To MRS. HEWET.

[Thoresby, September, 1709.]

TEN thousand thanks to you for Madame de Noyer's 2 Letters; I wish Signor Roselli' may be as diverting to you as she has been to me. The stories are very extraordinary; but I know not whether she has not added a few agrémens of invention to them: however, there is some truth. I have been told, in particular, that the history of the fair unfortunate Madame de Barbesierre is so, by people who could not be suspected of romancing. Don't you think that the court of England would furnish stories as entertaining? Say nothing of my malice; but I cannot help wishing that Madame de Noyer would turn her thoughts a little that way. I fancy she would succeed better than the authoress of the "New Atalantis."4 I am sure I like her method much better, which has, I think, hit that difficult path between the gay and the severe, and is neither too loose, nor affected by pride.

I take an interest in Mr. Selwyn's success. In a battle 5 like that, I think it may be called so to come off alive. I should be so sensible of any affliction that could touch you or Mrs. Selwyn, that I may very well rejoice when you have no occasion for any. Adieu, Madam. This post has brought me nothing but compliments, without one bit of news. I heard the last, that Lord Stair was wounded." You can tell me whether to believe it or no.

Excuse my dulness; and be so good as never to read a letter of mine but in one of those minutes when you are entirely alone, weary of everything, and inquiète to think

1 In Nottinghamshire, one of the seats of the Marquis of Dorchester. -T.

2 Madame Dunoyer's Letters. Published in 1704.—T.

3 Memoirs of the Life and Adventures of Signor Rozelli, translated from the French, were published in 1709.-T.

5

The first part of the "New Atalantis," a scandalous book of much celebrity, written by Mrs. Manley, was published May 26, 1709.-T. Probably the disastrous victory of Malplaquet, September 11, 1709. Captain Selwyn, of Argyle's regiment of foot, was slightly wounded.-T.

The report as to Lord Stair was incorrect.-T.

what you shall do next. All people who live in the country must have some of those minutes, and I know so well what they are, that I believe even my letters may be welcome, when they are to take them off your hands.

To MRS. HEWET.

[Thoresby, October, 1709.]

I SUPPOSE my dear Mrs. Hewet has by this time resolved never to think more on so insensible and ungrateful a creature, that could be so long in returning thanks for such a letter, and has repented of past favours. I cannot blame your resentment, appearances are so much against me; and yet I am not so much to blame as you imagine. You expressed a desire of seeing a second part of the "Atalantis." ." I had just then sent to London for it, and did not question having it last Saturday. I hoped that a book you had a mind to see might atone for the nothingness of my letter, and was resolved not to send one without the other; but, like an unfortunate projector as I am, my designs are always followed by disappointment. Saturday came, and no book; God forgive me, I had certainly wished the lady who was to send it me hanged, but for the hopes it was to come by the Nottingham carrier, and then I should have it on Monday; but, after waiting Monday and Tuesday, I find it is not come at all. Now, madam, I do not question your forgiveness, and your hope, that when I do not write to Mrs. Hewet, there is some unavoidable cause for my silence. Your news and your book very much diverted me: it is an old, but very pleasant, Spanish novel. When we leave this place, I am not able to tell you. I have no reason to wish it, but since I cannot see you, that it may be in my power to write you more entertaining letters. I had some last post told me that Lady Essex Saville' was going to be married to Lord

1 The second part of Mrs. Manley's "New Atalantis" was published on October 20, 1709, as appears by an advertisement in the original edition of the "Tatler" of that day.-T.

2 Eldest daughter of the second Marquis of Halifax.—T.

Lonsdale.' I won't swear to the truth of it, for people make no conscience of what they write into the country, and think anything good enough for poor us. There is another story that I had from a hand I dare depend upon. The Duke of Grafton and Dr. Garth 2 ran a foot-match in the mall of 200 yards, and the latter, to his immortal glory, beat. I pray God you mayn't have heard this already. I am promised a cargo of lampoons from the Bath, and if they come safe, you shall share them with me. My dear Mrs. Hewet, could I contribute any way to your diversion, it would be the height of my ambition.

TO MRS. HEWET.

November 12 [1709 3].

You have not then received my letter? Well! I shall run mad. I can suffer anything rather than that you should continue to think me ungrateful. I think 'tis the last of pains to be thought criminal, where one most desires to please, as I am sure it is always my wish to dear Mrs. Hewet.

