ess."--An
Epistle to the Author of a Libel entitled "A Letter to the
Editor of Bolingbroke's Works," &c.--See NICHOLS, vol. v. p.
651.

I have ascertained that Mallet was the author of this
furious epistle. He would not acknowledge what he dared
not deny. Warburton treated Mallet, in this instance, as
he often did his superiors--he never replied! The silence
seems to have stung this irascible and evil spirit: he
returned again to the charge, with another poisoned
weapon. His rage produced "A _Familiar_ Epistle to the Most
Impudent Man Living," 1749. The style of this second
letter has been characterised as "bad enough to disgrace
even gaols and garrets." Its virulence could not well
exceed its predecessor. The oddness of its title has made
this worthless thing often inquired after. It is merely
personal. It is curious to observe Mallet, in this pamphlet,
treat Pope as an object of pity, and call him "this poor man."
[David Mallet was the son of an innkeeper, who, by means of
the party he wrote for, obtained lucrative appointments
under Government, and died rich. He was unscrupulous in his
career, and ready as a writer to do the most unworthy
things. The death of Admiral Byng was hastened by the
unscrupulous denunciations of Mallet, who was pensioned in
consequence.] Orator Henley took some pains, on the first
appearance of this catching title, to assure his friends
that it did not refer to _him_. The title proved contagious;
which shows the abuse of Warburton was very agreeable. Dr.
Z. Grey, under the title of "A Country Curate," published
"A Free and _Familiar_ Letter to the Great Refiner of Pope and
Shakspeare," 1750; and in 1753, young Cibber tried also at
"A _Familiar_ Epistle to Mr. William Warburton, from Mr.
Theophilus Cibber," prefixed to the "Life of Barton Booth."
Dr. Z. Grey's "freedom and _familiarity_" are designed to
show Warburton that he has no wit; but unluckily, the doctor
having none himself, his arguments against Warburton's are not
decisive. "The _familiarity_" of Mallet is that of a
scoundrel, and the _younger_ Cibber's that of an idiot: the
genius of Warburton was secure. Mallet overcharged his gu