Original letters and poems of Pope, letters, etc, of Swift, letters of Dr John Arbuthnot...

Original letters and poems of Pope, letters, etc, of Swift, letters of Dr John Arbuthnot and John Gay, "Jeux d'Esprit" between the "Scriblerus Club" and Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, and copies of letters of Pope, Swift, Wycherley, Bishop Atterbury and others, viz:-

1. Letter of Pope to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, enclosing (f.5) his poetical dedication to him of Parnell's Poems; 21 Oct., 1721. f.3. Followed (ff.7, 9) by a draft in Lord Oxford's hand of his answer, 6 Nov., and by a copy of it. Both letters are printed in Elwin's "Works of A. Pope", VIII. pp. 186, 189 and the Dedication, iii. p.191.

2. Autograph verses of Pope, viz.: (a) "To a Young Lady [Patty Blount] on her Birthday, June, 15, 1723". In the upper left-hand corner, also in Pope's hand, is the date "Feb., 21: 1724-1725". Only 14 lines and otherwise differing from the version in Elwin's Ed., IV. p.495. f.11;- (b) "Horace, Ode 1, Lib.4", beg. "Again? new tumults in my breast?" With corrections. (ibid. III. p.415). f.13;- (c) "The Happy Life of a Country Parson", beg. "Parson! these things in thy possessing" (ib.IV.p.437) f.16;- (d) "Sandys' Ghost", beg. "Ye Lords and Commons, men of wit". (ib. IV. p.486). f.17;- (e) "Epitaph on the Tomb of Simon Harcourt, Esq", beg. "To this sad shrine" (ib. IV. p.383). f.19;- (f) On the Countess of Burlington cutting paper, "Pallas grew vap'rish once and odd" (ib.IV.p.456). f.20;- (g) "A Tower there is, where six maidens do dwell" (ib. ). f.22;- (h) "Verses occasion'd by Mr. Durfey's adding a flourish at the end of his name, which was tak'n for an", beg. "Jove call'd before him t'other day" (ib. ). Copy, with corrections by Pope. f.23;- (i) "Fragment", being the lines on Addison, beg. "If meagre Gildon draws his venal quill" (ib. III. p.536), addressed to Lord Harley. f.26. Followed by wrappers of three letters from Pope to Lord Oxford, endorsed as received 23 Sept., 8 Dec., 1724, 11 Oct., 1725. ff.28, 29, 30.

3. Satirical verses on the Dukes of St. Albans, Marlborough, Kingston and Portland being made Knights of the Garter [20 Mar., 1741], beg. "As Anstis was trotting away from the chapter". Placed by Canon Jackson among Pope's verses, but not in his hand. f.31.

4. Copies of letters from (a) Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, to his sister Abigail Harley; Wimpole, 30 Oct., 1717. f.33;- (b) A. Pope to Mrs. Casar; 10 July, -- (see "Works", ed. Elwin, X. p.234). f.35;- (c) A. Pope to Bishop Atterbury; [20 Apr., 1723, see "Works", IX. p.54, and cf. f.227]. Copy, in G. Harbin's hand. f.36.

5. Letters, etc., of Dean Swift, viz.: (a) Memoranda of changes consequent on the promotion of Dr. [Boyle] Travers, prebendary of St. Patrick's, etc. f.41;- (b) Note as to the dealings of Lord Townshend and others with "Scolenboke" [Schulenburg] late General of the Saxon troops, and his secretary, May, 1709. f.42;- (c) Note, not autograph, requesting that the Bishop of Clogher be not removed from the Irish Privy Council, 15 Jan., 1710-1711. f.43;- (d) Letter to Lord [Oxford], announcing the death of the Dean of Wells, and saying "Ientirely submitt my poor fortunes to your Lordship", 5 Jan, [1711-1712?]. f.44;- (c) Copy of and remarks upon, a character of Lord Oxford "by the Countess of --", 1 Jan, 1712-1713. f.45;- (f) Character of Lord Oxford, endorsed by the latter as received on 11 Feb., 1712-1713. f.47;- (g) Letter to Lord Oxford on his release from the Tower, Dublin, 9 July, 1717. f.49;- (h) Letter to the 2nd Lord Oxford, on his intention to write Memoirs of the late Lord, on his deafness, and on the controversy about Wood's half pence, Dublin, 27 Nov., 1724. f.51;- (i) Letter to the same, sending him five Roman medals found in Dublin, and saying "I am now good for nothing, very deaf, very old and very much out of favour with those in power", Dublin, 3 Apr., 1738. f.55. Included also are two letters from Lord Oxford to Swift, 12 Oct., 1727 (draft), 15 July 1730 (copy). Printed in Swift's "Works", ed. Scott, 1814, XVII. pp.183, 334. ff.53, 54.

6. Letters of Dr. John Arbuthnot to the 2nd Lord Oxford (the first addressed to him as Lord Harley), viz.: (a) congratulating him on his marriage; Windsor, 2 Sept., 1713. f.57;- (b) on the public reception of "Gulliver's Travels"; London, 16 Nov., 1726. f.59;- (c) sending a Ballad; 23 Nov., [1726] f.61.

7. Letter of John Gay to the 2nd Lord Oxford, relative to a performance [of the "Beggar's Opera"]; [12 Feb., 1727-1728]. f. 63.

8. Jocular invitations and other Jeux d'esprit in verse between the "Scribberus Club" and the 1st Lord Oxford, in the autographs of Pope, Swift, Gay, Parnell, Arbuthnot, and Lord Oxford; 1714-1718. ff.66-91.

9. Copies of letters of Swift, with others of Pope, Lord Bolingbroke and the 2nd Lord Oxford, 1723-1737. Made apparently for Lord Oxford, and with pencil notes by John Wilson Croker, stating if the letters are, wholly or partially, printed. ff. 92-170.

10. Copies of letters of William Wycherley to Pope; 1706-1710. Also made for Lord Oxford, and noted by J. W. Croker. ff. 171-187. Only partially printed in Pope's "Works", ed. Elwin, vol.VIII.

11. Copies of letters of Bishop Atterbury, chiefly to Pope, with a few of the latter's to to Atterbury; 1716-1729. Noted by the 2nd Earl of Oxford, and mostly printed in Pope's "Works", ed. Elwin, vol.IX. ff.188-243.

Included also are:- (a) Atterbury to Lord Oxford; Tower, 16 June, 1723. f. 231;- (b) Pope to Lord Carteret; 16 Feb, 1722-1723. ("Works", X. p.139). f.235;- (c) Atterbury to Lord Townshend; Apr., 1723. f. 237.

Folio. ff. 243.