The next letter in Mason's publication is a letter from "Mr. Gray to Mr.
Walpole" (p. 217.), and is dated "_Cambridge, Feb._ 11, 1751," which
runs thus:--

"As you have brought me into a little sort of distress, you must
assist me, I believe, to get out of it as well as I can.
Yesterday I had the misfortune of receiving a letter from
certain gentlemen (as their bookseller expresses it) who have
taken the Magazine of Magazines into their hands: they tell me
that an {301} _ingenious_ poem, called 'Reflections in a Country
Church-yard,' has been communicated to them, which they are
printing forthwith; that they are informed that the _excellent_
author of it is I by name, and that they beg not only his
_indulgence_, but the _honour_ of his correspondence, &c.... I
therefore am obliged to desire you would make Dodsley print it
immediately _from your copy_, but without my name, &c. He must
correct the press himself ... and the title must be 'Elegy
written in a Country Church-yard.' If he would add a line or two
to say it came into his hand by accident, I should like it
better ... If Dodsley do not do this immediately, he may as well
let it alone."

Dr. Johnson (_Life of Gray_) says:

"His next production, 1750, was his far-famed _Elegy_," &c.

The Doctor adds:

"Several of his [Gray's] pieces were published, 1753, with