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us entertaining company for each other, without being miferable when we are neither visiting nor vifited? can you bend your love and efteem and indifference to others the fame way as I do mine? fhall I have fo much power in your heart, or you so much government of your paffions, as to grow in good humour upon my approach, though provoked by a-? have you fo much good nature as to endeavour by foft words to fmooth any rug ged humour occafioned by the crofs accidents of life? fhall the place wherever your husband is thrown be more welcome than courts and cities without him? In fhort, these are some of the neceffary methods to please men who, like me, are deep-read in the world; and to a perfon thus made, I fhould be proud in giving all due returns towards making her hapFy. These are the queftions I have always refolved to propofe to her with whom I meant to pafs my life; and whenever you can heartily anfwer them in the affirmative, I fhall be bleffed to have you in my arms, without regarding whether your perfon be beautiful, or your fortune large. Cleanliness in the firt and competency in the other, is all I look for. I defire indeed a plentiful revenue, but would rather it fhould be of my own; though I should bear from a wife to be reproached for the greatest.

ters between us.

I have faid all I can poffibly fay in anfwer to any part of your letter, and in telling you my clear opinion as to matI fingled you out at firit from the reft of women; and I expect not to be ufed like a common lover. When you think fit to fend me an anfiver to this without, I fhall then approve my felf, by all means you fhall command, Madam, your most faithful humble fer

vant.

LETTER II.

Dr. Thomas Rundle▾ to Jofeph Taylor, Efq.

Dublin, January 3, 1738-9. IT is an age, my dear Taylor, fince I heard from you: I hope nothing worfe than perverse business hath obtruded itfelf fo entirely on your mind, as to drive me from it. If you are happy, I shall be very easy, whatever is the motive; • Lord Bishop of Derry in Ireland.

because I am fure nothing can have made your old friend lefs dear to you than formerly. Though this winter has its influence on my crazy conftitution, yet the noble cordial, ipecacuanha, frequently taken, undoes all the mifchiefs of the weather, and makes me enjoy ease and cheerfulness, in fpite of the feafon. We have here certainly the most fine winters, and dreary fummers, that can be imagined. Scarcely a day paffeth but the greatest part of it is mild and bright, as April; and if a few happy fhowers refresh the ground, a gentle wind fans it away prefently, and all is ferene and delightful, during the dark days of other climates. But the fummer fhall not make my pa per difmal, and therefore I will not de fcribe it.

My houfe will be quite finished in about fix weeks. It hath coft me a fhameful deal of money; but I am not afraid, that my wife and children that I am to get in my dotage, fhould upbraid me. The whole is handfome, but nothing magnificent, but the garret in which I have lodged my books; and if I have been extravagant in doing them honour, I hope it will be pardoned; because I owe it in fome measure to them, that I was enabled to be at the expence; and gratitude, I hope, can excuse the fault it occafions. Some think it too fplendid for me in my ftation, and will contend it would have been wifer and more decent to have locked my money in a cheft, or fent to France for focial claret, than to fquander it among Irish workmen to enable them to procure beef and potatoes for their hungry families; and build an habitation too elegant for an Irish prelate. Laudatur ab his, culpatur ab illis, is the condition of every action that is done by thofe who are placed in a way of life that is expofed either to flattery or envy; and I am refigned under the common misfortune. Candour furely is all that can be expected, or fhould be defired, in life. I have the confolation to hear, that

every one applauds my taste and my contrivance. I ferved my old houfe as Medufa did the old man, cut it in pieces, cooked it up with my art, and made it young again. In my library, for they have dignified it with that confiderable alienis menfibus eftas. It is 64 feet long; name, I can fay, hic ver perpetuum ac at the eat is a bow window that takes in Nn

a moft

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a fhort journey. But I hope ye
friends, more powerful than
fore that time perfuade yo
place where you are. I d
vice to your mother, in
remembrance: but for a
that way I entreat yo
think I have more
defires of me in the
to be angry at
like fuch compa
good do you v
tion has beer
Adam § afke
as by directic
relation to
hindrance
The andwr
he has f
"That

