you in pain, But I intreat

dence of fuccefs, begins to put and make you tremble for me. you to difiifs all concern of that nature, for I can run no risk. I am not determined by defire of fame, or profit, to undertake this difficult and hazardous province, but I have other views, which I am under obligations to purfue, though I should run a greater venture than I do now. If I mifcarry, I am but where I was; if I fucceed, I fhall have the fatisfaction of accomplishing a defign that I have formed for public good.

IDESIGNED long ago to have acknowledged the favour of your kind letter, and, at the fame time, to have acquainted you that I

had laid afide, all thoughts of the design mens tioned to you in my laft. I had indeed been prompted to it by our very worthy friend Sir Richard Blackmore, who is apt to think, as you do, much too partially of my poor abi lities. But when I perceived you were tired with an entertainment you had fo long given the town, with much better fuccefs thanoJ could ever propofe, I could not perfuade myfelf to engage as a principal in an undertaking, in which I was only willing to have been an affiftant. Sir Richard was, however, of opinion, that fuch a defign ought not to be dropped, and therefore determined to make the experiment, which he believed might turn to the public good; and, by his commiffion, I fend you the papers which have been hitherto published, to which he adds his fincere refpects to your fifter.

You may believe, when this defign was once fet on foot, I could not be wholly unconcerned:

These papers were collected into a volume in 1714, under the title of the "Lay-Monaftery." The Friday's papers were by Mr. H. the reft by Sir Richard Blackmore. There are forty numbers.

I must therefore defire your indulgence to the third, fixth, Land hinth papers; and the reft, I am fure, will entertain you very well. I do not own my part, but to yourself, having fo machobufinefs to attend at prefent, befides my ordinary affairs, that I am never fure of a day's time. I fhould have been very glad if I could have accepted of your kind invitation, and have waited on you in the country. No one has more entire esteem for your friendfhip, nor more longs for your return to the town, than, &c.

I'MAKE ufe of the freedom you so obligingly allowed me, of fending you a paper of propofals for Homer," and of intreating your affiftance in promoting the fubscription *.

* Mr. Pope began to give out subscriptions in 1713,

I have added another for Mr. Pate*, if he thinks fit to oblige me fo far, as you feemed inclined to believe he might.

I have left receipts figned with Mr. Jervas, who will give 'em for any subscriptions you may procure, and be (I am fure) very glad to be better acquainted with you, or entertain you with what paintings or drawings he has. He charges me to give you his most humble fervice, and I beg you to think no man is, with a truer efteem than I, dear Sir,

Your, moft obliged

and faithful fervant,

A. POPE.

Pray make my most humble fervice acceptable to Sir Richard Blackmore

Probably Will Pate, the learned woollen-draper," mentioned as fuch by Swift in his letters to Stella" Sept. 17 and ca. 6, 1710.

It appears from the above, that Mr. Pope and this poetical knight were then upon terms of friendship, which were first broken by Sir Richard's accufing Mr. Pope of profaneness and immorality, (fee his "effays," vol. ii, p. 27) on a report from Curl, that he was author of a "traveftie on the firft pfalm." Had it not

been

LETTER XXX.

Mr. HUGHES to Sir GODFREY KNELLER*.

SIR GODFREY,

Aug. 19, 1715.

KNOWING how great an admirer you

are of Rubens, and of his genius for allego

been for this, all the knight's had poetry would scarcely have procuted him a place in the "Dunciad," as in that poem the author profeffed to attack no man living, who had not before printed " and published against him;" and, on this principle, having ridiculed "Dr. Watts's pfalms" in the first edition of that fatire, thofe lines were, at the inftance of Mr. Richardfon, the painter, a friend to both, in all the subsequent editions omitted.

*This great painter was born at Lubeck in Holstein, in 1646, and, after studying under Rembrandt in Holland, and also at Rome and Venice, came over to England in 1674, accompanied by his brother, without intending to refide here but to return through France to Venice. They were recommended to Banks, a Hamburgh merchant, and Godfrey drew him and his family. The pictures pleased. Mr. Vernon, secretary to the duke of Monmouth, faw them, fat to the new painter, and obtained his master's picture by the fame hand. The duke was so charmed, that he engaged the king his father to fit to Kneller. His fuccefs fixed him here. The feries of his portraits prove the continuance of his reputation...

He was knighted by king William in 1692, was made a baronet by George I, and died Oct. 27, 1723.

64.

Walpole's anecdotes of painting," vol. iii, p. 107-111.