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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12090-0.txt b/12090-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e8d2a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/12090-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11245 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12090 *** + +THE + +LIVES + +OF THE + +POETS + +OF + +_Great-Britain_ and _Ireland._ + +By Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands. + +VOL. V. + + +M DCC LIII + + +CONTENTS + + A Vol. + +_Aaron Hill_ V +_Addison_ III +_Amhurst_ V +_Anne_, Countess of _Winchelsea_ III + + B + +_Bancks_ III +_Banks_ V +_Barclay_ I +_Barton Booth_ IV +_Beaumont_ I +_Behn, Aphra_ III +_Betterton_ III +_Birkenhead_ II +_Blackmore_ V +_Booth_, Vid. _Barton Boyce_ V +_Boyle_, E. _Orrery_ II +_Brady_ IV +_Brewer_ II +_Brooke_, Sir _Fulk Greville_ I +_Brown, Tom_ III +_Buckingham_, Duke of II +_Budgell_ V +_Butler_ II + + C + +_Carew_ I +_Cartwright_ I +_Centlivre_, Mrs. IV +_Chandler_, Mrs. V +_Chapman_ I +_Chaucer_ I +_Chudleigh_, Lady III +_Churchyard_ I +_Cleveland_ II +_Cockaine_ II +_Cockburne_, Mrs. V +_Codrington_ IV +_Concanen_ V +_Congreve_ IV +_Corbet_ I +_Cotton_ III +_Cowley_ II +_Crashaw_ I +_Creech_ III +_Crowne_ III +_Croxal_ V + + D + +_Daniel_ I +_Davenant_ II +_Davies_ I +_Dawes_, Arch. of _York_ IV +_Day_ I +_Decker_ I +_De Foe_ IV +_Denham_ IV +_Dennis_ IV +_Donne_ I +_Dorset_, Earl of I +_Dorset_, Earl of III +_Drayton_ I +_Drummond_ I +_Dryden_ III +_D'Urfey_ III + + E + +_Eachard_ IV +_Etheredge_ III +_Eusden_ V +_Eustace Budgel_ V + + F + +_Fairfax_ I +_Fanshaw_ II +_Farquhar_ I +_Faulkland_ I +_Fenton_ IV +_Ferrars_ I +_Flecknoe_ III +_Fletcher_ I +_Ford_ I +_Frowde_ V + + G + +_Garth_ III +_Gay_ IV +_Gildon_ III +_Goff_ I +_Goldsmith_ II +_Gower_ I +_Granville_, Lord _Landsdown_ IV +_Green_ I +_Greville_, Lord _Brooke_ I +_Grierson_ V + + H + +_Harrington_ II +_Hall_, Bishop I +_Hammond_ V +_Hammond_, Esq; IV +_Harding_ I +_Harrington_ I +_Hausted_ I +_Head_ II +_Haywood, John_ I +_Haywood, Jasper_ I +_Haywood, Thomas_ I +_Hill_ V +_Hinchliffe_ V +_Hobbs_ II +_Holliday_ II +_Howard, Esq_; III +_Howard_, Sir _Robert_ III +_Howel_ II +_Hughes_ IV + + I + +_Johnson, Ben_ I +_Johnson, Charles_ V + + K + +_Killegrew, Anne_ II +_Killegrew, Thomas_ III +_Killegrew, William_ III +_King_, Bishop of _Chichester_ II +_King_, Dr. _William_ III + + L + +_Lauderdale_, Earl of V +_Langland_ I +_Lansdown_, Lord _Granville_ IV +_Lee_ II +_L'Estrange_ IV +_Lillo_ V +_Lilly_ I +_Lodge_ I +_Lydgate_ III + + M + +_Main_ II +_Manley_, Mrs. IV +_Markham_ I +_Marloe_ I +_Marston_ I +_Marvel_ IV +_Massinger_ II +_May_ II +_Maynwaring_ III +_Miller_ V +_Middleton_ I +_Milton_ II +_Mitchel_ IV +_Monk_, the Hon. Mrs. III +_Montague_, Earl of _Hallifax_ III +_More_, Sir _Thomas_ I +_More, Smyth_ IV +_Motteaux_ IV +_Mountford_ III + + N + +_Nabbes_ II +_Nash_ I +_Needler_ IV +_Newcastle_, Duchess of II +_Newcastle_, Duke of II + + O + +_Ogilby_ II +_Oldham_ II +_Oldmixon_ IV +_Orrery, Boyle_, Earl of II +_Otway_ II +_Overbury_ I +_Ozell_ IV + + P + +_Pack_ IV +_Phillips_, Mrs. _Katherine_ II +_Phillips, John_ III +_Phillips, Ambrose_ V +_Pilkington_ V +_Pit_ V +_Pomfret_ III +_Pope_ V +_Prior_ IV + + R + +_Raleigh_ I +_Randolph_ I +_Ravenscroft_ III +_Rochester_ II +_Roscommon_, Earl of III +_Rowe, Nicholas_ III +_Rowe_, Mrs. IV +_Rowley_ I + + S + +_Sackville_, E. of _Dorset_ I +_Sandys_ I +_Savage_ V +_Sedley_ III +_Settle_ III +_Sewel_ IV +_Shadwell_ III +_Shakespear_ I +_Sheffield_, Duke of Buckingham III +_Sheridan_ V +_Shirley_ II +_Sidney_ I +_Skelton_ I +_Smith, Matthew_ II +_Smith, Edmund_ IV +_Smyth, More_ IV +_Southern_ V +_Spenser_ I +_Sprat_ III +_Stapleton_ II +_Steele_ IV +_Stepney_ IV +_Stirling_, Earl of I +_Suckling_ I +_Surry_, Earl of I +_Swift_ V +_Sylvester_ I + + T +_Tate_ III +_Taylor_ II +_Theobald_ V +_Thomas_, Mrs. IV +_Thompson_ V +_Tickell_ V +_Trap_ V + + V + +_Vanbrugh_ IV + + W + +_Waller_ II +_Walsh_ III +_Ward_ IV +_Welsted_ IV +_Wharton_ II +_Wharton, Philip_ Duke of IV +_Wycherley_ III +_Winchelsea, Anne_, Countess of III +_Wotton_ I +_Wyatt_ I + + Y + +_Yalden_ IV + + + +THE + +LIVES + +OF THE + +POETS + + + * * * * * + + +EUSTACE BUDGELL, Esq; + +was the eldest son of Gilbert Budgell, D.D. of St. Thomas near Exeter, +by his first wife Mary, the only daughter of Dr. William Gulston, bishop +of Bristol; whose sister Jane married dean Addison, and was mother to +the famous Mr. Addison the secretary of state. This family of Budgell is +very old, and has been settled, and known in Devonshire above 200 +years[1]. + +Eustace was born about the year 1685, and distinguished himself very +soon at school, from whence he was removed early to Christ's Church +College in Oxford, where he was entered a gentleman commoner. He staid +some years in that university, and afterwards went to London, where, by +his father's directions, he was entered of the Inner-Temple, in order to +be bred to the Bar, for which his father had always intended him: but +instead of the Law, he followed his own inclinations, which carried him +to the study of polite literature, and to the company of the genteelest +people in town. This proved unlucky; for the father, by degrees, grew +uneasy at his son's not getting himself called to the Bar, nor properly +applying to the Law, according to his reiterated directions and request; +and the son complained of the strictness and insufficiency of his +father's allowance, and constantly urged the necessity of his living +like a gentleman, and of his spending a great deal of money. During this +slay, however, at the Temple, Mr. Budgell made a strict intimacy and +friendship with Mr. Addison, who was first cousin to his mother; and +this last gentleman being appointed, in the year 1710, secretary to lord +Wharton, the lord lieutenant of Ireland, he made an offer to his friend +Eustace of going with him as one of the clerks in his office. The +proposal being advantageous, and Mr. Budgell being then on bad terms +with his father, and absolutely unqualified for the practice of the Law, +it was readily accepted. Nevertheless, for fear of his father's +disapprobation of it, he never communicated his design to him 'till the +very night of his setting out for Ireland, when he wrote him a letter +to inform him at once of his resolution and journey. This was in the +beginning of April 1710, when he was about twenty five years of age. He +had by this time read the classics, the most reputed historians, and all +the best French, English, or Italian writers. His apprehension was +quick, his imagination fine, and his memory remarkably strong; though +his greatest commendations were a very genteel address, a ready wit and +an excellent elocution, which shewed him to advantage wherever he went. +There was, notwithstanding, one principal defect in his disposition, and +this was an infinite vanity, which gave him so insufferable a +presumption, as led him to think that nothing was too much for his +capacity, nor any preferment, or favour, beyond his deserts. Mr. +Addison's fondness for him perhaps increased this disposition, as he +naturally introduced him into all the company he kept, which at that +time was the best, and most ingenious in the two kingdoms. In short, +they lived and lodged together, and constantly followed the lord +lieutenant into England at the same time. + +It was now that Mr. Budgell commenced author, and was partly concerned +with Sir Richard Steele and Mr. Addison in writing the Tatler. The +Spectators being set on foot in 1710-11, Mr. Budgell had likewise a +share in them, as all the papers marked with an X may easily inform the +reader, and indeed the eighth volume was composed by Mr. Addison and +himself[2], without the assistance of Sir Richard Steele. The +speculations of our author were generally liked, and Mr. Addison was +frequently complimented upon the ingenuity of his kinsman. About the +same time he wrote an epilogue to the Distress'd Mother[3], which had a +greater run than any thing of that kind ever had before, and has had +this peculiar regard shewn to it since, that now, above thirty years +afterwards, it is generally spoke at the representation of that play. +Several little epigrams and songs, which have a good deal of wit in +them, were also written by Mr. Budgell near this period of time, all +which, together with the known affection of Mr. Addison for him, raised +his character so much, as to make him be very generally known and talked +of. + +His father's death in 1711 threw into his hands all the estates of the +family, which were about 950 l. a year, although they were left +incumbered with some debts, as his father was a man of pride and spirit, +kept a coach and six, and always lived beyond his income, +notwithstanding his spiritual preferments, and the money he had received +with his wives. Dr. Budgell had been twice married, and by his first +lady left five children living after him, three of whom were sons, +Eustace, our author, Gilbert, a Clergyman, and William, the fellow of +New College in Oxford. By his last wife (who was Mrs. Fortescue, mother +to the late master of the rolls, and who survived him) he had no issue. +Notwithstanding this access of fortune, Mr. Budgell in no wise altered +his manner of living; he was at small expence about his person, stuck +very close to business, and gave general satisfaction in the discharge +of his office. + +Upon the laying down of the Spectator, the Guardian was set up, and in +this work our author had a hand along with Mr. Addison and Sir Richard +Steele. In the preface it is said, those papers marked with an asterisk +are by Mr. Budgell. + +In the year 1713 he published a very elegant translation of +Theophrastus's Characters, which Mr. Addison in the Lover says, 'is the +best version extant of any ancient author in the English language.' It +was dedicated to the lord Hallifax, who was the greatest patron our +author ever had, and with whom he always lived in the greatest intimacy. + +Mr. Budgell having regularly made his progress in the secretary of +State's office in Ireland; upon the arrival of his late Majesty in +England, was appointed under secretary to Mr. Addison, and chief +secretary to the Lords Justices of Ireland. He was made likewise deputy +clerk of the council in that kingdom, and soon after chose member of the +Irish parliament, where he became a very good speaker. The post of under +secretary is reckoned worth 1500 l. a year, and that of deputy clerk to +the council 250 l. a year. Mr. Budgell set out for Ireland the 8th of +October, 1714, officiated in his place in the privy council the 14th, +took possession of the secretary's office, and was immediately admitted +secretary to the Lords Justices. In the same year at a public +entertainment at the Inns of Court in Dublin, he, with many people of +distinction, was made an honorary bencher. At his first entering upon +the secretary's place, after the removal of the tories on the accession +of his late Majesty, he lay under very great difficulties; all the +former clerks of his office refusing to serve, all the books with the +form of business being secreted, and every thing thrown into the utmost +confusion; yet he surmounted these difficulties with very uncommon +resolution, assiduity, and ability, to his great honour and applause. + +Within a twelvemonth of his entering upon his employments, the rebellion +broke out, and as, for several years (during all the absences of the +lord lieutenant) he had discharged the office of secretary of state, and +as no transport office at that time subsisted, he was extraordinarily +charged with the care of the embarkation, and the providing of shipping +(which is generally the province of a field-officer) for all the troops +to be transported to Scotland. However, he went through this extensive +and unusual complication of business, with great exactness and ability, +and with very singular disinterestedness, for he took no extraordinary +service money on this account, nor any gratuity, or fees for any of the +commissions which passed through his office for the colonels and +officers of militia then raising in Ireland. The Lords Justices pressed +him to draw up a warrant for a very handsome present, on account of his +great zeal, and late extraordinary pains (for he had often sat up whole +nights in his office) but he very genteely and firmly refused it. + +Mr. Addison, upon becoming principal secretary of state in England in +1717, procured the place of accomptant and comptroller general of the +revenue in Ireland for Mr. Budgell, which is worth 400 l. a year, and +might have had him for his under secretary, but it was thought more +expedient for his Majesty's service, that Mr. Budgell should continue +where he was. Our author held these several places until the year 1718, +at which time the duke of Bolton was appointed lord lieutenant. His +grace carried one Mr. Edward Webster over with him (who had been an +under clerk in the Treasury) and made him a privy counsellor and his +secretary. This gentleman, 'twas said, insisted upon the quartering a +friend on the under secretary, which produced a misunderstanding between +them; for Mr. Budgell positively declared, he would never submit to any +such condition whilst he executed the office, and affected to treat Mr. +Webster himself, his education, abilities, and family, with the utmost +contempt. He was indiscreet enough, prior to this, to write a lampoon, +in which the lord lieutenant was not spared: he would publish it (so +fond was he of this brat of his brain) in opposition to Mr. Addison's +opinion, who strongly persuaded him to suppress it; as the publication, +Mr. Addison said, could neither serve his interest, or reputation. Hence +many discontents arose between them, 'till at length the lord +lieutenant, in support of his secretary, superseded Mr. Budgell, and +very soon after got him removed from the place of accomptant-general. +However, upon the first of these removals taking place, and upon some +hints being given by his private secretary, captain Guy Dickens (now our +minister at Stockholm) that it would not probably be safe for him to +remain any longer in Ireland, he immediately entrusted his papers and +private concerns to the hands of his brother William, then a clerk in +his office, and set out for England. Soon after his arrival he published +a pamphlet representing his case, intituled, A Letter to the Lord---- +from Eustace Budgell, Esq; Accomptant General of Ireland, and late +Secretary to their Excellencies the Lords Justices of that Kingdom; +eleven hundred copies of which were sold off in one day, so great was +the curiosity of the public in that particular. Afterwards too in the +Post-Boy of January 17, 1718-19, he published an Advertisement to +justify his character against a report that had been spread to his +disadvantage: and he did not scruple to declare in all companies that +his life was attempted by his enemies, or otherwise he should have +attended his feat in the Irish Parliament. His behaviour, about this +time, made many of his friends judge he was become delirious; his +passions were certainly exceeding strong, nor were his vanity and +jealousy less. Upon his coming to England he had lost no time in waiting +upon Mr. Addison, who had resigned the seals, and was retired into the +country for the sake of his health; but Mr. Addison found it impossible +to stem the tide of opposition, which was every where running against +his kinsman, through the influence and power of the duke of Bolton. He +therefore disswaded him in the strongest manner from publishing his +case, but to no manner of purpose, which made him tell a friend in great +anxiety, 'Mr. Budgell was wiser than any man he ever knew, and yet he +supposed the world would hardly believe he acted contrary to his +advice.' Our author's great and noble friend the lord Hallifax was dead, +and my lord Orrery, who held him in the highest esteem, had it not in +his power to procure him any redress. However, Mr. Addison had got a +promise from lord Sunderland, that as soon as the present clamour was a +little abated, he would do something for him. + +Mr. Budgell had held the considerable places of under secretary to the +Lord Lieutenant, and secretary to the Lords Justices for four years, +during which time he had never been absent four days from his office, +nor ten miles from Dublin. His application was indefatigable, and his +natural spirits capable of carrying him through any difficulty. He had +lived always genteelly, but frugally, and had saved a large sum of +money, which he now engaged in the South-Sea scheme. During his abode in +Ireland, he had collected materials for writing a History of that +kingdom, for which he had great advantages, by having an easy recourse +to all the public offices; but what is become of it, and whether he ever +finished it, we are not certainly informed. It is undoubtedly a +considerable loss, because there is no tolerable history of that nation, +and because we might have expected a satisfactory account from so +pleasing a writer. + +He wrote a pamphlet, after he came to England, against the famous +Peerage Bill, which was very well received by the public, but highly +offended the earl of Sunderland. It was exceedingly cried up by the +opposition, and produced some overtures of friendship at the time, from +Mr. Robert Walpole, to our author. Mr. Addison's death, in the year +1719, put an end, however, to all his hopes of succeeding at court, +where he continued, nevertheless, to make several attempts, but was +constantly kept down by the weight of the duke of Bolton. In the +September of that year he went into France, through all the strong +places in Flanders and Brabant, and all the considerable towns in +Holland, and then went to Hanover, from whence he returned with his +Majesty's retinue the November following. + +But the fatal year of the South-Sea, 1720, ruined our author entirely, +for he lost above 20,000 l. in it; however he was very active on that +occasion, and made many speeches at the general courts of the South-Sea +Company in Merchant-Taylors Hall, and one in particular, which was +afterwards printed both in French and English, and run to a third +edition. And in 1721 he published a pamphlet with success, called, A +Letter to a Friend in the Country, occasioned by a Report that there is +a Design still forming by the late Directors of the South-Sea Company, +their Agents and Associates, to issue the Receipts of the 3d and 4th +Subscriptions at 1000 l. per Cent. and to extort about 10 Millions more +from the miserable People of Great Britain; with some Observations on +the present State of Affairs both at Home and Abroad. In the same year +he published A Letter to Mr. Law upon his Arrival in Great Britain, +which run through seven editions very soon. Not long afterwards the duke +of Portland, whose fortune had been likewise destroyed by the South-Sea, +was appointed governor of Jamaica, upon which he immediately told Mr. +Budgell he should go with him as his secretary, and should always live +in the same manner with himself, and that he would contrive every method +of making the employment profitable and agreeable to him: but his grace +did not know how obnoxious our author had rendered himself; for within a +few days after this offer's taking air, he was acquainted in form by a +secretary of state, that if he thought of Mr. Budgell, the government +would appoint another governor in his room. + +After being deprived of this last resource, he tried to get into the +next parliament at several places, and spent near 5000 l. in +unsuccessful attempts, which compleated his ruin. And from this period +he began to behave and live in a very different manner from what he had +ever done before; wrote libellous pamphlets against Sir Robert Walpole +and the ministry; and did many unjust things with respect to his +relations; being distracted in his own private fortune, as, indeed, he +was judged to be, in his senses; torturing his invention to find out +ways of subsisting and eluding his ill-stars, his pride at the same time +working him up to the highest pitches of resentment and indignation +against all courts and courtiers. + +His younger brother, the fellow of New-College, who had more weight with +him than any body, had been a clerk under him in Ireland, and continued +still in the office, and who bad fair for rising in it, died in the year +1723, and after that our author seemed to pay no regard to any person. +Mr. William Budgell was a man of very good sense, extremely steady in +his conduct, and an adept in all calculations and mathematical +questions; and had besides great good-nature and easiness of temper. + +Our author as I before observed, perplexed his private affairs from this +time as much as possible, and engaged in numberless law-suits, which +brought him into distresses that attended him to the end of his life. + +In 1727 Mr. Budgell had a 1000 l. given him by the late Sarah, duchess +dowager of Marlborough, to whose husband (the famous duke of +Marlborough) he was a relation by his mother's side, with a view to his +getting into parliament. She knew he had a talent for speaking in +public, and that he was acquainted with business, and would probably run +any lengths against the ministry. However this scheme failed, for he +could never get chosen. + +In the year 1730 and about that time, he closed in with the writers +against the administration, and wrote many papers in the Craftsman. He +likewise published a pamphlet, intitled, A Letter to the Craftsman, +from E. Budgell, Esq; occasioned by his late presenting an humble +complaint against the right honourable Sir Robert Walpole, with a +Post-script. This ran to a ninth edition. Near the same time too he +wrote a Letter to Cleomenes King of Sparta, from E. Budgell, Esq; being +an Answer Paragraph by Paragraph to his Spartan Majesty's Royal Epistle, +published some time since in the Daily Courant, with some Account of the +Manners and Government of the Antient Greeks and Romans, and Political +Reflections thereon. And not long after there came out A State of one of +the Author's Cases before the House of Lords, which is generally printed +with the Letter to Cleomenes: He likewise published on the same occasion +a pamphlet, which he calls Liberty and Property, by E. Budgell, Esq; +wherein he complains of the seizure and loss of many valuable papers, +and particularly a collection of Letters from Mr. Addison, lord +Hallifax, Sir Richard Steele, and other people, which he designed to +publish; and soon after he printed a sequel or second part, under the +same title. + +The same year he also published his Poem upon his Majesty's Journey to +Cambridge and New-market, and dedicated it to the Queen. Another of his +performances is a poetical piece, intitled A Letter to his Excellency +Ulrick D'Ypres, and C----, in Answer to his excellency's two Epistles in +the Daily Courant; with a Word or Two to Mr. Osborn the Hyp Doctor, and +C----. These several performances were very well received by the public. + +In the year 1733 he began a weekly pamphlet (in the nature of a +Magazine, though more judiciously composed) called The Bee, which he +continued for about 100 Numbers, that bind into eight Volumes Octavo, +but at last by quarrelling with his booksellers, and filling his +pamphlet with things entirely relating to himself, he was obliged to +drop it. During the progress of this work, Dr. Tindall's death happened, +by whose will Mr. Budgell had 2000 l. left him; and the world being +surprised at such a gift, immediately imputed it to his making the will +himself. This produced a paper-war between him and Mr. Tindall, the +continuator of Rapin, by which Mr. Budgell's character considerably +suffered; and this occasioned his Bee's being turned into a meer +vindication of himself. + +It is thought he had some hand in publishing Dr. Tindall's Christianity +as old as the Creation; and he often talked of another additional volume +on the same subject, but never published it. However he used to enquire +very frequently after Dr. Conybear's health (who had been employed by +her late majesty to answer the first, and had been rewarded with the +deanery of Christ-Church for his pains) saying he hoped Mr. Dean would +live a little while longer, that he might have the pleasure of making +him a bishop, for he intended very soon to publish the other volume of +Tindall which would do the business. Mr. Budgell promised likewise a +volume of several curious pieces of Tindall's, that had been committed +to his charge, with the life of the doctor; but never fulfilled his +promise[4]. + +During the publication of the Bee a smart pamphlet came out, called A +Short History of Prime Ministers, which was generally believed to be +written by our author; and in the same year he published A Letter to the +Merchants and Tradesmen of London and Bristol, upon their late glorious +behaviour against the Excise Law. + +After the extinction of the Bee, our author became so involved with +law-suits, and so incapable of living in the manner he wished and +affected to do, that he was reduced to a very unhappy situation. He got +himself call'd to the bar, and attended for some time in the courts of +law; but finding it was too late to begin that profession, and too +difficult for a man not regularly trained to it, to get into business, +he soon quitted it. And at last, after being cast in several of his own +suits, and being distressed to the utmost, he determined to make away +with himself. He had always thought very loosely of revelation, and +latterly became an avowed deist; which, added to his pride, greatly +disposed him to this resolution. + +Accordingly within a few days after the loss of his great cause, and his +estates being decreed for the satisfaction of his creditors, in the year +1736 he took boat at Somerset-Stairs (after filling his pockets with +stones upon the beach) ordered the waterman to shoot the bridge, and +whilst the boat was going under it threw himself over-board. Several +days before he had been visibly distracted in his mind, and almost mad, +which makes such an action the less wonderful. + +He was never married, but left one natural daughter behind him, who +afterwards took his name, and was lately an actress at Drury-Lane. + +It has been said, Mr. Budgell was of opinion, that when life becomes +uneasy to support, and is overwhelmed with clouds, and sorrows, that a +man has a natural right to take it away, as it is better not to live, +than live in pain. The morning before he carried his notion of +self-murder into execution, he endeavoured to persuade his daughter to +accompany him, which she very wisely refused. His argument to induce her +was; life is not worth the holding.--Upon Mr. Budgell's beauroe was +found a slip of paper; in which were written these words. + + What Cato did, and Addison approv'd[5], + Cannot be wrong.-- + +Mr. Budgell had undoubtedly strong natural parts, an excellent +education, and set out in life with every advantage that a man could +wish, being settled in very great and profitable employments, at a very +early age, by Mr. Addison: But by excessive vanity and indiscretion, +proceeding from a false estimation of his own weight and consequence, he +over-stretched himself, and ruined his interest at court, and by the +succeeding loss of his fortune in the South-Sea, was reduced too low to +make any other head against his enemies. The unjustifiable and +dishonourable law-suits he kept alive, in the remaining part of his +life, seem to be intirely owing to the same disposition, which could +never submit to the living beneath what he had once done, and from that +principle he kept a chariot and house in London to the very last. + +His end was like that of many other people of spirit, reduced to great +streights; for some of the greatest, as well as some of the most +infamous men have laid violent hands upon themselves. As an author where +he does not speak of himself, and does not give a loose to his vanity, +he is a very agreeable and deserving writer; not argumentative or deep, +but very ingenious and entertaining, and his stile is peculiarly +elegant, so as to deserve being ranked in that respect with Addison's, +and is superior to most of the other English writers. His Memoirs of the +Orrery Family and the Boyle's, is the most indifferent of his +performances; though the translations of Phalaris's Epistles in that +work are done with great spirit and beauty. + +As to his brothers, the second, Gilbert, was thought a man of deeper +learning and better judgment when he was young than our author, but was +certainly inferior to him in his appearance in life; and, 'tis thought, +greatly inferior to him in every respect. He was author of a pretty Copy +of Verses in the VIIIth Vol. of the Spectators, Numb, 591, which begins +thus, + + Conceal, fond man, conceal the mighty smart, + Nor tell Corinna she has fir'd thy heart. + +And it is said that it was a repulse from a lady of great fortune, with +whom he was desperately in love whilst at Oxford, and to whom he had +addressed these lines, that made him disregard himself ever after, +neglect his studies, and fall into a habit of drinking. Whatever was the +occasion of this last vice it ruined him. A lady had commended and +desired to have a copy of his Verses once, and he sent them, with these +lines on the first leaf-- + + Lucretius hence thy maxim I abjure + Nought comes from nought, nothing can nought procure. + + If to these lines your approbation's join'd, + Something I'm sure from nothing has been coin'd. + +This gentleman died unmarried, a little after his brother Eustace, at +Exeter; having lived in a very disreputable manner for some time, and +having degenerated into such excessive indolence, that he usually picked +up some boy in the streets, and carried him into the coffee-house to +read the news-papers to him. He had taken deacon's orders some years +before his death, but had always been averse to that kind of life; and +therefore became it very ill, and could never be prevailed upon to be a +priest. + +The third brother William, fellow of New-College in Oxford, died (as I +mentioned before) one of the clerks in the Irish secretary of state's +office, very young. He had been deputy accomptant general, both to his +brother and his successor; and likewise deputy to Mr. Addison, as keeper +of the records in Birmingham-Tower. Had he lived, 'tis probable he would +have made a considerable figure, being a man of sound sense and +learning, with great prudence and honour. His cousin Dr. Downes, then +bishop of London-Derry, was his zealous friend, and Dr. Lavington the +present bishop of Exeter, his fellow-collegian, was his intimate +correspondent. Of the two sisters, the eldest married captain Graves of +Thanks, near Saltash in Cornwall, a sea-officer, and died in 1738, +leaving some children behind her; and the other is still alive, +unmarried. The father Dr. Gilbert Budgell, was esteemed a sensible man, +and has published a discourse upon Prayer, and some Sermons[6]. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] See Budgell's Letter to Cleomenes. Appendix p. 79. + +[2] See The Bee, vol. ii. p. 854. + +[3] 'Till then it was usual to discontinue an epilogue after the sixth + night. But this was called for by the audience, and continued for + the whole run of this play: Budgell did not scruple to sit in the + it, and call for it himself. + +[4] Vide Bee, Vol. II. page 1105. + +[5] Alluding to Cato's destroying himself. + +[6] There is an Epigram of our author's, which I don't remember to have + seen published any where, written upon the death of a very fine + young lady. + + She was, she is, + (What can theremore be said) + On Earth [the] first, + In Heav'n the second Maid. +[Transcriber's note: Print unclear, word in square bracket assumed.] + + See a Song of our author's in Steele's Miscellanies, published in + 1714. Page 210. + + There is an Epigram of his printed in the same book and in many + collections, Upon a Company of bad Dancers to good Music. + + How ill the motion with the music suits! + So fiddled Orpheus--and so danc'd the Brutes. + + + * * * * * + + +THOMAS TICKELL, Esq. + +This Gentleman, well known, to the world by the friendship and intimacy +which subsisted between him and Mr. Addison, was the son of the revd. +Mr. Richard Tickell, who enjoy'd a considerable preferment in the North +of England. Our poet received his education at Queen's-College in +Oxford, of which he was a fellow. + +While he was at that university, he wrote a beautiful copy of verses +addressed to Mr. Addison, on his Opera of Rosamond. These verses +contained many elegant compliments to the author, in which he compares +his softness to Corelli, and his strength to Virgil[1]. + + The Opera first Italian masters taught, + Enrich'd with songs, but innocent of thought; + Britannia's learned theatre disdains + Melodious trifles, and enervate strains; + And blushes on her injur'd stage to see, + Nonsense well tun'd with sweet stupidity. + + No charms are wanting to thy artful song + Soft as Corelli, and as Virgil strong. + +These complimentary lines, a few of which we have now quoted, so +effectually recommended him to Mr. Addison, that he held him in esteem +ever afterwards; and when he himself was raised to the dignity of +secretary of state, he appointed Mr. Tickell his under-secretary. Mr. +Addison being obliged to resign on account of his ill-state of health, +Mr. Craggs who succeeded him, continued Mr. Tickell in his place, which +he held till that gentleman's death. When Mr. Addison was appointed +secretary, being a diffident man, he consulted with his friends about +disposing such places as were immediately dependent on him. He +communicated to Sir Richard Steele, his design of preferring Mr. Tickell +to be his under-secretary, which Sir Richard, who considered him as a +petulant man, warmly opposed. He observed that Mr. Tickell was of a +temper too enterprising to be governed, and as he had no opinion of his +honour, he did not know what might be the consequence, if by insinuation +and flattery, or by bolder means, he ever had an opportunity of raising +himself. It holds pretty generally true, that diffident people under the +appearance of distrusting their own opinions, are frequently positive, +and though they pursue their resolutions with trembling, they never fail +to pursue them. Mr. Addison had a little of this temper in him. He could +not be persuaded to set aside Mr. Tickell, nor even had secrecy enough +to conceal from him Sir Richard's opinion. This produced a great +animosity between Sir Richard and Mr. Tickell, which subsisted during +their lives. + +Mr. Tickell in his life of Addison, prefixed to his own edition of that +great man's works, throws out some unmannerly reflexions against Sir +Richard, who was at that time in Scotland, as one of the commissioners +on the forfeited estates. Upon Sir Richard's return to London, he +dedicates to Mr. Congreve, Addison's Comedy, called the Drummer, in +which he takes occasion very smartly to retort upon Tickell, and clears +himself of the imputation laid to his charge, namely that of valuing +himself upon Mr. Addison's papers in the Spectator. + +In June 1724 Mr. Tickell was appointed secretary to the Lords Justices +in Ireland, a place says Mr. Coxeter, which he held till his death, +which happened in the year 1740. + +It does not appear that Mr. Tickell was in any respect ungrateful to Mr. +Addison, to whom he owed his promotion; on the other hand we find him +take every opportunity to celebrate him, which he always performs with +so much zeal, and earnestness, that he seems to have retained the most +lasting sense of his patron's favours. His poem to the earl of Warwick +on the death of Mr. Addison, is very pathetic. He begins it thus, + + If dumb too long, the drooping Muse hath stray'd, + And left her debt to Addison unpaid, + Blame not her silence, Warwick, but bemoan, + And judge, O judge, my bosom by your own. + What mourner ever felt poetic fires! + Slow comes the verse, that real woe inspires: + Grief unaffected suits but ill with art, + Or flowing numbers with a bleeding heart. + +Mr. Tickell's works are printed in the second volume of the Minor Poets, +and he is by far the most considerable writer amongst them. He has a +very happy talent in versification, which much exceeds Addison's, and is +inferior to few of the English Poets, Mr. Dryden and Pope excepted. The +first poem in this collection is addressed to the supposed author of the +Spectator. + +In the year 1713 Mr. Tickell wrote a poem, called The Prospect of Peace, +addressed to his excellency the lord privy-seal; which met with so +favourable a reception from the public, as to go thro' six editions. The +sentiments in this poem are natural, and obvious, but no way +extraordinary. It is an assemblage of pretty notions, poetically +expressed; but conducted with no kind of art, and altogether without a +plan. The following exordium is one of the most shining parts of the +poem. + + Far hence be driv'n to Scythia's stormy shore + The drum's harsh music, and the cannon's roar; + Let grim Bellona haunt the lawless plain, + Where Tartar clans, and grizly Cossacks reign; + Let the steel'd Turk be deaf to Matrons cries, + See virgins ravish'd, with relentless eyes, + To death, grey heads, and smiling infants doom. + Nor spare the promise of the pregnant womb: + O'er wafted kingdoms spread his wide command. + The savage lord of an unpeopled land. + Her guiltless glory just Britannia draws + From pure religion, and impartial laws, + To Europe's wounds a mother's aid she brings, + And holds in equal scales the rival kings: + Her gen'rous sons in choicest gifts abound, + Alike in arms, alike in arts renown'd. + +The Royal Progress. This poem is mentioned in the Spectator, in +opposition to such performances, as are generally written in a swelling +stile, and in which the bombast is mistaken for the sublime. It is meant +as a compliment to his late majesty, on his arrival in his British +dominions. + +An imitation of the Prophesy of Nereus. Horace, Book I. Ode XV.--This +was written about the year 1715, and intended as a ridicule upon the +enterprize of the earl of Marr; which he prophesies will be crushed by +the duke of Argyle. + +An Epistle from a Lady in England, to a gentleman at Avignon. Of this +piece five editions were sold; it is written in the manner of a Lady to +a Gentleman, whose principles obliged him to be an exile with the Royal +Wanderer. The great propension of the Jacobites to place confidence in +imaginary means; and to construe all extraordinary appearances, into +ominous signs of the restoration of their king is very well touched. + + Was it for this the sun's whole lustre fail'd, + And sudden midnight o'er the Moon prevail'd! + For this did Heav'n display to mortal eyes + Aerial knights, and combats in the skies! + Was it for this Northumbrian streams look'd red! + And Thames driv'n backwards shew'd his secret bed! + + False Auguries! th'insulting victors scorn! + Ev'n our own prodigies against us turn! + O portents constru'd, on our side in vain! + Let never Tory trust eclipse again! + Run clear, ye fountains! be at peace, ye skies; + And Thames, henceforth to thy green borders rise! + +An Ode, occasioned by his excellency the earl of Stanhope's Voyage to +France. + +A Prologue to the University of Oxford. + +Thoughts occasioned by the sight of an original +picture of King Charles the 1st, taken at the time of +his Trial. + +A Fragment of a Poem, on Hunting. + +A Description of the Phoenix, from Claudian. + +To a Lady; with the Description of the Phoenix. + +Part of the Fourth Book of Lucan translated. + +The First Book of Homer's Iliad. + +Kensington-Gardens. + +Several Epistles and Odes. + +This translation was published much about the same time with Mr. Pope's. +But it will not bear a comparison; and Mr. Tickell cannot receive a +greater injury, than to have his verses placed in contradistinction to +Pope's. Mr. Melmoth, in his Letters, published under the name of Fitz +Osborne, has produced some parallel passages, little to the advantage of +Mr. Tickell, who if he fell greatly short of the elegance and beauty of +Pope, has yet much exceeded Mr. Congreve, in what he has attempted of +Homer. + +In the life of Addison, some farther particulars concerning this +translation are related; and Sir Richard Steele, in his dedication of +the Drummer to Mr. Congreve, gives it as his opinion, that Addison was +himself the author. + +These translations, published at the same time, were certainly meant as +rivals to one another. We cannot convey a more adequate idea of this, +than in the words of Mr. Pope, in a Letter to James Craggs, Esq.; dated +July the 15th, 1715. + +'Sir, + +'They tell me, the busy part of the nation are not more busy about Whig +and Tory; than these idle-fellows of the feather, about Mr. Tickell's +and my translation. I (like the Tories) have the town in general, that +is, the mob on my side; but it is usual with the smaller part to make up +in industry, what they want in number; and that is the case with the +little senate of Cato. However, if our principles be well considered, I +must appear a brave Whig, and Mr. Tickell a rank Tory. I translated +Homer, for the public in general, he to gratify the inordinate desires +of one man only. We have, it seems, a great Turk in poetry, who can +never bear a brother on the throne; and has his Mutes too, a set of +Medlers, Winkers, and Whisperers, whose business 'tis to strangle all +other offsprings of wit in their birth. The new translator of Homer, is +the humblest slave he has, that is to say, his first minister; let him +receive the honours he gives me, but receive them with fear and +trembling; let him be proud of the approbation of his absolute lord, I +appeal to the people, as my rightful judges, and masters; and if they +are not inclined to condemn me, I fear no arbitrary high-flying +proceeding, from the Court faction at Button's. But after all I have +said of this great man, there is no rupture between us. We are each of +us so civil, and obliging, that neither thinks he's obliged: And I for +my part, treat with him, as we do with the Grand Monarch; who has too +many great qualities, not to be respected, though we know he watches any +occasion to oppress us.' + +Thus we have endeavoured to exhibit an Idea of the writings of Mr. +Tickell, a man of a very elegant genius: As there appears no great +invention in his works, if he cannot be placed in the first rank of +Poets; yet from the beauty of his numbers, and the real poetry which +enriched his imagination, he has, at least, an unexceptionable claim to +the second. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Jacob. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. WILLIAM HINCHLIFFE, + +was the son of a reputable tradesman of St. Olave's in Southwark, and +was born there May 12, 1692; was educated at a private grammar school +with his intimate and ingenious friend Mr. Henry Needler. He made a +considerable progress in classical learning, and had a poetical genius. +He served an apprenticeship to Mr. Arthur Bettesworth, Bookseller in +London, and afterwards followed that business himself near thirty years, +under the Royal Exchange, with reputation and credit, having the esteem +and friendship of many eminent merchants and gentlemen. In 1718 he +married Jane, one of the daughters of Mr. William Leigh, an eminent +citizen. Mrs. Hinchliffe was sister of William Leigh, esq; one of his +Majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Surry, and of the +revd. Thomas Leigh, late rector of Heyford in Oxfordshire, by whom he +had two sons and three daughters, of which only one son and one daughter +are now living. He died September 20, 1742, and was buried in the parish +church of St. Margaret's Lothbury, London. + +In 1714 he had the honour to present an Ode to King George I. on his +Arrival at Greenwich, which is printed in a Collection of Poems, +Amorous, Moral, and Divine, which he published in octavo, 1718, and +dedicated them to his friend Mr. Needler. + +He published a History of the Rebellion of 1715, and dedicated it to the +late Duke of Argyle. + +He made himself master of the French tongue by his own application and +study; and in 1734 published a Translation of Boulainvillers's Life of +Mahomet, which is well esteemed, and dedicated it to his intimate and +worthy friend Mr. William Duncombe, Esq; + +He was concerned, with others, in the publishing several other ingenious +performances, and has left behind him in manuscript, a Translation of +the nine first Books of Telemachus in blank Verse, which cost him great +labour, but he did not live to finish the remainder. + +He is the author of a volume of poems in 8vo, many of which are written +with a true poetical spirit. + + +The INVITATION[1]. + +1. + +O come Lavinia, lovely maid, + Said Dion, stretch'd at ease, +Beneath the walnut's fragrant shade, +A sweet retreat! by nature made + With elegance to please. + +2. + +O leave the court's deceitful glare, + Loath'd pageantry and pride, +Come taste our solid pleasures here. +Which angels need not blush to share, + And with bless'd men divide. + +3. + +What raptures were it in these bow'rs, + Fair virgin, chaste, and wise, +With thee to lose the learned hours, +And note the beauties in these flowers, + Conceal'd from vulgar eyes. + +4. + +For thee my gaudy garden blooms, + And richly colour'd glows; +Above the pomp of royal rooms, +Or purpled works of Persian looms, + Proud palaces disclose. + +5. + +Haste, nymph, nor let me sigh in vain, + Each grace attends on thee; +Exalt my bliss, and point my strain, +For love and truth are of thy train, + Content and harmony. + +[1] This piece is not in Mr. Hinchliffe's works, but is assuredly his. + + + * * * * * + + +MR. MATTHEW CONCANEN. + +This gentleman was a native of Ireland, and was bred to the Law. In this +profession he seems not to have made any great figure. By some means or +other he conceived an aversion to Dr. Swift, for his abuse of whom, the +world taxed him with ingratitude. Concanen had once enjoyed some degree +of Swift's favour, who was not always very happy in the choice of his +companions. He had an opportunity of reading some of the Dr's poems in +MS. which it is said he thought fit to appropriate and publish as his +own. + +As affairs did not much prosper with him in Ireland, he came over to +London, in company with another gentleman, and both commenced writers. +These two friends entered into an extraordinary agreement. As the +subjects which then attracted the attention of mankind were of a +political cast, they were of opinion that no species of writing could so +soon recommend them to public notice; and in order to make their trade +more profitable, they resolved to espouse different interests; one +should oppose, and the other defend the ministry. They determined the +side of the question each was to espouse, by tossing up a half-penny, +and it fell to the share of Mr. Concanen to defend the ministry, which +task he performed with as much ability, as political writers generally +discover. + +He was for some time, concerned in the British, and London Journals, and +a paper called The Speculatist. These periodical pieces are long since +buried in neglect, and perhaps would have even sunk into oblivion, had +not Mr. Pope, by his satyrical writings, given them a kind of +disgraceful immortality. In these Journals he published many +scurrilities against Mr. Pope; and in a pamphlet called, The Supplement +to the Profound, he used him with great virulence, and little candour. +He not only imputed to him Mr. Brome's verses (for which he might indeed +seem in some degree accountable, having corrected what that gentleman +did) but those of the duke of Buckingham and others. To this rare piece +some body humorously perswaded him to take for his motto, De profundis +clamavi. He afterwards wrote a paper called The Daily Courant, wherein +he shewed much spleen against lord Bolingbroke, and some of his friends. +All these provocations excited Mr. Pope to give him a place in his +Dunciad. In his second book, l. 287, when he represents the dunces +diving in the mud of the Thames for the prize, he speaks thus of +Concanen; + + True to the bottom see Concanen creep, + A cold, long winded, native of the deep! + If perseverance gain the diver's prize, + Not everlasting Blackmore this denies. + +In the year 1725 Mr. Concanen published a volume of poems in 8vo. +consisting chiefly of compositions of his own, and some few of other +gentlemen; they are addressed to the lord Gage, whom he endeavours +artfully to flatter, without offending his modesty. 'I shall begin this +Address, says he, by declaring that the opinion I have of a great part +of the following verses, is the highest indication of the esteem in +which I hold the noble character I present them to. Several of them have +authors, whose names do honour to whatever patronage they receive. As to +my share of them, since it is too late, after what I have already +delivered, to give my opinion of them, I'll say as much as can be said +in their favour. I'll affirm that they have one mark of merit, which is +your lordship's approbation; and that they are indebted to fortune for +two other great advantages, a place in good company, and an honourable +protection.' + +The gentlemen, who assisted Concanen in this collection, were Dean +Swift, Mr. Parnel, Dr. Delany, Mr. Brown, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Stirling. In +this collection there is a poem by Mr. Concanen, called A Match at +Football, in three Cantos; written, 'tis said, in imitation of The Rape +of the Lock. This performance is far from being despicable; the +verification is generally smooth; the design is not ill conceived, and +the characters not unnatural. It perhaps would be read with more +applause, if The Rape of the Lock did not occur to the mind, and, by +forcing a comparison, destroy all the satisfaction in perusing it; as +the disproportion is so very considerable. We shall quote a few lines +from the beginning of the third canto, by which it will appear that +Concanen was not a bad rhimer. + + In days of yore a lovely country maid + Rang'd o'er these lands, and thro' these forests stray'd; + Modest her pleasures, matchless was her frame, + Peerless her face, and Sally was her name. + By no frail vows her young desires were bound, + No shepherd yet the way to please her found. + Thoughtless of love the beauteous nymph appear'd, + Nor hop'd its transports, nor its torments fear'd. + But careful fed her flocks, and grac'd the plain, + She lack'd no pleasure, and she felt no pain. + She view'd our motions when we toss'd the ball, + And smil'd to see us take, or ward, a fall; + 'Till once our leader chanc'd the nymph to spy, + And drank in poison from her lovely eye. + Now pensive grown, he shunn'd the long-lov'd plains, + His darling pleasures, and his favour'd swains, + Sigh'd in her absence, sigh'd when she was near, + Now big with hope, and now dismay'd with fear; + At length with falt'ring tongue he press'd the dame, + For some returns to his unpity'd flame; + But she disdain'd his suit, despis'd his care, + His form unhandsome, and his bristled hair; + Forward she sprung, and with an eager pace + The god pursu'd, nor fainted in the race; + Swift as the frighted hind the virgin flies, + When the woods ecchoe to the hunters cries: + Swift as the fleetest hound her flight she trac'd, + When o'er the lawns the frighted hind is chac'd; + The winds which sported with her flowing vest + Display'd new charms, and heightened all the rest: + Those charms display'd, increas'd the gods desire, + What cool'd her bosom, set his breast on fire: + With equal speed, for diff'rent ends they move, + Fear lent the virgin wings, the shepherd love: + Panting at length, thus in her fright she pray'd, + Be quick ye pow'rs, and save a wretched maid. + [Protect] my honour, shelter me from shame, + [Beauty] and life with pleasure I disclaim. + +[Transcriber's note: print unclear for words in square brackets, +therefore words are assumed.] + +Mr. Concanen was also concerned with the late Mr. Roome [Transcriber's +note: print unclear, "m" assumed], and a certain eminent senator, in +making The Jovial Crew, an old Comedy, into a Ballad Opera; which was +performed about the year 1730; and the profits were given entirely to +Mr. Concanen. Soon after he was preferred to be attorney-general in +Jamaica, a post of considerable eminence, and attended with a very large +income. In this island he spent the remaining part of his days, and, we +are informed made a tolerable accession of fortune, by marrying a +planter's daughter, who surviving him was left in the possession of +several hundred pounds a year. She came over to England after his death, +and married the honourable Mr. Hamilton. + + + * * * * * + + +RICHARD SAVAGE, Esq; + +This unhappy gentleman, who led a course of life imbittered with the +most severe calamities, was not yet destitute of a friend to close his +eyes. It has been remarked of Cowley, who likewise experienced many of +the vicissitudes of fortune, that he was happy in the acquaintance of +the bishop of Rochester, who performed the last offices which can be +paid to a poet, in the elegant Memorial he made of his Life. Though Mr. +Savage was as much inferior to Cowley in genius, as in the rectitude of +his life, yet, in some respect, he bears a resemblance to that great +man. None of the poets have been more honoured in the commemoration of +their history, than this gentleman. The life of Mr. Savage was written +some years after his death by a gentleman, who knew him intimately, +capable to distinguish between his follies, and those good qualities +which were often concealed from the bulk of mankind by the abjectness of +his condition. From this account[1] we have compiled that which we now +present to the reader. + +In the year 1697 Anne countess of Macclesfield, having lived for some +time on very uneasy terms with her husband, thought a public confession +of adultery the most expeditious method of obtaining her liberty, and +therefore declared the child with which she then was big was begotten by +the earl of Rivers. This circumstance soon produced a separation, which, +while the earl of Macclesfield was prosecuting, the countess, on the +10th of January 1697-8, was delivered of our author; and the earl of +Rivers, by appearing to consider him as his own, left no room to doubt +of her declaration. However strange it may appear, the countess looked +upon her son, from his birth, with a kind of resentment and abhorrence. +No sooner was her son born, than she discovered a resolution of +disowning him, in a short time removed him from her sight, and committed +him to the care of a poor woman, whom she directed to educate him as her +own, and enjoined her never to inform him of his true parents. Instead +of defending his tender years, she took delight to see him struggling +with misery, and continued her persecution, from the first hour of his +life to the last, with an implacable and restless cruelty. His mother, +indeed, could not affect others with the same barbarity, and though she, +whose tender sollicitudes should have supported him, had launched him +into the ocean of life, yet was he not wholly abandoned. The lady Mason, +mother to the countess, undertook to transact with the nurse, and +superintend the education of the child. She placed him at a grammar +school near St. Albans, where he was called by the name of his nurse, +without the least intimation that he had a claim to any other. While he +was at this school, his father, the earl of Rivers, was seized with a +distemper which in a short time put an end to his life. While the earl +lay on his death-bed, he thought it his duty to provide for him, amongst +his other natural children, and therefore demanded a positive account of +him. His mother, who could no longer refuse an answer, determined, at +least, to give such, as should deprive him for ever of that happiness +which competency affords, and declared him dead; which is, perhaps, the +first instance of a falshood invented by a mother, to deprive her son of +a provision which was designed him by another. The earl did not imagine +that there could exist in nature, a mother that would ruin her son, +without enriching herself, and therefore bestowed upon another son six +thousand pounds, which he had before in his will bequeathed to Savage. +The same cruelty which incited her to intercept this provision intended +him, suggested another project, worthy of such a disposition. She +endeavoured to rid herself from the danger of being at any time made +known to him, by sending him secretly to the American Plantations; but +in this contrivance her malice was defeated. + +Being still restless in the persecution of her son, she formed another +scheme of burying him in poverty and obscurity; and that the state of +his life, if not the place of his residence, might keep him for ever at +a distance from her, she ordered him to be placed with a Shoemaker in +Holbourn, that after the usual time of trial he might become his +apprentice. It is generally reported, that this project was, for some +time, successful, and that Savage was employed at the awl longer than he +was willing to confess; but an unexpected discovery determined him to +quit his occupation. + +About this time his nurse, who had always treated him as her own son, +died; and it was natural for him to take care of those effects, which by +her death were, as he imagined, become his own. He therefore went to her +house, opened her boxes, examined her papers, and found some letters +written to her by the lady Mason, which informed him of his birth, and +the reasons for which it was concealed. + +He was now no longer satisfied with the employment which had been +allotted him, but thought he had a right to share the affluence of his +mother, and therefore, without scruple, applied to her as her son, and +made use of every art to awake her tenderness, and attract her regard. +It was to no purpose that he frequently sollicited her to admit him to +see her, she avoided him with the utmost precaution, and ordered him to +be excluded from her house, by whomsoever he might be introduced, and +what reason soever he might give for entering it. + +Savage was at this time so touched with the discovery of his real +mother, that it was his frequent practice to walk in the dark evenings +for several hours before her door, in hopes of seeing her by accident. + +But all his assiduity was without effect, for he could neither soften +her heart, nor open her hand, and while he was endeavouring to rouse the +affections of a mother, he was reduced to the miseries of want. In this +situation he was obliged to find other means of support, and became by +necessity an author. + +His first attempt in that province was, a poem against the bishop of +Bangor, whose controversy, at that time, engaged the attention of the +nation, and furnished the curious with a topic of dispute. Of this +performance Mr. Savage was afterwards ashamed, as it was the crude +effort of a yet uncultivated genius. He then attempted another kind of +writing, and, while but yet eighteen, offered a comedy to the stage, +built upon a Spanish plot; which was refused by the players. Upon this +he gave it to Mr. Bullock, who, at that time rented the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields of Mr. Rich, and with messieurs Keene, Pack, and +others undertook the direction thereof. Mr. Bullock made some slight +alterations, and brought it upon the stage, under the title of Woman's a +Riddle, but allowed the real author no part of the profit. This +occasioned a quarrel between Savage and Bullock; but it ended without +bloodshed, though not without high words: Bullock insisted he had a +translation of the Spanish play, from whence the plot was taken, given +him by the same lady who had bestowed it on Savage.--Which was not +improbable, as that whimsical lady had given a copy to several others. + +Not discouraged, however, at this repulse, he wrote, two years after, +Love in a Veil, another Comedy borrowed likewise from the Spanish, but +with little better success than before; for though it was received and +acted, yet it appeared so late in the year, that Savage obtained no +other advantage from it, than the acquaintance of Sir Richard Steele, +and Mr. Wilks, by whom, says the author of his Life, he was pitied, +caressed, and relieved. Sir Richard Steele declared in his favour, with +that genuine benevolence which constituted his character, promoted his +interest with the utmost zeal, and taking all opportunities of +recommending him; he asserted, 'that the inhumanity of his mother had +given him a right to find every good man his father.' Nor was Mr. Savage +admitted into his acquaintance only, but to his confidence and esteem. +Sir Richard intended to have established him in some settled scheme of +life, and to have contracted a kind of alliance with him, by marrying +him to a natural daughter, on whom he intended to bestow a thousand +pounds. But Sir Richard conducted his affairs with so little oeconomy, +that he was seldom able to raise the sum, which he had offered, and the +marriage was consequently delayed. In the mean time he was officiously +informed that Mr. Savage had ridiculed him; by which he was so much +exasperated that he withdrew the allowance he had paid him, and never +afterwards admitted him to his house. + +He was now again abandoned to fortune, without any other friend but Mr. +Wilks, a man to whom calamity seldom complained without relief. He +naturally took an unfortunate wit into his protection, and not only +assisted him in any casual distresses, but continued an equal and steady +kindness to the time of his death. By Mr. Wilks's interposition Mr. +Savage once obtained of his mother fifty pounds, and a promise of one +hundred and fifty more, but it was the fate of this unhappy man, that +few promises of any advantage to him were ever performed. + +Being thus obliged to depend [Transcriber's note: 'depended' in +original] upon Mr. Wilks, he was an assiduous frequenter of the +theatres, and, in a short time, the amusements of the stage took such a +possession of his mind, that he was never absent from a play in several +years. + +In the year 1723 Mr. Savage brought another piece on the stage. He made +choice of the subject of Sir Thomas Overbury: If the circumstances in +which he wrote it be considered, it will afford at once an uncommon +proof of strength of genius, and an evenness of mind not to be ruffled. +During a considerable part of the time in which he was employed upon +this performance, he was without lodging, and often without food; nor +had he any other conveniencies for study than the fields, or the street; +in which he used to walk, and form his speeches, and afterwards step +into a shop, beg for a few moments the use of pen and ink, and write +down what he had composed, upon paper which he had picked up by +accident. + +Mr. Savage had been for some time distinguished by Aaron Hill, Esq; with +very particular kindness; and on this occasion it was natural to apply +to him, as an author of established reputation. He therefore sent this +Tragedy to him, with a few verses, in which he desired his correction. +Mr. Hill who was a man of unbounded humanity, and most accomplished +politeness, readily complied with his request; and wrote the prologue +and epilogue, in which he touches the circumstances [Transcriber's note: +'cirumstances' in original] of the author with great tenderness. + +Mr. Savage at last brought his play upon the stage, but not till the +chief actors had quitted it, and it was represented by what was then +called the summer-company. In this Tragedy Mr. Savage himself performed +the part of Sir Thomas Overbury, with so little success, that he always +blotted out his name from the list of players, when a copy of his +Tragedy was to be shewn to any of his friends. This play however +procured him the notice and esteem of many persons of distinction, for +some rays of genius glimmered thro' all the mists which poverty and +oppression had spread over it. The whole profits of this performance, +acted, printed, and dedicated, amounted to about 200 l. But the +generosity of Mr. Hill did not end here; he promoted the subscription to +his Miscellanies, by a very pathetic representation of the author's +sufferings, printed in the Plain-Dealer, a periodical paper written by +Mr. Hill. This generous effort in his favour soon produced him +seventy-guineas, which were left for him at Button's, by some who +commiserated his misfortunes. + +Mr. Hill not only promoted the subscription to the Miscellany, but +furnished likewise the greatest part of the poems of which it is +composed, and particularly the Happy Man, which he published as a +specimen. To this Miscellany he wrote a preface, in which he gives an +account of his mother's cruelty, in a very uncommon strain of humour, +which the success of his subscriptions probably inspired. + +Savage was now advancing in reputation, and though frequently involved +in very perplexing necessities, appeared however to be gaining on +mankind; when both his fame and his life were endangered, by an event of +which it is not yet determined, whether it ought to be mentioned as a +crime or a calamity. As this is by far the most interesting circumstance +in the life of this unfortunate man, we shall relate the particulars +minutely. + +On the 20th of November 1727 Mr. Savage came from Richmond, where he had +retired, that he might pursue his studies with less interruption, with +an intent to discharge a lodging which he had in Westminster; and +accidentally meeting two gentlemen of his acquaintance, whose names were +Marchant and Gregory, he went in with them to a neighbouring +Coffee-House, and sat drinking till it was late. He would willingly have +gone to bed in the same house, but there was not room for the whole +company, and therefore they agreed to ramble about the streets, and +divert themselves with such amusements as should occur till morning. In +their walk they happened unluckily to discover light in Robinson's +Coffee-House, near Charing-Cross, and went in. Marchant with some +rudeness demanded a room, and was told that there was a good fire in the +next parlour, which the company were about to leave, being then paying +their reckoning. Marchant not satisfied with this answer, rushed into +the room, and was followed by his companions. He then petulantly placed +himself between the company and the fire; and soon afterwards kicked +down the table. This produced a quarrel, swords were drawn on both +sides; and one Mr. James Sinclair was killed. Savage having wounded +likewise a maid that held him, forced his way with Gregory out of the +house; but being intimidated, and confus'd, without resolution, whether +to fly, or stay, they were taken in a back court by one of the company, +and some soldiers, whom he had called to his assistance. + +When the day of the trial came on, the court was crowded in a very +unusual manner, and the public appeared to interest itself as in a cause +of general concern. The witnesses against Mr. Savage and his friends, +were the woman who kept the house, which was a house of ill-fame, and +her maid, the men who were in the room with Mr. Sinclair, and a woman of +the town, who had been drinking with them, and with whom one of them had +been seen in bed. + +They swore in general, that Marchant gave the provocation, which Savage +and Gregory drew their swords to justify; that Savage drew first, that +he stabb'd Sinclair, when he was not in a posture of defence, or while +Gregory commanded his sword; that after he had given the thrust he +turned pale, and would have retired, but that the maid clung round him, +and one of the company endeavoured to detain him, from whom he broke, by +cutting the maid on the head. + +Sinclair had declared several times before his death, for he survived +that night, that he received his wound from Savage; nor did Savage at +his trial deny the fact, but endeavoured partly to extenuate it, by +urging the suddenness of the whole action, and the impossibility of any +ill design, or premeditated malice, and partly to justify it by the +necessity of self-defence, and the hazard of his own life, if he had +lost that opportunity of giving the thrust. He observed that neither +reason nor law obliged a man to wait for the blow which was threatened, +and which if he should suffer, he might never be able to return; that it +was always allowable to prevent an assault, and to preserve life, by +taking away that of the adversary, by whom it was endangered. + +With regard to the violence with which he endeavoured his escape, he +declared it was not his design to fly from justice, or decline a trial, +but to avoid the expences and severities of a prison, and that he +intended to appear at the bar, without compulsion. This defence which +took up more than an hour, was heard by the multitude that thronged the +court, with the most attentive and respectful silence. Those who thought +he ought not to be acquitted, owned that applause could not be refused +him; and those who before pitied his misfortunes, now reverenced his +abilities. + +The witnesses who appeared against him were proved to be persons of such +characters as did not entitle them to much credit; a common strumpet, a +woman by whom such wretches were entertained, and a man by whom they +were supported. The character of Savage was by several persons of +distinction asserted to be that of a modest inoffensive man, not +inclined to broils, or to insolence, and who had to that time been only +known by his misfortunes and his wit. + +Had his audience been his judges, he had undoubtedly been acquitted; but +Mr. Page, who was then upon the bench, treated him with the most brutal +severity, and in summing up the evidence endeavoured to exasperate the +jury against him, and misrepresent his defence. This was a provocation, +and an insult, which the prisoner could not bear, and therefore Mr. +Savage resolutely asserted, that his cause was not candidly explained, +and began to recapitulate what he had before said; but the judge having +ordered him to be silent, which Savage treated with contempt, he +commanded that he should be taken by force from the bar. The jury then +heard the opinion of the judge, that good characters were of no weight +against positive evidence, though they might turn the scale, where it +was doubtful; and that though two men attack each other, the death of +either is only manslaughter; but where one is the aggressor, as in the +case before them, and in pursuance of his first attack kills the other, +the law supposes the action, however sudden, to be malicious. The jury +determined, that Mr. Savage and Mr. Gregory were guilty of murder, and +Mr. Marchant who had no sword, only manslaughter. + +Mr. Savage and Mr. Gregory were conducted back to prison, where they +were more closely confined, and loaded with irons of fifty pound weight. +Savage had now no hopes of life but from the king's mercy, and can it be +believed, that mercy his own mother endeavoured to intercept. + +When Savage (as we have already observed) was first made acquainted with +the story of his birth, he was so touched with tenderness for his +mother, that he earnestly sought an opportunity to see her. + +To prejudice the queen against him, she made use of an incident, which +was omitted in the order of time, that it might be mentioned together +with the purpose it was made to serve. + +One evening while he was walking, as was his custom, in the street she +inhabited, he saw the door of her house by accident open; he entered it, +and finding no persons in the passage to prevent him, went up stairs to +salute her. She discovered him before he could enter her chamber, +alarmed the family with the most distressful out-cries, and when she had +by her screams gathered them about her, ordered them to drive out of the +house that villain, who had forced himself in upon her, and endeavoured +to murder her. + +This abominable falsehood his mother represented to the queen, or +communicated it to some who were base enough to relate it, and so +strongly prepossessed her majesty against this unhappy man, that for a +long while she rejected all petitions that were offered in his favour. + +Thus had Savage perished by the evidence of a bawd, of a strumpet, and +of his mother; had not justice and compassion procured him an advocate, +of a rank too great to be rejected unheard, and of virtue too eminent to +be heard without being believed. The story of his sufferings reached the +ear of the countess of Hertford, who engaged in his support with the +tenderness and humanity peculiar to that amiable lady. She demanded an +audience of the queen, and laid before her the whole series of his +mother's cruelty, exposed the improbability of her accusation of murder, +and pointed out all the circumstances of her unequall'd barbarity. + +The interposition of this lady was so successful, that he was soon after +admitted to bail, and on the 9th of March 1728, pleaded the king's +pardon.[2] + +Mr. Savage during his imprisonment, his trial, and the time in which he +lay under sentence of death, behaved with great fortitude, and confirmed +by his unshaken equality of mind, the esteem of those who before admired +him for his abilities. Upon weighing all the circumstances relating to +this unfortunate event, it plainly appears that the greatest guilt could +not be imputed to Savage. His killing Sinclair, was rather rash than +totally dishonourable, for though Marchant had been the aggressor, who +would not procure his friend from being over-powered by numbers? + +Some time after he had obtained his liberty, he met in the street the +woman of the town that had swore against him: She informed him that she +was in distress, and with unparalleled assurance desired him to relieve +her. He, instead of insulting her misery, and taking pleasure in the +calamity of one who had brought his life into danger, reproved her +gently for her perjury, and changing the only guinea he had, divided it +equally between her and himself. + +Compassion seems indeed to have been among the few good qualities +possessed by Savage; he never appeared inclined to take the advantage of +weakness, to attack the defenceless, or to press upon the falling: +Whoever was distressed was certain at last of his good wishes. But when +his heart was not softened by the sight of misery, he was obstinate in +his resentment, and did not quickly lose the remembrance of an injury. +He always harboured the sharpest resentment against judge Page; and a +short time before his death, he gratified it in a satire upon that +severe magistrate. + +When in conversation this unhappy subject was mentioned, Savage appeared +neither to consider himself as a murderer, nor as a man wholly free from +blood. How much, and how long he regretted it, appeared in a poem +published many years afterwards, which the following lines will set in a +very striking light. + + Is chance a guilt, that my disast'rous heart, + For mischief never meant, must ever smart? + Can self-defence be sin?--Ah! plead no more! + What tho' no purpos'd malice stain'd thee o'er; + Had Heav'n befriended thy unhappy side, + Thou had'st not been provok'd, or thou had'st died. + + Far be the guilt of home-shed blood from all, + On whom, unfought, imbroiling dangers fall. + Still the pale dead revives and lives to me, + To me through pity's eye condemn'd to see. + Remembrance veils his rage, but swells his fate, + Griev'd I forgive, and am grown cool too late, + + Young and unthoughtful then, who knows one day, + What rip'ning virtues might have made their way? + He might, perhaps, his country's friend have prov'd, + Been gen'rous, happy, candid and belov'd; + He might have sav'd some worth now doom'd to fall, + And I, perchance, in him have murder'd all. + +Savage had now obtained his liberty, but was without any settled means +of support, and as he had lost all tenderness for his mother, who had +thirsted for his blood, he resolved to lampoon her, to extort that +pension by satire, which he knew she would never grant upon any +principles of honour, or humanity. This expedient proved successful; +whether shame still survived, though compassion was extinct, or whether +her relations had more delicacy than herself, and imagined that some of +the darts which satire might point at her, would glance upon them: Lord +Tyrconnel, whatever were his motives, upon his promise to lay aside the +design of exposing his mother, received him into his family, treated him +as his equal, and engaged to allow him a pension of 200 l. a year. + +This was the golden part of Mr. Savage's life; for some time he had no +reason to complain of fortune; his appearance was splendid, his expences +large, and his acquaintance extensive. 'He was courted, says the author +of his life, by all who endeavoured to be thought men of genius, and +caressed by all that valued themselves upon a fine taste. To admire Mr. +Savage was a proof of discernment, and to be acquainted with him was a +title to poetical reputation. His presence was sufficient to make any +place of entertainment popular; and his approbation and example +constituted the fashion. So powerful is genius, when it is invested with +the glitter of affluence. Men willingly pay to fortune that regard which +they owe to merit, and are pleased when they have at once an opportunity +of exercising their vanity, and practising their duty. This interval of +prosperity furnished him with opportunities of enlarging his knowledge +of human nature, by contemplating life from its highest gradation to its +lowest.' + +In this gay period of life, when he was surrounded by the affluence of +pleasure, 1729, he published the Wanderer, a Moral Poem, of which the +design is comprised in these lines. + + I fly all public care, all venal strife, + To try the _Still_, compared with _Active Life_. + To prove by these the sons of men may owe, + The fruits of bliss to bursting clouds of woe, + That ev'n calamity by thought refin'd + Inspirits, and adorns the thinking mind. + +And more distinctly in the following passage: + + By woe the soul to daring actions swells, + By woe in plaintless patience it excells; + From patience prudent, clear experience springs, + And traces knowledge through the course of things. + Thence hope is form'd, thence fortitude, success, + Renown--Whate'er men covet or caress. + +This performance was always considered by Mr. Savage as his +master-piece; but Mr. Pope, when he asked his opinion of it, told him, +that he read it once over, and was not displeased with it, that it gave +him more pleasure at the second perusal, and delighted him still more at +the third. From a poem so successfully written, it might be reasonably +expected that he should have gained considerable advantages; but the +case was otherwise; he sold the copy only for ten guineas. That he got +so small a price for so finished a poem, was not to be imputed either to +the necessity of the writer, or to the avarice of the bookseller. He was +a slave to his passions, and being then in the pursuit of some trifling +gratification, for which he wanted a supply of money, he sold his poem +to the first bidder, and perhaps for the first price which was proposed, +and probably would have been content with less, if less had been +offered. It was addressed to the earl of Tyrconnel, not only in the +first lines, but in a formal dedication, filled with the highest strains +of panegyric. These praises in a short time he found himself inclined to +retract, being discarded by the man on whom he had bestowed them, and +whom he said, he then discovered, had not deserved them. + +Of this quarrel, lord Tyrconnel and Mr. Savage assigned very different +reasons. Lord Tyrconnel charged Savage with the most licentious +behaviour, introducing company into his house, and practising with them +the most irregular frolics, and committing all the outrages of +drunkenness. Lord Tyrconnel farther alledged against Savage, that the +books of which he himself had made him a present, were sold or pawned by +him, so that he had often the mortification to see them exposed to sale +upon stalls. + +Savage, it seems, was so accustomed to live by expedients, that +affluence could not raise him above them. He often went to the tavern +and trusted the payment of his reckoning to the liberality of his +company; and frequently of company to whom he was very little known. +This conduct indeed, seldom drew him into much inconvenience, or his +conversation and address were so pleasing, that few thought the pleasure +which they received from him, dearly purchased by paying for his wine. +It was his peculiar happiness that he scarcely ever found a stranger, +whom he did not leave a friend; but it must likewise be added, that he +had not often a friend long, without obliging him to become an enemy. + +Mr. Savage on the other hand declared, that lord Tyrconnel quarrelled +with him because he would not subtract from his own luxury and +extravagance what he had promised to allow him; and that his resentment +was only a plea for the violation of his promise: He asserted that he +had done nothing which ought to exclude him from that subsistence which +he thought not so much a favour as a debt, since it was offered him upon +conditions, which he had never broken; and that his only fault was, that +he could not be supported upon nothing. + +Savage's passions were strong, among which his resentment was not the +weakest; and as gratitude was not his constant virtue, we ought not too +hastily to give credit to all his prejudice asserts against (his once +praised patron) lord Tyrconnel. + +During his continuance with the lord Tyrconnel, he wrote the Triumph of +Health and Mirth, on the recovery of the lady Tyrconnel, from a +languishing illness. This poem is built upon a beautiful fiction. Mirth +overwhelmed with sickness for the death of a favourite, takes a flight +in quest of her sister Health, whom she finds reclined upon the brow of +a lofty mountain, amidst the fragrance of a perpetual spring, and the +breezes of the morning sporting about her. Being solicited by her sister +Mirth, she readily promises her assistance, flies away in a cloud, and +impregnates the waters of Bath with new virtues, by which the sickness +of Belinda is relieved. + +While Mr. Savage continued in high life, he did not let slip any +opportunity to examine whether the merit of the great is magnified or +diminished by the medium through which it is contemplated, and whether +great men were selected for high stations, or high stations made great +men. The result of his observations is not much to the advantage of +those in power. + +But the golden æra of Savage's life was now at an end, he was banished +the table of lord Tyrconnel, and turned again a-drift upon the world. +While he was in prosperity, he did not behave with a moderation likely +to procure friends amongst his inferiors. He took an opportunity in the +sun-shine of his fortune, to revenge himself of those creatures, who, as +they are the worshippers of power, made court to him, whom they had +before contemptuously treated. This assuming behaviour of Savage was not +altogether unnatural. He had been avoided and despised by those +despicable sycophants, who were proud of his acquaintance when railed to +eminence. In this case, who would not spurn such mean Beings? His +degradation therefore from the condition which he had enjoyed with so +much superiority, was considered by many as an occasion of triumph. +Those who had courted him without success, had an opportunity to return +the contempt they had suffered. + +Mean time, Savage was very diligent in exposing the faults of lord +Tyrconnel, over whom he obtained at least this advantage, that he drove +him first to the practice of outrage and violence; for he was so much +provoked by his wit and virulence, that he came with a number of +attendants, to beat him at a coffee-house; but it happened that he had +left the place a few minutes before: Mr. Savage went next day to repay +his visit at his own house, but was prevailed upon by his domestics to +retire without insisting upon seeing him. + +He now thought himself again at full liberty to expose the cruelty of +his mother, and therefore about this time published THE BASTARD, a Poem +remarkable for the vivacity in the beginning, where he makes a pompous +enumeration of the imaginary advantages of base birth, and the pathetic +sentiments at the close; where he recounts the real calamities which he +suffered by the crime of his parents. + +The verses which have an immediate relation to those two circumstances, +we shall here insert. + + In gayer hours, when high my fancy ran, + The Muse exulting thus her lay began. + + Bless'd be the Bastard's birth! thro' wond'rous ways, + He shines excentric like a comet's blaze. + No sickly fruit of faint compliance he; + He! stamp'd in nature's mint with extasy! + He lives to build, not boast a gen'rous race, + No tenth transmitter of a foolish face. + His daring hope, no fire's example bounds; + His first-born nights no prejudice confounds. + He, kindling from within requires no flame, + He glories in a bastard's glowing name. + --Nature's unbounded son he stands alone, + His heart unbiass'd, and his mind his own. + --O mother! yet no mother!--'Tis to you + My thanks for such distinguish'd claims are due. + --What had I lost if conjugally kind, + By nature hating, yet by vows confin'd, + You had faint drawn me with a form alone, + A lawful lump of life, by force your own! + --I had been born your dull domestic heir, + Load of your life and motive of your care; + Perhaps been poorly rich and meanly great; + The slave of pomp, a cypher in the state: + Lordly neglectful of a worth unknown, + And slumb'ring in a feat by chance my own, + +After mentioning the death of Sinclair, he goes on thus: + + --Where shall my hope find rest?--No mother's care + Shielded my infant innocence with prayer; + No father's guardian hand my youth maintain'd, + Call'd forth my virtues, and from vice refrain'd. + +This poem had extraordinary success, great numbers were immediately +dispersed, and editions were multiplied with unusual rapidity. + +One circumstance attended the publication, which Savage used to relate +with great satisfaction. His mother, to whom the poem with due reverence +was inscribed, happened then to be at Bath, where she could not +conveniently retire from censure, or conceal herself from observation; +and no sooner did the reputation of the poem begin to spread, than she +heard it repeated in all places of concourse; nor could she enter the +assembly rooms, or cross the walks, without being saluted with some +lines from the Bastard. She therefore left Bath with the utmost haste, +to shelter herself in the crowds of London. Thus Savage had the +satisfaction of finding, that tho' he could not reform, he could yet +punish his mother. + +Some time after Mr. Savage took a resolution of applying to the queen, +that having once given him life, she would enable him to support it, and +therefore published a short poem on her birth day, to which he gave the +odd title of Volunteer-Laureat. He had not at that time one friend to +present his poem at court, yet the Queen, notwithstanding this act of +ceremony was wanting, in a few days after publication, sent him a bank +note of fifty-pounds, by lord North and Guildford; and her permission to +write annually on the same subject, and that he should yearly receive +the like present, till something better should be done for him. After +this he was permitted to present one of his annual poems to her majesty, +and had the honour of kissing her hand. + +When the dispute between the bishop of London, and the chancellor, +furnished for some time the chief topic of conversation, Mr. Savage who +was an enemy to all claims of ecclesiastical power, engaged with his +usual zeal against the bishop. In consequence of his aversion to the +dominion of superstitious churchmen, he wrote a poem called The Progress +of a Divine, in which he conducts a profligate priest thro' all the +gradations of wickedness, from a poor curacy in the country, to the +highest preferment in the church; and after describing his behaviour in +every station, enumerates that this priest thus accomplished, found at +last a patron in the bishop of London. + +The clergy were universally provoked with this satire, and Savage was +censured in the weekly Miscellany, with a severity he did not seem +inclined to forget: But a return of invective was not thought a +sufficient punishment. The court of King's-Bench was moved against him, +and he was obliged to return an answer to a charge of obscenity. It was +urged in his defence, that obscenity was only criminal, when it was +intended to promote the practice of vice; but that Mr. Savage had only +introduced obscene ideas, with a view of exposing them to detestation, +and of amending the age, by shewing the deformity of wickedness. This +plea was admitted, and Sir Philip York, now lord Chancellor, who then +presided in that court, dismissed the information, with encomiums upon +the purity and excellence of Mr. Savage's writings. + +He was still in his usual exigencies, having no certain support, but the +pension allowed him from the Queen, which was not sufficient to last him +the fourth part of the year. His conduct, with regard to his pension, +was very particular. No sooner had he changed the bill, than he vanished +from the sight of all his acquaintances, and lay, for some time, out of +the reach of his most intimate friends. At length he appeared again +pennyless as before, but never informed any person where he had been, +nor was his retreat ever discovered. This was his constant practice +during the whole time he received his pension. He regularly disappeared, +and returned. He indeed affirmed that he retired to study, and that the +money supported him in solitude for many months, but his friends +declared, that the short time in which it was spent, sufficiently +confuted his own account of his conduct. + +His perpetual indigence, politeness, and wit, still raised him friends, +who were desirous to set him above want, and therefore sollicited Sir +Robert Walpole in his favour, but though promises were given, and Mr. +Savage trusted, and was trusted, yet these added but one mortification +more to the many he had suffered. His hopes of preferment from that +statesman; issued in a disappointment; upon which he published a poem in +the Gentleman's Magazine, entitled, The Poet's Dependance on a +Statesman; in which he complains of the severe usage he met with. But to +despair was no part of the character of Savage; when one patronage +failed, he had recourse to another. The Prince was now extremely +popular, and had very liberally rewarded the merit of some writers, whom +Mr. Savage did not think superior to himself; and therefore he resolved +to address a poem to him. + +For this purpose he made choice of a subject, which could regard only +persons of the highest rank, and greatest affluence, and which was +therefore proper for a poem intended to procure the patronage of a +prince; namely, public spirit, with regard to public works. But having +no friend upon whom he could prevail to present it to the Prince, he had +no other method of attracting his observation, than by publishing +frequent advertisements, and therefore received no reward from his +patron, however generous upon other occasions. His poverty still +pressing, he lodged as much by accident, as he dined; for he generally +lived by chance, eating only when he was invited to the tables of his +acquaintance, from which, the meanness of his dress often excluded him, +when the politeness, and variety of his conversation, would have been +thought a sufficient recompence for his entertainment. Having no +lodging, he passed the night often in mean houses, which are set open +for any casual wanderers; sometimes in cellars, amongst the riot and +filth of the meanest and most profligate of the rabble; and sometimes +when he was totally without money, walked about the streets till he was +weary, and lay down in the summer upon a bulk, and in the winter, with +his associates in poverty, among the ashes of a glass-house. + +In this manner were passed those days and nights, which nature had +enabled him to have employed in elevated speculations. On a bulk, in a +cellar, or in a glass-house, among thieves and beggars, was to be found +the author of The Wanderer, the man, whose remarks in life might have +assisted the statesman, whose ideas of virtue might have enlightened the +moralist, whose eloquence might have influenced senates, and whose +delicacy might have polished courts. His distresses, however afflictive, +never dejected him. In his lowest sphere he wanted not spirit to assert +the natural dignity of wit, and was always ready to repress that +insolence, which superiority of fortune incited, and to trample that +reputation which rose upon any other basis, than that of merit. He never +admitted any gross familiarity, or submitted to be treated otherwise +than as an equal. + +Once, when he was without lodging, meat, or cloaths, one of his friends, +a man indeed not remarkable for moderation in prosperity, left a +message, that he desired to see him about nine in the morning. Savage +knew that his intention was to assist him, but was very much disgusted, +that he should presume to prescribe the hour of his attendance; and +therefore rejected his kindness. + +The greatest hardships of poverty were to Savage, not the want of +lodging, or of food, but the neglect and contempt it drew upon him. He +complained that as his affairs grew desperate, he found his reputation +for capacity visibly decline; that his opinion in questions of criticism +was no longer regarded, when his coat was out of fashion; and that +those, who in the interval of his prosperity, were always encouraging +him to great undertakings, by encomiums on his genius, and assurances of +success, now received any mention of his designs with coldness, and, in +short, allowed him to be qualified for no other performance than +volunteer-laureat. Yet even this kind of contempt never depressed him, +for he always preserved a steady confidence in his own capacity, and +believed nothing above his reach, which he should at any time earnestly +endeavour to attain. + +This life, unhappy as it may be already imagined, was yet embittered in +1738 with new distresses. The death of the Queen deprived him of all the +prospects of preferment, with which he had so long entertained his +imagination. But even against this calamity there was an expedient at +hand. He had taken a resolution of writing a second tragedy upon the +story of Sir Thomas Overbury, in which he made a total alteration of the +plan, added new incidents, and introduced new characters, so that it was +a new tragedy, not a revival of the former. With the profits of this +scheme, when finished, he fed his imagination, but proceeded slowly in +it, and, probably, only employed himself upon it, when he could find no +other amusement. Upon the Queen's death it was expected of him, that he +should honour her memory with a funeral panegyric: He was thought +culpable for omitting it; but on her birth-day, next year, he gave a +proof of the power of genius and judgment. He knew that the track of +elegy had been so long beaten, that it was impossible to travel in it, +without treading the footsteps of those who had gone before him, and +therefore it was necessary that he might distinguish himself from the +herd of encomists, to find out some new walk of funeral panegyric. + +This difficult task he performed in such a manner, that this poem may be +justly ranked the best of his own, and amongst the best pieces that the +death of Princes has produced. By transferring the mention of her death, +to her birth-day, he has formed a happy combination of topics, which any +other man would have thought it difficult to connect in one view; but +the relation between them appears natural; and it may be justly said, +that what no other man could have thought on, now seems scarcely +possible for any man to miss. In this poem, when he takes occasion to +mention the King, he modestly gives him a hint to continue his pension, +which, however, he did not receive at the usual time, and there was some +reason to think that it would be discontinued. He did not take those +methods of retrieving his interest, which were most likely to succeed, +for he went one day to Sir Robert Walpole's levee, and demanded the +reason of the distinction that was made between him and the other +pensioners of the Queen, with a degree of roughness which, perhaps, +determined him to withdraw, what had only been delayed. This last +misfortune he bore not only with decency, but cheerfulness, nor was his +gaiety clouded, even by this disappointment, though he was, in a short +time, reduced to the lowest degree of distress, and often wanted both +lodging and food. At this time he gave another instance of the +insurmountable obstinacy of his spirit. His cloaths were worn out, and +he received notice, that at a coffee-house some cloaths and linen were +left for him. The person who sent them did not, we believe, inform him +to whom he was to be obliged, that he might spare the perplexity of +acknowledging the benefit; but though the offer was so far generous, it +was made with some neglect of ceremonies, which Mr. Savage so much +resented, that he refused the present, and declined to enter the house +'till the cloaths, which were designed for him, were taken away. + +His distress was now publicly known, and his friends therefore thought +it proper to concert some measures for his relief. The scheme proposed +was, that he should retire into Wales, and receive an allowance of fifty +pounds a year, to be raised by subscription, on which he was to live +privately in a cheap place, without aspiring any more to affluence, or +having any farther sollicitude for fame. + +This offer Mr. Savage gladly accepted, though with intentions very +different from those of his friends; for they proposed that he should +continue an exile from London for ever, and spend all the remaining part +of his life at Swansea; but he designed only to take the opportunity +which their scheme offered him, of retreating for a short time, that he +might prepare his play for the stage, and his other works for the press, +and then to return to London to exhibit his tragedy, and live upon the +profits of his own labour. + +After many sollicitations and delays, a subscription was at last raised, +which did not amount to fifty pounds a year, though twenty were paid by +one gentleman. He was, however, satisfied, and willing to retire, and +was convinced that the allowance, though scanty, would be more than +sufficient for him, being now determined to commence a rigid oeconomist. + +Full of these salutary resolutions, he quitted London in 1739. He was +furnished with fifteen guineas, and was told, that they would be +sufficient, not only for the expence of his journey, but for his support +in Wales for some time; and that there remained but little more of the +first collection. He promised a strict adherence to his maxims of +parsimony, and went away in the stage coach; nor did his friends expect +to hear from him, 'till he informed them of his arrival at Swansea. But, +when they least expected, arrived a letter dated the 14th day after his +departure, in which he sent them word, that he was yet upon the road, +and without money, and that he therefore could not proceed without a +remittance. They then sent him the money that was in their hands, with +which he was enabled to reach Bristol, from whence he was to go to +Swansea by water. At Bristol he found an embargo laid upon the shipping, +so that he could not immediately obtain a passage, and being therefore +obliged to stay there some time, he, with his usual felicity, +ingratiated himself with many of the principal inhabitants, was invited +to their houses, distinguished at their public feasts, and treated with +a regard that gratified his vanity, and therefore easily engaged his +affection. + +After some stay at Bristol, he retired to Swansea, the place originally +proposed for his residence, where he lived about a year very much +disatisfied with the diminution of his salary, for the greatest part of +the contributors, irritated by Mr. Savage's letters, which they imagined +treated them contemptuously, withdrew their subscriptions. At this +place, as in every other, he contracted an acquaintance with those who +were most distinguished in that country, among whom, he has celebrated +Mr. Powel, and Mrs. Jones, by some verses inserted in the Gentleman's +Magazine. Here he compleated his tragedy, of which two acts were wanting +when he left London, and was desirous of coming to town to bring it on +the stage. This design was very warmly opposed, and he was advised by +his chief benefactor, who was no other than Mr. Pope, to put it in the +hands of Mr. Thomson and Mr. Mallet, that it might be fitted for the +stage, and to allow his friends to receive the profits, out of which an +annual pension should be paid him. This proposal he rejected with the +utmost contempt. He was by no means convinced that the judgment of those +to whom he was required to submit, was superior to his own. He was now +determined, as he expressed, to be no longer kept in leading-strings, +and had no elevated idea of his bounty, who proposed to pension him out +of the profits of his own labours. He soon after this quitted Swansea, +and, with an intent to return to London, went to Bristol, where a +repetition of the kindness which he had formerly found, invited +him to stay. He was not only caressed, and treated, but had a collection +made for him of about thirty pounds, with which it had been happy if +he had immediately departed for London; but he never considered that +such proofs of kindness were not often to be expected, and that this +ardour of benevolence was, in a great degree, the effect of novelty. + +Another part of his misconduct was, the practice of prolonging his +visits to unseasonable hours, and disconcerting all the families into +which he was admitted. This was an error in a place of commerce, which +all the charms of conversion could not compensate; for what trader would +purchase such airy satisfaction, with the loss of solid gain, which must +be the consequence of midnight merriment, as those hours which were +gained at night were generally lost in the morning? Distress at last +stole upon him by imperceptible degrees; his conduct had already wearied +some of those who were at first enamoured of his conversation; but he +still might have devolved to others, whom he might have entertained with +equal success, had not the decay of his cloaths made it no longer +consistent with decency to admit him to their tables, or to associate +with him in public places. He now began to find every man from home, at +whose house he called; and was therefore no longer able to procure the +necessaries of life, but wandered about the town, slighted and +neglected, in quest of a dinner, which, he did not always obtain. To +compleat his misery, he was obliged to withdraw from the small number of +friends from whom he had still reason to hope for favours. His custom +was to lie in bed the greatest part of the day, and to go out in the +dark with the utmost privacy, and after having paid his visit, return +again before morning to his lodging, which was in the garret of an +obscure inn. + +Being thus excluded on one hand, and confined on the other, he suffered +the utmost extremities of poverty, and often waited so long, that he was +seized with faintness, and had lost his appetite, not being able to bear +the smell of meat, 'till the action of his stomach was restored by a +cordial. + +He continued to bear these severe pressures, 'till the landlady of a +coffee-house, to whom he owed about eight pounds, compleated his +wretchedness. He was arrested by order of this woman, and conducted to +the house of a Sheriff's Officer, where he remained some time at a great +expence, in hopes of finding bail. This expence he was enabled to +support by a present from Mr. Nash of Bath, who, upon hearing of his +late mis-fortune, sent him five guineas. No friends would contribute to +release him from prison at the expence of eight pounds, and therefore he +was removed to Newgate. He bore this misfortune with an unshaken +fortitude, and indeed the treatment he met with from Mr. Dagg, the +keeper of the prison, greatly softened the rigours of his confinement. +He was supported by him at his own table, without any certainty of +recompence; had a room to himself, to which he could at any time retire +from all disturbance; was allowed to stand at the door of the prison, +and sometimes taken out into the fields; so that he suffered fewer +hardships in the prison, than he had been accustomed to undergo the +greatest part of his life. Virtue is undoubtedly most laudable in that +state which makes it most difficult; and therefore the humanity of the +gaoler certainly deserves this public attestation. + +While Mr. Savage was in prison, he began, and almost finished a satire, +which he entitled London and Bristol Delineated; in order to be revenged +of those who had had no more generosity for a man, to whom they +professed friendship, than to suffer him to languish in a gaol for eight +pounds. He had now ceased from corresponding with any of his +subscribers, except Mr. Pope, who yet continued to remit him twenty +pounds a year, which he had promised, and by whom he expected to be in a +very short time enlarged; because he had directed the keeper to enquire +after the state of his debts. + +However he took care to enter his name according to the forms of the +court, that the creditors might be obliged to make him some allowance, +if he was continued a prisoner; and when on that occasion he appeared in +the Hall, was treated with very unusual respect. + +But the resentment of the City was afterwards raised, by some accounts +that had been spread of the satire, and he was informed, that some of +the Merchants intended to pay the allowance which the law required, and +to detain him a prisoner at their own expence. This he treated as an +empty menace, and had he not been prevented by death, he would have +hastened the publication of the satire, only to shew how much he was +superior to their insults. + +When he had been six months in prison, he received from Mr. Pope, in +whose kindness he had the greatest confidence, and on whose assistance +he chiefly depended, a letter that contained a charge of very atrocious +ingratitude, drawn up in such terms as sudden resentment dictated. Mr. +Savage returned a very solemn protestation of his innocence, but however +appeared much disturbed at the accusation. Some days afterwards he was +seized with a pain in his back and side, which, as it was not violent, +was not suspected to be dangerous; but growing daily more languid and +dejected, on the 25th of July he confined himself to his room, and a +fever seized his spirits. The symptoms grew every day more formidable, +but his condition did not enable him to procure any assistance. The last +time the keeper saw him was on July 31, when Savage, seeing him at his +bed-side, said, with uncommon earnestness, I have something to say to +you, sir, but, after a pause, moved his hand in a melancholy manner, and +finding himself unable to recollect what he was going to communicate, +said, 'tis gone. The keeper soon after left him, and the next morning he +died. He was buried in the church-yard of St. Peter, at the expence of +the keeper. + +Such were the life and death of this unfortunate poet; a man equally +distinguished by his virtues and vices, and, at once, remarkable for his +weaknesses and abilities. He was of a middle stature, of a thin habit of +body, a long visage, coarse features, and a melancholy aspect; of a +grave and manly deportment, a solemn dignity of mien, but which, upon a +nearer acquaintance, softened into an engaging easiness of manners. His +walk was slow, and his voice tremulous and mournful. He was easily +excited to smiles, but very seldom provoked to laughter. His judgment +was eminently exact, both with regard to writings and to men. The +knowledge of life was his chief attainment. He was born rather to bear +misfortunes greatly, than to enjoy prosperity with moderation. He +discovered an amazing firmness of spirit, in spurning those who presumed +to dictate to him in the lowest circumstances of misery; but we never +can reconcile the idea of true greatness of mind, with the perpetual +inclination Savage discovered to live upon the bounty of his friends. To +struggle for independence appears much more laudable, as well as a +higher instance of spirit, than to be the pensioner of another. + +As Savage had seen so much of the world, and was capable of so deep a +penetration into nature, it was strange he could not form some scheme of +a livelihood, more honourable than that of a poetical mendicant: his +prosecuting any plan of life with diligence, would have thrown more +lustre on his character, than, all his works, and have raised our ideas +of the greatness of his spirit, much, beyond the conduct we have already +seen. If poverty is so great an evil as to expose a man to commit +actions, at which he afterwards blushes, to avoid this poverty should be +the continual care of every man; and he, who lets slip every opportunity +of doing so, is more entitled to admiration than pity, should he bear +his sufferings nobly. + +Mr. Savage's temper, in consequence of the dominion of his passions, was +uncertain and capricious. He was easily engaged, and easily disgusted; +but he is accused of retaining his hatred more tenaciously than his +benevolence. He was compassionate both by nature and principle, and +always ready to perform offices of humanity; but when he was provoked, +and very small offences were sufficient to provoke him, he would +prosecute his revenge with the utmost acrimony, 'till his passion had +subsided. His friendship was therefore of little value, for he was +zealous in the support, or vindication of those whom he loved, yet it +was always dangerous to trust him, because he considered himself as +discharged by the first quarrel, from all ties of honour and gratitude. +He would even betray those secrets, which, in the warmth of confidence, +had been imparted to him. His veracity was often questioned, and not +without reason. When he loved any man, he suppressed all his faults, and +when he had been offended by him, concealed all his virtues. But his +characters were generally true, so far as he proceeded, though it cannot +be denied, but his partiality might have sometimes the effect of +falshood. + +In the words of the celebrated writer of his life, from whom, as we +observed in the beginning, we have extracted the account here given, we +shall conclude this unfortunate person's Memoirs, which were so various +as to afford large scope for an able biographer, and which, by this +gentleman, have been represented with so great a mastery, and force of +penetration, that the Life of Savage, as written by him, is an excellent +model for this species of writing. + +'This relation (says he) will not be wholly without its use, if those, +who languish under any part of his sufferings, should be enabled to +fortify their patience, by reflecting that they feel only those +afflictions from which the abilities of Savage did not exempt him; or +those, who in confidence of superior capacities, or attainments, +disregard the common maxims of life, shall be reminded that nothing can +supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity long +continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius +contemptible.' + +FOOTNOTES: +[1] However slightly the author of Savage's life passes over the less + amiable characteristics of that unhappy man; yet we cannot but + discover therein, that vanity and ingratitude were the principal + ingredients in poor Savage's composition; nor was his veracity + greatly to be depended on. No wonder therefore, if the good-natur'd + writer suffer'd his better understanding to be misled, in some + accounts relative to the poet we are now speaking of.