power of any young fellow of common
fenfe to get a larger fortune than ever
you pretended to: I afked, in order to
confider whether it were fuflicient, with
the help of my poor income, to make
one of your humour eafy in a married
ftate. I think it comes to almoft a hun-
dred pounds a year; and I think at the
fame time that no young woman in the
world of the fame income would dwindle
away their health and life in fuch a fink,
and among fuch family converfation:
neither have all your letters been once
able to perfuade that you have the leaft
value for me, becaufe you fo little re-
garded what I fo often faid upon that
matter. The difmal account you fay I
have given you of my livings I can
affure you to be a true one; and, fince
it is a difmal one even in your own opi-
nion, you can beft draw confequences
from it. The place where Dr. Bolton +
lived is upon a living which he keeps" fro
with the deanery; but the place of refi-
dence for that they have given me is
within a mile of a town called Trim,
twenty miles from hence; and there is "
no other way, but to hire a houfe at
Trim, or build one on the fpot: the first
is hardly to be done, and the other I am
too poor to perform at prefent. For coming
down to Belfast, it is what I cannot ye
think of, my attendance is fo clofe, a
fo much required of me; but our gove
ment fits very loofe, and I believe
change in a few months; whether'
part will partake in the chan
know not, though I am very apt
lieve it; and then I thall be at lei

*Thofe of Laracor and Rathbeggi

This gentleman, as well as D chaplain to Lord Berkeley when one Juftices in Ireland; and was pro deanery of Derry, which had been mited to Dr. Swift: but Mr. Bu fecretary, for weighty reafons be felf, laid Dr. Swift afide, unless a large fum; which the D the utmost contempt and who was alfo minifter of St lin, was advanced to the ! Sept. 12, 1722; tranflate 1724; to Cashel, Jan. He was one of th of his time, and was par aftical history.

1744.

Meaning Lord B of the three Lords Juft ter was appointed Lor following.

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Craig learn not ashamed Jey are talking jects.--We enmufes, and all their as handmaids to ador introduce into our hearts it can make us love the make us worthy his love; se us enjoy life ourselves, a e to make others do fo, with es as well as contentment and

Gentlemen and ladies, d ng, rich and poor, foldiers and meet together often in my library, and omething in the converfation anering, and not unufeful to any of the The hi contribute their fhare of the ment, and are most exquisite med when they please. You see, my friend, banishment is grievous, though it was fevere. Wan they removed me from bufinefs and are, among my friends in country, they gave me otium cum dig read of it. Perhaps the fweed

my

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cration of man is to know what wa - bet for him.

I have led this letter in talking m the work fubject in the world, myle and and my own concerns; but it is a fault the Soward a friend will pardon, though it would be Runecas to others; and the more pur sable, because in this corner of the - world, no news or adventures can hap pft to fill a letter.

I hope the very great wind which w And on Sunday the 13th of this month, -- not reach you. Had it lafted long, sarim would have done incredible mifchie - as it was, it run through the whole Kingdom, killed fome, and ruined many My

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Forgive my indulging myfelf in the s of my first love, to one who is beauties, whilst I am ba

from funfhine, and fe friends, whofe

even Thulè pleaforgotten. If you gardening, and cultig any kind of vegetarees there fhoot with a verdure; the flowers glow olours; and the fruits ripen avour, than in any part of and the fig and the grape re better skies.

ad you are pleafed with Colonel he is a fenfible, friendly, upman; indefatigable in obliging for whom he has conceived an em, and generous to the full exit of his fortune. He has a taste for ne beauties of nature, and indulges himself in the enjoyment of every rational amufement of that kind, which he can purchase with difcretion. You and he ts have many things in common, in the turn of your indefatigable charity, to relieve the diftreffes of mankind; and our hofpital for invalids, by his dexterity and diligence, was raifed from being vox & præterea nihil, into a comfort for many hundreds of unhappy wretches; and is now an honour to our kingdom; and whilft it continues fo, will preferve to pofterity an account of the fortitude, and virtue, and wifdom of Folliot.

