Written at
Stoke Poges
early in June 1742
and sent in a
letter,
[c. 3 June 1742], to
Richard
West
who was then dead. The letter was returned
unopened and does not survive.
First published, anonymously, in
Dodsley's
Collection of
Poems by Several Hands, 3 vols, vol. II. (London, 1748), 265-267,
reprinted in 6 vols, vol. II. (London, 1758
and later edns.),
325-327.