ARGUMENT OF EPISTLE IV. OF THE USE OF RICHES. THE vanity of expense in people of wealth and quality. The abuse of the word taste, ver. 13. That the first principle and foundation in this, as in everything else, is good sense, ver. 40. The chief proof of it is to follow nature, even in works of mere luxury and elegance. Instanced in architecture and gardening, where all must be adapted to the genius and use of the place, and the beauties not forced into it, but resulting from it, ver. 50. How men are disappointed in their most expensive undertakings, for want of this true foundation, without which nothing can please long, if at all; and the best examples and rules will be but perverted into something burdensome and ridiculous, ver. 65, &c. to 92. A description of the false taste of magnificence; the first grand error of which is to imagine that greatness consists in the size and dimension, instead of the proportion and harmony of the whole, ver. 97, and the second, either in joining together parts incoherent, or too minutely resembling, or in the repetition of the same too frequently, ver. 105, &c. A word or two of false taste in books, in music, in painting, even in preaching and prayer, and lastly in entertainments, ver. 133, &c. Yet Providence is justified in giving wealth to be squandered in this manner, since it is dispersed to the poor and laborious part of mankind, ver. 169, [recurring to what is laid down in the first book, Ep. ii. and in the Epistle preceding this, ver. 159, &c.] What are the proper objects of magnificence, and a proper field for the expence of great men, ver. 177, &c., and finally the great and public works which become a prince, ver. 191 to the end. EPISTLE IV. ΤΟ EARL OF RICHARD BOYLE, EARL BURLINGTON.' "Tis strange, the Miser should his cares employ 1 The 3rd Earl was distinguished for his love of the fine arts, and for his skill as an architect and a landscape gardener. He built the villa at Chiswick and Burlington House; both of which were much admired, though they met also with unfavour. able criticism. Lord Hervey said of the former that it was too small to live in, and too large to hang one's watch; and he satirised Burlington House in the following epigram : Possessed of one great hall of state, Lord Burlington joined the Opposition in 1733 in consequence o having been refused the Steward's Staff. He resigned the Pensioner's 5 Staff together with the Lieutenancy of Yorkshire and the Vice-Treasurership of Ireland, which he held at the time. See Lord Hervey's Memoirs, vol. i., 226. 2 A gentleman famous for a judicious collection of drawings.-POPE. Richard Topham, Keeper of the Records in the Tower, had an estate near Windsor. Further mention of him may be found in Imitations of Horace, Epistle i., Book 1, ver. 131, and note. 3 In all the editions published during Pope's lifetime: For Fountain statues, and for Pembroke (1st edition, Curio) coins. The Key to the Miscellany of Taste says: "Sir Andrew Foun Rare monkish manuscripts for Hearne alone,' And books for Mead,' and butterflies for Sloane." taine, to whom the late Dean Hickes dedicated his most learned work." Curio, according to the same authority, is Dr. A-tt, I presume Arbuthnot who in 1727 had published Tables of Ancient Coins. I suppose, therefore, no offence was originally intended, but the position being equivocal, Fountaine and Curio were struck out.-DILKE. Fountaine's name, however, remained in the text till 1743. Besides, Curio is also mentioned in the Epistle to Addison (first printed in 1721), ver. 43, in connection with Vadius (Woodward), who was one of the favourite objects of Arbuthnot's ridicule. It is therefore unlikely that the "Key" is right about Arbuthnot. Pope probably meant by Curio Thomas, the eighth Earl of Pembroke, who was alive when this Essay was first published. In the later editions, Pembroke being dead, his name was inserted. Young, Universal Passion, Sat. i., 177, also couples the names of Fountaine and Pembroke: Not Fountaine's self more Parian charms has known, Nor is good Pembroke more in love with stone. In the Chauncy MS. the reading is as follows: Not for himself but Fountaine gems he buys, Pictures to raise the ignoble shout of Guise, For Topham drawings and far-fetched designs. Sir Andrew Fountaine (born 1675, died 4th September, 1753) was ViceChamberlain to Queen Caroline, and resigned his office on being appointed Warden of the Mint, 8 September, 1727. He was a recognized connoisseur in various departments of art. the reference to him in Dunciad, iv., ver. 347-70. Sce General Guise was a well-known collector of pictures. He bequeathed 10 his collection to Christ Church, Oxford. Horace Walpole says that they were entirely repainted, and as entirely spoiled, "by one Bonus, who was employed by the College to repair them." 4 Thomas Hearne, the antiquary, born 1678, died 1735. 