that the book is immediately goeing to the press again. My opinion is, that the printer shou'd begin with the first Pastoral, and print on to the end of the Georgiques, or farther, if occasion be, till Dr. Chetwood corrects his preface," which he writes me word is printed very false. You cannot take too great care of the printing this edition. exactly after my amendments; for a fault of that nature will disoblige me eternally.

I am glad to heare from all hands, that my Ode' is esteem'd the best of all my poetry, by all the town: I thought so my self when I writ it; but being old, I mistrusted my own judgment. I hope it has done you service, and will do more. You told me not, but the town says you are printing Ovid de Arte Amandi. I know my translation is very uncorrect; but at the same time I know, nobody else can do it better, with all their paines. If there be any loose papers left in the Virgil I gave you this morning, look for them, and send them back by my man: I miss not any yet; but 'tis possible some may be left, because I gave you the book in a hurry. I vow to GoD, if Everingham takes not care of this impression, he shall never print any thing of mine heerafter: for I will write on, since I find I can.

The Preface to the Pastorals, which has been erroneously attributed to Walsh.

1 The Ode for St. Cecilia's Day.

• Our author only translated the first book.

I desire you to make sure of the three pounds of snuff, the same of which I had one pound from you. When you send it any morning, I will pay for it all together. But this is not the business of this letter. When you were heer, I intended to have sent an answer to poor Charles his letter; but I had not then the letter which my chirur geon promis'd me, of his advice, to prevent a rupture, which he fears. Now I have the surgeon's answer, which I have inclos'd in my letter to my sonn. This is a business of the greatest consequence in the world: for you know how I love Charles; and therefore I write to you with all the earnestness of a father, that you will procure Mr. Francia' to inclose it in his packet this week: for a week lost may be my sonn's ruine; whom I intend to send for next summer, without his brother, as I have written him word: and if it please GoD that I must dye of over-study, I cannot spend my life better, than in saving his. I vallue not any price for a double letter: let me know it, and it shall be payd; for I dare not trust it by the post: being satisfy'd by experience, that Ferrand will do by this, as he did by two letters which I sent my sonns, about my dedicating to the King' of which

• His son Charles had probably been much hurt by a dangerous fall at Rome. In a former Letter, his mother. inquires particularly about his head. See also vol. i. part i. PP. 411, 417.

'Probably the Genoese Resident at that time.

See p. 57. n. 9.

they received neither. If you cannot go your self, then send a note to Signior Francia, as earnestly as you can write it, to beg that it may go this day, I meane Friday. I need not tell you, how much heroin you' will oblige

Your Friend and Servant,

J. D.

LETTER XXV.

MADAM,

TO MRS. STEWARD.'

Saturday, Octob. 1st—98.

You have done me the honour to invite so often, that it would look like want of respect to

This lady, who was not less distinguished for her talents and accomplishments than her beauty and virtues, having been both a painter and a poetess, was the eldest surviving daughter of John Creed, of Oundle, Esq., (Secretary to Charles II. for the affairs of Tangier,) by Elizabeth Pickering, his wife, who was the only daughter of Sir Gilbert Pickering, Baronet, our author's cousin german; of whom, and of his amiable daughter, Mrs. Creed, a full account has already been given. See vol. i. part i. pp. 28-43, 340-342. Her eldest son, Richard Creed, as we have seen, fell in the battle of Blenheim, and was honoured with a monument in WestminsterAbbey. Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was born in the year 1672, and in 1699 married Elmes Steward, of Cot. terstock, in the county of Northampton, Esq.; where they principally resided. By this gentleman, who is said to have preferred field-sports to any productions of the VOL. I. PART II.

f.

refuse it any longer. How can you be so good to an old decrepid man, who can entertain you with no discours which is worthy of your good sense, and who can onely be a trouble to you in all the time he stays at Cotterstock. Yet I will obey your commands as far as possibly I can, and give you the inconvenience you are pleas'd to desire: at least for the few days which I can spare from other necessary business, which requires me at Tichmarsh. Therefore, if you please to send your coach on Tuesday next by eleven a clock in the morning, I hope to wait on you before dinner. There is onely one more trouble, which I am almost asham'd to name. I am obliged to visit my Cousin Dryden of Chesterton,' some time next week, who is nine miles from hence, and

Muses, she had three children; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Thomas Gwillim, Esq., of Old Court, in the parish of Whitchurch, near Ross in Herefordshire; Anne, who died unmarried; and Jemima, who married Elmes Spinckes, of Aldwinckle, Esq. Mrs. Steward, who survived her husband above thirty years, in the latter part of her life became blind, in which melancholy state she died at the house of her son-in-law, Mr. Gwillim, at the age of seventy-one, Jan. 17, 1742-3; and a monument was erected to her memory in the church of Whitchurch. -The Hall of Cotterstock House was painted in fresco by her, in a very masterly style, and she drew several portraits of her friends in Northamptonshire. Her own portrait, painted by herself, is in the possession of her kinswoman, Mrs. Ord, of Queen Anne Street.

• Where our author probably was at this time. See vol. i. part i. p. 321, n. 6; and p. 323-386

only five from you. If it be with your convenience to spare me your coach thether for a day, the rest of my time till Monday is at your service; and I am sorry for my own sake it cannot be any longer, this year, because I have some visits after my return hether, which I cannot avoyd. But if it please GOD to give me life and health, I may give you occasion another time to repent of your kindness, by makeing you weary of my company. My sonn kisses your hand. Be pleas'd to give his humble service to my Cousin Steward, and mine, Madam,

who am,

Your most obedient, oblig'd Servant,

TO ELMES STEWARD, ESQ.

[Probably, Nov. 20, 1698.]'

MY HONOUR'D COUSIN,

I SHOU'D have receiv'd your letter with too much satisfaction, if it had not been allay'd with

Our author, in addressing his female relations, generally writes Cousine, following the French mode.

"It should seem from the subsequent letter that Dryden, after having spent a few days with his friends at Cotterstock, and dispatched his business at Tichmarsh, returned