(941) Expression of Mr. Chute.

(942) Mr. Pelham.

375 Letter 141

To The Hon. H. S. Conway.(943)
Arlington Street, June 29, 1744.

My dearest Henry, I don’t know what made my last letter so long on the road:  yours got hither as soon as it could.  I don’t attribute it to any examination at the post-office.  God forbid I should suspect any branch of the present administration of attempting to know any one kind of thing!  I remember when I was at Eton, and Mr. Bland(944) had set me an extraordinary task, I used sometimes to pique myself upon not getting it, because it was not immediately my school business.  What! learn more than I was absolutely forced to learn!  I felt the weight of learning that; for I was a blockhead, and pushed up above my parts.

Lest you maliciously think I mean any application of this last sentence any where in the world, I shall go and transcribe some lines out of a new poem, that pretends to great impartiality, but is evidently wrote by some secret friend of the ministry.  It is called Pope’s, but has no good lines but the following.  The plan supposes him complaining of being put to death by the blundering discord of his two physicians.  Burton and Thompson; and from thence makes a transition to show that all the present misfortunes of the world flow from a parallel disagreement; for instance, in politics: 

“Ask you what cause this conduct can create? 
The doctors differ that direct the state. 
Craterus, wild as Thompson, rules and raves,
A slave himself yet proud of making slaves;
Fondly believing that his mighty parts
Can guide all councils and command all hearts;
Give shape and colour to discordant things,
Hide fraud in ministers and fear in kings. 
Presuming on his power, such schemes he draws
For bribing Iron(945) and giving Europe laws,
That camps, and fleets, and treaties fill the news,
And succours unobtain’d and unaccomplish’d views.

“Like solemn Burton grave Plumbosus acts;
He thinks in method, argues all from facts;
Warm in his temper, yet affecting ice,
Protests his candour ere he gives advice;
Hints he dislikes the schemes he recommends,
And courts his foes-and hardly courts his friends;
Is fond of power, and yet concerned for fame-
>From different parties would dependents claim
Declares for war, but in an awkward way,
Loves peace at heart, which he’s afraid to say;
His head perplex’d, altho’ his hands are pure-
An honest man,-but not a hero sure!”

I beg you will never tell me any news till it has past every impression of the Dutch gazette; for one is apt to mention what is wrote to one:  that gets about, comes at last to, the ears of the ministry, puts them in a fright, and perhaps they send to beg to see your letter.  Now, you know one should hate to have one’s private correspondence made grounds for a measure,-especially for an absurd one, which is just possible.