• This Gentleman was of Scotland, and bred at the Univerfity of Utrecht, with the Earl of Mar. He served in Spain under Earl Rivers. After the Peace, he was made one of the Commiffioners of the Cuftoms in Scotland, and then of Taxes in England; in which, having fhewn himfelf for twenty years diligent, punctual, and incorruptible, though without any other affiftance of Fortune; he was fuddenly difplaced by the Minister, in the fixty-eighth year of his age; and died two months after, in 1741. He was a perfon of Univerfal Learning, and an enlarged Conversation; no man had a warmer heart for his Friend, or a fincerer attachment to the Conftitution of his Country.-And yet, for all this, the public will never believe him to be the Author of this Letter.

MARTINUS SCRIBLERUS

HIS

Prolegomena and Illustrations

TO THE

DUNCIA D:

WITH THE

Hyper-critics of ARISTARCHUS.

DENNIS, Remarks on Pr. ARTHUR.

CANNOT but think it the most reasonable thing in the world, to diftinguish good writers, by difcouraging the bad. Nor is it an ill-natured thing, in relation even to the very perfons upon whom the reflections are made. It is true, it may deprive them, a little the fooner, of a short profit and a tranfitory reputation; but then it may have a good effect, and oblige them (before it be too late) to decline that for which they are so very unfit, and to have recourfe to fomething in which they may be more fuccefsful.

CHARACTER of Mr. P. 1716.

THE Perfons whom Boileau has attacked in his writings, have been for the most part Authors, and most of thofe Authors, Poets: And the cenfures he hath paffed upon them have been confirmed by all Europe.

GILDON, Pref. to his NEW REHEARSAL.

IT is the common cry of the Poetafters of the town, and their fautors, that it is an ill-natured thing to expose the Pretenders to wit and poetry. The Judges and Magiftrates may with full as good reafon be reproached with Ill-nature VOL. V. C

for putting the Laws in execution against a Thief or Impoftor-The fame will hold in the republic of Letters, if the Critics and Judges will let every ignorant pretender to scribling pass on the world.

THEOBALD, Lett. to Mift, June 22, 1728.

ATTACKS may be levelled, either against Failures in Genius, or against the Pretenfions of writing without one.

CONCANEN, Ded, to the Author of the DUNCIAD.

A Satire upon Dulness is a thing that has been ufed and allowed in All Ages.

Out of thine own Mouth will I judge thee, wicked Scribler!