me he had sent it a fortnight ago; Patrick could not find him the other day, but he shall to-morrow: dear life and heart, do you teaze me? does Stella teaze Presto? that palsy water was in the box: it was too big for a packet, and I was afraid of its breaking. Leigh was not in town then, or I would not have trusted it to Sterne, whom yet I have befriended enough to do me more kindness than that. I will never rest till you have it, or till it is in a way for you to have it. Poor dear rogue, naughty to think it teazes me how could I ever forgive myself for neglecting any thing that related to your health? sure I were a devil if I did. ******** * * * * * * * See how far I am forced to stand from Stella, because I am afraid she thinks poor Presto has not been careful about her little things; I am sure I bought them immediately according to order, and packed them with my own hands, and sent them to Sterne, and was six times. with him about sending them away. I am glad you are pleased with your glasses. I have got another velvet cap, a new one Lord Herbert bought and presented me one morning I was at breakfast with him, where he was as merry and easy as ever I saw him, yet had received a challenge half an hour before, and half an hour after fought a duel. It was about ten days ago. You are mistaken in your guesses about Tatlers: I did neither write that on Noses, nor Religion, † nor do I send him

*

up

* Tatler, No. 260. It is a lecture on the art by which learned Taliacotius from

The brawny party of Porter's bum

Cut supplemental noses

This was a subject in Swift's manner; but the paper was written by Addison and Steele jointly.

+ This seems to be the No. 257, where there is a personifica

of late any hints at all.-Indeed, Stella, when I read vour letter, I was not uneasy at all; but when I came to answer the particulars, and found that you had not received your box, it grated me to the heart, because I thought through your little words, that you imagined I had not taken the care I ought. But there has been some blunder in this matter, which I will know to-morrow, and write to Sterne, for fear he should not be within.-And pray, pray, Presto, pray now do.-No, Raymond was not above four times with me while he staid, and then only while I was dressing. Mrs Fenton has written me another letter about some money of hers in Lady Giffard's hands, that is intrusted to me by my mother, not to come to her husband. I send my letters constantly every fortnight, and if you will have them oftener you may, but then they will be the shorter. Pray, let Parvisol sell the horse. I think I spoke to you of it in a former letter: I am glad you are rid of him, and was in pain while I thought you rode him but if he would buy you another, or any body else, and that you could be often able to ride, why do not you do it?

2. I went this morning early to the Secretary of State, Mr St. John, and he told me from Mr Harley, that the warrant was now drawn, in order for a patent for the first-fruits: it must pass through several offices, and take up some time, because in things the queen gives, they are always considerate; but that he assures me it is granted and done, and past all dispute, and de

tion of the Church of England, with the various religions of Popery, Judaism, and Deism, on her right hand; Presbytery, Quakerism, and other fanatical sects, on her left. The paper has something of Swift's emblematical manner, but, like the former, was written by Addison and Steele.

sires I will not be in any pain at all. I will write again to the archbishop to-morrow, and tell him this, and I desire you will say it on occasion. it on occasion. From the secretary I went to Mr Sterne, who said he would write to you to-night, and that the box must be at Chester, and that some friend of his goes very soon, and will carry it over. I dined with Mr Secretary St John, and at six went to Darteneuf's house to drink punch with him, and Mr Addison, and little Harrison, a young poet, whose fortune I am making. Steele was to have been there, but came not, nor never did twice, since I knew him, to any appointment. I staid till past eleven, and am now in bed. Steele's last Tatler came out to-day. will see it before this comes to you, and how he takes leave of the world. * He never told so much as Mr Addison of it, who was surprised as much as I; but to say the truth, it was time, for he grew cruel dull and dry. To my knowledge he had several good hints to go upon; but he was so lazy and weary of the work, that he would not improve them. I think I will send this after t to-morrow: shall I before it is full, Dingley ?

You

3. Lord Peterborow yesterday called me into a barber's shop, and there we talked deep politics: he desired me to dine with him to-day at the Globe in the

* Steele's last Tatler, No. 271, is written in a bold and manly tone. On the subject of politics he only says, "What I find is the least excusable part of all this work is, that I have, in some places in it, touched upon matters which concern both church and state. All I shall say for this is, that the points I alluded to are such as concerned every Christian and freeholder in England; and I could not be cold enough to conceal my opinion on subjects which related to either of these characters."

After is interlined.

Strand; he said he would show me so clearly how to get Spain, that I could not possibly doubt it. I went to-day accordingly, and saw him among half a dozen lawyers and attornies and hang dogs, signing deeds and stuff before his journey; for he goes to-morrow to Vienna. I sat among that scurvy company till after four, but heard nothing of Spain; only I find, by what he told me before, that he fears he shall do no good in his present journey. We are to be mighty constant correspondents. So I took my leave of him, and called at Sir Andrew Fountaine's, who mends much. I came home, an't please you, at six, and have been studying till now past eleven.

4. Morning. Morrow, little dears. O, faith, I have been dreaming; I was to be put in prison, I do not know why, and I was so afraid of a black dungeon and then all I had been inquiring yesterday of Sir Andrew Fountaine's sickness I thought was of poor Stella. The worst of dreams is, that one wakes just in the humour they leave one. Shall I send this to-day? with all my heart it is two days within the fortnight; but may be MD are in haste to have a round dozen, and then how are you to come up to me with your eighth, young women? But you indeed ought to write twice slower than I, because there are two of you; I own that.-Well then, I will seal up this letter by my morning candle, and carry it into the city with me, where I go to dine, and put it in the postoffice with my own fair hands. So let me see whether I have any news to tell MD. They say, they will very soon make some inquiries into the corruptions of the late ministry and they must do it, to justify their turning them out. Atterbury, we think, is to be dean of Christ

church in Oxford; but the college would rather have Smallridge. *-What is all this to you? what care you for Atterburys and Smallridges? No, you care for nothing but Presto, faith. So I will rise and bid you farewell; yet I am loth to do so, because there is a great bit of paper yet to talk upon; but Dingley will have it so; yes, says she, make your journals shorter, and send them oftener; and so I will. And I have cheated you another way too; for this is clipped paper, and holds at least six lines less than the former ones. I will tell you

a good thing I said to my Lord Carteret. So, says he, my Lord came up to me, and asked me, &c. No,

said I, my Lord never did, nor ever can come up We all pun here sometimes.

to you. Lord Carteret set down Prior the other day in his chariot, and Prior thanked him for his charity; that was fit for Dilly. † I do not remember I heard one good one from the ministry, which is really a shame. Henley is gone to the country for Christmas. The puppy comes here without his wife, and keeps no house, and would have me dine with him at eating-houses; but I have only done it once, and will do it no more. He had not seen me for some time in the coffeehouse, and, asking after me, desired Lord Herbert to tell me, I was a beast for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Did you ever read the Scripture? it is only changing the word priest to beast.—-I think I am bewitched to write so much in a morning to you, little MD. Let me go, will you? and I will come again to-night in a fine clean sheet of paper; but I can nor will stay no longer now; no, I will not, for all

* They were great friends; Atterbury, however, succeeded. + Dillon Ashe.