POPE TO ADDISON.

SIR,

July 20th,1 1713.

I am more joyed at your return than I should be at that of the sun, so much as I wish for him this melancholy wet season; but it is his fate too, like yours, to be displeasing to owls and obscene animals, who cannot bear his lustre. What put me in mind of these night-birds was John Dennis, whom, I think, you are best revenged upon, as the sun was in the fable upon those bats and beastly birds above mentioned, only by shining on. I am so far from esteeming it any misfortune, that I congratulate you upon having your share in that which all the great men and all the good men that ever lived have had their part of-envy and calumny. To be uncensured and to be obscure is the same thing. You may conclude from what I here say, that it was never in my thoughts to have offered you my pen in any direct reply to such a critic, but only in some little raillery; not in defence of you, but in contempt of him.2 But indeed your opinion, that it is entirely to be neglected, would have been my own, had it been my own case: but I felt more warmth here than I did when first I saw his book against myself (though indeed in two minutes it made me heartily merry); he has written against everything the world has approved these many years. I apprehend but one danger from Dennis's disliking our sense, that it may make us think so very well of it, as to become proud and conceited upon his disapprobation. I must not here omit to do justice to Mr. Gay, whose zeal in your concern is worthy a friend and honourer of you. He writ to me in the most pressing terms about it, though with that just contempt of the critic that he deserves. I think in these days, one honest man is obliged to acquaint another who are his friends; when so many mischievous insects are daily at work to make people of merit suspicious of each other, that they may have the satisfaction of seeing them looked upon no better than themselves.

I am, your, &c.

A. POPE.

design at present, under the title of Spectator. This author, who hath tried the force and compass of our language with so much success, agrees entirely with me in most of my sentiments relating to it; so do the greatest part of the men of wit and learning, whom I have had the happiness to converse with."

'Curll gives the date of this letter, July 30th; in Pope's Works it is, 20th.

2 "This related to the paper occasioned by Dennis's remarks upon Cato, called Dr. Norris's narrative of the frenzy of John Den..." Curll.

DEAR SIR,

MR. HUGHES TO ADDISON.

October 6th, 1713.

I do not doubt but you know by this time that Mr. Steele has abruptly dropped the Guardian.' He has published this day a paper called the Englishman, which begins with an answer to the Examiner, written with great boldness and spirit, and shows that his thoughts are at present entirely on politics. Some of his friends are in pain about him, and are concerned that a paper should be discontinued which might have been generally entertaining without engaging in party matters.

I know not whether any such paper as the Guardian may hereafter be attempted by other hands. I remember you were once pleased to ask me what I thought would be a good plan; and this unexpected occasion has given me a thought, which I beg to offer to your consideration; and because I cannot, at this distance, so well explain it to you in the compass of a letter, I enclose a slight sketch I have just begun of it to-day, only I must acquaint you that what I send is a sequel of a Paper which is to open the plan, and which describes a Society of learned men of various characters, who meet together to carry on a conversation on all kinds of subjects, and who empower the Secretary to draw up any of their discourses, or publish any of their writings under the title of the Register. By this means, I think, the Town might be sometimes entertained with dialogue, which would be a new way of writing, either related or set down in form, under the names of different speakers; and sometimes with Essays, or with Discourses in the person of the writer of the paper.

I choose to send you the second paper, though unfinished, because you will see an offer in it of a new invented character, with a cast of oddness in it, to draw attention, and to lay a foundation for a great variety of matter, and of adventures.

I wish I could tempt you, by any slight thought of mine, to take something of this kind into consideration: I should, on such conditions, be willing to furnish one paper in a week, on this, or any plan you shall think more proper, but without you I shall make no further use of it.

I shall only add, that it is my opinion, and I believe that of most others, that such a paper should be only three times a week: when it should begin, or whether at all, I submit to you, and shall be glad to be favoured with a few lines from you on this, directed to me in, &c. JOHN HUGHES.

No

1 The last number of the Guardian was published, Oct. 1, 1713. sooner was the Guardian closed, than our author was solicited by his friend, Mr. John Hughes, to unite with him in conducting another periodical paper, under the title of The Register. The present letter and its answer particularly relate to this design, which, when declined by Addison, was in some degree carried into execution by Mr. Hughes and Sir Richard Blackmore, in a paper under the title of the "Lay Monastery."

DEAR SIR,

ADDISON TO MR. HUGHES.

1

Bilton, Oct. 12th, 1713.

I am very much obliged to you for your kind letter and the specimen, which I read over with great pleasure. I think the title of the Register would be less assuming than that of the Humanity Club; but to tell you truly, I have been so taken up with thoughts of that nature for these two or three years last past, that I must now take some time · pour me délasser, and lay in fuel for future work. In the mean time I should be glad if you would set such a project on foot, for I know nobody else capable of succeeding in it, and turning it to the good of mankind, since my friend has laid it down. I am in a thousand troubles for poor Dick, and wish that his zeal for the public may not be ruinous to himself; but he has sent me word that he is determined to go on, and that any advice I can give him in this particular, will have no weight with him.

