I had yesterday morning two watches sent me by Mr Tompion,[118] which I am to send my sonnes this week.[119] I cou’d not persuade him to take gold at any rate: but he will take a goldsmiths bill for two and twenty pounds, which is their price. I desire you wou’d give him such a bill, and abate it out of the next fifty pounds which you are to pay me when Virgil is finish’d. Ten Eneids are finish’d, and the ninth and tenth written out in my own hand. You may have them with the eight, which is in a foul copy, when you please to call for them, and to bring those which are transcrib’d. Mr Tompion’s man will be with me at four o’clock in the afternoon, and bring the watches, and must be payd at sight. I desire you therefore to procure a goldsmiths bill, and let me have it before that houre, and send an answer by my boy. Yours, JOHN DRYDEN. LETTER XX. TO MR JACOB TONSON. Wednesday afternoon. MR TONSON, From the Coffee-house. Nov. 25th. I have the remainder of my Northamptonshyre rents come up this weeke, and desire the favour of you to receive them for me, from the carrier of Tocester, who lodges at the Castle in Smithfield. I suppose it is the same man from whom you lately receiv’d them for my wife. Any time before ten o’clock to-morrow morning will serve the turne. If I were not deeply ingaged in my studyes, which will be finish’d in a day or two, I would not put you to this trouble. I have inclos’d my tenant’s letter to me, for you to shew the carrier, and to testify the sum, which is sixteen pounds and about tenn shillings; which the letter sets down. Pray, Sir, give in an acquittance for so much receiv’d, as I suppose you did last time. I am, Your very faithful Servant, JOHN DRYDEN. LETTER XXI. TO MR JACOB TONSON. SIR, [f. Jan. 1696-7.] According to my promise, I have sent you all that is properly yours of my translation. I desire, as you offer’d, that it should be transcrib’d in a legible hand, and then sent back to me for the last review. As for some notes on the margins, they are not every where, and when they are, are imperfect; so that you ought not to transcribe them, till I make them compleat. I feare you can scarcely make any thing of my foul copy; but it is the best I have. You see, my hand fails me, and therefore I write so short a letter. What I wrote yesterday was too sharp; but I doubt it is all true. Your boy’s coming upon so unseasonable a visit, as if you were frighted for yourself, discomposed me. Transcribe on very large paper, and leave a very large margin. Send your boy for the foul copies, and he shall have them; for it will not satisfy me to send them by my own servant. I cannot yet find the first sheet of the first Eneid. If it be lost, I will translate it over againe: but perhaps it may be amongst the loose papers. The fourth and ninth Eclogues, which I have sent, are corrected in my wife’s printed Miscellany.[120] LETTER XXII.