no way the interest even of the worst of our priesthood (as it might have been then) to have them fmothered in filence: For, as the oppofite fects are now prevailing, 'tis too late to hinder our church from being flander'd; 'tis our business now to vindicate ourselves from being thought abettors of what they charge us with. This can't fo well be brought about with ferious faces; we must laugh with them. at what deferves it, or be content to be laughed at,. with fuch as deserve it.

As to particulars: you cannot but have obferved, that at firft the whole objection against the fimile of Wit and Faith lay to the word They: when that was. beyond contradiction removed (the very grammar ferving to confute them) then the objection was against the fimile itself; or if that fimile will not be objected to (fenfe and common reafon being indeed a little ftubborn, and not apt to give way to every body) next. the mention of Superftition must become a crime; as if Religion and she were fifters, or that it were scandal upon the family of Chrift, to say a word against the devil's baftard. Afterwards, more mischief is difcover'd in a place that seemed innocent at first, the two. lines about Schifmatics. An ordinary man would imagine the author plainly declared against thofe fchifmatics, for quitting the true faith out of a contempt. of the understanding of fome few of its believers: but these believers are called dull, and because I say that thofe fchifmatics think some believers dull, therefore these charitable interpreters of my meaning will have

it that I think all believers dull. I was lately telling Mr ** these objections: who affured me I had faid nothing which a catholic need to difown; and I have caufe to know that gentleman's fault (if he has any) is not want of zeal: He put a notion into my head, which, I confefs, I can't but acquiefce in; that when a fet of people are piqued at any truth which they think to their own disadvantage, their method of revenge on the truth-fpeaker is to attack his reputation a by-way, and not openly to object to the place they are really galled by: what these there. fore (in his opinion) are in earnest angry at, is, that Erafmus, whom their tribe oppreffed and perfecuted, fhould be vindicated after an age of obloquy by one of their own people, willing to utter an honest truth in behalf of the dead, whom no man fure will flatter and to whom few will do juftice. Others, you know, were as angry that I mentioned Mr. Walsh with honour; who as he never refufed to any one of merit of any party, the praise due to him, so honeftly deserved it from all others, tho' of ever fo different interests or fentiments. May I be ever guilty of this fort of liberty, and latitude of principle! which gives us the hardiness of speaking well of those whom envy oppreffes even after death. As I would always fpeak well of my living friends when they are abfent, nay because they are abfent, fo would I much more of the dead, in that eternal abfence; and the rather because I expect no thanks for it.

Thus, Sir, you fee I do in my conscience perfilt in what I have written; yet in my friendship I will recant and alter whatever you please, in cafe of a fecond edition (which I think the book will not fo foon arrive at, for Tonfon's printer told me he drew off a thoufand copies in this firft impreffion, and, I fancy, a treatise of this nature, which not one gentleman in threefcore even of a liberal education can understand, can hardly exceed the vent of that number.) You shall find me a true Trojan in my faith and friendship, in both which I will perfevere to

the end.

Your, &c.

I

LETTER IV.

To my Lord LANSDOWN.

Binfield, Jan. 10, 1712.

Thank you for having given my poem of Wind

for Forest its greatest ornament, that of bearing your name in the front of it. 'Tis one thing when a person of true merit permits us to have the honour, of drawing him as like as we can; and another, when we make a fine thing at random, and perfuade the next vain creature we can find that 'tis his own likeness; which is the cafe every day of my fellow fcriblers. Yet my Lord, this honour has given me no more pride than your honours have given you;

3

but it affords me a great deal of pleasure, which is much better than a great deal of pride; and it indeed would give me some pain, if I was not sure of one advantage; that whereas others are offended if they have not more than justice done them, you would be displeased if you had fo much: therefore I may fafely do you as much injury in my words, as you do yourself in your own thoughts. I am fo vain as to think I have fhewn you a favour, in fparing your modefty, and you cannot but make me fome return for prejudicing the truth to gratify you: This I beg may be the free correction of thefe verfes, which will have few beauties, but what may be made by your blots. I am in the circumstance of an ordinary painter drawing Sir Godfrey Kneller, who by a few touches of his own could make the piece very valuable. I might then hope, that many years hence the world might read, in conjunction with. your name, that of

Your Lordship's, &C..

I

LETTER V.

The Hon. J. C. to Mr. POPE.

May 23, 1712. Am very glad for the fake of the widow, and for

the credit of the deceafed, that Betterton's reains are fallen into fuch hands as may render them reputable to the one, and beneficial to the other, Befides the public acquaintance I long had with that poor man, I alfo had a flender knowledge of his parts and capacity by private converfation, and ever thought it pity he was neceffitated by the ftraitnefs of his fortune, to act (and especially to his latest hours) an imaginary and fictitious part, who was capable of exhibiting a real one, with credit to himfelf, and advantage to his neighbour.

I hope your health permitted you to execute your defign of giving us an imitation of Pollio; I am fatisfy'd 'twill be doubly divine, and I shall long to fee it. I ever thought church-mufic the most ravishing of all harmonious compofitions, and must also believe facred fubjects, well handled, the most infpiring of all poetry:

But where hangs the Lock now? (tho' I know, that rather than draw any juft reflection upon yourfelf of the leaft fhadow of ill-nature, you would

* A Translation of fome part of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the Prologue's, &c. printed in a Mifcellany with fome works of Mr. Pope, in 2 Vol. 12° by B. Lintot.