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Superscribed,

Al Illustrissimo Sig.
Carlo Dryden,

Camariere d'Honore A. S. S.

Franca per Mantoua.

In Roma.

To this Letter Lady Elizabeth Dryden subjoined, on the same paper, the following Postscript :

My dear sons, I sent your Letter emediately to your father, after I had read it, as you will find by his. I have not room to say much, having writ former Letters to you, datted the 27 of August, your father being then out of Town: he writes me word he is much at woon as to his health, and his defnese is not wosce, but much as he was when he was heare. He expresses a great desire to see my dear Charlles: and trully I see noe reason why you should not both come together, to be a comfort to woon another and to us both, if the King of France includ Ingland in the peace ;' for doe but Gust make shift to live wheare you are, and soe I hope you may doe heare; for I will Leaf noe] Ston unturn'd to help my belov'd sonns. If I cane, I will send this Letter by the same way it came ;* that is, it was brought me from woon Mr. Galowway, who corresponds with Roszie; I payd woon and Sixpence

you

The Peace of Ryswick, which was proclaimed at London, in the following month, October 19, 1697, O. S. *She means, I suppose,-by the same way her son's letter came to her.

for it, and do offer to pay him what he demandes, so that he would take ceare the [packet] might come safe to your handes. I long tell I heare my deare Charlles is better. I have only room to tell you the names of the Merchantes your parcell went in: you are to demmand them of Mr. Robert Ball and Thommas Ball in Lindovino in Livorno. You are not to pay any charges for the Box, for the Port of London; if the have demanded any of you, send word to me what it is; for otherwayes wee shall pay twice for them; and this Mr. Walkeson telles me, with his service to you both. Farwell, my deare children: GoD Almighty keep you in his protection, for that is the wishes and prayers of your most affec: Mother, that sends her blessinge to you all; not forgetting my Sonn Harry, whose prayers I defire* for a Comfortable Meetinge. I hope I may have some better thinges against you come, than what is sent you in that box; there being nothing Considurabell but my deare Jackes play, who I desire in his next to me to give me a true account how my deare Sonn Charlles is head dus; for I cane be at noe rest tell I heare he is better, or rather thourely well, which I dally pray for.+

* His father had also particularly desired his son Harry's prayers. Perhaps he was at this time intended for holy orders, though he afterwards became an officer in the Pope's Guards. See vol. i. part i. p. 426.

+ The education of ladies was in general so much neglected in the last age, that Lady Elizabeth Dryden's orthography, however strange, was not singular. A former letter, however, written by her to Dr. Busby, of which I

LETTER XXII.

TO MR. JACOB TONSON.

MR. TONSON,

[f. Dec. 1697.]

I THANK you heartily for the sherry; it was as you sayd, the best of the kind I ever dranke. I have found the catalogue you desire, of the Subscribers' names, you left with me; and have sent them to you inclosed. Remember in the copy of verses for St. Cecilia, to alter the name of Lais, which is twice there, for Thais: those two ladyes were contemporaryes, which causd that small mistake. I wish you coud tell me how to send my sonns our Virgil, which you gave me; and should be glad if you coud put me in a way of remitting thirty guineas to Rome; which I woud pay heer, for my sonns to have the vallue there, according as the exchange goes. Any time this fortnight will be soon enough to send the money: the book I know will require a longer space, because ships go not for Italy every day.

I am

Your humble Servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.

I hear, Tom Brown is comeing out vpon me.

have seen the original, is not disfigured by the odd spel. ling which we find here; but that Letter was probably corrected by our author: when this was written, he was in the country.

LETTER XXIII.

TO MR. JACOB TONSON.

MR. TONSON,

Wednesday. [f. Dec. 1697.]

I HAVE broken off my studies from THE CONQUEST OF CHINA, to review Virgil, and bestow'd nine entire days upon him. You may have the printed copy you sent me to-morrow morning, if you will come for it yourself; for the printer is a beast, and understands nothing I can say to him of correcting the press.-Dr. Chetwood claims my promise of the Ode on St. Cecilia's Day; which I desire you to send to him (according to the parliament phrase) forthwith. My wife says you have broken your promise, about the picture,' and desires it speedily: the rest I will tell

you

when you come.

Yours,

JOHN DRYDEN.

Sce vol. iii. p. 547, n.

I know not to what picture our author alludes: perhaps a portrait of himself, which Tonson had promised to present to Lady Elizabeth Dryden.

LETTER XXIV.

TO MR. JACOB TONSON.

MR. TONSON,

[f. Dec. 1697.]

You were no sooner gone, but I felt in my pocket, and found my Lady Chudleigh's' verses ; which this afternoon I gave Mr. Walsh to read in the Coffee-house. His opinion is the same with mine, that they are better than any which are printed before the book: so thinks also Mr. Wycherly. I have them by me; but do not send them, till I heare from my Lord Clifford, whether my Lady will put her name to them or not: therefore I desire they may be printed last of all the copyes,' and of all the book. I have also written this day to Mr. Chetwood, and let him know,

Mary, the daughter of Richard Leigh, of Winslade, in the county of Devon, Esq. She was the wife of Sir George Chudleigh, of Ashton, in the same county, Bart, and died in the year 1710.

The copies of commnendatory verses prefixed to the translation of Virgil. That work appears to have been at this time sent to the press, for the second edition, which was published in 1698: on which ground I have affixed the conjectural date above. Lady Chudleigh's verses were, however, not printed before our author's work, but appeared afterwards in a Collection of her Poems, of which the second edition was published in 8vo. in 1709.

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