"That not in Fancy's maze he wander'd long,

"But ftoop'd to truth, and moraliz'd his fong."

Which, as the learned Editor remarks, may be faid no lefs in commendation of his literary than of his moral character.

Mr. POPE's fagacity foon led him to discover where his fuperior excellence lay; and, being naturally of a devout and moral caft of mind, he found this work fo happily adapted to his genius, that he even complained of its being too eafy, as we learn from a letter, addreffed by Lord Bolingbroke to Dean Swift, wherein his Lordship fays

"Bid him (POPE) talk to you of the work "he is about: it is a fine one, and will be in "his hands an original. His fole complaint ❝is, that he finds it too eafy in the execution. "This flatters his laziness. It flatters my

judgment; who always thought, that univer"fal as his talents are, this is eminently and "peculiarly his, above all the writers I know, living or dead; I do not except Horace."

It has been understood that our author engaged in this undertaking by the advice of Lord Bolingbroke; but it is for the honour of Mr. POPE's memory, to explain how far Lord Bolingbroke was inftrumental in the production of this admirable effay with which explanation we are furnifhed by the author of the View of Lord Bolingbroke's Philofophy.

Mr.

Mr. POPE has indeed permitted Lord Bolingbroke to be confidered by the public, as his philofopher and guide: and in their converfations refpecting the impious complaints against providence, on account of the unequal diftribution of things, natural and moral, in the prefent fyftem, they agreed, that fuch complaints were most commodioufly anfwered on the Platonic principle of THE BEST.

This encouraged our poet to philofophize, and the fruits of his fpeculations are to be found in this celebrated Effay; in which, if you will take his Lordship's word, POPE was fo far from putting his profe in verfe, (as has been invidioufly fuggefted) that he put POPE's verfe into profe.

It is obfervable, that they agreed in the principle, that whatever is, is right: and Mr. POPE thought they had agreed in the queftion to which this principle was to be applied. But time has fince fhewn that they differed very widely: and, to ftate this difference with greater fulness and perfpicuity, it is proper to confider against whom they write.

Mr. POPE's Effay on Man is a real vindication of providence againft libertines and atheists; who quarrel with the prefent conftitution of things, and deny a future ftate. To these he anfwers, that whatever is, is right; and he affigns this reason, that we fee only a part of the moral fyftem, and not the whole. Therefore

thefe

thefe irregularities ferving to great purposes, fuch as the fuller manifeftation of God's goodnefs and justice, they are right.

On the other hand, Lord Bolingbroke's effays are a pretended vindication of providence against an imaginary confederacy between divines and atheifts; who ufe a common principle, namely, the irregularities of God's moral government here, for different ends and purpofes; the one, to eftablish a future ftate; the other, to discredit the being of a God.

His Lordship, who opposes their different conclufions, endeavours to overthrow their common principle, by his friend's maxim, that whatever is, is right; not because the present flate of our moral world (which is part only of a more general fyftem) is neceffary for the greater perfection of the whole, but because our moral world is an entire system of itself.

His Lordship applies the maxim, no better (as might be expected) than he understands it. Mr. POPE, as has been obferved, urges it against atheifts and libertines, who fay that the conftitution of things is faulty; fo that the reply, whatever is, is right, is pertinent in him. His Lordihip, on the other hand, directs it against divines, who fay, indeed, that this conftitution is imperfect, if confidered feparately, because it is a part only of a whole, but are as far as his Lordship from calling it faulty: therefore the

reply,

reply, that whatever is, is right, is, in him, impertinent.

In a word, the poet directs it against atheists and libertines, in fupport of religion, properly fo called; the philofopher, against divines, in fupport of religion, improperly fo called, namely NATURALISM; and the fuccefs is anfwerable. Mr. POPE's argument is manly, fyftematical and convincing: Lord Bolingbroke's, confused, prevaricating and inconfiftent.

Lord Bolingbroke, however, to the last, standing in awe of his friend's piety and virtue, endeavoured to conceal his true principles from him and he impofed upon him, in this refpect, fo effectually, that Mr. POPE would not credit any thing that tended to undeceive him.

A few days before Mr. POPE's death, he would be carried to London, to dine with Mr. Murray in Lincoln's-Inn Fields, whom he loved with the fondness of a father; and he was folicitous that Lord Bolingbroke and Mr. Warburton, the present Bishop of Gloucester, should be of the party.

Some time before, Mr. Warburton being with Mr. POPE at Twitenham, Mr. Hook came in and told them, he had fupped the night before at Battersea with Lord Bolingbroke; when his Lordship in converfation advanced the strangeft notions concerning the moral attributes of the Deity, which amounted to an express denial of them. This account gave Mr. POPE much un

easiness,

eafincfs, and he told Mr. Hook, with fome peevish heat, that he was fure he was mistaken. The other replied as warmly, that he thought he had fenfe enough not to mistake a man who fpoke plainly, and in a language he understood. Here the matter dropped; but Mr. POPE was fo fhocked at this imputation, that he did not rest till he had asked Lord Bolingbroke whether Mr. Hook was not mistaken. Lord Bolingbroke affured him Mr. Hook mifunderstood him. This affurance, Mr. POPE, with great pleasure, acquainted Mr. Warburton with, the next time he faw him.

Both Lord Bolingbroke and Mr. POPE were fo full of this matter, that at dinner at Mr. Murray's, the converfation, among other things, naturally turned on this fubject; when, from a very fufpicious remark of his Lordship's, Mr. Warburton took occafion to speak of the clearnefs of our notions concerning the moral attributes; which occafioned a debate, that ended in fome warmth on his Lordship's fide.

This anecdote not only furnishes a vindication of Mr. POPE's religious fentiments, but likewife obviates the unjust reflections which have been thrown on the Bishop of Gloucefter, as if he had not attacked his Lordship's impiety till after his death *.

But

*His Lordship impofed on his friend Swift, in the fame low manner, on the like occafion. His other learned friend

of