Finally, it may be added that Pope's delay in producing his own edition is explained by the fact that it contained many falsifications of his correspondence with Caryll, and that he delayed the acknowledgment of the genuine character of the letters until Caryll's death removed the danger of detection.
The whole of this elaborate machinery was devised in order that Pope might avoid the ridicule of publishing his own correspondence.

There had been few examples of a similar publication of private letters; and Pope's volume, according to Johnson, did not attract very much attention.

This is, perhaps, hardly consistent with Johnson's other assertion that it filled the nation with praises of his virtue.

In any case it stimulated his appetite for such praises, and led him to a fresh intrigue, more successful and also more disgraceful.

The device originally adopted in publishing the Dunciad apparently suggested part of the new plot.