames stained 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 circumstance usual 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

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

Thofe eyes, that care not how much mischief is done, or how great flaughter committed, fo they have but a fine fhow; thofe very female eyes, will be infinitely delighted with the camp which is speedily 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 cus riosity to this place.

By our latest account from Duke-ftreet, Westminster, the converfion of T. G. Efq. is reported in a manner fomewhat more particular. That upon the seizure of his Flanders mares, hé feem'd more than ordinarily disturbed for some hours, sent for his ghostly father, and refolved to bear his lofs like a Chriftian; till about the hours of feven or eight the coaches and horses of several of the Nobility paffing by his window towards Hyde-park, he could no longer endure the disappointment, but inftantly went out, took the oath of Abjuration, and recover'd his dear horses, which carried him in triumph

5

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

I am, &c.

XII.

T1

LETTER

HE weather is too fine for any one that loves the country to leave it at this seafon; when every fmile of the fun, like the smile of a coy lady, is as dear as it is uncommon: and I am so much in the taste of rural pleafures, I had rather fee the fun than any thing he can fhew me, except yourself. I despise every fine thing in town, not excepting your new gown, till I fee you drefs'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 relifh of the beauties of nature is the most easy preparation and gentleft tranfition to an enjoyment of thofe of heaven: as on the contrary, a true town-life of hurry, confufion, noife, flander, and diffention, is a fort of apprenticeship to hell and its furies. I'm endeavouring to put my VOL. VII. N

mind

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 myfelf to yield to it. The feparation of my foul and body is what I could think of with lefs pain; for I am very fure he that made it will take care of it, and in whatever ftate 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 fuch affistance as mine. Sure, it is more merciful to take from us after death all memory of what we lov'd or purfued here: for else what a torment would it be to a spirit, ftill to love those creatures it is quite divided from? Unless we suppose, that in a more exalted life, all that we efteemed 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 with your life may be fo long and so happy, as never to let you think 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 eafier at all times.