us. I look upon a friend in Ireland as upon a friend in the other world, whom (popishly speaking) I be lieve constantly well-disposed toward me, and ready to do me all the good he can, in that state of separation, though I hear nothing from him, and make addresses to him but very rarely. A protestant divine cannot take it amiss that I treat him in the same manner with my patron saint.

I can tell you no news, but what you will not sufficiently wonder at, that I suffer many things as an author militant: whereof in your days of probation, you have been a sharer, or you had not ar rived at that triumphant state you now deservedly enjoy in the church. As for me, I have not the least hopes of the cardinalate, though I suffer for my religion in almost every weekly paper. I have begun to take a pique at the psalms of David, if the wicked may be credited, who have printed a scandalous one* in my name. † This report I dare not discourage too much, in a prospect I have at present of a post under the Marquis de Langallerie, ‡ wherein if I can but do some signal service against the Pope, I may be considerably advanced by the Turks, the only religious people I dare confide in. If it should happen hereafter that I should write for the holy law of Mahomet, I hope it may make

* An indecent páràphrase of the first psalm, published by Curll in his Miscellanies.

+ Warton says, "It is observable that he doth not deny his being the writer of them." I have little doubt that he was so. The psalm is printed in the "Additions to Pope's Works.". BOWLES.

One who made a noise then, as Count Bonneval has done since.-WARBURTON. They were both renegadoes, who attempt. ed to make their fortune by introducing European discipline into the Turkish armies.

no breach between you and me; every one must live, and I beg you will not be the man to manage the controversy against me. The church of Rome I judge (from many modern symptoms, as well as ancient prophecies) to be in a declining condition; that of England will in a short time be scarce able to maintain her own family; so churches sink as generally as banks in Europe, and for the same reason that religion and trade, which at first were open and free, have been reduced into the management of companies, and the roguery of di

rectors.

I do not know why I tell you all this, but that I always loved to talk to you; but this is not the time for any man to talk to the purpose. Truth is a kind of contraband commodity which I would not venture to export, and therefore the only thing tending that dangerous way which I shall say, is, that I am and always will be, with the utmost sincerity,

Yours, &c.

FROM LADY BOLINGBROKE.

DEAR SIR,

London, Aug. 4, 1716.

I WISH your last had found me in the country, but, to my misfortune, I am still kept in town, soliciting my unfortunate business. I have found great

*These words are remarkable. What would he have said, if he had seen what has happened in France [1794]? and what is likely to happen, by the diffusion of learning and science, in all the other catholic countries of Europe? Such events are stupen dous; Non hac sine numine Divûm eveniunt.-WARTON.

favour from his majesty. But form is a tedious thing to wait upon. Since it is my fate, I must bear it with patience, and perfect it if I can; for there is nothing like following business one's self. I am unwilling to stir without the seals, which I hope to have soon. I have been very ill; this place never agreeing with me, and less now than ever, it being prodigious hot weather.

I know not what to say as to one part of yours; only this, that you will forgive the fears of a woman, if she says she is glad it is as it is, though it has almost ruined her. I hope, one time or other, his majesty will find my lord has been misrepresented; and, by that means, he may be restored to his country once more with honour; or else, however harsh it may sound out of my mouth, I had rather wear black. These are my real sentiments. I never thought myself, nor my health, of any consequence, till lately; and since you tell me it is so to the unworthy, as you please to term it, I shall take care of it for the worthy, which I once thought so, they are good for nothing, but to neglect distressed friends. Those few friends I meet with now, are worth a thousand relations: that I found long ago. We have the happiness of odd, halfwitted relations, and silly, obstinate, opiniatre friends, that are a severe plague to me. I never could have the pleasure of talking one moment to the Duchess of Ormond. She had always company, and some that I wish she had not. She is now out of town, and we do not correspond at present. I wish her all happiness, and in better hands as to her business. You have a much better opinion of me than I deserve; but I will study all I can to merit that favour, which you are kind to assure me of.

I wish it were possible for us two to meet, that I

might assure you, in person, that I am yours most faithfully.

P. S. Yours came safe: I hope this will to you. There is a lady who never forgets you, and a particular friend to me, and has been a great comfort to me in my trouble; I mean my te nant: she is now in the country, to my grief.

TO MR POPE.

August 30, 1716. I HAD the favour of yours by Mr Ford, of whom; before any other question relating to your health, or fortune, or success as a poet, I inquired your principles in the common form, Is he a whig or a tory?" I am sorry to find they are not so well tallied to the present juncture as I could wish. I always thought the terms of facto and jure had been introduced by the poets, and that possession of any sort in kings was held an unexceptionable title in the court of Parnassus. If you do not grow a perfect good subject in all its present latitudes, I shall conclude you are become rich, and able to live without dedications to men in power, whereby one great inconvenience will follow, that you and the world and posterity will be utterly ignorant of their virtues. For, either your brethren have miserably deceived us these hundred years past: or power confers virtue, as naturally as five of your popish sacraments do grace.-You sleep less, and drink more.— But your master Horace was vini somnique benignus : *

*Indulgent to himself in sleep and wine."-Dubl. Ed.

and, as I take it, both are proper for your trade. As to wine, there are a thousand poetical texts to confirm the one; and as to the other, I know it was anciently the custom to sleep in temples for those who would consult the oracles, "Who dictates to me slumbering," &c. *

You are an ill catholic, or a worse geographer, for I can assure you, Ireland is not Paradise, and

On this passage

* Milton's Paradise Lost, Book ix. verse 23. Dr Warton remarks, that "this is the only time Swift ever alludes to Milton; who was of an order of writers very different from what Swift admired and imitated ;" an assertion which it may not be improper to controvert. To pass over an allusion to Milton's prose writings; he twice mentions "Paradise Lost"› with commendation; but what is still more to the purpose, in the late excellent edition of Milton's "Poetical Works," by the Rev. H. J. Todd, Vol. II. p. 137, a note is given from the margin of Swift's copy of "Paradise Lost;" which having excited my curiosity, I have been favoured with the following extract of a letter addressed to Mr Todd from J. C. Walker, Esq. well known to the literary world by his Historical Memoir on Italian Tragedy, and several other ingenious publications: "I had once in my possession a book which might be of great use to you, a copy of the Paradise Lost, with marginal notes in the handwriting of the celebrated Dean Swift, for the use of Mrs Johnson and her friend Mrs Dingley. But this book, which belonged to the late Mr John Whiteway (whose name appears in Swift's will), is, I fear, lost; nor can I find an exact transcript which I made of these notes. It is true these notes were rather explanatory than critical; they served to justify Dr Johnson's assertion, "that Stella had not much literature."... By the remarks on Bishop Burnet's preface to the "History of the Reformation ;" on "Gibb's Psalms ;" and on 66 Mackay's Characters;" some idea may be formed of the value of his marginal notes. And it may not be unacceptable to the curious to be informed, that in the library of the late Marquis of Lansdowne was preserved the Dean's copy of Herbert's History of Henry VIII. (which, it appears in Vol. I. he had in 1696-7 been reading with attention); and also his copy of Bishop Burnet's "History of the Refor. mation"... NICHOLS.