I am very glad you have the second part of the "New Atalantis:" if you have read it, will you be so good as to send it me? and in return, I promise to get you the Key to it. I know I can. But do you know what has happened to the unfortunate authoress? People are offended at the liberty she uses in her memoirs, and she is taken into custody. Miserable is the fate of writers: if they are agreeable, they are offensive; and if dull, they starve. I lament the loss of the other parts which we should have had; and have five hundred arguments at my fingers' ends to prove the ridiculousness of those creatures that think it worth while to take notice of what is only designed for

1 The Lord Lonsdale referred to died in 1713, unmarried. The story was probably merely a joke, his lordship being at that time a youth.-T.

2 Dr. Garth was very stout. The joke turns probably upon the stoutness of both the parties, and the improbability of the report.-T.

3 The year appears from the allusion in the letter to Mrs. Manley's imprisonment. See Luttrell's Diary, October 29, 1709.-T.

diversion. After this, who will dare to give the history of Angella? I was in hopes her faint essay would have provoked some better pen to give more elegant and secret memoirs; but now she will serve as a scarecrow to frighten people from attempting anything but heavy panegyric; and we shall be teazed with nothing but heroic poems, with names at length, and false characters, so daubed with flattery, that they are the severest kind of lampoons, for they both scandalize the writer and the subject, like that vile paper the "Tatler."1

I believe, madam, you will think I have dwelt too long on this business; but I am in a violent passion about it. My dear Mrs. Hewet, is it impossible you should come here? I would not ask it if I had a coach to wait upon you; but I am not born to have anything I have a mind to. All the news I know is, that Mrs. Reeves is married to Colonel Sydney (if you know neither of them, I'll send you their pictures at full length); and that giddy rake Creswell, to a fortune of £2,000 a year. I send you the Bath lampoons-Corinna is Lady Manchester, and the other lady is Mrs. Cartwright, who, they say, has pawned her diamond necklace, to buy Valentine a snuff-box. These wars make men so violent scarce, that these good ladies take up with the shadows of them. This is the sum total of all the news I know, and you see I am willing to divert you all in my power. I fancy the ill spelling of the lampoons will make you laugh more than the verses; indeed, I am ashamed for her who wrote them. As soon as possible, be pleased to send me the second part of the "Atalantis," &c.

To MRS. HEWET.

[November, 1709.?]

TILL this minute I was in hopes of waiting on dear Mrs. Hewet before we left the country, which made me defer writing; but now positive orders oblige us to go to-morrow,

1 The first number of the "Tatler" appeared on the 12th of April, 1709.-T.

and the horses must rest to-day, so that this paper must give you thanks for me, for all the many favours which could not have been bestowed on one who could have had a more quick and lasting sense of them. When I am in London, I will certainly send you all that passes, though I fancy you have it from people better both at writing and intelligence.

Mrs. C.,' whose character you desire to know, is a lady who has made a great noise in the world; but I never thought she would come to make such a figure in it. The lord she has snapt made a lampoon on her last winter. For my part, I never heard her speak in my life. She is generally thought handsome. If Miss Selwyn (as I wish she may) supplies her place, there will be one much handsomer. Amidst the hurry of taking such a journey tomorrow, I am sure you will forgive my letter's being no longer: you know people can never leave your company, or writing to you, without regret. Write to me where to direct to you, and direct to me in Arlington Street, near St. James's, London.2

To MRS. HEWET.

3

[Arlington Street? summer of 1710. ?] I WOULD have writ long ago to dear Mrs. Hewet, but I waited for the good news of saying when I might hope to see you, which I now despair of for this long time. We go next week into Wiltshire, which will be quite a new world to us. I was about eight years old when I left it, and have entirely forgot everything in it. I am sorry we shall not see you, though I am still in hopes we shall return into Nottinghamshire the latter end of the year; but all that is supposals, and I have no ground to

1 Elizabeth Collier, niece of the Earl of Portmore. The "lord" whom she had "snapt," was Sackville Earl of Dorset, to whom she was married in January, 1709; but the marriage was not made public till the following November. She was succeeded in her "place" of Maid of Honour to Queen Anne by Miss Scarborough.-T.

2 Her father's town house.-T.

3 Her father's seat at West Dean, near Salisbury.-T.