just been eating a boiled chicken with him, and talking about Homer and Madam Rolland; and am now retiring with Mrs Mary to my bed-chamber, whom I fhall difmifs with her warming-pan in a moment. If you do not permit me to pour out the prefent fet of ideas upon all this paper, I am inconfolable; for I have no book, and was too abfent till now to think I fhould want one. How fudden, and how capricious, are the tranfitions of this mortal ftage! Pleasure and pain are parted but by a fingle moment. Windfor, Fern-hill, Brook-ftreet, and your grey gown, are no more; nor with Mr Locke's affociations can I affociate a fingle idea of the paft with the prefent. Even Lady is defunct. And yet the might-But she is no more; et de mortuis nil nifi bonum. While virtue fhines, or finks beneath This effort of poetry, and that fcrap of Latin, which I don't understand, has fo exhausted all my forces, that I find myself gradually finking into the arms of fleep, and must now refign to the gentle power of dreams. Farewell-and when, like me, oppreft with care, An add new fpirit, when we fpeak of Rome. } JUVENAL. LETTER XLV To Mifs L on the expreffions and compliments commonly made ufe of in letters. THE HE money and books came found as a roach. Safe is fo common an expreffion, that I am tired of tell ing people for ever things come fafe. We geniuses are forced to vary our expreffions, and invent new terms, as well to fhew our furprifing compafs of thought, as our great command of language. This fometimes appears ftiff and affected to the common clafs of readers, or hearers, who are apt to be out of their element upon hearing any new or unufal founds ; but our nicer ears cannot always bear the fame cadences. There's fomething peculiar in the make and structure of the auditory nerve, that requires diverfification and variety, as well as fome skill in the anatomy of language, to make an impreffion on it, without wounding it. It is for this reason, when I ask a favour, (a thing I feldom chufe to do,) I always felect the most delicate phrafes I am miftrefs of; but in regard to forms, which most people are fick of, and yet furfeit their friends with, these I vary according as my own humour or inclination preponderates. Of confequence, when I come towards the end, or peroration of a letter, I fometimes communicate my compliments-fometimes defire they may be made known -or, where there is a large family, and of confequence a number of civilities to be paid, the laconic ftyle ofMy deferences, as ufual, has fometimes fucceeded beyond my expectation. I am fick of saying for ever, I beg my compliments to fuch a one. But as I propose foon to give your ladyship a particular differtation upon ftyle, and as I have many flowers of rhetoric yet inex hausted, I shall wind up the words above mentioned into the form of a letter, and communicate all the things I have to fay in the poftfcript. HE firft letter from an abfent friend is furely the Toft agreeable thing to mufe over in nature. Yours from Hatfield revived in me thofe pleafing remembrances which not only enliven, but expand the heart; that very heart, which, but the moment before, felt itself mightily fhrunk and contracted at the thoughts of your departure. Lady H. Beauclerk partook of the pleasure. The moment the faw your hand, he cried Half!-and read it most complacently over my shoulder. It is to no purpose to tell you how much you were miffed by every body that staid in town; how often I caft my eyes up at your dreffing-room windows, or how many people I have run over in contemplating your dining-room fhutters. All I have to beg of you is, to write to me very often, to be mindful of your health, and to order John, when I go to town again, to tie up the knocker. I could tell you many ftories of the fenfible things; but of all the infenfible ones upon this occafion, your lamp provoked me the most. To fee that creature, when I have gone by in the evening, burn fo prettily, and with fo much alacrity, has put me out of all patience. To what purpofe fhould he light us into your houfe now? or who would be obliged to him for his pal try rays? I took a contemplative turn or two in your dreffing-room once or twice; but it was fo like walking over your grave, that I could not bear to ftay.Lady H. departed two days after you; and in fhort, I lived to fee almost every body I loved go before me. So laft Saturday I made my own exit, with equal decency and dignity; that is, with a thorough refignation of the world I left, and an earnest defire after that I am now enjoying with Lady Bowyer and Mifs Peggy Stonehouse. I fhall begin verging towards my laft home, after having juft touched upon the confines of Lady H. B.'s world, there to fubfide and be at peace, where I fhall have nothing farther to hope for, but to meet with a letter from you. I have implored St. Swithen in your behalf; but he either not hears me, or, to pay you a greater compliment, weeps plentifully for your abfence. I fear you have had a terrible journey; for fcarce a day has paffed that he has not fhed many tears. LET. LETTER XLVII. From a tradefman to a correfpondent, requesting the pay ment of a fum of money. SIR, A VERY unexpected demand that has been made on me for money, which I was in hopes of keeping longer in my trade, obliges me to apply for your affiftance of the balance of the account between us, or as much of it as you can fpare. When I have an opportunity to inform you of the nature of this demand, and the neceffity of my discharging it, you will readily excufe the freedom I now take with you; and, as it is an affair of fuch confequence to my family, I know the friendship › you bear me will induce you to ferve me effectually. I am, Sir, Your most obedient fervant, TIMOTHY JONES. SIR, LETTER XLVIII. The answer. T gives me fingular fatisfaction that I have it in my power to answer your demand, and am able to ferve a man I fo much esteem. The balance of the account is two hundred pounds; for half of which I have procured a bank-note, and for fecurity divided it, and fent one. half by the carrier, as you defired, and have here inclofed the other. I wish you may furmount this and every other difficulty that lies in the road to happiness; and am, Sir, Yours, fincerely. LETTER XLIX. To a lady, inviting her into the country for the fummer. I My dear Harriot, Do not know whether I flatter myself with an opinion of your speaking to me the other day with an uncommon air of friendship, or whether I am fo happy as to hold that place, of which I fhould be fo ambitious, in your esteem. I thought you spoke with concern at our parting for the fummer, on our family's retiring into the country. For heaven's fake, my dear, what can you do all the dull feafon in London ?-Vauxhall is not for more than twice; and I think Ranelagh one would not fee above half a dozen times in the year. What is it, then, you find to entertain you in an empty town for four or five months together? I would fain perfuade you not to be in love with fo difagreeable a place, and I have an intereft in it; for I am a petitioner to you to stay this fummer with us, at leaft I beg you will try. We go, my dear, on Monday: Will you go with us? for there is a place in the coach; or will you come when we are settled? I am greatly of opinion that it will pleafe you. I am fure I need not tell you we fhall do all we can to render it agreeable, or that you will make us very happy in complying with the invitation. You have not feen our houfe; but it is a very pleasant one. There are fine profpects from the park, and a river runs through the garden; nor are we quite out of the way of entertainment. You know there is a great deal of company about the place; and we have an affembly within a mile of us. What shall I fay elfe to tempt you to come? Why, I will tell you, that you will make us all the happiest people in the world; and that when you are tired, you fhall not be teazed to stay. Dear Harriot, think of it; you will confer an obligation on her, who is, with the trueft respect, Your affectionate friend. LET |