A STRANGE FIND AT WAIPAWA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7382, 17 July 1885, Page 6

A STRANGE FIND AT WAIPAWA.

A correspondent of the Hawke'e Bay Herald at Waipawa states that Mr. H. J. Baker of that place while turning over what he conceived to be a lot of lumber the other day, found a treasure in the form of an autograph letter from the poet Pope to William Pitt, the elder. The following is an exact copy of the letter :— Twikenham, Nγ Hampton Court, July 23, 1726.— Sir, — I receiTd a letter from you with satisfaction, having long: been desirous of any occasion of testifying my regard for you. Mid particularly of acknowledging the pleasure jour version of Vid»'s Poetick h«d afforded me. I had It not Indeed from your Bookseller, but read it with eageraeig & think It both a correct, and a spirited translation. 1 am pleu'd to hare be«n (a* you tell me) ye occasion of ye undertaking that work : that is same sort of merit ; & if. I h»v« any in me, it really consists in an ea-neit desire to promote A produce, ai far as I can, that of others. But an to my being ye Publisher, or any way concern'd in reviewing or reooromending of, Lintots n.iseeliany. It is • hat I never iliil In my life tho he (like ye reit of his Tribe) make a very free use of my n*me. tie liaa often reprinted my thin;*, & en aciurlly, that finding he »aj doing so again, I c irrected ye sheets, an far us they went: of my own only. And being told by him yt he had 2or 3 copies of yours (web you also hud formerly sent me (M he said) thro hi* hands) I obliged him to write for yr consent, before he made use of 'm. This was all : yr s-cood bo 'te he ha* jmt now daliverea to me, ye ineclpM'm of which to myself I will take care he shall leave out : and either retnrn ye rest of yr verses to him, or not, asya shall like bast. I am obliged to you, »r, for expressing a much higher opinion of me than I kuow I deserve : The freedom with wch you wr te is yet wlia. obliges and plewe.s me more ; and it is with slncorky that I say, I w i rather be thought br every Ingenious man in ye world, his Servant, than his Kiral.— I am very much youts, A. Popk. The letter is written with a light hand, the ink inolined to brown, and the paper is laid, of a coarse texture, and straw-coloured, bearing every appearance of authenticity. The letter is endorsed, "Letter from Mr. Pope to Mr. Pitt, July 23, 1726."