I am told that R. Spencer is a servant to a lady of my acquaintance, a daughter of my Lady Lexington’s.  Is it true?  And if it be, what is become of the L2500 lady?  Would you think it, that I have an ambassador from the Emperor Justinian, that comes to renew the treaty?  In earnest, ’tis true, and I want your counsel extremely, what to do in it.  You told me once that of all my servants you liked him the best.  If I could do so too, there were no dispute in’t.  Well, I’ll think on’t, and if it succeed I will be as good as my word; you shall take your choice of my four daughters.  Am not I beholding to him, think you?  He says that he has made addresses, ’tis true, in several places since we parted, but could not fix anywhere; and, in his opinion, he sees nobody that would make so fit a wife for him as I. He has often inquired after me to hear if I were marrying, and somebody told him I had an ague, and he presently fell sick of one too, so natural a sympathy there is between us; and yet for all this, on my conscience, we shall never marry.  He desires to know whether I am at liberty or not.  What shall I tell him?  Or shall I send him to you to know?  I think that will be best.  I’ll say that you are much my friend, and that I have resolved not to dispose of myself but with your consent and approbation, and therefore he must make all his court to you; and when he can bring me a certificate under your hand, that you think him a fit husband for me, ’tis very likely I may have him.  Till then I am his humble servant and your faithful friend.

Letter 20.—­In this letter the journey into Sweden is given up finally, and Temple is once more without employment or the hope of employment.  This was probably brought about by the alteration of the Government plans; and as Lord Lisle was not to go to Sweden, there was no chance of Temple’s being attached to the Embassy.

SIR,—­I am sorry my last letter frighted you so; ’twas no part of my intention it should; but I am more sorry to see by your first chapter that your humour is not always so good as I could wish it.  ’Twas the only thing I ever desired we might differ in, and therefore I think it is denied me.  Whilst I read the description on’t, I could not believe but that I had writ it myself, it was so much my own.  I pity you in earnest much more than I do myself; and yet I may deserve yours when I shall have told you, that besides all that you speak of, I have gotten an ague that with two fits has made me so very weak, that I doubted extremely yesterday whether I should be able to sit up to-day to write to you.  But you must not be troubled at this; that’s the way to kill me indeed.  Besides, it is impossible I should keep it long, for here is my eldest brother, and my cousin Molle, and two or three more that have great understanding in agues, as people that have been long acquainted with them, and they do so tutor and govern me, that I am neither to eat, drink, nor sleep without their leave; and,