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writers has never obtained any notice from man-one of the imitations of Horace he has liberally kind; it has been little read, or when read has been enough praised the 'Careless Husband.' In the forgotten, as no man could be wiser, better, or Dunciad,' among other worthless scribblers, he merrier, by remembering it. had mentioned Cibber; who, in his Apology,' complains of the great Poet's unkindness as more injurious, "because," says he, "I never have offended him."

The design cannot boast of much originality; for, besides its general resemblance to Don Quixote, there will be found in it particular imitations of the History of Mr. Ouffle.

It might have been expected that Pope should have been, in some degree, mollified by this submissive gentleness, but no such consequence appeared. Though he condescended to commend Cibber once, he mentioned him afterwards con

Swift carried so much of it into Ireland as supplied him with hints for his Travels; and with those the world might have been contented, though the rest had been suppressed. Pope had sought for images and sentiments in a temptuously in one of his satires, and again in his region not known to have been explored by many Epistle to Arbuthnot; and in the fourth book of the other of the English writers; he had consulted the Dunciad' attacked him with acrimony, to which modern writers of Latin poetry, a class of authors the provocation is not easily discoverable. Perwhom Boileau endeavoured to bring into contempt, haps he imagined that, in ridiculing the Laureate, and who are too generally neglected. Pope, how- he satirized those by whom the laurel had been ever, was not ashamed of their acquaintance, nor given, and gratified that ambitious petulance with ungrateful for the advantages which he might have which he affected to insult the great. derived from it. A small selection from the Ita- The severity of this satire left Cibber no longer lians, who wrote in Latin, had been published at any patience. He had confidence enough in his London, about the latter end of the last century, by own powers to believe that he could disturb the a man who concealed his name, but whom his Pre-quiet of his adversary, and doubtless did not want face shows to have been qualified for his under-instigators, who, without any care, about the victaking. This collection Pope amplified by more tory, desired to amuse themselves by looking on than half, and (1740) published it in two volumes, the contest. He therefore gave the town a pambut injuriously omitted his predecessor's Preface. phlet, in which he declared his resolution from that To these books, which had nothing but the mere time never to bear another blow without returning text, no regard was paid; the authors were still it, and to tire out his adversary by perseverance, neglected, and the editor was neither praised nor if he cannot conquer him by strength. The incessant and unappeasable malignity of

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censured.

"March 25, 1736.

He did not sink into idleness; he had planned a Pope he imputes to a very distant cause. After work which he considered as subsequent to his the 'Three hours after Marriage' had been driven Essay on Man,' of which he has given this ac-off the stage, by the offence which the mummy and count to Dr. Swift: crocodile gave the audience, while the exploded scene was yet fresh in memory, it happened that "If ever I write any more Epistles in verse, one Cibber played Bayes in the 'Rehearsal;' and, as it of them shall be addressed to you. I have long had been usual to enliven the part by the mention concerted it, and begun it; but I would make what of any recent theatrical transactions, he said, that bears your name as finished as my last work ought he once thought to have introduced his lovers disto be; that is to say, more finished than any of the guised in a mummy and a crocodile. "This," rest. The subject is large, and will divide into says he, "was received with loud claps, which infour Epistles, which naturally follow the Essay dicated contempt of the play." Pope, who was on Man;' viz. 1. Of the Extent and Limits of behind the scenes, meeting him as he left the human Reason and Science. 2. A View of the use-stage, attacked him, as he says, with all the viruful and therefore attainable, and of the unuseful and lence of a " Wit out of his senses;" to which he therefore unattainable Arts. 3. Of the Nature, replied, "that he would take no other notice of Ends, Application, and Use, of different Capacities. what was said by so particular a man, than to de4. Of the Use of Learning, of the Science of the clare, that as often as he played that part, he would World, and of Wit. It will conclude with a satire repeat the same provocation." against the Misapplication of all these, exemplified by Pictures, Characters, and Examples."

He shows his opinion to be, that Pope was one of the authors of the play which he so zealously defended; and adds an idle story of Pope's behaviour at a tavern.

