but of the probability of this I do not venture to reason, because I would not part with the pleasure of that belief. It grieves me to think how far I am removed from you, and from that excellent Lord, whom I love! Indeed, I remember him, as one that has made sickness easy to me, by bearing with my infirmities in the same manner that you have always done. I often too consider him in other lights that make him valuable to me. With him, I know not by what connexion, you never fail to come into my mind, as if you were inseparable. I have, as you guess, many philosophical reveries in the shades of Sir Walter Raleigh, of which you are a great part. You generally enter there with me, and like a good genius, applaud and strengthen all my sentiments that have honour in them. This good office, which you have often done me unknowingly, I must acknowledge now, that my own breast may not reproach me with ingratitude, and disquiet me when I would muse again in that solemn scene. I

* Sherborne Castle was granted by Elizabeth, to the amiable, brave, learned, and most injured Sir Walter Raleigh; all things considered, perhaps, the greatest character on English record.

About three miles from the eastern entrance to the park, in the great western road, between Shaftesbury and Sherborne, there is an inn, at the village of Henstridge, called the "Virginia Inn;" so called from the discovery of Virginia in America by Raleigh. It is a fact, that when in this inn tobacco, at this time unknown in England, was smoked, the gentleman, from whose mouth the smoke appeared issuing, was supposed to deal with the Devil, or to be the Devil himself!! This is the tradition of Henstridge at this time,-1804. Bowles.

have not room now left to ask you many questions I intended about the Odyssey. I beg I may know how far you have carried Ulysses on his journey, and how you have been entertained with him on the way. I desire I may hear of your health, of Mrs. Pope's, and of every thing else that belongs to you.

How thrive your garden plants? How look the trees? How spring the brocoli and the fenochio? Hard names to spell! How did the poppies bloom? And how is the great room approved? What parties have you had of pleasure? What in the grotto? What upon the Thames? I would know how all your hours pass, all you say, and all you do; of which I should question you yet farther, but my paper is full and spares you. My brother Ned is wholly yours, so my father desires to be, and every soul here whose name is Digby. My sister will be yours in particular. What can I add more? I am, &c.

Edward Digby, third son of William, Lord Digby. After the death of his brother, he supplied his seat in Parliament, and married Charlotte, daughter of Sir Stephen Fox.

Bowles.

I

LETTER XV.

TO MR. DIGBY.

October 10.

WAS upon the point of taking a much greater journey than to Bermudas, even to

That undiscover'd country, from whose bourn

No traveller returns!

A fever carried me on the high gallop towards it for six or seven days-but here you have me now, and that is all I shall say of it: since which time an impertinent lameness kept me at home twice as long; as if Fate should say, (after the other dangerous illness,) You shall neither go into the other world, nor any where you like in this." Else who knows but I had been at Home

lacy?

66

I conspire in your sentiments, emulate your pleasures, wish for your company. You are all of one heart and one soul, as was said of the primitive Christians: it is like the kingdom of the just upon earth; not a wicked wretch to interrupt you, but a set of tried, experienced friends, and fellowcomforters, who have seen evil men and evil days, and have, by a superior rectitude of heart, set yourselves above them, and reap your reward. Why will you ever of your own accord, end such a millenary year in London? transmigrate (if I may so call it) into other creatures, in that scene of folly militant, when you may reign for ever at

Home-lacy in sense and reason triumphant? I appeal to a third lady in your family, whom I take to be the most innocent, and the least warped by idle fashion and custom of you all; I appeal to her, if you are not every soul of you better people, better companions, and happier, where you are? I desire her opinion under her hand in your next letter, I mean Miss Scudamore's.* I am confident if she would or durst speak her sense, and employ that reasoning which God has given her, to infuse more thoughtfulness into you all, those arguments could not fail to put you to the blush, and keep you out of town, like people sensible of your own felicities. I am not without hopes, if she can detain a parliament man and a lady of quality from the world one winter, that I may come upon you with such irresistible arguments another year, as may carry you all with me to the Bermudas,t the seat of all earthly happiness, and the new Jerusalem of the righteous.

Do not talk of the decay of the year; the season is good when the people are so. It is the best time in the year for a painter; there is more variety of colours in the leaves; the prospects begin to open, through the thinner woods over the valleys, and

* Afterwards Duchess of Beaufort; at this time very young. Pope. She was afterwards much talked of, for a particular intrigue. Warton.

+ About this time the Rev. Dean Berkeley conceived his project of erecting a settlement in Bermudas for the propagation of the Christian faith, and introduction of sciences into America. Pope.

through the high canopies of trees to the higher arch of heaven: the dews of the morning impearl every thorn, and scatter diamonds on the verdant mantle of the earth; the frosts are fresh and wholesome what would you have? The moon shines too, though not for lovers these cold nights, but for astronomers.

Have you not reflecting telescopes,* whereby ye may innocently magnify her spots and blemishes? Content yourselves with them, and do not come to a place where your own eyes become reflecting telescopes, and where those of all others are equally such upon their neighbours. Stay you at least, (for what I have said before relates only to the ladies; do not imagine I will write about any eyes but theirs ;) stay, I say, from that idle, busy-looking Sanhedrim, where wisdom or no wisdom is the eternal debate, not (as it lately was in Ireland) an accidental one.

If, after all, you will despise good advice, and resolve to come to London, here you will find me, doing just the things I should not, living where I should not, and as worldly, as idle, in a word, as much an Anti-Bermudanist as any body. Dear Sir, make the ladies know I am their servant, you know I am

Yours, &c.

* These instruments were just then brought to perfection.

VOL. IX.

N

Pope.