CLIX. The Earl of Orrery to Dr. Swift. With a copy of the CLX. Mr. Pope to Dr. Swift. Present circumstances of his CLXI. Dr. Swift to Mr. Pope. Reasons that obstruct his Mentions again the loss of the CLXV. The Earl of Orrery to Mr. Pope. Mr. Pope's letters CLXVI. Mr. Pope to the Earl of Orrery. His admiration and CLXVII. Dr. Swift to Mr. Pope. Introduction of Mr. Deane CLXVIII. Dr. Swift to Mr. Pope. Recommendation of Mr. M'Aulay to a seat in parliament through Mr. CLXIX. Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to Dr. Swift. Acknowledg- ib. CLXX. Mr. Pope to Dr. Swift. Account of Lord Boling- broke; of Mr. Jervas the painter; his present con- nexion with the court; his cultivation of new friendships; Epilogue to the Satires; the Dunciad; his health and amusements; regrets that he dare pass the Channel; enumeration of living friends; and commemoration of the dead CLXXI. Dr. Swift to Mr. Lyttelton. Acknowledges his kind. LETTER promises to return several of Mr. Pope's letters to CLXXIII. Mr. Pope to Mrs. Whiteway. Accepts the offer of PAGE 389 . 391 LETTERS TO RALPH ALLEN, ESQ. II. Of a new edition of his letters and the use of them III. Of the cultivation of his own gardens LETTERS TO WILLIAM WARBURTON, D.D. I. His acceptance of the Commentary on the Essay on Man; VI. His expectation of seeing him in town; wishes to see him VII. Excuses his coolness, on account of the languid state of his health; his opinion of the Divine Legation; and his VIII. His project of procuring a prose translation of his Essay into Latin, and his approbation of a specimen sent to him of it; publication of Scriblerus IX. His chagrin on the printing in Ireland of a new volume of his letters to Swift; congratulates him on the progress X. Urges him again to visit him in May or June; and thanks him for the perusal of the Dissertations on the Hiero- XI. His satisfaction in the prospect of meeting his friend in XII. Acquainting him with his obligation to a noble Lord; XIII. An account of his project for adding a fourth book to the XIV. Dispute with Dr. Middleton; recommends Mr. Knapton as XVI. Relating to the projected edition of his works ib. XX. A character of their common friend; his amusements in his garden, and solicitude for the projected edition XXI. Desires his friend to correct the Essay on Homer XXII. Thanks him for having done it XXIII. Account of the publication of the Dunciad XXIV. Of his ill state of health; the edition of his works ; the Laureat; and the clergy XXV. The increase of his disorder and his foresight of its conse- sequences XXVI. On the same In the arrangement of an epistolary correspondence two distinct methods have been resorted to; the first is that of a strict chronological series, by which, without regard to the persons to whom they are addressed, the letters are given according to their date; the other is that of arranging the letters of each correspondent under a separate and peculiar head. The former of these modes has been generally adopted, and has in its favour the high authority, amongst others, of the excellent edition of the works of Swift by Sir Walter Scott; but in the various editions of the works of Pope, from his own time to the present, the latter method has been preferred, and has hitherto been adhered to in the present edition. That each of these has its peculiar advantages and disadvantages must be admitted; and it would be well if the former could be obtained without incurring the latter. This, however, it is evident can only be done in particular cases, where a chronological order can be combined, if not with a perfect unity of subject, at least with such an association between the parties, and such a participation of their opinions, studies, and pursuits, as intimately connect them together, and render each portion an illustration of the rest. An occasion of this kind, it is conceived, has occurred in the following correspondence; in which a number of celebrated literary characters are introduced, frequently engaged in discussing the same subject, two or more of them sometimes joining in the same letter, maintaining a constant understanding and participation of sentiment, and each of them, as it were, bearing a part in the same drama, insomuch that it would scarcely be possible to separate the correspondence into distinct portions, without destroying in a great degree its proper effect. Of characters so well known as those which stand at the head of the present collection, it would be unnecessary here to speak. To mention their names is to suggest their history. The humorous gravity, shrewd penetration, and caustic misanthropy of Swift, frequently perhaps assumed as a cover for the throbbings of a too sensible heart, may be contrasted with the open simplicity, the unaffected wit, and the mildness of Gay; the stately and polished style of Lord Bolingbroke, with the more loose and careless manner of Congreve, or Parnelle; whilst those who are pleased in tracing the nicer diversities of language, may apply themselves to discriminate the shades of difference that are perceptible in the style of Arbuthnot and of Pope. It is not however merely by uniting in one series the letters heretofore found under detached heads, that an attempt has been made to give additional interest to the present volume. Many letters of Pope, printed in the works of his correspondents, but not heretofore included in his own, are now for the first time added; and several letters of other persons, either addressed to him, or relating chiefly to him and his productions, will also be found, arranged, as far as was practicable, according to their respective dates; exhibiting on the whole an example of a literary and friendly intercourse, carried on for nearly thirty years between the most distinguished characters of the age; not only without the slightest indication of dissension or jealousy; but with a common sentiment of affectionate and friendly attachment which pervades the whole, and gives an additional charm to the correspondence, by uniting the liveliest effusions of wit with the warmest feelings of the heart. |