ua

who

your

orm to
of good
dent they
obliged
to you, than
nas ever been

to

I intend to continue here till the meeting of the parliament, and then to remove to Mr. John Talbot's, in Red Lionfquare. You know me well enough, to be fure that the chief call I have into England is to enjoy the company of thofe friends, to whofe family and affection I owe all the good fortune of my life. Inclination and gratitude united in determining me to undertake my prefent journey. I defign to continue the winter and fpring in London, and in the beginning of the fummer fee my other friends, and then return to Ireland for ever. I grow too old, and too inactive, to propose any future expeditions. I have recovered my health and fpirits, but not my ftrength. I am infinitely better than ever I expected, or could even hope for, without prefumption; but yet the effects of a diftemper, as well as the infirmities of old age, will difable me from any proNa 2

well as I remem-
aily fituated un-
church; crowded
manner, as not to
y gardens of value;
public walks round
beauty of the land-
warmth of the air, will
- amends for every incon-
me, if any fuch there be.
t informed that you have
poffeffion of it. Whence
I hope it is not from indiffer-
you go down next fpring, I
you my company, if that can
e journey more agreeable.
ll find there every thing that your
able heart can defire, in greater
y, greater elegance, and at lefs ex-
e, than in any city in England, and,
ay almoft fay, Ireland, if I am not
ceived by my memory and my friends.

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I have explained to you the room at large, that you may call me an extrava gant fellow, or juftify me to those who call me fo. If I ive and do well, I fhall fpend my days here in an elegant and cheerful retirement, in old age and the vale of life: if I do not, those who come after me need not grudge what I have bestowed; because it will fell to fome one who likes its beauty, perhaps for as much as it coft, at least for as much as any, who complain of it, could deferve. If I could fee my old English friend in it, it would give me infinitely more joy than all the dead fine landscapes I behold. My chief pleasure here is in converfa tion with chofen friends, who bring learning into chit-chat, and are not ashamed of being cheerful, while they are talking on the moft fublime fubje&s.--We endeavour to make the mufes, and all their polite arts, ferve as handmaids to adora real wisdom; and introduce into our hearts every truth, that can make us love the Creator, or make us worthy his love; that can make us enjoy life ourselves, contribute to make others do fo, with thankfulness as well as contentment and refignation. Gentlemen and ladies, and young, rich and poor, foldiers and bithops, meet together often in my library, and find fomething in the converfation pleafing, and not unufeful to any of them They all contribute their share of the entertainment, and are molt exquifity pleafed when they please.

a most variegated and extended prospect.
In a bright evening the mountains in
Wales are feen by an unaffifted eye; on
the north the higneft hills in Ireland,
more than a degree diftant from us, are
beheld dutinctly. The ocean with its
iflinds, a large river, an harbour rich
with fhips, a city, an university, fome
villages, woods and meadows, and nearer
hills of lefs and more cultivated height,
are mingled together in the most amusing
contraft. Taree windows on the fouth
overlook a range of nursery-gardens, and
meadows ever verdant, interiperfed with
houses, neat, white, and cheerful, where
induftry and contentment feem married
and become the parents of many child-
ren. Round the place, an half circle of
lofty hills, fashioned in the most delight-
ful fhapes, like Virgil's Fame, tread on
the earth, and lift their heads above the
clouds. Could I have the joy to fee you
in Dublin, you should own this defcrip-
tion not fe delightful as the reality. The
room is 20 feet wide, and only 16 high.
It is caved aimoft a third. An entabla-
ture of the Ionic order over round the
whole room unbroken. The frize is en-
riched with the Vitruvian fcrole, adorned
with its proper foliages. The ceiling
is divided into three compartments: the
divifion made agreeable by the plain
Vitruvian fret, and the other work on
the ceiling rather elegant than heavy and
expanfive. The entablature is fupported
with two and thirty three-quarters columns
of the Ionic order, which stand on a pe-
deffal that goes round the room, exactly
of the height of the window from the
Boor. In this pedestal are my largest
books, between the pillars; my leffer
books are ranged uniformly round the
room. In the west fide is the chimney,
formed in the best taste, of an Irish mar-
ble of an excellent polish; over which I
will place a butt of the Chancellor, and
on one fide the Bishop of Durham; and
if I can get a noble copy of Mr. Edward
Talbot, by Vanderback, he fhall adorn
the other; and then the three perfons
dearest to my heart, to whom I have had
the highest (I had almost faid the only)
obligations in life, will appear there to
confecrate my expence, and do them ho-
In the east end is my bow win-
dow, exactly half a circle, whofe diame-
ter is 10 feet. The glafs is bent to an-
fwer the curvature of the building.

nour.

