out of the Bible; which is an objection that at this time of day, I know, is not to be got over. I am, &c. LETTER XIX. July 27. I Have been as conftantly at Twitenham as your Lordship has at Bromley, ever fince you faw Lord Bathurst. At the time of the Duke of Marlborough's funeral, I intend to lie at the Deanry, and moralize one evening with you on the vanity of human Glory. The Duchefs's * letter concerns me nearly, and you know it, who know all my thoughts without disguise: I must keep clear of Flattery; I will: and as this is an honeft refolution, I dare hope, your Lordship will not be fo unconcern'd for my keeping it, as not to affist me in fo doing. I beg therefore you would represent thus much at leaft to her Grace, that as to the fear fhe feems touch'd with, [That the Duke's memory fhould have no advantage but what he must give himself, without being beholden to any one friend] your Lordship may certainly, and agreeably to your character, both of rigid honour and Chriftian plainnefs, tell her, that no man can have any other advantage: and that all offerings of friends in such a case pass for nothing. Be but fo good as to confirm what I've reprefented to her, that an infcription in the antient way, plain, pompous, yet modeft, will be the most uncommon, and therefore the most diftinguishing manner of doing it. And fo, I hope, The Duchefs of Buckingham. fhe fhe will be fatisfied, the Duke's honour be preferv'd, and my integrity alfo: which is too facred a thing to be forfeited, in confideration of any little (or what people of quality may call great) Honour or diftinction whatever, which those of their rank can bestow on one of mine; and which indeed they are apt to over-rate, but never fo much, as when they imagine us under any obligation to say one untrue word in their favour. I can only thank you, my Lord, for the kind tranfition you make from common business, to that which is the only real bufinefs of every reasonable creature. Indeed I think more of it than you imagine, tho' not fo much as I ought. I am pleas'd with thofe Latin verfes extremely, which are fo very good that I thought them yours, 'till you call'd them an Horatian Cento, and then I recollected the disjecta membra poeta. I won't pretend I am fo totally in those fentiments which you compliment me with, as I yet hope to be: You tell me I have them, as the civillest method to put me in mind how much it fits me to have them. I ought, firft, to prepare my mind by a better knowledge even of good prophane writers, efpecially the Moralifts, &c. before I can be worthy of tafting that fupreme of books, and fublime of all writings. In which, as in all the intermediate ones, you may (if your friendship and charity toward me continue fo far) be the beft guide to Your, &c. LET I LETTER XX. From the Bishop of ROCHESTER. Have written to the Duchefs July 30, 1722. juft as you defir'd, and referred her to our meeting in town for a further account of it. I have done it the rather because your opinion in the cafe is fincerely mine and if it had not been fo, you yourself should not have induced me to give it. Whether, and how far fhe will acquiefce in it, I cannot say: especially in a cafe where the thinks the Duke's honour concern'd; but should fhe feem to persist a little at prefent, her good fenfe (which I depend upon) will afterwards fatisfy her that we are in the right. I go to morrow to the Deanry, and, I believe, I fhall ftay there, till I have faid Duft to duft, and fhut up that + laft fcene of pompous vanity. 'Tis a great while for me to ftay there at this time of year; and I know I fhall often fay to myself, while I am expecting the funeral, O Rus, quando ego te afpiciam! quandoque licebit In that case I shall fancy I hear the ghoft of the dead, thus intreating me, At tu facrata ne parce malignus arena Particulam dare *Duchefs of Buckingham. This was the Funeral of the Duke of Marlborough, at which the Bishop officiated as Dean of Westminster, in Aug. 1722. P. Quan Quanquam feftinas, non eft mora longa; licebit, Injecto ter pulvere, curras. There is an answer for me fomewhere in Hamlet to this requeft, which you remember, tho' I don't. Poar Ghoft! thou shalt be fatisfied!—or fomething like it. However that be, take care you do not fail in your appointment, that the company of the living may make me fome amends for my attendance on the dead. I know you will be glad to hear that I am well: I fhould always, could i always be hereSed me Imperiofa trahit Proferpina: vive, valeque. You are the first man I fent to this morning, and the laft man I defire to converfe with this evening, tho' at twenty miles distance from you. Te, veniente die, Te, decedente, requirq. I LETTER XXI. From the Bishop of ROCHESTER. DEAR SIR, The Tower, April 10, 1723. Thank you for all the inftances of your friendfhip, both before, and fince my misfortunes. A little time will complete them, and feparate you and me for ever. But in what part of the world foever I am, I will live mindful of your fincere kindness to me; and will pleafe myfelf with the thought, that I ftill live in your efteem and affection, as much as ever I did; and that no accidents of life, no diftance of time, or place, will alter you in that refpect. It never can me; who have lov'd and valued you, ever fince I knew you, and fhall fhall not fail to do it when I am not allowed to Some nat❜ral Tears he dropt, but wip'd them foon: LET |