"April 11, 1739.

"Sir,--I have just received from Mr. R. two more of your letters.
It is in the greatest hurry imaginable that I write this; but I
cannot help thanking you in particular for your third letter, which
is so extremely clear, short, and full, that I think Mr. Crousaz
ought never to have another answer, and deserved not so good an one.
I can only say, you do him too much honour, and me too much right,
so odd as the expression seems; for you have made my system as clear
as I ought to have done, and could not. It is indeed the same
system as mine, but illustrated with a ray of your own, as they say
our natural body is the same still when it is glorified. I am sure
I like it better than I did before, and so will every man else. I
know I meant just what you explain; but I did not explain my own
meaning so well as you. You understand me as well as I do myself;
but you express me better than I could express myself. Pray accept
the sincerest acknowledgments. I cannot but wish these letters were
put together in one book, and intend (with your leave) to procure a
translation of part at least, or of all of them, into French; but I
shall not proceed a step without your consent and opinion," &c.


By this fond and eager acceptance of an exculpatory comment Pope
testified that, whatever might be the seeming or real import of the
principles which he had received from Bolingbroke, he had not
intentionally attacked religion; and Bolingbroke, if he meant to
make him, without his own consent, an instrument of mischief, found
him now engaged, with his eyes open, on the side of truth. It is
known that Bolingbroke concealed from Pope his real opinions. He
once discovered them to Mr. Hooke, who related them again to Pope,