LETTER X .y- 15 



rather ye Circumstances of ye Sickaess, than ye Sickness itself, 

 that diverted me : I don't think there is a better Answer to ye 

 Question of Original Sia than a Groan ; or a better Satire on 

 Women's disputing it, than your cascading. 



Should I use ye Stile of ye Antidiluvian Lovers in yo 

 Spectator, I might direct my Letter, " from Mulso on ye Plains 

 to White amongst ye Hills." You remember ye Situation of 

 Hampton, & from Hampton I now write. I thank you for en- 

 quiring after my Mother, She is not quite well, but much better 

 than when You saw her, & Miss is at your Service. My Father 

 & Tom are at Gloucester I believe by this Time. I wish you 

 would come & take a Sunshine view of this Place, for indeed ye 

 Day in which You saw it, did not do it Justice. 



Whence is the Pleasure ye mind takes in seeing great men? 

 a large Posse of us walk'd an Hour or two in Hampton Court 

 Gardens yesterday to see ye Mareschall Bellisle & his Brother, 

 who came to dine there with ye Duke of Grafton & a great many 

 more Noblemen : and now what more can I tell You of them 

 than that I saw them ? whereas could One see into their Brains, 

 & mark ye fine movements there, & read ye Plots & Policies that 

 are spun by those able Heads, (for so they are reckon'd) One's 

 Curiosity would not be so insignificant. The common Cuts of him 

 will serve as well for ye Grand Duke. We are forming a Party 

 to Esher, Mr. Pelham's seat, where I expect more Entertain- 

 ment ; & am indeed more curious in the works of Men than 

 their Faces. 



I have just reciev'd a Letter from Collin's, dated Antwerp. 

 He gives me a very descriptive Journal of his Travells thro' 

 Holland to that Place, which He is in Eaptures about, & promises 

 a more particular Account of : He is in high Spirits, tho' near 

 ye French. He was just setting out for ye Army, which He says 

 are in a poor way, & He met many wounded & sick Countrymen 

 as He travell'd from Helvoet-Sluys. 



Tell me how my dear Copper does, & whether Fresco travell'd 

 down safe, & upon four Legs, & tell me what He star'd at most : 

 my Ld Noel would ask what mistresses Copper found on the way. 

 I dare not tell You how much we think ourselves oblig'd to You 

 for your Company in Town, for fear I should introduce a Deluge 

 of Compliments, which might over-run all your next Letter : 

 Write frequently to your affectionate Friend 



J. M. 



P.S. Your Nightcap was found, but not your Penknife, but 

 when You will have either of Them I don't know & I hope You 

 don't care. I had forgotb to tell you that I am up every morn- 

 ing a little after Seven, which I take to be ye Eeason of ye present 

 fine weather — or vice versa. 