--Among many, + we shall at present only take notice of the following, which makes + too conspicuous a figure to pass by entirely unnoticed. + + In this life of Savage 'tis related, that Mrs. Oldfield was very + fond of Mr. Savage's conversation, and allowed him an annuity, + during her life, of 50 l.--These facts are equally ill-grounded:-- + There was no foundation for them. That Savage's misfortunes pleaded + for pity, and had the desired effect on Mrs. Oldfield's compassion, + is certain:--But she so much disliked the man, and disapproved his + conduct, that she never admitted him to her conversation, nor + suffer'd him to enter her house. She, indeed, often relieved him + with such donations, as spoke her generous disposicion.--But this + was on the sollicitation of friends, who frequently set his + calamities before her in the most piteous light; and from a + principle of humanity, she became not a little instrumental in + saving his life. + +[2] Lord Tyrconnel delivered a petition to his majesty in Savage's + behalf: And Mrs. Oldfield sollicited Sir Robert Walpole on his + account. This joint-interest procured him his pardon. + + + * * * * * + + +Dr. THOMAS SHERIDAN. + +was born in the county of Cavan, where his father kept a public house. A +gentleman, who had a regard for his father, and who observed the son +gave early indications of genius above the common standard, sent him to +the college of Dublin, and contributed towards the finishing his +education there. Our poet received very great encouragement upon his +setting out in life, and was esteemed a fortunate man. The agreeable +humour, and the unreserved pleasantry of his temper, introduced him to +the acquaintance, and established him in the esteem, of the wits of that +age. He set up a school in Dublin, which, at one time, was so +considerable as to produce an income of a thousand pounds a year, and +possessed besides some good livings, and bishops leases, which are +extremely lucrative. + +Mr. Sheridan married the daughter of Mr. Macpherson, a Scots gentleman, +who served in the wars under King William, and, during the troubles of +Ireland, became possessed of a small estate of about 40 l. per annum, +called Quilca. This little fortune devolved on Mrs. Sheridan, which +enabled her husband to set up a school. Dr. Sheridan, amongst his +virtues, could not number oeconomy; on the contrary, he was remarkable +for profusion and extravagance, which exposed him to such +inconveniences, that he was obliged to mortgage all he had. His school +daily declined, and by an act of indiscretion, he was stript of the best +living he then enjoyed. On the birth-day of his late Majesty, the Dr. +having occasion to preach, chose for his text the following words, + + Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. + +This procured him the name of a Jacobite, or a disaffected person, a +circumstance sufficient to ruin him in his ecclesiastical capacity. His +friends, who were disposed to think favourably of him, were for softning +the epithet of Jacobite into Tory, imputing his choice of that text, +rather to whim and humour, than any settled prejudice against his +Majesty, or the government; but this unseasonable pleasantry was not so +easily passed over, and the Dr. had frequent occasion to repent the +choice of his text. + +Unhappy Sheridan! he lived to want both money and friends. He spent his +money and time merrily among the gay and the great, and was an example, +that there are too many who can relish a man's humour, who have not so +quick a sense of his misfortunes. The following story should not have +been told, were it not true. + +In the midst of his misfortunes, when the demands of his creditors +obliged him to retirement, he went to dean Swift, and sollicited a +lodging for a few days, 'till by a proper composition he might be +restored to his freedom. The dean retired early to rest. The Dr. +fatigued, but not inclinable to go so soon to bed, sent the servant to +the dean, desiring the key of the cellar, that he might have a bottle of +wine. The dean, in one of his odd humours, returned for answer, he +promised to find him a lodging, but not in wine; and refused to send the +key. The Dr. being thunderstruck at this unexpected incivility, the +tears burst from his eyes; he quitted the house, and we believe never +after repeated the visit. + +Dr. Sheridan died in the year 1738, in the 55th year of his age. The +following epitaph for him was handed about. + + Beneath this marble stone here lies + Poor Tom, more merry much than wise; + Who only liv'd for two great ends, + To spend his cash, and lose his friends: + His darling wife of him bereft, + Is only griev'd--there's nothing left. + + +When the account of his death was inserted in the papers, it was done in +the following particular terms; + + 'September 10, died the revd. Dr. Thomas Sheridan of Dublin. He was a + great linguist, a most sincere friend, a delightful companion, and the + best Schoolmaster in Europe: He took the greatest care of the morals + of the young gentlemen, who had the happiness of being bred up under + him; and it was remarked, that none of his scholars ever was an + Atheist, or a Free-Thinker.' + +We cannot more successfully convey to the reader a true idea of Dr. +Sheridan, than by the two following quotations from Lord Orrery in his +life of Swift, in which he occasionally mentions Swift's friend. + + 'Swift was naturally fond of seeing his works in print, and he was + encouraged in this fondness by his friend Dr. Sheridan, who had the + Cacoethea Scribendi, to the greatest degree, and was continually + letting off squibs, rockets, and all sorts of little fire-works from + the press; by which means he offended many particular persons, who, + although they stood in awe of Swift, held Sheridan at defiance. The + truth is, the poor doctor by nature the most peacable, inoffensive man + alive, was in a continual state of warfare with the Minor Poets, and + they revenged themselves; or, in the style of Mr. Bays, often gave him + flash for flash, and singed his feathers. The affection between + Theseus and Perithous was not greater than the affection between Swift + and Sheridan: But the friendship that cemented the two ancient heroes + probably commenced upon motives very different from those which united + the two modern divines.' + + 'Dr. Sheridan was a school-master, and in many instances, perfectly + well adapted for that station. He was deeply vers'd in the Greek and + Roman languages; and in their customs and antiquities. He had that + kind of good nature, which absence of mind, indolence of body, and + carelessness of fortune produce: And although not over-strict in his + own conduct, yet he took care of the morality of his scholars, whom he + sent to the university, remarkably well founded in all kind of + classical learning, and not ill instructed in the social duties of + life. He was slovenly, indigent, and chearful. He knew books much + better than men; And he knew the value of money least of all. In this + situation, and with this disposition, Swift fattened upon him as upon + a prey, with which he intended to regale himself, whenever his + appetite should prompt him. Sheridan was therefore certainly within + his reach; and the only time he was permitted to go beyond the limits + of his chain, was to take possession of a living in the county of + Corke, which had been bestowed upon him, by the then lord lieutenant + of Ireland, the present earl of Granville. Sheridan, in one fatal + moment, or by one fatal text, effected his own ruin. You will find the + story told by Swift himself, in the fourth volume of his works [page + 289. in a pamphlet intitled a Vindication of his Excellency John Lord + Carteret, from the charge of favouring none but Tories, + High-Churchmen, and Jacobites.] So that here I need only tell you, + that this ill-starred, good-natur'd, improvident man returned to + Dublin, unhinged from all favour at court, and even banished from the + Castle: But still he remained a punster, a quibbler, a fiddler, and a + wit. Not a day passed without a rebus, an anagram, or a madrigal. His + pen and his fiddle-stick were in continual motion; and yet to little + or no purpose, if we may give credit to the following verses, which + shall serve as the conclusion of his poetical character.' + + With music and poetry equally bless'd[1], + A bard thus Apollo most humbly address'd, + Great author of poetry, music, and light, + Instructed by thee, I both fiddle and write: + + Yet unheeded I scrape, or I scribble all day, + My tunes are neglected, my verse flung away. + Thy substantive here, Vice Apollo [2] disdains, + To vouch for my numbers, or list to my strains. + Thy manual sign he refuses to put + To the airs I produce from the pen, or the gut: + Be thou then propitious, great Phoebus, and grant + Belief, or reward to my merit, or want, + Tho' the Dean and Delany [3] transcendently shine, + O! brighten one solo, or sonnet of mine, + Make one work immortal, 'tis all I request; + Apollo look'd pleas'd, and resolving to jest, + Replied--Honest friend, I've consider'd your case. + Nor dislike your unmeaning and innocent face. + Your petition I grant, the boon is not great, + Your works shall continue, and here's the receipt; + On Roundo's[4] hereafter, your fiddle-strings spend. + Write verses in circles, they never shall end. + +Dr. Sheridan gained some reputation by his Prose-translation of Persius; +to which he added a Collection of the best Notes of the Editors of this +intricate Satyrist, who are in the best esteem; together with many +judicious Notes of his own. This work was printed in 12mo. for A. +Millar, 1739. + +One of the volumes of Swift's Miscellanies consists almost entirely of +Letters between the Dean and the Dr. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Not a first rate genius, or extraordinary proficient, in either. + +[2] Dr. Swift. + +[3] Now Dean of Downe. + +[4] A Song, or peculiar kind of Poetry, which returns to the beginning + of the first verse, and continues in a perpetual rotation. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Dr. JONATHAN SWIFT. + +When the life of a person, whose wit and genius raised him to an +eminence among writers of the first class, is written by one of uncommon +abilities:--One possess'd of the power (as Shakespear says) _of looking +quite thro' the deeds of men_; we are furnished with one of the highest +entertainments a man can enjoy:--Such an author also presents us with a +true picture of human nature, which affords us the most ample +instruction:--He discerns the passions which play about the heart; and +while he is astonished with the high efforts of genius, is at the same +time enabled to observe nature as it really is, and how distant from +perfection mankind are in this world, even in the most refined state of +humanity. Such an intellectual feast they enjoy, who peruse the life of +this great author, drawn by the masterly and impartial hand of lord +Orrery. We there discern the greatness and weakness of Dean Swift; we +discover the patriot, the genius, and the humourist; the peevish master, +the ambitious statesman, the implacable enemy, and the warm friend. His +mixed qualities and imperfections are there candidly marked: His errors +and virtues are so strongly represented, that while we reflect upon his +virtues, we forget he had so many failings; and when we consider his +errors, we are disposed to think he had fewer virtues. With such candour +and impartiality has lord Orrery drawn the portrait of Swift; and, as +every biographer ought to do, has shewn us the man as he really was. + +Upon this account given by his lordship, is the following chiefly built. +It shall be our business to take notice of the most remarkable passages +of the life of Swift; to omit no incidents that can be found concerning +him, and as our propos'd bounds will not suffer us to enlarge, we shall +endeavour to display, with as much conciseness as possible, those +particulars which may be most entertaining to the reader. + +He was born in Dublin, November the 30th, 1667, and was carried into +England soon after his birth, by his nurse, who being obliged to cross +the sea, and having a nurse's fondness for the child at her breast, +convey'd him ship-board without the knowledge of his mother or +relations, and kept him with her at Whitehaven in Cumberland, during her +residence about three-years in that place. This extraordinary event made +his return seem as if he had been transplanted to Ireland, rather than +that he owed his original existence to that soil. But perhaps he tacitly +hoped to inspire different nations with a contention for his birth; at +least in his angry moods, when he was peevish and provoked at the +ingratitude of Ireland, he was frequently heard to say, 'I am not of +this vile country, I am an Englishman.' Such an assertion tho' meant +figuratively, was often received literally; and the report was still +farther propagated by Mr. Pope, who in one of his letters has this +expression. 'Tho' one, or two of our friends are gone, since you saw +your native country, there remain a few.' But doctor Swift, in his +cooler hours, never denied his country: On the contrary he frequently +mentioned, and pointed out, the house where he was born. + +The other suggestion concerning the illegitimacy of his birth, is +equally false. Sir William Temple was employed as a minister abroad, +from the year 1665, to the year 1670; first at Brussels, and afterwards +at the Hague, as appears by his correspondence with the earl of +Arlington, and other ministers of state. So that Dr. Swift's mother, who +never crossed the sea, except from England to Ireland, was out of all +possibility of a personal correspondence with Sir William Temple, till +some years after her son's birth. Dr. Swift's ancestors were persons of +decent and reputable characters. His grand-father was the Revd. Mr. +Thomas Swift, vicar of Goodridge, near Ross in Herefordshire. He enjoyed +a paternal estate in that county, which is still in possession of his +great-grandson, Dean Swift, Esq; He died in the year 1658, leaving five +sons, Godwin, Thomas, Dryden, Jonathan, and Adam. + +Two of them only, Godwin and Jonathan, left sons. Jonathan married Mrs. +Abigail Erick of Leicestershire, by whom he had one daughter and a son. +The daughter was born in the first year of Mr. Swift's marriage; but he +lived not to see the birth of his son, who was born two months after his +death, and became afterwards the famous Dean of St. Patrick's. + +The greatest part of Mr. Jonathan Swift's income had depended upon +agencies, and other employments of that kind; so that most of his +fortune perished with him[1], and the remainder being the only support +that his widow could enjoy, the care, tuition, and expence of her two +children devolved upon her husband's elder brother, Mr. Godwin Swift, +who voluntarily became their guardian, and supplied the loss which they +had sustained in a father. + +The faculties of the mind appear and shine forth at different ages in +different men. The infancy of Dr. Swift pass'd on without any marks of +distinction. At six years old he was sent to school at Kilkenny, and +about eight years afterwards he was entered a student of Trinity College +in Dublin. He lived there in perfect regularity, and under an entire +obedience to the statutes; but the moroseness of his temper rendered him +very unacceptable to his companions, so that he was little regarded, and +less beloved, nor were the academical exercises agreeable to his genius. +He held logic and metaphysics in the utmost contempt; and he scarce +considered mathematics, and natural philosophy, unless to turn them into +ridicule. The studies which he followed were history and poetry. In +these he made a great progress, but to all other branches of science, he +had given so very little application, that when he appeared as a +candidate for the degree of batchelor of arts, he was set aside on +account of insufficiency. + +'This, says lord Orrery, is a surprising incident in his life, but it is +undoubtedly true; and even at last he obtained his admission Speciali +Gratiâ. A phrase which in that university carries with it the utmost +marks of reproach. It is a kind of dishonourable degree, and the record +of it (notwithstanding Swift's present established character throughout +the learned world) must for ever remain against him in the academical +register at Dublin.' + +The more early disappointments happen in life, the deeper impression +they make upon the heart. Swift was full of indignation at the treatment +he received in Dublin; and therefore resolved to pursue his studies at +Oxford. However, that he might be admitted Ad Eundem, he was obliged to +carry with him the testimonium of his degree. The expression Speciali +Gratiâ is so peculiar to the university of Dublin, that when Mr. Swift +exhibited his testimonium at Oxford, the members of the English +university concluded, that the words Speciali Gratâ must signify a +degree conferred in reward of extraordinary diligence and learning. It +is natural to imagine that he did not try to undeceive them; he was +entered in Hart-Hall, now Hartford-College, where he resided till he +took his degree of master of arts in the year 1691. + +Dr. Swift's uncle, on whom he had placed his chief dependance, dying in +the Revolution year, he was supported chiefly by the bounty of Sir +William Temple, to whose lady he was a distant relation. Acts of +generosity seldom meet with their just applause. Sir William Temple's +friendship was immediately construed to proceed from a consciousness +that he was the real father of Mr. Swift, otherwise it was thought +impossible he could be so uncommonly munificent to a young man, so +distantly related to his wife. + +'I am not quite certain, (says his noble Biographer) that Swift himself +did not acquiesce in the calumny; perhaps like Alexander, he thought the +natural son of Jupiter would appear greater than the legitimate son of +Philip.' + +As soon as Swift quitted the university, he lived with Sir William +Temple as his friend, and domestic companion. When he had been about two +years in the family of his patron, he contracted a very long, and +dangerous illness, by eating an immoderate quantity of fruit. To this +surfeit he used to ascribe the giddiness in his head, which, with +intermissions sometimes of a longer, and sometimes of a shorter +continuance, pursued him till it seemed to compleat its conquest, by +rendering him the exact image of one of his own STRULDBRUGGS; a +miserable spectacle, devoid of every appearance of human nature, except +the outward form. + +After Swift had sufficiently recovered to travel, he went into Ireland +to try the effects of his native air; and he found so much benefit by +the journey, that pursuant to his own inclinations he soon returned into +England, and was again most affectionately received by Sir William +Temple, whose house was now at Sheen, where he was often visited by King +William. Here Swift had frequent opportunities of conversing with that +prince; in some of which conversations the king offered to make him a +captain of horse: An offer, which in his splenetic dispositions, he +always seemed sorry to have refused; but at that time he had resolved +within his own mind to take orders, and during his whole life his +resolutions, like the decrees of fate, were immoveable. Thus determined, +he again went over to Ireland, and immediately inlisted himself under +the banner of the church. He was recommended to lord Capel, then +Lord-Deputy, who gave him, the first vacancy, a prebend, of which the +income was about a hundred pounds a year. + +Swift soon grew weary of a preferment, which to a man of his ambition +was far from being sufficiently considerable. He resigned his prebend in +favour of a friend, and being sick of solitude he returned to Sheen, +were he lived domestically as usual, till the death of Sir William +Temple; who besides a legacy in money, left to him the care and trust of +publishing his posthumous works. + +During Swift's residence with Sir William Temple he became intimately +acquainted with a lady, whom he has distinguished, and often celebrated, +under the name of Stella. The real name of this lady was Johnson. She +was the daughter of Sir William Temple's steward; and the concealed but +undoubted wife of doctor Swift. Sir William Temple bequeathed her in his +will 1000 l. as an acknowledgment of her father's faithful services. In +the year 1716 she was married to doctor Swift, by doctor Ashe, then +bishop of Clogher. + +The reader must observe, there was a long interval between the +commencement of his acquaintance with Stella, and the time of making her +his wife, for which (as it appears he was fond of her from the beginning +of their intimacy) no other cause can be assigned, but that the same +unaccountable humour, which had so long detained him from marrying, +prevented him from acknowledging her after she was his wife. + +'Stella (says lord Orrery) was a most amiable woman both in mind and +person: She had an elevated understanding, with all the delicacy, and +softness of her own sex. Her voice, however sweet in itself, was still +rendered more harmonious by what she said. Her wit was poignant without +severity: Her manners were humane, polite, easy and unreserved.-- +Wherever she came, she attracted attention and esteem. As virtue was her +guide in morality, sincerity was her guide in religion. She was +constant, but not ostentatious in her devotions: She was remarkably +prudent in her conversation: She had great skill in music; and was +perfectly well versed in all the lesser arts that employ a lady's +leisure. Her wit allowed her a fund of perpetual cheerfulness within +proper limits. She exactly answered the description of Penelope in +Homer. + + A woman, loveliest of the lovely kind, + In body perfect, and compleat in mind.' + +Such was this amiable lady, yet, with all these advantages, she could +never prevail on Dr. Swift to acknowledge her openly as his wife. A +great genius must tread in unbeaten paths, and deviate from the common +road of life; otherwise a diamond of so much lustre might have been +publickly produced, although it had been fixed within the collet of +matrimony: But that which diminished the value of this inestimable jewel +in Swift's eye was the servile state of her father. + +Ambition and pride, the predominant principles which directed all the +actions of Swift, conquered reason and justice; and the vanity of +boasting such a wife was suppressed by the greater vanity of keeping +free from a low alliance. Dr. Swift and Mrs. Johnson continued the same +oeconomy of life after marriage, which they had pursued before it. They +lived in separate houses; nothing appeared in their behaviour +inconsistent in their decorum, and beyond the limits of platonic love. +However unaccountable this renunciation of marriage rites might appear +to the world, it certainly arose, not from any consciousness of a too +near consanguinity between him and Mrs. Johnson, although the general +voice of some was willing to make them both the natural children of Sir +William Temple. Dr. Swift, (says lord Orrery) was not of that opinion, +for the same false pride which induced him to deny the legitimate +daughter of an obscure servant, might have prompted him to own the +natural daughter of Sir William Temple.[2] + +It is natural to imagine, that a woman of Stella's delicacy must repine +at such an extraordinary situation. The outward honours she received are +as frequently bestowed upon a mistress as a wife; she was absolutely +virtuous, and was yet obliged to submit to all the appearances of vice. +Inward anxiety affected by degrees the calmness of her mind, and the +strength of her body. She died towards the end of January 1727, +absolutely destroy'd by the peculiarity of her fate; a fate which +perhaps she could not have incurred by an alliance with any other person +in the world. + +Upon the death of Sir William Temple, Swift came to London, and took the +earliest opportunity of delivering a petition to King William, under the +claim of a promise made by his majesty to Sir William Temple, that Mr. +Swift should have the first vacancy which might happen among the +prebends of Westminster or Canterbury. But this promise was either +totally forgotten, or the petition which Mr. Swift presented was drowned +amidst the clamour of more urgent addresses. From this first +disappointment may be dated that bitterness towards kings and courtiers, +which is to be found so universally dispersed throughout his works. + +After a long and fruitless attendance at Whitehall, Swift reluctantly +gave up all thoughts of a settlement in England: Pride prevented him +from remaining longer in a state of servility and contempt. He complied +therefore with an invitation from the earl of Berkley (appointed one of +the Lords Justices in Ireland) to attend him as his chaplain, and +private secretary.--Lord Berkley landed near Waterford, and Mr. Swift +acted as secretary during the whole journey to Dublin. But another of +lord Berkley's attendants, whose name was Bush, had by this time +insinuated himself into the earl's favour, and had whispered to his +lordship, that the post of secretary was not proper for a clergyman, to +whom only church preferments could be suitable or advantageous. Lord +Berkley listened perhaps too attentively to these insinuations, and +making some slight apology to Mr. Swift, divested him of that office, +and bestowed it upon Mr. Bush. + +Here again was another disappointment, and a fresh object of +indignation. The treatment was thought injurious, and Swift expressed +his sensibility of it in a short but satyrical copy of verses, intitled +the Discovery. However, during the government of the Earls of Berkley +and Galway, who were jointly Lords Justices of Ireland, two livings, +Laracor and Rathbeggan, were given to Mr. Swift. The first of these +rectories was worth about 200, and the latter about 60 l. a year; and +they were the only church preferments which he enjoyed till he was +appointed Dean of St. Patrick's, in the year 1713. + +Lord Orrery gives the following instances of his humour and of his +pride. + +As soon as he had taken possession of his two livings, he went to reside +at Laracor, and gave public notice to his parishioners, that he would +read prayers on every Wednesday and Friday. Upon the subsequent +Wednesday the bell was rung, and the rector attended in his desk, when +after having sat some time, and finding the congregation to consist only +of himself and his clerk Roger, he began with great composure and +gravity; but with a turn peculiar to himself. "_Dearly beloved_ Roger, +_the scripture moveth you and me in sundry places, &c_." And then +proceeded regularly thro' the whole service. This trifling circumstance +serves to shew; that he could not resist a vein of humour, whenever he +had an opportunity of exerting it. + +The following is the instance of his pride. While Swift was chaplain to +lord Berkley, his only sister, by the consent and approbation of her +uncle and relations, was married to a man in trade, whose fortune, +character, and situation were esteemed by all her friends, and suitable +to her in every respect. + +But the marriage was intirely disagreeable to her brother. It seemed to +interrupt those ambitious views he had long since formed: He grew +outragious at the thoughts of being brother-in law to a trademan. He +utterly refused all reconciliation with his father; nor would he even +listen to the entreaties of his mother, who came over to Ireland under +the strongest hopes of pacifying his anger; having in every other +instance found him a dutiful and obedient son: But his pride was not to +be conquered, and Mrs. Swift finding her son inflexible, hastened back +to Leicester, where she continued till her death. + +During his mother's life time, he scarce ever failed to pay her an +annual visit. But his manner of travelling was as singular as any other +of his actions. He often went in a waggon, but more frequently walked +from Holyhead to Leicester, London, or any other part of England. He +generally chose to dine with waggoners, ostlers, and persons of that +rank; and he used to lye at night in houses where he found written over +the door, Lodgings for a Penny. He delighted in scenes of low life. The +vulgar dialect was not only a fund of humour for him; but seems to have +been acceptable to his nature, as appears from the many filthy ideas, +and indecent expressions found throughout his works. + +A strict residence in a country place was not in the least suitable to +the restless temper of Swift. He was perpetually making excursions not +only to Dublin, and other places in Ireland, but likewise to London; so +rambling a disposition occasioned to him a considerable loss. The rich +deanery of Derry became vacant at this time, and was intended for him by +lord Berkley, if Dr. King, then bishop of Derry, and afterwards +archbishop of Dublin, had not interposed; entreating with great +earnestness, that the deanery might be given to some grave and elderly +divine, rather than to so young a man 'because (added the bishop) the +situation of Derry is in the midst of Presbyterians, and I should be +glad of a clergyman, who might be of assistance to me. I have no +objection to Mr. Swift. I know him to be a sprightly ingenious young +man; but instead of residing, I dare say he will be eternally flying +backwards and forwards to London; and therefore I entreat that he may be +provided for in some other place.' + +Swift was accordingly set aside on account of youth, and from the year +1702, to the change of the ministry in the year 1710, few circumstances +of his life can be found sufficiently material to be inserted here. From +this last period, 'till the death of Queen Anne, we find him fighting on +the side of the Tories, and maintaining their cause in pamphlets, poems, +and weekly papers. In one of his letters to Mr. Pope he has this +expression, 'I have conversed, in some freedom, with more ministers of +state, of all parties, than usually happens to men of my level; and, I +confess, in their capacity as ministers I look upon them as a race of +people, whose acquaintance no man would court otherwise, than on the +score of vanity and ambition.' A man always appears of more consequence +to himself, than he is in reality to any other person. Such, perhaps, +was the case of Dr. Swift. He knew how useful he was to the +administration in general; and in one of his letters he mentions, that +the place of historiographer was intended for him; but in this +particular he flattered himself; at least, he remained without any +preferment 'till the year 1713, when he was made dean of St. Patrick's. +In point of power and revenue, such a deanery might be esteemed no +inconsiderable promotion; but to an ambitious mind, whose perpetual view +was a settlement in England, a dignity in any other country must appear +only a profitable and an honourable kind of banishment. It is very +probable, that the temper of Swift might occasion his English friends to +wish him promoted at a distance. His spirit was ever untractable. The +motions of his genius were often irregular. He assumed more of the air +of a patron, than of a friend. He affected rather to dictate than +advise. He was elated with the appearance of enjoying ministerial +confidence. He enjoyed the shadow indeed, but the substance was detained +from him. He was employed, not entrusted; and at the same time he +imagined himself a subtle diver, who dextrously shot down into the +profoundest regions of politics, he was suffered only to sound the +shallows nearest the shore, and was scarce admitted to descend below the +froth at the top. Swift was one of those strange kind of Tories, who +lord Bolingbroke, in his letter to Sir William Wyndham, calls the +Whimsicals, that is, they were Tories attach'd to the Hanoverian +succession. This kind of Tory is so incongruous a creature, that it is a +wonder ever such a one existed. Mrs. Pilkington informs us, that Swift +had written A Defence of the last Ministers of Queen Anne, from an +intention of restoring the Pretender, which Mr. Pope advised him to +destroy, as not one word of it was true. Bolingbroke, by far the most +accomplished man in that ministry (for Oxford was, in comparison of him, +a statesman of no compass) certainly aimed at the restoration of the +exiled family, however he might disguise to some people his real +intentions, under the masque of being a Hanoverian Tory. This serves to +corroberate the observation which lord Orrery makes of Swift: 'that he +was employed, not trusted, &c.' + +By reflexions of this sort, says lord Orrery, we may account for his +disappointment of an English bishopric. A disappointment, which, he +imagined, he owed to a joint application, made against him to the Queen, +by Dr. Sharp, archbishop of York, and by a lady of the highest rank and +character. Archbishop Sharpe, according to Swift's account, had +represented him to the Queen as a person, who was no Christian; the +great lady had supported the assertion, and the Queen, upon such +assurances, had given away the bishopric, contrary to her Majesty's +intentions. Swift kept himself, indeed, within some tolerable bounds +when he spoke of the Queen; but his indignation knew no limits when he +mentioned the archbishop, or the lady. + +Most people are fond of a settlement in their native country, but Swift +had not much reason to rejoice in the land where his lot had fallen; for +upon his arrival in Ireland to take possesion of the deanery, he found +the violence of party raging in that kingdom to the highest degree. The +common people were taught to consider him as a Jacobite, and they +proceeded so far in their detestation, as to throw stones and dirt at +him as he passed thro' the streets. The chapter of St. Patrick's, like +the rest of the kingdom, received him with great reluctance. They +opposed him in every point he proposed. They avoided him as a +pestilence, and resisted him as an invader and an enemy to his country. +Such was his first reception, as dean of St. Patrick's. Fewer talents, +and less firmness must have yielded to so outrageous an opposition. He +had seen enough of human nature to be convinced that the passions of +low, self-interested minds ebb and flow continually. They love they know +not whom, they hate they know not why. They are captivated by words, +guided by names, and governed by accidents. But to few the strange +revolutions in this world, Dr. Swift, who was now the detestion of the +Irish rabble, lived to be afterwards the most absolute monarch over +them, that ever governed men. His first step was to reduce to reason and +obedience his revd. brethren the the chapter of St. Patrick's; in which +he succeeded so perfectly, and so speedily, that, in a short time after +his arrival, not one member in that body offered to contradict him, even +in trifles: on the contrary, they held him in the highest respect and +veneration, so that he sat in the Chapter-House, like Jupiter in the +Synod of the Gods. + +In the beginning of the year 1714 Swift returned to England. He found +his great friends, who sat in the seat of power, much disunited among +themselves. He saw the Queen declining in her health, and distressed in +her situation; while faction was exerting itself, and gathering new +strength every day. He exerted the utmost of his skill to unite the +ministers, and to cement the apertures of the state: but he found his +pains fruitless, his arguments unavailing, and his endeavours, like the +stone of Sisyphus, rolling back upon himself. He retired to a friend's +house in Berkshire, where he remained 'till the Queen died. So fatal an +event terminated all his views in England, and made him return as fast +as possible to his deanery in Ireland, oppressed with grief and +discontent. His hopes in England were now crushed for ever. As Swift was +well known to have been attached to the Queen's last ministry, he met +with several indignities from the populace, and, indeed, was equally +abused by persons of all ranks and denominations. Such a treatment +soured his temper, confined his acquaintance, and added bitterness to +his stile. + +From the year 1714, 'till he appeared in the year 1720 a champion for +Ireland, against Wood's halfpence, his spirit of politics and patriotism +was kept almost closely confined within his own breast. Idleness and +trifles engrossed too many of his leisure hours; fools and sycophants +too much of his conversation. His attendance upon the public service of +the church was regular and uninterrupted; and indeed regularity was +peculiar to all his actions, even in the meerest trifles. His hours of +walking and reading never varied. His motions were guided by his watch, +which was so constantly held in his hand, or placed before him on the +table, that he seldom deviated many minutes in the revolution of his +exercises and employments. In the year 1720 he began to re-assume, in +some degree, the character of a political writer. A small pamphlet in +defence of the Irish Manufactures was his first essay in Ireland in that +kind of writing, and to that pamphlet he owed the turn of the popular +tide in his favour. It was entitled, A Proposal for the Universal Use of +Irish Manufacture in Clothes and Furniture of Houses, &c. utterly +rejecting and renouncing every thing wearable that comes from England. +This proposal immediately raised a very violent flame. The Printer was +prosecuted, and the prosecution had the same effect, which generally +attends those kind of measures. It added fuel to flame. But his greatest +enemies must confess, that the pamphlet is written in the stile of a man +who had the good of his country nearest his heart, who saw her errors, +and wished to correct them; who felt her oppressions, and wished to +relieve them; and who had a desire to rouze and awaken an indolent +nation from a lethargic disposition, that might prove fatal to her +constitution. This temporary opposition but increased the stream of his +popularity. He was now looked upon in a new light, and was distinguished +by the title of THE DEAN, and so high a degree of popularity did he +attain, as to become an arbitrator, in disputes of property, amongst his +neighbours; nor did any man dare to appeal from his opinion, or murmur +at his decrees. + +But the popular affection, which the dean had hitherto acquired, may be +said not to have been universal, 'till the publication of the Drapier's +Letters, which made all ranks, and all professions unanimous in his +applause. The occasion of those letters was, a scarcity of copper coin +in Ireland, to so great a degree, that, for some time past, the chief +manufacturers throughout the kingdom were obliged to pay their workmen +in pieces of tin, or in other tokens of suppositious value. Such a +method was very disadvantageous to the lower parts of traffic, and was +in general an impediment to the commerce of the state. To remedy this +evil, the late King granted a patent to one Wood, to coin, during the +term of fourteen years, farthings and halfpence in England, for the use +of Ireland, to the value of a certain Aim specified. These halfpence and +farthings were to be received by those persons, who would voluntarily +accept them. But the patent was thought to be of such dangerous +consequence to the public, and of such exorbitant advantage to the +patentee, that the dean, under the character of M. B. Drapier, wrote a +Letter to the People, warning them not to accept Wood's halfpence and +farthings, as current coin. This first letter was succeeded by several +others to the same purpose, all which are inserted in his works. + +At the sound of the Drapier's trumpet, a spirit arose among the people. +Persons of all ranks, parties and denominations, were convinced that the +admission of Wood's copper must prove fatal to the commonwealth. The +Papist, the Fanatic, the Tory, the Whig, all listed themselves +volunteers, under the banner of the Drapier, and were all equally +zealous to serve the common cause. Much heat, and many fiery speeches +against the administration were the consequence of this union; nor had +the flames been allayed, notwithstanding threats and proclamations, had +not the coin been totally suppressed, and Wood withdrawn his patent. The +name of Augustus was not bestowed upon Octavius Cæsar with more +universal approbation, than the name of the Drapier was bestowed upon +the dean. He had no sooner assumed his new cognomen, than he became the +idol of the people of Ireland, to a degree of devotion, that in the most +superstitious country, scarce any idol ever obtained. Libations to his +health were poured out as frequent as to the immortal memory of King +William. His effigies was painted in every street in Dublin. +Acclamations and vows for his prosperity attended his footsteps wherever +he passed. He was consulted in all points relating to domestic policy in +general, and to the trade of Ireland in particular; but he was more +immediately looked upon as the legislator of the Weavers, who frequently +came in a body, consisting of 40 or 50 chiefs of their trade, to receive +his advice in settling the rates of their manufactures, and the wages of +their journeymen. He received their address with less majesty than +sternness, and ranging his subjects in a circle round his parlour, spoke +as copiously, and with as little difficulty and hesitation, to the +several points in which they supplicated his assistance, as if trade had +been the only study and employment of his life. When elections were +depending for the city of Dublin, many Corporations refused to declare +themselves, 'till they had consulted his sentiments and inclinations, +which were punctually followed with equal chearfulness and submission. + +In this state of power, and popular admiration, he remained 'till he +lost his senses; a loss which he seemed to foresee, and prophetically +lamented to many of his friends. The total deprivation of his senses +came upon him by degrees. In the year 1736 he was seized with a violent +fit of giddiness; he was at that time writing a satirical poem, called +The Legion Club; but he found the effects of his giddiness so dreadful, +that he left the poem unfinished, and never afterwards attempted a +composition, either in verse or prose. However, his conversation still +remained the same, lively and severe, but his memory gradually grew +worse and worse, and as that decreased, he grew every day more fretful +and impatient. In the year 1741, his friends found his passions so +violent and ungovernable, his memory so decayed, and his reason so +depraved, that they took the utmost precautions to keep all strangers +from approaching him; for, 'till then, he had not appeared totally +incapable of conversation. But early in the year 1742, the small remains +of his understanding became entirely confused, and the violence of his +rage increased absolutely to a degree of madness. In this miserable +state he seemed to be appointed the first inhabitant of his own +Hospital; especially as from an outrageous lunatic, he sunk afterwards +to a quiet speechless ideot; and dragged out the remainder of his life +in that helpless situation. He died towards the latter end of October +1745. The manner of his death was easy, without the least pang, or +convulsion; even the rattling of his throat was scarce sufficient to +give an alarm to his attendants, 'till within some very little time +before he expired. A man in possession of his reason would have wished +for such a kind dissolution; but Swift was totally insensible of +happiness, or pain. He had not even the power or expression of a child, +appearing for some years before his death, referred only as an example +to mortify human pride, and to reverse that fine description of human +nature, which is given us by the inimitable Shakespeare. 'What a piece +of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form +and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in +apprehension how like a God! the beauty of the world! the paragon of +animals!' Swift's friends often heard him lament the state of childhood +and idiotism, to which some of the greatest men of this nation were +reduced before their death. He mentioned, as examples within his own +time, the duke of Marlborough and lord Somers; and when he cited these +melancholy instances, it was always with a heavy sigh, and with gestures +that shewed great uneasiness, as if he felt an impulse of what was to +happen to him before he died. He left behind him about twelve thousand +pounds, inclusive of the specific legacies mentioned in his will, and +which may be computed at the sum of twelve hundred pounds, so that the +remaining ten thousand eight hundred pounds, is entirely applicable to +the Hospital for Idiots and Lunatics; an establishment remarkably +generous, as those who receive the benefit, must for ever remain +ignorant of their benefactor. + +Lord Orerry has observed, that a propension to jocularity and humour is +apparent in the last works of Swift. His Will, like all his other +writings, is drawn up in his own peculiar manner. Even in so serious a +composition, he cannot help indulging himself in leaving legacies, that +carry with them an air of raillery and jest. He disposes of his three +best hats (his best, his second best, and his third best beaver) with an +ironical solemnity, that renders the bequests ridiculous. He bequeaths, +'To Mr. John Grattan a silver-box, to keep in it the tobacco which the +said John usually chewed, called pigtail.' But his legacy to Mr. Robert +Grattan, is still more extraordinary. 'Item, I bequeath to the Revd. Mr. +Robert Grattan, Prebendary of St. Audeon's, my strong box, on condition +of his giving the sole use of the said box to his brother, Dr. James +Grattan, during the life of the said Doctor, who hath more occasion for +it.' + +These are so many last expressions of his turn, and way of thinking, and +no doubt the persons thus distinguished looked upon these instances as +affectionate memorials of his friendship, and tokens of the jocose +manner, in which he had treated them during his life-time. + +With regard to Dean Swift's poetical character, the reader will take the +following sketch of it in the words of Lord Orrery. 'The poetical +performances of Swift (says he) ought to be considered as occasional +poems, written either to pleasure[3], or to vex some particular persons. +We must not suppose them designed for posterity; if he had cultivated +his genius that way, he must certainly have excelled, especially in +satire. We see fine sketches in several of his pieces; but he seems more +desirous to inform and strengthen his mind, than to indulge the +luxuriancy of his imagination. He chuses to discover, and correct errors +in the works of others, rather than to illustrate, and add beauties of +his own. Like a skilful artist, he is fond of probing wounds to their +depth, and of enlarging them to open view. He aims to be severely +useful, rather than politely engaging; and as he was either not formed, +nor would take pains to excel in poetry, he became in some measure +superior to it; and assumed more the air, and manner of a critic than a +poet.' Thus far his lordship in his VIth letter, but in his IXth, he +adds, when speaking of the Second Volume of Swift's Works, 'He had the +nicest ear; he is remarkably chaste, and delicate in his rhimes. A bad +rhime appeared to him one of the capital sins of poetry.' + +The Dean's poem on his celebrated Vanessa, is number'd among the best of +his poetical pieces. Of this lady it will be proper to give some +account, as she was a character as singular as Swift himself. + +Vanessa's real name was Esther Vanhomrich[4]. She was one of the +daughters of Bartholomew Vanhomrich, a Dutch merchant of Amsterdam; who +upon the Revolution went into Ireland, and was appointed by king William +a commissioner of the revenue. The Dutch merchant, by parsimony and +prudence, had collected a fortune of about 16,000 _l_. He bequeathed an +equal division of it to his wife, and his four children, of which two +were sons, and two were daughters. The sons after the death of their +father travelled abroad: The eldest died beyond sea; and the youngest +surviving his brother only a short time, the whole patrimony fell to his +two sisters, Esther and Mary. + +With this encrease of wealth, and with heads and hearts elated by +affluence, and unrestrained by fore-sight or discretion, the widow +Vanhomrich, and her two daughters, quitted their native country for the +more elegant pleasures of the English court. During their residence at +London, they lived in a course of prodigality, that stretched itself far +beyond the limits of their income, and reduced them to great distress, +in the midst of which the mother died, and the two daughters hastened in +all secresy back to Ireland, beginning their journey on a Sunday, to +avoid the interruption of creditors. Within two years after their +arrival in Ireland, Mary the youngest sister died, and the small remains +of the shipwreck'd fortune center'd in Vanessa. + +Vanity makes terrible devastations in a female breast: Vanessa was +excessively vain. She was fond of dress; impatient to be admired; very +romantic in her turn of mind; superior in her own opinion to all her +sex; full of pertness, gaiety, and pride; not without some agreeable +accomplishments, but far from being either beautiful or genteel: +Ambitious at any rate to be esteemed a wit; and with that view always +affecting to keep company with wits; a great reader, and a violent +admirer of poetry; happy in the thoughts of being reputed Swift's +concubine; but still aiming to be his wife. By nature haughty and +disdainful, looking with contempt upon her inferiors; and with the +smiles of self-approbation upon her equals; but upon Dr. Swift, with the +eyes of love: Her love was no doubt founded in vanity. + +Though Vanessa had exerted all the arts of her sex, to intangle Swift in +matrimony; she was yet unsuccessful. She had lost her reputation, and +the narrowness of her income, and coldness of her lover contributed to +make her miserable, and to increase the phrensical disposition of her +mind. In this melancholly situation she remained several years, during +which time Cadenus (Swift) visited her frequently. She often press'd him +to marry her: His answers were rather turns of wit, than positive +denials; till at last being unable to sustain the weight of misery any +longer, she wrote a very tender epistle to him, insisting peremptorily +upon a serious answer, and an immediate acceptance, or absolute refusal +of her as his wife. His reply was delivered by his own hand. He brought +it with him when he made his final visit; and throwing down the letter +upon the table with great passion, hastened back to his house, carrying +in his countenance the frown of anger, and indignation. Vanessa did not +survive many days the letter delivered to her by Swift, but during that +short interval she was sufficiently composed, to cancel a will made in +his favour, and to make another, wherein she left her fortune (which by +a long retirement was in some measure retrieved) to her two executors, +Dr. Berkley the late lord bishop of Cloyne, and Mr. Marshal one of the +king's Serjeants at law. Thus perished under all the agonies of despair, +Mrs. Esther Vanhomrich; a miserable example of an ill-spent life, +fantastic wit, visionary schemes, and female weakness. + +It is strange that vanity should have so great a prevalence in the +female breast, and yet it is certain that to this principle it was +owing, that Swift's house was often a seraglio of very virtuous women, +who attended him from morning till night, with an obedience, an awe, and +an assiduity that are seldom paid to the richest, or the most powerful +lovers. These ladies had no doubt a pride in being thought the +companions of Swift; but the hours which were spent in his company could +not be very pleasant, as his sternness and authority were continually +exerted to keep them in awe. + +Lord Orrery has informed us, that Swift took every opportunity to expose +and ridicule Dryden, for which he imagines there must have been some +affront given by that great man to Swift. In this particular we can +satisfy the reader from authentic information. + +When Swift was a young man, and not so well acquainted with the world as +he afterwards became, he wrote some Pindaric Odes. In this species of +composition he succeeded ill; sublimity and fire, the indispensable +requisites in a Pindaric Ode not being his talent. As Mr. Dryden was +Swift's kinsman, these odes were shewn to him for his approbation, who +said to him with an unreserved freedom, and in the candour of a friend, +'Cousin Swift, turn your thoughts some other way, for nature has never +formed you for a Pindaric poet.' + +Though what Dryden observed, might in some measure be true, and Swift +perhaps was conscious that he had not abilities to succeed in that +species of writing; yet this honest dissuasive of his kinsman he never +forgave. The remembrance of it soured his temper, and heated his +passions, whenever Dryden's name was mention'd. + +We shall now take a view of Swift in his moral life, the distinction he +has obtained in the literary world having rendered all illustrations of +his genius needless. + +Lord Orrery, throughout his excellent work, from which we have drawn our +account of Swift, with his usual marks of candour, has displayed his +moral character. In many particulars, the picture he draws of the Dean +resembles the portrait of the same person as drawn by Mrs. Pilkington. + +'I have beheld him (says his lordship) in all humours and dispositions, +and I have formed various speculations from the several weaknesses to +which I observed him liable. His capacity, and strength of mind, were +undoubtedly equal to any talk whatsoever. His pride, his spirit, or his +ambition (call it by what name you please) was boundless; but his views +were checked in his younger years, and the anxiety of that +disappointment had a sensible effect upon all his actions. He was sour +and severe, but not absolutely ill-natur'd. He was sociable only to +particular friends, and to them only at particular hours. He knew +politeness more than he practiced it. He was a mixture of avarice and +generosity; the former was frequently prevalent, the latter seldom +appeared unless excited by compassion. He was open to adulation, and +would not, or could not, distinguish between low flattery and just +applause. His abilities rendered him superior to envy. He was +undisguised, and perfectly sincere. I am induced to think that he +entered into orders, more from some private and fixed resolution, than +from absolute choice: Be that as it may, he performed the duties of the +church with great punctuality, and a decent degree of devotion. He read +prayers, rather in a strong nervous voice, than in a graceful manner; +and although he has been often accused of irreligion, nothing of that +kind appeared in his conversation or behaviour. His cast of mind induced +him to think and speak more of politics than religion. His perpetual +views were directed towards power; and his chief aim was to be removed +to England: But when he found himself entirely disappointed, he turned +his thoughts to opposition, and became the Patron of Ireland.' + +Mrs. Pilkington has represented him as a tyrant in his family, and has +discovered in him a violent propension to be absolute in every company +where he was. This disposition, no doubt, made him more feared than +loved; but as he had the most unbounded vanity to gratify, he was +pleased with the servility and awe with which inferiors approached him. +He may be resembled to an eastern monarch, who takes delight in +surveying his slaves, trembling at his approach, and kneeling with +reverence at his feet. + +Had Swift been born to regal honours, he would doubtless have bent the +necks of his people to the yoke: As a subject, he was restless and +turbulent; and though as lord Orrery says, he was above corruption, yet +that virtue was certainly founded on his pride, which disdained every +measure, and spurned every effort in which he himself was not the +principal. + +He was certainly charitable, though it had an unlucky mixture of +ostentation in it. One particular act of his charity (not mentioned, +except by Mrs. Pilkington, in any account of him yet published) is well +worthy of remembrance, praise, and imitation:--He appropriated the sum +of five-hundred pounds intirely to the use of poor tradesmen and +handicraftsmen, whose honesty and industry, he thought merited +assistance, and encouragement: This he lent to them in small loans, as +their exigencies required, without any interest; and they repaid him at +so much per week, or month, as their different circumstances best +enabled them.--To the wealthy let us say-- + + "Abi tu et fac similiter." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Lord Orrery, page 6. + +[2] The authors of the Monthly Review have justly remarked, that this + observation of his lordship's seems premature. + + The same public rumour, say they, that made HER Sir William Temple's + daughter, made HIM also Sir William's son: Therefore he (Swift) + could never with decency, have acknowledged Mrs. Johnson as his + wife, while that rumour continued to retain any degree of credit; + and if there had been really no foundation for it, surely it might + have been no very hard task to obviate its force, by producing the + necessary proofs and circumstances of his birth: Yet, we do not + find that ever this was done, either by the Dean or his relations. + +[3] We are assured, there was one while a misunderstanding subsisting + between Swift and Pope: But that worthy gentleman, the late general + Dormer (who had a great regard for both) reconciled them, e'er it + came to an open rupture:--Though the world might be deprived by the + general's mediation of great matter of entertainment, which the + whetted wit of two such men might have afforded; yet his + good-nature, and sincere friendship, deserves to be remember'd with + honour.--This gentleman Mr. Cibber senior was very intimate with, + and once hinted to him, 'He was concerned to find he stood so ill in + the Dean's opinion, whose great parts, wit, genius, &c. he held in + the highest estimation; nor could he easily account for the Dean's + so frequently appearing his enemy, as he never knowingly had + offended him; and regretted the want of an opportunity of being + better acquainted with him.'--The general had also a great regard + for Mr. Cibber, and wished to bring them together on an agreeable + footing:--Why they were not so, came out soon after.--The secret + was,--Mr. Pope was angry; [for the long-latent cause, look into Mr. + Cibber's letter to Mr. Pope.] Passion and prejudice are not always + friends to truth;--and the foam of resentment never rose higher, + than when it boil'd and swell'd in Mr. Pope's bosom: No wonder then, + that his misrepresentation might make the Dean believe, Mr. Cibber + was not unworthy of that satire and raillery (not always just + neither, and sometimes solicited) which is not unsparingly thrown on + him in the Dean's works:--That this was the case, appears from the + following circumstance. + + As soon as Mr. Cibber's Apology was first printed, it was + immediately carried over to Dublin, and given to Mr. Faulkner (an + eminent printer and bookseller there) by a gentleman, who wished to + see an edition of it in Ireland; Mr. Faulkner published it, and the + success thereof was so great, some thousands thereof were disposed + of in a very short time: Just before the intended edition appeared, + the Dean (who often visited Mr. Faulkner) coming into the shop, + asked, 'What new pieces were likely to come forth?'--Mr. Faulkner + gave Mr. Cibber's Apology to him;--The Dean's curiosity + [Transcriber's note: 'curosity' in original] was pretty strong to + see a work of that uncommon sort:--In short, he stay'd and dined + there; and did not quit the house, or the book, 'till he had read it + through: He advised Faulkner, to lose no time in printing it; and + said, he would answer for it's success:--He declared, he had not + perus'd any thing a long time that had pleas'd him so much; and + dwelt long in commendation of it: He added, that he almost envy'd + the author the pleasure he must have in writing it;--That he was + sorry he had ever said any thing to his disadvantage; and was + convinced Cibber had been very much misrepresented to him; nor did + he scruple to say, that, as it had been formerly the fashion to + abuse Cibber, he had unwarily been drawn into it by Pope, and + others. He often, afterwards, spoke in praise of Mr. Cibber, and his + writing in general, and of this work in particular.--He afterwards + told Mr. Faulkner, he had read Cibber's Apology thro' three times; + that he was more and more pleased with it: That the style was not + inferior to any English he had ever read: That his words were + properly adapted: His similes happy, uncommon, and well chosen: He + then in a pleasant manner said--'You must give me this book, which + is the first thing I ever begg'd from you.' To this, we may be sure + Mr. Faulkner readily consented. Ever after in company, the Dean gave + this book a great character.--Let the reader make the application of + this true and well known fact. + +[4] The name is pronounced Vannumery. + + + * * * * * + + +MRS. CONSTANTIA GRIERSON. + +This lady was born in Ireland; and, as Mrs. Barber judiciously remarks, +was one of the most extraordinary women that either this age, or perhaps +any other, ever produced. She died in the year 1733, at the age of 27, +and was allowed long before to be an excellent scholar, not only in +Greek and Roman literature, but in history, divinity, philosophy, and +mathematics. + +Mrs. Grierson (says she) 'gave a proof of her knowledge in the Latin +tongue, by her dedication of the Dublin edition of Tacitus to the lord +Carteret, and by that of Terence to his son, to whom she likewise wrote +a Greek epigram. She wrote several fine poems in English[1], on which +she set so little value, that she neglected to leave copies behind her +of but very few. + +'What makes her character the more remarkable is, that she rose to this +eminence of learning merely by the force of her own genius, and +continual application. She was not only happy in a fine imagination, a +great memory, an excellent understanding, and an exact judgment, but had +all these crowned by virtue and piety: she was too learned to be vain, +too wise to be conceited, too knowing and too clear-sighted to +irreligious. + +'If heaven had spared her life, and blessed her with health, which she +wanted for some years before her death, there is good reason to think +she would have made as great a figure in the learned world, as any of +her sex are recorded to have done. + +'As her learning and abilities raised her above her own sex, so they +left her no room to envy any; on the contrary, her delight was to see +others excel. She was always ready to advise and direct those who +applied to her, and was herself willing to be advised. + +'So little did she value herself upon her uncommon excellences, that it +has often recalled to my mind a fine reflexion of a French author, _That +great geniuses should be superior to their own abilities._ + +'I perswade myself that this short account of so extraordinary a woman, +of whom much more might have been said, will not be disagreeable to my +readers; nor can I omit what I think is greatly to the lord Carteret's +honour, that when he was lord lieutenant of Ireland, he obtained a +patent for Mr. Grierson, her husband, to be the King's Printer, and to +distinguish and reward her uncommon merit, had her life inserted in it.' +Thus far Mrs. Barber. We shall now subjoin Mrs. Pilkington's account of +this wonderful genius. + +'About two years before this, a young woman (afterwards married to Mr. +Grierson) of about eighteen years of age, was brought to my father[2], +to be by him instructed in Midwifry: she was mistress of Hebrew[3], +Greek, Latin, and French, and understood the mathematics as well as most +men: and what made these extraordinary talents yet more surprizing was, +that her parents were poor, illiterate, country people: so that her +learning appeared like the gift poured out on the apostles, of speaking +all languages without the pains of study; or, like the intuitive +knowledge of angels: yet inasmuch as the power of miracles is ceased, we +must allow she used human means for such great and excellent +acquirements. And yet, in a long friendship and familiarity with her, I +could never obtain a satisfactory account from her on this head; only +she said, she had received some little instruction from the minister of +the parish, when she could spare time from her needle-work, to which she +was closely kept by her mother. She wrote elegantly both in verse and +prose, and some of the most delightful hours I ever passed were in the +conversation of this female philosopher. + +'My father readily consented to accept of her as a pupil, and gave her a +general invitation to his table; so that she and I were seldom asunder. +My parents were well pleased with our intimacy, as her piety was not +inferior to her learning. Her turn was chiefly to philosophical or +divine subjects; yet could her heavenly muse descend from its sublime +height to the easy epistolary stile, and suit itself to my then gay +disposition[4]. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Mrs. Barber has preserved several specimens of her talent in this + way, which are printed with her own poems. + +[2] Dr. Van Lewen of Dublin, an eminent physician and man-midwife. + +[3] Her knowledge of the Hebrew is not mentioned by Mrs. Barber. + +[4] Vide MRS. PILKINGTON'S MEMOIRS, Vol. I. + + + * * * * * + + +MRS. CATHERINE COCKBURN. + +The Revd. Dr. Birch, who has prefixed a life of Mrs. Cockburn before the +collection he has made of her works, with great truth observes, that it +is a justice due to the public, as well as to the memory of Mrs. +Cockburn, to premise some account of so extraordinary a person. +"Posterity, at least, adds he, will be so sollicitous to know, to whom +they will owe the most demonstrative and perspicuous reasonings, upon +subjects of eternal importance; and her own sex is entitled to the +fullest information about one, who has done such honour to them, and +raised our ideas of their intellectual powers, by an example of the +greatest extent of understanding and correctness of judgment, united to +all the vivacity of imagination. Antiquity, indeed, boasted of its +Female Philosophers, whose merits have been drawn forth in an elaborate +treatise of Menage[1]. But our own age and country may without injustice +or vanity oppose to those illustrious ladies the defender of Lock and +Clark; who, with a genius equal to the most eminent of them, had the +superior advantage of cultivating it in the only effectual method of +improvement, the study of a real philosophy, and a theology worthy human +nature, and its all-perfect author. [Transcriber's note: closing quotes +missing from original.] + +She was the daughter of captain David Trotter, a Scots gentleman, and +commander of the royal navy in the reign of Charles II. He was highly in +favour with that prince, who employed him as commodore in the demolition +of Tangier, in the year 1683. Soon after he was sent to convoy the fleet +of the Turkey company; when being seized by the plague, then raging at +Scanderoon, he died there. His death was an irreparable loss to his +family, who were defrauded of all his effects on board his ship, which +were very considerable, and of all the money which he had advanced to +the seamen, during a long voyage: And to add to this misfortune, the +goldsmith, in whose hands the greatest part of his money was lodged, +became soon after a bankrupt. These accumulated circumstances of +distress exciting the companion of king Charles, the captain's widow was +allowed a pension, which ended with that king's life; nor had she any +consideration for her losses in the two succeeding reigns. But queen +Anne, upon her accession to the throne, granted her an annual pension of +twenty pounds. + +Captain Trotter at his death, left only two daughters, the youngest of +whom, Catherine, our celebrated author, was born in London, August 16, +1679. She gave early marks of her genius, and was not passed her +childhood when she surprized a company of her relations and friends with +extemporary verses, on an accident which had fallen under her +observation in the street. She both learned to write, and made herself +mistress of the French language, by her own application and diligence, +without any instructor. But she had some assistance in the study of the +Latin Grammar and Logic, of which latter she drew up an abstract for her +own use. The most serious and important subjects, and especially +[Transcriber's note: 'espepecially' in original] those of religion, soon +engaged her attention. But not withstanding her education, her intimacy +with several families of distinction of the Romish persuasion exposed +her, while very young, to impressions in favour of that church, which +not being removed by her conferences with some eminent and learned +members of the church of England, she followed the dictates of a +misguided conscience, and embraced the Romish communion, in which she +continued till the year 1707. + +She was but 14 years of age, when she wrote a copy of verses upon Mr. +Bevil Higgons's sickness and recovery from the small pox, which are +printed in our author's second volume. Her next production was a Tragedy +called Agnes de Castro, which was acted at the Theatre-royal, in 1695, +when she was only in her seventeenth year, and printed in 1696. The +reputation of this performance, and the verses which she addressed to +Mr. Congreve upon his Mourning Bride, in 1697, were probably the +foundation of her acquaintance with that admirable writer. + +Her second Tragedy, intitled Fatal Friendship, was acted in 1698, at the +new Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. This Tragedy met with great +applause, and is still thought the most perfect of her dramatic +performances. Among other copies of verses sent to her upon occasion of +it, and prefixed to it, was one from an unknown hand, which afterwards +appeared to be from the elegant pen of Mr. Hughs, author of the Siege of +Damascus [2]. + +The death of Mr. Dryden engaged her to join with several other ladies in +paying a just tribute to the memory of that great improver of the +strength, fulness, and harmony of English verse; and their performances +were published together, under the title of the Nine Muses; or Poems +written by so many Ladies, upon the Death of the late famous John +Dryden, Esq; + +Her dramatic talents not being confined to Tragedy, she brought upon the +stage, in 1701, a Comedy called Love at a Loss; or most Votes carry it, +published in May that year. In the same year she gave the public her +third Tragedy, intitled, The Unhappy Penitent, acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. In the dedication to Charles lord Hallifax, +she draws the characters of several of the most eminent of her +predecessors in tragic poetry, with great judgment and precision. She +observes, that Shakespear had all the images of nature present to him, +studied her thoroughly, and boldly copied all her various features: and +that though he chiefly exerted himself on the more masculine passions, +it was the choice of his judgment, not the restraint of his genius; and +he seems to have designed those few tender moving scenes, which he has +given us, as a proof that he could be every way equally admirable. She +allows Dryden to have been the most universal genius which this nation +ever bred; but thinks that he did not excel in every part; for though he +is distinguished in most of his writings, by greatness and elevation of +thought, yet at the same time that he commands our admiration of +himself, he little moves our concern for those whom he represents, not +being formed for touching the softer passions. On the other hand, Otway, +besides his judicious choice of the fable, had a peculiar art to move +compassion, which, as it is one of the chief ends of Tragedy, he found +most adapted to his genius; and never venturing where that did not lead +him, excelled in the pathetic. And had Lee, as she remarks, consulted +his strength as well, he might have given us more perfect pieces; but +aiming at the sublime, instead of being great, he is extravagant; his +stile too swelling; and if we pursue him in his flight, he often carries +us out of nature. Had he restrained that vain ambition, and intirely +applied himself to describe the softest of the passions (for love, of +all the passions, he seems best to have understood, if that be allowed a +proper subject for Tragedy) he had certainly had fewer defects. + +But poetry and dramatic writing did not so far engross the thoughts of +our author, but that she sometimes turned them to subjects of a very +different nature; and at an age when few of the other sex were capable +of understanding the Essay of Human Understanding, and most of them +prejudiced against the novelty of its principles; and though she was at +that time engaged in the profession of a religion not very favourable to +so rational a philosophy as that of Mr. Lock; yet she had read that +incomparable book, with so clear a comprehension, and so unbiassed a +judgment, that her own conviction of the truth and importance of the +notions contained in it, led her to endeavour that of others, by +removing some of the objections urged against them. She drew up +therefore a Defence of the Essay, against some Remarks which had been +published against it in 1667. The author of these remarks was never +known to Mr. Lock, who animadverted upon them with some marks of +chagrin, at the end of his reply to Stillingfleet, 1697. But after the +death of the ingenious Dr. Thomas Burner, master of the Charter-House, +it appeared from his papers, that the Remarks were the product of his +pen. They were soon followed by second Remarks, printed the same year, +in vindication of the first, against Mr. Lock's Answer to them; and in +1699, by Third Remarks, addressed likewise to Mr. Lock. Mrs. Trotter's +Defence of the Essay against all these Remarks was finished so early as +the beginning of December 1701, when she was but 22 years old. But being +more apprehensive of appearing before the great writer whom she +defended, than of the public censure, and conscious that the name of a +woman would be a prejudice against a work of that nature, she resolved +to conceal herself with the utmost care. But her title to the reputation +of this piece did not continue long a secret to the world. For Mrs. +Burnet, the late wife of Dr. Burnet, bishop of Sarum, a lady of an +uncommon degree of knowledge, and whose Method of Devotion, which passed +through several editions, is a proof of her exemplary piety, and who, as +well as that prelate, honoured our author with a particular friendship, +notwithstanding the difference of her religion, being informed that she +was engaged in writing, and that it was not poetry, was desirous to know +the subject. This Mrs. Trotter could not deny a lady of her merit, in +whom she might safely confide, and who, upon being acquainted with it, +shewed an equal sollicitude that the author might not be known. But +afterwards finding the performance highly approved by the bishop her +husband, Mr. Norris of Bemmerton, and Mr. Lock himself; she thought the +reasons of secrecy ceased, and discovered the writer; and in June 1707 +returned her thanks to Mrs. Trotter, then in London, for her present of +the book, in a letter which does as much honour to her own +understanding, principles and temper, as to her friend, to whom she +addressed it. Dr. Birch has given a copy of this letter. + +Mr. Lock likewise was so highly satisfied with the Defence, (which was +perhaps the only piece that appeared in favour of his Essay, except one +by Mr. Samuel Bold, rector of Steeple in Dorsetshire, 1699) that being +in London, he desired Mr. King, afterwards lord high chancellor, to make +Mrs. Trotter a visit, and a present of books; and when she had owned +herself, he wrote to her a letter of compliment, a copy of which is +inserted in these memoirs. + +But while our author continued to shew the world so deep a penetration +into subjects of the most difficult and abstract kind, she was still +incapable of extricating herself from those subtilties and perplexities +of argument, which retained her in the church of Rome. And the sincerity +of her attachment to it, in all its outward severities, obliged her to +so strict an observance of its fasts, as proved extremely injurious to +her health. Upon which Dr. Denton Nicholas, a very ingenious learned +physician of her acquaintance, advised her to abate of those rigours of +abstinence, as insupportable to a constitution naturally infirm. + +She returned to the exercise of her dramatic genius in 1703, and having +fixed upon the Revolution of Sweden under Gustavus Erickson (which has +been related in prose with so much force and beauty by the Abbé Vertot) +for the subject of a Tragedy, she sent the first draught of it to Mr. +Congreve, who returned her an answer, which, on account of the just +remarks upon the conduct of the drama, well deserves a place here, did +it not exceed our proposed bounds, and therefore we must refer the +reader to Dr. Birch's account. This Tragedy was acted in 1706, at the +Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market, and was printed in quarto. + +By a letter from Mrs. Trotter to her friend George Burnet of Kemnay in +Scotland, Esq; then at Geneva, dated February 2, 1703-4, it appears that +she then began to entertain more moderate notions of religion, and to +abate of her zeal for the church of Rome. Her charitableness and +latitude of sentiments seems to have increased a-pace, from the farther +examination which she was now probably making into the state of the +controversy between the church of Rome and the Protestants; for in +another letter to Mr. Burnet, of August 8, 1704, she speaks to the +subject of religion, with a spirit of moderation unusual in the +communion of which she still professed herself. + +'I wish, (says she) there was no distinction of churches; and then I +doubt not there would be much more real religion, the name and notion of +which I am so sorry to observe confined to the being of some particular +community; and the whole of it, I am afraid, placed by most in a zeal +of those points, which make the differences between them; from which +mistaken zeal, no doubt, have proceeded all the massacres, +persecutions, and hatred of their fellow christians, which all churches +have been inclined to, when in power. And I believe it is generally +true, that those who are most bigotted to a sect, or most rigid and +precise in their forms and outward discipline, are most negligent of +the moral duties, which certainly are the main end of religion. I have +observed this so often, both in private persons and public societies, +that I am apt to suspect it every where.' + +The victory at Blenheim, which exercised the pens of Mr. Addison and Mr. +John Philips, whose poems on that occasion divided the admiration of the +public, tempted Mrs. Trotter to write a copy of verses to the duke of +Marlborough, upon his return from his glorious campaign in Germany, +December, 1704. But being doubtful with respect to the publication of +them, she sent them in manuscript to his grace; and received for answer, +that the duke and duchess, and the lord treasurer Godolphin, with +several others to whom they were shewn, were greatly pleased with them; +and that good judges of poetry had declared, that there were some lines +in them superior to any that had been written on the subject. Upon this +encouragement she sent the poem to the press. + +The high degree of favour with which she was honoured by these +illustrious persons, gave her, about this time, hopes of some +establishment of her fortune, which had hitherto been extremely narrow +and precarious. But though she failed of such an establishment, she +succeeded in 1705, in another point, which was a temporary relief to +her. This particular appears from one of her letters printed in the +second volume; but of what nature or amount this relief was, we do not +find. + +Her enquiries into the nature of true religion were attended with their +natural and usual effects, in opening and enlarging her notions beyond +the contracted pale of her own church. For in her letter of the 7th of +July 1705, to Mr. Burnet, she says, 'I am zealous to have you agree with +me in this one article, that all good christians are of the same +religion; a sentiment which I sincerely confess, how little soever it is +countenanced by the church of Rome.' And in the latter end of the +following year, or the beginning of 1707, her doubts about the Romish +religion, which she had so many years professed, having led her to a +thorough examination of the grounds of it, by consulting the best books +on both sides of the question, and advising with men of the best +judgment, the result was a conviction of the falseness of the +pretensions of that church, and a return to that of England, to which +she adhered during the rest of her life. In the course of this enquiry, +the great and leading question concerning A Guide in Controversy, was +particularly discussed by her; and the two letters which she wrote upon +it, the first to Mr. Bennet, a Romish priest, and the second to Mr. +H----, who had procured an answer to that letter from a stranger, Mr. +Beimel's indisposition preventing him from returning one, were thought +so valuable on account of the strength and perspicuity of reasoning, as +well as their conciseness, that she consented to the importunity of her +friends, for their publication in June 1707, under the following title, +A Discourse concerning a Guide in Controversies; in two Letters: Written +to one of the Church Church of Rome, by a Person lately converted from +that Communion; a later edition of them being since printed at Edinburgh +in 1728 in 8vo. Bishop Burnet wrote the preface to them, though without +his name to it; and he observes, that they might be of use to such of +the Roman Catholics as are perswaded, that those who deny the +infallibility of their church, take away all certainty of the Christian +religion, or of the authority of the scriptures. This is the main topic +of those two letters, and the point was considered by our author as of +such importance, that she procured her friend Mrs. Burnet to consult Mr. +(afterwards Dr.) Clark upon it, and to show him a paper, which had been +put into her hands, urging the difficulties on that article, on the side +of the Papists. The sentiments of that great man upon this subject are +comprised in a letter from Mrs. Burnet to Mrs. Trotter, of which our +editor has given a copy, to which we refer the reader in the 31st page +of his account. + +In 1708 our author was married to Mr. Cockburn, the son of Dr. Cockburn, +an eminent and learned divine of Scotland, at first attached to the +court of St. Germains, but obliged to quit it on account of his +inflexible adherence to the Protestant religion; then for some time +minister of the Episcopal church at Amsterdam, and at last collated to +the rectory of Northaw in Middlesex, by Dr. Robinson bishop of London, +at the recommendation of Queen Anne. Mr. Cockburn, his son, soon after +his marriage with our author, had the donative of Nayland in Sussex, +where he settled in the same year 1708; but returned afterwards from +thence to London, to be curate of St. Dunstan's in Fleet-street, where +he continued 'till the accession of his late majesty to the throne, when +falling into a scruple about the oath of abjuration, though he always +prayed for the King and Royal Family by name, he was obliged to quit +that station, and for ten or twelve years following was reduced to great +difficulties in the support of his family; during which time he +instructed the youth of the academy in Chancery-Lane, in the Latin +tongue. At last, in 1726, by consulting the lord chancellor King and his +own father, upon the sense and intent of that oath, and by reading some +papers put into his hands, with relation to it, he was reconciled to the +taking of it. In consequence of this, being the year following invited +to be minister of the Episcopal congregation at Aberdeen in Scotland, he +qualified himself conformably to the law, and, on the day of his present +Majesty's accession, preached a sermon there on the duty and benefit of +praying for the government. This sermon being printed and animadverted +upon, he published a reply to the remarks on it, with some papers +relating to the oath of abjuration, which have been much esteemed. Soon +after his settlement at Aberdeen, the lord chancellor presented him to +the living of Long-Horsely, near Morpeth in Northumberland, as a means +of enabling him to support and educate his family; for which purpose he +was allowed to continue his function at Aberdeen, 'till the negligence +and ill-behaviour of the curates, whom he employed at Long Horsely, +occasioned Dr. Chandler, the late bishop of Durham, to call him to +residence on that living, 1737; by which means he was forced to quit his +station at Aberdeen, to the no small diminution of his income. He was a +man of considerable learning; and besides his sermon abovementioned, and +the vindication of it, he published, in the Weekly Miscellany, A Defence +of Prime Ministers, in the Character of Joseph; and a Treatise of the +Mosaic Design, published since his death. + +Mrs. Cockburn, after her marriage, was entirely diverted from her +studies for many years, by attending tending upon the duties of a wife +and a mother, and by the ordinary cares of an encreasing family, and the +additional ones arising from the reduced circumstances of her husband. +However, her zeal for Mr. Lock's character and writings drew her again +into the public light in 1716, upon this occasion. + +Dr. Holdsworth, fellow of St. John's College in Oxford, had preached on +Easter-Monday, 1719 20, before that university, a sermon on John v. 28, +29, which he published, professing in his title page to examine and +answer the Cavils, False Reasonings, and False Interpretations of +Scripture, of Mr. Lock and others, against the Resurrection of the Same +Body. This sermon did not reach Mrs. Cockburn's hands 'till some years +after; when the perusal of it forced from her some animadversions, which +she threw together in the form of a letter to the Dr. and sent to him in +May 1724, with a design of suppressing it entirely, if it should have +the desired effect upon him. After nine months the Dr. informed her, +that he had drawn up a large and particular answer to it, but was +unwilling to trust her with his manuscript, 'till she should publish her +own. However, after a long time, and much difficulty, she at last +obtained the perusal of his answer; but not meeting with that conviction +from it, which would have made her give up her cause, she was prevailed +on to let the world judge between them, and accordingly published her +Letter to Dr. Holdsworth, in January 1726 7, without her name, but said +in the title page to be by the author of, A Defence of Mr. Lock's Essay +of Human Understanding. The Dr. whose answer to it was already finished, +was very expeditious in the publication of it in June 1727, in an 8vo +volume, under the title of A Defence of the Doctrine of the Resurrection +of the same Body, &c. + +Mrs. Cockburn wrote a very particular reply to this, and entitled it, A +Vindication of Mr. Lock's Principles, from the injurious Imputations of +Dr. Holdsworth. But though it is an admirable performance, and she was +extremely desirous of doing justice to Mr. Lock and herself, yet not +meeting with any Bookseller willing to undertake, nor herself being able +to support the expence of the impression, it continued in manuscript, +and was reserved to enrich the collection published after her death. + +Her Remarks upon some Writers in the Controversy concerning the +Foundation of Moral Duty and Moral Obligation were begun during the +winter of the year 1739, and finished in the following one; for the +weakness of her eyes, which had been a complaint of many years standing, +not permitting her to use, by candlelight, her needle, which so fully +employed her in the summer season, that she read little, and wrote less; +she amused herself, during the long winter-evenings, in digesting her +thoughts upon the most abstract subjects in morality and metaphysics. +They continued in manuscript till 1743, for want of a Bookseller +inclined to accept the publication of them, and were introduced to the +world in August that year, in The History of the Works of the Learned. +Her name did not go with them, but they were Inscribed with the utmost +Deference to Alexander Pope, Esq; by an Admirer of his moral Character; +for which she shews a remarkable zeal in her letters, whenever she has +occasion to mention him. And her high opinion of him in that respect, +founded chiefly on his writings, and especially his letters, as well as +her admiration of his genius, inspired her with a strong desire of being +known to him; for which purpose she drew up a pretty long letter to him +about the year 1738: but it was never sent. The strength, clearness, and +vivacity shewn in her Remarks upon the most abstract and perplexed +questions, immediately raised the curiosity of all good judges about the +concealed writer; and their admiration was greatly increased when her +sex and advanced age were known. And the worthy Dr. Sharp[3], archdeacon +of Northumberland, who had these Remarks in manuscript, and encouraged +the publication of them, being convinced by them, that no person was +better qualified for a thorough examination of the grounds of morality, +entered into a correspondence with her upon that subject. But her ill +state of health at last interrupted her prosecution of it; a +circumstance to be regretted, since a discussion carried on with so much +sagacity and candour on both sides, would, in all probability, have left +little difficulty remaining on the question. + +Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on the Nature and Obligations of virtue, +published in May 1744, soon engaged her thoughts, and notwithstanding +the asthmatic disorder, which had seized her many years before, and now +left her small intervals of ease, she applied herself to the confutation +of that elaborate discourse; and having finished it with a spirit, +elegance, and perspicuity equal, if not superior to all her former +writings, transmitted her manuscript to Mr. Warburton, who published it +in 8vo. with a Preface of his own, in April 1747, under the title of +Remarks upon the Principles and Reasonings of Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on +the Nature and Obligations of Virtue, in Vindication of the contrary +Principles and Reasons inforced in the Writings of the late Dr. Samuel +Clark. + +The extensive reputation which this and her former writings had gained +her, induced her friends to propose to her, the collecting and +publishing them in a body. And upon her consenting to the scheme, which +was to be executed by subscription, in order to secure to her the full +benefit of the edition, it met with a ready encouragement from all +persons of true taste; but though Mrs. Cockburn did not live to +discharge the office of editor, yet the public has received the +acquisition by her death, of a valuable series of letters, which her own +modesty would have restrained her from permitting to see the light. And +it were to be wished that these two volumes, conditioned for by the +terms of subscription, could have contained all her dramatic writings, +of which only one is here published. But as that was impossible, the +preference was, upon the maturest deliberation, given to those in prose, +as superior in their kind to the most perfect of her poetical, and of +more general and lasting use to the world. + +The loss of her husband on the 4th of January 1748, in the 71st year of +his age, was a severe shock to her; and she did not long survive him, +dying on the 11th of May, 1749, in her 71st year, after having long +supported a painful disorder, with a resignation to the divine will, +which had been the governing principle of her whole life, and her +support under the various trials of it. Her memory and understanding +continued unimpaired, 'till within a few days of her death. She was +interred near her husband and youngest daughter at Long-Horsley, with +this short sentence on their tomb: + + Let their works praise them in the gates. + Prov. xxxi. 31. + +They left only one son, who is clerk of the cheque at Chatham, and two +daughters. + +Mrs. Cockburn was no less celebrated for her beauty, in her younger +days, than for her genius and accomplishments. She was indeed small of +stature, but had a remarkable liveliness in her eye, and delicacy of +complexion, which continued to her death. Her private character rendered +her extremely amiable to those who intimately knew her. Her conversation +was always innocent, useful and agreeable, without the least affectation +of being thought a wit, and attended with a remarkable modesty and +diffidence of herself, and a constant endeavour to adapt her discourse +to her company. She was happy in an uncommon evenness and chearfulness +of temper. Her disposition was generous and benevolent; and ready upon +all occasions to forgive injuries, and bear them, as well as +misfortunes, without interrupting her own ease, or that of others, with +complaints or reproaches. The pressures of a very contracted fortune +were supported by her with calmness and in silence; nor did she ever +attempt to improve it among those great personages to whom she was +known, by importunities; to which the best minds are most averse, and +which her approved merit and established reputation mould have rendered +unnecessary. + +The collection now exhibited to the world is, says Dr. Birch, and we +entirely agree with him, so incontestable a proof of the superiority of +our author's genius, as in a manner supersedes every thing that can be +said upon that head. But her abilities as a writer, and the merit of her +works, will not have full justice done them, without a due attention to +the peculiar circumstances, in which they were produced: her early +youth, when she wrote some, her very advanced age, and ill state of +health, when she drew up others; the uneasy situation of her fortune, +during the whole course of her life; and an interval of near twenty +years in the vigour of it, spent in the cares of a family, without the +least leisure for reading or contemplation: after which, with a mind so +long diverted and incumbered, resuming her studies, she instantly +recovered its intire powers, and in the hours of relaxation from her +domestic employments, pursued, to their utmost limits, some of the +deepest enquiries of which the human mind is capable! + +CONTENTS of the First Volume of Mrs. COCKBURN'S Works. + +I. A Discourse concerning a Guide in Controversy. First published in +1707, with a preface by bishop Burnet. + +II. A Defence of Mr. Lock's Essay of Human Understanding. First +published in 1702. + +III. A Letter to Dr. Holdsworth, concerning the Resurrection of the +same Body. First published in 1726. + +IV. A Vindication of Mr. Lock's Christian Principles, from the +injurious Imputations of Dr. Holdsworth. Now first published. + +V. Remarks upon some Writers in the Controversy, concerning the +Foundation of Moral Virtue, and Moral Obligation. With some Thoughts +concerning Necessary Existence; the Reality and Infinity of Space; the +Extension and Place of Spirits; and on Dr. Watts's Notion of Substance. +First published in 1743. + +CONTENTS of the Second Volume. + +I. Remarks upon Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on the Nature and Obligations of +Virtue. First published in the year 1747. + +II. Miscellaneous Pieces. Now first printed. Containing a Letter of +Advice to her Son.--Sunday's Journal.--On the Usefulness of Schools and +Universities.--On the Credibility of the Historical Parts of Scripture. +--On Moral Virtue.--Notes on Christianity as old as the Creation.--On +the Infallibility of the Church of Rome.--Answer to a Question +concerning the Jurisdiction of the Magistrate over the Life of the +Subject.--Remarks on Mr. Seed's Sermon on Moral Virtue.--Remarks upon +an Enquiry into the Origin of Human Appetites and Affections. + +III. Letters between Mrs. Cockburn and several of her Friends. These +take up the greatest part of the volume. + +IV. Letters between the Rev. Dr. Sharp, Archdeacon of Northumberland and +Mrs. Cockburn concerning the Foundation of Moral Virtue. + +V. Fatal Friendship, a Tragedy. + +VI. Poems on several Occasions. There are very few of these, and what +there are, are of little note. Her poetical talent was the smallest and +least valuable of our author's literary accomplishments. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Historia Mulierum Philosopharum. 8vo. Lyons. 1690. + +[2] Dr. Birch mentions also Mr. Higgons's verses on this occasion, and + gives a copy of a complimentary letter to our author, from Mr. + George Farquhar. + +[3] Author of an excellent pamphlet, entitled, Two Dissertations + concerning the Etymology and Scripture-meaning of the Hebrew Words + Elohim and Berith. Vide Monthly Review. + + + * * * * * + + +AMBROSE PHILLIPS, ESQ; + +This Gentleman was descended from a very ancient, and considerable +family in the county of Leicester, and received his education in St. +John's college Cambridge, where he wrote his Pastorals, a species of +excellence, in which he is thought to have remarkably distinguished +himself. When Mr. Philips quitted the university, and repaired to the +metropolis, he became, as Mr. Jacob phrases it, one of the wits at +Buttons; and in consequence of this, contracted an acquaintance with +those bright genius's who frequented it; especially Sir Richard Steele, +who in the first volume of his Tatler inserts a little poem of this +author's dated from Copenhagen, which he calls a winter piece; Sir +Richard thus mentions it with honour. 