and characters of books and men_, which was edited by my friend Mr.
Singer, with his wonted care and ability in 1820.

The _Essay on the Odyssey_ was first published anonymously in 1726-7.
It was reprinted in 1737 and 1747. A copy of the latter edition, now
in my possession, contains this curious note:--

"It is remarkable that of twelve passages objected to in this
critique on the English Odyssey, _two_ only are found in those
books which were translated by Pope.

"From Mr. Langton, who had his information from Mr. Spence.

"When Spence carried his preface to Gorboduc in {364} 1736 to
Pope, he asked him his opinion. Pope said 'It would do very
well; there was nothing _pert_ or _low_ in it.' Spence was
satisfied with this praise, which however, was in implied
censure on all his other writings.--He is very fond of the
familiar vulgarisms of common talk, and is the very reverse of
Dr. Johnson.

"E.M." [Edmond Malone.]

The note is not signed at length, but there can be no doubt as to its
authorship, as I purchased the volume which contains it at the sale of
the unreserved books of Mr. Malone in 1818.

Bolton Corney.

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