When a defence against such a charge is undertaken, there is an advantage in the difficulty of defining that really undefinable quality called _birth_. There is an _absolute_, and a _relative_, want of it. A rich mercantile family may be a good family when compared with persons of the same class who have been less successful than they; a family owning a good estate in the country is a good family amongst the neighbours; a race of persons eminent in any of the professions may be called a good family. But place these by the side of the ancient aristocracy of the country, who have maintained this position for centuries, and what are they? and let persons even of acknowledged antiquity and elevation be brought into the company of kings and emperors, or even of the great families of the Continent, and they lose something of their lustre:-- A deputy shines bright as doth a king Until a king be by. Undoubtedly, Pope could not in this respect compare himself with the Pierrepoints and the Herveys; and _to them_ his birth would necessarily appear obscure, if they thought at all about it, and chose to take the unkinder view. But Pope knew that what was _relatively_ true might be _absolutely_ untrue. He therefore took the first opportunity of claiming publicly what in his opinion belonged to him. In the _Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot_, which was written early in 1733, he speaks of his birth thus:-- Of _gentle blood_ (part shed in honour's cause, While yet in Britain honour had applause) _Each parent_ sprung-- Then follows his touching notice of his father, and of his mother (who was then living, in her ninety-third year), not the less genuine for being written in imitation of Horace. They are handed down for ever as people of Unspotted names, and venerable long, If there be force in virtue or in song. To these lines this note is appended:--"Mr. Pope's father was of a gentleman's family in Oxfordshire, the head of which was the Earl of Downe, whose sole heiress married the Earl of Lindsey. His mother was the daughter of William Turner, Esq., of York: she had three brothers, one of whom was killed, another died, in the service of King Charles; the eldest following his fortunes, and becoming a general officer in Spain, left her what estate remained after the sequestrations and forfeitures of her family." In his more formal reply to his noble assailant, he says that his father was a younger brother,--"that he was no mechanic (neither a hatter, nor, which might please your Lordship yet better, a cobler), but in truth of a very honourable family, and my mother of an ancient one."