'This is as fine a piece, as we +ever had from any of the schools of the most learned painters; such +images as these give us a new pleasure in our fight, and fix upon our +minds traces of reflexion, which accompany us wherever the like objects +occur.' + +This short performance which we shall here insert, was reckoned so +elegant, by men of taste then living, that Mr. Pope himself, who had a +confirmed aversion to Philips, when he affected to despise his other +works, always excepted this out of the number. + +It is written from Copenhagen, addressed to the Earl of Dorset, and +dated the 9th of May 1709. + + A WINTER PIECE. + + From frozen climes, and endless tracks of snow, + From streams that northern winds forbid to flow; + What present shall the Muse to Dorset bring, + Or how, so near the Pole, attempt to sing? + The hoary winter here conceals from sight, + All pleasing objects that to verse invite. + The hills and dales, and the delightful woods, + The flow'ry plains, and silver streaming floods, + By snow distinguished in bright confusion lie, + And with one dazling waste, fatigue the eye. + + No gentle breathing breeze prepares the spring, + No birds within the desart region sing. + The ships unmov'd the boist'rous winds defy, + While rattling chariots o'er the ocean fly. + The vast Leviathan wants room to play, + And spout his waters in the face of day. + The starving wolves along the main sea prowl, + And to the moon in icy valleys howl, + For many a shining league the level main, + Here spreads itself into a glassy plain: + There solid billows of enormous size, + Alps of green ice, in wild disorder rise. + + And yet but lately have I seen ev'n here, + The winter in a lovely dress appear. + Ere yet the clouds let fall the treasur'd snow, + Or winds begun through hazy skies to blow; + At ev'ning a keen eastern breeze arose; + And the descending rain unsully'd froze. + Soon as the silent shades of night withdrew, + The ruddy morn disclos'd at once to view, + The face of nature in a rich disguise, + And brighten'd every object to my eyes: + + And ev'ry shrub, and ev'ry blade of grass, + And ev'ry pointed thorn seem'd wrought in glass. + In pearls and rubies rich, the hawthorns show, + While through the ice the crimson berries glow. + The thick sprung reeds, the watry marshes yield, + Seem polish'd lances in a hostile field. + The flag in limpid currents with surprize, + Sees crystal branches on his fore-head rise. + The spreading oak, the beech, and tow'ring pine, + Glaz'd over, in the freezing æther shine. + The frighted birds, the rattling branches shun. + That wave and glitter in the distant sun. + + When if a sudden gust of wind arise, + The brittle forest into atoms flies: + The crackling wood beneath the tempest bends, + And in a spangled show'r the prospect ends. + Or, if a southern gale the region warm, + And by degrees unbind the wintry charm, + The traveller, a miry country sees, + And journeys sad beneath the dropping trees. + + Like some deluded peasant, Merlin leads + Thro' fragrant bow'rs, and thro' delicious meads; + While here inchanted gardens to him rise, + And airy fabrics there attract his eyes, + His wand'ring feet the magic paths pursue; + And while he thinks the fair illusion true, + The trackless scenes disperse in fluid air, + And woods, and wilds, and thorny ways appear: + A tedious road the weary wretch returns, + And, as he goes, the transient vision mourns. + +But it was not enough for Sir Richard to praise this performance of Mr. +Philips. He was also an admirer of his Pastorals, which had then +obtained a great number of readers: He was about to form a Critical +Comparison of Pope's Pastorals, and these of Mr. Philips; and giving in +the conclusion, the preference to the latter. Sir Richard's design being +communicated to Mr. Pope, who was not a little jealous of his +reputation, he took the alarm; and by the most artful and insinuating +method defeated his purpose. + +The reader cannot be ignorant, that there are several numbers in the +Guardian, employed upon Pastoral Poetry, and one in particular, upon the +merits of Philips and Pope, in which the latter is found a better +versifier; but as a true Arcadian, the preference is given to Philips. +That we may be able to convey a perfect idea of the method which Mr. +Pope took to prevent the diminution of his reputation, we shall +transcribe the particular parts of that paper in the Guardian, Number +XL. Monday April the 27th. + +I designed to have troubled the reader with no farther discourses of +Pastorals, but being informed that I am taxed of partiality, in not +mentioning an author, whose Eclogues are published in the same volume +with Mr. Philips's, I shall employ this paper in observations upon him, +written in the free spirit of criticism, and without apprehensions of +offending that gentleman, whose character it is, that he takes the +greatest care of his works before they are published, and has the least +concern for them afterwards. I have laid it down as the first rule of +Pastoral, that its idea should be taken from the manners of the Golden +Age, and the moral formed upon the representation of innocence; 'tis +therefore plain, that any deviations from that design, degrade a poem +from being true Pastoral. + +So easy as Pastoral writing may seem (in the simplicity we have +described it) yet it requires great reading, both of the ancients and +moderns, to be a master of it. Mr. Philips hath given us manifest proofs +of his knowledge of books; it must be confessed his competitor has +imitated some single thoughts of the antients well enough, if we +consider he had not the happiness of an university education: but he +hath dispersed them here and there without that order and method Mr. +Philips observes, whose whole third pastoral, is an instance how well he +studied the fifth of Virgil, and how judiciously he reduced Virgil's +thoughts to the standard of pastoral; and his contention of Colin Clout, +and the Nightingale, shews with what exactness he hath imitated Strada. +When I remarked it as a principal fault to introduce fruits, and flowers +of a foreign growth in descriptions, where the scene lies in our +country, I did not design that observation should extend also to +animals, or the sensitive life; for Philips hath with great judgment +described wolves in England in his first pastoral. Nor would I have a +poet slavishly confine himself, (as Mr. Pope hath done) to one +particular season of the year, one certain time of the day, and one +unbroken scene in each Eclogue. It is plain, Spencer neglected this +pedantry, who in his Pastoral of November, mentions the mournful song of +the Nightingale. + + Sad Philomel, her song in tears doth sleep. + +And Mr. Philips by a poetical creation, hath raised up finer beds of +flowers, than the most industrious gardener; his roses, lilies, and +daffadils, blow in the same season. + +But the better to discover the merit of our two cotemporary pastoral +writers. I shall endeavour to draw a parallel of them, by placing +several of their particular thoughts in the same light; whereby it will +be obvious, how much Philips hath the advantage: With what simplicity he +introduces two shepherds singing alternately. + + HOBB. + + Come Rosalind, O come, for without thee + What pleasure can the country have for me? + Come Rosalind, O come; my brinded kine, + My snowy sheep, my farm and all is thine. + + LANG. + + Come Rosalind, O come; here shady bowers. + Here are cool fountains, and here springing flowers. + Come Rosalind; here ever let us stay, + And sweetly waste our live-long time away. + +Our other pastoral writer in expressing the same thought, deviates into +downright poetry. + + STREPHON. + + In spring the fields, in autumn hills I love, + At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove, + But Delia always; forc'd from Delia's sight, + Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. + + DAPHNE. + + Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, + More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day; + Ev'n spring displeases when she shines not here: + But blest with her, 'tis spring throughout the year. + +In the first of these authors, two shepherds thus innocently describe +the behaviour of their mistresses. + + HOBB. + + As Marian bath'd, by chance I passed by; + She blush'd, and at me cast a side-long eye: + Then swift beneath, the crystal waves she tried, + Her beauteous form, but all in vain, to hide. + + LANG. + + As I to cool me bath'd one sultry day, + Fond Lydia lurking in the sedges lay, + The woman laugh'd, and seem'd in haste to fly; + Yet often stopp'd, and often turn'd her eye. + +The other modern (who it must be confess'd has a knack at versifying) +has it as follows, + + STREPHON. + + Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, + Thus, hid in shades, eludes her eager swain; + But feigns a laugh, to see me search around, + And by that laugh the willing fair is found. + + DAPHNE. + + The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green; + She runs, but hopes she does not run unseen; + While a kind glance, at her pursuer flies, + How much at variance are her feet and eyes. + +There is nothing the writers of this kind of poetry are fonder of, than +descriptions of pastoral presents. + +Philips says thus of a Sheep-hook. + + Of season'd elm, where studs of brass appear, + To speak the giver's name, the month, and year; + The hook of polished steel, the handle turn'd, + And richly by the graver's skill adorn'd. + +The other of a bowl embossed with figures, + +--Where wanton ivy twines, + And swelling clusters bend the curling vines, + Four figures rising from the work appear, + The various seasons of the rolling year; + And what is that which binds the radiant sky, + Where twelve bright signs, in beauteous order lye. + +The simplicity of the swain in this place who forgets the name of the +Zodiac, is no ill imitation of Virgil; but how much more plainly, and +unaffectedly would Philips have dressed this thought in his Doric. + + And what that height, which girds the welkin-sheen + Where twelve gay signs in meet array are seen. + +If the reader would indulge his curiosity any farther in the comparison +of particulars, he may read the first Pastoral of Philips, with the +second of his contemporary, and the fourth and fifth of the former, with +the fourth and first of the latter; where several parallel places will +occur to every one. + +Having now shewn some parts, in which these two writers may be compared, +it is a justice I owe to Mr. Philips, to discover those in which no man +can compare with him. First, the beautiful rusticity, of which I shall +now produce two instances, out of a hundred not yet quoted. + + O woeful day! O day of woe, quoth he, + And woeful I, who live the day to see! + +That simplicity of diction, the melancholy flowing of the numbers, the +solemnity of the sound, and the easy turn of the words, are extremely +elegant. + +In another Pastoral, a shepherd utters a Dirge, not much inferior to the +former in the following lines. + + Ah me the while! ah me, the luckless day! + Ah luckless lad, the rather might I say; + Ah silly I! more silly than my sheep, + Which on the flow'ry plains I once did keep. + +How he still charms the ear, with his artful repetition of the epithets; +and how significant is the last verse! I defy the most common reader to +repeat them, without feeling some motions of compassion. In the next +place, I shall rank his Proverbs in which I formerly observed he excels: +For example, + + A rolling stone is ever bare of moss; + And, to their cost, green years old proverbs cross, +--He that late lies down, as late will rise, + And sluggard like, till noon-day snoring lies. + Against ill-luck, all cunning foresight fails; + Whether we sleep or wake, it nought avails. +--Nor fear, from upright sentence wrong, + +Lastly, His excellent dialect, which alone might prove him the eldest +born of Spencer, and the only true Arcadian, &c. + +Thus far the comparison between the merit of Mr. Pope and Mr. Philips, +as writers of Pastoral, made by the author of this paper in the +Guardian, after the publication of which, the enemies of Pope exulted, +as in one particular species of poetry, upon which he valued himself, he +was shewn to be inferior to his contemporary. For some time they enjoyed +their triumph; but it turned out at last to their unspeakable +mortification. + +The paper in which the comparison is inserted, was written by Mr. Pope +himself. Nothing could have so effectually defeated the design of +diminishing his reputation, as this method, which had a very contrary +effect. He laid down some false principles, upon these he reasoned, and +by comparing his own and Philips's Pastorals, upon such principles it +was no great compliment to the latter, that he wrote more agreeable to +notions which are in themselves false. + +The subjects of pastoral are as various as the passions of human nature; +nay, it may in some measure partake of every kind of poetry, but with +this limitation, that the scene of it ought always to be laid in the +country, and the thoughts never contrary to the ideas of those who are +bred there. The images are to be drawn from rural life; and provided the +language is perspicuous, gentle, and flowing, the sentiments may be as +elegant as the country scenes can furnish.--In the particular comparison +of passages between Pope and Philips, the former is so much superior, +that one cannot help wondering, that Steele could be thus imposed upon, +who was in other respects a very quick discerner. Though 'tis not +impossible, but that Guardian might go to the press without Sir +Richard's seeing it; he not being the only person concern'd in that +paper. + +The two following lines so much celebrated in this paper, are +sufficiently convincing, that the whole criticism is ironical. + + Ah! silly I, more silly than my sheep, + Which on the flowr'y plains I once did keep. + +Nothing can be much more silly than these lines; and yet the author +says, "How he still charms the ear with the artful repetitions of +epithets." + + SILLY I, MORE SILLY THAN MY SHEEP. + +The next work Mr. Philips published after his Pastorals, and which it is +said he wrote at the university, was his life of John Williams lord +keeper of the great-seal, bishop of Lincoln and archbishop of York, in +the reigns of king James and Charles the First, in which are related +some remarkable occurrences in those times, both in church and state, +with an appendix, giving an account of his benefactions to St. John's +college. + +Mr. Philips, seems to have made use of archbishop William's life, the +better to make known his own state principles, which in the course of +that work he had a fair occasion of doing. Bishop Williams was the great +opposer of High-Church measures, he was a perpetual antagonist to Laud; +and lord Clarendon mentions him in his history with very great decency +and respect, when it is considered that they adhered to opposite +parties. + +Mr. Philips, who early distinguished himself in revolution principles, +was concerned with Dr. Boulter, afterwards archbishop of Armagh, the +right honourable Richard West, Esq; lord chancellor of Ireland; the +revd. Mr. Gilbert Burnet, and the revd. Mr. Henry Stevens, in writing a +paper called the Free-Thinker; but they were all published by Mr. +Philips, and since re-printed in three volumes in 12mo. In the latter +part of the reign of queen Anne, he was secretary to the Hanover Club, a +set of noblemen and gentlemen, who associated in honour of that +succession. They drank regular toasts to the health of those ladies, who +were most zealously attached to the Hanoverian family; upon whom Mr. +Philips wrote the following lines, + + While these, the chosen beauties of our isle, + Propitious on the cause of freedom smile, + The rash Pretender's hopes we may despise, + And trust Britannia's safety to their eyes. + +After the accession of his late majesty, Mr. Philips was made a justice +of peace, and appointed a commissioner of the lottery. But though his +circumstances were easy, the state of his mind was not so; he fell under +the severe displeasure of Mr. Pope, who has satirized him with his usual +keenness. + +'Twas said, he used to mention Mr. Pope as an enemy to the government; +and that he was the avowed author of a report, very industriously +spread, that he had a hand in a paper called The Examiner. The revenge +which Mr. Pope took in consequence of this abuse, greatly ruffled the +temper of Mr. Philips, who as he was not equal to him in wit, had +recourse to another weapon; in the exercise of which no great parts are +requisite. He hung up a rod at Button's, with which he resolved to +chastise his antagonist, whenever he should come there. But Mr. Pope, +who got notice of this design, very prudently declined coming to a +place, where in all probability he must have felt the resentment of an +enraged author, as much superior to him in bodily strength, as inferior +in wit and genius. + +When Mr. Philips's friend, Dr. Boulter, rose to be archbishop of Dublin, +he went with him into Ireland, where he had considerable preferments; +and was a member of the House of Commons there, as representative of the +county of Armagh. + +Notwithstanding the ridicule which Mr. Philips has drawn upon himself, +by his opposition to Pope, and the disadvantageous light his Pastorals +appear in, when compared with his; yet, there is good reason to believe, +that Mr. Philips was no mean Arcadian: By endeavouring to imitate too +servilely the manners and sentiments of vulgar rustics, he has sometimes +raised a laugh against him; yet there are in some of his Pastorals a +natural simplicity, a true Doric dialect, and very graphical +descriptions. + +Mr. Gildon, in his compleat Art of Poetry, mentions him with Theocritus +and Virgil; but then he defeats the purpose of his compliment, for by +carrying the similitude too far, he renders his panegyric hyperbolical. + +We shall now consider Mr. Philips as a dramatic writer. The first piece +he brought upon the stage, was his Distress'd Mother, translated from +the French of Monsieur Racine, but not without such deviations as Mr. +Philips thought necessary to heighten the distress; for writing to the +heart is a secret which the best of the French poets have not found out. +This play was acted first in the year 1711, with every advantage a play +could have. Pyrrhus was performed by Mr. Booth, a part in which he +acquired great reputation. Orestes was given to Mr. Powel, and +Andromache was excellently personated by the inimitable Mrs. Oldfield. +Nor was Mrs. Porter beheld in Hermione without admiration. The +Distress'd Mother is so often acted, and so frequently read, we shall +not trouble the reader with giving any farther account of it. + +A modern critic speaking of this play, observes that the distress of +Andromache moves an audience more than that of Belvidera, who is as +amiable a wife, as Andromache is an affectionate mother; their +circumstances though not similar, are equally interesting, and yet says +he, 'the female part of the audience is more disposed to weep for the +suffering mother, than the suffering wife.[1]' The reason 'tis imagin'd +is this, there are more affectionate mothers in the world than wives. + +Mr. Philips's next dramatic performance was The Briton, a Tragedy; acted +1721. This is built on a very interesting and affecting story, whether +founded on real events I cannot determine, but they are admirably fitted +to raise the passion peculiar to tragedy. Vanoc Prince of the Cornavians +married for his second wife Cartismand, Queen of the Brigantians, a +woman of an imperious spirit, who proved a severe step-mother to the +King's daughter Gwendolen, betrothed to Yvor, the Prince of the +Silurians. The mutual disagreement between Vanoc and his Queen, at last +produced her revolt from him. She intrigues with Vellocad, who had been +formerly the King's servant, and enters into a league with the Roman +tribune, in order to be revenged on her husband. Vanoc fights some +successful battles, but his affairs are thrown into the greatest +confusion, upon receiving the news that a party of the enemy has carried +off the Princess his daughter. She is conducted to the tent of Valens +the Roman tribune, who was himself in love with her, but who offered her +no violation. He went to Vanoc in the name of Didius the Roman general, +to offer terms of peace, but he was rejected with indignation. The scene +between Vanoc and Valens is one of the most masterly to be met with in +tragedy. Valens returns to his fair charge, while her father prepares +for battle, and to rescue his daughter by the force of arms. But +Cartismand, who knew that no mercy would be shewn her at the hands of +her stern husband, flies to the Princess's tent, and in the violence of +her rage stabs her. The King and Yvor enter that instant, but too late +to save the beauteous Gwendolen from the blow, who expires in the arms +of her betrothed husband, a scene wrought up with the greatest +tenderness. When the King reproaches Cartismand for this deed of horror, +she answers, + + Hadst thou been more forgiving, I had been less cruel. + + VANOC + + Wickedness! barbarian! monster-- + What had she done, alas!--Sweet innocence! + She would have interceded for thy crimes. + + CARTISMAND + + Too well I knew the purpose of thy soul.-- + Didst thou believe I would submit?--resign my crown?-- + Or that thou only hadst the power to punish? + + VANOC + + Yet I will punish;--meditate strange torments!-- + Then give thee to the justice of the Gods. + + CARTISMAND + + Thus Vanoc, do I mock thy treasur'd rage.-- + My heart springs forward to the dagger's point. + + Vanoc + + Quick, wrest it from her!--drag her hence to chains. + + CARTISMAND + + There needs no second stroke-- + Adieu, rash man!--my woes are at an end:-- + Thine's but begun;--and lasting as thy life. + +Mr. Philips in this play has shewn how well he was acquainted with the +stage; he keeps the scene perpetually busy; great designs are carrying +on, the incidents rise naturally from one another, and the catastrophe +is moving. He has not observed the rules which some critics have +established, of distributing poetical justice; for Gwendolen, the most +amiable character in the play is the chief sufferer, arising from the +indulgence of no irregular passion, nor any guilt of hers. + +The next year Mr. Philips introduced another tragedy on the stage called +Humfrey Duke of Gloucester, acted 1721. The plot of this play is founded +on history. During the minority of Henry VI. his uncle, the duke of +Gloucester, was raised to the dignity of Regent of the Realm. This high +station could not but procure him many enemies, amongst whom was the +duke of Suffolk, who, in order to restrain his power, and to inspire the +mind of young Henry with a love of independence, effected a marriage +between that Prince, and Margaret of Anjou, a Lady of the most +consummate beauty, and what is very rare amongst her sex, of the most +approved courage. This lady entertained an aversion for the duke of +Gloucester, because he opposed her marriage with the King, and +accordingly resolves upon his ruin. + +She draws over to her party cardinal Beaufort, the Regent's uncle, a +supercilious proud churchman. They fell upon a very odd scheme to shake +the power of Gloucester, and as it is very singular, and absolutely +fact, we shall here insert it. + +The duke of Gloucester had kept Eleanor Cobham, daughter to the lord +Cobham, as his concubine, and after the dissolution of his marriage with +the countess of Hainault, he made her his wife; but this did not restore +her reputation: she was, however, too young to pass in common repute for +a witch, yet was arrested for high treason, founded on a pretended piece +of witchcraft, and after doing public penance several days, by sentence +of convocation, was condemned to perpetual imprisonment in the Isle of +Man, but afterwards removed to Killingworth-castle. The fact charged +upon her, was the making an image of wax resembling the King, and +treated in such a manner by incantations, and sorceries, as to make +him waste away, as the image gradually consumed. John Hume, her +chaplain, Thomas Southwell, a canon of St. Stephen's Westminster, Roger +Bolingbroke, a clergyman highly esteemed, and eminent for his uncommon +learning, and merit, and perhaps on that account, reputed to have great +skill in necromancy, and Margery Jourdemain, commonly called The Witch +of Eye, were tried as her accomplices, and condemned, the woman to be +burnt, the others to be drawn, hanged, and quartered at Tyburn[2]. This +hellish contrivance against the wife of the duke of Gloucester, was +meant to shake the influence of her husband, which in reality it did, as +ignorance and credulity cooperated with his enemies to destroy him. He +was arrested for high treason, a charge which could not be supported, +and that his enemies might have no further trouble with him, cardinal +Beaufort hired assassins to murder him. The poet acknowledges the hints +he has taken from the Second Part of Shakespear's Henry VI, and in some +scenes has copied several lines from him. In the last scene, that +pathetic speech of Eleanor's to Cardinal Beaufort when he was dying in +the agonies of remorse and despair, is literally borrowed. + + WARWICK + + See how the pangs of death work in his features. + + YORK + + Disturb him not--let him pass peaceably. + + ELEANOR + + Lord Cardinal;--if thou think'st of Heaven's bliss + Hold up thy hand;--make signal of that hope. + He dies;--and makes no sign!-- + +In praise of this tragedy, Mr. Welsted has prefixed a very elegant copy +of verses. + +Mr. Philips by a way of writing very peculiar, procured to himself the +name of Namby Pamby. This was first bestowed on him by Harry Cary, who +burlesqued some little pieces of his, in so humorous a manner, that for +a long while, Harry's burlesque, passed for Swift's with many; and by +others were given to Pope: 'Tis certain, each at first, took it for the +other's composition. + +In ridicule of this manner, the ingenious Hawkins Brown, Esq; now a +Member of Parliament, in his excellent burlesque piece called The Pipe +of Tobacco, has written an imitation, in which the resemblance is so +great, as not to be distinguished from the original. This gentleman has +burlesqued the following eminent authors, by such a close imitation of +their turn of verse, that it has not the appearance of a copy, but an +original. + +SWIFT, + +POPE, + +THOMSON, + +YOUNG, + +PHILIPS, + +CIBBER. + +As a specimen of the delicacy of our author's turn of verification, we +shall present the reader with his translation of the following beautiful +Ode of Sappho. + + Hymn to Venus + + 1. + + O Venus, beauty of the skies, + To whom a thousand temples rise, + Gayly false, in gentle smiles, + Full of love, perplexing wiles; + O Goddess! from my heart remove + The wasting cares and pains of love. + + 2. + + If ever thou hast kindly heard + A song in soft distress preferr'd, + Propitious to my tuneful vow, + O gentle goddess! hear me now. + Descend, thou bright immortal guest! + In all thy radiant charms confess'd. + + 3. + + Thou once did leave almighty Jove, + And all the golden roofs above; + The carr thy wanton sparrows drew, + Hov'ring in air, they lightly flew; + As to my bower they wing'd their way, + I saw their quiv'ring pinions play. + + 4. + + The birds dismiss'd (while you remain) + Bore back their empty car again; + Then you, with looks divinely mild, + In ev'ry heav'nly feature smil'd, + And ask'd what new complaints I made, + And why I call'd you to my aid? + + 5. + + What frenzy in my bosom rag'd, + And by what cure to be asswag'd? + What gentle youth I would allure, + Whom in my artful toils secure? + Who does thy tender heart subdue, + Tell me, my Sappho, tell me who! + + 6. + + Tho' now he shuns my longing arms, + He soon shall court thy slighted charms; + Tho' now thy off'rings he despise, + He soon to thee shall sacrifice; + Tho' now he freeze, he soon shall burn, + And be thy victim in his turn. + + 7. + + Celestial visitant once more, + Thy needful presence I implore. + In pity come, and ease my grief, + Bring my distemper'd soul relief, + Favour thy suppliant's hidden fires, + And give me all my heart's desires. + +There is another beautiful ode by the same Grecian poetess, rendered +into English by Mr. Philips with inexpressible delicacy, quoted in the +Spectator, vol. iii,. No. 229. + + 1. + + Blest, as th'immortal Gods is he + The youth who fondly fits by thee, + And hears, and sees thee all the while + Softly speak, and sweetly smile. + + 2. + + 'Twas this depriv'd my soul of rest, + And raised such tumults in my breast; + For while I gaz'd, in transport tost, + My breath was gone, my voice was lost. + + 3. + + My bosom glow'd; the subtle flame + Ran quick thro' all my vital frame, + O'er my dim eyes a darkness hung; + My ears with hollow murmurs rung. + + 4. + + In dewy damps my limbs were chill'd; + My blood with gentle horrors thrill'd; + My feeble pulse forgot to play; + I fainted, sunk, and died away. + +Mr. Philips having purchased an annuity of 400 l. per annum, for his +life, came over to England sometime in the year 1748: But had not his +health; and died soon after at his lodgings near Vauxhall. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Vide the ACTOR. + +[2] See Cart's History of England, Reign of Henry VI. + + + * * * * * + + +RICHARD MAITLAND, EARL OF LAUDERDALE + +This learned nobleman was nephew to John, the great duke of Lauderdale, +who was secretary of state to King Charles II for Scotch affairs, and +for many years had the government of that kingdom entirely entrusted to +him. Whoever is acquainted with history will be at no loss to know, with +how little moderation he exercised his power; he ruled his native +country with a rod of iron, and was the author of all those disturbances +and persecutions which have stained the Annals of Scotland, during that +inglorious period. + +As the duke of Lauderdale was without issue-male of his own body, he +took our author into his protection as his immediate heir, and ordered +him to be educated in such a manner as to qualify him for the possession +of those great employments his ancestors enjoyed in the state. The +improvement of this young nobleman so far exceeded his years, that he +was very early admitted into the privy council, and made lord justice +clerk, anno 1681. He married the daughter of the earl of Argyle, who was +tried for sedition in the state, and confined in the castle of +Edinburgh. When Argyle found his fate approaching, he meditated, and +effected his escape; and some letters of his being intercepted and +decyphered, which had been written to the earl of Lauderdale, his +lordship fell under a cloud, and was stript of his preferments. These +letters were only of a familiar nature, and contained nothing but +domestic business; but a correspondence with a person condemned, was +esteemed a sin in politics not to be forgiven, especially by a man of +the Duke of York's furious disposition. + +Though the duke of Lauderdale had ordered our author to be educated as +his heir, yet he left all his personal estate, which was very great, to +another, the young nobleman having, by some means, disobliged him; and +as he was of an ungovernable implacable temper, could never again +recover his favour[1]. Though the earl of Lauderdale was thus removed +from his places by the court, yet he persisted in his loyalty to the +Royal Family, and, upon the revolution, followed the fortune of King +James II, and some years after died in France, leaving no surviving +issue, so that the titles devolved on his younger brother. + +While the earl was in exile with his Royal master, he applied his mind +to the delights of poetry, and, in his leisure hours, compleated a +translation of Virgil's works. Mr. Dryden, in his dedication of the +Aeneis, thus mentions it; 'The late earl of Lauderdale, says he, sent me +over his new translation of the Aeneis, which he had ended before I +engaged in the same design. Neither did I then intend it, but some +proposals being afterwards made me by my Bookseller, I desired his +lordship's leave that I might accept them, which he freely granted, and +I have his letter to shew for that permission. He resolved to have +printed his work, which he might have done two years before I could have +published mine; and had performed it, if death had not prevented him. +But having his manuscript in my hands, I consulted it as often as I +doubted of my author's sense; for no man understood Virgil better than +that learned nobleman. His friends have yet another, and more correct +copy of that translation by them, which if they had pleased to have +given the public, the judges might have been convinced that I have not +flattered him.' + +Lord Lauderdale's friends, some years after the publication of Dryden's +Translation, permitted his lordship's to be printed, and, in the late +editions of that performance, those lines are marked with inverted +commas, which Dryden thought proper to adopt into his version, which are +not many; and however closely his lordship may have rendered Virgil, no +man can conceive a high opinion of that poet, contemplated through the +medium of his Translation. + +Dr. Trapp, in his preface to the Aeneis, observes, +'that his lordship's Translation is pretty near to the original, though +not so close as its brevity would make one imagine; and it sufficiently +appears, that he had a right taste in poetry in general, and the Aeneid +in particular. He shews a true spirit, and, in many places, is very +beautiful. But we should certainly have seen Virgil far better +translated, by a noble hand, had the earl of Lauderdale been the earl of +Roscommon, and had the Scottish peer followed all the precepts, and been +animated with the genius of the Irish.' + +We know of no other poetical compositions of this learned nobleman, and +the idea we have received from history of his character, is, that he was +in every respect the reverse of his uncle, from whence we may reasonably +conclude, that he possessed many virtues, since few statesmen of any age +ever were tainted with more vices than the duke of Lauderdale. + +FOOTNOTE: +[1] Crawford's Peerage of Scotland. + + + * * * * * + + +DR. JOSEPH TRAPP + +This poet was second son to the rev. Mr. Joseph Trapp, rector of +Cherington in Gloucestershire, at which place he was born, anno 1679. He +received the first rudiments of learning from his father, who instructed +him in the languages, and superintended his domestic education. When he +was ready for the university he was sent to Oxford, and was many years +scholar and fellow of Wadham College, where he took the degree of master +of arts. In the year 1708 he was unanimously chosen professor of poetry, +being the first of that kind. This institution was founded by Dr. Henry +Birkhead, formerly fellow of All-Souls, and the place of lecturer can be +held only for ten years. + +Dr. Trapp was, in the early part of his life, chaplain to lord +Bolingbroke, the father of the famous Bolingbroke, lately deceased. The +highest preferment Dr. Trapp ever had in the church, though he was a man +of extensive learning, was, the rectory of Harlington, Middlesex, and of +the united parishes of Christ-Church, Newgate Street, and St. Leonard's +Foster-Lane, with the lectureship of St. Lawrence Jewry, and St. +Martin's in the Fields. The Dr's principles were not of that cast, by +which promotion could be expected. He was attached to the High-Church +interest, and as his temper was not sufficiently pliant to yield to the +prevalence of party, perhaps for that very reason, his rising in the +church was retarded. A gentleman of learning and genius, when paying a +visit to the Dr. took occasion to lament, as there had been lately some +considerable alterations made, and men less qualified than he, raised to +the mitre, that distinctions should be conferred with so little regard +to merit, and wondered that he (the Dr.) had never been promoted to a +see. To this the Dr. replied, 'I am thought to have some learning, and +some honesty, and these are but indifferent qualifications to enable a +man to rise in the church.' + +Dr. Trapp's action in the pulpit has been censured by many, as +participating too much of the theatrical manner, and having more the air +of an itinerant enthusiast, than a grave ecclesiastic. Perhaps it may be +true, that his pulpit gesticulations were too violent, yet they bore +strong expressions of sincerity, and the side on which he erred, was the +most favourable to the audience; as the extreme of over-acting any part, +is not half so intolerable as a languid indifference, whether what the +preacher is then uttering, is true or false, is worth attention or no. +The Dr. being once in company with a person, whose profession was that +of a player, took occasion to ask him, 'what was the reason that an +actor seemed to feel his part with so much sincerity, and utter it with +so much emphasis and spirit, while a preacher, whose profession is of a +higher nature, and whose doctrines are of the last importance, remained +unaffected, even upon the most solemn occasion, while he stood in the +pulpit as the ambassador of God, to teach righteousness to the people?' +the player replied, 'I believe no other reason can be given, sir, but +that we are sincere in our parts, and the preachers are insincere in +theirs.' The Dr. could not but acknowledge the truth of this observation +in general, and was often heard to complain of the coldness and +unaffected indifference of his brethren in those very points, in which +it is their business to be sincere and vehement. Would you move your +audience, says an ancient sage, you must yourself be moved; and it is a +proposition which holds universally true. Dr. Trapp was of opinion, that +the highest doctrines of religion were to be considered as infallibly +true, and that it was of more importance to impress them strongly on the +minds of the audience, to speak to their hearts, and affect their +passions, than to bewilder them in disputation, and lead them through +labyrinths of controversy, which can yield, perhaps, but little +instruction, can never tend to refine the passions, or elevate the mind. +Being of this opinion, and from a strong desire of doing good, Dr. Trapp +exerted himself in the pulpit, and strove not only to convince the +judgment, but to warm the heart, for if passions are the elements of +life, they ought to be devoted to the service of religion, as well as +the other faculties, and powers of the soul. + +But preaching was not the only method by which, this worthy man promoted +the interest of religion; he drew the muses into her service, and that +he might work upon the hopes and fears of his readers, he has presented +them with four poems, on these important subjects; _Death, Judgment, +Heaven_, and _Hell._ The reason of his making choice of those themes on +which to write, he very fully explains in his preface. He observes, that +however dull, and trite it may be to declaim against the corruption of +the age one lives in, yet he presumes it will be allowed by every body, +that all manner of wickedness, both in principles and practice, abounds +amongst men. 'I have lived (says he) in six reigns, but for about these +twenty years last past, the English nation has been, and is so +prodigiously debauched, its very nature and genius so changed, that I +scarce know it to be the English nation, and am almost a foreigner in +my own country. Not only barefaced, impudent, immorality of all kinds, +but often professed infidelity and atheism. To slop these overflowings +of ungodliness, much has been done in prose, yet not so as to supersede +all other endeavours: and therefore the author of these poems was +willing to try, whether any good might be done in verse. This manner of +conveyance may, perhaps, have some advantage, which the other has not; +at least it makes variety, which is something considerable. The four +last things are manifestly subjects of the utmost importance. If due +reflexions upon Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell, will not reclaim men +from their vices, nothing will. This little work was intended for the +use of all, from the greatest to the least. But as it would have been +intolerably flat, and insipid to the former, had it been wholly written +in a stile level to the capacities of the latter; to obviate +inconveniences on both sides, an attempt has been made to entertain the +upper class of readers, and, by notes, to explain such passages in +divinity, philosophy, history, &c. as might be difficult to the lower. +The work (if it may be so called) being partly argumentative, and partly +descriptive, it would have been ridiculous, had it been possible to make +the first mentioned as poetical as the other. In long pieces of music +there is the plain recitativo, as well as the higher, and more musical +modulation, and they mutually recommend, and set off each other. But +about these matters the writer is little sollicitous, and otherwise, +than as they are subservient to the design of doing good.' + +A good man would naturally wish, that such generous attempts, in the +cause of virtue, were always successful. With the lower class of +readers, it is more than probably that these poems may have inspired +religious thoughts, have awaked a solemn dread of punishment, kindled a +sacred hope of happiness, and fitted the mind for the four last +important period[1]; But with readers of a higher taste, they can have +but little effect. There is no doctrine placed in a new light, no +descriptions are sufficiently emphatical to work upon a sensible mind, +and the perpetual flatness of the poetry is very disgustful to a +critical reader, especially, as there were so many occasions of rising +to an elevated sublimity. + +The Dr. has likewise written a Paraphrase on the 104th Psalm, which, +though much superior in poetry to his Four Last Things, yet falls +greatly short of that excellent version by Mr. Blacklocke, quoted in the +Life of Dr. Brady. + +Our author has likewise published four volumes of sermons, and a volume +of lectures on poetry, written in Latin. + +Before we mention his other poetical compositions, we shall consider him +as the translator of Virgil, which is the most arduous province he ever +undertook. Dr. Trapp, in his preface, after stating the controversy, +which has been long held, concerning the genius of Homer and Virgil, to +whom the superiority belongs, has informed us, that this work was very +far advanced before it was undertaken, having been, for many years, the +diversion of his leisure hours at the university, and grew upon him, by +insensible degrees, so that a great part of the Aeneis was actually +translated, before he had any design of attempting the whole. + +He further informs us, 'that one of the greatest geniuses, and best +judges, and critics, our age has produced, Mr. Smith of Christ Church, +having seen the first two or three hundred lines of this translation, +advised him by all means to go through with it. I said, he laughed at +me, replied the Dr. and that I should be the most impudent of mortals to +have such a thought. He told me, he was very much in earnest; and asked +me why the whole might not be done, in so many years, as well as such a +number of lines in so many days? which had no influence upon me, nor did +I dream of such an undertaking, 'till being honoured by the university +of Oxford with the public office of professor of poetry, which I shall +ever gratefully acknowledge, I thought it might not be improper for me +to review, and finish this work, which otherwise had certainly been as +much neglected by me, as, perhaps, it will now be by every body else.' + +As our author has made choice of blank verse, rather than rhime, in +order to bear a nearer resemblance to Virgil, he has endeavoured to +defend blank verse, against the advocates for rhime, and shew its +superiority for any work of length, as it gives the expression a greater +compass, or, at least, does not clog and fetter the verse, by which the +substance and meaning of a line must often be mutilated, twisted, and +sometimes sacrificed for the sake of the rhime. + +'Blank verse (says he) is not only more majestic and sublime, but more +musical and harmonious. It has more rhime in it, according to the +ancient, and true sense of the word, than rhime itself, as it is now +used: for, in its original signification, it consists not in the +tinkling of vowels and consonants, but in the metrical disposition of +words and syllables, and the proper cadence of numbers, which is more +agreeable to the ear, without the jingling of like endings, than with +it. And, indeed, let a man consult his own ears. + + Him th'Almighty pow'r + Hurl'd headlong, flaming from the ætherial sky, + With hideous ruin and combustion, down + To bottomless perdition; there to dwell + In adamantine chains, and penal fire; + Who durst defy th'Omnipotent to arms. + Nine times the space that measures day and night + + To mortal men, he with his horrid crew + Lay vanquish'd, rowling in the fiery gulph, + Confounded, tho' immortal + +Who that hears this, can think it wants rhime to recommend it? or rather +does not think it sounds far better without it? We purposely produced a +citation, beginning and ending in the middle of a verse, because the +privilege of resting on this, or that foot, sometimes one, and sometimes +another, and so diversifying the pauses and cadences, is the greatest +beauty of blank verse, and perfectly agreeable to the practice of our +masters, the Greeks and Romans. This can be done but rarely in rhime; +for if it were frequent, the rhime would be in a manner lost by it; the +end of almost every verse must be something of a pause; and it is but +seldom that a sentence begins in the middle. Though this seems to be the +advantage of blank verse over rhime, yet we cannot entirely condemn the +use of it, even in a heroic poem; nor absolutely reject that in +speculation, which. Mr. Dryden and Mr. Pope have enobled by their +practice. We acknowledge too, that in some particular views, what way of +writing has the advantage over this. You may pick out mere lines, which, +singly considered, look mean and low, from a poem in blank verse, than +from one in rhime, supposing them to be in other respects equal. For +instance, the following verses out of Milton's Paradise Lost, b. ii. + + Of Heav'n were falling, and these elements-- + Instinct with fire, and nitre hurried him-- + +taken singly, look low and mean: but read them in conjunction with +others, and then see what a different face will be set upon them. + + --Or less than of this frame + Of Heav'n were falling, and these elements + In mutiny had from her axle torn + The stedfast earth. As last his sail-broad vans + He spreads for flight; and in the surging smoke + Uplifted spurns the ground-- + --Had not by ill chance + The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud + Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him + As many miles aloft. That fury stay'd; + Quench'd in a boggy syrtis, neither sea, + Nor good dry land: night founder'd on he fares, + Treading the crude consistence. + +Our author has endeavoured to justify his choice of blank verse, by +shewing it less subject to restraints, and capable of greater sublimity +than rhime. But tho' this observation may hold true, with respect to +elevated and grand subjects, blank verse is by no means capable of so +great universality. In satire, in elegy, or in pastoral writing, our +language is, it seems, so feebly constituted, as to stand in need of the +aid of rhime; and as a proof of this, the reader need only look upon the +pastorals of Virgil, as translated by Trapp in blank verse, and compare +them with Dryden's in rhime. He will then discern how insipid and fiat +the pastorals of the same poet are in one kind of verification, and how +excellent and beautiful in another. Let us give one short example to +illustrate the truth of this, from the first pastoral of Virgil. + + MELIBÆUS. + + Beneath the covert of the spreading beech + Thou, Tityrus, repos'd, art warbling o'er, + Upon a slender reed, thy sylvan lays: + We leave our country, and sweet native fields; + We fly our country: careless in the shade, + Thou teachest, Tityrus, the sounding groves + To eccho beauteous Amaryllis' name. + + TITYRUS. + + O Melibæus, 'twas a god to us + Indulged this freedom: for to me a god + He shall be ever: from my folds full oft + A tender lamb his altar shall embrue: + He gave my heifers, as thou seest, to roam; + And me permitted on my rural cane + To sport at pleasure, and enjoy my muse, + +TRAPP. + + MELIBÆUS. + + Beneath the shade which beechen-boughs diffuse, + You, Tityrus, entertain your Silvan muse: + Round the wide world in banishment we roam, + Forc'd from our pleasing fields, and native home: + While stretch'd at ease you sing your happy loves: + And Amaryllis fills the shady groves. + + TITYRUS. + + These blessings, friend, a deity bestow'd: + For never can I deem him less than God. + The tender firstlings of my woolly breed + Shall on his holy altar often bleed. + He gave my kine to graze the flowry plain: + And to my pipe renew'd the rural strain. + +DRYDEN. + +Dr. Trapp towards the conclusion of his Preface to the Aeneid, has +treated Dryden with less reverence, than might have been expected from a +man of his understanding, when speaking of so great a genius. The cause +of Trapp's disgust to Dryden, seems to have been this: Dryden had a +strong contempt for the priesthood, which we have from his own words, + + "Priests of all professions are the same." + +and takes every opportunity to mortify the usurping superiority of +spiritual tyrants. Trapp, with all his virtues (for I think it appears +he possessed many) had yet much of the priest in him, and for that very +reason, perhaps, has shewn some resentment to Dryden; but if he has with +little candour of criticism treated Mr. Dryden, he has with great +servility flattered Mr. Pope; and has insinuated, as if the Palm of +Genius were to be yielded to the latter. He observes in general, that +where Mr. Dryden shines most, we often see the least of Virgil. To omit +many other instances, the description of the Cyclops forging Thunder for +Jupiter, and Armour for Aeneas, is elegant and noble to the last degree +in the Latin; and it is so to a great degree in the English. But then is +the English a translation of the Latin? + + Hither the father of the fire by night, + Thro' the brown air precipitates his flight: + On their eternal anvil, here he found + The brethren beating, and the blows go round. + +The lines are good, and truely poetical; but the two first are set to +render + + Hoc tunc ignipotens caelo descendit ab alto. + +There is nothing of _caelo ab alto_ in the version; nor by _night, brown +air_, or _precipitates his sight_, in the original. The two last are put +in the room of + + Ferrum exercebant vasto Cylopes in antro, + Brontesque, Steropesque, & nudus membra Pyraemon. + +Vasto in antro, in the first of these lines, and the last line is +entirely left out in the translation. Nor is there any thing of eternal +anvils, or _hers he found_, in the original, and the brethren beating, +and the blows go round, is but a loose version of _Ferrum exercebant._ +Dr. Trapp has allowed, however, that though Mr. Dryden is often distant +from the original, yet he sometimes rises to a more excellent height, by +throwing out implied graces, which none but so great a poet was capable +of. Thus in the 12th book, after the last speech of Saturn, + + Tantum effata, caput glauco contexit amictu, + Multa gemens, & se fluvio Dea condidit also. + + She drew a length of sighs, no more she said, + But with an azure mantle wrapp'd her head; + Then plunged into her stream with deep despair, + _And her last sobs came bubbling up in air_. + +Though the last line is not expressed in the original, it is yet in some +measure implied, and it is in itself so exceedingly beautiful, that the +whole passage can never be too much admired. These are excellencies +indeed; this is truly Mr. Dryden. The power of truth, no doubt, extorted +this confession from the Dr. and notwithstanding many objections may be +brought against this performance of Dryden, yet we believe most of our +poetical readers upon perusing it, will be of the opinion of Pope, +'that, excepting a few human errors, it is the noblest and most spirited +translation in any language.' To whom it may reasonable be asked, has +Virgil been most obliged? to Dr. Trapp who has followed his footsteps in +every line; has shewn you indeed the design, the characters, contexture, +and moral of the poem, that is, has given you Virgil's account of the +actions of Æneas, or to Mr. Dryden, who has not only conveyed the +general ideas of his author, but has conveyed them with the same majesty +and fire, has led you through every battle with trepidation, has soothed +you in the tender scenes, and inchanted you with the flowers of poetry? +Virgil contemplated thro' the medium of Trapp, appears an accurate +writer, and the Aeneid as well conducted fable, but discerned in +Dryden's page, he glows as with fire from heaven, and the Aeneid is a +continued series of whatever is great, elegant, pathetic, and sublime. + +We have already observed, in the Life of Dryden, that it is easier to +discern wherein the beauties of poetical composition consist, than to +throw out those beauties. Dr. Trapp, in his Prælectiones Poeticæ, has +shewn how much he was master of every species of poetry; that is, how +excellently he understood the structure of a poem; what noble rules he +was capable of laying down, and what excellent materials he could +afford, for building upon such a foundation, a beautiful fabric. There +are few better criticisms in any language, Dryden's dedications and +prefaces excepted, than are contained in these lectures. The mind is +enlarged by them, takes in a wide range of poetical ideas, and is taught +to discover how many amazing requisites are necessary to form a poet. In +his introduction to the first lecture, he takes occasion to state a +comparison between poetry and painting, and shew how small pretensions +the professors of the latter have, to compare themselves with the +former. 'The painter indeed (says he) has to do with the passions, but +then they are such passions only, as discover themselves in the +countenance; but the poet is to do more, he is to trace the rise of +those passions, to watch their gradations, to pain their progress, and +mark them in the heart in their genuine conflicts; and, continues he, +the disproportion between the soul and the body, is not greater than the +disproportion between the painter and the poet. + +Dr. Trapp is author of a tragedy called Abramule, or Love and Empire, +acted at the New Theatre at Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1704, dedicated to the +Right Honourable the Lady Harriot Godolphin. Scene Constantinople. The +story is built upon the dethronement of Mahomet IV. + +Our author has likewise written a piece called The Church of England +Defended against the False Reasoning of the Church of Rome. Several +occasional poems were written by him in English; and there is one Latin +poem of his in the Musæ Anglicanæ. He has translated the Paradise Lost +into Latin Verse, with little success, and, as he published it at his +own risk, he was a considerable loser. The capital blemish of that work, +is, the unharmonious versification, which gives perpetual offence to the +ear, neither is the language universally pure. + +He died in the month of November 1747, and left behind him the character +of a pathetic and instructive preacher, a profound scholar, a discerning +critic, a benevolent gentleman, and a pious Christian. + +We shall conclude the life of Dr. Trapp with the following verses of Mr. +Layng, which are expressive of the Dr's. character as a critic and a +poet. The author, after applauding Dryden's version, proceeds thus in +favour of Trapp. + + Behind we see a younger bard arise, + No vulgar rival in the grand emprize. + Hail! learned Trapp! upon whose brow we find + The poet's bays, and critic's ivy join'd. + Blest saint! to all that's virtuous ever dear, + Thy recent fate demands a friendly tear. + None was more vers'd in all the Roman store, + Or the wide circle of the Grecian lore, + Less happy, from the world recluse too long, + In all the sweeter ornaments of song; + Intent to teach, too careless how to please, + He boasts in strength, whate'er he wants in ease. + +FOOTNOTE + +[1] By his last Will he ordered a copy of that book to be given to each + of his parishioners, that when he could no longer speak to them from + the pulpit, he might endeavour to instruct them in his writings. + + + * * * * * + + +MR. SAMUEL BOYSE. + +This Poet was the son of the Revd. Mr. Joseph Boyse, a Dissenting +minister of great eminence in Dublin. Our author's father was a person +so much respected by those immediately under his ministerial care, and +whoever else had the happiness of his acquaintance, that people of all +denominations united in esteeming him, not only for his learning and +abilities, but his extensive humanity and undisembled piety. + +The Revd. Gentleman had so much dignity in his manner, that he obtained +from the common people the name of bishop Boyse, meant as a compliment +to the gracefulness of his person and mien. But though Mr. Boyse was +thus reverenced by the multitude, and courted by people of fashion, he +never contracted the least air of superciliousness: He was humane and +affable in his temper, equally removed from the stiffness of pedantry, +and offensive levity. During his ministerial charge at Dublin, he +published many sermons, which compose several folio volumes, a few Poems +and other Tracts; but what chiefly distinguished him as a writer, was +the controversy he carried on with Dr. King, archbishop of Dublin, and +author of the Origin of Evil, concerning the office of a scriptural +bishop. This controverted point was managed on both sides with great +force of argument, and calmness of temper. The bishop asserted that the +episcopal right of jurisdiction had its foundation in the New-Testament: +Mr. Boyse, consistent with his principles, denied that any +ecclesiastical superiority appeared there; and in the opinion of many, +Mr. Boyse was more than equal to his antagonist, whom he treated in the +course of the controversy, with the greatest candour and good-manners. + +It has been reported that Mr. Boyse had two brothers, one a clergyman of +the church of England, and the other a cardinal at Rome; but of this +circumstance we have no absolute certainty: Be it as it may, he had, +however, no brother so much distinguished in the world as himself. + +We shall now enter upon the life of our poet, who will appear while we +trace it, to have been in every respect the reverse of his father, +genius excepted.-- + +He was born in the year 1708, and received the rudiments of his +education in a private school in Dublin. When he was but eighteen years +old, his father, who probably intended him for the ministry, sent him to +the university of Glasgow, that he might finish his education there. He +had not been a year at the university, till he fell in love with one +Miss Atchenson, the daughter of a tradesman in that city, and was +imprudent enough to interrupt his education, by marrying her, before he +had entered into his 20th year. + +The natural extravagance of his temper soon exposed him to want, and as +he had now the additional charge of a wife, his reduced circumstances +obliged him to quit the university, and go over with his wife (who also +carried a sister with her) to Dublin; where they relied upon the old +gentleman for support. His behaviour in this dependent state, was the +very reverse of what it should have been. In place of directing his +studies to some useful acquisition, so as to support himself and family, +he spent his time in the most abject trifling, and drew many heavy +expences upon his father, who had no other means of supporting himself +than what his congregation afforded, and a small estate of fourscore +pounds a year in Yorkshire. + +Considerations of prudence never entered into the heart of this unhappy +young roan, who ran from one excess to another, till an indulgent parent +was reduced by his means to very great embarrassments. Young Boyse was +of all men the farthest removed from a gentleman; he had no graces of +person, and fewer still of conversation. To this cause it was perhaps +owing, that his wife, naturally of a very volatile sprightly temper, +either grew tired of him, or became enamour'd of variety. It was however +abundantly certain, that she pursued intrigues with other men; and what +is still more surprising, not without the knowledge of her husband, who +had either too abject a spirit to resent it; or was bribed by some +lucrative advantage, to which, he had a mind mean enough to stoop. +Though never were three people of more libertine characters than young +Boyse, his wife, and sister-in-law; yet the two ladies wore such a mask +of decency before the old gentleman, that his fondness was never abated. +He hoped that time and experience would recover his son from his courses +of extravagance; and as he was of an unsuspecting temper, he had not the +least jealousy of the real conduct of his daughter-in-law, who grew +every day in his favour, and continued to blind him, by the seeming +decency of her behaviour, and a performance of those acts of piety, he +naturally expected from her. But the old gentleman was deceived in his +hopes, for time made no alteration in his son. The estate his father +possessed in Yorkshire was sold to discharge his debts; and when the old +man lay in his last sickness, he was entirely supported by presents from +his congregation, and buried at their expence. + +We have no farther account of Mr. Boyse, till we find him soon after his +father's death at Edinburgh; but from what motives he went there we +cannot now discover. At this place his poetical genius raised him many +friends, and some patrons of very great eminence. He published a volume +of poems in 1731, to which is subjoined The Tablature of Cebes, and a +Letter upon Liberty, inserted in the Dublin Journal 1726; and by these +he obtained a very great reputation. They are addressed to the countess +of Eglington, a lady of distinguished excellencies, and so much +celebrated for her beauty, that it would be difficult for the best +panegyrist to be too lavish in her praise. This amiable lady was +patroness of all men of wit, and very much distinguished Mr. Boyse, +while he resided in that country. She was not however exempt from the +lot of humanity, and her conspicuous accomplishments were yet chequered +with failings: The chief of which was too high a consciousness of her +own charms, which inspired a vanity that sometimes betrayed her into +errors. + +The following short anecdote was frequently related by Mr. Boyse. The +countess one day came into the bed chamber of her youngest daughter, +then about 13 years old, while she was dressing at her toilet. The +countess observing the assiduity with which the young lady wanted to set +off her person to the best advantage, asked her, what she would give to +be 'as handsome as her mamma?' To which Miss replied; 'As much as your +ladyship would give to be as young as me.' This smart repartee which was +at once pungent and witty, very sensibly affected the countess; who for +the future was less lavish in praise of her own charms.-- + +Upon the death of the viscountess Stormont, Mr. Boyse wrote an Elegy, +which was very much applauded by her ladyship's relations. This Elegy he +intitled, The Tears of the Muses, as the deceased lady was a woman of +the most refined taste in the sciences, and a great admirer of poetry. +The lord Stormont was so much pleased with this mark of esteem paid to +the memory of his lady, that he ordered a very handsome present to be +given to Mr. Boyse, by his attorney at Edinburgh. + +Though Mr. Boyse's name was very well known in that city, yet his person +was obscure; for as he was altogether unsocial in his temper, he had but +few acquaintances, and those of a cast much inferior to himself, and +with whom he ought to have been ashamed to associate. It was some time +before he could be found out; and lord Stormont's kind intentions had +been defeated, if an advertisement had not been published in one of +their weekly papers, desiring the author of the Tears of the Muses to +call at the house of the attorney[1]. + +The personal obscurity of Mr. Boyse might perhaps not be altogether +owing to his habits of gloominess and retirement. Nothing is more +difficult in that city, than to make acquaintances; There are no places +where people meet and converse promiscuously: There is a reservedness +and gravity in the manner of the inhabitants, which makes a stranger +averse to approach them. They naturally love solitude; and are very slow +in contracting friendships. They are generous; but it is with a bad +grace. They are strangers to affability, and they maintain a haughtiness +and an apparent indifference, which deters a man from courting them. +They may be said to be hospitable, but not complaisant to strangers: +Insincerity and cruelty have no existence amongst them; but if they +ought not to be hated, they can never be much loved, for they are +incapable of insinuation, and their ignorance of the world makes them +unfit for entertaining sensible strangers. They are public-spirited, but +torn to pieces by factions. A gloominess in religion renders one part of +them very barbarous, and an enthusiasm in politics so transports the +genteeler part, that they sacrifice to party almost every consideration +of tenderness. Among such a people, a man may long live, little known, +and less instructed; for their reservedness renders them +uncommunicative, and their excessive haughtiness prevents them from +being solicitous of knowledge. + +The Scots are far from being a dull nation; they are lovers of pomp and +shew; but then there is an eternal stiffness, a kind of affected +dignity, which spoils their pleasures. Hence we have the less reason to +wonder that Boyse lived obscurely at Edinburgh. His extreme carelesness +about his dress was a circumstance very inauspicious to a man who lives +in that city. They are such lovers of this kind of decorum, that they +will admit of no infringement upon it; and were a man with more wit than +Pope, and more philosophy than Newton, to appear at their market place +negligent in his apparel, he would be avoided by his acquaintances who +would rather risk his displeasure, than the censure of the public, which +would not fail to stigmatize them, for assocciating with a man seemingly +poor; for they measure poverty, and riches, understanding, or its +opposite, by exterior appearance. They have many virtues, but their not +being polished prevents them from shining. + +The notice which Lady Eglington and the lord Stormont took of our poet, +recommended him likewise to the patronage of the dutchess of Gordon, who +was a lady not only distinguished for her taste; but cultivated a +correspondence with some of the most eminent poets then living. The +dutchess was so zealous in Mr. Boyse's affairs, and so felicitous to +raise him above necessity, that she employed her interest in procuring +the promise of a place for him. She gave him a letter, which he was next +day to deliver to one of the commissioners of the customs at Edinburgh. +It happened that he was then some miles distant from the city, and the +morning on which he was to have rode to town with her grace's letter of +recommendation proved to be rainy. This slender circumstance was enough +to discourage Boyse, who never looked beyond the present moment: He +declined going to town on account of the rainy weather, and while he let +slip the opportunity, the place was bestowed upon another, which the +commissioner declared he kept for some time vacant, in expectation of +seeing a person recommended by the dutchess of Gordon. + +Of a man of this indolence of temper, this sluggish meanness of spirit, +the reader cannot be surprised to find the future conduct consist of a +continued serious of blunders, for he who had not spirit to prosecute an +advantage put in his hands, will neither bear distress with fortitude, +nor struggle to surmount it with resolution. + +Boyse at last, having defeated all the kind intentions of his patrons +towards him, fell into a contempt and poverty, which obliged him to quit +Edinburgh, as his creditors began to sollicit the payment of their +debts, with an earnestness not to be trifled with. He communicated his +design of going to London to the dutchess of Gordon; who having still a +very high opinion of his poetical abilities, gave him a letter of +recommendation to Mr. Pope, and obtained another for him to Sir Peter +King, the lord chancellor of England. Lord Stormont recommended him to +the sollicitor-general his brother, and many other persons of the first +fashion. + +Upon receiving these letters, he, with great caution, quitted Edinburgh, +regretted by none but his creditors, who were so exaggerated as to +threaten to prosecute him wherever he should be found. But these menaces +were never carried into execution, perhaps from the consideration of his +indigence, which afforded no probable prospect of their being paid. + +Upon his arrival in London, he went to Twickenham, in order to deliver +the dutchess of Gordon's letter to Mr. Pope; but that gentleman not +being at home, Mr. Boyse never gave himself the trouble to repeat his +visit, nor in all probability would Pope have been over-fond of him; as +there was nothing in his conversation which any wife indicated the +abilities he possessed. He frequently related, that he was graciously +received by Sir Peter King, dined at his table, and partook of his +pleasures. But this relation, they who knew Mr. Boyse well, never could +believe; for he was so abject in his disposition, that he never could +look any man in the face whose appearance was better than his own; nor +likely had courage to sit at Sir Peter King's table, where every one was +probably his superior. He had no power of maintaining the dignity of +wit, and though his understanding was very extensive, yet but a few +could discover that he had any genius above the common rank. This want +of spirit produced the greatest part of his calamities, because he; knew +not how to avoid them by any vigorous effort of his mind. He wrote +poems, but those, though excellent in their kind, were lost to the +world, by being introduced with no advantage. He had so strong a +propension to groveling, that his acquaintance were generally of such a +cast, as could be of no service to him; and those in higher life he +addressed by letters, not having sufficient confidence or politeness to +converse familiarly with them; a freedom to which he was intitled by the +power of his genius. Thus unfit to support himself in the world, he was +exposed to variety of distress, from which he could invent no means of +extricating himself, but by writing mendicant letters. It will appear +amazing, but impartiality obliges us to relate it, that this man, of so +abject a spirit, was voluptuous and luxurious: He had no taste for any +thing elegant, and yet was to the last degree expensive. Can it be +believed, that often when he had received half a guinea, in consequence +of a supplicating letter, he would go into a tavern, order a supper to +be prepared, drink of the richest wines, and spend all the money that +had just been given him in charity, without having any one to +participate the regale with him, and while his wife and child were +starving home? This is an instance of base selfishness, for which no +name is as yet invented, and except by another poet[2], with some +variation of circumstances, was perhaps never practiced by the most +sensual epicure. + +He had yet some friends, many of the most eminent dissenters, who from a +regard to the memory of his father, afforded him supplies from time to +time. Mr. Boyse by perpetual applications, at last exhausted their +patience; and they were obliged to abandon a man on whom their +liberality was ill bestowed, as it produced no other advantage to him, +than a few days support, when he returned again with the same +necessities. + +The epithet of cold has often been given to charity, perhaps with a +great deal of truth; but if any thing can warrant us to withhold our +charity, it is the consideration that its purposes are prostituted by +those on whom it is bestowed. + +We have already taken notice of the infidelity of his wife; and now her +circumstances were reduced, her virtue did not improve. She fell into a +way of life disgraceful to the sex; nor was his behaviour in any degree +more moral. They were frequently covered with ignominy, reproaching one +another for the acquisition of a disease, which both deserved, because +mutually guilty. + +It was about the year 1740, that Mr. Boyse reduced to the last extremity +of human wretchedness, had not a shirt, a coat, or any kind of apparel +to put on; the sheets in which he lay were carried to the pawnbroker's, +and he was obliged to be confined to bed, with no other covering than a +blanket. He had little support but what he got by writing letters to his +friends in the most abject stile. He was perhaps ashamed to let this +instance of distress be known to his friends, which might be the +occasion of his remaining six weeks in that situation. During this time +he had some employment in writing verses for the Magazines; and whoever +had seen him in his study, must have thought the object singular enough. +He sat up in bed with the blanket wrapt about him, through which he had +cut a hole large enough to admit his arm, and placing the paper upon his +knee, scribbled in the best manner he could the verses he was obliged to +make: Whatever he got by those, or any of his begging letters, was but +just sufficient for the preservation of life. And perhaps he would have +remained much longer in this distressful state, had not a compassionate +gentleman, upon hearing this circumstance related, ordered his cloaths +to be taken out of pawn, and enabled him to appear again abroad. + +This six weeks penance one would imagine sufficient to deter him for the +future, from suffering himself to be exposed to such distresses; but by +a long habit of want it grew familiar to him, and as he had less +delicacy than other men, he was perhaps less afflicted with his exterior +meanness. For the future, whenever his distresses so press'd, as to +induce him to dispose of his shirt, he fell upon an artificial method of +supplying one. He cut some white paper in slips, which he tyed round his +wrists, and in the same manner supplied his neck. In this plight he +frequently appeared abroad, with the additional inconvenience of want of +breeches. + +He was once sent for in a hurry, to the house of a printer who had +employed him to write a poem for his Magazine: Boyse then was without +breeches, or waistcoat, but was yet possessed of a coat, which he threw +upon him, and in this ridiculous manner went to the printer's house; +where he found several women, whom his extraordinary appearance obliged +immediately to retire. + +He fell upon many strange schemes of raising trifling sums: He sometimes +ordered his wife to inform people that he was just expiring, and by this +artifice work upon their compassion; and many of his friends were +frequently surprised to meet the man in the street to day, to whom they +had yesterday sent relief, as to a person on the verge of death. At +other times he would propose subscriptions for poems, of which only the +beginning and conclusion were written; and by this expedient would +relieve some present necessity. But as he seldom was able to put any of +his poems to the press, his veracity in this particular suffered a +diminution; and indeed in almost every other particular he might justly +be suspected; for if he could but gratify an immediate appetite, he +cared not at what expence, whether of the reputation, or purse of +another. + +About the year 1745 Mr. Boyse's wife died. He was then at Reading, and +pretended much concern when he heard of her death. + +It was an affectation in Mr. Boyse to appear very fond of a little lap +dog which he always carried about with him in his arms, imagining it +gave him the air of a man of taste. Boyse, whose circumstances were then +too mean to put himself in mourning, was yet resolved that some part of +his family should. He step'd into a little shop, purchased half a yard +of black ribbon, which he fixed round his dog's neck by way of mourning +for the loss of its mistress. But this was not the only ridiculous +instance of his behaviour on the death of his wife. Such was the +sottishness of this man, that when he was in liquor, he always indulged +a dream of his wife's being still alive, and would talk very spightfully +of those by whom he suspected she was entertained. This he never +mentioned however, except in his cups, which was only as often as he had +money to spend. The manner of his becoming intoxicated was very +particular. As he had no spirit to keep good company, so he retired to +some obscure ale-house, and regaled himself with hot two-penny, which +though he drank in very great quantities, yet he had never more than a +pennyworth at a time.--Such a practice rendered him so compleatly +sottish, that even his abilities, as an author, became sensibly +impaired. + +We have already mentioned his being at Reading. His business there was +to compile a Review of the most material transactions at home and +abroad, during the last war; in which he has included a short account of +the late rebellion. For this work by which he got some reputation, he +was paid by the sheet, a price sufficient to keep him from starving, and +that was all. To such distress must that man be driven, who is destitute +of prudence to direct the efforts of his genius. In this work Mr. Boyse +discovers how capable he was of the most irksome and laborious +employment, when he maintained a power over his appetites, and kept +himself free from intemperance. + +While he remained at Reading, he addressed, by supplicating letters, two +Irish noblemen, lord Kenyston, and lord Kingsland, who resided in +Berkshire, and received some money from them; he also met with another +gentleman there of a benevolent disposition, who, from the knowledge he +had of the father, pitied the distresses of the son, and by his interest +with some eminent Dissenters in those parts, railed a sufficient sum to +cloath him, for the abjectness of his appearance secluded our poet even +from the table of his Printer[3]. + +Upon his return from Reading, his behaviour was more decent than it had +ever been before, and there were some hopes that a reformation, tho' +late, would be wrought upon him. He was employed by a Bookseller to +translate Fenelon on the Existence of God, during which time he married +a second wife, a woman in low circumstances, but well enough adapted to +his taste. He began now to live with more regard to his character, and +support a better appearance than usual; but while his circumstances were +mending, and his irregular appetites losing ground, his health visibly +declined: he had the satisfaction, while in this lingering illness, to +observe a poem of his, entitled The Deity, recommended by two eminent +writers, the ingenious Mr. Fielding, and the rev. Mr. James Harvey, +author of The Meditations. The former, in the beginning of his humorous +History of Tom Jones, calls it an excellent poem. Mr. Harvey stiles it a +pious and instructive piece; and that worthy gentleman, upon hearing +that the author was in necessitous circumstances, deposited two guineas +in the hands of a trusty person to be given him, whenever his occasions +should press. This poem was written some years before Mr. Harvey or Mr. +Fielding took any notice of it, but it was lost to the public, as the +reputation of the Bookseller consisted in sending into the world +abundance of trifles, amongst which, it was considered as one. Mr. Boyse +said, that upon its first publication, a gentleman acquainted with Mr. +Pope, took occasion to ask that poet, if he was not the author of it, to +which Mr. Pope replied, 'that he was not the author, but that there were +many lines in it, of which he should not be ashamed.' This Mr. Boyse +considered as a very great compliment. The poem indeed abounds with +shining lines and elevated sentiments on the several Attributes of the +Supreme Being; but then it is without a plan, or any connexion of parts, +for it may be read either backwards or forwards, as the reader pleases. + +While Mr. Boyse was in this lingering illness, he seemed to have no +notion of his approaching end, nor did he expect it, 'till it was almost +past the thinking of. His mind, indeed, was often religiously disposed; +he frequently talked upon that subject, and, probably suffered a great +deal from the remorse of his conscience. The early impressions of his +good education were never entirely obliterated, and his whole life was a +continued struggle between his will and reason, as he was always +violating his duty to the one, while he fell under the subjection of the +other. It was in consequence of this war in his mind, that he wrote a +beautiful poem called The Recantation. + +In the month of May, 1749, he died in obscure lodgings near Shoe-Lane. +An old acquaintance of his endeavoured to collect money to defray the +expences of his funeral, so that the scandal of being buried by the +parish might be avoided. But his endeavours were in vain, for the +persons he sollicited, had been so troubled with applications during the +life of this unhappy man, that they refused to contribute any thing +towards his funeral. The remains of this son of the muses were, with +very little ceremony, hurried away by the parish officers, and thrown +amongst common beggars; though with this distinction, that the service +of the church was performed over his corpse. Never was an exit more +shocking, nor a life spent with less grace, than those of Mr. Boyse, and +never were such distinguished abilities given to less purpose. His +genius was not confined to poetry only, he had a taste for painting, +music and heraldry, with the latter of which he was very well +acquainted. His poetical pieces, if collected, would make six moderate +volumes. Many of them are featured in the Gentleman's Magazine, marked +with the letter Y. and Alceus. Two volumes were published in London, but +as they never had any great sale, it will be difficult to find them. + +An ode of his in the manner of Spenser, entitled The Olive, was +addressed to Sir Robert Walpole, which procured him a present of ten +guineas. He translated a poem from the High Dutch of Van Haren, in +praise of peace, upon the conclusion of that made at Aix la Chapelle; +but the poem which procured him the greatest reputation, was, that upon +the Attributes of the Deity, of which we have already taken notice. He +was employed by Mr. Ogle to translate some of Chaucer's Tales into +modern English, which he performed with great spirit, and received at +the rate of three pence a line for his trouble. Mr. Ogle published a +complete edition of that old poet's Canterbury Tales Modernized; and Mr. +Boyse's name is put to such Tales as were done by him. It had often been +urged to Mr. Boyse to turn his thoughts towards the drama, as that was +the most profitable kind of poetical writing, and as many a poet of +inferior genius to him has raised large contributions on the public by +the success of their plays. But Boyse never seemed to relish this +proposal, perhaps from a consciousness that he had not spirit to +prosecute the arduous task of introducing it on the stage; or that he +thought himself unequal to the task. + +In the year 1743 Mr. Boyse published without his name, an Ode on the +battle of Dettingen, entitled Albion's Triumph; some Stanza's of which +we shall give as a specimen of Mr. Boyse's poetry. + +STANZA's from ALBION's Triumph. + +XIII. + + But how, blest sovereign! shall th'unpractis'd muse + These recent honours of thy reign rehearse! + How to thy virtues turn her dazzled views, + Or consecrate thy deeds in equal verse! + Amidst the field of horrors wide display'd, + How paint the calm[4] that smil'd upon, thy brow! + Or speak that thought which every part surveyed, + 'Directing where the rage of war should glow:'[5] + While watchful angels hover'd round thy head, + And victory on high the palm of glory spread. + +XIV. + + Nor royal youth reject the artless praise, + Which due to worth like thine the Muse bestows, + Who with prophetic extasy surveys + These early wreaths of fame adorn thy brows. + Aspire like Nassau in the glorious strife, + Keep thy great fires' examples full in eye; + But oh! for Britain's sake, consult a life + The noblest triumphs are too mean to buy; + And while you purchase glory--bear in mind, + A prince's truest fame is to protect mankind. + +XV. + + Alike in arts and arms acknowledg'd great, + Let Stair accept the lays he once could own! + Nor Carteret, thou the column of the state! + The friend of science! on the labour frown! + Nor shall, unjust to foreign worth, the Muse + In silence Austria's valiant chiefs conceal; + While Aremberg's heroic line she views, + And Neiperg's conduct strikes even envy pale: + Names Gallia yet shall further learn to fear, + And Britain, grateful still, shall treasure up as dear! + +XIX. + + But oh! acknowledg'd victor in the field, + What thanks, dread sovereign, shall thy toils reward! + Such honours as delivered nations yield, + Such for thy virtues justly stand prepar'd: + When erst on Oudenarde's decisive plain, + Before thy youth, the Gaul defeated fled, + The eye of fate[6] foresaw on distant Maine, + The laurels now that shine around thy head: + Oh should entwin'd with these fresh Olives bloom! + Thy Triumphs then would shame the pride of antient Rome. + +XX. + + Mean time, while from this fair event we shew + That British valour happily survives, + And cherish'd by the king's propitious view, + The rising plant of glory sweetly thrives! + Let all domestic faction learn to cease, + Till humbled Gaul no more the world alarms: + Till GEORGE procures to Europe solid peace, + A peace secur'd by his victorious arms: + And binds in iron fetters ear to ear, + Ambition, Rapine, Havock, and Despair, + With all the ghastly fiends of desolating war. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] A Profession, which in that City is denominated a Writer. + +[2] Savage. + +[3] During his abode at Reading an accident had like to have put an end + to his follies and his life together; for he had the ill-luck to + fall from his garret down the whole flight of stairs; but being + destined to lengthen out a useless life for some time longer, he + escaped with only a severe bruising. + +[4] The King gave his orders with the utmost calmness, tho' no body was + more expos'd. + +[5] + Inspir'd repuls'd battalions to engage, + And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + Mr. Addison's Campaign. + +[6] His Majesty early distinguished himself as a volunteer at the battle + of Oudenarde, in 1708. + + + * * * * * + + +Sir RICHARD BLACKMORE. + +This eminent poet and physician was son of Mr. Robert Blackmore, an +Attorney at Law. He received his early education at a private country +school, from whence, in the 13th year of his age, he was removed to +Westminster, and in a short time after to the university of Oxford, +where he continued thirteen years. + +In the early period of our author's life he was a Schoolmaster, as +appears by a satirical copy of verses Dr. Drake wrote against him, +consisting of upwards of forty lines, of which the following are very +pungent. + + By nature form'd, by want a pedant made, + Blackmore at first set up the whipping trade: + Next quack commenc'd; then fierce with pride he swore, + That tooth-ach, gout, and corns should be no more. + In vain his drugs, as well as birch he tried; + His boys grew blockheads, and his patients died. + +Some circumstances concurring, it may be presumed in Sir Richard's +favour, he travelled into Italy, and at Padua took his degrees in +physic[1]. + +He gratified his curiosity in visiting France, Germany, and the Low +Countries, and after spending a year and a half in this delightful +exercise, he returned to England. As Mr. Blackmore had made physic his +chief study, so he repaired to London to enter upon the practice of it, +and no long after he was chosen fellow of the Royal College of +Physicians, by the charter of King James II. Sir Richard had seen too +much of foreign slavery to be fond of domestic chains, and therefore +early declared himself in favour of the revolution, and espoused those +principles upon which it was effected. This zeal, recommended him to +King William, and in the year 1697 he was sworn one of his physicians in +ordinary. He was honoured by that Prince with a gold medal and chain, +was likewise knighted by him, and upon his majesty's death was one of +those who gave their opinion in the opening of the king's body. Upon +Queen Anne's accession to the throne, he was appointed one of her +physicians, and continued so for some time. + +This gentleman is author of more original poems, of a considerable +length, besides a variety of other works, than can well be conceived +could have been composed by one man, during the longest period of human +life. He was a chaste writer; he struggled in the cause of virtue, even +in those times, when vice had the countenance of the great, and when an +almost universal degeneracy prevailed. He was not afraid to appear the +advocate of virtue, in opposition to the highest authority, and no +lustre of abilities in his opponents could deter him from stripping vice +of those gaudy colours, with which poets of the first eminence had +cloathed her. + +An elegant writer having occasion to mention the state of wit in the +reign of King Charles II, characterizes the poets in the following +manner; + + The wits of Charles found easier ways to fame: + Nor sought for Johnson's art, nor Shakespear's flame: + Themselves they studied; as they lived, they writ, + Intrigue was plot, obscenity was wit. + Their cause was gen'ral, their supports were strong, + Their slaves were willing, and their reign was long. + +Mr. Pope somewhere says, + + Unhappy Dryden--in all Charles's days, + Roscommon only boasts unspotted lays. + +He might likewise have excepted Blackmore, who was not only chaste in +his own writings, but endeavoured to correct those who prostituted the +gifts of heaven, to the inglorious purposes of vice and folly, and he +was, at least, as good a poet as Roscommon. + +Sir Richard had, by the freedom of his censures on the libertine writers +of his age, incurred the heavy displeasure of Dryden, who takes all +opportunities to ridicule him, and somewhere says, that he wrote to the +rumbling of his chariot wheels. And as if to be at enmity with Blackmore +had been hereditary to our greatest poets, we find Mr. Pope taking up +the quarrel where Dryden left it, and persecuting this worthy man with +yet a severer degree of satire. Blackmore had been informed by Curl, +that Mr. Pope was the author of a Travestie on the first Psalm, which he +takes occasion to reprehend in his Essay on Polite Learning, vol. ii. p. +270. He ever considered it as the disgrace of genius, that it should be +employed to burlesque any of the sacred compositions, which as they +speak the language of inspiration, tend to awaken the soul to virtue, +and inspire it with a sublime devotion. Warmed in this honourable cause, +he might, perhaps, suffer his zeal to transport him to a height, which +his enemies called enthusiasm; but of the two extremes, no doubt can be +made, that Blackmore's was the safest, and even dullness in favour of +virtue (which, by the way, was not the case with Sir Richard) is more +tolerable than the brightest parts employed in the cause of lewdness and +debauchery. + +The poem for which Sir Richard had been most celebrated, was, +undoubtedly, his Creation, now deservedly become a classic. We cannot +convey a more amiable idea of this great production, than in the words +of Mr. Addison, in his Spectator, Number 339, who, after having +criticised on that book of Milton, which gives an account of the Works +of Creation, thus proceeds, 'I cannot conclude this book upon the +Creation, without mentioning a poem which has lately appeared under that +title. The work was undertaken with so good an intention, and executed +with so great a mastery, that it deserves to be, looked upon as one of +the most useful and noble productions in our English verse. The reader +cannot but be pleased to find the depths of philosophy, enlivened with +all the charms of poetry, and to see so great a strength of reason +amidst so beautiful a redundancy of the imagination. The author has +shewn us that design in all the works of nature, which necessarily leads +us to the knowledge of its first cause. In short, he has illustrated, by +numberless and incontestable instances, that divine wisdom, which the +son of Sirach has so nobly ascribed to the Supreme Being in his +formation of the world, when he tells us, that he _created her, and saw +her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works_.' + +The design of this excellent poem is to demonstrate the self-existence +of an eternal mind, from the created and dependent existence of the +universe, and to confute the hypothesis of the Epicureans and the +Fatalists, under whom all the patrons of impiety, ancient and modern, of +whatsoever denomination may be ranged. The first of whom affirm, the +world was in time caused by chance, and the other, that it existed from +eternity without a cause. 'Tis true, both these acknowledge the +existence of Gods, but by their absurd and ridiculous description of +them, it is plain, they had nothing else in view, but to avoid the +obnoxious character of atheistical philosophers. To adorn this poem, no +embellishments are borrowed from the exploded and obsolete theology of +the ancient idolaters of Greece and Rome; no rapturous invocations are +addressed to their idle deities, nor any allusions to their fabulous +actions. 'I have more than once (says Sir Richard) publicly declared my +opinion, that a Christian poet cannot but appear monstrous and +ridiculous in a Pagan dress. That though it should be granted, that the +Heathen religion might be allowed a place in light and loose songs, mock +heroic, and the lower lyric compositions, yet in Christian poems, of the +sublime and greater kind, a mixture of the Pagan theology must, by all +who are masters of reflexion and good sense, be condemned, if not as +impious, at least, as impertinent and absurd. And this is a truth so +clear and evident, that I make no doubt it will, by degrees, force its +way, and prevail over the contrary practice. Should Britons recover +their virtue, and reform their taste, they could no more bear the +Heathen religion in verse, than in prose. Christian poets, as well as +Christian preachers, the business of both being to instruct the people, +though the last only are wholly appropriated to it, should endeavour to +confirm, and spread their own religion. If a divine should begin his +sermon with a solemn prayer to Bacchus or Apollo, to Mars or Venus, what +would the people think of their preacher? and is it not as really, +though not equally absurd, for a poet in a great and serious poem, +wherein he celebrates some wonderful and happy event of divine +providence, or magnifies the illustrious instrument that was honoured to +bring the event about, to address his prayer to false deities, and cry +for help to the abominations of the heathen?' + +Mr. Gildon, in his Compleat Art of Poetry, after speaking of our author +in the most respectful terms, says, 'that notwithstanding his merit, +this admirable author did not think himself upon the same footing with +Homer.' But how different is the judgment of Mr. Dennis, who, in this +particular, opposes his friend Mr. Gildon. + +'Blackmore's action (says he) has neither unity, integrity, morality, +nor universality, and consequently he can have no fable, and no heroic +poem. His narration is neither probable, delightful, nor wonderful. His +characters have none of these necessary qualifications.--The things +contained in his narrations, are neither in their own nature delightful +nor numerous enough, nor rightly disposed, nor surprizing, nor +pathetic;' nay he proceeds so far as to say Sir Richard has no genius; +first establishing it as a principle, 'That genius is known by a furious +joy, and pride of soul, on the conception of an extraordinary hint. Many +men (says he) have their hints without these motions of fury and pride +of soul; because they want fire enough to agitate their spirits; and +these we call cold writers. Others who have a great deal of fire, but +have not excellent organs, feel the fore-mentioned motions, without the +extraordinary hints; and these we call fustian writers.' + +And he declares, that Sir Richard hath neither the hints nor the +motions[2]. But Dennis has not contented himself, with charging +Blackmore with want of genius; but has likewise the following remarks to +prove him a bad Church of England man: These are his words. 'All Mr. +Blackmore's coelestial machines, as they cannot be defended so much as +by common received opinion, so are they directly contrary to the +doctrine of the church of England, that miracles had ceased a long time +before prince Arthur come into the world. Now if the doctrine of the +church of England be true, as we are obliged to believe, then are all +the coelestial machines of prince Arthur unsufferable, as wanting not +only human but divine probability. But if the machines are sufferable, +that is, if they have so much as divine probability, then it follows of +necessity, that the doctrine of the church is false; so that I leave it +to every impartial clergyman to consider.' + +If no greater objection could be brought against Blackmore's Prince +Arthur, than those raised by Mr. Dennis, the Poem would be faultless; +for what has the doctrine of the church of England to do with an epic +poem? It is not the doctrine of the church of England, to suppose that +the apostate spirits put the power of the Almighty to proof, by openly +resisting his will, and maintaining an obstinate struggle with the +angels commissioned by him, to drive them from the mansions of the +bless'd; or that they attempted after their perdition, to recover heaven +by violence. These are not the doctrines of the church of England; but +they are conceived in a true spirit of poetry, and furnish those +tremendous descriptions with which Milton has enriched his Paradise +Lost. + +Whoever has read Mr. Dryden's dedication of his Juvenal, will there +perceive, that in that great man's opinion, coelestial machines might +with the utmost propriety be introduced in an Epic Poem, built upon a +christian model; but at the same time he adds, 'The guardian angels of +states and kingdoms are not to be managed by a vulgar hand.' + +Perhaps it may be true, that the guardian angels of states and kingdoms +may have been too powerful for the conduct of Sir Richard Blackmore; but +he has had at least the merit of paving the way, and has set an example +how Epic Poems may be written, upon the principles of christianity; and +has enjoyed a comfort of which no bitterness, or raillery can deprive +him, namely the virtuous intention of doing good, and as he himself +expresses it, 'of rescuing the Muses from the hands of ravishers, +and restoring them again to their chaste and pure mansions.' + +Sir Richard Blackmore died on the 9th of October 1729, in an advanced +age; and left behind him the character of a worthy man, a great poet, +and a friend to religion. Towards the close of his life, his business as +a physician declined, but as he was a man of prudent conduct, it is not +to be supposed that he was subjected to any want by that accident, for +in his earlier years he was considered amongst the first in his +profession, and his practice was consequently very extensive. + +The decay of his employment might partly be owing to old age and +infirmities, which rendered him less active than before, and partly to +the diminution his character might suffer by the eternal war, which the +wits waged against him, who spared neither bitterness nor calumny; and, +perhaps, Sir Richard may be deemed the only poet, who ever suffered for +having too much religion and morality. + +The following is the most accurate account we could obtain of his +writings, which for the sake of distinction we have divided into +classes, by which the reader may discern how various and numerous his +compositions are--To have written so much upon so great a variety of +subjects, and to have written nothing contemptibly, must indicate a +genius much superior to the common standard.--His versification is +almost every where beautiful; and tho' he has been ridiculed in the +Treatise of the Bathos, published in Pope's works, for being too minute +in his descriptions of the objects of nature; yet it rather proceeded +from a philosophical exactness, than a penury of genius. + +It is really astonishing to find Dean Swift, joining issue with less +religious wits, in laughing at Blackmore's works, of which he makes a +ludicrous detail, since they were all written in the cause of virtue, +which it was the Dean's business more immediately to support, as on this +account he enjoy'd his preferment: But the Dean perhaps, was one of +those characters, who chose to sacrifice his cause to his joke. This was +a treatment Sir Richard could never have expected at the hands of a +clergyman. + +A List of Sir Richard Blackmore's +Works. + +THEOLOGICAL. + +I. Just Prejudices against the Arian Hypothesis, Octavo. 1725 + +II. Modern Arians Unmask'd, Octavo, 1721 + +III. Natural Theology; or Moral Duties considered apart from positive; +with some Observations on the Desirableness and Necessity of a +super-natural Revelation, Octavo, 1728 + +IV. The accomplished Preacher; or an Essay upon Divine Eloquence, +Octavo, 1731 + +This Tract was published after the author's death, in pursuance of his +express order, by the Reverend Mr. John White of Nayland in Essex; who +attended on Sir Richard during his last illness, in which he manifested +an elevated piety towards God, and faith in Christ, the Saviour of the +World. Mr. White also applauds him as a person in whose character great +candour and the finest humanity were the prevailing qualities. He +observes also that he had the greatest veneration for the clergy of the +Church of England, whereof he was a member. No one, says he, did more +highly magnify our office, or had a truer esteem and honour for our +persons, discharging our office as we ought, and supporting the holy +character we bear, with an unblameable conversation, + +POETICAL. + +I. Creation, a Philosophical Poem, demonstrating the Existence and +Providence of God, in seven Books, Octavo, 1712 + +II. The Redeemer, a Poem in six Books, Octavo, 1721 + +III. Eliza, a Poem in ten Books, Folio, 1705 + +IV. King Arthur, in ten Books, 1697 + +V. Prince Arthur, in ten Books, 1695 + +VI. King Alfred, in twelve books, Octavo, 1723 + +VII. A Paraphrase on the Book of Job; the Songs of Moses, Deborah and +David; the ii. viii. ciii. cxiv, cxlviii. Psalms. Four chapters of +Isaiah, and the third of Habbakkuk, Folio and Duodecimo, 1716 + +VIII. A New Version of the Book of Psalms, Duodecimo, 1720 + +IX. The Nature of Man, a Poem in three Books, Octavo, 1720 + +X. A Collection of Poems, Octavo, 1716 + +XI. Essays on several Subjects, 2 vols. Octavo. Vol. I. On Epic Poetry, +Wit, False Virtue, Immortality of the Soul, Laws of Nature, Origin of +Civil Power. Vol. II. On Athesim, Spleen, Writing, Future Felicity, +Divine Love. 1716 + +XII. History of the Conspiracy against King William the IIId, 1696, +Octavo, 1723 + +MEDICINAL. + +I. A Discourse on the Plague, with a preparatory Account of Malignant +Fevers, in two Parts; containing an Explication of the Nature of those +Diseases, and the Method of Cure, Octavo, 1720 + +II. A Treatise on the Small-Pox, in two Parts; containing an Account of +the Nature, and several Kinds of that Disease; with the proper Methods +of Cure: And a Dissertation upon the modern Practice of Inoculation, +Octavo, 1722 + +III. A Treatise on Consumptions, and other Distempers belonging to the +Breast and Lungs, Octavo, 1724 + +VI. A Treatise on the Spleen and Vapours; or Hyppocondriacal and +Hysterical Affections; with three Discourses on the Nature and Cure of +the Cholic, Melancholly and Palsy, Octavo, 1725 + +V. A Critical Dissertation upon the Spleen, so far as concerns the +following Question, viz. Whether the Spleen is necessary or useful to +the animal possessed of it? 1725 + +VI. Discourses on the Gout, Rheumatism, and the King's Evil; containing +an Explanation of the Nature, Causes, and different Species of those +Diseases, and the Method of curing them, Octavo, 1726 + +VII. Dissertations on a Dropsy, a Tympany, the Jaundice, the Stone, and +the Diabetes, Octavo, 1727 + +Single POEMS by Sir _Richard Blackmore_. + +I. His Satire against Wit, Folio, 1700 + +II. His Hymn to the Light of the World; with a short Description of the +Cartoons at Hampton-Court, Folio, 1703 + +III. His Advice to the Poets, Folio, 1706 + +IV. His Kit-Kats, Folio, 1708 + +It might justly be esteemed an injury to Blackmore, to dismiss his life +without a specimen from his beautiful and philosophical Poem on the +Creation. In his second Book he demonstrates the existence of a God, +from the wisdom and design which appears in the motions of the heavenly +orbs; but more particularly in the solar system. First in the situation +of the Sun, and its due distance from the earth. The fatal consequences +of its having been placed, otherwise than it is. Secondly, he considers +its diurnal motion, whence the change of the day and night proceeds; +which we shall here insert as a specimen of the elegant versification, +and sublime energy of this Poem. + + Next see Lucretian Sages, see the Sun, + His course diurnal, and his annual run. + How in his glorious race he moves along, + Gay as a bridegroom, as a giant strong. + How his unweari'd labour he repeats, + Returns at morning, and at eve retreats; + And by the distribution of his light, + Now gives to man the day, and now the night: + Night, when the drowsy swain, and trav'ler cease + Their daily toil, and sooth their limbs with ease; + When all the weary sons of woe restrain + Their yielding cares with slumber's silken chain, + Solace sad grief, and lull reluctant pain. + And while the sun, ne'er covetous of rest, + Flies with such rapid speed from east to west, + In tracks oblique he thro' the zodiac rolls, + Between the northern and the southern poles; + From which revolving progress thro' the skies. + The needful seasons of the year arise: + And as he now advances, now retreats, + Whence winter colds proceed, and summer heats, + He qualifies, and chears the air by turns, + Which winter freezes, and which summer burns. + Thus his kind rays the two extremes reduce, + And keep a temper fit for nature's use. + The frost and drought by this alternate pow'r. + The earth's prolific energy restore. + The lives of man and beast demand the change; + Hence fowls the air, and fish the ocean range. + Of heat and cold, this just successive reign, + Which does the balance of the year maintain, + The gard'ner's hopes, and farmer's patience props, + Gives vernal verdure, and autumnal crops. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Jacob. + +[2] Preface to Remarks on Prince Arthur, octavo 1696. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. JAMES THOMSON. + +This celebrated poet, from whom his country has derived the most +distinguished honour, was son of the revd. Mr. Thomson, a minister of +the church of Scotland, in the Presbytery of Jedburgh. + +He was born in the place where his father was minister, about the +beginning of the present century, and received the rudiments of his +education at a private country school. Mr. Thomson, in the early part of +his life, so far from appearing to possess a sprightly genius, was +considered by his school master, and those which directed his education, +as being really without a common share of parts. + +While he was improving himself in the Latin and Greek tongues at this +country school, he often visited a minister, whose charge lay in the +same presbytery with his father's, the revd. Mr. Rickerton, a man of +such amazing powers, that many persons of genius, as well as Mr. +Thomson, who conversed with him, have been astonished, that such great +merit should be buried in an obscure part of the country, where he had +no opportunity to display himself, and, except upon periodical meetings +of the ministers, seldom an opportunity of conversing with men of +learning. + +Though Mr. Thomson's schoolmaster could not discover that he was endowed +with a common portion of understanding, yet Mr. Rickerton was not so +blind to his genius; he distinguished our author's early propension to +poetry, and had once in his hands some of the first attempts Mr. Thomson +ever made in that province. + +It is not to be doubted but our young poet greatly improved while he +continued to converse with Mr. Rickerton, who, as he was a philosophical +man, inspired his mind with a love of the Sciences, nor were the revd. +gentleman's endeavours in vain, for Mr. Thomson has shewn in his works +how well he was acquainted with natural and moral philosophy, a +circumstance which, perhaps, is owing to the early impressions he +received from Mr. Rickerton. + +Nature, which delights in diversifying her gifts, does not bestow upon +every one a power of displaying the abilities she herself has granted to +the best advantage. Though Mr. Rickerton could discover that Mr. +Thomson, so far from being without parts, really possessed a very fine +genius, yet he never could have imagined, as he often declared, that +there existed in his mind such powers, as even by the best cultivation +could have raised him to so high a degree of eminence amongst the poets. + +When Mr. Rickerton first saw Mr. Thomson's Winter, which was in a +Bookseller's shop at Edinburgh, he stood amazed, and after he had read +the lines quoted below, he dropt the poem from his hand in the extasy of +admiration. The lines are his induction to Winter, than which few poets +ever rose to a more sublime height[1]. + +After spending the usual time at a country school in the acquisition of +the dead languages, Mr. Thomson was removed to the university of +Edinburgh, in order to finish his education, and be fitted for the +ministry. Here, as at the country school, he made no great figure: his +companions thought contemptuously of him, and the masters under whom he +studied, had not a higher opinion of our poet's abilities, than their +pupils. His course of attendance upon the classes of philosophy being +finished, he was entered in the Divinity Hall, as one of the candidates +for the ministry, where the students, before they are permitted to enter +on their probation, must yield six years attendance. + +It was in the second year of Mr. Thomson's attendance upon this school +of divinity, whose professor at that time was the revd. and learned Mr. +William Hamilton, a person whom he always mentioned with respect, that +our author was appointed by the professor to write a discourse on the +Power of the Supreme Being. When his companions heard their task +assigned him, they could not but arraign the professor's judgment, for +assigning so copious a theme to a young man, from whom nothing equal to +the subject could be expected. But when Mr. Thomson delivered the +discourse, they had then reason to reproach themselves for want of +discernment, and for indulging a contempt of one superior to the +brightest genius amongst them. This discourse was so sublimely elevated, +that both the professor and the students who heard it delivered, were +astonished. It was written in blank verse, for which Mr. Hamilton +rebuked him, as being improper upon that occasion. Such of his +fellow-students as envied him the success of this discourse, and the +admiration it procured him, employed their industry to trace him as a +plagiary; for they could not be persuaded that a youth seemingly so much +removed from the appearance of genius, could compose a declamation, in +which learning, genius, and judgment had a very great share. Their +search, however, proved fruitless, and Mr. Thomson continued, while he +remained at the university, to possess the honour of that discourse, +without any diminution. + +We are not certain upon what account it was that Mr. Thomson dropt the +notion of going into the ministry; perhaps he imagined it a way of life +too severe for the freedom of his disposition: probably he declined +becoming a presbyterian minister, from a consciousness of his own +genius, which gave him a right to entertain more ambitious views; for it +seldom happens, that a man of great parts can be content with obscurity, +or the low income of sixty pounds a year, in some retired corner of a +neglected country; which must have been the lot of Thomson, if he had +not extended his views beyond the sphere of a minister of the +established church of Scotland. + +After he had dropt all thoughts of the clerical profession, he began to +be more sollicitous of distinguishing his genius, as he placed some +dependence upon it, and hoped to acquire such patronage as would enable +him to appear in life with advantage. But the part of the world where he +then was, could not be very auspicious to such hopes; for which reason +he began to turn his eyes towards the grand metropolis. + +The first poem of Mr. Thomson's, which procured him any reputation from +the public, was his Winter, of which mention is already made, and +further notice will be taken; but he had private approbation for several +of his pieces, long before his Winter was published, or before he +quitted his native country. He wrote a Paraphrase on the 104th Psalm, +which, after it had received the approbation of Mr. Rickerton, he +permitted his friends to copy. By some means or other this Paraphrase +fell into the hands of Mr. Auditor Benson, who, expressing his +admiration of it, said, that he doubted not if the author was in London, +but he would meet with encouragement equal to his merit. This +observation of Benson's was communicated to Thomson by a letter, and, no +doubt, had its natural influence in inflaming his heart, and hastening +his journey to the metropolis. He soon set out for Newcastle, where he +took shipping, and landed at Billinsgate. When he arrived, it was his +immediate care to wait on [2]Mr. Mallet, who then lived in +Hanover-Square in the character of tutor to his grace the duke of +Montrose, and his late brother lord G. Graham. Before Mr. Thomson +reached Hanover-Square, an accident happened to him, which, as it may +divert some of our readers, we shall here insert. He had received +letters of recommendation from a gentleman of rank in Scotland, to some +persons of distinction in London, which he had carefully tied up in his +pocket-handkerchief. As he sauntered along the streets, he could not +withhold his admiration of the magnitude, opulence, and various objects +this great metropolis continually presented to his view. These must +naturally have diverted the imagination of a man of less reflexion, and +it is not greatly to be wondered at, if Mr. Thomson's mind was so +ingrossed by these new presented scenes, as to be absent to the busy +crowds around him. He often stopped to gratify his curiosity, the +consequences of which he afterwards experienced. With an honest +simplicity of heart, unsuspecting, as unknowing of guilt, he was ten +times longer in reaching Hanover-Square, than one less sensible and +curious would have been. When he arrived, he found he had paid for his +curiosity; his pocket was picked of his handkerchief, and all the +letters that were wrapped up in it. This accident would have proved very +mortifying to a man less philosophical than Thomson; but he was of a +temper never to be agitated; he then smiled at it, and frequently made +his companions laugh at the relation. + +It is natural to suppose, that as soon as Mr. Thomson arrived in town, +he shewed to some of his friends his poem on Winter[3]. The approbation +it might meet with from them, was not, however, a sufficient +recommendation to introduce it to the world. He had the mortification of +offering it to several Booksellers without success, who, perhaps, not +being qualified themselves to judge of the merit of the performance, +refused to risque the necessary expences, on the work of an obscure +stranger, whose name could be no recommendation to it. These were severe +repulses; but, at last, the difficulty was surmounted. Mr. Mallet, +offered it to Mr. Millan, now Bookseller at Charing-Cross, who without +making any scruples, printed it. For some time Mr. Millan had reason to +believe, that he should be a loser by his frankness; for the impression +lay like as paper on his hands, few copies being sold, 'till by an +accident its merit was discovered.