Madam, Your most humble servant, and kinsman, JOHN DRYDEN. _For Mrs Stewart_, _Att Cotterstock neare Oundle_, &c. LETTER XXXIII. TO MRS STEWARD. MADAM, March the 4th, 1698[-9.] I have reason to be pleas’d with writeing to you, because you are daily giveing me occasions to be pleas’d. The present which you made me this week, I have receiv’d; and it will be part of the treat I am to make to three of my friends about Tuesday next: my cousin Driden, of Chesterton, having been also pleas’d to add to it a turkey hen with eggs, and a good young goose; besides a very kind letter, and the news of his own good health, which I vallue more than all the rest; he being so noble a benefactor to a poor and so undeserving a kinsman, and one of another persuasion in matters of religion. Your enquiry of his welfare, and sending also mine, have at once oblig’d both him and me. I hope my good cousin Stewart will often visite him, especially before hunting goes out,[150] to be a comfort to him in his sorrow for the loss of his deare brother,[151] who was a most extraordinary well-natur’d man, and much my friend. Exercise, I know, is my cousin Driden’s life, and the oftner he goes out will be the better for his health. We poor Catholics daily expect a most severe proclamation to come out against us;[152] and at the same time are satisfyed that the king is very unwilling to persecute us, considering us to be but an handfull, and those disarmed; but the archbishop of Canterbury is our heavy enemy, and heavy indeed he is in all respects.[153] This day was played a revived comedy of Mr Congreve’s, called “The Double Dealer,” which was never very takeing. In the play-bill was printed--“Written by Mr Congreve; with severall expressions omitted.” What kind of expressions those were, you may easily ghess, if you have seen the Monday’s Gazette, wherein is the king’s order for the reformation of the stage:[154] but the printing an author’s name in a play-bill is a new manner of proceeding, at least in England. When any papers of verses in manuscript, which are worth your reading, come abroad, you shall be sure of them; because, being a poetess yourself, you like those entertainments. I am still drudging at a book of Miscellanyes,[155] which I hope will be well enough; if otherwise, threescore and seven may be pardon’d.--Charles is not yet so well recover’d as I wish him; but I may say, without vanity, that his virtue and sobriety have made him much belov’d in all companies. Both he and his mother give you their most humble acknowledgments of your rememb’ring them. Be pleas’d to give mine to my cousin Stewart, who am both his and your Most obliged obedient servant, JOHN DRYDEN. You may see I was in hast, by writing on the wrong side of the paper. _For Mrs Steward, etc. ut supra._ LETTER XXXIV. TO MRS STEWARD. MADAM, Tuesday, July the 11th, [1699.]