The prefaces to Homer and Shakespear are, of themselves, fufficient teftimonies of his extenfive learning, and critical fkill. The other fugitive pieces, though excellent of their kind, are too inconfiderable to claim particular animadverfion.

It would be unpardonable, however, to pafs over his epiftolary correfpondence, without diftinguifhed notice. Thefe are in truth not lefs excellent in their kind, than his poetical pieces." In the turn of his letters, he difplays that ini mitable grace, in which we find all the wit, hunour, and enjoument of Voiture, joined to the good fenfe and penetration of B----. It is not too much to fay of them, that they afford the most perfect model of epiftolary writing; fuch as becomes a correfpondence between men of virtue, wit and learning, improved by a knowledge of the world. But what principally recommends them, is that frank fincerity, that artlefs naiveté, that unaffected opennefs, which fhews the amiable and virtuous difpofition of the writer *.

poet, and

*It is material to obferve, that it was the publication of Mr. POPE's Letters, which firft endeared him to Mr. Allen. Though he had long been acquainted with our admired him for the excellence of his genius, yet the afperity of his fatirical pieces was fo repugnant to the foftnefs and fuavity of that worthy man's difpofition, that it in fome degree eftranged him from his intimacy. But no fooner had he read our author's letters, than he loved him for the goodnefs and virtues of his heart: and ever after entertained the moft cordial affection for him.

Among

1

Among these epiftolary pieces, however, I must not omit taking notice of the Character of the Duchefs of Buckingham, which was pretended to have been penned by Mr. POPE; but in truth Mr. POPE feems to have had but little fhare in the compofition of it, as appears by a letter of his to a friend, which is fubjoined to the Character,

This Lady feems to have been one of those in whofe character our author appears to have been miftaken, as appears by a letter addreffed to Mr. Bethel

Among

*In this letter, having acquainted his friend that his house and garden were offered to him in fale, he adds"If I thought any very particular friend would be pleased to "live in it after my death (for as it is, it ferves all my pur"pofes as well during life) I would purchafe it; and more "particularly, could I hope two things, that the friend "who should like it, was fo much younger, and healthier “than myself, as to have a profpect of its continuing his "fome years longer than I can of its continuing mine. "But most of thofe I love, are travelling out of the world,

nct into it; and unless I had fuch a view given me, I have 66 no vanity nor pleasure, that does not stop short of the grave,

The Duchefs of Buckingham has thought other"wife, who ordered all manner of vanities for her own "funeral, and a fum of money to be fquandered on it, "which is but neceffary to preferve from ftarving many "poor people, to whom fhe is indebted. I doubt not Mrs. "Pratt is as much aftonished as you or I, at her leaving "Sir Robert Walpole her truftee, and Lord Hervey her "executor, with a marriage-fettlement on his daughter, "that will take place of all the prior debts fhe has in the "world. All her private papers, and thofe of her corre"fpondents, are left in the hands of Lord Hervey; fo that

Dd 4

"it

Among our author's leffer pieces, may properly be claffed the following copy of verfes, which have never yet been printed, and for which the public is indebted to the honourable Mr. Yorke *. The verfes, which appear to havė been written in the year 1730, are addreffed to Dr. Bolton, late Dean of Carlile, who lived fome time at Twickenham with old Lady Blount. On the death of her mother (Mrs. Butler of Suffex) Dr. Bolton drew up the mother's character; from thence Mr. POPE took occafion to writé this epiftle to Dr. Bolton, in the name of Mrs. Butler's fpirit, now in the regions of blifs. II. 3 9 3 15 and I' "Stript to the naked foul, escap'd from clay, "From doubts unfetter'd, and diffolv'd in day; "Unwarm'd by vanity, unreach'd by ftrife, "And all my hopes and fears thrown off with « life;

Why am I charm'd by friendship's fond "effays,

"And though unbody'd, confcious of thy

praise P

A

"it is not impoffible another volume of my letters may come out. I am fure they make no part of her treasonable "correfpondence (which they fay fhe has exprefly left to him) but fure this is infamous conduct towards any com"mon acquaintance. And yet this woman feemed once a woman of great honour, and many generous principles." * We have here another inftance, that the character of a great lawyer, is not inconfiftent with that of an elegant and refined fcholar. Were other inftances in the profeffion wanting, I might point to a learned and able judge, who was not long fince promoted to one of the chief feats of judicature.

"Has

Has pride a portion in the parted soul ? A "Does paffion ftill the firmless mind controul? "Can gratitude out-pant the filent breath ? "Or a friend's forrow pierce the gloom of "death?

“No-'tis a spirit's nobler task of bliss,

That feels the worth it left, in proofs like "this

That not its own applaufe, but thine approves, "Whofe practice praifes, and whose virtue 91:77 "loves;

Who liv'ft to crown departed friends with

fame;

"Then dying late, fhalt all thou gav'fst re"claim."

It must not be omitted, that in the year 1740, our Author appeared once more in the character of an Editor, having given an elegant edition in two volumes octavo, printed by Meffrs. Knapton, of fome of the fineft Latin poems of the beft Italian poets. The principal in this collection are the Syphilis of FRACASTORIUS, the Bombyx, the Poetics and the Scacchia Lufus of VIDA, the De Animorum Immortalitate of PALEARIUS, the Eclogues and Elegies of SANNAZARIUS, and the Sylva of POLITIAN.

It has been before intimated, that our author had formed a design of writing an epic poem on aftory related in the old annalift, Geoffery of Monmouth, concerning the arrival of Brutus, the fuppofed grandfon of Eneas, into our island,

and

and the fettlement of the firft foundations of the British monarchy.

A sketch of this intended piece, now lies before the writer of these sheets; and as the plan feems to be noble, extenfive, and edifying, he trufts that an account of it will not only be entertaining, but inftructive; as the defign may ferve as a model to employ fome genius, if any there be, or fhall hereafter arife, equal to the execution of fuch an arduous task.

The poem, as has been obferved, was to have been entitled BRUTUS. As Eneas was famed for his picty, fo his grandfon's characteristic was benevolence; the first predominant principle of his character, which prompted his endeavours to redeem the remains of his countrymen, the defcendants from Troy, then captives in Greece, and to eftablish their freedom and felicity in a juft form of government.

He goes to Epirus, from thence he travels all over Greece; collects all the fcattered Trojans; and redeems them with the treasures he brought from Italy.

Having collected his fcattered countrymen, he confults the oracle of Dodona, and is promifed a fettlement in an ifland, which, from the defcription, appears to have been Britain. He then puts to fea, and enters the Atlantic ocean.

The