was the cafe too of the prologue writer*, who was clapp'd into a ftanch whig, at almost every two lines. I believe you have heard, that after all the applauses of the oppofite faction, my Lord Bolingbroke fent for Booth, who play'd Cato, into the box, between one of the acts, and prefented him with fifty guineas; in acknowledgment (as he exprefs'd it) for defending the cause of liberty fo well against a Perpetual Dictator. The Whigs are unwilling to be distanc'd this way, and therefore design a present to the fame Cato very speedily; in the mean time they are getting ready as good a sentence as the former on their fide: so betwixt them, 'tis probable that Cato (as Dr. Garth express'd it) may have something to live upon, after he dies. I am

Your, &c.

I

LETTER VI.

From Sir WILLIAM TRUMBULL.

Eafthamftead, Feb. 22, 1714-15.

Am fenfibly oblig'd, dear Sir, by your kind pre

fent of the Temple of Fame, into which you are already enter'd, and I dare prophefy for once (tho' I I am not much given to it) that you will continue there, with those,

Who, ever new, not subject to decays,

Spread and grow brighter with the length of days.

*Himself.

There was nothing wanting to compleat your obliging remembrance of me, but your accompanying it with your poem; your long absence being much the feverest part of the winter. I am truly forry that your time, which you can employ fo much better, fhould be spent in the drudgery of correcting the printers; for as to what you have done yourself, there will nothing of that nature be neceffary. I wish you could find a few minutes leisure to let me hear from you fometimes, and to acquaint me how your Homer draws on towards a publication, and all things relating thereunto.

I intreat you to return my humble fervice to Mr. Jervas. I ftill fatter myself that he will take an opportunity, in a proper season to see us, and review his picture, and then to alter fome things, so as to please himfelf; which I know will not be, till every thing in it is perfect; no more than I can be, till you believe me to be with that fincerity and efteem, that I am and will ever continue, your most faithful friend.

LETTER VII.

Dec. 16, 1715.

T was one of the Enigma's of Pythagoras, "When the winds rife, worthip the Echo." A modern writer explains this to fignify, "When po

"pular tumults begin, retire to folitudes, or fuch

"places where Echo's are commonly found, rocks, "woods, &c." I am rather of opinion it should be interpreted, "When rumours increase, and when "there is abundance of noife and clamour, believe "the fecond report:" This, I think agrees more exactly with the echo, and is the more natural application of the fymbol. However it be, either of thefe Precepts is extremely proper to be followed at this feafon; and I cannot but applaud your resolution of continuing in what you call your cave in the foreft, this winter; and preferring the noise of breaking ice to that of breaking ftatesmen, the rage of forms to that of parties, the fury and ravage of floods and tempefts, to the precipitancy of fome, and the ruin of others, which, I fear, will be our daily prospects in London.

I fincerely with myself with you, to contemplate the wonders of God in the firmament, rather than the madness of man on the earth. But I never had fo much caufe as now to complain of my poetical ftar, that fixes me, at this tumultuous time, to attend the gingling of rhymes and the measuring of fyllables: to be almost the only trifler in the nation; and as ridiculous as the poet in l'etronius, who while all the reft in the fhip were either labouring or praying for life, was fcratching his head in a little room, to write a fine defcription of the tempeft.

You tell me, you like the found of no arms but thofe of Achilles: for my part I like them as little as any other arms. I lifted myself in the battles of

Homer, and I am no fooner in war, but, like most other folks, I wish myself out again.,

I heartily join with you in wishing Quiet to our native country: Quiet in the ftate, which, like Charity in religion, is too much the perfection and happiness of either, to be broken or violated on any pretence or prospect whatsoever. Fire and fword, and fire and faggot, are equally my averfion. I can pray for oppofite parties, and for oppofite religions, with great fincerity. I think to be a lover of one's country is a glorious elogy, but I do not think it fo great. a one as to be a lover of mankind.

I fometimes celebrate you under these denominations, and join your health with that of the whole: world; a truly catholic health, which far excels the poor narrow-fpirited, ridiculous healths now in fafhion, to this church, or that church. Whatever our teachers may say, they must give us leave at least to wish generously. Thefe, dear Sir, are my general difpofitions; but whenever I pray or wifn for partculars, you are one of the first in the thoughts and affections of

Your, &c..

VOL. VIIL.

LETTER VIII.

From Sir WILLIAM TRUMBULL.

Jan. 9, 1715-16.

Should be afham'd of my long idleness, in not acknowledging your kind advice about Echo, and your most ingenious explanation of it relating to popular tumults; which I own to be very useful: and yet give me leave to tell you, that I keep myself to a fhorter receipt of the fame Pythagoras, which is Silence; and this I fhall obferve, if not the whole time of his difcipline, yet at leaft till your return into this country. I am obliged further to this method, by the most severe weather I ever felt; when, tho' I keep as near by the fire-fide as may be, yet gelidus concrevit frigore fanguis; and often I apprehend the circulation of the blood begins to be ftopp'd. I have further great loffes (to a poor farmer) of my poor oxen-Intereunt pecudes, flant circumfufa pruinis Corpora magna boum, &c.

Pray comfort me, if you can, by telling me that your fecond volume of Homer is not frozen; for it must be exprefs'd very poetically, to say now, that the preffes fweat.

I cannot forbear to add a piece of artifice I have been guilty of, on occafion of my being obliged to congratulate the birth day of a friend of mine: when finding I had no materials of my own, I very frankly