before we assent to charges which cannot but leave a stain on the memory of both, it is requisite, at least, that we should examine into them. Dr. Johnson relates that "Halifax, thinking this a lucky opportunity of securing immortality, made some advances of favour, and some overtures of advantage to Pope, which he seems to have re'ceived with sullen coldness." " All our knowledge of this transaction," says he," is derived from a single letter, (Dec. 1, 1714,*) in which Pope says: 'I am obliged to you both for the favours you have done me, and those you intend me. I distrust neither your will nor your memory, when it is to do good; and if ever I become troublesome or solicitous, it must not be out of expectation, but out of gratitude. Your Lordship may either cause me to live agreeably in the Town, or contentedly in the country, which is really all the difference I set between an easy fortune and a small one. It is indeed a high strain of generosity in you to think of making me easy all my life, only because I have been so happy as to divert you some few hours; but if I may have leave to add, it is because you think me no enemy to my native country, there will appear a better reason.""† These voluntary offers," says Johnson," and 66 *Vide vol. viii. p. 261. + This offer, and Pope's answer, are also adverted to in Spence's Anecdotes, much to the same effect; except that Pope adds: "There was something said too, of the love of being quite free, and without any thing that might look even like a bias laid on me. So the thing dropped; and I had my liberty without a coach."-Spence's Anec. p. 306. this faint acceptance, ended without effect. The patron was not accustomed to such frigid gratitude; and the poet fed his own pride with the dignity of independence. They probably were suspicious of each other. Pope would not dedicate till he saw at what rate his praise was valued. He would be troublesome out of gratitude, not expectation. Halifax thought himself intitled to confidence, and would give nothing, unless he knew what he should receive. Their commerce had its beginning in hope of praise on one side, and of money on the other; and ended, because Pope was less eager of money, than Halifax of praise. It is not likely that Halifax had any personal benevolence to Pope; it is evident that Pope looked on Halifax with scorn and hatred."* These harsh and supercilious remarks on this transaction, and the supposed traffic between fame and money, seem scarcely justifiable from what appears upon the subject. That Lord Halifax intended to render Pope some essential service, and that he would have done so, if he had lived, is highly probable; nor, although the affair was dropped for the present, is there any proof that the manly and independent letter of Pope gave offence to Halifax, or that Pope in return looked upon Halifax with scorn and hatred. Lord Halifax died in May, 1715, but the attachment of Pope survived that event. In the verses on leaving London, in he says: that year, * Johnson's Life of Pope. "The love of arts lies cold and dead In Halifax's urn; And not a muse of all he fed Has yet the grace to mourn and when he soon afterwards published the Iliad, he thus acknowledged in the preface his obligations: "The Earl of Halifax was one of the first to favour me; of whom it is hard to say, whether the advancement of the polite arts is more owing to his generosity or his example." But the most unequivocal tribute paid by Pope to the memory of Lord Halifax, appears in the Epilogue to the Satires, written above twenty years after the death of that nobleman; in which he not only enumerates him amongst his most honoured friends, but as the object of his particular respect and affection. But does the Court one worthy man remove, How is it possible to reconcile this gratuitous effusion of disinterested regard with Johnson's assertion that Pope looked on Halifax with scorn and hatred? Much less can we suppose that the character of Bufo in the Prologue to the Satires was intended for Halifax, or that Pope would, in one of his pieces, have ridiculed the character and memory of a person whom he has so highly celebrated in another. In the open quarrel which had taken place between Pope and Philips, Addison could scarcely be expected to remain wholly impartial; or if he really were so, his well-known political and literary connexions with Philips, might induce Pope to suspect him of favouring his rival in preference to himself. However this may be, it appears that notwithstanding the mutual instances of their respect for, and attachment to, each other, some circumstances had arisen to interrupt this cordiality; and these were, perhaps, rendered more apparent by the closer intimacy which about this time began to subsist between Pope and some of the chief leaders of the Tory party, whose exertions in promoting the subscription to his Homer, far exceeded those of his former friends, and led to suspicions that he had attached himself to their On these and similar subjects it is probable that each of them spoke as he felt; and their opinions having been repeated by the interference of pretended friends, their distrust of, and alienation from each other became so evident, as to cause no small share of apprehension and anxiety to their real ones. Amongst these was Mr. Jervas the painter, who was at this time on terms of the most friendly intimacy with Pope, and who having been apprized of his feelings on this subject, took an opportunity of speaking to Addison, with whom he was also well acquainted, and endeavouring to avert any interruption to their friendship. The result of this interview is stated by Jervas in a letter to Pope, (Aug. 20, 1714).* "I have a cause. * Vide vol. viii. p. 523. particular to tell you at this time, which pleases me so much, that you must expect more than an ordinary alacrity at every turn. You know I could keep you in suspense for twenty lines; but I will tell you directly that Mr. Addison and I have had a conversation, that it would have been worth your while to have been placed behind the wainscot, or behind some half-length picture, to have heard. He assured me that he would make use not only of his interest, but of his art, to do you some service. He did not mean his art of poetry, but his art at Court; and he is sensible that nothing can have a better air for himself than moving in your favour, especially since insinuations were spread, that he did not care you should prosper too much as a poet. He protests that it shall not be his fault, if there is not the best intelligence in the world, and the most hearty friendship, &c. He owns he was afraid Dr. Swift might have carried you too far among the enemy during the heat of the animosity; but now all is safe; and you are escaped, even in his opinion. I promised in your name, like a good godfather, not that you should renounce the devil and all his works, but that you would be delighted to find him your friend, merely for his own sake: therefore prepare yourself for some civilities." The reply of Pope to this letter is dignified, and highly becoming his situation.* "What you mention of the friendly office you endeavoured to do ** Aug. 27, 1714. Vide vol. viii. p. 525. |