age *? You have it seems (without paffing the bounds of Christendom) out-travelled the fin of fornication: in a little time you'll look upon fome others with more patience, than the ladies here are capable of. I reckon, you'll time it fo well as to make your religion laft to the verge of Chriftendom, that you may discharge your Chaplain (as humanity requires) in a place where he may find fome bufinefs.

I doubt not but I fhall be told (when I come to follow you through those countries) in how pretty a manner you accommodated yourself to the customs of the true Muffelmen. They will tell me at what town you practised to fit on the Sopha, at what village you learned to fold a Turbant, where you was bathed and anointed, and where you parted with your black fullbottom. How happy must it be for a gay young woman, to live in a country where it is a part of religious worship to be giddy-headed? I fhall hear at Belgrade how the good Bafhaw received you with tears of joy, how he was charmed with your agreeable manner of pronouncing the words Allah and Muhamed; and how earnestly you joined with him in exhorting your friend to embrace that religion.

But

* This letter, in which there is much cold and infipid raillery, and many strokes of idle levity, is written to Lady Wortley Montague, who was then pursuing her journey to Conftantinople whofe letters from Turkey, it must be candidly confeffed, for the curious information they contain, and for that ease and elegance which constitute the effence and the excellence of the epiftolary tyle, are far fuperior to the letters of Pope.

But I think his objection was a just one, that it was attended with fome circumftances 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, talked 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 fhorten this letter as much as you please, by giving over when you please; so I'll make it no longer by apologies.

LETTER XI.

ou have afked me news a hundred times at the

γου

firft 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

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

Your

You may foon have your wish, to enjoy the gallant fights of armies, incampments, ftandards waving over your brother's corn fields, and the pretty windings of the Thames ftained with the blood of men. barbarity, which I have heard fo long exclaimed 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 and fome others, whom, I have cause to fear, no fair means will prevail upon.

me—in

Those eyes, that care not how much mischief is done, or how great flaughter committed, fo they have but a fine show; thofe very female eyes, will be infinitely delighted with the camp which is fpeedily

VOL. VII.

N

to

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 undeformed by battles, thofe fcenes which England has for many years only beheld on ftages, may poffibly invite your curiofity to this place.

By our latest account from Duke-street, Westminster, the converfion of T. G. Efq. is reported in a manner fomewhat more particular. That upon the feizure of his Flanders mares, he feemed more than ordinarily disturbed for fome hours, fent for his ghoftly father, and refolved to bear his lofs like a Christian; 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 inftantly went out, took the oath of abjuration, and recovered his dear horfes, which carried him in triumph to the ring. The poor diftreffed Roman Catholics, now unhorfed and uncharioted, cry out with the Pfalmift, Some in Chariots and fome on Horfes, but we will invocate the name of the Lord.

I am, etc.

THE

LETTER XII.

HE weather is too fine for any one that 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 fhew me, except yourself. I despise every fine thing in town, not excepting your new gown, till I see you dreffed 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 fhadow: 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 moft eafy preparation and gentleft tranfition to an enjoyment of those of heaven: as on the contrary, a true townlife of hurry, confusion, noise, flander, and diffention, is a fort of apprenticeship to hell and its furies. I am endeavouring to put my mind into as quiet a fituation as I can, to be ready to receive that ftroke which, I believe, is coming upon me, and have fully refigned 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 ftate he pleases it fhall be, that state must