TO LADY HESKETH. Feb. 13, 1791. this subject pretty much at large; for which reason I will curb my zeal, and say the less about it at present. That Johnson, who wrote harmoI CAN now send you a full and true account of niously in rhyme, should have had so defective an his business. Having learned that your inn at ear as never to have discovered any music at all Woburn was the George, we sent Samuel thither in blank verse, till he heard a particular friend of yesterday. Mr. Martin, master of the George, told him his reading it, is a wonder never sufficiently to be *wondered at. Yet this is true on his own acknowledgment, and amounts to a plain confession (of which perhaps he was not aware when he made it) that he did not know how to read blank verse himself. In short, he either suffered prejudice to lead him in a string whithersoever it would, or his taste in poetry was worth little. I don't believe he ever read any thing of that kind with enthusiasm in his life: and as good poetry can not be composed without a considerable share of that quality in the mind of the author, so neither can it be read or tasted as it ought to be without it. P.S. I can not help adding a circumstance that will divert you. Martin, having learned from Sam whose servant he was, told him that he had never seen Mr. Cowper, but he had heard him frequently spoken of by the companies that had called at his house, and therefore, when Sam would have paid for his breakfast, would take nothing from him. Who says that fame is only empty breath? On the contrary, it is good ale, and cold beef into the bargain. TO THE REV. WALTER BAGOT. Weston Underwood, Feb. 26, 1791. MY DEAR FRIEND, It is a maxim of much weight, Worth conning o'er and o'er, I have said all this in the morning fasting, but am soon going to my tea. When, therefore, I shall have told you that we are now, in the course of our printing, in the second book of the Odyssey, I shall only have time to add, that I am, my dear friend, Most truly yours, W. C. I think your Latin quotations very applicable to the present state of France. But France is in a situation new and untried before. TO JOHN JOHNSON, ESQ. Feb. 27, 1791. Now, my dearest Johnny, I must tell thee in few words how much I love and am obliged to thee for thy affectionate services. BUT notwithstanding the truth and importance of this apophthegm, to which I lay claim as the original author of it, it is not equally true that my application to Homer, close as it is, has been the sole cause of my delay to answer you. No. In observing so long a silence I have been influenced much more by a vindictive purpose, a purpose to punish you for your suspicion that I could possi- My Cambridge honours are all to be ascribed to bly feel myself hurt or offended by any critical sug-you, and to you only. Yet you are but a little gestion of yours that seemed to reflect on the pu- man; and a little man into the bargain who have rity of my nonsense verses. Understand, if you kicked the mathematics, their idol, out of your stuplease, for the future, that whether I disport my-dy. So important are the endings which Proviself in Greek or Latin, or in whatsoever other dence frequently connects with small beginnings. anguage, you are hereby, henceforth, and for ever, Had you been here, I could have furnished you entitled and warranted to take any liberties with it to which you shall feel yourself inclined, not excepting even the lines themselves which stand at the head of this letter! You delight me when you call blank verse the English heroic; for I have always thought, and often said, that we have no other verse worthy to be so entitled. When you read my Preface, you will be made acquainted with my sentiments on This letter contained the history of a servant's cruelty to a posthorse, which a reader of humanity could not wish to see in print. But the postscript describes so pleasantly the signal influence of a poet's reputation on the spirit of a liberal innkeeper, that it surely ought not to be suppressed. Hayley. with much employment; for I have so dealt with your fair MSS. in the course of my polishing and improving, that I have almost blotted out the whole. Such, however, as it is, I must now send it to the printer, and he must be content with it, for there is not time to make a fresh copy. We are now printing the second book of the Odyssey. Should the Oxonians bestow none of their no tice on me on this occasion, it will happen singu larly enough, that as Pope received all his university honours in the subscription way from Oxford and none at all from Cambridge, so I shall have received all mine from Cambridge, and none from Oxford. This is the more likely to be the case, because I understand that on whatsoever occasion either of those learned bodies thinks fit to move, | At any rate we shall not, I hope, hereafter be the other always makes it a point to sit still, thus known to each other as poets only, for your writproving its superiority. I shall send up your letter to Lady Hesketh in a day or two, knowing that the intelligence contained in it will afford her the greatest pleasure. Know likewise for your own gratification, that all the Scotch universities have subscribed, none excepted. We are all as well as usual; that is to say, as well as reasonable folks expect to be on the crazy side of this frail existence. I rejoice that we shall so soon have you again at our fireside. W. C. TO JOSEPH HILL, ESQ. Weston, March 6, 1791. AFTER all this ploughing and sowing on the plains of Troy, once fruitful, such at least to my translating predecessor, some harvest I hope will arise for me also. My long work has received its last, last touches; and I am now giving my preface its final adjustment. We are