Letters, which had been bound together by Mr. Shenftone, in the firft leaf he had written with his own hand, as follows: "Letters from the Right Ho"nourable Lady Luxborough ; "written with abundant Ease, Politenefs, and Vivacity; in which "she was scarce equalled by any woman of her time. They com"menced in the year 1739, and "were continued to the year of " her death (1756), with fome few ❝ intermiffions. " WILL. SHENSTONE. LADY LADY LUXBOROUGH's LETTER S. SIR, LETTER I. WITHO Barrells, November 27th, 1739. ITHOUT the affiftance of your pen, it will be impoffible for me to return Mr. Shenstone fufficient thanks for the honour he does me, and my humble habitation; and for the agreeable entertainment his verses afford me to you, Sir, I owe the pleasure of having enjoyed that gentleman's conversation a few moments; to you I owe the advantage of being represented to him in the most flattering light; and to you I defire to owe the favour of speaking my gratitude for his genteel compliment, and my admiration of all he writes: B writes his offended Mufe will I fear repent her ready aid, if he bestows fuch fine thoughts and flowing lines on fuch trifling and unworthy fubjects, as in his copy of verfes infcribed to a perfon who has no other pretence to merit, or to tafte, but that of diftinguishing his. As you, Sir, have the art to defcribe the most fimple things with the niceft elegance (as appears by your Pastoral) I must once more intreat you to make known to your friend, the fincerity of my heart in the approbation it gives to his works; to which it pays just praise, though my words could no more exprefs it (without doing wrong to my fentiments) than they could utter the real esteem, and friendly regard, with which I Sir, am, Your obliged humble fervant, To the Revd. Mr. Jago, jun. at Henley. H. KNIGHT. SIR, M LETTER II. Barrells, April 27, 1741. R. John Reynalds has this moment brought me your poem, for which I would not defer returning thanks; as I think myself myself greatly obliged to you for fending me what has already given me much pleasure, and ' will do fo as often as I read it: that mark of your remembrance, and the honour you do me in counting my approbation as any thing, gives a real fatisfaction to, Sir, Your obliged humble fervant, To William Shenftone, Efq; at Mr. Wintle's, Perfumer, H. KNIGHT. SIR, LETTER NOT III. Barrells, May 29th, 1742. OTHING but an uncommon hurry of bufinefs and company, ever fince the moment I received your poem, could have prevented my returning thanks for the favour you do me in thinking me worthy to judge of the beauties of it it was with pleasure I read it, and I admired it on more accounts than merely the novelty of the fubject. The piping Faunus having his pipe in his hands when he came to me, I fuppofe Rackftrow had followed your advice (which was right) before he finished the figure; which I B 2 think think a genteel one, but too fmall to fet out of doors. If you do me justice, you will believe that I am glad of every opportunity of affuring you, that I am, Sir, Your most obliged humble fervant, H. KNIGHT. I 1 LETTER IV. DEAR SIR, Barrells, July 28th, 1747. AM glad of an opportunity to let you know, that if it should happen to be convenient to you, (as you was fo kind to give Lady Luxborough an invitation to your Hermitage) that her Ladyfhip will do herself the pleasure to take a profpect of the Leafowes before the leaf falls; and will take that opportunity on Tuesday next, Auguft the 4th, to breakfast with you, and dine with you; and return at night with the two scribes, who all join in compliments. CROSSE OUTING, his mark г. P. S. My fecretaries being fomewhat idle after dinner, have wrote in fuch an odd manner, that I think |