physician and given myself up to a new one; any more than I have renounced the errors of our church, and taken up with those of yours."—P. 66 When General Oglethorpe was conversing with a sensible old native of Georgia about prayer; the latter said, that they never asked anything of God, but left it to him to do what he thought best for them: that the asking for any particular blessing, looked to him like directing God; and if so, must be a very wicked thing. That, for his part, he thought everything that happened in the world was as it should be that God, of himself, would do for every one, what was consistent with the good of the whole; and that our duty to him, was to be content with whatever happened in general, and thankful for all the good that happened to us in particular."-Mr. Cheselden. "Here am I, like Socrates, distributing my morality among my friends, just as I am dying."-P. [This was said on his sending about some of his Ethic Epistles, as presents, about three weeks before we lost him.—I replied, "I really had that thought several times, when I was last at Twickenham with you; and was apt, now and then, to look upon myself like Phædo."-That might be (said he); but you must not expect me now to say anything like Socrates.-Spence.] One of the things that I have always most wondered at, is that there should be any such thing as human vanity.— If I had any, I had enough to mortify it, a few days ago; for I lost my mind for a whole day.-P. [This was said on the 10th of May; and the day he spoke of was the Sunday before, May the 6th. A day or two after he complained of that odd phenomenon (as he called it) of seeing R everything in the room as through a curtain.-On the 14th he complained of seeing false colours on objects.-Spence.] The 15th, on Mr. Lyttleton's coming in to see him, he said; "Here am I, dying of a hundred good symptoms!" [This was just after Dr. T. had been telling him, that he was glad to find that he breathed so much easier; that his pulse was very good; and several other encouraging things.] -Spence.] The thing that I suffer most from, is, that I find I cannot think.-P. He said to me, "What's that?" pointing into the air, with a very steady regard; and then looked down on me, and said, with a smile of great pleasure and with the greatest softness," "Twas a vision."-Spence, (from Papers.) I had got the Regent's edition of the Longus's Daphnis and Chloe in my hand to read while he was dozing. 66 They are very innocent loves, like those of Adam and Eve in Milton (said he): I wonder how a man of so infected a mind as the Regent, could have any taste for such a book."-P. The greatest hero is nothing under a certain state of the nerves. His mind is like a fine ring of bells, jangled and out of tune.-Lord Bolingbroke. [He himself has been in the vapours this last month, though he always used to laugh at it before and that made him awake to this reflection.*Hooke.] There is so much trouble in coming into the world, and so much more, as well as meanness, in going out of it; that 'tis hardly worth while to be here at all!-Lord B. [His Lordship's melancholy attitude on the morning of the 21st * From Papers. was remarkable, leaning against Mr. Pope's chair; and crying over him for a considerable time, with more concern than can be expressed.-Spence.] [On the 27th, speaking of his having so little to leave, he quoted two of his own verses very properly, on his whole life having been divided between carelessness and care.— Hooke.] It was on this same day that he requested to be brought to the table where we were sitting at dinner; his appearance was such, that we all thought him dying. Mrs. Anne Arbuthnot involuntarily exclaimed; "Lord, have mercy upon us! this is quite an Egyptian feast."-Spence, (from Papers.) "O great God! what is man?" said Lord B. looking on Mr. Pope and repeating it several times, interrupted with sobs. Upon Mr. Cheselden saying, "There is no hope for him here; our only hope for him must be-." Lord Bolingbroke said," Pshaw!- -we can only reason from what is, we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities.” When I was telling his Lordship, that Mr. Pope, on every catching and recovery of his mind, was always saying something kindly either of his present or his absent friends: and that this was so surprising, that it seemed to me as if his humanity had outlasted his understanding.-Lord B. said; It has so!"-and then added, 66 "I never in my life knew a man that had so tender a heart for his particular friends, or a more general friendship for mankind!". ~"I have known him these thirty years: and value myself more for that man's love, than." [Sinking his head, and losing his voice in tears.-Spence.] A short time before his death, Mr. Pope said, "I am so certain of the soul's being immortal, that I seem to feel it within me as it were by intuition." When Mr. Hooke asked him, whether he would not die as his father and mother had done; and whether he should not send for a priest ?—He said, "I do not suppose that is essential, but it will look right: and I heartily thank you for putting me in mind of it."* In the morning, after the priest had given him the last sacraments; he said, "There is nothing that is meritorious but virtue and friendship; and indeed friendship itself is only a part of virtue.” [When Mr. Hooke whispered this to Lord Bolingbroke, at table, he said aloud; "Why, to be sure, that is the whole duty of man."-From Papers.] Mr. Pope died the 30th of May (1744) in the evening; but they did not know the exact time: for his departure was so easy, that it was imperceptible even to the standers by.-MAY OUR END BE LIKE HIS ! * Hooke told Warburton' that the priest whom he had provided to do the last office to the dying man, came out from him, penetrated to the last degree with the state of mind in which he found his penitent, resigned and wrapt up in the love of God and man.' -The priest had scarce departed (says Warton) when Bolingbroke, coming over from Battersea, flew into a great fit of passion and indignation, on the occasion of his being called in.-Editor. END OF THE EIGHTH SECTION. |