have found no one else that did. He has much fancy, little judgement, and a good deal of modesty. I take him for a good and well-meaning creature; but then he is really in simplicity a child, and loves every body he meets with: he reads little or nothing, writes abundance, and that with a design to make his fortune by it. There is now, I think, no hopes of the Pembroke business coming to any thing: my poor Tuthill will be in a manner destitute (even of a curacy) by Midsummer. I need not bid you think of him, if any probable means offer of doing him good: I fear he was not made to think much for himself, pray let me hear from you soon; I am at Mrs. Rogers's of Stoke, near Windsor, Bucks.

My thanks, and best compliments to Mrs. Wharton, and your family. Does that name include any body, that I am not yet acquainted with? Adieu! I am ever,

Truly yours

T. GRAY.

June 5, 1748.

ever, in forbearing to expunge the paragraph: But as I publish Mr. Gray's sentiments of Authors, as well living as dead, without reserve, I should do them injustice, if I was more scrupulous with respect to myself. My friends, I am sure, will be much amused with this and another passage hereafter of a like sort. My enemies, if they please, may sneer at it; and say (which they will very truly) that twenty-five years have made a very considerable abatement in my general philanthropy. Men of the world will not blame me for writing from so prudent a motive, as that of making my fortune by it; and yet the truth, I believe, at the time was, that I was perfectly well satisfied, if my publications furnished me with a few guineas to see a Play or an Opera.—Mason.、

LETTER XVII.

MR. GRAY TO MR. WHARTON.

Stoke, August 19, 1748.

MY DEAR WHARTON,

AFTER having made my compliments to the godmothers of the little Doctress, who are to promise and vow for her that she shall understand, and be grateful some twelve or fifteen years hence: I congratulate Mrs. Wharton and your family, on this occasion, and doubtless desire nothing more than to see you all next summer; though as to promises, I dare not, lest some unlucky event again come across, and put the performance out of my power. I am not certain whether I shall be obliged to have recourse to your assistance or no, about Christmas: but if I am, I will be sure to give you notice in due time.

I am glad you have had any pleasure in Gresset: he seems to be a truly elegant and charming writer; the Méchant is the best comedy I ever read. Edward I could scarce get through, it is puerile; though there are good lines; such as this for example

Le jour d'un nouveau regne est le jour des ingrats.

But good lines will make any thing rather than a good Play. However you are to consider, this is a collection made by the Dutch booksellers; many things unfinished, or wrote in his youth, or designed not for the world, but to make a few friends laugh, as the Lutrin vivant, &c. there are two noble verses,

which as they are in the middle of an ode to the King, may perhaps have escaped you.

Le cri d'un peuple heureux, est la seule eloquence

Qui sçait parler des Rois.

which is very true, and should have been a hint to himself not to write odes to the king at all.

My squabble with the Professor I did not think worth mentioning to you. My letter was by no means intended as a composition, and only designed to be showed to some, who were witnesses to the impertinence that gave occasion for it. But he was fool enough by way of revenge to make it mighty publick.

I don't wonder your Mr. Bolby disapproves Mr. [ conduct at Rome: it was indeed very unlike his own. But when every body there of our nation was base enough either to enter into an actual correspondence with a certain most serene person, or at least to talk carelessly and doubtfully on what was then transacting at home, sure it was the part of a man of spirit to declare his sentiments publickly, and warmly. He

] were

was so far from making a party, that he and Mr. [
the only persons that were of that party. As to his ends in
it; from his first return to England he has always frequented
the Prince's court, had been the open friend of Mr. H. Walpole,
which would certainly be no way to recommend himself to
the minstry; unless you suppose his views were very distant
indeed.

I should wish to know (when you can find time for a letter) what you think of my young friend, Stonhewer, and what company he is fallen into in the North. I fill up with the be

1

ginning of a sort of Essay, what name to give it I know not, but the subject is, the Alliance of Education and Government; I mean to shew that they must necessarily concur to produce great and useful men.

I desire your judgement upon so far, before I proceed any farther. Adieu,

I am ever yours,

T. G.

Pray shew it to no one (as it is a fragment) except it be Stonhewer, who has seen most of it already I think.

LETTER XVIII.

MR. GRAY TO MR. WHARTON.

MY DEAR WHARTON,

SHALL I be expeditious enough to bring you the news of the peace, before you meet with it in the Papers? not the Peace of Aix la Chapelle, mother of proclamations and of fireworks, that lowers the price of oranges and Malaga-sack, and enhances that of Poor Jack and Barrell'd Cod: no, nor the Peace between Adil-Shah and the Great Mogol; but the Peace of Pembroke, signed between the high and mighty Prince Roger surnamed the Long, Lord of the great Zodiack, the

Glass Uranium, and the Chariot that goes without horses, on the one part; and the most noble James Brown, the most serene Theophilus Peele, and the most profound Nehemiah May, &c. on the other.

In short without farther preliminaries Knowles, Mason, and Tuthill are elected, and the last of them is actually here upon the spot, as you will shortly hear from himself. The nego

tiations, that preceded this wonderful event, are inexplicable. The success of the affair was extremely uncertain but the very night before it, and had come to nothing, if Brown fixed and obstinate as a little rock had not resisted the solicitations of Smith, and Smart, almost quarrelled with Peele and May, and given up as in a huff, the living of Tilney, to which he had that morning been presented. I say this seemed to them to be done in a huff, but was in reality a thing he had determined to do, be the event of the Election what it would; they were desirous of electing two, as the master proposed, Knowles and Mason, or Mason and Gaskarth, for they were sure he would never admit Tuthill, as he had so often declared it. However, I say, Brown continued stedfast, that all three should come, or none at all; and when they met next day, he begun by resigning Tilney, and then desired the master would either put an end to their long disputes himself, as they intreated him; or else they would refer the whole to a visitor, and did conjure him to call one in, as soon as possible. The rest did not contradict him, though the proposal was much against their real inclinations. So Roger believing them unanimous (after some few Pribbles and Prabbles,) said, well then, if it be for the good of the College-but you intend Knowles shall be senior? To be sure master-well then-and so they proceeded to Election and all was over in a few minutes. I do believe, that Roger despairing now of a visitor to his mind, and ad