The pleasure fuch a good old woman must have felt in writing over verses, which she justly thought would confer immortality on her fon, is more eafy to be conceived than expreffed; while his willingness to support her in the enjoyment of a fancied confequence, affords a glimpse of that filial tenderness, which forms perhaps the most captivating trait in his whole character. Additions to Pope. SIR, LETTER XLII. FROM MR. TONSON. Gray's-Inn-Gate, April 20, 1706. HAVE lately seen a Paftoral of yours in Mr. Walsh's and Congreve's hands, which is extremely fine, and is approved of by the best judges in poetry. I remember I have formerly feen you at my fhop, and am forry I did not improve my acquaintance with you. If you design your poem for the prefs, no person shall be more careful in the printing of it, nor no one can give greater encouragement to it than, Sir, Your, etc. LETTER XLIII. FROM THE SAME. SIR, December 23, 1724′′ I CANNOT poffibly fee you at Twitnam myself. I have therefore fent you the Preface from Lord Cobham, and a proof of the Monument with the draft. I request the favour of you to fettle the Infcription as you would have it, and return it to me, then the plate may be worked. I do affure you I fhall always be very glad to oblige and ferve you all in my power, and am, Your, etc. I was with the Speaker yesterday: he told me you had promised to dine with him at Chifwick in the holydays, and bring your Preface (with fome alterations) with you. After that, I beg to have it, for I am impatient to publish. LETTER XLIV. FROM THE SAME. you have, enclosed, the account of the profit of works. For the books fold I have allowed you all the money I have received, and the bind You ing, etc. I have charged at the price it cost me. will please to call and bring with you the agreement between us, which may be executed. I will give you my note to deliver the books left when required. I wish you would fend me the Merchant of Venice by the waterman. Dear Sir, LETTER XLV. FROM THE SAME. Your, etc. Thursday, eleven at night. I HAVE just now received yours, and indeed it is not my fault I have not feen you, having been hindered by business I could not help minding; but I will not fail feeing you on Sunday morning early, but muft return to dinner, having a little company to dine with me that day. Do but excuse me till I fee you, and I will fatisfy you that I have not neglected you. As for Shakspear, Watts's brother died lately, which has hindered his bufinefs a little; but now things will go on better. Your, etc. VOL. VIII. Y LETTER XLVI. TO MR. LINTOTT. SIR, PRAY fend Mr. Broom the fheets of all the notes that are printed, that he may avoid the repetitions, etc. but I would not have the poetry sent, knowing the confequences of its being fhown about to every body before it's published, which I will not have done; nor, I fuppofe, would you. I am γου It is already condemned here, and the malice and juggle at Button's is the conversation of those who have spare moments from politics. Sir John Germain has his book. All your books are delivered pursuant to the direc tions, the middle of the week after you left us. The Princess is extremely pleased with her book. You fhall have your folios preferved. Mr. Broom I have not heard from. Pray detain me not from publishing my own book, having delivered the greatest part of the fubfcribers already upwards of four hundred. I defigned to publish Monday fevennight. Pray interrupt me not with an errata. I doubt not the fale of Homer, if you do not dif. appoint me by delaying publication. Service to Mr. Gay. Your, etc. Lord Bolingbroke is impeached this night. The noise the report makes does me some present damage. LETTER XLVIII. FROM THE SAME. SIR, June 22, 1715. THE hurry I have been in by the report from the Committee of Secrecy, to get it published, has prevented the publication of Homer for the prefent, till the noise be over; and those whom I expected to be very noify on account of your tranflation, are buried in politics. Y 2 Mr. |