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The Right Hon. Algernon Capell. Earl of Essex, Viscount Maldon, and Baron Capell of Hadham : 17.01.

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E prefume we want no Apology to the Reader for this Publication, but fome may be thought needful to Mr Pope: However be cannot think our Offence fo great as Theirs, who first separately publish ed what we have here but collected in a better Form and Order. As for the Letters we have procured to be added, they ferve but to compleat, explain, and sometimes fet in a true light, thofe others, which it was not in the Writer's or Our power to recall.

This Collection hath been owing to feveral Cabinets; fome drawn from thence by Accidents, and others (even of thofe to Ladies) voluntarily given. It is to one of that Sex we are beholden for the whole Correspondence with H. C. Efq, which Letters being lent her by that Gentleman, fhe took the Liberty to print; as appears by the following, which we fhall give at length, both as it is fomething curious, and as it may serve for an Apology for our felves.

To HENRY CROMWELL, Efq;

AR

June 27, 17272

FTER fo long a filence, as the many and great oppreffions I have figh'd under has occafion'd, one is at a Lofs how

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to begin a letter to fo kind a friend as your felf, But as it was always my refolution, if I must fink, to do it as decently [that is as filently] as I cou'd: fo when I found my felf plung'd into unforeseen, and unavoidable ruin, I retreated from the world, and in a manner buried my felf in a difmal place, where I knew none, nor none knew me. In this dull unthinking way, I have protracted a lingring death, [for life it cannot be call'd] ever fince you faw me, fequefter'd from company, depriv'd of my books, and nothing left to converse with but the Letters of my dead, or abfent, friends, amongst which latter I always plac'd your's, and Mr Pope's, in the first rank. I lent fome of them indeed to an ingenious perfon, who was fo delighted with the fpeci men, that he importuned me for a fight of the reft, which having obtained, he convey'd them to the Prefs, I must not fay altogether with my confent, nor wholly without it. I thought them too good to be loft in oblivion, and had ng caufe to apprehend the difobliging of any. The publick, viz. all perfons of tafte and judgment, wou'd be pleas'd with fo agreeable an amusement; Mr Cromwell cou'd not be angry, fince it was but juftice to his merit, to publish the folemn, and private profeffions of Love, Gratitude, and Veneration,

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made him by fo celebrated an Author; and furely Mr Pope ought not to refent the publication, fince the early pregnancy of his Genius was no difhonour to his character. And yet had either of you been afk'd, common modefty wou'd have oblig'd you to refufe, what you wou'd not be difpleas'd with, if done without your knowledge: And befides to end all difpute, you had been pleas'd to make me a free gift of them, to do what I pleas'd with them and every one knows that the perfon to whom a Letter is addrefs'd, has the fame right to dif pofe of it, as he has of goods purchas'd with his money. I doubt not but your generofity and honour will do me the right, of owning by a line, that I came honeftly by them. I flatter my felf, in a few months I fhall again be vifible to the world, and whenever thro' good providence that Turn shall happen, I fhall joyfully acquaint you with it, there being none more truly your oblig'd Servant, than, Sir,

Your faithful, and

moft bumble Servant,

E. THOMAS.

P. S. A Letter, Sir, directed to Mrs Thomas, to be left at my houfe, will be fafely

tranfmitted to her, by

Yours, &e.

E. CURLL,

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Epsom, July 6, 1727.

HEN thefe Letters were first printed, I wond'red how Curll cou'd come by 'em, and cou'd not but laugh at the pompous title; fince whatever you wrote to me was humour, and familiar Raillery, As foon as I came from Epfam, I heard you had been to fee me, and I writ ice you a fhort letter from Will's, that I long'd to fee you. Mr D. s, about that time, charg'd me, with giving 'em to a Miftrefs, which I pofitively denied, not in the leaft, at that time, thinking of it: but fome time after, finding in the news-papers Letters from Lady Packington, Lady Chudleigh, and Mr Norris, to the fame Sapha or E. T. I began to fear that I was guilty. I have never feen thefe Letters of Curll's, nor wou'd go to his fhop about them; I have not seen this Sapho, alias E. T. thefe feven years; her writing, That I gave her 'em, to do what she wou'd with 'em, is ftraining the point too far: I thought not of it; nor do I think fhe did then: But fevere Neceffity, which catches hold of a Twig, has produced all this; which has lain hid, and forgot by me, fo many years. Gurll fent me a Letter laft week, defiring a por fitive anfwer about this matter, but find,

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