the strongest terms; and is one who would treat you with love and veneration, rather than what the world calls civility and regard. He is sincerer and plainer than almost any man now in this world, antiquis moribus. If the waters of the Bath may be serviceable to your complaints, (as I believe from what you have told me of them,) no opportunity can ever be better. It is just the best season. We are told the Bishop of Salisbury* is expected here daily, who I know is your friend: at least, though a bishop, is too much a man of learning to be your enemy. You see I omit nothing to add to the weight in the balance, in which however, I will not think myself light, since I have known your partiality. You will want no servant here. Your room will be next to mine, and one man will serve us. Here is a library, and a gallery ninety feet long to walk in, and a coach whenever you would take the air with me. Mr. Allen tells me, you might on horseback be here in three days; it is less than one hundred miles from Newark, the road through Leicester, Stow in the Wold in Gloucestershire, and Cirencester by Lord Bathurst's. I could engage to carry you to London from hence, and I would accommodate my time and journey to your conveniency.

* Some years afterwards Mr. Towne, the intimate friend of Warburton, published some severe remarks on Sherlock's incomparable Sermons, who had contradicted some tenets in the Divine Legation. Warton.

Is all this a dream? or can you make it a reality?

can you give ear to me?

Audistin'? an me ludit amabilis

Insania?

Dear Sir, adieu; and give me a line to Mr. Allen's at Bath. God preserve you ever.

YOURS is

LETTER XV.

November 22, 1741.

very full and very kind; it is a friendly and satisfactory answer, and all I can desire. Do but instantly fulfil it. Only I hope this will find you before you set out. For I think (on all considerations) your best way will be to take London in your way. It will secure you from accidents of weather to travel in the coach, both thither and from thence hither. But, in particular, I think you should take some care as to Mr. G.'s executors. And I am of opinion, no man will be more serviceable in settling any such accounts than Mr. Knapton, who so well knows the trade, and is of so acknowledged a credit in it. If you can stay but a few days there, I should be glad; though I would not have you omit any necessary thing to yourself. I wish too you would just see ***, though when you have passed a month here, it will be time enough for all we have to do in town, and they will be less busy, probably, than just before the session opens, to think of men of letters.

When you are in London I beg a line from you, in which pray tell us what day you shall arrive at Bath by the coach, that we may send to meet you, and bring you hither.

You will owe me a real obligation by being made acquainted with the master of this house; and by sharing with me, what I think one of the chief satisfactions of my life, his friendship. But whether I shall owe you any in contributing to make me a scribbler again,* I know not.

LETTER XVI.

April 23, 1742. My letters are very short, partly because I could by no length of writings (not even by such as lawyers write) convey to you more than you have already of my heart and esteem; and partly because I want time and eyes. I cannot sufficiently tell you both my pleasure and my gratefulness, in and for your two last letters, which shew your zeal so strong for that piece of my idleness, which was literally written only to keep me from sleeping in a dull winter, and perhaps to make others sleep unless awakened by my commentator; no uncommon case among the learned. I am every day in expectation of Lord Bolingbroke's arrival, with

* He had concerted the plan of the fourth book of the Dunciad with the editor the summer before; and had now written a great part of it; which he was willing the editor should see. Warburton.

whom I shall seize all the hours I can: for his stay (I fear by what he writes) will be very short. I do not think it impossible but he may go to Bath for a few weeks, to see (if he be then alive, as yet he is) his old servant. In that case I think to go with him, and if it should be at a season when the waters are beneficial, (which agree particularly with him too,) would it be an impossibility to meet you at Mr. Allen's? whose house, you know, and heart, are yours. Though this is a mere chance, I should not be sorry you saw so great a genius, though he and you were never to meet again. Adieu. The world is not what I wish it; I will not repent being in it while two or three live. I am, &c.

LETTER XVII.

Bath, Nov. 27, 1742.

THIS will shew you I am still with our friend, but it is the last day; and I would rather you heard of me pleased, as I yet am, than chagrined, as I shall be in a few hours. We are both pretty well. I wish you had been more explicit if your leg be quite well. You say no more than that you got home well. I expect a more particular account of you when you have reposed yourself a while at your own fire-side. I shall inquire as soon as I am in London, which of my friends have seen you? There are two or three who know how to value you: I wish I was as sure they would study to

serve you. A project has arisen in my head to make you, in some measure, the editor of this new edition of the Dunciad,* if you have no scruple of owning some of the graver notes, which are now added to those of Dr. Arbuthnot. I mean it as a kind of prelude, or advertisement to the public, of your Commentaries, on the Essay on Man, and on Criticism, which I propose to print next in another volume proportioned to this. I only doubt whether an avowal of these notes to so ludicrous a poem be suitable to a character so established as yours for more serious studies. It was a sudden thought since we parted; and I would have you treat it as no more; and tell me if it is not better to be suppressed, freely and friendlily. I have a particular reason to make you interest yourself in me and my writings. It will cause both them and me to make the better figure to posterity. A very mediocre poet, one Drayton,† is yet taken some notice of, because Selden writ a few notes on one of his poems.

Adieu. May every domestic happiness make you unwilling to remove from home; and may every friend you do that kindness for, treat you so as to make you forget you are not at home!

* That is, of the four books complete.

I am, &c.

Warburton.

+ Drayton deserves a much higher character. He abounds in many beautiful and natural descriptions, and some very harmonious lines. And Selden's notes are full of curious antiquarian researches. Pope was as much superior to Drayton, as Selden was to Warburton.

Warton.