"You understand me," he exclaims in his first letter, "as well as I do myself; but you express me much better than I could express myself." For the rest of his life Pope adopted the same tone.

He sheltered himself behind this burly defender, and could never praise him enough.

He declared Mr.Warburton to be the greatest general critic he ever knew, and was glad to instal him in the position of champion in ordinary.

Warburton was consulted about new editions; annotated Pope's poems; stood sponsor to the last Dunciad, and was assured by his admiring friend that the comment would prolong the life of the poetry.

Pope left all his copyrights to this friend, whilst his MSS.