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*LETTER CLVIII.

Archbishop HERRING to Mr. DUNCOMBE.

DEAR SIR,

Croydon-house, June 22, 1756.

You may be fure, if I had been in any good condition of health and spirits, you would not have been so long without thanks for your laft kind letter. I continue extremely out of order; I think in a confirmed dropfy; and though I am sure, Dr. Wilmot has done all that art and friendfhip can do for me, I rather lofe ground. I have now been near half a year in this dismal way, worse than the acutest pain, because of its duration; and every thing I take feeds the diftemper, while, at the fame time, it prolongs life; for

Ready oft the port t'obtain,

I'm shipwreck'd into life again.

I know who sent me hither, and how much it is my duty to attend his summons for a

removal;

removal; but life is over with me; and fometimes, in my airings, I repeat two pretty lines of Parnell,

But what are fields, or flowers, or air, to me?
Ah! tastelefs all, if not enjoy'd with thee,

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You have most agreeably increased my

obligations and it was very kind and in

* Author of " Grongar-hill," the "Ruins of Rome," and "the Fleece." Of this ingenious writer very few particulars are known; and therefore the following, from his own pen, cannot be unac

ceptable

genuous to inform me fomewhat of yourfelf, as, in the generous freedom of your fpirit, you broke through the little vulgarity of fashion, and wrote to one whom you never faw, and to one who has been long out of the world.

Your invitation is exceedingly engaging. The fimplicity of your manner of life, and your regular hours, to me are luxuries. And how well do you fet forth your entertainment in the names of Mr. Hawkins Browne and the author of Clariffa; and, if I am not mistaken, in thofe of Mifs Carter and Mifs Talbot! What a bill of fare! Yet old Barzillai, though invited by David to the higheft elegances of life, held it vain

ceptable to the admirers of his excellent writings; in which number we include every one who has read them.

"Monthly Review," vol. xlviii, p. 35.

+ Near Horncastle in Lincolnshire.

*A mistake-probably for Mifs Mulfo, now Mrs. Chapone.

VOL. III.

I

to

to go to Jerufalem, when he could no longer hear the voice of singing men and singing women. Frailties also are troublesome in company except in Frith-street, where they are carried into the arms of humanity. In fpring therefore, perhaps I may quit my folitude here, and venture abroad with an hundred infirmities upon my head; and facrifice my vanity to one fo benevolent as Mr. Duncombe.

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I have not met with Dodsley's two last volumes, and have hitherto miffed the pleasure of seeing the "Ode to health*”. Though head-achs and fickness make me fearful of reading much, yet I will hafte to fee it; it will particularly fuit me: I will feek it, as I feek health, which, alas! I very much want. Your humble fervant is become a deaf, and dull, and languid creature; who, however, in his poor change of constitution, being a little recompenfed

* By Mr. J. Duncombe. See Dodfley's " poems," vol. iv, p. 275.

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with the critic's phlegm, has made fhift, by many blottings and corrections, and some helps from his kind friend, Dr. Akenside, to give a fort of finishing to the "Fleece," which is juft fent up to Mr. Dodfley; but as people are so taken up with politics, and have fo little inclination to read any thing but fatire and news-papers, I am in doubt whether this is a proper time for publishing it.

I have read none of the ConnoiffeursNo papers reach this lonely place. I know not how the world goes-but with Mr. Hughes, as an author, I am well acquainted, and am glad that we are to have a fuller account of the life of fo beautiful a poet *.

Lord chancellor has been favourable to me. This living is 120l. per ann. The other, called Kirkby, 110l. But my pre

In the "Biographia Britannica," vol. iv, by

Dr. Campbell.

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ferments

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