I might easily have dined with Simons; but all is well that ends well; so no more of that. Now I must return you thanks for kind and hospitable entertainment, for your civilities of all kinds, which I shall ever bear in mind, and most gladly return in any kind whenever you give me opportunity. I found here every thing as I left-Julian well; and two choughs, who this day, you may tell John*, are condemned; they were taken up on suspicion of untiling the house with an intention to plunder, we suppose. I had them before me yesterday; the matter was made out fully against them; and, in the course of the evidence, it appeared they were a couple of pilfering mischievous rogues. Indeed, there was nobody that appeared for them, or had any thing to say in their defence; so that the trial was very short, they were ordered back to the cage, and are now under sentence.

"Tom Thicknesse and Chapman are candidates for Provost of King's, if Andrew Snape drops. My kind love to John, and particular service to Dr. Cranke. This is all the news I have heard. Pray write to me in verse or prose: both will be agreeable to, dear Sneyd,

"Your most sincere friend and humble servant,
"JOHN SLEECH†."

CHARLES PRATT, Esq. to the Rev. SNEYD DAVIES. "DEAR SNEYD, Feb. 5, 1742-3. "Whaley went to Cambridge about Christmas. His resolutions to reform are strong, so that I hope you will one day see him exemplary for sobriety. He received Dr. George (for I suppose you know he is the new Provost) with a Latin Speech, and did very well. I take it for granted that you have had some relation of our Election, and know that we sat 31 hours in the Chapel before we could agree. But perhaps you have not been told another thing, which I assure you is true, that, if you had been qualified, we had certainly made you Provost. The Tories would have joined with us against George for any other Whig except Thackeray; but we had no man else to offer, such a dearth there was of persons qualified to take it. I am, dear Sneyd,

"Yours sincerely,

C. PRATT."

The Rev. John Whaley, M. A.; Fellow of King's College, Cambridge; and an Assistant at Eton School.

+ Brother of Dr. Stephen Sleech, Provost of Eton. He was elected to Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1729; B. A. 1733; M. A. 1737. He was some time an Assistant at Eton School; Vicar of Sudbury, Devonshire, 1737; and Archdeacon of Cornwall 1741. In 1743 he preached, in Exeter Cathedral, the Anniversary Sermon for the Foundation of the Devon and Exeter Hospital; and in 1747 became a Canon Residentiary of Exeter. In May 1749 he married the daughter of John Cholwick, esq. Deputy Recorder of Exeter: and in 1769 was presented to the First Prebend in the Cathedral Church of Gloucester by his Schoolfellow Lord Chancellor Camden. He died Feb. 1, 1787.

NICHOLAS

NICHOLAS HARDINGE, Esq. to Rev. SNEYD DAVIES.
Nov. 13, 1744.

"DEAR DAVIES, "If I had not been obliged to settle the text of the worst kind of prose (I mean that of a Journal) I should have answered a verse-man sooner. I am obliged to you for your intended epistle in praise of Knoll Hills. But I disclaim the personal compliments, particularly that upon economy; and yet that is a very proper accomplishment, where Hymen's whole store is so profusely sent. My wife is this day gone abroad, after giving me another boy. I shall have as many treble voices as will be wanted in your Opera. Are you serious in your design? I know nothing of music; but I am sure that Rosamond is a bad pattern. The short verses, and double rhymes, which I see you have imitated, are very improper in an Opera. And, though I see no reason that the words should be nonsense, yet I think the language should be as harmonious as is possible. I would avoid, for instance, every syllable in which there are two consonants, reject all hissing words, and scarce allow ones, unless where in pronunciation it is softened into a z, as in the word arise. Our language abounds with many iambics and trochees, which might very easily be taken into the service; and there are many smooth trisyllables, which are either tribrachs or anapæsts. This scheme will make our tongue as vocal as the Italian. An Italian Opera seems to be the best guide as to the due proportion of recitative and air. You will excuse me in sending you rules for writing upon a subject which I am entirely unacquainted with. I expect your Miscellany. You may prefix, if you please, an Atavis edite regibus; and it shall be proved hereafter, by some future Bentley, that your first Ode was your last in the Collection. Adieu !

