I

SIR,

LETTER XCVII.

From Mr. POPE.

Twickenham, Oct. 20, 1734.

AM obliged for the favour of yours. I have looked for the letter Mr. Hughes fent me, but cannot find it. I had a great regard for his merit, modefty, and softness of manners. He writ to me a few days before his death, concerning his play of the Siege of Damafcus," which is the only letter I can meet with.

66

I thank you for the part you are pleased to take, both in regard to my health (which 'has, I thank GOD, been as good as usual,) and to my reputation, my poetical welfare, which I refign as much to Providence as the other. But truly I had not the leaft thought of stealing applause by fuppreffing my name to that "effay": I wanted

The " effay on man." This work came out feparately, the first book being published in 1732, and she last in 1734

only

only to hear truth, and was more afraid of my partial friends than enemies. Befides, I really was humble and diffident enough, to diftruft my own performance. All I can fay of it is, that I know it to be an honest one.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient humble fervant,

A. POPE.

LETTER XCVIII.

From the Rev. Dr. WATTS.

SIR,

From lady Abney's at Newington, Nov. 1, 1734.

YOUR prefent of a ticket, which en

titles me to Mr. Hughes's " poems," was an agreeable furprife. My acquaintance and intimacy with that ingenious gentleman

* See note on letter ii, vol. i.

VOL. II.

H

was

was in the younger years of life chiefly our later fituations in the world divided us fo far as to prevent frequent conversation, though not to destroy mutual esteem...... Your lady, I believe, I have seen as a child in fome of my ancient visits to Mr. John Hughes, when his brother, Jabez, was a little boy. While I write thus, methinks I recall youth, and revive fome buried ideas. But eternity lies before me, and appears in a much nearer view. May I be found ready for the important fummons !....

I have seen the French "Athaliah" • long ago, and by your tranflation † now enjoy the English; but a man of my character must not too much indulge what relates to the modern flage, because of its vicious entertainments. It is my opinion that dramatic poefy might have been useful to many happy purposes, had it always been kept within the bounds prefcribed by

By Racine.

+ Printed for Watts, 1723. There have been three editions of it.

virtue and religion, as Racine has done. But, as you fay from Horace concerning yourself, "Quid verum atq; decens curo, et rogo, et omnis in boc fum," fo I muft fay (at least fince my last published miscellanies) Nunc itaque et verfus et cætera ludicra pono.

Mr. Samuel Say* (of whom you write) was an old intimate of Mr. John Hughes at the fame time with me, being all fellow-ftudents together in logic and philofophy. He is very lately fixed in London, a minifter to that congregation which was lately under the care of the Rev. Dr. Calamy. With all due falutations,

I am, &c.

I. WATTS.

• See note on letter iv, vol. i, p. 19.

I

SIR,

LETTER XCIX.

From Mr. POPE.

Twit'nam, Nov. 5, [1734.]

AM extremely willing to bear any teftimony of my real regard for Mr, Hughes, and therefore what you mention of my letter to his brother*, after his death, will be a greater inftance of the fincerity with which it was given: it is perfectly at your fervice. I thank you for the tenderness with which you deal in this matter toward me, and I efteem you for that which you fhew to the memory of your kinfiman. I doubt not but you will discharge it in a becoming manner, and am, Sir,

Your most obedient humble fervant,

A. POPE.

Defiring to infert it (with Mr. Pope's confent) in the memoirs of Mr. Hughes prefixed to his "po+ See letter lxxxiii, vol. i.

"ems."

LETTER