our minds, and (what is more) in our lives and manners. I hope when we shall meet him next, we shall be more of a piece with him, and confequently not to be evermore separated from him. I will add but one word that relates to what remains of yourself and me, fince fo valued a part of us is gone; it is to beg you to accept, as yours by inheritance, of the vacancy he has left in a heart, which (while he could fill it with fuch hopes, wishes and affections for him as fuited a mortal creature) was truly and warmly his; and fhall (I affure you in the fincerity of forrow for my own lofs) be faithfully at your service while I continue to love his memory, that is, while I continue to be myself.

LETTERS

LETTERS

TO AND FROM

Dr. ATTERBURY, Bishop of ROCHESTER.

From 1716 to 1723.

LETTER I.

The Bishop of ROCHESTER to Mr. POPE.

I

a

Decemb. 1716.

Return your Preface, which I have read twice with pleasure. The modefty and good sense there is in it, must please every one that reads it: And fince there is nothing that can offend, I fee not why you should balance a moment about printing it---always provided, that there is nothing faid there which you may have occafion to unfay hereafter: of which

The general preface to | printed 1717, the year af Mr. Pope's Poems, firft ter the date of this letter. P.

you yourself are the best and the only judge. This is my fincere opinion, which I give, becaufe you afk it and which I would not give tho' asked, but to a man I value as much as I do you; being fenfible how improper it is, on many accounts, for me to interpofe in things of this nature; which I never underftood well, and now understand somewhat lefs than ever I did. But I can deny you nothing; especially fince you have had the goodness often, and patiently, to hear what I have faid against rhyme, and in behalf of blank verfe; with little difcretion perhaps, but, I am fure, without the least prejudice: being myfelf equally incapable of writing well in either of those ways, and leaning therefore to neither fide of the queftion, but as the appearance of reafon inclines me. Forgive me this error, if it be one; an error of above thirty years ftanding, and which therefore I fhall be very loth to part with. other matters which relate to polite writing, I shall seldom differ from you: or, if I do, shall, I hope, have the prudence to conceal my opinion. I am as much as I ought to be, that is, as much as any man can be,

Your, &c.

In

VOL. VIII.

G LETTER

LETTER II.

The Bishop of ROCHESTER to Mr. POPE

Feb. 18, 1717.

Hop'd to find you laft night at Lord Bathurft's, and came but a few minutes after you had left him. I brought Gorboduc with me; and Dr. Arbuthnot telling me he should fee you, I depofited the book in his hands; out of which, I think, my Lord Bathurst got it before we parted, and from him therefore you are to claim it. If Gorboduc fhould ftill mifs his way to you, others are to anfwer for it; I have delivered up my truft. I am not forry your Alcander is burnt; had I known your intentions, I would have interceded for the first page, and put it, with your leave, among my curiofities. In truth, it is the only instance of that kind I ever met with, from a perfon good for any thing else, nay for every thing else to which he is pleas'd to turn himself.

Depend upon it, I fhall fee you with great pleasure at Bromley; and there is no request

A Tragedy, written in | furer to Queen Elizabeth. the Reign of Edward the It was then very fearce, but fixth (and much the beft lately reprinted by R. Dodfperformance of that Age) ley in Pall-mall. P. by Sackvil, afterwards Earl b An Heroic Poem writ of Dorfet, and Lord Trea-at 15 years old. P.

you can make to me, that I fhall not moft readily comply with. I wish you health and happiness of all forts, and would be glad to be inftrumental in any degree towards helping you to the leaft fhare of either. I am always, every where, most affectionately and faithfully

Your, &c.

LETTE R. III.

The Bishop of ROCHESTER to Mr. POPE.

Bromley, Nov. 8, 1717.

Have nothing to fay to you on that melancholy fubject, with an account of which the printed papers have furnish'd have already faid to yourself.

me, but what

you

When you have paid the debt of tenderness you owe to the memory of a Father, I doubt not but you will turn your thoughts towards improving that accident to your own ease and happiness. You have it now in your power, to pursue that method of thinking and living which you like beft. Give me leave, if I am not a little too early in my applications of this kind, to congratulate you upon it; and to affure that there is no man living, who wishes you G 2

you

better,