much, and I fhall court them fo little, that we fhall both of us keep our distance.

When I come to you, 'tis in order to be with you only*; a prefident of the council, or a star and garter, will make no more impreffion upon my mind, at fuch a time, than the hearing of a bag-pipe, or the fight of a puppet-fhew. I have faid to Greatnefst fometime ago-Tuas tibi res habeto, Egomet curabo meas. The time is not far off when we fhall all be upon the level; and I am refolved, for my part, to anticipate that time, and be upon the level with them now: For he is fo, that neither feeks nor wants them. Let them have more virtue and less pride: and then I'll court them as much as any body: But till they refolve to distinguish themselves fome way else than by their outward trappings, I am determined (and, I think, I have a right) to be as proud as they are; though I truft in God, my pride is neither of fo odious a nature as theirs, nor of fo raifchievous a confequence.

I know

Pope and Atterbury are here like two characters in a Farce, who are ftriving to out-do each other in protesting what neither of them means.

What man, when he hears Pope fay, "I heartily despise the ways of the world, and the great ones in it,

O keep me innocent, make others great ;”

and his friend as meekly reply, " A prefident of the council makes no more impreffion on my mind, than the hearing of a bag-pipe ;" does not involuntarily fay,

Incredulus odi?

Was the good Bifhop really cured of all ambitious views at

this time?

WARTON.

I know not how I have fallen into this train of thinking-when I fat down to write I intended only to excuse myself for not writing, and to tell you that the time drew nearer and nearer, when I must diflodge; I am preparing for it: For I am at this mo ment building a vault in the Abbey, for me and mine. 'Twas to be in the Abbey, because of my relation to the place; but 'tis at the weft door of it; as far from Kings and Cæfars as the space will admit of.

I know not but I may ftep to town to-morrow, to see how the work goes forward; but, if I do, I shall return hither in the evening. I would not have given you the trouble of this letter but that they tell me it will cost you nothing, and that our privilege of Franking* (one of the most valuable we have left) is again allowed us.

Your, etc.

* Dr. Warton says, "This is a peevish sentiment; surely more privileges were left; or rather, what privileges were taken away ?” But Atterbury alludes here only to the temporary fufpenfion of the privilege of Franking, by a diffolution of Parliament. This has not escaped Mr. Nichols's accurate research.

C.

I

LETTER XVII.

FROM THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER.

Bromley, May 25, 1722.

HAD much ado to get hither last night, the water being fo rough that the ferry-men were unwilling to venture. The first thing I saw this morning after my eyes were open, was your letter, for the freedom and kindness of which I thank you. Let all compliments be laid afide between us for the future; and depend upon me as your faithful friend in all things within my power, as one that truly values you, and wishes you all manner of happiness. I thank you and Mrs. Pope for my kind reception, which has left a pleasing impreffion upon me that will not foon be effaced.

Lord -* has preffed me terribly to see him at —†, and told me in a manner betwixt kindness and refentment, that it is but a few miles beyond Twitenham.

I have but a little time left, and a great deal to do in it and muft expect that ill health will render a good share of it useless; and therefore what is likely to be left at the foot of the account, ought by me to be cherished, and not thrown away in compliment. You know the Motto of my fun-dial, Vivite, ait, fugio. I will, as far as I am able, follow its advice, and cut off all unneceffary avocations and amufements. There

are

* Bolingbroke.

+ Dawley.

are those that intend to employ me this winter in a way I do not like: If they perfift in their intentions, I must apply myself to the work they cut out for me, as well as I can. But withal, that fhall not hinder me from employing myself alfo in a way which they do not like. The givers of trouble one day fhall have their fhare of it another; that at last they may be induced to let me be quiet, and live to myself with the few (the very few) friends I like; for that is the point, the fingle point I now aim at: though, I know, the generality of the world who are unacquainted with my intentions and views, think the very reverse of this character belongs to me. I don't know how I have rambled into this account of myfelf; when I fat down to write, I had no thought of making that any part of my letter.

You might have been fure without my telling you, that my right hand is at eafe; else I fhould not have overflowed at this rate. And yet I have not done, for there is a kind intimation in the end of yours, which I understood, because it seems to tend towards employing me in fomething that is agreeable to you. Pray explain yourself, and believe that you have not an acquaintance in the world that would be more in earneft on fuch an occafion than I, for 1 love you, as well as esteem you.

All the while I have been writing, Pain and a fine Thrush have been feverally endeavouring to call off my attention, but both in vain; nor fhould I yet part

with you, but that the turning over a new leaf frights me a little, and makes me refolve to break through a new temptation, before it has taken too faft hold

on me.

LETTER XVIII.

FROM THE SAME.

I am, etc.

June 15, 1722.

γου

have generally written firft, after our parting; I will now be before-hand with you in my enquiries, how you got home, and how you do, and whether you met with Lord*, and delivered my civil reproach to him, in the manner I defired? I suppose you did not, because I have heard nothing either from you, or from him on that head; as, I fuppofe, I might have done if you had found him.

I am fick of thefe men of quality; and the more fo, the oftener I have any business to tranfact with them. They look upon it as one of their diftinguifhing privileges, not to be punctual in any business, of how great importance foever; nor to fet other people at ease, with the lofs of the leaft part of their own. This conduct of his vexes me; but to what purpose? or how can I alter it?