empty two of the boxes, that Jo. may have them; I mean out of those boxes which he is to leave at the deanery for my security for the twenty pounds, which he is to receive from you.

FROM LORD BOLINGBROKE.

London, July 24, 1725.

MR FORD will tell you how I do, and what I do. Tired with suspense, the only insupportable misfor tune of life, I desired, after nine years of autumnal promises, and vernal excuses, a decision; and very little cared what that decision was, provided it left me at liberty to settle abroad, or put me on a foot of living agreeably at home. The wisdom of the nation has thought fit, instead of granting so reasonable a request, to pass an act, which, fixing my fortune unalterably to this country, fixes my person here also: and those who had the least mind to see me in England have made it impossible for me to live anywhere else. Here I am then, two thirds restored, my person safe (unless I meet hereafter with harder treatment than even that of Sir Walter Raleigh); and my estate, with all the other property I have acquired or may acquire, secured to me. But the attainder is kept carefully and prudently in force, lest so corrupt a member should come again into the house of lords, and his bad leaven should sour that sweet untainted mass. This much I thought I might say about my private affairs to an old friend, without diverting him too long from his labours to promote the advantage of the church and state of

Ireland; or, from his travels into those countries of giants and pigmies, from whence he imports a cargo I value at a higher rate than that of the richest galleon. Ford brought the Dean of Derry* to see me. Unfortunately for me, I was then out of town; and the journey of the former into Ireland will perhaps defer for some time my making acquaintance with the other; which I am sorry for. I would not by any means lose the opportunity of knowing a man, who can espouse in good earnest the system of father Malebranche,† and who is fond of going a missionary in the West Indies. My zeal for the propagation of the gospel will hardly carry me so far; but my spleen against Europe has more than once made me think of buying the dominion of Bermudas, and spending the remainder of my days as far as possible from those people with whom I have past the first and greatest part of my life. Health and every other natural comfort of life is to be had there better than here. As to imaginary

* Dr Berkeley, of whom see a further account in a letter to Lord Carteret, Sept. 3, 1724, Vol. XVI. p. 468.-H. "that

+ The system of Malebranche, here referred to, was, our ideas are distinct from our understanding, and that we see all things in God." In other words, material objects are but the causes of our ideas. Berkeley, in the early part of his life, wrote a dissertation against the existence of material beings and exter. nal objects with such subtilty, that Whiston acknowledged him. self unable to confute it, and recommended the task to Dr Clarke. The doctor, however, did not perform it, and the dissertation remains unanswered to this time, except what has been attempted by Baxter in his Treatise on the Soul. Bayle says, that Malebranche's system was only that of Democritus, amended and unfolded.-H.

For Berkeley's scheme for settling in the Bermudas, see Vol. XVI. p. 469.

and artificial pleasures, we are philosophers enough to despise them. What say you? Will you leave your Hibernian flock to some other shepherd, and transplant yourself with me into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? We will form a society more reasonable, and more useful, than that of Dr Berkeley's college and I promise you solemnly, as supreme magistrate, not to suffer the currency of Wood's halfpence: nay, the coiner of them shall be hanged, if he presumes to set his foot on our island.

Let me hear how you are, and what you do; and if you really have any latent kindness still at the bottom of your heart for me, say something very kind to me, for I do not dislike being cajoled. If your heart tells you nothing, say nothing, that I may take the hint, and wean myself from you by degrees. Whether I shall compass it or not, God knows: but surely this is the properest place in the world to renounce friendship in, or to forget obligations. Mr Ford says, he will be with us again by the beginning of the winter. Your star* will probably hinder you from taking the same journey. Adieu, dear Dean. I had something more to say to you, almost as important as what I have said already, but company comes in upon me, and relieves

you.

* Mrs Johnson, the lady whom he celebrated by the name of Stella.-.-H.

REVEREND SIR,

Dover Street, July 26, 1725.

MR CLAYTON going to Ireland, I take the opportunity of writing to you, in the first place to tell you, that I am ready to make good my promise which I made of sending you a picture of my father. The painter has done his part, so that the picture is now ready, but I do not know how to send it to you safe: you did tell me a gentleman should call, but where he lives, or who he is, I know not. I am very desirous you should have it, because it has been so long coming: and I am very ambitious of doing any thing that may in the least be agreeable to you. You had heard of this sooner, but I have been for three months out of town; I made a long progress, even beyond Edinburgh fifty miles.

I inquire of you sometimes of Dean Berkeley:* I was sorry to hear that you were troubled with that melancholy distemper the want of hearing, although in some cases it is good; but one would have it in one's power to hear or not hear, as it suited best with one's inclinations.

I am also sorry that there is no mention made of any design of your coming into England. I long much for it, and do flatter myself with the thoughts of seeing you under my roof, where you shall exert more authority than I will allow to belong to any bishops made since. Do not lay aside all thoughts of coming over; change of air may do you

* Dr Berkeley was then the Dean of Derry...-D. S. +"The accession of George I." probably.

good as well as the voyage. I thank God your sister is very well, well, considering the way she is in; I hope in two months, or thereabouts, she will be much better: she presents her humble service to you. Peggy is very well.

Pope is well I suppose; he is rambling about the country. I have the pleasure of seeing a picture which is very like you every day, and is as good a picture as ever Jarvis painted.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient

humble servant and brother,

OXFORD.

TO MR. WORRALL.

Quilca, Aug. 27, 1725.

I was heartily sorry to hear WAS you had got the gout, being a disease you have so little pretence to; for you have been all your life a great walker, and a little drinker. Although it be no matter how you got your disease, since it was not by your vices; yet I do not love to think I was an instrument, by leading you a walk of eight or nine miles, where your pride to show your activity in leaping down a ditch, hurt your foot in such a manner, as to end in your present disease.

I have not yet heard of Mr Webb, and if he should come here, I can do nothing with him; for I shall not take my own judgment, but leave it to some able lawyer to judge and recommend the security; for now it is time for me to learn some worldly wisdom,