[4] One Mr. Whatley, a man of some +taste in letters, but perfectly enthusiastic in the admiration of any +thing which pleased him, happened to cast his eye upon it, and finding +something which delighted him, perused the whole, not without growing +astonishment, that the poem should be unknown, and the author obscure. +He learned from the Bookseller the circumstances already mentioned, and, +in the extasy of his admiration of this poem, he went from Coffee-house +to Coffee house, pointing out its beauties, and calling upon all men of +taste, to exert themselves in rescuing one of the greatest geniuses that +ever appeared, from obscurity. This had a very happy effect, for, in a +short time, the impression was bought up, and they who read the poem, +had no reason to complain of Mr. Whatley's exaggeration; for they found +it so compleatly beautiful, that they could not but think themselves +happy in doing justice to a man of so much merit. + +The poem of Winter is, perhaps, the most finished, as well as most +picturesque, of any of the Four Seasons. The scenes are grand and +lively. It is in that season that the creation appears in distress, and +nature assumes a melancholy air; and an imagination so poetical as +Thomson's, could not but furnish those awful and striking images, which +fill the soul with a solemn dread of _those Vapours, and Storms, and +Clouds_, he has so well painted. Description is the peculiar talent of +Thomson; we tremble at his thunder in summer, we shiver with his +winter's cold, and we rejoice at the renovation of nature, by the sweet +influence of spring. But the poem deserves a further illustration, and +we shall take an opportunity of pointing out some of its most striking +beauties; but before we speak of these, we beg leave to relate the +following anecdote. + +As soon as Winter was published, Mr. Thomson sent a copy of it as a +present to Mr. Joseph Mitchell, his countryman, and brother poet, who, +not liking many parts of it, inclosed to him the following couplet; + + Beauties and faults so thick lye scattered here, + Those I could read, if these were not so near. + +To this Mr. Thomson answered extempore. + + Why all not faults, injurious Mitchell; why + Appears one beauty to thy blasted eye; + Damnation worse than thine, if worse can be, + Is all I ask, and all I want from thee. + +Upon a friend's remonstrating to Mr. Thomson, that the expression of +blasted eye would look like a personal reflexion, as Mr. Mitchell had +really that misfortune, he changed the epithet blasted, into blasting. +But to return: + +After our poet has represented the influence of Winter upon the face of +nature, and particularly described the severities of the frost, he has +the following beautiful transition; + + --Our infant winter sinks, + Divested of its grandeur; should our eye + Astonish'd shoot into the frigid zone; + Where, for relentless months, continual night + Holds o'er the glitt'ring waste her starry reign: + There thro' the prison of unbounded wilds + Barr'd by the hand of nature from escape, + Wide roams the Russian exile. Nought around + Strikes his sad eye, but desarts lost in snow; + And heavy loaded groves; and solid floods, + That stretch athwart the solitary waste, + Their icy horrors to the frozen main; + And chearless towns far distant, never bless'd + Save when its annual course, the caravan + Bends to the golden coast of rich Cathay[5] + With news of human-kind. Yet there life glows; + Yet cherished there, beneath the shining waste, + The furry nations harbour: tipt with jet + Fair ermines, spotless as the snows they press; + Sables of glossy black; and dark embrown'd + Or beauteous, streak'd with many a mingled hue, + Thousands besides, the costly pride of courts. + +The description of a thaw is equally picturesque. The following lines +consequent upon it are excellent. + + --Those sullen seas + That wash th'ungenial pole, will rest no more + Beneath the shackles of the mighty North; + But rousing all their waves resistless heave.-- + And hark! the lengthen'd roar continuous runs + Athwart the rested deep: at once it bursts + And piles a thousand mountains to the clouds. + Ill fares the bark, with trembling wretches charg'd, + That tost amid the floating fragments, moors + Beneath the shelter of an icy isle, + While night o'erwhelms the sea, and horror looks + More horrible. Can human force endure + Th' assembled mischiefs that besiege 'em round! + Heart-gnawing hunger, fainting weariness, + The roar of winds and waves, the crush of ice, + Now ceasing, now renew'd with louder rage, + And in dire ecchoes bellowing round the main. + +As the induction of Mr. Thomson's Winter has been celebrated for its +sublimity, so the conclusion has likewise a claim to praise, for the +tenderness of the sentiments, and the pathetic force of the expression. + + 'Tis done!--Dread winter spreads her latest glooms, + And reigns tremendous o'er the conquer'd year. + How dead the vegetable kingdom lies! + How dumb the tuneful! horror wide extends + Her desolate domain. Behold, fond man! + See here thy pictur'd life; pass some few years, + Thy flow'ring spring, thy summer's ardent strength, + Thy sober autumn fading into age, + And page concluding winter comes at last, + And shuts the scene.-- + +He concludes the poem by enforcing a reliance on providence, which will +in proper compensate for all those seeming severities, with which good +men are often oppressed. + + --Ye good distrest! + Ye noble few! who here unbending stand + Beneath life's pressure, yet bear up awhile, + And what your bounded view which only saw + A little part, deemed evil, is no more: + The storms of Wintry time will quickly pass, + And one unbounded Spring encircle all. + +The poem of Winter meeting with such general applause, Mr. Thomson was +induced to write the other three seasons, which he finished with equal +success. His Autumn was next given to the public, and is the most +unfinished of the four; it is not however without its beauties, of which +many have considered the story of Lavinia, naturally and artfully +introduced, as the most affecting. The story is in itself moving and +tender. It is perhaps no diminution to the merit of this beautiful tale, +that the hint of it is taken from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. + +The author next published the Spring, the induction to which is very +poetical and beautiful. + + Come gentle Spring, etherial mildness come, + And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud, + While music wakes around, veil'd in a show'r + Of shadowing roses, on our plains descend. + +It is addressed to the countess of Hertford, with the following elegant +compliment, + + O Hertford! fitted, or to shine in courts + With unaffected grace, or walk the plains, + With innocence and meditation joined, + In soft assemblage; listen to the song, + Which thy own season paints; while nature all + Is blooming, and benevolent like thee.-- + +The descriptions in this poems are mild, like the season they paint; but +towards the end of it, the poet takes occasion to warn his countrymen +against indulging the wild and irregular passion of love. This +digression is one of the most affecting in the whole piece, and while he +paints the language of a lover's breast agitated with the pangs of +strong desire, and jealous transports, he at the same time dissuades the +ladies from being too credulous in the affairs of gallantry. He +represents the natural influence of spring, in giving a new glow to the +beauties of the fair creation, and firing their hearts with the passion +of love. + + The shining moisture swells into her eyes, + In brighter flow; her wishing bosom heaves, + With palpitations wild; kind tumults seize + Her veins; and all her yielding soul is love. + From the keen gaze her lover turns away, + Full of the dear extatic power, and sick + With sighing languishment. Ah then, ye fair! + Be greatly cautious of your sliding hearts: + Dare not th'infectious sigh; the pleading look, + Down-cast, and low, in meek submission drest, + But full of guile. Let not the fervent tongue, + Prompt to deceive, with adulation smooth, + Gain on your purpos'd will. Nor in the bower, + Where woodbines flaunt, and roses shed a couch, + While evening draws her crimson curtains round, + Trust your soft minutes with betraying man. + +Summer has many manly and striking beauties, of which the Hymn to the +Sun, is one of the sublimest and most masterly efforts of genius we have +ever seen.--There are some hints taken from Cowley's beautiful Hymn to +Light.--Mr. Thomson has subjoined a Hymn to the Seasons, which is not +inferior to the foregoing in poetical merit. + +The Four Seasons considered separately, each Season as a distinct poem +has been judged defective in point of plan. There appears no particular +design; the parts are not subservient to one another; nor is there any +dependance or connection throughout; but this perhaps is a fault almost +inseparable from a subject in itself so diversified, as not to admit of +such limitation. He has not indeed been guilty of any incongruity; the +scenes described in spring, are all peculiar to that season, and the +digressions, which make up a fourth part of the poem, flow naturally. He +has observed the same regard to the appearances of nature in the other +seasons; but then what he has described in the beginning of any of the +seasons, might as well be placed in the middle, and that in the middle, +as naturally towards the close. So that each season may rather be called +an assemblage of poetical ideas, than a poem, as it seems written +without a plan. + +Mr. Thomson's poetical diction in the Seasons is very peculiar to him: +His manner of writing is entirely his own: He has introduced a number of +compound words; converted substantives into verbs, and in short has +created a kind of new language for himself. His stile has been blamed +for its singularity and stiffness; but with submission to superior +judges, we cannot but be of opinion, that though this observation is +true, yet is it admirably fitted for description. The object he paints +stands full before the eye, we admire it in all its lustre, and who +would not rather enjoy a perfect inspection into a natural curiosity +through a microscope capable of discovering all the minute beauties, +though its exterior form should not be comely, than perceive an object +but faintly, through a microscope ill adapted for the purpose, however +its outside may be decorated. Thomson has a stiffness in his manner, but +then his manner is new; and there never yet arose a distinguished +genius, who had not an air peculiarly his own. 'Tis true indeed, the +tow'ring sublimity of Mr. Thomson's stile is ill adapted for the tender +passions, which will appear more fully when we consider him as a +dramatic writer, a sphere in which he is not so excellent as in other +species of poetry. + +The merit of these poems introduced our author to the acquaintance and +esteem of several persons, distinguished by their rank, or eminent for +their talents:--Among the latter Dr. Rundle, afterwards bishop of Derry, +was so pleased with the spirit of benevolence and piety, which breathes +throughout the Seasons, that he recommended him to the friendship of the +late lord chancellor Talbot, who committed to him the care of his eldest +son, then preparing to set out on his travels into France and Italy. + +With this young nobleman, Mr. Thomson performed (what is commonly +called) The Tour of Europe, and stay'd abroad about three years, where +no doubt he inriched his mind with the noble monuments of antiquity, and +the conversation of ingenious foreigners. 'Twas by comparing modern +Italy with the idea he had of the antient Romans, which furnished him +with the hint of writing his Liberty, in three parts. The first is +Antient and Modern Italy compared. The second Greece, and the third +Britain. The whole is addressed to the eldest son of lord Talbot, who +died in the year 1734, upon his travels. + +Amongst Mr. Thomson's poems, is one to the memory of Sir Isaac Newton, +of which we shall say no more than this, that if he had never wrote any +thing besides, he deserved to enjoy a distinguished reputation amongst +the poets. Speaking of the amazing genius of Newton, he says, + + Th'aerial flow of sound was known to him, + From whence it first in wavy circles breaks. + Nor could the darting beam of speed immense, + Escape his swift pursuit, and measuring eye. + Ev'n light itself, which every thing displays, + Shone undiscover'd, till his brighter mind + Untwisted all the shining robe of day; + And from the whitening undistinguished blaze, + Collecting every separated ray, + To the charm'd eye educ'd the gorgeous train + Of parent colours. First, the flaming red, + Sprung vivid forth, the tawny orange next, + And next refulgent yellow; by whose side + Fell the kind beams of all-refreshing green. + Then the pure blue, that swells autumnal skies, + Ætherial play'd; and then of sadder hue, + Emerg'd the deepen'd indico, as when + The heavy skirted evening droops with frost, + While the last gleamings of refracted light, + Died in the fainting violet away. + These when the clouds distil the rosy shower, + Shine out distinct along the watr'y bow; + While o'er our heads the dewy vision bends, + Delightful melting in the fields beneath. + Myriads of mingling dyes from these result, + And myriads still remain--Infinite source + Of beauty ever-flushing, ever new. + +About the year 1728 Mr. Thomson wrote a piece called Britannia, the +purport of which was to rouse the nation to arms, and excite in the +spirit of the people a generous disposition to revenge the injuries done +them by the Spaniards: This is far from being one of his best poems. + +Upon the death of his generous patron, lord chancellor Talbot, for whom +the nation joined with Mr. Thomson in the most sincere inward sorrow, he +wrote an elegiac poem, which does honour to the author, and to the +memory of that great man he meant to celebrate. He enjoyed, during lord +Talbot's life, a very profitable place, which that worthy patriot had +conferred upon him, in recompence of the care he had taken in forming +the mind of his son. Upon his death, his lordship's successor reserved +the place for Mr. Thomson, and always expected when he should wait upon +him, and by performing some formalities enter into the possession of it. +This, however, by an unaccountable indolence he neglected, and at last +the place, which he might have enjoyed with so little trouble, was +bestowed upon another. + +Amongst the latest of Mr. Thomson's productions is his Castle of +Indolence, a poem of so extraordinary merit, that perhaps we are not +extravagant, when we declare, that this single performance discovers +more genius and poetical judgment, than all his other works put +together. We cannot here complain of want of plan, for it is artfully +laid, naturally conducted, and the descriptions rise in a beautiful +succession: It is written in imitation of Spenser's stile; and the +obsolete words, with the simplicity of diction in some of the lines, +which borders on the ludicrous, have been thought necessary to make the +imitation more perfect. + +'The stile (says Mr. Thomson) of that admirable poet, as well as the +measure in which he wrote, are, as it were, appropriated by custom to +all allegorical poems written in our language; just as in French, the +stile of Marot, who lived under Francis the 1st, has been used in Tales +and familiar Epistles, by the politest writers of the age of Louis the +XIVth.' + +We shall not at present enquire how far Mr. Thomson is justifiable in +using the obsolete words of Spenser: As Sir Roger de Coverley observed +on another occasion, much may be said on both sides. One thing is +certain, Mr. Thomson's imitation is excellent, and he must have no +poetry in his imagination, who can read the picturesque descriptions in +his Castle of Indolence, without emotion. In his LXXXIst Stanza he has +the following picture of beauty: + + Here languid beauty kept her pale-fac'd court, + Bevies of dainty dames, of high degree, + From every quarter hither made resort; + Where, from gross mortal care, and bus'ness free, + They lay, pour'd out in ease and luxury: + Or should they a vain shew of work assume, + Alas! and well-a-day! what can it be? + To knot, to twist, to range the vernal bloom; + But far is cast the distaff, spinning-wheel and loom. + +He pursues the description in the subsequent Stanza. + + Their only labour was to kill the time; + And labour dire it is, and weary woe. + They fit, they loll, turn o'er some idle rhime; + Then rising sudden, to the glass they go, + Or saunter forth, with tott'ring steps and slow: + This soon too rude an exercise they find; + Strait on the couch their limbs again they throw, + Where hours on hours they sighing lie reclin'd, + And court the vapoury God soft breathing in the wind. + +In the two following Stanzas, the dropsy and hypochondria are +beautifully described. + + Of limbs enormous, but withal unsound, + Soft swoln and pale, here lay the Hydropsy: + Unwieldly man; with belly monstrous round, + For ever fed with watery supply; + For still he drank, and yet he still was dry. + And moping here did Hypochondria sit, + Mother of spleen, in robes of various die, + Who vexed was full oft with ugly fit; + And some her frantic deem'd, and some her deem'd a wit. + A lady proud she was, of antient blood, + Yet oft her fear, her pride made crouchen low: + She felt, or fancy'd in her fluttering mood, + All the diseases which the spitals know, + And sought all physic which the shops bestow; + And still new leaches, and new drugs would try, + Her humour ever wavering too and fro; + For sometimes she would laugh, and sometimes cry, + And sudden waxed wroth, and all she knew not why. + +The speech of Sir Industry in the second Canto, when he enumerates the +various blessings which flow from action, is surely one of the highest +instances of genius which can be produced in poetry. In the second +stanza, before he enters upon the subject, the poet complains of the +decay of patronage, and the general depravity of taste; and in the third +breaks out into the following exclamation, which is so perfectly +beautiful, that it would be the greatest mortification not to transcribe +it, + + I care not, fortune, what you me deny: + You cannot rob me of free nature's grace; + You cannot shut the windows of the sky, + Through which Aurora shews her bright'ning face; + You cannot bar my constant feet to trace + The woods and lawns, by living stream at eve: + Let health my nerves, and finer fibres brace, + And I their toys to the great children leave; + Of fancy, reason, virtue, nought can me bereave. + +Before we quit this poem, permit us, reader, to give you two more +stanzas from it: the first shews Mr. Thomson's opinion of Mr. Quin as an +actor; of their friendship we may say more hereafter. + +STANZA LXVII. + +Of the CASTLE of INDOLENCE. + + Here whilom ligg'd th'Aesopus[6] of the age; + But called by fame, in foul ypricked deep, + A noble pride restor'd him to the stage, + And rous'd him like a giant from his sleep. + Even from his slumbers we advantage reap: + With double force th'enliven'd scene he wakes, + Yet quits not nature's bounds. He knows to keep + Each due decorum: now the heart he shakes, + And now with well-urg'd sense th'enlighten'd judgment takes. + +The next stanza (wrote by a friend of the author's, as the note +mentions) is a friendly, though familiar, compliment; it gives us an +image of our bard himself, at once entertaining, striking, and just. + +STANZA LXVIII. + + A bard here dwelt, more fat than bard beseems, + Who void of envy, guile, and lust of gain, + On virtue still, and nature's pleasing themes, + Pour'd forth his unpremeditated strain: + The world forsaking with a calm disdain. + Here laugh'd he, careless in his easy seat; + Here quaff'd, encircl'd with the joyous train, + Oft moralizing sage: his ditty sweet + He loathed much to write, ne cared to repeat. + +We shall now consider Mr. Thomson as a dramatic writer. + +In the year 1730, about six years after he had been in London, he +brought a Tragedy upon the stage, called Sophonisba, built upon the +Carthaginian history of that princess, and upon which the famous +Nathaniel Lee has likewise written a Tragedy. This play met with a +favourable reception from the public. Mrs. Oldfield greatly +distinguished herself in the character of Sophonisba, which Mr. Thomson +acknowledges in his preface.--'I cannot conclude, says he, without +owning my obligations to those concerned in the representation. They +have indeed done me more than justice; Whatever was designed as amiable +and engageing in Masinessa shines out in Mr. Wilks's action. Mrs. +Oldfield, in the character of Sophonisba, has excelled what even in the +fondness of an author I could either wish or imagine. The grace, dignity +and happy variety of her action, have been universally applauded, and +are truly admirable.' + +Before we quit this play, we must not omit two anecdotes which happened +the first night of the representation. Mr. Thomson makes one of his +characters address Sophonisba in a line, which some critics reckoned the +false pathetic. + + O! Sophonisba, Sophonisba Oh! + +Upon which a smart from the pit cried out, + + Oh! Jamey Thomson, Jamey Thomson Oh! + +However ill-natured this critic might be in interrupting the action of +the play for sake of a joke; yet it is certain that the line ridiculed +does partake of the false pathetic, and should be a warning to tragic +poets to guard against the swelling stile; for by aiming at the sublime, +they are often betrayed into the bombast.--Mr. Thomson who could not but +feel all the emotions and sollicitudes of a young author the first night +of his play, wanted to place himself in some obscure part of the house, +in order to see the representation to the best advantage, without being +known as the poet.--He accordingly placed himself in the upper gallery; +but such was the power of nature in him, that he could not help +repeating the parts along with the players, and would sometimes whisper +to himself, 'now such a scene is to open,' by which he was soon +discovered to be the author, by some gentlemen who could not, on account +of the great crowd, be situated in any other part of the house. + +After an interval of four years, Mr. Thomson exhibited to the public his +second Tragedy called Agamemnon. Mr. Pope gave an instance of his great +affection to Mr. Thomson on this occasion: he wrote two letters in its +favour to the managers, and honoured the representation on the first +night with his presence. As he had not been for some time at a play, +this was considered as a very great instance of esteem. Mr. Thomson +submitted to have this play considerably shortened in the action, as +some parts were too long, other unnecessary, in which not the character +but the poet spoke; and though not brought on the stage till the month +of April, it continued to be acted with applause for several nights. + +Many have remark'd that his characters in his plays are more frequently +descriptive, than expressive, of the passions; but they all abound with +uncommon beauties, with fire, and depth of thought, with noble +sentiments and nervous writing. His speeches are often too long, +especially for an English audience; perhaps sometimes they are +unnaturally lengthened: and 'tis certainly a greater relief to the ear +to have the dialogue more broken; yet our attention is well rewarded, +and in no passages, perhaps, in his tragedies, more so, than in the +affecting account Melisander [7] gives of his being betrayed, and left +on the desolate island. + + --'Tis thus my friend. + Whilst sunk in unsuspecting sleep I lay, + Some midnight ruffians rush'd into my chamber, + Sent by Egisthus, who my presence deem'd + Obstructive (so I solve it) to his views, + Black views, I fear, as you perhaps may know, + Sudden they seiz'd, and muffled up in darkness, + Strait bore me to the sea, whose instant prey + I did conclude myself, when first around + The ship unmoor'd, I heard the chiding wave. + But these fel tools of cruel power, it seems, + Had orders in a desart isle to leave me; + There hopeless, helpless, comfortless, to prove + The utmost gall and bitterness of death. + Thus malice often overshoots itself, + And some unguarded accident betrays + The man of blood.--Next night--a dreary night! + Cast on the wildest of the Cyclad Isles, + Where never human foot had mark'd the shore, + These ruffians left me.--Yet believe me, Arcas, + Such is the rooted love we bear mankind, + All ruffians as they were, I never heard + A sound so dismal as their parting oars.-- + Then horrid silence follow'd, broke alone + By the low murmurs of the restless deep, + Mixt with the doubtful breeze that now and then + Sigh'd thro' the mournful woods. Beneath a shade + I sat me down, more heavily oppress'd, + More desolate at heart, than e'er I felt + Before. When, Philomela, o'er my head + Began to tune her melancholy strain, + As piteous of my woes, 'till, by degrees, + Composing sleep on wounded nature shed + A kind but short relief. At early morn, + Wak'd by the chant of birds, I look'd around + For usual objects: objects found I none, + Except before me stretch'd the toiling main, + And rocks and woods in savage view behind. + Wrapt for a moment in amaz'd confusion, + My thought turn'd giddy round; when all at once, + To memory full my dire condition rush'd-- + +In the year 1736 Mr. Thomson offered to the stage a Tragedy called +Edward and Eleonora, which was forbid to be acted, for some political +reason, which it is not in our power to guess. + +The play of Tancred and Sigismunda was acted in the year 1744; this +succeeded beyond any other of Thomson's plays, and is now in possesion +of the stage. The plot is borrowed from a story in the celebrated +romance of Gil Blas: The fable is very interesting, the characters are +few, but active; and the attention in this play is never suffered to +wander. The character of Seffredi has been justly censured as +inconsistent, forced, and unnatural. + +By the command of his royal highness the prince of Wales, Mr. Thomson, +in conjunction with Mr. Mallet, wrote the Masque of Alfred, which was +performed twice in his royal highness's gardens at Cliffden. Since Mr. +Thomson's death, this piece has been almost entirely new modelled by Mr. +Mallet, and brought on the stage in the year 1751, its success being +fresh in the memory of its frequent auditors, 'tis needless to say more +concerning it. + +Mr. Thomson's last Tragedy, called Coriolanus, was not acted till after +his death; the profits of it were given to his sisters in Scotland, one +of whom is married to a minister there, and the other to a man of low +circumstances in the city of Edinburgh. This play, which is certainly +the least excellent of any of Thomson's, was first offered to Mr. +Garrick, but he did not think proper to accept it. The prologue was +written by Sir George Lyttleton, and spoken by Mr. Quin, which had a +very happy effect upon the audience. Mr. Quin was the particular friend +of Thomson, and when he spoke the following lines, which are in +themselves very tender, all the endearments of a long acquaintance, rose +at once to his imagination, while the tears gushed from his eyes. + + He lov'd his friends (forgive this gushing tear: + Alas! I feel I am no actor here) + He lov'd his friends with such a warmth of heart, + So clear of int'rest, so devoid of art, + Such generous freedom, such unshaken real, + No words can speak it, but our tears may tell. + +The beautiful break in these lines had a fine effect in speaking. Mr. +Quin here excelled himself; he never appeared a greater actor than at +this instant, when he declared himself none: 'twas an exquisite stroke +to nature; art alone could hardly reach it. Pardon the digression, +reader, but, we feel a desire to say somewhat more on this head. The +poet and the actor were friends, it cannot then be quite foreign to the +purpose to proceed. A deep fetch'd sigh filled up the heart felt pause; +grief spread o'er all the countenance; the tear started to the eye, the +muscles fell, and, + + 'The whiteness of his cheek + Was apter than his tongue to speak his tale.' + + +They all expressed the tender feelings of a manly heart, becoming a +Thomson's friend. His pause, his recovery were masterly; and he +delivered the whole with an emphasis and pathos, worthy the excellent +lines he spoke; worthy the great poet and good man, whose merits they +painted, and whose loss they deplored. + +The epilogue too, which was spoken by Mrs. Woffington, with an exquisite +humour, greatly pleased. These circumstances, added to the consideration +of the author's being no more, procured this play a run of nine nights, +which without these assistances 'tis likely it could not have had; for, +without playing the critic, it is not a piece of equal merit to many +other of his works. It was his misfortune as a dramatist, that he never +knew when to have done; he makes every character speak while there is +any thing to be said; and during these long interviews, the action too +stands still, and the story languishes. His Tancred and Sigismunda may +be excepted from this general censure: But his characters are too little +distinguished; they seldom vary from one another in their manner of +speaking. In short, Thomson was born a descriptive poet; he only wrote +for the stage, from a motive too obvious to be mentioned, and too strong +to be refilled. He is indeed the eldest born of Spenser, and he has +often confessed that if he had any thing excellent in poetry, he owed it +to the inspiration he first received from reading the Fairy Queen, in +the very early part of his life. + +In August 1748 the world was deprived of this great ornament of poetry +and genius, by a violent fever, which carried him off in the 48th year +of his age. Before his death he was provided for by Sir George +Littleton, in the profitable place of comptroller of America, which he +lived not long to enjoy. Mr. Thomson was extremely beloved by his +acquaintance. He was of an open generous disposition; and was sometimes +tempted to an excessive indulgence of the social pleasures: A failing +too frequently inseparable from men of genius. His exterior appearance +was not very engaging, but he grew more and more agreeable, as he +entered into conversation: He had a grateful heart, ready to acknowledge +every favour he received, and he never forgot his old benefactors, +notwithstanding a long absence, new acquaintance, and additional +eminence; of which the following instance cannot be unacceptable to the +reader. + +Some time before Mr. Thomson's fatal illness, a gentleman enquired for +him at his house in Kew-Lane, near Richmond, where he then lived. This +gentleman had been his acquaintance when very young, and proved to be +Dr. Gustard, the son of a revd. minister in the city of Edinburgh. Mr. +Gustard had been Mr. Thomson's patron in the early part of his life, and +contributed from his own purse (Mr. Thomson's father not being in very +affluent circumstances) to enable him to prosecute his studies. The +visitor sent not in his name, but only intimated to the servant that an +old acquaintance desired to see Mr. Thomson. Mr. Thomson came forward to +receive him, and looking stedfastly at him (for they had not seen one +another for many years) said, Troth Sir, I cannot say I ken your +countenance well--Let me therefore crave your name. Which the gentleman +no sooner mentioned but the tears gushed from Mr. Thomson's eyes. He +could only reply, good God! are you the son of my dear friend, my old +benefactor; and then rushing to his arms, he tenderly embraced him; +rejoicing at so unexpected a meeting. + +It is a true observation, that whenever gratitude is absent from a +heart, it is generally capable of the most consummate baseness; and on +the other hand, where that generous virtue has a powerful prevalence in +the soul, the heart of such a man is fraught with all those other +endearing and tender qualities, which constitute goodness. Such was the +heart of this amiable poet, whose life was as inoffensive as his page +was moral: For of all our poets he is the farthest removed from whatever +has the appearance of indecency; and, as Sir George Lyttleton happily +expresses it, in the prologue to Mr. Thomson's Coriolanus, + + --His chaste muse employ'd her heav'n-taught lyre + None but the noblest passions to inspire, + Not one immoral, one corrupted thought, + One line, which dying he could wish to blot. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] + See winter comes to rule the varied year, + Sullen and sad, with all his rising train! + Vapours, and storms, and clouds; be these my theme; + These that exalt the soul to solemn thought, + And heav'nly musing; welcome kindred glooms. + Congenial horrors hail!--with frequent foot + Oft have I in my pleasing calm of life, + When nurs'd by careless solitude I liv'd, + Oft have I wander'd thro' your rough domain; + Trod the pure virgin snows; my self as pure; + Heard the winds blow, or the big torrents burst, + Or seen the deep fermenting tempest brew'd + In the red evening sky. Thus pass'd the time, + 'Till from the lucid chambers of the south + Look'd out the joyous spring, look'd out and smil'd. + +[2] Mr. Mallet was his quondam schoolfellow (but much his junior) they + contracted an early intimacy, which improved with their years, nor + was it ever once disturbed by any casual mistake, envy, or jealousy + on either side: a proof that two writers of merit may agree, in + spite of the common observation to the contrary. + +[3] The Winter was first wrote in detached pieces, or occasional + descriptions; it was by the advice of Mr. Mallet they were collected + and made into one connected piece. This was finished the first of + all the seasons, and was the first poem he published. By the farther + advice, and at the earnest request, of Mr. Mallet, he wrote the + other three seasons. + +[4] Though 'tis possible this piece might be offered to more Printers + who could read, than could taste, nor is it very surprizing, that an + unknown author might meet with a difficulty of this sort; since an + eager desire to peruse a new piece, with a fashionable name to it, + shall, in one day, occasion the sale of thousands of what may never + reach a second edition: while a work, that has only its intrinsic + merit to depend on, may lie long dormant in a Bookseller's shop, + 'till some person, eminent for taste, points out its worth to the + many, declares the bullion sterling, stamps its value with his name, + and makes it pass current with the world. Such was the fate of + Thomson at this juncture: Such heretofore was Milton's, whose works + were only found in the libraries of the curious, or judicious few, + 'till Addison's remarks spread a taste for them; and, at length, it + became even unfashionable not to have read them. + +[5] The old name of China. + +[6] Mr. Quin. + +[7] The mention of this name reminds me of an obligation I had to Mr. + Thomson; and, at once, an opportunity offers, of gratefully + acknowledging the favour, and doing myself justice. + + I had the pleasure of perusing the play of Agamemnon, before it was + introduced to the manager. Mr. Thomson was so thoroughly satisfied + (I might say more) with my reading of it; he said, he was confirmed + in his design of giving to me the part of Melisander. When I + expressed my sentiments of the favour, he told me, he thought it + none; that my old acquaintance Savage knew, he had not forgot my + taste in reading the poem of Winter some years before: he added, + that when (before this meeting) he had expressed his doubt, to which + of the actors he should give this part (as he had seen but few plays + since his return from abroad) Savage warmly urged, I was the fittest + person, and, with an oath affirmed, that Theo. Cibber would taste + it, feel it, and act it; perhaps he might extravagantly add, 'beyond + any one else.' 'Tis likely, Mr. Savage might be then more vehement + in this assertion, as some of his friends had been more used to see + me in a comic, than a serious light; and which was, indeed, more + frequently my choice. But to go on. When I read the play to the + manager, Mr. Quin, &c. (at which several gentlemen, intimate friends + of the author, were present) I was complimented by them all; Mr. + Quin particularly declared, he never heard a play done so much + justice to, in reading, through all its various parts, Mrs. Porter + also (who on this occasion was to appear in the character of + Clytemnestra) so much approved my entering into the taste, sense, + and spirit of the piece, that she was pleased to desire me to repeat + a reading of it, which, at her request, and that of other principal + performers, I often did; they all confessed their approbation, with + thanks. + + When this play was to come forward into rehearsal, Mr. Thomson told + me, another actor had been recommended to him for this part in + private, by the manager (who, by the way) our author, or any one + else, never esteemed as the best judge, of either play, or player. + But money may purchase, and interest procure, a patent, though they + cannot purchase taste, or parts, the person proposed was, possibly, + some favoured flatterer, the partner of his private pleasures, or + humble admirer of his table talk: These little monarchs have their + little courtiers. Mr. Thomson insisted on my keeping the part. He + said, 'Twas his opinion, none but myself, or Mr. Quin, could do it + any justice; and, as that excellent actor could not be spared from + the part of Agamemnon (in the performance of which character he + added to his reputation, though before justly rated as the first + actor of that time) he was peremptory for my appearing in it; I did + so, and acquitted myself to the satisfaction of the author and his + friends (men eminent in rank, in taste, and knowledge) and received + testimonies of approbation from the audience, by their attention and + applause. + + By this time the reader may be ready to cry out, 'to what purpose is + all this?' Have patience, sir. As I gained reputation in the + forementioned character, is there any crime in acknowledging my + obligation to Mr. Thomson? or, am I unpardonable, though I should + pride myself on his good opinion and friendship? may not gratitude, + as well as vanity, be concerned in this relation? but there is + another reason that may stand as an excuse, for my being led into + this long narrative; which, as it is only an annotation, not made + part of our author's life, the reader, at his option, may peruse, or + pass it over, without being interrupted in his attention to what + more immediately concerns Mr. Thomson. As what I have related is a + truth, which living men of worth can testify; and as it evidently + shows that Mr. Savage's opinion of me as an actor was, in this + latter part of his life, far from contemptible, of which, perhaps, + in his earlier days he had too lavishly spoke; I thought this no + improper (nor ill-timed) contradiction to a remark the writer of[7A] + Mr. Savage's Life has been pleased, in his Gaité de Coeur, to make, + which almost amounts to an unhandsome innuendo, that Mr. Savage, and + some of his friends, thought me no actor at all. + + I accidentally met with the book some years ago, and dipt into that + part where the author says, 'The preface (to Sir Thomas Overbury) + contains a very liberal encomium on the blooming excellences of Mr. + Theophilus Cibber, which Mr. Savage could not, in the latter part of + his life, see his friends about to read, without snatching the play + out of their hands.' As poor Savage was well remembered to have been + as inconsiderate, inconsistent, and inconstant a mortal as ever + existed, what he might have said carried but little weight; and, as + he would blow both hot and cold, nay, too frequently, to gratify the + company present, would sacrifice the absent, though his best friend, + I disregarded this invidious hint, 'till I was lately informed, a + person of distinction in the learned world, had condescended to + become the biographer of this unhappy man's unimportant life: as the + sanction of such a name might prove of prejudice to me, I have since + thought it worth my notice. + + The truth is, I met Savage one summer, in a condition too melancholy + for description. He was starving; I supported him, and my father + cloathed him, 'till his tragedy was brought on the stage, where it + met with success in the representation, tho' acted by the young part + of the company, in the summer season; whatever might be the merit of + his play, his necessities were too pressing to wait 'till winter for + its performance. When it was just going to be published (as I met + with uncommon encouragement in my young attempt in the part of + Somerset) he repeated to me a most extraordinary compliment, as he + might then think it, which, he said, he intended to make me in his + preface. Neither my youth (for I was then but 18) or vanity, was so + devoid of judgment, as to prevent my objecting to it. I told him, I + imagined this extravagancy would have so contrary an effect to his + intention, that what he kindly meant for praise, might be + misinterpreted, or render him liable to censure, and me to ridicule; + I insisted on his omitting it: contrary to his usual obstinacy, he + consented, and sent his orders to the Printer to leave it out; it + was too late; the sheets were all work'd off, and the play was + advertised to come out (as it did) the next day. T.C. + +[7A] _Published about the year_ 1743. + + + * * * * * + + +ALEXANDER POPE, Esq; + +This illustrious poet was born at London, in 1688, and was descended +from a good family of that name, in Oxfordshire, the head of which was +the earl of Downe, whose sole heiress married the earl of Lindsey. His +father, a man of primitive simplicity, and integrity of manners, was a +merchant of London, who upon the Revolution quitted trade, and converted +his effects into money, amounting to near 10,000 l. with which he +retired into the country; and died in 1717, at the age of 75. + +Our poet's mother, who lived to a very advanced age, being 93 years old +when she died, in 1733, 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; and the eldest following his fortunes, and +becoming a general officer in Spain, left her what estate remained after +sequestration, and forfeitures of her family. To these circumstances our +poet alludes in his epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, in which he mentions his +parents. + + Of gentle blood (part shed in honour's cause, + While yet in Britain, honour had applause) + Each parent sprang,--What fortune pray?--their own, + And better got than Bestia's from the throne. + Born to no pride, inheriting no strife, + Nor marrying discord in a noble wife; + Stranger to civil and religious rage, + The good man walked innoxious thro' his age: + No courts he saw; no suits would ever try; + Nor dar'd an oath, nor hazarded a lye: + Unlearn'd, he knew no schoolmen's subtle art, + No language, but the language of the heart: + By nature honest, by experience wise, + Healthy by temp'rance, and by exercise; + His life though long, to sickness past unknown, + His death was instant and without a groan. + +The education of our great author was attended with circumstances very +singular; and some of them extremely unfavourable; but the amazing force +of his genius fully compensated the want of any advantage in his +earliest instruction. He owed the knowledge of his letters to an aunt; +and having learned very early to read, took great delight in it, and +taught himself to write by copying after printed books, the characters +of which he could imitate to great perfection. He began to compose +verses, farther back than he could well remember; and at eight years of +age, when he was put under one Taverner a priest, who taught him the +rudiments of the Latin and Greek tongues at the same time, he met with +Ogilby's Homer, which gave him great delight; and this was encreased by +Sandys's Ovid: The raptures which these authors, even in the disguise of +such translations, then yielded him, were so strong, that he spoke of +them with pleasure ever after. From Mr. Taverner's tuition he was sent +to a private school at Twiford, near Winchester, where he continued +about a year, and was then removed to another near Hyde Park Corner; but +was so unfortunate as to lose under his two last masters, what he had +acquired under the first. + +While he remained at this school, being permitted to go to the +play-house, with some of his school fellows of a more advanced age, he +was so charmed with dramatic representations, that he formed the +translation of the Iliad into a play, from several of the speeches in +Ogilby's translation, connected with verses of his own; and the several +parts were performed by the upper boys of the school, except that of +Ajax by the master's gardener. At the age of 12 our young poet, went +with his father to reside at his house at Binfield, in Windsor forest, +where he was for a few months under the tuition of another priest, with +as little success as before; so that he resolved now to become his own +master, by reading those Classic Writers which gave him most +entertainment; and by this method, at fifteen he gained a ready habit in +the learned languages, to which he soon after added the French and +Italian. Upon his retreat to the forest, he became first acquainted with +the writings of Waller, Spenser and Dryden; in the last of which he +immediately found what he wanted; and the poems of that excellent writer +were never out of his hands; they became his model, and from them alone +he learned the whole magic of his versification. + +The first of our author's compositions now extant in print, is an Ode on +Solitude, written before he was twelve years old: Which, consider'd as +the production of so early an age, is a perfect master piece; nor need +he have been ashamed of it, had it been written in the meridian of his +genius. While it breathes the most delicate spirit of poetry, it at the +same time demonstrates his love of solitude, and the rational pleasures +which attend the retreats of a contented country life. + +Two years after this he translated the first Book of Statius' Thebais, +and wrote a copy of verses on Silence, in imitation of the Earl of +Rochester's poem on Nothing[1]. Thus we find him no sooner capable of +holding the pen, than he employed it in writing verses, + + "_He lisp'd [Transcriber's note: 'lips'd' in original] in Numbers, for + the Numbers came_." + +Though we have had frequent opportunity to observe, that poets have +given early displays of genius, yet we cannot recollect, that among the +inspired tribe, one can be found who at the age of twelve could produce +so animated an Ode; or at the age of fourteen translate from the Latin. +It has been reported indeed, concerning Mr. Dryden, that when he was at +Westminster-School, the master who had assigned a poetical task to some +of the boys, of writing a Paraphrase on our Saviour's Miracle, of +turning Water into Wine, was perfectly astonished when young Dryden +presented him with the following line, which he asserted was the best +comment could be written upon it. + + The conscious water saw its God, and blush'd. + +This was the only instance of an early appearance of genius in this +great man, for he was turn'd of 30 before he acquired any reputation; an +age in which Mr. Pope's was in its full distinction. + +The year following that in which Mr. Pope wrote his poem on Silence, he +began an Epic Poem, intitled Alcander, which he afterwards very +judiciously committed to the flames, as he did likewise a Comedy, and a +Tragedy; the latter taken from a story in the legend of St. Genevieve; +both of these being the product of those early days. But his Pastorals, +which were written in 1704, when he was only 16 years of age, were +esteemed by Sir William Trumbull, Mr. Granville, Mr. Wycherley, Mr. +Walsh and others of his friends, too valuable to be condemned to the +same fate. + +Mr. Pope's Pastorals are four, viz. + + Spring, address'd to Sir William Trumbull, + Summer, to Dr. Garth. + Autumn, to Mr. Wycherley. + Winter, in memory of Mrs. Tempest. + +The three great writers of Pastoral Dialogue, which Mr. Pope in some +measure seems to imitate, are Theocritus, Virgil, and Spenser. Mr. Pope +is of opinion, that Theocritus excells all others in nature and +simplicity. + +That Virgil, who copies Theocritus, refines on his original; and in all +points in which judgment has the principal part is much superior to his +master. + +That among the moderns, their success has been, greatest who have most +endeavoured to make these antients their pattern. The most considerable +genius appears in the famous Tasso, and our Spenser. Tasso in his Aminta +has far excelled all the pastoral writers, as in his Gierusalemme he has +outdone the Epic Poets of his own country. But as this piece seems to +have been the original of a new sort of poem, the Pastoral Comedy, in +Italy, it cannot so well be considered as a copy of the antients. +Spenser's Calendar, in Mr. Dryden's opinion, is the most compleat work +of this kind, which any nation has produced ever since the time of +Virgil. But this he said before Mr. Pope's Pastorals appeared. + +Mr. Walsh pronounces on our Shepherd's Boy (as Mr. Pope called himself) +the following judgment, in a letter to Mr. Wycherly. + +'The verses are very tender and easy. The author seems to have a +particular genius for that kind of poetry, and a judgment that much +exceeds the years, you told me he was of. It is no flattery at all to +say, that Virgil had written nothing so good at his age. I shall take it +as a favour if you will bring me acquainted with him; and if he will +give himself the trouble, any morning, to call at my house, I shall be +very glad to read the verses with him, and give him him my opinion of +the particulars more largely than I can well do in this letter.' + +Thus early was Mr. Pope introduced to the acquaintance of men of genius, +and so improved every advantage, that he made a more rapid progress +towards a consummation in fame, than any of our former English poets. +His Messiah; his Windsor-Forest, the first part of which was written at +the same time with his pastorals; his Essay on Criticism in 1709, and +his Rape of the Lock in 1712, established his poetical character in such +a manner, that he was called upon by the public voice, to enrich our +language with the translation of the Iliad; which he began at 25, and +executed in five years. This was published for his own benefit, by +subscription, the only kind of reward, which he received for his +writings, which do honour to our age and country: His religion rendering +him incapable of a place, which the lord treasurer Oxford used to +express his concern for, but without offering him a pension, as the earl +of Halifax, and Mr. Secretary Craggs afterwards did, though Mr. Pope +declined it. + +The reputation of Mr. Pope gaining every day upon the world, he was +caressed, flattered, and railed at; according as he was feared, or loved +by different persons. Mr. Wycherley was amongst the first authors of +established reputation, who contributed to advance his fame, and with +whom he for some time lived in the most unreserved intimacy. This poet, +in his old age, conceived a design of publishing his poems, and as he +was but a very imperfect master of numbers, he entrusted his manuscripts +to Mr. Pope, and submitted them to his correction. The freedom which our +young bard was under a necessity to use, in order to polish and refine +what was in the original, rough, unharmonious, and indelicate, proved +disgustful to the old gentleman, then near 70, who, perhaps, was a +little ashamed, that a boy at 16 should so severely correct his works. +Letters of dissatisfaction were written by Mr. Wycherley, and at last he +informed him, in few words, that he was going out of town, without +mentioning to what place, and did not expect to hear from him 'till he +came back. This cold indifference extorted from Mr. Pope a protestation, +that nothing should induce him ever to write to him again. +Notwithstanding this peevish behaviour of Mr. Wycherley, occasioned by +jealousy and infirmities, Mr. Pope preserved a constant respect and +reverence for him while he lived, and after his death lamented him. In a +letter to Edward Blount, esq; written immediately upon the death of this +poet, he has there related some anecdotes of Wycherly, which we shall +insert here, especially as they are not taken notice of in his life. + +'DEAR SIR, + +'I know of nothing that will be so interesting to you, at present, as +some circumstances of the last act of that eminent comic poet, and our +friend, Wycherley. He had often told me, as, I doubt not, he did all his +acquaintance, that he would marry, as soon as his life was despaired of: +accordingly, a few days before his death, he underwent the ceremony, and +joined together those two sacraments, which, wise men say, should be the +last we receive; for, if you observe, matrimony is placed after extreme +unction in our catechism, as a kind of hint of the order of time in +which they are to be taken. The old man then lay down, satisfied in the +conscience of having, by this one act, paid his just debts, obliged a +woman, who, he was told, had merit, and shewn a heroic resentment of +the ill usage of his next heir. Some hundred pounds which he had with +the lady, discharged those debts; a jointure of four hundred a year made +her a recompence; and the nephew he left to comfort himself, as well as +he could, with the miserable remains of a mortgaged estate. I saw our +friend twice after this was done, less peevish in his sickness, than he +used to be in his health, neither much afraid of dying, nor (which in +him had been more likely) much ashamed of marrying. The evening before +he expired, he called his young wife to the bed side, and earnestly +entreated her not to deny him one request, the last he should ever make. +Upon her assurance of consenting to it, he told her, my dear, it is only +this, that you will never marry an old man again. I cannot help +remarking, that sickness, which often destroys both wit and wisdom, yet +seldom has power to remove that talent we call humour. Mr. Wycherley +shewed this even in this last compliment, though, I think, his request a +little hard; for why should he bar her from doubling her jointure on the +same easy terms.' + +One of the most affecting and tender compositions of Mr. Pope, is, his +Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady, built on a true story. We +are informed in the Life of Pope, for which Curl obtained a patent, that +this young lady was a particular favourite of the poet, though it is not +ascertained whether he himself was the person from whom she was removed. +This young lady was of very high birth, possessed an opulent fortune, +and under the tutorage of an uncle, who gave her an education suitable +to her titles and pretensions. She was esteemed a match for the greatest +peer in the realm, but, in her early years, she suffered her heart to be +engaged by a young gentleman, and in consequence of this attachment, +rejected offers made to her by persons of quality, seconded by the +sollicitations of her uncle. Her guardian being surprized at this +behaviour, set spies upon her, to find out the real cause of her +indifference. Her correspondence with her lover was soon discovered, +and, when urged upon that topic, she had too much truth and honour to +deny it. The uncle finding, that she would make no efforts to disengage +her affection, after a little time forced her abroad, where she was +received with a ceremony due to her quality, but restricted from the +conversation of every one, but the spies of this severe guardian, so +that it was impossible for her lover even to have a letter delivered to +her hands. She languished in this place a considerable time, bore an +infinite deal of sickness, and was overwhelmed with the profoundest +sorrow. Nature being wearied out with continual distress, and being +driven at last to despair, the unfortunate lady, as Mr. Pope justly +calls her, put an end to her own life, having bribed a maid servant to +procure her a sword. She was found upon the ground weltering in her +blood. The severity of the laws of the place, where this fair +unfortunate perished, denied her Christian burial, and she was interred +without solemnity, or even any attendants to perform the last offices of +the dead, except some young people of the neighbourhood, who saw her put +into common ground, and strewed the grave with flowers. + +The poet in the elegy takes occasion to mingle with the tears of sorrow, +just reproaches upon her cruel uncle, who drove her to this violation. + + But thou, false guardian of a charge too good, + Thou base betrayer of a brother's blood! + See on those ruby lips the trembling breath, + Those cheeks now fading at the blast of death: + Lifeless the breast, which warm'd the world before, + And those love-darting eyes must roll no more. + +The conclusion of this elegy is irresistably affecting. + + So peaceful rests, without a stone, a name, + Which once had beauty, titles, wealth and fame, + How lov'd, how honoured once, avails thee not, + To whom related, or by whom begot; + A heap of dust alone remains of thee; + 'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be! + +No poem of our author's more deservedly obtained him reputation, than +his Essay on Criticism. Mr. Addison, in his Spectator, No. 253, has +celebrated it with such profuse terms of admiration, that it is really +astonishing, to find the same man endeavouring afterwards to diminish +that fame he had contributed to raise so high. + +The art of criticism (says he) which was published some months ago, is a +master-piece in its kind. The observations follow one another, like +those in Horace's Art of Poetry, without that methodical regularity, +which would have been requisite in a prose writer. They are some of them +uncommon, but such as the reader must assent to, when he sees them +explained with that elegance and perspicuity in which they are +delivered. As for those which are the most known, and the most received, +they are placed in so beautiful a light, and illustrated with such apt +allusions, that they have in them all the graces of novelty, and make +the reader, who was before acquainted with them, still more convinced of +their truth and solidity. And here give me leave to mention, what +Monsieur Boileau has so well enlarged upon, in the preface to his works; +that wit and fine writing do not consist so much in advancing things +that are new, as in giving things that are known an agreeable turn. It +is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make +observations in criticism, morality, or any art and science, which have +not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us, but to +represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or +more uncommon lights. If a reader examines Horace's Art of Poetry, he +will find but few precepts in it, which he may not meet with in +Aristotle, and which were not commonly known by all the poets of the +Augustan age. His way of expressing, and applying them, not his +invention of them, is what we are chiefly to admire.-- + +"Longinus, in his Reflexions, has given us the same kind of sublime, +which he observes in the several passages which occasioned them. I +cannot but take notice, that our English author has, after the same +manner, exemplified several of his precepts, in the very precepts +themselves." He then produces some instances of a particular kind of +beauty in the numbers, and concludes with saying, that "we have three +poems in our tongue of the same nature, and each a master-piece in its +kind: The Essay on Translated Verse, the Essay on the Art of Poetry, and +the Essay on Criticism." [Transcriber's note: Opening quotes missing in +original.] + +In the Lives of Addison and Tickell, we have thrown out some general +hints concerning the quarrel which subsisted between our poet and the +former of these gentlemen; here it will not be improper to give a more +particular account of it. + +The author of Mist's Journal positively asserts, 'that Mr. Addison +raised Pope from obscurity, obtained him the acquaintance and friendship +of the whole body of our nobility, and transferred his powerful +influence with those great men to this rising bard, who frequently +levied by that means, unusual contributions on the public.[Transcriber's +note: 'pubic' in original.] No sooner was his body lifeless, but this +author reviving his resentment, libelled the memory of his departed +friend, and what was still more heinous, made the scandal public.' + +When this charge of ingratitude and dishonour was published against Mr. +Pope, to acquit himself of it, he called upon any nobleman, whose +friendship, or any one gentleman, whose subscription Mr. Addison had +procured to our author, to stand forth, and declare it, that truth might +appear. But the whole libel was proved a malicious story, by many +persons of distinction, who, several years before Mr. Addison's decease, +approved those verses denominated a libel, but which were, 'tis said, a +friendly rebuke, sent privately in our author's own hand, to Mr. Addison +himself, and never made public, 'till by Curl in his Miscellanies, 12mo. +1727. The lines indeed are elegantly satirical, and, in the opinion of +many unprejudiced judges, who had opportunities of knowing the character +of Mr. Addison, are no ill representation of him. Speaking of the +poetical triflers of the times, who had declared against him, he makes a +sudden transition to Addison. + + Peace to all such! But were there one whose fires + True genius kindles, and fair fame inspires, + Blest with each talent, and each art to please, + And born to write, converse, and live with ease; + Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, + Bear, like the Turk, no rival near the throne, + View him with scornful, yet with jealous eyes, + And hate for arts, that caus'd himself to rise; + Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, + And, without sneering, others teach to sneer; + Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike, + Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike; + Alike reserv'd to blame or to commend, + A tim'rous foe, and a suspicious friend; + Dreading even fools; by flatt'rers besieg'd; + And so obliging, that he ne'er oblig'd. + Like Cato give his little senate laws, + [Transcriber's note: 'litttle' in original] + And sit attentive to his own applause; + While Wits and Templars ev'ry sentence raise, + And wonder with a foolish face of praise. + Who but must laugh, if such a man there be! + Who would not weep, if Atticus were he! + +Some readers may think these lines severe, but the treatment he received +from Mr. Addison, was more than sufficient to justify them, which will +appear when we particularize an interview between these two poetical +antagonists, procured by the warm sollicitations of Sir Richard Steele, +who was present at it, as well as Mr. Gay. + +Mr. Jervas being one day in company with Mr. Addison, the conversation +turned upon Mr. Pope, for whom Addison, at that time, expressed the +highest regard, and assured Mr. Jervas, that he would make use not only +of his interest, but of his art likewise, to do Mr. Pope service; he +then said, he did not mean his art of poetry, but his art at court, and +protested, notwithstanding many insinuations were spread, that it shall +not be his fault, if there was not the best understanding and +intelligence between them. He observed, that Dr. Swift might have +carried him too far among the enemy, during the animosity, but now all +was safe, and Mr. Pope, in his opinion, was escaped. When Mr. Jervas +communicated this conversation to Mr. Pope, he made this reply: 'The +friendly office you endeavour to do between Mr. Addison and me deserves +acknowledgments on my part. You thoroughly know my regard to his +character, and my readiness to testify it by all ways in my power; you +also thoroughly knew the meanness of that proceeding of Mr. Phillips, to +make a man I so highly value suspect my disposition towards him. But as, +after all, Mr. Addison must be judge in what regards himself, and as he +has seemed not to be a very just one to me, so I must own to you, I +expect nothing but civility from him, how much soever I wish for his +friendship; and as for any offers of real kindness or service which it +is in his power to do me, I should be ashamed to receive them from a +man, who has no better opinion of my morals, than to think me a party +man, nor of my temper, than to believe me capable of maligning, or +envying another's reputation as a poet. In a word, Mr. Addison is sure +of my respect at all times, and of my real friendship, whenever he shall +think fit to know me for what I am.' + +Some years after this conversation, at the desire of Sir Richard Steele, +they met. At first, a very cold civility, and nothing else appeared on +either side, for Mr. Addison had a natural reserve and gloom at the +beginning of an evening, which, by conversation and a glass, brightened +into an easy chearfulness. Sir Richard Steele, who was a most social +benevolent man, begged of him to fulfill his promise, in dropping all +animosity against Mr. Pope. Mr. Pope then desired to be made sensible +how he had offended; and observed, that the translation of Homer, if +that was the great crime, was undertaken at the request, and almost at +the command of Sir Richard Steele. He entreated Mr. Addison to speak +candidly and freely, though it might be with ever so much severity, +rather than by keeping up forms of complaisance, conceal any of his +faults. This Mr. Pope spoke in such a manner as plainly indicated he +thought Mr. Addison the aggressor, and expected him to condescend, and +own himself the cause of the breach between them. But he was +disappointed; for Mr. Addison, without appearing to be angry, was quite +overcome with it. He began with declaring, that he always had wished him +well, had often endeavoured to be his friend, and in that light advised +him, if his nature was capable of it, to divert himself of part of his +vanity, which was too great for his merit; that he had not arrived yet +to that pitch of excellence he might imagine, or think his most partial +readers imagined; that when he and Sir Richard Steele corrected his +verses, they had a different air; reminding Mr. Pope of the amendment +(by Sir Richard) of a line, in the poem called The MESSIAH. + + He wipes the tears for ever from our eyes. + +Which is taken from the prophet Isaiah, + + The Lord God will wipe all tears from off all faces. + + From every face he wipes off ev'ry tear. + +And it stands so altered in the newer editions of Mr. Pope's works. He +proceeded to lay before him all the mistakes and inaccuracies hinted at +by the writers, who had attacked Mr. Pope, and added many things, which +he himself objected to. Speaking of his translation in general, he said, +that he was not to be blamed for endeavouring to get so large a sum of +money, but that it was an ill-executed thing, and not equal to Tickell, +which had all the spirit of Homer. Mr. Addison concluded, in a low +hollow voice of feigned temper, that he was not sollicitous about his +own fame as a poet; that he had quitted the muses to enter into the +business of the public, and that all he spoke was through friendship to +Mr. Pope, whom he advised to have a less exalted sense of his own merit. + +Mr. Pope could not well bear such repeated reproaches, but boldly told +Mr. Addison, that he appealed from his judgment to the public, and that +he had long known him too well to expect any friendship from him; +upbraided him with being a pensioner from his youth, sacrificing the +very learning purchased by the public money, to a mean thirst of power; +that he was sent abroad to encourage literature, in place of which he +had always endeavoured to suppress merit. At last, the contest grew so +warm, that they parted without any ceremony, and Mr. Pope upon this +wrote the foregoing verses, which are esteemed too true a picture of Mr. +Addison. + +In this account, and, indeed, in all other accounts, which have been +given concerning this quarrel, it does not appear that Mr. Pope was the +aggressor. If Mr. Addison entertained suspicions of Mr. Pope's being +carried too far among the enemy, the danger was certainly Mr. Pope's, +and not Mr. Addison's. It was his misfortune, and not his crime. If Mr. +Addison should think himself capable of becoming a rival to Mr. Pope, +and, in consequence of this opinion, publish a translation of part of +Homer; at the same time with Mr. Pope's, and if the public should decide +in favour of the latter by reading his translation, and neglecting the +other, can any fault be imputed to Mr. Pope? could he be blamed for +exerting all his abilities in so arduous a province? and was it his +fault that Mr. Addison (for the first book of Homer was undoubtedly his) +could not translate to please the public? Besides, was it not somewhat +presumptuous to insinuate to Mr. Pope, that his verses bore another face +when he corrected them, while, at the same time, the translation of +Homer, which he had never seen in manuscript, bore away the palm from +that very translation, he himself asserted was done in the true spirit +of Homer? In matters of genius the public judgment seldom errs, and in +this case posterity has confirmed the sentence of that age, which gave +the preference to Mr. Pope; for his translation is in the hands of all +readers of taste, while the other is seldom regarded but as a soil to +Pope's. + +It would appear as if Mr. Addison were himself so immersed in party +business, as to contrast his benevolence to the limits of a faction: +Which was infinitely beneath the views of a philosopher, and the rules +which that excellent writer himself established. If this was the failing +of Mr. Addison, it was not the error of Pope, for he kept the strictest +correspondence with some persons, whose affections to the Whig-interest +were suspected, yet was his name never called in question. While he was +in favour with the duke of Buckingham, the lords Bolingbroke, Oxford, +and Harcourt, Dr. Swift, and Mr. Prior, he did not drop his +correspondence with the lord Hallifax, Mr. Craggs, and most of those who +were at the head of the Whig interest. A professed Jacobite one day +remonstrated to Mr. Pope, that the people of his party took it ill that +he should write with Mr. Steele upon ever so indifferent a subject; at +which he could not help smiling, and observed, that he hated narrowness +of soul in any party; and that if he renounced his reason in religious +matters, he should hardly do it on any other, and that he could pray not +only for opposite parties, but even for opposite religions. Mr. Pope +considered himself as a citizen of the world, and was therefore obliged +to pray for the prosperity of mankind in general. As a son of Britain he +wished those councils might be suffered by providence to prevail, which +were most for the interest of his native country: But as politics was +not his study, he could not always determine, at least, with any degree +of certainty, whose councils were best; and had charity enough to +believe, that contending parties might mean well. As taste and science +are confined to no country, so ought they not to be excluded from any +party, and Mr. Pope had an unexceptionable right to live upon terms of +the strictest friendship with every man of parts, to which party soever +he might belong. Mr. Pope's uprightness in his conduct towards +contending politicians, is demonstrated by his living independent of +either faction. He accepted no place, and had too high a spirit to +become a pensioner. + +Many effects however were made to proselyte him from the Popish faith, +which all proved ineffectual. His friends conceived hopes from the +moderation which he on all occasions expressed, that he was really a +Protestant in his heart, and that upon the death of his mother, he would +not scruple to declare his sentiments, notwithstanding the reproaches he +might incur from the Popish party, and the public observation it would +draw upon him. The bishop of Rochester strongly advised him to read the +controverted points between the Protestant and the Catholic church, to +suffer his unprejudiced reason to determine for him, and he made no +doubt, but a separation from the Romish communion would soon ensue. To +this Mr. Pope very candidly answered, 'Whether the change would be to my +spiritual advantage, God only knows: This I know, that I mean as well in +the religion I now profess, as ever I can do in any other. Can a man who +thinks so, justify a change, even if he thought both equally good? To +such an one, the part of joining with any one body of Christians might +perhaps be easy, but I think it would not be so to renounce the other. + +'Your lordship has formerly advised me to read the best controversies +between the churches. Shall I tell you a secret? I did so at 14 years +old (for I loved reading, and my father had no other books) there was a +collection of all that had been written on both sides, in the reign of +King James II. I warmed my head with them, and the consequence was, I +found myself a Papist, or a Protestant by turns, according to the last +book I read. I am afraid most seekers are in the same case, and when +they stop, they are not so properly converted, as outwitted. You see how +little glory you would gain by my conversion: and after all, I verily +believe, your lordship and I are both of the same religion, if we were +thoroughly understood by one another, and that all honest and reasonable +Christians would be so, if they did but talk enough together every day, +and had nothing to do together but to serve God, and live in peace with +their neighbours. + +"As to the temporal side of the question, I can have no dispute with +you; it is certain, all the beneficial circumstances of life, and all +the shining ones, lie on the part you would invite me to. But if I could +bring myself to fancy, what I think you do but fancy, that I have any +talents for active life, I want health for it; and besides it is a real +truth. I have, if possible, less inclination, than ability. +Contemplative life is not only my scene, but is my habit too. I begun my +life where most people end theirs, with all that the world calls +ambition. I don't know why it is called so, for, to me, it always seemed +to be stooping, or climbing. I'll tell you my politic and religious +sentiments in a few words. In my politics, I think no farther, than how +to preserve my peace of life, in any government under which I live; nor +in my religion, than to preserve the peace of my conscience, in any +church with which I communicate. I hope all churches, and all +governments are so far of God, as they are rightly understood, and +rightly administered; and where they are, or may be wrong, I leave it to +God alone to mend, or reform them, which, whenever he does, it must be +by greater instruments than I am. I am not a Papist, for I renounce the +temporal invasions of the papal power, and detest their arrogated +authority over Princes and States. I am a Catholic in the strictest +sense of the word. If I was born under an absolute Prince, I would be a +quiet subject; but, I thank God, I was not. I have a due sense of the +excellence of the British constitution. In a word, the things I have +always wished to see, are not a Roman Catholic, or a French Catholic, or +a Spanish Catholic, but a True Catholic; and not a King of Whigs, or +[Transcriber's note: repeated 'or' removed] a King of Tories, but a King +of England." + +These are the peaceful maxims upon which we find Mr. Pope conducted his +life, and if they cannot in some respects be justified, yet it must be +owned, that his religion and his politics were well enough adapted for a +poet, which entitled him to a kind of universal patronage, and to make +every good man his friend. + +Dean Swift sometimes wrote to Mr. Pope on the topic of changing his +religion, and once humorously offered him twenty pounds for that +purpose. Mr. Pope's answer to this, lord Orrery has obliged the world by +preserving in the life of Swift. It is a perfect master-piece of wit and +pleasantry. + +We have already taken notice, that Mr. Pope was called upon by the +public voice to translate the Iliad, which he performed with so much +applause, and at the same time, with so much profit to himself, that he +was envied by many writers, whose vanity perhaps induced them to believe +themselves equal to so great a design. A combination of inferior wits +were employed to write The Popiad, in which his translation is +characterized, as unjust to the original, without beauty of language, or +variety of numbers. Instead of the justness of the original, they say +there is absurdity and extravagance. Instead of the beautiful language +of the original, there is solecism and barbarous English. A candid +reader may easily discern from this furious introduction, that the +critics were actuated rather by malice than truth, and that they must +judge with their eyes shut, who can see no beauty of language, no +harmony of numbers in this translation. + +But the most formidable critic against Mr. Pope in this great +undertaking, was the celebrated Madam Dacier, whom Mr. Pope treated with +less ceremony in his Notes on the Iliad, than, in the opinion of some +people, was due to her sex. This learned lady was not without a sense of +the injury, and took an opportunity of discovering her resentment. + +"Upon finishing (says she) the second edition of my translation of +Homer, a particular friend sent me a translation of part of Mr. Pope's +preface to his Version of the Iliad. As I do not understand English, I +cannot form any judgment of his performance, though I have heard much of +it. I am indeed willing to believe, that the praises it has met with are +not unmerited, because whatever work is approved by the English nation, +cannot be bad; but yet I hope I may be permitted to judge of that part +of the preface, which has been transmitted to me, and I here take the +liberty of giving my sentiments concerning it. I must freely acknowledge +that Mr. Pope's invention is very lively, though he seems to have been +guilty of the same fault into which he owns we are often precipitated by +our invention, when we depend too much upon the strength of it; as +magnanimity (says he) may run up to confusion and extravagance, so may +great invention to redundancy and wildness. + +"This has been the very case of Mr. Pope himself; nothing is more +overstrained, or more false than the images in which his fancy has +represented Homer; sometimes he tells us, that the Iliad is a wild +paradise, where, if we cannot see all the beauties, as in an ordered +garden, it is only because the number of them is infinitely greater. +Sometimes he compares him to a copious nursery, which contains the seeds +and first productions of every kind; and, lastly, he represents him +under the notion of a mighty tree, which rises from the most vigorous +seed, is improved with industry, flourishes and produces the finest +fruit, but bears too many branches, which might be lopped into form, to +give it a more regular appearance. + +"What! is Homer's poem then, according to Mr. Pope, a confused heap of +beauties, without order or symmetry, and a plot whereon nothing but +seeds, nor nothing perfect or formed is to be found; and a production +loaded with many unprofitable things which ought to be retrenched, and +which choak and disfigure those which deserve to be preserved? Mr. Pope +will pardon me if I here oppose those comparisons, which to me appear +very false, and entirely contrary to what the greatest of ancient, and +modern critics ever thought. + +"The Iliad is so far from being a wild paradise, that it is the most +regular garden, and laid out with more symmetry than any ever was. Every +thing herein is not only in the place it ought to have been, but every +thing is fitted for the place it hath. He presents you at first with +that which ought to be first seen; he places in the middle what ought to +be in the middle, and what would be improperly placed at the beginning +or end, and he removes what ought to be at a greater distance, to create +the more agreeable surprize; and, to use a comparison drawn from +painting, he places that in the greatest light which cannot be too +visible, and sinks in the obscurity of the shade, what does not require +a full view; so that it may be said, that Homer is the Painter who best +knew how to employ the shades and lights. The second comparison is +equally unjust; how could Mr. Pope say, 'that one can only discover +seeds, and the first productions of every kind in the Iliad?' every +beauty is there to such an amazing perfection, that the following ages +could add nothing to those of any kind; and the ancients have always +proposed Homer, as the most perfect model in every kind of poetry. + +"The third comparison is composed of the errors of the two former; Homer +had certainly an incomparable fertility of invention, but his fertility +is always checked by that just sense, which made him reject every +superfluous thing which his vast imagination could offer, and to retain +only what was necessary and useful. Judgment guided the hand of this +admirable gardener, and was the pruning hook he employed to lop off +every useless branch." + +Thus far Madam Dacier differs in her opinion from Mr. Pope concerning +Homer; but these remarks which we have just quoted, partake not at all +of the nature of criticism; they are meer assertion. Pope had declared +Homer to abound with irregular beauties. Dacier has contradicted him, +and asserted, that all his beauties are regular, but no reason is +assigned by either of these mighty geniuses in support of their +opinions, and the reader is left in the dark, as to the real truth. If +he is to be guided by the authority of a name only, no doubt the +argument will preponderate in favour of our countryman. The French lady +then proceeds to answer some observations, which Mr. Pope made upon her +Remarks on the Iliad, which she performs with a warmth that generally +attends writers of her sex. Mr. Pope, however, paid more regard to this +fair antagonist, than any other critic upon his works. He confessed that +he had received great helps from her, and only thought she had (through +a prodigious, and almost superstitious, fondness for Homer) endeavoured +to make him appear without any fault, or weakness, and stamp a +perfection on his works, which is no where to be found. He wrote her a +very obliging letter, in which he confessed himself exceedingly sorry +that he ever should have displeased so excellent a wit, and she, on the +other hand, with a goodness and frankness peculiar to her, protested to +forgive it, so that there remained no animosities between those two +great admirers and translators of Homer. + +Mr. Pope, by his successful translation of the Iliad, as we have before +remarked, drew upon him the envy and raillery of a whole tribe of +writers. Though he did not esteem any particular man amongst his enemies +of consequence enough to provoke an answer, yet when they were +considered collectively, they offered excellent materials for a general +satire. This satire he planned and executed with so extraordinary a +mastery, that it is by far the most compleat poem of our author's; it +discovers more invention, and a higher effort of genius, than any other +production of his. The hint was taken from Mr. Dryden's Mac Flecknoe, +but as it is more general, so it is more pleasing. The Dunciad is so +universally read, that we reckon it superfluous to give any further +account of it here; and it would be an unpleasing task to trace all the +provocations and resentments, which were mutually discovered upon this +occasion. Mr. Pope was of opinion, that next to praising good writers, +there was a merit in exposing bad ones, though it does not hold +infallibly true, that each person stigmatized as a dunce, was genuinely +so. Something must be allowed to personal resentment; Mr. Pope was a man +of keen passions; he felt an injury strongly, retained a long +remembrance of it, and could very pungently repay it. Some of the +gentlemen, however, who had been more severely lashed than the rest, +meditated a revenge, which redounds but little to their honour. They +either intended to chastize him corporally, or gave it out that they had +really done so, in order to bring shame upon Mr. Pope, which, if true, +could only bring shame upon themselves. + +While Mr. Pope enjoyed any leisure from severer applications to study, +his friends were continually solliciting him to turn his thoughts +towards something that might be of lasting use to the world, and engage +no more in a war with dunces who were now effectually humbled. Our great +dramatic poet Shakespear had pass'd through several hands, some of whom +were very reasonably judged not to have understood any part of him +tolerably, much less were capable to correct or revise him. + +The friends of Mr. Pope therefore strongly importuned him, to undertake +the whole of Shakespear's plays, and, if possible, by comparing all the +different copies now to be procured, restore him to his ancient purity. +To which our poet made this modest reply, that not having attempted any +thing in the Drama, it might in him be deemed too much presumption. To +which he was answered, that this did not require great knowledge of the +foundation and disposition of the drama, as that must stand as it was, +and Shakespear [Transcriber's note: 'Skakespear' in original] himself +had not always paid strict regard to the rules of it; but this was to +clear the scenes from the rubbish with which ignorant editors had filled +them. + +His proper business in this work was to render the text so clear as to +be generally understood, to free it from obscurities, and sometimes +gross absurdities, which now seem to appear in it, and to explain +doubtful and difficult passages of which there are great numbers. This +however was an arduous province, and how Mr. Pope has acquitted himself +in it has been differently determined: It is certain he never valued +himself upon that performance, nor was it a task in the least adapted to +his genius; for it seldom happens that a man of lively parts can undergo +the servile drudgery of collecting passages, in which more industry and +labour are necessary than persons of quick penetration generally have to +bestow. + +It has been the opinion of some critics, that Mr. Pope's talents were +not adapted for the drama, otherwise we cannot well account for his +neglecting the most gainful way of writing which poetry affords, +especially as his reputation was so high, that without much ceremony or +mortification, he might have had any piece of his brought upon the +stage. Mr. Pope was attentive to his own interest, and if he had not +either been conscious of his inability in that province, or too timid to +wish the popular approbation, he would certainly have attempted the +drama. Neither was he esteemed a very competent judge of what plays were +proper or improper for representation. He wrote several letters to the +manager of Drury-Lane Theatre, in favour of Thomson's Agamemnon, which +notwithstanding his approbation, Thomson's friends were obliged to +mutulate and shorten; and after all it proved a heavy play.--Though it +was generally allowed to have been one of the best acted plays that had +appeared for some years. + +He was certainly concerned in the Comedy, which was published in Mr. +Gay's name, called Three Hours after Marriage, as well as Dr. Arbuthnot. +This illustrious triumvirate, though men of the most various parts, and +extensive understanding, yet were not able it seems to please the +people, tho' the principal parts were supported by the best actors in +that way on the stage. Dr. Arbuthnot and Mr. Pope were no doubt +solicitous to conceal their concern in it; but by a letter which Gay +wrote to Pope, published in Ayre's Memoirs, it appears evident (if +Ayre's authority may be depended on) that they, both assisted in the +composition. + +DEAR POPE, + +'Too late I see, and confess myself mistaken in relation to the Comedy; +yet I do not think, had I followed your advice, and only introduced the +mummy, that the absence of the crocodile had saved it. I can't help +laughing myself (though the vulgar do not consider it was designed to +look ridiculous) to think how the poor monster and mummy were dashed at +their reception, and when the cry was loudest, I thought that if the +thing had been written by another, I should have deemed the town in some +measure mistaken; and as to your apprehension that this may do us future +injury, do not think of it; the Dr. has a more valuable name than can be +hurt by any thing of this nature; and your's is doubly safe. I will, if +any shame there be, take it all to myself, and indeed I ought, the +motion being first mine, and never heartily approved by you.' + +Of all our poet's writings none were read with more general approbation +than his Ethic Epistles, or multiplied into more editions. Mr. Pope who +was a perfect oeconomist, secured to himself the profits arising from +his own works; he was never subjected to necessity, and therefore was +not to be imposed upon by the art or fraud of publishers. + +But now approaches the period in which as he himself expressed it, he +stood in need of the generous tear he paid, + + Posts themselves must fall like those they sung, + Deaf the prais'd ear, and mute the tuneful tongue. + Ev'n he whose soul now melts in mournful lays, + Shall shortly want the generous tear he pays. + +Mr. Pope who had been always subjected to a variety of bodily +infirmities, finding his strength give way, began to think that his +days, which had been prolonged past his expectation, were drawing +towards a conclusion. However, he visited the Hot-Wells at Bristol, +where for some time there were small hopes of his recovery; but making +too free with purges he grew worse, and seemed desirous to draw nearer +home. A dropsy in the breast at last put a period to his life, at the +age of 56, on the 30th of May 1744, at his house at Twickenham, where he +was interred in the same grave with his father and mother. + +Mr. Pope's behaviour in his last illness has been variously represented +to the world: Some have affirmed that it was timid and peevish; that +having been fixed in no particular system of faith, his mind was +wavering, and his temper broken and disturb'd. Others have asserted that +he was all chearfulness and resignation to the divine will: Which of +these opinions is true we cannot now determine; but if the former, it +must be regretted, that he, who had taught philosophy to others, should +himself be destitute of its assistance in the most critical moments of +his life. + +The bulk of his fortune he bequeath'd to Mrs. Blount, with whom he lived +in the strictest friendship, and for whom he is said to have entertained +the warmest affection. His works, which are in the hands of every person +of true taste, and will last as long as our language will be understood, +render unnecessary all further remarks on his writings. He was equally +admired for the dignity and sublimity of his moral and philosophical +works, the vivacity of his satirical, the clearness and propriety of his +didactic, the richness and variety of his descriptive, and the elegance +of all, added to an harmony of versification and correctness of +sentiment and language, unknown to our former poets, and of which he has +set an example which will be an example or a reproach to his successors. +His prose-stile is as perfect in its kind as his poetic, and has all the +beauties proper for it, joined to an uncommon force and perspicuity. + +Under the profession of the Roman-Catholic religion, to which he adhered +to the last, he maintained all the moderation and charity becoming the +most thorough and confident Protestant. His conversation was natural, +easy and agreeable, without any affectation of displaying his wit, or +obtruding his own judgment, even upon subjects of which he was so +eminently a master. + +The moral character of our author, as it did not escape the lash of his +calumniators in his life; so have there been attempts since his death to +diminish his reputation. Lord Bolingbroke, whom Mr. Pope esteemed to +almost an enthusiastic degree of admiration, was the first to make this +attack. Not many years ago, the public were entertained with this +controversy immediately upon the publication of his lordship's Letters +on the Spirit of Patriotism, and the Idea of a Patriot King. Different +opinions have been offered, some to extenuate the fault of Mr. Pope, for +printing and mutilating these letters, without his lordship's knowledge; +others to blame him for it as the highest breach of friendship, and the +greatest mark of dishonour. It would exceed our proposed bounds to enter +into the merits of this controversy; the reader, no doubt, will find it +amply discussed in that account of the life of this great author, which +Mr. Warburton has promised the public. + +This great man is allowed to have been one of the first rank amongst the +poets of our nation, and to acknowledge the superiority of none but +Shakespear, Milton, and Dryden. With the two former, it is unnatural to +compare him, as their province in writing is so very different. Pope has +never attempted the drama, nor published an Epic Poem, in which these +two distinguished genius's have so wonderfully succeeded. Though Pope's +genius was great, it was yet of so different a cast from Shakespear's, +and Milton's, that no comparison can be justly formed. But if this may +be said of the former two, it will by no means hold with respect to the +later, for between him and Dryden, there is a great similarity of +writing, and a very striking coincidence of genius. It will not perhaps +be unpleasing to our readers, if we pursue this comparison, and +endeavour to discover to whom the superiority is justly to be +attributed, and to which of them poetry owes the highest obligations. + +When Dryden came into the world, he found poetry in a very imperfect +state; its numbers were unpolished; its cadences rough, and there was +nothing of harmony or mellifluence to give it a graceful of flow. In +this harsh, unmusical situation, Dryden found it (for the refinements of +Waller were but puerile and unsubstantial) he polished the rough +diamond, he taught it to shine, and connected beauty, elegance, and +strength, in all his poetical compositions. Though Dryden thus polished +our English numbers, and thus harmonized versification, it cannot be +said, that he carried his art to perfection. Much was yet left undone; +his lines with all their smoothness were often rambling, and expletives +were frequently introduced to compleat his measures. It was apparent +therefore that an additional harmony might still be given to our +numbers, and that cadences were yet capable of a more musical +modulation. To effect this purpose Mr. Pope arose, who with an ear +elegantly delicate, and the advantage of the finest genius, so +harmonized the English numbers, as to make them compleatly musical. His +numbers are likewise so minutely correct, that it would be difficult to +conceive how any of his lines can be altered to to advantage. He has +created a kind of mechanical versification; every line is alike; and +though they are sweetly musical, they want diversity, for he has not +studied so great a variety of pauses, and where the accents may be laid +gracefully. The structure of his verse is the best, and a line of his is +more musical than any other line can be made, by placing the accents +elsewhere; but we are not quite certain, whether the ear is not apt to +be soon cloy'd with this uniformity of elegance, this sameness of +harmony. It must be acknowledged however, that he has much improved upon +Dryden in the article of versification, and in that part of poetry is +greatly his superior. But though this must be acknowledged, perhaps it +will not necessarily follow that his genius was therefore superior. + +The grand characteristic of a poet is his invention, the surest +distinction of a great genius. In Mr. Pope, nothing is so truly original +as his Rape of the Lock, nor discovers so much invention. In this kind +of mock-heroic, he is without a rival in our language, for Dryden has +written nothing of the kind. His other work which discovers invention, +fine designing, and admirable execution, is his Dunciad; which, tho' +built on Dryden's Mac Flecknoe, is yet so much superior, that in satiric +writing, the Palm must justly be yielded to him. In Mr. Dryden's Absalom +and Achitophel, there are indeed the most poignant strokes of satire, +and characters drawn with the most masterly touches; but this poem with +all its excellencies is much inferior to the Dunciad, though Dryden had +advantages which Mr. Pope had not; for Dryden's characters are men of +great eminence and figure in the state, while Pope has to expose men of +obscure birth and unimportant lives only distinguished from the herd of +mankind, by a glimmering of genius, which rendered the greatest part of +them more emphatically contemptible. Pope's was the hardest task, and he +has executed it with the greatest success. As Mr. Dryden must +undoubtedly have yielded to Pope in satyric writing, it is incumbent on +the partizans of Dryden to name another species of composition, in which +the former excells so as to throw the ballance again upon the side of +Dryden. This species is the Lyric, in which the warmest votaries of Pope +must certainly acknowledge, that he is much inferior; as an irrefutable +proof of this we need only compare Mr. Dryden's Ode on St. Cecilia's +Day, with Mr. Pope's; in which the disparity is so apparent, that we +know not if the most finished of Pope's compositions has discovered such +a variety and command of numbers. + +It hath been generally acknowledged, that the Lyric is a more excellent +kind of writing than the Satiric; and consequently he who excells in the +most excellent species, must undoubtedly be esteemed the greatest poet. +--Mr. Pope has very happily succeeded in many of his occasional pieces, +such as Eloisa to Abelard, his Elegy on an unfortunate young Lady, and a +variety of other performances deservedly celebrated. To these may be +opposed Mr. Dryden's Fables, which though written in a very advanced +age, are yet the most perfect of his works. In these Fables there is +perhaps a greater variety than in Pope's occasional pieces: Many of them +indeed are translations, but such as are original shew a great extent of +invention, and a large compass of genius. + +There are not in Pope's works such poignant discoveries of wit, or such +a general knowledge of the humours and characters of men, as in the +Prologues and Epilogues of Dryden, which are the best records of the +whims and capricious oddities of the times in which they are written. + +When these two great genius's are considered in the light of +translators, it will indeed be difficult to determine into whose scale +the ballance should be thrown: That Mr. Pope had a more arduous province +in doing justice to Homer, than Dryden with regard to Virgil is +certainly true; as Homer is a more various and diffuse poet than Virgil; +and it is likewise true, that Pope has even exceeded Dryden in the +execution, and none will deny, that Pope's Homer's Iliad, is a finer +poem than Dryden's Aeneis of Virgil: Making a proper allowance for the +disproportion of the original authors. But then a candid critic should +reflect, that as Dryden was prior in the great attempt of rendering +Virgil into English, so did he perform the task under many +disadvantages, which Pope, by a happier situation in life, was enabled +to avoid; and could not but improve upon Dryden's errors, though the +authors translated were not the same: And it is much to be doubted, if +Dryden were to translate the Aeneid now, with that attention which the +correctness of the present age would force upon him, whether the +preference would be due to Pope's Homer. + +But supposing it to be yielded (as it certainly must) that the latter +bard was the greatest translator; we are now to throw into Mr. Dryden's +scale all his dramatic works; which though not the most excellent of his +writings, yet as nothing of Mr. Pope's can be opposed to them, they have +an undoubted right to turn the ballance greatly in favour of Mr. +Dryden.--When the two poets are considered as critics, the comparison +will very imperfectly hold. Dryden's Dedications and Prefaces, besides +that they are more numerous, and are the best models for courtly +panegyric, shew that he understood poetry as an art, beyond any man that +ever lived. And he explained this art so well, that he taught his +antagonists to turn the tables against himself; for he so illuminated +the mind by his clear and perspicuous reasoning, that dullness itself +became capable of discerning; and when at any time his performances fell +short of his own ideas of excellence; his enemies tried him by rules of +his own establishing; and though they owed to him the ability of +judging, they seldom had candour enough to spare him. + +Perhaps it may be true that Pope's works are read with more appetite, as +there is a greater evenness and correctness in them; but in perusing the +works of Dryden the mind will take a wider range, and be more fraught +with poetical ideas: We admire Dryden as the greater genius, and Pope as +the most pleasing versifier. + +ERRATA in the foregoing life, viz. + +P. 237. l. 27. for with all that the world calls ambition, read with _a +disgust of_ all, &c. And l. 29. for 'stooping or climbing' read, +_rather_ stooping _than_ climbing. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] See a Note in Warburton's Edition of Pope's Works. + + + * * * * * + + +AARON HILL, Esq;[1] + +Was the son of George Hill, esq; of Malmsbury-Abbey in Wiltshire; a +gentleman possessed of an estate of about 2000 l. a year, which was +entailed upon him, and the eldest son, and to his heirs for many +descents. But the unhappy misconduct of Mr. George Hill, and the +weakness of the trustees, entangled it in such a manner as hitherto has +rendered it of no advantage to his family; for, without any legal title +so to do, he sold it all, at different times, for sums greatly beneath +the value of it, and left his children to their mother's care, and her +mother's (Mrs. Ann Gregory) who took great pains with her grandson's +education. At nine years old she put him to school to Mr. Rayner at +Barnstable in Devonshire, from whence, he went to Westminster school; +where soon (under the care of Dr. Knipe) his genius shewed itself in a +distinguished light, and often made him some amends for his hard +fortune, which denied him such supplies of pocket-money as his spirit +wished, by enabling him to perform the tasks of many who had not his +capacity. + +Mr. Aaron Hill, was born in Beaufort-Buildings in the Strand, on +February 10, 1684-5. At fourteen years of age he left Westminster +school; and, shortly after, hearing his grandmother make mention of a +relation much esteemed (lord Paget, then ambassador at Constantinople) +he formed a resolution of paying him a visit there, being likewise very +desirous to see that empire. + +His grandmother being a woman of uncommon understanding, and great +good-nature, would not oppose him in it; and accordingly he soon +embark'd on board a ship, then going there, March 2, 1700, as appears by +a Journal which he kept during his voyage, and in his travels (though at +so weak an age) wherein he gave the most accurate account of every +particular, in a manner much above his years. + +When he arrived, lord Paget received him with as much surprize, as +pleasure, wondering that so young a person as he was (but then in his +fifteenth year) should chuse to run the hazard of such a voyage to visit +a relation, whom he knew but by character. The ambassador immediately +provided for him a very learned ecclesiastic in his own house, and, +under his tuition, sent him to travel, being desirous to improve, as far +as possible, the education of a person he found worthy of it. With this +tutor he had the opportunity of seeing Egypt, Palestine, and a great +part of the Eastern country. + +With lord Paget he returned home, about the year 1703, through great +part of Europe; in which tour he saw most of the courts. + +He was in great esteem with that nobleman; insomuch, that in all +probability he had been still more distinguished by him at his death, +than in his life time, had not the envious fears and malice of a certain +female, who was in high authority and favour with that lord, prevented +and supplanted his kind disposition towards him: My lord took great +pleasure in instructing him himself, wrote him whole books in different +languages, on which his student placed the greatest value; which was no +sooner taken notice of by jealous observation, than they were stolen +from his apartment, and suffered to be some days missing, to the great +displeasure of my lord, but still much greater affliction of his pupil, +whose grief for losing a treasure he so highly valued, was more than +doubled, by perceiving that from some false insinuation that had been +made, it was believed he had himself wilfully lost them: But young Mr. +Hill was soon entirely cleared on this head. + +A few years after, he was desired both on account of his sobriety and +understanding, to accompany Sir William Wentworth, a worthy baronet of +Yorkshire, who was then going to make the tour of Europe; with whom he +travelled two or three years, and brought him home improved, to the +satisfaction of that gentleman's relations. + +'Twas in those different travels he collected matter for the history he +wrote of Turkey, and published in 1709; a work he afterwards often +repented having printed; and (though his own) would criticise upon it +with much severity. (But, as he used to say, he was a very boy when he +began and ended it; therefore great allowance may be made on that +account); and in a letter which has since been printed in his works, +wrote to his greatly valued friend, the worthy author of Clarissa, he +acknowledges his consciousness of such defects: where speaking of +obscurity, he says, + + 'Obscurity, indeed (if they had penetration to mean that) is burying + sense alive, and some of my rash, early, too affected, puerile + scriblings must, and should, have pleaded guilty to so just an + accusation.' + +The fire of youth, with an imagination lively as his was, seldom, if +ever, go hand in hand with solid judgment. Mr. Hill did not give himself +indeed time for correction, having wrote it so very expeditiously, as +hardly would be credited. But (as Dr. Sprat, then bishop of Rochester, +used to observe) there is certainly visible in that book, the seeds of a +great writer.