in us may not be a surer prevention of harm, than want of will in them. I am sure, if all Whigs and all Tories had the spirit of one Roman Catholic that I know, it would be well for all Roman Catholics; and if all Roman Catholics had always had that spirit, it had been well for all others; and we had never been charged with so wicked a spirit as that of persecution. I agree with you in my sentiments of the state of our nation since this change; I find myself just in the same situation of mind you describe as your own, heartily wishing the good, that is, the quiet of my country, and hoping a total end of all the unhappy divisions of mankind by party-spirit, which at best is but the madness of many for the gain of a few. LETTER II. FROM MR. BLOUNT. I am, &c. It is with a great deal of pleasure I see your letter, dear Sir, written in a style that shews you full of health, and in the midst of diversions: I think those two things necessary to a man who has such undertakings in hand as yours. All lovers of Homer are indebted to you for taking so much pains about the situation of his heroes' kingdoms; it will not only be of great use with regard to his works, but to all that read any of the Greek historians; who generally are ill understood . through the difference of the maps as to the places they treat of, which makes one think one author contradicts another.* You are going to set us right; and it is an advantage every body will gladly see you engross the glory of. You can draw rules to be free and easy, from formal pedants; and teach men to be short and pertinent, from tedious commentators. However, I congratulate your happy deliverance from such authors, as you (with all your humanity) cannot wish alive again to converse with. Critics will quarrel with you, if you dare to please without their leave; and zealots will shrug up their shoulders at a man, that pretends to get to heaven out of their form, dress, and diet. I would no more make a judgment of an author's genius from a damning critic, than I would of a man's religion from an unsaving zealot. I could take great delight in affording you the * It is a circumstance highly honourable to the character of the present times, that, amidst the glorious military successes of our arms in the East, which the sands of Egypt, and the plains of Acre, have witnessed, Science should have to boast her peculiar triumphs at the same time on the same field. I allude to the Travels of Clarke and Cripps, who were with Sir R. Abercrombie in Egypt, and to whose exertions we are indebted for the most valuable antiquities; and also to the geographical elucidations of the plain of Troy, at the same period, by Mr. Gell; published 1804, and dedicated to the Duchess of Devonshire. May I mention, on this occasion, a circumstance which Mr. Clarke himself told me, that, among the stones on the plain of Troy, one was found, with the inscription in Greek, signifying "The women of Ilium, to their GOD ENEAS!" Bowles. new glory of making a Barceloniad (if I may venture to coin such a word): I fancy you would find a juster parallel than it seems at first sight; for the Trojans too had a great mixture of folly with their bravery; and I am out of countenance for them when I read the wise result of their council, where, after a warm debate between Antenor and Paris about restoring Helen, Priam sagely determines that they shall go to supper. And as for the Greeks, what can equal their superstition in sacrificing an innocent lady : Tantum Religio potuit, etc. I have a good opinion of my politics, since they agree with a man who always thinks so justly as you. I wish it were in our power to persuade all the nation into as calm and steady a disposition of mind. We have received the late melancholy news with the usual ceremony, of condoling in one breath for the loss of a gracious queen, and in another rejoicing for an illustrious king. My views carry me no further, than to wish the peace and welfare of my country; and my morals and politics teach me to leave all that to be adjusted by our representatives above, and to divine Providence. It is much at one to you and me, who sit the helm, provided they will permit us to sail quietly in the great ship. Ambition is a vice that is timely mortified in us poor papists; we ought in recompence to cultivate as many virtues in ourselves as we can, that we may be truly great. Among my ambitions, that of being a sincere friend is one of the chief; yet I will confess, that I have a secret pleasure to have some of my descendants know, that their ancestor was great with Mr. Pope. LETTER III. FROM MR. BLount. I am, &c. Nov. 11, 1715. It is an agreement of long date between you and me, that you should do with my letters just as you pleased, and answer them at your leisure; and that is as soon as I shall think you ought. I have so true a taste of the substantial part of your friendship, that I wave all ceremonials; and I am sure to make you as many visits as I can, and leave you to return them whenever you please, assuring you they shall at all times be heartily welcome to me. The many alarms we have from your parts, have no effect upon the genius that reigns in our country, which is happily turned to preserve peace and quiet among us. What a dismal scene has there been opened in the North!* what ruin have those *The battle of Preston, in which it has been supposed Blount was engaged. This idea, however, I think, has but slender foundation; though may we not suppose that many overtures and promises were made to Blount, who, conscious of the implication of his character, uses the remarkable words, "and perchance on many others too, who, upon no account, would be their followers." Bowles. unfortunate rash gentlemen drawn upon themselves and their miserable followers, and perchance upon many others too, who upon no account would be their followers? However, it may look ungenerous to reproach people in distress. I do not remember you and I ever used to trouble ourselves about politics, but when any matter happened to fall into our discourse, we used to condemn all undertakings that tended towards the disturbing the peace and quiet of our country, as contrary to the notions we had of morality and religion, which oblige us on no pretence whatsoever to violate the laws of charity. How many lives have there been lost in hot blood, and how many more are there like to be taken off in cold? If the broils of the nation affect you, come down to me, and though we are farmers, you know Eumeus made his friends welcome. You shall here worship the Echo at your ease; indeed we are forced to do so, because we cannot hear the first report, and therefore are obliged to listen to the second; which, for security sake, I do not always believe neither. It is a great many years since I fell in love with the character of Pomponius Atticus. I longed to imitate him a little, and have contrived hitherto to be, like him, engaged in no party, but to be a faithful friend to some in both. I find myself very well in this way hitherto, and live in a certain peace of mind by it, which, I am persuaded, brings a man more content than all the perquisites of wild ambition. I with pleasure join with you in wishing, |