EPISTLE

ΤΟ

JAMES CRAGGS, ESQ.

SECRETARY OF STATE.

A

SOUL as full of Worth, as void of Pride, Which nothing feeks to fhew, or needs to hide, Which nor to Guilt nor Fear, its Caution owes, And boasts a Warmth that from no Paffion flows.

A Face

NOTES.

Secretary of State] In the year 1720.

POPE.

Mr. Craggs was made Secretary at War, in 1717, when the Earl of Sunderland and Mr. Addifon were appointed Secretaries of State.

This Epistle appears to have been written foon after his being made one of the Secretaries of State. He was deeply implicated in the famous South-Sea fcheme. When Mr. Shippen, alluding to him, faid in the House of Commons, (at the time a motion was made to fecure the perfons and property of the South-Sea directors,) "in his opinion, there were fome men in high stations, who were "no lefs guilty than the directors;" Mr. Craggs immediately anfwered, he was ready to give fatisfaction to any man, who bould question him in that Houfe, or out of it. This created great offence, and was understood as a challenge, but after fome ferment, Mr. Cragg, faid, that "by giving fatisfaction" he meant, clearing his con. du&t. Tyndal's Continuation of Rapin.

He died foon after the detection of the fallacy of the great fcheme, and would moft probably have been called to a fevere account, had he lived. He died of the fmall-pox, on the ninth day, 16th February 1721. See a farther account of him in this velume, Epitaph on Craggs.

JAMES CRAGGS, ESQ JUN (Secretary of State) From a Picture by Sir Godfrey Knettere. in the Marquis of Buckingham's Collection at Stowe,

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Published by iadell & Davies, Strand, and the other Proprietors May 1.1807.

A Face untaught to feign; a judging Eye,
That darts fevere upon a rifing Lie,
And strikes a blush through frontless Flattery.
All this thou wert; and being this before,
Know, Kings and Fortune cannot make thee more.
Then fcorn to gain a Friend by fervile ways,
Nor wish to lose a Foe these Virtues raife;
But candid, free, fincere, as you began,
Proceed-a Minifter, but ftill a Man.
Be not (exalted to whate'er degree)
Afham'd of any Friend, not ev'n of Me:
The Patriot's plain, but untrod, path pursue ;
If not, 'tis I must be afham'd of You.

POPE.

"Since my old friend is grown fo great,

As to be Minister of State,

I'm told, but 'tis not true I hope,

That Craggs will be afham'd of Pope."

5

I SHALL add a dialogue by Mr. Pope, in verfe, that is genuine :

CRAGGS.

"Alas! if I am fuch a creature,

To grow the worfe for growing greater;
Why, faith, in fpite of all my brags,
'Tis Pope must be asham'd of Craggs."

15

WARTON.

EPISTLE

TO

MR. JERVAS,

WITH MR. DRYDEN's TRANSLATION OF FRESNOY's
ART OF PAINTING.

THIS
HIS Verse be thine, my friend, nor thou refuse
This, from no venal or ungrateful Muse.
Whether thy hand strike out fome free design,
Where Life awakes, and dawns at ev'ry line;
Or blend in beauteous tints the colour'd mass,
And from the canvass call the mimic face:
Read these instructive leaves, in which confpire
Frefnoy's close Art, and Dryden's native Fire;

5

And

NOTES.

Epifle to Mr. Jervas] This Epiftle and the two following were written fome years before the reft, and originally printed in 1717. POPE.

Jervas owed much more of his reputation to this Epiftle than to his fkill as a painter. "He was defective," fays Mr. Walpole, "in drawing, colouring, and compofition; his pictures are a light, flimzy kind of fan-painting, as large as the life; his vanity was exceffive." The reafon why Lady Bridgewater's name is fo frequently repeated in this Epiftle, is, because Jervas affected to be violently in love with her. As fhe was fitting to him one day, hẹ ran over the beauties of her face with rapture; but added, "I cannot help telling your Ladyship you have not an handsome ear." "No!-Pray, Mr. Jervas, what is a handfome car?" He turned afide his cap, and fhewed his own! WARTON.