--He seldom in his riper years was guilty of the fault of +non-correction; for he revis'd, too strictly rather, every piece he +purposed for the public eye (exclusive of an author's natural fondness); +and it has been believed by many, who have read some of his pieces in +the first copy, that had they never been by a revisal deepened +[Transcriber's note: 'deepned' in original] into greater strength, they +would have pleased still more, at least more generally. + +About the year 1709 he published his first poem, called Camillus; in +vindication, and honour of the earl of Peterborough, who had been +general in Spain. After that nobleman had seen it, he was desirous to +know who was the author of it; which having found by enquiry, he +complimented him by making him his secretary, in the room of Mr. Furly, +who was gone abroad with another nobleman: And Mr. Hill was always held +in high esteem with that great peer; with whom, however, he did not +continue long; for in the year 1710 he married the only daughter of +Edmund Morris, Esq; of Stratford, in Essex; with whom he had a very +handsome fortune: By her he had nine children, four of whom (a son, and +three daughters) are still living. + +In 1709 he was made master of the Theatre in Drury-Lane; and then, at +the desire of Mr. Barton Booth, wrote his first Tragedy, (Elfrid, or the +Fair Inconstant) which from his first beginning of it he compleated in a +little more than a week.--The following year, 1710, he was master of the +Opera House in the Hay-Market; and then wrote an Opera called Rinaldo, +which met with great success: It was the first which that admirable +genius Mr. Handel compos'd, after he came to England; (this he dedicated +to Queen Anne).--His genius was adapted greatly to the business of the +stage; and while he held the management, he conducted both Theatres, +intirely to the satisfaction of the public.--But in a few months he +relinquished it, from some misunderstanding with the then lord +chamberlain; and though he was soon after sollicited to take that charge +again upon him (by a person the highest in command) he still declined +it. + +From that time he bent his thoughts on studies far more solid and +desirable to him; to views of public benefit: For his mind was ardently +devoted to the pursuit of general improvement. But, as one genius seldom +is adapted to both theory and practice; so in the execution of a variety +of undertakings, the most advantageous in themselves, by some +mismanagement of those concerned with him, he fail'd of the success his +labours merited. + +As in particular, in an affair he set on foot about the year 1715, and +was the sole discoverer of, for which he had a patent; the making of an +Oil, as sweet as that from Olives, from the Beech-Nuts: But this being +an undertaking of a great extent, he was obliged to work conjointly with +other men's assistance, and materials; whence arose disputes among them, +which terminated in the overthrowing the advantage then arising from it; +which otherwise might have been great and lasting. + +This, has occasioned that affair to be misunderstood by many; it +therefore may not be thought improper, here, to set it in a juster +light; and this cannot more exactly be given, than from his own words, +called, A fair state of the Account, published in the year 1716. + +'An impartial state of the case, between the patentee, annuitants, and +sharers, in the Beech-Oil-Company.'--Some part of which is here +recited. + +'The disappointments of the Beech-Oil-Company this year have made +abundance of sharers peevish; the natural effect of peevishness is +clamour, and clamour like a tide will work itself a passage, where it +has no right of flowing; some gentlemen, misled by false conceptions +both of the affair and its direction, have driven their discontent +through a mistaken chanel, and inclined abundance who are strangers to +the truth, to accuse the patentee of faults, he is not only absolutely +free from, but by which he is, of all concern'd, the greatest sufferer. + +'But, he is not angry with the angry; he considers they must take things +as they hear them represented; he governs all his actions by this +general maxim; never to be moved at a reproach, unless it be a just one. + +'In October 1713 the patentee procured a grant for fourteen years, to +him and his assigns, for the Beech-Oil invention. + +'Anno 1714, he made and published proposals, for taking a subscription +of 20,000 l. upon the following conditions; + +'That every subscriber should receive, by half yearly payments, at +Lady-Day and Michaelmas, during the continuance of the patent from +Lady-Day 1715, inclusive, an annuity amounting to fifty-pound per cent, +for any sum subscribed, excepting a deduction for the payment of the +directors. + +'That nine directors should be chosen on midsummer-day, who should +receive complaints upon non-payments of annuities; and in such case, +upon refusal, any five of the nine directors had power to meet and chuse +a governor from among themselves, enrolling that choice in chancery, +together with the reasons for it. + +'That after such choice and enrollment, the patentee should stand +absolutely excluded, the business be carried on, and all the right of +the grant be vested (not as a mortgage, but as a sale without +redemption) in the governor so chosen, for the joint advantage of the +annuitants, in proportion to their several interests. + +'As a security for making good the articles, the patentee did, by +indenture enrolled in chancery, assign and make over his patent to +trustees, in the indenture named, for the uses above-mentioned. + +'In the mean time the first half yearly payments to the annuitants, +amounting to 3750 l. became due, and the company not being yet +compleated, the patentee himself discharged it, and has never reckon'd +that sum to the account between him and the company; which he might have +done by virtue of the articles on which he gave admission to the +sharers. + +'For the better explanation of this scheme it will be necessary to +observe, that while the shares were selling, he grew apprehensive that +the season would be past, before the fifty pounds per share they were to +furnish by the articles could be contributed: He therefore gave up +voluntarily, and for the general good, 20,000 l. of his own 25,000 +guineas purchase money, as a loan to the company till the expiration of +the patent, after which it was again to be made good to him, or his +assigns; and this money so lent by the patentee, is all the stock that +ever has been hitherto employed by the company. + +'But instead of making good the above-mentioned conditional covenant, +the board proceeded to unnecessary warmth, and found themselves involved +still more and more in animosities, and those irregularities which +naturally follow groundless controversy. He would therefore take upon +himself the hazard and the power of the whole affair, accountable +however to the board, as to the money part; and yet would bind himself +to pay for three years to come, a profit of forty shillings per annum +upon every share, and then deliver back the business to the general +care, above the reach of future disappointments. + +'What reasons the gentlemen might have to refuse so inviting an offer is +best known to themselves; but they absolutely rejected that part of it, +which was to fix the sole power of management in the patentee. Upon +which, and many other provocations afterward, becoming more and more +dissatisfied, he thought fit to demand repayment of five hundred pounds, +which he had lent the company; as he had several other sums before; and +not receiving it, but, on the contrary, being denied so much as an +acknowledgment that it was due, withdrew himself intirely from the +board, and left them to their measures. + +'Thus at the same time have I offered my defence, and my opinion: By the +first I am sure I shall be acquitted from all imputations; and confirmed +in the good thoughts of the concerned on either side, who will know for +the future what attention they should give to idle reflections, and the +falsehood of rumour; and from the last, I have hopes that a plan may be +drawn, which will settle at once all disputed pretensions, and restore +that fair prospect, which the open advantage of last year's success +(indifferent as it was) has demonstrated to be a view that was no way +chimerical.-- + +'They know how to judge of malicious insinuations to my prejudice, by +this _one most scandalous example_, which has been given by the +endeavours of some to persuade the out-sharers that I have made an +extravagant _profit_ from the _losses_ of the adventurers. Whereas on +the contrary, out of _Twenty-five Thousand Guineas_, which was the whole +I should have received by the sale of the shares, I have given up +_Twenty Thousand Pounds_ to the use of the company, and to the annuities +afterward; and three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds more I paid +to the annuitants, at Lady-Day 1715, on the company's account; and have +never demanded it again, in consideration of their disappointments the +first year. + +'So that it plainly appears, that out of twenty-five thousand guineas, I +have given away in two articles only, twenty-three thousand seven +hundred and fifty pounds for the public advantage. And I can easily +prove, that the little remainder has been short of making good the +charges I have been at for their service; by which means I am not one +farthing a gainer by the company, notwithstanding the clamour and malice +of some unthinking adventurers: And for the truth of all this, I appeal +to their own _Office-Books_, and defy the most angry among them to deny +any article of it. See then what a grateful and generous encouragement +may be expected by men, who would dedicate their labours to the profit +of others. + +November the 30th. 1716. A. HILL.' + +This, and much more, too tedious to insert, serves to demonstrate that +it was a great misfortune, for a mind so fertile of invention and +improvement, to be embarrassed by a narrow power of fortune; too weak +alone to execute such undertakings. + +About the same year he wrote another Tragedy, intitled [Transcriber's +note: 'intiled' in original] the Fatal Vision[2], or the Fall of Siam +(which was acted the same year, in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields) to which he +gave this Motto out of Horace. + + I not for vulgar admiration write; + To be well read, not much, is my delight. + +And to his death he would declare in favour of that choice.--That year, +he likewise published the two first books of an Epic Poem, called Gideon +(founded on a Hebrew Story) which like its author, and all other +authors, had its enemies; but many more admirers. + +But his poetic pieces were not frequent in their appearance. They were +the product of some leisure hours, when he relaxed his thoughts from +drier study; as he took great delight in diving into every useful +science, viz. criticism, history, geography, physic, commerce in +general, agriculture, war, and law; but in particular natural +philosophy, wherein he has made many and valuable discoveries. + +Concerning poetry, he says, in his preface to King Henry the Vth, where +he laments the want of taste for Tragedy, + +'But in all events I will be easy, who have no better reason to wish +well to poetry, than my love for a mistress I shall never be married to: +For, whenever I grow ambitious, I shall wish to build higher; and owe my +memory to some occasion of more importance than my writings.' + +He had acquired so deep an insight in law, that he has from his +arguments and demonstrations obliged some of the greatest council +(formally) under their hands, to retract their own first-given opinions. + +He wrote part of a Tract of War; another upon Agriculture; but they are +left unfinished, with several other pieces. + +In his younger days he bought a grant of Sir Robert Montgomery (who had +purchas'd it of the lords proprietors of Carolina) with whom, &c. be had +been concern'd, in a design of settling a new plantation in the South of +Carolina, of a vast tract of land; on which he then designed to pursue +the same intention.--But being not master of a fortune equal to that +scheme, it never proved of any service to him, though many years since, +it has been cultivated largely[3]. + +His person was (in youth) extremely fair, and handsome; his eyes were a +dark blue, both bright and penetrating; brown hair and visage oval; +which was enlivened with a smile, the most agreeable in conversation; +where his address was affably engageing; to which was joined a dignity, +which rendered him at once respected and admired, by those (of either +sex) who were acquainted with him--He was tall, genteelly made, and not +thin.--His voice was sweet, his conversation elegant; and capable of +entertaining upon various subjects.--His disposition was benevolent, +beyond the power of the fortune he was blessed with; the calamities of +those he knew (and valued as deserving) affected him more than his own: +He had fortitude of mind sufficient to support with calmness great +misfortune; and from his birth it may be truly said he was obliged to +meet it. + +Of himself, he says in his epistle dedicatory to one of his poems, + + 'I am so devoted a lover of a private and unbusy life, that I cannot + recollect a time wherein I wish'd an increase to the little influence + I cultivate in the dignified world, unless when I have felt the + deficience of my own power, to reward some merit that has charm'd + me:'-- + +His temper, though by nature warm (when injuries were done him) was as +nobly forgiving; mindful of that great lesson in religion, of returning +good for evil; and he fulfilled it often to the prejudice of his own +circumstances. He was a tender husband, friend, and father; one of the +best masters to his servants, detesting the too common inhumanity, that +treats them almost as if they were not fellow-creatures. + +His manner of life was temperate in all respects (which might have +promis'd greater length of years) late hours excepted which his +indefatigable love of study drew him into; night being not liable to +interruptions like the day. + +About the year 1718 he wrote a poem called the Northern-Star, upon the +actions of the Czar Peter the Great; and several years after he was +complimented with a gold medal from the empress Catherine (according to +the Czar's desire before his death) and was to have wrote his life, from +papers which were to be sent him of the Czar's: But the death of the +Czarina, quickly after, prevented it.--In an advertisement to the +reader, in the fifth edition of that poem, published in 1739, the author +says of it. + +'Though the design was profess'd panegyric, I may with modesty venture +to say it was not a very politic, perhaps, but an honest example of +praise without flattery.--In the verse, I am afraid there was much to be +blamed, as too low; but, I am sure there was none of that fault in the +purpose: The poem having never been hinted, either before or after the +publication, to any person (native or foreigner) who could be supposed +to have interest in, or concern for, its subject. + +'In effect, it had for six years or more been forgot by myself--and my +country,--when upon the death of the prince it referred to, I was +surprized by the condescension of a compliment from the empress his +relict, and immediate successor; and thereby first became sensible that +the poem had, by means of some foreign translation, reach'd the eye and +regard of that emphatically great monarch, in justice to whom it was +written.' + +Soon after he finished six books more of Gideon; which made eight, of +the twelve he purpos'd writing; but did not live to finish it. + +In 1723 he brought his Tragedy called King Henry the Vth, upon the stage +in Drury-Lane; which is (as he declares in the preface) a new fabric, +yet built on Shakespear's foundation. + +In 1724, for the advantage of an unhappy gentleman (an old officer in +the army) he wrote a paper in the manner of the Spectators, in +conjunction with Mr. William Bond, &c. intitled the Plain Dealer; which +were some time after published in two volumes octavo. And many of his +former writings were appropriated to such humane uses; both those to +which he has prefixed his name, and several others which he wrote and +gave away intirely. But, though the many imagined authors are not +living, their names, and those performances will be omitted here; yet, +in mere justice to the character of Mr. Hill, we mention this +particular. + +In 1728, he made a journey into the North of Scotland, where he had been +about two years before, having contracted with the York-Buildings +Company, concerning many woods of great extent in that kingdom, for +timber for the uses of the navy; and many and various were the +assertions upon this occasion: Some thought, and thence reported, that +there was not a stick in Scotland could be capable of answering that +purpose; but he demonstrated the contrary: For, though there was not a +great number large enough for masts to ships of the greatest burthen; +yet there were millions, fit for all smaller vessels; and planks and +banks, proper for every sort of building.--One ship was built entirely +of it; and a report was made, that never any better timber was brought +from any part of the world: But he found many difficulties in this +undertaking; yet had sagacity to overcome them all (as far as his own +management extended) for when the trees were by his order chain'd +together into floats, the ignorant Highlanders refus'd to venture +themselves on them down the river Spey; till he first went himself, to +make them sensible there was no danger.--In which passage however, he +found a great obstacle in the rocks, by which that river seemed +impassible; but on these he ordered fires to be made, when by the +lowness of the river they were most expos'd; and then had quantities of +water thrown upon them: Which method being repeated with the help of +proper tools, they were broke in pieces and thrown down, which made the +passage easy for the floats. + +This affair was carried on to a very good account, till those concern'd +thought proper to call off the men and horses from the woods of +Abernethy, in order to employ them in their lead mines in the same +country; from which they hoped to make greater advantage. + +The magistrates of Inverness paid him the compliment of making him a +present of the freedom of that place (at an elegant entertainment made +by them on that occasion) a favour likewise offered him at Aberdeen, &c. + +After a stay of several months in the Highlands, during which time he +visited the duke and duchess of Gordon, who distinguished him with great +civilities, he went to York, and other places in that country; where his +wife then was, with some relations, for the recovery of her health; but +his staying longer there (on that account) than he intended, had like to +have proved of unhappy consequence; by giving room for some, who +imagined (as they wished) that he would not return, to be guilty of a +breach of trust that aimed at the destruction of great part of what he +then was worth; but they were disappointed. + +In that retirement in the North, he wrote a poem intitled, The Progress +of Wit, a Caveat for the use of an eminent Writer. It was composed of +the genteelest praise, and keenest allegorical satire; and it gave no +small uneasiness to Mr. Pope: Who had indeed drawn it upon himself, by +being the aggressor in his Dunciad.--This afterwards occasioned a +private paper-war between those writers, in which 'tis generally thought +that Mr. Hill had greatly the advantage of Mr. Pope. For the +particulars, the reader is referred to a shilling pamphlet lately +published by Owen, containing Letters between Mr. Pope and Mr. Hill, &c. + +The progress of wit begins with the eight following lines, wherein the +SNEAKINGLY APPROVES affected Mr. Pope extreamly. + + Tuneful Alexis on the Thames' fair side, + The Ladies play-thing, and the Muses pride, + With merit popular, with wit polite, + Easy tho' vain, and elegant tho' light: + Desiring, and deserving other's praise, + Poorly accepts a fame he ne'er repays: + Unborn to cherish, SNEAKINGLY APPROVES, + And wants the soul to spread the worth he loves. + +During their controversy, Mr. Pope seemed to express his repentance, by +denying the offence he had given; thus, in one of his letters, he says, + +'That the letters A.H. were apply'd to you in the papers I did not know +(for I seldom read them) I heard it only from Mr. Savage[4], as from +yourself, and sent my assurances to the contrary: But I don't see how +the annotator on the D. could have rectified that mistake publicly, +without particularizing your name in a book where I thought it too good +to be inserted, &c.[5].' + +And in another place he says, + +'I should imagine the Dunciad meant you a real compliment, and so it has +been thought by many who have ask'd to whom that passage made that +oblique panegyric. As to the notes, I am weary of telling a great truth, +which is, that I am not author of them, &c.' + +Which paragraph was answer'd by the following in Mr. Hill's reply. + +'As to your oblique panegyric, I am not under so blind an attachment to +the goddess I was devoted to in the Dunciad, but that I know it was a +commendation; though a dirtier one than I wished for; who am neither +fond of some of the company in which I was listed--the noble reward, for +which I was to become a diver;--the allegorical muddiness in which I was +to try my skill;--nor the institutor of the games you were so kind to +allow me a share in, &c.'--A genteel severe reprimand. + +Much about the same time he wrote another poem, called Advice to the +Poets; in praise of worthy poetry, and in censure of the misapplication +of poetry in general. The following lines here quoted, are the motto of +it, taken from the poem. + + Shame on your jingling, ye soft sons of rhyme, + Tuneful consumers of your reader's time! + Fancy's light dwarfs! whose feather-footed strains, + Dance in wild windings, thro' a waste of brains: + Your's is the guilt of all, who judging wrong, + Mistake tun'd nonsense for the poet's song. + +He likewise in this piece, reproves the above named celebrated author, +for descending below his genius; and in speaking of the inspiration of +the Muse, he says, + + I feel her now.--Th'invader fires my breast: + And my soul swells, to suit the heav'nly guest. + Hear her, O Pope!--She sounds th'inspir'd decree, + Thou great Arch-Angel of wit's heav'n! for thee! + Let vulgar genii, sour'd by sharp disdain, + Piqu'd and malignant, words low war maintain, + While every meaner art exerts her aim, + O'er rival arts, to list her question'd fame; + Let half-soul'd poets still on poets fall, + And teach the willing world to scorn them all. + But, let no Muse, pre-eminent as thine, + Of voice melodious, and of force divine, + Stung by wits, wasps, all rights of rank forego, + And turn, and snarl, and bite, at every foe. + No--like thy own Ulysses, make no stay + Shun monsters--and pursue thy streamy way. + +In 1731 he brought his Tragedy of Athelwold upon the stage in +Drury-Lane; which, as he says in his preface to it, was written on the +same subject as his Elfrid or the Fair Inconstant, which he there calls, +'An unprun'd wilderness of fancy, with here and there a flower among the +leaves; but without any fruit of judgment.'-- + +He likewise mentions it as a folly, having began and finished Elfrid in +a week; and both the difference of time and judgment are visible in +favour of the last of those performances. + +That year he met the greatest shock that affliction ever gave him; in +the loss of one of the most worthy of wives, to whom he had been married +above twenty years. + +The following epitaph he wrote, and purpos'd for a monument which he +designed to erect over her grave. + + Enough, cold stone! suffice her long-lov'd name; + Words are too weak to pay her virtues claim. + Temples, and tombs, and tongues, shall waste away, + And power's vain pomp, in mould'ring dust decay. + But e'er mankind a wife more perfect see, + Eternity, O Time! shall bury thee. + +He was a man susceptible of love, in its sublimest sense; as may be seen +in that poetical description of that passion, which he has given in his +poem called the Picture of Love; wrote many years ago (from whence the +following two lines are taken) + + No wild desire can this proud bliss bestow, + Souls must be match'd in heav'n, tho' mix'd below. + +About the year 1735 he was concern'd with another gentleman in writing a +paper called the Prompter; all those mark'd with a B. were his.--This +was meant greatly for the service of the stage; and many of them have +been regarded in the highest manner.--But, as there was not only +instruction, but reproof, the bitter, with the sweet, by some could not +be relish'd. + +In 1736 having translated from the French of Monsieur de Voltaire, the +Tragedy of Zara, he gave it to be acted for the benefit of Mr. William +Bond; and it was represented first, at the Long-Room in Villars-Street, +York-Buildings; where that poor gentleman performed the part of Lusignan +(the old expiring king) a character he was at that time too well suited +to; being, and looking, almost dead, as in reality he was before the run +of it was over.--Soon after this play was brought upon the stage in +Drury-Lane, by Mr. Fleetwood, at the earnest sollicitation of Mr. +Theophilus Cibber; the part of Zara was played by Mrs. Cibber, and was +her first attempt in Tragedy; of the performers therein he makes very +handsome mention in the preface. This play he dedicated to his royal +highness the Prince of Wales. + +The same year was acted, at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, another +Tragedy of his translating from the same French author, called Alzira, +which was likewise dedicated to the Prince.--His dedications generally +wore a different face from those of other writers; he there most warmly +recommends Monsieur de Voltaire, as worthy of his royal highness's +partiality; disclaiming for himself all expectations of his notice. But +he was, notwithstanding, particularly honoured with his approbation. + +These plays, if not a litteral translation, have been thought much +better, for their having past his hands; as generously was acknowledged +by Monsieur de Voltaire himself. + +In 1737 he published a poem called, The Tears of the Muses; composed of +general satire: in the address to the reader he says (speaking of +satire) + + 'There is, indeed, something so like cruelty in the face of that + species of poetry, that it can only be reconciled to humanity, by the + general benevolence of its purpose; attacking particulars for the + public advantage.' + +The following year he wrote (in prose) a book called, An Enquiry into +the Merit of Assassination, with a View to the Character of Cæsar; and +his Designs on the Roman Republic. + +About this time, he in a manner left the world, (though living near so +populous a part of it as London) and settled at Plaistow in Essex; where +he entirely devoted himself to his study, family, and garden; and the +accomplishment of many profitable views; particularly one, in which for +years he had laboured through experiments in vain; and when he brought +it to perfection, did not live to reap the benefit of it: The discovery +of the art of making pot-ash like the Russian, which cost this nation, +yearly, an immense sum of money. + +In the year 1743 he published The Fanciad, an Heroic Poem; inscribed to +his grace the duke of Marlborough: Who as no name was then prefixed to +it, perhaps, knew not the author by whom he was distinguished in it. + +Soon after he wrote another, intitled the Impartial; which he inscribed, +in the same manner, to the lord Carteret (now earl of Granville). In the +beginning of it are the following lines, + + Burn, sooty slander, burn thy blotted scroll; + Greatness is greatness, spite of faction's soul. + + Deep let my soul detest th'adhesive pride, + That changing sentiment, unchanges side. + +It would be tedious to enumerate the variety of smaller pieces he at +different times was author of. + +His notions of the deity were boundlessly extensive; and the few lines +here quoted from his Poem upon faith, published in 1746, must give the +best idea of his sentiments upon that most elevated of all subjects. + + What then must be believ'd?--Believe God kind, + To fear were to offend him. Fill thy heart + With his felt laws; and act the good he loves. + Rev'rence his power. Judge him but by his works: + Know him but in his mercies. Rev'rence too + The most mistaken schemes that mean his praise. + Rev'rence his priests.--for ev'ry priest is his,-- + Who finds him in his conscience.-- + +This year he published his Art of Acting, a Poem, deriving Rules from a +new Principle, for touching the Passions in a natural Manner, &c. Which +was dedicated to the Earl of Chesterfield. + +Having for many years been in a manner forgetful of the eight Books he +had finished of his Epic Poem called Gideon,--in 1749 he re-perused that +work, and published three of the Books; to which he gave the name of +Gideon, or the Patriot.--They were inscribed to the late lord +Bolingbroke; to whom he accounts as follows, for the alterations he had +made since the first publication of two Books. + + Erring, where thousands err'd, in youth's hot smart, + Propulsive prejudice had warp'd his heart: + Bold, and too loud he sigh'd, for high distress, + Fond of the fall'n, nor form'd to serve success; + Partial to woes, had weigh'd their cause too light, + Wept o'er misfortune,--and mis-nam'd it right: + Anguish, attracting, turn'd attachment wrong, + And pity's note mis-tun'd his devious song. + +'Tis much lamented by many who are admirers of that species of poetry, +that the author did not finish it. + +The same year (after a length of different applications, for several +seasons, at both Theatres without success) his Tragedy, called Merope, +was brought upon the stage in Drury-Lane by Mr. Garrick; to whom, as +well as to another gentleman he likewise highly both admired and +esteemed, he was greatly obliged; and his own words (here borrowed) will +shew how just a sense he had of these obligations.--They begin the +preface to the play. + +'If there can be a pride that ranks with virtues, it is that we feel +from friendships with the worthy. Mr. Mallet, therefore, must forgive +me, that I boast the honour he has done my Merope--I have so long been a +retreater from the world, that one of the best spirits in it told me +lately, I had made myself an alien there. I must confess, I owe so many +obligations to its ornaments of most distinguished genius, that I must +have looked upon it as a great unhappiness to have made choice of +solitude, could I have judged society in general, by a respect so due to +these adorners of it.' + +And in relation to this Tragedy he says, after very justly censuring +Monsieur de Voltaire, for representing in the preface to his Merope the +English as incapable of Tragedy, + +'To such provoking stimulations I have owed inducement to retouch, for +Mr. Voltaire's use, the characters in his high boasted Merope; and I +have done it on a plan as near his own as I could bring it with a safe +conscience; that is to say, without distaste to English audiences. + +This he likewise dedicated to lord Bolingbroke; and was the last he ever +wrote.--There is a melancholy thread of fatal prophecy in the beginning +of it; of his own approaching dissolution. + + Cover'd in fortune's shade, I rest reclin'd; + My griefs all silent; and my joys resign'd. + With patient eye life's evening gloom survey: + Nor shake th'out-hast'ning sands; nor bid 'em stay-- + Yet, while from life my setting prospects fly, + Fain wou'd my mind's weak offspring shun to die. + Fain wou'd their hope some light through time explore; + The name's kind pasport--When the man's no more. + +From about the time he was solliciting the bringing on this play, an +illness seized him; from the tormenting pains of which he had scarce an +hour's intermission; and after making trial of all he thought could be +of service to him in medicine; he was desirous to try his native air of +London (as that of Plaistow was too moist a one) but he was then past +all recovery, and wasted almost to a skeleton, from some internal cause, +that had produced a general decay (and was believed to have been an +inflamation in the kidneys; which his intense attachment to his studies +might probably lay the foundation of.--When in town, he had the comfort +of being honoured with the visits of the most worthy and esteemed among +his friends; but he was not permitted many weeks to taste that blessing. +[Transcriber's note: closing brackets missing in original.] + +The same humane and generous Mr. Mallet, who had before aided his +Merope, about this time was making interest for its being played again, +for the advantage of its author:--His royal highness the prince of +Wales; had the great goodness to command it; and Mr. Hill just lived to +express his grateful acknowledgments (to those about him) upon hearing +of it:--But on the day before it was to be represented he died, in the +very minute of the earthquake, February the eighth, 1749, which he +seemed sensible of, though then deprived of utterance. Had he lived two +days longer, he had been sixty-five years old.--He endur'd a +twelve-month's torment of the body with a calmness that confess'd a +superiority of soul! He was interred in the same grave with her the most +dear to him when living, in the great cloister of Westminster-Abbey; +near the lord Godolphin's tomb. + +It may be truly said of Mr. Hill, he was a great and general writer; and +had he been possest of the estate he was intitled to, his liberality had +been no less extensive than his genius. But often do we see misfortune's +clouds obscure the brightest sunshine. + +Besides his works which here have been enumerated, there are several +other; particularly two poems, intitled the Creation, and the +Judgment-Day; which were published many years ago.--Another in blank +verse he published in the time of his retreat into Essex; it was called, +Cleon to Lycidas, a Time Piece; the date not marked by the printer. + +Some years before his death, he talked of making a collection of his +works for publication; but postponed it for the finishing some pieces, +which he did not live to effect. + +Since his death, four volumes of them have been published by +subscription, for his family. He left one Tragedy, never yet acted; +which was wrote originally about 1737, and intitled Cæsar; but since, he +has named it the Roman Revenge:--But as the author was avowedly a great +admirer of Cæsar's character, not in the light he is generally +understood (that of a tyrant) but in one much more favourable, he was +advised by several of the first distinction, both in rank and judgment, +to make such alterations in it as should adapt it more to the general +opinion; and upon that advice he in a manner new wrote the play: But as +most first opinions are not easily eradicated, it has been never able to +make a public trial of the success; which many of the greatest +understanding have pronounced it highly worthy of.--The late lord +Bolingbroke (in a letter wrote to the author) has called it one of the +noblest drama's, that our language, or any age can boast. + +These few little speeches are taken from the part of Cæsar. + + 'Tis the great mind's expected pain, Calphurnia, + To labour for the thankless.--He who seeks + Reward in ruling, makes ambition guilt; + And living for himself disclaims mankind. + +And thus speaking to Mark Anthony; + + If man were placed above the reach of insult, + To pardon were no virtue.--Think, warm Anthony, + What mercy is--'Tis, daring to be wrong'd, + Yet unprovok'd by pride, persist, in pity. + +This again to Calphurnia. + + No matter.--Virtue triumphs by neglect: + Vice, while it darkens, lends but foil to brightness: + And juster times, removing slander's veil, + Wrong'd merit after death is help'd to live. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This was sent us by an unknown hand. + +[2] This play he made a present of to the patentee, and had several fine + scenes painted for it, at his own expence: He indeed gave all his + pieces to the stage; never taking any benefit, or gratuity from the + managers, as an author--'till his last piece, Merope, was brought on + the stage; when (unhappy gentleman) he was under the necessity of + receiving his profits of the third nights; which 'till then, his + generosity, and spirit, had ever declined. + +[3] Under the name of Georgia. + +[4] Savage was of great use to Mr. Pope, in helping him to little + stories, and idle tales, of many persons whose names, lives, and + writings, had been long since forgot, had not Mr. Pope mentioned + them in his Dunciad:--This office was too mean for any one but + inconsistent Savage: Who, with a great deal of absurd pride, could + submit to servile offices; and for the vanity of being thought Mr. + Pope's intimate, made no scruple of frequently sacrificing a regard + to sincerity or truth. He had certainly, at one time, considerable + influence over that great poet; but an assuming arrogance at last + tired out Mr. Pope's patience. + +[5] A lame come-off. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. LEWIS THEOBALD. + +This gentleman was born at Sittingburn in Kent, of which place his +father, Mr. Peter Theobald, was an eminent attorney. His grammatical +learning he received chiefly under the revd. Mr. Ellis, at Isleworth in +Middlesex, and afterwards applied himself to the study and practice of +the law: but finding that study too tedious and irksome for his genius, +he quitted it for the profession of poetry. He engaged in a paper called +the Censor, published in Mill's Weekly Journal; and by delivering his +opinion with two little reserve, concerning some eminent wits, he +exposed himself to their lashes, and resentment. Upon the publication of +Pope's Homer, he praised it in the most extravagant terms of admiration; +but afterwards thought proper to retract his opinion, for reasons we +cannot guess, and abused the very performance he had before +hyperbollically praised. + +Mr. Pope at first made Mr. Theobald the hero of his Dunciad, but +afterwards, for reasons best known to himself, he thought proper to +disrobe him of that dignity, and bestow it upon another: with what +propriety we shall not take upon us to determine, but refer the reader +to Mr. Cibber's two letters to Mr. Pope. He was made hero of the poem, +the annotator informs us, because no better was to be had. In the first +book of the Dunciad, Mr. Theobald, or Tibbald, as he is there called, is +thus stigmatised, + + --Dullness her image full exprest, + But chief in Tibbald's monster-breeding breast; + Sees Gods with Daemons in strange league engage, + And Earth, and heav'n, and hell her battles wage; + She eyed the bard, where supperless he sate, + And pin'd unconscious of his rising fate; + Studious he sate, with all his books around, + Sinking from thought to thought, a vast profound! + Plung'd for his sense, but found no bottom there; + Then writ, and flounder'd on, in meer despair. + He roll'd his eyes, that witness'd huge dismay, + Where yet unpawn'd much learned lumber lay. + +He describes Mr. Theobald as making the following address to Dulness. + + --For thee + Old puns restore, lost blunders nicely seek, + And crucify poor Shakespear once a-week. + For thee I dim these eyes, and stuff this head, + With all such reading as was never read; + For thee, supplying in the worst of days, + Notes to dull books, and prologues to dull plays; + For thee explain a thing till all men doubt it, + And write about it, goddess, and about it; + So spins the silk-worm small its slender store, + And labours till it clouds itself all o'er. + +In the year 1726 Mr. Theobald published a piece in octavo, called +Shakespear Restored: Of this it is said, he was so vain as to aver, in +one of Mist's Journals, June the 8th, 'That to expose any errors in it +was impracticable;' and in another, April the 27th, 'That whatever care +might for the future be taken, either by Mr. Pope, or any other +assistants, he would give above five-hundred emendations, that would +escape them all.' + +During two whole years, while Mr. Pope was preparing his edition, he +published advertisements, requesting assistance, and promising +satisfaction to any who would contribute to its greater perfection. But +this restorer, who was at that time solliciting favours of him, by +letters, did wholly conceal that he had any such design till after its +publication; which he owned in the Daily Journal of November 26, 1728: +and then an outcry was made, that Mr. Pope had joined with the +bookseller to raise an extravagant subscription; in which he had no +share, of which he had no knowledge, and against which he had publickly +advertised in his own proposals for Homer. + +Mr. Theobald was not only thus obnoxious to the resentment of Pope, but +we find him waging war with Mr. Dennis, who treated him with more +roughness, though with less satire. Mr. Theobald in the Censor, Vol. II. +No. XXXIII. calls Mr. Dennis by the name of Furius. 'The modern Furius +(says he) is to be looked upon as more the object of pity, than that +which he daily provokes, laughter, and contempt. Did we really know how +much this poor man suffers by being contradicted, or which is the same +thing in effect, by hearing another praised; we should in compassion +sometimes attend to him with a silent nod, and let him go away with the +triumphs of his ill-nature. Poor Furius, where any of his cotemporaries +are spoken well of, quitting the ground of the present dispute, steps +back a thousand years, to call in the succour of the antients. His very +panegyric is spiteful, and he uses it for the same reason as some ladies +do their commendations of a dead beauty, who never would have had their +good word; but that a living one happened to be mentioned in their +company. His applause is not the tribute of his heart, but the sacrifice +of his revenge.' + +Mr. Dennis in resentment of this representation made of him, in his +remarks on Pope's Homer, page 9. 10. thus mentions him. 'There is a +notorious idiot, one HIGHT WHACHUM, who from an Under-spur-leather to +the law, is become an Under strapper to the play-house, who has lately +burlesqued the Metamorphoses of Ovid, by a vile translation, &c. This +fellow is concerned in an impertinent paper called the Censor.' Such was +the language of Mr. Dennis, when enflamed by contradiction. + +In the year 1729 Mr. Theobald introduced upon the stage a Tragedy called +the Double Falsehood; the greatest part of which he asserted was +Shakespear's. Mr. Pope insinuated to the town, that it was all, or +certainly the greatest part written, not by Shakespear, but Theobald +himself, and quotes this line, + + None but thyself can be thy parallel. + +Which he calls a marvellous line of Theobald, 'unless (says he) the play +called the Double Falsehood be (as he would have it thought) +Shakespear's; but whether this line is his or not, he proves Shakespear +to have written as bad.' The arguments which Mr. Theobald uses to prove +the play to be Shakespear's are indeed far from satisfactory;--First, +that the MS. was above sixty years old;--Secondly, that once Mr. +Betterton had it, or he hath heard so;--Thirdly, that some body told him +the author gave it to a bastard daughter of his;--But fourthly, and +above all, that he has a great mind that every thing that is good in our +tongue should be Shakespear's. + +This Double Falsehood was vindicated by Mr. Theobald, who was attacked +again in the art of sinking in poetry. Here Mr. Theobald endeavours to +prove false criticisms, want of understanding Shakespear's manner, and +perverse cavelling in Mr. Pope: He justifies himself and the great +dramatic poet, and essays to prove the Tragedy in question to be in +reality Shakespear's, and not unworthy of him. We cannot set this +controversy in a clearer light, than by transcribing a letter subjoined +to the Double Falsehood. + +Dear Sir, + +You desire to know, why in the general attack which Mr. Pope has lately +made against writers living and dead, he has so often had a fling of +satire at me. I should be very willing to plead guilty to his +indictment, and think as meanly of myself as he can possibly do, were +his quarrel altogether upon a fair, or unbiassed nature. But he is angry +at the man; and as Juvenal says-- + + Facit indignatio versum. + +He has been pleased to reflect on me in a few quotations from a play, +which I had lately the good fortune to usher into the world; I am there +concerned in reputation to enter upon my defence. There are three +passages in his Art of Sinking in Poetry, which he endeavours to bring +into disgrace from the Double Falsehood. + +One of these passages alledged by our critical examiner is of that +stamp, which is certain to include me in the class of profound writers. +The place so offensive for its cloudiness, is, + + --The obscureness of her birth + Cannot eclipse the lustre of her eyes, + Which make her all one light. + +I must own, I think, there needs no great Oedipus to solve the +difficulty of this passage. Nothing has ever been more common, than for +lovers to compare their mistresses eyes to suns and stars. And what does +Henriquez say more here than this, 'That though his mistress be obscure +by her birth; yet her eyes are so refulgent, they set her above that +disadvantage, and make her all over brightness.' I remember another +rapture in Shakespear, upon a painter's drawing a fine lady's picture, +where the thought seems to me every whit as magnified and dark at the +first glance, + +--But her eyes-- + How could he see to do them! having done one, + Methinks it should have power to steal both his, + And leave itself unfinished.-- + +This passage is taken from the Merchant of Venice, which will appear the +more beautiful, the more it is considered. + +Another passage which Mr. Pope is pleased to be merry with, is in a +speech of Violante's; + + Wax! render up thy trust.-- + +This, in his English is open the letter; and he facetiously mingles it +with some pompous instances, most I believe of his own framing; which in +plain terms signify no more than, See, whose there; snuff the candle; +uncork the bottle; chip the bread; to shew how ridiculous actions of no +consequence are, when too much exalted in the diction. This he brings +under a figure, which he calls the Buskin, or Stately. But we'll examine +circumstances fairly, and then we shall see which is most ridiculous; +the phrase, or our sagacious censurer. + +Violante is newly debauched by Henriquez, on his solemn promise of +marrying her: She thinks he is returning to his father's court, as he +told her, for a short time; and expects no letter from him. His servant +who brings the letter, contradicts his master's going for court; and +tells her he is gone some two months progress another way, upon a change +of purpose. She who knew what concessions she had made to him, declares +herself by starts, under the greatest agonies; and immediately upon the +servant leaving her, expresses an equal impatience, and fear of the +contents of this unexpected letter. + + To hearts like mine, suspence is misery. + Wax! render up thy trust,--Be the contents + Prosperous, or fatal, they are all my due. + +Now Mr. Pope shews us his profound judgment in dramatical passions; +thinks a lady in her circumstances cannot without absurdity open a +letter that seems to her as surprize, with any more preparation than the +most unconcerned person alive should a common letter by the penny-post. +I am aware Mr. Pope may reply, his cavil was not against the action +itself of addressing to the wax, but of exalting that action in the +terms. In this point I may fairly shelter myself under the judgment of a +man, whose character in poetry will vie with any rival this age shall +produce. + +Mr. Dryden in his Essay on Dramatic Poetry, tells us. 'That when from +the most elevated thoughts of verse, we pass to those which are most +mean, and which are common with the lowest houshold conversation; yet +still there is a choice to be made of the best words, and the least +vulgar (provided they be apt) to express such thoughts. Our language, +says he, is noble, full, and significant; and I know not, why he who is +master of it, may not cloath ordinary things in it as decently as the +Latin, if we use the same diligence in the choice of words.' + +I come now to the last quotation, which in our examiner's handling, +falls under this predicament of _being a thought astonishingly out of +the way of common sense._ + + None but himself can be his parallel. + +This, he hints, may seem borrowed from the thought of that master of a +show in Smithfield, who wrote in large letters over the picture of his +Elephant. _This is the greatest Elephant in the world except himself._ I +like the pleasantry of the banter, but have no great doubt of getting +clear from the severity of it. The lines in the play stand thus. + + + Is there a treachery like this in baseness, + Recorded any where? It is the deepest; + None but itself can be its parallel. + +I am not a little surprized, to find that our examiner at last is +dwindled into a word-catcher. Literally speaking, indeed, I agree with +Mr. Pope, that nothing can be the parallel to itself; but allowing a +little for the liberty of expression, does it not plainly imply, that it +is a treachery which stands single for the nature of its baseness, and +has not its parallel on record; and that nothing but a treachery equal +to it in baseness can parallel it? If this were such nonsense as Pope +would willingly have it, it would be a very bad plea for me to alledge, +as the truth is, that the line is in Shakespear's old copy; for I might +have suppressed it. But I hope it is defensible; at least if examples +can keep it in countenance. There is a piece of nonsense of the same +kind in the Amphytrio of Plautus: Sofia having survey'd Mercury from top +to toe, finds him such an exact resemblance of himself, in dress, shape, +and features, that he cries out, + + Tam consimil' est, atq; ego. + +That is, he is as like me, as I am to myself. Now I humbly conceive, in +strictness of expression a man can no more be like himself, than a thing +its own parallel. But to confine myself to Shakespear. I doubt not but I +can produce some similar passages from him, which literally examined, +are stark nonsense; and yet taken with a candid latitude have never +appeared ridiculous. Mr. Pope would scarce allow one man to say to +another. 'Compare and weigh your mistress with your mistress; and I +grant she is a very fair woman; but compare her with some other woman +that I could name, and the case will be very much altered.' Yet the very +substance of this, is said by Shakespear, in Romeo and Juliet; and Mr. +Pope has not degraded it as any absurdity, or unworthy of the author. + + Pho! pho! you saw her fair, none else being by; + HERSELF poiz'd with HERSELF in either eye. + But, &c. + +Or, what shall we say of the three following quotations. + +ROMEO and JULIET. + --Oh! so light a foot + Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint. + +WINTER'S TALE. + --For _Cogitation_ + Resides not in the man _that does not think._ + +HAMLET. + --Try what repentance can, what can it not? + Yet what can it, when one _cannot repent._ + +Who does not see at once, the heaviest foot that ever trod cannot wear +out the everlasting flint? or that he who does not think has no thoughts +in him? or that repentance can avail nothing when a man has not +repentance? yet let these passages appear, with a casting weight of +allowance, and their absurdity will not be so extravagant, as when +examined by the literal touchstone.-- + +Your's, &c. + +LEWIS THEOBALD. + +By perusing the above, the reader will be enabled to discern whether Mr. +Pope has wantonly ridiculed the passages in question; or whether Mr. +Theobald has, from a superstitious zeal for the memory of Shakespear, +defended absurdities, and palliated extravagant blunders. + +The ingenious Mr. Dodd, who has lately favoured the public with a +judicious collection of the beauties of Shakespear, has quoted a +beautiful stroke of Mr. Theobald's, in his Double Falsehood, upon music. + + --Strike up, my masters; + But touch the strings with a religious softness; + Teach sounds to languish thro' the night's dull ear, + 'Till Melancholy start from her lazy couch, + And carelessness grow concert to attention. + +ACT I. SCENE III. + +A gentleman of great judgment happening to commend these lines to Mr. +Theobald, he assured him he wrote them himself, and only them in the +whole play. + +Mr. Theobald, besides his edition of all Shakespear's plays, in which he +corrected, with great pains and ingenuity, many faults which had crept +into that great poet's writings, is the author of the following dramatic +pieces. + +I. The Persian Princess, or the Royal Villain; a Tragedy, acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, printed in the year 1715. The author +observes in his preface, this play was written and acted before he was +full nineteen years old. + +II. The Perfidious Brother; a Tragedy acted at the Theatre in Little +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1716. This play is written on the model of Otway's +Orphan; the scene is in a private family in Brussels. + +III. Pan and Syrinx; an Opera of one act, performed on the Theatre in +Little Lincoln's Inn-Fields, 1717. + +IV. Decius and Paulina, a Masque; to which is added Musical +Entertainments, as performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, in +the Dramatic Opera of Circe. + +V. Electra, a Tragedy; translated from the Greek of Sophocles, with +notes, printed in the year 1714, dedicated to Joseph Addison, Esq; + +VI. Oedipus King of Thebes; a Tragedy translated from Sophocles, with +notes, translated in the year 1715, dedicated to the earl of Rockingham. + +VII. Plutus, or the World's Idol; a Comedy translated from the Greek of +Aristophanes, with notes, printed in the year 1715. The author has to +this Translation prefixed a Discourse, containing some Account of +Aristophanes, and his two Comedies of Plutus and the Clouds. + +VIII. The Clouds, a Comedy; translated from Aristophanes, with notes, +printed in the year 1715. + +IX. The Rape of Proserpine; a Farce acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1727. + +X. The Fatal Secret; a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Covent-Garden, 1725. + +XI. The Vocal Parts of an Entertainment, called Apollo and Daphne, +or the Burgo Master Trick'd; performed at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1726. + +XII. Double Falsehood; which we have already mentioned. + +Mr. Theobald's other Works are chiefly these. + +The Gentleman's Library, containing Rules for Conduct in all Parts of +Life, in 12mo. 1722. + +The first Book of Homer's Odyssey translated, with notes, 8vo. 1716. + +The Cave of Poverty, written in imitation of Shakespear. + +Pindaric Ode on the Union, 1707. + +A Poem sacred to the Memory of Queen Anne, Folio 1714. + +Translations from Ovid's Metamorphoses. + +Lives of Antiochus, and Berenice, from the French, 1717. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Dr. SAMUEL CROXALL, + +The celebrated author of the Fair Circassian, was son of the revd. Mr. +Samuel Croxall, rector of Hanworth, Middlesex, and vicar of Walton upon +Thames in Surry, in the last of which places our author was born. He +received his early education at Eton school, and from thence was +admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge. Probably while he was at the +university, he became enamoured of Mrs. Anna Maria Mordaunt, who first +inspired his breast with love, and to whom he dedicates the poem of the +Circassian, for which he has been so much distinguished. This dedication +is indeed the characteristic of a youth in love, but then it likewise +proves him altogether unacquainted with the world, and with that +easiness of address which distinguishes a gentleman. A recluse scholar +may be passionately in love, but he discovers it by strains of bombast, +and forced allusions, of which this dedication is a very lively +instance. + +'The language of the Fair Circassian, says he, like yours, was natural +poetry; her voice music, and the excellent colouring and formation of +her features, painting; but still, like yours, drawn by the inimitable +pencil of nature, life itself; a pattern for the greatest master, but +copying after none; I will not say angels are not cast in the same +mould.' And again in another place, 'Pardon, O lovely deity, the +presumption of this address, and favour my weak endeavours. If my +confession of your divine power is any where too faint, believe it not +to proceed from a want of due respect, but of a capacity more than +human. Whoever thinks of you can no longer be himself; and if he could, +ought to be something above man to celebrate the accomplishment of a +goddess. To you I owe my creation as a lover, and in the beams of your +beauty only I live, move, and exist. If there should be a suspension of +your charms, I should fall to nothing. But it seems to be out of your +power to deprive us of their kind influence; wherever you shine they +fill all our hearts, and you are charming out of necessity, as the +author of nature is good.' We have quoted enough to shew the enthusiasm, +or rather phrenzy, of this address, which is written in such a manner as +if it were intended for a burlesque on the False Sublime, as the +speeches of James I. are upon pedantry. + +Mr. Croxall, who was intended for holy orders, and, probably, when he +published the Circassian, had really entered into them, was cautious +lest he should be known to be the author of this piece, since many +divines have esteemed the Song of Solomon, from which it is taken, as an +inspired poem, emblematic of the Messiah and the Church. Our author was +of another opinion, and with him almost all sensible men join, in +believing that it is no more than a beautiful poem, composed by that +Eastern monarch, upon some favourite lady in his Seraglio. He artfully +introduces it with a preface, in which he informs us, that it was the +composition of a young gentleman, his pupil, lately deceased, executed +by him, while he was influenced by that violent passion with which Mrs. +Mordaunt inspired him. He then endeavours to ascertain who this Eastern +beauty was, who had charms to enflame the heart of the royal poet. He is +of opinion it could not be Pharaoh's daughter, as has been commonly +conjectured, because the bride in the Canticles is characterised as a +private person, a shepherdess, one that kept a vineyard, and was ill +used by her mother's children, all which will agree very well with +somebody else, but cannot, without great straining, be drawn to fit the +Egyptian Princess. He then proceeds, 'seeing we have so good reason to +conclude that it was not Pharaoh's daughter, we will next endeavour to +shew who she was: and here we are destitute of all manner of light, but +what is afforded us by that little Arabian manuscript, mentioned in the +Philosophical Transactions of Amsterdam, 1558, said to be found in a +marble chest among the ruins of Palmyra, and presented to the university +of Leyden by Dr. Hermanus Hoffman. The contents of which are something +in the nature of Memoirs of the Court of Solomon; giving a sufficient +account of the chief offices and posts in his houshold; of the several +funds of the royal revenue; of the distinct apartments of his palace +there; of the different Seraglios, being fifty two in number in that one +city. Then there is an account given of the Sultanas; their manner of +treatment and living; their birth and country, with some touches of +their personal endowments, how long they continued in favour, and what +the result was of the King's fondness for each of them. Among these, +there is particular mention made of a slave of more exceeding beauty +than had ever been known before; at whose appearance the charms of all +the rest vanished like stars before the morning sun; that the King +cleaved to her with the strongest affection, and was not seen out of the +Seraglio, where she was kept, for about a month. That she was taken +captive, together with her mother, out of a vineyard, on the Coast of +Circassia, by a Corsair of Hiram King of Tyre, and brought to Jerusalem. +It is said, she was placed in the ninth Seraglio, to the east of +Palmyra, which, in the Hebrew tongue, is called Tadmor; which, without +farther particulars, are sufficient to convince us that this was the +charming person, sung with so much rapture by the Royal poet, and in the +recital of whose amour he seems so transported. For she speaks of +herself as one that kept a vineyard, and her mother's introducing her in +one of the gardens of pleasure (as it seems she did at her first +presenting her to the King) is here distinctly mentioned. The manuscript +further takes notice, that she was called Saphira, from the heavenly +blue of her eyes.' + +Notwithstanding the caution with which Mr. Croxall published the Fair +Circassian, yet it was some years after known to be his. The success it +met with, which was not indeed above its desert, was perhaps too much +for vanity (of which authors are seldom entirely divested) to resist, +and he might be betrayed into a confession, from that powerful +principle, of what otherwise would have remained concealed. + +Some years after it was published, Mr. Cragg, one of the ministers of +the city of Edinburgh, gave the world a small volume of spiritual poems, +in one of which he takes occasion to complain of the prostitution of +genius, and that few poets have ever turned their thoughts towards +religious subjects; and mentions the author of the Circassian with great +indignation, for having prostituted his Muse to the purposes of +lewdness, in converting the Song of Solomon (a work, as he thought it, +of sacred inspiration) into an amorous dialogue between a King and his +mistress. His words are, + + Curss'd be he that the Circassian wrote, + Perish his fame, contempt be all his lot, + Who basely durst in execrable strains, + Turn holy mysteries into impious scenes. + +The revd. gentleman met with some remonstrances from his friends, for +indulging so splenetic a temper, when he was writing in the cause of +religion, as to wish any man accursed. Of this censure he was not +insensible; in the next edition of his poems, he softened the sarcasm, +by declaring, in a note, that he had no enmity to the author's person, +and that when he wished him accursed, be meant not the man, but the +author, which are two very distinct considerations; for an author may be +accursed, that is, damned to fame, while the man may be in as fair a way +to happiness as any body; but, continues he, I should not have expected +such prophanation from a clergyman. + +The Circassian, however, is a beautiful poem, the numbers are generally +smooth, and there is a tender delicacy in the dialogue, though greatly +inferior to the noble original. + +Mr. Croxall had not long quitted the university, e'er he was instituted +to the living of Hampton in Middlesex; and afterwards to the united +parishes of St. Mary Somerset, and St. Mary Mounthaw, in the city of +London, both which he held 'till his death. He was also chancellor, +prebend, and canon residentiary and portionist of the church of +Hereford. Towards the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne he published +two original Cantos, in imitation of Spenser's Fairy Queen, which were +meant as a satire on the earl of Oxford's administration. In the year +1715 he addressed a poem to the duke of Argyle, upon his obtaining a +Victory over the Rebels, and the same year published The Vision, a poem, +addressed to the earl of Halifax. He was concerned, with many others, in +the translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, of which the following were +performed by him: + +The Story of Nisus and Scylla, from the sixth Book. + +The Labyrinth, and Dædalus and Icarus, from the eighth Book. + +Part of the Fable of Cyparissus from the tenth Book. + +Most part of the eleventh Book, and The Funeral of Memnon, from the +thirteenth Book. + +He likewise performed an entire Translation of Æsop's Fables. + +Subjoined to the Fair Circassian are several Poems addressed to Sylvia; +Naked Truth, from the second Book of Ovid's Fastorum; Heathen +Priestcraft, from the first Book of Ovid's Fastorum; A Midsummer's Wish; +and an Ode on Florinda, seen while she was Bathing. He is also author of +a curious work, in one Volume Octavo, entitled Scripture Politics: being +a view of the original constitution, and subsequent revolutions in the +government of that people, out of whom the Saviour of the World was to +arise: As it is contained in the Bible. + +In consequence of his strong attachment to the Whig interest, he was +made archdeacon of Salop 1732, and chaplain in ordinary to his present +Majesty. + +As late as the year 1750, Dr. Croxall published a poem called The Royal +Manual, in the preface to which he endeavours to shew, that it was +composed by Mr. Andrew Marvel, and found amongst his MSS. but the +proprietor declares, that it was written by Dr. Croxall himself. This +was the last of his performances, for he died the year following, in a +pretty advanced age. His abilities, as a poet, we cannot better display, +than by the specimen we are about to quote. + +On FLORINDA, Seen while she was Bathing. + + Twas summer, and the clear resplendent moon + Shedding far o'er the plains her full-orb'd light, + Among the lesser stars distinctly shone, + Despoiling of its gloom the scanty night, + When, walking forth, a lonely path I took + Nigh the fair border of a purling brook. + + Sweet and refreshing was the midnight air, + Whose gentle motions hush'd the silent grove; + Silent, unless when prick'd with wakeful care + Philomel warbled out her tale of love: + While blooming flowers, which in the meadows grew, + O'er all the place their blended odours threw. + + Just by, the limpid river's crystal wave, + Its eddies gilt with Phoebe's silver ray, + Still as it flow'd a glittering lustre gave + With glancing gleams that emulate the day; + Yet oh! not half so bright as those that rise + Where young Florinda bends her smiling eyes. + + Whatever pleasing views my senses meet, + Her intermingled charms improve the theme; + The warbling birds, the flow'rs that breath so sweet, + And the soft surface of the dimpled stream, + Resembling in the nymph some lovely part, + With pleasures more exalted seize my heart. + + Rapt in these thoughts I negligently rov'd, + Imagin'd transports all my soul employ, + When the delightful voice of her I lov'd + Sent thro' the Shades a sound of real joy. + Confus'd it came, with giggling laughter mixt, + And echo from the banks reply'd betwixt. + + Inspir'd with hope, upborn with light desire, + To the dear place my ready footsteps tend. + Quick, as when kindling trails of active fire + Up to their native firmament ascend: + There shrouded in the briers unseen I stood, + And thro' the leaves survey'd the neighb'ring flood. + + Florinda, with two sister nymphs, undrest, + Within the channel of the cooly tide, + By bathing sought to sooth her virgin breast, + Nor could the night her dazzling beauties hide; + Her features, glowing with eternal bloom, + Darted, like Hesper, thro' the dusky gloom. + + Her hair bound backward in a spiral wreath + Her upper beauties to my sight betray'd; + The happy stream concealing those beneath, + Around her waste with circling waters play'd; + Who, while the fair one on his bosom sported, + Her dainty limbs with liquid kisses courted. + + A thousand Cupids with their infant arms + Swam padling in the current here and there; + Some, with smiles innocent, remarked the charms + Of the regardless undesigning fair; + Some, with their little Eben bows full-bended, + And levell'd shafts, the naked girl defended. + + Her eyes, her lips, her breasts exactly round, + Of lilly hue, unnumber'd arrows sent; + Which to my heart an easy passage found, + Thrill'd in my bones, and thro' my marrow went: + Some bubbling upward thro' the water came, + Prepar'd by fancy to augment my flame. + + Ah love! how ill I bore thy pleasing pain? + For while the tempting scene so near I view'd, + A fierce impatience throb'd in every vein, + Discretion fled and reason lay subdu'd; + My blood beat high, and with its trembling made + A strange commotion in the rustling shade. + + Fear seiz'd the tim'rous Naiads, all aghast + Their boding spirits at the omen sink, + Their eyes they wildly on each other cast, + And meditate to gain the farther brink; + When in I plung'd, resolving to asswage + In the cool gulph love's importuning rage. + + Ah, stay Florinda (so I meant to speak) + Let not from love the loveliest object fly! + But ere I spoke, a loud combining squeak + From shrilling voices pierc'd the distant sky: + When straight, as each was their peculiar care, + Th' immortal pow'rs to bring relief prepare. + + A golden cloud descended from above, + Like that which whilom hung on Ida's brow, + Where Juno, Pallas, and the queen of love, + As then to Paris, were conspicuous now. + Each goddess seiz'd her fav'rite charge, and threw + Around her limbs a robe of azure hue. + + But Venus, who with pity saw my flame + Kindled by her own Amorer so bright, + Approv'd in private what she seem'd to blame, + And bless'd me with a vision of delight: + Careless she dropt Florinda's veil aside, + That nothing might her choicest beauties hide. + + I saw Elysium and the milky way + Fair-opening to the shades beneath her breast; + In Venus' lap the struggling wanton lay, + And, while she strove to hide, reveal'd the rest. + A mole, embrown'd with no unseemly grace, + Grew near, embellishing the sacred place. + + So pleas'd I view'd, as one fatigu'd with heat, + Who near at hand beholds a shady bower, + Joyful, in hope-amidst the kind retreat + To shun the day-star in his noon-tide hour; + Or as when parch'd with droughty thirst he spies + A mossy grot whence purest waters rise. + + So I Florinda--but beheld in vain: + Like Tantalus, who in the realms below + Sees blushing fruits, which to increase his pain, + When he attempts to eat, his taste forego. + O Venus! give me more, or let me drink + Of Lethe's fountain, and forget to think. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Mr. CHRISTOPHER PITT, + +The celebrated translator of Virgil, was born in the year 1699. He +received his early education in the college near Winchester; and in 1719 +was removed from thence to new college in Oxford. When he had studied +there four years, he was preferred to the living of Pimperne in +Dorsetshire, by his friend and relation, Mr. George Pitt; which he held +during the remaining part of his life. While he was at the university, +he possessed the affection and esteem of all who knew him; and was +particularly distinguished by that great poet Dr. Young, who so much +admired the early displays of his genius, that with an engaging +familiarity he used to call him his son. + +Amongst the first of Mr. Pitt's performances which saw the light, were a +panegyric on lord Stanhope, and a poem on the Plague of Marseilles: But +he had two large Folio's of MS. Poems, very fairly written out, while he +was a school-boy, which at the time of election were delivered to the +examiners. One of these volumes contained an entire translation of +Lucan; and the other consisted of Miscellaneous pieces. Mr. Pitt's Lucan +has never been published; perhaps from the consideration of its being +the production of his early life, or from a consciousness of its not +equalling the translation of that author by Rowe, who executed this talk +in the meridian of his genius. Several of his other pieces were +published afterwards, in his volume of Miscellaneous Poems. + +The ingenious writer of the Student hath obliged the world by inferring +in that work several original pieces by Mr. Pitt; whose name is prefixed +to them. + +Next to his beautiful Translation of Virgil, Mr. Pitt gained the +greatest reputation by rendering into English, Vida's Art of Poetry, +which he has executed with the strictest attention to the author's +sense, with the utmost elegance of versification, and without suffering +the noble spirit of the original to be lost in his translation. + +This amiable poet died in the year 1748, without leaving one enemy +behind him. On his tombstone were engraved these words, + + "He lived innocent, and died beloved." + +Mr. Auditor Benson, who in a pamphlet of his writing, has treated +Dryden's translation of Virgil with great contempt, was yet charmed with +that by Mr. Pitt, and found in it some beauties, of which he was fond +even to a degree of enthusiasm. Alliteration is one of those beauties +Mr. Benson so much admired, and in praise of which he has a long +dissertation in his letters on translated verse. He once took an +opportunity, in conversation with Mr. Pitt, to magnify that beauty, and +to compliment him upon it. Mr. Pitt thought this article far less +considerable than Mr. Benson did; but says he, 'since you are so fond of +alliteration, the following couplet upon Cardinal Woolsey will not +displease you, + + 'Begot by butchers, but by bishops bred, + How high his honour holds his haughty head. + +Benson was no doubt charmed to hear his favourite grace in poetry so +beautifully exemplified, which it certainly is, without any affectation +or stiffness. Waller thought this a beauty; and Dryden was very fond of +it. Some late writers, under the notion of imitating these two great +versifiers in this point, run into downright affectation, and are guilty +of the most improper and ridiculous expressions, provided there be but +an alliteration. It is very remarkable, that an affectation of this +beauty is ridiculed by Shakespear, in Love's Labour Lost, Act II. where +the Pedant Holofernes says, + + I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility.-- + The praiseful princess pierced, and prickt.-- + +Mr. Upton, in his letter concerning Spencer, observes, that alliteration +is ridiculed too in Chaucer, in a passage which every reader does not +understand. + +The Ploughman's Tale is written, in some measure, in imitation of +Pierce's Ploughman's Visions; and runs chiefly upon some one letter, or +at least many stanza's have this affected iteration, as + + A full sterne striefe is stirr'd now,-- + For some be grete grown on grounde. + +When the Parson therefore in his order comes to tell his tale, which +reflected on the clergy, he says, + + --I am a southern man, + I cannot jest, rum, ram, riff, by letter, + And God wote, rime hold I but little better. + +Ever since the publication of Mr. Pitt's version of the Aeneid, the +learned world has been divided concerning the just proportion of merit, +which ought to be ascribed to it. Some have made no scruple in defiance +of the authority of a name, to prefer it to Dryden's, both in exactness, +as to his author's sense, and even in the charms of poetry. This +perhaps, will be best discovered by producing a few shining passages of +the Aeneid, translated by these two great masters. + +In biographical writing, the first and most essential principal is +candour, which no reverence for the memory of the dead, nor affection +for the virtues of the living should violate. The impartiality which we +have endeavoured to observe through this work, obliges us to declare, +that so far as our judgment may be trusted, the latter poet has done +most justice to Virgil; that he mines in Pitt with a lustre, which +Dryden wanted not power, but leisure to bestow; and a reader, from +Pitt's version, will both acquire a more intimate knowledge of Virgil's +meaning, and a more exalted idea of his abilities.--Let not this detract +from the high representations we have endeavoured in some other places +to make of Dryden. When he undertook Virgil, he was stooping with age, +oppressed with wants, and conflicting with infirmities. In this +situation, it was no wonder that much of his vigour was lost; and we +ought rather to admire the amazing force of genius, which was so little +depressed under all these calamities, than industriously to dwell on his +imperfections. + +Mr. Spence in one of his chapters on Allegory, in his Polymetis, has +endeavoured to shew, how very little our poets have understood the +allegories of the antients, even in their translations of them; and has +instanced Mr. Dryden's translation of the Aeneid, as he thought him one +of our most celebrated poets. The mistakes are very numerous, and some +of them unaccountably gross. Upon this, says Mr. Warton, "I was desirous +to examine Mr. Pitt's translation of the same passages; and was +surprized to find near fifty instances which Mr. Spence has given of +Dryden's mistakes of that kind, when Mr. Pitt had not fallen into above +three or four." Mr. Warton then produces some instances, which we shall +not here transcribe, as it will be more entertaining to our readers to +have a few of the most shining passages compared, in which there is the +highest room for rising to a blaze of poetry. + +There are few strokes in the whole Aeneid, which have been more admired +than Virgil's description of the Lake of Avernus, Book VI. + + Spelunca alta fuit, vastoque immanis hiatu, + Scrupea, tuta lacu nigro, nemorumque tenebris; + Quam super haud ullæ poterant impune volantes. + Tendere iter pennis; talis sese halitus atris, + Faucibus effundens supera ad convexa ferebat: + Unde locum Graii dixerunt nomine Aornon. + Quatuor hic primum nigrantes terga juvencos + Constituit, frontique invergit vina sacerdos; + Et, summas carpens media inter cornua setas, + Ignibus imponit sacris libarmina prima, + Voce vocans Hecaten, cæloque ereboque potentem. + + +DRYDEN. + + Deep was the cave; and downward as it went, + From the wide mouth, a rocky wide descent; + And here th'access a gloomy grove defends; + And there th'innavigable lake extends. + O'er whose unhappy waters, void of light, + No bird presumes to steer his airy flight; + Such deadly stenches from the depth arise, + And steaming sulphur that infects the skies. + From hence the Grecian bards their legends make, + And give the name Aornus to the lake. + Four fable bullocks in the yoke untaught, + For sacrifice, the pious hero brought. + The priestess pours the wine betwixt their horns: + Then cuts the curling hair, that first oblation burns, + Invoking Hecate hither to repair; + (A powerful name in hell and upper air.) + + +PITT. + + Deep, deep, a cavern lies, devoid of light, + All rough with rocks, and horrible to sight; + Its dreadful mouth is fenc'd with sable floods, + And the brown horrors of surrounding woods. + From its black jaws such baleful vapours rise, + Blot the bright day, and blast the golden skies, + That not a bird can stretch her pinions there, + Thro' the thick poisons, and incumber'd air, + But struck by death, her flagging pinions cease; + And hence Aornus was it call'd by Greece. + Hither the priestess, four black heifers led, + Between their horns the hallow'd wine she shed; + From their high front the topmost hairs she drew, + And in the flames the first oblations threw. + Then calls on potent Hecate, renown'd + In Heav'n above, and Erebus profound. + +The next instance we shall produce, in which, as in the former, Mr. Pitt +has greatly exceeded Dryden, is taken from Virgil's description of +Elysium, which says Dr. Trap is so charming, that it is almost Elysium +to read it. + + His demum exactis, perfecto munere divæ, + Devenere locos lætos, & amoena vireta + Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas. + Largior hic campos æther & lumine vestit + Purpureo; solemque suum, sua sidera norunt. + Pars in gramineis exercent membra palæstris, + Contendunt ludo, & fulva luctanter arena: + Pars pedibus plaudunt choreas, & carmina dicunt. + Necnon Threicius longa cum veste sacerdos + Obloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum: + Jamque eadem digitis, jam pectine pulsat eburno. + + +PITT. + + These rites compleat, they reach the flow'ry plains, + The verdant groves, where endless pleasure reigns. + Here glowing Æther shoots a purple ray, + And o'er the region pours a double day. + From sky to sky th'unwearied splendour runs, + And nobler planets roll round brighter suns. + Some wrestle on the sands, and some in play + And games heroic pass the hours away. + Those raise the song divine, and these advance + In measur'd steps to form the solemn dance. + There Orpheus graceful in his long attire, + In seven divisions strikes the sounding lyre; + Across the chords the quivering quill he flings, + Or with his flying fingers sweeps the strings. + + +DRYDEN. + + These holy rites perform'd, they took their way, + Where long extended plains of pleasure lay. + The verdant fields with those of heav'n may vie; + With Æther veiled, and a purple sky: + The blissful seats of happy souls below; + Stars of their own, and their own suns they know. + Their airy limbs in sports they exercise, + And on the green contend the wrestlers prize. + Some in heroic verse divinely sing, + Others in artful measures lead the ring. + The Thracian bard surrounded by the rest, + There stands conspicuous in his flowing vest. + His flying fingers, and harmonious quill, + Strike seven distinguish'd notes, and seven at once they fill. + +In the celebrated description of the swiftness of Camilla in the VIIth +Aeneid, which Virgil has laboured with so much industry, Dryden is more +equal to Pitt than in the foregoing instances, tho' we think even in +this he falls short of him. + + Illa vel intactæ segetis per summa volaret + Gramina, nec teneras curfu læsisset aristas: + Vel mare per medium, fluctu suspensa tumenti + Ferret iter; celeres nec tingeret æquore plantas. + + +DRYDEN. + +--The fierce virago fought,-- + Outstrip'd the winds, in speed upon the plain, + Flew o'er the fields, nor hurt the bearded grain: + She swept the seas, and as she skim'd along, + Her flying feet, unbath'd, on billows hung. + + +PITT. + + She led the rapid race, and left behind, + The flagging floods, and pinions of the wind; + Lightly she flies along the level plain, + Nor hurts the tender grass, nor bends the golden grain; + Or o'er the swelling surge suspended sweeps, + And smoothly skims unbath'd along the deeps. + +We shall produce one passage of a very different kind from the former, +that the reader may have the pleasure of making the comparison. This is +the celebrated simile in the XIth Book, when the fiery eagerness of +Turnus panting for the battle, is resembled to that of a Steed; which is +perhaps one of the most picturesque beauties in the whole Aeneid. + + Qualis, ubi abruptis fugit præsepia vinc'lis, + Tandem liber equus, campoque potitus aperto; + Aut ille in pastus armentaque tendit equarum, + Aut assuetus aquæ perfundi flumine noto + Emicat; arrectisque fremit cervicibus alte + Luxurians, luduntque jubæ per colla, per armos. + + +DRYDEN. + + Freed from his keepers, thus with broken reins, + The wanton courser prances o'er the plains: + Or in the pride of youth, o'erleaps the mounds, + And snuffs the females in forbidden grounds. + Or seeks his wat'ring in the well-known flood, + To quench his thirst, and cool his fiery blood: + He swims luxuriant in the liquid plain; + And o'er his shoulders flows his waving main. + He neighs, he snorts, he bears his head on high; + Before his ample chest, the frothy waters fly. + + +PITT. + + So the gay pamper'd steed with loosen'd reins, + Breaks from the stall, and pours along the plains; + With large smooth strokes he rushes to the flood, + Bathes his bright sides, and cools his fiery blood; + Neighs as he flies, and tossing high his head, + Snuffs the fair females in the distant mead; + At every motion o'er his neck reclin'd, + Plays his redundant main, and dances in the wind. + +From the above specimens, our readers may determine for themselves to +whose translation they would give the preference. Critics, like +historians, should divest themselves of prejudice: they should never be +misguided by the authority of a great name, nor yield that tribute to +prescription, which is only due to merit. Mr. Pitt, no doubt, had many +advantages above Dryden in this arduous province: As he was later in the +attempt, he had consequently the version of Dryden to improve upon. He +saw the errors of that great poet, and avoided them; he discovered his +beauties, and improved upon them; and as he was not impelled by +necessity, he had leisure to revise, correct, and finish his excellent +work. + +The Revd. and ingenious Mr. Joseph Warton has given to the world a +compleat edition of Virgil's works made English. The Aeneid by Mr. Pitt: +The Eclogues, Georgics, and notes on the whole, by himself; with some +new observations by Mr. Holdsworth, Mr. Spence, and others. This is the +compleatest English dress, in which Virgil ever appeared. It is enriched +with a dissertation on the VIth Book of the Aeneid, by Warburton. On the +Shield of Aeneas, by Mr. William Whitehead. On the Character of Japis, +by the late Dr. Atterbury bishop of Rochester; and three Essays on +Pastoral, Didactic, and Epic Poetry, by Mr. Warton. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. HAMMOND. + +This Gentleman, known to the world by the Love Elegies, which some years +after his death were published by the Earl of Chesterfield, was the son +of a Turkey merchant, in the city of London. We cannot ascertain where +he received his education; but it does not appear that he was at any of +the universities. Mr. Hammond was early preferred to a place about the +person of the late Prince of Wales, which he held till an unfortunate +accident stript him of his reason, or at least so affected his +imagination, that his senses were greatly disordered. The unhappy cause +of his calamity was a passion he entertained for one Miss Dashwood, +which proved unsuccessful. Upon this occasion it was that he wrote his +Love Elegies, which have been much celebrated for their tenderness. The +lady either could not return his passion with a reciprocal fondness, or +entertained too ambitious views to settle her affections upon him, which +he himself in some of his Elegies seems to hint; for he frequently +mentions her passion for gold and splendour, and justly treats it as +very unworthy a fair one's bosom. The chief beauty of these Elegies +certainly consists in their being written by a man who intimately felt +the subject; for they are more the language of the heart than of the +head. They have warmth, but little poetry, and Mr. Hammond seems to have +been one of those poets, who are made so by love, not by nature. + +Mr. Hammond died in the year 1743, in the thirty-first year of his age, +at Stow, the seat of his kind patron, the lord Cobham, who honoured him +with a particular intimacy. The editor of Mr. Hammond's Elegies +observes, that he composed them before he was 21 years of age; a period, +says he, when fancy and imagination commonly riot at the expence of +judgment and correctness. He was sincere in his love, as in his +friendship; he wrote to his mistress, as he spoke to his friends, +nothing but the true genuine sentiments of his heart. Tibullus seems to +have been the model our author judiciously preferred to Ovid; the former +writing directly from the heart to the heart, the latter too often +yielding and addressing himself to the imagination. + +As a specimen of Mr. Hammond's turn for Elegiac Poetry, we shall quote +his third Elegy, in which he upbraids and threatens the avarice of +Neæra, and resolves to quit her. + + Should Jove descend in floods of liquid ore, + And golden torrents stream from every part, + That craving bosom still would heave for more, + Not all the Gods cou'd satisfy thy heart. + + But may thy folly, which can thus disdain + My honest love, the mighty wrong repay, + May midnight-fire involve thy sordid gain, + And on the shining heaps of rapine prey. + + May all the youths, like me, by love deceiv'd, + Not quench the ruin, but applaud the doom, + And when thou dy'st, may not one heart be griev'd: + May not one tear bedew the lonely tomb. + + But the deserving, tender, gen'rous maid, + Whose only care is her poor lover's mind, + Tho' ruthless age may bid her beauty fade, + In every friend to love, a friend shall find. + + And when the lamp of life will burn no more, + When dead, she seems as in a gentle sleep, + The pitying neighbour shall her loss deplore; + And round the bier assembled lovers weep. + + With flow'ry garlands, each revolving year + Shall strow the grave, where truth and softness rest, + Then home returning drop the pious tear, + And bid the turff lie easy on her breast. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. JOHN BANKS. + +This poet was the son of Mr. John Banks of Sunning in Berkshire, in +which place he was born in 1709. His father dying while our author was +very young, the care of his education devolved upon an uncle in law, who +placed him at a private school, under the tuition of one Mr. Belpene, an +Anabaptist. This schoolmaster, so far from encouraging young Banks to +make a great progress in classical learning, exerted his influence with +his relations to have him taken from school, and represented him as +incapable of receiving much erudition. This conduct in Mr. Belpene +proceeded from an early jealousy imbibed against this young man, who, so +far from being dull, as the school-master represented him, possessed +extraordinary parts, of which he gave very early proofs. + +Mr. Belpene was perhaps afraid, that as soon as Mr. Banks mould finish +his education, he would be preferred to him as minister to the +congregation of Anabaptists, which place he enjoyed, independent of his +school. The remonstrances of Mr. Belpene prevailed with Mr. Banks's +uncle, who took him from school, and put him apprentice to a Weaver at +Reading. Before the expiration of the apprenticeship, Mr. Banks had the +misfortune to break his arm, and by that accident was disqualified from +pursuing the employment to which he was bred. How early Mr. Banks began +to write we cannot determine, but probably the first sallies of his wit +were directed against this school-master, by whom he was injuriously +treated, and by whose unwarrantable jealousy his education, in some +measure, was ruined. Our author, by the accident already mentioned, +being rendered unfit to obtain a livelihood, by any mechanical +employment, was in a situation deplorable enough. His uncle was either +unable, or unwilling to assist him, or, perhaps, as the relation between +them was only collateral, he had not a sufficient degree of tenderness +for him, to make any efforts in his favour. In this perplexity of our +young poet's affairs, ten pounds were left him by a relation, which he +very oeconomically improved to the best advantage. He came to London, +and purchasing a parcel of old books, he set up a stall in +Spital-Fields. + +Much about this time Stephen Duck, who had wrote a poem called The +Thresher, reaped very great advantages from it, and was caressed by +persons in power, who, in imitation of the Royal patroness, heaped +favours upon him, perhaps more on account of the extraordinary regard +Queen Caroline had shewn him, than any opinion of his merit. Mr. Banks +considered that the success of Mr. Duck was certainly owing to the +peculiarity of his circumstances, and that the novelty of a thresher +writing verses, was the genuine cause of his being taken notice of, and +not any intrinsic excellence in the verses themselves. This reflexion +inspired him with a resolution of making an effort of the same kind; but +as curiosity was no more to be excited by novelty, the attempt was +without success. He wrote, in imitation of The Thresher, The Weaver's +Miscellany, which failed producing the intended effect, and, 'tis said, +never was reckoned by Mr. Banks himself as any way worthy of particular +distinction. His business of selling books upon a stall becoming +disagreeable to him, as it demanded a constant and uncomfortable +attendance, he quitted that way of life, and was received into the shop +of one Mr. Montague a bookbinder, and bookseller, whom he served some +time as a journeyman. During the time he lived with Mr. Montague, he +employed his leisure hours in composing several poems, which were now +swelled to such a number, that he might sollicit a subscription for them +with a good grace. He had taken care to improve his acquaintance, and as +he had a power of distinguishing his company, he found his interest +higher in the world than he had imagined. He addressed a poem to Mr. +Pope, which he transmitted to that gentleman, with a copy of his +proposals inclosed. Mr. Pope answered his letter, and the civilities +contained in it, by subscribing for two setts of his poems, and 'tis +said he wrote to Mr. Banks the following compliment, + + 'May this put money in your purse: + For, friend, believe me, I've seen worse.' + +The publication of these poems, while they, no doubt, enhanced his +interest, added likewise something to his reputation; and quitting his +employment at Mr. Montague's, he made an effort to live by writing only. +He engaged in a large work in folio, entitled, The Life of Christ, which +was very acceptable to the public, and was executed with much piety and +precision. + +Mr. Banks's next prose work, of any considerable length, was A Critical +Review of the Life of Oliver Cromwell. We have already taken notice that +he received his education among the Anabaptists, and consequently was +attached to those principles, and a favourer of that kind of +constitution which Cromwell, in the first period of his power, meant to +establish. Of the many Lives of this great man, with which the biography +of this nation has been augmented, perhaps not one is written with a +true dispassionate candour. Men are divided in their sentiments +concerning the measures which, at that critical Æra, were pursued by +contending factions. The writers, who have undertaken to review those +unhappy times, have rather struggled to defend a party, to which they +may have been swayed by education or interest, than, by stripping +themselves of all partiality, to dive to the bottom of contentions in +search of truth. The heats of the Civil War produced such animosities, +that the fervour which then prevailed, communicated itself to posterity, +and, though at the distance of a hundred years, has not yet subsided. It +will be no wonder then if Mr. Banks's Review is not found altogether +impartial. He has, in many cases, very successfully defended Cromwell; +he has yielded his conduct, in others, to the just censure of the world. +But were a Whig and a Tory to read this book, the former would pronounce +him a champion for liberty, and the latter would declare him a subverter +of truth, an enemy to monarchy, and a friend to that chaos which Oliver +introduced. + +Mr. Banks, by his early principles, was, no doubt, biassed to the Whig +interest, and, perhaps, it may be true, that in tracing the actions of +Cromwell, he may have dwelt with a kind of increasing pleasure on the +bright side of his character, and but slightly hinted at those facts on +which the other party fasten, when they mean to traduce him as a +parricide and an usurper. But supposing the allegation to be true, Mr. +Banks, in this particular, has only discovered the common failing of +humanity: prejudice and partiality being blemishes from which the mind +of man, perhaps, can never be entirely purged. + +Towards the latter end of Mr. Banks's life, he was employed in writing +two weekly news-papers, the Old England, and the Westminster Journals. +Those papers treated chiefly on the politics of the times, and the trade +and navigation of England. They were carried on by our author, without +offence to any party, with an honest regard to the public interest, and +in the same kind of spirit, that works of that sort generally are. These +papers are yet continued by other hands. + +Mr. Banks had from nature very considerable abilities, and his poems +deservedly hold the second rank. They are printed in two volumes 8vo. +Besides the poems contained in these volumes, there are several other +poetical pieces of his scattered in news-papers, and other periodical +works to which he was an occasional contributer. He had the talent of +relating a tale humorously in verse, and his graver poems have both +force of thinking, and elegance of numbers to recommend them. + +Towards the spring of the year 1751 Mr. Banks, who had long been in a +very indifferent state of health, visibly declined. His disorder was of +a nervous sort, which he bore with great patience, and even with a +chearful resignation. This spring proved fatal to him; he died on the +19th of April at his house at Islington, where he had lived several +years in easy circumstances, by the produce of his pen, without leaving +one enemy behind him. + +Mr. Banks was a man of real good nature, of an easy benevolent +disposition, and his friends ever esteemed him as a most agreeable +companion. He had none of the petulance, which too frequently renders +men of genius unacceptable to their acquaintance. He was of so composed +a temper, that he was seldom known to be in a passion, and he wore a +perpetual chearfulness in his countenance. He was rather bashful, than +forward; his address did not qualify him for gay company, and though he +possessed a very extensive knowledge of things, yet, as he had not much +grace of delivery, or elegance of manner, he could not make so good a +figure in conversation, as many persons of his knowledge, with a happier +appearance. Of all authors Mr. Banks was the farthest removed from envy +or malevolence. As he could not bear the least whisper of detraction, so +he was never heard to express uneasiness at the growing reputation of +another; nor was he ever engaged in literacy contests. We shall conclude +this article in the words of lord Clarendon. 'He that lives such a life, +need be less anxious at how short warning it is taken from him [1].' + +[1] See lord Clarendon's character of the lord Falkland. + + + * * * * * + + +Mrs. LÆTITIA PILKINGTON. + +This unfortunate poetess, the circumstances of whose life, written by +herself, have lately entertained the public, was born in the year 1712. +She was the daughter of Dr. Van Lewen, a gentleman of Dutch extraction, +who settled in Dublin. Her mother was descended of an ancient and +honourable family, who have frequently intermarried with the nobility. + +Mrs. Pilkington, from her earliest infancy, had a strong disposition to +letters, and particularly to poetry. All her leisure hours were +dedicated to the muses; from a reader she quickly became a writer, and, +as Mr. Pope expresses it, + + 'She lisp'd in numbers, for the numbers came.' + +Her performances were considered as extraordinary for her years, and +drew upon her the admiration of many, who found more pleasure in her +conversation, than that of girls generally affords. In consequence of a +poetical genius, and an engaging sprightliness peculiar to her, she had +many wooers, some of whom seriously addressed her, while others meant no +more than the common gallantries of young people. After the usual +ceremony of a courtship, she became the wife of Mr. Matthew Pilkington, +a gentleman in holy orders, and well known in the poetical world by his +volume of Miscellanies, revised by dean Swift. As we have few materials +for Mrs. Pilkington's life, beside those furnished by herself in her +Memoirs published in 1749, our readers must depend upon her veracity for +some facts which we may be obliged to mention, upon her sole authority. + +Our poetess, says she, had not been long married, e'er Mr. Pilkington +became jealous, not of her person, but her understanding. She was +applauded by dean Swift, and many other persons of taste; every +compliment that was paid her, gave a mortal stab to his peace. Behold +the difference between the lover and the husband! When Mr. Pilkington +courted her, he was not more enamoured of her person, than her poetry, +he shewed her verses to every body in the enthusiasm of admiration: but +now he was become a husband, it was a kind of treason for a wife to +pretend to literary accomplishments. + +It is certainly true, that when a woman happens to have more +understanding than her husband, she should be very industrious to +conceal it; but it is like wise true, that the natural vanity of the sex +is difficult to check, and the vanity of a poet still more difficult: +wit in a female mind can no more cease to sparkle, than she who +possesses it, can cease to speak. Mr. Pilkington began to view her with +scornful, yet with jealous eyes, and in this situation, nothing but +misery was likely to be their lot. While these jealousies subsisted, Mr. +Pilkington, contrary to the advice of his friends, went into England, in +order to serve as chaplain to alderman Barber during his mayoralty of +the city of London. + +While he remained in London, and having the strange humour of loving his +wife best at a distance, he wrote her a very kind letter, in which he +informed her, that her verses were like herself, full of elegance and +beauty[1]; that Mr. Pope and others, to whom he had shewn them, longed +to see the writer, and that he heartily wished her in London. This +letter set her heart on flame. London has very attractive charms to most +young people, and it cannot be much wondered at if Mrs. Pilkington +should take the only opportunity she was ever likely to have, of +gratifying her curiosity: which however proved fatal to her; for though +we cannot find, that during this visit to London, her conduct was the +least reproachable, yet, upon her return to Ireland, she underwent a +violent persecution of tongues. They who envied her abilities, fastened +now upon her morals; they were industrious to trace the motives of her +going to London; her behaviour while she was there; and insinuated +suspicions against her chastity. These detracters were chiefly of her +own sex, who supplied by the bitterest malice what they wanted in power. + +Not long after this an accident happened, which threw Mrs. Pilkington's +affairs into the utmost confusion. Her father was stabbed, as she has +related, by an accident, but many people in Dublin believe, by his own +wife, though some say, by his own hand. Upon this melancholy occasion, +Mrs. Pilkington has given an account of her father, which places her in +a very amiable light. She discovered for him the most filial tenderness; +she watched round his bed, and seems to have been the only relation then +about him, who deserved his blessing. From the death of her father her +sufferings begin, and the subsequent part of her life is a continued +series of misfortunes. + +Mr. Pilkington having now no expectation of a fortune by her, threw off +all reserve in his behaviour to her. While Mrs. Pilkington was in the +country for her health, his dislike of her seems to have encreased, +and, perhaps, he resolved to get rid of his wife at any rate: nor was he +long waiting for an occasion of parting with her. The story of their +separation may be found at large in her Memoirs. The substance is, that +she was so indiscreet as to permit a gentleman to be found in her +bed-chamber at an unseasonable hour; for which she makes this apology. +'Lovers of learning I am sure will pardon me, as I solemnly declare, it +was the attractive charms of a new book, which the gentleman would not +lend me, but consented to stay till I read it through, that was the +sole motive of my detaining him.' This indeed is a poor evasion; and as +Mrs. Pilkington has said no more in favour of her innocence, they must +have great charity indeed with whom she can stand exculpated. + +While the gentleman was with her, the servants let in twelve men at the +kitchen window, who, though they might, as she avers, have opened the +chamber door, chose rather to break it to pieces, and took both her and +the gentleman prisoners. Her husband now told her, that she must turn +out of doors; and taking hold of her hand, made a present of it to the +gentleman, who could not in honour refuse to take her, especially as his +own liberty was to be procured upon no other terms. It being then two +o'clock in the morning, and not knowing where to steer, she went home +with her gallant: but she sincerely assures us, that neither of them +entertained a thought of any thing like love, but sat like statues 'till +break of day. + +The gentleman who was found with her, was obliged to fly, leaving a +letter and five guineas inclosed in it for her. She then took a lodging +in some obscure street, where she was persecuted by infamous women, who +were panders to men of fortune. + +In the mean time Mr. Pilkington carried on a vigorous prosecution +against her in the Spiritual Court; during which, as she says, he +solemnly declared, he would allow her a maintainance, if she never gave +him any opposition: but no sooner had he obtained a separation, than he +retracted every word he had said on that subject. Upon this she was +advised to lodge an appeal, and as every one whom he consulted, assured +him he would be cast, he made a proposal of giving her a small annuity, +and thirty pounds[2] in money; which, in regard to her children, she +chose to accept, rather than ruin their father. She was with child at +the time of her separation, and when her labour came on, the woman where +she lodged insisted upon doubling her rent: whereupon she was obliged to +write petitionary letters, which were not always successful. + +Having passed the pains and peril of childbirth, she begged of Mr. +Pilkington to send her some money to carry her to England; who, in hopes +of getting rid of her, sent her nine pounds. She was the more desirous +to leave Ireland, as she found her character sinking every day with the +public. When she was on board the yacht, a gentleman of figure in the +gay world took an opportunity of making love to her, which she rejected +with some indignation. 