Familiar letters: vol. I. Written by the Right Honourable, John, late Earl of Rochester, to the honourable Henry Savile, esq; and other letters by persons of honour and quality. With letters written by the most ingenious Mr. Tho. Otway, and Mrs. K. Philips. Publish'd from their original copies. With modern letters by Tho. Cheek, Esq; Mr. Dennis, and Mr. Brown.

TO THE Honourable HENRY SAVILE.

HARRY,

'TIS not the least of my Hap∣piness, that I think you love me; but the first of all my Pretensions is to make it appear, that I faithful∣ly endeavour to deserve it. If there be a real good upon Earth, 'tis in the Name of FRIEND, without which all others are meer fantastical. How few of us are fit stuff to make that thing, we have daily the melancholly experience.

However, dear Harry! Let us not give out, nor despair of bringing that about, which, as it is the most difficult, and rare Accident of Life, is also the best; nay, (perhaps) the only good one. This Thought has so entirely possess'd me since I came into the Country,

(where, only, one can think; for, you at Court think not at all; or, at least, as if you were shut up in a Drum; as you think of nothing, but the Noise that is made about you) that I have made many Serious Reflecti∣ons upon it, and, amongst others, ga∣ther'd one Maxime, which I desire, shou'd be communicated to our Friend Mr. G—; That, we are bound in Mo∣rality and common Honesty, to endea∣vour after Competent Riches; since it is certain, that few Men, if any, uneasie in their Fortunes, have prov'd firm and clear in their Friendships. A ve∣ry poor Fellow, is a very poor Friend; and not one of a thousand can be good natur'd to another, who is not pleas'd within himself. But while I grow in∣to Proverbs, I forget that you may impute my Philosophy to the Dog-days, and living alone. To prevent the In∣conveniences of Solitude, and many o∣thers, I intend to go to the Bath on Sunday next, in Visitation to my Lord Treasurer: Be so Politick, or be so Kind, (or a little of both, which is better) as to step down thither, if

famous Affairs at Windsor, do not de••tain you. Dear Harry! I am

Your Hearty, Faithful, Affectionate, Humble Servant, ROCHESTER.

If you see the Dutchess of P— ve∣ry often, take some opportunity to talk to her about what I spoke to you at London.