needs have done good; in a nation and time, where we are the fmaller party, and confequently moft mifreprefented, and moft in need of vindication.

For the fame reason, I took occafion to mention the Superftition of fome ages after the fubverfion of the Roman Empire, which is too manifeft a truth to be deny'd, and does in no fort reflect upon the prefent profeffors of our faith who are free from it. Our filence in thefe points may with fome reafon make our adversaries think we allow and perfift in thofe bigottries; which yet in reality all good and fenfible Men defpife, tho' they are perfuaded not to fpeak against 'em; I can't tell why, fincer now 'tis no way the intereft even of the worst of our Priesthood (as it might haves been then) to have them fmother'd in fi. lence: For as the oppofite Sects are now prevailing, 'tis too late to hinder our church from being flander'd; 'tis our business now to fhow it is flander'd unjustly, and to vindicate ourselves from being thought abettors of what they charge us with This can't fo well be brought about with ferious faces; we must laugh with them at what deferves it; and then we need not doubt of being clear'd, ev'n in their opi nions.

As

brAs to particulars: you cannot but have obferv'd that at firft the whole objection against the fimile of wit and faith lay to the word They When that was beyond contradiction removed (the very Grammar ferving to contute 'em) then the objection lies against the Simile itself; or if that fi mile will not be objected to (fenfe and common reason being indeed a little ftubborn, and not apt to give way to every body) next the mention of Superftition mult become a crime (as if Religion and he were fifters, or that it were a fcandal upon the family of Christ, to fay a word against the Devil's baftard.) Afterwards, more mischief is discover'd in a place that feem'd innocent at first, the two lines about Schif matics, at the bottom of page 24. Anordinary man wou'd imagine the author plainly declar'd against thofe fchifmatics, for quitting the true faith out of contempt of the understanding of fome few of its believers: But thefe believers are, call'd Dull, and because I fay that thofe Schif matics think fome believers dull, therefore thefe charitable interpreters of my meaning will have it, that I think all believers dull. I was telling lately Mr. these objections: who affured me I had faid nothing which a Catholick need to difown,

and

and I have caufe to know that gentle man's fault (if he has any) is not want of zeal: He put a notion into my head, which I confess I can't but perfectly acquiefce in; that when a fett of people are piqu'd at any truth which they think to their own difadvantage, their method of revenge on the truth-fpeaker is to attack his reputation a By-way, and not openly to object to the place they are really gall'd by: What thefe therefore (in his opinion) are in earnest angry at, is, that Erafmus whom their tribe opprefs'd and perfecuted fhou'd be vindicated after an age of obloquy by one of their own people, willing to utter an honeft truth in behalf of the dead, whom no man fure will flatter, and to whom few will do juftice. Others, you know, were as angry that I mention'd Mr. Walsh with honour; who as he never refused to any one of merit of any party the praife due to him, fo honeftly døseiv'd it from all others, tho' of ever fo diffe Fent interefts or fentiments. May I be ever guilty of this fort of liberty, and latitude of principle! which gives us the hardinefs of fpeaking well of those whom envy oppreffes ev'n after death. As I wou'd always fpeak well of my living friends when they are abfent, nay because

they

they are abfent; fo would I much more of the dead, in that eternal absence; and the rather because I expect no thanks for it.

Thus, Sir, you fee I do in my confcience perfift in what I have written; yet in my friendship I will recant and alter what ever you pleafe, in cafe of a fecond edi tion (which I think the book will not fo foon arrive at, for Tonfons's printer told me he drew off a thousand copies in this first impreffion, and I fancy a treatise of this nature, which not one gentleman in three fcore even of a liberal education can under ftand, can hardly exceed the vent of that number.) You fhall find me a true Trojan in my faith, and friendship, in both which I will prefevere to the end.

Your, &c.

To General

upen his having

I

tranflated into French Verse the Effay on Criticifm.

FI could as well exprefs, or (if you will allow me to fay it) tranflate the fentiments of my heart, as you have done

those

thofe of my head, in your excellent ver fion of my Effay; I fhould not only appear the best writer in the world, but what I much more defire to be thought, the moft your fervant of any man living. 'Tis an advantage very rarely known, to receive at once a great honour and a great improvement. This, Sir, you have afforded me, having at the fame time made others take my fenfe and taught me to underftand my own; if I may call that my own, which is indeed more properly yours: Your verfes are no more a tranflation of mine, than Virgil's are of Homer, but are, like his, the jufteft Imitation, and the nobleft Conmentary.

In putting me into a French dress, you have not only adorned my outside, but mended my fhape; and if I am now a good figure, I must confider you have naturaliz'd me into a country which is famous for making every man a fine gentleman. It is by your means, that (contrary to most young travellers) I am come back much better than I went out.

I cannot but wifh we had a bill of commerce for Translation establifhed the next parliament; we could not fail of being gainers by that, nor of making our felves amends for all we have loft by the war. Nay tho' we fhould infift upon the demo

lifhing