Nov. 5, 1738.

THIS is quite a letter of business, and therefore ex

cufe it; I will not mix in it a word of affection, which I have not a moment's time to express, and will not prejudice the sacred idea of friendship.

It is near a month ago that I tried to fee Mr. Thomfon, to know the time of his tragedy: he was not within my reach; and therefore at last I wrote to him, and also to Mr. M*, to let them both know the deference you paid them, and the heroic (I will not call it lefs) difinterestedness you expreffed in regard to them. I have not yet been able to hear where they are, or any way to have an answer, further than I have learned it will be impoffible for either of them to bring on their plays early (a friend of theirs telling me they are in no forwardnefs) till the middle or end of the winter; therefore you may have room. I wish from my foul you may get yours firft, as well acted as it deferves. A better, that may eclipfe it, or even worthily follow it, I hardly expect to fee.-But, upon this notice, I believe you may safely advance it, the fooner the better.

My Lord B. † is yet with me, more properly I yet belong to him, body as well as mind (for my mind is

* Mallet. + Bolingbroke.

every

every-where his). I would to God you had any opportunity of seeing us before we part; my house fhould be yours, as much of it as is not his. I believe I fhall foon go with him on a little journey be fore he quits England. You'll forgive the abrupt conclufion of this; yet it may tell you all the longest and beft written letter could tell you, that I am very fincerely, Sir,

Dear Sir,

LETTER XXII.

TO THE SAME.

Your, etc.

December 8, 1738.

I

HAVE been confirmed by Mr. Thomfon as to the retardment of his play, of which he has written but two acts. I have fince feen Mr. MM, who has finished his, but is very willing yours fhould be first brought on, in January as you propofe, or after his in February, whichfoever may be moft agreeable to you. He farther offers any affiftance he can give you, in cafe of your own abfence, as to treating with Mr. F―― (with whom he thinks you cannot be too careful or explicit), or attending the rehearsals for you, which he promises to undertake with all diligence, if you are not provided with another friend in that case.

He

He has heard of fome impertinence which may be apprehended from one perfon's refufal or unwillingness to act, and believes he can employ fome proper influence to bring him to a right behaviour. Thefe, with any other services in which you may please to employ him, he bids me affure you, it will be a high fatisfaction to him to engage in.

I must exprefs, on my own part, a real regret to be fo little useful to you. I can do no more than join with Lord B. in paying due praises to so meritorious a work; our fuffrage is an airy tribute, from whence no folid good redounds to you; and I find myself still more inclined to the man, than the author, if I could be any way inftrumental to the happiness or ease of fo generous an one. I could almost wish myself a minister to patronize fuch a genius, and I could almost with my Lord one again, for no other reafon; even though his country wants such an one, as well as his friends.

I have never once been able to fee Mr. Thomfon in perfon; when I do (and it fhall be foon) he fhall know how much he is obliged to you for that plan of an alteration of his tragedy, which is too good for me, with any honefty, to put upon him as my own. Believe me, Sir, with great truth, and the warmest difpofition to do you justice (before men and angels), Your, etc.

LETTER XXIII.

TO THE SAME.

Dear Sir, London, February 12, 1738-9. HAVE felt an uneafinefs of mind (occafioned by a conscious fenfe, how unequally I have expressed my anger and contempt, at the treatment of your Cæfar by the man of the stage) ever since I last wrotę to you; and an hundred interruptions from day to day (for I have lived in the world, and a busy and idle world both, it is), have ever fince hindered me from enjoying one hour of collected thought. Yet I am the lefs concerned, fince, by my delay, I can now tell you I have last night feen Mr. Mallet's play, the fifth act of which I had not before read, through those interruptions I have mentioned. It fucceeded (hitherto at least, for yesterday was the first day) as well as I could expect: but fo vilely acted in the womens parts and the mens (except two) that I wonder it could fucceed. Mr. Thomfon, after many fhameful tricks from the manager, is determined to act his play at the other theatre, where the advantage lies as to the women, and the fuccefs of his will depend upon them (I heartily wish you would follow his example, that we might not be deprived of Cæfar). I have yet feen but three acts of Mr. Thomfon's, but - I am told, and believe by what I have feen, that it

excels in the pathetic. The dignity of fentiment, and grandeur of character, will still be Cæfar's, as in his history, fo in your poetry, fuperior to any.

The person to whom you intended fo great a compliment as to addrefs that piece to his name, is very fenfible of your delicate manner of thinking: he bids me affure you, his own knowledge of your intention is fufficient pleasure to him, and defires you would not think of doing him either favour or justice, till the world knows better how to do itself the former, in doing you the latter. He is ftill detained here by the perverfeness of his affairs; and wifhes, as I most heartily do alfo, that Fortune did not treat you fo much alike. The ftage is as ungrateful to you, as his country to him: you are both fure of pofterity, and may fay in the mean time with Scipio, Ingrata patria, ne offa quidem habeas! Believe me most truly, Sir,

Your, etc.

* Bolingbroke meditated, at this time, a return to France. Pope estimated the opinion of pofterity, equally falsely in regard to Bolingbroke's politics and Hill's poetry.