should remain unpublished. As to my Eton ode, Mr. Dodsley is padrone. The second1 you had, I suppose you do not think worth giving him: otherwise, to me it seems not worse than the former. He might have Selima too, unless she be of too little importance for his patriot-collection; or perhaps the connections you had with her may interfere. Che so io? Adieu!-I am yours ever, T. G.

2

LXXXVI. TO HORACE WALPOLE.

Cambridge, December, Monday.

THIS comes du fond de ma cellule to salute Mr. H. W. not so much him that visits and votes, and goes to White's and to Court, as the H. W. in his rural capacity, snug in his tub on Windsor-hill, and brooding over folios of his own creation: him that can slip away, like a pregnant beauty (but a little oftener), into the country, be brought to bed perhaps of twins, and whisk to town again the week after, with a face as if nothing had happened. Among the little folks, my godsons and daughters, I cannot choose but enquire more particularly after the health of one; I mean (without a figure) the Memoires. Do they grow? Do they unite, and hold up their heads, and dress themselves? Do they begin to think of making their appearance in the world, that is to say, fifty years hence, to make posterity stare, and all good people 1 The "Ode on Spring."

2 The "Ode on Mr. Walpole's Cat," drowned in a tub of gold fishes.

cross themselves? Has Asheton (who will then be Lord Bishop of Killaloe, and is to publish them) thought of an aviso all' lettore to prefix to them yet, importing, that if the words church, king, religion, ministry, etc., be found often repeated in this book, they are not to be taken literally, but poetically, and as may be most strictly reconcileable to the faith then established; that he knew the author well when he was a young man; and can testify upon the honour of his function, that he said his prayers regularly and devoutly, had a profound reverence for the clergy, and firmly believed everything that was the fashion in those days?

When you have done impeaching my Lord Lovat, I hope to hear de vos nouvelles, and moreover, whether you have got Colonel Conway yet? Whether Sir C. Williams is to go to Berlin? What sort of a Prince Mitridate may be and whatever other tidings you may chuse to refresh an anchoret with. Frattanto I send you a scene in a tragedy:1 if it don't make you cry it will make you laugh; and so it moves some passion, that I take to be enough. Adieu, dear Sir! I am sincerely yours, T. GRAY.

LXXXVII.-TO THOMAS WHARTON.

MY DEAR WHARTON-You are apprised by this time (I don't doubt) that your Mr. Spencer is chose at Pembroke. I received, while I was at Stoke, a letter

1 The first Scene in Agrippina.

from Tuthill, wherein were these words, "Spencer will, I am almost persuaded, be chose at this audit, and perhaps without a quarrel. I shall vote for him with great pleasure, because I believe he may justly claim it, and because I believe Dr. Wharton would, if he knew of our election, desire it; for he was maintained by his Mr. Wilkinson." Dr. Long did not make any resistance, when he saw how it would go, so Chapman had little occasion for his effectual interest. Oh, by the way I give you joy of that agreeable creature, who has got one of your Prebends of £400 a year, and will visit you soon, with that dry piece of goods, his wife.

Of my house1 I cannot say much: I wish I could! but for my heart it is no less yours, than it has long been; and the last thing in the world, that will throw it into tumults, is a fine lady. The verses 2 you so kindly try to keep in countenance were wrote to divert that particular family, and succeeded accordingly. But being shewed about in town, are not liked there at all. Mrs. French, a very fashionable personage, told Mr. W[alpole] that she had seen a thing by a friend of his, which she did not know what to make of, for it aimed at everything, and meant nothing. To which he replied, that he had always taken her for a woman of sense, and was very sorry to be undeceived. On the other hand the stanzas,3 which I now enclose to you, have had the misfortune, by Mr.

1 The house he was rebuilding in Cornhill.—[Mason.]

2 "The Long Story."—[Mason.]

8 "The Elegy in a Country Church-yard."

W[alpole]'s fault, to be made still more public, for which they certainly were never meant: but is too late to complain. They have been so applauded, it is quite a shame to repeat it. I mean not to be modest; but I mean, it is a shame for those, who have said such superlative things about them, that I can't repeat them. I should have been glad, that you and two or three more people had liked them, which would have satisfied my ambition on this head amply. I have been this month in town, not at Newcastle-house, but diverting myself among my gay acquaintance; and return to my cell with so much the more pleasure. I do not speak of my future excursion to Durham for fear—but at present it is my full intention.

His Prussian Majesty 1 has published the Suite des Memoirs pour servir à l'Histoire de la Maison de Brandebourg, which includes a very free account of his Grandfather's Life, who was the first king of that House, reflections on the gradual advance in science, commerce, etc., of his subjects, and on their changes in religion. It is much in Voltaire's manner. The book itself is at present hard to be got, but you may see a good extract of it in the Mercure Historique, a work published monthly: whether it is in that for October or September I cannot justly say. There is also an account of the History of Crusades, which seems to be Voltaire's, and promises well. I hear talk of a Pamphlet, called Voix du Sage et du Peuple, ascribed to Montesquieu; and a book, styled only

1 Frederick II. of Prussia (1712-1786).

Lettres, by the Procureur General, Fleury, on the power of the clergy in France, but have not seen either of them, being very scarce as yet. Mr. de Buffon has discovered the Speculum of Archimedes, which burns at 200 feet distance; and a chymist in...1

You mention Stonhewer.

I should be glad to

know whether he frequents you? whether you find him improved? and what sort of life he leads among your country-folks? Brown, who has been in the midst of tumults and mutinies lately, and Tuthill, desire their best compliments to you. Mine ever wait on Mrs. Wharton.-Adieu! Believe me, most truly yours.

December 18 [Endorsement 1751], Cambridge.

LXXXVIII.-TO THOMAS WHARTON.

MY DEAR WHARTON-I should not have made this little journey to town, if I had not imagined the situation of your affairs (after the loss you have lately had) would have prevented your design of coming to Cambridge. The pleasure I have here, is not sufficient, I am sure, to balance a much slighter, than I shall have in seeing you again: my stay therefore, will at farthest not be longer than Wednesday next, when your 2 business will be over, and we shall have time, I hope, to make up in some degree for so many years' separation.

1 About nine lines of MS. are lost here.-[Ed.]

2 The MS. is torn, but the tail of a stroke can be seen.-[Ed.]