I

Dear Sir,

LETTER LXVII.

TO THE SAME.

October 23.

HAVE been perpetually troubled with fickness of late, which has made me fo melancholy, that the immortality of the foul has been my conftant fpeculation, as the mortality of my body my conftant plague. In good earnest, Seneca is nothing to a fit of illness.

Dr. Parnelle will honour Tonfon's Mifcellany with fome very beautiful copies, at my request. He enters heartily into our defign: I only fear his stay in town may chance to be but short. Dr. Swift much approves what I proposed, even to the very title, which I defign fhall be, The Works of the Unlearned, publifhed monthly, in which whatever book appears that deferves praise, fhall be depreciated ironically, and in the fame manner that modern critics take to undervalue works of value, and to commend the high productions of Grub-street.

I fhall go into the country about a month hence, and shall then defire to take along with me your poem of the Fan, to confider it at full leifure. I am deeply engaged in poetry, the particulars whereof fhall be deferred till we meet.

I am very defirous of feeing Mr. Fortescue when he comes to town, before his journey; if you can

any

any way acquaint him of my defire, I believe his good-nature will contrive a way for our meeting. I am ever, with all fincerity, dear Sir,

LETTER LXVIII.

FROM HIS MOTHER.

My Deare,

Your, etc.

Tuesday, 12 o'clock.

A

Letter from your fifter yuft now is come and gone, Mr. Mannock and Charls Rackitt, to take his leve of us, but being nothing in it doe not fend it. He will not faile to cole here on Friday morning, and take ceare to cearrie itt to Mr. Thomas Doncafter. He fhall dine wone day with Mrs. Dune, in Duckeftreet; but the day will be unfirton, foe I thinck had better to fend itt to me. He will not faile to

cole here, that is Mr. Mannock. well, but

brother is not. your

you

Your fifter is very Theres Mr. Blunt, of

mapill Durom, is ded; the fame day that Mr. Inglefield died. My firvis to Mrs. Blunts, and all that afk of me. I hope to here from you, and that you are well, which is my dalye prayers; this, with my bleff ing,

I am, etc.

It appears from manufcripts of Mr. POPE, that he occafionally indulged his affectionate and amiable mother

I

HAVE recovered the ten guineas at Sir Richard Hoare's. Dr. Arbuthnot says, fince my mother is better, to cure the bitterness fhe complains of, she fhould chew rhubarb and fnake-root, about half a dram each morning, for two or three days, instead of a vomit. But if fhe will venture a vomit, not. Carduus tea can do no harm, even if she should not vomit.

I have fold 500l. at 10cl. which was bad luck, fince it might have been parted with yesterday and to-day at 101l. and a half. I hope foon to fee you, but defire an account how my mother does, and am Your, etc.

LETTER. LXIII.

TO HIS BROTHER.

Dear Brother,

Saturday.

I

HOPE to be with you on Monday next: if you don't see me that night, I defire you to fend a man and horse (such a one as I may ride fafely) on Tuef

day

day morning to the Toy by Hampton Court gate by ten o'clock, and I will not fail to wait upon you; which being all the business of this letter, I fhall add no more, than that I am my fifter's and

THE

my

tentions of fending for you with the chariot on Thursday or Friday next, in order to get you hither. I have named the latest day that I could poffibly allow you to stay from us, being obliged to lend the chariot upon a journey on Saturday. We will take no denial, and therefore expect no excuse, or answer to the contrary, from you. If I hear nothing (as I hope I fhan't) it fhall certainly come one of the days aforefaid: fo pray be in readiness. My hearty love to you both, and my mother's kindest remembrances. I am always, dear fifter,

Your, etc.

in tranfcribing some part of his Iliad for the prefs; and the numerous corrections made in his own hand, fuffici ently fhew, that her mode of Spelling gave him more trouble than the fubfequent inaccuracy of his printers. The pleafure fuch a good old woman must have felt in writing over verfes, which he justly thought would confer immortality on her fon, is more eafy to be conceived than expreffed; while his willingness to fupport her in the enjoyment of a fancied confequence, affords a glimpse of that filial tenderness, which forms perhaps the most captivating trait in his whole character.

SIR,

LETTER LXIX.

FROM MR. TONSON.

Gray's-Inn-Gate, April 20, 1706.

I HAVE lately feen a Paftoral of yours in Mr. Walsh's and Congreve's hands, which is extremely fine, and is approved of by the best judges in poetry. I remem ber I have formerly feen you at my shop, and am forry I did not improve my acquaintance with you. If you defign your poem for the prefs, no person shall be more careful in the printing of it, nor no one can give greater encouragement to it than, Sir,

Your, etc.