This work in its full extent, being now afflicted - with an asthma, and finding the powers of life gradually declining, he had no longer courage to The pamphlet was written with little power of undertake; but from the materials which he had thought or language, and, if suffered to remain withprovided, he added, at Warburton's request, ano-out notice, would have been very soon forgotten. ther book to the 'Dunciad,' of which the design is Pope had now been enough acquainted with human to ridicule such studies as are either hopeless or use-life to know, if his passion had not been too powerless, as either pursue what is unattainable, or what, ful for his understanding, that from a contention if it be attained, is of no use. like his with Cibber, the world seeks nothing but

When this book was printed (1742) the laurel diversion, which is given at the expense of the had been for some time upon the head of Cibber; a higher character. When Cibber lampooned Pope, man whom it cannot be supposed that Pope could curiosity was excited; what Pope would say of regard with much kindness or esteem, though in Cibber nobody inquired, but in hope that Pope's asperity might betray his pain and lessen his dig

Since discovered to be Atterbury, afterwards Bishop of nity. Rochester.

He should therefore have suffered the pamphle

to flutter and die, without confessing that it stung attention wearied, and to whom the mind will not him. The dishonour of being shown as Cibber's easily be recalled, when it is invited in blank verse, antagonist could never be compensated by the vic-which Pope had adopted with great imprudence, tory. Cibber had nothing to lose; when Pope had and, I think, without due consideration of the naexhausted all his malignity upon him, he would ture of our language. The sketch is, at least in rise in the esteem both of his friends and his ene-part, preserved by Ruffhead; by which it appears, mies. Silence only could have made him despica- that Pope was thoughtless enough to model the ble; the blow which did not appear to be felt would names of his heroes with terminations not consistent have been struck in vain. with the time or country in which he places them. But Pope's irascibility prevailed, and he re- He lingered through the next year; but perceived solved to tell the whole English world that he was himself, as he expresses it, “going down the hill.” at war with Cibber; and, to show that he thought He had for at least five years been afflicted with him no common adversary, he prepared no common an asthma and other disorders, which his physivengeance; he published a new edition of the cians were unable to relieve. Towards the end of Dunciad,' in which he degraded Theobald from his life he consulted Dr. Thomson, a man who had, his painful pre-eminence, and enthroned Cibber in by large promises, and free censures of the common his stead. Unhappily the two heroes were of op- practice of physic, forced himself up into sudden posite characters, and Pope was unwilling to lose reputation. Thomson declared his distemper to be what he had already written; he has therefore de-a dropsy, and evacuated part of the water by tinepraved his poem by giving to Cibber the old books, ture of jalap; but confessed that his belly did not the old pedantry, and the sluggish pertinacity of subside. Thomson had many enemies, and Pope Theobald. was persuaded to dismiss him.

Pope was ignorant enough of his own interest, to While he was yet capable of amusement and conmake another change, and introduced Osborne con-versation, as he was one day sitting in the air with tending for the prize among the booksellers. Os-Lord Bolingbroke and Lord Marchmont, he saw borne was a man entirely destitute of shame, with- his favourite Martha Blount at the bottom of the out sense of any disgrace but that of poverty. He terrace, and asked Lord Bolingbroke to go and hand told me, when he was doing that which raised her up. Bolingbroke, not liking his errand, crossPope's resentment, that he should be put into the ed his legs and sat still; but Lord Marchmont, who 'Dunciad;' but he had the fate of Cassandra. I gave was younger and less captious, waited on the lady, no credit to his prediction, till in time I saw it ac- who, when he came to her, asked—“ What, is he complished. The shafts of satire were directed not dead yet?" She is said to have neglected him, equally in vain against Cibber and Osborn; being with shameful unkindness, in the latter time of his repelled by the impenetrable impudence of one, decay; yet, of the little which he had to leave, she and deadened by the impassive dulness of the other. had a very great part. Their acquaintance began Pope confessed his own pain by his anger; but he early; the life of each was pictured on the other's gave no pain to those who had provoked him. He mind; their conversation therefore was endearing, was able to hurt none but himself; but transferring for when they met, there was an immediate coalithe same ridicule from one to another, he reduced tion of congenial notions. Perhaps he considered himself to the insignificance of his own magpie, her unwillingness to approach the chamber of sickwho from his cage calls cuckold at a venture. ness as female weakness, or human frailty; perhaps Cibber, according to his engagement, repaid the he was conscious to himself of peevishness and im'Dunciad' with another pamphlet, which Pope said, patience, or, though he was offended by her in"would be as good as a dose of hartshorn to him;" attention, might yet consider her merit as overbut his tongue and his heart were at variance. I balancing her fault; and, if he had suffered his heart have heard Mr. Richardson relate, that he attend-to be alienated from her, he could have found noed his father the painter on a visit, when one of thing that might have filled her place; he could Cibber's pamphlets came into the hands of Pope, have only shrunk within himself; it was too late to who said, "These things are my diversion." They transfer his confidence or fondness. sat by him while he perused it, and saw his fea- In May, 1744, his death was approaching:* on tures writhing with anguish; and young Richardson the sixth, he was all day delirious, which he mensaid to his father when they returned, "that he tioned four days afterwards as a sufficient humiliahoped to be preserved from such diversion as had tion of the vanity of man; he afterwards complained been that day the lot of Pope." of seeing things as through a curtain, and in false

