me too shortly for what I could not help, a Satirical Poem on Verbal Criticism by Mr. Mallet, which he has inscribed to me; but the poem itself is good* (another cause of anger to any critic.) As for myself, I resolve to go on in my quiet, calm, moral course, taking no sort of notice of man's anger, or woman's scandal, with Virtue in my eyes, and Truth upon my tongue. Adieu. DEAR SIR, LETTER XXIV. TO MR. RICHARDSON. November 21. EVERY thing was welcome to me in your kind letter, except the occasion of it, the confinement you are under. I am glad you count the days when I do not see you: but it was but half an one that I was in town upon business with Dr. Mead, and returned to render an account of it. I shall in the course of the winter probably be was published in 1734, under the title of " Explanatory Notes and Remarks on Milton's Paradise Lost; with the Life of the Author, and a Discourse on the Poem, 8vo." Dr. Warton observes that it contains "many judicious and curious remarks, adulterated with some that are trifling enough." * The Poem was a very fulsome piece of flattery to Pope, and a pretty exact imitation of his manner, and contained much contemptible and illiberal abuse of many useful and illustrious critics, with whom Mallet was little acquainted. Mallet's Life of Lord Bacon was too highly commended by Chesterfield and his friends. He once intended to write the History of the Exclusion Bill. +He hints probably at Lord Harvey and Lady Mary. Warton. Bowles. an evening visitant to you, if you sit at home, though I hope it will not be by compulsion or lameness. We may take a cup of sack together, and chatter like two parrots, which are at least more reputable and manlike animals than the grasshoppers, to which Homer likens old men. I am glad you sleep better. I sleep in company, and wake at night, which is vexatious: if you did so, you at your age, would make verses. As to my health, it will never mend; but I will complain less of it, when I find it incorrigible. But for the news of my quitting Twit'nam for Bath, inquire into my years, if they are past the bounds of dotage? Ask my eyes, if they can see, and my nostrils, if they can smell? To prefer rocks and dirt to flowery meads and silver Thames, and brimstone and fogs to roses and sunshine. When I arrive at these sensations, I may settle at Bath, of which I never yet dreamt, further than to live just out of the sulphurous pit, and at the edge of the fogs at Mr. Allen's, for a month or so. I like the place so little, that health itself should not draw me thither, though friendship has twice or thrice. Having answered your questions, I desire to hear if you have any commands. If the first be to come to you, it is probable I shall, before you can send them so round about as to Twit'nam, for I have lived of late at Battersea.* Adieu. With Lord Bolingbroke, who resided there. 66 THE celebrity of Pope has induced his later Editors to bring before the public several pieces which have no other merit than the relation which they bear to him; and even his private notes to the individuals of his own family. Mr. Bowles has also published a Letter to Pope from his Mother; chiefly, it would seem, to shew that" if she was of gentle blood," as Pope had asserted, "her education must have been very defective." Although," says he, "the education of females was then very inferior to what it is at present, yet it is difficult to imagine, that a lady of very gentle blood could be the writer of such an epistle."-How far this mode of trying gentility of blood by ability in letter writing, would be advisable even in the present day, I leave to others to judge, and am glad to agree with Mr. Bowles in the remark which he has subjoined to the letter; that "no man of liberal mind would too rigidly examine a plain and unaffected letter from an affectionate parent." Under the head of Miscellaneous Letters are here included a few letters and notes, which could not have been elsewhere given without interfering with the arrangement adopted in the present edition. Some of them are curious and useful as tending to ascertain dates and circumstances connected with the author and his writings, and others may serve to shew the readiness with which he complied with the wishes of those who resorted to him for his advice or opinion respecting their works. MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. LETTER I. TO POPE FROM HIS MOTHER. MY DEARE, A LETTER from your sister yust now is come and gone, Mr. Mannock and Charles Racket, to take his leve of us, but being nothing in it doe not send it. He will not faile to coll here on Friday morning, and take ceare to cearrie itt to Mr. Thomas Doncaster; he will dine wone day with Mrs. Dune, in Ducke-street: but the day will be unsirton, soe I think you had better send itt to me. He will not fail to coll here, that is Mr. Mannock. DEAR SIR, LETTER II. POPE TO HIS FATHER. THIS is to beg you would inquire of Mrs. Clark, if she will board a family for the summer in her house, and at what rate? Be pleased also to ask at the house over-against ours, Mr. Gascoin's sister, if she will board, &c. and how many beds |