*

world. I have here drawn it up as well as I could: if any thing material be admitted, dear Jemmy, by your direction, will be able to supply it. He, therefore, must be let into the secret; and I depend upon you two, that it shall for ever be a secret to all the world beside, who was the author. He must therefore take the trouble of transcribing it as soon as he comes hither after my death, for which I bequeath him the two inclosed guineas: and if my dear friend Mr. Roper be living, I would have that copy shewn him by Jeminy as of his own motion, and wholly submitted to his judgment, to be altered as he shall think fit. I would have my good friend Mr. Browne's consent likewise procured (if it may be) for the publishing his letter in this account. And if Mr. Jacksont and Mr. Newton are willing to make any alterations in their verses, pray let it be done before they are published.

I hope, my dearest, you will be at the charge of printing it handsomely; and if your bookseller be faithful, it is pos sible that charge may be made up to you again in a little time. You will, I know, think it proper that the master of the college, Mr. Roper, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Verdon, dear Ambrose's special benefactors, should be presented with these better bound than ordinary; and that Jemmy should give his tutor one handsomely bound, and distribute about 'a score among the lads where he thinks they may do most good. I am sorry I must bequeath you both this trouble; but if by this means one soul be gained, your reward will be great. However, I hope our good God will graciously accept the honest intention of us all, through the merits of our blessed Saviour Jesus, Amen.

1778, Dec. and Suppl.

XXIII. Letters from Lord Carteret to the Earl of Oxford.

MR. URBAN,

THE names subscribed to the four letters I now transcribe for you, exclusive of the anecdotes they contain, are a sufficient apology for the trouble now given you by

EUGENIO.

.* Another of his sons.

Laurence Jackson, A. B. These were printed.
Mr. Newton's verses are still in MS.

SIR,

LETTER I

To Mr. Harley, at Ch. Ch. in Oxford.

Long Leat, Aug. 16, 1732. I NOW write at a venture, for I am not sure that this will find you. I can never think that you are got quietly again to Ch. Ch. whilst the affairs of state are in such agitation: and if you are not, I will not advise you to go. I rather could wish that, as you imitate Apollo in some things, you would also imitate his tree

Parnassia laurus

Parva sub ingenti matris se subjicit umbra.

I need put no comment to decypher my meaning. You will pardon my making use of so rural an image. Sometimes one may compare great things to little without dimi

pution.

When I know where you are, I will write again.

MY LORD, Aug. 1, 1732. HAVING heard that your lordship has several curious manuscripts of Homer, I take the liberty to acquaint you that Dr. Bentley has lately revised the whole works of Homer, which are now ready for the press with his notes, some of which I have seen, and are very curious; and he desires leave to collate your manuscripts upon some suspected verses in our present editions. If your lordship will be pleased to let the doctor have the manuscripts for a short time for that purpose, I shall be obliged to you. I have set the doctor at work; and we would be glad to procure such assistance as he desires, that he may have no excuse not to proceed. If your lordship has no objection to this request, you will let him have the manuscripts to be perused at Cambridge, upon his application to you. I desire the honour of an answer, that I may acquaint the doctor with it. As you are a known encourager of learning, and learned yourself, I hope this request will not be disagreeable to you. I am, my lord, with the greatest respect, your lordship's most humble and most obedient servant,

CARTERET.

MY LORD,

LETTER III.

To the same.

March 8, 1732-3.

I THANK your lordship for your great goodness in sending me the eleven MSS. of Homer, and relating to him, and for your permitting me to send them to Dr. Bentley. I shall take his receipt for you; and I am persuaded he will take great care of them they shall be returned to your lordship with thanks, and honourable mention of you. I shall have them packt very carefully. I am, my lord, with the greatest truth and respect, your lordship's most humble and most obedient servant,

CARTERET.

"All these MSS. were returned to me, by the hands of Mr. Casley, Aug. 19, 1787.

OXFORD."

LETTER IV.

To Lord Dupplin.

MY LORD, Paris, March 10, 1731. I HAVE received and perused the book your lordship was so good as to send me. I am extremely acknowledging for this favour, and satisfied with the reading of it. I wish it were in my power to find occasions of being any way useful to you in this country; at least it is a satisfaction to me, of having had the honour and pleasure of your acquaintance. Honour me with your commands; and believe me, with all esteem and sincerity imaginable, my lord, your lordship's most humble and most obedient servant, 1779, June.