in the fourth Odyssey in the course of our printing, and I expect that I and the swallows shall appear together. They have slept all the winter, but I, on the contrary, have been extremely busy. Yet if I can "viram volitare per ora" as swiftly as they through the air, I shall account myself well requited. Adieu! W. C. SIR, TO THE REV. MR. HURDIS. Weston, March 6, 1791. ings have made me ambitious of a nearer approach to you. Your door, however, will never be opened to me. My fate and fortune have combined with my natural disposition to draw a circle round me which I can not pass; nor have I been more than thirteen miles from home these twenty years, and so far very seldom. But you are a younger man, and therefore may not be quite so immoveable; in which case, should you choose at any time to move Weston-ward, you will always find me happy to receive you; and in the mean time I remain, with much respect, Your most obedient servant, critic, and friend, W.C. P. S. I wish to know what you mean to do with Sir Thomas. For though I expressed doubts about his theatrical possibilities, I think him a very respectable person, and with some improvement well worthy of being introduced to the public. TO JOSEPH HILL, ESQ. March 10, 1791. GIVE my affectionate remembrances to your sisters, and tell them I am impatient to entertain them with my old story new dressed. W. C. I have two French prints hanging in my study, both on Iliad subjects; and I have an English one in the parlour, on a subject from the same poem. In one of the former, Agamemnon addresses Achilles exactly in the attitude of a dancing-master turning miss in a minuet; in the latter the figures are plain, and the attitudes plain also. This is, in some considerable measure I believe, the difference I HAVE always entertained, and have occasion-between my translation and Pope's; and will serve ally avowed, a great degree of respect for the abi- as an exemplification of what I am going to lay lities of the unknown author of the Village Curate, before you and the public. unknown at that time, but now well known, and not to me only, but to many. For before I was favoured with your obliging letter, I knew your name, your place of abode, your profession, and that you had four sisters; all which I learned nei- MY DEAR FRIEND, Weston, March 18, 1791. ther from our bookseller, nor from any of his con- I GIVE you joy that you are about to receive nexions; you will perceive, therefore, that you are some more of my elegant prose, and I feel myself no longer an author incognito. The writer in- in danger of attempting to make it even more eledeed of many passages that have fallen from your pen could not long continue so. Let genius, true genius, conceal itself where it may, we may say of it, as the young man in Terence of his beautiful mistress, "Diu latere non potest." TO THE REV. WALTER BAGOT. gant than usual, and thereby of spoiling it, under the influence of your commendations. But my old helter-skelter manner has already succeeded so well, that I will not, even for the sake of entitling myself to a still greater portion of your praise, abandon it. I am obliged to you for your kind offers of serice, and will not say that I shall not be trouble- I did not call in question Johnson's true spirit some to you hereafter; but at present I have no of poetry, because he was not qualified to relish need to be so. I have within these two days given blank verse (though, to tell you the truth, I think the very last stroke of my pen to my long Translation, and what will be my next career I know not. • Sir Thomas More, a Tragedy. that but an ugly symptom;) but if I did not ex-| Norwich maiden? To which I reply, it will be press it I meant however to infer it from the per- by no means improper. On the contrary, I am verse judgment that he has formed of our poets in persuaded that she will give her name with a very general; depreciating some of the best, and mak- good will, for she is much an admirer of poesy ing honourable mention of others, in my opinion that is worthy to be admired, and such I think, not undeservedly neglected. I will lay you six- judging by the specimen, the poesy of this maidpence that, had he lived in the days of Milton, and en, Elizabeth Bentley of Norwich, is likely to by any accident had met with his Paradise Lost, prove. he would neither have directed the attention of others to it, nor have much admired it himself. Good sense, in short, and strength of intellect, seem to me, rather than a fine taste, to have been his distinguished characteristics. But should you still think otherwise, you have my free permission; for so long as you yourself have a taste for the beauties of Cowper, I care not a fig whether Johnson advance their interest. Many such phenomena had a taste or not. Not that I am myself inclined to expect in general great matters, in the poetical way, from persons whose ill fortune it has been to want the common advantages of education; neither do I account it in general a kindness to such, to encourage them in the indulgence of a propensity more likely to do them harm in the end, than to have arisen within my remembrance, at which all the world has wondered for a season, and has then forgot them. I wonder where you find all your quotations, pat as they are to the present condition of France. Do you make them yourself, or do you actually find The fact is, that though strong natural genius them? I am apt to suspect sometimes, that you is always accompanied with strong natural tenimpose them only on a poor man who has but twen-dency to its object, yet it often happens that the ty books in the world, and two of them are your tendency is found where the genius is wanting. brother Chester's. They are