MUTUAL LOVE. A SONG. WHENE'ER I meet my Cælia's Eyes, My beating Heart is wrapt in Bliss, Beneath the silent Grove: She strives to frown, and puts me by, And once, O once! the dearest Maid, Me, me her gentle Arms carest, And now, transported with her Charms, O stay! I cry'd-Let Hymen's Bands She blush'd Consent with modest Grace, I read her mutual Love. DEAR SIR No. XXIV. FROM MR. ROBERT WOOD. London September 25 1749. I HOPE you'll excuse my breaking in upon your retire ment with my impertinence; in short I cant help begging your assistance in a scheme I am about undertaking, which is thus, I set out in two days for Paris, and so on to Rome, to overtake there two Gentlemen (Mr. Bouvry and Mr. Dawkins) who have been mostly abroad for some years, and propose extending their ramble a little further; accordingly are to have a ship ready in Spring to set out from Naples to make the tour of the Mediterranean; we propose visiting Athens and the Greek Islands; some parts of Asia Minor, and Egypt, if possible Palmyra; and in general most of the Classical Countries within such a tour; without going much into the Inland parts. I have bought a Collection of the Greek and Latin Classics to come out in the ship (which we intend to have sent from hence) and such Instruments as are necessary for measures; we take from Italy a Person who draws well; I could not think of any body fitter than Boura at Turin who us'd to teach in the Academy; as he takes views pretty well, is an Architect and Engeneer; I can't tell you what I would trouble you about better, than by telling you my plan of amusement; which is in general, to compare the Antient with the present face of the Country; the Greece of the Poets and historians, with the Greece we shall see; when I was last in those Countries I amus'd myself, (in rambling over the Country about Ida, the Simois and Scamander, &c.) in considering Homer, abstracted from his poeticall merit, as writing the Account of a Campaign; and making out a Plan of Troy and the environs from the Iliad, began to compare it, as far as I had time, with the present aspect of that Country; and found so exact a resemblance that I should be greatly tempted to pursue the same plan with more time and leisure; I mention this as what is to make my principal amusement, if your leisure from any thing more important would allow you, could you now and then look into the classicks, to give me any hints I should be much oblig'd to you; if my going into those countries, can make me understand better or have a stronger relish for some of its antient writers, I shall think my time at least innocently spent, not without pleasure; if you at your leisure could favour me with a line under Cover to Charles and Richard Selvin at Paris, and at the same time give me any particular commission for yourself you'll much oblige Your most Obed'. humble Serv1. ROBT. WOOD. No. XXV. FROM DR. ROBERT LOWTH. DEAR MR. SPENCE Turin July. 11th, 1749. You OU know me so well, that you will rather be surpris'd at hearing from me at all, than wonder that 'tis so long first besides I told you that I must have time to take a view of the place, before I could give you an acct. of it and of your Friends. I must thank you in the first place for introducing me to Mr. Dom- Ville, who is a very worthy, sensible, and agreeable man. He was very glad to hear from you, and was extremely pleas'd with your Book which I gave him. He tells me he has not English enough to set down to read it through, without a great deal more leisure than he has at present: but he has been very busy in looking it over and consulting particular places by the Index and Plates. He desires you would accept of his Compliments, and many thanks for your Present. From what I have said you begin to be in pain for your Friend Count Richa: he died here three or four days before we came. He had been confined for some time; and as the beginning of his illness was attended with some very odd circumstances, I'll give you as good an acct. of it as I have been able to get. Four or five Months ago the Princess of Carignan happened to observe that some of the China that stood in one of the Anti-Chambers was missing, and that it continued to decrease by degrees; she took notice of it, and enquiry was made about it among the servants: they could give no acct. of it; but one of them to clear himself and his Comrades of Suspicion was resolv'd to watch it, and hid himself in the room for that purpose. He was much surpris'd to see Count Richa, the first time he came to visit the Children as usual, as he return'd thro' the Room, go to the place where the China stood, choose out a piece or two of it, put it in his pocket, and carry it off. The Fellow did not care to risk his Credit against the Count's, by declaring immediately what he saw : he only said, he knew who had the China, and if they would send him in all the Messages to the houses about the town, he should soon be able to get very satisfactory intelligence of it. It was not long before he had an errand to Count Richa's, where he saw all the China that was missing openly displayed upon one of his Tables. When the story was known, ev'ry body look'd upon it as a plain Indication that the Count's head was disorder'd: however the Prince of Carignan immediately forbid him his house. The Count hardly appear'd abroad afterward: his illness soon took a different turn; his health decay'd apace, and at last he died of a Dropsy. -As to the rest things stand here pretty much I believe as you left them: our Governors are Count Salmure and the Chev'. St. Sebastian. I long to find out some of your walks, which look very pretty from my back window: I have not been able to go out to the other side the Po above once or twice: there is no walking here at this time of the year: the heat now begins to be insufferable. Oh that somebody would set me this moment under one of your Trees at Byfleet!-Present my Respects to your Good Family. Let me hear from you. Your's R. LOWTH. ' DEAR JO I No. XXVI. FROM DR. ROBERT LOWTH. Naples March 1. 1750. WAS afraid that something had happen'd to you, as it was so long before I heard from you. This is one of the very great inconveniences of being so punctual as you are: your friends are all alarm'd, whenever your Letters are a post or two later than ordinary; the uneasiness it gives them is well-founded, but had better be spared. Those that are so good as to be concern'd for me, I use more kindly; I teach them not to be in care about me, tho' they don't hear from me in a twelvemonth. I am very glad you are got well again, and I hope your exercise in the Country and your journeys between your Villa and Town, will perfectly establish your health. I read the description of your Garden to Sig*. Domville; he found it to be the same in the main that you had talk'd over with him, 8 or 10 years ago: I left him well at Turin about a Month since. He gave me some information with regard to those friends you enquir'd after: Mr. Lanskarouwski is now in the Saxon Service; I think he made a Campaign or two in the beginning of the war in that of the King of Sardinia: Mr. D'Erlach died somewhere in Lombardy, 6 or 7 years ago, of the smallpox. I must not forget your old flame, the Princess of Carignan: She has lost I believe a good deal of her beauty, being now pale and very thin; but will always retain her agreeableness. She lay in, while we were at Turin; and has now about 6 Children. A good part of this day and yesterday I spent in the company of your Friend Sig". Camillo Paderni: he is settled at Portici in the King's service, and is employed in making Drawings of the Antiquities found in Herculaneum, of which they are preparing to give the world a large account. He has been there upon this business above a year and half. He has receiv'd your Book from Mr. Nash, who was here lately. Sig". Camillo is very well with the King; has access |