i

h

P. S. Addison's works came to my hands yesterday. I cannot but think it a very odd fet of incidents, that the book should be dedicated by 3 a dead man to a dead man; and even that the new patron to whom Tickell chose to infcribe his verses, fhould be dead also before they were published. Had I been in the Editor's place I fhould have been a little apprehenfive for myself, under a thought that every one who had any hand in that work was to die before the publication of it. You fee, when I am converfing with you, I know not how to give over, till the very bottom of the paper admonishes me once more to bid you adieu !

MY LORD,

IT

LETTER XI.

Feb. 8, 1721-2.

T is fo long fince I had the pleasure of an hour with your Lordship, that I fhould begin to think myself no longer Amicus omnium horarum, but for finding myself so in my conftant thoughts of you. In those I was with you many hours this very day, and had you (where I wish and hope one day to fee you really) in my garden at Twitnam. When I went laft to town, and was on wing for the Deanery, I heard

• Mr. Addifon.

h Mr. Craggs.

Lord Warwick.

heard your Lordship was gone the day before to Bromley, and there you continued till after my return hither. I fincerely wish you whatever you wish yourself, and all you with your friends or family. All I mean by this word or two, is juft to tell you fo, till in person I find you as I defire, that is, find you well: Easy, refigned, and happy you will make yourself, and (I believe) every body that converses with you; if I may judge of your power over other men's minds and affections, by that which you will ever have over those of

Your, etc.

LETTER XII.

FROM THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER,

Feb. 26, 1721-2.

PERMIT me, dear Sir, to break into your retire

ment, and to desire of you a complete copy of these verses on Mr. Addifon; fend me also your laft resolution, which shall punctually be observed in relation to my giving out any copy of it; for I am again folicited

* An imperfect copy was got out, very much to the Author's furprize, who never would give any. РОРЕ.

This Mr. Spence doubted, fays Dr. Warton; and well indeed he might. Where Mr. Spence doubted, who feemed to doubt of nothing that Pope told him, the rest of the world may be fairly allowed to do fo too, even of the man who faid,

He held a lie, in verse or prose, the same.

folicited by another Lord, to whom I have given the fame answer as formerly. No fmall piece of your writing has been ever fought after fo much: It has pleased every man without exception, to whom it has been read. Since you now therefore know where your real strength lies, I hope you will not fuffer that talent to lie unemployed. For my part I should be fo glad to fee you finish fomething of that kind, that I could be content to be a little fneered at in a line or fo, for the fake of the pleasure I should have in reading the reft. I have talked my sense of this matter to you once or twice, and now I put it under my hand, that you may fee it is my deliberate opinion. What weight that may have with you I cannot say: But it pleases me to have an opportunity of fhewing you how well I wish you, and how true a friend I am to your fame, which I defire may grow every day, and in every kind of writing, to which you will please to turn your pen. Not but that I have fome little interest in the propofal, as I fhall be known to have been acquainted with a man that was capable of excelling in fuch different manners, and did fuch honour to his country and language; and yet was not displeased fometimes to read what was written by his humble servant.

LETTER XIII.

March 14, 1721-2.

I

WAS difappointed (much more than those who commonly use that phrafe on fuch occafions) in miffing you at the Deanery, where I lay folitary two nights. Indeed I truly partake in any degree of concern that affects you, and I wish every thing may fuc ceed as you defire in your own family, and in that which, I think, you no lefs account your own, and is no less your family, the whole world*: For I take you to be one of the true friends of it, and to your power its protector. Though the noise and daily buftle for the public be now over, I dare fay, a good man is ftill tendering its welfare; as the fun in the winter when feeming to retire from the world, is preparing benedictions and warmth for a better feafon.

No man wishes your Lordfhip more quiet, more tranquillity, than I, who know you should understand the value

of

you

*Is it not poffible there may be a latent meaning in these expreffions. "A family, you no less account your own; for I take to be one of the true friends of it, and to your power its protedor :" a good man is fill tendering its welfare." "No one wishes you

66

more quiet, but I don't wish you a jot lefs concerned, or less a&ive, in all fingere, and therefore warm, defires for public good?"

It

appears to me, that, allowing for Pope's extreme caution, "More is meant than meets the ear;"

or furely he would not have dwelt fo particularly, on fuch general common-place ideas. This was not long before Atterbury was arraigned.

of it: But I don't wish you a jot lefs concerned or less active than you are, in all fincere, and therefore warm, defires of public good.

I beg the kindness (and 'tis for that chiefly I trouble you with this letter) to favour me with notice as foon as you return to London, that I may come and make you a proper vifit of a day or two: For hitherto I have not been your visitor, but your Lodger, and I accufe myself of it. I have now no earthly thing to oblige my being in town (a point of no fmall fatisfaction to me) but the best reason, the feeing a friend. As long, my Lord, as you will let me call you fo, (and I dare fay you will, till I forfeit what, I think, I never fhall, my veracity and integrity,) I fhall efteem myself fortunate, in spite of the South-Sea, Poetry, Popery, and Poverty *.

I can't tell you how forry I am, you should be troubled a-new by any fort of people. I heartily wifh, Quod fupereft, ut tibi vivas-that you may teach me how to do the fame: Who, without any real impediment to acting and living rightly, do act and live as foolishly as if I were a Great man.

I am, etc.

* A moft contemptible cant of what he did not feel. He was proud of his "Poetry," proud of his "Popery," and he had no "Poverty."