PREFACE Of the Publisher of the Surreptitious WE E prefume we want no apology to the reader for this publication, but fome may be thought needful to Mr Pupe: however, he cannot think our offence fo great as theirs, who firft feparately published what we have here but collected in a better form and order. As for the letters we have procured to be added, they ferve but to compleat, explain, and sometimes fet in a true light thofe others, which it was not in the writer's, or our power to recal. This collection hath been owing to feveral cabinets: Some drawn from thence by accidents, and others (even of those to ladies) voluntarily given. It is to one of that Sex we are beholden for the whole correspondence with H. G. Efq; which letters being lent her by that Gentleman, he took the liberty to print; as appears by the following, which we shall give at length, both as it is Something curious, and as it may serve for an apology for ourfelves. To HENRY CROMWELL, A Efq; June 27. 1727. FTER fo long a filence as the many and great oppreffions I have fighed under have occasioned, one is at a loss how to begin a letter to so kind a friend as yourself. But as it was always my refolution, if I must fink, to do it as decently (that is, as filently) as I could; fo when I found myself plunged into unforeseen, and unavoidable ruin, I retreated from the world, and in a manner buried myself in a dismal place, where I knew none and none knew me. In this dull unthinking way I have protracted a lingering death (for life it cannot be called) ever fince you faw me, fequestered from company, deprived of my books, and nothing left to converfe with, but the letters of my dead or ab fent friends; among which latter I always placed your's, and Mr Pope's in the firft rank. I lent fome of them indeed to an ingenious perfon, who was fo delighted with the specimen, that he importuned me for a fight of the reft, which having obtained, he conveyed them to the prefs, I muft not say, altogether with my confent, nor wholly without it. I thought them too good to be loft in oblivion, and had no caufe to apprehend the disobliging of any. The public, viz. all perfons of taste and judgment, would be pleased with fo agreeable an amufement; Mr Cromwell could not be angry, fince it was but justice to his merit, to publish the folemn and private profeffions of love, gratitude and veneration, made him by fo celebrated an author; and finely Mr Pope ought not to refent the publication, fince the early pregnancy of his genius was no difho nour to his character. And yet had either of you been asked, common modefty would have obliged you to refuse, what you would not be displeased with, if done without your knowledge. And besides, to end all difpute, you had been pleased to make me a free gift of them, to do what I pleased with them; and every one knows, that the person to whom a letter is addreffed, has the fame right to dispose of it, as he has of goods purchased with his money. I doubt not but your generofity and honour will do me the right, of owning by a line that I came honestly by them. I flatter myself, in a few months, I fhall again be visible to the world; and whenever thro' good providence that turn fhall happen, I shall joyfully acquaint you with it, there being none more truly your obliged fervant, than Sir, Your faithful, and moft humble Servant, E. THOMAS. P. S. A Letter, Sir, directed to Mrs Thomas, to be left at my houfe, will be fafely tranfmitted to her, by WH To Mr POPE. Your, &c. Epfom, July 6. 1727. WHEN these letters were first printed, I wondered how Curll could come by them, and could not but laugh at the pompous title; fince whatever you wrote to me was humour, and familiar raillery. |