If you visit my quondam habitation, you will pass a solemn assembly of cypresses; I have great regard for their memory and welfare; they took up my quarrel against the Sun, and often defended me from his insults, when he was much more furious than you now represent him. You are so kind as often to remember me with Mr. P. When you drink my health, regard your own. I would have you eat my health and I will drink yours: the north wants spirits; and the south, fesh; but take care you get not more than your own. There is great plenty in Italian markets, and it . comes cheap; if any thing can be called cheap which may possibly cost a whole Roman nose. I hope you bave nothing of Rome about you but that noble feature; if you have, post away to his holiness. No man makes more Protestants than the pope, or more saints than the devil, when either of them is thoroughly known; for truth and virtue have no better friends upon earth than a near inspection and intimate acquaintance with the deformity and madness of their opposites. This, dear Sir, comes of your conversing with parsons; I forgot I was writing a letter, and was providing myself for next Sunday with a sermon against drinking, wenching, &c. &c. Pardon a friend's infirmity, and manfully bear your own calamity. May this be the greatest you meet with in your travels, and then you need not be in haste to return to your farm in Wales !' My best wishes and services to Mr. P. &c. Lady Betty sends compliments to you and Mr. P. &c. &c. I am, dear Sir, Your obliged and affectionate humble servant, 1787, May. E. YOUNG. LIX. Letters from Mr. Pope and the Earl of Oxford. LETTER I. To the Rev. Mr. Wesley, at Tiverton, Devon. Twitenham, Oct. 21. YOUR letter had not been so long unanswered, but that I was not returned from a long journey of some weeks when it arrived at this place. You may depend on the money for the Earl of Peterborow, Mr. Bethel, Dr. Swift, and Mr. Echersall, which I will pay before-hand to any one you shall direct; and I think you may set down Dr. Delany, whom I will write to. I desired my Lord Oxford, some months since, to tell you this ; it was just upon my going to take a last leave of Lord Peterborow, in so much hurry that I had not time to write ; and my Lord Oxford undertook to tell it you for me. I agree with you in the opinion of Savage's strange performance, which does not deserve the benefit of the clergy. Mrs. Wesley has my sincere thanks for her good wishes in favour of this wretched tabernacle, my body; the soul that is so unhappy as to inhabit it deserves her regard something better, because it really harbours much good-will for her husband and herself; no man being more truly, dear Sir, your affectionate and faithful servant, ALEXANDER Pope. LETTER II. To the Rev. Mr. Wesley, School-master, Tiverton, Devon. REY. SIR, Dover-street, Aug. 7, 1734. I am sorry and ashamed to say it, but the truth must coine out, that I have a letter of yours dated June 8, and this is Aug. 7, and I have but now set pen to paper to answer it. I assure you, I was very glad to hear from you; and, since that you are much mended in your health, change of air will certainly be of great service to you, and I hope you will use some other exercise than that of the school. hear you have had an increase of above forty boys since you have been down there. I am very glad, for your sake, that you are so well approved of; I hope it will in every respect answer your expectation : if your health be established, I make no doubt but that all parts will prove to your mind, which will be a great pleasure to me. There is very little news stirring ; they all agree that the Bishop of Winchester is dying. They say Hoadly is to succeed him; and Potter, Hoadly; but how farther I cannot tell, nor does the town pretend, which is a wonderful thing: I am very glad you was reduced to read over Hudibras three times with care; and I find you are perfectly of my mind, that it much wants notes, and that it will be a great work ; certainly it will be, to do it as it should be ; I do not know one so capable of doing it as yourself. I speak this very sincerely. 'Lily's Life I have; and any books that I have you shall sce, and have the perusal of them, and any other part that I can assist. I own, I am very fond of the work, and it would be of excellent use and entertainment The news you read in the papers of a match with my daughter and the Duke of Portland was completed at Mary-le-bone Chapel ; I think there is the greatest prospect of happiness to them both; I think it must be mutual ; one part cannot be happy without the other. Here is a great harmony of temper, a liking to each other; which is, I think, å true foundation for happiness. Compliments from all here attend you. I am, Sir, OXFORD. The two boys are well. Pray let me hear from you soon, and let me know, under your own hand, how you do. 1787, July. LX. Letters from Zachary Williams, on the Longitude, some of tbem corrected, and others written, by Dr. Samuel Johnson. LETTER I. To the Earl of Halifax. 