heartily concerned for your illness, and the more uneafy with my own, in that it hinders me from ferving you. I truly wish you health and life, to enjoy that reputation and those advantages which so much ingenuity, joined with so much virtue, deferves. As foon with the as I am able to be in town I will wait on you play, in which, and in every thing elfe, I wish you all fuccefs. I am, dear Sir, Your, etc. I RETURN you the play fooner than I am willing to part with what I like fo extremely well, because you prefs it. Upon my word, I think it every way worthy of you, and make not the leaft doubt but the world will do you the juftice you deserve in the acceptation of it: I continue very much out of order, but must be forced to be in town (well or ill) fome days this week, upon indifpenfable affairs; when I will wait upon you and tell you my fincere thoughts, none of which is more fincere than that I am truly, Your, etc. I Dear Sir, LETTER XXIV. TO THE SAME. Twickenham, Feb. 18*, 1719-20. HAVE been much concerned not to have waited upon you as I defigned, fince you obliged me with your play. I am fince much more troubled to hear of the continuance of your illness. Would to God you might live as long, as I am fure, the reputation of your tragedy muft! I am a fellow-fufferer with you, in not being able to fee it played, having been, and still being, too much indifpofed to go to any public place. But I could be extremely glad fome particular friends of mine had that pleasure I cannot enjoy you would highly favour me in letting three or four ladies have a fide-box, who have sent into the country to me, upon information that the boxes are difpofed of by you. I am forry to give you this trouble, when perhaps, for your health's fake, you should not have a moment's disturbance, and I could not fend fooner at this distance. Pray think I wish you all the fuccefs you deserve, and all the health you want. I am, dear Sir, Your, etc. *Mr. Hughes died the night before this letter was written, aged 42. I LETTER XXV. MR. POPE TO MR. JABEZ HUGHES*. SIR, February 26, 1719-20. CANNOT omit the acknowledgment I really think I owe your great civility, especially at fo melancholy and affecting a moment, as that of your worthy brother's death must have been to you. Indeed, even his common acquaintance must have known enough of him to regret his lofs; and I moft heartily condole with you upon it. I believe I am further obliged to you for his play; which I received yesterday, and read over again with more concern and forrow than I ever felt at reading any tragedy. The real lofs of a good man may be called a distress to the world, and ought to affect us more than any feigned or ancient distress, how finely drawn foever. I am glad of an occafion to give you, under my hand, this teftimony, both how * Younger brother of Mr. John Hughes, and, like him, a votary of the Muses, and an excellent fcholar. He published, in 1714, a translation of "The Rape of Proferpine," from Claudian ; and the Story of Sextus and Erictho, from Lucan's Pharfalia, b. vi. in 8vo. These translations, with notes, were reprinted in 12m0. in 1723. He also published, in 1717, a translation of Suetonius's "Lives of the twelve Cæfars," and tranflated several Novels " from the Spanish of Cervantes," which are inferted in "The felect Collection of Novels and Histories," printed for Watts, 1729. He died January 17, 1731, in the 46th year of his age: a volume of his Mifcellanies, in profe and verfe, was published in 1737. His widow accompanied the Lady of Governor Byng to Madras, and died there. how excellent I think this work to be, and how excellent I thought the author. I am, with my hearty thanks to you, Sir, Your, etc. LETTER XXVI. MR. POPE TO MR. DUNCOMBE. SIR, Twickenham, O&. 20, 1734. I AM obliged for the favour of yours. I have looked for the letter Mr. Hughes fent me, but cannot find it. I had a great regard for his merit, modefty, and foftness of manners. He writ to me a few days before his death, concerning his play of the " Siege "of Damafcus," which is the only letter I can meet with. I thank you for the part you are pleased to take, both in regard to my health (which has, I thank God, been as good as ufual) and to my reputation, my poetical welfare, which I refign as much to Providence as the other. But truly I had not the least thought of stealing applause, by fuppreffing my name to that effay I wanted only to hear truth, and was more afraid of my partial friends than enemies. Besides, I really was humble and diffident enough to distruft my own performance. All I can fay of it is, that I know it to be an honeft one. I am, Sir, Your, etc. LETTER XXVII. TO THE SAME. SIR, MANY Twickenham, May 6, 1735. ANY thanks for your kind present, in which I find several pleasing and very correct pieces of his, (Mr. Hughes's,) which were new to me. I beg you to accept of the new volume of my things just printed, which will be delivered you by Mr. Dodfley, the author of the Toy-fhop, who has just set up (as) a bookfeller; and I doubt not, as he has more fenfe, fo will have more honefty, than most of his profeffion. I am, Sir, SIR, LETTER XXVIII. TO THE SAME. Your, etc. Twitenham, Nov. 5, 1734. I AM extremely willing to bear any testimony of my real regard for Mr. Hughes, and therefore what you mention of my letter to his brother, after his death, will be a greater inftance of the fincerity with which it was given; it is perfectly at your service. I thank you for the tenderness with which you deal in |