e pounds. He next was told, that as I never drank mait?liquors, so I was not able to drink Dublin claret without mixing it with a little sweet Spanish wine. He found out the merchant with whom I deal, by the treachery of my butler, and sent me twelve dozen pints of that wine, for which he paid six pounds; But what can I say of a man, who, some years before I ever saw him, was loading me every season with salmons, that surfeited myself and all my visitors? Whereby it is plain that his malice reached to my friends as well as myself. At last, to complete his ill designs, he must needs force his niece into the plot, because it can be proved that you are his prime minister, and so ready to encourage him in his bad proceedings, that you have been his partaker and second in mischief, by sending me half a dozen of shirts, although I never once gave you the least cause of displeasure. And, what is yet worse, the few ladies that come to the Deanry assure me, they never say so fine linen, or better were not stockings, for then you would have known the length of my foot. Upon the whole, Madam, I must deal so plain as to repeat, that you are more cruel even than your uncle to such a degree, that if my health and a good summer, can put it in my power to travel to Summer?Seat, I must take that journey on purpose to expostulate with you for all the unprovoked injuries you have done me. I have seen some persons who live in your neighborhood, from whom I have inquired into your character, but I found you had bribed them all, by never sending them any such dangerous presents. For they swore to me, that you were a lady adorned with all perfections, such as virtue, prudence, wit, humor, excellent conversation, and even good housewifery, which last is seldom the talent of ladies in this kingdom. But I take so ill your manner of treating me, that I shall not believe one syllable of what they said, until I have it by letter under your own hand. Our common run of ladies here dare not read before a man, and much less dare to write, for fear (as their expression is) of being exposed. So that when I see any of your sex, if they be worth mending, I beat them all, call them names, until they leave off their follies, and ask pardon. And therefore, because princes are said to have long hands. I wish I were a prince with hands long enough to beat you at this distance, for all your faults, particularly your ill treatment of me. However, I will conclude with charity. May you never give me cause to change, in any Single article, the opinion and idea I have of your person and qualities. May you very long continue the delight of your uncle and your neighours round, who deserve your good will, and of all who have merit enough to distinguish you.
I am, with great respect and the highest esteem, Madam.
Your most obedient and most obliged humble servant,