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LETTER XLIV.

To Lady HESKETH.

Jan. 10, 1786.

IT gave me great pleasure that you found my friend Unwin, what I was fure you would find him, a most agreeable man. I did not ufher him in with the marrow bones and cleavers of high founding panegyric, both because I was certain that whatsoever merit he had, your difcernment would mark it, and because it is poffible to do a man material injury, by making his praise his harbinger. It is eafy to raife expectation to fuch a pitch, that the reality, be it ever fo excellent, muft neceffarily fall below it.

I hold myself much indebted to Mr.

of whom

I have the first information from yourself, both for his friendly difpofitions towards me, and for the manner in which he marks the defects in my volume. An author must be tender indeed to wince on being touched fo gently. It is undoubtedly as he fays, and as you, and my uncle fay, you cannot be all mistaken, neither is it at all probable that any of you fhould be fo. I take it for granted therefore, that there are inequalities in the compofition, and I do affure you, my dear, most faithfully, that if it should reach a fecond edition, I will spare no pains to improve it. It may ferve me for an agreeable amusement perhaps, when Homer shall be gone and done with. The first edition of poems has generally been fufceptible of improvement. Pope, I believe, never published one in his life that did not undergo variations, and his longest pieces many. I will only obferve, that inequalities there must be always, and in every work of length. There are level parts of every fubject, parts which we cannot with propriety attempt to elevate. They are by nature humble, and can only be made to

affume an awkward and uncouth appearance by being mounted. But again I take it for granted, that this remark does not apply to the matter of your objection. You were fufficiently aware of it before, and have no need, that I should suggest it as an apology, could it have ferved that office, but would have made it for me yourself. In truth, my dear, had you known in what anguish of mind I wrote the whole of that poem, and under what perpetual interruptions from a caufe that has fince been removed, so that sometimes I had not an opportunity of writing more than three lines at a fitting, you would long fince have wondered as much as I do myself, that it turned out any thing better than Grub-street.

My coufin, give yourself no trouble to find out any of the Magi to fcrutinize my Homer. I can do without them; and if I were not confcious that I have no need of their help, I would be the first to call for it. Affure yourself that I intend to be careful to the utmost line of all poffible caution, both with refpect to language and verfification. I will not fend a verfe to the press that shall not have undergone the strictest examination.

A subscription is furely on every account the most eligible mode of publication. When I fhall have emptied the purfes of my friends, and of their friends into my own, I am still free to levy contributions upon the world at large, and I shall then have a fund to defray the expenfes of a new edition. I have ordered Johnson to print the proposals immediately, and hope that they will kifs your hands before the week is expired.

I have had the kindeft lettter from Jefephus that I ever had. He mentioned my purpose to one of the

masters of Eton, who replied, that "fuch a work is much wanted." W. C.

LETTER XLV.

To Lady HESKETH.

OLNEY, January 31, 1786.

IT is very pleasant, my dearest coufin, to receive a prefent fo delicately conveyed as that which I received fo lately from Anonymous, but it is also very painful to have nobody to thank for it. I find myself therefore driven by ftrefs of neceffity to the following refolution, viz. that I will conftitute you my thank-receiver general for whatsoever gift I fhall receive hereafter, as well as for thofe, that I have already received from a nameless benefactor. I therefore thank you, my coufin, for a most elegant prefent, including the most elegant compliment that ever Poet was honoured with; for a fnuff-box of tortoife-fhell, with a beautiful landfcape on the lid of it, glazed with chryftal, having the figures of three hares in the fore-ground, and infcribed above with thefe words, The Pheafant's Neft, and below with thefe-Tiney, Pufs, and Befs. For all and every of thefe I thank you, and alfo for ftanding proxy on this occafion. Nor muft I forget to thank you, that so foon after I had fent you the first letter of Anonymous, I received another in the fame hand.-There!-Now I am a little easier.

I have almost conceived a design to fend up half a dozen ftout country-fellows to tie by the leg to their respective bed-pofts the company that so abridges your opportunity of writing to me. Your letters are the joy of my heart, and I cannot endure to be robbed by I know not whom, of half my treasure. But there is no comfort without a drawback, and therefore it is, that I, who have unknown friends, have unknown enemies alfo. Ever fince I wrote laft, I find myself in better health,

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and my nocturnal spasms and fever confiderably abated. I intend to write to Dr. Kerr on Thursday, that I may gratify him with an account of my amendment; for to him I know that it will be a gratification. Were he not a phyfician, I should regret that he lives fo diftant, for he is a most agreeable man; but being what he is, it would be impoffible to have his company, even if he were a neighbour, unless in time of fickness, at which time whatever charms he might have himself, my own muft neceffarily lofe much of their effect on him.

When I write to you, my dear, what I have already related to the General, I am always fearful least I should tell you that for news with which you are well acquainted. For once however I will venture.-On Wednesday laft I received from Johnson the мss. copy of a specimen that I had fent to the General, and enclosed in the fame cover notes upon it by an unknown critic. Johnson in a short letter recommended him to me as a man of unquestionable learning and ability. On perufal and confideration of his remarks I found him such, and having nothing fo much at heart as to give all poffible security to yourself and the General that my work fhall not come forth unfinished, I answered Johnson, "that I would gladly fubmit my мss. to his friend." He is, in truth, a very clever fellow, perfectly a stranger to me, and one who I promise you will not spare for severity of animadverfion where he fhall find occafion. It is impoffible for you, my dearest coufin, to express a wifh that I do not equally feel a wish to gratify. You are defirous that Maty should fee a book of my Homer, and for that reason if Maty will fee a book of it he fhall be welcome, although time is likely to be precious, and confequently any delay that is not abfolutely neceffary, as much as poffible to be avoided. I am now revifing the Iliad; it is a bufinefs that will coft me four months, perhaps five, for

I compare the very words as I go, and if much alteration fhould occur, must transcribe the whole. The first book I have almost transcribed already. To these five months, Johnson says, that nine more must be added for printing, and upon my own experience I will venture to affure you, that the tardiness of printers will make those nine months twelve. There is danger therefore that my fubfcribers may think, that I make them wait too long, and that they who know me not may fufpect a bubble. How glad I fhall be to read it over in an evening, book by book, as fast as I fettle the copy, to you and to Mrs. Unwin! She has been my touchitone always, and without reference to her tafte and judgment I have printed nothing. With one of you at each elbow I fhould think myself the happieft of all Poets.

He

The General and I having broken the ice are upon the most comfortable terms of correfpondence. writes very affectionately to me, and I fay every thing to him that comes uppermoft. I could not write frequently to any creature living upon any other terms than those. He tells me of infirmities that he has, which make him lefs active than he was. I am forry to hear that he has any fuch. Alas! alas! he was young when I saw him only twenty years ago.

I have the most affectionate letter imaginable from Colman, who writes to me like a brother. The Chancellor is yet dumb.

May God have you in his keeping, my beloved coufin. Farewel.

W. C.

LETTER XLVI.

To Lady HESKETH.

MY DEAREST COUSIN,

OLNEY, Feb. 9, 1786.

I HAVE been impatient to tell you that I

am impatient to fee you again. Mrs. Unwin partakes

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