Thomas Gray to James Brown, [28 May 1759]

You will receive tomorrow Caractacus piping hot, I hope before any body else has it. observe, it is I, that send it, for M: makes no presents to any one whatever, & moreover you are desired to lend it to nobody, that we may sell the more of them; for money, not fame, is the declared purpose of all we do. I believe, you will think it (as I do) greatly improved: the last Chorus, & the lines that introduce it, are to me one of the best things I ever read, & surely superior to any thing he ever wrote. he has had infinite fits of affectation, as the hour approach'd; & is now gone into the country for a week, like a new-married Couple.

I am glad to find, you are so lapt in Musick at Cambridge, & that Mingotti is to crown the whole. I heard her within this fortnight, & think her voice (wch always had a roughness) is considerably harsher, than it was, but yet she is a noble Singer. I shall not partake of these delights, nor I fear be able to see Cambridge for some time yet: but in a week I shall know better. Dr Wharton (who desires his love to you) will (I believe) set out for Durham in about three weeks to settle at Old-Park: at present his least Girl is ill of the Small-Pox join'd with a scarlet Fever, but likely to get over it. yesterday I, & M: dined with Mr Bonfoy: he told me, that the old Lady was eloped from Rippon just at a time, when he seem'd to want her there, & was (I thought) a little ruffled at it. but I (in my heart) commended her, & think her very well revenged upon him. pray, make her my best Compliments. Old Turner is very declining, & I was sounded by Dr G: of Lincoln about my designs (or so I understood it). I assured him, I should not ask for it, not chusing to be refused. he told me two People had applied already. N:B: (all this is a secret.)