Examen of Mr. Pope's Essay, &c., containing a succinct Account of the Philosophy of Mr. Leibnitz on the System of the Fatalists, with a Confutation of their Opinions, and an Illustration of the Doctrine of Free-will;" [with what else you think proper].
'It will, above all, be necessary to take notice, that it is a thing distinct from the Commentary.
'I was so far from imagining they stood still[1], that I conceived them to have a good deal before-hand, and therefore was less anxious in providing them more. But if ever they stand still on my account, it must doubtless be charged to me; and whatever else shall be reasonable, I shall not oppose; but beg a suspense of judgment till morning, when I must entreat you to send me a dozen proposals, and you shall then have copy to spare.
'Pray muster up the Proposals if you can, or let the boy recall them from the booksellers.'
But although he corresponded with Mr. Cave concerning a translation of Crousaz's Examen of Pope's Essay on Man, and gave advice as one anxious for its success, I was long ago convinced by a perusal of the Preface, that this translation was erroneously ascribed to him; and I have found this point ascertained, beyond all doubt, by the following article in Dr. Birch's Manuscripts in the British Museum:
'Elisæ Carteræ. S.P.D. Thomas Birch.
'Versionem tuam Examinis Crousaziani jam perlegi. Summam styli et elegantiam, et in re difficillimâ proprietatem, admiratus.
Dabam Novemb. 27° 1738[3]'
Indeed Mrs. Carter has lately acknowledged to Mr. Seward, that she was the translator of the Examen.
- ↑ The Compositors in Mr. Cave's printing-office, who appear by this letter to have then waited for copy. Nichols. Boswell.
- ↑ Twenty years later, when he was lodging in the Temple, he had fasted for two days at a time; 'he had drunk tea, but eaten no bread; this was no intentional fasting, but happened just in the course of a literary life.' Boswell's Hebrides, Oct. 4, 1773. See Post, Aug. 5, 1763.
- ↑ Birch MSS. Brit. Mus. 4323. Boswell.
