[My] House and we are ready to receive you and yours. I was yesterday at Sir John Stanley's* lodgings-but not at home. I saw the young fellow that is going to try what he can make of Homer's head. I cannot yet answer for him, but by the end of the next week I shal speak categorically if he advances as he promises. You will be time enough to have it done by another who loses Operam et oleum. I intend this day to call at Vertue's, to see Swift's brought a little more like† -and see w' is doing to one Pope. I will give Addison half a dozen names before you come, if you [stay] till Monday next. Bring your two Exchq' Bills with you for they must lye [no] longer at 3 per Cent. Tho' the Cows disappoint us of our Milk Diet, yet the oxen afford us Beef as good as ever. * A commissioner of the customs; Swift frequently dined with him when in London. † An engraved portrait of Swift, from a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller. The Dean mentions, in his Journal to Stella, that Congreve had persuaded Sir Godfrey to paint this picture for nothing. Tonson also obtained portraits of all the members of the Kit Cat Club, for the trifling remuneration of a few haunches of vension, and some well timed flattery, to both of which Sir Godfrey was equally partial. Subscribers' names for the Homer. [My] service to every body. I expect you on Monday evening at farthest. *[ ] Kelsey has got a place in the Excheq [ ]00 per ann. Yrs at the old rate, C. J. LETTER VI. STEELE TO POPE. Jan. 20th, 1711. The Essay in Mr. DEAR SIR, I have received your very kind letter; that part of it which is grounded on the belief that I have much affection and friendship for you, I the Spectator by receive with great pleasure. That which acknowledges the honor done to your essay, I have * Perhaps William Kelsey, Esq. who died in 1736, and was a member of the Royal Academy of Berlin. + Some parts of this letter are torn off; and some of the deficiencies I am unable to supply. This has been printed in Mr. Roscoe's collection: but it is singular that a circumstance, by far the most interesting of any connected with the letter, should have escaped his observation. At the side of the letter is written in dark, black ink, a remark, in Pope's hand-writing, that Addison was the author of that number of the Spectator (No. 253) in which a very favourable and just critique is given of the Essay on Criticism. Some time after, Pope scratched this out; most probably in resentment of Addison's subsequent conduct towards him. no pretence to; it was written by one whom I will make you acquainted with, which is the best return I can make to you for your favour to, Sir, Your most obliged humble servant, RICHARD STEELE. MR. POPE. * It is a pity that Steele, from having been so closely connected with Addison, should be too generally considered a mere second to him; whereas, his original humour, and bold, free style, prove him to have been very different from, and in some particulars, at least equal to, his friend. I cannot omit strenuously to advise all, who have not done so, to read his Christian Hero, a book which, by putting the courage and greatness of mind ascribed to the Heathens in their true light, has vindicated the credit of a Christian's firmness, and proved, that religion alone is the basis of real magnanimity. His humour, for which he was almost proverbial, showed itself upon the most trifling occasions. At one time, having written a letter to his wife, who was very penurious, and among other things, told her, that he had sent her a pennyworth of walnuts, in number sixteen; he was obliged to wait some time for the messenger; wanting something to amuse him, he ate one of the walnuts, and having finished it, he gravely opened the letter, for the purpose of putting a postscript to account for its absence. This is not the only piece of whimsical satire he has vented in his writings at the expense of her meanness. Swift says of him, "He is governed by his wife most abominably, as bad as I never saw her since I came, nor has LETTER VII. ROWE TO POPE. To MR. POPE, att MR. JERVAS's, in Cleaveland Court by St. James's House, or 13, att Button's Coffee House in Covent Garden. DEAR SIR, Thursday, Aug. 20th, 1713. I don't know that I have a long time received a billet with greater pleasure than your's. Depend upon it, nothing could have been more agreeable but yourself. To do something then that is perfectly kind, come and eat a bit of mutton with me to-morrow at Stockwell. Bring whom you will along with you, tho' I can give you nothing but the aforesaid mutton, and a cup of ale. It is but a little mile from Fox-hall, and you don't know how much you will oblige your most affectionate and faithfull humble servant, N. RowE.* he ever made me an invitation; either he dares not, or he is such a thoughtless, Tisdell fellow, that he never minds it. So what care I for his wit? for he is the worst company in the world, till he has had a bottle of wine in his head." * As Rowe's lighter poetry is little read, I conceive it will not be inexpedient to give here a specimen of his best lyrical Dr. Sr. LETTER VIII, ROWE TO POPE. To MR. POPE. These. If you will favour me with your prologue by this bearer, I will return it to morrow, and style. The admirers of a living poet will, perhaps, be surprised to find the original of one of his most popular ballads. Despairing beside a clear stream, A shepherd forsaken was laid; And while a false nymph was his theme, The wind that blew over the plain, To his sighs with a sigh did reply, In her breast any pity is found, Let her come with the nymphs of the plain, Is to shade me with cypress and yew, Let her own that her shepherd was true, "Then to her new love let her And deck her in golden array; Be finest at ev'ry fine show, C |