Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12.djvu/317

Rh are miscarried. Mr. Pope's letter has taken off my concern in some degree; but I hope good weather will entirely reestablisshreestablish [sic] you in your health. I am but just recovered from the severest fit of sickness that ever any body had who escaped death. I was several times given up by the physicans, and every body that attended me; and upon my recovery, was judged to be in so ill a condition, that I should be miserable for the remainder of my life; but contrary to all expectation, I am perfectly recovered, and have no remainder of the distempers that attacked, me, which were, at the same time, fever, asthma, and pleurisy. I am now in the duke of Queensberry's house, and have been so ever since I left Hampstead; where I was carried at a time that it was thought I could not live a day. Since my coming to town, I have been very little abroad, the weather has been so severe.

I must acquaint you, (because I know it will please you) that during my sickness I had many of the kindest proofs of friendship, particularly from the duke and duchess of Queensberry; who, if I had been their nearest relation and nearest friend, could not have treated me with more constant attendance then; and they continue the same to me now.

You must undoubtedly have heard, that the duchess took up my defence with the king and queen, in the cause of my play, and that she has been forbid the court for interesting herself to increase my fortune, by the publication of it without being acted. The duke too has given up his employment (which he would have done, if the duchess had not met with this treatment) upon account of ill usage from the ministers; but this hastened him in what he had. XII.