LETTER XXXVI. [Among Dr. Birch's papers in the British Museum, is the following Letter of Bishop Warburton, on Mallet's publishing the Works of Bolingbroke. It is addreffed to Mr. Andrew Millar, the bookfeller. Together with some Fragments relating to a former quarrel betwixt the Bishop and Mallet.] I SIR, Gloucefter, March 20, 1757. FIND by the newspapers, accufations to stir up the public refentment against the Editor of Lord Bolingbroke's Works. This I think ridiculous and unfair; he is not accountable to any particulars in what concerns his own conscience only: and it is perfectly ridiculous to fuppofe that Lord Bolingbroke left him the property of his writings with defign they should be fuppreffed. The very contrary purpofe is evident to the common fense of mankind. But there is a contradiction between this and the declaration in the prefatory letter to Mr. Pope. Why? His whole book is full of contradictions, as well as weak reasonings, and pernicious principles. I perhaps may have occafion, in due time, to fhew all this. But what is this to the Editor? Let the Author answer for it; and he will have a hundred writers, I make no doubt, to call him to account. But if the Editor grows jealous (as he did in the cafe of the Patriot King) of one who neither thought nor said a word of him, but addressed all he had to fay to Lord Bolingbroke, and yet was villanously villanously abused by fomebody or other on that account, he will find himself bufinefs. The worst I wifh him is the best his friends can wifh; that if he hath not published these Works with a perfectly satisfied confcience, he may make his peace, not with particulars or the public, which are nothing, but with him only who can heal a wounded confcience, or enlighten an erroneous one. 66 FRAGMENT. "With regard to Mr. Mallet's declaration, there "is only one way to convince me, he is not the "Author of that infamous libel, which is, by taking "an opportunity of difowning it publicly. I think my honour is concerned, that it be publicly known "I had no hand in the letter to Lord Bolingbroke, merely on account of the Apollo ftory, and I fhall "do it on the first occafion. If Mr. Mallet does not "do the fame with regard to this libel, I fhall confi"der him as the Author of it, and act in consequence "of that belief. This I defire you would let Millar "know, and if he chooses, let him have a tranfcript "of what I here fay." END OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME. |