I

LETTER II.

W. SHENSTONE, Efq. to Mr. G

Dear Sir,

DID indeed give you up for loft, as a Correfpondent, and find by your Letter that I am to expect very few future ones. I will endeavour all I can, to avoid any Sufpicion of your Indifference for my own Satisfaction; but I don't know for certain, that I fhall be able, unless you affift my Endeavours, like my good Genius, by a Courfe of fuitable Epiftles, at certain Distances. I myself correfpond but very little now, fo you will meet with the more Indulgence. I don't find by your Letter that you have much more Philofophy than me. I can't tell, indeed, what the Situation of your Houfe is; I own, mine gives me Offence on no other Confideration, than that it does not receive a fufficient Number of polite Friends, or that it is not fit to receive them, were they fo difpofed; I would

elfe

elfe cultivate an Acquaintance with about three or four in my Neighbourhood, that are of a Degree of Elegance and Station fuperior to the common run. But I make it a certain Rule, "Arcere profanum Vulgus".*-Perfons who will defpife you for the Want of a good Set of Chairs, or an uncouth Fire-Shovel, at the fame Time that they can't taste any Excellence in a Mind that overlooks thofe Things; or (to make a Conceit of this Sentiment) with whom 'tis in vain that your Mind is furnished, if the Walls are naked; indeed, one lofes much of one's Acquifitions in Virtue, by an Hour's Converse with fuch as judge of Merit by Money, &c. yet I am now and then impelled by the focial Paffion to fit half an Hour in my Kitchen.

I was all along an Admirer of Sir THOMAS HEAD'S Humour and Wit, and I beg you will represent me in that Light, if Occafion happens. 'Tis not impoffible that I may penetrate this Winter as far as your Neighbourhood, connecting a Set of Vifits which I have in my Eye. Tell Mr. WHISTLER, when you

To banish the profane Vulgar,

fee

fee him, that if he must have some Distem per, I cannot but be pleafed that it is one which is the Fore-runner of Longevity-Don't tell him so neither, for the Compliment is trite. From the Birmingham Gazette, "We hear that on Thursday last was married, at Hales Owen, in Shropshire, Mr. J-, an eminent Gunfmith of this Town, to a Sifter of the Right Hon. F- Lord D❞ DI was yefter

day at the Grange, where his old Father, with a Number of People, were celebrating the Nuptials of his Son; when in the Midft of his Feaftings, high Jollity, and grand Alliance, the old Fellow bethought him of a Piece of Timber in the Neighbourhood, that was convertible into good Gun-Stocks, and had fome of it fent for into the Room, by Way of Specimen. “Anima nil magnæ Laudis egentes !”*

Pray is your Sifter at Smelkwick ? for I have not heard. You faid you would give me your Picture, which I long earnestly for; could not you contrive to have it fent me directly? I am quite in your Debt, with Regard to downright Goods and Moveables, and what is the proper

*Souls that are defirous of little Praise,

Subject

Subject of an Inventory; I will, however, endeavour to be more upon a Par with you, with Regard to Prefents, though I never can, with Regard to the Pleasures I have received from your Converfation.

I make People wonder at my Exploits in pulling down Walls, Hovels, Cow-Houses, &c. and my Place is not the fame. I am, that is with Regard to you,

a faithful Friend,

and humble Servant,

W. SHENSTONE.

Mr. WHISTLER, and you, and I, and Sir T. HEAD, (whom I should name first, speaking after the Manner of Men) have just Variety enough, and not too much, in our Characters, to make an Interview, whenever it happens, entertaining-I mean, though we were not old Friends and Acquaintance.

LET

LETTER III.

W. SHENSTONE, Efq. to Mr. JAGO.

Dear Mr. JAGO,

Hith a yet troubled
HOUGH I have not yet troubled you

TH

with a Letter, I have not been void of all Enquiry, or Information concerning your Situation and Mr. HARDY'S Health; indeed, it is now many Weeks fince I collected fome Particulars from your Brother, and I am now impatient for fome further Intelligence. As to the Particulars of our friendly Reception at Wroxball, Mr. JOHN JAGO has very probably acquainted you; he would, however, perfuade me to give you a distinct Account; being affured, he fays, it must be a good Subject for Drollery. I don't know how far this would be proper but I think, when I write again to my Friend W--, to give him a Sketch of his own Character, juft as it appeared during the Time of our Vifit. I do not mean to give Offence, so I fhall intermix many

good