DEAR SIR, Newarke-upon-Trent, Aug. 17, 1737. Mr. Gyles informs me that you left with him for me the fine edition of Greaves's Works*: for which favour I esteem myself highly obliged to you. But he told me at the same time that you had not received a letter which I did myself the honour to write to you immediately on the receipt of yours. He has given me your address; but whether it be the same I had before, I have forgot.

I had the pleasure of hearing of your health when I was last at Cambridge from one whom I dare say we have an equal esteem for. I mean, my excellent friend Dr. Middleton, whom, on my return out of Suffolk from Sir Thomas Hanmer, I found just come home from London.

Pray how goes on your Literary Society? What books are you printing? and are any of poor Sale's+ or Professor Blackwell's in the number? I was sincerely grieved at the death of the former gentleman, both for the sake of his family, and of learning. He would have proved the English Herbelot.

I have expected some time to hear of Professor Blackwell. I think he is in Scotland; but, if he be in London, I should be obliged to you to let me know it.

There is a book called "The Moral Philosopher," lately published. Is it looked into? I should hope not, merely for the sake of the taste, the sense, and

* See p. 71.

Of the institution and progress of this Society, see the "Literary Anecdotes,” vol. II. p. 90.

+ "Mr. George Sale translated the Koran of Mahomet; was one of the Authors of the Universal History, also of the General Dictionary, which includes Bayle, in translating of whom he exerted himself, as being a Work agreeable to his own genius. He was reckoned to understand the Oriental Languages better than any man in England. He died, in Surrey-street in the Strand, Nov. 15, 1736." Gent. Mag. vol. VI. p. 684.

learning

learning of the present age; for nothing could give me a worse idea of them than that book's being in any degree of esteem as a composition of a man of Letters. I have some knowledge of the Author*, An afternoon's conversation, when I was last in town, gave me the top and bottom of him; and though I parted from him with the most contemptible opinion both of his candour and his sense, he has had the art, in this book, of writing even below himself. It is composed principally of scraps ill put together from "Christianity as old as the Crea tion," larded with some of the most stupid fancies of his own that ever entered into the head of man. Such as Moses's scheme for an universal Monarchy, This, I take it, was a simple genuine blunder from Toland, who had said, with something more pretence, that Moses aimed at a perpetual Monarchy; and, by a true Irish blunder, this blockhead took perpetual to signify universal.

I hope nobody will be so indiscreet as to take notice publicly of his book, though it be only in the fag end of an objection. It is that indiscreet conduct in our Defenders of Religion, that conveys so many worthless books from hand to hand,

I beg, Sir, you will be assured that I shall have no greater pleasure than hearing of you from time to time at your leisure. It will be but charity to let me, who live out of the world, know now and then the literary state of it; and it will be a double satisfaction to hear of it from one so excellently qualified to report it. I hope to give one Volume of my Defence of Moses this winter, but this between you and me. I have sent both to French and English booksellers for Melchior Zeidler's "Tractatus de

* Thomas Morgan, M. D. Author of "The Moral Philosopher; in a Dialogue between Philalethes a Christian Deist, and Theophanes a Christian Jew," and several other Tracts, died at his house in Broad-street, Jan. 14, 1742-3," with a true Christian resignation." Gent. Mag. vol. XIII. p. 51.

gemino veterum docendi modo exoterico et acroamatico. Regiom. 1685," 4to; and cannot get it. As it is a book I much want, if you could lend it me, or buy it for me, it would be a great obligation.

I beg my humble service to your friend, that very worthy gentleman you did me the favour to bring me to the knowledge of, and who was so good last year to enquire of me by a friend, as he passed through Newarke. I desire too you would assure Mr. Dickson of my best respects. I oft wish myself with you at the Coffee-house in the Temple on a Thursday night; but, whether there or here, I desire you to believe that I am, with great truth, dear Sir, your very faithful and affectionate humble servant, W. WARBURTON.

LETTER III.

For the Rev. THOMAS BIRCH.

DEAR SIR,

[Received Oct. 24, 1737.] I have your favour of the 23d of August to acknowledge. Since my last, I have read over Greaves's Tracts *. He is a very learned and very judicious

* Mr. Birch was the Editor of "Greaves's Miscellaneous Works, 1737," 2 vols. 8vo; and was also the Author of the Life of that learned Professor in the "General Dictionary;" in which, after noticing Greaves's quitting England for Leghorn in 1657, with the intent of proceeding thence "to explore the venerable remains of Antiquity in the Eastern Countries," Birch observes, "Mr. Wood, who is grossly mistaken in placing our Author's voyage to the East in 1633, informs us, that the Archbishop sent him to travel into the Eastern parts of the world to obtain Books of the Languages for him;' and Dr. Smith observes, that Mr. Greaves furnished himself with quadrants and other instruments necessary for taking the altitudes and distances of the Stars and the latitudes of Cities, for measuring the Pyramids, and making observations of the Eclipses, at his own expence, having in vain applied himself for the patronage and assistance of the Magistrates of the City of London, whose honour and advantage he designed to consult in this voyage; but that he was very probably assisted by the Archbishop

of

Writer; and I think the world much indebted to you for this edition of them. But as I am above measure fond of all that relates to the Literary History of such men, your excellent Life of him could not but afford me a great deal of entertainment. There are two circumstances in it that give me a worse opinion of the City of London, and a better of Archbishop Laud, than I was wont to entertain.