You fee, my friend, my banishment i not grievous, though it was fevere. Wan they removed me from business and active life, among my friends in my ow country, they gave me orium cum dign tate instead of it. Perhaps the sweete condition of man is to know what w beft for him.

I have filled this letter in talking the worst subject in the world, my and my own concerns; but it is a fault that a

friend will pardon, though it would be naufcous to others; and the more pr donable, because in this corner of the world, no news or adventures can hap pen, fit to fill a letter.

I hope the very great wind which w had on Sunday the 13th of this month, did not reach you. Had it lasted long it would have done incredible mifchie but as it was, it run through the what kingdom, killed fome, and ruined many.

My

My most affectionate fervice to your lady and mother. I am, my dear Taylor, yours moft fincerely, &c.

LETTER III.

Forgive my indulging myself in the
praifes of my first love, to one who is
to enjoy her beauties, whilft I am ba-
nished to Thulè, far from sunshine, and
the converfation of thofe friends, whofe
company would make even Thule plea-
fant, and funfhine forgotten.
If you
have any taste for gardening, and culti

Dr. Thomas Rundle to the Reverend vating and amaffing any kind of vegeta

Dean Clarke.

Barrington, Sept. 9, 1740.

My dear friend, IF I was not the most inactive mortal living, I would quickly come to you at Winchester, to affure you what esteem and affection for you have ever been in my heart; but, I believe, I muft defer my vifit to you till I can pay it in that city (Exeter) where I was educated, and which still continues the delight of my imagination. Though I think it by far the finest climate, and most agreeable place of refidence in England, yet it never appeared in fo fair a light to me, as it will, when I fee you prefiding in its cathedral. I have ftill fome few valuable acquaintance left in that country, who will think themselves happy in your friendship, and rejoice to perform to you all the felf-rewarding duties of good neighbourhood; and I am confident they will think themselves more obliged to me for making them known to you, than for all the other civilities it has ever been in my power to fhew them.

Your house there, as well as I remember, is large, but gloomily fituated under the fhadow of the church; crowded with houses in fuch a manner, as not to fuffer you to have any gardens of value; but the variety of public walks round the town, and the beauty of the landfcapes, and the warmth of the air, will make you ample amends for every inconvenience at home, if any fuch there be. But I am juft informed that you have not yet taken poffeffion of it. Whence this delay? I hope it is not from indifference. If you go down next fpring, I will offer you my company, if that can make the journey more agreeable. — You will find there every thing that your hofpitable heart can defire, in greater plenty, greater elegance, and at lefs expence, than in any city in England, and, I may almoft fay, Ireland, if I am not deceived by my memory and my friends.

ble riches, the trees there fhoot with a more luxuriant verdure; the flowers glow with warmer colours; and the fruits ripen to a richer flavour, than in any part of this ifland; and the fig and the grape fcarce defire better skies.

I am glad you are pleafed with Colonel Folliot; he is a fenfible, friendly, upright man; indefatigable in obliging thofe for whom he has conceived an efteem, and generous to the full extent of his fortune. He has a tafte for the beauties of nature, and indulges himself in the enjoyment of every rational amufement of that kind, which he can purchase with difcretion. You and he have many things in common, in the turn of your indefatigable charity, to relieve the diftreffes of mankind; and our hofpital for invalids, by his dexterity and diligence, was raifed from being vox 5 præterea nihil, into a comfort for many hundreds of unhappy wretches; and is now an honour to our kingdom; and whilft it continues fo, will preferve to pofterity an account of the fortitude, and virtue, and wifdom of Folliot.

I intend to continue here till the meet

ing of the parliament, and then to remove to Mr. John Talbot's, in Red Lionfquare. You know me well enough, to be fure that the chief call I have into England is to enjoy the company of those friends, to whofe family and affection I owe all the good fortune of my life. Inclination and gratitude united in determining me to undertake my prefent journey. I defign to continue the winter and fpring in London, and in the beginning of the fummer fee my other friends, and then return to Ireland for ever. I grow too old, and too inactive, to propofe any future expeditions. I have recovered my health and fpirits, but not my ftrength. I am infinitely better than ever I expected, or could even hope for, without prefumption; but yet the effects of a diftemper, as well as the infirmities of old age, will difable me from any pro

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