thought that if the thing had been written by another, I fhould have deemed the town in fome measure miftaken; and as to your apprehenfion that this may do us future injury, do not think of it; the Doctor has a more valuable name than can be hurt by any thing of this nature, and yours is doubly fafe. I will, if any fhame there be, take it all to myself, and indeed I ought, the motion being first mine, and never heartily approved by you.

I

LETTER LIII.

WILL not defcribe Blenheim in particular, not to foreftal your expectations before you fee it only take a fhort account, which, I will hazard my little credit, is no unjust one. I never faw fo great a thing with fo much littlenefs in it: I think the architect built it entirely in complaifance to the taste of its owners; for it is the most inhofpitable thing imaginable, and the most selfish: it has, like their own hearts, no room for strangers, and no reception for any perfon of fuperior quality to themselves. There are but just two apartments, for the mafter and miftrefs, below; and but two apartments above, (very much inferior to them) in the whole house. When you look upon the outside, you'd think it large enough for a prince; when you fee the infide, it is too little

for

1

for a fubject; and has not conveniency to lodge a common family. It is a houfe of entries and paffages; among which there are three vifta's through the whole, very uselessly handsome. There is what might have been a fine gallery, but spoiled by two arches towards the end of it, which take away the fight of several of the windows. There are two ordinary ftair-cafes instead of one great one. The best things within the house are the hall, which is indeed noble and well proportioned; and the cellars and offices underground, which are the most commodious, and the best contrived of the whole. At the top of the building are feveral cupola's and little turrets, that have but an ill effect, and make the building look at once finical and heavy. What feems of the best taste, is that front towards the gardens, which is not yet loaded with these turrets. The two fides of the building are entirely spoiled by two monftrous bow-windows, which stand just in the middle, instead of doors: and, as if it were fatal, that fome trifling littleness should every where destroy the grandeur, there are in the chief front two femi-circles of a lower ftructure than the reft, that cut off the angles, and look as if they were purposely designed to hide a loftier and nobler piece of building, the top of which appears above them. In a word, the whole is a most expensive abfurdity; and the Duke of Shrewsbury gave a true character of it, when he faid, it was a great quarry of stones above ground.

We

We paid a vifit to the Spring where Rofamond bathed herself; on a hill, where remains only a piece of a wall of the old palace of Henry II. We toasted her fhade in the cold water, not without a thought or two, scarce fo cold as the liquor we drank it in. I dare not tell you what they were, and so hasten to conclude,

Your, etc.

LETTER LIV.

MR. POPE TO LORD OXFORD.

My Lord,

September 22, 1732.

IT

T was a grief to me not to be able to snatch one day more to be happy with you, before you left the town; and it added to the vexation, when I found myself, within a week after, obliged to do that for business which I could not for pleasure, for I was kept four days there, multa gemens. I am extremely sensible, my Lord, of the many great distinctions you have shewn me, the original of all which I attributed to your piety to your father, for whom my respect was too fincere to be exprest in poetry: and if, from the continuance of your good opinion I may derive fome imagination that you thought me not a worse man than a poet, it is a greater obligation to me perfonally,

than

than even the other. I hope my having taken an opportunity, the only way my poor abilities can, of telling all men I no less esteem and love the fon, will not be ungrateful to you, or quite difpleafing. If any objection to the manner of it occur to your Lordship, I depend on you, both as a friend and a judge, to tell me fo. Otherwise I will interpret your filence as a confent to let me acquaint every body that I am, (what I truly feel myself) my Lord, your ever affectionate and obliged humble fervant.

My Lady and Lady Margaret don't know how much I am theirs, unless your Lordship will tell them you believe it of me; and my poor old woman heartily (though feebly) expreffes her fervice to you all.

LETTER LV.

TO THE SAME.

My Lord,

October 20, 1733.

I

AM returned a week fince from my Lord Peterborow, with whom I paft three weeks as agreeably and as healthfully as I ever did in my life. I was not a little disappointed to find your Lordship in London, though, confidering the fine weather, and how late in the fea

fon you enjoyed it, I ought not to lament an abfence which must both give you health and pleasure. Your house I found totally at my fervice, and took up my choice (like a young and ambitious man) in no room of it but Lady Margaret's. How much might I fay upon that fubject, were I a poet! but the misfortune of being what feldom confifts with that character, a bafhful and backward man, keeps me filent. I fhall be little in town (if at all) till your return, and, in truth, fince I came home, I have had my health fo ill, that I must in a manner live by myself; and think I muft either lead fuch a life as I did at Southampton, which is inconfiftent with a town life, or lock myself up from all converfible hours while I am in town. I beg to hear a line of your fatisfactions and amufements, for of your state of health I am daily informed by your honeft porter: but the other he knows not, and I am not quite contented without it. That all enjoyments may be yours, and all good things attend your whole worthy family, is the fincere prayer always of, my Lord, your faithfullest servant.