From this time finding his diseases more oppres-colours; and one day, in the presence of Dodsley, sive, and his vital powers gradually declining, he asked what arm it was that came out from the no longer strained his faculties with any original wall. He said that his greatest inconvenience was composition, nor proposed any other employment inability to think.

for his remaining life, than the revisal and correc- Bolingbroke sometimes wept over him in this tion of his former works; in which he received ad-state of helpless decay; and being told by Spence, vice and assistance from Warburton, whom he that Pope, at the intermission of his deliriousness, appears to have trusted and honoured in the highest was always saying something kind either of his predegree. sent or absent friends, and that his humanity seem

He laid aside his Epic Poem, perhaps without ed to have survived his understanding, answered, much loss to mankind; for his hero was Brutus the "It has so." And added, "I never in my life knew Trojan, who, according to the ridiculous fiction, a man that had so tender a heart for his particular established a colony in Britain. The subject there- friends, or more general friendship for mankind." fore, was of the fabulous age; the actors were a race upon whom imagination had been exhausted; and

* Spence.

At another time he said, "I have known Pope these have induced Pope to break his promise. He could thirty years, and value myself more in his friend-not delight his vanity by usurping the work, ship than"-His grief then suppressed his voice. which, though not sold in shops, had been shown Pope expressed undoubted confidence of a future to a number more than sufficient to preserve the state. Being asked by his friend Mr. Hooke, a author's claim; he could not gratify his avarice, for papist, whether he would not die like his father he could not sell his plunder till Bolingbroke was and mother, and whether a priest should not be dead; and even then, if the copy was left to anocalled, he answered, "I do not think it essential, ther, his fraud would be defeated, and if left to but it will be very right; and I thank you for put- himself would be useless.

ting me in mind of it."

Warburton therefore supposes, with great apIn the morning, after the priest had given him pearance of reason, that the irregularity of his conthe last sacrament, he said, "There is nothing that duct proceeded wholly from his zeal for Bolingis meritorious but virtue and friendship, and indeed broke, who might perhaps have destroyed the friendship itself is only a part of virtue.”

