Pope, Alexander

expressing his pleasure at receiving Broome's letter "as I had heard report from some newspaper of the death of one of your name", with family news including Pope's mother's fortunate escape from injury when falling into a fire, quoting a ten-line epitaph on their mutual collaborator Elijah Fenton (“This modest stone what few vain Marbles can…”), and concluding that "I hear of nothing but the Book of Ossian", 3 pages, 4to, autograph address panel. postal markings and slight remains of red wax seal impression, 14 December [1730], fold tears up to 50mm long, seal tears, two additional holes affecting c.3 words, affected by damp

[with:] John Nichols, corrected galley proof from The Gentleman's Magazine, July 1780, referring to William Broome; three letters, one by J.W. Croker and two on behalf of George Sherburn, to members of the Loveday family, then owners of Pope's letter, 1854-1932

The Correspondence of Alexander Pope, ed. Sherburn, III, pp.155-56

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

AN INTRIGUING LETTER TO A FORMER COLLABORATOR. William Broome (1689-1745), rector of Pulham in Norfolk, had, along with the poet Elijah Fenton, assisted Pope in his translation of the Odyssey, published in 1725-6, but in the years that followed Broome came to resent Pope’s minimal public acknowledgement of his contribution to the work. He was dissuaded by Fenton from attacking Pope directly in print, but the relationship between the two men was decidedly strained by the time this letter was written. Pope’s antagonistic feelings towards Broome lie just below the surface from the letter's very first sentence, when Pope refers to the death of “one of your name”. Pope conjures up Broome’s death a second time when he refers to Fenton, their recently deceased collaborator: he and a friend remember Broome “sometimes”, and “never fail to name poor Fenton & you together”. Finally, Pope quotes approvingly an epitaph on Fenton, saying that “It is not good in any sense but as it is True, & really therfore Exemplary to others": there is no doubt that the “others” in Pope’s mind included Broome himself, as the epitaph praises Fenton as a modest man with no interest in public recognition (“…Foe to loud praise … Content with Science in the Vale of Peace…”) - qualities that Pope believed to be singularly lacking in Broome's character.