logues and epilogues fhould be no more. I wish a great genius would break through the filly, ufelefs formality. But at least I would have one try, to leave the audience full of the effects of a good tragedy, without an epilogue. Let me add another hint, concerning the apparatus and circumftantials of your play, (fince I have nothing left more to wifh in the play itself,) that you would intitle it barely, The Tragedy of Cafar, and give no intimation of his being a patriot; for I fear, instead of preparing the audience, it might revolt them, and put all the little critics upon carping previously at the very design and character which would appear by degrees, and with the proper preparations, in the piece on the stage. Another thing was a thought of my Lord's, that it fhould be printed before acting, a day or two; for the fentiments are fo thick-fown, and the fenfe fo deep fometimes, that they require more attention and thought than the hearer may be apt to give on the first representation. I am not positive, either as to his, or my thought, but fubmit them to your confideration.

;

I have nothing to add, but to lament our unhappinefs, that we cannot fee you perfonally to confirm what these letters tell you, of our real opinion of your work, esteem of its author, and wishes for your fuccess, in this, and every thing. I am, Sir,

Your, etc.

Nov. 5, 1738.

THIS is quite a letter of business, and therefore ex

cuse it; I will not mix in it a word of affection, which I have not a moment's time to exprefs, and will not prejudice the facred 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 alfo 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 forwardness) 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 eclipse 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 every-where his). I would to God you had any

oppor

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 before he quits England. You'll forgive the abrupt conclufion of this; yet it may tell you all the longest and best 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. Thomson as to the retardment of his play, of which he has written but two acts. I have fince feen Mr. M, who has finished his, but is very willing yours fhould be first brought on, in January as you propose, or after his in February, whichfoever may be most agreeable to you. He farther offers any affistance 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 cafe. He has heard of fome impertinence which may be apprehended from one perfon's refufal or unwillingness

to

to act, and believes he can employ fome proper influ ence to bring him to a right behaviour. These, 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 fo 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 wish my Lord one again, for no other reafon; even though his country wants fuch 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 honesty, 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.

I

Dear Sir,

LETTER XXIII.

TO THE SAME.

London, February 12, 1738-9.

HAVE felt an uneafiness of mind (occafioned by a conscious sense, how unequally I have expreffed my anger and contempt, at the treatment of your Cæfar by the man of the stage) ever since I last wrote to you; and an hundred interruptions from day to day (for I have lived in the world, and a bufy 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 thofe 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. Thomson, 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. Thomson's, but I am told, and believe by what I have seen, that it excels in the pathetic. The dignity of fentiment, and grandeur

VOL. VIII.

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