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pamphlet, which Pope thought it his duty to preHe died in the evening of the thirtieth day of serve, even without its author's approbation. To May, 1744, so placidly, that the attendants did not this apology an answer was written in "A Letter discern the exact time of his expiration. He was to the most Impudent Man living." buried at Twickenham, near his father and mother, He brought some reproach upon his own memory where a monument has been erected to him by his by the petulant and contemptuous mention made in commentator, the Bishop of Gloucester. his will of Mr. Allen, and an affected repayment He left the care of his papers to his executors; of his benefactions. Mrs. Blount, as the known first to Lord Bolingbroke; and, if he should not be friend and favourite of Pope, had been invited to living, to the Earl of Marchmont; undoubtedly ex- the house of Allen, where she comported herself pecting them to be proud of the trust, and eager to with such indecent arrogance, that she parted from extend his fame. But let no man dream of influ- Mrs. Allen in a state of irreconcileable dislike, and ence beyond his life. After a decent time, Dodsley the door was for ever barred against her. This the bookseller went to solicit preference as the exclusion she resented with so much bitterness as publisher, and was told that the parcel had not to refuse any legacy from Pope, unless he left the been yet inspected; and, whatever was the reason, world with a disavowal of obligation to Allen. the world has been disappointed of what was "re- Having been long under her dominion, now totterserved for the next age." ing in the decline of life, and unable to resist the He lost, indeed, the favour of Bolingbroke by a violence of her temper, or perhaps, with the prekind of posthumous offence. The political pamphlet judice of a lover, persuaded that she had suffered called The Patriot King' had been put into his improper treatment, he complied with her demand, hands that he might procure the impression of a and polluted his will with female resentment. Alvery few copies, to be distributed, according to the len accepted the legacy, which he gave to the author's direction, among his friends, and Pope as- Hospital at Bath, observing that "Pope was always sured him, that no more had been printed than were a bad accomptant, and that if to £150 he had put a allowed; but soon after his death the printer brought cipher more, he had come nearer to the truth."* and resigned a complete edition of fifteen hundred The person of Pope is well known not to have copies, which Pope had ordered him to print, and been formed by the nicest model. He has, in his retain it secret. He kept, as was observed, his account of the Little Club,' compared himself to a engagement to Pope better than Pope had kept it spider, and by another is described as protuberant to his friend; and nothing was known of the trans-behind and before. He is said to have been beauaction, till, upon the death of his employer, he tiful in his infancy; but he was of a constitution thought himself obliged to deliver the book to the originally feeble and weak; and as bodies of a tenright owner, who, with great indignation, made a der frame are easily distorted, his deformity was fire in his yard, and delivered the whole impres- probably in part the effect of his application. His sion to the flames. stature was so low, that, to bring him to a level Hitherto nothing had been done which was not with common tables, it was necessary to raise his naturally dictated by resentment of violated faith; seat. But his face was not displeasing, and his resentment more acrimonious, as the violator had eyes were animated and vivid. been more loved or more trusted. But here the By natural deformity, or accidental distortion, anger might have stopped; the injury was private, his vital functions were so much disordered, that and there was little danger from the example. his life was "long disease." His most frequent Bolingbroke, however, was not yet satisfied; his assailment was the headach, which he used to rethirst for vengeance excited him to blast the me- lieve by inhaling the steam of coffee, which be mory of the man over whom he had wept in his very frequently required. last struggles; and he employed Mallet, another friend of Pope, to tell the tale to the public with all its aggravations. Warburton, whose heart was Upon an invitation (in which Mrs. Blount was included) warm with his legacy, and tender by the recent Mr. Pope made a visit to Mr. Allen at Prior-park, and having occasion to go to Bristol for a few days, left Mrs. Blount separation, thought it proper for him to interpose; behind him. In his absence Mrs. Blount, who was of that and undertook, not indeed to vindicate the action, persuasion, signified an inclination to go to the Popish chafor breach of trust has always something criminal, pel at Bath, and desired of Mr. Allen the use of his chariot for the purpose; but he being at that time mayor of the city, but to extenuate it by an apology. Having ad-suggested the impropriety of having his carriage seen at the vanced what cannot be denied, that moral obliquity door of her place of worship, and desired to be excused. is made more or less excusable by the motives that Mrs. Blount resented this refusal, told Pope of it at his return, and so infected him with her rage that they both produce it, he inquires what evil purpose could the house abruptly.

D

* This account is not so circumstantial as it was in Dr.

Johnson's power to have made it.

Most of what can be told concerning his petty pe-bal, says Juvenal, did not perish by the javelin or culiarities was communicated by a female domes- the sword; the slaughters of Canna were revenged tic of the Earl of Oxford, who knew him perhaps by a ring. The death of Pope was imputed by after the middle of life. He was then so weak as some of his friends to a silver saucepan, in which to stand in perpetual need of female attendance; it was his delight to heat potted lampreys. extremely sensible of cold, so that he wore a kind That he loved too well to eat, is certain; but that of fur doublet, under a shirt of a very coarse warm his sensuality shortened his life will not be hastily linen with fine sleeves. When he rose, he was concluded, when it is remembered that a conformainvested in a boddice made of stiff canvas, being tion so irregular lasted six and fifty years, notwithscarcely able to hold himself erect till they were standing such pertinacious diligence of study and laced, and he then put on a flannel waistcoat. One meditation. side was contracted. His legs were so slender,

In all his intercourse with mankind, he had great that he enlarged their bulk with three pair of delight in artifice, and endeavoured to attain all his stockings, which were drawn on and off by the purposes by indirect and unsuspected methods. maid; for he was not able to dress or undress him- "He hardly drank tea without a stratagem." If, self, and neither went to bed nor rose without at the house of friends, he wanted any accommodahelp. His weakness made it very difficult for him tion, he was not willing to ask for it in plain terms, to be clean. but would mention it remotely as something con

His hair had fallen almost all away; and he used venient; though, when it was procured, he soon to dine sometimes with Lord Oxford, privately, in made it appear for whose sake it had been recoma velvet cap. His dress of ceremony was black, mended. Thus he teased Lord Orery till he obwith a tie-wig, and a little sword. tained a screen. He practised his arts on such The indulgence and accommodation which his small occasions that Lady Bolingbroke used to say, sickness required, had taught him all the unpleas- in a French phrase, that "he played the politician ing and unsocial qualities of a valetudinary man. about cabbages and turnips." His unjustifiable imHe expected that every thing should give way to pression of the Patriot King,' as it can be imputed his ease or humour; as a child, whose parents will to no particular motive, must have proceeded from not hear her cry, has an unresisted dominion in the his general habit of secrecy and cunning; he caught nursery.

