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But the only Excufe, that I will allow, is, your • Attention to the Life of Zoilus. The Frogs already • seem to croak for their Transportation to England, ⚫ and are fenfible how much that Doctor is curfed and hated, who introduced their Species into your Nation; therefore, as you dread the Wrath of St. Patrick, fend them hither, and rid your Kingdom of those pernicious and loquacious Ani'mals.

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• I have at length received your Poem out of Mr. Addifon's Hands, which shall be sent as foon as you order it, and in what Manner you fhall appoint. • I shall in the mean Time give Mr. Tooke a Packet for you, confifting of divers merry Pieces. Mr. 'Gay's new Farce, Mr. Burnet's Letter to Mr. Pope, Mr. Pope's Temple of Fame, Mr. Thomas Bur'net's Grumbler on Mr. Gay, and the Bishop of Ailfbury's Elegy, written either by Mr. Cary or fome other Hand.

Mr. Pope is reading a Letter, and in the mean Time, I make use of the Pen to teftify my Uneafi'ness in not hearing from you. I find Succefs, even ⚫ in the most trivial Things, raises the Indignation ⚫ of Scribblers: for I, for my What-d'-ye call-it, 'could neither escape the Fury of Mr. Burnet, or the German Doctor; then where will Rage end, ' when Homer is to be tranflated? Let Zoilus haften to your Friend's Affiftance, and envious Criticifm 'fhall be no more. I am in hopes that we may • order our Affairs so as to meet this Summer at the Bath; for Mr. Pope and myself have Thoughts of taking a Trip thither. You fhall preach, and we will write Lampoons; for it is esteemed as great ⚫ an Honour to leave the Bath, for fear of a broken 'Head, as for a Terræ Filius of Oxford to be ex'pelled. I have no Place at Court, therefore, that I may not entirely be without one every

'where,

where, fhew that I have a Place in your Remem

• brance;

Your most affectionate,

Faithful Servant,

'A. POPE, and J. GAY.

• Homer will be published in Three Weeks.'

I cannot finish this Trifle, without returning my fincerest Acknowledgments to Sir John Parnell, for the generous Affiftance he was pleased to give me, in furnishing me with many Materials, when he heard I was about writing the Life of his Uncle; as alfo to Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, Relations of our Poet; and to my very good Friend Mr. Steevens, who, being an Ornament to Letters himself, is very ready to affift all the Attempts of others.

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OST Ages have borne fome characteristic Mark of their Excellence and AttainmentsIt is the peculiar Happiness of the prefent to be equally diftinguished for its Progress in the Arts, as for its rapid Advancements in the Duties of Humanity. The many public Buildings which have of late Years been erected, are living Monuments of the vaft Improvements that have been made in modern Architecture; and the various Purposes for which they have been applied, as well as the known Utility which has been received from them, have alike evinced, that Charity has gone hand in hand with Magnificence. So many Hofpitals are now interspersed through the whole Kingdom, that there is scarce any Part of the Wretched, who do not in fome

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STATE of LEICESTER INFIRMARY. fome Degree feel their good Effects; but this Species (of which we now give an Account) feems to be the most highly entitled to our Attention and Regard, for it is founded on the foundest Principles of political Wisdom as well as Piety— is addreffed to those who from their very Occupations must experience the utmoft Rigours of inclement Elements - who breathe as it were Disease from the Inftruments they ufe, and the Materials they employ, to thofe who in the Hand of Providence are the Bulwarks and Security of our national Welfare. And where can Relief be fo readily fupplied as in public Infirmaries ? The Patients receive every requifite Help, the moft able Advice, the moft proper Medicines, and in a Manner which the Rich can rarely experience even in their own Houfes,-in fhort what do they not experience, but the most effectual Means towards the Accomplishment of the best End?

In the Infancy of this Charity a Prejudice prevailed (and where has it not?) that Trials of Skill were to be made, and that the Torture of the Patient was the Experience of the Phyfician-the Prejudice is as ill founded as it is illiberal, and has only been propagated by those who wifhed for fome fpecious Pretence for with-holding their Subfcriptions-this, like most other Prejudices, carries the Height of Abfurdity on the very Face of it-for what is it but in other Words to fay, that the Skilful affemble to defeat their own Art, and a Set of Gentlemen are employed, at a vaft Expence, to erect a Charity, to destroy the very Purposes of its Inftitution.

The Poor, who have hitherto benefited by this Charity, have not proved themselves unworthy of the Care that has been fhown for them; and we have Reason to hope that they will ever moft thankfully exprefs their Senfe of Gratitude for the Aid

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they

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STATE of LEICESTER INFIRMARY.

they have received in this merciful Afylum, as they are now fully convinced of its Ufe and Efficacy.

Of the Continuance of fuch Bleffings little more need be faid than that the Charity (as it was at first founded) is ftill fupported by Men of Character and Integrity, who will watch with Affiduity and Care the good Work they have begun, and enfure (as far as human Power can enfure) that the fame Care and Affiduity fhall be tranfmitted to Pofterity of which themselves are fuch eminent Examples.

Such is the Nature of that Charity we fo ftrongly recommend, a Charity beneficial to Individuals, and most useful to the Public-for though the Good Man would in every Age, from the generous Impulse of his own Heart, in fome Degree, fupply the Want of fuch Establishments, by cafting his Bread upon the Waters,' yet he has now the happier Confolation to reflect, that under the judicous Regulation of them, he gives that ' Bread to • the hungry.'

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