and he would needs understand that figure as applied to me. And the worst of it was, that I happened, last night, to be at my Lady Duchefs of Shrewsbury's ball; where, looking a little fingular among fo many fine ladies and gentlemen, his Lordship came and whispered me to look at my box; which I refented fo highly, that I went away in a rage, without ftaying for fupper. However, confidering of it better, after a night's fleep, I find all this is nothing but envy, and a design to make a quarrel between you and me: But it fhall not do fo; for I hope your intentions were good, however malice may mifreprefent them. And though I am ufed ill by all your family, who win my money and laugh at me, yet, to vex them more, I will forgive them for your fake; and, as foon as I can break loofe, will come to Dunkirk for a fortnight, to get a little cafe from my many perfecutions, by the Harleys, the Mafhams, and the Hills: Only I intend to change my habit, for fear Colonel Killigrew fhould mistake me for a chimney-fweeper. In the meantime, I wish you all fuccefs in your government, loyal French fubjects, virtuous ladies, little champaign, and much health: MADAM, WH November 21, 1712.. HEN, upon parting with your Ladyship, you were pleased to tell me I fhould find your prefent at home, natural justice prompted me to resolve that the firft ufe I made of it fhould be in paying acknowledgments to my benefactor. But, when I opened the writing-table, which I must now call mine, I found you had neither fent pens, ink, nor paper, fufficient for fuch an undertaking. But I ought to tell your Ladyship in order, that I first got there a much more valuable thing: And I cannot do greater honour to my fcrutoire, than to affure your Ladyfhip that your letter is the first thing I have put in it, and fhall be the laft I will ever take out. I muft tell your Ladyship, that I am this mo ment ! ment under a very great concern. I was fully convinced that I fhould write with a new fpirit, by the influence of the materials you fent me; but it is quite otherwife: I have not a grain of invention, whether out of the confufion which attends us when we strive too much to acquit ourselves, or whether your pens and ink are fullen, and think themselves difgraced fince they have changed their owner. I heartily thank your Ladyship, for making me a present that looks like a sort of establishment. I plainly fee by the contrivance, that, if you were first minifter, it would have been a cathedral. As it is, you have more contributed towards fixing me, than all the miniftry together; for it is difficult to travel with this equipage, and it will be impoffible to travel, or live without it. You have an undoubted title to whatever papers this table shall ever contain, (except your letter) and I defire you will please to have another key made for it; that, when the Court fhall think fit to give me a room worth putting it into, your Ladyfhip may come and fearch it whenever you please. I beg your Ladyfhip to join in laughing with me, at my unreafonable vanity, when I wish C4 I wished that the motto written about the wax was a description of yourself. But, if I am difappointed in that, your Ladyship will be fo in all the reft; even this ink will never be able to convey your Ladyship's note as it ought. The paper will contain no wonders, but when it mentions you; neither is the feal any otherwife an emblem of my life, than by the deep impreffion your Ladyship has made, which nothing but my death can wear out, By the infcription about the pens, I fear there is fome mistake; and that your Ladyship did not defign them for me. However, I will keep them until you can find the perfon you intended fhould have them, and who will be able to dispose of them according to your predictions. I cannot find that the workman you employed, and directed, has made the leaft mistake: But there are four implements wanting. The two firft I shall not name, because an odd fuperftition forbids us to accept them from our friends; the third is a fpunge, which the people long have given fo ill a reputation to, that I vow it shall be no gift of your Ladyfhip: The laft is a flat ivory inftrument, used in folding up of letters, which I infist you must provide. See, See, Madam, the firft fruits this unlucky present of yours has produced. It is but giving a fiddle to a fcraper, or a pestle and mortar to an apothecary, or a Tory-pamphlet to Mrs. Ramfay. Nothing is fo great a difcouragement to generous perfons as the fear of being worried by acknowledgements. Besides your Ladyfhip is an unfufferable kind of giver, making every prefent fifty times the value, by the circumftances and manner. And I know people in the world, who would not oblige me fo much, at the coft of 1000 l. as you have done at that of 20. which, I must needs tell you, is an unconscionable way of dealing, and whereof, I believe, no body alive is fo guilty as yourself. In fhort, you deceive my eyes and corrupt my judgment; nor am I now fure of any thing, but that of being, &c. LETTER XI. To the Duchefs of O R MOND. MADAM, ΑΝ December 20, 1712. NY other perfon, of less refinement and prudence than myself, would be at a lofs how to thank your Grace, upon the |