ter, and avoid the civil war.- Vid. Cæs. Com. de Bell. Civili, lib. 1. The mention of these somewhere in the play might help to remove the prepossession against Cæsar.

After our little cavils (for so we will rather call minute and verbal points of criticism) we owe you the justice to extol highly, what we highly approve, and you need not desire us to speak as we think : 'tis what we have (in different ways) done all our lives, where it was to our prejudice, and cannot but do here, where it is to our honour. I only wish you a stage, actors, and an audience worthy of you, and it. I have often wished to live to see the day when prologues and epilogues should be no more. I wish a great genius would break through the silly, useless formality. But at least I would have one try, to leave the audience full of the effects of a good tragedy, without an epilogue. Let me add another hint, concerning the apparatus and circumstantials of your play (since I have nothing left more to wish in the play itself), that you would intitle it barely, The Tragedy of Cæsar, and give no intimation of his being a patriot; for I fear, instead of preparing the audience, it might revolt them, and put all the little critics upon carping previously at the very design and character which would appear by degrees, and with the proper preparations, in the piece, on the stage. Another thing was a thought of my Lord's, that it should be printed before acting, a day or two; for the sentiments are so thick-sown, and the sense so deep sometimes, that they require more attention and thought than the hearer may be apt to give on

the first representation. I am not positive, either as to his, or my thought, but submit them to your consideration.

I have nothing to add, but to lament our unhappiness, that we cannot see you personally to confirm what these letters tell you, of our real opinion of your work, esteem of its author, and wishes for your success, in this, and every thing. I am, Sir,

Your, etc.

DEAR SIR,

LETTER XXI.

TO THE SAME.

Nov. 5, 1738.

THIS is quite a letter of business, and therefore excuse it; I will not mix in it a word of affection, which I have not a moment's time to express, and will not prejudice the sacred idea of friendship.

It is near a month ago that I tried to see Mr. Thomson, to know the time of his tragedy: he was not within my reach; and therefore at last I wrote to him, and also to Mr. M-, to let them both know the deference you paid them, and the heroic (I will not call it less) disinterestedness you expressed in regard to them. I have not yet been able to hear where they are, or any way to have an answer, further than I have learned it will be impossible for either of them to bring on their plays early (a friend of theirs telling me they are in no forwardness) till the middle or end of the winter; therefore you may

have room. I wish from my soul you may get yours first, as well acted as it deserves. A better, that may eclipse it, or even worthily follow it, I hardly expect to see. But, upon this notice, I believe you may safely advance it, the sooner the better.

My Lord B. is yet with me, more properly I yet belong to him, body as well as mind (for my mind is every where his). I would to God you had any opportunity of seeing us before we part; my house should be yours, as much of it'as is not his. I believe I shall soon go with him on a little journey before he quits England. You'll forgive the abrupt conclusion of this; yet it may tell you all the longest and best written letter could tell you, that I am very sincerely, Sir,

DEAR SIR,

LETTER XXII.

TO THE SAME.

Your, etc.

December 8, 1738.

I HAVE been confirmed by Mr. Thomson as to the retardment of his play, of which he has written but two acts. I have since seen Mr. M, who has finished his, but is very willing yours should be first brought on, in January as you propose, or after his in February, whichsoever may be most agreeable to you. He farther offers any assistance he can give you, in case of your own absence, as to treating with Mr. F- - (with whom he thinks vou cannot

be too careful or explicit), or attending the rehearsals for you, which he promises to undertake with all diligence, if you are not provided with another friend in that case. He has heard of some impertinence which may be apprehended from one person's refusal or unwillingness to act, and believes he can employ some proper influence to bring him to a right behaviour. These, with any other services in which you may please to employ him, he bids me assure you, it will be a high satisfaction to him to engage in.

I must express, on my own part, a real regret to be so little useful to you. I can do no more than join with Lord B. in paying due praises to so meritorious a work; our suffrage is an airy tribute, from whence no solid good redounds to you; and I find myself still more inclined to the man than the author, if I could be any way instrumental to the happiness or ease of so generous an one. I could almost wish myself a minister to patronize such a genius, and I could almost wish my Lord one again, for no other reason; even though his country wants such an one, as well as his friends.

I have never once been able to see Mr. Thomson in person; when I do (and it shall be soon) he shall know how much he is obliged to you for that plan of an alteration of his tragedy, which is too good for me, with any honesty, to put upon him as my own. Believe me, Sir, with great truth, and the warmest disposition to do you justice (before men and angels),

Your, etc.

VOL. VIII.

Y

DEAR SIR,

LETTER XXIII.

TO THE SAME.

London, February 12, 1738-9. I HAVE felt an uneasiness of mind (occasioned by a conscious sense, how unequally I have expressed my anger and contempt, at the treatment of your Cæsar by the man of the stage) ever since I last wrote to you; and an hundred interruptions from day to day (for I have lived in the world, and a busy and idle world both, it is) have ever since hindered me from enjoying one hour of collected thought. Yet I am the less concerned, since, by my delay, I can now tell you I have last night seen Mr. Mallet's play, the fifth act of which I had not before read, through those interruptions I have mentioned. It succeeded (hitherto at least; for yesterday was the first day) as well as I could expect: but so vilely acted in the women's parts and the men's (except two) that I wonder it could succeed. Mr. Thomson, after many shameful tricks from the manager, is determined to act his play at the other theatre, where the advantage lies as to the women, and the success of his will depend upon them (I heartily wish you would follow his example, that we might not be deprived of Cæsar). I have yet seen but three acts of Mr. Thomson's, but I am told, and believe by what I have seen, that it excels in the pathetic. The dignity of sentiment, and grandeur of character, will still be Cæsar's, as in his history, so in your poetry, superior to any.