'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[452]. 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 Letter[453],' which I am confident was never printed. I think it will not do by itself, or in any other place, so well as the Mag. Extraordinary[454]. If you will have it at all, I believe you do not think I set it high, and I will be glad if what you give, you will give quickly.
[Page 157: Ad Lauram pariluram Epigramma. Ætat 33.]
'You need not be in care about something to print, for I have got the State Trials, and shall extract Layer, Atterbury, and Macclesfield from them, and shall bring them to you in a fortnight; after which I will try to get the South Sea Report.'
[No date, nor signature]
I would also ascribe to him an 'Essay on the Description of China, from the French of Du Halde[455].[dagger]