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not only favourably, but kindly and trendly dealt with.

Marui parcas oryx dlfitt codum *.

The truth is, I long for another fuch pices frap as I had after your firft

amit for me; that if you are as fucfecond, and find that your gence has made impreffion, and nere be a real foundation of hope, I nas come up quickly to make my ca tempt upon my old friend. Yury of friendship could not but ge, it being one of my darling ; especially being in an author, though he perpetually does all he to turn all morality and virtue into rose, is yet forced to pay this, and ene er two more remarkable tributes of acnowledgment, to the principle of foy and friendship, which is the real principle of life, the end of life, and ex (as fome philofophers would have it) the means. Horace in his wild days was et another opinion; but when he came in a riper age to ftate the queftion,

have my old friend to be heartily poor, and accordingly make an experiment of me by fuch a legacy. But I am afraid he hardly thinks me capable of accepting of it; or if he did, I know not whether he would think the more favourably of

me. Mine is a hard cafe indeed, when tereted a part; and yet must be careful I am on one fide obliged to act fo difinon the other fide, left, for not loving mofe-ney, I fhould be thought an ill fon-inlaw, and unfit to be entrusted with any thing. Thus you fee I mix love and philofophy, and fo I fhould politics and public affairs with private, if my place at this time was not the country and yours the town. However, I cannot forbear intreating you to fend me word, whether the propofal about Dunkirk § was from our friend in the ministry or not? for I heard he difliked it, or feemed to do fo; and for the laft there may be good reason as he is a statesman; for the former, I can fee none, but am rather inclined to think, that as a generous and true ftatefman, he had for many reafons (in refpect of foreign and home affairs) contrived that the propofal fhould feem ther than from the cabinet council, and as to have its rife from a popular heat, raa deliberate thought. But if my own thought of it be fond, it is in the way of friendship ftill; for I could with a friend the happiness of being author of every public good that was poffible for him, and not to be a hinderance or obftruction to any.

Quidve ad amicitias, ufus rectumve trabat nos †?

name.

he always gives it for the latter, and would not allow virtue to be a mere Let who will defpife friendship, or deny a focial principle, they will, if they are any thing ingenuous, be urged one time or another to confefs the power of it and if they enjoy it not themfelves, will admire or envy it in others. And when they have inverted the whole matter of life, and made friendships, and acquaintances, and alliances ferve only as a means to the great and fole end of intereft, they will find by certain tokens within their own breafts, that they are fhort of their true and real interefts of life, for this is in reality,

Propter vitam vivend· perdere caufas. Your judgment too, of the first of the parts in the ftory of friendship, is in my opinion perfectly juft. My natural ambition in friendship made me wish to be the poor man rather of the two; though fince I have lately had to deal with a rich one, I have wifhed often to change parts; and keeping the wealth I have, would fain

Hot. Lib. 4. Od. 12. ver. 17.

This story, which is well worth perufing, is Lucian's Toxaris, or difcourfe of friendship. Hor. Lib. 4. Od. 12. ver. 75.

To conclude, one word about my private affair, and I have done for this time. fits, and made your utmost effort to fee I beg you, when you have been your viwhat foundation I may hope for, you though I have private affairs of fome would write me a line inftantly. For confequence, that fhould keep me here at least a month or fix weeks longer, I roads are paffable and weather tolerable, will defpife all of that kind: and now the will come up at a week's warning; if a man who loves and admires, is known though never feen, can pofiibly be favoured or thought to deserve. For if fo foundation for acting boldly. the caufe is nobler, and there is a better adieu. Adieu,

ing of its harbour, which was first propofed in the The demolishing of its fortifications and ruisunaccomplished treaties of the Hague and Gertruy denburg, 1703.

LETTER LXXXIX.

Lord Shaftesbury to Robert Molefworth, Ef
Dear Sir, Beachworth, June 3, 1709.

