“When you have a mind to make me happy, write to me, for of late I have had but very little chance, and only chance, of seeing you.  If ever you thought well of me, if ever you believed I wished you well, and wished to be of service to you, think the same of me, for I am the same, and shall always be so.

“Mr. Pope, I fear, is determined never to write to me.  I hope he is well.  If you see Miss Blount or Mr. Pope, I beg them to accept my compliments.”

JOHN GAY TO DEAN SWIFT.

  July 18th, 1731.

“Your friend Mrs. Howard is now Countess of Suffolk.  I am still so much a dupe, that I think you mistake her.  Come to Amesbury, and you and I will dispute this matter, and the Duchess shall be judge.  But I fancy you will object against her; for I will be so fair to you, as to own that I think she is of my side; but, in short, you shall choose any impartial referee you please.  I have heard from her; Mr. Pope has seen her; I beg that you would suspend your judgment till we talk over this affair together; for, I fancy, by your letter, you have neither heard from her, nor seen her; so that you cannot at present be as good a judge as we are.  I will be a dupe for you at any time; therefore I beg it of you, that you would let me be a dupe in quiet.

“As to my being manager for the Duke, you have been misinformed.  Upon the discharge of an unjust steward, he took the administration into his own hands.  I own I was called in to his assistance, when the state of affairs was in the greatest confusion.  Like an ancient Roman I came, put my helping hand to set affairs right, and as soon as it was done, I am retired again as a private man."[6]

THE COUNTESS OF SUFFOLK TO JOHN GAY.

  Kensington, September 5th, 1731.

“I was never more peevish in my life than I have been about this journey of Bridgeman’s.  I am sure I took true pains that it should have been just as the Duchess wished.  I find upon enquiry that he did not go as soon as I expected.  He told me of the first letter which he wrote to you.

“I wish he had told me of Mr. Bloodworth’s conversation, for that would have prevented all mistakes.  It is not in my power to do anything more, for Bridgeman has been absent a week from hence; but if his servants tell truth, there is no occasion, for they say he is gone to the Duke of Queensberry’s.

“I shall be very uneasy till I hear how this matter has ended.  A letter from you was not necessary to make me remember you, but a letter was absolutely necessary to make me think you deserved one.  The Duchess did not tell me why I did not see you at Highclere, but I do believe it was a good one; because she knows bringing of you there would have pleased us both.  As I never knew what liberty was, I cannot tell you how much I was delighted with this summer’s expeditions.  I never see Mr. Pope nor Mrs. Blount, though I never go to Marble Hill without sending to them.  She has been ill, but was well last time I sent; but you know she has a peculiar pleasure in refusing her friends.