however much to the In the present instance, however (the poems of a purpose, be the author of them who he may. certain Mrs. Leapor excepted, who published some forty years ago) I discern, I think, more marks of a true poetical talent than I remember to have observed in the verses of any other, male or female, so disadvantageously cir I was very sorry to learn lately that my friend at Chicheley has been sometimes indisposed, either with gout or rheumatism, (for it seems to be uncertain which) and attended by Dr. Kerr. I am at a loss to conceive how so temperate a man cumstanced. I wish her therefore good speed, should acquire the gout, and am resolved therefore and subscribe to her with all my heart. to conclude that it must be the rheumatism, which, You will rejoice when I tell you that I have bad as it is, is in my judgment the best of the two; some hopes, after all, of a harvest from Oxford and will afford me besides some opportunity to also; Mr. Throckmorton has written to a person sympathize with him, for I am not perfectly ex-of considerable influence there, which he has deempt from it myself. Distant as you are in situa-sired him to exert in my favour; and his request, tion, you are yet perhaps nearer to him in point I should imagine, will hardly prove a vain one. of intelligence than I; and if you can send me any particular news of him, pray do it in your next. I love and thank you for your benediction. If God forgive me my sins, surely I shall love him nuch, for I have much to be forgiven. But the quantum need not discourage me, since there is One whose atonement can suffice for all. Adieu. W. C. TO SAMUEL ROSE, ESQ. MY DEAR FRIEND, Weston, March. 24, 1791. You apologize for your silence in a manner which affords me so much pleasure, that I can not but be satisfied. Let business be the cause, That is a cause to which i Τα δε καθ' αιμα ρεεν, και σοι, και εμοι και αδελφοις and I am contented. would even be accessary myself, and would increase yours by any means, except by a lawsuit of my own, at the expense of all your opportunities of writing oftener than thrice in a twelvemonth. Your application to Dr. Dunbar reminds me of two lines to be found somewhere in Dr. Young: "And now a poet's gratitude you see: "Grant him two favours, and he'll ask for three." Lady Hesketh's subscription to the poems of the In this particular therefore I perceive that a poet, and a poet's friend, bear a striking resemblance to Our thanks are due to you for the book you each other. The Doctor will bless himself that sent us. Mrs. Unwin has read me several parts the number of Scotch universities is not larger, of it, which I have much admired. The obserassured that if they equalled those in England, in vations are shrewd and pointed; and there is number of colleges, you would give him no rest much wit in the similes and illustrations. Yet a till he had engaged them all. It is true, as Lady remark struck me, which I could not help making Hesketh told you, that I shall not fear in the vivâ voce on the occasion. If the book has any matter of subscription a comparison even with real value, and does in truth deserve the notice Pope himself; considering (I mean) that we live taken of it by those to whom it is addressed, its in days of terrible taxation, and when verse, not claim is founded neither on the expression, nor on being a necessary of life, is accounted dear, be it the style, nor on the wit of it, but altogether on what it may, even at the lowest price. I am no the truth that it contains. Now the same truths very good arithmetician, yet I calculated the other are delivered, to my knowledge, perpetually from day in my morning walk, that my two volumes, the pulpit by ministers, whom the admirers of this at the price of three guineas, will cost the pur-writer would disdain to hear. Yet the truth is chaser less than the seventh part of a farthing not the less important for not being accompanied per line. Yet there are lines among them, that and recommended by brilliant thoughts and exhave cost me the labour of hours, and none that have not cost me some labour. TO LADY HESKETH. W. C. pressions; neither is God, from whom comes all truth, any more a respecter of wit than he is of persons. It will appear soon whether they ap plaud the book for the sake of its unanswerable arguments, or only tolerate the argument for the sake of the splendid manner in which it is enforced. I wish as heartily that it may do them good, as if I were myself the author of it. But JOHNSON writes me word that he has repeated-alas! my wishes and hopes are much at variance. ly called on Horace Walpole, and has never It will be the talk of the day, as another publicafound him at home. He has also written to him, tion of the same kind has been; and then the and received no answer. I charge thee therefore noise of Vanity-fair will drown the voice of the on thy allegiance, that thou move not a finger preacher. Friday night, March 25, 1791. MY DEAREST COZ, more in this business. My back is up, and I can I am glad to learn that the Chancellor does not not bear the thought of wooing him any further, forget me, though more for his sake than my own; nor would do it, though he were as pig a gentle- for I see not how he can ever serve a man like man (look you!) as Lucifer himself. I have me. Adieu, my dearest Coz, W. C. Welch blood in me, if the pedigree of the Donnes say true, and every drop of it says "Let him alone!" I should have dined at the Hall to-day, having engaged myself to do so; but an untoward occurrence, that happened last night, or rather this morning, prevented me. It was a thundering rap at the door, just after the clock struck three. First, I thought the house was on fire. Then I thought the Hall