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as but two days ago, of the uproar on this head. I am certain, if you calmly read every particular of that description, you'll find almost all of 'em point blank the reverse of that perfon's villa. It's an aukward thing for a man to print, in defence of his own work, against a chimæra: you know not who, or what, you fight against the objections start up in a new shape, like the armies and phantoms of magicians, and no weapon can cut a mift or a fhadow. Yet it would have been a pleasure to me, to have found fome friend faying a word in my justification, against a most malicious falfehood. I speak of fuch, as have known by their own experience, these twenty years, that I always took up their defence, when any ftream of calumny ran upon 'em. If it gives the Duke one moment's uneafiness, I should think myself ill paid, if the whole earth admired the poetry; and believe me, would rather never have written a verse in my life, than that any one of 'em fhould trouble a truly good man. It was once my case before, but happily reconciled; and among generous minds nothing fo endears friends, as the having offended one another.

I lament the malice of the age, that studies to see its own likeness in every thing; I lament the dulnefs of it, that cannot fee an excellence: the firft is my unhappiness, the fecond yours. I look upon the fate of your piece, like that of a great treasure, which is buried as foon as brought to light; but it is fure to be dug up the next age, and enrich posterity.

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I have been very fenfible, on these two occafions, to

feel them (as I have done) at a time, when I daily

feared the lofs of (what is, and ought to be dearer to

me than any reputation, but that of a friend, or than any thing of my own, except my morals) the loss of a most tender parent-She is alive, and that is all! I have perceived my heart in this, and you may believe me fincerely, dear Sir,

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Your, etc.

Twickenham, Nov. 13, 1732.

I

WRIT to you a very hafty letter, being warmed in the cause of an old acquaintance, in which I was fure you would concur, I mean John Dennis, whofe circumstances were defcribed to me in the most moving manner. I went next day with the Lord to whom you directed your letter and play, which, at my return home, I received but yesterday. I thank you for your agreeable present to my grotto, for your more agreeable letter, and your most excellent tranflation of Voltaire, to whom you have preferved all the beauty he had, and added the nerves he wanted. This short acknowledgment is all I can make just now I am just taken up by Mr. Thomson, in the perufal of a new poem he has brought me: I wish

you

you were with us. The first day I see London, I will wait on you, on many accounts, but on none more than my being affectionately, and with true esteem, dear Sir,

Yours.

I defire Mifs Urania will know me for her fervant.

SIR,

LETTER XVI.

TO THE SAME.

Twickenham, May 22, 1733.

YOUR very kind letter came hither in my absence,

which occafioned my delay till now in acknowledging it. Your partiality to me, both as a poet, and as a man, is great, the former I deferve not, but the latter I will never forfeit. It would be wronging your modesty to fay much of the verfes you inclofe, but it would be wronging fenfe and poetry, not to fay they are fine ones, and fuch as I could not forget, having once feen them.

I have almost forgot what I told you of the patent; but at the time I told it, I could not well be mistaken, having juft then had the account from Mr. Davenant the envoy indeed I fancy it was only of his an, ceftor's patent that he spoke (unless Sir William Davenant bought up Killigrew's); I know no way of coming to the knowledge of this affair, Mr. Davenant

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being now abroad, and I know not where. But if you would have me write about it, I will learn his direction.

I am at all times glad to hear of you, on any occafion. I would willingly wait on you in the Park, if I knew your times: I have called twice or thrice there in vain, without being heard. I guessed you were in the country. My fincere good wishes attend you; and your agreeable family, as far as I have feen of it, I cannot but wish well to. I am, dear Sir,

Your, etc.

SIR,

LETTER XVII.

TO THE SAME.

June 2, 1738.

I

SENT you as honeft an answer as I could, to the letter you favoured me with; and am forry you imagine any civil reproach, or latent meaning, where I meant to express myself with the utmost openness. I would affure you, if you pleafe, by my oath, as well as my word, that I am in no degree displeased at any freedom you can take with me in a private letter, or with my writings in public. I again infift, that you alter or foften no one criticism of yours in my favour ; nor deprive yourself of the liberty, nor the world of the profit, of your freeft remarks on my errors.

In what I faid, I gave you a true picture of my own heart, as far as I know it myself. It is true, I have fhewn a fcorn of some writers; but it proceeded from an experience that they were bad men, or bad friends, or vile hirelings; in which cafe, their being authors did not make them, to me, either more respectable, or more formidable. As for any other pique, my mind is not fo fufceptible of it as you have seemed, on each occafion, too much inelined (I think) to believe. What may have sometimes seemed a neglect of others, was rather a laziness to cultivate or contract new friends, when I was fatisfied with those I had; or when I apprehended their demands were too high for me to answer.

I thank you for the confidence you fhew you have in me, in telling me what you judge amifs in my nature. If it be (as you too partially fay) my only fault, I might foon be a perfect character: for I would endeavour to correct this fault in myself, and intreat you to correct all those in my writings; I fee, by the specimen you generously gave me in your late letter, you are able to do it; and I would rather owe (and own I owe) that correction to your friendship, than to my own industry.

For the last paragraph of yours, I fhall be extremely ready to convey what you promise to fend me, to my Lord B. I am in hopes very speedily to fee him myself, and will, in that cafe, be the bearer;

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