yden; in whose esteeme I wou'd chuse to be rather then any bodys
in the world; and I am sure I never, in thought, word, or deed
merritted other from him, but if you had heard w{t} was told me, you
wou'd have excus'd all I said on that account. Thank him most
infinitly for y{e} hon. he offers, and I shall never think I can do
any thing that can merritt so vast a glory; and I must owe it all to
you if I have it. As for Mr. Creech, I would not have you afflict
him w{th} a thing can not now be help'd, so never let him know my
resentment. I am troubled for y{e} line that's left out of Dr.
Garth,[41] and wish yo{r} man wou'd write it in y{e} margent, at his
leasure, to all you sell.

As for y{e} verses of mine, I shou'd really have thought 'em worth
thirty pound; and I hope you will find it worth 25_l_; not that I
shou'd dispute at any other time for 5 pound wher I am so obleeged;
but you can not think w{t} a preety thing y{e} Island will be, and
w{t} a deal of labor I shall have yet with it: and if that pleases,
I will do the 2nd Voyage, w{ch} will compose a little book as big as
a novel by it self. But pray speake to yor Bro{r} to advance the
price to one 5lb more, 'twill at this time be more then given me,
and I vow I wou'd not aske it if I did not really believe it worth
more. Alas I wou'd not loose my time in such low gettings, but only
since I am about it I am resolv'd to go throw w{th} it tho I shou'd
give it. I pray go about it as soone as you please, for I shall
finish as fast as you can go on. Methinks y{e} Voyage shou'd com
last, as being y{e} largest volume. You know Mr. Couly's Dauid is
last, because a large poem, and Mrs. Philips her Plays for y{e} same
reason. I wish I had more time, I wou'd ad something to y{e} verses
y{t} I have a mind too, but, good deare Mr. Tonson, let it be 5lb
more, for I may safly swere I have lost y{e} getting of 50lb by it,
tho that's nothing to you, or my satisfaction and humour: but I have
been w{th}out getting so long y{t} I am just on y{e} poynt of
breaking, espesiall since a body has no creditt at y{e} Playhouse
for money as we usd to have, fifty or 60 deepe, or more; I want
extreamly or I wo'd not urge this.

Yo{rs} A. B.

Pray send me y{e} loose papers to put to these I have, and let me
know w{ch} you will go about first, y{e} songs and verses or that.
Send me an answer to-day.

[Footnote 41: This