Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12.djvu/387

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DR. SWIFT.
375

glad to show how sincerely I am your friend and faithful humble servant,





DEC. 28, 1730.


YOU might give a better reason for restoring my book, that it was not worth keeping. I thought by the superscription that your letter was written by a man; for you have neither the scrawl nor the spelling of your sex. You live so far off, and I believe are so seldom at home, and I am so ill a visitor, that it is no wonder we meet so seldom: but if you knew what I say of you to others, you would believe it was not want of inclination; I mean what I say of you as I knew you formerly; for as to what you are now, I know but little. I give you the good wishes of the season; and am, with true esteem and affection, yours, &c.




MADAM,
1730, AT A CONJECTURE.


MY reason for waiting on you, some time ago, was grounded on the esteem I always had for you; which

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