I am obliged greatly to you, for what you have projected at Cambridge, in relation to my Effay *; but more for the motive which did originally, and does confequentially in a manner, animate all your goodness to me, the opinion you entertain of my honeft intention in that piece, and your zeal to demonftrate me no irreligious man. I was very fincere with you in what I told you of my own opinion of my own character as a poet †, and, I think I may confcientioufly fay, I fhall die in it. I have nothing to add, but that I hope fometimes to hear that you are well, as you fhall certainly now and then hear the best I can tell you of myself.

I

LETTER CIV.

Oct. 27, 1740.

Am grown fo bad a correfpondent, partly thro' the weakness of my eyes, which has much increased of late, and partly thro' other disagreeable accidents (almoft peculiar to me) that my oldest as well as best friends are reasonable enough to excuse me. I know you are of the number who deferve all the teftimonies of any fort, which I can give you of esteem and friendship; and I confide in you, as a man of candour enough, to know it cannot be otherwife, if I am an honeft one. So I will fay no more on this head, but proceed to thank you for your conftant memory of whatever may be ferviceable or reputable to me. The Tranflation you are a much better judge of than I, not only because you understand my work better than I do myfelf,

* Mr. Pope defired the editor to procure a good tranAation of the Efay on Man into latin prose.

+ See his life.

Of his Efay on Man into latin profe:

but

but as your continued familiary with the learned languages, makes you infinitely more a master of them. I would only recommend that the Tranflator's attention to Tully's Latinity may not preclude his ufage of fome Terms which may be more precife in modern philofophy than fuch as he could ferve himself of, especially in matters metaphyfical. I think this fpecimen clofe enough, and clear also, as far as the claffical phrafes allow; from which yet I would rather he sometimes deviated, than fuffered the fenfe to be either dubious or clouded too much.

You know my mind perfectly as to the intent of fuch a verfion, and I would have it accompanied with your own remarks tranflated, fuch only I mean as are general, or explanatory of thofe paffages, which are concife to any degree of obfcurity, or which demand perhaps too minute an attention in the reader.

I have been able to make the Journey I defigned to Oxford, and Lord Bathurst's, where I hoped to have made you of the party. I am going to Bath for near two months. Yet pray let nothing hinder me fometimes from hearing you are well. I have had that contentment from time to time from Mr. G.

Scriblerus* will or will not be published, according to the event of fome other papers coming, or not coming out, which it will be my utmost endeavour to hindert. I will not give you the pain of acquainting you what they are. Your fimile of B. and his nephew, would make an excellent epigram. But all Satire is become fo ineffectual (when the laft ftep that Virtue can stand upon, fhame, is taken away) that Epigram muft expect to do nothing even in its own little province, and upon its own little fubjects. Adieu. Believe I with you nearer

*The Memoirs of Scriblerus.

The letters published by Dr. Swift;
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us; the only power I with, is that of attaching, and at the fame time fupporting, fuch congenial bodies as you are to, dear Sir,

Your, &c.

LETTER CV.

Bath, Feb. 4, 1740-1.

per

F I had not been made by many accidents fo I fick of letter-writing, as to be almoft afraid of the fhadow of my own pen, you would be the fon I fhould ofteneft pour my felf out to: indeed for a good reafon, for you have given me the ftrongeft proofs of understanding, and accepting, my meaning in the beft manner; and of the candour of your heart, as well as the clearness of your head. My vexations I would not trouble you with, but I must juft mention the two greatest I now have. They have printed in Ireland, my letters to Dr. Swift, and (which is the ftrangeft circumftance) by his own confent and direction*, without acquainting me till it was done. The other is one that will continue with me till fome profperous event to your fervice will bring us nearer to each other. I am not content with thofe glympfes of you, which a fhort fpring vifit affords; and from which you carry nothing away with you but my fighs and wifhes, without any real benefit.

I am heartily glad of the advancement of your fecond Volumets and particularly of the Digreffions, for they are fo much more of you; and I can trust

*N. B. This was the ftrongeft refentment he ever exprefs'd of this indifcretion of his old friend, as being perfuaded that it proceeded from no ill-will to him, tho' it expofed him to the ill-will of others.

Of the Divine Legation.

your

your judgment enough to depend upon their being pertinent. You will, I queftion not, verify the good proverb, that the furtheft way about, is the nearest way home: and much better than plunging thro' thick and thin, more Theologorum; and perfifting in the fame old tract, where so many have either broken their necks, or come off very lamely.

This leads me to thank you for that very entertaining, and, I think, inftructive ftory of Dr. W***, who was, in this, the image of ***, who never admit of any remedy from a hand they diflike. But I am forry he had fo much of the modern Chriftian rancour, as, I believe, he may be convinced by this time, that the kingdom of Heaven is not for fuch.

I am juft returning to London, and fhall the more impatiently expect your book's appearance, as I hope you will follow it; and that I may have as happy a month thro' your means as I had the last Spring.

I am, &e.

LETTER CVI.

April 14, 1741.

are every way kind to me; in your par

Ytiality to what is tolerable in me; and in your

freedom where you find me in an error. Such, I own, is the inftance given of -You owe me much friendship of this latter fort, having been too profufe of the former.

I think every day a week till you come to town, which, Mr. G. tells me, will be in the beginning of the next month: When, I expect, you will contrive to be as beneficial to me as you can, by paffing with me as much time as you can: every

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day

day of which it will be my fault if I do not make of fome use to me, as well as pleafure. This is all I have to tell you, and, be affured, my fincereft efteem and affection are yours.

T

LETTER CVII.

Twitenham, Aug. 12, 1741,

HE general indifpofition I have to writing, unless upon a belief of the neceffity or use of it, muft plead my excufe in not doing it to you. I know it is not (I feel it is not) needful to repeat affurances of the true and conftant friendship and efteem I bear you. Honeft and ingenuous minds are fure of each other's; the tye is mutual and folid. The use of writing letters refolves wholly into the gratification given and received in the knowledge of each other's welfare: Unless I ever fhould be fo fortunate (and a rare fortune it would be) to be able to procure, and acquaint you of, fome real benefit done you by my means. But Fortune seldom fuffers one difinterested man to ferve another. 'Tis too much an infult upon her to let two of those who most despise her favours, be happy in them at the fame time, and in the fame inftance. I wish for nothing so much at her hands, as that fhe would permit fome great Perfon or other to remove you nearer the banks of the Thames; tho' very lately a nobleman, whom you efteem much more than you know, had deftined &c.

I thank you heartily for your hints; and am afraid if I had more of them, not on this only, but on other fubjects, I fhould break my refolution, and become an author anew: nay a new author, and a better than I yet have been; or God forbid I fhould go on jingling only the fame bells!

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I have