certain inconvenient opinion I have, that one cannot pay too dear for peace of mind.
Poor philosopher Berkeley has now the idea[1] of health, which was very hard to produce in him; for he had an idea of a strange fever upon him; so strong, that it was very hard to destroy it by introducing a contrary one. Poor Gay is much where he was, only out of the duchess's family and service[2]. He has some confidence in the princess and countess of Picbourgh; I wish it may be significant to him. I advised him to make a poem upon the princess before she came over, describing her to the English ladies; for it seems the princess does not dislike that. (She is really a person that I believe will give great content to every body.) But Gay was in such a grovelling condition, as to the affairs of the world, that his muse would not stoop to visit him. I can say no more of news, than that you will find the proceedings hitherto have been comparatively gentle. Adieu.
DEAR SIR,
I THANK you kindly for yours, with the enclosed from our friend. I would have obeyed your commands as to the History of the White Staff; but
- ↑ This alludes to his book, in which he attempts to prove, that all things supposed to depend upon a material world, subsist only in idea.
- ↑ The duchess of Monmouth.
- ↑ Written on the same paper with the last.
