life,” as he terms it, in comparison of his laborious one, he says:—
Shall chase the peaceful muse from thee;
She loves to live from toil and trouble free,
Basks in the sunshine of an idle life,
But flies averse from business and from me."
Now I am speaking of poets, you have often heard me mention a very particular friend of mine in Oxford, by name Bagot, many of whose productions I have shown you. He has been obliged to have recourse to Lisbon for the recovery of his health, from whence I received a long letter from him a few days ago. He informs me he is better in that climate than when he left England; but I much fear he will fall a martyr to severity of study. Adieu! dear Ned.
In April, 1766, Edmond writes from London to his father, who he regrets had a “new commission” to return to some duties at Clonmel—“Mr. Pitt is very ill with the gout at Hayes.” The conclusion notices two personages once well known at the “Grecian” and in theatrical circles—“I am at present writing in a coffee-house, in the midst of so much noise and bustle—the celebrated anti-Sejanus (Mr. Scott[1]) on one side and Mr. Macklin on the other—that I can't add anything more at present.”
It will be seen by previous letters that an intimacy existed with the family of Lord Southwell. In the autumn of this year he accompanied, as a friend, the son and grandson of that nobleman to the south of France. Marseilles formed their original destination. A halt arising from illness, occurred at Avignon which continued to be their abode; and where his friend by the death of his father soon
- ↑ Author of well-known letters under that signature in the newspapers.