I am glad that the Society for the Encouragement of Learning is in so hopeful a condition; though methinks it is a little ominous to set their press a going with the errantest Sophist that ever wrote, prepared by as arrant a Critic *.

You are pleased to enquire about Shakespeare. I believe (to tell it as a secret) I shall, after I have got the whole of this Work out of my hands which I am now engaged in, give an Edition of it to the World. of Canterbury, who gave him Letters of Recommendation to Sir Peter Wyche, Ambassador from King Charles I. to the Porte, and a full power to purchase at whatever price he thought proper any Manuscripts of value, especially in the Arabic Language;" and afterwards subjoins a Letter from Greaves; in which, after acknowledging his obligations to the Archbishop, for whose use he had obtained some valuable Greek and Arabic MSS. he adds, "It is true, many more very choice ones might be procured with enquiry, and watching after opportunities, if they would give the price. Some few of those, which they thought to be overvalued, I have purchased at excessive rates. You may wonder how I have been able to do it, since the City of London hath failed me in my expectations of their contributions towards mathematical instruments. I have been necessitated to sell most of the Books I brought with me. But the love and care of my brothers straining their own occasions to supply mine have enabled me, in despite of the City, to go on with my designs."

* The Edition of " Maximus Tyrius," by Dr. John Davis. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. II. pp. 96. 134.

†The Life of Shakespeare, in the "General Dictionary," augmented by Mr. Birch from materials furnished by Mr. Warburton, contains the whole of those Remarks, which are thus introduced: "Shakespeare's Dramatic Writings were first published together in folio in 1623, and, since republished by Mr. Rowe, Mr. Pope, and Mr. Lewis Theobald. But we may expect a much more correct edition of them from the reverend and learned Mr. William Warburton, Author of The Divine Lega, tion of Moses demonstrated,' who, in his Edition, besides a ge

neral

Sir Thomas Hanmer has a true critical genius, and has done great things in this Author; so you may expect to see a very extraordinary edition of its kind. I intend to draw up and prefix to it a just and complete critique on Shakespeare and his Works.

neral character of Shakespeare and his writings prefixed, will give the rules which he observed in correcting his Author, and a large Glossary. We shall give the Reader a specimen of this intended edition in several curious remarks, which this excellent Critic has communicated to us, and which we shall introduce by way of illustration on Mr. Pope's admirable character of our Poet; who, in his Preface to the Edition, observes, that Shakespeare, notwithstanding his defects, is justly and universally elevated above all other Dramatic Writers. If ever any Author deserved the name of an original, it was he. Homer himself drew not his art so immediately from the fountains of Nature; it proceeded through Egyptian strainers and channels, and came to him not without some tincture of the learning, or some cast of the models, of those before him. The Poetry of Shakespeare was inspiration indeed he is not so much an imitator, as an instrument of Nature; and it is not so just to say that he speaks from her, as that she speaks through him. His characters are so much Nature herself, that it is a sort of injury to call them by so distant a name as copies of her. Those of other Poets have a constant resemblance, which shews that they received them from one another, and were but multipliers of the same image; each picture, like a mock-rainbow, is but a reflection of a reflection. But every single character in Shakespeare is as much an individual, as those in life itself: it was impossible to find any two alike; and such as from their relation or affinity in any respect appear to be twins, will upon comparison be found remarkably distinct."-This announcement of Mr. Warburton's intended Edition was thus followed up by another Friend, in "The History of the Works of the Learned" for 1740: "No Author has had a greater honour reflected on him by his Editors than Shakespeare. Among these we may reckon a sublime genius, who is one of the principal ornaments of this age, and of the British Nation. The Reader need not be told, that it is Mr. Pope, whom I intend by this character. But, as the Works of our Dramatic Poet have merit enough to engage the concern even of this celebrated person, so it is certain that they extremely needed it, on account of the almost innumerable corruptions by which, through one means or other, they have been depraved. By his care and sagacity many of these have been removed or amended, and the guilty causes of them assigned. Shakespeare has been in a good measure restored to his original purity, and his admirers are no longer at a loss to account for that surprizing inconsistency with