fhould 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 fuch a spectacle 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 preserved; that I may not be hurt, after my death, by that which was the happinefs of my life, their partiality and affection

to me.

I have nothing of myself to tell you, only that I have had but indifferent health. I have not made a visit 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 those 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 have your candour, or are fo willing to think well of another from whom they receive no benefit, and gratify no vanity. But of all the foft fenVOL. VIII.

P

fations,

sations, the greatest pleasure is to give and re→ ceive 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 taste, amidst the Infipid, the Difagreeable, the Cloying, or the Dead-sweet, 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 some cases is worse than dulnefs. Therefore indeed for many years I have. not chofen my companions for any of the qualities in fashion, but almost intirely 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 poffefling the best of qualities is the esteeming and distinguishing those who poffefs it. I truly love and value you, and fo I stop short.

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

and poffibly fome rational, in Ladies; to the better enjoyment of your own at Bevis-Mount. I hope, and believe, all you have feen will only contribute to it. I am not fo fond of making compliments to Ladies as I was twenty years ago, or I would fay there are fome very reasonable, and one in particular there. I 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 laft of these glorious appellations to the style 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 most 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

1

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 histories are only full of the feasts given to the Queen and Royal Family by their fervants, and the long and laborious walks her majesty takes every morning. Yet if the graver Historians 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 absent, I've not been to wait on a certain great man, thro' modefty, thro' idlenefs, and thro' respect. But for my comfort 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.

LETTER

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 see what I had seen, and what I was fure to like.

I had the idea of thofe gardens fo fix'd in my imagination by many descriptions, 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 use this expreffion: I confefs the stately Sacharissa at Stow, but am content with my little Amoret.

I thought you indeed more knowing upon the subject, and wonder at your mistake: why will you imagine women infenfible to Praife, much less 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 miftake, which hinder'd me showing your letter to

a The Countess of Peterborow, a Roman-catholic.