you are sure to have it in the amplest manner," &c. &c. &c.

Thus we see every one of his works hath been extolled by one or other of his most inveterate enemies; and to the success of them all they do unanimously give testimony. But it is sufficient, instar omnium, to behold the great critic, Mr. Dennis, sorely lamenting it, even from the Essay on Criticism to this day of the Dunciad! "A most notorious instance (quoth he) of the depravity of genius and taste, the approbation this essay meets with.1-I can safely affirm, that I never attacked any of these writings, unless they had success infinitely beyond their merit.-This, though an empty, has been a popular scribbler. The epidemic madness of the times has given him reputation.2-If, after the cruel treatment so many extraordinary men (Spenser, Lord Bacon, Ben Jonson, Milton, Butler, Otway, and others) have received from this country for these last hundred years, I should shift the scene, and show all that penury changed at once to riot and profuseness; and more squandered away upon one object than would have satisfied the greater part of those extraordinary men; the reader, to whom this one creature should be unknown, would fancy him a prodigy of art and nature; would believe that all the great qualities of these persons were centred in him alone. But if I should venture to assure him that the PEOPLE of ENGLAND had made such a choice-the reader would either believe me a malicious enemy and slanderer, or that the reign

1 Dennis, Pref. to his Reflect. on the Essay on Criticism.-P.

2 Pref, to his Rem, on Homer.-P.

of the last (Queen Anne's) Ministry was designed by fate to encourage Fools."

1

But it happens that this our Poet never had any Place, Pension, or Gratuity, in any shape, from the said glorious Queen, or any of her ministers. All he owed, in the whole course of his life, to any court, was a subscription for his Homer, of 2007. from King George I, and 100%. from the Prince and Princess.

However, lest we imagine our Author's Success, was constant and universal, they acquaint us of certain works in a less degree of repute, whereof, although owned by others, yet do they assure us he is the writer. Of this sort Mr. DENNIS2 ascribes to him two Farces, whose names he does not tell, but assures us that there is not one jest in them; And an imitation of Horace, whose title he does not mention, but assures us it is much more execrable than all his works.3 The DAILY JOURNAL, May 11, 1728, assures us, "He is below Tom Durfey in the Drama, because (as that writer thinks) the Marriage-Hater matched, and the Boarding School, are better than the What-d'ye-call-it : which is not Mr. P's. but Mr. Gay's. Mr. Gildon assures us, in his New Rehearsal, p. 48, "That he was writing a Play of the Lady Jane Grey; " but it afterwards proved to be Mr. Rowe's. We are assured by another, wrote a pamphlet called Dr. Andrew Tripe; which proved to be one Dr. Wagstaff's. Mr. THEOBALD assures us, in Mist of the 27th of April, "That the treatise of the Profound is very

1 Rem. on Homer, pp. 8, 9.-P.

2 Ibid. p. 8.-P.

3 Character of Mr. Pope, p. 7.-P.
Ibid. p. 6.-P.

"He

99 4

dull, and that Mr. Pope is the
The writer of Gulliveriana is of a
"the whole, or great

and says,
merit of this treatise must a
ascribed to Gulliver."1 [Here
cannot I but smile at the strang
positiveness of men, knowing
to appertain to none other but
Scriblerus.]

Tap the most grave and Cs Night, and Dubes; and ancient kind le) was the first who gave emand (saith Hare) who adapted the To be pes Bat eren befire this belly presumed from what the Acute Live left welten, was a piece by pod of like nature

We are assured, in Mist of J own Plays and Farces would be the Dunciad than those of M he had neither genius for Trag Which, whether true or not judge, in as much as he had Unless we will take it for Cibber, that his being once v ing a friend's Play abused, proof the Play was his own; thinking it impossible for a concerned for any but hims man judge (saith he) by thi the true mother of the child

But from all that hath bee ing reader will collect, th our author to have any Ca he declared he did not write not credited; as little to since, when he declined w himself, the presumption of to him. If he singly ent work, he was taxed of Bold to a prodigy: If he took as

3

1 Gulliv. p. 336.-P.

2 Cibber's Letter to Mr. Pope 3 Burnet's Homerides, p. 1, of Iliad.-P.

it was complained offs
injury to the p
lowest ballads, trea
church, a

wits and antiore alle

and even full and fre poisins, and main far nothing su god,oding but at one or other sea If it be an author's me cealed; if it dit be fathered in to be yet better concealed: of his styles, then maine then disguised be it on see Ta direct oppositions in relig politice, have emaily fees app inberant Sonly a mot character! Of which

nothing but a
thy judquent sea
and to chose
Testimonies of
concealed; of
who knew him

The Lands and
taking the Orig

dull, and that Mr. Pope is the author of it," The writer of Gulliveriana is of another opinion; and says, "the whole, or greatest part, of the merit of this treatise must and can only be ascribed to Gulliver. [Here, gentle reader! cannot I but smile at the strange blindness and positiveness of men, knowing the said treatise to appertain to none other but to me, Martinus Scriblerus.]

We are assured, in Mist of June 8, "That his own Plays and Farces would better have adorned the Dunciad than those of Mr. Theobald; for he had neither genius for Tragedy nor Comedy." Which, whether true or not, it is not easy to judge, in as much as he had attempted neither. Unless we will take it for granted, with Mr. Cibber, that his being once very angry at hearing a friend's Play abused, was an infallible proof the Play was his own; the said Mr. Cibber thinking it impossible for a man to be much concerned for any but himself: "Now let any man judge (saith he) by this concern, who was the true mother of the child ? " 2

But from all that hath been said, the discerning reader will collect, that it little availed our author to have any Candour, since, when he declared he did not write for others, it was not credited; as little to have any Modesty, since, when he declined writing in any way himself, the presumption of others was imputed to him. If he singly enterprised one great work, he was taxed of Boldness and Madness to a prodigy: If he took assistants in another, 1 Gulliv. p. 336.-P.

2 Cibber's Letter to Mr. Pope, p. 19.-P.

3 Burnet's Homerides, p. 1, of his translation of the Iliad.-P.