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I too am set down here with something greater hopes of quiet, than I could entertain, when I saw you last. at least nothing new has
happen'd to give me any disturbance, & the assurances, you gave me in your letter from hence, are
pretty-well confirm'd by experience. I shall be very ready to take as much of Mr D:p's dullness, as he
chuses to part with, at any price he pleases, even with his want of sleep & weak Bowels into the bargain. and I will be your
Curate, & he shall live here with all my wit, & a power of learning. Dr Brown's book (I hear)
is much admired in Town, wch I do not understand. I expected it should be admired here; but they affect not to like it, tho' I know
they ought. what would you have me do? there is one thing in it I applaud, wch is the dissertation against Trade, for I have always
said, it was the ruin of the Nation. I have read the little wicked book about Evil, that settled Mr
Dodsley's conscience in that point, & find nothing in it, but absurdity. we call it Soame Jennyns's, but I have a notion you
mention'd some other name to me, tho' I have forgot it. St: has done me the honour to send me your friend Ld Newnham hither with a fine recommendatory letter (written by his own desire) in Newmarket-week. do not think he was going to New-Market. no! he came in a Solitaire, great
Sleeves, jessamine-powder, & a large Bouquet of Jonquils within twelve miles of that place on purpose not to go thither. we had
three days intercourse, talk'd about the Beaux-Arts, & Rome, & Hanover & Mason, whose praises we celebrated a qui mieux mieux, vowed eternal friendship, embraced, & parted. I promised to write you a thousand compliments
in his name. I saw also Ld Villiers & Mr Spencer, who carried him
back with them, en passant. they did not like me at all. here has been too the best of all Johns (I hardly except the Evangelist, & the Divine) who is not to be sure a
bit like my Ld N:, but full as well in my mind. the D: of Bedford has brought his Son, ay, & Mr Rigby too. they were at Church on Sunday morning, and Mr Sturgeon preach'd to them & the Heads, for
no body else was present. Mr Franklyn is not his Tutor. these are the most remarkable events at
Cambridge.
Mr B:y has been here. he had not done what you recommended to him, before he came out of Town, & he is return'd thither only the beginning of this week, when he assured me he certainly would do it. alas, what may this delay occasion? it is best not to think. oh happy Mr D:p!