landscapes we commonly fee in black and white do of a beautiful country; they can represent but a very fmall part of it, and that deprived of the life and luftre of nature. I perceive that the more I endeavour'd to render manifeft the real affection and value I ever had for you, I did but injure it by reprefenting lefs and less of it at glaffes which are defign'd to make an object.' very clear, generally contract it. Yet as when people have a full idea of a thing firft upon their own knowledge, the leaft traces of 'it ferve to refresh the remembrance, and are not displeasing on that score; fo, I hope, the foreknowledge you had of my esteem for you, is the reason that you do not diflike my letters. They will not be of any great fervice (I find) in the defign I mentioned to you: I believe I had better fteal from a richer man, and plunder your letters (which I have kept as carefully as I would Letters Patents, fince they intitle me to what I more value than titles of honour.) You have fome cause to apprehend this ufage from me, if what fome fay be true, that I am a great borrower; however I have hitherto had the luck that none of my creditors have challenged me for it and those who say it are fuch, whofe writings no man ever borrow'd from, fo have the leaft reason to complain; and whofe works are granted on all hands し to be but too much their own. Another has been pleas'd to declare, that my verfes are corrected by other men: I verily believe theirs were never corrected by any man: but indeed if mine have not, 'twas not iny fault; have endeavour'd my utmost that they fhould. But these things are caly whisper'd, and I : will not encroach upon Bay's province and pen-whif pers, fo haften to conclude Your, &c. LETTER VIII. From my Lord LANDSDO W N. O. 21, 1713. I Am pleas'd beyond measure with your defign of tranflating Homer. The trials which you have already made and published on fome parts of that author, have fhewn that you are equal to fo great a task and you may therefore depend upon the utmost fervices. I can do you in promoting this work, or any thing that may be for your fervice, : I hope Mr. Stafford, for whom you was pleased to concern yourself, has had the good effects of the Queen's Grace to him. I had notice the night before I began my journey, that her Majefty had not only directed his pardon, but order'd a Writ for reverfing his Outlawry. Your, &c. I' LETTER IX. To General ANTHONY HAMILTON (a) . Upon his having tranflated into French Verse the Oct. 10, 1713.. FI could as well exprefs, or (if you will allow me to say it) tranflate the fentiments of my heart as you have done those of my head, in your excellent verfion of my Effay; I fhould not only appear the beft writer in the world, but, what I mush more defire to be thought, the moft your fervant of any man 'living. 'Tis an advantage very rarely known, to receive at once a great honour and a great improvement. This, Sir, you have afforded me, having at the fame 3 time made others take my fenfe, and taught me to understand my own; if I may call that my own which is indeed more properly yours. Your verses are no more a tranflation of mine, than Virgil's are of Homer's; but are, like his, the jufteft imitacion and the nobleft Commentary. In putting me into a French dress, you have not only adorned my outside, but mended my shape; and, if I am now a good figure, I must consider you have naturaliz'd me into a country which is famous for making every man a fine gentleman. It is by your means, that (contrary to moft young travellers) I am come back much better than I went out. (4) Author of the Memoirs of the Count de Grammont, Contas, and other pieces of note in French. P. I cannot but wish we had a bill of commerce for tranflation established the next parliament; we could not fail of being gainers by that, nor of making ourselves amends for any thing we have loft by the war. Nay, tho' we fhould inlift upon the demolishing of Boileau's works, the French, as long as they have writers of your form, might have as good an equivalent. Upon the whole, I am really as proud, as our mi̟nifters ought to be, of the terms I have 'gain'd from abroad; and I defign, like them, to publish speedily to the world the benefits accruing from them; for I cannot refift the temptation of printing your admirable tranflation here (b); to which if you will be fo obliging to give me leave to prefix your name, it will be the only addition you can make to the honour already done me. I am Your, &c. (6) This was never done, for the two printed French ¡versions are neither of this hand. The one was done by Monfieur Roboton, private secretary to king George the firft, printed in quarto at Amfterdam, and at London 1717. The other by the Abbé Refnel, in octayo, with a large preface and notes, at Paris, 1730. P. LETTERS TO AND FROM MR. STEELE, MR. ADDISON, From 1712 to 1715. LETTER I. Mr. STEELE to Mr. POPE. June 1, 1712. Ain at a folitude, an house between Hampstead and London, wherein Sir Charles Sedley died. This circumstance fet me a thinking and ruminating upon the employments in which men of wit exercise themfelIt was faid of Sir Charles, who breath'd his last in this room, ves. Sedley has that prevailing gentle art; · |