is come out with the proposals, and promises exceeding well, doubtless there is no part of history more curious, if it be well performed. My best wishes wait upon Mrs. Wharton, and My compliments to Miss Wharton, and to King Harry the 8th. Brown will write; he's the . . little man, and always . . .-Adieu, I am ever yours," November 30, Cambridge [endorsed 1747]. T. G. 1 P.S.-I said something to Stonhewer, who (I believe) will do what he can. He is now in London. LXVIII. TO THOMAS WHARTON. MY DEAR WHARTON-Though I have been silent so long; do not imagine, I am at all less sensible to your kindness, which (to say the truth) is of a sort, that however obvious and natural it may seem, has never once occurred to any of my good friends in town, where I have been these seven weeks. Their methods of consolation were indeed very extraordinary: they were all so sorry for my loss,2 that I could not chuse but laugh. One offered me opera tickets, insisted upon carrying me to the grand masquerade, desired me to sit for my picture. Others asked me to their concerts, or dinners and suppers at their houses; or hoped, I would drink chocolate with them, while I stayed in town. All my gratitude (or if you please, my revenge), 1 The MS. is slightly mutilated here.-[Ed.] 2 The destruction of his house, in Cornhill, by fire.-[Mit.] was to accept of everything they offered me if it had been but a shilling, I would have taken it. Thank Heaven, I was in good spirits; else I could not have done it. I profited all I was able of their civilities, and am returned into the country loaded with their Bontés and Politesses, but richer still in my own reflections, which I owe in great measure to them too. Suffer a great master to tell them you for me in a better manner. "Aux sentimens de la Nature, Et trouver la Mélancolie, Dans le sein de la Volupte?" etc.1 Your friendship has interested itself in my affairs so naturally, that I cannot help troubling you with a little detail of them. The house I lost was insured for £500, and with the deduction of three per cent they paid me £485, with which I bought, when Stocks were lower, £525. The rebuilding will cost £590, 1 These verses are to be found in La Chartreuse, 1734, a poetical description of the cell which the poet Gresset occupied in the College Louis le Grand. Jean Baptiste Louis Gresset (1709-1777) exercised a great influence over Gray, who admired him more than any other contemporary verse-writer. His verse was extremely sparkling and light; although his life was so retired as to be almost monastic, he was without a superior in describing the manners of society.-[Ed.] and other expences, that necessarily attend it, will mount that sum to £650. I have an aunt that gives me £100; and another that I hope will lend me what I shall want but if (contrary to my expectation) I should be forced to have recourse to your assistance; it cannot be for above £50; and that, about Christmas next when the thing is to be finished. And now, my dear Wharton, why must I tell you a thing so contrary to my own wishes, and to yours, I believe? It is impossible for me to see you in the north, or to enjoy any of those agreeable hours I had flattered myself with. I must be in town several times during the Summer, in August particularly, when half the money is to be paid: the relation, that used to do things for me, is from illness now quite incapable; and the good people here would think me the most careless and ruinous of mortals, if I should think of such a journey at this time. The only satisfaction I can pretend to, is that of hearing from you; and particularly about this time, I was bid to expect good news. Your opinion of Diodorus is doubtless right; but there are things in him very curious, got out of better authors, now lost. Do you remember the Egyptian History, and particularly the account of the gold-mines? My own readings have been cruelly interrupted. What I have been highly pleased with is the new comedy1 1 Gresset's famous comedy of Le Méchant was brought out at the Comédie Française on the 27th of April 1745. Villemain says that "Voltaire himself can give you no notion of the eighteenth century if you have not read Le Méchant."--[Ed.] from Paris, by Gresset; Le Méchant, one of the very best dramas I ever met with. If you have it not, buy his works altogether in two little volumes. They are collected by the Dutch booksellers, and consequently there is some trash; but then there are the Ververt, the epistle to P. Bougeant, the Chartreuse, that to his sister, an ode on his country, and another on Mediocrity; and the Sidnei,1 another comedy, which have great beauties. There is a poem by Thomson, the Castle of Indolence, with some good stanzas. Mr. Mason is my acquaintance: I liked that ode2 very much, but have found no one else, that did. He has much fancy, little judgment, and a good deal of modesty. I take him for a good and well-meaning creature; but then he is really in simplicity a child, and 1 Le Sidney was brought out at the Comédie Française on the 3d of May 1745, six days after the great success of Le Méchant.-[Ed.] 2 Ode to a Water Nymph, published about this time in Dodsley's Miscellany. On reading what follows, many readers, I suspect, will think me as simple as ever, in forbearing to expunge the paragraph. But as I publish Mr. Gray's sentiments of Authors, as well living as dead, without reserve, I should do them injustice, if I was more scrupulous with respect to myself. My friends, I am sure, will be much amused with this and another passage hereafter of a like sort. My enemies, if they please, may sneer at it; and say (which they will very truly) that twenty-five years have made a very considerable abatement in my general philanthropy. Men of the world will not blame me for writing from so prudent a motive, as that of making my fortune by it; and yet the truth, I believe, at the time was, that I was perfectly well satisfied, if my publications furnished me with a few guineas to see a Play or an Opera.[Mason.] loves everybody he meets with: he reads little or nothing, writes abundance, and that with a design to make his fortune by it. There is now, I think, no hopes of the Pembroke business coming to anything. My poor Tuthill will be in a manner destitute (even of a curacy) at Midsummer. I need not bid you think of him, if any probable means offer of doing him good: I fear, he was not made to think much for himself. Pray, let me hear from you soon. I am at Mrs. Rogers's of Stoke near Windsor, Bucks. My thanks, and best compliments to Mrs. Wharton, and your family. Does that name include anybody, that I am not yet acquainted with ?-Adieu, I am ever, truly yours, T. GRAY. June 5, 1748. LXIX.- -TO THOMAS WHARTON. Stoke, August 19 [inserted 1748.] MY DEAR WHARTON-After having made my compliments to the god-mothers of the little Doctress, who are to promise and vow for her that she shall understand, and be grateful some twelve or fifteen years hence I congratulate Mrs. Wharton and your family on this occasion, and doubtless desire nothing more than to see you all the next summer, though as to promises, I dare not; lest some unlucky event again come across, and put the performance out of my power. I am not certain whether I shall be obliged to have recourse to your assistance or no about Christ |