'Had I (said she) accepted the offers he made me, +poverty had never approached me. I dined with him at Parkgate, and I +hope virtue will be rewarded; for though I had but five guineas in the +world to carry me to London, I yet possessed chastity enough to refuse +fifty for a night's lodging, and that too from a handsome well-bred man. +I shall scarcely ever forget his words to me, as they seemed almost +prophetic. "Well, madam, said he, you do not know London; you will be +undone there." "Why, sir, said I, I hope you don't imagine I will go +into a bad course of life?" "No, madam, said he, but I think you will +sit in your chamber and starve;" which, upon my word, I have been pretty +near doing; and, but that the Almighty raised me one worthy friend, good +old Mr. Cibber, to whose humanity I am indebted, under God, both for +liberty and life, I had been quite lost.' + +When Mrs. Pilkington arrived in London, her conduct was the reverse of +what prudence would have dictated. She wanted to get into favour with +the great, and, for that purpose, took a lodging in St. James's Street, +at a guinea a week; upon no other prospect of living, than what might +arise from some poems she intended to publish by subscription. In this +place she attracted the notice of the company frequenting White's +Chocolate-House; and her story, by means of Mr. Cibber, was made known +to persons of the first distinction, who, upon his recommendation, were +kind to her. + +Her acquaintance with Mr. Cibber began by a present she made him of The +Trial of Constancy, a poem of hers, which Mr. Dodsley published. Mr. +Cibber, upon this, visited her, and, ever after, with the most unwearied +zeal, promoted her interest. The reader cannot expect that we should +swell this volume by a minute relation of all the incidents which +happened to her, while she continued a poetical mendicant. She has not, +without pride, related all the little tattle which passed between her +and persons of distinction, who, through the abundance of their +idleness, thought proper to trifle an hour with her. + +Her virtue seems now to have been in a declining state; at least, her +behaviour was such, that a man, must have extraordinary faith, who can +think her innocent. She has told us, in the second volume of her +Memoirs, that she received from a noble person a present of fifty +pounds. This, she says, was the ordeal, or fiery trial; youth, beauty, +nobility of birth, attacking at once the most desolate person in the +world. However, we find her soon after this thrown into great distress, +and making various applications to persons of distinction for +subscriptions to her poems. Such as favoured her by subscribing, she has +repaid with most lavish encomiums, and those that withheld that proof of +their bounty, she has sacrificed to her resentment, by exhibiting them +in the most hideous light her imagination could form. + +From the general account of her characters, this observation results, +That such as she has stigmatized for want of charity, ought rather to be +censured for want of decency. There might be many reasons, why a person +benevolent in his nature, might yet refuse to subscribe to her; but, in +general, such as refused, did it (as she says) in a rude manner, and she +was more piqued at their deficiency in complaisance to her, than their +want of generosity. Complaisance is easily shewn; it may be done without +expence; it often procures admirers, and can never make an enemy. On the +other hand, benevolence itself, accompanied with a bad grace, may lay us +under obligations, but can never command our affection. It is said of +King Charles I. that he bestowed his bounty with so bad a grace, that he +disobliged more by giving, than his son by refusing; and we have heard +of a gentleman of great parts, who went to Newgate with a greater +satisfaction, as the judge who committed him accompanied the sentence +with an apology and a compliment, than he received from his releasment +by another, who, in extending the King's mercy to him, allayed the Royal +clemency by severe invectives against the gentleman's conduct. + +We must avoid entering into a detail of the many addresses, +disappointments and encouragements, which she met with in her attendance +upon the great: her characters are naturally, sometimes justly, and +often strikingly, exhibited. The incidents of her life while she +remained in London were not very important, though she has related them +with all the advantage they can admit of. They are such as commonly +happen to poets in distress, though it does not often fall out, that the +insolence of wealth meets with such a bold return as this lady has given +it. There is a spirit of keenness, and freedom runs through her book, +she spares no man because he is great by his station, or famous by his +abilities. Some knowledge of the world may be gained from reading her +Memoirs; the different humours of mankind she has shewn to the life, and +whatever was ridiculous in the characters she met with, is exposed in +very lively terms. + +The next scene which opens in Mrs. Pilkington's life, is the prison of +the Marshalsea. The horrors and miseries of this jail she has +pathetically described, in such a manner as should affect the heart of +every rigid creditor. In favour of her fellow-prisoners, she wrote a +very moving memorial, which, we are told, excited the legislative power +to grant an Act of Grace for them. After our poetess had remained nine +weeks in this prison, she was at last released by the goodness of Mr. +Cibber, from whose representation of her distress, no less than sixteen +dukes contributed a guinea apiece towards her enlargement. When this +news was brought her, she fainted away with excess of joy. Some time +after she had tasted liberty, she began to be weary of that continued +attendance upon the great; and therefore was resolved, if ever she was +again favoured with a competent sum, to turn it into trade, and quit the +precarious life of a poetical mendicant. Mr. Cibber had five guineas in +reserve for her, which, with ten more she received from the duke of +Marlborough, enabled her to take a shop in St. James's Street, which she +filled with pamphlets and prints, as being a business better suited to +her taste and abilities, than any other. Her adventures, while she +remained a shopkeeper, are not extremely important. She has neglected to +inform us how long she continued behind the counter, but has told us, +however, that by the liberality of her friends, and the bounty of her +subscribers, she was set above want, and that the autumn of her days was +like to be spent in peace and serenity. + +But whatever were her prospects, she lived not long to enjoy the +comforts of competence, for on the 29th of August, 1750, a few years +after the publication of her second volume, she died at Dublin, in the +thirty ninth year of her age. + +Considered as a writer, she holds no mean rank. She was the author of +The Turkish Court, or The London Apprentice, acted at the theatre in +Caple-street, Dublin, 1748, but never printed. This piece was poorly +performed, otherwise it promised to have given great satisfaction. The +first act of her tragedy of the Roman Father, is no ill specimen of her +talents that way, and throughout her Memoirs there are scattered many +beautiful little pieces, written with a true spirit of poetry, though +under all the disadvantages that wit can suffer. Her memory seems to +have been amazingly great, of which her being able to repeat almost all +Shakespear is an astonishing instance. + +One of the prettiest of her poetical performances, is the following +Address to the reverend Dr. Hales, with whom she became acquainted at +the house of captain Mead, near Hampton-Court. + +To the Revd. Dr. HALES. + + Hail, holy sage! whose comprehensive mind, + Not to this narrow spot of earth confin'd, + Thro' num'rous worlds can nature's laws explore, + Where none but Newton ever trod before; + And, guided by philosophy divine, + See thro' his works th'Almighty Maker shine: + Whether you trace him thro' yon rolling spheres, + Where, crown'd with boundless glory, he appears; + Or in the orient sun's resplendent rays, + His setting lustre, or his noon-tide blaze, + New wonders still thy curious search attend, + Begun on earth, in highest Heav'n to end. + O! while thou dost those God-like works pursue, + What thanks, from human-kind to thee are due! + Whose error, doubt, and darkness, you remove, + And charm down knowledge from her throne above. + Nature to thee her choicest secrets yields, + Unlocks her springs, and opens all her fields; + Shews the rich treasure that her breast contains, + In azure fountains, or enamell'd plains; + Each healing stream, each plant of virtuous use, + To thee their medicinal pow'rs produce. + Pining disease and anguish wing their flight, + And rosy health renews us to delight. + + When you, with art, the animal dissect, + And, with the microscopic aid, inspect + [Transcriber's note: 'microsopic' in + original] + Where, from the heart, unnumbered rivers glide, + And faithful back return their purple tide; + How fine the mechanism, by thee display'd! + How wonderful is ev'ry creature made! + Vessels, too small for sight, the fluids strain, + Concoct, digest, assimilate, sustain; + In deep attention, and surprize, we gaze, + And to life's author, raptur'd, pour out praise. + + What beauties dost thou open to the sight, + Untwisting all the golden threads of light! + Each parent colour tracing to its source, + Distinct they live, obedient to thy force! + Nought from thy penetration is conceal'd, + And light, himself, shines to thy soul reveal'd. + + So when the sacred writings you display, + And on the mental eye shed purer day; + In radiant colours truth array'd we see, + Confess her charms, and guided up by thee; + Soaring sublime, on contemplation's wings, + The fountain seek, whence truth eternal springs. + Fain would I wake the consecrated lyre, + And sing the sentiments thou didst inspire! + But find my strength unequal to a theme, + Which asks a Milton's, or a Seraph's flame! + If, thro' weak words, one ray of reason shine, + Thine was the thought, the errors only mine. + Yet may these numbers to thy soul impart + The humble incense of a grateful heart. + Trifles, with God himself, acceptance find, + If offer'd with sincerity of mind; + Then, like the Deity, indulgence shew, + Thou, most like him, of all his works below. + +FOOTNOTES: +[1] An extravagant compliment; for Mrs. Pilkington was far from being a + beauty. + +[2] Of which, she says, she received only 15 l. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. THOMAS SOUTHERN. + +This eminent poet was born in Dublin, on the year of the Restoration of +Charles the IId. and received his early education at the university +there. In the 18th year of his age, he quitted Ireland, and as his +intention was to pursue a lucrative profession, he entered himself in +the Middle-Temple. But the natural vivacity of his mind overcoming +considerations of advantage, he quitted that state of life, and entered +into the more agreeable service of the Muses[1]. + +The first dramatic performance of Mr. Southern, his Persian Prince, or +Loyal Brother, was acted in the year 1682. The story is taken from +Thamas Prince of Persia, a Novel; and the scene is laid in Ispahan in +Persia. This play was introduced at a time when the Tory interest was +triumphant in England, and the character of the Loyal brother was no +doubt intended to compliment James Duke of York, who afterwards rewarded +the poet for his service. To this Tragedy Mr. Dryden wrote the Prologue +and Epilogue, which furnished Mr. Southern with an opportunity of saying +in his dedication, 'That the Laureat's own pen secured me, maintaining +the out-works, while I lay safe entrenched within his lines; and malice, +ill-nature, and censure were forced to grin at a distance.' + +The Prologue is a continued invective against the Whigs, and whether +considered as a party libel, or an induction to a new play, is in every +respect unworthy of the great hand that wrote it. His next play was a +Comedy, called the Disappointment, or the Mother in Fashion, performed +in the year 1684.--After the accession of king James the IId to the +throne, when the duke of Monmouth made an unfortunate attempt upon his +uncle's crown, Mr. Southern went into the army, in the regiment of foot +raised by the lord Ferrers, afterwards commanded by the duke of Berwick; +and he had three commissions, viz. ensign, lieutenant, and captain, +under King James, in that regiment. + +During the reign of this prince, in the year before the Revolution, he +wrote a Tragedy called the Spartan Dame, which however was not acted +till the year 1721. The subject is taken from the Life of Agis in +Plutarch, where the character of Chelonis, between the duties of a wife +and daughter was thought to have a near resemblance to that of King +William's Queen Mary. 'I began this play, says Mr. Southern, a year +before the Revolution, and near four acts written without any view. Many +things interfering with those times, I laid by what I had written for +seventeen years: I shewed it then to the late duke of Devonshire, who +was in every regard a judge; he told me he saw no reason why it might +not have been acted the year of the Revolution: I then finished it, and +as I thought cut out the exceptionable parts, but could not get it +acted, not being able to persuade myself to the cutting off those limbs, +which I thought essential to the strength and life of it. But since I +found it must pine in obscurity without it, I consented to the +operation, and after the amputation of every line, very near to the +number of 400, it stands on its own legs still, and by the favour of the +town, and indulging assistance of friends, has come successfully forward +on the stage.' This play was inimitably acted. Mr. Booth, Mr. Wilks, Mr. +Cibber, Mr. Mills, sen. Mrs. Oldfield, and Mrs. Porter, all performed in +it, in their heighth of reputation, and the full vigour of their powers. + +Mr. Southern acknowledges in his preface to this play, that the last +scene of the third Act, was almost all written by the honourable John +Stafford, father to the earl of Stafford. Mr. Southern has likewise +acknowledged, that he received from the bookseller, as a price for this +play, 150 l. which at that time was very extraordinary. He was the first +who raised the advantage of play writing to a second and third night, +which Mr. Pope mentions in the following manner, + + --Southern born to raise, + The price of Prologues and of Plays. + +The reputation which Mr. Dryden gained by the many Prologues he wrote, +induced the players to be sollicitous to have one of his to speak, which +were generally well received by the public. Mr. Dryden's price for a +Prologue had usually been five guineas, with which sum Mr. Southern +presented him when he received from him a Prologue for one of his plays. +Mr. Dryden returned the money, and said to him; 'Young man this is too +little, I must have ten guineas.' Mr. Southern on this observ'd, that +his usual price was five guineas. Yes answered Dryden, it has been so, +but the players have hitherto had my labours too cheap; for the future I +must have ten guineas [2]. + +Mr. Southern was industrious to draw all imaginable profits from his +poetical labours. Mr. Dryden once took occasion to ask him how much he +got by one of his plays; to which he answered, that he was really +ashamed to inform him. But Mr. Dryden being a little importunate to +know, he plainly told him, that by his last play he cleared seven +hundred pounds; which appeared astonishing to Mr. Dryden, as he himself +had never been able to acquire more than one hundred by any of his most +successful pieces. The secret is, Mr. Southern was not beneath the +drudgery of sollicitation, and often sold his tickets at a very high +price, by making applications to persons of distinction: a degree of +servility which perhaps Mr. Dryden thought was much beneath the dignity +of a poet; and too much in the character of an under-player. + +That Mr. Dryden entertained a very high opinion of our author's +abilities, appears from his many expressions of kindness towards him. He +has prefixed a copy of verses to a Comedy of his, called the Wife's +Excuse, acted in the year 1692, with very indifferent success: Of this +Comedy, Mr. Dryden had so high an opinion, that he bequeathed to our +poet, the care of writing half the last act of his Tragedy of Cleomenes, +'Which, says Mr. Southern, when it comes into the world will appear to +be so considerable a trust, that all the town will pardon me for +defending this play, that preferred me to it.' + +Our author continued from time to time to entertain the public with his +dramatic pieces, the greatest part of which met with the success they +deserved. The night on which his Innocent Adultery was first acted, +which is perhaps the most moving play in any language; a gentleman took +occasion to ask Mr. Dryden, what was his opinion of Southern's genius? +to which that great poet replied, 'That he thought him such another poet +as Otway.' When this reply was communicated to Mr. Southern, he +considered it as a very great compliment, having no ambition to be +thought a more considerable poet than Otway was. + +Of our author's Comedies, none are in possession of the stage, nor +perhaps deserve to be so; for in that province he is less excellent than +in Tragedy. The present Laureat, who is perhaps one of the best judges +of Comedy now living, being asked his opinion by a gentleman, of +Southern's comic dialogue, answered, That it might be denominated +Whip-Syllabub, that is, flashy and light, but indurable; and as it is +without the Sal Atticum of wit, can never much delight the intelligent +part of the audience. + +The most finished, and the most pathetic of Mr. Southern's plays, in the +opinion of the critics, is his Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave. This drama +is built upon a true story, related by Mrs. Behn, in a Novel; and has so +much the greater influence on the audience, as they are sensible that +the representation is no fiction. In this piece, Mr. Southern has +touched the tender passions with so much skill, that it will perhaps be +injurious to his memory to say of him, that he is second to Otway. +Besides the tender and delicate strokes of passion, there are many +shining and manly sentiments in Oroonoko; and one of the greatest +genius's of the present age, has often observed, that in the most +celebrated play of Shakespear, so many striking thoughts, and such a +glow of animated poetry cannot be furnished. This play is so often +acted, and admired, that any illustration of its beauties here, would be +entirely superfluous. His play of The Fatal Marriage, or The Innocent +Adultery, met with deserved success; the affecting incidents, and +interesting tale in the tragic part, sufficiently compensate for the +low, trifling, comic part; and when the character of Isabella is acted, +as we have seen it, by Mrs. Porter, and Mrs. Woffington, the ladies +seldom fail to sympathise in grief. + +Mr. Southern died on the 26th of May, in the year 1746, in the 86th year +of his age; the latter part of which he spent in a peaceful serenity, +having by his commission as a soldier, and the profits of his dramatic +works, acquired a handsome fortune; and being an exact oeconomist, he +improved what fortune he gained, to the best advantage: He enjoyed the +longest life of all our poets, and died the richest of them, a very few +excepted. + +A gentleman whose authority we have already quoted, had likewise +informed us, that Mr. Southern lived for the last ten years of his life +in Westminster, and attended very constant at divine service in the +Abbey, being particularly fond of church music. He never staid within +doors while in health, two days together, having such a circle of +acquaintance of the best rank, that he constantly dined with one or +other, by a kind of rotation. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Jacob. + +[2] From the information of a gentleman personally acquainted +with Mr. Southern, who desires to have his name conceal'd. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Mr. JAMES MILLER. + +This gentleman was born in the year 1703. He was the son of a clergyman, +who possessed two considerable livings in Dorsetshire[1]. He received +his education at Wadham-College in Oxford, and while he was resident in +that university he composed part of his famous Comedy called the Humours +of Oxford, acted in the year 1729, by the particular recommendation of +Mrs. Oldfield. + +This piece, as it was a lively representation of the follies and vices +of the students of that place, procured the author many enemies. + +Mr. Miller was designed by his relations to be bred to business, which +he declined, not being able to endure the servile drudgery it demanded. +He no sooner quitted the university than he entered into holy orders, +and was immediately preferred to be lecturer in Trinity-College in +Conduit-Street, and preacher of Roehampton-Chapel. These livings were +too inconsiderable to afford a genteel subsistence, and therefore it may +be supposed he had recourse to dramatic writing to encrease his +finances. This kind of composition, however, being reckoned by some very +foreign to his profession, if not inconsistent with it, was thought to +have retarded his preferment in the church. Mr. Miller was likewise +attached to the High-Church interest, a circumstance in the times in +which he lived, not very favourable to preferment. He was so honest +however in these principles, that upon a large offer being made him by +the agents for the ministry in the time of a general opposition, he had +virtue sufficient to withstand the temptation, though his circumstances +at that time were far from being easy. Mr. Miller often confessed to +some of his friends, that this was the fiery trial of his constancy. He +had received by his wife a very genteel fortune, and a tenderness for +her had almost overcome his resolutions; but he recovered again to his +former firmness, when upon hinting to his wife, the terms upon which +preferment might be procured, she rejected them with indignation; and he +became ashamed of his own wavering. This was an instance of honour, few +of which are to be met with in the Lives of the Poets, who have been too +generally of a time-serving temper, and too pliant to all the follies +and vices of their age. But though Mr. Miller would not purchase +preferment upon the terms of writing for the ministry, he was content to +stipulate, never to write against them, which proposal they rejected in +their turn. + +About a year before Mr. Miller's death, which happened in 1743, he was +presented by Mr. Cary of Dorsetshire, to the profitable living of Upsun, +his father had before possess'd, but which this worthy man lived not +long to enjoy; nor had he ever an opportunity of making that provision +for his family he so much sollicited; and which he even disdained to do +at the expence of his honour. + +Mr. Miller's dramatic works are, + +I. Humours of Oxford, which we have already mentioned. + +II. The Mother-in-Law, or the Doctor the Disease; a Comedy, 1733. + +III. The Man of Taste, a Comedy; acted in the year 1736, which had a run +of 30 nights[2]. + +IV. Universal Passion, a Comedy, 1736. + +V. Art and Nature, a Comedy, 1737. + +VI. The Coffee-House, a Farce, 1737. + +VII. An Hospital for Fools, a Farce, 1739. + +VIII. The Picture, or Cuckold in Conceit. + +IX. Mahomet the Impostor, a Tragedy; during the run of this play the +author died. + +X. Joseph and his Brethren; a sacred Drama. + +Mr. Miller was author of many occasional pieces in poetry, of which his +Harlequin Horace is the most considerable. This Satire is dedicated to +Mr. Rich, the present manager of Covent-Garden Theatre, in which with an +ironical severity he lashes that gentleman, in consequence of some +offence Mr. Rich had given him. + +Mr. Miller likewise published a volume of Sermons, all written with a +distinguished air of piety, and a becoming zeal for the interest of true +religion; and was principally concerned in the translation of Moliere's +comedies, published by Watts. + +Our author left behind him a son, whose profession is that of a sea +surgeon. Proposals for publishing his Poems have been inserted in the +Gentleman's Magazine, with a specimen, which does him honour. The +profits of this subscription, are to be appropriated to his mother, whom +he chiefly supported, an amiable instance of filial piety. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The account of this gentleman is taken from the information of his + widow. + +[2] These two pieces were brought on the stage, without the author's + name being known; which, probably, not a little contributed to their + success; the care of the rehearsals being left to Mr. Theo. Cibber, + who played the characters of the Man of Taste, and Squire + Headpiece. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. NICHOLAS AMHURST. + +This gentleman, well known to the world, by the share he had in the +celebrated anti-court paper called The Craftsman, was born in Marden in +Kent, but in what year we cannot be certain. Mr. Amhurst's grandfather +was a clergyman, under whose protection and care he received his +education at Merchant-Taylors school. Having received there the +rudiments of learning, he was removed to St. John's College, Oxford, +from which, on account of the libertinism of his principles, and some +offence he gave to the head of that college, it appears, he was ejected. +We can give no other account of this affair, than what is drawn from Mr. +Amhurst's dedication of his poems to Dr. Delaune, President of St. +John's College in Oxford. This dedication abounds with mirth and +pleasantry, in which he rallies the Dr. with very pungent irony, and +hints at the causes of his disgrace in that famous college. In page 10, +of his dedication, he says, + +'You'll pardon me, good sir, if I think it necessary for your honour to +mention the many heinous crimes for which I was brought to shame. None +were indeed publicly alledged against me at that time, because it might +as well be done afterwards; sure old Englishmen can never forget that +there is such a thing as hanging a man for it, and trying him +afterwards: so fared it with me; my prosecutors first proved me, by an +undeniable argument, to be no fellow of St. John's College, and then to +be--the Lord knows what. + +'My indictment may be collected out of the faithful annals of common +fame, which run thus, + +'Advices from Oxford say, that on the 29th of June, 1719, one Nicholas +Amhurst of St. John's College was expelled for the following reasons; + +'Imprimis, For loving foreign turnips and Presbyterian bishops. + +'Item, For ingratitude to his benefactor, that spotless martyr, Sir +William Laud. + +'Item, For believing that steeples and organs are not necessary to +salvation. + +'Item, For preaching without orders, and praying without a commission. + +'Item, For lampooning priestcraft and petticoatcraft. + +'Item, For not lampooning the government and the revolution. + +'Item, For prying into secret history. + +'My natural modesty will not permit me, like other apologists, to +Vindicate myself in any one particular, the whole charge is so artfully +drawn up, that no reasonable person would ever think the better of me, +should I justify myself 'till doomsday.' Towards the close of the +dedication, he takes occasion to complain of some severities used +against him, at the time of his being excluded the college. 'But I must +complain of one thing, whether reasonable or not, let the world judge. +When I was voted out of your college, and the nusance was thereby +removed, I thought the resentments of the holy ones would have proceeded +no further; I am sure the cause of virtue and sound religion I was +thought to offend, required no more; nor could it be of any possible +advantage to the church, to descend to my private affairs, and stir up +my creditors in the university to take hold of me at a disadvantage, +before I could get any money returned; but there are some persons in the +world, who think nothing unjust or inhuman in the prosecution of their +implacable revenge.' + +It is probable, that upon this misfortune happening to our author, he +repaired to the capital, there to retrieve his ruined affairs. We find +him engaged deeply in the Craftsman, when that paper was in its +meridian, and when it was more read and attended to than any political +paper ever published in England, on account of the assistance given to +it by some of the most illustrious and important characters of the +nation. It is said, that ten thousand of that paper have been sold in +one day. + +The Miscellanies of Mr. Amhurst, the greatest part of which were written +at the university, consist chiefly of poems sacred and profane, +original, paraphrased, imitated, and translated; tales, epigrams, +epistles, love-verses, elegies, and satires. The Miscellany begins with +a beautiful paraphrase on the Mosaic Account of the Creation; and ends +with a very humorous tale upon the discovery of that useful utensil, A +Bottle-Screw. + +Mr. Amhurst died of a fever at Twickenham, April 27, 1742. Our poet had +a great enmity to the exorbitant demands, and domineering spirit of the +High-Church clergy, which he discovers by a poem of his, called, The +convocation, in five cantos; a kind of satire against all the writers, +who shewed themselves enemies of the bishop of Bangor. He translated The +Resurrection, and some other of Mr. Addison's Latin pieces. + +He wrote an epistle (with a petition in it) to Sir John Blount, Bart. +one of the directors of the South-Sea Company, 1726. + +Oculus Britanniæ, an Heroi-panegyrical Poem, on the University of +Oxford, 8vo. 1724. + +In a poem of Mr. Amhurst's, called, An Epistle from the Princess +Sobiesky to the Chevalier de St. George, he has the following nervous +lines, strongly expressive of the passion of love. + + Relentless walls and bolts obstruct my way, + And, guards as careless, and as deaf as they; + Or to my James thro' whirlwinds I would, go, + Thro' burning deserts, and o'er alps of snow, + Pass spacious roaring, oceans undismay'd, + And think the mighty dangers well repaid. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. GEORGE LILLO. + +Was by profession a jeweller. He was born in London, on the 4th of Feb. +1693. He lived, as we are informed, near Moorgate, in the same +neighbourhood where he received his birth, and where he was always +esteemed as a person of unblemished character. 'Tis said, he was +educated in the principles of the dissenters: be that as it will, his +morals brought no disgrace on any sect or party. Indeed his principal +attachment was to the muses. + +His first piece, brought on the stage, was a Ballad Opera, called +Sylvia; or, The Country Burial; performed at the Theatre Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn Fields, but with no extraordinary success, in the year +1730. The year following he brought his play, called The London +Merchant; or, The True Story of George Barnwell, to Mr. Cibber junior; +(then manager of the summer company, at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane) +who originally played the part of Barnwell.--The author was not then +known. As this was almost a new species of tragedy, wrote on a very +uncommon subject, he rather chose it should take its fate in the summer, +than run the more hazardous fate of encountering the winter criticks. +The old ballad of George Barnwell (on which the story was founded) was +on this occasion reprinted, and many thousands sold in one day. Many +gaily-disposed spirits brought the ballad with them to the play, +intending to make their pleasant remarks (as some afterwards owned) and +ludicrous comparisons between the antient ditty and the modern drama. +But the play was very carefully got up, and universally allowed to be +well performed. The piece was thought to be well conducted, and the +subject well managed, and the diction proper and natural; never low, and +very rarely swelling above the characters that spoke. Mr. Pope, among +other persons, distinguished by their rank, or particular publick merit, +had the curiosity to attend the performance, and commended the actors, +and the author; and remarked, if the latter had erred through the whole +play, it was only in a few places, where he had unawares led himself +into a poetical luxuriancy, affecting to be too elevated for the +simplicity of the subject. But the play, in general, spoke so much to +the heart, that the gay persons before mentioned confessed, they were +drawn in to drop their ballads, and pull out their handkerchiefs. It met +with uncommon success; for it was acted above twenty times in the summer +season to great audiences; was frequently bespoke by some eminent +merchants and citizens, who much approved its moral tendency: and, in +the winter following, was acted often to crowded houses: And all the +royal family, at several different times, honoured it with their +appearance. It gained reputation, and brought money to the poet, the +managers, and the performers. Mr. Cibber, jun. not only gave the author +his usual profits of his third days, &c. but procured him a +benefit-night in the winter season, which turned out greatly to his +advantage; so that he had four benefit-nights in all for that piece; by +the profits whereof, and his copy-money, he gained several hundred +pounds. It continued a stock-play in Drury-Lane Theatre till Mr. Cibber +left that house, and went to the Theatre in Covent-Garden. It was often +acted in the Christmas and Easter holidays, and judged a proper +entertainment for the apprentices, &c. as being a more instructive, +moral, and cautionary drama, than many pieces that had been usually +exhibited on those days, with little but farce and ribaldry to +recommend them. + +A few years after, he brought out his play of The Christian Hero at the +Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. + +And another Tragedy called Elmerick. + +His tragedy of three acts, called Fatal Curiosity, founded on an old +English story, was acted with success at the Hay-Market, in 1737. + +He wrote another tragedy, never yet acted, called Arden of Feversham. + +He was a man of strict morals, great good-nature, and sound sense, with +an uncommon share of modesty. + +He died Sept. 3. 1739. and was buried in the vault of Shoreditch church. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. CHARLES JOHNSON. + +Mr. Charles Johnson was designed for the law; but being an admirer of +the muses, turned his thoughts to dramatic writing; and luckily being an +intimate of Mr. Wilks, by the assistance of his friendship, Mr. Johnson +had several plays acted, some of which met with success. He was a +constant attendant at Will's and Button's coffee houses, which were the +resort of most of the men of taste and literature, during the reigns of +queen Anne and king George the first. Among these he contracted intimacy +enough to intitle him to their patronage, &c on his benefit-nights; by +which means he lived (with oeconomy) genteelly. At last he married a +young widow, with a tolerable fortune, and set up a tavern in +Bow-street, which he quitted on his wife's dying, and lived privately on +the small remainder of his fortune. + +He died about the year 1744. His parts were not very brilliant; but his +behaviour was generally thought inoffensive; yet he escaped not the +satire of Mr. Pope, who has been pleased to immortalize him in his +Dunciad. + +His dramatic pieces are, + +1. The Gentleman Cully, a Comedy: acted at the Theatre-Royal, +Covent-Garden, 1702. + +2. Fortune in her Wits, a Comedy; 1705. It is a very indifferent +translation of Mr. Cowley's Naufragium Joculare. + +3. The Force of Friendship, a Tragedy, 1710. + +4. Love in a Chest, a Farce, 1710. + +5. The Wife's Relief; or, the Husband's Cure; a Comedy. It is chiefly +borrowed from Shirley's Gamester, 1711. + +6. The Successful Pirate, a Tragi-Comedy, 1712. + +7. The Generous Husband; or, the Coffee-house Politician; a Comedy, +1713. + +8. The Country Lasses; or, the Custom of the Manor; a Comedy, 1714. + +9. Love and Liberty; a Tragedy, 1715. + +10. The Victim; a Tragedy, 1715. + +11. The Sultaness; a Tragedy, 1717. + +12. The Cobler of Preston; a Farce of two Acts, 1717. + +13. Love in a Forest; a Comedy, 1721. Taken from Shakespear's Comedy, As +you like it. + +14. The Masquerade; a Comedy, 1723. + +15. The Village Opera, 1728. + +16. The Ephesian Matron; a Farce of one Act, 1730. + +17. Celia; or, the Perjured Lovers; a Tragedy, 1732. + + + * * * * * + + +PHILIP FROWDE, Esq; + +This elegant poet was the son of a gentleman who had been +post-master-general in the reign of queen Anne. Where our author +received his earliest instructions in literature we cannot ascertain; +but, at a proper time of life, he was sent to the university of Oxford, +where he had the honour of being particularly distinguished by Mr. +Addison, who took him under his immediate protection. While he remained +at that university, he became author of several poetical performances; +some of which, in Latin, were sufficiently elegant and pure, to intitle +them to a place in the Musæ Anglicanæ, published by Mr. Addison; an +honour so much the more distinguished, as the purity of the Latin poems +contained in that collection, furnished the first hint to Boileau of the +greatness of the British genius. That celebrated critick of France +entertained a mean opinion of the English poets, till he occasionally +read the Musæ Anglicanæ; and then he was persuaded that they who could +write with so much elegance in a dead language, must greatly excel in +that which was native to them. + +Mr. Frowde has likewise obliged the publick with two tragedies; the Fall +of Saguntum, dedicated to sir Robert Walpole; and Philotas, addressed to +the earl of Chesterfield. The first of these performances, so far as we +are able to judge, has higher merit than the last. The story is more +important, being the destruction of a powerful city, than the fall of a +single hero; the incidents rising out of this great event are likewise +of a very interesting nature, and the scenes in many places are not +without passion, though justly subject to a very general criticism, that +they are written with too little. Mr. Frowde has been industrious in +this play to conclude his acts with similes, which however exceptionable +for being too long and tedious for the situations of the characters who +utter them, yet are generally just and beautiful. At the end of the +first act he has the following simile upon sedition: + + Sedition, thou art up; and, in the ferment, + To what may not the madding populace, + Gathered together for they scarce know what, + Now loud proclaiming their late, whisper'd grief, + Be wrought at length? Perhaps to yield the city. + Thus where the Alps their airy ridge extend, + Gently at first the melting snows descend; + From the broad slopes, with murm'ring lapse they glide + In soft meanders, down the mountain's side; + But lower fall'n streams, with each other crost, + From rock to rock impetuously are tost, + 'Till in the Rhone's capacious bed they're lost. + United there, roll rapidly away, + And roaring, reach, o'er rugged rocks, the sea. + +In the third act, the poet, by the mouth of a Roman hero, gives the +following concise definition of true courage. + + True courage is not, where fermenting spirits + Mount in a troubled and unruly stream; + The soul's its proper seat; and reason there + Presiding, guides its cool or warmer motions. + +The representation of besiegers driven back by the impetuosity of the +inhabitants, after they had entered a gate of the city, is strongly +pictured by the following simile. + + Imagine to thyself a swarm of bees + Driv'n to their hive by some impending storm, + Which, at its little pest, in clustering heaps, + And climbing o'er each other's backs they enter. + Such was the people's flight, and such their haste + To gain the gate. + +We have observed, that Mr. Frowde's other tragedy, called Philotas, was +addressed to the earl of Chesterfield; and in the dedication he takes +care to inform his lordship, that it had obtained his private +approbation, before it appeared on the stage. At the time of its being +acted, lord Chesterfield was then embassador to the states-general, and +consequently he was deprived of his patron's countenance during the +representation. As to the fate of this play, he informs his lordship, it +was very particular: "And I hope (says he) it will not be imputed as +vanity to me, when I explain my meaning in an expression of Juvenal, +Laudatur & al-get." But from what cause this misfortune attended it, we +cannot take upon us to say. + +Mr. Frowde died at his lodgings in Cecil-street in the Strand, on the +19th of Dec. 1738. In the London Daily Post 22d December, the following +amiable character is given of our poet: + +"But though the elegance of Mr. Frowde's writings has recommended him to +the general publick esteem, the politeness of his genius is the least +amiable part of his character; for he esteemed the talents of wit and +learning, only as they were, conducive to the excitement and practice of +honour and humanity. Therefore, + +"with a soul chearful, benevolent, and virtuous, he was in conversation +genteelly delightful; in friendship punctually sincere; in death +christianly resigned. No man could live more beloved; no private man +could die more lamented." + + + * * * * * + + +Mrs. MARY CHANDLER, + +Was born at Malmsbury in Wiltshire, in the year 1687, of worthy and +reputable parents; her father, Mr. Henry Chandler, being minister, many +years, of the congregation of protestant dissenters in Bath, whose +integrity, candour, and catholick spirit, gained him the esteem and +friendship of all ranks and parties. She was his eldest daughter, and +trained up carefully in the principles of religion and virtue. But as +the circumstances of the family rendered it necessary that she should be +brought up to business, she was very early employed in it, and incapable +of receiving that polite and learned education which she often regretted +the loss of, and which she afterwards endeavoured to repair by +diligently reading, and carefully studying the best modern writers, and +as many as she could of the antient ones, especially the poets, as far +as the best translations could assist her. + +Amongst these, Horace was her favourite; and how just her sentiments +were of that elegant writer, will fully appear from her own words, in a +letter to an intimate friend, relating to him, in which she thus +expresses herself: "I have been reading Horace this month past, in the +best translation I could procure of him. O could I read his fine +sentiments cloathed in his own dress, what would I, what would I not +give! He is more my favorite than Virgil or Homer. I like his subjects, +his easy manner. It is nature within my view. He doth not lose me in +fable, or in the clouds amidst gods and goddesses, who, more brutish +than myself, demand my homage, nor hurry me into the noise and confusion +of battles, nor carry me into inchanted circles, to conjure with witches +in an unknown land, but places me with persons like myself, and in +countries where every object is familiar to me. In short, his precepts +are plain, and morals intelligible, though not always so perfect as one +could have wished them. But as to this, I consider when and where he +lived." + +The hurries of life into which her circumstances at Bath threw her, sat +frequently extremely heavy upon a mind so intirely devoted to books and +contemplation as hers was; and as that city, especially in the seasons, +but too often furnished her with characters in her own sex that were +extremely displeasing to her, she often, in the most passionate manner, +lamented her fate, that tied her down to so disagreeable a situation; +for she was of so extremely delicate and generous a soul, that the +imprudences and faults of others gave her a very sensible pain, though +she had no other connexion with, or interest in them, but what arose +from the common ties of human nature. This made her occasional +retirements from that place to the country-seats of some of her +peculiarly intimate and honoured friends, doubly delightful to her, as +she there enjoyed the solitude she loved, and could converse, without +interruption, with those objects of nature, that never failed to inspire +her with the most exquisite satisfaction. One of her friends, whom she +highly honoured and loved, and of whose hospitable house, and pleasant +gardens, she was allowed the freest use, was the late excellent Mrs. +Stephens, of Sodbury in Gloucestershire, whose feat she celebrated in a +poem inscribed to her, inserted in the collection she published. A lady, +that was worthy of the highest commendation her muse could bestow upon +her. The fine use she made of solitude, the few following lines me wrote +on it, will be an honourable testimony to her. + + Sweet solitude, the Muses dear delight, + Serene thy day, and peaceful is thy night! + Thou nurse of innocence, fair virtue's friend, + Silent, tho' rapturous, pleasures thee attend. + Earth's verdant scenes, the all surrounding skies + Employ my wondring thoughts, and feast my eyes, + Nature in ev'ry object points the road, + Whence contemplation wings my soul to God. + He's all in all. His wisdom, goodness, pow'r, + Spring in each blade, and bloom in ev'ry flow'r, + Smile o'er the meads, and bend in ev'ry hill, + Glide in the stream, and murmur in the rill + All nature moves obedient to his will. + Heav'n shakes, earth trembles, and the forests nod, + When awful thunders speak the voice of God. + +However, notwithstanding her love of retirement, and the happy +improvement she knew how to make of it, yet her firm belief that her +station was the appointment of providence, and her earnest desire of +being useful to her relations, whom she regarded with the warmest +affection, brought her to submit to the fatigues of her business, to +which, during thirty-five years, she applied herself with, the utmost +diligence and care. + +Amidst such perpetual avocations, and constant attention to business, +her improvements in knowledge, and her extensive acquaintance with the +best writers, are truly surprising. But she well knew the worth of time, +and eagerly laid hold of all her leisure hours, not to lavish them away +in fashionable unmeaning amusements; but in the pursuit of what she +valued infinitely more, those substantial acquisitions of true wisdom +and goodness, which she knew were the noblest ornaments of the +reasonable mind, and the only sources of real and permanent happiness: +and she was the more desirous of this kind of accomplishments, as she +had nothing in her shape to recommend her, being grown, by an accident +in her childhood, very irregular in her body, which she had resolution +enough often to make the subject of her own pleasantry, drawing this +wise inference from it, "That as her person would not recommend her, she +must endeavour to cultivate her mind, to make herself agreeable." + +And indeed this she did with the greatest care; and she had so many +excellent qualities in her, that though her first appearance could never +create any prejudice in her favour, yet it was impossible to know her +without valuing and esteeming her. + +Wherever she professed friendship, it was sincere and cordial to the +objects of it; and though she admired whatever was excellent in them, +and gave it the commendations it deserved, yet she was not blind to +their faults, especially if such as she apprehended to be inconsistent +with the character of integrity and virtue. As she thought one of the +noblest advantages of real friendship, was the rendering it serviceable +mutually to correct, polish, and perfect the characters of those who +professed it, and as she was not displeased to be kindly admonished +herself for what her friends thought any little disadvantage to her +character, so she took the same liberty with others; but used that +liberty with such a remarkable propriety, tenderness, and politeness, as +made those more sincerely esteem her, with whom she used the greatest +freedom, and has lost her no intimacy but with one person, with whom, +for particular reasons, she thought herself obliged to break off all +correspondence. + +Nor could one, who had so perfect a veneration and love for religion and +virtue, fail to make her own advantage of the admonitions and reproofs +she gave to others: and she often expressed a very great pleasure, that +the care she had of those young persons, that were frequently committed +to her friendship, put her upon her guard, as to her own temper and +conduct, and on a review of her own actions, lest she should any way +give them a wrong example, or omit any thing that was really for their +good. And if she at any time reflected, that her behaviour to others had +been wrong, she, with the greatest ease and frankness, asked the pardon +of those she had offended; as not daring to leave to their wrong +construction any action of hers, lest they should imagine that she +indulged to those faults for which she took the liberty of reproving +them. Agreeable to this happy disposition of mind, she gave, in an +off-hand manner, the following advice to an intimate friend, who had +several children, whom she deservedly honoured, and whom she could not +esteem and love beyond his real merits. + + To virtue strict, to merit kind, + With temper calm, to trifles blind, + Win them to mend the faults they see, + And copy prudent rules from thee. + Point to examples in their sight, + T'avoid, and scorn, and to delight. + Then love of excellence inspire, + By hope their emulation fire, + You'll gain in time your own desire. + +She used frequently to complain of herself, as naturally eager, anxious, +and peevish. But, by a constant cultivation of that benevolent +disposition, that was never inwrought in any heart in a stronger and +more prevailing manner than in hers, she, in a good measure, dispossest +herself of those inward sources of uneasiness, and was pleased with the +victory she had gained over herself, and continually striving to render +it more absolute and complete. + +Her religion was rational and prevalent. She had, in the former part of +her life, great doubts about christianity, during which state of +uncertainty, she was one of the most uneasy and unhappy persons living. +But her own good sense, her inviolable attachment to religion and +virtue, her impartial inquiries, her converse with her believing +friends, her study of the best writers in defence of christianity, and +the observations she made on the temper and conduct, the fall and ruin +of some that had discarded their principles, and the irregularities of +others, who never attended to them, fully at last released her from all +her doubts, and made her a firm and established christian. The immediate +consequence of this was, the return of her peace, the possession of +herself, the enjoyment of her friends, and an intire freedom from the +terror of any thing that could befall her in the future part of her +existence. Thus she lived a pleasure to all who knew her, and being, at +length, resolved to disengage herself from the hurries of life, and wrap +herself up in that retirement she was so fond of, after having gained +what she thought a sufficient competency for one of her moderate +desires, and in that station that was allotted her, and settled her +affairs to her own mind, she finally quitted the world, and in a manner +agreeable to her own wishes, without being suffered to lie long in +weakness and pain, a burthen to herself, or those who attended her: +dying after about two days illness, in the 58th year of her age, Sept. +11, 1745. + +She thought the disadvantages of her shape were such, as gave her no +reasonable prospect of being happy in a married state, and therefore +chose to continue single. She had, however, an honourable offer from a +country gentleman of worth and large fortune, who, attracted merely by +the goodness of her character, took a journey of an hundred miles to +visit her at Bath, where he made his addresses to her. But she convinced +him that such a match could neither be for his happiness, or her own. +She had, however, something extremely agreeable and pleasing in her +face, and no one could enter into any intimacy of conversation with her, +but he immediately lost every disgust towards her, that the first +appearance of her person tended to excite in him. + +She had the misfortune of a very valetudinary constitution, owing, in +some measure, probably to the irregularity of her form. At last, after +many years illness, she entered, by the late ingenious Dr. Cheney's +advice, into the vegetable diet, and indeed the utmost extremes of it, +living frequently on bread and water; in which she continued so long, as +rendered her incapable of taking any more substantial food when she +afterwards needed it; for want of which she was so weak as not to be +able to support the attack of her last disorder, and which, I doubt not, +hastened on her death. But it must be added, in justice to her +character, that the ill state of her health was not the only or +principal reason that brought her to, and kept her fixed in her +resolution, of attempting, and persevering in this mortifying diet. The +conquest of herself, and subjecting her own heart more intirely to the +command of her reason and principles, was the object she had in especial +view in this change of her manner of living; as being firmly persuaded, +that the perpetual free use of animal food, and rich wines, tends so to +excite and inflame the passions, as scarce to leave any hope or chance, +for that conquest of them which she thought not only religion requires, +but the care of our own happiness, renders necessary. And the effect of +the trial, in her own case, was answerable to her wishes; and what she +says of herself in her own humorous epitaph, + + _That time and much thought had all passion extinguish'd_, + +was well known to be true, by those who were most nearly acquainted with +her. Those admirable lines on _Temperance_, in her Bath poem, she penned +from a very feeling experience of what she found by her own regard to +it, and can never be read too often, as the sense is equal to the +goodness of the poetry. + + Fatal effects of luxury and ease! + We drink our poison, and we eat disease, + Indulge our senses at our reason's cost, + Till sense is pain, and reason hurt, or lost. + Not so, O temperance bland! when rul'd by thee, + The brute's obedient, and the man is free. + Soft are his slumbers, balmy is his rest, + His veins not boiling from the midnight feast. + Touch'd by Aurora's rosy hand, he wakes + Peaceful and calm, and with the world partakes + The joyful dawnings of returning day, + For which their grateful thanks the whole creation pay, + All but the human brute. 'Tis he alone, + Whose works of darkness fly the rising sun. + 'Tis to thy rules, O temperance, that we owe + All pleasures, which from health and strength can flow, + Vigour of body, purity of mind, + Unclouded reason, sentiments refin'd, + Unmixt, untainted joys, without remorse, + Th' intemperate sinner's never-failing curse. + +She was observed, from her childhood, to have a fondness for poetry, +often entertaining her companions, in a winter's evening, with riddles +in verse, and was extremely fond, at that time of life, of Herbert's +poems. And this disposition grew up with her, and made her apply, in her +riper years, to the study of the best of our English poets; and before +she attempted any thing considerable, sent many small copies of verses, +on particular characters and occasions, to her peculiar friends. Her +poem on the Bath had the full approbation of the publick; and what sets +it above censure, had the commendation of Mr. Pope, and many others of +the first rank, for good sense and politeness. And indeed there are many +lines in it admirably penn'd, and that the finest genius need not to be +ashamed of. It hath ran through several editions; and, when first +published, procured her the personal acknowledgments of several of the +brightest quality, and of many others, greatly distinguished as the best +judges of poetical performances. + +She was meditating a nobler work, a large poem on the Being and +Attributes of God, which was her favourite subject; and, if one may +judge by the imperfect pieces of it, which she left behind her in her +papers, would have drawn the publick attention, had she liv'd to finish +it. + +She was peculiarly happy in her acquaintance, as she had good sense +enough to discern that worth in others she justly thought was the +foundation of all real friendship, and was so happy as to be honoured +and loved as a friend, by those whom she would have wished to be +connected with in that sacred character. She had the esteem of that most +excellent lady, who was superior to all commendation, the late dutchess +of Somerset, then countess of Hertford, who hath done her the honour of +several visits, and allowed her to return them at the Mount of +Marlborough. Mr. Pope favoured her with his at Bath, and complimented +her for her poem on that place. Mrs. Rowe, of Froom, was one of her +particular friends. 'Twould be endless to name all the persons of +reputation and fortune whom she had the pleasure of being intimately +acquainted with. She was a good woman, a kind relation, and a faithful +friend. She had a real genius for poetry, was a most agreeable +correspondent, had a large fund of good sense, was unblemished in her +character, lived highly esteemed, and died greatly lamented, + +_FINIS_. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great +Britain and Ireland (1753),Vol. V., by Theophilus Cibber + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12090 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..403f8fc --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12090 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12090) diff --git a/old/12090-8.txt b/old/12090-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a97faeb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12090-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11664 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and +Ireland (1753),Vol. V., by Theophilus Cibber + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753),Vol. V. + +Author: Theophilus Cibber + +Release Date: April 20, 2004 [EBook #12090] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIVES OF THE POETS *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Carol David and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE + +LIVES + +OF THE + +POETS + +OF + +_Great-Britain_ and _Ireland._ + +By Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands. + +VOL. V. + + +M DCC LIII + + +CONTENTS + + A Vol. + +_Aaron Hill_ V +_Addison_ III +_Amhurst_ V +_Anne_, Countess of _Winchelsea_ III + + B + +_Bancks_ III +_Banks_ V +_Barclay_ I +_Barton Booth_ IV +_Beaumont_ I +_Behn, Aphra_ III +_Betterton_ III +_Birkenhead_ II +_Blackmore_ V +_Booth_, Vid. _Barton Boyce_ V +_Boyle_, E. _Orrery_ II +_Brady_ IV +_Brewer_ II +_Brooke_, Sir _Fulk Greville_ I +_Brown, Tom_ III +_Buckingham_, Duke of II +_Budgell_ V +_Butler_ II + + C + +_Carew_ I +_Cartwright_ I +_Centlivre_, Mrs. IV +_Chandler_, Mrs. V +_Chapman_ I +_Chaucer_ I +_Chudleigh_, Lady III +_Churchyard_ I +_Cleveland_ II +_Cockaine_ II +_Cockburne_, Mrs. V +_Codrington_ IV +_Concanen_ V +_Congreve_ IV +_Corbet_ I +_Cotton_ III +_Cowley_ II +_Crashaw_ I +_Creech_ III +_Crowne_ III +_Croxal_ V + + D + +_Daniel_ I +_Davenant_ II +_Davies_ I +_Dawes_, Arch. of _York_ IV +_Day_ I +_Decker_ I +_De Foe_ IV +_Denham_ IV +_Dennis_ IV +_Donne_ I +_Dorset_, Earl of I +_Dorset_, Earl of III +_Drayton_ I +_Drummond_ I +_Dryden_ III +_D'Urfey_ III + + E + +_Eachard_ IV +_Etheredge_ III +_Eusden_ V +_Eustace Budgel_ V + + F + +_Fairfax_ I +_Fanshaw_ II +_Farquhar_ I +_Faulkland_ I +_Fenton_ IV +_Ferrars_ I +_Flecknoe_ III +_Fletcher_ I +_Ford_ I +_Frowde_ V + + G + +_Garth_ III +_Gay_ IV +_Gildon_ III +_Goff_ I +_Goldsmith_ II +_Gower_ I +_Granville_, Lord _Landsdown_ IV +_Green_ I +_Greville_, Lord _Brooke_ I +_Grierson_ V + + H + +_Harrington_ II +_Hall_, Bishop I +_Hammond_ V +_Hammond_, Esq; IV +_Harding_ I +_Harrington_ I +_Hausted_ I +_Head_ II +_Haywood, John_ I +_Haywood, Jasper_ I +_Haywood, Thomas_ I +_Hill_ V +_Hinchliffe_ V +_Hobbs_ II +_Holliday_ II +_Howard, Esq_; III +_Howard_, Sir _Robert_ III +_Howel_ II +_Hughes_ IV + + I + +_Johnson, Ben_ I +_Johnson, Charles_ V + + K + +_Killegrew, Anne_ II +_Killegrew, Thomas_ III +_Killegrew, William_ III +_King_, Bishop of _Chichester_ II +_King_, Dr. _William_ III + + L + +_Lauderdale_, Earl of V +_Langland_ I +_Lansdown_, Lord _Granville_ IV +_Lee_ II +_L'Estrange_ IV +_Lillo_ V +_Lilly_ I +_Lodge_ I +_Lydgate_ III + + M + +_Main_ II +_Manley_, Mrs. IV +_Markham_ I +_Marloe_ I +_Marston_ I +_Marvel_ IV +_Massinger_ II +_May_ II +_Maynwaring_ III +_Miller_ V +_Middleton_ I +_Milton_ II +_Mitchel_ IV +_Monk_, the Hon. Mrs. III +_Montague_, Earl of _Hallifax_ III +_More_, Sir _Thomas_ I +_More, Smyth_ IV +_Motteaux_ IV +_Mountford_ III + + N + +_Nabbes_ II +_Nash_ I +_Needler_ IV +_Newcastle_, Duchess of II +_Newcastle_, Duke of II + + O + +_Ogilby_ II +_Oldham_ II +_Oldmixon_ IV +_Orrery, Boyle_, Earl of II +_Otway_ II +_Overbury_ I +_Ozell_ IV + + P + +_Pack_ IV +_Phillips_, Mrs. _Katherine_ II +_Phillips, John_ III +_Phillips, Ambrose_ V +_Pilkington_ V +_Pit_ V +_Pomfret_ III +_Pope_ V +_Prior_ IV + + R + +_Raleigh_ I +_Randolph_ I +_Ravenscroft_ III +_Rochester_ II +_Roscommon_, Earl of III +_Rowe, Nicholas_ III +_Rowe_, Mrs. IV +_Rowley_ I + + S + +_Sackville_, E. of _Dorset_ I +_Sandys_ I +_Savage_ V +_Sedley_ III +_Settle_ III +_Sewel_ IV +_Shadwell_ III +_Shakespear_ I +_Sheffield_, Duke of Buckingham III +_Sheridan_ V +_Shirley_ II +_Sidney_ I +_Skelton_ I +_Smith, Matthew_ II +_Smith, Edmund_ IV +_Smyth, More_ IV +_Southern_ V +_Spenser_ I +_Sprat_ III +_Stapleton_ II +_Steele_ IV +_Stepney_ IV +_Stirling_, Earl of I +_Suckling_ I +_Surry_, Earl of I +_Swift_ V +_Sylvester_ I + + T +_Tate_ III +_Taylor_ II +_Theobald_ V +_Thomas_, Mrs. IV +_Thompson_ V +_Tickell_ V +_Trap_ V + + V + +_Vanbrugh_ IV + + W + +_Waller_ II +_Walsh_ III +_Ward_ IV +_Welsted_ IV +_Wharton_ II +_Wharton, Philip_ Duke of IV +_Wycherley_ III +_Winchelsea, Anne_, Countess of III +_Wotton_ I +_Wyatt_ I + + Y + +_Yalden_ IV + + + +THE + +LIVES + +OF THE + +POETS + + + * * * * * + + +EUSTACE BUDGELL, Esq; + +was the eldest son of Gilbert Budgell, D.D. of St. Thomas near Exeter, +by his first wife Mary, the only daughter of Dr. William Gulston, bishop +of Bristol; whose sister Jane married dean Addison, and was mother to +the famous Mr. Addison the secretary of state. This family of Budgell is +very old, and has been settled, and known in Devonshire above 200 +years[1]. + +Eustace was born about the year 1685, and distinguished himself very +soon at school, from whence he was removed early to Christ's Church +College in Oxford, where he was entered a gentleman commoner. He staid +some years in that university, and afterwards went to London, where, by +his father's directions, he was entered of the Inner-Temple, in order to +be bred to the Bar, for which his father had always intended him: but +instead of the Law, he followed his own inclinations, which carried him +to the study of polite literature, and to the company of the genteelest +people in town. This proved unlucky; for the father, by degrees, grew +uneasy at his son's not getting himself called to the Bar, nor properly +applying to the Law, according to his reiterated directions and request; +and the son complained of the strictness and insufficiency of his +father's allowance, and constantly urged the necessity of his living +like a gentleman, and of his spending a great deal of money. During this +slay, however, at the Temple, Mr. Budgell made a strict intimacy and +friendship with Mr. Addison, who was first cousin to his mother; and +this last gentleman being appointed, in the year 1710, secretary to lord +Wharton, the lord lieutenant of Ireland, he made an offer to his friend +Eustace of going with him as one of the clerks in his office. The +proposal being advantageous, and Mr. Budgell being then on bad terms +with his father, and absolutely unqualified for the practice of the Law, +it was readily accepted. Nevertheless, for fear of his father's +disapprobation of it, he never communicated his design to him 'till the +very night of his setting out for Ireland, when he wrote him a letter +to inform him at once of his resolution and journey. This was in the +beginning of April 1710, when he was about twenty five years of age. He +had by this time read the classics, the most reputed historians, and all +the best French, English, or Italian writers. His apprehension was +quick, his imagination fine, and his memory remarkably strong; though +his greatest commendations were a very genteel address, a ready wit and +an excellent elocution, which shewed him to advantage wherever he went. +There was, notwithstanding, one principal defect in his disposition, and +this was an infinite vanity, which gave him so insufferable a +presumption, as led him to think that nothing was too much for his +capacity, nor any preferment, or favour, beyond his deserts. Mr. +Addison's fondness for him perhaps increased this disposition, as he +naturally introduced him into all the company he kept, which at that +time was the best, and most ingenious in the two kingdoms. In short, +they lived and lodged together, and constantly followed the lord +lieutenant into England at the same time. + +It was now that Mr. Budgell commenced author, and was partly concerned +with Sir Richard Steele and Mr. Addison in writing the Tatler. The +Spectators being set on foot in 1710-11, Mr. Budgell had likewise a +share in them, as all the papers marked with an X may easily inform the +reader, and indeed the eighth volume was composed by Mr. Addison and +himself[2], without the assistance of Sir Richard Steele. The +speculations of our author were generally liked, and Mr. Addison was +frequently complimented upon the ingenuity of his kinsman. About the +same time he wrote an epilogue to the Distress'd Mother[3], which had a +greater run than any thing of that kind ever had before, and has had +this peculiar regard shewn to it since, that now, above thirty years +afterwards, it is generally spoke at the representation of that play. +Several little epigrams and songs, which have a good deal of wit in +them, were also written by Mr. Budgell near this period of time, all +which, together with the known affection of Mr. Addison for him, raised +his character so much, as to make him be very generally known and talked +of. + +His father's death in 1711 threw into his hands all the estates of the +family, which were about 950 l. a year, although they were left +incumbered with some debts, as his father was a man of pride and spirit, +kept a coach and six, and always lived beyond his income, +notwithstanding his spiritual preferments, and the money he had received +with his wives. Dr. Budgell had been twice married, and by his first +lady left five children living after him, three of whom were sons, +Eustace, our author, Gilbert, a Clergyman, and William, the fellow of +New College in Oxford. By his last wife (who was Mrs. Fortescue, mother +to the late master of the rolls, and who survived him) he had no issue. +Notwithstanding this access of fortune, Mr. Budgell in no wise altered +his manner of living; he was at small expence about his person, stuck +very close to business, and gave general satisfaction in the discharge +of his office. + +Upon the laying down of the Spectator, the Guardian was set up, and in +this work our author had a hand along with Mr. Addison and Sir Richard +Steele. In the preface it is said, those papers marked with an asterisk +are by Mr. Budgell. + +In the year 1713 he published a very elegant translation of +Theophrastus's Characters, which Mr. Addison in the Lover says, 'is the +best version extant of any ancient author in the English language.' It +was dedicated to the lord Hallifax, who was the greatest patron our +author ever had, and with whom he always lived in the greatest intimacy. + +Mr. Budgell having regularly made his progress in the secretary of +State's office in Ireland; upon the arrival of his late Majesty in +England, was appointed under secretary to Mr. Addison, and chief +secretary to the Lords Justices of Ireland. He was made likewise deputy +clerk of the council in that kingdom, and soon after chose member of the +Irish parliament, where he became a very good speaker. The post of under +secretary is reckoned worth 1500 l. a year, and that of deputy clerk to +the council 250 l. a year. Mr. Budgell set out for Ireland the 8th of +October, 1714, officiated in his place in the privy council the 14th, +took possession of the secretary's office, and was immediately admitted +secretary to the Lords Justices. In the same year at a public +entertainment at the Inns of Court in Dublin, he, with many people of +distinction, was made an honorary bencher. At his first entering upon +the secretary's place, after the removal of the tories on the accession +of his late Majesty, he lay under very great difficulties; all the +former clerks of his office refusing to serve, all the books with the +form of business being secreted, and every thing thrown into the utmost +confusion; yet he surmounted these difficulties with very uncommon +resolution, assiduity, and ability, to his great honour and applause. + +Within a twelvemonth of his entering upon his employments, the rebellion +broke out, and as, for several years (during all the absences of the +lord lieutenant) he had discharged the office of secretary of state, and +as no transport office at that time subsisted, he was extraordinarily +charged with the care of the embarkation, and the providing of shipping +(which is generally the province of a field-officer) for all the troops +to be transported to Scotland. However, he went through this extensive +and unusual complication of business, with great exactness and ability, +and with very singular disinterestedness, for he took no extraordinary +service money on this account, nor any gratuity, or fees for any of the +commissions which passed through his office for the colonels and +officers of militia then raising in Ireland. The Lords Justices pressed +him to draw up a warrant for a very handsome present, on account of his +great zeal, and late extraordinary pains (for he had often sat up whole +nights in his office) but he very genteely and firmly refused it. + +Mr. Addison, upon becoming principal secretary of state in England in +1717, procured the place of accomptant and comptroller general of the +revenue in Ireland for Mr. Budgell, which is worth 400 l. a year, and +might have had him for his under secretary, but it was thought more +expedient for his Majesty's service, that Mr. Budgell should continue +where he was. Our author held these several places until the year 1718, +at which time the duke of Bolton was appointed lord lieutenant. His +grace carried one Mr. Edward Webster over with him (who had been an +under clerk in the Treasury) and made him a privy counsellor and his +secretary. This gentleman, 'twas said, insisted upon the quartering a +friend on the under secretary, which produced a misunderstanding between +them; for Mr. Budgell positively declared, he would never submit to any +such condition whilst he executed the office, and affected to treat Mr. +Webster himself, his education, abilities, and family, with the utmost +contempt. He was indiscreet enough, prior to this, to write a lampoon, +in which the lord lieutenant was not spared: he would publish it (so +fond was he of this brat of his brain) in opposition to Mr. Addison's +opinion, who strongly persuaded him to suppress it; as the publication, +Mr. Addison said, could neither serve his interest, or reputation. Hence +many discontents arose between them, 'till at length the lord +lieutenant, in support of his secretary, superseded Mr. Budgell, and +very soon after got him removed from the place of accomptant-general. +However, upon the first of these removals taking place, and upon some +hints being given by his private secretary, captain Guy Dickens (now our +minister at Stockholm) that it would not probably be safe for him to +remain any longer in Ireland, he immediately entrusted his papers and +private concerns to the hands of his brother William, then a clerk in +his office, and set out for England. Soon after his arrival he published +a pamphlet representing his case, intituled, A Letter to the Lord---- +from Eustace Budgell, Esq; Accomptant General of Ireland, and late +Secretary to their Excellencies the Lords Justices of that Kingdom; +eleven hundred copies of which were sold off in one day, so great was +the curiosity of the public in that particular. Afterwards too in the +Post-Boy of January 17, 1718-19, he published an Advertisement to +justify his character against a report that had been spread to his +disadvantage: and he did not scruple to declare in all companies that +his life was attempted by his enemies, or otherwise he should have +attended his feat in the Irish Parliament. His behaviour, about this +time, made many of his friends judge he was become delirious; his +passions were certainly exceeding strong, nor were his vanity and +jealousy less. Upon his coming to England he had lost no time in waiting +upon Mr. Addison, who had resigned the seals, and was retired into the +country for the sake of his health; but Mr. Addison found it impossible +to stem the tide of opposition, which was every where running against +his kinsman, through the influence and power of the duke of Bolton. He +therefore disswaded him in the strongest manner from publishing his +case, but to no manner of purpose, which made him tell a friend in great +anxiety, 'Mr. Budgell was wiser than any man he ever knew, and yet he +supposed the world would hardly believe he acted contrary to his +advice.' Our author's great and noble friend the lord Hallifax was dead, +and my lord Orrery, who held him in the highest esteem, had it not in +his power to procure him any redress. However, Mr. Addison had got a +promise from lord Sunderland, that as soon as the present clamour was a +little abated, he would do something for him. + +Mr. Budgell had held the considerable places of under secretary to the +Lord Lieutenant, and secretary to the Lords Justices for four years, +during which time he had never been absent four days from his office, +nor ten miles from Dublin. His application was indefatigable, and his +natural spirits capable of carrying him through any difficulty. He had +lived always genteelly, but frugally, and had saved a large sum of +money, which he now engaged in the South-Sea scheme. During his abode in +Ireland, he had collected materials for writing a History of that +kingdom, for which he had great advantages, by having an easy recourse +to all the public offices; but what is become of it, and whether he ever +finished it, we are not certainly informed. It is undoubtedly a +considerable loss, because there is no tolerable history of that nation, +and because we might have expected a satisfactory account from so +pleasing a writer. + +He wrote a pamphlet, after he came to England, against the famous +Peerage Bill, which was very well received by the public, but highly +offended the earl of Sunderland. It was exceedingly cried up by the +opposition, and produced some overtures of friendship at the time, from +Mr. Robert Walpole, to our author. Mr. Addison's death, in the year +1719, put an end, however, to all his hopes of succeeding at court, +where he continued, nevertheless, to make several attempts, but was +constantly kept down by the weight of the duke of Bolton. In the +September of that year he went into France, through all the strong +places in Flanders and Brabant, and all the considerable towns in +Holland, and then went to Hanover, from whence he returned with his +Majesty's retinue the November following. + +But the fatal year of the South-Sea, 1720, ruined our author entirely, +for he lost above 20,000 l. in it; however he was very active on that +occasion, and made many speeches at the general courts of the South-Sea +Company in Merchant-Taylors Hall, and one in particular, which was +afterwards printed both in French and English, and run to a third +edition. And in 1721 he published a pamphlet with success, called, A +Letter to a Friend in the Country, occasioned by a Report that there is +a Design still forming by the late Directors of the South-Sea Company, +their Agents and Associates, to issue the Receipts of the 3d and 4th +Subscriptions at 1000 l. per Cent. and to extort about 10 Millions more +from the miserable People of Great Britain; with some Observations on +the present State of Affairs both at Home and Abroad. In the same year +he published A Letter to Mr. Law upon his Arrival in Great Britain, +which run through seven editions very soon. Not long afterwards the duke +of Portland, whose fortune had been likewise destroyed by the South-Sea, +was appointed governor of Jamaica, upon which he immediately told Mr. +Budgell he should go with him as his secretary, and should always live +in the same manner with himself, and that he would contrive every method +of making the employment profitable and agreeable to him: but his grace +did not know how obnoxious our author had rendered himself; for within a +few days after this offer's taking air, he was acquainted in form by a +secretary of state, that if he thought of Mr. Budgell, the government +would appoint another governor in his room. + +After being deprived of this last resource, he tried to get into the +next parliament at several places, and spent near 5000 l. in +unsuccessful attempts, which compleated his ruin. And from this period +he began to behave and live in a very different manner from what he had +ever done before; wrote libellous pamphlets against Sir Robert Walpole +and the ministry; and did many unjust things with respect to his +relations; being distracted in his own private fortune, as, indeed, he +was judged to be, in his senses; torturing his invention to find out +ways of subsisting and eluding his ill-stars, his pride at the same time +working him up to the highest pitches of resentment and indignation +against all courts and courtiers. + +His younger brother, the fellow of New-College, who had more weight with +him than any body, had been a clerk under him in Ireland, and continued +still in the office, and who bad fair for rising in it, died in the year +1723, and after that our author seemed to pay no regard to any person. +Mr. William Budgell was a man of very good sense, extremely steady in +his conduct, and an adept in all calculations and mathematical +questions; and had besides great good-nature and easiness of temper. + +Our author as I before observed, perplexed his private affairs from this +time as much as possible, and engaged in numberless law-suits, which +brought him into distresses that attended him to the end of his life. + +In 1727 Mr. Budgell had a 1000 l. given him by the late Sarah, duchess +dowager of Marlborough, to whose husband (the famous duke of +Marlborough) he was a relation by his mother's side, with a view to his +getting into parliament. She knew he had a talent for speaking in +public, and that he was acquainted with business, and would probably run +any lengths against the ministry. However this scheme failed, for he +could never get chosen. + +In the year 1730 and about that time, he closed in with the writers +against the administration, and wrote many papers in the Craftsman. He +likewise published a pamphlet, intitled, A Letter to the Craftsman, +from E. Budgell, Esq; occasioned by his late presenting an humble +complaint against the right honourable Sir Robert Walpole, with a +Post-script. This ran to a ninth edition. Near the same time too he +wrote a Letter to Cleomenes King of Sparta, from E. Budgell, Esq; being +an Answer Paragraph by Paragraph to his Spartan Majesty's Royal Epistle, +published some time since in the Daily Courant, with some Account of the +Manners and Government of the Antient Greeks and Romans, and Political +Reflections thereon. And not long after there came out A State of one of +the Author's Cases before the House of Lords, which is generally printed +with the Letter to Cleomenes: He likewise published on the same occasion +a pamphlet, which he calls Liberty and Property, by E. Budgell, Esq; +wherein he complains of the seizure and loss of many valuable papers, +and particularly a collection of Letters from Mr. Addison, lord +Hallifax, Sir Richard Steele, and other people, which he designed to +publish; and soon after he printed a sequel or second part, under the +same title. + +The same year he also published his Poem upon his Majesty's Journey to +Cambridge and New-market, and dedicated it to the Queen. Another of his +performances is a poetical piece, intitled A Letter to his Excellency +Ulrick D'Ypres, and C----, in Answer to his excellency's two Epistles in +the Daily Courant; with a Word or Two to Mr. Osborn the Hyp Doctor, and +C----. These several performances were very well received by the public. + +In the year 1733 he began a weekly pamphlet (in the nature of a +Magazine, though more judiciously composed) called The Bee, which he +continued for about 100 Numbers, that bind into eight Volumes Octavo, +but at last by quarrelling with his booksellers, and filling his +pamphlet with things entirely relating to himself, he was obliged to +drop it. During the progress of this work, Dr. Tindall's death happened, +by whose will Mr. Budgell had 2000 l. left him; and the world being +surprised at such a gift, immediately imputed it to his making the will +himself. This produced a paper-war between him and Mr. Tindall, the +continuator of Rapin, by which Mr. Budgell's character considerably +suffered; and this occasioned his Bee's being turned into a meer +vindication of himself. + +It is thought he had some hand in publishing Dr. Tindall's Christianity +as old as the Creation; and he often talked of another additional volume +on the same subject, but never published it. However he used to enquire +very frequently after Dr. Conybear's health (who had been employed by +her late majesty to answer the first, and had been rewarded with the +deanery of Christ-Church for his pains) saying he hoped Mr. Dean would +live a little while longer, that he might have the pleasure of making +him a bishop, for he intended very soon to publish the other volume of +Tindall which would do the business. Mr. Budgell promised likewise a +volume of several curious pieces of Tindall's, that had been committed +to his charge, with the life of the doctor; but never fulfilled his +promise[4]. + +During the publication of the Bee a smart pamphlet came out, called A +Short History of Prime Ministers, which was generally believed to be +written by our author; and in the same year he published A Letter to the +Merchants and Tradesmen of London and Bristol, upon their late glorious +behaviour against the Excise Law. + +After the extinction of the Bee, our author became so involved with +law-suits, and so incapable of living in the manner he wished and +affected to do, that he was reduced to a very unhappy situation. He got +himself call'd to the bar, and attended for some time in the courts of +law; but finding it was too late to begin that profession, and too +difficult for a man not regularly trained to it, to get into business, +he soon quitted it. And at last, after being cast in several of his own +suits, and being distressed to the utmost, he determined to make away +with himself. He had always thought very loosely of revelation, and +latterly became an avowed deist; which, added to his pride, greatly +disposed him to this resolution. + +Accordingly within a few days after the loss of his great cause, and his +estates being decreed for the satisfaction of his creditors, in the year +1736 he took boat at Somerset-Stairs (after filling his pockets with +stones upon the beach) ordered the waterman to shoot the bridge, and +whilst the boat was going under it threw himself over-board. Several +days before he had been visibly distracted in his mind, and almost mad, +which makes such an action the less wonderful. + +He was never married, but left one natural daughter behind him, who +afterwards took his name, and was lately an actress at Drury-Lane. + +It has been said, Mr. Budgell was of opinion, that when life becomes +uneasy to support, and is overwhelmed with clouds, and sorrows, that a +man has a natural right to take it away, as it is better not to live, +than live in pain. The morning before he carried his notion of +self-murder into execution, he endeavoured to persuade his daughter to +accompany him, which she very wisely refused. His argument to induce her +was; life is not worth the holding.--Upon Mr. Budgell's beauroe was +found a slip of paper; in which were written these words. + + What Cato did, and Addison approv'd[5], + Cannot be wrong.-- + +Mr. Budgell had undoubtedly strong natural parts, an excellent +education, and set out in life with every advantage that a man could +wish, being settled in very great and profitable employments, at a very +early age, by Mr. Addison: But by excessive vanity and indiscretion, +proceeding from a false estimation of his own weight and consequence, he +over-stretched himself, and ruined his interest at court, and by the +succeeding loss of his fortune in the South-Sea, was reduced too low to +make any other head against his enemies. The unjustifiable and +dishonourable law-suits he kept alive, in the remaining part of his +life, seem to be intirely owing to the same disposition, which could +never submit to the living beneath what he had once done, and from that +principle he kept a chariot and house in London to the very last. + +His end was like that of many other people of spirit, reduced to great +streights; for some of the greatest, as well as some of the most +infamous men have laid violent hands upon themselves. As an author where +he does not speak of himself, and does not give a loose to his vanity, +he is a very agreeable and deserving writer; not argumentative or deep, +but very ingenious and entertaining, and his stile is peculiarly +elegant, so as to deserve being ranked in that respect with Addison's, +and is superior to most of the other English writers. His Memoirs of the +Orrery Family and the Boyle's, is the most indifferent of his +performances; though the translations of Phalaris's Epistles in that +work are done with great spirit and beauty. + +As to his brothers, the second, Gilbert, was thought a man of deeper +learning and better judgment when he was young than our author, but was +certainly inferior to him in his appearance in life; and, 'tis thought, +greatly inferior to him in every respect. He was author of a pretty Copy +of Verses in the VIIIth Vol. of the Spectators, Numb, 591, which begins +thus, + + Conceal, fond man, conceal the mighty smart, + Nor tell Corinna she has fir'd thy heart. + +And it is said that it was a repulse from a lady of great fortune, with +whom he was desperately in love whilst at Oxford, and to whom he had +addressed these lines, that made him disregard himself ever after, +neglect his studies, and fall into a habit of drinking. Whatever was the +occasion of this last vice it ruined him. A lady had commended and +desired to have a copy of his Verses once, and he sent them, with these +lines on the first leaf-- + + Lucretius hence thy maxim I abjure + Nought comes from nought, nothing can nought procure. + + If to these lines your approbation's join'd, + Something I'm sure from nothing has been coin'd. + +This gentleman died unmarried, a little after his brother Eustace, at +Exeter; having lived in a very disreputable manner for some time, and +having degenerated into such excessive indolence, that he usually picked +up some boy in the streets, and carried him into the coffee-house to +read the news-papers to him. He had taken deacon's orders some years +before his death, but had always been averse to that kind of life; and +therefore became it very ill, and could never be prevailed upon to be a +priest. + +The third brother William, fellow of New-College in Oxford, died (as I +mentioned before) one of the clerks in the Irish secretary of state's +office, very young. He had been deputy accomptant general, both to his +brother and his successor; and likewise deputy to Mr. Addison, as keeper +of the records in Birmingham-Tower. Had he lived, 'tis probable he would +have made a considerable figure, being a man of sound sense and +learning, with great prudence and honour. His cousin Dr. Downes, then +bishop of London-Derry, was his zealous friend, and Dr. Lavington the +present bishop of Exeter, his fellow-collegian, was his intimate +correspondent. Of the two sisters, the eldest married captain Graves of +Thanks, near Saltash in Cornwall, a sea-officer, and died in 1738, +leaving some children behind her; and the other is still alive, +unmarried. The father Dr. Gilbert Budgell, was esteemed a sensible man, +and has published a discourse upon Prayer, and some Sermons[6]. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] See Budgell's Letter to Cleomenes. Appendix p. 79. + +[2] See The Bee, vol. ii. p. 854. + +[3] 'Till then it was usual to discontinue an epilogue after the sixth + night. But this was called for by the audience, and continued for + the whole run of this play: Budgell did not scruple to sit in the + it, and call for it himself. + +[4] Vide Bee, Vol. II. page 1105. + +[5] Alluding to Cato's destroying himself. + +[6] There is an Epigram of our author's, which I don't remember to have + seen published any where, written upon the death of a very fine + young lady. + + She was, she is, + (What can theremore be said) + On Earth [the] first, + In Heav'n the second Maid. +[Transcriber's note: Print unclear, word in square bracket assumed.] + + See a Song of our author's in Steele's Miscellanies, published in + 1714. Page 210. + + There is an Epigram of his printed in the same book and in many + collections, Upon a Company of bad Dancers to good Music. + + How ill the motion with the music suits! + So fiddled Orpheus--and so danc'd the Brutes. + + + * * * * * + + +THOMAS TICKELL, Esq. + +This Gentleman, well known, to the world by the friendship and intimacy +which subsisted between him and Mr. Addison, was the son of the revd. +Mr. Richard Tickell, who enjoy'd a considerable preferment in the North +of England. Our poet received his education at Queen's-College in +Oxford, of which he was a fellow. + +While he was at that university, he wrote a beautiful copy of verses +addressed to Mr. Addison, on his Opera of Rosamond. These verses +contained many elegant compliments to the author, in which he compares +his softness to Corelli, and his strength to Virgil[1]. + + The Opera first Italian masters taught, + Enrich'd with songs, but innocent of thought; + Britannia's learned theatre disdains + Melodious trifles, and enervate strains; + And blushes on her injur'd stage to see, + Nonsense well tun'd with sweet stupidity. + + No charms are wanting to thy artful song + Soft as Corelli, and as Virgil strong. + +These complimentary lines, a few of which we have now quoted, so +effectually recommended him to Mr. Addison, that he held him in esteem +ever afterwards; and when he himself was raised to the dignity of +secretary of state, he appointed Mr. Tickell his under-secretary. Mr. +Addison being obliged to resign on account of his ill-state of health, +Mr. Craggs who succeeded him, continued Mr. Tickell in his place, which +he held till that gentleman's death. When Mr. Addison was appointed +secretary, being a diffident man, he consulted with his friends about +disposing such places as were immediately dependent on him. He +communicated to Sir Richard Steele, his design of preferring Mr. Tickell +to be his under-secretary, which Sir Richard, who considered him as a +petulant man, warmly opposed. He observed that Mr. Tickell was of a +temper too enterprising to be governed, and as he had no opinion of his +honour, he did not know what might be the consequence, if by insinuation +and flattery, or by bolder means, he ever had an opportunity of raising +himself. It holds pretty generally true, that diffident people under the +appearance of distrusting their own opinions, are frequently positive, +and though they pursue their resolutions with trembling, they never fail +to pursue them. Mr. Addison had a little of this temper in him. He could +not be persuaded to set aside Mr. Tickell, nor even had secrecy enough +to conceal from him Sir Richard's opinion. This produced a great +animosity between Sir Richard and Mr. Tickell, which subsisted during +their lives. + +Mr. Tickell in his life of Addison, prefixed to his own edition of that +great man's works, throws out some unmannerly reflexions against Sir +Richard, who was at that time in Scotland, as one of the commissioners +on the forfeited estates. Upon Sir Richard's return to London, he +dedicates to Mr. Congreve, Addison's Comedy, called the Drummer, in +which he takes occasion very smartly to retort upon Tickell, and clears +himself of the imputation laid to his charge, namely that of valuing +himself upon Mr. Addison's papers in the Spectator. + +In June 1724 Mr. Tickell was appointed secretary to the Lords Justices +in Ireland, a place says Mr. Coxeter, which he held till his death, +which happened in the year 1740. + +It does not appear that Mr. Tickell was in any respect ungrateful to Mr. +Addison, to whom he owed his promotion; on the other hand we find him +take every opportunity to celebrate him, which he always performs with +so much zeal, and earnestness, that he seems to have retained the most +lasting sense of his patron's favours. His poem to the earl of Warwick +on the death of Mr. Addison, is very pathetic. He begins it thus, + + If dumb too long, the drooping Muse hath stray'd, + And left her debt to Addison unpaid, + Blame not her silence, Warwick, but bemoan, + And judge, O judge, my bosom by your own. + What mourner ever felt poetic fires! + Slow comes the verse, that real woe inspires: + Grief unaffected suits but ill with art, + Or flowing numbers with a bleeding heart. + +Mr. Tickell's works are printed in the second volume of the Minor Poets, +and he is by far the most considerable writer amongst them. He has a +very happy talent in versification, which much exceeds Addison's, and is +inferior to few of the English Poets, Mr. Dryden and Pope excepted. The +first poem in this collection is addressed to the supposed author of the +Spectator. + +In the year 1713 Mr. Tickell wrote a poem, called The Prospect of Peace, +addressed to his excellency the lord privy-seal; which met with so +favourable a reception from the public, as to go thro' six editions. The +sentiments in this poem are natural, and obvious, but no way +extraordinary. It is an assemblage of pretty notions, poetically +expressed; but conducted with no kind of art, and altogether without a +plan. The following exordium is one of the most shining parts of the +poem. + + Far hence be driv'n to Scythia's stormy shore + The drum's harsh music, and the cannon's roar; + Let grim Bellona haunt the lawless plain, + Where Tartar clans, and grizly Cossacks reign; + Let the steel'd Turk be deaf to Matrons cries, + See virgins ravish'd, with relentless eyes, + To death, grey heads, and smiling infants doom. + Nor spare the promise of the pregnant womb: + O'er wafted kingdoms spread his wide command. + The savage lord of an unpeopled land. + Her guiltless glory just Britannia draws + From pure religion, and impartial laws, + To Europe's wounds a mother's aid she brings, + And holds in equal scales the rival kings: + Her gen'rous sons in choicest gifts abound, + Alike in arms, alike in arts renown'd. + +The Royal Progress. This poem is mentioned in the Spectator, in +opposition to such performances, as are generally written in a swelling +stile, and in which the bombast is mistaken for the sublime. It is meant +as a compliment to his late majesty, on his arrival in his British +dominions. + +An imitation of the Prophesy of Nereus. Horace, Book I. Ode XV.--This +was written about the year 1715, and intended as a ridicule upon the +enterprize of the earl of Marr; which he prophesies will be crushed by +the duke of Argyle. + +An Epistle from a Lady in England, to a gentleman at Avignon. Of this +piece five editions were sold; it is written in the manner of a Lady to +a Gentleman, whose principles obliged him to be an exile with the Royal +Wanderer. The great propension of the Jacobites to place confidence in +imaginary means; and to construe all extraordinary appearances, into +ominous signs of the restoration of their king is very well touched. + + Was it for this the sun's whole lustre fail'd, + And sudden midnight o'er the Moon prevail'd! + For this did Heav'n display to mortal eyes + Aerial knights, and combats in the skies! + Was it for this Northumbrian streams look'd red! + And Thames driv'n backwards shew'd his secret bed! + + False Auguries! th'insulting victors scorn! + Ev'n our own prodigies against us turn! + O portents constru'd, on our side in vain! + Let never Tory trust eclipse again! + Run clear, ye fountains! be at peace, ye skies; + And Thames, henceforth to thy green borders rise! + +An Ode, occasioned by his excellency the earl of Stanhope's Voyage to +France. + +A Prologue to the University of Oxford. + +Thoughts occasioned by the sight of an original +picture of King Charles the 1st, taken at the time of +his Trial. + +A Fragment of a Poem, on Hunting. + +A Description of the Phoenix, from Claudian. + +To a Lady; with the Description of the Phoenix. + +Part of the Fourth Book of Lucan translated. + +The First Book of Homer's Iliad. + +Kensington-Gardens. + +Several Epistles and Odes. + +This translation was published much about the same time with Mr. Pope's. +But it will not bear a comparison; and Mr. Tickell cannot receive a +greater injury, than to have his verses placed in contradistinction to +Pope's. Mr. Melmoth, in his Letters, published under the name of Fitz +Osborne, has produced some parallel passages, little to the advantage of +Mr. Tickell, who if he fell greatly short of the elegance and beauty of +Pope, has yet much exceeded Mr. Congreve, in what he has attempted of +Homer. + +In the life of Addison, some farther particulars concerning this +translation are related; and Sir Richard Steele, in his dedication of +the Drummer to Mr. Congreve, gives it as his opinion, that Addison was +himself the author. + +These translations, published at the same time, were certainly meant as +rivals to one another. We cannot convey a more adequate idea of this, +than in the words of Mr. Pope, in a Letter to James Craggs, Esq.; dated +July the 15th, 1715. + +'Sir, + +'They tell me, the busy part of the nation are not more busy about Whig +and Tory; than these idle-fellows of the feather, about Mr. Tickell's +and my translation. I (like the Tories) have the town in general, that +is, the mob on my side; but it is usual with the smaller part to make up +in industry, what they want in number; and that is the case with the +little senate of Cato. However, if our principles be well considered, I +must appear a brave Whig, and Mr. Tickell a rank Tory. I translated +Homer, for the public in general, he to gratify the inordinate desires +of one man only. We have, it seems, a great Turk in poetry, who can +never bear a brother on the throne; and has his Mutes too, a set of +Medlers, Winkers, and Whisperers, whose business 'tis to strangle all +other offsprings of wit in their birth. The new translator of Homer, is +the humblest slave he has, that is to say, his first minister; let him +receive the honours he gives me, but receive them with fear and +trembling; let him be proud of the approbation of his absolute lord, I +appeal to the people, as my rightful judges, and masters; and if they +are not inclined to condemn me, I fear no arbitrary high-flying +proceeding, from the Court faction at Button's. But after all I have +said of this great man, there is no rupture between us. We are each of +us so civil, and obliging, that neither thinks he's obliged: And I for +my part, treat with him, as we do with the Grand Monarch; who has too +many great qualities, not to be respected, though we know he watches any +occasion to oppress us.' + +Thus we have endeavoured to exhibit an Idea of the writings of Mr. +Tickell, a man of a very elegant genius: As there appears no great +invention in his works, if he cannot be placed in the first rank of +Poets; yet from the beauty of his numbers, and the real poetry which +enriched his imagination, he has, at least, an unexceptionable claim to +the second. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Jacob. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. WILLIAM HINCHLIFFE, + +was the son of a reputable tradesman of St. Olave's in Southwark, and +was born there May 12, 1692; was educated at a private grammar school +with his intimate and ingenious friend Mr. Henry Needler. He made a +considerable progress in classical learning, and had a poetical genius. +He served an apprenticeship to Mr. Arthur Bettesworth, Bookseller in +London, and afterwards followed that business himself near thirty years, +under the Royal Exchange, with reputation and credit, having the esteem +and friendship of many eminent merchants and gentlemen. In 1718 he +married Jane, one of the daughters of Mr. William Leigh, an eminent +citizen. Mrs. Hinchliffe was sister of William Leigh, esq; one of his +Majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Surry, and of the +revd. Thomas Leigh, late rector of Heyford in Oxfordshire, by whom he +had two sons and three daughters, of which only one son and one daughter +are now living. He died September 20, 1742, and was buried in the parish +church of St. Margaret's Lothbury, London. + +In 1714 he had the honour to present an Ode to King George I. on his +Arrival at Greenwich, which is printed in a Collection of Poems, +Amorous, Moral, and Divine, which he published in octavo, 1718, and +dedicated them to his friend Mr. Needler. + +He published a History of the Rebellion of 1715, and dedicated it to the +late Duke of Argyle. + +He made himself master of the French tongue by his own application and +study; and in 1734 published a Translation of Boulainvillers's Life of +Mahomet, which is well esteemed, and dedicated it to his intimate and +worthy friend Mr. William Duncombe, Esq; + +He was concerned, with others, in the publishing several other ingenious +performances, and has left behind him in manuscript, a Translation of +the nine first Books of Telemachus in blank Verse, which cost him great +labour, but he did not live to finish the remainder. + +He is the author of a volume of poems in 8vo, many of which are written +with a true poetical spirit. + + +The INVITATION[1]. + +1. + +O come Lavinia, lovely maid, + Said Dion, stretch'd at ease, +Beneath the walnut's fragrant shade, +A sweet retreat! by nature made + With elegance to please. + +2. + +O leave the court's deceitful glare, + Loath'd pageantry and pride, +Come taste our solid pleasures here. +Which angels need not blush to share, + And with bless'd men divide. + +3. + +What raptures were it in these bow'rs, + Fair virgin, chaste, and wise, +With thee to lose the learned hours, +And note the beauties in these flowers, + Conceal'd from vulgar eyes. + +4. + +For thee my gaudy garden blooms, + And richly colour'd glows; +Above the pomp of royal rooms, +Or purpled works of Persian looms, + Proud palaces disclose. + +5. + +Haste, nymph, nor let me sigh in vain, + Each grace attends on thee; +Exalt my bliss, and point my strain, +For love and truth are of thy train, + Content and harmony. + +[1] This piece is not in Mr. Hinchliffe's works, but is assuredly his. + + + * * * * * + + +MR. MATTHEW CONCANEN. + +This gentleman was a native of Ireland, and was bred to the Law. In this +profession he seems not to have made any great figure. By some means or +other he conceived an aversion to Dr. Swift, for his abuse of whom, the +world taxed him with ingratitude. Concanen had once enjoyed some degree +of Swift's favour, who was not always very happy in the choice of his +companions. He had an opportunity of reading some of the Dr's poems in +MS. which it is said he thought fit to appropriate and publish as his +own. + +As affairs did not much prosper with him in Ireland, he came over to +London, in company with another gentleman, and both commenced writers. +These two friends entered into an extraordinary agreement. As the +subjects which then attracted the attention of mankind were of a +political cast, they were of opinion that no species of writing could so +soon recommend them to public notice; and in order to make their trade +more profitable, they resolved to espouse different interests; one +should oppose, and the other defend the ministry. They determined the +side of the question each was to espouse, by tossing up a half-penny, +and it fell to the share of Mr. Concanen to defend the ministry, which +task he performed with as much ability, as political writers generally +discover. + +He was for some time, concerned in the British, and London Journals, and +a paper called The Speculatist. These periodical pieces are long since +buried in neglect, and perhaps would have even sunk into oblivion, had +not Mr. Pope, by his satyrical writings, given them a kind of +disgraceful immortality. In these Journals he published many +scurrilities against Mr. Pope; and in a pamphlet called, The Supplement +to the Profound, he used him with great virulence, and little candour. +He not only imputed to him Mr. Brome's verses (for which he might indeed +seem in some degree accountable, having corrected what that gentleman +did) but those of the duke of Buckingham and others. To this rare piece +some body humorously perswaded him to take for his motto, De profundis +clamavi. He afterwards wrote a paper called The Daily Courant, wherein +he shewed much spleen against lord Bolingbroke, and some of his friends. +All these provocations excited Mr. Pope to give him a place in his +Dunciad. In his second book, l. 287, when he represents the dunces +diving in the mud of the Thames for the prize, he speaks thus of +Concanen; + + True to the bottom see Concanen creep, + A cold, long winded, native of the deep! + If perseverance gain the diver's prize, + Not everlasting Blackmore this denies. + +In the year 1725 Mr. Concanen published a volume of poems in 8vo. +consisting chiefly of compositions of his own, and some few of other +gentlemen; they are addressed to the lord Gage, whom he endeavours +artfully to flatter, without offending his modesty. 