120 on several erniiunt xuriters. April \%, 



are tp be found in this vain man's works ? What 

 must a modest man feel when he hears Virgil boast- 

 ing that his verses 



'« Shall through more ages bear his sov'relgn's prai8e> 

 " Than have from Tithon past to Caesar's day's 



It is needlefs to mention many of those self-con- 

 ceited men. I am not so much surprised at the va- 

 nity of these poets, (poetical enthusiasm being sup- 

 posed allied to madnefs,) as at the folly of the world 

 that supports them in all their vanity^ and fulfils 

 their prophecies ; so that their fame 



" Spreads and grows br'ghterwlth the length of days. 



But as bad taste has served the purpose of many a 

 bad poet, so it has done much evil, in another way, 

 also, by destroying a great part of some good histo- 

 ries. Caligula thought Livy a wretched historian, 

 and another imperial buffoon, whose name I have 

 forgot, paid the same compliment to 'Tacitus. Mr 

 Pope having got puffers in different nations to set 

 his fame afloat on the folly of mankind, which is an 

 everflowing stream, it is hard to say how long his 

 poetry may draw the public attention, notwithstand- 

 ing his weaknefses, vanity, and evident want of wit 

 and judgement. Voltaire gave Mr Pope a great lift 

 among the dabblers in vertii, and sciolists in litera- 

 ture, a noisy genus and excellent puffers. " Mr 

 *' Pope (says he, writing to a friend,) is the best poet 

 " in England, and, at present, in the world." After 

 this, what one of Voltaire's admirers durst wag a .. 

 tongue against Mr Pope ? But he has found props 

 from a quarter where it might lefs have been expec- 

 ted. You would think. Sir, that men resemble 

 jQieep : if one breaks out of a fold they all hiirry af- 