I beg you will present my most sincere respects to Sir Richard Blackmore, and that you will add my sister's,3 who is now with me, and very much his humble servant. I wish I could see him and yourself in these parts, where I think of staying a month or two longer. I am always with the greatest truth and esteem, sir,

Your most faithful and

Most obedient servant,

J. ADDISON.

ADDISON TO POPE.

Oct. 26th, 1713.

I WAS extremely glad to receive a letter from you, but more so upon reading the contents of it. The work you

1 Near Rugby in Warwickshire.

2 Mr. Addison (as the event showed) was too true a prophet; his friend "poor Dick," who was then member for Stockbridge, being expelled the House of Commons, March 15, 1713-14, for some libellous paragraphs in the " Englishman," and in another paper called the "Crisis."

3

Dorothy, first married to Dr. Sartre, (a Frenchman,) Prebendary of Westminster, and afterwards to Daniel Combes, Esq. Swift (after dining with this lady and her first husband at his prebendal house, Oct. 25, 1710) says of her, "Addison's sister is a sort of wit, very like him. am not fond of her," &c. See letter vii of his Journal to Stella. Hughes.

I

mention' will, I dare say, very sufficiently recommend itself when your name appears with the proposals: and if you think I can any way contribute to the forwarding them, you cannot lay a greater obligation upon me than by employing me in such an office. As I have an ambition in having it known that you are my friend, I shall be very proud of showing it by this or any other instance. I question not but your translation will enrich our tongue and do honour to our country; for I conclude of it already from those performances with which you have obliged the public. I would only have you consider how it may most turn to your advantage. Excuse my impertinence in this particular, which proceeds from my zeal for your ease and happiness. The work would cost you a great deal of time, and unless you undertake it, will, I am afraid, never be executed by any other; at least I know none of this age that is equal to it besides yourself.

I am at present wholly immersed in country business, and begin to take delight in it. I wish I might hope to see you here some time, and will not despair of it, when you engage in a work that will require solitude and retirement.

I am, sir,

Your very humble and very

obedient servant,
J. ADDISON.

ADDISON TO POPE.

Nov. 2nd, 1713.

I HAVE received your letter, and am glad to find that you have laid so good a scheme for your great undertaking. I question not but the prose 2 will require as much care as the poetry, but the variety will give yourself some relief, and more pleasure to your readers.

You gave me leave once to take the liberty of a friend in advising you not to content yourself with one half of the nation for your admirers when you might command them all. If I might take the freedom to repeat it, I would on this occasion. I think you are very happy that you are out of the fray, and I hope all your undertakings will turn to the better account for it.

1 Alluding to his translation of the Iliad.
2 Meaning the notes to his translation of Homer.

You see how I presume on your friendship in taking all this freedom with you: but I already fancy that we have lived many years together in an unreserved conversation, and that we may do so many more is the sincere wish of Your, &c.

MR. HUGHES TO ADDISON.

Dec. 5th, 1713.

DEAR SIR, I designed long ago to have acknowledged the favour of your kind letter, and at the same time to have acquainted you, that I had laid aside all thoughts of the design mentioned to you in my last. I had indeed been prompted to it by our very worthy friend Sir Richard Blackmore, who is apt to think, as you do, much too partially of my poor abilities. But when I perceived you were tired with an entertainment you had so long given the town with much better success than I could ever propose, I could not persuade myself to engage as a principal in an undertaking in which I was only willing to be an assistant. Sir Richard was however of opinion, that such a design ought not to be dropped, and therefore determined to make the experiment, which he believed might turn to the public good; and, by his commission, I send you the papers1 which have been hitherto published, to which he adds his sincere respects to your sister.

You may believe, when this design was once set on foot, I could not be wholly unconcerned: I must therefore desire your indulgence to the third, sixth, and ninth papers, and the rest I am sure will entertain you very well. I do not own my part but to yourself; having so much business to attend at present, besides my ordinary affairs, that I am never sure of a day's time. I should have been very glad if I could have accepted of your kind invitation, and have waited on you in the country. No one has more entire esteem for your friendship, nor more longs for your return to the town, than, &c.

JOHN HUGHES.

AT this period, March 18th, 1714, Steele was brought to trial before the House for his libels in the last number of the Englishman, and in his paper called the Crisis, in which he abjured the Pretender, and boldly advocated the cause of the House of Hanover. Addison sat near him and prompted

1 These papers, which had now extended to 40 numbers, were collected into a volume, and published in 1714 under the title of "The Lay Monastery." The Friday's papers were by Mr. Hughes, the rest by Sir Richard Blackmore.