be as formidable as four thoufand Priefts; and they feem proper forces to fend against thofe in Barcelona. That fiege deferves as fine a poem as the Iliad, and the machining part of poetry would be the jufter in it, as, they fay, the inhabitants expect Angels from heaven to their affiftance. May I venture to say who am a Papist, and fay to you who are a Papift, that nothing is more astonishing to me, than that People fo greatly warmed with a sense of Liberty, should be capable of harbouring fuch weak fuperftition, and that fo much bravery, and fo much folly can inhabit the fame breasts?

I could not but take a trip to London on the death of the Queen, moved by the common curiofity of mankind, who leave their own business to be looking upon other men's. I thank God, that, as for myself, I am below all the accidents of ftate-changes by my circumstances, and above them by my philofophy. Common charity of man to man, and univerfal goodwill to all, are the points I have most at heart; and I am fure, those are not to be broken for the fake of any governors, or government. I am willing to hope the best, and what I more wish than my own or any particular man's advancement, is, that this turn may put an end entirely to the divifions of Whig and Tory; that the parties may love each other as well as I love them both, or at least hurt each other as little as I would either: and that our own people may live as quietly as we shall certainly let theirs; that is to

fay, that want of power itself in us may not be a furer prevention of harm, than want of will in them. I am sure, if all Whigs and all Tories had the fpirit of one Roman Catholic that I know, it would be well for all Roman Catholics; and if all Roman Catho lics had always had that fpirit, it had been well for all others; and we had never been charged with fo wicked a fpirit as that of Perfecution.

I

with

in you

my

agree * fentiments of the state of our nation fince this change; I find myself just in the fame fituation of mind you defcribe as your own, heartily wifhing the good, that is, the quiet of my Country, and hoping a total end of all the unhappy divifions of mankind by party-fpirit, which at best is but the madness of many for the gain of a few.

1 am, etc.

T

IT

LETTTER II.

FROM MR. BLOUNT.

is with a great deal of pleasure I fee your letter, dear Sir, written in a ftyle that fhews you full of health, and in the midft of diverfions: I think those two things neceffary to a man who has fuch undertakings in hand as yours. All lovers of Homer are indebted to you for taking so much pains about the fituation

*Thefe liberal and candid fentiments do honour to his temper and judgment.

fituation of his Heroes' kingdoms; it will not only be of great ufe with regard to his works, but to all that read any of the Greek hiftorians; who generally are ill understood through the difference of the maps as to the places they treat of, which makes one think one author contradicts another. You are going to fet us right; and it is an advantage every body will gladly fee you engross the glory of.

You can draw rules to be free and easy, from formal pedants; and teach men to be short and pertinent, from tedious commentators. However, I congratulate your happy deliverance from fuch authors, as you (with all your humanity) cannot wish alive again to converfe with. Critics will quarrel with you, if you dare to please without their leave; and Zealots will fhrug up their fhoulders at a man, that pretends to get to Heaven out of their form, drefs, and diet. I would no more make a judgment of an author's genius from a damning critic, than I would of a man's religion from an unfaving zealot.

I could take great delight in affording you the new glory of making a Barceloniad (if I may venture to coin fuch a word): I fancy you would find a jufter parallel than it seems at first fight; for the Trojans too had a great mixture of folly with their bravery; and I am out of countenance for them when I read the wife refult of their council, where, after a warm debate between Antenor and Paris

about reftoring Helen, Priam fagely determines that they fhall go to fupper. And as for the Greeks, what can equal their superstition in facrificing an innocent lady.

Tantum Relligio potuit, etc.

I have a good opinion of my politics, fince they agree with a man who always thinks fo juftly as you. I wish it were in our power to perfuade all the nation into as calm and fteady a difpofition of mind.

We have received the late melancholy news with the usual ceremony, of condoling in one breath for the lofs of a gracious Queen, and in another rejoicing for an illuftrious King. My views carry me no further, than to wifh the peace and welfare of my Country; and my morals and politics teach to leave all that to be adjusted by our reprefentatives above, and to divine Providence. It is much at one to you and me, who fit at the helm, provided they will permit us to fail quietly in the great ship. Ambition is a vice that is timely mortified in us poor Papifts; we ought in recompence to cultivate as many virtues in ourselves as we can, that we may be truly great. Among my Ambitions, that of being a fincere friend is one of the chief; yet I will confefs, that I have a fecret pleasure to have fome of my defcendants know, that their Anceftor was great with Mr. Pope.

I am, etc.

LETTER III.

FROM MR. BLOUNT.

Nov. 11, 1715. and me,

IT is an agreement of long date between you that you should do with my letters just as you pleased, and answer them at your leifure; and that is as foon as I fhall think you ought. I have fo true a taste of the fubftantial part of your friendship, that I wave all ceremonials; and I am fure to make you as many vifits as I can, and leave you to return them whenever you please, affuring you they fhall at all times be heartily welcome to me.

The many alarms we have from your parts, have no effect upon the genius that reigns in our country, which is happily turned to preserve peace and quiet among us. What a difmal scene has there been opened in the North! what ruin have thofe unfortunate rash gentlemen drawn upon themselves and their miferable followers, and perchance upon many others too, who upon no account would be their followers? However, it may look ungenerous to reproach people in diftrefs. I don't remember you and I ever used to trouble ourselves about politics, but when any matter happened to fall into our difcourfe, we ufed to condemn all undertakings that tended towards the disturbing the peace and quiet of our

Country,