or March, 1729.] "My melancholy increases, and every hour threatens me with some return of my distemper, nay, I think I may rather say I have it on me.

Not the divine looks, the kind favours, and the expressions of the divine Duchess, who, hereafter, shall be in the place of a queen to me--nay, she shall be my queen--nor the inexpressible goodness of the Duke, can in the least cheer me.

The Drawing-room no more receives light from those two stars.

There is now what Milton says is in hell--darkness visible.

Oh, that I had never known what a Court was! Dear Pope, what a barren soil (to me so) have I been striving to produce something out of.
Why did I not take your advice before my writing Fables for the Duke, not to write them! It is my very hard fate I must get nothing, write for them or against them.