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You desird me to write you news, but tho there are a great many promotions they seem to me as far
as I can judge all such dirty ones, that you may spare me the trouble of naming them & pick them out of a news paper if you think
it worth While. There is a Bon mot of Mr Pitts handed about out of the late debate about the treaties. some Body had compard the
Russians to a Star rising out of the north &c. Pit replyd he was glad the place of the Star was thus fixd for he was certain it was
not that Star wch once appeard in the East & wch the wise Men worshipt, tho it was like it in one particular
for it made its Worshipers bring Gifts.
Charles Townshend in the same debate calld Lord H an unthinking unparliamentary Minister, for wch he was severely mumbled by Mr Fox wch I am glad of because he is certainly a most unprincipled Patriot. But
perhaps all this is old to you, Im tird of the subject and will drop it—
There is a sweet Song in Demofoonte called Ogni Amante sung by Riccarelli. Pray look at it. Tis almost Notatim/verbatim the Air in Ariadne, but I think better. I am told tis a very old one of Scarlattis wch if true Handel is almost a musical Lauder.
Voltaires Mock Poem calld La Pucelle is to be met with, tho not sold publickly, in town, I had a short sight of it the other day. If you have any curiosity to see it I can send it you with Frasers assistance in a couple of Covers.
I have been here ever since I left Cambridge except one Opera night. My Absence from my Piano forte
almost makes me peevish enough to write a Bolinbrokian Essay upon exile. Why will you not send me my
inscription? and with it be sure add a dissertation upon Sigmas, and tell me with all Dr
Taylors accuracy whether a Σ or a C or a ∊
is the most classical. You can write dissertations upon the Pelasgi, & why not upon this when it is for the use of a learned friend? Allways twitting you (you say) with the Pelasgi. why, tis all I
can twit you with.
I wish you good success at Brag as well as sweet Temper. May the Latter be ΠΟΛΥ ΠΑΚΤΙΔΟϹ ΑΔΥΜΕΛΕΣΤΕΡΑ and the former make your purse ΧΡΥΣΩ ΧΡΥΣΟΤΕΡΑ.
I see in the papers Dodsley has publishd An Ode on the Earthquake at Lisbon with some Thoughts on a Church yard. I suppose You are the Author and that you have taggd your Elegy to the tail of it. However if I dont suppose so I hope the world will, in order that people may lay out their sixpences on that, rather than on Duncombs flattery to Fobus, & the Old Horse.
What a scribbling Humor am I in! Ill releive you however by adding only my Love to Mr Brown Tuthill & all friends & assuring you that I am yours with the greatest sincerity
Shall I trouble you Dear Sr to wish Dr Long & Old Cardale a merry Xt.mas in my Name. Lady
Rotchford assures me that Lady Coventry "has a mole on one of her Ladyship's Necks" Pray tell Dr Gascarth, that
the Neck has descended some inches in the Human frame & deviding itself into two Hemispherical excrescences forms those parts wch
Sally erroneously calls her Bubbies, & wch he feels for such.