LETTER. LXXVI.

MR. STEELE TO MR. LINTOTT.

Mr. Lintott,

MR.

August 4, 1712. R. Addison defired me to tell you, that he wholly disapproves the manner of treating Mr. Dennis in a little pamphlet by way of Dr. Norris's account*. When he thinks fit to take notice of Mr. Dennis's objections to his writingst, he will do it in a way Mr. Dennis fhall have no just reason to complain of. But when the papers above-mentioned were offered to be communicated to him, he faid he could not, either in honour or conscience, be privy to fuch a treatment, and was forry to hear of it.

I am,

Your, etc.

* Of the frenzy of Mr. John Den- A narrative written by Mr. Pope. See his Letter to Mr. Addison of July 30, 1714.

+ Remarks upon Cato.

LETTER LXXVII.

MR. FENTON TO MR. LINTOTT.

Mr. Lintott,

September 14, 1719.

PRAY give my most humble service to Mr. Pope,

and tell him, I beg the favour of him to let me know when he comes to town, what morning I fhall wait on him at his lodging; for I walk out in a morn ing so often, that I may therewife lose an opportunity of seeing him.

Lib. xxii. ver. 132. The first part of Dacier's note is taken from Euftathius; but instead of Aurelius Victor and Dion, he quotes Herodotus, without mentioning the book he takes it from.

Ver. 467. I cannot find that Euftathius affigns the fame reasons that Mm. does, why Apollo and Neptune do not fight with one another.

Your, etc.

I will endeavour to find out the paffage abovementioned in Herodotus.

I

LETTER LXXVIII.

FROM MR. FENTON.

HAVE received a fpecimen of the extracts from Euftathius but this week. The first gentleman who undertook the affair, grew weary, and now Mr. Thirlby, of Jefus, has recommended another to me with a very great character *. I think, indeed, at first fight, that his performance is commendable enough, and have fent word for him to finish the 17th book, and to fend it with his demands for his trouble. He engageth to complete a book every month till Chriftmas, and the remaining books in a month more, if you require them. The last time I faw Mr. Lintott, he told me that Mr. Broome had offered his fervice again to you; if you accept it, it would be proper for him to let you know what books he will undertake, that the Cambridge gentleman may proceed to the reft.

I am, etc.

I have here inclofed the fpecimen; if the rest come before the return, I will keep 'em till I receive your orders. I have defired the gentleman to write the reft in folio, with half the page left blank.

*This was Dr. Jortin.

I

LETTER LXXIX.

FROM MR. WYCHERLEY.

February 19, 1706-7.

HAVE received yours of the 26th, as kind as it is ingenious, for which therefore I most heartily thank you. It would have been much more welcome to me, had it not informed me of your want of health; but you who have a mind fo vigorous, may well be contented with its crazy habitation; fince (you know) the old fimilitude fays, the keenness of the mind foonest wears out the body, as the sharpeft fword fooneft destroys the scabbard: so that (as I fay) you must be satisfied with your apprehenfion of an uneafy life, though I hope not a short one; notwithstanding that generally your found wits (though weak bodies) are immortal hereafter, by that genius, which shortens your prefent life, to prolong that of the future. But yet hope, your great, vigorous, and active mind will not be able to deftroy your little, tender, and crazy carcafs.

I

Now to say something to what you write concerning the prefent epidemic diftemper of the mind and age, calumny; I know it is no more to be avoided (at one time or another of our lives) than a fever or an ague; and, as often thofe diftempers attend or threaten the best constitutions, from the worst air;

fo does that malignant air of calumny fooneft attack the found and elevated in mind, as storms of wind the tallest and mosft fruitful trees; whilft the low and weak, for bowing and moving to and fro, are by their weakness fecure from the danger and violence of the tempeft. But fo much for ftinking rumour, which weakest minds are most afraid of; as Irishmen, though the nastiest of mankind, are most offended at a fart.

SIR,

LETTER LXXX.

FROM MR. TRUMBULL.

June 15, 1706.

I

T is alwayes to my advantage to correspond with you; for I either have the ufe of your bookes, or (which I value much more) your converfation. I am fure it will be my fault if I do not improve by both. I wish alfo I could learn fome more skill in gardning from your father (to whome with your good mother all our fervices are prefented, with thankes for the hartichokes) who has fet us a pattern that I am afraid we fhall copie but in miniature; for fo our hartichokes are in refpect of his. In all things I am ready to yield, except in the affurances that nobody can be more than

I am,

Yours, etc.

Poor Jeunie is ftill afflicted with her ague.