I

T is now long fince I had fixed my thoughts on nothing but the happinefs of feeing you, and profiting of thofe advantages which the perfecteft friendship, with the greatest addrefs, and indefatigable pains, had compaffed in my behalf. There was nothing I might not have hoped from fuch a foundation as you had laid; and all the enchantments in the world could not have held proof, had my fad fate allowed me but to have followed my guide, and executed what my general had fo ably defigned. But not a ftar, but has been my enemy. I had hardly got over the unnatural winter, but with all the zeal imaginable I dispatched my affairs, and came up from the weft, thinking to furprise you by a vifit. The hurry I came away in, and the fatigue of more than ordinary bufinefs I was forced to difpatch that very morning I fet out, joined with the ill weather which returned again upon my journey, threw me into one of my ill fits of the afthma, and almoft killed me on the road. After a few weeks I got this over, and my hopes revived; and last week I went to Chelfea, paid my vifit next day to the old man, found him not at home, refolved to redouble my vifits, and once more endeavour to move him. But the winds returned to their old quarter, I had London fmoke on me for a day or two; grew extremely ill with it, and was forced to retire hither, where I have but just recovered breath.

What shall I do in fuch a cafe? To trouble you further I am afhamed; afhamed too that I fhould have pufhed fuch an affair, to which my ftrength was fo little fuitable; and yet afhamed to defift, after what I have done, and the vaft trouble I have put you to. But fortune has at length taught me that leffon of philofophy, "to know myself," my conflitution I mean; for my mind (in this respect at least) I know full well. And I wish in all other things I could be as unerring and perfect as I have been in this affair; in which I am certain no ambition, or thought of intereft, has had any part though it may look as if all my aim had been fortune, and not the

13

427

perfon and character of the lady, as I have pretended. But in this I dare alheart. Whether the lady does, or ever moft fay with affurance, You know my will, God knows: for I have scarce the heart left to tell it her, had I the opportunity.

So much for my fad fortune.

I hope however to be at Chelsea again in a few days, and I long for the happinefs of feeing you there: for I have no hopes of being able to wait on you at your lodgings.

If the Queen goes foon to Windsor, I hope foon to fee the great man, our friend; whom I can eafier vifit there, than at St. James's. He has been fo kind to inquire after me with particular favour, and has fent me a kind meffage in relation to public affairs. I am, dear Sir, your moft obliged friend and faithful humble fervant,

I

LETTER XC. From the fame to the jame, My dear friend, Chelsea, June 15, 1709. WAS this day to wait again on my old Lord. I found him as civil and obliging as ever. But when I came to make mention of my affair, I found the subject was uneafy to him. I did but take occafion, when he spoke in praife of my little house and ftudy, to tell him I built it in a different view from what his Lordship knew me to have of late; for I had then (I told him) no thoughts beyond a fingle life. I would have added, that fince I was unhappy in my firft offer, and had turned my thoughts as I had lately done, when I flattered myself in the hopes of his favour, I could no longer enjoy the place or his neighbourhood with the fatisfaction I had done before. found he was deaf on this ear. He feemed to exprefs all the uneafinefs that could be, and I could go no further. I fee there is no hope left for me. If he thought any one fincere, I believe I might be as likely as any one to be trufted by him. But I am afraid he thinks but the worse of me, for pretending to value his daughter as I do; and for protesting, that I would be glad to take her without a farthing, present or future, and yet fettle all I have, as I have offered him. He will not easily find

-But I

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not only favourably, but kindly and have my friendly dealt with.

Nardi parvus cnyx eliciet cadum

The truth is, I long for another precious ferap as I had after you attempt for me; that if you are cefsful in a fecond, and find t' good advice has made impre that there be a real foundati I may come up quickly to cond attempt upon my old Your story of friendsh delight me, it being o pieces ; efpecially b who, though he per can to turn all mo ridicule, is yet fo

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Book II.

might be acquitted, I have made. But

An occafion from the ill fucprove how much more fill ay friend, in defiring to make t of me while I live, and keep you can of me for memory-fake rwards. This is the kindest part in the world; and I cannot bring myself fo much as to fuppofe a poffibility of your flattering me. I have an eafy faith in friendship. My friends may difpofe of me as they pleafe, when they thus lay claim to me; and whilft they find me of any ufe to them, or think I have any t, power ftill to ferve mankind or my counments and try in fuch a sphere as is yet left for me, Aike you next, endihip you I can live as happy in a crazy ftate of

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Linot think injure it and diverfions, as if I enjoyed them in was to truly friend- health, and out of the way of pleasures pens of thanks and acknowledg- the highest degree. If marriage can be ime I expect you fhould take all engage with; and my choice, I am fenYou will have me take all of this kind am content to engage. I must do my my, and as your faithful friend have wilely prefcribed for me.

fuitable to fuch a circumftance of life, I

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LETTER XCI.

best to render it agreeable to thofe I

fible, ought for this reafon to be as you

I muft

refolve to facrifice other advantages, to obtain what is principal and effential in my cafe.

