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the furprise of coming home last night, and finding two pictures where only one was demanded. But I understand your Grace's malice, and do here affirm you to be the greatest prude upon earth. You will not fo much as let your picture be alone in a room with a man, no not with a clergyman, and a clergyman of five and forty, and therefore refolved my Lord Duke fhould accompany it, and keep me in awe, that I might not prefume to look too often upon it. For my own part, I begin already to repent that I ever begged your Grace's picture; and could almost find in my heart to fend it you back: For, although it be the most beautiful fight I ever beheld, except the original, yet the veneration and respect it fills me with, will always make me think I am in your Grace's prefence; will hinder me from faying and writing twenty idle things, that used to divert me; will fet me labouring upon majeftic, fublime ideas, at which I have no manner of talent; and will make those who come to visit me think I am grown, on the fudden, wonderful ftately and referved. But, in life, we must take the evil with the good; and it is one comfort, that I know how to be revenged. For the fight of your Grace's refemblance,

will perpetually remind me of paying my duty to your perfon; which will give your Grace the torment, and me the felicity of a more frequent attendance.

But, after all, to deal plainly with your Grace, your picture (and I must say the fame of my Lord Duke's) will be of very little ufe, further than to let others fee the honour you are pleased to do me. For all the accomplishments of your mind and perfon are fo deeply printed in my heart, and represent you fo lively to my imagination, that I fhould take it for a high affront, if you believed it in the power of colours to refresh my memory: Almost as high a one, as if your Grace fhould deny me the juftice of being, with the most profound refpect and gratitude,

MADAM,

Your Grace's, &c.

LETTER

LETTER XII.

To the Duke of AR GYLE.

MY LORD,

January 20, 1712-13.

I WOULD myself have delivered the answer I fent yesterday to your Grace at court, by Dr. Arbuthnot, if I had not thought the right of complaining to be on my fide: For I think it was my due, that you fhould have immediately told me whatever you had heard anifs of my conduct to your Grace. When I had the honour to be first known to those in the ministry, I made it an exprefs condition, that whoever did me ill offices, they should inform me of what was faid, and hear my vindication; that I might not be mortified with countenances eftranged of the fudden, and be at a lofs for the caufe. And, I think, there is no perfon alive, whose favour or protection I would purchase at that expence. I could not fpeak to the difadvantage of your Grace without being ungrateful, (which is an ill word) fince you were pleased, voluntarily, to make fo many professions of favour to me for fome years paft; and your being a Duke and a General, would

have fwayed me not at all in my respect for your person, if I had not thought you to abound in qualities, which I wish were eafier to be found in thofe of your rank. I have indeed fometimes heard what your Grace was told I reported; but, as I am a ftranger to coffee-houses, so it is a great deal below me to fpread coffee-houfe reports. This accufation is a little, the harder upon me, because I have always appeared fond of your Grace's character; and have, with great industry, related several of your generous actions, on purpose to remove the imputation of the only real fault (for I fay nothing of common frailties) which I ever heard laid to your charge. I confess, I have often thought that Homer's defcription of Achilles bore fome refemblance to your Grace, but I do not remember that ever I faid fo. At the fame time, I think few men were ever born with nobler qualities, to fulfil and adorn every office of a fubject, a friend, and a protector, &c.

LET

LETTER XIII.

To Lord Chancellor H ARCOURT.

MY LORD,

May, 1713.

I WONDER your Lordship would prefume to go out of town, and leave me in fear that I should not fee you before I go to Ireland, which will be in a week. It is a ftrange thing, you should prefer your own health, and cafe, and convenience, before my fatisfaction. I want your Lordfhip for my folicitor: I want your letter to your younger brother of Ireland, to put him under my government: I want an opportunity of giving your Lordship my humbleft thanks, for a hundred favours you have done me: I wanted the fight of your Lordship this day in York-buildings *. Pray, my Lord, come to town before I leave it, and fupply all my wants. My Lord-Treafurer ufes me barbaroufly; appoints to carry me to Kenfington, and makes me walk four miles at midnight. He laughs when I mention a thousand pound, which he gives me; though a thoufand pound is a very ferious thing, &c.

*Lord Treasurer Oxford then lived there.

LET

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