THE 
No. 165. 
_ 
ner 
ae RO, 
MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 
JANUARY 1, 1808. 
—<$ 
LO of Vou. 24. 
** As long as thofe who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving to their Cpinions a Maximum of 
S¢ Fyn fuence and Celebrity, the moft extenfively circulated Mifcellany will repay with the greatet Effect tae 
* Curiofity of thofe who read either for Amufement or Intruction.” 
JOHNSON, 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
LETTERS OF POPE. 
[The Editor of the Monthly Magazine has 
much Satisfaction in presenting to his 
F.eaders the following elegant Letters of 
Mr. Pore, none of which have appeared’ 
in any of his printed works. The four 
first were addressed to Joun CarRyYLt, 
jun. Esq. of Ladyholt, in Sussex; the 
fifth to Lany Mary WorTLey Mon- 
;yaGu; and the sixth to the Rev. Mr. 
BERKELEY, in Gerard-street, afterwards 
Bishop of Cloyne. ] 
London, 
DEAR SIR, March 1, 1712. 
TAKE the opportunity of a fitt of 
the headake, which confines me to 
my chamber, to enjoy some pleasure at 
least, that of writing to you. Most men 
in this towne are every where but at 
their own houses, mind every thing but 
their own business, kiss every thing but 
their own wives, and so forth. Infected 
with this humour, I here saunter my 
time away in evry thing but just what [ 
should think of, and be employed in; I 
am talking whole days to men J have no 
value for, and neglect writing to those 
for whom I have the greatest; I am car- 
rying on the ceremonials of civility, and 
forget the essentials of friendship. But 
sickness, which often makes us regard 
our duty when nothing else will, has now 
that good effect upon me, and ’tis hite- 
rally im sober sadness I assure you how 
truly I love you. This alone is a sufii- 
cient reason to me, not to wonder in the 
least that you have so long denied me 
the pleasure of a line, that you are in 
company you like; while I would have 
you take it for a reason for my silence, 
that I am in company I do not like (ge- 
nerally speaking). Were it not for the 
hours I pass with Mr. Caryll every day, 
I should be wishing for my shades and 
solitude again; and ’tis no compliment 
to tell you that the greatest pleasure I 
have is in the same place where I feel 
the greatest concern, the one in his con- 
versation, and the other in his confine- 
ment, I heartily wish him in health, 
tho’ it be at the expence of losing him, 
Monrary Mas., No. 165, 
and tho’ rather than lose him, I would 
lose my own health, 
- Being conscivus that I have nothing to 
say worth your hearing (besides the truth 
I have just now told you), I hope this 
epistle will find you in the properest 
place, at a vacant hour, and at your full 
ease, in the castle; you may there open 
it instantly, and opportunely; but L_ 
-should be much concerned if at the are _ 
rival of ityou should leave off a game at 
shittlecocke, or any such important em-= 
ployments as I hear you are taken u 
with.- Indeed, should the hell be just 
ringing to prayers, I might hope you 
would not only prefer the perusal hereof 
to any such foreign avocation, but even 
read it twice, or perhaps thrice over, 
leisurely and patiently. 
I was in hopes of seeing you some 
time this winter in towne, and am sorry 
you persist so obstinately bent to defraud 
it of your company. There are many 
dozens more of melancholy ladies this 
winter here than there were the last, 
when they had your regards. Since you 
will needs be in the right before your 
time, and be so wise at five-and-twenty 
as to love your lady, I beg it of your hu- 
manity to recommend me to one or two 
dozen of them, which will serve my or-_ 
dinary occasions well enough: but if you 
know one particular nymph that can 
carry herself and me, better than usually, 
whom you can give upon your word, pray 
aequait me, that [may wear her chain 
forthwith; I fancy my size and abilities 
may qualify me to match her monkey 
very well. But let me know this, I beg 
you, by the very first post, for fear my 
ardour and amorous inclination should 
be quite gone beforehand. 
Yo be serious, dear Sir, I very much 
desire to hear from you, upon any sub- 
ject whatever, nor let it be an excuse 
that you have hittle to say, after ‘such 
stuff as I have sent you. ‘The most well- 
come thing you can possibly say, is that 
you are so good as ta be a friend to me, 
and to take in good part the freedoms I 
3Y ios use 
