LETTER XXXII.

To the fame.

June 17, 1728.

Fter the publifhing my Boyifh Letters to Mr.

A Cromwell, you will not wonder if I should

forfwear writing a letter again while I live; fince I do not correspond with a friend upon the terms of any other free fubject of this kingdom. But to you I can never be filent, or referved; and, I am fure, my opinion of your heart is fuch, that I could open mine to you in no manner which I could fear the whole world should know. I could publish my own heart too, I will venture to fay, for any mischief or malice there is in it: but a little too much folly or weakness might (I fear) appear, to make such a fpectacle either inftructive or agreeable to others.

I am reduced to beg of all my acquaintance to fecure me from the like ufage for the future, by returning me any letters of mine which they may have preferved; that I may not be hurt, after my death, by that which was the happiness of my life, their partiality and affection to me.

I have nothing of myfelf to tell you, only that I have had but indifferent health. I have not made a vifit to London: Curiofity and the love of Diffipation die apace in me. I am not glad nor forry for it, but I am very forry for thofe who have nothing elfe to live on.

I have read much, but writ no more. I have fmall hopes of doing good, no vanity in writing, and little ambition to please a world not very candid or deferving. If I can preferve the good opinion of a few friends, it is all I can expect, confidering how little good I can do even to them to merit it. Few

people

people have your candour, or are so willing to think well of another from whom they receive no benefit, and gratify no vanity. But of all the foft fenfations, the greatest pleasure is to give and receive mutual Truft. It is by Belief and firm Hope, that men are made happy in this life, as well as in the other. My confidence in your good opinion, and dependance upon that of one or two more, is the chief cordial drop I tafte, amidst the Infipid, the Disagreeable, the Cloying, or the Dead-fweet, which are the common draughts of life. Some pleasures are too pert, as well as others too flat, to be relish'd long and vivacity in fome cafes is worse than dulnefs. Therefore indeed for many years I have not chofen my companions for any of the qualities in fashion, but almoft entirely for that which is the moft out-of-fashion, fincerity. Before I am aware of it, I am making your panegyric, and perhaps my own too, for next to poffeffing the beft qualities is the esteeming and diftinguishing those who poffefs them. I truly love and value you, and fo I ftop fhort.

I

LETTER XXXIII.

To the Earl of PETERBOROW,

MY LORD,

Aug. 24, 1728,

Prefume you may before this time be returned, from the contemplation of many Beauties, animal and vegetable, in Gardens; and poffibly fome rational, in Ladies; to the better enjoyment of your own at Bevis-Mount. I hope, and believe, all you have seen will only contribute to it. I am not so fond of making compliments to Ladies as I was twenty years ago, or I would fay there are some very reasonable, and one in particular there.

think you happy, my Lord, in being at least half the year almost as much your own mafter as I am mine the whole year: and with all the difadvantageous incumbrances of quality, parts, and honour, as meer a gardener, loiterer, and labourer, as he who never had Titles, or from whom they are taken. I have an eye in the last of these glorious appellations to the ftyle of a Lord degraded or attainted: methinks they give him a better title than they deprive him of, in calling him Labourer: Agricultura, fays Tully, proxima Sapientia, which is more than can be faid, by moft modern Nobility, of Grace or Right Honourable, which are often proxima Stultitia. The Great Turk, you know, is often a Gardener, or of a meaner trade: and are there not (my Lord) fome circumstances in which you would refemble the Great Turk? The two Paradifes are not ill connected, of Gardens and Gallantry; and fome there are (not to name my Lord B.) who pretend they are both to be had, even in this life, without turning Muffelmen.

We have as little politics here within a few miles of the Court (nay perhaps at the Court) as you at Southampton; and our Minifters, I dare fay, have lefs to do. Our weekly hiftories are only full of the feafts given to the Queen and Royal Family by their fervants, and the long and laborious walks her Majefty takes every morning. Yet if the graver Hiftorians hereafter fhall be filent of this year's events, the amorous and anecdotical may make pofterity fome amends, by being furnished with the gallantries of the Great at home; and 'tis fome comfort, that if the Men of the next age do not read of us, the Women may.

From the time you have been abfent, I've not been to wait on a certain great man, thro' modefty, thro' idleness, and thro' refpect. But for my com

fort

fort I fancy, that any great man will as foon forget one that does him no harm, as he can one that has done him any good. Believe me, my Lord, yours.

I

LETTER XXXIV.

From the Earl of PETERBOROW.

Muft confefs that in going to Lord Cobham's, I was not led by curiofity. I went thither to fee what I had feen, and what I was fure to like.

I had the idea of those gardens fo fix'd in my imagination by many defcriptions, that nothing furprized me; Immenfity and Van Brugh appear in the whole, and in every part. Your joining in your letter animal and vegetable beauty, makes me ufe this expreffion: I confefs the stately Sacharifla at Stow, but am content with my little Amoret.

I thought you indeed more knowing upon the fubject, and wonder at your mistake: why will you imagine women infenfible to Praise, much lefs to yours? I have feen them more than once turn from their Lover to their Flatterer. I am fure the Farmerefs at Bevis in her highest mortifications, in the middle of her Lent*, would feel emotions of vanity, if she knew you gave her the character of a reasonable woman.

You have been guilty again of another mistake, which hinder'd me fhowing your letter to a friend; when you join two ladies in the fame compliment, tho' you gave to both the beauty of Venus and the wit of Minerva, you would pleafe neither.

If you had put me into the Dunciad, I could not have been more difpofed to criticise your letter.

* The Countess of Peterborow, a Roman-catholic.

What,

What, Sir, do you bring it in as a reproach, or as a thing uncommon to a Court, to be without Politics? With politics indeed the Richlieu's and fuch folks have brought about great things in former days; but what are they, Sir, who, without policy, in our times, can make ten Treaties in a year, and fecure everlafting peace?

I can no longer difagree with you, tho' in jeft. Oh how heartily I join with you in your contempt for Excellency and Grace, and in your Efteem of that most noble title, Loiterer. If I were a man of many plums, and a good heathen, I would dedicate a Temple to Lazinefs: No man fure could blame my choice of fuch a Deity, who confiders, that, when I have been fool enough to take pains, I always met with some wise man able to undo my labours.

Yours, &c.

LETTER XXXV.

Y you did me the honour to answer my laft.

OU were in a very polemic humour when

I

always understood, like a true controvertist, that to answer is only to cavil and quarrel: however, I forgive you; you did it (as all Polemics do) to fhew your parts. Elfe was it not very vexatious, to deny me to commend two women at a time? It is true, my Lord, you know women as well as men but fince you' certainly love them better, why are you fo uncharitable in your opinion of them? Surely one Lady may allow another to have the thing the herfelf leaft values, Reafon, whenBeauty is uncontefted. Venus herself could allow Minerva to be Goddefs of Wit, when Paris gave her the apple (as the fool herself thought) on a better

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