of my Ancestors (who I was willing to prefume) were wife enough to content themselves with a Consciousness of their own Virtue, without depending upon Hic jacet-and a thoufand Lies,, for their Fame.

I won't pretend to trace out the History of our ancient and numerous Family (for I have had. as many Forefathers as Bourbon or Nassau) but if I may guefs any thing from the Arms we bear, I have a Notion the Founder of it was by trade a Comb-maker; for, among other Devices, I find part of the Field, or Lozenge upon my Seal,, charged with two Small-tooth Combs. However, let the Founders of it have been what they will, 'tis no matter, fince the Family is ancient; and 'tis fo long ago fince the Comb-maker lived,. that no body can trace us up to our Original. What became of him, or his Pofterity, we know nothing of, nor indeed do we much care; (only the famous Sir William Penn the Quaker, and his Father the Vice Admiral, we ftill mention. with Honour) but to comfort me under my Dif appointment, I learnt part of the private history of fome of his Succeflors, from an old Woman who stood next me, and whofe Grandmother had occupy'd the Place of a Dairy-Maid in the Family, about fixfcore Years ago. 'Twas with. great Satisfaction I heard that my great Grandfather was remarkable for nothing (except having his Hen-rooft robbed by the Parliament's Party in Charles the firft's Time) but for fmoaking three Pipes a day, and minding his own Bufinefs; but was a little difconcerted again, when I found that his Help-mate had fome difcordant Notes in her Compofition, and was a little given. to Paffion, on account of the Fortune fhe brought.. However,

However, I recover'd myself again, when I found that their Children all took good Courses; but that Joy was foon allay'd, when I recollected the Mifchance that one of my Uncles had with his Mother's Maid. But my Grandfather being a prudent Man, the Affair was foon hufhed up; and as the Child was fuppofed to have had many Fathers, we don't look upon this Sprout to be properly a Branch of the Family, or Blot in our Efcutcheon.-In the next Compartment lay my Grandfather; the first of his particular Branch that ever set up for a Gentleman. He was quite the reverse of his Father's Temper; for he minded every body's Business but his own, and fmoaked no Tobacco. However, he was looked upon as a very knowing Man in the Parish, and they all apply'd to him to adjust their Accounts, and their Controverfies. He died much lamented by all that knew him, after having settled the Tranquility of his Neighbours, and run out part of his Eftate, which was but small; for he was too much of a Gentleman to live within Bounds.— In the fame Repofitory flept my Grandmother; that good old Woman, who made fuch excellent Cheeses, and reared fo many Turkies every Year. She was counted the best Housewife in the Village; and no body would fet a Hen, or wean a Child, without confulting her. She refign'd her Spirit in a good old Age; and we reckon it among her funeral Honours, that that laft Act of her Life was attended with the Tears of the whole Parish.

I came home not perfectly fatisfy'd with the Hiftory of my Progenitors; for, according to the Defcription of an ancient Aunt I have (who piques herself much upon her Family) they

ought

ought to have been all Heroes; or, at least very illuftrious Perfonages. I can't fay they, any of them, answer'd my Expectations; except my Grandmother, whofe Memory I honour very much. This put me upon confidering the Vanity of those of gentle Race, who boast themfelves upon the Merits of their Birth and Family, prefuming that more than ordinary Respect is due to them upon that Score; without confidering, that to be worthlefs themselves, is to be doubly fo with these Advantages. I need not make Mifs L. a Compliment here, who confiders herfelf only an Executrix in Truft of her Father's Merits. The World has already been beforehand with me in doing Juftice to her's, as he has done to theirs, by reflecting back the Luftre fhe has receiv'd. But is it not ridiculous to hear a Coward boast of his Defcent from Alexander the Great, or a common Strumpet trace up her Fas mily as high as Lucretia? Our real Worth muft depend upon from ourselves; and if we borrow any Honours from our Anceftors, we must take care to pay them back again.; left, while we are priding ourselves upon them, they should be afham'd of us. For, after all our blustering and ftrutting, Mr Pope will still be in the right,

Nought can ennoble Sots, and Slaves, and Cowards, Alas! not all the Blood of all the Howards.

WANT of Time is, I think, the general Complaint of all Letter-writers; and

yours in hafte, concludes Wit, Bufinefs, every

thing. For my own Part, my whole Life is little more than a perpetual Hurry of doing Nothing; and I think I never had more Bufinefs of that fort upon my Hands than now. But as I can generally find Time to do any thing I have a mind to do; fo can always contrive to be at Leifure to pay my Refpects to Mifs L.

Want of Spirits is another heavy Complaint I frequently meet with; and I have a Correfpondent who never writes to me without grievous Invectives against the Spleen. I will not add how often I have myself borrow'd the Shape of the Spleen to be dull in; and it would be of fingular Service to me at this time, if you would. only be fo good as to believe me far gone in that, hopeful, Distemper.

But the moft univerfal Complaint among Scribblers of my Rank is, want of Senfe. Thefe, generally begin with an Apology for their long Silence; and end with that moving Petition, Ex-. cufe this Nonfenfe. This is modeft, indeed; but tho' I am exceffive good-natur'd, I am refolved for the future not to pardon it intirely, in any one but myself.

I have often thought there never was a Letter wrote well, but what was wrote eafily; and if I had not fome private Reafons for being of a contrary Opinion at this time, should conclude this to be a Mafter-piece of the kind; both as to Eafinefs of Thought, and Facility of Expreffion. And in this Eafinefs of Writing (which Mr. Wycherly fays, is eafily wrote) methinks I excel even Mr. Pope himself; who is often too elaborate and ornamental, even in fome of his beft Letters; tho it must be confefs'd he outdoes me in fome few Trifles of another fort, fuch as Spirit,

Spirit, Tafte, and Senfe. But let me tell Mr. Pope, that Letters, like Beauties, may be overdreft. There is a becoming Negligence in both; and if Mr. Pope could only contrive to write without a Genius, I don't know any one fo likely to hit off my Manner as himself. But he infifts upon it, that a Genius is as neceffary towards Writing, as Straw towards making Bricks; whereas, 'tis notorious, that the Ifraelites made Bricks without that Material, as well as with.

The Conclufion of the whole Matter is this i I never had more Inclination to write to you, and never fewer Materials at hand to write with. Therefore have fled for Refuge to my old Companion, Dullness, who is ever at hand to affift me; and have made ufe of all those genuine Expreffions of herfelf which are included under the Notion of want of Time, want of Spirits, and in fhort want of every thing but the most unfeign'd Regard for that Lady whose moft devoted

December 21, 1736.

LETTER

I remain, &c.

CXIV.

To the SAM E.

YOU begin by afking me about fifty Queftions in a Breath; and if you are not vaitly impatient, I will answer 'em all as faft as my Sedatenefs of Temper will let me, for I love not to be put in a hurry. ift, Then