You might have been sure, without my telling you, that my right hand is at ease, else I should not have overflowed at this rate: and yet I have not done; for there is a kind intimation in the end of yours, which I understood, because it seems to tend towards employing me in something that is agreeable to you. Pray explain yourself, and believe that you have not an acquaintance in the world that would be more in earnest on such an occasion than I; for I love you, as well as esteem you. All the while I have been writing, pain, and a fine thrush, have been severally endeavouring to call off my attention; but both in vain, nor should I yet part with you, only that the turning over a new leaf frights me a little, and makes me resolve to break through a new temptation, before it has taken too fast hold of me. I am, &c. ATTERBURY. John Dryden to the Right Hon. Charles Montague. October, 1699. SIR, THESE verses* had waited on you with the former, but that they wanted that correction which I have given them, that they may the better endure the sight of so great a judge and poet. I am now in fear that I have purged them out of their spirit; as our master Busby used to whip a boy so long, till he made him a confirmed blockhead. My cousin Dryden saw them in the country; and the greatest exception he made to them was, a satire *The Epistle to his cousin, John Dryden, Esq. of Chesterton. against the Dutch valour in the last war. He desired me to omit (to use his own words) "out of the respect he had to his sovereign." I obeyed his commands, and left only the praises, which I think are due to the gallantry of my own countrymen. In the description which I have made of a parliament man, I think I have not only drawn the fea tures of my worthy kinsman, but have also given my opinion of what an Englishman in parliament ought to be; and deliver it as a memorial of my own principles to all posterity. I have consulted the judgment of my unbiassed friends, who have some of them the honour to be known to you; and they think there is nothing which can justly give offence in that part of the poem. say not this to cast a blind on your judgment, (which I could not do, if I endeavoured it,) but to assure you, that nothing relating to the public shall stand without your permission: for it were to want common sense to desire your patronage, and resolve to disoblige you and as I will not hazard my hopes of your protection, by refusing to obey you in any. thing I can perform with my conscience and my honour, so I am very confident you will never impose any other terms on me.-My thoughts at present are fixed on Homer; and by my translation of the first Iliad, I find him a poet more according to my genius than Virgil, and consequently hope I may do him more justice, in his fiery way of writing; which, as it is liable to more faults, so it is capable of more beauties than the exactness and sobriety of Virgil. Since 't is for my country's honour as well as for my own, that I undertake this task, I despair not of being encouraged in it by your favour, who am, sir, your most obedient servant, JOHN DRYDEN. SIR, William Congreve to Mr. Porter August 21. I AM forced to borrow lady's paper, but I think it will contain all that I can well tell you from this place, which is so much out of the world, that nothing but the last great news could have reached it. I have a little tried what solitude and retirement can afford, which are here in perfection. I am now writing to you from before a black moun. tain nodding over me, and a whole river in cascade falling so near me, that even I can distinctly see it. I can only tell you of the situation I am in; which would be better expressed by Mr. Grace, if he were here. I hope all our friends are well, both at Salisbury and Windsor, where I suppose you spent the last week. Pray, whenever you write to them, give them my humble service. I think to go the next week to Mansfield race alone. I am told I shall see all the country. If I see any of your acquaintance, I will do you right to them. I hope Mr. Longueville's picture has been well finished. I am, dear sir, Your most humble servant, Ilam, near Ashbourn, in Derbyshire, DEAR SIR, James Thomson to Mr. Lyttelton. London, July 14, 1743. I HAD the pleasure of yours some posts ago, and have delayed answering it hitherto, that I might be able to determine when I could have the happiness of waiting upon you. Hagley is the place in England I most desire to see; I imagine it to be greatly delightful in itself, and I know it to be so in the highest degree by the company it is animated with. Some reasons prevent my waiting upon you immediately; but if you will be so good as to let me know how long you design to stay in the country, nothing shall hinder me from passing three weeks or a month with you before you leave it. As this will fall in autumn, I shall like it the better; for I think that season of the year the most pleasing, and the most poetical; the spirits are not then dissipated with the gaiety of spring, and the glaring light of summer, but composed into a serious and tempered joy. The year is perfect. In the mean time I will go on with correcting the Seasons, and hope to carry down more than one of them with me. The Muses, whom you obligingly say I shall bring along with me, I shall find with you: the muses of the great simple country, not the little fine-lady muses of Richmond-hill. I have lived so long in the noise, or at least the distant din of the town, that I begin to forget what retirement is, with you I shall enjoy it in its highest elegance and purest simplicity. The mind will not only be soothed into peace, but enlivened into harmony. My compliments attend all at Hagley, and particularly her (Lady Lyttelton) who gives it charms to you it never had before. Believe me to be ever with the greatest respect, most affectionately yours, JAMES THOMSON. Miss Talbot to the Hon. Miss Campbell. Sept. 17, 1736. O MIRTH! Where is thy joy? O Pleasure! how far art thou removed from real happiness! "Tis after three hours' experience that I make this reflection. So long have I been laughing immoderately in the midst of a gay crowd; and the moment I quitted it, these sober thoughts came rushing upon my mind with so much violence, that I could not help sitting down to give you an account of them; especially as I knew it would suit your present philosophical state of mind, and might, perhaps, help to make my peace for all I said yesterday in the gaiety of my heart, and much against my conscience. Yes, indeed, my dear Miss Campbell, 't is now my turn to lever le masque; when I have done so, I must assure you that I do really believe there is more true and unmixed satisfaction in the company of a few friends, or a few well chosen books. These are what I must place next to friends, those silent and faithful friends, who brighten our most gloomy moments, and to whom we cannot even then be disagreeable. Then walks and woods, and quiet and early hours, quiet sleep, healthy looks, high spirits, cheerful mirth, (and that is a very uncommon thing, I assure you,) then a great deal of leisure for improvement, and a great deal of good |