pages over the arch of her bower is an idea a little burlesque; besides, are we sure the whole is not rather too long for the place it is in, where all the interests of the scene stand still for it? and this is still drawn out further by the lines you have here put into the mouth of Caractacus. Do not mistake me; I admire part of it, and approve almost all; but consider the time and place.

P. 31.-"Pensive Pilgrim." Why not? there is an impropriety in "wakeful wanderer." I have told you my thoughts of this chorus already; the whole scheme is excellent, the 2d strophe and antistrophe divine. Money (I know) is your motive, and of that I wash my hands. Fame is your second consideration; of that I am not the dispenser, but if your own approbation (for every one is a little conscious of his own talents) and mine have any weight with you, you will write an ode or two every year, till you are turned of fifty, not for the world, but for us two only; we will now and then give a little glimpse of them, but no copies.

P. 37.-I do not like "maidenhood."

P. 38. Why not "smoke in vain" as before? the word "meek" is too often repeated.

P. 42. The only reason why you have altered my favourite speech is, that "surging and plunging," "main and domain," come too near each other; but could not you correct these without spoiling all? I read

"Cast his broad eye upon the wild of ocean,

And calm'd it with a glance; then, plunging deep

His mighty arm, pluck'd from its dark domain," etc.

Pray have done with your "piled stores and coral floors."

P. 43. "The dies of Fate," that is,

Fate." Find out another word.

"the dice of

P. 44. I cannot say I think this scene improved: I had no objection before, "but to harm a poor wretch like me;" and what you have inserted is to me inferior to what it was meant to replace, except p. 47, "And why this silence," which is very well; the end of the scene is one of my favourite passages.

P. 49. Why scratch out, "Thou, gallant boy"? I do not know to what other scene you have transferred these rites of lustration, but methinks they did very well here. Arviragus's account of himself I always was highly pleased with.

P. 51.—“ Fervid" is a bad word.

CXX.-TO THOMAS WHARTON.

DEAR DOCTOR-I cannot help thanking you for your kind letter, though I have nothing essential to inform you of in return. Lord S[trathmore] and his brother are come back, and in some measure rid me of my apprehensions for the College. S[tonehewe]r is gone to town, but (as he assures me) not to stay above a week. You advise me to be happy, and would to God it depended upon your wishes. A part of what

I imagined, has already happened here, though not in the way I expected. In a way indeed, that confutes itself, and therefore (as I am told) makes no impression on the hearers. But I will not answer for the truth of this: at least such, as are strangers to me, may be influenced by it. However, though I know the quarter, whence it comes, I cannot interpose at present, lest I make the matter worse. Judge you of my happiness, may yours never meet with any cloud or interruption. Adieu! I beg you to write to me. February 17, 1757.

CXXI. TO THOMAS WHARTON.

Sunday, April 17, 1757.

DEAR DOCTOR-If I did not immediately answer your kind enquiry, you will attribute it to the visit, which I was obliged to do the honours of for two or three days, and which is now over. I find nothing new to add to my uneasiness here; on the contrary it is considerably abated, and quiet, and hope, is gradually returning. I am extremely glad to hear your country residence promises so well, and has been so serviceable to Mrs. Wharton already.

You desire to know how I like my visit. Lord N[uneham] is a sensible well-bred young man, a little too fine even for me, who love a little finery he

:

1 This seems to refer to the ejection of Henry Tuthill from his fellowship.-[Ed.]

never will be popular, and it is well, if he be not very much hated. His party were Lord Villiers, and Mr. Spencer, but I did not see a great deal of them. Lord John has been with me all this morning. The Duke of Bedford is now here to settle his son at Trinity, and Mr. Rigby is come to assist him with his advice. Adieu, I am interrupted, but will write again soon. Believe me ever yours,

T. G.

CXXII. TO THE REV. WILLIAM MASON.

April 23, 1757.

DEAR MASON-I too am set down here with something greater hopes of quiet than I could entertain when I saw you last; at least nothing new has happened to give me any disturbance, and the assurances you gave me in your letter from hence are pretty well confirmed by experience. I shall be very ready to take as much of Mr. Delap's1 dulness as he chooses to part with at any price he pleases, even with his want of sleep and weak bowels into the bargain; and I will be your curate, and he shall live here with all

1 Mr. or Dr. Delap was curate in his earlier life to Mason at Aston in 1756. The first entry of his name appears in a marriage 14th November 1756, his last signature in May 1758. In 1759 he was succeeded by Mr. John Wood. His portrait I have seen in the dining-room at Aston rectory, and it is now in Mrs. Alderson's possession. He was the author of a tragedy, Hecuba, acted with very indifferent success at Drury Lane Theatre in 1762, and The Captives, which was endured for three nights and then was gathered to its fathers.-[Mit.]

my wit and power of learning. Dr. Brown's book1 (I hear) is much admired in town, which I do not understand. I expected it would be admired here; but they affect not to like it, though I know they ought. What would you have me do? There is one thing in it I applaud, which is the dissertation against trade, for I have always said it was the ruin of the nation. I have read the little wicked book about Evil, that settled Mr. Dodsley's conscience in that point, and find nothing in it but absurdity: we call it Soame Jenyns's, but I have a notion you mentioned some other name to me, though I have forgotten it. Stonhewer has done me the honour to send me your friend Lord Nuneham hither, with a fine recommendatory letter written by his own desire, in Newmarketweek. Do not think he was going to Newmarket ; no, he came in a solitaire, great sleeves, jessaminepowder, and a large bouquet of jonquils, within twelve miles of that place, on purpose not to go thither. We had three days' intercourse, talked about the beaux arts, and Rome, and Hanover, and Mason,-whose praises we celebrate à qui mieux mieux,-vowed eternal friendship, embraced, and parted. I promised

This is the well-known Estimate of the Manners and Principles of the Times, by Dr. John Brown, a book which occupied for a time a very large share of public attention and applause; several editions were called for in the course of a year, and a second volume followed the first.-[Mit.]

2 The Origin of Evil, by Soame Jenyns. Dr. Johnson exposed the absurdity of this book by his famous review in the Literary Magazine.—[Ed.]