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before I can get into it myself, and no kind of resolution to take a single step. My chief amusements at present are the same they have long been, and lie scattered about my farm. The French have what they call a parque ornée; I suppose, approaching about as near to a garden as the park at Hagley. I give my place the title of a ferme ornée; though, if I had money, I should hardly confine myself to such decorations as that name requires. I have made great improvements; and the consequence is, that I long to have you see them.

I have not heard whether Miss's match proceeded. I suppose your objections were grounded on the person's age and temper; and that they had the less weight, as they supposed you acted indiscreetly yourself; I can say but little on the occasion. You know better than I do. Only this I must add, that I have so great an esteem for your sister, that it will be necessary to my case, that whoever marries her she should be happy.

I have little hopes that I shall now see you often in this country; though it would be you, in all probability, as soon as any, that would take a journey of fifty miles,

"To see the poorest of the sons of men."

The truth is, my affairs are miserably embroiled, by my own negligence, and the non-payment of tenants. I believe I shall be forced to seize on one next week for three years and a half's rent, due last Lady-day; an affair to which I am greatly averse, both through indolence and compassion.

I hope, however, I shall be always able (as I am sure I shall be desirous) to entertain a friend of a philosophical regimen, such as you and Mr. Whistler; and that will be all I can do.

Hagley Park is considerably improved since you were here, and they have built a castle by way of ruin on the highest part of it, which is just seen from my wood: but by the removal of a tree or two (growing in a wood that joins to the park, and which, fortunately enough, belongs to Mr. Dolman and me), I believe it may be rendered a considerable object here.

I purpose to write to Mr. Whistler either this post or the next. The fears you seemed in upon my account are very kind, but have no grounds. am, dear Mr. habitually and sincerely your,

&c.

My humble service to your neighbours.Smith (whom you knew at Derby) will publish a print of my grove in a small collection.

LETTER LVIII.

MR. SHENSTONE TO MR. JAGO,
With an Invitation to the Leasowes.

DEAR MR. JAGO, Sept. 3, Saturday night, 1748. I HARDLY know whether it will be prudent in me to own, that I wrote you a long letter upon the receipt of your last, which I have now upon my table. I condemn this habit in myself entirely, and

should, I am sure, be very unhappy, if my friends, by my example, should be induced to contract the same. The truth is, I had not expressed myself in it to my mind, and it was full of blots, and blunders, and interlinings; yet, such as it was, it had wearied my attention, and given me disinclination to begin it afresh. I am now impatient to remove any scruple you may have concerning my grateful sense of all your favours, and the invariable continuance of my affection and esteem.-I find by your last obliging letter, that my machinations and devices are not entirely private.-You knew of my draught of Hagley Castle about the bigness of a barley-corn; you knew of our intended visit to lady Luxborough's; and I must add, Mr. Thomas Hall knew of my contrivance for the embellishment of Mr. Hardy's house. Nothing is there hid that shall not be revealed.-Our visit to Barrels is now over and past.-Lady Luxborough has seen Hagley Castle in the original:—and as to my desire that my draught might be shown to no Christian soul, you surely did but ill comply with it, when you showed that drawing to a clergyman. However, you may have acted up to my real meaning, if you have taken care not to show it to any connoisseur. I meant chiefly to guard against any one that knows the rules; in whose eyes, I am sure, it could not turn to my credit.-Pray how do you like the festoons dangling over the oval windows?—It is the chief advantage in repairing an old house, that one may deviate from the rules without any extraordinary censure.

I will not trouble you now with many particulars. The intent of Tom's coming is, to desire

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your company and Mrs. Jago's this week.-I should be extremely glad if your convenience would allow you to come on Monday or Tuesday; but if it is entirely impracticable, I would beseech you not to put off the visit longer than the Monday following, for the leaves of my groves begin to fall a great pace. I beg once more, you would let no small inconvenience prevent your being here on Monday. As to my visit at Icheneton, you may depend upon it soon after; and I hope you will not stand upon punctilio, when I mention my inclination that you may all take a walk through my coppices before their beauty is much impaired. Were I in a sprightly vein, I would aim at saying something genteel by way of answer to Mrs. Jago's compliment.-As it is, I can only thank her for the substance, and applaud the politeness of it.— I postpone all other matters till I see you. I am, habitually, and sincerely, your, &c.

I beg my compliments to Mr. Hardy.

P. S. I am not accustomed, my dear friend, to send you a blank page; nor can I be content to do so now.

I thank you very sensibly for the verses with which you honour me. I think them good lines, and so do others that have seen them; but you will give me leave when I see you to propose some little alteration. As to an epistle it would be executed with difficulty, and I would have it turn to your credit as well as my own. But you have certainly of late acquired an ease in writing; and I am tempted to think, that what you write henceforth will be universally good.

Persons that have seen your Elegies, like "The Black-birds" best as it is most assuredly the most correct; but I, who pretend to great penetration, can foresee that "The Linnets" will be made to excel-More of this when I see you. Poor Miss G―, J— R— says, is married; and poor Mr. Thomson, Mr. Pitt tells me, is dead.-He was to have been at Hagley this week, and then I should probably have seen him here.-As it is, I will erect an urn in Virgil's Grove to his memory.—I was really as much shocked to hear of his death, as if I had known and loved him for a number of years: -God knows, I lean on a very few friends: and if they drop me, I become a wretched misanthrope.

LETTER LIX.

MR. SHENSTONE TO CW

DEAR SIR,

, ESQ.

The Leasowes, Nov. 2, 1753.

Ir never can be that I owe you for three letters: as to two, I will agree with you; one that I received together with my books, and the other soon after; but that I am indebted for more than these

Credat Judæus Apella,
Non ego.

Even that same Judæus Apella, who affords me this very opportunity of sending my compliments to you and Mrs. W—, and of assuring you that if I had not purposed to have seen you, I had wrote to you long ago.

Master Harris talks very respectfully of your

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