that by the pains you had taken with him, he in some sort deserved it. I hope, Sir, when you have given your selfe the trouble to read thus farr, you, who are a prudent man, will consider, that none complaine, but they desire to be reconciled at the same time: there is no mild expostulation at least, which does not intimate a kindness and respect in him who makes it. Be pleas'd, if there be no merit on my side, to make it your own act of grace to be what you were formerly to my sonn. I have done something, so far to conquer my own spirit as to ask it: and, indeed, I know not with what face to go to my Lord Bishop, and to tell him I am takeing away both my sonns; for though I shall tell him no occasion, it will looke like a disrespect to my old Master, of which I will not be guilty, if it be possible. I shall add no more, but hope I shall be so satisfyed with a favourable answer from you, which I promise to my selfe from your goodnesse and moderation, that I shall still have occasion to continue, Sir, Your most obliged humble Servant, The Letters to Dr. Busby have been already made publick; but are here printed from the originals, which have been obligingly communicated by Mr. John Nichols, author of the History of Leicestershire. LETTER V. [TO LAURENCE HYDE, EARL OF ROCHESTER.'] MY LORD, [Perhaps, August, 1683.] I KNOW not whether my Lord Sunderland has interceded with your Lordship for half a yeare of my salary; but I have two other advocates, my extreme wants, even almost to arresting, and my ill health, which cannot be repaired without immediate retireing into the country. A quarter's allowance is but the Jesuites' powder to my disease; the fitt will return a fortnight hence. If I durst, I would plead a little merit, and some hazards of life from the common enemyes; my refuseing my advantages offered by them, and neglecting my beneficiall studyes, for the King's service: but I only thinke I merit not to sterve. I never apply'd myselfe to any interest contrary to your Lordship's; and on some occasions, perhaps not known 9 This letter is printed from a copy transmitted some years ago by Mr. John Elderton to the editor of the Gentleman's Magazine. Mr. Elderton supposed that it was written in 1673-4; but Butler being spoken of as dead, that could not be the date; for that poet died in September, 1680. The superscription has not been preserved; but it was doubtless addressed to Laurence Hyde, (second son of Lord Clarendon,) who was made First Commissioner of the Treasury in 1679, and continued Prime Minister till Sept. 1684. He was created Lord Hyde in April, 1681, and Earl of Rochester in Nov. 1682. Early in 1683, our author dedicated to him THE DUKE OF GUISE; and in 1692, his CLEOMENES. to you, have not been unserviceable to the memory and reputation of my Lord, your father. After this, my Lord, my conscience assures me I may write boldly, though I cannot speake to you. I have three sonns growing to man's estate; I breed them all up to learning, beyond my fortune; but they are too hopefull to be neglected, though I want. Be pleased to looke on me with an eye of compassion: some small employment would render my condition easy. The King is not unsatisfied of me; the Duke has often promised me his assistance; and your Lordship is the conduit through which their favours passe: either in the Customes, or the Appeals of the Excise, or some other way, meanes cannot be wanting, if you please to have the will. "Tis enough for one age to have neglected Mr. Cowley, and sterv'd Mr. Butler; but neither of them had the happiness to live till your Lordship's ministry. In the meane time, be pleased to give me a gracious and speedy answer to my present request of halfe a yeare's pention for my necessityes. I am going to write somewhat by his Majesty's command,' 2 Edward, Earl of Clarendon. The work or passages here alluded to, I have not been able to discover. * The place which our author here solicits, (worth only £.200. a year,) was the first office that Addison obtained, which he used to call "the little thing given me by Lord Halifax." Locke also, after the Revolution, was a Commissioner of Appeals. 3 Probably THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE, which was entered on the Stationers' Books early in 1684, and is there said to have been "Englished by his Majesties express command." and cannot stirr into the country for my health and studies, till I secure my family from want. You have many petitions of this nature, and cannot satisfy all; but I hope, from your goodness, to be made an exception to your general rules,* because I am, with all sincerity, your THE two melons you sent I received before letter, which came foure houres after: I tasted one of them, which was too good to need an excuse; the other is yet untouch'd. You have written * This application was successful. See vol. ii. p. 223. 4 This letter was probably written in August or September, 1684; the recent loss which the Duke of Ormond is said to have sustained, being, I conceive, that of his wife, who died July 21, 1684. The Duke went to Ireland, as Lord Lieutenant, in the following month, and remained there till February in the ensuing year. Other circumstances mentioned agree with this date. The History of the League was published July 31, 1684, as appears from the London Gazette, No. 1951. Michaelmas is spoken of, as approaching; and our author was now employed in preparing the second volume of his MISCELLANIES, which appeared in Jan. 1684-5, or soon afterwards. diverse things which gave me great satisfaction; particularly that the History of the League is commended: and I hope the onely thing I fear'd in it, is not found out. Take it all together, and I dare say without vanity, 'tis the best translation of any History in English, though I cannot say 'tis the best History; but that is no fault of mine. I am glad my Lord Duke of Ormond has one: I did not forget him; but I thought his sorrows were too fresh upon him to receive a present of that nature. For my Lord Roscommon's ESSAY,' I am of your opinion that you should reprint it, and that you may safely venture on a thousand more. In my verses before it, pray let the printer mend his errour, and let the line stand thus: * That heer his conqu❜ring ancestors were nurs'd;Charles his copy is all true. The other faults my Lord Roscommon will mend in the booke, or Mr, Chetwood' for him, if my Lord be gone for Ireland; of which, pray send me word. Your opinion of the Miscellanyes is likewise mine: I will for once lay by the RELIGIO LAICI, 5 The first edition of Lord Roscommon's "Essay on Translated Verse," appeared in 1684, and a second edition was published by Jacob Tonson in 4to. probably about Christmas, in the same year, though it is dated 1685. That nobleman died in January, 1684-5. * In the first edition it stood, "That here his conqu❜ring ancestors was nurs’d.” • Latin Verses by Charles Dryden, prefixed to Lord Roscommon's Essay. 7 Knightly Chetwood, concerning whom see vol. iii. |