him, ill, if ever I wrote one for another; and this very winter, Mr. Thomson and Mr. Mallet excuse me, whose tragedies either are to appear this season, or the next. I fancy the latter, as I have seen or heard of no more but a first act, yet, of each.

I have lately had an address of another kind from a man of letters, which gives me more embarrassment, and in the conduct whereof I could wish I had your advice, though I hardly know how to ask it. I hope soon to see the critical work you promised me, in which I hope to have some further occasion of proving to you the real deference I have to your sentiments, and esteem for your person. I am, Dear Sir, your, &c.

LETTER XVI.

FROM MR. HILL.

DEAR SIR,

Sept. 30, 1731.

You are very good and obliging: your last letter came not to my hands until yesterday; I will thank you for it, in person, one day next week, if possible, and give you notice a day before.

My daughter, under encouragement of your invitation, promises herself the pleasure of admiring your gardens; and wishes the weather may continue as it is, till I can give her the opportunity of an afternoon's walk in them.

My brother is writing over another copy of the tragedy, which I will take the liberty to put, a second time, into your hands, as soon as it is ready. I propose no benefit to myself from it, leaving its profits to the players; but as I knew it necessary to prepare the expectation of persons of the first rank, if one would wish a play that kind of fame which noise can give it, and without which indeed it were to no purpose to have it brought on the stage, I am therefore greatly obliged by the hope you permit me to nourish, that you will suffer it to pass through your hand to the notice of some of those, who speaking of it with favour, will be a direction to others how far they may dare to be pleased with it. I am,

THERE is an ill fate hangs upon me in relation to the pleasure I have often (from the very first time I saw you at Dr. Young's) proposed in our acquaintance, I really stayed that night in town, upon Bowry's notice, which he left in writing, that you should be at home all Wednesday,

* Athelwold.

and had dedicated three hours to you, or, more properly, to myself with you. I asked, particularly, for Miss Urania; but thought myself, though old enough, not familiar enough, to ask to see her. I desire your first notice, if you come this way; or rather, I wish you would take up your lodging with me. In the mean time, pray send the tragedy of Athelwold (for so I would call it), under cover, to the Countess of Suffolk, before Monday, at her lodgings in St. James's. I promised it her again ; and, if you think it of any consequence that the K. should see it in manuscript, I think nothing more easy. In truth, all this is doing it no credit; it is only doing some to those who may commend it. I could not imagine in what parts it needed addition; sure every incident is well prepared but no man can see so far into his own work as the author, if a good one; so little, if a bad or indifferent one. I am, with truth, Sir, Your, &c.

LETTER XVIII.

MR. HILL TO THE COUNTESS OF SUFFOLK.

MADAM,

Oct. 30, 1731.

MR. POPE has desired me to send this tragedy, in his name, to the lady in the world I should most wish to have it with, could any thing be found in it deserving the distinction.

It cannot be without delight that I put Athelwold into a hand, for which he would have been

proud to give up Elfrid's; if in life I could have given him my sentiments, with the authority which his death has lent me.

I have no pretence to tax your condescension with any concern for the success of this play, or I should most earnestly wish your vote in its favour; though I have no meaner interest in its good or ill fortune, than the ambition of some power to please.

But whatever reception it may meet with from the public, it can never have been written in vain, since Mr. Pope has partiality enough to believe it will be agreeable to such a taste as the Countess of Suffolk's, whose servant I have the honour to With the utmost obedience,

be,

I SHALL have the pleasure (sick or well) to be at the first representation of your play to-morrow, with Lord Burlington and Lord Bathurst, and one or two more. Another noble lord, who understands you best, must be contented to read the two last acts in his study: but Sir William Wyndham, with Mr. Gay, and some others, will be there also, in another place, in his stead. I write this that I may not take up a minute of

your time in calling on me to-morrow; but, if you will send to the office to-night for places for four people, we will order a man or two to go to keep them for us. Lord Burlington comes on purpose to town. I am, with great truth, Yours, &c.

I have yet heard no account from court,

DEAR SIR,

I

LETTER XX.

TO MR. HILL.

Sat. Morn. Nov. 14, 1731.

CANNOT leave London without thanking you for the pleasure you gave me last night, by which I see you can as well make actors, as plays: yet I own I receive more pleasure from reading, than seeing your Athelwold. I thought the best part of the audience very attentive, and was told several ladies were moved to tears. It is a pity Mrs. Cibber's voice and person were not a little higher; she speaks extremely just, and seems to be mistress of her part. I could not come soon enough for the prologue, but the epilogue is a very humorous one. I am ashamed to trouble you; but being gone out of town, and fearing the mistakes of servants, I beg a box may be had for Monday, the third night (if there be any empty), for Mrs. Blount, a particular friend of mine. I yesterday

* Mrs. Cibber was daughter of Dr. Arne; married to Theophilus Cibber, son of Pope's old antagonist, Colley. Bowles.