N. HARDINGE *."

Rev. SNEYD DAVIES to CHARLES PRATT, Esq. "DEAR PRATT, Kingsland, July 22, 1748. "You know you saw me in town; we dined together at a tavern; and I was to breakfast with you next morning; but upon a serious computation with myself, I found the time destined for my absence outrun by some days, and away I scampered,—and it is well I did, for I came home just in time for some business,—— what it was, signifies not. This I know, I missed seeing Mr. Hardinge, whom I fully intended to see; and, if I had not been misinformed of his coming to London sooner than he did, had certainly called at Kingston; for the cyder, you'll say; no, certainly not; but shall be glad to be better acquainted, and in less awe of him, which a little time would easily bring about. Between Windsor and Wokingham, in the Forest it was, I mused much about you and me (and versified, very boyishly, since forgot) of our contrary situations, tending to the same point of dullness and indifference, one by business perhaps hereafter, and the other through idleness; you working at law till you

* See another Letter of Mr. N. Hardinge in vol. I. p. 548.

grow

grow insensible of every joyous consideration, while I quietly sink into a state of inanity. I recollect, however, to have heard lately, that you had thoughts soon of matrimony, which will destroy the comparison, and turn the balance of advantage more to your side, and keep you awake and alert, better than Grand Cyrus, after a long cause at Westminster. When I began writing, I thought I had a great deal of humour and jollity to throw out; but see the little it amounts to. Checked and tamed while writing, with the thought that this, and any thing else of this kind is not likely, nor ought, to receive an answer. Why then do I send it? to tell you I am yours affectionately, S. D." Rev. Dr. SNEYD DAVIES to the Rev. Mr. EVANS, Porthlongdon, near Beaumaris, Anglesey.

"DEAR SIR, Kingsland, Aug. 17, 1759. "Do you believe that I am a man of so much business, or dissipation, that I absolutely do not know whether I wrote to you since I came home or no? Very sorry am I to find by your last that I am not to expect you this year; but must acquiesce in your reasons, as I cannot remove them. I wish I could return you to Cambridge with the same convenience I escorted you from thence to North Wales. Pray, by the bye, you paid bills upon the way, I think at Northampton, Dunchurch, and Coventry, and perhaps other places. Keep account, that I may repay when we meet next. Likewise your mercer's bill, for red hood; who, I suppose, will be in no hurry. Notwithstanding you soon Commence father, I hope you will some time leave your children, and come see your friends. If I have not the pleasure of your company here, I may perhaps at Lichfield. As probably you will not leave North Wales before the Assizes are over, I wish you would inquire, and let me know whether my business was transacted at Ruthin. I beg likewise the favour of Mrs. Evans to let you settle with her money matters. as they stand between us, interest of 100l. included. With best respects to her, and Miss Dulci, and all at Porthlongdon, and Henblas, and Trevilier. "Be sure you write as soon as you can hear from Denbighshire Assizes. I wrote twice to Mr. Wilson about Thomas Jones, of Kilken; but have had no answer. That poor man, hearing his goods were to be seized upon for my use, came here, in my absence, a few days before I returned home.

"Believe me, dear Sir, your faithful humble servant,

"SN. DAVIES."

Eyton, Feb. 19, 1766.

