Prologue is a great disappointment to me, but I should much rather chufe my Play should want that advantage, than put you to any trouble at prefent which may be prejudicial; being with a true respect,

Dear Sir,

LETTER LXXXVIII.

FROM MR. CRAGGS.

Your, etc.

Cockpit, October 1, 1719.

I

WAS yesterday out of town, and came directly here this morning, where I received your letter, enclosed in a very fine one from Sir Godfrey Kneller. You'll eafily imagine how much I am concerned at the accident which has befallen him; but I comfort myself, fince his hand and head, which I could least have spared, remain in their former vigour and condition. I don't see why this misfortune is to be completed by the loss of Dr. Arbuthnot's and your good company, which you'll give me leave to expect tomorrow at Batterfea, when we will drink Sir Godfrey's health, and make a new appointment against his recovery.

I am entirely, dear Sir,

Yours.

LETTER LXXXIX.

FRAGMENT OF A LETTER FROM MR. EVANS.

Dear Sir,

St. John's, Oxon, May 13, 1719.

>TIs not that I forget you or disrespect you, but knowing you to be a man of true bufinefs I thought it too impertinent to trouble you with any of mine; but now I understand you are at leisure, havė at you as far as this half fheet will hold. In the first place I am very well fatisfied you have done for me what you are able, and I heartily thank you, and beg your pardon, and very much blush for having given you any trouble of this kind with a fort of men you know as much what to make of as I. I don't know how they are in your church, but in ours, to tell you the truth, all the clergymen I ever yet saw are a fort of ecclefiaftical quelques chofes, that between common honesty and common fense I know not what to make of. They preach indeed paffive obedience, but their practice is active infolence and impudent injustice; and when the laity use them as they use one another, there will be an end of 'em-Cætera defunt.

Dear Sir,

LETTER XC..

FROM THE SAME.

St. John's, Oxon, July 26, 1719.

I

SHOULD much fooner have sent you my acknowledgment and thanks for the very kind reception I met with from you at your pleasant houfe at Twickenham, but in troth it has been so very hot, that I could neither write, read, or think, but only lie still, fwim, or fleep; and am still so monftrously lazy, that you must expect but a dry short letter from me; no gallantry or gaity, but only a little downright good breeding and civility. I hope this will find your good mother fettled in her health, and also yourself, as much as her age and your constitution will permit. If wishes had any power in medicine, I could foon make you both immortal; for fhe very well deferves it for furnishing the world with you; and you have yourself made your name immortal enough. I wish only that your body might come in for a small share of that noble bleffing, if it were only for nine hundred and ninety-nine years. I wish the same to your good friend the Duchefs; that fhe might live to teach people of quality all the good qualities in the world. I write as I talk, and I speak as I think; and am, with great fincerity,

Your, etc.

SIR,

LETTER XCI.

FROM MR. CONGREVE.

Ashley, Monday.

I

HAD defigned to have waited on you to-day, but have been out of order fince Saturday, as I have been most of the fummer; and as the days are now, unless I am able to rise in a morning, it will be hard to go and come, and have any pleasure between the whiles. The next day after I had known from you where Lady Mary was, I fent to know how fhe did; but by her answer I perceive fhe has the goodness for me to believe I have been all this fummer here, though I had been here but a fortnight, when you came to fee me. Pray give her my most humble fervice. If I can, I will wait on you. I am,

Your, etc.

LETTER XCII.

FROM THE SAME.

Surry-Street, Jan. 29.

letter

I

your

RETURN you a thousand thanks for about Spaw-water. Dr. Arbuthnot has ordered

me at present to drink falt-water, fo I cannot ex

prefsly

pressly say when I fhall want the Spaw; but if the perfon mentioned by you, imports any quantity for himself at any time, I shall be glad to know of it. I am forry you did not keep your word in letting me fee you a fecond time. I am always, dear Sir,

LETTER XCIII.

FROM DR. YOUNG.

Your, etc.

Dear Sir,

HAVING

May 2.

you

AVING been often from home I know not if have done me the favour of calling on me, but be that as it will, I much want that inftance of your friendship I mentioned in my last, a friendship I am very fenfible I can receive from no one but yourself. I fhould not urge this thing fo much, but for very particular reasons; nor can you be at a lofs to conceive how a trifle of this nature may be of serious moment to me; and while I am in hopes of the great advantage of your advice about it, I fhall not be fo abfurd as to take any farther step without it. I know you are much engaged, and only hope to hear from you at your entire leisure.

I am, etc.