1604. ] 
To Mr. Porter. 
ec SIR, i 
«¢ Tam forced to borrow lady’s paper, 
but I think it will contain all that I can 
well tell you from this place, which is fo 
much out of the world, that nothing but 
the laft great news could have reached it. 
Thave a little tried what folitude and re- 
tirement can afford, which are here in- 
perfection. I am now writing’ to you 
from before a black mountain nodding 
over me, and a whole river in cafcade fall- 
ing fonear me, that even I can ditin@ly 
feeit. Icanonly tell you of the fituation 
Iam in, which would be better expreffed 
by Mr. Grace, if he were here. I hope all 
our friends are well, both at Salifbury and 
Windfor, where I fuppofe you fpent the 
laft week, Pray, whenever you write to 
them, give them my. humble fervice. I 
think to go the next week to Mansfield 
Race alone. Iam told I] fhall fee all the 
country. If I fee any of your acquaint- 
ance, I will do you right to them. I 
hope Mr. Longueville’s picture has been 
well finifhed. . 
Tam, dear Sir, 
Your mot humble fervant,. 
Wii. CONGREVE.” 
Ham, near Afbbourn, in Derbyfbire, 
between 6 and 7 in the Morning, 
Birds finging jolly ; breezes whiftling, é&c. 
(Poft-mark, Auguf? 21.) 
To Mr. Edward Porter, at bis Houfe in 
SurrySireet, ia the Strand, London. 
To Mr. Porter. 
vid Afbley, Thurfday. 
«¢ SIRs, - 
s¢ J am glad Mrs, Porter and you are 
better in health. I was two days (as 
ufual) in hopes that I had been fo too ; 
but Monday was as ill as ever. I am 
again in hopes ; but I can fay little more 
til two or three days more fhall be paft. 
Tis a fubjeét I am weary of. 
I am forry the houfe is not done ; be- 
caufé, if either health or bufinefS fhould 
call me to town, I mult be fadiy incon- 
venienced. I make no doubt but you 
will know as foon as you can what refolu- 
tion Mrs. Draper or the executors will 
come to, for it is equally uneafy to us all 
to be at an uncertainty. In the mean 
Extraéis from the Port-folio of a Man of Letters. 
551 
time, I hope you will let me know when 
fo much of the houfe is done, that if any 
accident thould incline or oblige me ta 
come to town, I may have the f{atistactien 
of knowing where I may be. As to the 
reft, we muft look forward as well as we 
can. 
1 am, with confant inclination and fins 
cerity to Mrs. Porter and yourfelf, 
A very faithful and humble fervant, 
Wo. CONGREVE.” 
To Mr. Porter, at bis Houfe in 
Surrey fireet. 
To Mr. Porter. 
Sir 3 
«© If you can fee Mr. Cuft's to-night, 
pray know of him if it be poffible for me 
to have a picture of Lord Rechefter, 
which was Mrs. Barry's. I think it a 
head. I think it is not, as a painting, any 
very great matier. However, I have a 
very particular reafon why I would have 
it at any reafonable rate ; at leat the re- 
fufal. If this can be done, he will very 
much obiige his and 
Your very humble fervant, 
Wo. ConGREVE.” 
Friday Even. 
rete) 
Jo Mr. Porter. | 
New Year's Day. 
«* This is to with you, and Mrs. Por 
ter, and my friends in Howard-fireet, a 
happy new year ; and next, to condole 
with you for the damned weather. God 
knows when the fnow will let me ftir; or 
if a thaw fhould come upon it, when the 
floods will be down. Iam by a great 
fire, yet my ink freezes fo fat I cannot 
write. ‘The hautboys who played to us 
lat night, had their breath froze in their 
inftruments, till ‘ic dropt off the ends of 
them in icicles. By God this is true.— 
My fervice and forsow to my friends for 
not being with them. 
_ Lam your mof obedient fervant, 
W. CONGREVE.” 
Fer Mr. Porter,at his Houfein Surrey- . 
frreet, 12 the Strand, London. — 
Frank—R. Temple. 
Poft mark, Buckingham, January 4th. 
4B2 PROCEEDINGS 
