have but a fine show; thofe very female eyes, will be infinitely delighted with the camp which is fpeedily to be formed in Hyde-park. The tents are carried thither this morning, new regiments, with new cloaths and furniture (far exceeding the late cloth and linen defigned by his Grace for the foldiery). The fight of fo many gallant fellows, with all the pomp and glare of war, yet undeformed by battles, thofe fcenes which England has for many years only beheld on ftages, may poffibly invite your curiofity to this place *.

By

The following articles of chit-chat intelligence are in the original. "My Lady Lanfdowne held her laft affembly yesterday, where was not present the Earl of D-d.

"I met my lord Finch in red, trimmed with gold, correfpondent to the gravity of the Nottingham family; fo that he may be faid (with Mrs. Patty's leave) to be as gay as a Gold-Finch.

"The Prince's Secretary M-x (Molineux) has been so em. ployed in writing difpatches, that his weary hand could hardly fhake the box and dice t'other day at Mr. Gage's. The Ladies blamed his indolence, and he made that excufe.

"Mrs. Nelfon expects the Pretender at her lodgings by Saturday fe'nnight. She has bought a picture of Madam Maintenon to fet her features by, against that time. Three priefts of your acquaintance are very pofitive, by her intereft, to be his father. confeffors.

"It is reported that the Honourable Thomas Gage efq. having renounced the errors of the Romish communion, is to be created groom-porter, and that Alexander Pope gent. being ready to do the fame, will be chofen City-poet.

"The Lord Viscount Dunbar is married to the daughter of the Lord Clifford : One of the agents in this affair was Mr. Edward Blount, who (it was thought) might have provided for that noble Viscount much better out of his own family. The faid Mr. Blount

By our latest account from Duke-street, Weftminster, the converfion of T. G. efq. is reported in a manner fomewhat more particular. That upon the feizure of his Flanders mares, he feemed more than ordinarily disturbed for fome hours, fent for his ghoftly father, and refolved to bear his lofs like a Christian; till about the hours of feven or eight the coaches and horfes of feveral of the Nobility paffing by his window towards Hyde-park, he could no longer endure the disappointment, but instantly went out, took the oath of abjuration, and recovered his dear horfes, which carried him in triumph to the ring. The poor diftreffed Roman Catholics, now unhorsed and uncharioted, cry out with the Pfalmist, Some in Chariots and fome on Horfes, but we will invocate the name of the Lord t.

I am, etc.

is this morning gone off for Devonshire, without daring to call at Mapledurham in his way. Some people figh, and fay Mr. Holman ftands fair.

"Sir Samuel Garth's journey into Italy is put off for three days; that of fome others into Devonshire is neither off nor on, like moft modern matches, though all the parties are agreed. "I muft ftop here till further advices, which are expected from the Lady Mary Wortley this afternoon."

C.

"There are feveral other advices from the Lady M. W. which you shall have in our next. So much for the prefent; and as for the future, I neither know what will become of myself, or of the nation." Orig.

LETTER XII.

THE 'HE weather is too fine for any one that loves the country to leave it at this feafon; when every smile of the fun, like the fmile of a coy lady, is as dear as it is uncommon: and I am fo much in the taste of rural pleasures, I had rather fee the fun than any thing he can fhew me, except yourself. I despise every fine thing in town, not excepting your new gown, till I fee you dreffed in it (which by the way I don't like the better for the red; the leaves, I think, are very pretty). I am growing fit, I hope, for a better world, of which the light of the fun is but a fhadow: for I doubt not but God's works here are what come nearcft to his works there; and that a true relish of the beauties of nature is the most easy preparation and gentleft tranfition to an enjoyment of thofe of heaven: as, on the contrary, a true townlife of hurry, confufion, noife, flander, and diffention, is a fort of apprenticeship to hell and its furies. I am endeavouring to put my mind into as quiet a fituation as I can, to be ready to receive that ftroke which, I believe, is coming upon me, and have fully refigned myfelf to yield to it. The feparation of my foul and body is what I could think of with less pain; for I am very fure he that made it will take care of it, and in whatever ftate he pleafes it fhall be, that state must

be right but I cannot think without tears of being feparated from my friends, when their condition is fo doubtful, that they may want even fuch affiftance as mine. Sure, it is more merciful to take from us after death all memory of what we loved or purfued here: for elfe what a torment would it be to a fpirit, ftill to love those creatures it is quite divided from? Unless we fuppofe, that in a more exalted life, all that we efteemed in this imperfect state will affect us no more, than what we loved in our infancy concerns us now.

This is an odd way of writing to a lady, and, I am fenfible, would throw me under a great deal of ridicule, were you to fhow this letter among your ac quaintance. But perhaps you may not yourself be quite a ftranger to this way of thinking. I heartily with your life may be fo long and so happy, as never to let you think quite fo far as I am now led to do: but to think a little towards it, is what will make you the happier, and the easier at all times.

There are no pleasures or amusements that I do not with you, and therefore 'tis no small grief to me that I fhall for the future be lefs able to partake with you in them. But let fortune do her worst, whatever fhe makes us lofe, as long as fhe never makes us lofe our honesty and our independance; I defpife from my heart whoever parts with the firft, and pity from my foul whoever quits the latter.

I am grieved at Mr. Gay's condition in this laft refpect of dependance. He has Merit, Good-nature.

and Integrity, three qualities that I fear are too often loft upon great men; or at least are not all three a match for one which is opposed to them, Flattery. I wifh it may not foon or late difplace him from the favour he now poffeffes, and feems to like. I am fure his late action deferves eternal favour and esteem: Lord Bathurst was charmed with it, who came hither to see me before his journey. He asked and spoke very particularly of you. To-morrow Mr. Fortefcue comes to me from London about B's fuit in forma pauperis. That poor man looks ftarved: he tells me you have been charitable to him. Indeed 'tis wanted; the poor creature can scarce stir or speak; and I apprehend he will die, juft as he gets fomething to live upon. Adieu.

THIS

LETTER XIII. *

is a day of wishes for you, and I hope you have long known, there is not one, good one which I do not form in your behalf. Every year that paffes, I wish fome things more for my friends, and fome things lefs for myself. Yet were I to tell you what I wish for you in particular, it would be only to repeat

*To Martha Blount.