LETTER XXIV.

April 15, 1716.

Receiv'd your most extreme kind letter but just now. It found me over those papers you mention, which have been my employment ever since Easter-monday: I hope before Michaelmas to have discharg'd my task; which; upon the word of a friend, is the most pleasing one I could be put upon. Since you are fo near going into Shropshire, (whither I shall not care to write of this matter, for fear of the mifcarriage of any letters) I must desire your leave to give you a plain and fincere account of what I have found from a more ferious application to them. Upon comparison with the former volume, I find much more repeated than I till now imagin'd, as well as in the present volume, which, if (as you told me laft) you would have me dafh over with a line, will deface the whole copy extremely, and to a degree that (I fear) may displease you. I have every where mark'd in the margins the page and line, both in this and the other part. But if you order me not to cross the lines, or would any way else limit my commiffion, you will oblige me by doing it in your next letter; for I am at once equally fearful of fparing you, and

of offending you by too impudent a correction. Hitherto however I have crofs'd 'em fo as to be legible, because you bade me. When I think all the repetitions are ftruck out in a copy, I fometimes find more upon dipping in the first volume, and the number increafes fo much, that, I believe, more fhortning will be requifite than you may be willing to bear with, unless you are in good earneft refolv'd to have no thought repeated. Pray forgive this freedom, which as I must be fincere in this cafe, fo I could not but take; and let me know if I am to go on at this rate, or if you could prescribe any other method.

I am very glad you continue your refolution of feeing me in my Hermitage this fummer; the fooner you return, the fooner I fhall be happy,

which indeed my want of any company that is

entertaining or esteemable, together with fre quent infirmities and pains, hinder me from being in your abfence. 'Tis (I am fure) a real truth, that my fickness cannot make me quite weary of myself when I have you with me; and I fhall want no company but yours, when you are here.

You fee how freely and with how little care I talk rather than write to you: this is one of the many advantages of friendship, that one can fay to one's friend the things that ftand in need

of

of pardon, and at the fame time be fure of it. Indeed I do not know whether or no the letters of friends are the worse for being fit for none else to read. 'Tis an argument of the truft repofed in a friend's good-nature, when one writes fuch things to him as require a good portion of it. I have experienced yours fo often and fo long, that I can now no more doubt of the greatness of it, than I hope you do of the greatness of my affection, or of the fincerity with which I am, &c.

LETTER XXV.

From Mr. WY CHERLEY.

You

April 27, 1710.

QU give me an account in your letter of the trouble you have undergone for me, in comparing my papers you took down with you, with the old printed volume, and with one another, of that bundle you have in your hands; amongst which, (you fay) you find numerous repetitions of the fame thoughts and fubjects; all which, I must confefs, my want of memory has prevented me from imagining, as well as made me capable of committing: fince, of all figures, that of Tautology is the last I would

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would use, or least forgive myself for. But seeing is believing; wherefore I will take some pains to examine and compare thofe papers in your hands with one another, as well as with the former printed copies, or books of my damn'd mifcellanies; all which (as bad a memory as I have) with a little more pains and care I think I can remedy. Therefore I would not have you give yourself more trouble about them, which may prevent the pleasure you have, and may give the world in writing upon new fubjects of your own, whereby you will much better entertain yourself and others. Now as to your remarks upon the whole volume of my papers; all that I defire of you is to mark in the margin (without defacing the copy at all) either any repetition of words, matter, or fenfe, or any thoughts or words too much repeated; which if you will be fo kind as to do for me, you will supply my want of Memory with your good one, and my deficiencies of fenfe, with the infallibility of yours; which if you do, you will most infinitely oblige me, who almoft repent the trouble I have given you, fince fo much. Now as to what you call freedom with me, (which you defire me to forgive) you may be affur'd I would not forgive you unless you-did use it; for I am fo far from thinking your plainness an offence to me, that

I think

I think it a charity and an obligation; which I shall always acknowledge, with all fort of gratitude to you for it; who am, &c.

All the news I have to fend you, is, that poor Mr. Betterton is going to make his Exit from the stage of this world, the gout being gotten up into his head, and (as the phyficians fay) will certainly carry him off fuddenly.

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LETTER XXVI.

May 2, 1710.

AM forry you perfift to take ill my not accepting your invitation, and to find (if I mistake not) your exception not unmixed with fome fufpicion. Be certain I fhall most carefully obferve your request, not to cross over, or deface the copy of your papers for the future, and only to mark in the margin the Repetitions. But as this can ferve no further than to get rid of thofe repetitions, and no way rectify the Method nor connect the Matter, nor improve the Poetry in expreffion or numbers, without further blotting, adding, and altering; fo it really is my opinion and defire, that you fhould take your papers out of my hands into your own, and that no alterations may be made but when both of us are prefent; when you may be fatisfied with every blot, as well as every addition,

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