An occasion soon offered itself.
Theobald, the hero of the Dunciad, edited in 1728 the posthumous works of Wycherley.

Pope extracted from this circumstance a far-fetched excuse for publishing the Wycherley correspondence.

He said that it was due to Wycherley's memory to prove, by the publication of their correspondence, that the posthumous publication of the works was opposed to their author's wishes.

As a matter of fact the letters have no tendency to prove anything of the kind, or rather, they support the opposite theory; but poor Pope was always a hand-to-mouth liar, and took the first pretext that offered, without caring for consistency or confirmation.
His next step was to write to his friend, Lord Oxford, son of Queen Anne's minister.

Oxford was a weak, good-natured man.