Note 102 — DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINTS, Etc.

The apology here alluded to was made in a letter to the author of the Beggars' Opera, dated December 16, 1731, and ushered into the world as written by a Mr. Cleland, who had a few years before sent a letter to the publisher of the Dunciad, explaining the author's motives for writing the poem, and subjoining a list of the books in which he had been abused, etc. This Pope printed; and this, as well as the letter to Mr. Gay, it was universally believed was written by Pope. In a note to the letter to Gay, printed in the same volume with the Dunciad, the poet, after giving Mr. Cleland a very high character for diligence, punctuality, etc., concludes: "and yet for all this, the public will not allow him to be the author of this letter."