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It appears from this Will that the last of the sons of Magdalen Rackett died in 1779; and the probabilities are, that at that time she had a grandson living at Chester, and two great-grandchildren, Robert and George, probably youths, also living. We have set forth the names of executors and others, because it may help the curious to further information:-even the white parchment Account-Book, with its possible revelations, may yet be in unhonoured existence."

The estate of Hall Grove comprises a good house and 120 acres of ground. Fifty years ago it was in the occupation of "Squire Lister;" now of Mr. Hulse. The house has had additions made to it, and the present owner has added largely to the grounds, so that it was, we suppose, in Pope's time, a much humbler residence.

V.

RELICS OF POPE.

THE Editor received from Sir Edward F. Bromhead, Bart., of Thurlby Hall, Lincolnshire, an impression of a portrait seal, on a ring presented by Pope to Warburton. The seal contains a good likeness of the poet, apparently reduced from Richardson's profile. The ring is inscribed, "Don. A. Pope, G. Warburton.-G. Warburton, John Brown." The last named is evidently Dr. John Brown, author of several poems, including an "Essay on Satire," addressed to Warburton, and by him prefixed to Pope's Works. Dr. Brown left the ring to Dr. William Stephens, who left it by will to James Edwards, Esq.; and Mr. Edwards left it, also by will, to his wife, now Mrs. Butt, Trentham, Staffordshire. An engraving of the portrait is subjoined. Of this interesting relic Mrs. Butt says: "The ring has been much worn, but the lettering is quite legible. The red cornelian is also slightly scratched, but the portrait is perfect and uninjured."

A snuff-box is in possession of a gentleman in Edinburgh bearing the following inscription:

"This Box, with a Copy of his Published Works, was sent by

Alexander Pope, Esq., the Poet, accompanied by a written Note, in which he claimed a distant Relationship to my Grandfather (on my Mother's side), the Rev. Alexander Pope, Minister of Reay, Thurso, Caithness, who was himself something of a literary character:-the Books, so received were, on the Death of Mrs. Pope (who survived her Husband), taken away by Relatives of the Family, who usually attend on such occasions and the NOTE, also, which my eldest Brother distinctly recollected to have often seen and read during my Grandfather's life:

"The loss of this latter Memento, of a very eminent Man, is to me -as now the only Male Representative of both Father and Mother's Families a source of deep regret.

"Edinburgh, April, 1854."

"JAS. CAMPBELL, Ass. Commissary Gen1.

This box is a handsome one, gilt, and with an allegorical scene in relief on the lid. Mr. Campbell has been misinformed as to the note written by the poet: there was no relationship between the parties. We have now before us a statement, dated August, 1822, and written by Mr. William Pope, nephew of the Caithness clergyman, in which he says: "We claimed no kindred with the poet, well knowing that we were the descendants of a very different family." The nephew states that his uncle, on his visit to London, was introduced to Lord Bolingbroke, who invited him to dinner in company with the poet, and that they advised him to abandon the Church of Scotland and come to England with his family, and qualify himself for entering the English Church. This advice the minister declined to follow.

The drawing of the Prodigal Son, by Pope, in the possession of the Rev. Thompson Stoneham, Ketley, by Wellington, Salop, was engraved, as stated in the text (ante, page 90), for an edition of the Essay on Man, printed in 1748. There may have been an earlier impression, as the plate is dated in 1744. At the close of his introductory "Advertisement" to the Essay, Warburton says: "The reader will excuse my adding a word concerning the frontispiece; which, as it was designed and drawn by Mr. Pope himself, would be a kind of curiosity, had not the excellence of the thought otherwise recommended it. We see it represents the vanity of human glory in the false pursuits after happiness; where the ridicule in the curtain-cobweb, the death's head crowned

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with laurel, and the several inscriptions, have all the force and beauty of one of his best wrote satires. Nor is there less expression in the bearded philosopher sitting by a fountain running to waste, and blowing up bubbles with a straw, from a small portion of water taken out of it in a dirty dish; admirably representing the vain business of school philosophy, that, with a little artifical logic, sits inventing airy arguments in support of false science, while the human understanding at large is suffered to lie waste and uncultivated."

