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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2020
1 Bodley MS Malone 30 folio 64v and 65 r contained in the second of two paper-backed notebooks labelled “Pope.”
2 Probably James Brindley, who had a bookshop in New Bond Street from 1726 until his death in 1758. Curii is quoted as saying that he was among the sellers of Sober Advice. (Elwin, vi, 437; the initial “F” is erroneously given.)
3 These are the first two words of Horace's Second Satire, Book i, imitated by Pope as Sober Advice from Horace to the Young Gentlemen of the Town. This was included in Dodsley's 1738 edition of Pope's works and, as Elwin has remarked, “certainly did not appear there without the connivance of the poet.” It is interesting in this connection to notice that among Malone's papers (Bodley MS Malone 30, folio 70) is a sheet in some other hand than Malone's containing the dates of Pope's writings, which had evidently been submitted to Dr Johnson, perhaps to assist in the preparation of the Life of Pope. It concludes with this paragraph: “Sober Advice from Horace not being in Dr Warburton's Edition is sent for Dr Johnson's perusal. If he desires to see the pieces by Lord Hervey & Lady MSW Montague after the publication of the 1st Satire of 2 book of Horace they are in my possession & shall be ready for Dr Johnson whenever they are wanted.”
4 Malone later stated this principle of epistolary editing in the Foreword to his collection of Dryden's letters. (Prose Works of John Dryden, 1800, Vol. i, Part ii, page 4.
5 This is a misquotation of line 141 of the 1728 “Owl” Dunciad where it is part of the attack on Eliza Haywood. In the Sober Advice from Borace line 34 is parallel, which carries the footnote “A Verse taken from Mr Pope.”