What other people will fay of fuch a match, I know not; nor what motive

Lo Sheary to Robert Molefworth, Efq, they will affign for it, when interest is

My dear friend,

CAN

Beachworth,
July 9, 1709.

difappointment in a friend's con

than in one's own.

fet afide. Love, I fear, will be scarce a tolerable pretence in fuch a one as I am:

hardly be reconciled to you, for and for a family, I have a brother fil ing fo much as you have done, to alive whom I may have ftill fome hopes of. four concern for the difappoint. What a weakness then would it be thought of my a friend, nor have lived fo little in the and not in the highest degree of quality world, as not to know by experience, neither? Will it be enough that I take that as often of more trouble to one right education, fit for a mere wife; and And I was fo fa- with no advantage but fimple innocence, tand this was your cafe, that I was will modefty, and the plain qualities of a good ing to diminish the lofs and make as mother and a good nurfe? fight of it as poffible, the better to little the modern relifh, as that old facomfort you, and prevent your being too fhioned wife of Horace's, much concerned at what had happened. done it; but as to the lady, I own the Can you or my friends, who prefs me to As to the fortune, I might fincerely have lofs is great enough: for, befides her this, bear me out in it? character and education, he was the firit all the notions of virtue (which you,

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ince me what a friend you
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our friend and humble fervant.

I miffed our great friend, when I was laft to vifit him at St. James's. I intend for Windfor very foon, if I am able.

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Dear Sir,

Reygate in Surrey,
Nov. 1, 1709.

I have had any real joy in my new

am not ashamed to fay it) I have for many years known no other pleasure, or intereft, or fatisfaction, in doing any thing, but as I thought it right, and what became me to my friends and country. Not that I think I had the lefs pleafure for this reafon; but honefty will always be thought a melancholy thing to those who go but half way into the reafon of it, and are honeft by chance or by force of nature, not by reafon and conviction. Were I to talk of marriage, and forced to fpeak my mind plainly, and without the help of humour or raillery, I fhould doubtlefs offend the most part of fober married people, and the ladies chiefly; for I fhould in reality think I did wonders in extolling the happiness of my new ftate, and the merit of my wife in particular, by faying, that I verily thought myself as happy a man And is not that fubject

now as ever.

enough of joy! What would a man of fenfe with more? For my own part, if I find any fincere joy, it is because I promised myself no other than the fatiffaction of my friends, who thought my family worth preferving, and myself worth nurfing in an indifferent crazy flate, to which a wife (if a real good one) is a great help.

Such a one I have found; and if by her help or care I can regain a tolerable fhare of health, you may be fure it will be employed as you defire, fince my marriage itself was but a means to that end.

I' fate, it was they chiefly when I reThe ceived yours, that wished it me. two or three friends whom, besides yourfelf, I pretend to call by that name, were fo much parties to the affair, and fo near me, that their part of congratulation was in a manner anticipated. Happily you were at a good distance, and point de vae to fee right; for as little truft as I allow to the common friendship of the world, I am fo prefumptuous in this cafe of a near and intimate friend, that, inftead of mistrusting their affection, I am rather afraid of its rendering them too partial. The intereft and part which I believe them ready to take in my concern, makes me with them fometimes to fee me (as they should do themselves) from a distance, and in a lefs favourable Fight. So that, although I have had godfathers to my match, I have not been confirmed till I had your approbation: and though (thank God) I have had faith to believe myself a good Chriftian without epifcopal confirmation, I fhould have thought myself an ill hufband, and but half married, if I had not received your concluding fentence and friendly bleffing. In good earnest (for to you I

Terent. Adelph, A&t. 5. Sc. 8. ver. 21.

