ing rain for some days past,
yet it hardly keeps down the dust.--We have plays acted in our town; and
Patrick was at one of them, oh oh. He was damnably mauled one day when
he was drunk; he was at cuffs with a brother-footman, who dragged him
along the floor upon his face, which looked for a week after as if he
had the leprosy; and I was glad enough to see it. I have been ten times
sending him over to you; yet now he has new clothes, and a laced hat,
which the hatter brought by his orders, and he offered to pay for the
lace out of his wages.--I am to dine to-day with Dilly at Sir Andrew
Fountaine's, who has bought a new house, and will be weary of it in half
a year. I must rise and shave, and walk to town, unless I go with the
Dean in his chariot at twelve, which is too late: and I have not seen
that Lord Peterborow yet. The Duke of Shrewsbury is almost well again,
and will be abroad in a day or two: what care you? There it is now: you
do not care for my friends. Farewell, my dearest lives and delights; I
love you better than ever, if possible, as hope saved, I do, and ever
will. God Almighty bless you ever, and make us happy together! I pray
for this twice every day; and I hope God will hear my poor hearty
prayers.--Remember, if I am used ill and ungratefully, as I have
formerly been, 'tis what I am prepared for, and shall not wonder at
it. Yet I am now envied, and thought in high favour, and have every
day numbers of considerable men teasing me to solicit for them. And the
Ministry all use me perfectly well; and all that know them say they
love me. Yet I can count upon nothing, nor will, but upon MD's love and
kindness.--They think me useful; they pretended they were afraid of none
but me, and that they resolved to have me; they have often confessed
this: yet all makes little impression on me.--Pox of these speculations!
they give me the spleen; and that is a disease I was not born to. Let
me alone, sirrahs, and be satisfied: I am, as long as MD and Presto are
well.

Little wealth,
And much health,
And a life by stealth:

that is all we want; and so farewell, dearest MD; Stella, Dingley,
Presto, all together, now and for ever all together. Farewell again and
again.

LETTER 26.

CHELSEA, June 30, 1711.

See what large paper I am forced to take, to write to MD; Patrick has
brought me none clipped; but, faith, the next shall be smaller. I dined
to-day, as I told you, with Dilly at Sir Andrew