ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[graphic]
[ocr errors]

Lord of Oxford's hand, as it seems, to reign in his stead: how much any of these persons were my friend will appear from the very first act of their power, in that they prevailed with the queen to defer the giving out or satisfying those orders; till, a little while after, the queen's death put this sum, which I expected was paid, among her majesty's debts and I have since that time run on upon the same foot, expecting every day the Duke of Shrewsbury's assistance, and presuming to hear that this sum was paid, and that I might send another bill, which has been contracting since June last, and which in its course might have the like acceptance and discharge; and which I must send, finding Contillon very scrupulous since the retardment which this bill already sent has met with, though the does not as yet refuse to supply me, which you may find by my being still alive; but (as I have said) I hope the Duke of Shrewsbury has found remedy to this evil, as you will do by receiving this other bill, which I must send you, and by putting me upon such a foot as you may judge proper, as long as his majesty's commands enjoin my stay here. Give me leave in the meantime, my lord, to represent to you, that having been six weeks at Fontainebleau, the most expensive place upon earth except Paris itself, I returned hither, two days since, with eleven horses, thirteen servants, &c. in a pomp of woe that put me in mind of Patroclus's funeral, myself melancholy enough, though the horses did not weep; but may be, they did not reflect that their provender was not paid for. In short, this whole affair is left to the Duke of Shrewsbury

[blocks in formation]

and your lordship; and, after all, my lord, pray do your part to let me see that I can have no better friends than you two; and that you judged it reasonable, however the treasury was charged, that the plenipotentiary of England should not be left for debt in the chatelet at Paris.

I have two other things to desire, both which, I believe, you will think just. First, that our old fellow collegiate, and my Fidus Achates, Mr. Richard Shelton, whom my Lord of Oxford, after four years importunity on my part, made a Commissioner of the Stamp Office some months since, may, by your favour, be retained still in his employment: second, that Mr. Drift, who has been with me these fifteen years, and is now my secretary here, with leave from his then superiors (and my Lord of Oxford in particular) for his so being, may be safe in his place of first clerk, or under secretary, in the plantation office, where he has served for fourteen years past, and received from myself, as well whilst I was in, as when I had the misfortune to be put out of that commission, all the instruction I have been able to give him in the understanding and discharge of his business : your command to Mr. Popple, upon this account, will be sufficient; and I will stand bound, as well for him as for 'Squire Shelton, that their acknowledgments and gratitude to your lordship shall be faithful and lasting. I have troubled you with a book, rather than a letter; but you must remember I have the silence of a great many years to atone for and a good many things, as you see, to ask. I am, with great respect, &c.

M. PRIOR.

MATTHEW PRIOR TO DEAN SWIFT.

Westr. 25th April, 1721.

DEAR SIR, I KNOW very well that you can write a good letter if you have a mind to it; but that is not the question-a letter from you sometimes is what I desire. Reserve your tropes and periods for those whom you love less, and let me hear how you do, in whatever humour you are, whether lending your money to the butchers, protecting the weavers, treating the women, or construing propria quæ maribus to the country curate; you and I are so established authors that we may write what we will without fear of censure, and if we have not lived long enough to prefer the bagatelle to any thing else, we deserved to have our brains knocked out ten years ago. I have received the money punctually of Mr. Daniel Hayes, have his receipt, and hereby return you all the thanks that your friendship in that affair ought to claim, and your generosity does contemn; there's one turn for your good! The man you mentioned in your last has been in the country these two years, very ill in his health, and has not for many months been out of his chamber; yet what you observed of him is so true, that his sickness is all counted for policy, that he will not come up till the public distractions force somebody or other (whom God knows) who will oblige somebody else to send for him in open triumph, and set him statu quo prius: that in the mean time he has foreseen all that has happened, check-mated all the

[graphic]
« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »