esteem of Pope was such that he submitted some poems to his
revision, and when Pope, perhaps proud of such confidence, was
sufficiently bold in his criticisms, and liberal in his alterations,
the old scribbler was angry to see his pages defaced, and felt more
pain from the detection than content from the amendment of his
faults. They parted, but Pope always considered him with kindness,
and visited him a little time before he died. Another of his early
correspondents was Mr. Cromwell, of whom I have learned nothing
particular, but that he used to ride a-hunting in a tie-wig. He was
fond, and perhaps vain, of amusing himself with poetry and
criticism, and sometimes sent his performances to Pope, who did not
forbear such remarks as were now and then unwelcome. Pope, in his
turn, put the juvenile version of "Statius" into his hands for
correction. Their correspondence afforded the public its first
knowledge of Pope's epistolary powers, for his letters were given by
Cromwell to one Mrs. Thomas, and she many years afterwards sold them
to Curll, who inserted them in a volume of his "Miscellanies."

Walsh, a name yet preserved among the minor poets, was one of his
first encouragers. His regard was gained by the pastorals, and from
him Pope received the counsel from which he seems to have regulated
his studies. Walsh advised him to correctness, which, as he told
him, the English poets had hitherto neglected, and which, therefore,
was left to him as a basis of fame; and, being delighted with rural
poems, recommended to him to write a pastoral comedy, like those
which are read so eagerly in Italy, a design which Pope probably did
not approve, as he did not follow it.

Pope had now declared himself a poet, and, thinking himself entitled
to poetical conversation, began at seventeen to frequent Will's, a