'I shall begin this +Address, says he, by declaring that the opinion I have of a great part +of the following verses, is the highest indication of the esteem in +which I hold the noble character I present them to. Several of them have +authors, whose names do honour to whatever patronage they receive. As to +my share of them, since it is too late, after what I have already +delivered, to give my opinion of them, I'll say as much as can be said +in their favour. I'll affirm that they have one mark of merit, which is +your lordship's approbation; and that they are indebted to fortune for +two other great advantages, a place in good company, and an honourable +protection.' + +The gentlemen, who assisted Concanen in this collection, were Dean +Swift, Mr. Parnel, Dr. Delany, Mr. Brown, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Stirling. In +this collection there is a poem by Mr. Concanen, called A Match at +Football, in three Cantos; written, 'tis said, in imitation of The Rape +of the Lock. This performance is far from being despicable; the +verification is generally smooth; the design is not ill conceived, and +the characters not unnatural. It perhaps would be read with more +applause, if The Rape of the Lock did not occur to the mind, and, by +forcing a comparison, destroy all the satisfaction in perusing it; as +the disproportion is so very considerable. We shall quote a few lines +from the beginning of the third canto, by which it will appear that +Concanen was not a bad rhimer. + + In days of yore a lovely country maid + Rang'd o'er these lands, and thro' these forests stray'd; + Modest her pleasures, matchless was her frame, + Peerless her face, and Sally was her name. + By no frail vows her young desires were bound, + No shepherd yet the way to please her found. + Thoughtless of love the beauteous nymph appear'd, + Nor hop'd its transports, nor its torments fear'd. + But careful fed her flocks, and grac'd the plain, + She lack'd no pleasure, and she felt no pain. + She view'd our motions when we toss'd the ball, + And smil'd to see us take, or ward, a fall; + 'Till once our leader chanc'd the nymph to spy, + And drank in poison from her lovely eye. + Now pensive grown, he shunn'd the long-lov'd plains, + His darling pleasures, and his favour'd swains, + Sigh'd in her absence, sigh'd when she was near, + Now big with hope, and now dismay'd with fear; + At length with falt'ring tongue he press'd the dame, + For some returns to his unpity'd flame; + But she disdain'd his suit, despis'd his care, + His form unhandsome, and his bristled hair; + Forward she sprung, and with an eager pace + The god pursu'd, nor fainted in the race; + Swift as the frighted hind the virgin flies, + When the woods ecchoe to the hunters cries: + Swift as the fleetest hound her flight she trac'd, + When o'er the lawns the frighted hind is chac'd; + The winds which sported with her flowing vest + Display'd new charms, and heightened all the rest: + Those charms display'd, increas'd the gods desire, + What cool'd her bosom, set his breast on fire: + With equal speed, for diff'rent ends they move, + Fear lent the virgin wings, the shepherd love: + Panting at length, thus in her fright she pray'd, + Be quick ye pow'rs, and save a wretched maid. + [Protect] my honour, shelter me from shame, + [Beauty] and life with pleasure I disclaim. + +[Transcriber's note: print unclear for words in square brackets, +therefore words are assumed.] + +Mr. Concanen was also concerned with the late Mr. Roome [Transcriber's +note: print unclear, "m" assumed], and a certain eminent senator, in +making The Jovial Crew, an old Comedy, into a Ballad Opera; which was +performed about the year 1730; and the profits were given entirely to +Mr. Concanen. Soon after he was preferred to be attorney-general in +Jamaica, a post of considerable eminence, and attended with a very large +income. In this island he spent the remaining part of his days, and, we +are informed made a tolerable accession of fortune, by marrying a +planter's daughter, who surviving him was left in the possession of +several hundred pounds a year. She came over to England after his death, +and married the honourable Mr. Hamilton. + + + * * * * * + + +RICHARD SAVAGE, Esq; + +This unhappy gentleman, who led a course of life imbittered with the +most severe calamities, was not yet destitute of a friend to close his +eyes. It has been remarked of Cowley, who likewise experienced many of +the vicissitudes of fortune, that he was happy in the acquaintance of +the bishop of Rochester, who performed the last offices which can be +paid to a poet, in the elegant Memorial he made of his Life. Though Mr. +Savage was as much inferior to Cowley in genius, as in the rectitude of +his life, yet, in some respect, he bears a resemblance to that great +man. None of the poets have been more honoured in the commemoration of +their history, than this gentleman. The life of Mr. Savage was written +some years after his death by a gentleman, who knew him intimately, +capable to distinguish between his follies, and those good qualities +which were often concealed from the bulk of mankind by the abjectness of +his condition. From this account[1] we have compiled that which we now +present to the reader. + +In the year 1697 Anne countess of Macclesfield, having lived for some +time on very uneasy terms with her husband, thought a public confession +of adultery the most expeditious method of obtaining her liberty, and +therefore declared the child with which she then was big was begotten by +the earl of Rivers. This circumstance soon produced a separation, which, +while the earl of Macclesfield was prosecuting, the countess, on the +10th of January 1697-8, was delivered of our author; and the earl of +Rivers, by appearing to consider him as his own, left no room to doubt +of her declaration. However strange it may appear, the countess looked +upon her son, from his birth, with a kind of resentment and abhorrence. +No sooner was her son born, than she discovered a resolution of +disowning him, in a short time removed him from her sight, and committed +him to the care of a poor woman, whom she directed to educate him as her +own, and enjoined her never to inform him of his true parents. Instead +of defending his tender years, she took delight to see him struggling +with misery, and continued her persecution, from the first hour of his +life to the last, with an implacable and restless cruelty. His mother, +indeed, could not affect others with the same barbarity, and though she, +whose tender sollicitudes should have supported him, had launched him +into the ocean of life, yet was he not wholly abandoned. The lady Mason, +mother to the countess, undertook to transact with the nurse, and +superintend the education of the child. She placed him at a grammar +school near St. Albans, where he was called by the name of his nurse, +without the least intimation that he had a claim to any other. While he +was at this school, his father, the earl of Rivers, was seized with a +distemper which in a short time put an end to his life. While the earl +lay on his death-bed, he thought it his duty to provide for him, amongst +his other natural children, and therefore demanded a positive account of +him. His mother, who could no longer refuse an answer, determined, at +least, to give such, as should deprive him for ever of that happiness +which competency affords, and declared him dead; which is, perhaps, the +first instance of a falshood invented by a mother, to deprive her son of +a provision which was designed him by another. The earl did not imagine +that there could exist in nature, a mother that would ruin her son, +without enriching herself, and therefore bestowed upon another son six +thousand pounds, which he had before in his will bequeathed to Savage. +The same cruelty which incited her to intercept this provision intended +him, suggested another project, worthy of such a disposition. She +endeavoured to rid herself from the danger of being at any time made +known to him, by sending him secretly to the American Plantations; but +in this contrivance her malice was defeated. + +Being still restless in the persecution of her son, she formed another +scheme of burying him in poverty and obscurity; and that the state of +his life, if not the place of his residence, might keep him for ever at +a distance from her, she ordered him to be placed with a Shoemaker in +Holbourn, that after the usual time of trial he might become his +apprentice. It is generally reported, that this project was, for some +time, successful, and that Savage was employed at the awl longer than he +was willing to confess; but an unexpected discovery determined him to +quit his occupation. + +About this time his nurse, who had always treated him as her own son, +died; and it was natural for him to take care of those effects, which by +her death were, as he imagined, become his own. He therefore went to her +house, opened her boxes, examined her papers, and found some letters +written to her by the lady Mason, which informed him of his birth, and +the reasons for which it was concealed. + +He was now no longer satisfied with the employment which had been +allotted him, but thought he had a right to share the affluence of his +mother, and therefore, without scruple, applied to her as her son, and +made use of every art to awake her tenderness, and attract her regard. +It was to no purpose that he frequently sollicited her to admit him to +see her, she avoided him with the utmost precaution, and ordered him to +be excluded from her house, by whomsoever he might be introduced, and +what reason soever he might give for entering it. + +Savage was at this time so touched with the discovery of his real +mother, that it was his frequent practice to walk in the dark evenings +for several hours before her door, in hopes of seeing her by accident. + +But all his assiduity was without effect, for he could neither soften +her heart, nor open her hand, and while he was endeavouring to rouse the +affections of a mother, he was reduced to the miseries of want. In this +situation he was obliged to find other means of support, and became by +necessity an author. + +His first attempt in that province was, a poem against the bishop of +Bangor, whose controversy, at that time, engaged the attention of the +nation, and furnished the curious with a topic of dispute. Of this +performance Mr. Savage was afterwards ashamed, as it was the crude +effort of a yet uncultivated genius. He then attempted another kind of +writing, and, while but yet eighteen, offered a comedy to the stage, +built upon a Spanish plot; which was refused by the players. Upon this +he gave it to Mr. Bullock, who, at that time rented the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields of Mr. Rich, and with messieurs Keene, Pack, and +others undertook the direction thereof. Mr. Bullock made some slight +alterations, and brought it upon the stage, under the title of Woman's a +Riddle, but allowed the real author no part of the profit. This +occasioned a quarrel between Savage and Bullock; but it ended without +bloodshed, though not without high words: Bullock insisted he had a +translation of the Spanish play, from whence the plot was taken, given +him by the same lady who had bestowed it on Savage.--Which was not +improbable, as that whimsical lady had given a copy to several others. + +Not discouraged, however, at this repulse, he wrote, two years after, +Love in a Veil, another Comedy borrowed likewise from the Spanish, but +with little better success than before; for though it was received and +acted, yet it appeared so late in the year, that Savage obtained no +other advantage from it, than the acquaintance of Sir Richard Steele, +and Mr. Wilks, by whom, says the author of his Life, he was pitied, +caressed, and relieved. Sir Richard Steele declared in his favour, with +that genuine benevolence which constituted his character, promoted his +interest with the utmost zeal, and taking all opportunities of +recommending him; he asserted, 'that the inhumanity of his mother had +given him a right to find every good man his father.' Nor was Mr. Savage +admitted into his acquaintance only, but to his confidence and esteem. +Sir Richard intended to have established him in some settled scheme of +life, and to have contracted a kind of alliance with him, by marrying +him to a natural daughter, on whom he intended to bestow a thousand +pounds. But Sir Richard conducted his affairs with so little oeconomy, +that he was seldom able to raise the sum, which he had offered, and the +marriage was consequently delayed. In the mean time he was officiously +informed that Mr. Savage had ridiculed him; by which he was so much +exasperated that he withdrew the allowance he had paid him, and never +afterwards admitted him to his house. + +He was now again abandoned to fortune, without any other friend but Mr. +Wilks, a man to whom calamity seldom complained without relief. He +naturally took an unfortunate wit into his protection, and not only +assisted him in any casual distresses, but continued an equal and steady +kindness to the time of his death. By Mr. Wilks's interposition Mr. +Savage once obtained of his mother fifty pounds, and a promise of one +hundred and fifty more, but it was the fate of this unhappy man, that +few promises of any advantage to him were ever performed. + +Being thus obliged to depend [Transcriber's note: 'depended' in +original] upon Mr. Wilks, he was an assiduous frequenter of the +theatres, and, in a short time, the amusements of the stage took such a +possession of his mind, that he was never absent from a play in several +years. + +In the year 1723 Mr. Savage brought another piece on the stage. He made +choice of the subject of Sir Thomas Overbury: If the circumstances in +which he wrote it be considered, it will afford at once an uncommon +proof of strength of genius, and an evenness of mind not to be ruffled. +During a considerable part of the time in which he was employed upon +this performance, he was without lodging, and often without food; nor +had he any other conveniencies for study than the fields, or the street; +in which he used to walk, and form his speeches, and afterwards step +into a shop, beg for a few moments the use of pen and ink, and write +down what he had composed, upon paper which he had picked up by +accident. + +Mr. Savage had been for some time distinguished by Aaron Hill, Esq; with +very particular kindness; and on this occasion it was natural to apply +to him, as an author of established reputation. He therefore sent this +Tragedy to him, with a few verses, in which he desired his correction. +Mr. Hill who was a man of unbounded humanity, and most accomplished +politeness, readily complied with his request; and wrote the prologue +and epilogue, in which he touches the circumstances [Transcriber's note: +'cirumstances' in original] of the author with great tenderness. + +Mr. Savage at last brought his play upon the stage, but not till the +chief actors had quitted it, and it was represented by what was then +called the summer-company. In this Tragedy Mr. Savage himself performed +the part of Sir Thomas Overbury, with so little success, that he always +blotted out his name from the list of players, when a copy of his +Tragedy was to be shewn to any of his friends. This play however +procured him the notice and esteem of many persons of distinction, for +some rays of genius glimmered thro' all the mists which poverty and +oppression had spread over it. The whole profits of this performance, +acted, printed, and dedicated, amounted to about 200 l. But the +generosity of Mr. Hill did not end here; he promoted the subscription to +his Miscellanies, by a very pathetic representation of the author's +sufferings, printed in the Plain-Dealer, a periodical paper written by +Mr. Hill. This generous effort in his favour soon produced him +seventy-guineas, which were left for him at Button's, by some who +commiserated his misfortunes. + +Mr. Hill not only promoted the subscription to the Miscellany, but +furnished likewise the greatest part of the poems of which it is +composed, and particularly the Happy Man, which he published as a +specimen. To this Miscellany he wrote a preface, in which he gives an +account of his mother's cruelty, in a very uncommon strain of humour, +which the success of his subscriptions probably inspired. + +Savage was now advancing in reputation, and though frequently involved +in very perplexing necessities, appeared however to be gaining on +mankind; when both his fame and his life were endangered, by an event of +which it is not yet determined, whether it ought to be mentioned as a +crime or a calamity. As this is by far the most interesting circumstance +in the life of this unfortunate man, we shall relate the particulars +minutely. + +On the 20th of November 1727 Mr. Savage came from Richmond, where he had +retired, that he might pursue his studies with less interruption, with +an intent to discharge a lodging which he had in Westminster; and +accidentally meeting two gentlemen of his acquaintance, whose names were +Marchant and Gregory, he went in with them to a neighbouring +Coffee-House, and sat drinking till it was late. He would willingly have +gone to bed in the same house, but there was not room for the whole +company, and therefore they agreed to ramble about the streets, and +divert themselves with such amusements as should occur till morning. In +their walk they happened unluckily to discover light in Robinson's +Coffee-House, near Charing-Cross, and went in. Marchant with some +rudeness demanded a room, and was told that there was a good fire in the +next parlour, which the company were about to leave, being then paying +their reckoning. Marchant not satisfied with this answer, rushed into +the room, and was followed by his companions. He then petulantly placed +himself between the company and the fire; and soon afterwards kicked +down the table. This produced a quarrel, swords were drawn on both +sides; and one Mr. James Sinclair was killed. Savage having wounded +likewise a maid that held him, forced his way with Gregory out of the +house; but being intimidated, and confus'd, without resolution, whether +to fly, or stay, they were taken in a back court by one of the company, +and some soldiers, whom he had called to his assistance. + +When the day of the trial came on, the court was crowded in a very +unusual manner, and the public appeared to interest itself as in a cause +of general concern. The witnesses against Mr. Savage and his friends, +were the woman who kept the house, which was a house of ill-fame, and +her maid, the men who were in the room with Mr. Sinclair, and a woman of +the town, who had been drinking with them, and with whom one of them had +been seen in bed. + +They swore in general, that Marchant gave the provocation, which Savage +and Gregory drew their swords to justify; that Savage drew first, that +he stabb'd Sinclair, when he was not in a posture of defence, or while +Gregory commanded his sword; that after he had given the thrust he +turned pale, and would have retired, but that the maid clung round him, +and one of the company endeavoured to detain him, from whom he broke, by +cutting the maid on the head. + +Sinclair had declared several times before his death, for he survived +that night, that he received his wound from Savage; nor did Savage at +his trial deny the fact, but endeavoured partly to extenuate it, by +urging the suddenness of the whole action, and the impossibility of any +ill design, or premeditated malice, and partly to justify it by the +necessity of self-defence, and the hazard of his own life, if he had +lost that opportunity of giving the thrust. He observed that neither +reason nor law obliged a man to wait for the blow which was threatened, +and which if he should suffer, he might never be able to return; that it +was always allowable to prevent an assault, and to preserve life, by +taking away that of the adversary, by whom it was endangered. + +With regard to the violence with which he endeavoured his escape, he +declared it was not his design to fly from justice, or decline a trial, +but to avoid the expences and severities of a prison, and that he +intended to appear at the bar, without compulsion. This defence which +took up more than an hour, was heard by the multitude that thronged the +court, with the most attentive and respectful silence. Those who thought +he ought not to be acquitted, owned that applause could not be refused +him; and those who before pitied his misfortunes, now reverenced his +abilities. + +The witnesses who appeared against him were proved to be persons of such +characters as did not entitle them to much credit; a common strumpet, a +woman by whom such wretches were entertained, and a man by whom they +were supported. The character of Savage was by several persons of +distinction asserted to be that of a modest inoffensive man, not +inclined to broils, or to insolence, and who had to that time been only +known by his misfortunes and his wit. + +Had his audience been his judges, he had undoubtedly been acquitted; but +Mr. Page, who was then upon the bench, treated him with the most brutal +severity, and in summing up the evidence endeavoured to exasperate the +jury against him, and misrepresent his defence. This was a provocation, +and an insult, which the prisoner could not bear, and therefore Mr. +Savage resolutely asserted, that his cause was not candidly explained, +and began to recapitulate what he had before said; but the judge having +ordered him to be silent, which Savage treated with contempt, he +commanded that he should be taken by force from the bar. The jury then +heard the opinion of the judge, that good characters were of no weight +against positive evidence, though they might turn the scale, where it +was doubtful; and that though two men attack each other, the death of +either is only manslaughter; but where one is the aggressor, as in the +case before them, and in pursuance of his first attack kills the other, +the law supposes the action, however sudden, to be malicious. The jury +determined, that Mr. Savage and Mr. Gregory were guilty of murder, and +Mr. Marchant who had no sword, only manslaughter. + +Mr. Savage and Mr. Gregory were conducted back to prison, where they +were more closely confined, and loaded with irons of fifty pound weight. +Savage had now no hopes of life but from the king's mercy, and can it be +believed, that mercy his own mother endeavoured to intercept. + +When Savage (as we have already observed) was first made acquainted with +the story of his birth, he was so touched with tenderness for his +mother, that he earnestly sought an opportunity to see her. + +To prejudice the queen against him, she made use of an incident, which +was omitted in the order of time, that it might be mentioned together +with the purpose it was made to serve. + +One evening while he was walking, as was his custom, in the street she +inhabited, he saw the door of her house by accident open; he entered it, +and finding no persons in the passage to prevent him, went up stairs to +salute her. She discovered him before he could enter her chamber, +alarmed the family with the most distressful out-cries, and when she had +by her screams gathered them about her, ordered them to drive out of the +house that villain, who had forced himself in upon her, and endeavoured +to murder her. + +This abominable falsehood his mother represented to the queen, or +communicated it to some who were base enough to relate it, and so +strongly prepossessed her majesty against this unhappy man, that for a +long while she rejected all petitions that were offered in his favour. + +Thus had Savage perished by the evidence of a bawd, of a strumpet, and +of his mother; had not justice and compassion procured him an advocate, +of a rank too great to be rejected unheard, and of virtue too eminent to +be heard without being believed. The story of his sufferings reached the +ear of the countess of Hertford, who engaged in his support with the +tenderness and humanity peculiar to that amiable lady. She demanded an +audience of the queen, and laid before her the whole series of his +mother's cruelty, exposed the improbability of her accusation of murder, +and pointed out all the circumstances of her unequall'd barbarity. + +The interposition of this lady was so successful, that he was soon after +admitted to bail, and on the 9th of March 1728, pleaded the king's +pardon.[2] + +Mr. Savage during his imprisonment, his trial, and the time in which he +lay under sentence of death, behaved with great fortitude, and confirmed +by his unshaken equality of mind, the esteem of those who before admired +him for his abilities. Upon weighing all the circumstances relating to +this unfortunate event, it plainly appears that the greatest guilt could +not be imputed to Savage. His killing Sinclair, was rather rash than +totally dishonourable, for though Marchant had been the aggressor, who +would not procure his friend from being over-powered by numbers? + +Some time after he had obtained his liberty, he met in the street the +woman of the town that had swore against him: She informed him that she +was in distress, and with unparalleled assurance desired him to relieve +her. He, instead of insulting her misery, and taking pleasure in the +calamity of one who had brought his life into danger, reproved her +gently for her perjury, and changing the only guinea he had, divided it +equally between her and himself. + +Compassion seems indeed to have been among the few good qualities +possessed by Savage; he never appeared inclined to take the advantage of +weakness, to attack the defenceless, or to press upon the falling: +Whoever was distressed was certain at last of his good wishes. But when +his heart was not softened by the sight of misery, he was obstinate in +his resentment, and did not quickly lose the remembrance of an injury. +He always harboured the sharpest resentment against judge Page; and a +short time before his death, he gratified it in a satire upon that +severe magistrate. + +When in conversation this unhappy subject was mentioned, Savage appeared +neither to consider himself as a murderer, nor as a man wholly free from +blood. How much, and how long he regretted it, appeared in a poem +published many years afterwards, which the following lines will set in a +very striking light. + + Is chance a guilt, that my disast'rous heart, + For mischief never meant, must ever smart? + Can self-defence be sin?--Ah! plead no more! + What tho' no purpos'd malice stain'd thee o'er; + Had Heav'n befriended thy unhappy side, + Thou had'st not been provok'd, or thou had'st died. + + Far be the guilt of home-shed blood from all, + On whom, unfought, imbroiling dangers fall. + Still the pale dead revives and lives to me, + To me through pity's eye condemn'd to see. + Remembrance veils his rage, but swells his fate, + Griev'd I forgive, and am grown cool too late, + + Young and unthoughtful then, who knows one day, + What rip'ning virtues might have made their way? + He might, perhaps, his country's friend have prov'd, + Been gen'rous, happy, candid and belov'd; + He might have sav'd some worth now doom'd to fall, + And I, perchance, in him have murder'd all. + +Savage had now obtained his liberty, but was without any settled means +of support, and as he had lost all tenderness for his mother, who had +thirsted for his blood, he resolved to lampoon her, to extort that +pension by satire, which he knew she would never grant upon any +principles of honour, or humanity. This expedient proved successful; +whether shame still survived, though compassion was extinct, or whether +her relations had more delicacy than herself, and imagined that some of +the darts which satire might point at her, would glance upon them: Lord +Tyrconnel, whatever were his motives, upon his promise to lay aside the +design of exposing his mother, received him into his family, treated him +as his equal, and engaged to allow him a pension of 200 l. a year. + +This was the golden part of Mr. Savage's life; for some time he had no +reason to complain of fortune; his appearance was splendid, his expences +large, and his acquaintance extensive. 'He was courted, says the author +of his life, by all who endeavoured to be thought men of genius, and +caressed by all that valued themselves upon a fine taste. To admire Mr. +Savage was a proof of discernment, and to be acquainted with him was a +title to poetical reputation. His presence was sufficient to make any +place of entertainment popular; and his approbation and example +constituted the fashion. So powerful is genius, when it is invested with +the glitter of affluence. Men willingly pay to fortune that regard which +they owe to merit, and are pleased when they have at once an opportunity +of exercising their vanity, and practising their duty. This interval of +prosperity furnished him with opportunities of enlarging his knowledge +of human nature, by contemplating life from its highest gradation to its +lowest.' + +In this gay period of life, when he was surrounded by the affluence of +pleasure, 1729, he published the Wanderer, a Moral Poem, of which the +design is comprised in these lines. + + I fly all public care, all venal strife, + To try the _Still_, compared with _Active Life_. + To prove by these the sons of men may owe, + The fruits of bliss to bursting clouds of woe, + That ev'n calamity by thought refin'd + Inspirits, and adorns the thinking mind. + +And more distinctly in the following passage: + + By woe the soul to daring actions swells, + By woe in plaintless patience it excells; + From patience prudent, clear experience springs, + And traces knowledge through the course of things. + Thence hope is form'd, thence fortitude, success, + Renown--Whate'er men covet or caress. + +This performance was always considered by Mr. Savage as his +master-piece; but Mr. Pope, when he asked his opinion of it, told him, +that he read it once over, and was not displeased with it, that it gave +him more pleasure at the second perusal, and delighted him still more at +the third. From a poem so successfully written, it might be reasonably +expected that he should have gained considerable advantages; but the +case was otherwise; he sold the copy only for ten guineas. That he got +so small a price for so finished a poem, was not to be imputed either to +the necessity of the writer, or to the avarice of the bookseller. He was +a slave to his passions, and being then in the pursuit of some trifling +gratification, for which he wanted a supply of money, he sold his poem +to the first bidder, and perhaps for the first price which was proposed, +and probably would have been content with less, if less had been +offered. It was addressed to the earl of Tyrconnel, not only in the +first lines, but in a formal dedication, filled with the highest strains +of panegyric. These praises in a short time he found himself inclined to +retract, being discarded by the man on whom he had bestowed them, and +whom he said, he then discovered, had not deserved them. + +Of this quarrel, lord Tyrconnel and Mr. Savage assigned very different +reasons. Lord Tyrconnel charged Savage with the most licentious +behaviour, introducing company into his house, and practising with them +the most irregular frolics, and committing all the outrages of +drunkenness. Lord Tyrconnel farther alledged against Savage, that the +books of which he himself had made him a present, were sold or pawned by +him, so that he had often the mortification to see them exposed to sale +upon stalls. + +Savage, it seems, was so accustomed to live by expedients, that +affluence could not raise him above them. He often went to the tavern +and trusted the payment of his reckoning to the liberality of his +company; and frequently of company to whom he was very little known. +This conduct indeed, seldom drew him into much inconvenience, or his +conversation and address were so pleasing, that few thought the pleasure +which they received from him, dearly purchased by paying for his wine. +It was his peculiar happiness that he scarcely ever found a stranger, +whom he did not leave a friend; but it must likewise be added, that he +had not often a friend long, without obliging him to become an enemy. + +Mr. Savage on the other hand declared, that lord Tyrconnel quarrelled +with him because he would not subtract from his own luxury and +extravagance what he had promised to allow him; and that his resentment +was only a plea for the violation of his promise: He asserted that he +had done nothing which ought to exclude him from that subsistence which +he thought not so much a favour as a debt, since it was offered him upon +conditions, which he had never broken; and that his only fault was, that +he could not be supported upon nothing. + +Savage's passions were strong, among which his resentment was not the +weakest; and as gratitude was not his constant virtue, we ought not too +hastily to give credit to all his prejudice asserts against (his once +praised patron) lord Tyrconnel. + +During his continuance with the lord Tyrconnel, he wrote the Triumph of +Health and Mirth, on the recovery of the lady Tyrconnel, from a +languishing illness. This poem is built upon a beautiful fiction. Mirth +overwhelmed with sickness for the death of a favourite, takes a flight +in quest of her sister Health, whom she finds reclined upon the brow of +a lofty mountain, amidst the fragrance of a perpetual spring, and the +breezes of the morning sporting about her. Being solicited by her sister +Mirth, she readily promises her assistance, flies away in a cloud, and +impregnates the waters of Bath with new virtues, by which the sickness +of Belinda is relieved. + +While Mr. Savage continued in high life, he did not let slip any +opportunity to examine whether the merit of the great is magnified or +diminished by the medium through which it is contemplated, and whether +great men were selected for high stations, or high stations made great +men. The result of his observations is not much to the advantage of +those in power. + +But the golden æra of Savage's life was now at an end, he was banished +the table of lord Tyrconnel, and turned again a-drift upon the world. +While he was in prosperity, he did not behave with a moderation likely +to procure friends amongst his inferiors. He took an opportunity in the +sun-shine of his fortune, to revenge himself of those creatures, who, as +they are the worshippers of power, made court to him, whom they had +before contemptuously treated. This assuming behaviour of Savage was not +altogether unnatural. He had been avoided and despised by those +despicable sycophants, who were proud of his acquaintance when railed to +eminence. In this case, who would not spurn such mean Beings? His +degradation therefore from the condition which he had enjoyed with so +much superiority, was considered by many as an occasion of triumph. +Those who had courted him without success, had an opportunity to return +the contempt they had suffered. + +Mean time, Savage was very diligent in exposing the faults of lord +Tyrconnel, over whom he obtained at least this advantage, that he drove +him first to the practice of outrage and violence; for he was so much +provoked by his wit and virulence, that he came with a number of +attendants, to beat him at a coffee-house; but it happened that he had +left the place a few minutes before: Mr. Savage went next day to repay +his visit at his own house, but was prevailed upon by his domestics to +retire without insisting upon seeing him. + +He now thought himself again at full liberty to expose the cruelty of +his mother, and therefore about this time published THE BASTARD, a Poem +remarkable for the vivacity in the beginning, where he makes a pompous +enumeration of the imaginary advantages of base birth, and the pathetic +sentiments at the close; where he recounts the real calamities which he +suffered by the crime of his parents. + +The verses which have an immediate relation to those two circumstances, +we shall here insert. + + In gayer hours, when high my fancy ran, + The Muse exulting thus her lay began. + + Bless'd be the Bastard's birth! thro' wond'rous ways, + He shines excentric like a comet's blaze. + No sickly fruit of faint compliance he; + He! stamp'd in nature's mint with extasy! + He lives to build, not boast a gen'rous race, + No tenth transmitter of a foolish face. + His daring hope, no fire's example bounds; + His first-born nights no prejudice confounds. + He, kindling from within requires no flame, + He glories in a bastard's glowing name. + --Nature's unbounded son he stands alone, + His heart unbiass'd, and his mind his own. + --O mother! yet no mother!--'Tis to you + My thanks for such distinguish'd claims are due. + --What had I lost if conjugally kind, + By nature hating, yet by vows confin'd, + You had faint drawn me with a form alone, + A lawful lump of life, by force your own! + --I had been born your dull domestic heir, + Load of your life and motive of your care; + Perhaps been poorly rich and meanly great; + The slave of pomp, a cypher in the state: + Lordly neglectful of a worth unknown, + And slumb'ring in a feat by chance my own, + +After mentioning the death of Sinclair, he goes on thus: + + --Where shall my hope find rest?--No mother's care + Shielded my infant innocence with prayer; + No father's guardian hand my youth maintain'd, + Call'd forth my virtues, and from vice refrain'd. + +This poem had extraordinary success, great numbers were immediately +dispersed, and editions were multiplied with unusual rapidity. + +One circumstance attended the publication, which Savage used to relate +with great satisfaction. His mother, to whom the poem with due reverence +was inscribed, happened then to be at Bath, where she could not +conveniently retire from censure, or conceal herself from observation; +and no sooner did the reputation of the poem begin to spread, than she +heard it repeated in all places of concourse; nor could she enter the +assembly rooms, or cross the walks, without being saluted with some +lines from the Bastard. She therefore left Bath with the utmost haste, +to shelter herself in the crowds of London. Thus Savage had the +satisfaction of finding, that tho' he could not reform, he could yet +punish his mother. + +Some time after Mr. Savage took a resolution of applying to the queen, +that having once given him life, she would enable him to support it, and +therefore published a short poem on her birth day, to which he gave the +odd title of Volunteer-Laureat. He had not at that time one friend to +present his poem at court, yet the Queen, notwithstanding this act of +ceremony was wanting, in a few days after publication, sent him a bank +note of fifty-pounds, by lord North and Guildford; and her permission to +write annually on the same subject, and that he should yearly receive +the like present, till something better should be done for him. After +this he was permitted to present one of his annual poems to her majesty, +and had the honour of kissing her hand. + +When the dispute between the bishop of London, and the chancellor, +furnished for some time the chief topic of conversation, Mr. Savage who +was an enemy to all claims of ecclesiastical power, engaged with his +usual zeal against the bishop. In consequence of his aversion to the +dominion of superstitious churchmen, he wrote a poem called The Progress +of a Divine, in which he conducts a profligate priest thro' all the +gradations of wickedness, from a poor curacy in the country, to the +highest preferment in the church; and after describing his behaviour in +every station, enumerates that this priest thus accomplished, found at +last a patron in the bishop of London. + +The clergy were universally provoked with this satire, and Savage was +censured in the weekly Miscellany, with a severity he did not seem +inclined to forget: But a return of invective was not thought a +sufficient punishment. The court of King's-Bench was moved against him, +and he was obliged to return an answer to a charge of obscenity. It was +urged in his defence, that obscenity was only criminal, when it was +intended to promote the practice of vice; but that Mr. Savage had only +introduced obscene ideas, with a view of exposing them to detestation, +and of amending the age, by shewing the deformity of wickedness. This +plea was admitted, and Sir Philip York, now lord Chancellor, who then +presided in that court, dismissed the information, with encomiums upon +the purity and excellence of Mr. Savage's writings. + +He was still in his usual exigencies, having no certain support, but the +pension allowed him from the Queen, which was not sufficient to last him +the fourth part of the year. His conduct, with regard to his pension, +was very particular. No sooner had he changed the bill, than he vanished +from the sight of all his acquaintances, and lay, for some time, out of +the reach of his most intimate friends. At length he appeared again +pennyless as before, but never informed any person where he had been, +nor was his retreat ever discovered. This was his constant practice +during the whole time he received his pension. He regularly disappeared, +and returned. He indeed affirmed that he retired to study, and that the +money supported him in solitude for many months, but his friends +declared, that the short time in which it was spent, sufficiently +confuted his own account of his conduct. + +His perpetual indigence, politeness, and wit, still raised him friends, +who were desirous to set him above want, and therefore sollicited Sir +Robert Walpole in his favour, but though promises were given, and Mr. +Savage trusted, and was trusted, yet these added but one mortification +more to the many he had suffered. His hopes of preferment from that +statesman; issued in a disappointment; upon which he published a poem in +the Gentleman's Magazine, entitled, The Poet's Dependance on a +Statesman; in which he complains of the severe usage he met with. But to +despair was no part of the character of Savage; when one patronage +failed, he had recourse to another. The Prince was now extremely +popular, and had very liberally rewarded the merit of some writers, whom +Mr. Savage did not think superior to himself; and therefore he resolved +to address a poem to him. + +For this purpose he made choice of a subject, which could regard only +persons of the highest rank, and greatest affluence, and which was +therefore proper for a poem intended to procure the patronage of a +prince; namely, public spirit, with regard to public works. But having +no friend upon whom he could prevail to present it to the Prince, he had +no other method of attracting his observation, than by publishing +frequent advertisements, and therefore received no reward from his +patron, however generous upon other occasions. His poverty still +pressing, he lodged as much by accident, as he dined; for he generally +lived by chance, eating only when he was invited to the tables of his +acquaintance, from which, the meanness of his dress often excluded him, +when the politeness, and variety of his conversation, would have been +thought a sufficient recompence for his entertainment. Having no +lodging, he passed the night often in mean houses, which are set open +for any casual wanderers; sometimes in cellars, amongst the riot and +filth of the meanest and most profligate of the rabble; and sometimes +when he was totally without money, walked about the streets till he was +weary, and lay down in the summer upon a bulk, and in the winter, with +his associates in poverty, among the ashes of a glass-house. + +In this manner were passed those days and nights, which nature had +enabled him to have employed in elevated speculations. On a bulk, in a +cellar, or in a glass-house, among thieves and beggars, was to be found +the author of The Wanderer, the man, whose remarks in life might have +assisted the statesman, whose ideas of virtue might have enlightened the +moralist, whose eloquence might have influenced senates, and whose +delicacy might have polished courts. His distresses, however afflictive, +never dejected him. In his lowest sphere he wanted not spirit to assert +the natural dignity of wit, and was always ready to repress that +insolence, which superiority of fortune incited, and to trample that +reputation which rose upon any other basis, than that of merit. He never +admitted any gross familiarity, or submitted to be treated otherwise +than as an equal. + +Once, when he was without lodging, meat, or cloaths, one of his friends, +a man indeed not remarkable for moderation in prosperity, left a +message, that he desired to see him about nine in the morning. Savage +knew that his intention was to assist him, but was very much disgusted, +that he should presume to prescribe the hour of his attendance; and +therefore rejected his kindness. + +The greatest hardships of poverty were to Savage, not the want of +lodging, or of food, but the neglect and contempt it drew upon him. He +complained that as his affairs grew desperate, he found his reputation +for capacity visibly decline; that his opinion in questions of criticism +was no longer regarded, when his coat was out of fashion; and that +those, who in the interval of his prosperity, were always encouraging +him to great undertakings, by encomiums on his genius, and assurances of +success, now received any mention of his designs with coldness, and, in +short, allowed him to be qualified for no other performance than +volunteer-laureat. Yet even this kind of contempt never depressed him, +for he always preserved a steady confidence in his own capacity, and +believed nothing above his reach, which he should at any time earnestly +endeavour to attain. + +This life, unhappy as it may be already imagined, was yet embittered in +1738 with new distresses. The death of the Queen deprived him of all the +prospects of preferment, with which he had so long entertained his +imagination. But even against this calamity there was an expedient at +hand. He had taken a resolution of writing a second tragedy upon the +story of Sir Thomas Overbury, in which he made a total alteration of the +plan, added new incidents, and introduced new characters, so that it was +a new tragedy, not a revival of the former. With the profits of this +scheme, when finished, he fed his imagination, but proceeded slowly in +it, and, probably, only employed himself upon it, when he could find no +other amusement. Upon the Queen's death it was expected of him, that he +should honour her memory with a funeral panegyric: He was thought +culpable for omitting it; but on her birth-day, next year, he gave a +proof of the power of genius and judgment. He knew that the track of +elegy had been so long beaten, that it was impossible to travel in it, +without treading the footsteps of those who had gone before him, and +therefore it was necessary that he might distinguish himself from the +herd of encomists, to find out some new walk of funeral panegyric. + +This difficult task he performed in such a manner, that this poem may be +justly ranked the best of his own, and amongst the best pieces that the +death of Princes has produced. By transferring the mention of her death, +to her birth-day, he has formed a happy combination of topics, which any +other man would have thought it difficult to connect in one view; but +the relation between them appears natural; and it may be justly said, +that what no other man could have thought on, now seems scarcely +possible for any man to miss. In this poem, when he takes occasion to +mention the King, he modestly gives him a hint to continue his pension, +which, however, he did not receive at the usual time, and there was some +reason to think that it would be discontinued. He did not take those +methods of retrieving his interest, which were most likely to succeed, +for he went one day to Sir Robert Walpole's levee, and demanded the +reason of the distinction that was made between him and the other +pensioners of the Queen, with a degree of roughness which, perhaps, +determined him to withdraw, what had only been delayed. This last +misfortune he bore not only with decency, but cheerfulness, nor was his +gaiety clouded, even by this disappointment, though he was, in a short +time, reduced to the lowest degree of distress, and often wanted both +lodging and food. At this time he gave another instance of the +insurmountable obstinacy of his spirit. His cloaths were worn out, and +he received notice, that at a coffee-house some cloaths and linen were +left for him. The person who sent them did not, we believe, inform him +to whom he was to be obliged, that he might spare the perplexity of +acknowledging the benefit; but though the offer was so far generous, it +was made with some neglect of ceremonies, which Mr. Savage so much +resented, that he refused the present, and declined to enter the house +'till the cloaths, which were designed for him, were taken away. + +His distress was now publicly known, and his friends therefore thought +it proper to concert some measures for his relief. The scheme proposed +was, that he should retire into Wales, and receive an allowance of fifty +pounds a year, to be raised by subscription, on which he was to live +privately in a cheap place, without aspiring any more to affluence, or +having any farther sollicitude for fame. + +This offer Mr. Savage gladly accepted, though with intentions very +different from those of his friends; for they proposed that he should +continue an exile from London for ever, and spend all the remaining part +of his life at Swansea; but he designed only to take the opportunity +which their scheme offered him, of retreating for a short time, that he +might prepare his play for the stage, and his other works for the press, +and then to return to London to exhibit his tragedy, and live upon the +profits of his own labour. + +After many sollicitations and delays, a subscription was at last raised, +which did not amount to fifty pounds a year, though twenty were paid by +one gentleman. He was, however, satisfied, and willing to retire, and +was convinced that the allowance, though scanty, would be more than +sufficient for him, being now determined to commence a rigid oeconomist. + +Full of these salutary resolutions, he quitted London in 1739. He was +furnished with fifteen guineas, and was told, that they would be +sufficient, not only for the expence of his journey, but for his support +in Wales for some time; and that there remained but little more of the +first collection. He promised a strict adherence to his maxims of +parsimony, and went away in the stage coach; nor did his friends expect +to hear from him, 'till he informed them of his arrival at Swansea. But, +when they least expected, arrived a letter dated the 14th day after his +departure, in which he sent them word, that he was yet upon the road, +and without money, and that he therefore could not proceed without a +remittance. They then sent him the money that was in their hands, with +which he was enabled to reach Bristol, from whence he was to go to +Swansea by water. At Bristol he found an embargo laid upon the shipping, +so that he could not immediately obtain a passage, and being therefore +obliged to stay there some time, he, with his usual felicity, +ingratiated himself with many of the principal inhabitants, was invited +to their houses, distinguished at their public feasts, and treated with +a regard that gratified his vanity, and therefore easily engaged his +affection. + +After some stay at Bristol, he retired to Swansea, the place originally +proposed for his residence, where he lived about a year very much +disatisfied with the diminution of his salary, for the greatest part of +the contributors, irritated by Mr. Savage's letters, which they imagined +treated them contemptuously, withdrew their subscriptions. At this +place, as in every other, he contracted an acquaintance with those who +were most distinguished in that country, among whom, he has celebrated +Mr. Powel, and Mrs. Jones, by some verses inserted in the Gentleman's +Magazine. Here he compleated his tragedy, of which two acts were wanting +when he left London, and was desirous of coming to town to bring it on +the stage. This design was very warmly opposed, and he was advised by +his chief benefactor, who was no other than Mr. Pope, to put it in the +hands of Mr. Thomson and Mr. Mallet, that it might be fitted for the +stage, and to allow his friends to receive the profits, out of which an +annual pension should be paid him. This proposal he rejected with the +utmost contempt. He was by no means convinced that the judgment of those +to whom he was required to submit, was superior to his own. He was now +determined, as he expressed, to be no longer kept in leading-strings, +and had no elevated idea of his bounty, who proposed to pension him out +of the profits of his own labours. He soon after this quitted Swansea, +and, with an intent to return to London, went to Bristol, where a +repetition of the kindness which he had formerly found, invited +him to stay. He was not only caressed, and treated, but had a collection +made for him of about thirty pounds, with which it had been happy if +he had immediately departed for London; but he never considered that +such proofs of kindness were not often to be expected, and that this +ardour of benevolence was, in a great degree, the effect of novelty. + +Another part of his misconduct was, the practice of prolonging his +visits to unseasonable hours, and disconcerting all the families into +which he was admitted. This was an error in a place of commerce, which +all the charms of conversion could not compensate; for what trader would +purchase such airy satisfaction, with the loss of solid gain, which must +be the consequence of midnight merriment, as those hours which were +gained at night were generally lost in the morning? Distress at last +stole upon him by imperceptible degrees; his conduct had already wearied +some of those who were at first enamoured of his conversation; but he +still might have devolved to others, whom he might have entertained with +equal success, had not the decay of his cloaths made it no longer +consistent with decency to admit him to their tables, or to associate +with him in public places. He now began to find every man from home, at +whose house he called; and was therefore no longer able to procure the +necessaries of life, but wandered about the town, slighted and +neglected, in quest of a dinner, which, he did not always obtain. To +compleat his misery, he was obliged to withdraw from the small number of +friends from whom he had still reason to hope for favours. His custom +was to lie in bed the greatest part of the day, and to go out in the +dark with the utmost privacy, and after having paid his visit, return +again before morning to his lodging, which was in the garret of an +obscure inn. + +Being thus excluded on one hand, and confined on the other, he suffered +the utmost extremities of poverty, and often waited so long, that he was +seized with faintness, and had lost his appetite, not being able to bear +the smell of meat, 'till the action of his stomach was restored by a +cordial. + +He continued to bear these severe pressures, 'till the landlady of a +coffee-house, to whom he owed about eight pounds, compleated his +wretchedness. He was arrested by order of this woman, and conducted to +the house of a Sheriff's Officer, where he remained some time at a great +expence, in hopes of finding bail. This expence he was enabled to +support by a present from Mr. Nash of Bath, who, upon hearing of his +late mis-fortune, sent him five guineas. No friends would contribute to +release him from prison at the expence of eight pounds, and therefore he +was removed to Newgate. He bore this misfortune with an unshaken +fortitude, and indeed the treatment he met with from Mr. Dagg, the +keeper of the prison, greatly softened the rigours of his confinement. +He was supported by him at his own table, without any certainty of +recompence; had a room to himself, to which he could at any time retire +from all disturbance; was allowed to stand at the door of the prison, +and sometimes taken out into the fields; so that he suffered fewer +hardships in the prison, than he had been accustomed to undergo the +greatest part of his life. Virtue is undoubtedly most laudable in that +state which makes it most difficult; and therefore the humanity of the +gaoler certainly deserves this public attestation. + +While Mr. Savage was in prison, he began, and almost finished a satire, +which he entitled London and Bristol Delineated; in order to be revenged +of those who had had no more generosity for a man, to whom they +professed friendship, than to suffer him to languish in a gaol for eight +pounds. He had now ceased from corresponding with any of his +subscribers, except Mr. Pope, who yet continued to remit him twenty +pounds a year, which he had promised, and by whom he expected to be in a +very short time enlarged; because he had directed the keeper to enquire +after the state of his debts. + +However he took care to enter his name according to the forms of the +court, that the creditors might be obliged to make him some allowance, +if he was continued a prisoner; and when on that occasion he appeared in +the Hall, was treated with very unusual respect. + +But the resentment of the City was afterwards raised, by some accounts +that had been spread of the satire, and he was informed, that some of +the Merchants intended to pay the allowance which the law required, and +to detain him a prisoner at their own expence. This he treated as an +empty menace, and had he not been prevented by death, he would have +hastened the publication of the satire, only to shew how much he was +superior to their insults. + +When he had been six months in prison, he received from Mr. Pope, in +whose kindness he had the greatest confidence, and on whose assistance +he chiefly depended, a letter that contained a charge of very atrocious +ingratitude, drawn up in such terms as sudden resentment dictated. Mr. +Savage returned a very solemn protestation of his innocence, but however +appeared much disturbed at the accusation. Some days afterwards he was +seized with a pain in his back and side, which, as it was not violent, +was not suspected to be dangerous; but growing daily more languid and +dejected, on the 25th of July he confined himself to his room, and a +fever seized his spirits. The symptoms grew every day more formidable, +but his condition did not enable him to procure any assistance. The last +time the keeper saw him was on July 31, when Savage, seeing him at his +bed-side, said, with uncommon earnestness, I have something to say to +you, sir, but, after a pause, moved his hand in a melancholy manner, and +finding himself unable to recollect what he was going to communicate, +said, 'tis gone. The keeper soon after left him, and the next morning he +died. He was buried in the church-yard of St. Peter, at the expence of +the keeper. + +Such were the life and death of this unfortunate poet; a man equally +distinguished by his virtues and vices, and, at once, remarkable for his +weaknesses and abilities. He was of a middle stature, of a thin habit of +body, a long visage, coarse features, and a melancholy aspect; of a +grave and manly deportment, a solemn dignity of mien, but which, upon a +nearer acquaintance, softened into an engaging easiness of manners. His +walk was slow, and his voice tremulous and mournful. He was easily +excited to smiles, but very seldom provoked to laughter. His judgment +was eminently exact, both with regard to writings and to men. The +knowledge of life was his chief attainment. He was born rather to bear +misfortunes greatly, than to enjoy prosperity with moderation. He +discovered an amazing firmness of spirit, in spurning those who presumed +to dictate to him in the lowest circumstances of misery; but we never +can reconcile the idea of true greatness of mind, with the perpetual +inclination Savage discovered to live upon the bounty of his friends. To +struggle for independence appears much more laudable, as well as a +higher instance of spirit, than to be the pensioner of another. + +As Savage had seen so much of the world, and was capable of so deep a +penetration into nature, it was strange he could not form some scheme of +a livelihood, more honourable than that of a poetical mendicant: his +prosecuting any plan of life with diligence, would have thrown more +lustre on his character, than, all his works, and have raised our ideas +of the greatness of his spirit, much, beyond the conduct we have already +seen. If poverty is so great an evil as to expose a man to commit +actions, at which he afterwards blushes, to avoid this poverty should be +the continual care of every man; and he, who lets slip every opportunity +of doing so, is more entitled to admiration than pity, should he bear +his sufferings nobly. + +Mr. Savage's temper, in consequence of the dominion of his passions, was +uncertain and capricious. He was easily engaged, and easily disgusted; +but he is accused of retaining his hatred more tenaciously than his +benevolence. He was compassionate both by nature and principle, and +always ready to perform offices of humanity; but when he was provoked, +and very small offences were sufficient to provoke him, he would +prosecute his revenge with the utmost acrimony, 'till his passion had +subsided. His friendship was therefore of little value, for he was +zealous in the support, or vindication of those whom he loved, yet it +was always dangerous to trust him, because he considered himself as +discharged by the first quarrel, from all ties of honour and gratitude. +He would even betray those secrets, which, in the warmth of confidence, +had been imparted to him. His veracity was often questioned, and not +without reason. When he loved any man, he suppressed all his faults, and +when he had been offended by him, concealed all his virtues. But his +characters were generally true, so far as he proceeded, though it cannot +be denied, but his partiality might have sometimes the effect of +falshood. + +In the words of the celebrated writer of his life, from whom, as we +observed in the beginning, we have extracted the account here given, we +shall conclude this unfortunate person's Memoirs, which were so various +as to afford large scope for an able biographer, and which, by this +gentleman, have been represented with so great a mastery, and force of +penetration, that the Life of Savage, as written by him, is an excellent +model for this species of writing. + +'This relation (says he) will not be wholly without its use, if those, +who languish under any part of his sufferings, should be enabled to +fortify their patience, by reflecting that they feel only those +afflictions from which the abilities of Savage did not exempt him; or +those, who in confidence of superior capacities, or attainments, +disregard the common maxims of life, shall be reminded that nothing can +supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity long +continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius +contemptible.' + +FOOTNOTES: +[1] However slightly the author of Savage's life passes over the less + amiable characteristics of that unhappy man; yet we cannot but + discover therein, that vanity and ingratitude were the principal + ingredients in poor Savage's composition; nor was his veracity + greatly to be depended on. No wonder therefore, if the good-natur'd + writer suffer'd his better understanding to be misled, in some + accounts relative to the poet we are now speaking of.--Among many, + we shall at present only take notice of the following, which makes + too conspicuous a figure to pass by entirely unnoticed. + + In this life of Savage 'tis related, that Mrs. Oldfield was very + fond of Mr. Savage's conversation, and allowed him an annuity, + during her life, of 50 l.--These facts are equally ill-grounded:-- + There was no foundation for them. That Savage's misfortunes pleaded + for pity, and had the desired effect on Mrs. Oldfield's compassion, + is certain:--But she so much disliked the man, and disapproved his + conduct, that she never admitted him to her conversation, nor + suffer'd him to enter her house. She, indeed, often relieved him + with such donations, as spoke her generous disposicion.--But this + was on the sollicitation of friends, who frequently set his + calamities before her in the most piteous light; and from a + principle of humanity, she became not a little instrumental in + saving his life. + +[2] Lord Tyrconnel delivered a petition to his majesty in Savage's + behalf: And Mrs. Oldfield sollicited Sir Robert Walpole on his + account. This joint-interest procured him his pardon. + + + * * * * * + + +Dr. THOMAS SHERIDAN. + +was born in the county of Cavan, where his father kept a public house. A +gentleman, who had a regard for his father, and who observed the son +gave early indications of genius above the common standard, sent him to +the college of Dublin, and contributed towards the finishing his +education there. Our poet received very great encouragement upon his +setting out in life, and was esteemed a fortunate man. The agreeable +humour, and the unreserved pleasantry of his temper, introduced him to +the acquaintance, and established him in the esteem, of the wits of that +age. He set up a school in Dublin, which, at one time, was so +considerable as to produce an income of a thousand pounds a year, and +possessed besides some good livings, and bishops leases, which are +extremely lucrative. + +Mr. Sheridan married the daughter of Mr. Macpherson, a Scots gentleman, +who served in the wars under King William, and, during the troubles of +Ireland, became possessed of a small estate of about 40 l. per annum, +called Quilca. This little fortune devolved on Mrs. Sheridan, which +enabled her husband to set up a school. Dr. Sheridan, amongst his +virtues, could not number oeconomy; on the contrary, he was remarkable +for profusion and extravagance, which exposed him to such +inconveniences, that he was obliged to mortgage all he had. His school +daily declined, and by an act of indiscretion, he was stript of the best +living he then enjoyed. On the birth-day of his late Majesty, the Dr. +having occasion to preach, chose for his text the following words, + + Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. + +This procured him the name of a Jacobite, or a disaffected person, a +circumstance sufficient to ruin him in his ecclesiastical capacity. His +friends, who were disposed to think favourably of him, were for softning +the epithet of Jacobite into Tory, imputing his choice of that text, +rather to whim and humour, than any settled prejudice against his +Majesty, or the government; but this unseasonable pleasantry was not so +easily passed over, and the Dr. had frequent occasion to repent the +choice of his text. + +Unhappy Sheridan! he lived to want both money and friends. He spent his +money and time merrily among the gay and the great, and was an example, +that there are too many who can relish a man's humour, who have not so +quick a sense of his misfortunes. The following story should not have +been told, were it not true. + +In the midst of his misfortunes, when the demands of his creditors +obliged him to retirement, he went to dean Swift, and sollicited a +lodging for a few days, 'till by a proper composition he might be +restored to his freedom. The dean retired early to rest. The Dr. +fatigued, but not inclinable to go so soon to bed, sent the servant to +the dean, desiring the key of the cellar, that he might have a bottle of +wine. The dean, in one of his odd humours, returned for answer, he +promised to find him a lodging, but not in wine; and refused to send the +key. The Dr. being thunderstruck at this unexpected incivility, the +tears burst from his eyes; he quitted the house, and we believe never +after repeated the visit. + +Dr. Sheridan died in the year 1738, in the 55th year of his age. The +following epitaph for him was handed about. + + Beneath this marble stone here lies + Poor Tom, more merry much than wise; + Who only liv'd for two great ends, + To spend his cash, and lose his friends: + His darling wife of him bereft, + Is only griev'd--there's nothing left. + + +When the account of his death was inserted in the papers, it was done in +the following particular terms; + + 'September 10, died the revd. Dr. Thomas Sheridan of Dublin. He was a + great linguist, a most sincere friend, a delightful companion, and the + best Schoolmaster in Europe: He took the greatest care of the morals + of the young gentlemen, who had the happiness of being bred up under + him; and it was remarked, that none of his scholars ever was an + Atheist, or a Free-Thinker.' + +We cannot more successfully convey to the reader a true idea of Dr. +Sheridan, than by the two following quotations from Lord Orrery in his +life of Swift, in which he occasionally mentions Swift's friend. + + 'Swift was naturally fond of seeing his works in print, and he was + encouraged in this fondness by his friend Dr. Sheridan, who had the + Cacoethea Scribendi, to the greatest degree, and was continually + letting off squibs, rockets, and all sorts of little fire-works from + the press; by which means he offended many particular persons, who, + although they stood in awe of Swift, held Sheridan at defiance. The + truth is, the poor doctor by nature the most peacable, inoffensive man + alive, was in a continual state of warfare with the Minor Poets, and + they revenged themselves; or, in the style of Mr. Bays, often gave him + flash for flash, and singed his feathers. The affection between + Theseus and Perithous was not greater than the affection between Swift + and Sheridan: But the friendship that cemented the two ancient heroes + probably commenced upon motives very different from those which united + the two modern divines.' + + 'Dr. Sheridan was a school-master, and in many instances, perfectly + well adapted for that station. He was deeply vers'd in the Greek and + Roman languages; and in their customs and antiquities. He had that + kind of good nature, which absence of mind, indolence of body, and + carelessness of fortune produce: And although not over-strict in his + own conduct, yet he took care of the morality of his scholars, whom he + sent to the university, remarkably well founded in all kind of + classical learning, and not ill instructed in the social duties of + life. He was slovenly, indigent, and chearful. He knew books much + better than men; And he knew the value of money least of all. In this + situation, and with this disposition, Swift fattened upon him as upon + a prey, with which he intended to regale himself, whenever his + appetite should prompt him. Sheridan was therefore certainly within + his reach; and the only time he was permitted to go beyond the limits + of his chain, was to take possession of a living in the county of + Corke, which had been bestowed upon him, by the then lord lieutenant + of Ireland, the present earl of Granville. Sheridan, in one fatal + moment, or by one fatal text, effected his own ruin. You will find the + story told by Swift himself, in the fourth volume of his works [page + 289. in a pamphlet intitled a Vindication of his Excellency John Lord + Carteret, from the charge of favouring none but Tories, + High-Churchmen, and Jacobites.] So that here I need only tell you, + that this ill-starred, good-natur'd, improvident man returned to + Dublin, unhinged from all favour at court, and even banished from the + Castle: But still he remained a punster, a quibbler, a fiddler, and a + wit. Not a day passed without a rebus, an anagram, or a madrigal. His + pen and his fiddle-stick were in continual motion; and yet to little + or no purpose, if we may give credit to the following verses, which + shall serve as the conclusion of his poetical character.' + + With music and poetry equally bless'd[1], + A bard thus Apollo most humbly address'd, + Great author of poetry, music, and light, + Instructed by thee, I both fiddle and write: + + Yet unheeded I scrape, or I scribble all day, + My tunes are neglected, my verse flung away. + Thy substantive here, Vice Apollo [2] disdains, + To vouch for my numbers, or list to my strains. + Thy manual sign he refuses to put + To the airs I produce from the pen, or the gut: + Be thou then propitious, great Phoebus, and grant + Belief, or reward to my merit, or want, + Tho' the Dean and Delany [3] transcendently shine, + O! brighten one solo, or sonnet of mine, + Make one work immortal, 'tis all I request; + Apollo look'd pleas'd, and resolving to jest, + Replied--Honest friend, I've consider'd your case. + Nor dislike your unmeaning and innocent face. + Your petition I grant, the boon is not great, + Your works shall continue, and here's the receipt; + On Roundo's[4] hereafter, your fiddle-strings spend. + Write verses in circles, they never shall end. + +Dr. Sheridan gained some reputation by his Prose-translation of Persius; +to which he added a Collection of the best Notes of the Editors of this +intricate Satyrist, who are in the best esteem; together with many +judicious Notes of his own. This work was printed in 12mo. for A. +Millar, 1739. + +One of the volumes of Swift's Miscellanies consists almost entirely of +Letters between the Dean and the Dr. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Not a first rate genius, or extraordinary proficient, in either. + +[2] Dr. Swift. + +[3] Now Dean of Downe. + +[4] A Song, or peculiar kind of Poetry, which returns to the beginning + of the first verse, and continues in a perpetual rotation. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Dr. JONATHAN SWIFT. + +When the life of a person, whose wit and genius raised him to an +eminence among writers of the first class, is written by one of uncommon +abilities:--One possess'd of the power (as Shakespear says) _of looking +quite thro' the deeds of men_; we are furnished with one of the highest +entertainments a man can enjoy:--Such an author also presents us with a +true picture of human nature, which affords us the most ample +instruction:--He discerns the passions which play about the heart; and +while he is astonished with the high efforts of genius, is at the same +time enabled to observe nature as it really is, and how distant from +perfection mankind are in this world, even in the most refined state of +humanity. Such an intellectual feast they enjoy, who peruse the life of +this great author, drawn by the masterly and impartial hand of lord +Orrery. We there discern the greatness and weakness of Dean Swift; we +discover the patriot, the genius, and the humourist; the peevish master, +the ambitious statesman, the implacable enemy, and the warm friend. His +mixed qualities and imperfections are there candidly marked: His errors +and virtues are so strongly represented, that while we reflect upon his +virtues, we forget he had so many failings; and when we consider his +errors, we are disposed to think he had fewer virtues. With such candour +and impartiality has lord Orrery drawn the portrait of Swift; and, as +every biographer ought to do, has shewn us the man as he really was. + +Upon this account given by his lordship, is the following chiefly built. +It shall be our business to take notice of the most remarkable passages +of the life of Swift; to omit no incidents that can be found concerning +him, and as our propos'd bounds will not suffer us to enlarge, we shall +endeavour to display, with as much conciseness as possible, those +particulars which may be most entertaining to the reader. + +He was born in Dublin, November the 30th, 1667, and was carried into +England soon after his birth, by his nurse, who being obliged to cross +the sea, and having a nurse's fondness for the child at her breast, +convey'd him ship-board without the knowledge of his mother or +relations, and kept him with her at Whitehaven in Cumberland, during her +residence about three-years in that place. This extraordinary event made +his return seem as if he had been transplanted to Ireland, rather than +that he owed his original existence to that soil. But perhaps he tacitly +hoped to inspire different nations with a contention for his birth; at +least in his angry moods, when he was peevish and provoked at the +ingratitude of Ireland, he was frequently heard to say, 'I am not of +this vile country, I am an Englishman.' Such an assertion tho' meant +figuratively, was often received literally; and the report was still +farther propagated by Mr. Pope, who in one of his letters has this +expression. 'Tho' one, or two of our friends are gone, since you saw +your native country, there remain a few.' But doctor Swift, in his +cooler hours, never denied his country: On the contrary he frequently +mentioned, and pointed out, the house where he was born. + +The other suggestion concerning the illegitimacy of his birth, is +equally false. Sir William Temple was employed as a minister abroad, +from the year 1665, to the year 1670; first at Brussels, and afterwards +at the Hague, as appears by his correspondence with the earl of +Arlington, and other ministers of state. So that Dr. Swift's mother, who +never crossed the sea, except from England to Ireland, was out of all +possibility of a personal correspondence with Sir William Temple, till +some years after her son's birth. Dr. Swift's ancestors were persons of +decent and reputable characters. His grand-father was the Revd. Mr. +Thomas Swift, vicar of Goodridge, near Ross in Herefordshire. He enjoyed +a paternal estate in that county, which is still in possession of his +great-grandson, Dean Swift, Esq; He died in the year 1658, leaving five +sons, Godwin, Thomas, Dryden, Jonathan, and Adam. + +Two of them only, Godwin and Jonathan, left sons. Jonathan married Mrs. +Abigail Erick of Leicestershire, by whom he had one daughter and a son. +The daughter was born in the first year of Mr. Swift's marriage; but he +lived not to see the birth of his son, who was born two months after his +death, and became afterwards the famous Dean of St. Patrick's. + +The greatest part of Mr. Jonathan Swift's income had depended upon +agencies, and other employments of that kind; so that most of his +fortune perished with him[1], and the remainder being the only support +that his widow could enjoy, the care, tuition, and expence of her two +children devolved upon her husband's elder brother, Mr. Godwin Swift, +who voluntarily became their guardian, and supplied the loss which they +had sustained in a father. + +The faculties of the mind appear and shine forth at different ages in +different men. The infancy of Dr. Swift pass'd on without any marks of +distinction. At six years old he was sent to school at Kilkenny, and +about eight years afterwards he was entered a student of Trinity College +in Dublin. He lived there in perfect regularity, and under an entire +obedience to the statutes; but the moroseness of his temper rendered him +very unacceptable to his companions, so that he was little regarded, and +less beloved, nor were the academical exercises agreeable to his genius. +He held logic and metaphysics in the utmost contempt; and he scarce +considered mathematics, and natural philosophy, unless to turn them into +ridicule. The studies which he followed were history and poetry. In +these he made a great progress, but to all other branches of science, he +had given so very little application, that when he appeared as a +candidate for the degree of batchelor of arts, he was set aside on +account of insufficiency. + +'This, says lord Orrery, is a surprising incident in his life, but it is +undoubtedly true; and even at last he obtained his admission Speciali +Gratiâ. A phrase which in that university carries with it the utmost +marks of reproach. It is a kind of dishonourable degree, and the record +of it (notwithstanding Swift's present established character throughout +the learned world) must for ever remain against him in the academical +register at Dublin.' + +The more early disappointments happen in life, the deeper impression +they make upon the heart. Swift was full of indignation at the treatment +he received in Dublin; and therefore resolved to pursue his studies at +Oxford. However, that he might be admitted Ad Eundem, he was obliged to +carry with him the testimonium of his degree. The expression Speciali +Gratiâ is so peculiar to the university of Dublin, that when Mr. Swift +exhibited his testimonium at Oxford, the members of the English +university concluded, that the words Speciali Gratâ must signify a +degree conferred in reward of extraordinary diligence and learning. It +is natural to imagine that he did not try to undeceive them; he was +entered in Hart-Hall, now Hartford-College, where he resided till he +took his degree of master of arts in the year 1691. + +Dr. Swift's uncle, on whom he had placed his chief dependance, dying in +the Revolution year, he was supported chiefly by the bounty of Sir +William Temple, to whose lady he was a distant relation. Acts of +generosity seldom meet with their just applause. Sir William Temple's +friendship was immediately construed to proceed from a consciousness +that he was the real father of Mr. Swift, otherwise it was thought +impossible he could be so uncommonly munificent to a young man, so +distantly related to his wife. + +'I am not quite certain, (says his noble Biographer) that Swift himself +did not acquiesce in the calumny; perhaps like Alexander, he thought the +natural son of Jupiter would appear greater than the legitimate son of +Philip.' + +As soon as Swift quitted the university, he lived with Sir William +Temple as his friend, and domestic companion. When he had been about two +years in the family of his patron, he contracted a very long, and +dangerous illness, by eating an immoderate quantity of fruit. To this +surfeit he used to ascribe the giddiness in his head, which, with +intermissions sometimes of a longer, and sometimes of a shorter +continuance, pursued him till it seemed to compleat its conquest, by +rendering him the exact image of one of his own STRULDBRUGGS; a +miserable spectacle, devoid of every appearance of human nature, except +the outward form. + +After Swift had sufficiently recovered to travel, he went into Ireland +to try the effects of his native air; and he found so much benefit by +the journey, that pursuant to his own inclinations he soon returned into +England, and was again most affectionately received by Sir William +Temple, whose house was now at Sheen, where he was often visited by King +William. Here Swift had frequent opportunities of conversing with that +prince; in some of which conversations the king offered to make him a +captain of horse: An offer, which in his splenetic dispositions, he +always seemed sorry to have refused; but at that time he had resolved +within his own mind to take orders, and during his whole life his +resolutions, like the decrees of fate, were immoveable. Thus determined, +he again went over to Ireland, and immediately inlisted himself under +the banner of the church. He was recommended to lord Capel, then +Lord-Deputy, who gave him, the first vacancy, a prebend, of which the +income was about a hundred pounds a year. + +Swift soon grew weary of a preferment, which to a man of his ambition +was far from being sufficiently considerable. He resigned his prebend in +favour of a friend, and being sick of solitude he returned to Sheen, +were he lived domestically as usual, till the death of Sir William +Temple; who besides a legacy in money, left to him the care and trust of +publishing his posthumous works. + +During Swift's residence with Sir William Temple he became intimately +acquainted with a lady, whom he has distinguished, and often celebrated, +under the name of Stella. The real name of this lady was Johnson. She +was the daughter of Sir William Temple's steward; and the concealed but +undoubted wife of doctor Swift. Sir William Temple bequeathed her in his +will 1000 l. as an acknowledgment of her father's faithful services. In +the year 1716 she was married to doctor Swift, by doctor Ashe, then +bishop of Clogher. + +The reader must observe, there was a long interval between the +commencement of his acquaintance with Stella, and the time of making her +his wife, for which (as it appears he was fond of her from the beginning +of their intimacy) no other cause can be assigned, but that the same +unaccountable humour, which had so long detained him from marrying, +prevented him from acknowledging her after she was his wife. + +'Stella (says lord Orrery) was a most amiable woman both in mind and +person: She had an elevated understanding, with all the delicacy, and +softness of her own sex. Her voice, however sweet in itself, was still +rendered more harmonious by what she said. Her wit was poignant without +severity: Her manners were humane, polite, easy and unreserved.-- +Wherever she came, she attracted attention and esteem. As virtue was her +guide in morality, sincerity was her guide in religion. She was +constant, but not ostentatious in her devotions: She was remarkably +prudent in her conversation: She had great skill in music; and was +perfectly well versed in all the lesser arts that employ a lady's +leisure. Her wit allowed her a fund of perpetual cheerfulness within +proper limits. She exactly answered the description of Penelope in +Homer. + + A woman, loveliest of the lovely kind, + In body perfect, and compleat in mind.' + +Such was this amiable lady, yet, with all these advantages, she could +never prevail on Dr. Swift to acknowledge her openly as his wife. A +great genius must tread in unbeaten paths, and deviate from the common +road of life; otherwise a diamond of so much lustre might have been +publickly produced, although it had been fixed within the collet of +matrimony: But that which diminished the value of this inestimable jewel +in Swift's eye was the servile state of her father. + +Ambition and pride, the predominant principles which directed all the +actions of Swift, conquered reason and justice; and the vanity of +boasting such a wife was suppressed by the greater vanity of keeping +free from a low alliance. Dr. Swift and Mrs. Johnson continued the same +oeconomy of life after marriage, which they had pursued before it. They +lived in separate houses; nothing appeared in their behaviour +inconsistent in their decorum, and beyond the limits of platonic love. +However unaccountable this renunciation of marriage rites might appear +to the world, it certainly arose, not from any consciousness of a too +near consanguinity between him and Mrs. Johnson, although the general +voice of some was willing to make them both the natural children of Sir +William Temple. Dr. Swift, (says lord Orrery) was not of that opinion, +for the same false pride which induced him to deny the legitimate +daughter of an obscure servant, might have prompted him to own the +natural daughter of Sir William Temple.[2] + +It is natural to imagine, that a woman of Stella's delicacy must repine +at such an extraordinary situation. The outward honours she received are +as frequently bestowed upon a mistress as a wife; she was absolutely +virtuous, and was yet obliged to submit to all the appearances of vice. +Inward anxiety affected by degrees the calmness of her mind, and the +strength of her body. She died towards the end of January 1727, +absolutely destroy'd by the peculiarity of her fate; a fate which +perhaps she could not have incurred by an alliance with any other person +in the world. + +Upon the death of Sir William Temple, Swift came to London, and took the +earliest opportunity of delivering a petition to King William, under the +claim of a promise made by his majesty to Sir William Temple, that Mr. +Swift should have the first vacancy which might happen among the +prebends of Westminster or Canterbury. But this promise was either +totally forgotten, or the petition which Mr. Swift presented was drowned +amidst the clamour of more urgent addresses. From this first +disappointment may be dated that bitterness towards kings and courtiers, +which is to be found so universally dispersed throughout his works. + +After a long and fruitless attendance at Whitehall, Swift reluctantly +gave up all thoughts of a settlement in England: Pride prevented him +from remaining longer in a state of servility and contempt. He complied +therefore with an invitation from the earl of Berkley (appointed one of +the Lords Justices in Ireland) to attend him as his chaplain, and +private secretary.--Lord Berkley landed near Waterford, and Mr. Swift +acted as secretary during the whole journey to Dublin. But another of +lord Berkley's attendants, whose name was Bush, had by this time +insinuated himself into the earl's favour, and had whispered to his +lordship, that the post of secretary was not proper for a clergyman, to +whom only church preferments could be suitable or advantageous. Lord +Berkley listened perhaps too attentively to these insinuations, and +making some slight apology to Mr. Swift, divested him of that office, +and bestowed it upon Mr. Bush. + +Here again was another disappointment, and a fresh object of +indignation. The treatment was thought injurious, and Swift expressed +his sensibility of it in a short but satyrical copy of verses, intitled +the Discovery. However, during the government of the Earls of Berkley +and Galway, who were jointly Lords Justices of Ireland, two livings, +Laracor and Rathbeggan, were given to Mr. Swift. The first of these +rectories was worth about 200, and the latter about 60 l. a year; and +they were the only church preferments which he enjoyed till he was +appointed Dean of St. Patrick's, in the year 1713. + +Lord Orrery gives the following instances of his humour and of his +pride. + +As soon as he had taken possession of his two livings, he went to reside +at Laracor, and gave public notice to his parishioners, that he would +read prayers on every Wednesday and Friday. Upon the subsequent +Wednesday the bell was rung, and the rector attended in his desk, when +after having sat some time, and finding the congregation to consist only +of himself and his clerk Roger, he began with great composure and +gravity; but with a turn peculiar to himself. "_Dearly beloved_ Roger, +_the scripture moveth you and me in sundry places, &c_." And then +proceeded regularly thro' the whole service. This trifling circumstance +serves to shew; that he could not resist a vein of humour, whenever he +had an opportunity of exerting it. + +The following is the instance of his pride. While Swift was chaplain to +lord Berkley, his only sister, by the consent and approbation of her +uncle and relations, was married to a man in trade, whose fortune, +character, and situation were esteemed by all her friends, and suitable +to her in every respect. + +But the marriage was intirely disagreeable to her brother. It seemed to +interrupt those ambitious views he had long since formed: He grew +outragious at the thoughts of being brother-in law to a trademan. He +utterly refused all reconciliation with his father; nor would he even +listen to the entreaties of his mother, who came over to Ireland under +the strongest hopes of pacifying his anger; having in every other +instance found him a dutiful and obedient son: But his pride was not to +be conquered, and Mrs. Swift finding her son inflexible, hastened back +to Leicester, where she continued till her death. + +During his mother's life time, he scarce ever failed to pay her an +annual visit. But his manner of travelling was as singular as any other +of his actions. He often went in a waggon, but more frequently walked +from Holyhead to Leicester, London, or any other part of England. He +generally chose to dine with waggoners, ostlers, and persons of that +rank; and he used to lye at night in houses where he found written over +the door, Lodgings for a Penny. He delighted in scenes of low life. The +vulgar dialect was not only a fund of humour for him; but seems to have +been acceptable to his nature, as appears from the many filthy ideas, +and indecent expressions found throughout his works. + +A strict residence in a country place was not in the least suitable to +the restless temper of Swift. He was perpetually making excursions not +only to Dublin, and other places in Ireland, but likewise to London; so +rambling a disposition occasioned to him a considerable loss. The rich +deanery of Derry became vacant at this time, and was intended for him by +lord Berkley, if Dr. King, then bishop of Derry, and afterwards +archbishop of Dublin, had not interposed; entreating with great +earnestness, that the deanery might be given to some grave and elderly +divine, rather than to so young a man 'because (added the bishop) the +situation of Derry is in the midst of Presbyterians, and I should be +glad of a clergyman, who might be of assistance to me. I have no +objection to Mr. Swift. I know him to be a sprightly ingenious young +man; but instead of residing, I dare say he will be eternally flying +backwards and forwards to London; and therefore I entreat that he may be +provided for in some other place.' + +Swift was accordingly set aside on account of youth, and from the year +1702, to the change of the ministry in the year 1710, few circumstances +of his life can be found sufficiently material to be inserted here. From +this last period, 'till the death of Queen Anne, we find him fighting on +the side of the Tories, and maintaining their cause in pamphlets, poems, +and weekly papers. In one of his letters to Mr. Pope he has this +expression, 'I have conversed, in some freedom, with more ministers of +state, of all parties, than usually happens to men of my level; and, I +confess, in their capacity as ministers I look upon them as a race of +people, whose acquaintance no man would court otherwise, than on the +score of vanity and ambition.' A man always appears of more consequence +to himself, than he is in reality to any other person. Such, perhaps, +was the case of Dr. Swift. He knew how useful he was to the +administration in general; and in one of his letters he mentions, that +the place of historiographer was intended for him; but in this +particular he flattered himself; at least, he remained without any +preferment 'till the year 1713, when he was made dean of St. Patrick's. +In point of power and revenue, such a deanery might be esteemed no +inconsiderable promotion; but to an ambitious mind, whose perpetual view +was a settlement in England, a dignity in any other country must appear +only a profitable and an honourable kind of banishment. It is very +probable, that the temper of Swift might occasion his English friends to +wish him promoted at a distance. His spirit was ever untractable. The +motions of his genius were often irregular. He assumed more of the air +of a patron, than of a friend. He affected rather to dictate than +advise. He was elated with the appearance of enjoying ministerial +confidence. He enjoyed the shadow indeed, but the substance was detained +from him. He was employed, not entrusted; and at the same time he +imagined himself a subtle diver, who dextrously shot down into the +profoundest regions of politics, he was suffered only to sound the +shallows nearest the shore, and was scarce admitted to descend below the +froth at the top. Swift was one of those strange kind of Tories, who +lord Bolingbroke, in his letter to Sir William Wyndham, calls the +Whimsicals, that is, they were Tories attach'd to the Hanoverian +succession. This kind of Tory is so incongruous a creature, that it is a +wonder ever such a one existed. Mrs. Pilkington informs us, that Swift +had written A Defence of the last Ministers of Queen Anne, from an +intention of restoring the Pretender, which Mr. Pope advised him to +destroy, as not one word of it was true. Bolingbroke, by far the most +accomplished man in that ministry (for Oxford was, in comparison of him, +a statesman of no compass) certainly aimed at the restoration of the +exiled family, however he might disguise to some people his real +intentions, under the masque of being a Hanoverian Tory. This serves to +corroberate the observation which lord Orrery makes of Swift: 'that he +was employed, not trusted, &c.' + +By reflexions of this sort, says lord Orrery, we may account for his +disappointment of an English bishopric. A disappointment, which, he +imagined, he owed to a joint application, made against him to the Queen, +by Dr. Sharp, archbishop of York, and by a lady of the highest rank and +character. Archbishop Sharpe, according to Swift's account, had +represented him to the Queen as a person, who was no Christian; the +great lady had supported the assertion, and the Queen, upon such +assurances, had given away the bishopric, contrary to her Majesty's +intentions. Swift kept himself, indeed, within some tolerable bounds +when he spoke of the Queen; but his indignation knew no limits when he +mentioned the archbishop, or the lady. + +Most people are fond of a settlement in their native country, but Swift +had not much reason to rejoice in the land where his lot had fallen; for +upon his arrival in Ireland to take possesion of the deanery, he found +the violence of party raging in that kingdom to the highest degree. The +common people were taught to consider him as a Jacobite, and they +proceeded so far in their detestation, as to throw stones and dirt at +him as he passed thro' the streets. The chapter of St. Patrick's, like +the rest of the kingdom, received him with great reluctance. They +opposed him in every point he proposed. They avoided him as a +pestilence, and resisted him as an invader and an enemy to his country. +Such was his first reception, as dean of St. Patrick's. Fewer talents, +and less firmness must have yielded to so outrageous an opposition. He +had seen enough of human nature to be convinced that the passions of +low, self-interested minds ebb and flow continually. They love they know +not whom, they hate they know not why. They are captivated by words, +guided by names, and governed by accidents. But to few the strange +revolutions in this world, Dr. Swift, who was now the detestion of the +Irish rabble, lived to be afterwards the most absolute monarch over +them, that ever governed men. His first step was to reduce to reason and +obedience his revd. brethren the the chapter of St. Patrick's; in which +he succeeded so perfectly, and so speedily, that, in a short time after +his arrival, not one member in that body offered to contradict him, even +in trifles: on the contrary, they held him in the highest respect and +veneration, so that he sat in the Chapter-House, like Jupiter in the +Synod of the Gods. + +In the beginning of the year 1714 Swift returned to England. He found +his great friends, who sat in the seat of power, much disunited among +themselves. He saw the Queen declining in her health, and distressed in +her situation; while faction was exerting itself, and gathering new +strength every day. He exerted the utmost of his skill to unite the +ministers, and to cement the apertures of the state: but he found his +pains fruitless, his arguments unavailing, and his endeavours, like the +stone of Sisyphus, rolling back upon himself. He retired to a friend's +house in Berkshire, where he remained 'till the Queen died. So fatal an +event terminated all his views in England, and made him return as fast +as possible to his deanery in Ireland, oppressed with grief and +discontent. His hopes in England were now crushed for ever. As Swift was +well known to have been attached to the Queen's last ministry, he met +with several indignities from the populace, and, indeed, was equally +abused by persons of all ranks and denominations. Such a treatment +soured his temper, confined his acquaintance, and added bitterness to +his stile. + +From the year 1714, 'till he appeared in the year 1720 a champion for +Ireland, against Wood's halfpence, his spirit of politics and patriotism +was kept almost closely confined within his own breast. Idleness and +trifles engrossed too many of his leisure hours; fools and sycophants +too much of his conversation. His attendance upon the public service of +the church was regular and uninterrupted; and indeed regularity was +peculiar to all his actions, even in the meerest trifles. His hours of +walking and reading never varied. His motions were guided by his watch, +which was so constantly held in his hand, or placed before him on the +table, that he seldom deviated many minutes in the revolution of his +exercises and employments. In the year 1720 he began to re-assume, in +some degree, the character of a political writer. A small pamphlet in +defence of the Irish Manufactures was his first essay in Ireland in that +kind of writing, and to that pamphlet he owed the turn of the popular +tide in his favour. It was entitled, A Proposal for the Universal Use of +Irish Manufacture in Clothes and Furniture of Houses, &c. utterly +rejecting and renouncing every thing wearable that comes from England. +This proposal immediately raised a very violent flame. The Printer was +prosecuted, and the prosecution had the same effect, which generally +attends those kind of measures. It added fuel to flame. But his greatest +enemies must confess, that the pamphlet is written in the stile of a man +who had the good of his country nearest his heart, who saw her errors, +and wished to correct them; who felt her oppressions, and wished to +relieve them; and who had a desire to rouze and awaken an indolent +nation from a lethargic disposition, that might prove fatal to her +constitution. This temporary opposition but increased the stream of his +popularity. He was now looked upon in a new light, and was distinguished +by the title of THE DEAN, and so high a degree of popularity did he +attain, as to become an arbitrator, in disputes of property, amongst his +neighbours; nor did any man dare to appeal from his opinion, or murmur +at his decrees. + +But the popular affection, which the dean had hitherto acquired, may be +said not to have been universal, 'till the publication of the Drapier's +Letters, which made all ranks, and all professions unanimous in his +applause. The occasion of those letters was, a scarcity of copper coin +in Ireland, to so great a degree, that, for some time past, the chief +manufacturers throughout the kingdom were obliged to pay their workmen +in pieces of tin, or in other tokens of suppositious value. Such a +method was very disadvantageous to the lower parts of traffic, and was +in general an impediment to the commerce of the state. To remedy this +evil, the late King granted a patent to one Wood, to coin, during the +term of fourteen years, farthings and halfpence in England, for the use +of Ireland, to the value of a certain Aim specified. These halfpence and +farthings were to be received by those persons, who would voluntarily +accept them. But the patent was thought to be of such dangerous +consequence to the public, and of such exorbitant advantage to the +patentee, that the dean, under the character of M. B. Drapier, wrote a +Letter to the People, warning them not to accept Wood's halfpence and +farthings, as current coin. This first letter was succeeded by several +others to the same purpose, all which are inserted in his works. + +At the sound of the Drapier's trumpet, a spirit arose among the people. +Persons of all ranks, parties and denominations, were convinced that the +admission of Wood's copper must prove fatal to the commonwealth. The +Papist, the Fanatic, the Tory, the Whig, all listed themselves +volunteers, under the banner of the Drapier, and were all equally +zealous to serve the common cause. Much heat, and many fiery speeches +against the administration were the consequence of this union; nor had +the flames been allayed, notwithstanding threats and proclamations, had +not the coin been totally suppressed, and Wood withdrawn his patent. The +name of Augustus was not bestowed upon Octavius Cæsar with more +universal approbation, than the name of the Drapier was bestowed upon +the dean. He had no sooner assumed his new cognomen, than he became the +idol of the people of Ireland, to a degree of devotion, that in the most +superstitious country, scarce any idol ever obtained. Libations to his +health were poured out as frequent as to the immortal memory of King +William. His effigies was painted in every street in Dublin. +Acclamations and vows for his prosperity attended his footsteps wherever +he passed. He was consulted in all points relating to domestic policy in +general, and to the trade of Ireland in particular; but he was more +immediately looked upon as the legislator of the Weavers, who frequently +came in a body, consisting of 40 or 50 chiefs of their trade, to receive +his advice in settling the rates of their manufactures, and the wages of +their journeymen. He received their address with less majesty than +sternness, and ranging his subjects in a circle round his parlour, spoke +as copiously, and with as little difficulty and hesitation, to the +several points in which they supplicated his assistance, as if trade had +been the only study and employment of his life. When elections were +depending for the city of Dublin, many Corporations refused to declare +themselves, 'till they had consulted his sentiments and inclinations, +which were punctually followed with equal chearfulness and submission. + +In this state of power, and popular admiration, he remained 'till he +lost his senses; a loss which he seemed to foresee, and prophetically +lamented to many of his friends. The total deprivation of his senses +came upon him by degrees. In the year 1736 he was seized with a violent +fit of giddiness; he was at that time writing a satirical poem, called +The Legion Club; but he found the effects of his giddiness so dreadful, +that he left the poem unfinished, and never afterwards attempted a +composition, either in verse or prose. However, his conversation still +remained the same, lively and severe, but his memory gradually grew +worse and worse, and as that decreased, he grew every day more fretful +and impatient. In the year 1741, his friends found his passions so +violent and ungovernable, his memory so decayed, and his reason so +depraved, that they took the utmost precautions to keep all strangers +from approaching him; for, 'till then, he had not appeared totally +incapable of conversation. But early in the year 1742, the small remains +of his understanding became entirely confused, and the violence of his +rage increased absolutely to a degree of madness. In this miserable +state he seemed to be appointed the first inhabitant of his own +Hospital; especially as from an outrageous lunatic, he sunk afterwards +to a quiet speechless ideot; and dragged out the remainder of his life +in that helpless situation. He died towards the latter end of October +1745. The manner of his death was easy, without the least pang, or +convulsion; even the rattling of his throat was scarce sufficient to +give an alarm to his attendants, 'till within some very little time +before he expired. A man in possession of his reason would have wished +for such a kind dissolution; but Swift was totally insensible of +happiness, or pain. He had not even the power or expression of a child, +appearing for some years before his death, referred only as an example +to mortify human pride, and to reverse that fine description of human +nature, which is given us by the inimitable Shakespeare. 'What a piece +of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form +and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in +apprehension how like a God! the beauty of the world! the paragon of +animals!' Swift's friends often heard him lament the state of childhood +and idiotism, to which some of the greatest men of this nation were +reduced before their death. He mentioned, as examples within his own +time, the duke of Marlborough and lord Somers; and when he cited these +melancholy instances, it was always with a heavy sigh, and with gestures +that shewed great uneasiness, as if he felt an impulse of what was to +happen to him before he died. He left behind him about twelve thousand +pounds, inclusive of the specific legacies mentioned in his will, and +which may be computed at the sum of twelve hundred pounds, so that the +remaining ten thousand eight hundred pounds, is entirely applicable to +the Hospital for Idiots and Lunatics; an establishment remarkably +generous, as those who receive the benefit, must for ever remain +ignorant of their benefactor. + +Lord Orerry has observed, that a propension to jocularity and humour is +apparent in the last works of Swift. His Will, like all his other +writings, is drawn up in his own peculiar manner. Even in so serious a +composition, he cannot help indulging himself in leaving legacies, that +carry with them an air of raillery and jest. He disposes of his three +best hats (his best, his second best, and his third best beaver) with an +ironical solemnity, that renders the bequests ridiculous. He bequeaths, +'To Mr. John Grattan a silver-box, to keep in it the tobacco which the +said John usually chewed, called pigtail.' But his legacy to Mr. Robert +Grattan, is still more extraordinary. 'Item, I bequeath to the Revd. Mr. +Robert Grattan, Prebendary of St. Audeon's, my strong box, on condition +of his giving the sole use of the said box to his brother, Dr. James +Grattan, during the life of the said Doctor, who hath more occasion for +it.' + +These are so many last expressions of his turn, and way of thinking, and +no doubt the persons thus distinguished looked upon these instances as +affectionate memorials of his friendship, and tokens of the jocose +manner, in which he had treated them during his life-time. + +With regard to Dean Swift's poetical character, the reader will take the +following sketch of it in the words of Lord Orrery. 