velvet: but may be I may beg a piece. What shall I do? Well, now to rogue
MD's letter. God be thanked for Stella's eyes mending; and God send it holds;
but faith you writ too much at a time: better write less, or write it at ten
times. Yes, faith, a long letter in a morning from a dear friend is a dear
thing. I smoke a compliment, little mischievous girls, I do so. But who are
those WIGGS that think I am turned Tory? Do you mean Whigs? Which WIGGS and
WAT do you mean? I know nothing of Raymond, and only had one letter from him
a little after I came here.[Pray remember Morgan.) Raymond is indeed like to
have much influence over me in London, and to share much of my conversation.
I shall, no doubt, introduce him to Harley, and Lord Keeper, and the Secretary
of State. The Tatler upon Ithuriel's spear[30] is not mine, madam. What a
puzzle there is betwixt you and your judgment! In general you may be
sometimes sure of things, as that about STYLE,[31] because it is what I have
frequently spoken of; but guessing is mine a----, and I defy mankind, if I
please. Why, I writ a pamphlet when I was last in London, that you and a
thousand have seen, and never guessed it to be mine. Could you have guessed
the "Shower in Town" to be mine? How chance you did not see that before your
last letter went? but I suppose you in Ireland did not think it worth
mentioning. Nor am I suspected for the lampoon; only Harley said he smoked
me; (have I told you so before?) and some others knew it. 'Tis called "The
Rod of Sid Hamet." And I have written several other things that I hear
commended, and nobody suspects me for them; nor you shall not know till I see
you again. What do you mean, "That boards near me, that I dine with now and
then?" I know no such person: I do not dine with boarders. What the pox!
You know whom I have dined with every day since I left you, better than I do.
What do you mean, sirrah? Slids, my ailment has been over these two months
almost. Impudence, if you vex me, I will give ten shillings a week for my
lodging; for I am almost st--k out of this with the sink, and it helps me to
verses in my "Shower."[32] Well, Madam Dingley, what say you to the world to
come? What ballad? Why go look, it was not good for much: have patience