You will greatly oblige me, if you would be so kind to let me have a sight of the volumes of Pope you mentioned last night; of which, you may depend, the greatest care shall be taken. And I will return them to you before I leave town, and no soul shall see them. I am always, dear sir, very faithfully and sincerely yours, Jos. WARTON. I LETTER II. MY DEAR SIR, Winchester, Feb. 6, 1792. AM very much flattered by the strong testimony of friendship which your very kind letter brought me. The prospect you held out would indeed be equally pleasant and profitable, if it were possible for me at present to engage in such an undertaking, as publishing a complete edition of Pope. But I will own to you, I will not lose sight of it; and should be happy to have you as a fellow-labourer. If I had seen you before I left town, I would have informed you that I am sending up to the press an Appendix to my Essay on Pope; a pamphlet of about thirteen pages. I trust you may see in it some entertaining particulars. I find myself obliged frequently to contradict Johnson, as well as Warburton. By the way, what would be the consequence of a new edition of Pope's works,, with respect to the present proprietors of the copy-right? This perhaps This perhaps might be managed or rather, the right, by this time, must be extinguished. You will do me an inexpressible favour, if you have ever any leisure, to give a line of the news stirring; and particularly any relating to our friend, Mr. Hastings. I beg my best respects to miss Wilkes: and I am, my dear sir, with truc regard, your faithful, affectionate, and obliged servant, J.. WARTON. LETTER III. I MY DEAR SIR, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, FEED on the hopes of dining with you on Monday the 26th instant, if the weather continues good; but beg you to consider, that I do not make an absolute engagement,. but will take my chance of finding you at home. I must return that night to Newport. Though I have a thousand things to say to you, I can now only add that I am, dear sir, very faithfully and sincerely yours, J. WARTON. My best compliments to miss Wilkes, if with you. LETTER IV. Wickham, near Fareham, MY DEAR SIR, HAVING made an inquiry in which I was much interested-whether you were got to your delightful cottage in the island, I received authentic information from a gentleman who saw you last Saturday at the Fountain inn at Portsmouth, that you passed through that place on that day. I design to give myself the great pleasure of dining with you at Sandown on Wednesday, the 20th inst; but would beg you not to break through any engagement you may have, lest I should be prevented, by weather or acci dent, from putting my plan into execution. Believe me always, dear sir, your affectionate and very faithful friend, and humble servant, J. WARTON.. LETTER V. Wickham, August 10, 1797. MY DEAR SIR, It was my fixed intention to have enjoyed. the great pleasure of visiting you in the island this week. But you and I have lived long enough to be frequently disappointed and defeated in executing many a favourite scheme. -A very untoward accident totally prevents a possibility of waiting on you, as I hoped to do. About ten days ago, I went to lord Malmesbury, at Park-place; to meet, in his absence, and by his desire and appointment, a very agreeable party,-lord St. Helens, sir Brook Boothby, Mr..C. Ellis, Mr. Freer, sir Harry Englefield, &c. &c. A gentle ride round the charming grounds and park |