friendship to prevail over his public spirit, and gave in the
Spectator such praises of Tickell's poem that when, after having
long wished to peruse it, I laid hold of it at last, I thought it
unequal to the honours which it had received, and found it a piece
to be approved rather than admired. But the hope excited by a work
of genius, being general and indefinite, is rarely gratified. It
was read at that with so much favour that six editions were sold.

At the arrival of King George, he sang "The Royal Progress," which,
being inserted in the Spectator, is well known, and of which it is
just to say that it is neither high nor low.

The poetical incident of most importance in Tickell's life was his
publication of the first book of the "Iliad," as translated by
himself, an apparent opposition to Pope's "Homer," of which the
first part made its entrance into the world at the same time.
Addison declared that the rival versions were both good, but that
Tickell's was the best that ever was made; and with Addison, the
wits, his adherents and followers, were certain to concur. Pope
does not appear to have been much dismayed, "for," says he, "I have
the town--that is, the mob--on my side." But he remarks "that it is
common for the smaller party to make up in diligence what they want
in numbers. He appeals to the people as his proper judges, and if
they are not inclined to condemn him, he is in little care about the
highflyers at Button's."

Pope did not long think Addison an impartial judge, for he
considered him as the writer of Tickell's version. The reasons for
his suspicion I will literally transcribe from Mr. Spence's
Collection:--