you have expreffed my Sense of them all on that of Dr. AKENSIDE; they perplex and fret one more than they please, and may be described by the Title of one of SHAKESPEARE'S Plays, viz. Much Ado about Nothing.

I have no News to fend you from hence, that will be in the leaft entertaining to you. I am in Hopes Mr. GRAVES will fettle at Whitchurch about Whitfuntide. I have been much out of Order for this Week, by a Cold that I caught in attending my Works; and my Foot gives me ugly Apprehenfions at prefent. I continually please myself with the Thoughts of feeing you at Whitchurch; but would never have you make an Inconvenience of what I would have be a Pleafure to youI'd have you choose your own Time, that you may be quite unembarraffed: for my Part, I think the fooner the better; only I would beg the Favour of one Line to prevent all ill Accidents. I think 'tis a Method which fhould ever be used; and I wonder at my own Imprudence, and my own Good Fortune laft Time I came to the Leafowes. I long to fee and fhall be all this Summer at Whityou, church,

church, ready to receive you.. Indeed, if I fhould have the Gout, as I fomething fear it, I would let you know, for that would interrupt all our Pleafure. I beg my Compliments to Mr. DOLMAN: you have likewife the Compliments of this Place. With Wishes to fee you, and Compliments grounded upon the utmoft Sincerity, I am,

Dear Mr. SHENSTONE,

OU fee that I am as eager to answer your

You

Letter as you was to answer mine, and if my Letter gave you Pain, I affure you, that yours has equally perplexed me.

I am in

in great Hopes, you have mifinterpreted my Senfe, in Regard to Mr. G; and by as much as I can recollect, I believe you have. He always fpeaks of you with the utmost Respect in your Abfence, and is much less fevere even upon what he calls your little Faults, than when you are prefent: all that I hinted at, was fome little Shynefs he lately fhewed to me, on the Account which you and I have often mentioned. I have heard you fay, you have experienced the fame from him on the like Score. But you could not poffibly be now included, being abfent; no, I affure you, I only spoke of myfelf; and his Fault towards me would have been imperceptible, but to the Delicacy of Friendship; nor been have worth communicating, but to one whom my Love would animate against the like Failing. I declare to you, the Sentence which included Mr. G's Name, was the only one which regarded him; what followed, though I confess that gave Rife to it, was only to fhew my different Sentiments, and I own my Efteem for Friendfhip carried me a great Length. I have been very particular to fatisfy you, as well as to justify Mr. G-, and by that Means to juf

tify

tify myself. I fhould have never have forgiven myself, if I had been the Cause, though inadvertently, of dividing fo much Worth as I have always discovered in you both, and which though separated, it might ftill continue to blefs me, yet when united, like most other Things, it has a more powerful Effect. I would not have Mr. G— know a Word of this, for the most trifling Reflection, when told again, is offenfive; nor fhould I have faid what I did, but to a common Friend; in Truth, it is not every-body who poffibly might feel it fo acutely as myself; but you know my Difpofition. I have a Senfibility in my Friendships, that arises even to a Soreness, and the flightest Air of Coolness makes me wince. This, though in its Confequences fometimes it may render me unpleafing to my Intimates, certainly has its Source in a Merit, namely, in the Ardour of my Attachments; and therefore I should hope is cafily pardonable. You remember the elegant Line in COTTON's beautiful Vision of Friendship;

Cold is the only Ill they fear."

After

After I had fealed my laft, I was afraid it had rather an Air of Compliment than Sincerity; if it had, I affure you, it was only the Air, and what the Good-humour, I am always in when I write to you, might infpire me with. You fee the Efteem I have for you, by turning Critic on myself in your Behalf. I am now going to mention, what there is no Occafion at all to say, but Friendship is the most incontinent Thing in the World; I have long been fenfible of your Worth; that is, ever fince I knew you; but I must fay, I think it was our laft Meeting which entirely united me to you; every Letter of yours fince has heightened my Affection for you. I look upon this as my firft Abfence from you; your Letters are now neceffary to fupply your Prefence; you yourself taught me this Tafte of Luxury, therefore it is but reafonable you fhould fupport the Expence. In fhort, I beg you would write foon. I am afraid I fhall tire you by fo frequent a Correspondence, but I particu larly long to know the Succefs of this Letter.

Dear Mr. SHENSTONE, I am yours, &c.

A. WHISTLER.

LET