LETTER VIII.

To the SA ME.

Dear Saville,

my

N Return from New-Market, I met your Packet, and truly was not more surprised at the Indirectnefs of Mr. P's Proceeding, than overjoyed at his Kindness and Care for yours. Mifery makes all Men lefs or more dishonest;, and I am not aftonished to fee Villany induftrious for Bread; especially, living in a Place where it is often fo de gayete de Coeur. I believe, the Fellow thought of this Device to get fome Money, or else he is put upon it by fomebody, who has given it him already; but I give him leave to prove what he can against me: however, I will fearch into the Matter, and give, you a further Account within a Poft or two. In the mean time you have made my Heart glad in giving me fuch a Proof of your Friendship; and I am now fenfible, that it is natural for you to be kind to me, and can never more despair of it.

TIS IS neither Pride or Neglect (for I am not of the new Council, and I love you fincere

ly)

lý) but Idlenefs on one Side, and not knowing what to say on the other, has hindered me from writing to you, after fo kind a Letter, and the Prefent you fent me, for which I return you at laft my humble Thanks. Changes in this Place are fo frequent, that F himself can now noTM longer give an Account, why this was done to Day, or what will enfue To-inorrow; and Accidents are fo extravagant, that my Lord W intend

ing to Lie, has, with a prophetick Spirit, once told Truth. Every Man in this Court thinks he ftands fair for Minister; fome give it to Shaftsbury, others to Hallifax; but Mr. Waller fays Sdoes all; I am fure my Lord A does little, which your Excellence will easily believe. And now the War in Scotland takes up all the Difcourfe of politick Perfons. His Grace of Lauderdale values himself upon the Rebellion, and tells the King, it is very aufpicious and advantagious to the Drift of the prefent Councils: the reft of the Scots, and especially D. Hare very, inquifitive after News from Scotland, and really make a handfome Figure in this Con juncture at London. What the D. of Monmouth will effect, is now the general Expectation, who took Poft unexpectedly, left all that had offered ' their Service in this Expedition, in the Lurch; and, being attended only by Sir Thomas Armstrong, and Mr. C will, without queftion, have the full Glory as well as of the prudential as the military Part of this Action intire to himself. The moft profound Politicians have weighty Brows, and careful Afpects at prefent, upon a Report crept abroad, That Mr. Langhorn, to fave his Life, offers a Difcovery of Priefts, and Jefuits Lands, to the Value of fourfcore and ten thou

3

fand

fand Pounds a Year; which being accepted, it is feared, Partifans and Undertakers will be found out to advance a confiderable Sum of Money upon this Fund, to the utter Interruption of Parliaments, and the Deftruction of many hopeful Defigns. This, I must call God to witness, was never hinted to me in the leaft by Mr. P, to whom I beg you will give me your hearty Recommendations. Thus much to afford you a Taste of my ferious Abilities, and to let you know I have a great Goggle-eye to Bufinefs: and now I cannot deny you a Share in the high Satisfaction I have received at the Account which flourishes here of your high Proteftancy at Paris : Charenton was never fo honour'd, as fince your Refidence and Ministry in France, to that Degree, that it is not doubted if the Parliament be fitting. at your Return, or otherwife the Mayor and Common Council, will petition the King you may be dignified with the Title of that Place, by way of Earldom, or Dukedom, as his Majefty fhall think most proper to give, or you

accept.

Mr. S is a Man of that Tendernefs of Heart, and approved Humanity, that he will doubtless be highly afflicted when he hears of the unfortunate Pilgrims, tho' he appears very obdurate to the Complaints of his own beft Concubine, and your fair Kinfwoman M who. now ftarves. The Packet inclos'd in your last, I read with all the Senfe of Compaffion it merits, and if I can prove fo unexpectedly happy to fuc-. ceed in my Endeavours for that fair Unfortunate, fhe fhall have a fpeedy Account. I thank God, there is yet a Harry Saville in England, with whom I drank your Health laft Week, at Sir William Coventry's:

Coventry's: and who, in Features, Proportion and Pledging, gives me fo lively an Idea of yourfelf, that I am refolved to retire into OxfordShire, and enjoy him till Shiloe come, or you from France. ROCHESTER.

Harry,

A1

LETTER X.

To the SAME.

NY kind of Correspondence with fuch a Friend as you, is very agreeable; and therefore you will eafily believe, I am very ill when I lofe the Opportunity of writing to you: but Mr. Povey comes into my Mind, and hinders farther Compliment: in a plainer Way I must tell you, I pray for your happy Restoration; but was not at all forry for your glorious Difgrace, which is an Honour, confidering the Caufe. I would fay fomething to the ferious Part (as you were pleas'd to call it) of your former Letter; but it will difgrace my Politicks to differ from yours, who have wrought now fome Time under the beft and keenest Statesmen our Cabinet boasts of but to confefs the Truth, my Advice to the Lady you wot of, has ever been this, Take your Measures juft contrary to your Rivals, live in Peace with all the World, and easily with the King; never be fo Ill-natur'd to ftir up his Anger against others, but let him forget the Ufe of a Paffion, which is never to do you good: cherish his Love wherever it inclines, and be affur'd you can't commit greater Folly, than pretending to be jealous; but on the contrary, with Hand Body,

Body, Head, Heart, and all the Faculties you have, contribute to his Pleasure all you can, and comply with his Defires throughout: and, for new Intrigues, fo you be at one End, 'tis no matter which make Sport when you can, af other times help it.Thus I have given you an Account how unfit I am to give the Advice you propos'd befides this, you may judge, whether I was a good Pimp, or no. But fome thought otherwife; and fo truly I have renounc'd Bufinefs; let abler Men try it. More a great deal I would fay, but upon this Subject, and for this time, I beg this may fuffice, from

Your humble and most affectionate

faithful Servant,

ROCHESTER,

LETTER XI...

To the SAM E.

Dear Saville,

1

IS not that I am the idleft Creature living, TIS and only choose to imploy my Thoughts rather upon my Friends, than to languifh all the Day in the Tediousness of doing nothing, that I write to you; but owning, that (tho' you excel moft Men in Friendship and Good-nature) you are not quite exempt from all human Frailty; I fend this to hinder you from forgetting a Man who loves you very heartily. The World, ever fince I can remember, has been still so insupportably the fame, that 'twere vain to hope there were any Alterations; and therefore I can have no Curiofity for News; only I wou'd be glad to know if the