vindicate one of the best of fathers, and that to your Lordship, whom, of all the world, I would not have possessed with an ill opinion of one I am so nearly related to. If I can serve your Lordship in this country, I should be ever proud to receive any of your commands at Mr. Moor's in Amsterdam. I am, my Lord, Your Lordship's most dutiful and J. ADDISON. ADDISON TO MR. WOOD (AT GENEVA). 66 [The Hague,] September, 1703. Analysis. Complimenting him "on a very pleasant letter to Lord Effingham," (which his Lordship had shown him,) advising him not to persist in his intended tour to Italy and the Passes of the Alps.-"Think but on Mount Cenis, and, as you have not the brains of a kite, I am sure it will deter from so rash an undertaking."you I have lately received my book of travels from Mr. Fisher. It has taken a longer tour than its author since it went out of your hands, and made a greater voyage than that which it describes. But after having passed through Switzerland, Germany, Holland, and made a trip to England, it is at last sent me to the Hague." ADDISON TO MR. WYCHE (AT HAMBURGH). [Amsterdam,] September, 1703. Analysis. Announcing the death of Mr. Addison's father,' since which "engaged in so much noise and company; that it was impossible for me to think of rhyming in it, unless I had been possessed of such a muse as Dr. Blackmore's,2 that could make a couple of heroic poems in a hackney coach and a coffee-house." 1 Dr. Lancelot Addison, Dean of Lichfield and Archdeacon of Coventry, who died April 20, 1703. 2 Sir Richard Blackmore, M. D., physician to King William and Queen Anne, a most prolific writer of Epics, which he was said to have penned to some extent in his carriage, in the course of his professional visits. His "Creation," in seven books, is his principal poem, and went through several editions; but although praised by Addison and Dr. Johnson, has long since passed into oblivion. Sir Richard was the common butt of the wits, and the present allusion to him is evidently ironical. STEELE TO ADDISON. SIR, 1705. You will be surprised, in the midst of a daily and familiar conversation, with an address which bears so distant an air as a public dedication: but to put you out of the pain which I know this will give you, I assure you I do not design in it, what would be very needless, a panegyric on yourself, or, what perhaps is very necessary, a defence of the Play. In the one I should discover too much the concern of an author, in the other too little the freedom of a friend. for My purpose in this application is only to show the esteem I have you, and that I look upon my intimacy with you as one of the most valuable enjoyments of my life. At the same time, I hope I make the town no ill compliment for their kind acceptance of this comedy, in acknowledging that it has so far raised my opinion of it, as to make me think it no improper memorial of an inviolable friendship. I should not offer it to you as such, had I not been very careful to avoid everything that might look ill-natured, immoral, or prejudicial to what the better part of mankind hold sacred and honourable. Poetry, under such restraints, is an obliging service to human society; especially when it is used, like your admirable vein, to recommend more useful qualities in yourself, or immortalize characters truly heroic in others. I am here in danger of breaking my promise to you, therefore shall take the only opportunity that can offer itself of resisting my own inclinations, by complying with yours. I am, sir, Your most faithful humble servant, RICHARD STEELE. There is a gap here of more than two years in the series of Addison's letters. During this period, by the influence of his friend and patron Lord Halifax, he was brought into public employment as Commissioner of appeal in the excise, and "officially encouraged" by Lord Godolphin to commemorate the battle of Blenheim, which Marlborough had just This produced his celebrated poem 'The Campaign,' which gave him great popularity and paved his way to further advancement. In 1705 he employed himself in the publica won. This letter was prefixed to "The Tender Husband," which was first acted in 1704, but not printed till 1705. tion of his Travels,' which he dedicated in chaste and elegant language, in the form of a letter, to Lord Somers (printed in our vol. i. p. 356). The Whigs being now in power, Lord Halifax was sent on a mission to Hanover, to present the garter to the Electoral Prince, (George I.,) and selected Addison to accompany him, as is shown in the next letter. A very amusing burlesque Table of Contents was made to Addison's Travels by some Tory wit of the day, and was prefixed to some copies of the edition printed in 1705, (which had been bought up for the purpose,) with a new title-page, dated 1706. The circumstance is not mentioned by any of his biographers. We annex a few extracts: How the outside of a church may sometimes look much whiter and fresher than the inside, 27. Little images make up the equipage of those that are larger, 28. Bridges at Venice are without any fence, which would be a great inconveniency to a city less sober, 85. A dog that has his nose held in the vapour of the Grotto del Cane dies in a very little time; but if carried into the open air, or thrown into the neighbouring lake, he immediately recovers, 230. Water is of great use when a fire chances to break out, 443. The holiday clothes of the people of Bern go from father to son, and are seldom worn out till the second or third generation; so that it is a common thing to see a countryman in the doublet and breeches of his great grandfather, 503. Politics seem