The fituation here is pleafant, and the view rural enough, to humour the most retir'd, and agree with the moft contemplative. Good air, folitary groves, and fparing diet, fufficient to make you fancy your felf (what you are in temperance, tho' elevated into a greater figure by your station) one of the Fathers of the Defart. Here you may think (to ufe an author's words, whom you fo juftly prefer to all his followers that you'll receive them kindly tho' taken from his worst work) That in Elijah's banquet you partake, I am fincerely free with you, as you de- Your obedient, &c. Carteret. From From the Bishop of ROCHESTER. April 6, 1722. Nder all the leifure in the world, I UN have no leisure, no ftomach to write to you; the gradual approaches of death are before my eyes. I am convinc'd, that it must be fo; and yet make a fhift to flatter my felf fometimes with the thought, that it may poffibly be otherwife. And that very thought, tho' it is directly contrary to my reafon, does for a few moments make me eafy however not eafy enough in good earnest to think of any thing but the melancholy object that employs them. Therefore wonder not that I do not anfwer your kind letter: I fhall answer it too foon, I fear, by accepting your friendly invitation. When I do fo, no conveniencies will be wanting for I'll fee no body but you and your mother, and the fervants. Vifits to Statesmen always were to me (and are now more than ever) infipid things; let the men that expect, that with to thrive by them, pay them that homage; I am free. When I want them, they fhall hear of me at their doors and when they want me, I fhall be fure to hear of them at mine. But probably they will defpife me so much, and I I fhall court them fo little, that we fhall both of us keep our distance. When I come to you, 'tis in order to be with you only: A Prefident of the council, or a Star and Garter will make no more impreffion upon my mind, at fuch a time, than the hearing of a bag-pipe, or the fight of a Puppet-show. I have faid to Greatness fometime ago Tuas tibi res habeto, egomet curabo meas. The Time is not far off when we shall all be upon the level: and I am refolv'd for my part to anticipate that time, and be upon the level with them now for he is fo, that neither feeks nor wants them. Let them have more Virtue and lefs Pride: and then I'll court them as much as any body: but till they refolve to diftinguish themselves fome way elfe than by their outward Trappings, I am determined (and I think I have a right) to be as proud as they are: tho' I trust in God, my pride is neither of fo odious a nature as theirs, nor of fo mifchievous a confequence. I know not how I have fallen into this train of thinking when I fat down to write I intended only to excuse my self for not writing, and to tell you that the time drew nearer and nearer when I muft dif lodge. I am preparing for it: For I am at this moment building a Vault in the Abbey for me and mine. 'Twas to be in the Abbey, Abbey, because of my relation to the place; but 'tis at the weft door of it; as far from Kings and Cæfars as the fpace will admit of. I know not but I may ftep to town to morrow, to fee how the work goes forward; but if I do, I fhall return hither in the evening. I would not have given you the trouble of this letter but that they tell me it will cost you nothing, and that our privilege of Franking (one of the moft valuable we have left) is again allow'd us.:: I Yours, &c. From the Bishop of ROCHESTER. Bromley, May 25, 1722. Had much ado to get hither last night,the water being fo rough that the ferry-men were unwilling to venture. The first thing I faw this morning after my eyes were open, was your letter, for the freedom and kindnefs of which I thank you. Let all compliments be laid afide between us for the future; and depend upon me as your faithful friend in all things within my pow'r, as one that truly values you, and wishes you all manner of happiness. I thank you and Mrs Pope for my kind reception, which has left a pleafing impreffion upon me that will not foon be effac'd. Lord Lord has prefs'd me terribly to fee him at * and told me in a manner betwixt kindness and refentment, that it is but a few miles beyond Twitenham. 17 ་ I have but a little time left, and a great deal to do in it; and muft expect that ill health will render a good share of it useless: and therefore what is likely to be left at the foot of the account, ought by me to be cherih'd, and not thrown away in compliments. You know the motto of my fundial, Vivite, ait, fugio. I will as far as I am able, follow it's advice, and cut off all unneceffary avocations and amufements. There are thofe that intend to employ me this winter in a way I do not like if they perfift in their intentions, I muft apply my felf to the work they cut out for me, as well as I can. But withal, that fhall not hinder me from employing myself alfo in a way which they do not like. The givers of trouble one way fhall have their fhare of it another; that at laft they may be induc'd to let me be quiet, and live to my felf, with the few (the very few) friends I like: For that is the point, the fingle point, I now aim at; tho' I know, the generality of the world who are unacquainted with my intentions and views, think the very reverse of this character belongs to me. I don't know * Bolingbroke. |