June 3, 1736

Sir,

I saw, by accident, a paragraph from a letter of monsieur Thieriot, to mr Grignion, a friend of his in London, which has given me the pleasure of perceiving, that you are too generous to disclaim your Zaire; though naturalized in England
. My countrymen have, hitherto, been much more ready, to adopt the folly than the wit, of France; I, therefore, looked upon you, as my lawful prize, and seized you to adjust the balance.

I found you born for no one country, by the embracing wideness of your sentiments; for, since you think for all mankind, all ages, and all languages, will claim the merit of your genius.

Whatever narrowness there is in poets, there is none in poetry, at least, your poetry…. What paints all manners, should delight all countries; and you have only to resolve to die, if you would live in hearts, as well as tongues. But, while you shew us other men's great qualities, in the most strong and equitable lights, you make yourself appear unjust, in one particular; for you would cut off that relief of fools, their railing at contemporary excellence. You are (to own the truth) unconscionably a monopolist, and poor wretches, whom your plenty makes so, have the right of clamorous indigence, to be abusive, with impunity.

Alzira was sent too late to London; she should else, in one and the same season, have inspired the stages of two nations; but, even as it is, a company of very skilful actors are now re-opening the great theatre in Lincoln's-Inn fields, in order to perform this tragedy…. I own, I have, encouraged them to this attempt, in summer, to protect you from a winter storm of mercenary pens, that, tempted by your Zaire's success, were threatening to disjoint Alzira:but, to prevent her being blotted, by defacing pencils, I chose rather to produce her hastily, much less a beauty than you drew her, than permit her to by robbed more slowly, of her spirit, air, and likeness.

I was already got to a retreat, in which I bury my town purposes, when, about three weeks since, the French Alzira was, first, sent down to me by my bookseller; and now the actors (perfect in their parts) are ready to begin its representation: this charge against myself I send you for two reasons; such a precipitation will excuse the faults in my own version, and convince you of my zeal to save you from duller.

My letter is in English, because I have seen proofs, in print, that you are master of our tongue, while, on the contrary, I neither write nor speak, in yours, with freedom or correctness.

Be pleased to honour me with your commands, to whom I may address, for you, my version of Alzira…. I take acquaintance with your spirit, not without a melancholy sense of what I lost, by being absent, in the tour of Scotland, at a time, when many of my friends enjoyed your personal intimacy here, in London. But I know you, in your noblest self, as millions now know Homer, and Euripides; and as future millions will Voltaire, when envy shall be choaked in dust, or France deserve it, for producing you. I beg to have a place assigned me, in the list of the sincerest of,

Sir,

Your most humble,

And obedient servant,

A. Hill

From my house in Petty France, Westminster