What has deferred my thanks till now, was a ramble I have been taking about the country, from which I returned home and found your kind letter but yefterday. A testimony of that kind, from a man of your turn, is to be valued at a better rate than the ordinary estimate of letters will amount to. I fhall rejoice in all opportunities of cultivating a friendship I so truly esteem, and hope very shortly to tell you in town, how much I am, Sir,

Your, etc.

Since you defire to hear of my progress in the tranflation, I must tell you that I have gone through four more books, which (with the remarks) will make the fecond volume.

*

I RETURN you the play fooner than I am willing to part with what I like fo extremely well, because you prefs it. Upon my word, I think it every way worthy

Siege of Damafcus.-Thefe Letters are not at all interesting; but I have preferved them, as they relate to literary occurrences, with the exception of one Letter.

worthy of you, and make not the least doubt but the world will do you the justice you deserve in the acceptation of it: I continue very much out of order, but must be forced to be in town (well or ill) fome days this week, upon indifpenfable affairs; when I will wait upon you and tell you my fincere thoughts, none of which is more fincere than that I am truly,

Dear Sir,

LETTER XXIII.

TO THE SAME.

Your, etc.

Twickenham, Feb. 18*, 1719-20.

I

HAVE been much concerned not to have waited

upon you as I defigned, fince you obliged mè with your play. I am fince much more troubled to hear of the continuance of your illness. Would to God you might live as long, as, I am fure, the reputation of your tragedy muft! I am a fellow-fufferer with you, in not being able to fee it played, having been, and still being, too much indifpofed to go to any public place. But I could be extremely glad fome particular friends of mine had that pleasure I cannot enjoy you would highly favour me in letting three

* Mr. Hughes died the night before this Letter was written, aged 42; and, what is more remarkable, on the very night his Play was acted.

three or four ladies have a fide-box, who have sent into the country to me, upon information that the boxes are difpofed of by you. I am sorry to give you this trouble, when perhaps, for your health's fake, you fhould not have a moment's disturbance, and I could not fend fooner at this distance.

Pray think I wish you all the fuccefs you deserve, and all the health you want. I am, dear Sir,

Your, etc.

I

LETTER XXIV.

MR. POPE TO MR. JABEZ HUGHES*.

SIR,

February 26, 1719-20. CANNOT omit the acknowledgment I really think I owe your great civility, efpecially at fo melancholy and affecting a moment, as that of your worthy brother's

• Younger brother of Mr. John Hughes, and, like him, a votary of the Mufes, and an excellent fcholar. He published, in 1714, a translation of "The Rape of Proferpine," from Claudian; and the Story of Sextus and Erictho, from Lucan's Pharfalia, b. vi. in 8vo. Thefe tranflations, with notes, were reprinted in 12mo. in 1723. He also published, in 1717, a tranflation of Suetonius's" Lives of the twelve Cæfars." and tranflated feveral Novels " from the Spanish of Cervantes," which are inserted in "The felect Collection of Novels and Hiftories," printefd for

brother's death must have been to you. Indeed, even
his common acquaintance muft have known enough
of him to regret his lofs; and I moft heartily condole
with you upon it. I believe I am further obliged to
you
for his play; which I received yesterday, and read
over again with more concern and forrow than I ever
felt at reading any tragedy. The real lofs of a good
man may be called a distress to the world, and ought
to affect us more than any feigned or ancient distress,
how finely drawn foever. I am glad of an occafion
to give you, under my hand, this teftimony, both
how excellent I think this work to be, and how ex-
cellent I thought the author. I am, with my hearty
thanks to you, Sir,

Your, etc.

Watts, 1729. He died January 17, 1731, in the 46th year of his age a volume of his Miscellanies, in profe and verfe, was published in 1737. His widow accompanied the Lady of Gover nor Byng to Madras, and died there.

WARTON.

SIR,

LETTER XXV.

MR. POPE TO MR. DUNCOMBE.

Twickenham, OЯ. 20, 1734.

I AM obliged for the favour of yours. I have looked

for the letter Mr. Hughes fent me, but cannot find it. I had a great regard for his merit, modefty, and foftness of manners. He writ to me a few days before his death, concerning his play of the "Siege "of Damafcus," which is the only letter I can meet with.

I thank you for the part you are pleased to take, both in regard to my health (which has, I thank God, been as good as ufual) and to my reputation, my poetical welfare, which I refign as much to Providence as the other. But truly I had not the least thought of stealing applaufe, by fuppreffing my name to that Effay I wanted only to hear truth, and was more afraid of my partial friends than enemies. Befides, I really was humble and diffident enough to distruft my own performance. All I can fay of it is, that I know it to be an honest one. I am, Sir,

*

Your, etc.

Essay on Man, published without a name.