But I look upon you as one fworn to suffer no errors in me and tho' the common way with a Commentator be to erect them into beauties, the best office of a Critic is to correct and amend them. There being a new edition coming out of Homer, I would willingly render it a little lefs defective, and the bookfeller will not allow me time to do so myself.

Lord B. returns to France very speedily, and it is poffible I may go for three weeks or a month to Mr. Allen's in the fummer; of which I will not fail to advertise you, if it fuits your conveniency to be there and drink the waters. more beneficially.

Forgive my fcribling so hastily and so ill. My eyes are at leaft as bad as my head, and it is with my heart only that I can pretend to be, to any real purpose,

Your, &c.

You

LETTER CXVII.

July 18.

may well expect letters from me of thanks but the kind attention : you fhew to every thing that concerns me is so manifeft, and fo repeated, that you cannot but tell your

felf how neceffarily I

must pay them in my

A a 3

heart,

heart, which makes it almoft impertinent to fay fo. Your alterations to the Preface and Effay a are juft; and none more obliging to me than where you prove your concern, that my notions in my first writings should not be repugnant to those in my laft. And you will have the charity to think, when I was then in an error, 'it was not fo much that I thought wrong or perversely, as that I had not thought fufficiently. What I could correct in the diffipated life I am forced to lead here, I have: and fome there are which still want your help to be made as they fhould be.-Mr. Allen depends on you at the end of the next month or in September, and I will join him as foon as I can return from the other party. I believe not till September at fooneft.-You will pardon me (dear Sir) for writing to you but just like an attorney or agent. I am more concern'd for your Finances b than your Fame; because the first, I fear, you will never be concerned about yourself; the second is fecure to you already, and (whether you will or not) will follow you.

I have never faid one word to you of the public. I have known the greater world too long to be very fanguine. But accidents and occafions may do what Virtue would not; and God

a Prefix'd to his Homer's Iliad.

b His debt from the Executor of Mr. G.

fend they may! Adieu. Whatever becomes of public Virtue, let us preferve our own poor share of the private. Be affured, if I have any, I am with a true sense of your merit and friendship, &c.

I'

LETTER CXVIII.

Oct. 7.

Heartily thank you for yours, from which I learn'd your fafe arrival. And that you found all yours in health, was a kind addition to the account; as I truly am interested in whatever is, and deferves to be dear to you, and to make a part of your happiness. I have many reasons and experiences to convince me, how much you with health to me, as well as long life to my writings. Could you make as much a better man of me as you can make a better author, I were fecure of Immortality both here and hereafter by your means. The Dunciad I have ordered to be advertised in quarto. Pray order as many of them as you will; and know that whatever is mine is yours.

A

LETTER CXIX.

Jan. 12, 1743.

N unwillingness to write nothing to you,

whom I refpect; and worse than nothing (which would afflict you) to one who wishes me fo well, has hitherto kept me filent. Of the Public I can tell you nothing worthy the reflection of a reasonable man; and of myself only an account that would give you pain; for my asthma has increased every week fince you last heard from me, to the degree of confining me totally to the fire-fide; fo that I have hardly feen any of my friends but two, who happen to be divided from the world as much as myself, and are conftantly retired at Batterfea. There I have past most of my time, and often wish'd you of the company, as the beft I know to make me not regret the lofs of all others, and to prepare me for a nobler scene than any mortal greatness can open to us. I fear by the account you gave me of the time you design to come this way, one of them (whom I much wifh you had a glympfe of) will be gone again, unless you pafs fome weeks in London before Mr. Allen arrives there in March. My present indifpofition takes up almost all my hours, to render a very few of them fupportable: yet I go on foftly to prepare the edition of my

great

Things with your Notes, and as fast as I receive any from you, I add others in order.

I am told the Laureat is going to publish a very abusive pamphlet. That is all I can defire; it is enough, if it be abufive and if it be his. He threatens you; but, I think, you will not fear or love him fo much as to answer him, though you have answered one or two as dull. He will be more to me than a dofe of hartfhorn: and as a flink revives one who has been oppreffed with perfumes, his railing will cure me of a course of flatteries.

I am much more concerned to hear that fome of your Clergy are offended at a verse or two of minea, because I have a respect for your Clergy (though the Verfes are harder upon ours.) But if they do not blame you for defending those verses, I will wrap myself up in the layman's cloak, and fleep under your shield.

I am forry to find by a letter two posts fince from Mr. Allen, that he is not quite recovered yet of all remains of his indifpofition, nor Mrs. Allen quite well. Don't be difcouraged from telling me how you are: for no man is more yours than, &c.

2 Ver. 355. to 358. fecond book of the Dunciad.

LET