1

a little is excellent, tho' indeed a whole mouthful is justly call'd the Devil.

So much for your diverfions next winter, and for mine. I envy you much more at present, than I shall then; for if there be on earth an image of Paradise, it is in fuch perfect Union and Society as you all poffefs. I would have my innocent envies and wishes of your ftate known to you all, which is far better than mą-` king you compliments, for it is inward approbation and esteem. My Lord Digby has in me a fincere fer. vant, or would have, were there any occafion for met to manifeft it.

LETTER

XVII.

December 28. 1724.

T is now the season to wish you a good end of one year, and a happy beginning of another: but both thefe you know how to make yourself, by only continuing fuch a life as you have been long accustomed to lead. As for good works, they are things I dare not name, either to those that do them, or to those that do them not; the first are too modeft, and the latter too felfish, to bear the mention of what are become either too old-fashion'd, or too private, to constitute any part of the vanity or reputation of the prefent age. However, it were to be with'd people would now and then look upon good works as they do old wardrobes, merely in cafe any of them fhould by chance come into fashion again as ancient fardingales revive in modern hoop'd petticoats, (which may be properly compared to charities, as they cover a multitude of fins.)

upon

They tell me, that at Coleshill certain antiquated charities, and obfolete devotions, are yet fubfifting: that a thing called Chriftian chearfulness (not incompatible with Christmas pyes and plum-broth) whereof frequent is the mention in old fermons and almanacks, is really kept alive and in practice: that feeding the hungry, and giving alms to the poor, do yet make a part of good house-keeping, in a latitude not more remote from London than fourfcore miles and laftly, that prayers and roaft-beef actually make fome people as happy, as a whore and a bottle. But here in town, I affure you, men, women, and children, have done with these things. Charity not only begins, but ends at home. Inftead of the four cardinal virtues, now reign four courtly ones : we have cunning for prudence, rapine for justice, time-ferving for fortitude, and luxury for temperance. Whatever you may fancy where you live in a state of ignorance, and fee nothing but quiet, religion, and good-humour, the cafe is just as I tell you, where people understand the world, and know how to live with credit and glory.

I wish that Heaven would open the eyes of men, and make them fenfible which of these is right; whether, upon a due conviction, we are to quit faction, and gaming, and high-feeding, and all manner of luxury, and to take to your country way? or you to leave prayers, and almfgiving, and reading, and exercife, and come into our measures? I wish (I say) that this matter were as clear to all men, as it is to

Your affectionate, &c.

I

LETTER

DEAR SIR,

XVIII.

April 21. 1726.

Have a great inclination to write to you, tho' I cannot by writing, any more than I could by words, express what part I bear in your fufferings. Nature and Esteem in you are join'd to aggravate your affliction: the latter I have in a degree equal even to yours, and a tye of friendship approaches near to the tendernefs of nature: yet, God knows, no man living is lefs fit to comfort you, as no man is more deeply fenfible than myself of the greatness of the loss. That very virtue, which fecures his prefent ftate from all the forrows incident to ours, does but aggrandise our sensation of its being remov'd from our fight, from our affection, and from our imitation; for the friendship and fociety of good Men does not only make us happier, but it makes us better. Their Death does but complete their felicity before our own, who probably are not yet arrived to that degree of perfection which merits an immediate reward. That your dear brother and my dear friend was so, I take his very removal to be a proof; Providence would certainly lend virtuous men to a world that fo much wants them, as long as in its juftice to them it could fpare them to us. May my foul be with those who have meant well, and have acted well to that meaning! and, I doubt not, if this prayer be granted, I fhall be with him. Let us preferve his memory in the way he would best like, by recol

Mr Digby died in the year 1726, and is buried in the church of Sherburne in Dorfetshire, with an Epitaph written by the Author.

lecting what his behaviour would have been, in every incident of our lives to come, and doing in each just as we think he would have done; fo we fhall have him always before our eyes, and in 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 shall (I affure you in the fincerity of forrow for my own lofs) be faithfully at your fervice, while I continue to love his memory, that is, while I continue to be myself.

LETTERS

TO AND FROM

Dr ATTERBURY,

Bishop of ROCHESTER,

From the Year 1716 to 1723.

I

LETTER I.

The Bishop of ROCHESTER to Mr POPE.

Decemb. 1716.

Return your Preface, which I have read twice with pleasure. The modefty and good fenfe there is in it, must please every one that reads it: And finçe there is nothing that can offend, I fee not why you fhould balance a moment about printing it-always provided, that there is nothing said there which you may have occafion to unfay hereafter: of which you yourself are the best and the only judge. This is my fincere opinion, which I give, because you ask it: and which I would not give though 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

The general preface to Mr Pope's Poems, first printed 1717, the year after the date of this letter.