vanish, and a far fuperior Enjoyment take Place. Mr. GRAVES promised to be in London for a Week, but his little Politics are, you know, very uncertain. I have ftruck a bold Stroke fince I have been in Town; I mean a laced Coat, for really Waistcoats coft as much, and are no Mark of Diftinction after all. Sir T. HEAD comes to Town this Week ; but I believe, I shall not stay above a Week longer, so would have you direct to me at Whitchurch. I defign to go to Court one Night. I muft, as you fee, write fhort, my Paper drawing to an End. It is with Pleafure I hear, that old People confefs a Play is now worth feeing, and that GARRICK excels BETTERTON, &c. In the Diversity of his Genius, he must far exceed him; when we see him alternately in a Richard and Scrub, in a Lear, and Abel Drugger, he is truly aftonifhing. This Excellence of our dramatic Reprefentations is another Reafon to wish you here. CAMPIONI is a charming new Dancer. The Meffiah was performed laft Night, but I could not go.-But I must write no more Tattle. I have just been with Mr. SHUGBOROUGH, and gave him your Orders about the Pamphlets, and have picked out fome myself, VOL. II.

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viz.

viz. the Odes, the new Play, and the Poem on Sickness.

I wish there had been any better Prints to have enclosed in this Letter; I fhould have been glad to have fent them. The Pamphlets I have ordered to be fent immediately, directed to be left at Mr. AUDLEY's, in Birmingham. The Regret I always feel for your Abfence will ever instruct me how to value you, that is beyond what the elaborate Conclufion of a Letter can exprefs; therefore I will not endeavour to say how much, but in an unlimited Manner be fond to remain

yours,

A. WHISTLER.

April 13. George's Coffee-house.

I have no gilt Paper at Hand, which is a Fault; pray excufe it. Mr. PEMBERTON is with me, and begs his Service.

LET

LETTER X.

Mr. WHISTLER to W. SHENSTONE, Efq.

Dear Mr. SHENSTONE,

Generally write to you, because I want to hear from you; but having lately wrote to you, I now write because I want to see you. In short the Cafe is this: I fhall be at Oxford in about three Weeks Time, or fooner, and I have Reason to think it will be the last Time I fhall be there, I mean in my Gown. Now as I am willing ftill to retain an agreeable Image of the Place where I have spent so many happy Hours, I make this Requeft, that you would ftamp the laft Impreffion upon my Mind. I beg you would meet me there, and give me the Confirmation of your Friendfhip, which I fhall efteem a greater Honour than all the Degrees the formal Convocation. can bestow; and I think of you, as JUBA does of CATO, and declare, I would rather have your Praife, than Worlds for my Admirers.

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mirers. I have forgot the Measure, but this is directly my Sentiment.

I lately wrote you a long Letter, as you were fo kind to defire; and in fo very lazy unintellectual a Manner, that I am fure half the Mortals, who only understand with their Eyes and by the Grammar, could never have comprehended: but I would converse with you Soul to Soul, have a Hint understood by you, and not be obliged to a tedious Period to communicate a Thought to you; I would have my Soul ftand naked before you, and shiver at the least Breath of Kindness your moft diftant Meaning fhall breathe on it

Oh, happy State, when Souls each other draw, &c. Mr. POPE.

This I am fure your quick Apprehenfion is capable of; and by a Defire of the stricteft Union with you, I am fond to believe as well of myself. You fee I am propofing every Scheme which may unite you more closely to me, therefore I beg you will not refufe me the Request I made at the Beginning of my

Letter.

Letter. I will fay no more now, but when I am with you, defign to talk away as you fhall inspire. In the mean Time, I boaft, that it is the most fagacious Inftinct which pushes me on to fubfcribe myself

your most affectionate Friend

and humble Servant,

A. WHISTLER.

LETTER XI.

Mr. WHISTLER to W. SHENSTONE, Efq,

Dear Sir,

S Hope is the chief Spring of all our Actions, and as Pleasure is the fole Object of that Hope, you must not wonder if the Stile of this Letter appears more languid than usual. How quickly is the Transition often made from Hope to Defpair! But a little While,

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