245. 
expreft in poetry ; and if, from the conti- 
muance of your good opinion, I may derive 
feme imagination, that youthought me rot 
_ aworfe man than a poet, itis a greater ob- 
_ Isgationto me perfonallythan even the other. 
hope my having taken an opportunity,the 
only way my poor abilities can,of telling all 
men I no lefs efteem and love the fon, will 
not be ungrateful to you, or quite dif- 
pleafing. If any objection to the manner 
of it occurs to your Lordfhip, I depend on 
you, both as a friend and a judge, to tell 
me fo; otherwife I will interpret your f1- 
tence asa content to let me acquaint every 
body, that fam (what I truly feel my- 
xelf} “¢ My Lord, 
“¢ Your ever affectionate 
<s. And ever obliged humble 
~ * Servant, 
‘Ai. Pope. 
e¢ My Lady and Lady Margaret don’t 
know how much I am theirs, unlefs your 
Lordthip will tell them you believe it of 
me. And my 
tho” feebly) exprefles her fervice to you 
all.” 
«¢ my LORD, mt OG. 205.3733 
«¢ T am returned a week fince from my 
Lord Peterborow, with whom I paft three 
weeks as agreeably and as healthfully as 
Fever did in'my life. I was not a little 
difappointed not to find your Lordfhip in 
London, tho’, confidering the fine weather, 
and how late in the feafon you enjoyed it, 
Fought not to lament an abjence which 
muft both give you health and pleafure. 
Your boufe I found totally at my fervice, 
and took up my choice (like a young and 
ambitious man) in no room of it but La- 
dy Margaret’s. How much might I fay 
ea that fubject, were Ia poet! But the 
ssisfortune of being, what feldom confifts 
with that charaéter, a bafhful and back- 
' ward man, keeps me filent. I fhall be 
Sele in town (fat all) till you return ; 
and, in truth, fince I came home, I have 
bad my health fo ill, that I muft, ina 
manner, live by myfelf ; and think I mutt 
either lead fuch a life as I did at South- 
ampton, which is inconfiftent with a town 
life, or lock myfelf up from ail converfa- 
bie hours while am in town. I beg to 
bear a line of your fatisfaétions and 
amufements, for of your ftate of health I 
am daily informed by your honeft porter ; 
but the other he knows not, and I am noe 
guite contented withoutit. That all en- 
joyments may be yours, and all good 
things attend your whole worthy family, 
is the fincere prayer always of, . 
«¢ My Lord, your faithful fervant, 
eA. POPE. 
Fram the Part-folio of a@ Man of Letiers. 
poor old woman heartily’ 
[Apzil 1, 
Jo the Right Hon. the Earl of Oxford and 
Mortimer, Wimpole, Cambridgeshire. 
“MY LORD, “Dec.26, 1744s 
T SINCERELY wifh yourfelf, Lady Ox-. 
ford, and Lady Margaret, the happieft 
new years to come.. I have fo many 
things to tell you, that I can tell you none: 
and therefore am inclined not to write at 
all. Whatever I can fay of my zealous 
defires for your felicity is fhort of the 
truth ; and, as to the reft, it is too longa 
ftory to begin till I have the pleafure to 
meet your Lordfhip, and can, at the fame 
time, make an end of it. ; 
«¢ This I writ a week agoe, and having 
nothing more material to fay, was afhamed 
to fend it. But, feeing they can’t tell me 
when you return to tewn, I was refolved 
not to let the feafon pafs, without fending 
you all this poor wifh; at leaft, I hope 
my Lady Oxford is perfe€tly well, tho’ 
I heard fhe has not been fo, notwithftand- 
ing your porter has often told me all was 
well at Wimpole. Believe me to be, 
with. the trueft efteem, and unalterable 
fincerity , “¢ My Lord, 
‘© Your Lordfhip’s moft 
** Obedient affectionate 
<« And obliged fervant, 
at Fan. 79173 Fe A. POPES” 
‘© If Lord Duplin be with you, I hope 
he will accept my huinble fervices.” 
LADY JANE GREY. . 
Ameng the Harleian manuferipts in 
the Britith Mufeum, 2342 is a {mall ma- 
nual of devotions, fuppofed to have been 
made for Edward, Duke of Somerfet (Pro- 
tector under Edward VI.) upen his firft 
commitment tothe Tower. In the lower 
margin are the following notes, two in the 
hand-writing of Lady Jane Grey, and a 
third in that of Lord Guildford Dudley. 
The manual feems to have been fent them 
by its owner for the purpofe. 
Fol. 59. b.—** Your lovyng and obe- 
dyent fon wifchethe unto your Grace long 
lyfe in this world, with as muche joy and 
comforte as ever: I wyfhte to my {felfe; 
and in the world to come joy everlaftyng. 
<¢ Your moft humble fon tel his dethe, 
“© G. DuDDELEY.” 
The fecond note, from Lady Jane, is 
apparently addreffed to Sir John Gage, at 
that time Lieutenant of the Tower. 
Fol. 74. b.—‘* Forafmutche as you 
have defired fo fimple a woman to wrighte 
in fo worthye a booke, goode Mayfter 
Lieaftenaunte, therefore I fhall as a 
frende defyre you, and’as a Chriftian re- 
quire you, to call uppon God to encline 
youre harte to his lawes to quicken you 
il 
