1743]

To Dr. Conyers Middkton

51

114*.   To dk. conyers middleton.
SlB,	Arlington. Street, April 21, 1743.
I don't know how to thank you for the great offer which you make me^x without being aware of it. But as desirous as I always am to promote your writing, I am too jealous of your fame, to let you throw away any of your time in writing for me. When I offered you any of my collection, it was merely with a view of their being of use to you—but can you believe I would let the world think I had the vanity to employ Dr. Middleton in describing—whose museum. ? mine! I stop here for my own sake, for the prosecution of this thought might be somewhat mortifying to me.
For your other offer of letting me have your antiquities,
it will he one of my chief pleasures to pay my respects to you, hut I am somewhat more confined to this place at present than ever, having been persuaded by the pressing desire of an old acquaintance, my L^d. Eadnor, to take a pupil into my house for some time, a very good natured youth, who is his Lordship's nephew, and probably the heir of his title* and fortunes, but I ask pardon for troubling you so long upon my particular affairs, and beg leave to subscribe myself with the greatest respect S"
your most obliged and faithful serv*
costers middubton
Camb. Apr. 15.1748.
lbttbb 114*.—Not in C.; now first printed from original in Waller Collection.
* See Middleton's letter of April 15 (to which this is the reply) quoted in note 2 on letter to him of April 9 (No. 113*).
you for a reasonable consideration, and to publish, all together tinder the title of your museum, w^ch Las often been, done by the noble and curious abroad, but never yet by any one in. England.—We have just received a muminy, a present to our University from. Captain Townshend, who imported it from Constantinople ; it draws a large concourse about it at present, and if its emblematic figures and hieroglyphics should inspire us with a resolution to understand and unriddle them, and make us learned, like Moses, in all the wiadom of the Egyptians, it would he of excellent use to us. the present however is very agreeable and very proper to the place. I shall ever think myself obliged to you for the endeavours w^oh you have used to serve me ; and have had many effectual proofs of the sincerity of your good wishes towards me, but have always found reason to believe, y* those who had power, never had any inclination to do me any real service. Whenever I come to town,
* The title became extinct on the death of John Robartes, fourth Earl of Radnor, Middleton's friend ,in 1757.
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