C'est que l'enfant toujours est homme, C'est que l'homme est toujours enfant. When he wanted to sleep he "nodded in company;" and once slumbered at his own table while the Prince of ales was talking of poetry.

the opportunity of a sly trick, and pleased himself with the thought of outwitting Bolingbroke.

In familiar or convivial conversation, it does not appear that he excelled. He may be said to have resembled Dryden, as being not one that was distinguished by vivacity in company. It is remarkable, that so near his time, so much should be known The reputation which his friendship gave, pro- of what he has written, and so little of what he cured him many invitations; but he was a very has said: traditional memory retains no sallies of troublesome inmate. He brought no servant, and raillery, nor sentences of observation; nothing eihad so many wants, that a numerous attendance was ther pointed or solid, either wise or merry. One scarcely able to supply them. Wherever he was apophthegm only stands upon record. When an obhe left no room for another, because he exacted the jection, raised against his inscription for Shaksattention, and employed the activity of the whole peare, was defended by the authority of Patrick,' family. His errands were so frequent and frivo- he replied-"horresco referens”—that "he would lous, that the footmen in time avoided and neglect- allow the publisher of a dictionary to know the ed him; and the earl of Oxford discharged some of meaning of a single word, but not of two words put the servants for their resolute refusal of his mes-together."

sages. The maids, when they had neglected their He was fretful and easily displeased, and allowbusiness, alleged that they had been employed by ed himself to be capriciously resentful. He would Mr. Pope. One of his constant demands was of sometimes leave Lord Oxford silently, no one could coffee in the night, and to the woman that waited tell why, and was to be courted back by more leton him in his chamber he was very burdensome: ters and messages than the footmen were willing but he was careful to recompense her for want of to carry. The table was indeed infested by Lady sleep; and Lord Oxford's servant declared, that in Mary Wortley, who was the friend of Lady Oxthe house where her business was to answer his call, she would not ask for wages.

ford, and who, knowing his peevishness, could by no entreaties be restrained from contradicting him, till their disputes were sharpened to such asperity, that one or the other quitted the house.

He had another fault, easily incident to those who, suffering much pain, think themselves entitled to what pleasures they can snatch. He was He sometimes condescended to be jocular with too indulgent to his appetite: he loved meat highly servants or inferiors; but by no merriment, either seasoned and of strong taste; and, at the intervals of others or his own, was he ever seen excited to of the table, amused himself with biscuits and dry laughter.

conserves. If he sat down to a variety of dishes, Of his domestic character, frugality was a part he would oppress his stomach with repletion; and eminently remarkable. Having determined not to though he seemed angry when a dram was offered be dependent, he determined not to be in want, him, did not forbear to drink it. His friends, who and therefore wisely and magnanimously rejected knew the avenues to his heart, pampered him with all temptations to expense unsuitable to his fortune. presents of luxury, which he did not suffer to stand This general care must be universally approved; neglected. The death of great men is not always but it sometimes appeared to petty artifices of parproportioned to the lustre of their lives. Hanni-simony, such as the practice of writing his compo

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sitions on the back of his letters, as may be seen in Of his social qualities, if an estimate be made the remaining copy of the Iliad,' by which, per- from his Letters, an opinion too favourable cannot haps, in five years, five shillings were saved; or in easily be formed; they exhibit a perpetual and una niggardly reception of his friends, and scantiness clouded effulgence of general benevolence, and parof entertainment, as, when he had two guests in ticular fondness. There is nothing but liberality, his house, he would set at supper a single pint upon gratitude, constancy, and tenderness. It has been the table; and, having himself taken two small so long said as to be commonly believed, that the glasses, would retire, and say, "Gentlemen, I true characters of men may be found in their Letleave you to your wine." Yet he tells his friends ters, and that he who writes to his friends lays his that "he has a heart for all, a house for all, and whatever they may think, a fortune for all."