11

I have deferred three or four posts the anfwering yours, in expectation of reporting fomething to you from our great Lord, to whom I had lately fent a letter; he having before let me know that he would foon write to me upon fomething of moment; but as yet I have heard nothing. Only, as oft as he fees a friend of ours, he inquires after me with parti cular kindness. I am now at fuch a convenient distance from him, whether he be at St. James's, Kenfington, or Windfor, that when the weather and wind ferve for me, and I am tolerably well, I can in four or five hours driving be ready to attend him. Other attendance I am not, you know, capable of; nor can I expect fuch a change of health as that comes to: for fincerely it depends on that alone. As proudly as I have carried myself to other ministers, I could as willingly país a morning waiting at

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I was with him at Windfor, rere, I could not omit fpeakyourfelf. The time I had as much interrupted by comw not how my intereft, on as this, is like to grow; but ait fhall not want any cultien an honeft man, and in my es, can poffibly bestow upon e has, or comes to have any on of my capacity or knowmuit withal regard me in the make of friends. And if it as fortunately as it has done, ef friend I have, and the firft confider in public affairs, wa his own acquaintance and rend, one would think he fhould wads come to fet a higher value L: and fince he cannot have one adass near him who gladly would be fo, all oblige another who is willing and Ard in reality, if at this time coming up depends only on his wifh avea tell me) and the commands he wave for you, I fhall much wonder orgets the advantage, or thinks he apenfe with your prefence at fuch a

Your character of Lord Wharton is generous. I am glad to hear fo * of him. If ever I expected any ublic good where virtue was wholly ek, it was in his character; the most Aterious of any in my account, for this waton. But I have feen many proofs of this monstrous compound in him, of the very worst and belt. A thoufand kind thanks to you in my own and fpoufe's name, for your kind thoughts of feeing I add only my repeated fervice and good withes, as your old and faithful friend and obliged humble fervant.

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LETTER XCIII.
From Sir John Cropley to
Dear Sir, Red-Lion Square, Auguft 16.
MY Lord Shaftesbury has defired me

to make you his excufe at this time; and I am fure when I tell you what hinders him, you will be more pleafed with a letter from me, than with any you have ever had from him. However, I

know in a poft or two he will do it himfelf, and tell you he is come acquainted with a perfon that has every qualification, but equality of fortune, to make her a fuitable match. I believe no man ever had a furer prospect of his own and family's happiness. I am only concerned that fo good a friend as you, are not here, to be that way a partaker with myfelf of this; and my Lord laments it himfelf as much. His health, which is our beft article, is become fo good this weather, that he has been able to make his Windfor journey without hurting himfelf; and the good impreffion your friend, my Lord Treasurer, made at first on my Lord, daily increafes. And I muft own, fince our friend has fteered by our compafs, and has taken this refolution at our request, and for his country's good, I with it was as fuch told your friend, my Lord Treasurer; and the more, fince I find my Lord Shaftesbury is defirous of cultivating all ways the foot they now ftand on. I would not have this pals for a light act, which in itself is fo far from it*. And I must fay again, the choice is fo good in all refpects but that one, which my Lord is very well able to difpenfe with, that even fome Whig friends that do not love him (whatever they pretend) for so often putting them out of countenance, and arraigning their conduct, will not be able to wound him at all: though, as a fincere friend to my Lord Shaftesbury, I must own it is the only place I fear hurt from; and fo am the more willing to put you in mind of this fence againit it. If your occafions fhould be fo preffing to get the better of your inclinations, and keep you from doing this in the beft way, yet I hope, in your correfponding with my Lord Trea furer, you will remember this by the very firit opportunity. My Lord Shaftelbury is now at Beachworth. I fhall be with him to-morrow; and Mr. Micklethwayt, who is now here, will have me add his humble refpects. 1 can fay, no man is with greater faithfulness, gratitude, and refpe&t, than myfelf, dear Sir, your most humble and moit obedient fer

vant.

but Mick fays we have none.
I will not pretend to give you news,
I beg my
best refpects and good wishes to your fons.

* Meaning Lord Shaftesbury's marriage.

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