Rank and Credit may do to a private Perfon, under Penal Laws and many other disadvantages, not for want of honesty or confcience, but merely perhaps for having too weak a head, or too tender a heart 78. It is by these alone I have hitherto liv'd excluded from all posts of Profit or Truft: As I can interfere with the Views of no man, do not deny me, my Lord, all that is left, a little Praise, or the cominon Encouragement due, if not to my Genius, at least to my Industry.

Above all, your Lordship will be careful not to wrong my Moral Character, with THOSE 79 under whole Protection I live, and thro' whofe Lenity alone I can live with Comfort. Your Lordship, I am confident, upon confideration will think, you inadvertently went a little too far when you recommended to THEIR perufal, and ftrengthened by the weight of your Approbation, a Libel, mean in its reflections upon my poor figure, and scandalous in those on my Honour and Integrity : wherein I was represented as an Enemy to Human „Race, a Murderer of Reputations, and a Monster mark'd ,,by God like Cain, deferving to wander accurs'd thro' ,,the World."

A ftrange Picture of a Man, who had the good fortune to enjoy many friends, who will be always remember'd as the firft Ornaments of their Age and Country; and no Enemies that ever contriv'd to be heard of, except Mr. John Dennis, and your Lordship: A Man, who never wrote a Line in which the Religion or Government of his Country, the Royal Family, or their

78 See Letter to Bishop Atterbury, Lett. iv.

79 The K. and Q.

Miniftry were disrespectfully mentioned; the Animofity of any one Party gratify'd at the expence of another; or any Cenfure past, but upon known Vice, acknowledg'd Folly, or aggreffing Impertinence. It is with infinite pleafure he finds, that fome Men who seem afham'd and afraid of nothing else, are fo very fenfible of his Ridicule: And 'tis for that very reafon he refolves (by the grace of God, and your Lordship's good leave)

That, while he breathes, no rich or noble knave
Shall walk the world in credit to his grave.

This he thinks, is rendering the best Service he can to the Public, and even to the good Government of his Country; and for this, at least, he may deferve fome Countenance, even from the GREATEST PERSONS in it. Your Lordship knows of WHOм I fpeak. Their NAMES I should be as forry, and as much asham'd, to place near yours, on fuch an occation, as I should be to fee You, my Lord, placed fo near their PERSONS, if you could ever make fo ill an Ufe of their Ear 80 as to afperle or mifreprefent any innocent Man.

This is all I fhall ever afk of your Lordship, except your pardon for this tedious Letter. I have the honour to be, with equal Respect and Concern,

My Lord,

Your truly devoted Servant,

80 Clofe at the car of Eve. Ep. to Dr. Arbuth.

A. POPE.