Dr. PETER CRANKE to the Rev. Dr. SNEYD DAVIES. "MY DEAR DOCTOR, "As you are so kind to press for a line from me, I must write, though painful, to let you see that I am still among the living. Without troubling you with a long detail of my sufferings since. you went hence, I will only say, that a second attack of the gout

Of whom see before, vol. I. p. 628.

fell

fell furiously upon me, when I thought the former fit was declining, which to this moment hangs and confines me to my chamber. How soon I shall get down stairs is uncertain, being at present unable to walk from bed to the window without assistance, But why so much about myself? I have particular pleasure to find you in spirits, consequently in good health. Exercise was a great means of contributing to that salutary end, as a regular fit of gout had previously carried off, I hope, what gave rise to your frequent complaints. As the weather is open, and the severity of it quite abated, I think the poor are well able to provide for themselves; and, except I have your further orders, or I see reason to alter my opinion, I shall not dispose of the two guineas. Do not be angry for shewing a little wisdom of œconomy. When you settle with Tom Kington, he ought to account for arrears, from the time his father stole possession of the land to the day that you settle with him, that is, to the day he delivers it up; for, if a part is due, the whole is undoubtedly due. But this I hint with submission to your better judgment. Before I can think of a journey of pleasure, I must first see how I shall find myself after this violent plunge. "I am, my dear Doctor, yours most affectionately,

"P. CRANKE,"

Rev. Dr. SNEYD DAVIES to the Rev. Mr. EVANS.

If we

Cannot

"DEAR SIR, Kingsland, Aug. 26, 1766, "It is with pleasure I find there is a likelihood of our meeting one another soon at Lichfield, in your passage from North Wales to Cambridge, if you perform your intended journey. I am called upon (though very inconveniently) to attend audit, and some other Lichfield business, about the 25th of next month. I shall make no longer stay there than two or three days, and must return to this place as soon as I can, for many reasons. I wish you could be persuaded to accompany me to Kingsland. meet in Staffordshire, October will be too late for me. you contrive your journey at the time abovementioned. Please to let me know by first post. We have many things to talk over. I take for granted, you will wait upon the Bishop at Eccleshall, in your way. Pray let me know, have you any near prospect from the Bishop of St. Asaph; if not, some other method must be thought of. There is a certain great man, who has much in his disposal, whom I chuse rather to whisper to, when I see him next, than write on such an occasion at present. "I hope all our Anglesey Friends are well. I wrote some time since to my Sister.

"I beg best compliments to Mrs. Evans; and am, dear Sir, "Your faithful and affectionate servant, SN. DAVIES."

Rev. Dr. SNEYD DAVIES to Mr. EVANS.

"DEAR SIR, Kingsland, Aug. 22, 1768. Though the Physicians at Bath declared my case to be attended with no danger; yet, as I every day grow weaker, I do earnestly request to see you here as soon as possibly you can. The truth is, I think myself declining, and I cannot settle well my affairs without seeing and conversing with you. My hand happens to be steadier to-day than it has been of long time; but, for all that, I certainly am in a weaker state of health than ever. "Poor Dr. Cranke died last Sunday evening. I need not caution you not to alarm my sister too much with my ill health; only please to acquaint her and brother M. that you are going to Kingsland at my request, and will let them know how I do, when you have seen me.

"I desire best compliments to Mrs. Evans, and all at Porthlongdon; and am, dear Sir, your affectionate and faithful servant, SN. DAVIES.

RICHARD PHELPS *, Esq. to the Rev. Dr. SNEYD DAVIES.

"MY DEAR Doctor, Hereford, Sept. 29, 1768. "I had endeavoured to arrange my affairs in such a manner as to have passed some days with you at Kingsland; but a tumor on my side, which you may remember began when I was at Bath, made it necessary for me to submit to Surgeon's work, and kept me back from my visits to my friends on your side the country. I am just now setting off for Staffordshire; and, if you cannot write yourself, wish Mr. Evans would send me a line, to inform me of the state of your health, directed to me at the Earl Gower's, at Trentham, near Stone, Staffordshire. I am much obliged to you for sending me the account of our worthy friend Dr. Cranke's mark of friendship to me; I shall convert his legacy into a piece of plate which may be in constant use.

"If you come to London, my dear friend, remember that I have a house in George-street, Hanover-square, where there is a room entirely at your service, and as hearty a welcome as you can have at home.

"Adieu! I am ever most sincerely and affectionately yours, R. PHELPS."

* Of whom see before, vol. I. p. 713.

No.