If I did not send you a political letter forthwith, it was because Ld H: came in again so soon, that it was the same thing, as if he had never gone out: excepting one little circumstance indeed, the anger of old Priam; wch (I am told) is the reason, that he has not the blue ribband, tho' promised him before. I have been here this month or more, low-spirited, & full of disagreeablenesses, & to add to them, am at this present very ill, not with the Gout, nor Stone (thank God) nor with blotches, nor blains, nor with frogs, nor lice, but with a painful infirmity, that has to me the charms of novelty, but would not amuse you much in the description.

I hope you divert yourself much better, than I do. you may be sure, Dodsley had orders to send you some Odes, the instant they were off the spit. indeed I forgot Mr Fraser; so I fear, they will come to Sheffield in the shape of a small parcel by some coach or waggon: but if there is time, I will prevent it. they had been out three weeks ago, but Mr W:, having taken it into his head to set up a Press of his own at Twickenham, was so earnest to handsel it with this new pamphlet, that it was impossible to find a pretence for refusing such a trifle. you will dislike this, as much as I do, but there is no help. you understand, it is he, that prints them not for me, but for Dodsley. I charge you send me some Caractacus, before I die. it is impossible, this weather should not bring him to maturity.

If you knew, how bad I was, you would not wonder, I could write no more.