In a communication with which we have been favoured by Mr. Stoneham, he mentions that in the painting itself there are not only all the particulars of the engraving, but a full-length figure of a rake reflecting amongst the ruins of Rome"Roma Eterne." He is seated on a stone under a tree growing out of the ruins, and over his head is the inscription Sic transit gloria mundi. Above this is the death's head crowned with laurel; and at the feet of the penitent rake lies the upper portion of a statue inscribed Viro Immortali. His dress, once fashionable, is patched and torn, his looks are haggard and miserable, he is partly supported by a staff, and kneeling down close to the troughs where he has just fed the swine, he joins his hands and appears in the attitude of prayer. In his left hand is a scroll containing a sketch of the parable of the Prodigal Son, and the corner of the scroll shades the letters Im of the inscription Capitoli Immobile Saxum, thereby changing it to mobile. The right arm of the figure rests on the moulding of the plinth or pedestal of the statue inscribed Viro Immortali. There are other interesting points in the picture. Perhaps the incongruity of mixing up the Scripture parable with the ruins of Rome led Pope to reject the figure of the Prodigal Son from the drawing copied by the engraver for the Essay on Man.

VI.

THE WILLS OF POPE'S FATHER AND MARTHA BLOUNT.

IN the name of God, Amen. I, ALEXANDER POPE, of Binfield, in the county of Berks, gentleman, being in health of body and of perfect mind and memory, make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: Impri

mis, I bequeath my soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Christ to receive eternal salvation. For my worldly estate, I dispose thereof as followeth: Item, I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife, Editha Pope, the furniture of her chamber, rings, and jewels. Item, I bequeath unto my said wife the sum of Twenty Pounds. Item, give and bequeath to my son-in-law, Charles Rackett, and to my dear daughter, Magdalen, his wife, to each of them the sum of Six Pounds for mourning. All the rest of my estate, real and personal, my goods, chattels, lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever, but more especially my rentcharge out of Mr. Chapman's estate, viz., out of the manor of Ruston and elsewhere in the county of York, and my lands and tenements in Binfield, in the county of Berks, and in Windsham, in Surrey, I do give and bequeath unto my dear son and only heir, Alexander Pope. And I do hereby make, constitute, and appoint the said Alexander Pope sole executor of this my last Will and Testament, revoking all other wills whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of February, Anno Domini 1710. ALEXANDER POPE.

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Alexander Pope to be his last Will and Testament, in the presence of

JOHN DONCASTLE.
ELNATHAN PAYNE.
MERCY BEECH.

[The Will was proved by the Executor on the 8th of November, 1717. The name of the last attesting witness should probably be Mary Beach, that of the poet's nurse; but the signature is very indistinct.]

IN the name of God, Amen. I, MARTHA BLOUNT, of Berkeley-row, in the parish of St. George, Hanover-square, in the county of Middlesex, spinster, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: Impri

WILL OF MARTHA BLOUNT.

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mis, I give to my god-daughter, Mrs. Tichborne, the sum of One hundred pounds. I also give to Matthew Swinburne, Esq.,10 the sum of One hundred pounds. I give to Mrs. Ann Blount the sum of Fifty pounds, and forgive her the debt she owes me. I give to my maid, Mary Brown, Fifty pounds and all my wearing apparel, linen and woollen, with the furniture of my bedchamber and dressing-room. Í give to my other maid Five pounds. I give to Eleanor Aylmer, my former servant, Thirty pounds. For other proper expenses, I leave to the discretion of my Executor. All the worldly goods and effects I die possessed of (after these legacies are paid) I give to my dear nephew, Michael Blount, of Mapledurham, in the county of Oxford, Esquire, whom I constitute my full and sole Executor and Administrator of this my last Will and Testament. In witness of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of December, in the year of our Lord 1762.

MARTHA BLOUNT.

Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of the underwritten witnesses:

E. Cox.

MARY BROWN.

I desire my nephew, Michael Blount, to give Miss Betty Hooke 11 my silver tea-kettle and lamp for her great kindness to me; and Mr. Trustdale 51. 5s. besides his bills, for his kind attendance on me. Dec. 21, 1762.

MARTHA BLount.

[The Will was proved by the oath of Mr. Blount, the Executor, on the 18th of July, 1763-six days after the death of the Testator. Teresa Blount seems to have died intestate.]

9 Martha Blount's brother married the daughter and co-heir of Sir Joseph Tichborne, of Tichborne, Hants.

10 Sir William Swinburne, the second baronet of Capheaton, Northumberland, married, in 1697, Mary, daughter of Anthony Englefield, Esq., of Whiteknights, Berks, the maternal grandfather of Martha Blount.

11 Probably the sister or daughter of Nathaniel Hooke the historian, with whom Pope and Martha Blount were very intimate.

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