{539}
_Pope's Elegy on an Unfortunate Lady._--In the new editions of Pope's
_Works_, in course of publication, edited by Mr. Carruthers, Inverness, it
is conjectured that the poet threw "ideal circumstances" into his most
pathetic and melodious elegy, and "when he came to publish his letters, put
wrong initials, as in other instances, to conceal the real names" (Pope's
_Poet. Works_, Ingram, Cook, and Co., vol. ii. p. 184.). The initials are
Mrs. W., niece of Lady A. I have always thought that a clue might be
obtained to the name of this lady, by following up the hints in Pope's
printed correspondence. Mrs. or Miss W. is mentioned or alluded to by
Craggs and Pope, in connexion with the characters in the _Rape of the
Lock_. One suggests the other. Inquiry should be directed to the families
of Fernor of Tusmore, Lord Petre, and Sir George Brown. But I have heard a
tradition in a Catholic family in the north of England that the lady was a
Blount; probably one of the Blounts of Soddington, or of some one of the
numerous branches of that ancient family.