whom you take to be an allegorical creature of fancy. I wish she really were Riches for his sake; though, as for yours, I question whether (if you knew her) you would change her for the other.

Lord Bolingbroke had not the least harm by his fall; I wish he had received no more by his other fall; Lord Oxford had none by his. But Lord Bolingbroke is the most improved mind since you saw him, that ever was improved without shifting into a new body, or being: paullo minus ab angelis. I have often imagined to myself, that if ever all of us meet again, after so many varieties and changes, after so much of the old world and of the old man in each of us has been altered, that scarce a single thought of the one, any more than a single atom of the other, remains just the same; I have fancied, I say, that we should meet like the righteous in the millennium, quite in peace, divested of all our former passions, smiling at our past follies, and content to enjoy the kingdom of the just in tranquillity. But I find you would rather be employed as an avenging angel of wrath, to break your vial of indignation over the heads of the wretched creatures of this world: nay, would make them eat your book, which you have made (I doubt not) as bitter a pill for them as possible.

I will not tell you what designs I have in my head (besides writing a set of Maxims in opposition

and never failed to disconcert all the schemes of those who hoped to rise by Mrs. Howard's interest. Sir W. Scott.

to all Rochefoucault's principles*) till I see you here, face to face. Then you shall have no reason to complain of me for want of a generous disdain of this world, though I have not lost my ears in yours and their service.† Lord Oxford too (whom I have now the third time mentioned in this letter, and he deserves to be always mentioned in every thing that is addressed to you, or comes from you) expects you: that ought to be enough to bring you hither; it is a better reason than if the nation expected you. For I really enter as fully as you can desire, into your principle of love of individuals: and I think the way to have a public spirit is first to have a private one; for who can believe (said a friend of mine) that any man

This was only said as an oblique reproof of the horrid misanthropy in the foregoing letter; and which he supposed might be chiefly occasioned by the Dean's fondness for Rochefoucault, whose Maxims are founded on the principle of an universal selfishness in human nature. Warburton.

That Pope had thought seriously on this subject is, however, apparent from what he said to Mr. Spence: "As L'Esprit, La Rochefoucault, and that sort of people, prove that all virtues are disguised vices, I would engage to prove that all vices are disguised virtues. Neither, indeed, is true; but this would be a more agreeable subject, and would overturn their whole scheme:" v. Spence's Anec. p. 11.

"Rochefoucault is the great philosopher," says Addison, “for administering of consolation to the idle, the envious, and the worthless part of mankind."

Warton.

This seems to be the first intimation of Pope's intention to write the Dunciad, a conjecture which is confirmed by Swift's reply.

can care for a hundred thousand people, who never cared for one? No ill-humoured man can ever be a patriot, any more than a friend.

I designed to have left the following page for Dr. Arbuthnot to fill, but he is so touched with the period in yours to me concerning him, that he intends to answer it by a whole letter. He too is busy about a book, which I guess he will tell you of. So adieu-what remains worth telling you? Dean Berkley is well, and happy in the prosecution of his scheme.* Lord Oxford and Lord Bolingbroke in health, Duke Disney+ so also; Sir William Wyndham better, Lord Bathurst well. These, and some others, preserve their ancient honour and ancient friendship. Those who do neither, if they were d-d, what is it to a Protestant priest, who has nothing to do with the dead? I answer for my own part as a Papist, I would not pray them out of Purgatory.

My name is as bad an one as yours, and hated by all bad poets, from Hopkins and Sternhold to Gildon and Cibber. The first prayed against me with the Turk; and a modern imitator of theirs (whom I leave you to find out) has added the Chris

* His Scheme for a religious settlement at Bermudas. Bowles. † Duke Disney is often mentioned with affectionate and familiar kindness by the party. He lived at Greenwich, as appears from Gay's ballad:

"I hear facetious Disney say,

Duke, that's the room for Pope, and that for Gay."

Bowles.

tian to them, with proper definitions of each in

I SHOULD Sooner have acknowledged yours, if a feverish disorder, and the relics of it, had not disabled me for a fortnight. I now begin to make excuses, because I hope I am pretty near seeing you, and therefore I would cultivate an acquaintance; because, if you do not know me when we meet, you need only keep one of my letters, and compare it with my face, for my face and letters are counterparts of my heart. I fear I have not expressed that right, but I mean well, and I hate blots :* I look in your letter, and in my conscience you say the same thing, but in a better manner. Pray tell my Lord Bolingbroke that I wish he were banished again, for then I should hear from him, when he was full of philosophy, and talked de contemptu mundi. My Lord Oxford was so extremely kind as to write to me immediately an account of his son's birth, which I immediately acknowledged, but before the letter could reach him,

* It certainly will not stand the test of criticism.

I wished it in the sea: I hope I was more afflicted than his lordship. It is hard that parsons and beggars should be overrun with brats, while so great and good a family wants an heir to continue it. I have received his father's picture, but I lament (sub sigillo confessionis) that it is not so true a resemblance as I could wish.* Drown the world! I am not content with despising it, but I would anger it, if I could with safety. I wish there were an hospital built for its despisers, where one might act with safety, and it need not be a large building, only I would have it well endowed. P***+ is fort chancellant whether he shall turn parson or no. But all employments here are engaged, or in reversion. Cast wits and cast beaux have a proper sanctuary in the church yet we think it a severe judgment, that a fine gentleman, and so much the finer for hating ecclesiastics, should be a domestic humble retainer to an Irish prelate. He is neither secretary, nor gentleman-usher, yet serves in both capacities. He hath published several reasons why he never came to see me, but the best is, that I have not waited on his lordship. We have had a poem sent from London in imitation of that on Miss Carteret. It is on Miss Harvey, of a day old; and we say and think it is yours. I wish it were not, because I am against monopolies. You might have spared me a few more lines of your Satire, but I hope in

* Robert, Earl of Oxford, to whose memory Swift continued faithfully attached.

† Ambrose Philips.