T III. ON THE HON. SIMON HARCOURT, ONLY SON OF THE LORD CHANCELLOR HARCOURT; At the Church of Stanton-Harcourt in Oxfordshire, 1720. this fad Shrine, whoe'er thou art! draw near, Here lies the Friend most lov'd, the Son moft dear: Who ne'er knew Joy, but Friendship might divide, Or gave his Father Grief but when he dy'd. How vain is Reafon, Eloquence how weak! 5 NOTES. VER. 4. but when he dy'd.] Thefe were the very words ufed by Louis XIV. when his Queen died, 1633; though it is not to be imagined they were copied by Pope. Such coincidences in writers WARTON. are not uncommon. VER. 6 If Pope must tell] Whoever ufed the words, they were contemptible, and almost burlesque. IV. ON JAMES CRAGGS*, ESQ. In Westminster-Abbey. JACOBUS CRAGGS REGNI MAGNE BRITANNIÆ A SECRETIS ET CONSILIIS SANCTIORIBUS, VIXIT TITULIS ET INVIDIA MAJOR ANNOS, HEU PAUCOS, XXXV. OB. FEB. XIV. MDCCXX. Statesman, yet Friend to Truth! of Soul fincere, NOTES. * He was the only fon of James Craggs, who has been before mentioned. He had his education at a French feminary in Chelfea; from thence he went to Hanover, thence to the Court of Turin. He removed to Barcelona, and, in the ab. fence of Lord Stanhope, he afterwards ferved as Under-Minister to the Emperor. Upon the death of Queen Ann, he was fent fent to Hanover, for which he was made, by the affiftance of the Duke of Marlborough, Cofferer to the Prince, and afterwards Principal Secretary of State. Confidering the violent state of parties, no one had fewer enemies. His generofity, good-nature, pleasing manners, and liberal heart, were acknowledged by all. Though the friend of Addison, and raised by the Whigs, yet his manly generofity to Pope is well-known. The only thing that has appeared to caft a momentary shade, if I may fay fo, on his character, was his connection with the unfortunate South-Sea bufinefs. According to the Committee of Secrecy, no lefs a fum than 36,000l. fictitious stock was held for him and his father. Upon the great alarm and fubfequent distress of the public, the elder Craggs died fuddenly, not without fufpicion that he had haftened his own diffolution. Poffibly the violent agitation of his fpirits produced a fever, which terminated fatally. The late Lord Orford informed Mr. Coxe, that he had an interview with Sir Robert Walpole, just at the time of the rupture of the scheme, and he appeared in such a state of violent agitation and distress, that Sir Robert expreffed little furprise when he heard afterwards of his death. He left three daughters, all married, and connected with families whofe defcendants are at this day as high in station, as most amiable in life. Craggs, notwithstanding he was a pleasant companion, and a particular favourite, it is faid, with the Ladies, was very attentive to business. I have a letter now before me, from Methuen to Doddington, in which he fays, "Mr. Walpole minds his hunting in Norfolk, but Mr. Secretary Craggs, and your humble fer"vant, with fome few of his brethren of the Privy Council, ftick "close to business." "October 27." Johnson with justice objects to an Epitaph, partly in Latin, and partly in English. V. INTENDED FOR MR. ROWE, IN WESTMINSTER-ABBEY. THY Peace VARIATIONS. He altered it much for the better, as it now ftands on the Monument in the Abbey, erected to Rowɛ and his Daughter Thy Reliques, RowE! to this fad fhrine we truft, To these, so mourn'd in death, so lov'd in life! WARBURTON. NOTES. VER. 3. Beneath a rude] The tomb of Mr. Dryden was erected upon this hint by the Duke of Buckingham; to which was originally intended this Epitaph: "This Peace to thy gentle fhade, and endless rest! NOTES. "This Sheffield rais'd. The facred duft below Was Dryden once: The reft who does not know?" which the Author fince changed into the plain infcription now upon it, being only the name of that great Poet: J. DRYDEN. Natus Aug 9 1631. Mortuus Maij 1. 1700. JOANNES SHEFFIELD DUX BUCKINGHAMIENSIS POSUIT. POPE. IT was always understood that Pope had a fincere regard for Rowe; but the following extraordinary anecdote is related from Mr. Spence's Collections: "Rowe, in Mr. Pope's opinion, maintained a decent character, but had no heart. Mr. Addison was justly offended with some behaviour which arose from that want, and eftranged himself from him, which Rowe felt very feverely. Mr. Pope, their common friend, knowing this, took an opportunity, at fome juncture of Mr. Addifon's advancement, to tell him how poor Rowe was grieved at his displeasure, and what satisfaction he expreffed at Mr. Addison's good fortune; which he expressed so naturally, that he (Mr. Pope) could not but think him fincere. Mr. Addison replied, I do not fufpect that he feigned; but the levity of his heart is fuch, that he is ftruck with any new adventure; and it would affect him just in the fame manner, if he heard I was going to be hanged.' Mr. Pope faid, he could not deny but Mr. Addison understood Rowe well." WARTON, I cannot pass by the note from Spence's Anecdotes, refpecting Rowe, without animadverfion. I tremble for every character, when VOL. II. E B |