succeeding facts with some exactness, but I think in the margin. You told me on Saturday that I had received money on this work, and found set down 13l. 2s. 6d., reckoning the half guinea of last Saturday. As you hinted to me that you had many calls for money, I would not press you too hard, and therefore shall desire only, as I send it in, two guineas for a sheet of copy; the rest you may pay me when it may be more convenient; and even by this sheet-payment I shall, for some time, be very expensive.
'The Life of Savage[1] I am ready to go upon; and in Great Primer, and Pica notes, I reckon on sending in half a sheet a day; but the money for that shall likewise lye by in your hands till it is done. With the debates, shall not I have business enough? if I had but good pens.
'Towards Mr. Savage's Life what more have you got? I would willingly have his trial, &c., and know whether his defence be at Bristol, and would have his collection of poems, on account of the Preface.—The Plain Dealer[2]—all the magazines that have anything of his, or relating to him.
'I thought my letter would be long, but it is now ended; and I am, Sir,
'The boy found me writing this almost in the dark, when I could not quite easily read yours.
'I have read the Italian—nothing in it is well.
'I had no notion of having any thing for the Inscription[3]. I hope you don't think I kept it to extort a price. I could think of nothing, till to day. If you could spare me another guinea for the history, I should take it very kindly, to night; but if you do not I shall not think it an injury.—I am almost well again.'
'To Mr. Cave.
'Sir,
'You did not tell me your determination about the 'Soldier's
- ↑ Savage died on Aug. 1, 1743, so that this letter is misplaced.
- ↑ The Plain Dealer was published in 1724, and contained some account of Savage. Boswell.
- ↑ In the Gent. Mag. for Sept. 1743 (p. 490) there is an epitaph on R—d S—e, Esq., which may perhaps be this inscription. 'His life was want,' this epitaph declares. It is certainly not the Runick Inscription in the number for March 1742, as Malone suggests; for the earliest possible date of this letter is seventeen months later.
