HEARING from honest John[1], that you still persist in your resolution of retiring into the country, I cannot but give you my thoughts of it, at the same time that I am sensible how intruding it may appear in me to trouble you with what I think: but you have an unlucky quality, which exposes you to the forwardness of those who love you: I mean good nature. From which, though I did not always suspect you guilty of it, I now promise myself an easy pardon. So that, without being in much pain as to the censure you may pass upon my assurance, I shall go on gravely to tell you, I am entirely against your design.
I confess a just indignation at several things, and particularly at the return your services have met with may give you a disgust to the court; and that retirement may afford a pleasing prospect to you, who have lived so long in the hurry, and have born so great a share of the load of business; and the more so at this juncture, when the distraction among your friends is enough to make any one sick of a courtier's life. But on these very accounts you should choose to stay, and convince the world that you are as much above private resentment, where the publick is concerned, as you are incapable of be-
