March 1, 1770

Mr. P. returns his Respects to the very amicable Miss T. & assures her they would be quite as humble as her's were they not much more ardent. He hopes the dear Communication between her Heart & Head is not so sore as to prevent as to render the sweet Billet the product only of the latter. He Congratulates her that with so much Honour & Accomplishment & such fair Prospect of future improvements She has finished the 22 year of her Pilgrimage Journey thrô this Vale of Tears Wilderness of Existence he warmly wishes for you her that Sincerity of Sentiment & choice of the next Good which will overbalance its greatest troubles & contervail its deceitfull alurements. He wishes he could present to her such Sentiments on the Occasion as would both profit & please but finding himself unable to produce any thing of his Own he herewith Sends her Mr. Popes Address to his good Freind Miss Martha Blount on a like Occasion1 being Sensible that when he addresses the most agreable of Ladies he must call in the assistance of the first of Poets.

He kindly accepts her invitation call to the Celebration but is Sorry She should Suspect that when his Mind is entranced in her agreable Company it Should be at leisure to regale his appetite with the champing of Chestnuts.

Yr. good Freind would flatter himself that yr. neglect of wishing him Joy was not the Effect of forgetfullness, & grants you a Million Pardons.

He had no Occasion to acquaint the Lady of the disposal of one third of him seeing She had the other two thirds which is the Comanding Part.

He really thinks he shall alway Treat you with that Cordial Freindship & Respect which will Satisfy you he means not to recall any thing he has463disposed off to you & trusts you will not so Slight his Esteem as to make him repent his disposal,

Dft .; endorsed by Charles C. Paine: "Acceptance of invitation to a birthday celebration on Chesnuts."

1.

"To Mrs. M. B. on Her Birth-day," in The Works of Alexander Pope, 6 vols. (Edinburgh, 1764), 2:362.