writers; the fecret of this, is, I learned from Curl to clap a new title page to the fale of every half hundred; fo that when my bookfeller has fold two hundred and fifty copies, my book generally enters into the fixth edition. It is reckoned a villainous action to writes a libel, but more fo to father one on a perfon who neither wrote it, nor approves it; now, I own I never fcruple to do both. When a man of figure, (perhaps an ornament of his country) has been cruelly aspersed in his life-time, I love to revive the afperfion at his death: it is mirth to me to grieve a whole family, by infulting his memory before his body is cold in the grave. In this limitate the authority of Sarah the Quaker in the Shades, to Lothario lately deceased." Though I am fo ready to libel others, I am downright frightened if I but hear of a fatire when my name is likely to be inferted. When a perfon does me a favour, I either fufpect he has some defign on me, or think it lefs than my due, and that he is obliged to me, because an author, for accepting it. T am very telty, if I am not allowed dictator of my company; nor had I ever a friend, whom 1 did not in his absence facrifice to my jeft. Icontemn the few who admire me, am angry with the multitude who defpife me, and mortally hate all who have any ways obliged me. I affure you, I am very famous for feveral Treatifes in defence of Ingratitude: I never fail to illuftrate them with the examples of Marcus Brutus among the ancients, and very eminent ftatesmen among the moderns. My private refentment, like like that of other great men, is always a public juftice. Now, gentlemen, if you like me for a corref pondent, my price is the price of a Journalist, a crown; and, in the ftyle of a love-bargain, halfwet, half-dry. You may find me in a morning at my lucubrations, over a quartern-pot in a Geneva-fhop in Clare-Market; a houfe, where I propofed many learned interviews with orator Henley, who has removed his ftage to that place. I generally dine with a brother bard, at one of the little cook's-fhops near St. Martin's-Church, and probably spend the evening with him at a nightcellar in the Strand, where I shall be ready to enter into a treaty with you. Yours, ISCARIOT HACKNEY, From my chamber, CON. Epiftle to Mrs. Oldfield Verfes on reading Mr. Hill's Poem called Gi- deon Page 158 161 To the Right Hon. Beffy Countess of Rochford 164 167 Verfes to a Young Lady 168 The Gentleman, addressed to John Joliffe, Efq. 169 To Mifs M. H. fent with Pope's Works 179 On the Recovery of a Lady of Quality from the 180 The Friend, an Epistle to Aaron Hill 182 Epiftle to Mr. John Dyer, in Anfwer to his from the Country 186 Verfes on the Vice-Principal of St. Mary's-Hall, |