5 Two eminent physicians; the one had an excellent library, the other the finest collection in Europe of natural curiosities; both men of great learning and humanity.-POPE Richard Mead, born 1673, died 1754. "His library consisted of 6,592 numbers, containing upwards of 10,000 volumes, in which he spared no expense for scarce and ancient editions. It is remarkable that many of his books sold for much more than they had cost him. His library sold for £5518 10s. 11d." Nichols' Literary Anecdotes, vol. vi. p. 218. See also Imitation of Horace, Epistle i., Book i., ver. 51 and note, which shows that Pope did not here intend to sneer at him. Of Sloane (born 1660, died 1753) Walpole says: "Sir Hans Sloane is dead and has made me one of the trustees to his museum, which is to be offered for twenty thousand pounds to the King, the Parliament, the Royal Academies of Petersburgh, Berlin, Paris, and Madrid. He valued it at fourscore thousand, and so would anybody who loved hippopotamuses, sharks with one ear, and spiders as big as geese. It is a rent-charge to keep the foetuses in spirits."-Letter to Mann, February 14th, 1753. In the same disparaging spirit, so characteristic of the taste of the age, Young in his Love of Fame calls Sloane "the foremost toyman of his time." 6 Earlier editions: Rarities for Sloane. Think we all these are for himself? no more 2 For what has Virro painted, built, and planted ?? Only to show how many tastes he wanted. What brought Sir Visto's ill-got wealth to waste? Some Demon whispered, "Visto! have a taste." Heaven visits with a taste the wealthy fool, And needs no rod but Ripley with a rule.' "In the Comedian, or Philosophical Inquirer, 1732, edited by Cooke, the translator of Hesiod, in a letter addressed to Pope commenting on the unmeaning generality of the term 'rarities,' it is asked: 'Are not some drawings, some statues, some coins, all monkish manuscripts, and some books, rarities? Couldst thou not find a trisyllable to express some parts of nature for a collection of which that learned and worthy physician is eminent? Fy, fy! correct and write : Rare monkish manuscripts for Hearne alone, And books for Mead, and butterflies for Sloane.' The correction was evidently an improvement, and Pope therefore wisely accepted the benefit. Communication by Mr. Crossley, in Notes and Queries, June 4, 1853." CARRUTHERS. It is to be observed, however, that "rarities" is the reading in every edition during Pope's lifetime. In the folio of 1731 : 993 3 In the folio of 1731 : 15 What brought Sir Shylock's ill-got wealth to waste? Some demon whispered "Knights should have a taste." The name Shylock was afterwards appropriated to Selkirk (see Moral Essay i. 55); and also to Wortley Montagu, Moral Essay iii. 94, 115. "Sir Visto" is Walpole, who impaired his fortune by his vast outlay on Houghton. 4 This man was a carpenter, employed by a first Minister, who raised him to be an Architect, without any genius in the art; and after some wretched proofs of his insufficiency in public buildings, made him Comptroller of the Board of Works.-POPE. In first edition : Sd with a rule. Sd in the Key to the Miscellany, is said to be " one Stafford, a carpenter."-CROKER. In quarto of 1735: R-pl-y. Thomas Ripley was made Controller of His Majesty's Board of Works in the place of Sir John Vanbrugh, deceased, 30th April, 1726. See Historical Register under that date. Pope's attack on Ripley was very probably made in consequence of the promotion of the latter over the head of Kent, who was architect to Lord Burlington, and had now to serve under Ripley in the post of chief carpenter. Horace Walpole, allowing that Ripley was deficient in taste, maintains that he "excelled in the mechanic part, |