1751. PERMIT an old man, in the 82d year of his age, one who has long been the sport of fortune, to address your Lordship. Though distressed and mal-treated, he is extremely unwilling to carry with him, where it must be buried in eterDal oblivion, the effects of more than thirty years study, as weli as very considerable expence. He fatters himself the long-wished for and desired discovery of the longitude may be fully supplied by due observations of the variations of the magnetic needle. To this he has applied his care; and should esteem it the highest honour to have an opportunity of submitting his labours to your Lordship's consideration, a specimen whereof is with all submission inclosed. How far these calculations may be rendered expedient to the trade and navigation of these kingdoms would not become him to say to a nobleman of your Lordship’s judgment and penetration. His only ambition is to be useful to his country; and, if he should be so happy as to obtain your Lordship's patronage, humbly hopes bis grey hairs may descend into the siient grave with peace and satis action. From your Lordship’s niosi dutiful and obedient servant, Z. WILLIAMS. LETTER II. To the Lords of the Admiralty. Oct. 9, 1751. Permit me to signify to your Lordships, that I have a very useful secret, which is as yet unknown to the learned world, for perfecting the hitherto imperfect art of navigation ; and might have been long ere this time sufficiently experimented, and many disasters been happily prevented, which have since happened at sea for want of their having a better knowledge of the true longitude and variations of the compass-needle. I have often, from time to time, proposed this useful secret to this right hon. board for above these twenty years last past; but the true merit of the proposal has not bitherto been justly and fairly examined. As therefore I do now confidently presume that, by the method which I am ready to propose, I have a just claim to the benefit and reward granted by act of parliament for discovering and determining the longitude at sea; I humbly I request that your Lordships will be pleased to appoint such of the commissioners, or other skilful and learned persons as you shall judge meet and able, to examine into, and judge of, the true merit thereof; and that your Lordships will please to fix a certain and convenient time and place at which the said persons and myself shall meet together, in the presence of your board, for the examination thereof, to the end that they may there, without prejudice, declare their judgment concerning the same, being willing that this valuable secret, which so much tends to the advancement of navigation, be first promoted here in England, to the lasting fame and renown of our nation, rather than be received and first promoted by a foreign power. I earnestly beg your Lordships final determination and answer by a line from your Lordships board. I remain, with all due regard, your Lordships most obedient, and humble servant, 2. WILLIAMS. LETTER III. To Doctor Bradley. Admiralty-Office, Oct. 10, 1751. The bearer, Mr. Zachariah Williams, having represented to my lords commissioners of the Admiralty, that he has found out a very useful secret for perfecting the art of navigation, and for the better coming at the knowledge of the longitude, and variation of the compass-needle ; I am commaided by their Lordships to recommend it to you, to examine into what he hath to offer, and to report your opinion thereupon to them. I am, Sir, S. CLEVELAND. LETTER IV. To Doctor Bradley. Oct. 25, 1751. I TROUBLED you lately with a letter, to acquaint you, that I have been favoured by the lords of the Admiralty with a commission to be delivered by me to your own hand ; and now write again, to intreat the favour of an interview either at Greenwich, or when your affairs call you to town. I have forborn to wait on you at Greenwich, till I know what time will suit you best, lest you should either be not at home, or not at leisure, for my age makes me very fearful of any fruitless fatigue. I am, Sir, Z. WILLIAMS. LETTER V. To the Right Hon. Lord Anson. Oct. 25, 1751. As the benefit of a right knowledge of the longitude, and variations of the compass-needle at sea, has been thought |