gedy is greater; for in all other parts of it the English have manifestly excelled them." THE original of the following letter is preserved in the Library at Lambeth, and was kindly imparted to the publick by the reverend Dr. Vyse. Copy of an original Letter from John Dryden, Esq. to his sons in Italy, from a MS. in the Lambeth Library, marked No 933, p. 56. 66 166 66 "Being now at Sir William Bowyer's in the country, I cannot write at large, because I find myself "somewhat indisposed with a cold, and am thick of hearing, rather worse than I was in town. I am glad to find, by your letter of July 26th, your style, that you are both in health; but wonder you should think me so negligent as to forget to give you an account of the ship in which your "parcel is to come. I have written to you two or "three letters concerning it, which I have sent by "safe hands, as I told you, and doubt not but you "have them before this can arrive to you. Being. "out of town, I have forgotten the ship's name, " which your mother will enquire, and put it into her "letter, which is joined with mine. But the master's "name "name I remember: he is called Mr. Ralph Thorp; "the ship is bound to Leghorn, consigned to Mr. "Peter and Mr. Thomas Ball, merchants. I am of 66 your opinion, that by Tonson's means almost all our letters have miscarried for this last year. But, ❝ however, he has missed of his design in the Dedi“cation, though he had prepared the book for it ; for, in every figure of Æneas he has caused him to "be drawn like King William, with a hooked nose. "After my return to town, I intend to alter a play of "Sir Robert Howard's, written long since, and lately pa put into my hands; 'tis called The Conquest of "China by the Tartars. It will cost me six weeks study, with the probable benefit of an hundred pounds. In the mean time I am writing a song "for St. Cecilia's Feast, who, you know, is the "troness of musick. This is troublesome, and no 66 way beneficial; but I could not deny the Stewards "of the Feast, who came in a body to me to desire “that kindness, one of them being Mr. Bridgeman, "whose parents are your mother's friends. I hope "to send you thirty guineas between Michaelmas "and Christmas, of which I will give you an ac"count when I come to town. I remember the "counsel you give me in your letter; but dissem"bling, though lawful in some cases, is not my ta"lent; yet, for your sake, I will struggle with the plain openness of my nature, and keep in my just "resentments against that degenerate order. In the "mean time, I flatter not myself with any manner "of hopes, but do my duty, and suffer for God's "sake; being assured, before hand, never to be re"warded, though the times should alter. Towards "the "the latter end of this month, September, Charles "will begin to recover his perfect health, according "to his nativity, which, casting it myself, I am sure is true, and all things hitherto have happened ac 26 cordingly to the very time that I predicted them: "I hope at the same time to recover more health, ac"cording to my age. Remember me to poor Harry, "whose prayers I earnestly desire. My Virgil suc"ceeds in the world beyond its desert or my expec"tation. You know the profits might have been "more; but neither my conscience nor my honour "would suffer me to take them: but I never can repent of my constancy, since I am thoroughly persuaded of the justice of the cause for which I "suffer. It has pleased God to raise up many "friends to me amongst my enemies, though they "who ought to have been my friends are negligent "of me. I am called to dinner, and cannot go on "with this letter, which I desire you to excuse ; ❝ and am "Your most affectionate father, "JOHN DRYDEN." END OF THE NINTH VOLUME. Frinted by JOHN NICHOLS and SON, |
