Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 2.djvu/212

Copy of an original Letter from John Dryden, Esq. to his sons in Italy, from a MS. in the Lambeth Library, marked N^o 933. p. 56.

(Superscribed)

⁠Al illustrissimo Sig^re
⁠Carlo Dryden, Camariere
⁠d'Honore A. S. S.⁠In Roma.
⁠Franca per Mantoua.

Sept. the 3d, our style.

⁠Dear Sons,

⁠Being now at Sir William Bowyer's in the country, I cannot write at large, because I find myself somewhat indisposed with a cold, and am thick of hearing, rather worse than I was in town. I am glad to find, by your letter of July 26th, your style, that you are both in health; but wonder you should think me so negligent as to forget to give you an account of the ship in which your parcel is to come. I have written to you two or three letters concerning it, which I have sent by safe hands, as I told you, and doubt not but you have them before this can arrive to you. Being out of town, I have forgotten the ship's name, which your mother will enquire, and put it into her letter, which is joined with mine.