1 TO LETTER LXXVI. O answer your question as to Mr. Hughes, what he wanted as to genius he made up as an honest man: but he was of the class you think him. I am glad you think of Dr. Rundle as I do. He will be an honour to the Bishops and a disgrace to one Bishop, two things you will like: But what you will like more particularly, he will be a friend and benefactor even to your un-friended, un-benefited Nation; he will be a friend to human race, wherever he goes. Pray tell him my best wishes for his health and long life: I wish you and he came over together, or that I were with you. I never faw a man so seldom whom I liked so much as Dr. Rundle. Lord Peterborow I went to take a last leave of, at his fetting fail for Lifbon: No Body can be more wasted, no Soul can be more alive. Immediately after the severest operation of being cut into the bladder for a fuppreffion of urine, he took coach, and got from Bristol to Southampton. This is a man that will neither live nor die like any other mortal. Poor Lord Peterborow; there is another string loft, that wou'd have help'd to draw you hither! He order'd on his death-bed his Watch to be given me (that which had accompanied him in all his travels) with this reason, "That I might have something to put me eve ry day in mind of him." It was a present to him from the King of Sicily, whose arms and Infignia are graved on the inner-cafe; on the outer, I have put this inscription. Victor Amadeus, Rex Sicilia, Dux Sabaudiæ, &c. &c. Carolo Mordaunt, Comiti de Peterborow, D. D. Car. Mor. Com. de Pet. Alexandro Pope moriens legavit, 1735. Pray write to me a little oftner: and if there be a thing left in the world that pleases you, tell it one who will partake of it. I hear with approbation and pleasure, that your present care is to relieve the most helpless of this world, those objects which most want our compafsion, tho' generally made the scorn of their fellow-creatures, fuch as are less innocent than they. You always think generously; and of all charities, this is the most disinterested, and least vain-glorious, done to such as never will thank you, or can praise you for it. God bless you with ease, if not with pleafure; with a rolerable state of health, if not with its full enjoyment; with a resign'd temper • Idiots. of of mind, if not a very chearful one. It is upon these terms I live myself, tho' younger than you, and I repine not at my lot, could but the prefence of a few that I love be added to these. Adieu. I LETTER LXXVII. From Dr. SWIFT. Oct. 21, 1735. Answer'd your letter relating to Curll, &c. I believe my letters have escap'd being publish'd, because I writ nothing but Nature and Friendship, and particular incidents which could make no figure in writing. I have obferv'd that not only Voiture, but likewise Tully and Pliny writ their letters for the public view, more than for the fake of their correfpondents; and I am glad of it, on account of the Entertainment they have given me. Balfac did the same thing, but with more stiffness, and confequently less diverting; Now I must tell you, that you are to look upon me as one going very fast out of the world; but my flesh and bones are to be carried to Holy-head, for I will not lie in a Country of flaves. It pleaseth me to find that you begin to dislike things in spite of VOL. IX. T your E your Philofophy; your Muse cannot forbear her hints to that purpose. I cannot travel to fee you; otherwise, I folemnly protest I would do it. I have an intention to pass this winter in the country with a Friend forty miles off, and to ride only ten miles a day; yet is my health so uncertain that I fear it will not be in my power. I often ride a dozen miles, but I come to my own bed at night: My best way would be to marry, for in that cafe any bed would be better than my own. I found you a very young man, and I left you a middleaged one; you knew me a middle-aged man, and now I am an old one. Where is my Lord---? methinks, I am enquiring after a Tulip of laft year.---" You need not apprehend any Curll's meddling with your letters to me; I will not destroy them, but have or"der'd my Executors to do that office." I have a thousand things more to say, longævitas eft garrula, but I must remember I have other. letters to write if I have time, which I spend to tell you fo; I am ever, dearest Sir, Your, &c. LETTER 1 LETTER LXXVIII. From Dr. SWIFT. Feb. 9, 1735-6. 1 Cannot properly call you my best friend, because I have not another left who deferves the name, such a havock have Time, Death, Exile, and Oblivion made. Perhaps you would have fewer complaints of my ill health and lowness of spirits, if they were not fome excuse for my delay of writing even to you. It is perfectly right what you say of the indifference in common friends, whether we are fick or well, happy or miferable. The very maidservants in a family have the same notion: I have heard them often say, Oh, I am very fick, if any body car'd for it! I am vexed when my visitors come with the compliment usual here, Mr. Dean, I hope you are very well. My popularity that you mention, is wholly confined to the common people, who are more constant than those we mif-call their betters. I walk the streets, and so do my lower friends, from whom and from whom alone, I have a thousand hats and blessings upon old scores, which those we call the Gentry have forgot. But I have not the love, or hardly the civility, |