heart open before them. But the truth is, that such were the simple friendships of the "Golden Age," He sometimes, however, made a splendid dinner, and are now the friendships only of children. Vry and is said to have wanted no part of the skill or few can boast of hearts which they dare lay on elegance which such performances require. That to themselves, and of which, by whatever accident this magnificence should be often displayed, that exposed, they do not shun a distinct and continued obstinate prudence with which he conducted his view; and, certainly, what we hide from ourselves affairs would not permit: for his revenue, certain we do not show to our friends. There is, indeed, and casual, amounted only to about eight hundred no transaction which offers stronger temptation to pounds a year, of which, however, he declares fallacy and sophistication than epistolary interhimself able to assign one hundred to charity.* course. In the eagerness of conversation the first Of this fortune, which as it arose from public emotions of the mind often burst out before they are approbation, was very honourably obtained, his considered; in the tumult of business, interest and imagination seems to have been too full; it would passion have their genuine effect; but a friendly be hard to find a man, so well entitled to notice by Letter is a calm and deliberate performance in the his wit, that ever delighted so much in talking of cool of leisure, in the stillness of solitude; and surely his money. In his letters, and in his poems, his no man sits down to depreciate by design his own garden and his grotto, his quincunx and his vines, character. or some hints of his opulence, are always to be found. The great topic of his ridicule is poverty; for by whom can a man so much wish to be thought the crimes with which he reproaches his antago- better than he is, as by him whose kindness he denists are their debts, their habitation in the Mint, sires to gain or keep? Even in writing to the world and their want of a dinner. He seems to be of an there is less constraint; the author is not confronted opinion not very uncommon in the world, that to with his reader, and takes his chance of approbawant money is to want every thing. tion among the different dispositions of mankind; Next to the pleasure of contemplating his pos- but a Letter is addressed to a single mind, of which sessions, seems to be that of enumerating the men the prejudices and partialities are known; and must of high rank with whom he was acquainted, and therefore please, if not by favouring them, by forwhose notice he loudly proclaims not to have been bearing to oppose them.

Friendship has no tendency to secure veracity;

obtained by any practices of meanness or servility: To charge those favourable representations, a boast which was never denied to be true, and to which men give of their own minds, with the guilt which very few poets have ever aspired. Pope of hypocritical falsehood, would show more severinever set genius to sale, he never flattered those ty than knowledge. The writer commonly bewhom he did not love, or praised those whom he lieves himself. Almost every man's thoughts, did not esteem. Savage however remarked, that while they are general, are right; and most hearts he began a little to relax his dignity when he wrote are pure, while temptation is away. It is easy to a distich for his Highness's dog.' awaken generous sentiments in privacy; to despise His admiration of the great seems to have in- death when there is no danger; to glow with becreased in the advance of life. He passed over nevolence when there is nothing to be given. peers and statesmen to inscribe his 'Iliad' to Con- While such ideas are formed they are felt; and greve, with a magnanimity of which the praise had self-love does not suspect the gleam of virtue to be been complete, had his friend's virtue been equal the meteor of fancy.

to his wit. Why he was chosen for so great an If the letters of Pope are considered merely as honour, it is not now possible to know; there is no compositions, they seem to be premeditated and trace in literary history of any particular intimacy artificial. It is one thing to write, because there between them. The name of Congreve appears in is something which the mind wishes to discharge; the Letters among those of his other friends, but and another to solicit the imagination, because cerewithout any observable distinction or consequence. mony or vanity requires something to be written. To his latter works, however, he took care to Pope confesses his early Letters to be vitiated annex names dignified with titles, but was not very with affectation and ambition: to know whether he happy in his choice: for, except Lord Bathurst, disentangled himself from those perverters of episnone of his noble friends were such as that a good tolary integrity, his book and his life must be set man would wish to have his intimacy with them in comparison.

known to posterity; he can derive little honour One of his favourite topics is contempt of his own from the notice of Cobham, Burlington, or Bolingbroke.

* Part of it arose from an annuity of two hundred pounds a year, purchased either of the last Duke of Buckingham, or the Dutchess his mother, and charged on some estate of that family

poetry. For this, if it had been real, he would deserve no commendation; and in this he was certainly not sincere, for his high value of himself was sufficiently observed; and of what could he be proud but of his poetry? He writes, he says, when, “he has just nothing else to do;" yet Swift compls

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