you must take care to send it before the 10th of March. If my brother can find time to write, I should be glad to hear from him. My humble service to all friends.

IN the abundance of my duty and the extremity of the cold, I sit down to write you a letter; but as I cannot tell how long my brains or my fingers will hold out, and I have a great many things to say, perhaps it will be best to begin immediately, without any further preface.

In the first place, madam, I will remove the doubt about your brother Jesse, which seems to lie so very heavily on your mind, and which I entirely forgot in my last letter; and, perhaps, it had been as well if I had forgotten it now, for I can give but a very general account. It was so very late when I arrived at St. Albans, that prayers were almost ended when I got to Mr. Downe's. Your brother went up to bed immediately, and I was obliged to set out early the

next morning, so that I had no opportunity of asking him any questions whatever. I inquired of both his masters, by the by, what books he was reading, and, by their account, he has made a very good proficiency.

This most important business being disposed of, I propose to congratulate you upon your late pleasant journey, in which I can easily believe that Mr. Clark's company rendered you good entertainment.

I heartily thank you for your prayers and good ad

vice, and I am sure I need the continuance of both. As for the infirmities of old age, I desire I may hear no more of them; for when my mamma begins to complain of such evils, her son must conclude they are not very far from him. In the meantime, I must endeavour to spend the little remainder of my youth orderly, and be looking out for a nurse for my more advanced years; and, indeed, as I am between twenty and thirty, it is time to think a little that way.

I condole with my cousin Robsons upon their confinement: you know, madam, it was a sad affliction to me that I did not see them the last time I was at London. I hope Providence will find out some way for their deliverance; and, in the meantime, I could suggest some very important considerations to make them easy, but refrain: for, on such a subject, there will be no end to my philosophy. However, if you can find any way to transmit them to Hinckley, one at a time, I have some things to communicate that may be much to their improvement. A few months

spent at an academy is a pretty part of a lady's education; and if they please to accept of the proposal, my books and closet are at their service.

I acknowledge, madam, that your dutiful attendance upon my grandpapa is a very bright example, which you need not doubt that your children will imitate but then it cannot be half so meritorious in us as in you; for our mamma is, in every way, so valuable and agreeable in herself, and so kind and indulgent to us, that we must be monsters indeed, if we were not to endeavour to exceed each other in all expressions of grateful affection; particularly, madam, you may assure yourself of this return from me, who am the most obliged of your sons and the humblest of your admirers.

DEAR SIR,

TO MR. SOME, JUN.

P. DODDRIDGE.

Dec. 24, 1722.

swer.

THOUGH I have no very important business to write about, yet I will give you the trouble of a letter purely in the expectation of the pleasure of an anYou may assure yourself that all your friends at Hinckley were heartily glad to hear that you had recovered your health. The young ladies you mention were particularly careful to inquire after you;

and I can assure you, that you have been the subject of their discourse oftener than perhaps you imagine: they are charmed with your humour and your gallantry; and if you should outstay your time ever so little, will certainly be jealous of some unknown face that detains you at Bowden.

I

suppose you know that Mr. Richards succeeds Mr. Cope in his closet and chamber; and I heartily congratulate you on that good fortune which has provided you with an agreeable companion, who is entirely master of every genteel and manly accomplishment; and particularly so bright an example of an indefatigable application to study. You are so much my friend that I will not envy you this happiness: but remember that you will do a public and an irreparable injury if you engross the dear creature entirely to yourself. We entreat you then to allow us a few moments of his company, otherwise noise and grimace may grow unfashionable,—and a man may be forced to purchase the reputation of wit and humour, not by what he does, but by what he says; and what an intolerable reproach that would be to the academy.

Mr. Cope left us this morning, and I think there were no tears shed on our side. If however his masterly sense and ready wit had been softened by a little more humanity and good nature, he would have been beloved as much as he is admired, and I should have missed his company almost as much as I do yours.

I assure you, sir, that I, like all the rest of our

family, long for your return to Hinckley; in the meantime I hope you will favour me with an answer very speedily. I am, with all respect and sincerity, Dear Sir,

Your affectionate Friend and obedient Servant,

P. DODDRIDGE.

TO MRS. FARRINGTON.

February 27, 1723.

WHAT have I done to displease the dearest, best mamma in the world, that I have not heard from her in so many ages? It is impossible to express my uneasiness at her silence. I answered her last almost a quarter of a year ago, and yet I have not so much as heard whether she be alive or dead. If the infirmities of old age, which you talked of, have taken away the use of your limbs, surely, madam, you might have prevailed upon my aunt to have informed me of your misfortune, and I would not have failed to have sent you a most dutiful letter of condolence; but alas! my aunt is as unkind as my mother, and will not favour me with her advice, though I desired it with so much importunity; and although the circumstances of my case were so worthy of compassion. Will you drive me into the arms of Clarinda, to bury my sorrows in her beautiful bosom,