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This learned lady, piqued at the difregard with which the thought herfelf treated, took occafion, with great affectation of temper, to object to fome of Mr. POPE's fentiments refpecting Homer, and likewife to defend herself against a criticism which he made on a paffage in her preface, where fhe gives antient manners the preference above modern.

But notwithflanding fhe endeavoured to hide, even from herfelf, the true motives of her criticifm, yet they tranfpired, and flowed from her pen involuntarily in the following confeffion.

"I own," said fhe, "I did not expect to find myfelf attacked by Mr. POPE, in a preface "wherein I might have expected fome Small token of acknowledgment, or at leaft fome flight approbation."

In truth, Mr. POPE does not appear to have behaved with that polite and generous attention towards this fair critic, which her fex and merit demanded more efpecially as he confeffed to have received great helps from her.

them; yet I have had fo much of the French complai "fance as to conceal her thefts; for wherever I have found "her notes to be wholly another's (which is the cafe of fome "hundreds) I have barely quoted the true proprietor, with

out obferving upon it. If Madam Dacier has feen my "obfervations, fhe will be fenfible of this conduct, but what "effect it may have upon a Lady, I will not anfwer."

He

He afterwards, however, made all the amends in his power. He wrote to her a very genteel and obliging letter, wherein he expreffed his concern at having penned any thing to displease fo excellent a genius: and fhe, on the other hand, with an amiable franknefs, protefted to forget all that had paffed: fo that these two great admirers and tranflators of Homer, ever after maintained towards each other the most perfect appearance of efteem and regard.

Having not only increafed his fame, but eftablished his fortune by this tranflation, he found himfelf in a fituation to draw nearer the capital, and live more among his friends. With this view, having fold the little eftate at Binfield, he purchased a houfe at Twickenham, whither he removed, with his father and mother, before the expiration of the year 1715.

This our author calls one of the grand æras of his life, and he took great delight in improving this new fituation. The genius he difplayed in thefe improvements was fo elegant, that his feat became the refort of all perfons of tafte and curiofity. One of the chief ornaments of this agreeable retreat, was the grotto, the improvements of which, as his friend and editor aflures us, was one of the favourite amufements of his declining years; fo that not long before his death, by enlarging and encreafing it with a vaft number of ores and minerals of the richest and rareft kinds, he made it one of the most elegant and romantic retirements: and in the difpo

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difpofition of these materials, the beauty of his poetic genius appears to as much advantage, as in any of his best contrived poems.

Towards the beautifying of his gardens and grotto, our author was aflifted by prefents of various kinds, from feveral of his friends, procured from the various quarters of the globe.

Even his late Highnefs the Prince of Wales (father of our present fovereign) who was always amiably difpofed to do honour to the deferving, condefcended to contribute towards embellishing our author's retreat, as we learn by the following letter.

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"Dear Sir,

"Since my laft, I have received his Royal Highnefs's commands to let you know that "he has a mind to present you with some urns "or vafcs for your garden, and defires you "would write me word what number and fize "will fuit you beft. You may have fix small ones for your Laurel Circus, or two large ones to terminate points, as you like beft. He "wants to have your anfwer foon.

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nry deareft friend.

-Adieu,

"Yours most affectionately,

"G. Lyttelton."

But,

But, notwithstanding our author took fuch delight in thefe improvements, his judgment taught him to regard them with a true philofophic eye. In one of his letters to Mr. Allen, speaking of his gardens and grotto, he fays--

"I am at a full ftop at prefent, for a reafon "that has put many a man to a full ftop, the having no more flock to fpend; for till I can procure more materials from the mines, and "from the quarries, my mine-adventure

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"(Like the adventure of the bear and fiddle) "Muft end, and break off in the middle.

"However, it is fome fatisfaction, that as far as I have gone, I am content; and that is all a mortal man can expect: for no man finishes any view he has, or any fcheme he projects, "but by halves

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"And life itself can nothing more supply "Then just to plan our projects, and to die.

"Thofe men indeed, who marry and fettle, "undertake for more; they undertake for future ages. I am content to leave nothing but my "works behind me: which (whether good or evil) will follow me, as St. John expreffes it. "As to my mines and my treasures, they muft go together to God knows who! A fugar"baker or a brewer may have the. houfe and gardens, and a booby, that chanced to be my "heir

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"heir at law, the other: except I happen to difperfe it to the poor in my own time *"

In another letter to the fame gentleman, fpeaking of his improvements, he makes the following philofophical reflections:

"Indeed, I think all my vanities of this "fort at an end; and I will excufe them to the "connoiffeurs, by fetting over my door, in con"clufion of them, Parvum parva decent. I "muft charge you for encouraging fome of "them, and others of my friends for encou

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raging others: but I have had my fhare too "of difcouragement and cenfure from enemies; "nevertheless, upon the whole, I neither repent "much nor am very proud, but tolerably pleafed "with them t."

His

His yearly charities were very extenfive, as the perfon to whom he wrote this letter well knew and delighted to aid.

The reader, I truft, will not be difpleafed with the following defcription which our author himself gives of this romantic retreat, long before it received the laft and principal improvemen s.

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"I have," fays he, "put the laft hand to my works of "this kind, in happily finishing the fubterranean way and grotto: I there found a fpring of the cleareft water, which falls in a perpetual rill, that echoes through the cavern day and night. From the river Thames, you fee through 66 my arch up a walk of the wildernefs, to a kind of open "temple, wholly compofed of fhells in the ruftic manner;

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