l'ope had now risen to wealth, and to all the consequence which a combination of wealth and talent never fails to se cure. Many of his most intimate friends composed the court of the Prince of Wales, who was then in avowed opposition to the measures of his father's ministers. The prince honoured him by dining at his house; and the poet was disposed in return to support the political measures of his illustrious guest. Under the influence of such patronage, he wrote his last two satires, entitled, Seventeen Hundred and Thirty-Eight.
In the year 1742, Pope gave to the world a fourth book of the Dunciad, the object of which was to ridicule use less and frivolous studies; and in 1743, he published the whole poem complete, as a specimen of a more correct edition of his works, in which he had made some progress; but which he did not live to complete.
His bodily debility was accompanied with a weak state of health, and a constitutional attack of head-ache, in creased by a dropsy in his heart, indicated some approach ing change. His friend, Mr. Hooke the historian, whom he had converted to Popery, saw that his disease was mor tal, and requested him to receive the last sacrament. Pope replied, that though he did not think the ceremony essential, yet it was proper. Soon after this religious act, he became very ill, and he expired on the 30th May, 1744, in the 56th year of his age. He was interred at Twickenham, where a monument was erected to his memory.
By his will, which bore the date of December Ilth, 1743, he bequeathed the life-rent of his property to Miss Blount, and the property of all his works to his friend Bishop Warburton, who evinced his gratitude by pub lishing a complete edition of the whole in 1751, in 9 vols. 8vo. An able Essay on the Genius and Writings if Pope, by Dr. Warton, appeared, in 2 vols. 8vo. in 1756, and in 1782, and it was subsequently reprinted in 1806.
The character of Pope, though generally understood, has yet been depicted in rather various colours. From the state of his health, he required indulgences and ac commodations which the possessor of a robust constitu tion is too apt to stigmatize as foibles; and, from the same cause, a fretfulness of disposition, and a shortness of temper, which were not indigenous to his powerful mind.
According to Lord Orrery, " his manners were delicate, easy, and engaging ; and lie treated his friends with a po liteness that charmed, and a generosity that was much to his honour. Every guest was made happy within his doors; pleasure dwelt under his roof, and elegance pre sided at his table." On the other hand, Dr. Johnson observes, " his parsi mony appeared in petty matters, such as writing his com positions on the backs of letters, or in a niggardly recep tion of his friends, and a scantiness of entertainment. He was full of his fortune, and frequently ridiculed poverty ; he seems to have been of an opinion, not at all uncommon in the world, that to want money is to want every thing. Ile was proud of his connexion with the great, and boasted that lie obtained their notice by no meanness or servility. He was capable of generous and elevated sentiments, and had a dignified regard to his independence. Inflexible in his dislikes, he was firm in his attachments; and Boling• hruke testified of him, that he had never known a man who had so tender a heart for his particular ft-tends, or more general friendship for mankind. As a poet, admitting that he was deficient in invention. his claim to pre-emi nence on other qualities, will scarcely be disputed ; and it will be generally admitted, that no English writer has car ried farther, correctness of versification, strength and splendour of diction, and the truly poetical quality of adorning every subject that he touched."