cenfured you, to any Thing but Ants, who are generally moft troublesome in the finest Seafon. I can't hope, that even a fhort Stay at C- could be made agreeable, but Novelty is fometimes pleafing; defcend then, and fee the new Acquaintance I have made, which is like to prove a very lasting one: may yours be no lefs fo!-Mr. GRAVES is in Gloucestershire, and Mr. WHISTLER, God knows where, and you unkindly conceal from me the Place of your Refidence, I fhall direct this wandering Epiftle as ufual, but imagine, if it is so fortunate as to find you, it will be in your Hermitage, where I prefume you are before this retired, Were I Mr. WHISTLER, with what Pleasure fhould I leave the World, and all its Vanities, for Mr. SHENSTONE and a Cell-Though I must own, your Intention of making Mr. L-N immortal, by a Dedication, and finging the Praises and Virtues of the Court, feem to cherish gayer Thoughts than fuit, that peaceful Station. Whether Hermit or Courtier, be affured that whatever conduces to your Happiness is fincerely wifhed by me

C, January 20,

S. D

LET.

I

LETTER XXII.

S. D-, Efq. to W. SHENSTONE, Esq.

Dear Sir,

CAN omit no Opportunity of fhewing my Defire of continuing a Correspondence that has always given me fo much Pleasure. I wrote you a Letter fome Time ago, and should have used fo little Ceremony, as to have troubled you with another, had I known in what Part of the World you was. If you know any Thing of Mr. G-, I should be glad to hear fomething of him; I am informed that he is a Curate in fome Village very remote-It is a great Pity, fo much Merit fhould be no better rewarded.

We have been returned from London about three Weeks: if I had known you were in Town, I fhould have left it with much more Reluctance. If you come into Oxfordshire this Summer, I hope you will favour me with a Vifit at C-, which will be a very great Pleasure to us all.

You

You cannot imagine how happy you have made me, in giving me Hopes of enjoying a Sight of your Poems; from which I am fure of reaping a Pleafure which can admit of no Addition, but by receiving them from your own Hands. I am glad to hear that Mr. G is fettled fo much to his Satisfaction: if he is at All Souls, I hope I fhall fee him before he leaves. Oxford.

4

I have lately loft a very agreeable Relation and fincere Friend. Perhaps you have heard Mr. WHISTLER mention Mifs B--: she died at C about three Months fince, after a fhort Illness of two Days; which added fo much to the melancholy Situation here, that we were obliged to fly to Town for Amufements. I came down ten Days fince, and shall return again to-morrow, for about a Week longer. May I hope, dear Sir, to find a Letter here from you? I am fure the reading of it will give me more real Pleasure than any Company or Diverfion I can propose to find in London. I am forry to fend you any News that will give you Concern; but can't help telling

3

telling you, that I hear poor Mr. R. G- is dangerously ill of a Fever in Town. Mr. WHISTLER has left Oxford, on Account of the Small-Pox, which is very much there, and at prefent in Pembroke College.

Notwithstanding this unfeasonable Weather, I must beg leave to put you in Mind of your Promife, and enquire when it is you defign us the Pleasure of your Company in OxfordShire; where you will meet with a great many who will rejoice much to fee you, and none more than your

affectionate Friend

and humble Servánt,

S. D-;

LET

LETTER XXIII.

A. B. Efq. to W. SHENSTONE, Efq.

OR the Soul's Food, ftrengthened by the more fubftantial bodily Food, I have for these nine Days past imbibed at your Villa, the Leafowes, I am much obliged to my dear Mr. SHENSTONE: Time will not, however, at prefent, allow me to bestow more of my Eloquence on you for it; you must therefore be fatisfied with "the Altar of Gratitude," I have it in my Head hereafter to erect to your Ho

nour.

We are invited to ftay at Hagley on Monday next-Dinner at two o'Clock-May I expect the Pleasure of meeting you there? If you have had a Card let me know, per Bearer, that I may not, as I do now, groan with Apprehenfions of the Day. His most excellent of Excellencies, the Governor, and Mistress HESTER, stay till the latter End of September, so you

will