BERWICK.

XXIV. Letters from Bishop Atterbury to Mr. Prior, and from Mr. Prior to Mr. Wanley.

MR. URBAN,

I SHALL make no apology for sending you two letters, of Bishop Atterbury and Mr. Prior, transcribed from their originals, in that excellent repository, the British Museum.

To Mr. Prior.

Deanery, New-year's day, 1717-8.

I MAKE you a better present than any man in England receives this day: two poems * composed by a friend of mine, with that extraordinary genius and spirit which attend him. equally in whatever he says, does, or writes. I do not ask your approbation of them, deny it if you can, or if you dare. The whole world will be against you; and, should you, therefore be so unfortunate in your judgment, you will, 1 dare say, be so wise and modest to conceal it. For though it be a very good character, and what belongs to the first pen in the world, to write like nobody; yet, to judge like nobody, has never yet been esteemed a perfection.

When you have read them, let me see you at my house; or else you are in danger, lame as I am, of seeing me at yours. And the difference in that case is, that, whenever you have me there, in my present condition, you cannot easily get rid of me; whereas, if you come hither, you may leave me as soon as you please, and I have no way to help myself, being confined to my chair just as I was when you saw me last. If this advantage will not tempt you ra ther to make than receive the visit, nothing else will.

Whether I see you or not, let me at least see something under your hand, that may tell me how you do, and whether your deafness continees. And if you will flatter me agreeably, let something be said, at the end of your letter, which may make me for two minutes believe that half as much mine, as I am,

Your faithful humble servant,

you are

FR. ROFFEN.

To Mr. Wanley.†

DEAR MR. WANLEY,

April 5, 1718.

I TORMENT you before my appointed time, finding this sheet at home; and as soon as you have looked it over, it may be carried immediately to the printer. I will trouble

* "Solomon," and "Alma."

This letter and another which is printed in the "Additions to Pope," are expressly referred to by the excellent Editor of " Reliqnes of Ancient English Poetry," vol. II. p. 27. The poem they allude to is "The Nut-Browne Maid," the ground-work of Prior's "Henry and Emma." In fixing the age of this poem Dr. Percy judiciously observes," Mr. Prior was probably guided by the learned Wanley, whose judgment in matters of this nature was most consummate," E 4

you to-morrow morning for the sheet which you have. It is compliment in the most refined French Dictionaries. But I submit it to you, as I ought with great reason to do every thing concerning literature.

1780, March.

Yours ever,

M. PRIOR,

XXV. Letters to and from Mr. Garrick.

SOON after Mr. Garrick had purchased a moiety of Drury-lane Theatre, he discovered the company wanted a considerable recruit of low actors: in the choice of those he generally paid an attention to person and look, more than to genius, for as they seldom had any thing to say, the eye was principally consulted. There was at that time about the Theatre a very whimsical fellow, whose name was Stone; he had much humour, but never could be prevailed upon to tread the stage. Mr. Garrick, however, found him something to do, and he was employed in recruiting about the town for the drama; whenever he brought a person who was permitted to make an essay, whether successful or otherwise, he had a certain sum given him for his trouble; and for three or four years, this man (who had acquired the appellation of the Theatrical Crimp,) made in this kind of service a tolerable subsistence. A variety of letters passed between Mr. Garrick and Stone during the course of their negotiations. Four of them we have been lately favoured with by a gentleman, who informs us, that the following were written in the year 1748.

Thursday noon.

"SIR, "MR. LACY turned me out of the lobby yesterday, and behaved very ill to me-I only ax'd for my two guineas for the last Bishop, and he swore I should not have a farthing.

**

*The person here called the bishop was procured by Stone, and had often rehearsed the part of the Bishop of Winchester, in the play of Henry the Eighth with such singular eclat, that Mr. Garrick frequently addressed him at the rehearsal as Cousin of Winchester. The fellow, however, never played the part, although the night of his coming out was announced in the public papers. The reader will soon guess the reason, from the two following letters that passed between Mr. Garrick and Stone, on the very evening he was to make his appearance.

"SIR, The Bishop of Winchester is getting drunk at the Bear-and swears, Damn his eyes if he will play to night. I am yours, W. STONE."

Answer. "STONE, The Bishop may go to the Devil-I do not know a greater rascal, except yourself, D. G."