What I blotted out in my last, was something that passed between the captain and Barber, relating to you. After I had writ, they told me all letters would be opened, which made me blot out that passage. Barber says, he gave you some account of it, though not a full one. I really believe lord Bolingbroke was very sincere in the professions he made to you, and he could have done any thing. No minister was ever in that height of favour; and lady Masham was at least in as much credit, as she had been in any time of her life. But these are melancholy reflections. Pray send me your poem[1], Hoc erat, &c. or bring it up yourself. Barber told me, he had been several hours with the captain, upon a thing that should have come out, but was now at an end[2]. He did not tell what it was; and I would not ask many questions, for fear of giving him suspicion.
