LETTER XXXIV.

LORD BOLINGBROKE TO MR. LYTTLETON.

DEAR SIR,

Battersea, April 15, 1749.

I WOULD not answer your letter that came yesterday to my hands, till I could tell you, as I now can do, that every word will be left out of the papers which have given you so much uneasiness; and out of the introduction to them, that may even seem to have been addressed to you. I have had my uneasiness too, that of being forced to reveal the turpitude of a man with whom I lived long in the intimacy of friendship, and that of being obliged by your commands to suppress any marks of my esteem and affection for you. I have obeyed you, and it was reasonable I should: but I cannot take your advice, nor think it eligible for me to defer the publication of these papers to a more proper time: they should not have been made public at all, if I could have helped. it. But since they must be made so, what time can be more proper for me to publish them than the present? I must either suffer them to be sent abroad uncorrected, in such a manner as I would not have published them myself, and with every thing in them which you are so desirous to have left out; or I must do what I am doing, let them appear corrected and less unfit for the public eye. If any use disagreeable to others be made of this forced publication, I shall be sorry for it. As to its consequences and effects relative to myself, I am under no concern: for though

age and infirmities press me hard, and I stand almost alone in the world, yet I find vigour enough remaining to defend myself against any attack, with truth, reason, and the cause of this country on my side. Thus I think for myself, and, I hope, not unreasonably.

As to you, I shall continue to think as I have always thought, with true esteem and a sincere affection, in whatever situation you are; and shall profess myself as long as I live, dear Sir,

Your, etc.

LETTER XXXV.

LORD BOLINGBROKE TO MR. MÁLLET.

DEAR SIR,

Battersea, July 25, 1747.

SINCE I sent to enquire after your health, and that of Mrs. Mallet, (of both which I hope to have a good account,) I cannot help mentioning to you, what I hear from many different quarters. They say that Warburton talks very indecently of your humble servant, and threatens him with the terrible things he shall throw out in a Life he is writing of our friend Pope. I value neither the good nor the ill-will of the man; but if he has any regard for the man he flattered living, and thinks himself obliged to flatter dead, he ought to let a certain proceeding die away in silence, as I endeavour it should. Whenever you have a day of leisure you will be extremely wel

come to

Your, &c.

LETTER XXXVI.

[Among Dr. Birch's papers in the British Museum, is the following Letter of Bishop Warburton, on Mallet's publishing the Works of Bolingbroke. It is addressed to Mr. Andrew Millar, the bookseller. Together with some Fragments relating to a former quarrel betwixt the Bishop and Mallet.]

SIR,

Gloucester, March 20, 1757.

I FIND by the newspapers, accusations to stir up the public resentment against the Editor of Lord Bolingbroke's Works. This I think ridiculous and unfair; he is not accountable to any particulars in what concerns his own conscience only: and it is perfectly ridiculous to suppose that Lord Bolingbroke left him the property of his writings with design they should be suppressed. The very contrary purpose is evident to the common sense of mankind. But there is a contradiction between this and the declaration in the prefatory letter to Mr. Pope. Why? His whole book is full of contradictions, as well as weak reasonings, and pernicious principles. I perhaps may have occasion, in due time, to shew all this. But what is this to the Editor? Let the Author answer for it; and he will have a hundred writers, I make no doubt, to call him to account. But if the Editor grows jealous (as he did in the case of the Patriot King) of one who neither thought nor said a word of him, but addressed all he had to say to Lord Bolingbroke, and yet was villanously abused by somebody or other on that account, he will find himself business. The worst I wish him is the best his friends can wish; that if

he hath not published these Works with a perfectly satisfied conscience, he may make his peace, not with particulars or the public, which are nothing, but with him only who can heal a wounded conscience, or enlighten an erroneous one.

FRAGMENT.

"With regard to Mr. Mallet's declaration, there is only one way to convince me, he is not the Author of that infamous libel, which is, by taking an opportunity of disowning it publicly. I think my honour is concerned, that it be publicly known I had no hand in the letter to Lord Bolingbroke, merely on account of the Apollo story, and I shall do it on the first occasion. If Mr. Mallet does not do the same with regard to this libel, I shall consider him as the Author of it, and act in consequence of that belief. This I desire you would let Millar know, and if he chooses, let him have a transcript of what I here say."

END OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME.

Printed by J. F. Dove, St. John's Square.