was on fire. Then I thought it was a house-breaker's trick. Then I thought it was an express. In any case I thought that if it should be repeated, it would awaken and terrify Mrs. Unwin, and kill her with spasms. The consequence of all these thoughts was the worst nervous fever I ever had in my life, although it was the shortest. The rap was given but once, though a multifarious one. Had I heard a second, I should have risen myself at all adventures. It was the only minute since you went, in which I have been glad that you were not here. Soon! after I came down, I learned that a drunken party had passed through the village at that time, and they were no doubt the authors of this witty, but oublesome invention. TO MRS. THROCKMORTON. April 1, 1791. Could Homer come himself, distress'd and poor, I have read your husband's pamphlet through and through. You may think perhaps, and so may he, that a question so remote from all concern of mine could not interest me; but if you think so, you are both mistaken. He can write nothing 1 that will not interest me; in the first place, for Homer has no news to tell us; and when, all other the writer's sake; and in the next place because comforts of life having risen in price, poetry has he writes better and reasons better than any body, of course fallen. I call it a "comfort of life;" it with more candour, and more sufficiency; and is so to others, but to myself it has become even a consequently with more satisfaction to all his necessary. readers, save only his opponents. They, I think, by this time, wish that they had let him alone. These holiday times are very unfavourable to the printer's progress. He and all his demons are Tom is delighted past measure with his wooden making themselves merry, and me sad, for I mourn nag, and gallops at a rate that would kill any at every hindrance. horse that had a life to lose. Adieu, W. C. W. C. TO JOHN JOHNSON, ESQ. MY DEAR JOHNNY, TO THE REV. WALTER BAGOT. MY DEAR FRIEND, Weston, May 2, 1791. Weston, April 6, 1791. MONDAY being a day in which Homer has now A THOUSAND thanks for your splendid assem- no demands on me, I shall give part of the present blage of Cambridge luminaries! If you are not Monday to you. But it this moment occurs to contented with your collection it can only be be- me that the proposition with which I begin will be cause you are unreasonable; for I who may be obscure to you, unless followed by an explanation. supposed more covetous on this occasion than any You are to understand therefore that Monday bebody, am highly satisfied, and even delighted with ing no postday, I have consequently no proof-sheets it. If indeed you should find it practicable to add to correct, the correction of which is nearly ali still to the number, I have not the least objection. that I have to do with Homer at present: I say But this charge I give you: nearly all, because I am likewise occasionally employed in reading over the whole of what is already printed, that I may make a table of errata to each of the poems. How much is already printed say you?-I answer-the whole Iliad, and almost seventeen books of the Odyssey. Αλλο δε τοι ερέω συ δ' ενι φρεσι βαλλεο σητε Stay not an hour beyond the time you have mentioned, even though you should be able to add a thousand names by so doing! For I can not afford to purchase them at that cost. I long to see About a fortnight since, perhaps three weeks, I you, and so do we both, and will not suffer you to had a visit from your nephew, Mr. Bagot, and his postpone your visit for any such consideration. tutor, Mr. Hurlock, who came hither under conNo, my dear boy! in the affair of subscriptions duct of your niece, Miss Barbara. So were the we are already illustrious enough; shall be so at friends of Ulysses conducted to the palace of Anleast, when you shall have enlisted a college or two tiphates, the Læstrigonian, by that monarch's more, which perhaps you may be enabled to do in daughter. But mine is no palace, neither am I the course of the ensuing week. I feel myself a giant, neither did I devour any one of the parmuch obliged to your university, and much dis-ty-on the contrary, I gave them chocolate, and posed to admire the liberality of spirit they have permitted them to depart in peace. I was much shown on this occasion. Certainly I had not de- pleased both with the young man and his tutor. served much favour of their hands, all things con- In the countenance of the former I saw much sidered. But the cause of literature seems to have Bagotism, and not less in manners. I will leave some weight with them, and to have superseded you to guess what I mean by that expression. the resentment they might be supposed to enter- Physiognomy is a study of which I have almost tain on the score of certain censures, that you wot of. It is not so at Oxford. TO SAMUEL ROSE, ESQ. W. C. as high an opinion as Lavater himself, the professor of it, and for this good reason, because it never yet deceived me. But perhaps I shall speak more truly if I say that I am somewhat of an adept in the art, although I have never studud it; for whether I will or not, I judge of every human creature by the countenance, and, as I say, have never yet seen reason to repent of my judgment. to Sometimes I feel myself powerfully attracted, as I was by your nephew, and sometimes with equal vehemence repulsed, which attraction and repulsion have always been justified in the sequel. Pope's subscriptions did not amount, I think, to I have lately read, and with more attention than six hundred; ard mine will not fall very far short I ever gave them before, Milton's Latin poems. of five Noble doings, at a time of day when But these I must make the subject of some future MY DEAR FRIEND, |