your debt, and so took a refolution to pay you with interest.

Lord Boyle is very much your humble fervant. He is employed all day long on my errands, which he executes without the least mistake. He puzzles me fometimes with his questions, and makes me blush with his obfervations. I endeavour to turn off the difcourfe as well as I can ; but if I do not take care, the boy will foon grow too wife for me, and find out that there are but few years difference in our age, and much fewer in our undertandings. Hammy †, who is lefs fedate than his brother, contents himself with his

Charles, afterwards ftyled vifcount Dungarvan. He was at this time about five years old. He married in 1753 the daughter of Henry Hoare, efq; and died in 1759, leaving only a daughter. His relict is married to lord Bruce.

The hon. Hamilton Boyle, afterwards viscount Dungarvan, and on his father's death, earl of Corke, &c. He was at this time about four years old. He died, unmarried, in 1764.

tops and his marbles, without enquiring into the natural caufes of things: by this means, the youngest bids fair to be the favourite, for I find I must give the other

a rap

over the head in my will, or the

next age will quite forget me. Betty † is the errantest romp in Chriftendom. She talks as fast as any of her fex, and, like moft fine ladies, in a dialect not easy to be understood. Sickness and indolence tremble at the fight of her, for fhe is the picture of health, and a "veritable" Mifs Hoyden.

The great king Nobby brought me home fafe in the dark laft night, and the

His lordship, it is probable, here fpoke feelingly, with an allufion to the cruel and most undeferved " rap" that he had received from his own father, in the bequest of his library, confifting of above 10,000 valuable books, and a very fine collection of mathematical inftruments, to Chriftchurch, Oxford.

+ Lady Elizabeth Boyle, now the relic of fir Thomas Worfley, bart.

A favourite horfe, whofe life by great care was prolonged to the uncommon age of 34. invincible

invincible Hector is faithful and cou. rageous still. Our aviary has received a great lofs by the death of a favourite parroquet, who died, as he lived, with filence and tranquillity; he has left a difconfolate widow, who, we feared, would not have furvived him, but, to my great joy, has admitted the addreffes of an Indian nightingale, who courts her every morning with a fong. This is the ftate of men and beafts at Marfton; whilft our neighbours have their misfortunes. Lord Weymouth has had a fall from his horfe, by which his life was endangered: lady Weymouth has miscarried, occafioned by the fright fhe received at feeing her lord brought home bloody and lifeless.

Great, undoubtedly, are the preparations for the enfuing nuptials; but let

A favourite grey-hound, who lived to the age of 14. In an invitation of Dr. Swift, to Marfton (dated April 3, 1737,) lord Orrery fays, "Hector "shall fawn upon you." Both thefe old fervants have monumental infcriptions to their memory in the gardens at Marston.

+ Of the prince of Orange and the princess royal.

them

them bury, or let them marry, I am content, fo that the fates permit me to be lord of Marfton, and

Your humble fervant,

ORRERY.

LETTER XCVI.

From EDWARD HARRISON, Efq;

SIR,

I HA

St. James's Place, Sept. 21, 1734

HAVE looked over all my poetical papers, but cannot find any of Mr. Hughes's writing. I believe, I gave a good many, foon after his death, to his brother, and fome to your lady. I fhould readily contribute any thing in my power; a complete edition of the works of a gentleman, for whom I had fo great a value, being what I have long defired.

This and the twenty-fix following letters are addreffed to Mr. Duncombe.

I could wish the alterations he

was forced to fubmit to

make in the "Siege of Damafcus," were printed, which would make fome of the scenes more reafonably paffionate, and by confequence more engaging *.

I am, Sir, your obedient fervant,

E. HARRISON.

I do not doubt but you know that Mr. Hughes's life, as published by Jacob t was written by himself.

They are now printed in the "appendix" to

this work.

In the lives of the poets."

LETTER