the Fanfenift, the Scotift by the Thomift, and fo forth.

There may be Errors I grant, but I can't think 'em of fuch Confequence as to destroy utterly the Charity of Mankind; the very greatest Bond in which we are engag'd by God to one another. Therefore I own to you, I was glad of any Opportunity to exprefs my Diflike of fo fhocking a Sentiment as thofe of the Religion I profefs are commonly charg'd with; and I hop'd, a flight Infinuation, introduc'd fo easily by a cafual Similitude only, cou'd never have given Offence; but on the contrary must needs have done good; in a Nation and Time, where we are the smaller Party, and confequently moft mifreprefented, and moft in need of Vindication.

For the fame Reafon, I took Occafion to mention the Superftition of fome Ages after the Subverfion 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 Silence in thefe Points may with fome Reafon make our Adverfaries think we allow and perfift in thofe Bigottries; which yet in reality all good and fenfible Men defpife, though they are perfuaded not to speak against 'em; I can't tell why, fince now 'tis no way the Intereft even of the worst of our Priesthood (as it might have been then) to have them fmothered in Silence: For as the oppofite Sects are now prevailing, 'tis too late to hinder our Church from being flander'd; 'tis our Business now to show it is flander'd unjustly, and to vindi cate ourselves from being thought Abettors of what they charge us with. This can't fo well be brought about with ferious Faces; we muft laugh with them at what deferves it; and then we need not doubt of being clear'd, ev'n in their Opinions.

As

As to Particulars: You cannot but have obferv'd that at firft the whole Objection against the Simile of Wit and Faith lay to the Word They: When that was beyond Contradiction removed (the very Grammar ferving to confute 'em), then the Objection lies against the Simile itself; or if that Simile will not be objected to (Senfe and common Reafon being indeed a little ftubborn, and not apt to give way to every Body), next the mention of Superftition muft become a Crime (as if Religion and the were Sifters, or that it were a Scandal upon the Family of Chrift, to fay a Word against the Devil's Baftard). Afterwards, more Mifchief is difcover'd in a Place that feem'd innocent at first, the two Lines about Schifmatics, at the Bottom of Page 24. An ordidinary Man wou'd imagine the Author plainly declar'd against thofe Schifmatics, for quitting the true Faith out of Contempt of the Understanding of fome few of it's Believers: But thefe Believers are call'd Dull, and because I say that thofe Schifmatics think fome Believers dull, therefore these 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 Catholic need to difown, and I have Caufe to know that Gentleman's Fault (if he has any) is not want of Zeal: He put a Notion into my Head, which I confefs I can't but perfectly acquiefce in; that when a Set of People are piqu'd at any Truth which they think to their own Difadvantage, their Method of Revenge on the Truth-Speaker is to attack his Reputation a By-way, and not openly to object to the Place they are really gall'd by: What these therefore (in his Opinion) are in Earneft 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

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 Praise due to him, fo honeftly deferv'd it from all others, tho' of ever fo different Interefts or Sentiments. May I be ever guilty of this fort of Liberty, and Latitude of Principle! which gives us the Hardiness of speaking 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 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 whatever you please, in cafe of a fecond Edition (which I think the Book will not fo foon arrive at, for Tonfon's Printer told me he drew off a thoufand Copies in this first Impres fion, and I fancy a Treatife of this Nature, which not one Gentleman in threescore even of a liberal Education can understand, 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 perfevere to the End.

Your, &c.

To General

upon bis having tranflated into French Verfe the Effay on Criticifm.

F I could as well exprefs, or (if you will allow

IF

me to say it) tranflate the Sentiments of my Heart, as you have done thofe of my Head, in your excellent Verfion of my Eflay; I should not only

appear

appear the best Writer in the World, but what I much more defire to be thought, the most your Servant 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 Senfe, and taught me to understand my own; if I may call that my own, which is indeed more properly your's: Your Verfes are no more a Translation of mine, than Virgil's are of Homer, but are, like his, the jufteft Imitation, and the nobleft Commentary.

In putting me into a French Dress, you have not only adorned my Outfide, but mended my Shape; 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 moft young Travellers) I am come back much better than I went out.

I cannot but wifh we had a Bill of Commerce for Tranflation established the next Parliament; we could. not fail of being Gainers by that, nor of making ourfelves amends for all we have loft by the War. Nay, tho' we should infift upon the demolishing of Boileau's Works; the French, as long they have Writers of your Form, might have as good an Equivalent.

Upon the whole, I am really as proud, as our Minifters can be, of the Terms I have gain'd from abroad; and I defign, like them, to publifh fpeedily to the World the Benefits accruing from them; for I cannot refift the Temptation of Printing your admirable Tranflation here; to which, if you will be fo obliging to give me leave to prefix your Name, it will be the only Addition you-can make to the Honour already done me. I am, Your, &c.

*This was never done, for the two printed French Verfions are neither of this Hand. The one was the Work of Monfieur Roboton, private Secretary to King George I. printed in 4to at Amfterdam and at London 1717. The other by the Abbé Resnel, in 8vo. with a large Preface and Notes, at Paris 1730.

The

The Honourable J. C. to Mr POPE.

MAY 23, 1712.

I AM very glad, for the fake of the Widow, and

for the credit of the Deceas'd, that † Betterton's Remains are fallen into fuch Hands as may render 'em reputable to the one and beneficial to the other. Befides the public Acquaintance I long had with that poor Man, I alfo had a flender Knowledge of his Parts and Capacity by private Conversation, and ever thought it Pity, he was neceffitated by the Straitnefs of his Fortune, to act (and especially to his latest Hours) an imaginary and fictitious Part, who was capable of exhibiting a real one, with Credit to himself and Advantage to his Neighbour.

I hope your Health permitted you to execute your Defign of giving us an Imitation of Pollio; I am fatisfy'd 'twill be doubly divine, and I fhall long to fee it. I ever thought Church-Mufic the most ravishing of all harmonious Compofitions, and muft alfo believe facred Subjects, well handled, the most infpiring of all Poetry.

But where hangs the Lock now? (tho' I know that rather than draw any juft Reflection upon your felf, of the leaft Shadow of Ill-nature, you would freely have fupprefs'd one of the best of Poems) I hear no more of it-Will it come out in Lintot's Mifcellany or not? I wrote to Lord Petre upon the Subject of the Lock, fome time fince, but have as yet had no Answer, nor indeed do I know when he'll be in London. I have fince I faw you correfponded with Mrs W. I hope fhe is now with her

† A Tranflation of fome Part of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the Prologues, &c. printed in a Mifcellany with fome Works of Mr Pope, in 2 Vol. 12mo. By B. Lintot.

Aunt