Copy of an original Letter from John (Superfcribed) "Al illuftriffimo Sigre "Carlo Dryden, Camariere "d'Honore A. S. S. In Roma. "Franca per Mantoua. 66 "Dear Sons, "Sept. the 3d, our style. Being now at Sir William Bowyer's in "the country, I cannot write at large, be"cause I find myself somewhat indisposed “with a cold, and am thick of hearing, "rather worse than I was in town. I am glad to find, by your letter of July 26th, 66 your style, that you are both in health; but wonder you should think me fo neg ligent as to forget to give you an account "of the ship in which your parcel is to 66 come. I have written to you two or "three letters concerning it, which I have "fent by fafe hands, as I told you, and " doubt not but you have them before this 66 can arrive to you. Being out of town, "I have forgotten the fhip's name, which your mother will enquire, and put it into “her letter, which is joined with mine. 66 "But "But the master's name I remember: he " is called Mr. Ralph Thorp; the ship is "bound to Leghorn, configned to Mr. "Peter and Mr. Thomas Ball, merchants. "I am of your opinion, that by Tonfon's "means almost all our letters have mif"carried for this last year. But, how 66 ever, he has miffed of his design in the "Dedication, though he had prepared "the book for it; for in every figure of "Eneas he has caufed him to be drawn "like King William, with a hooked nofe, "After my return to town, I intend to "alter a play of Sir Robert Howard's, "written long fince, and lately put in my "hands: 'tis called The Conquest of China "by the Tartars. It will coft me fix weeks "study, with the probable benefit of an "hundred pounds. In the mean time I "am writing a fong for St. Cecilia's Feaft, "who, you know, is the patronefs of "mufick. This is troublesome, and no 66 way beneficial; but I could not deny the "Stewards of the Feaft, who came in a body to me to defire that kindness, one "of them being Mr. Bridgman, whofe 46 parents are your mother's friends. I "hope to fend you thirty guineas between "Michaelmas "Michaelmas and Christmas, of which "I will give you an account when I come "to town. I remember the counsel you 46 66 66 give me in your letter; but diffembling, "though lawful in fome cafes, is not my "talent; yet, for your fake, I will struggle with the plain openness of my nature, and keep in my juft refentments against that degenerate order. In the "mean time, I flatter not myself with any manner of hopes, but do my duty, and "fuffer for God's fake; being affured, be"fore-hand, never to be rewarded, though "the times fhould alter. Towards the "latter end of this month, September, "Charles will begin to recover his perfect health, according to his nativity, which, 66 66 66 casting it myself, I am fure is true, and "all things hitherto have happened accordingly to the very time that I pre"dicted them: I hope at the fame time to recover more health according to my 66 66 age. Remember me to poor Harry, "whose prayers I earnestly defire. My "Virgil fucceeds in the world beyond its "defert or my expectation. You know "the profits might have been more; but "neither my confcience nor my honour "would "would fuffer me to take them: but I "never can repent of my conftancy, since "I am thoroughly perfuaded of the juf"tice of the caufe for which I fuffer. "It has pleafed God to raise up many "friends to me amongst my enemies, though they who ought to have been my friends are negligent of me. I am "called to dinner, and cannot go on with this letter, which I defire you to excufe; 66 SMITH. E DMUND SMITH is one of thofe lucky writers who have, without much labour, attained high reputation, and who are mentioned with reverence rather for the poffeffion than the exertion of uncommon abilities. Of his life little is known; and that littlè claims no praise but what can be given to intellectual excellence, feldom employed to any virtuous purpose. His character, as given by Mr. Oldifworth, with all the partiality of friendship, which is faid by Dr. Burton to fhew "what fine things one "man of parts can fay to another," and which, however, comprises great part of what can be known of Mr. Smith, it is better to transcribe at once than to take by pieces. I fhall fubjoin fuch little memorials as accident has enabled me to collect. Mr. |