ABSTRACT
In the first place Bolingbroke stayed in England for about five weeks to settle the details of his inheritance and, as ever, Alexander Pope spent as much time as possible with him during the visit. A plausible explanation is that he heard about the new honour the poet was about to bestow on him. It would have been in character for Pope to make sure he did hear he was to become the Dunciad's hero. Pope was taken aback and asked Bolingbroke about it, who said Warburton had been mistaken, much to the poet's relief. Pope was also relieved when Allen came to see him at Easter. Pope was realistic about his future, though he was determined not to give up until he had to. Pope, with his usual critical acumen, told the publisher, 'not to make a niggardly offer; for this was no everyday writer.
