TO THE SAME.

SIR,

Oates 3 June 1703.

T is not enough to have heard from my Cofin KING* that you got fafe

to town, or from others that you were fince well there. I am too much concern'd in it, not to enquire of your felf, how you do. Befides, that I owe you my thanks, for the greatest favour I can receive, the confirmation of your friendship, by the vifit I lately received from you. If you knew what fatisfaction I feel fpread over my mind by it, you would take this acknowledgement as coming from fomething beyond civility: my heart goes with it, and that you may be fure of; and fo ufelefs a thing as I am, have nothing else to offer you.

As a mark that I think we are paft ceremony, I here fend you a new Book † in

* Now Sir PETER KING.

G. J. Voss Etymologicum Lingua Latina. Amftelodami 1695.

quires,

quires, with a defire you will get it bound by your binder. In the parts of good binding befides folding, beating, and sowing, will I count ftrong paft-boards, and as large margents as the paper will poffibly afford; and for lettering, I defire it should be upon the fame leather black'd, and barely the name of the Author, as in this cafe, Vossius. Pardon this liberty, and believe me with perfect fincerity and refpect, &c.

TO THE SAME.

SIR,

Oates 18 June 1703.

T would be ftrange, if after all those marks of friendship and esteem I

have received from you, in the little time I have had the honour of your acquaintance, I fhould quarrel with you; and fhould repay the continuance of your good offices, employ'd even in things beneath you, with grumbling at you and yet this I can hardly forbear to do.

Do not, I be

feech

feech you, take this to be altogether ill na ture, but a due estimate of what I enjoy in you. And fince upon just measures, I count it the great treasure of my Life; I cannot with patience hear you talk of condefcention in me, when I ftick not to waste your time in looking after the binding of my Books. If you please, let us live upon fairer terms and when you oblige me, give me leave to be fenfible of it. And pray remember, that there is one Mr. Co LLINS, with whom, if I defire to live upon equal terms, it is not that I forget how much he is fuperior to me, in many things; wherein he will always have the precedency. But I affume it upon the account of that friendship that is between us: Friendfhip levelling all unequalitys between those whom it joins, that it may leave nothing that may keep them at a distance, and hinder a perfect union and enjoyment.

This is what I would be at with you? and were I not in carneft in it, out of a fincere love of you, I would not be fo foolish to rob my self of the only way, wherein I might pretend to enter the lifts

:

with you. I am old and useless, and out of the way all the real services are then like to be on your fide. In words, expreffions, and acknowledgments, there might have been perhaps fome room to have made fome offers of holding up to you. But I defire that nothing of the courtguife may mix in our converfation. Put not, I beseech you, any thing into your Letters to make me forget how much I am obliged to you, by the liberty you allow me to tell you, that I am, &c.

TO THE SAME.

Oates 24 June 1703.

SIR,

M

R. BOLD, who leaves us to day, intends to fee you; and I cannot forbear going, as far as I can, to

* Rector of Steeple Dorfet, Author of feveral Books, and among others, fome in defence of Mr. LOCKE'S Effay concerning bumane Understanding; and his Reafonableness of Chriftianity.

make the third in the company. Would my health fecond my defires, not only my name, and a few words of friendship, fhould go with him to you; but I my self would get to horse: and had I nothing elfe to do in town, I fhould think it worth a longer journey than it is thither, to fee and enjoy you. But I muft fubmit to the reftraints of old age, and expect that happiness from your charity.

"Tis but fix days fince, that I writ to you; and fee here another Letter. You are like to be troubled with me. If it be fo, why do you make your felf beloved? Why do you make your felf fo neceffary to me? thought my self pretty loose from the world, but I feel you begin to fasten me to it again. For you make my life, fince I have had your friendship, much more valuable to me than it was before.

I

You thank'd me in your last, for the employment I gave you: I wish I do not make you repent it; for you are likely to have my custom. I defire you would do me the favour to get me Dr. BARROW'S English Works, bound as VoSSIUS'S Etymologicum was. I am in no manner of

hafte