to have run very high at this period, and the same kind of practical wit was resorted to by the Whig party against the Tories. Mr. William Bromley (afterwards Speaker) had published, in 1692, a Grand Tour of France and Italy, which the Whig party (it was supposed one of the ministry) reprinted in 1705, at the time he first stood for the speakership, with the addition of a Table of Contents, turning all his observations into ridicule. His own account of the matter is given in the Bibliotheca Parriana, pp. 702-3, printed from the fly-leaves of a copy supposed by Dr. Parr to be unique. We annex a few extracts: Eight pictures take up less room than sixteen of the same size, 14. The author compared with our Saviour, and wants of his height a hand's breadth by measure, 107. Banners displayed to keep a dead cardinal from being fly-blown, 126. Three hundred penitent whores in a monastery at Florence; a cheap way of providing for daughters, 227. Ten persons in a government like a decemvirate, 234. SIR, LORD HALIFAX TO MR. ROBETHON.' Hague, May 7th, 1706. I have received the favour of your letter of the 30th, and should have returned my most humble acknowledgments for the great honour his electoral Highness and the electoral prince have done me, by the next post, had it not gone away earlier than I imagined. I have undertaken this journey, merely to pay my duty and respect to their electoral Highnesses. I knew myself very unfit for any foreign business; but I would not refuse a commission (though never so improper for myself) that might put me in a capacity of serving them. Sir, I beg the favour of you, that you would present my most humble duty to their electoral Highnesses, and to the electoral prince, with the utmost respect; and assure them, that as I have been devoted to their interest in England, I am now come abroad, only in hopes I may be some way useful to them. I bring them the greatest proofs that the Queen and the nation can give them, of their affection and zeal, to preserve and maintain the succession in that illustrious family: and I hope the negotiation that my Lord Marlborough is now carrying on in this place, will add a greater strength to our laws. Mr. Vauburgh 2 is not yet come over; and I came away in such a hurry, that I left several things to follow me. When they arrive, I will set forward for Hanover. I have excused myself from bringing any young noblemen with me, but my Lord Dorset is left to my care, and I shall bring him with Monsieur Narifeau and Mr. Addison, two gentlemen of learning and business, give me their company, and I bring no more servants or liveries than I have at London. me. I am, &c. HALIFAX. "I am overjoyed that I shall have again the honour to renew our acquaintance; and you needed no recommendation to put an entire confidence in Mr. Robethon." ADDISON TO MR. LEWIS.3 SIR, [Hague,] July 26th, 1706. I thank you for yours of the 2nd, which I received at the Duke of Marlborough's camp.4 Mr. Cardonnel will give Private secretary to King William, and afterwards to George I., whom he accompanied into England. Several letters between Addison and this gentleman will be found under the date of 1714. 2 Vauburgh had recently been appointed Clarenceux king at arms, and though not in the suite of Lord Halifax, must have been present at the Ceremonial. 3 Probably Erasmus Lewis, afterwards secretary to Lord Dartmouth. There is a letter from Mr. Cardonnel to Mr. Lewis, dated May 22, 1705, in the Marlborough Despatches, vol. ii. p. 51. Then at Helchin, near the Hague. you a better account of all transactions here, than I can do. The Duke of Marlborough received a letter from Prince Eugene, on Saturday last, that confirms his passing the Adige and gives great hopes of further successes.1 He tells his Grace that the Duke of Orleans was arrived in those parts to command the French army, if he had resolution enough to enter on such a post, when his army was in such a situation. The Duke of Vendome, they say this morning, is got among the French troops, on this side. A trumpet from the enemy says, that three lieutenant-generals are broken for misbehaviour at Ramillies. Their names are, Counts Guiscard, d'Artagnan, and Monsieur d'Etain. All agree here, that the last battle was gained purely by the conduct of our general. "I am, sir, &c. J. ADDISON." SIR, ADDISON TO MR. STEPNEY. Whitehall, Sept. 3rd, 1706. I beg leave to congratulate you upon your removal to a province that requires all those great abilities for which you are so deservedly celebrated, and at the same time to renew to you my assurances of an eternal gratitude and esteem. Though I have forbore troubling you with professions of this nature, I have often had an opportunity of mentioning my obligations to you, and the great respect I shall always have for so extraordinary a character; as well in other countries as in England. I shall take the liberty to trouble you with the news of the town and office, since I am better settled in my correspondences than I was formerly, and may now look upon you to be in our neighbourhood. The Union at present takes up all public discourse, and it is thought will certainly be concluded at last, notwithstanding the late popular commotions. Our Barbadoes fleet is arrived under convoy of two men-of-war, and I hear Sir Bevil Granville died on board one of them on his return from his government. We have just now received a Lisbon mail, and as I am very much straitened in time, I send you an extract of a letter I received thence. I am with great respect, sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant, Printed in the Marlborough Despatches, vol. iii. p. 28. |