holds in nothing more, than in their being equally abus'd by the ignorant Pretenders to Poetry of their times; of which not the least memory will remain but in their own writings, and in the notes made upon them. What BOILEAU has done in almost all his poems, our Author has only in this: I dare apfwer for him he will do it in no more; and on his principle of attacking few but who had flander'd him, he could not have done it at all, had he been confin'd from cenfuring obscure and worthlefs perfons, for scarce any other were his enemies. However, as the parity is fo remarkable, I hope it will continue to the last; and if ever he fhall give us an edition of this Poem himself, I may fee fome of 'em treated as gently (on their repentance or better merit) as Perault and Quinault were at last by BOILEAU.

In one point I must be allow'd to think the character of our English Poet the more amiable.

Verfe, by the Abbe Conti, a Noble Venetian: and by the Marques Rangoni, Envoy Extraordinary from Modena to King George II. Others of his works by Salvini of Florence, &c. bis Effays and Differtations on Homer in French, Paris 1728.

He has not been a follower of Fortune or Success; he has liv'd with the Great without flattery, been a friend to Men in power without penfions, from whom as he ask'd, fo he receiv'd, no favour, but what was done Him in his friends. As his Satires were the more just for being delay'd, fo were his Panegyricks; bestow'd only on fuch perfons as he had familiarly known, only for fuch virtues as he had long obferv'd in them, and only at fuch times as others ceafe to praife, if not begin to calumniate them, I mean when out of power, or out of fa shion . A Satire therefore on writers fo notorious for the contrary practife, became no man fo well as himself, as none (it is plain) was fo little in their friendships, or fo much in that of those whom they had most abus'd, namely the Greatest and Belt of all Parties. Let me add a further reafon, that tho' ingag'd in their Friendships, he never efpous'd their Ànimofities; and can almost fingly

As Mr. Wycherley, at the time the Town declaim'd againfi his book of Poems: Mr. Walsh, after his death: Sir William Trumbull, when he had refign'd the Office of Secretary of Stare: Lord Bolingbroke at bis leaving England after the Queen's death: Lord Oxford in his last decline of Life: Mr. Secretary Crags at the end of the South-Sea Year, and after bis death: Others only in Epitaphs.

challenge this honour, not to have written a line of any man, which thro' Guilt, thro' Shame, or thro' Fear, thro' variety of Fortune, or change of Interefts, he was ever unwilling to own.

I fhall conclude with remarking what a pleasure it must be to every reader of Humanity, to fee all along that our Author, in his very laughter, is not indulging his own ill-nature, but only punishing that of others. To his Poem those alone are capable of doing juftice, who, to use the words of a great Writer, know how hard it is (with regard both to his fubject and his manner) VETUSTIS DARE NOVITATEM, OBSOLETIS NITOREM, OBSCURIS LUCEM, FASTIDITIS GRATIAM. I am

St. James's, Dec. 22. 1728.

Your most humble Servant,

WILLIAM CLELAND.

DENNIS Rem. on Pr. Arth.

I cannot but think it the most reasonable thing in the world, to diftinguish good writers, by difcouraging the bad. Nor is it an ill-natur'd thing, in relation even to the very perfons upon whom the reflections are made: It is true, it may deprive them, a little the fooner, of a fhort profit and a tranfitory Reputation; but then it may have a good effect, and oblige them (before it be too late) to decline that for which they are fo very unfit, and to have recourse to fomething in which they may be more fuccessful.

The Perfons whom Boileau has attack'd in his writings, have been for the most part Authors and most of thofe Authors, Poets: And the Cenfures he bath pass'd upon them have been confirm'd by all Europe. [Character of Mr. P. 1716.]

GILDON, Pref. to his New Rehears.

It is the common cry of the Poetafters of the town, and their fautors, that it is an Ill-natur'd thing to expose the Pretenders to wit and poetry. The Judges and Magiftrates may with full as good

28 GILDON, Pref. to bis New Rehears.

reafon be reproach'd with Ill nature, for putting the laws in execution against a Thief or Impoftor. The fame will hold in the Republick of Letters, if the Critics and Judges will let every ignorant Pretender to Scribling, pass on the world.

THEOBALD. Lett. to Mist, Jun. 22, 1728.

ATTACKS may be levelled, either against Failures in Genius, or against the Pretenfions of writing without one.

CONCANEN, Ded. to the Auth. of the Dunc.

A Satire upon Dulness is a thing that has been ufed and allowed in All Ages.

Out of thine own Mouth will I judge thee, wicked Scribler!