and that the copy thence stolen was sent to the press. The story
was doubtless received with different degrees of credit. It may be
suspected that the preface to the "Miscellanies" was written to
prepare the public for such an incident; and, to strengthen this
opinion, James Worsdale, a painter, who was employed in clandestine
negotiations, but whose voracity was very doubtful, declared that he
was the messenger who carried, by Pope's direction, the books to
Curll. When they were thus published and avowed, as they had
relation to recent facts, and persons either then living or not yet
forgotten, they may be supposed to have found readers; but, as the
facts were minute, and the characters being either private or
literary, were little known, or little regarded, they awaked no
popular kindness or resentment. The book never became much the
subject of conversation. Some read it as a contemporary history,
and some perhaps as a model of epistolary language; but those who
read it did not talk of it. Not much therefore was added by it to
fame or envy, nor do I remember that it produced either public
praise or public censure. It had, however, in some degree, the
recommendation of novelty. Our language had few letters, except
those of statesmen. Howel, indeed, about a century ago, published
his "Letters," which are commended by Morhoff, and which alone, of
his hundred volumes, continue his memory. Loveday's "Letters" were
printed only once; those of Herbert and Suckling are hardly known.
Mrs. Phillips's (Orinda's) are equally neglected. And those of
Walsh seem written as exercises, and were never sent to any living
mistress or friend. Pope's epistolary excellence had an open field;
he had no English rival, living or dead.

Pope is seen in this collection as connected with the other
contemporary wits, and certainly suffers no disgrace in the