'The poetical +performances of Swift (says he) ought to be considered as occasional +poems, written either to pleasure[3], or to vex some particular persons. +We must not suppose them designed for posterity; if he had cultivated +his genius that way, he must certainly have excelled, especially in +satire. We see fine sketches in several of his pieces; but he seems more +desirous to inform and strengthen his mind, than to indulge the +luxuriancy of his imagination. He chuses to discover, and correct errors +in the works of others, rather than to illustrate, and add beauties of +his own. Like a skilful artist, he is fond of probing wounds to their +depth, and of enlarging them to open view. He aims to be severely +useful, rather than politely engaging; and as he was either not formed, +nor would take pains to excel in poetry, he became in some measure +superior to it; and assumed more the air, and manner of a critic than a +poet.' Thus far his lordship in his VIth letter, but in his IXth, he +adds, when speaking of the Second Volume of Swift's Works, 'He had the +nicest ear; he is remarkably chaste, and delicate in his rhimes. A bad +rhime appeared to him one of the capital sins of poetry.' + +The Dean's poem on his celebrated Vanessa, is number'd among the best of +his poetical pieces. Of this lady it will be proper to give some +account, as she was a character as singular as Swift himself. + +Vanessa's real name was Esther Vanhomrich[4]. She was one of the +daughters of Bartholomew Vanhomrich, a Dutch merchant of Amsterdam; who +upon the Revolution went into Ireland, and was appointed by king William +a commissioner of the revenue. The Dutch merchant, by parsimony and +prudence, had collected a fortune of about 16,000 _l_. He bequeathed an +equal division of it to his wife, and his four children, of which two +were sons, and two were daughters. The sons after the death of their +father travelled abroad: The eldest died beyond sea; and the youngest +surviving his brother only a short time, the whole patrimony fell to his +two sisters, Esther and Mary. + +With this encrease of wealth, and with heads and hearts elated by +affluence, and unrestrained by fore-sight or discretion, the widow +Vanhomrich, and her two daughters, quitted their native country for the +more elegant pleasures of the English court. During their residence at +London, they lived in a course of prodigality, that stretched itself far +beyond the limits of their income, and reduced them to great distress, +in the midst of which the mother died, and the two daughters hastened in +all secresy back to Ireland, beginning their journey on a Sunday, to +avoid the interruption of creditors. Within two years after their +arrival in Ireland, Mary the youngest sister died, and the small remains +of the shipwreck'd fortune center'd in Vanessa. + +Vanity makes terrible devastations in a female breast: Vanessa was +excessively vain. She was fond of dress; impatient to be admired; very +romantic in her turn of mind; superior in her own opinion to all her +sex; full of pertness, gaiety, and pride; not without some agreeable +accomplishments, but far from being either beautiful or genteel: +Ambitious at any rate to be esteemed a wit; and with that view always +affecting to keep company with wits; a great reader, and a violent +admirer of poetry; happy in the thoughts of being reputed Swift's +concubine; but still aiming to be his wife. By nature haughty and +disdainful, looking with contempt upon her inferiors; and with the +smiles of self-approbation upon her equals; but upon Dr. Swift, with the +eyes of love: Her love was no doubt founded in vanity. + +Though Vanessa had exerted all the arts of her sex, to intangle Swift in +matrimony; she was yet unsuccessful. She had lost her reputation, and +the narrowness of her income, and coldness of her lover contributed to +make her miserable, and to increase the phrensical disposition of her +mind. In this melancholly situation she remained several years, during +which time Cadenus (Swift) visited her frequently. She often press'd him +to marry her: His answers were rather turns of wit, than positive +denials; till at last being unable to sustain the weight of misery any +longer, she wrote a very tender epistle to him, insisting peremptorily +upon a serious answer, and an immediate acceptance, or absolute refusal +of her as his wife. His reply was delivered by his own hand. He brought +it with him when he made his final visit; and throwing down the letter +upon the table with great passion, hastened back to his house, carrying +in his countenance the frown of anger, and indignation. Vanessa did not +survive many days the letter delivered to her by Swift, but during that +short interval she was sufficiently composed, to cancel a will made in +his favour, and to make another, wherein she left her fortune (which by +a long retirement was in some measure retrieved) to her two executors, +Dr. Berkley the late lord bishop of Cloyne, and Mr. Marshal one of the +king's Serjeants at law. Thus perished under all the agonies of despair, +Mrs. Esther Vanhomrich; a miserable example of an ill-spent life, +fantastic wit, visionary schemes, and female weakness. + +It is strange that vanity should have so great a prevalence in the +female breast, and yet it is certain that to this principle it was +owing, that Swift's house was often a seraglio of very virtuous women, +who attended him from morning till night, with an obedience, an awe, and +an assiduity that are seldom paid to the richest, or the most powerful +lovers. These ladies had no doubt a pride in being thought the +companions of Swift; but the hours which were spent in his company could +not be very pleasant, as his sternness and authority were continually +exerted to keep them in awe. + +Lord Orrery has informed us, that Swift took every opportunity to expose +and ridicule Dryden, for which he imagines there must have been some +affront given by that great man to Swift. In this particular we can +satisfy the reader from authentic information. + +When Swift was a young man, and not so well acquainted with the world as +he afterwards became, he wrote some Pindaric Odes. In this species of +composition he succeeded ill; sublimity and fire, the indispensable +requisites in a Pindaric Ode not being his talent. As Mr. Dryden was +Swift's kinsman, these odes were shewn to him for his approbation, who +said to him with an unreserved freedom, and in the candour of a friend, +'Cousin Swift, turn your thoughts some other way, for nature has never +formed you for a Pindaric poet.' + +Though what Dryden observed, might in some measure be true, and Swift +perhaps was conscious that he had not abilities to succeed in that +species of writing; yet this honest dissuasive of his kinsman he never +forgave. The remembrance of it soured his temper, and heated his +passions, whenever Dryden's name was mention'd. + +We shall now take a view of Swift in his moral life, the distinction he +has obtained in the literary world having rendered all illustrations of +his genius needless. + +Lord Orrery, throughout his excellent work, from which we have drawn our +account of Swift, with his usual marks of candour, has displayed his +moral character. In many particulars, the picture he draws of the Dean +resembles the portrait of the same person as drawn by Mrs. Pilkington. + +'I have beheld him (says his lordship) in all humours and dispositions, +and I have formed various speculations from the several weaknesses to +which I observed him liable. His capacity, and strength of mind, were +undoubtedly equal to any talk whatsoever. His pride, his spirit, or his +ambition (call it by what name you please) was boundless; but his views +were checked in his younger years, and the anxiety of that +disappointment had a sensible effect upon all his actions. He was sour +and severe, but not absolutely ill-natur'd. He was sociable only to +particular friends, and to them only at particular hours. He knew +politeness more than he practiced it. He was a mixture of avarice and +generosity; the former was frequently prevalent, the latter seldom +appeared unless excited by compassion. He was open to adulation, and +would not, or could not, distinguish between low flattery and just +applause. His abilities rendered him superior to envy. He was +undisguised, and perfectly sincere. I am induced to think that he +entered into orders, more from some private and fixed resolution, than +from absolute choice: Be that as it may, he performed the duties of the +church with great punctuality, and a decent degree of devotion. He read +prayers, rather in a strong nervous voice, than in a graceful manner; +and although he has been often accused of irreligion, nothing of that +kind appeared in his conversation or behaviour. His cast of mind induced +him to think and speak more of politics than religion. His perpetual +views were directed towards power; and his chief aim was to be removed +to England: But when he found himself entirely disappointed, he turned +his thoughts to opposition, and became the Patron of Ireland.' + +Mrs. Pilkington has represented him as a tyrant in his family, and has +discovered in him a violent propension to be absolute in every company +where he was. This disposition, no doubt, made him more feared than +loved; but as he had the most unbounded vanity to gratify, he was +pleased with the servility and awe with which inferiors approached him. +He may be resembled to an eastern monarch, who takes delight in +surveying his slaves, trembling at his approach, and kneeling with +reverence at his feet. + +Had Swift been born to regal honours, he would doubtless have bent the +necks of his people to the yoke: As a subject, he was restless and +turbulent; and though as lord Orrery says, he was above corruption, yet +that virtue was certainly founded on his pride, which disdained every +measure, and spurned every effort in which he himself was not the +principal. + +He was certainly charitable, though it had an unlucky mixture of +ostentation in it. One particular act of his charity (not mentioned, +except by Mrs. Pilkington, in any account of him yet published) is well +worthy of remembrance, praise, and imitation:--He appropriated the sum +of five-hundred pounds intirely to the use of poor tradesmen and +handicraftsmen, whose honesty and industry, he thought merited +assistance, and encouragement: This he lent to them in small loans, as +their exigencies required, without any interest; and they repaid him at +so much per week, or month, as their different circumstances best +enabled them.--To the wealthy let us say-- + + "Abi tu et fac similiter." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Lord Orrery, page 6. + +[2] The authors of the Monthly Review have justly remarked, that this + observation of his lordship's seems premature. + + The same public rumour, say they, that made HER Sir William Temple's + daughter, made HIM also Sir William's son: Therefore he (Swift) + could never with decency, have acknowledged Mrs. Johnson as his + wife, while that rumour continued to retain any degree of credit; + and if there had been really no foundation for it, surely it might + have been no very hard task to obviate its force, by producing the + necessary proofs and circumstances of his birth: Yet, we do not + find that ever this was done, either by the Dean or his relations. + +[3] We are assured, there was one while a misunderstanding subsisting + between Swift and Pope: But that worthy gentleman, the late general + Dormer (who had a great regard for both) reconciled them, e'er it + came to an open rupture:--Though the world might be deprived by the + general's mediation of great matter of entertainment, which the + whetted wit of two such men might have afforded; yet his + good-nature, and sincere friendship, deserves to be remember'd with + honour.--This gentleman Mr. Cibber senior was very intimate with, + and once hinted to him, 'He was concerned to find he stood so ill in + the Dean's opinion, whose great parts, wit, genius, &c. he held in + the highest estimation; nor could he easily account for the Dean's + so frequently appearing his enemy, as he never knowingly had + offended him; and regretted the want of an opportunity of being + better acquainted with him.'--The general had also a great regard + for Mr. Cibber, and wished to bring them together on an agreeable + footing:--Why they were not so, came out soon after.--The secret + was,--Mr. Pope was angry; [for the long-latent cause, look into Mr. + Cibber's letter to Mr. Pope.] Passion and prejudice are not always + friends to truth;--and the foam of resentment never rose higher, + than when it boil'd and swell'd in Mr. Pope's bosom: No wonder then, + that his misrepresentation might make the Dean believe, Mr. Cibber + was not unworthy of that satire and raillery (not always just + neither, and sometimes solicited) which is not unsparingly thrown on + him in the Dean's works:--That this was the case, appears from the + following circumstance. + + As soon as Mr. Cibber's Apology was first printed, it was + immediately carried over to Dublin, and given to Mr. Faulkner (an + eminent printer and bookseller there) by a gentleman, who wished to + see an edition of it in Ireland; Mr. Faulkner published it, and the + success thereof was so great, some thousands thereof were disposed + of in a very short time: Just before the intended edition appeared, + the Dean (who often visited Mr. Faulkner) coming into the shop, + asked, 'What new pieces were likely to come forth?'--Mr. Faulkner + gave Mr. Cibber's Apology to him;--The Dean's curiosity + [Transcriber's note: 'curosity' in original] was pretty strong to + see a work of that uncommon sort:--In short, he stay'd and dined + there; and did not quit the house, or the book, 'till he had read it + through: He advised Faulkner, to lose no time in printing it; and + said, he would answer for it's success:--He declared, he had not + perus'd any thing a long time that had pleas'd him so much; and + dwelt long in commendation of it: He added, that he almost envy'd + the author the pleasure he must have in writing it;--That he was + sorry he had ever said any thing to his disadvantage; and was + convinced Cibber had been very much misrepresented to him; nor did + he scruple to say, that, as it had been formerly the fashion to + abuse Cibber, he had unwarily been drawn into it by Pope, and + others. He often, afterwards, spoke in praise of Mr. Cibber, and his + writing in general, and of this work in particular.--He afterwards + told Mr. Faulkner, he had read Cibber's Apology thro' three times; + that he was more and more pleased with it: That the style was not + inferior to any English he had ever read: That his words were + properly adapted: His similes happy, uncommon, and well chosen: He + then in a pleasant manner said--'You must give me this book, which + is the first thing I ever begg'd from you.' To this, we may be sure + Mr. Faulkner readily consented. Ever after in company, the Dean gave + this book a great character.--Let the reader make the application of + this true and well known fact. + +[4] The name is pronounced Vannumery. + + + * * * * * + + +MRS. CONSTANTIA GRIERSON. + +This lady was born in Ireland; and, as Mrs. Barber judiciously remarks, +was one of the most extraordinary women that either this age, or perhaps +any other, ever produced. She died in the year 1733, at the age of 27, +and was allowed long before to be an excellent scholar, not only in +Greek and Roman literature, but in history, divinity, philosophy, and +mathematics. + +Mrs. Grierson (says she) 'gave a proof of her knowledge in the Latin +tongue, by her dedication of the Dublin edition of Tacitus to the lord +Carteret, and by that of Terence to his son, to whom she likewise wrote +a Greek epigram. She wrote several fine poems in English[1], on which +she set so little value, that she neglected to leave copies behind her +of but very few. + +'What makes her character the more remarkable is, that she rose to this +eminence of learning merely by the force of her own genius, and +continual application. She was not only happy in a fine imagination, a +great memory, an excellent understanding, and an exact judgment, but had +all these crowned by virtue and piety: she was too learned to be vain, +too wise to be conceited, too knowing and too clear-sighted to +irreligious. + +'If heaven had spared her life, and blessed her with health, which she +wanted for some years before her death, there is good reason to think +she would have made as great a figure in the learned world, as any of +her sex are recorded to have done. + +'As her learning and abilities raised her above her own sex, so they +left her no room to envy any; on the contrary, her delight was to see +others excel. She was always ready to advise and direct those who +applied to her, and was herself willing to be advised. + +'So little did she value herself upon her uncommon excellences, that it +has often recalled to my mind a fine reflexion of a French author, _That +great geniuses should be superior to their own abilities._ + +'I perswade myself that this short account of so extraordinary a woman, +of whom much more might have been said, will not be disagreeable to my +readers; nor can I omit what I think is greatly to the lord Carteret's +honour, that when he was lord lieutenant of Ireland, he obtained a +patent for Mr. Grierson, her husband, to be the King's Printer, and to +distinguish and reward her uncommon merit, had her life inserted in it.' +Thus far Mrs. Barber. We shall now subjoin Mrs. Pilkington's account of +this wonderful genius. + +'About two years before this, a young woman (afterwards married to Mr. +Grierson) of about eighteen years of age, was brought to my father[2], +to be by him instructed in Midwifry: she was mistress of Hebrew[3], +Greek, Latin, and French, and understood the mathematics as well as most +men: and what made these extraordinary talents yet more surprizing was, +that her parents were poor, illiterate, country people: so that her +learning appeared like the gift poured out on the apostles, of speaking +all languages without the pains of study; or, like the intuitive +knowledge of angels: yet inasmuch as the power of miracles is ceased, we +must allow she used human means for such great and excellent +acquirements. And yet, in a long friendship and familiarity with her, I +could never obtain a satisfactory account from her on this head; only +she said, she had received some little instruction from the minister of +the parish, when she could spare time from her needle-work, to which she +was closely kept by her mother. She wrote elegantly both in verse and +prose, and some of the most delightful hours I ever passed were in the +conversation of this female philosopher. + +'My father readily consented to accept of her as a pupil, and gave her a +general invitation to his table; so that she and I were seldom asunder. +My parents were well pleased with our intimacy, as her piety was not +inferior to her learning. Her turn was chiefly to philosophical or +divine subjects; yet could her heavenly muse descend from its sublime +height to the easy epistolary stile, and suit itself to my then gay +disposition[4]. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Mrs. Barber has preserved several specimens of her talent in this + way, which are printed with her own poems. + +[2] Dr. Van Lewen of Dublin, an eminent physician and man-midwife. + +[3] Her knowledge of the Hebrew is not mentioned by Mrs. Barber. + +[4] Vide MRS. PILKINGTON'S MEMOIRS, Vol. I. + + + * * * * * + + +MRS. CATHERINE COCKBURN. + +The Revd. Dr. Birch, who has prefixed a life of Mrs. Cockburn before the +collection he has made of her works, with great truth observes, that it +is a justice due to the public, as well as to the memory of Mrs. +Cockburn, to premise some account of so extraordinary a person. +"Posterity, at least, adds he, will be so sollicitous to know, to whom +they will owe the most demonstrative and perspicuous reasonings, upon +subjects of eternal importance; and her own sex is entitled to the +fullest information about one, who has done such honour to them, and +raised our ideas of their intellectual powers, by an example of the +greatest extent of understanding and correctness of judgment, united to +all the vivacity of imagination. Antiquity, indeed, boasted of its +Female Philosophers, whose merits have been drawn forth in an elaborate +treatise of Menage[1]. But our own age and country may without injustice +or vanity oppose to those illustrious ladies the defender of Lock and +Clark; who, with a genius equal to the most eminent of them, had the +superior advantage of cultivating it in the only effectual method of +improvement, the study of a real philosophy, and a theology worthy human +nature, and its all-perfect author. [Transcriber's note: closing quotes +missing from original.] + +She was the daughter of captain David Trotter, a Scots gentleman, and +commander of the royal navy in the reign of Charles II. He was highly in +favour with that prince, who employed him as commodore in the demolition +of Tangier, in the year 1683. Soon after he was sent to convoy the fleet +of the Turkey company; when being seized by the plague, then raging at +Scanderoon, he died there. His death was an irreparable loss to his +family, who were defrauded of all his effects on board his ship, which +were very considerable, and of all the money which he had advanced to +the seamen, during a long voyage: And to add to this misfortune, the +goldsmith, in whose hands the greatest part of his money was lodged, +became soon after a bankrupt. These accumulated circumstances of +distress exciting the companion of king Charles, the captain's widow was +allowed a pension, which ended with that king's life; nor had she any +consideration for her losses in the two succeeding reigns. But queen +Anne, upon her accession to the throne, granted her an annual pension of +twenty pounds. + +Captain Trotter at his death, left only two daughters, the youngest of +whom, Catherine, our celebrated author, was born in London, August 16, +1679. She gave early marks of her genius, and was not passed her +childhood when she surprized a company of her relations and friends with +extemporary verses, on an accident which had fallen under her +observation in the street. She both learned to write, and made herself +mistress of the French language, by her own application and diligence, +without any instructor. But she had some assistance in the study of the +Latin Grammar and Logic, of which latter she drew up an abstract for her +own use. The most serious and important subjects, and especially +[Transcriber's note: 'espepecially' in original] those of religion, soon +engaged her attention. But not withstanding her education, her intimacy +with several families of distinction of the Romish persuasion exposed +her, while very young, to impressions in favour of that church, which +not being removed by her conferences with some eminent and learned +members of the church of England, she followed the dictates of a +misguided conscience, and embraced the Romish communion, in which she +continued till the year 1707. + +She was but 14 years of age, when she wrote a copy of verses upon Mr. +Bevil Higgons's sickness and recovery from the small pox, which are +printed in our author's second volume. Her next production was a Tragedy +called Agnes de Castro, which was acted at the Theatre-royal, in 1695, +when she was only in her seventeenth year, and printed in 1696. The +reputation of this performance, and the verses which she addressed to +Mr. Congreve upon his Mourning Bride, in 1697, were probably the +foundation of her acquaintance with that admirable writer. + +Her second Tragedy, intitled Fatal Friendship, was acted in 1698, at the +new Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. This Tragedy met with great +applause, and is still thought the most perfect of her dramatic +performances. Among other copies of verses sent to her upon occasion of +it, and prefixed to it, was one from an unknown hand, which afterwards +appeared to be from the elegant pen of Mr. Hughs, author of the Siege of +Damascus [2]. + +The death of Mr. Dryden engaged her to join with several other ladies in +paying a just tribute to the memory of that great improver of the +strength, fulness, and harmony of English verse; and their performances +were published together, under the title of the Nine Muses; or Poems +written by so many Ladies, upon the Death of the late famous John +Dryden, Esq; + +Her dramatic talents not being confined to Tragedy, she brought upon the +stage, in 1701, a Comedy called Love at a Loss; or most Votes carry it, +published in May that year. In the same year she gave the public her +third Tragedy, intitled, The Unhappy Penitent, acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. In the dedication to Charles lord Hallifax, +she draws the characters of several of the most eminent of her +predecessors in tragic poetry, with great judgment and precision. She +observes, that Shakespear had all the images of nature present to him, +studied her thoroughly, and boldly copied all her various features: and +that though he chiefly exerted himself on the more masculine passions, +it was the choice of his judgment, not the restraint of his genius; and +he seems to have designed those few tender moving scenes, which he has +given us, as a proof that he could be every way equally admirable. She +allows Dryden to have been the most universal genius which this nation +ever bred; but thinks that he did not excel in every part; for though he +is distinguished in most of his writings, by greatness and elevation of +thought, yet at the same time that he commands our admiration of +himself, he little moves our concern for those whom he represents, not +being formed for touching the softer passions. On the other hand, Otway, +besides his judicious choice of the fable, had a peculiar art to move +compassion, which, as it is one of the chief ends of Tragedy, he found +most adapted to his genius; and never venturing where that did not lead +him, excelled in the pathetic. And had Lee, as she remarks, consulted +his strength as well, he might have given us more perfect pieces; but +aiming at the sublime, instead of being great, he is extravagant; his +stile too swelling; and if we pursue him in his flight, he often carries +us out of nature. Had he restrained that vain ambition, and intirely +applied himself to describe the softest of the passions (for love, of +all the passions, he seems best to have understood, if that be allowed a +proper subject for Tragedy) he had certainly had fewer defects. + +But poetry and dramatic writing did not so far engross the thoughts of +our author, but that she sometimes turned them to subjects of a very +different nature; and at an age when few of the other sex were capable +of understanding the Essay of Human Understanding, and most of them +prejudiced against the novelty of its principles; and though she was at +that time engaged in the profession of a religion not very favourable to +so rational a philosophy as that of Mr. Lock; yet she had read that +incomparable book, with so clear a comprehension, and so unbiassed a +judgment, that her own conviction of the truth and importance of the +notions contained in it, led her to endeavour that of others, by +removing some of the objections urged against them. She drew up +therefore a Defence of the Essay, against some Remarks which had been +published against it in 1667. The author of these remarks was never +known to Mr. Lock, who animadverted upon them with some marks of +chagrin, at the end of his reply to Stillingfleet, 1697. But after the +death of the ingenious Dr. Thomas Burner, master of the Charter-House, +it appeared from his papers, that the Remarks were the product of his +pen. They were soon followed by second Remarks, printed the same year, +in vindication of the first, against Mr. Lock's Answer to them; and in +1699, by Third Remarks, addressed likewise to Mr. Lock. Mrs. Trotter's +Defence of the Essay against all these Remarks was finished so early as +the beginning of December 1701, when she was but 22 years old. But being +more apprehensive of appearing before the great writer whom she +defended, than of the public censure, and conscious that the name of a +woman would be a prejudice against a work of that nature, she resolved +to conceal herself with the utmost care. But her title to the reputation +of this piece did not continue long a secret to the world. For Mrs. +Burnet, the late wife of Dr. Burnet, bishop of Sarum, a lady of an +uncommon degree of knowledge, and whose Method of Devotion, which passed +through several editions, is a proof of her exemplary piety, and who, as +well as that prelate, honoured our author with a particular friendship, +notwithstanding the difference of her religion, being informed that she +was engaged in writing, and that it was not poetry, was desirous to know +the subject. This Mrs. Trotter could not deny a lady of her merit, in +whom she might safely confide, and who, upon being acquainted with it, +shewed an equal sollicitude that the author might not be known. But +afterwards finding the performance highly approved by the bishop her +husband, Mr. Norris of Bemmerton, and Mr. Lock himself; she thought the +reasons of secrecy ceased, and discovered the writer; and in June 1707 +returned her thanks to Mrs. Trotter, then in London, for her present of +the book, in a letter which does as much honour to her own +understanding, principles and temper, as to her friend, to whom she +addressed it. Dr. Birch has given a copy of this letter. + +Mr. Lock likewise was so highly satisfied with the Defence, (which was +perhaps the only piece that appeared in favour of his Essay, except one +by Mr. Samuel Bold, rector of Steeple in Dorsetshire, 1699) that being +in London, he desired Mr. King, afterwards lord high chancellor, to make +Mrs. Trotter a visit, and a present of books; and when she had owned +herself, he wrote to her a letter of compliment, a copy of which is +inserted in these memoirs. + +But while our author continued to shew the world so deep a penetration +into subjects of the most difficult and abstract kind, she was still +incapable of extricating herself from those subtilties and perplexities +of argument, which retained her in the church of Rome. And the sincerity +of her attachment to it, in all its outward severities, obliged her to +so strict an observance of its fasts, as proved extremely injurious to +her health. Upon which Dr. Denton Nicholas, a very ingenious learned +physician of her acquaintance, advised her to abate of those rigours of +abstinence, as insupportable to a constitution naturally infirm. + +She returned to the exercise of her dramatic genius in 1703, and having +fixed upon the Revolution of Sweden under Gustavus Erickson (which has +been related in prose with so much force and beauty by the Abbé Vertot) +for the subject of a Tragedy, she sent the first draught of it to Mr. +Congreve, who returned her an answer, which, on account of the just +remarks upon the conduct of the drama, well deserves a place here, did +it not exceed our proposed bounds, and therefore we must refer the +reader to Dr. Birch's account. This Tragedy was acted in 1706, at the +Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market, and was printed in quarto. + +By a letter from Mrs. Trotter to her friend George Burnet of Kemnay in +Scotland, Esq; then at Geneva, dated February 2, 1703-4, it appears that +she then began to entertain more moderate notions of religion, and to +abate of her zeal for the church of Rome. Her charitableness and +latitude of sentiments seems to have increased a-pace, from the farther +examination which she was now probably making into the state of the +controversy between the church of Rome and the Protestants; for in +another letter to Mr. Burnet, of August 8, 1704, she speaks to the +subject of religion, with a spirit of moderation unusual in the +communion of which she still professed herself. + +'I wish, (says she) there was no distinction of churches; and then I +doubt not there would be much more real religion, the name and notion of +which I am so sorry to observe confined to the being of some particular +community; and the whole of it, I am afraid, placed by most in a zeal +of those points, which make the differences between them; from which +mistaken zeal, no doubt, have proceeded all the massacres, +persecutions, and hatred of their fellow christians, which all churches +have been inclined to, when in power. And I believe it is generally +true, that those who are most bigotted to a sect, or most rigid and +precise in their forms and outward discipline, are most negligent of +the moral duties, which certainly are the main end of religion. I have +observed this so often, both in private persons and public societies, +that I am apt to suspect it every where.' + +The victory at Blenheim, which exercised the pens of Mr. Addison and Mr. +John Philips, whose poems on that occasion divided the admiration of the +public, tempted Mrs. Trotter to write a copy of verses to the duke of +Marlborough, upon his return from his glorious campaign in Germany, +December, 1704. But being doubtful with respect to the publication of +them, she sent them in manuscript to his grace; and received for answer, +that the duke and duchess, and the lord treasurer Godolphin, with +several others to whom they were shewn, were greatly pleased with them; +and that good judges of poetry had declared, that there were some lines +in them superior to any that had been written on the subject. Upon this +encouragement she sent the poem to the press. + +The high degree of favour with which she was honoured by these +illustrious persons, gave her, about this time, hopes of some +establishment of her fortune, which had hitherto been extremely narrow +and precarious. But though she failed of such an establishment, she +succeeded in 1705, in another point, which was a temporary relief to +her. This particular appears from one of her letters printed in the +second volume; but of what nature or amount this relief was, we do not +find. + +Her enquiries into the nature of true religion were attended with their +natural and usual effects, in opening and enlarging her notions beyond +the contracted pale of her own church. For in her letter of the 7th of +July 1705, to Mr. Burnet, she says, 'I am zealous to have you agree with +me in this one article, that all good christians are of the same +religion; a sentiment which I sincerely confess, how little soever it is +countenanced by the church of Rome.' And in the latter end of the +following year, or the beginning of 1707, her doubts about the Romish +religion, which she had so many years professed, having led her to a +thorough examination of the grounds of it, by consulting the best books +on both sides of the question, and advising with men of the best +judgment, the result was a conviction of the falseness of the +pretensions of that church, and a return to that of England, to which +she adhered during the rest of her life. In the course of this enquiry, +the great and leading question concerning A Guide in Controversy, was +particularly discussed by her; and the two letters which she wrote upon +it, the first to Mr. Bennet, a Romish priest, and the second to Mr. +H----, who had procured an answer to that letter from a stranger, Mr. +Beimel's indisposition preventing him from returning one, were thought +so valuable on account of the strength and perspicuity of reasoning, as +well as their conciseness, that she consented to the importunity of her +friends, for their publication in June 1707, under the following title, +A Discourse concerning a Guide in Controversies; in two Letters: Written +to one of the Church Church of Rome, by a Person lately converted from +that Communion; a later edition of them being since printed at Edinburgh +in 1728 in 8vo. Bishop Burnet wrote the preface to them, though without +his name to it; and he observes, that they might be of use to such of +the Roman Catholics as are perswaded, that those who deny the +infallibility of their church, take away all certainty of the Christian +religion, or of the authority of the scriptures. This is the main topic +of those two letters, and the point was considered by our author as of +such importance, that she procured her friend Mrs. Burnet to consult Mr. +(afterwards Dr.) Clark upon it, and to show him a paper, which had been +put into her hands, urging the difficulties on that article, on the side +of the Papists. The sentiments of that great man upon this subject are +comprised in a letter from Mrs. Burnet to Mrs. Trotter, of which our +editor has given a copy, to which we refer the reader in the 31st page +of his account. + +In 1708 our author was married to Mr. Cockburn, the son of Dr. Cockburn, +an eminent and learned divine of Scotland, at first attached to the +court of St. Germains, but obliged to quit it on account of his +inflexible adherence to the Protestant religion; then for some time +minister of the Episcopal church at Amsterdam, and at last collated to +the rectory of Northaw in Middlesex, by Dr. Robinson bishop of London, +at the recommendation of Queen Anne. Mr. Cockburn, his son, soon after +his marriage with our author, had the donative of Nayland in Sussex, +where he settled in the same year 1708; but returned afterwards from +thence to London, to be curate of St. Dunstan's in Fleet-street, where +he continued 'till the accession of his late majesty to the throne, when +falling into a scruple about the oath of abjuration, though he always +prayed for the King and Royal Family by name, he was obliged to quit +that station, and for ten or twelve years following was reduced to great +difficulties in the support of his family; during which time he +instructed the youth of the academy in Chancery-Lane, in the Latin +tongue. At last, in 1726, by consulting the lord chancellor King and his +own father, upon the sense and intent of that oath, and by reading some +papers put into his hands, with relation to it, he was reconciled to the +taking of it. In consequence of this, being the year following invited +to be minister of the Episcopal congregation at Aberdeen in Scotland, he +qualified himself conformably to the law, and, on the day of his present +Majesty's accession, preached a sermon there on the duty and benefit of +praying for the government. This sermon being printed and animadverted +upon, he published a reply to the remarks on it, with some papers +relating to the oath of abjuration, which have been much esteemed. Soon +after his settlement at Aberdeen, the lord chancellor presented him to +the living of Long-Horsely, near Morpeth in Northumberland, as a means +of enabling him to support and educate his family; for which purpose he +was allowed to continue his function at Aberdeen, 'till the negligence +and ill-behaviour of the curates, whom he employed at Long Horsely, +occasioned Dr. Chandler, the late bishop of Durham, to call him to +residence on that living, 1737; by which means he was forced to quit his +station at Aberdeen, to the no small diminution of his income. He was a +man of considerable learning; and besides his sermon abovementioned, and +the vindication of it, he published, in the Weekly Miscellany, A Defence +of Prime Ministers, in the Character of Joseph; and a Treatise of the +Mosaic Design, published since his death. + +Mrs. Cockburn, after her marriage, was entirely diverted from her +studies for many years, by attending tending upon the duties of a wife +and a mother, and by the ordinary cares of an encreasing family, and the +additional ones arising from the reduced circumstances of her husband. +However, her zeal for Mr. Lock's character and writings drew her again +into the public light in 1716, upon this occasion. + +Dr. Holdsworth, fellow of St. John's College in Oxford, had preached on +Easter-Monday, 1719 20, before that university, a sermon on John v. 28, +29, which he published, professing in his title page to examine and +answer the Cavils, False Reasonings, and False Interpretations of +Scripture, of Mr. Lock and others, against the Resurrection of the Same +Body. This sermon did not reach Mrs. Cockburn's hands 'till some years +after; when the perusal of it forced from her some animadversions, which +she threw together in the form of a letter to the Dr. and sent to him in +May 1724, with a design of suppressing it entirely, if it should have +the desired effect upon him. After nine months the Dr. informed her, +that he had drawn up a large and particular answer to it, but was +unwilling to trust her with his manuscript, 'till she should publish her +own. However, after a long time, and much difficulty, she at last +obtained the perusal of his answer; but not meeting with that conviction +from it, which would have made her give up her cause, she was prevailed +on to let the world judge between them, and accordingly published her +Letter to Dr. Holdsworth, in January 1726 7, without her name, but said +in the title page to be by the author of, A Defence of Mr. Lock's Essay +of Human Understanding. The Dr. whose answer to it was already finished, +was very expeditious in the publication of it in June 1727, in an 8vo +volume, under the title of A Defence of the Doctrine of the Resurrection +of the same Body, &c. + +Mrs. Cockburn wrote a very particular reply to this, and entitled it, A +Vindication of Mr. Lock's Principles, from the injurious Imputations of +Dr. Holdsworth. But though it is an admirable performance, and she was +extremely desirous of doing justice to Mr. Lock and herself, yet not +meeting with any Bookseller willing to undertake, nor herself being able +to support the expence of the impression, it continued in manuscript, +and was reserved to enrich the collection published after her death. + +Her Remarks upon some Writers in the Controversy concerning the +Foundation of Moral Duty and Moral Obligation were begun during the +winter of the year 1739, and finished in the following one; for the +weakness of her eyes, which had been a complaint of many years standing, +not permitting her to use, by candlelight, her needle, which so fully +employed her in the summer season, that she read little, and wrote less; +she amused herself, during the long winter-evenings, in digesting her +thoughts upon the most abstract subjects in morality and metaphysics. +They continued in manuscript till 1743, for want of a Bookseller +inclined to accept the publication of them, and were introduced to the +world in August that year, in The History of the Works of the Learned. +Her name did not go with them, but they were Inscribed with the utmost +Deference to Alexander Pope, Esq; by an Admirer of his moral Character; +for which she shews a remarkable zeal in her letters, whenever she has +occasion to mention him. And her high opinion of him in that respect, +founded chiefly on his writings, and especially his letters, as well as +her admiration of his genius, inspired her with a strong desire of being +known to him; for which purpose she drew up a pretty long letter to him +about the year 1738: but it was never sent. The strength, clearness, and +vivacity shewn in her Remarks upon the most abstract and perplexed +questions, immediately raised the curiosity of all good judges about the +concealed writer; and their admiration was greatly increased when her +sex and advanced age were known. And the worthy Dr. Sharp[3], archdeacon +of Northumberland, who had these Remarks in manuscript, and encouraged +the publication of them, being convinced by them, that no person was +better qualified for a thorough examination of the grounds of morality, +entered into a correspondence with her upon that subject. But her ill +state of health at last interrupted her prosecution of it; a +circumstance to be regretted, since a discussion carried on with so much +sagacity and candour on both sides, would, in all probability, have left +little difficulty remaining on the question. + +Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on the Nature and Obligations of virtue, +published in May 1744, soon engaged her thoughts, and notwithstanding +the asthmatic disorder, which had seized her many years before, and now +left her small intervals of ease, she applied herself to the confutation +of that elaborate discourse; and having finished it with a spirit, +elegance, and perspicuity equal, if not superior to all her former +writings, transmitted her manuscript to Mr. Warburton, who published it +in 8vo. with a Preface of his own, in April 1747, under the title of +Remarks upon the Principles and Reasonings of Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on +the Nature and Obligations of Virtue, in Vindication of the contrary +Principles and Reasons inforced in the Writings of the late Dr. Samuel +Clark. + +The extensive reputation which this and her former writings had gained +her, induced her friends to propose to her, the collecting and +publishing them in a body. And upon her consenting to the scheme, which +was to be executed by subscription, in order to secure to her the full +benefit of the edition, it met with a ready encouragement from all +persons of true taste; but though Mrs. Cockburn did not live to +discharge the office of editor, yet the public has received the +acquisition by her death, of a valuable series of letters, which her own +modesty would have restrained her from permitting to see the light. And +it were to be wished that these two volumes, conditioned for by the +terms of subscription, could have contained all her dramatic writings, +of which only one is here published. But as that was impossible, the +preference was, upon the maturest deliberation, given to those in prose, +as superior in their kind to the most perfect of her poetical, and of +more general and lasting use to the world. + +The loss of her husband on the 4th of January 1748, in the 71st year of +his age, was a severe shock to her; and she did not long survive him, +dying on the 11th of May, 1749, in her 71st year, after having long +supported a painful disorder, with a resignation to the divine will, +which had been the governing principle of her whole life, and her +support under the various trials of it. Her memory and understanding +continued unimpaired, 'till within a few days of her death. She was +interred near her husband and youngest daughter at Long-Horsley, with +this short sentence on their tomb: + + Let their works praise them in the gates. + Prov. xxxi. 31. + +They left only one son, who is clerk of the cheque at Chatham, and two +daughters. + +Mrs. Cockburn was no less celebrated for her beauty, in her younger +days, than for her genius and accomplishments. She was indeed small of +stature, but had a remarkable liveliness in her eye, and delicacy of +complexion, which continued to her death. Her private character rendered +her extremely amiable to those who intimately knew her. Her conversation +was always innocent, useful and agreeable, without the least affectation +of being thought a wit, and attended with a remarkable modesty and +diffidence of herself, and a constant endeavour to adapt her discourse +to her company. She was happy in an uncommon evenness and chearfulness +of temper. Her disposition was generous and benevolent; and ready upon +all occasions to forgive injuries, and bear them, as well as +misfortunes, without interrupting her own ease, or that of others, with +complaints or reproaches. The pressures of a very contracted fortune +were supported by her with calmness and in silence; nor did she ever +attempt to improve it among those great personages to whom she was +known, by importunities; to which the best minds are most averse, and +which her approved merit and established reputation mould have rendered +unnecessary. + +The collection now exhibited to the world is, says Dr. Birch, and we +entirely agree with him, so incontestable a proof of the superiority of +our author's genius, as in a manner supersedes every thing that can be +said upon that head. But her abilities as a writer, and the merit of her +works, will not have full justice done them, without a due attention to +the peculiar circumstances, in which they were produced: her early +youth, when she wrote some, her very advanced age, and ill state of +health, when she drew up others; the uneasy situation of her fortune, +during the whole course of her life; and an interval of near twenty +years in the vigour of it, spent in the cares of a family, without the +least leisure for reading or contemplation: after which, with a mind so +long diverted and incumbered, resuming her studies, she instantly +recovered its intire powers, and in the hours of relaxation from her +domestic employments, pursued, to their utmost limits, some of the +deepest enquiries of which the human mind is capable! + +CONTENTS of the First Volume of Mrs. COCKBURN'S Works. + +I. A Discourse concerning a Guide in Controversy. First published in +1707, with a preface by bishop Burnet. + +II. A Defence of Mr. Lock's Essay of Human Understanding. First +published in 1702. + +III. A Letter to Dr. Holdsworth, concerning the Resurrection of the +same Body. First published in 1726. + +IV. A Vindication of Mr. Lock's Christian Principles, from the +injurious Imputations of Dr. Holdsworth. Now first published. + +V. Remarks upon some Writers in the Controversy, concerning the +Foundation of Moral Virtue, and Moral Obligation. With some Thoughts +concerning Necessary Existence; the Reality and Infinity of Space; the +Extension and Place of Spirits; and on Dr. Watts's Notion of Substance. +First published in 1743. + +CONTENTS of the Second Volume. + +I. Remarks upon Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on the Nature and Obligations of +Virtue. First published in the year 1747. + +II. Miscellaneous Pieces. Now first printed. Containing a Letter of +Advice to her Son.--Sunday's Journal.--On the Usefulness of Schools and +Universities.--On the Credibility of the Historical Parts of Scripture. +--On Moral Virtue.--Notes on Christianity as old as the Creation.--On +the Infallibility of the Church of Rome.--Answer to a Question +concerning the Jurisdiction of the Magistrate over the Life of the +Subject.--Remarks on Mr. Seed's Sermon on Moral Virtue.--Remarks upon +an Enquiry into the Origin of Human Appetites and Affections. + +III. Letters between Mrs. Cockburn and several of her Friends. These +take up the greatest part of the volume. + +IV. Letters between the Rev. Dr. Sharp, Archdeacon of Northumberland and +Mrs. Cockburn concerning the Foundation of Moral Virtue. + +V. Fatal Friendship, a Tragedy. + +VI. Poems on several Occasions. There are very few of these, and what +there are, are of little note. Her poetical talent was the smallest and +least valuable of our author's literary accomplishments. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Historia Mulierum Philosopharum. 8vo. Lyons. 1690. + +[2] Dr. Birch mentions also Mr. Higgons's verses on this occasion, and + gives a copy of a complimentary letter to our author, from Mr. + George Farquhar. + +[3] Author of an excellent pamphlet, entitled, Two Dissertations + concerning the Etymology and Scripture-meaning of the Hebrew Words + Elohim and Berith. Vide Monthly Review. + + + * * * * * + + +AMBROSE PHILLIPS, ESQ; + +This Gentleman was descended from a very ancient, and considerable +family in the county of Leicester, and received his education in St. +John's college Cambridge, where he wrote his Pastorals, a species of +excellence, in which he is thought to have remarkably distinguished +himself. When Mr. Philips quitted the university, and repaired to the +metropolis, he became, as Mr. Jacob phrases it, one of the wits at +Buttons; and in consequence of this, contracted an acquaintance with +those bright genius's who frequented it; especially Sir Richard Steele, +who in the first volume of his Tatler inserts a little poem of this +author's dated from Copenhagen, which he calls a winter piece; Sir +Richard thus mentions it with honour. 'This is as fine a piece, as we +ever had from any of the schools of the most learned painters; such +images as these give us a new pleasure in our fight, and fix upon our +minds traces of reflexion, which accompany us wherever the like objects +occur.' + +This short performance which we shall here insert, was reckoned so +elegant, by men of taste then living, that Mr. Pope himself, who had a +confirmed aversion to Philips, when he affected to despise his other +works, always excepted this out of the number. + +It is written from Copenhagen, addressed to the Earl of Dorset, and +dated the 9th of May 1709. + + A WINTER PIECE. + + From frozen climes, and endless tracks of snow, + From streams that northern winds forbid to flow; + What present shall the Muse to Dorset bring, + Or how, so near the Pole, attempt to sing? + The hoary winter here conceals from sight, + All pleasing objects that to verse invite. + The hills and dales, and the delightful woods, + The flow'ry plains, and silver streaming floods, + By snow distinguished in bright confusion lie, + And with one dazling waste, fatigue the eye. + + No gentle breathing breeze prepares the spring, + No birds within the desart region sing. + The ships unmov'd the boist'rous winds defy, + While rattling chariots o'er the ocean fly. + The vast Leviathan wants room to play, + And spout his waters in the face of day. + The starving wolves along the main sea prowl, + And to the moon in icy valleys howl, + For many a shining league the level main, + Here spreads itself into a glassy plain: + There solid billows of enormous size, + Alps of green ice, in wild disorder rise. + + And yet but lately have I seen ev'n here, + The winter in a lovely dress appear. + Ere yet the clouds let fall the treasur'd snow, + Or winds begun through hazy skies to blow; + At ev'ning a keen eastern breeze arose; + And the descending rain unsully'd froze. + Soon as the silent shades of night withdrew, + The ruddy morn disclos'd at once to view, + The face of nature in a rich disguise, + And brighten'd every object to my eyes: + + And ev'ry shrub, and ev'ry blade of grass, + And ev'ry pointed thorn seem'd wrought in glass. + In pearls and rubies rich, the hawthorns show, + While through the ice the crimson berries glow. + The thick sprung reeds, the watry marshes yield, + Seem polish'd lances in a hostile field. + The flag in limpid currents with surprize, + Sees crystal branches on his fore-head rise. + The spreading oak, the beech, and tow'ring pine, + Glaz'd over, in the freezing æther shine. + The frighted birds, the rattling branches shun. + That wave and glitter in the distant sun. + + When if a sudden gust of wind arise, + The brittle forest into atoms flies: + The crackling wood beneath the tempest bends, + And in a spangled show'r the prospect ends. + Or, if a southern gale the region warm, + And by degrees unbind the wintry charm, + The traveller, a miry country sees, + And journeys sad beneath the dropping trees. + + Like some deluded peasant, Merlin leads + Thro' fragrant bow'rs, and thro' delicious meads; + While here inchanted gardens to him rise, + And airy fabrics there attract his eyes, + His wand'ring feet the magic paths pursue; + And while he thinks the fair illusion true, + The trackless scenes disperse in fluid air, + And woods, and wilds, and thorny ways appear: + A tedious road the weary wretch returns, + And, as he goes, the transient vision mourns. + +But it was not enough for Sir Richard to praise this performance of Mr. +Philips. He was also an admirer of his Pastorals, which had then +obtained a great number of readers: He was about to form a Critical +Comparison of Pope's Pastorals, and these of Mr. Philips; and giving in +the conclusion, the preference to the latter. Sir Richard's design being +communicated to Mr. Pope, who was not a little jealous of his +reputation, he took the alarm; and by the most artful and insinuating +method defeated his purpose. + +The reader cannot be ignorant, that there are several numbers in the +Guardian, employed upon Pastoral Poetry, and one in particular, upon the +merits of Philips and Pope, in which the latter is found a better +versifier; but as a true Arcadian, the preference is given to Philips. +That we may be able to convey a perfect idea of the method which Mr. +Pope took to prevent the diminution of his reputation, we shall +transcribe the particular parts of that paper in the Guardian, Number +XL. Monday April the 27th. + +I designed to have troubled the reader with no farther discourses of +Pastorals, but being informed that I am taxed of partiality, in not +mentioning an author, whose Eclogues are published in the same volume +with Mr. Philips's, I shall employ this paper in observations upon him, +written in the free spirit of criticism, and without apprehensions of +offending that gentleman, whose character it is, that he takes the +greatest care of his works before they are published, and has the least +concern for them afterwards. I have laid it down as the first rule of +Pastoral, that its idea should be taken from the manners of the Golden +Age, and the moral formed upon the representation of innocence; 'tis +therefore plain, that any deviations from that design, degrade a poem +from being true Pastoral. + +So easy as Pastoral writing may seem (in the simplicity we have +described it) yet it requires great reading, both of the ancients and +moderns, to be a master of it. Mr. Philips hath given us manifest proofs +of his knowledge of books; it must be confessed his competitor has +imitated some single thoughts of the antients well enough, if we +consider he had not the happiness of an university education: but he +hath dispersed them here and there without that order and method Mr. +Philips observes, whose whole third pastoral, is an instance how well he +studied the fifth of Virgil, and how judiciously he reduced Virgil's +thoughts to the standard of pastoral; and his contention of Colin Clout, +and the Nightingale, shews with what exactness he hath imitated Strada. +When I remarked it as a principal fault to introduce fruits, and flowers +of a foreign growth in descriptions, where the scene lies in our +country, I did not design that observation should extend also to +animals, or the sensitive life; for Philips hath with great judgment +described wolves in England in his first pastoral. Nor would I have a +poet slavishly confine himself, (as Mr. Pope hath done) to one +particular season of the year, one certain time of the day, and one +unbroken scene in each Eclogue. It is plain, Spencer neglected this +pedantry, who in his Pastoral of November, mentions the mournful song of +the Nightingale. + + Sad Philomel, her song in tears doth sleep. + +And Mr. Philips by a poetical creation, hath raised up finer beds of +flowers, than the most industrious gardener; his roses, lilies, and +daffadils, blow in the same season. + +But the better to discover the merit of our two cotemporary pastoral +writers. I shall endeavour to draw a parallel of them, by placing +several of their particular thoughts in the same light; whereby it will +be obvious, how much Philips hath the advantage: With what simplicity he +introduces two shepherds singing alternately. + + HOBB. + + Come Rosalind, O come, for without thee + What pleasure can the country have for me? + Come Rosalind, O come; my brinded kine, + My snowy sheep, my farm and all is thine. + + LANG. + + Come Rosalind, O come; here shady bowers. + Here are cool fountains, and here springing flowers. + Come Rosalind; here ever let us stay, + And sweetly waste our live-long time away. + +Our other pastoral writer in expressing the same thought, deviates into +downright poetry. + + STREPHON. + + In spring the fields, in autumn hills I love, + At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove, + But Delia always; forc'd from Delia's sight, + Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. + + DAPHNE. + + Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, + More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day; + Ev'n spring displeases when she shines not here: + But blest with her, 'tis spring throughout the year. + +In the first of these authors, two shepherds thus innocently describe +the behaviour of their mistresses. + + HOBB. + + As Marian bath'd, by chance I passed by; + She blush'd, and at me cast a side-long eye: + Then swift beneath, the crystal waves she tried, + Her beauteous form, but all in vain, to hide. + + LANG. + + As I to cool me bath'd one sultry day, + Fond Lydia lurking in the sedges lay, + The woman laugh'd, and seem'd in haste to fly; + Yet often stopp'd, and often turn'd her eye. + +The other modern (who it must be confess'd has a knack at versifying) +has it as follows, + + STREPHON. + + Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, + Thus, hid in shades, eludes her eager swain; + But feigns a laugh, to see me search around, + And by that laugh the willing fair is found. + + DAPHNE. + + The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green; + She runs, but hopes she does not run unseen; + While a kind glance, at her pursuer flies, + How much at variance are her feet and eyes. + +There is nothing the writers of this kind of poetry are fonder of, than +descriptions of pastoral presents. + +Philips says thus of a Sheep-hook. + + Of season'd elm, where studs of brass appear, + To speak the giver's name, the month, and year; + The hook of polished steel, the handle turn'd, + And richly by the graver's skill adorn'd. + +The other of a bowl embossed with figures, + +--Where wanton ivy twines, + And swelling clusters bend the curling vines, + Four figures rising from the work appear, + The various seasons of the rolling year; + And what is that which binds the radiant sky, + Where twelve bright signs, in beauteous order lye. + +The simplicity of the swain in this place who forgets the name of the +Zodiac, is no ill imitation of Virgil; but how much more plainly, and +unaffectedly would Philips have dressed this thought in his Doric. + + And what that height, which girds the welkin-sheen + Where twelve gay signs in meet array are seen. + +If the reader would indulge his curiosity any farther in the comparison +of particulars, he may read the first Pastoral of Philips, with the +second of his contemporary, and the fourth and fifth of the former, with +the fourth and first of the latter; where several parallel places will +occur to every one. + +Having now shewn some parts, in which these two writers may be compared, +it is a justice I owe to Mr. Philips, to discover those in which no man +can compare with him. First, the beautiful rusticity, of which I shall +now produce two instances, out of a hundred not yet quoted. + + O woeful day! O day of woe, quoth he, + And woeful I, who live the day to see! + +That simplicity of diction, the melancholy flowing of the numbers, the +solemnity of the sound, and the easy turn of the words, are extremely +elegant. + +In another Pastoral, a shepherd utters a Dirge, not much inferior to the +former in the following lines. + + Ah me the while! ah me, the luckless day! + Ah luckless lad, the rather might I say; + Ah silly I! more silly than my sheep, + Which on the flow'ry plains I once did keep. + +How he still charms the ear, with his artful repetition of the epithets; +and how significant is the last verse! I defy the most common reader to +repeat them, without feeling some motions of compassion. In the next +place, I shall rank his Proverbs in which I formerly observed he excels: +For example, + + A rolling stone is ever bare of moss; + And, to their cost, green years old proverbs cross, +--He that late lies down, as late will rise, + And sluggard like, till noon-day snoring lies. + Against ill-luck, all cunning foresight fails; + Whether we sleep or wake, it nought avails. +--Nor fear, from upright sentence wrong, + +Lastly, His excellent dialect, which alone might prove him the eldest +born of Spencer, and the only true Arcadian, &c. + +Thus far the comparison between the merit of Mr. Pope and Mr. Philips, +as writers of Pastoral, made by the author of this paper in the +Guardian, after the publication of which, the enemies of Pope exulted, +as in one particular species of poetry, upon which he valued himself, he +was shewn to be inferior to his contemporary. For some time they enjoyed +their triumph; but it turned out at last to their unspeakable +mortification. + +The paper in which the comparison is inserted, was written by Mr. Pope +himself. Nothing could have so effectually defeated the design of +diminishing his reputation, as this method, which had a very contrary +effect. He laid down some false principles, upon these he reasoned, and +by comparing his own and Philips's Pastorals, upon such principles it +was no great compliment to the latter, that he wrote more agreeable to +notions which are in themselves false. + +The subjects of pastoral are as various as the passions of human nature; +nay, it may in some measure partake of every kind of poetry, but with +this limitation, that the scene of it ought always to be laid in the +country, and the thoughts never contrary to the ideas of those who are +bred there. The images are to be drawn from rural life; and provided the +language is perspicuous, gentle, and flowing, the sentiments may be as +elegant as the country scenes can furnish.--In the particular comparison +of passages between Pope and Philips, the former is so much superior, +that one cannot help wondering, that Steele could be thus imposed upon, +who was in other respects a very quick discerner. Though 'tis not +impossible, but that Guardian might go to the press without Sir +Richard's seeing it; he not being the only person concern'd in that +paper. + +The two following lines so much celebrated in this paper, are +sufficiently convincing, that the whole criticism is ironical. + + Ah! silly I, more silly than my sheep, + Which on the flowr'y plains I once did keep. + +Nothing can be much more silly than these lines; and yet the author +says, "How he still charms the ear with the artful repetitions of +epithets." + + SILLY I, MORE SILLY THAN MY SHEEP. + +The next work Mr. Philips published after his Pastorals, and which it is +said he wrote at the university, was his life of John Williams lord +keeper of the great-seal, bishop of Lincoln and archbishop of York, in +the reigns of king James and Charles the First, in which are related +some remarkable occurrences in those times, both in church and state, +with an appendix, giving an account of his benefactions to St. John's +college. + +Mr. Philips, seems to have made use of archbishop William's life, the +better to make known his own state principles, which in the course of +that work he had a fair occasion of doing. Bishop Williams was the great +opposer of High-Church measures, he was a perpetual antagonist to Laud; +and lord Clarendon mentions him in his history with very great decency +and respect, when it is considered that they adhered to opposite +parties. + +Mr. Philips, who early distinguished himself in revolution principles, +was concerned with Dr. Boulter, afterwards archbishop of Armagh, the +right honourable Richard West, Esq; lord chancellor of Ireland; the +revd. Mr. Gilbert Burnet, and the revd. Mr. Henry Stevens, in writing a +paper called the Free-Thinker; but they were all published by Mr. +Philips, and since re-printed in three volumes in 12mo. In the latter +part of the reign of queen Anne, he was secretary to the Hanover Club, a +set of noblemen and gentlemen, who associated in honour of that +succession. They drank regular toasts to the health of those ladies, who +were most zealously attached to the Hanoverian family; upon whom Mr. +Philips wrote the following lines, + + While these, the chosen beauties of our isle, + Propitious on the cause of freedom smile, + The rash Pretender's hopes we may despise, + And trust Britannia's safety to their eyes. + +After the accession of his late majesty, Mr. Philips was made a justice +of peace, and appointed a commissioner of the lottery. But though his +circumstances were easy, the state of his mind was not so; he fell under +the severe displeasure of Mr. Pope, who has satirized him with his usual +keenness. + +'Twas said, he used to mention Mr. Pope as an enemy to the government; +and that he was the avowed author of a report, very industriously +spread, that he had a hand in a paper called The Examiner. The revenge +which Mr. Pope took in consequence of this abuse, greatly ruffled the +temper of Mr. Philips, who as he was not equal to him in wit, had +recourse to another weapon; in the exercise of which no great parts are +requisite. He hung up a rod at Button's, with which he resolved to +chastise his antagonist, whenever he should come there. But Mr. Pope, +who got notice of this design, very prudently declined coming to a +place, where in all probability he must have felt the resentment of an +enraged author, as much superior to him in bodily strength, as inferior +in wit and genius. + +When Mr. Philips's friend, Dr. Boulter, rose to be archbishop of Dublin, +he went with him into Ireland, where he had considerable preferments; +and was a member of the House of Commons there, as representative of the +county of Armagh. + +Notwithstanding the ridicule which Mr. Philips has drawn upon himself, +by his opposition to Pope, and the disadvantageous light his Pastorals +appear in, when compared with his; yet, there is good reason to believe, +that Mr. Philips was no mean Arcadian: By endeavouring to imitate too +servilely the manners and sentiments of vulgar rustics, he has sometimes +raised a laugh against him; yet there are in some of his Pastorals a +natural simplicity, a true Doric dialect, and very graphical +descriptions. + +Mr. Gildon, in his compleat Art of Poetry, mentions him with Theocritus +and Virgil; but then he defeats the purpose of his compliment, for by +carrying the similitude too far, he renders his panegyric hyperbolical. + +We shall now consider Mr. Philips as a dramatic writer. The first piece +he brought upon the stage, was his Distress'd Mother, translated from +the French of Monsieur Racine, but not without such deviations as Mr. +Philips thought necessary to heighten the distress; for writing to the +heart is a secret which the best of the French poets have not found out. +This play was acted first in the year 1711, with every advantage a play +could have. Pyrrhus was performed by Mr. Booth, a part in which he +acquired great reputation. Orestes was given to Mr. Powel, and +Andromache was excellently personated by the inimitable Mrs. Oldfield. +Nor was Mrs. Porter beheld in Hermione without admiration. The +Distress'd Mother is so often acted, and so frequently read, we shall +not trouble the reader with giving any farther account of it. + +A modern critic speaking of this play, observes that the distress of +Andromache moves an audience more than that of Belvidera, who is as +amiable a wife, as Andromache is an affectionate mother; their +circumstances though not similar, are equally interesting, and yet says +he, 'the female part of the audience is more disposed to weep for the +suffering mother, than the suffering wife.[1]' The reason 'tis imagin'd +is this, there are more affectionate mothers in the world than wives. + +Mr. Philips's next dramatic performance was The Briton, a Tragedy; acted +1721. This is built on a very interesting and affecting story, whether +founded on real events I cannot determine, but they are admirably fitted +to raise the passion peculiar to tragedy. Vanoc Prince of the Cornavians +married for his second wife Cartismand, Queen of the Brigantians, a +woman of an imperious spirit, who proved a severe step-mother to the +King's daughter Gwendolen, betrothed to Yvor, the Prince of the +Silurians. The mutual disagreement between Vanoc and his Queen, at last +produced her revolt from him. She intrigues with Vellocad, who had been +formerly the King's servant, and enters into a league with the Roman +tribune, in order to be revenged on her husband. Vanoc fights some +successful battles, but his affairs are thrown into the greatest +confusion, upon receiving the news that a party of the enemy has carried +off the Princess his daughter. She is conducted to the tent of Valens +the Roman tribune, who was himself in love with her, but who offered her +no violation. He went to Vanoc in the name of Didius the Roman general, +to offer terms of peace, but he was rejected with indignation. The scene +between Vanoc and Valens is one of the most masterly to be met with in +tragedy. Valens returns to his fair charge, while her father prepares +for battle, and to rescue his daughter by the force of arms. But +Cartismand, who knew that no mercy would be shewn her at the hands of +her stern husband, flies to the Princess's tent, and in the violence of +her rage stabs her. The King and Yvor enter that instant, but too late +to save the beauteous Gwendolen from the blow, who expires in the arms +of her betrothed husband, a scene wrought up with the greatest +tenderness. When the King reproaches Cartismand for this deed of horror, +she answers, + + Hadst thou been more forgiving, I had been less cruel. + + VANOC + + Wickedness! barbarian! monster-- + What had she done, alas!--Sweet innocence! + She would have interceded for thy crimes. + + CARTISMAND + + Too well I knew the purpose of thy soul.-- + Didst thou believe I would submit?--resign my crown?-- + Or that thou only hadst the power to punish? + + VANOC + + Yet I will punish;--meditate strange torments!-- + Then give thee to the justice of the Gods. + + CARTISMAND + + Thus Vanoc, do I mock thy treasur'd rage.-- + My heart springs forward to the dagger's point. + + Vanoc + + Quick, wrest it from her!--drag her hence to chains. + + CARTISMAND + + There needs no second stroke-- + Adieu, rash man!--my woes are at an end:-- + Thine's but begun;--and lasting as thy life. + +Mr. Philips in this play has shewn how well he was acquainted with the +stage; he keeps the scene perpetually busy; great designs are carrying +on, the incidents rise naturally from one another, and the catastrophe +is moving. He has not observed the rules which some critics have +established, of distributing poetical justice; for Gwendolen, the most +amiable character in the play is the chief sufferer, arising from the +indulgence of no irregular passion, nor any guilt of hers. + +The next year Mr. Philips introduced another tragedy on the stage called +Humfrey Duke of Gloucester, acted 1721. The plot of this play is founded +on history. During the minority of Henry VI. his uncle, the duke of +Gloucester, was raised to the dignity of Regent of the Realm. This high +station could not but procure him many enemies, amongst whom was the +duke of Suffolk, who, in order to restrain his power, and to inspire the +mind of young Henry with a love of independence, effected a marriage +between that Prince, and Margaret of Anjou, a Lady of the most +consummate beauty, and what is very rare amongst her sex, of the most +approved courage. This lady entertained an aversion for the duke of +Gloucester, because he opposed her marriage with the King, and +accordingly resolves upon his ruin. + +She draws over to her party cardinal Beaufort, the Regent's uncle, a +supercilious proud churchman. They fell upon a very odd scheme to shake +the power of Gloucester, and as it is very singular, and absolutely +fact, we shall here insert it. + +The duke of Gloucester had kept Eleanor Cobham, daughter to the lord +Cobham, as his concubine, and after the dissolution of his marriage with +the countess of Hainault, he made her his wife; but this did not restore +her reputation: she was, however, too young to pass in common repute for +a witch, yet was arrested for high treason, founded on a pretended piece +of witchcraft, and after doing public penance several days, by sentence +of convocation, was condemned to perpetual imprisonment in the Isle of +Man, but afterwards removed to Killingworth-castle. The fact charged +upon her, was the making an image of wax resembling the King, and +treated in such a manner by incantations, and sorceries, as to make +him waste away, as the image gradually consumed. John Hume, her +chaplain, Thomas Southwell, a canon of St. Stephen's Westminster, Roger +Bolingbroke, a clergyman highly esteemed, and eminent for his uncommon +learning, and merit, and perhaps on that account, reputed to have great +skill in necromancy, and Margery Jourdemain, commonly called The Witch +of Eye, were tried as her accomplices, and condemned, the woman to be +burnt, the others to be drawn, hanged, and quartered at Tyburn[2]. This +hellish contrivance against the wife of the duke of Gloucester, was +meant to shake the influence of her husband, which in reality it did, as +ignorance and credulity cooperated with his enemies to destroy him. He +was arrested for high treason, a charge which could not be supported, +and that his enemies might have no further trouble with him, cardinal +Beaufort hired assassins to murder him. The poet acknowledges the hints +he has taken from the Second Part of Shakespear's Henry VI, and in some +scenes has copied several lines from him. In the last scene, that +pathetic speech of Eleanor's to Cardinal Beaufort when he was dying in +the agonies of remorse and despair, is literally borrowed. + + WARWICK + + See how the pangs of death work in his features. + + YORK + + Disturb him not--let him pass peaceably. + + ELEANOR + + Lord Cardinal;--if thou think'st of Heaven's bliss + Hold up thy hand;--make signal of that hope. + He dies;--and makes no sign!-- + +In praise of this tragedy, Mr. Welsted has prefixed a very elegant copy +of verses. + +Mr. Philips by a way of writing very peculiar, procured to himself the +name of Namby Pamby. This was first bestowed on him by Harry Cary, who +burlesqued some little pieces of his, in so humorous a manner, that for +a long while, Harry's burlesque, passed for Swift's with many; and by +others were given to Pope: 'Tis certain, each at first, took it for the +other's composition. + +In ridicule of this manner, the ingenious Hawkins Brown, Esq; now a +Member of Parliament, in his excellent burlesque piece called The Pipe +of Tobacco, has written an imitation, in which the resemblance is so +great, as not to be distinguished from the original. This gentleman has +burlesqued the following eminent authors, by such a close imitation of +their turn of verse, that it has not the appearance of a copy, but an +original. + +SWIFT, + +POPE, + +THOMSON, + +YOUNG, + +PHILIPS, + +CIBBER. + +As a specimen of the delicacy of our author's turn of verification, we +shall present the reader with his translation of the following beautiful +Ode of Sappho. + + Hymn to Venus + + 1. + + O Venus, beauty of the skies, + To whom a thousand temples rise, + Gayly false, in gentle smiles, + Full of love, perplexing wiles; + O Goddess! from my heart remove + The wasting cares and pains of love. + + 2. + + If ever thou hast kindly heard + A song in soft distress preferr'd, + Propitious to my tuneful vow, + O gentle goddess! hear me now. + Descend, thou bright immortal guest! + In all thy radiant charms confess'd. + + 3. + + Thou once did leave almighty Jove, + And all the golden roofs above; + The carr thy wanton sparrows drew, + Hov'ring in air, they lightly flew; + As to my bower they wing'd their way, + I saw their quiv'ring pinions play. + + 4. + + The birds dismiss'd (while you remain) + Bore back their empty car again; + Then you, with looks divinely mild, + In ev'ry heav'nly feature smil'd, + And ask'd what new complaints I made, + And why I call'd you to my aid? + + 5. + + What frenzy in my bosom rag'd, + And by what cure to be asswag'd? + What gentle youth I would allure, + Whom in my artful toils secure? + Who does thy tender heart subdue, + Tell me, my Sappho, tell me who! + + 6. + + Tho' now he shuns my longing arms, + He soon shall court thy slighted charms; + Tho' now thy off'rings he despise, + He soon to thee shall sacrifice; + Tho' now he freeze, he soon shall burn, + And be thy victim in his turn. + + 7. + + Celestial visitant once more, + Thy needful presence I implore. + In pity come, and ease my grief, + Bring my distemper'd soul relief, + Favour thy suppliant's hidden fires, + And give me all my heart's desires. + +There is another beautiful ode by the same Grecian poetess, rendered +into English by Mr. Philips with inexpressible delicacy, quoted in the +Spectator, vol. iii,. No. 229. + + 1. + + Blest, as th'immortal Gods is he + The youth who fondly fits by thee, + And hears, and sees thee all the while + Softly speak, and sweetly smile. + + 2. + + 'Twas this depriv'd my soul of rest, + And raised such tumults in my breast; + For while I gaz'd, in transport tost, + My breath was gone, my voice was lost. + + 3. + + My bosom glow'd; the subtle flame + Ran quick thro' all my vital frame, + O'er my dim eyes a darkness hung; + My ears with hollow murmurs rung. + + 4. + + In dewy damps my limbs were chill'd; + My blood with gentle horrors thrill'd; + My feeble pulse forgot to play; + I fainted, sunk, and died away. + +Mr. Philips having purchased an annuity of 400 l. per annum, for his +life, came over to England sometime in the year 1748: But had not his +health; and died soon after at his lodgings near Vauxhall. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Vide the ACTOR. + +[2] See Cart's History of England, Reign of Henry VI. + + + * * * * * + + +RICHARD MAITLAND, EARL OF LAUDERDALE + +This learned nobleman was nephew to John, the great duke of Lauderdale, +who was secretary of state to King Charles II for Scotch affairs, and +for many years had the government of that kingdom entirely entrusted to +him. Whoever is acquainted with history will be at no loss to know, with +how little moderation he exercised his power; he ruled his native +country with a rod of iron, and was the author of all those disturbances +and persecutions which have stained the Annals of Scotland, during that +inglorious period. + +As the duke of Lauderdale was without issue-male of his own body, he +took our author into his protection as his immediate heir, and ordered +him to be educated in such a manner as to qualify him for the possession +of those great employments his ancestors enjoyed in the state. The +improvement of this young nobleman so far exceeded his years, that he +was very early admitted into the privy council, and made lord justice +clerk, anno 1681. He married the daughter of the earl of Argyle, who was +tried for sedition in the state, and confined in the castle of +Edinburgh. When Argyle found his fate approaching, he meditated, and +effected his escape; and some letters of his being intercepted and +decyphered, which had been written to the earl of Lauderdale, his +lordship fell under a cloud, and was stript of his preferments. These +letters were only of a familiar nature, and contained nothing but +domestic business; but a correspondence with a person condemned, was +esteemed a sin in politics not to be forgiven, especially by a man of +the Duke of York's furious disposition. + +Though the duke of Lauderdale had ordered our author to be educated as +his heir, yet he left all his personal estate, which was very great, to +another, the young nobleman having, by some means, disobliged him; and +as he was of an ungovernable implacable temper, could never again +recover his favour[1]. Though the earl of Lauderdale was thus removed +from his places by the court, yet he persisted in his loyalty to the +Royal Family, and, upon the revolution, followed the fortune of King +James II, and some years after died in France, leaving no surviving +issue, so that the titles devolved on his younger brother. + +While the earl was in exile with his Royal master, he applied his mind +to the delights of poetry, and, in his leisure hours, compleated a +translation of Virgil's works. Mr. Dryden, in his dedication of the +Aeneis, thus mentions it; 'The late earl of Lauderdale, says he, sent me +over his new translation of the Aeneis, which he had ended before I +engaged in the same design. Neither did I then intend it, but some +proposals being afterwards made me by my Bookseller, I desired his +lordship's leave that I might accept them, which he freely granted, and +I have his letter to shew for that permission. He resolved to have +printed his work, which he might have done two years before I could have +published mine; and had performed it, if death had not prevented him. +But having his manuscript in my hands, I consulted it as often as I +doubted of my author's sense; for no man understood Virgil better than +that learned nobleman. His friends have yet another, and more correct +copy of that translation by them, which if they had pleased to have +given the public, the judges might have been convinced that I have not +flattered him.' + +Lord Lauderdale's friends, some years after the publication of Dryden's +Translation, permitted his lordship's to be printed, and, in the late +editions of that performance, those lines are marked with inverted +commas, which Dryden thought proper to adopt into his version, which are +not many; and however closely his lordship may have rendered Virgil, no +man can conceive a high opinion of that poet, contemplated through the +medium of his Translation. + +Dr. Trapp, in his preface to the Aeneis, observes, +'that his lordship's Translation is pretty near to the original, though +not so close as its brevity would make one imagine; and it sufficiently +appears, that he had a right taste in poetry in general, and the Aeneid +in particular. He shews a true spirit, and, in many places, is very +beautiful. But we should certainly have seen Virgil far better +translated, by a noble hand, had the earl of Lauderdale been the earl of +Roscommon, and had the Scottish peer followed all the precepts, and been +animated with the genius of the Irish.' + +We know of no other poetical compositions of this learned nobleman, and +the idea we have received from history of his character, is, that he was +in every respect the reverse of his uncle, from whence we may reasonably +conclude, that he possessed many virtues, since few statesmen of any age +ever were tainted with more vices than the duke of Lauderdale. + +FOOTNOTE: +[1] Crawford's Peerage of Scotland. + + + * * * * * + + +DR. JOSEPH TRAPP + +This poet was second son to the rev. Mr. Joseph Trapp, rector of +Cherington in Gloucestershire, at which place he was born, anno 1679. He +received the first rudiments of learning from his father, who instructed +him in the languages, and superintended his domestic education. When he +was ready for the university he was sent to Oxford, and was many years +scholar and fellow of Wadham College, where he took the degree of master +of arts. In the year 1708 he was unanimously chosen professor of poetry, +being the first of that kind. This institution was founded by Dr. Henry +Birkhead, formerly fellow of All-Souls, and the place of lecturer can be +held only for ten years. + +Dr. Trapp was, in the early part of his life, chaplain to lord +Bolingbroke, the father of the famous Bolingbroke, lately deceased. The +highest preferment Dr. Trapp ever had in the church, though he was a man +of extensive learning, was, the rectory of Harlington, Middlesex, and of +the united parishes of Christ-Church, Newgate Street, and St. Leonard's +Foster-Lane, with the lectureship of St. Lawrence Jewry, and St. +Martin's in the Fields. The Dr's principles were not of that cast, by +which promotion could be expected. He was attached to the High-Church +interest, and as his temper was not sufficiently pliant to yield to the +prevalence of party, perhaps for that very reason, his rising in the +church was retarded. A gentleman of learning and genius, when paying a +visit to the Dr. took occasion to lament, as there had been lately some +considerable alterations made, and men less qualified than he, raised to +the mitre, that distinctions should be conferred with so little regard +to merit, and wondered that he (the Dr.) had never been promoted to a +see. To this the Dr. replied, 'I am thought to have some learning, and +some honesty, and these are but indifferent qualifications to enable a +man to rise in the church.' + +Dr. Trapp's action in the pulpit has been censured by many, as +participating too much of the theatrical manner, and having more the air +of an itinerant enthusiast, than a grave ecclesiastic. Perhaps it may be +true, that his pulpit gesticulations were too violent, yet they bore +strong expressions of sincerity, and the side on which he erred, was the +most favourable to the audience; as the extreme of over-acting any part, +is not half so intolerable as a languid indifference, whether what the +preacher is then uttering, is true or false, is worth attention or no. +The Dr. being once in company with a person, whose profession was that +of a player, took occasion to ask him, 'what was the reason that an +actor seemed to feel his part with so much sincerity, and utter it with +so much emphasis and spirit, while a preacher, whose profession is of a +higher nature, and whose doctrines are of the last importance, remained +unaffected, even upon the most solemn occasion, while he stood in the +pulpit as the ambassador of God, to teach righteousness to the people?' +the player replied, 'I believe no other reason can be given, sir, but +that we are sincere in our parts, and the preachers are insincere in +theirs.' The Dr. could not but acknowledge the truth of this observation +in general, and was often heard to complain of the coldness and +unaffected indifference of his brethren in those very points, in which +it is their business to be sincere and vehement. Would you move your +audience, says an ancient sage, you must yourself be moved; and it is a +proposition which holds universally true. Dr. Trapp was of opinion, that +the highest doctrines of religion were to be considered as infallibly +true, and that it was of more importance to impress them strongly on the +minds of the audience, to speak to their hearts, and affect their +passions, than to bewilder them in disputation, and lead them through +labyrinths of controversy, which can yield, perhaps, but little +instruction, can never tend to refine the passions, or elevate the mind. +Being of this opinion, and from a strong desire of doing good, Dr. Trapp +exerted himself in the pulpit, and strove not only to convince the +judgment, but to warm the heart, for if passions are the elements of +life, they ought to be devoted to the service of religion, as well as +the other faculties, and powers of the soul. + +But preaching was not the only method by which, this worthy man promoted +the interest of religion; he drew the muses into her service, and that +he might work upon the hopes and fears of his readers, he has presented +them with four poems, on these important subjects; _Death, Judgment, +Heaven_, and _Hell._ The reason of his making choice of those themes on +which to write, he very fully explains in his preface. He observes, that +however dull, and trite it may be to declaim against the corruption of +the age one lives in, yet he presumes it will be allowed by every body, +that all manner of wickedness, both in principles and practice, abounds +amongst men. 'I have lived (says he) in six reigns, but for about these +twenty years last past, the English nation has been, and is so +prodigiously debauched, its very nature and genius so changed, that I +scarce know it to be the English nation, and am almost a foreigner in +my own country. Not only barefaced, impudent, immorality of all kinds, +but often professed infidelity and atheism. To slop these overflowings +of ungodliness, much has been done in prose, yet not so as to supersede +all other endeavours: and therefore the author of these poems was +willing to try, whether any good might be done in verse. This manner of +conveyance may, perhaps, have some advantage, which the other has not; +at least it makes variety, which is something considerable. The four +last things are manifestly subjects of the utmost importance. If due +reflexions upon Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell, will not reclaim men +from their vices, nothing will. This little work was intended for the +use of all, from the greatest to the least. But as it would have been +intolerably flat, and insipid to the former, had it been wholly written +in a stile level to the capacities of the latter; to obviate +inconveniences on both sides, an attempt has been made to entertain the +upper class of readers, and, by notes, to explain such passages in +divinity, philosophy, history, &c. as might be difficult to the lower. +The work (if it may be so called) being partly argumentative, and partly +descriptive, it would have been ridiculous, had it been possible to make +the first mentioned as poetical as the other. In long pieces of music +there is the plain recitativo, as well as the higher, and more musical +modulation, and they mutually recommend, and set off each other. But +about these matters the writer is little sollicitous, and otherwise, +than as they are subservient to the design of doing good.' + +A good man would naturally wish, that such generous attempts, in the +cause of virtue, were always successful. With the lower class of +readers, it is more than probably that these poems may have inspired +religious thoughts, have awaked a solemn dread of punishment, kindled a +sacred hope of happiness, and fitted the mind for the four last +important period[1]; But with readers of a higher taste, they can have +but little effect. There is no doctrine placed in a new light, no +descriptions are sufficiently emphatical to work upon a sensible mind, +and the perpetual flatness of the poetry is very disgustful to a +critical reader, especially, as there were so many occasions of rising +to an elevated sublimity. + +The Dr. has likewise written a Paraphrase on the 104th Psalm, which, +though much superior in poetry to his Four Last Things, yet falls +greatly short of that excellent version by Mr. Blacklocke, quoted in the +Life of Dr. Brady. + +Our author has likewise published four volumes of sermons, and a volume +of lectures on poetry, written in Latin. + +Before we mention his other poetical compositions, we shall consider him +as the translator of Virgil, which is the most arduous province he ever +undertook. Dr. Trapp, in his preface, after stating the controversy, +which has been long held, concerning the genius of Homer and Virgil, to +whom the superiority belongs, has informed us, that this work was very +far advanced before it was undertaken, having been, for many years, the +diversion of his leisure hours at the university, and grew upon him, by +insensible degrees, so that a great part of the Aeneis was actually +translated, before he had any design of attempting the whole. + +He further informs us, 'that one of the greatest geniuses, and best +judges, and critics, our age has produced, Mr. Smith of Christ Church, +having seen the first two or three hundred lines of this translation, +advised him by all means to go through with it. I said, he laughed at +me, replied the Dr. and that I should be the most impudent of mortals to +have such a thought. He told me, he was very much in earnest; and asked +me why the whole might not be done, in so many years, as well as such a +number of lines in so many days? which had no influence upon me, nor did +I dream of such an undertaking, 'till being honoured by the university +of Oxford with the public office of professor of poetry, which I shall +ever gratefully acknowledge, I thought it might not be improper for me +to review, and finish this work, which otherwise had certainly been as +much neglected by me, as, perhaps, it will now be by every body else.' + +As our author has made choice of blank verse, rather than rhime, in +order to bear a nearer resemblance to Virgil, he has endeavoured to +defend blank verse, against the advocates for rhime, and shew its +superiority for any work of length, as it gives the expression a greater +compass, or, at least, does not clog and fetter the verse, by which the +substance and meaning of a line must often be mutilated, twisted, and +sometimes sacrificed for the sake of the rhime. + +'Blank verse (says he) is not only more majestic and sublime, but more +musical and harmonious. It has more rhime in it, according to the +ancient, and true sense of the word, than rhime itself, as it is now +used: for, in its original signification, it consists not in the +tinkling of vowels and consonants, but in the metrical disposition of +words and syllables, and the proper cadence of numbers, which is more +agreeable to the ear, without the jingling of like endings, than with +it. And, indeed, let a man consult his own ears. + + Him th'Almighty pow'r + Hurl'd headlong, flaming from the ætherial sky, + With hideous ruin and combustion, down + To bottomless perdition; there to dwell + In adamantine chains, and penal fire; + Who durst defy th'Omnipotent to arms. + Nine times the space that measures day and night + + To mortal men, he with his horrid crew + Lay vanquish'd, rowling in the fiery gulph, + Confounded, tho' immortal + +Who that hears this, can think it wants rhime to recommend it? or rather +does not think it sounds far better without it? We purposely produced a +citation, beginning and ending in the middle of a verse, because the +privilege of resting on this, or that foot, sometimes one, and sometimes +another, and so diversifying the pauses and cadences, is the greatest +beauty of blank verse, and perfectly agreeable to the practice of our +masters, the Greeks and Romans. This can be done but rarely in rhime; +for if it were frequent, the rhime would be in a manner lost by it; the +end of almost every verse must be something of a pause; and it is but +seldom that a sentence begins in the middle. Though this seems to be the +advantage of blank verse over rhime, yet we cannot entirely condemn the +use of it, even in a heroic poem; nor absolutely reject that in +speculation, which. Mr. Dryden and Mr. Pope have enobled by their +practice. We acknowledge too, that in some particular views, what way of +writing has the advantage over this. You may pick out mere lines, which, +singly considered, look mean and low, from a poem in blank verse, than +from one in rhime, supposing them to be in other respects equal. For +instance, the following verses out of Milton's Paradise Lost, b. ii. + + Of Heav'n were falling, and these elements-- + Instinct with fire, and nitre hurried him-- + +taken singly, look low and mean: but read them in conjunction with +others, and then see what a different face will be set upon them. + + --Or less than of this frame + Of Heav'n were falling, and these elements + In mutiny had from her axle torn + The stedfast earth. As last his sail-broad vans + He spreads for flight; and in the surging smoke + Uplifted spurns the ground-- + --Had not by ill chance + The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud + Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him + As many miles aloft. That fury stay'd; + Quench'd in a boggy syrtis, neither sea, + Nor good dry land: night founder'd on he fares, + Treading the crude consistence. + +Our author has endeavoured to justify his choice of blank verse, by +shewing it less subject to restraints, and capable of greater sublimity +than rhime. But tho' this observation may hold true, with respect to +elevated and grand subjects, blank verse is by no means capable of so +great universality. In satire, in elegy, or in pastoral writing, our +language is, it seems, so feebly constituted, as to stand in need of the +aid of rhime; and as a proof of this, the reader need only look upon the +pastorals of Virgil, as translated by Trapp in blank verse, and compare +them with Dryden's in rhime. He will then discern how insipid and fiat +the pastorals of the same poet are in one kind of verification, and how +excellent and beautiful in another. Let us give one short example to +illustrate the truth of this, from the first pastoral of Virgil. + + MELIBÆUS. + + Beneath the covert of the spreading beech + Thou, Tityrus, repos'd, art warbling o'er, + Upon a slender reed, thy sylvan lays: + We leave our country, and sweet native fields; + We fly our country: careless in the shade, + Thou teachest, Tityrus, the sounding groves + To eccho beauteous Amaryllis' name. + + TITYRUS. + + O Melibæus, 'twas a god to us + Indulged this freedom: for to me a god + He shall be ever: from my folds full oft + A tender lamb his altar shall embrue: + He gave my heifers, as thou seest, to roam; + And me permitted on my rural cane + To sport at pleasure, and enjoy my muse, + +TRAPP. + + MELIBÆUS. + + Beneath the shade which beechen-boughs diffuse, + You, Tityrus, entertain your Silvan muse: + Round the wide world in banishment we roam, + Forc'd from our pleasing fields, and native home: + While stretch'd at ease you sing your happy loves: + And Amaryllis fills the shady groves. + + TITYRUS. + + These blessings, friend, a deity bestow'd: + For never can I deem him less than God. + The tender firstlings of my woolly breed + Shall on his holy altar often bleed. + He gave my kine to graze the flowry plain: + And to my pipe renew'd the rural strain. + +DRYDEN. + +Dr. Trapp towards the conclusion of his Preface to the Aeneid, has +treated Dryden with less reverence, than might have been expected from a +man of his understanding, when speaking of so great a genius. The cause +of Trapp's disgust to Dryden, seems to have been this: Dryden had a +strong contempt for the priesthood, which we have from his own words, + + "Priests of all professions are the same." + +and takes every opportunity to mortify the usurping superiority of +spiritual tyrants. Trapp, with all his virtues (for I think it appears +he possessed many) had yet much of the priest in him, and for that very +reason, perhaps, has shewn some resentment to Dryden; but if he has with +little candour of criticism treated Mr. Dryden, he has with great +servility flattered Mr. Pope; and has insinuated, as if the Palm of +Genius were to be yielded to the latter. He observes in general, that +where Mr. Dryden shines most, we often see the least of Virgil. To omit +many other instances, the description of the Cyclops forging Thunder for +Jupiter, and Armour for Aeneas, is elegant and noble to the last degree +in the Latin; and it is so to a great degree in the English. But then is +the English a translation of the Latin? + + Hither the father of the fire by night, + Thro' the brown air precipitates his flight: + On their eternal anvil, here he found + The brethren beating, and the blows go round. + +The lines are good, and truely poetical; but the two first are set to +render + + Hoc tunc ignipotens caelo descendit ab alto. + +There is nothing of _caelo ab alto_ in the version; nor by _night, brown +air_, or _precipitates his sight_, in the original. The two last are put +in the room of + + Ferrum exercebant vasto Cylopes in antro, + Brontesque, Steropesque, & nudus membra Pyraemon. + +Vasto in antro, in the first of these lines, and the last line is +entirely left out in the translation. Nor is there any thing of eternal +anvils, or _hers he found_, in the original, and the brethren beating, +and the blows go round, is but a loose version of _Ferrum exercebant._ +Dr. Trapp has allowed, however, that though Mr. Dryden is often distant +from the original, yet he sometimes rises to a more excellent height, by +throwing out implied graces, which none but so great a poet was capable +of. Thus in the 12th book, after the last speech of Saturn, + + Tantum effata, caput glauco contexit amictu, + Multa gemens, & se fluvio Dea condidit also. + + She drew a length of sighs, no more she said, + But with an azure mantle wrapp'd her head; + Then plunged into her stream with deep despair, + _And her last sobs came bubbling up in air_. + +Though the last line is not expressed in the original, it is yet in some +measure implied, and it is in itself so exceedingly beautiful, that the +whole passage can never be too much admired. These are excellencies +indeed; this is truly Mr. Dryden. The power of truth, no doubt, extorted +this confession from the Dr. and notwithstanding many objections may be +brought against this performance of Dryden, yet we believe most of our +poetical readers upon perusing it, will be of the opinion of Pope, +'that, excepting a few human errors, it is the noblest and most spirited +translation in any language.' To whom it may reasonable be asked, has +Virgil been most obliged? to Dr. Trapp who has followed his footsteps in +every line; has shewn you indeed the design, the characters, contexture, +and moral of the poem, that is, has given you Virgil's account of the +actions of Æneas, or to Mr. Dryden, who has not only conveyed the +general ideas of his author, but has conveyed them with the same majesty +and fire, has led you through every battle with trepidation, has soothed +you in the tender scenes, and inchanted you with the flowers of poetry? +Virgil contemplated thro' the medium of Trapp, appears an accurate +writer, and the Aeneid as well conducted fable, but discerned in +Dryden's page, he glows as with fire from heaven, and the Aeneid is a +continued series of whatever is great, elegant, pathetic, and sublime. + +We have already observed, in the Life of Dryden, that it is easier to +discern wherein the beauties of poetical composition consist, than to +throw out those beauties. Dr. Trapp, in his Prælectiones Poeticæ, has +shewn how much he was master of every species of poetry; that is, how +excellently he understood the structure of a poem; what noble rules he +was capable of laying down, and what excellent materials he could +afford, for building upon such a foundation, a beautiful fabric. There +are few better criticisms in any language, Dryden's dedications and +prefaces excepted, than are contained in these lectures. The mind is +enlarged by them, takes in a wide range of poetical ideas, and is taught +to discover how many amazing requisites are necessary to form a poet. In +his introduction to the first lecture, he takes occasion to state a +comparison between poetry and painting, and shew how small pretensions +the professors of the latter have, to compare themselves with the +former. 'The painter indeed (says he) has to do with the passions, but +then they are such passions only, as discover themselves in the +countenance; but the poet is to do more, he is to trace the rise of +those passions, to watch their gradations, to pain their progress, and +mark them in the heart in their genuine conflicts; and, continues he, +the disproportion between the soul and the body, is not greater than the +disproportion between the painter and the poet. + +Dr. Trapp is author of a tragedy called Abramule, or Love and Empire, +acted at the New Theatre at Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1704, dedicated to the +Right Honourable the Lady Harriot Godolphin. Scene Constantinople. The +story is built upon the dethronement of Mahomet IV. + +Our author has likewise written a piece called The Church of England +Defended against the False Reasoning of the Church of Rome. Several +occasional poems were written by him in English; and there is one Latin +poem of his in the Musæ Anglicanæ. He has translated the Paradise Lost +into Latin Verse, with little success, and, as he published it at his +own risk, he was a considerable loser. The capital blemish of that work, +is, the unharmonious versification, which gives perpetual offence to the +ear, neither is the language universally pure. + +He died in the month of November 1747, and left behind him the character +of a pathetic and instructive preacher, a profound scholar, a discerning +critic, a benevolent gentleman, and a pious Christian. + +We shall conclude the life of Dr. Trapp with the following verses of Mr. +Layng, which are expressive of the Dr's. character as a critic and a +poet. The author, after applauding Dryden's version, proceeds thus in +favour of Trapp. + + Behind we see a younger bard arise, + No vulgar rival in the grand emprize. + Hail! learned Trapp! upon whose brow we find + The poet's bays, and critic's ivy join'd. + Blest saint! to all that's virtuous ever dear, + Thy recent fate demands a friendly tear. + None was more vers'd in all the Roman store, + Or the wide circle of the Grecian lore, + Less happy, from the world recluse too long, + In all the sweeter ornaments of song; + Intent to teach, too careless how to please, + He boasts in strength, whate'er he wants in ease. + +FOOTNOTE + +[1] By his last Will he ordered a copy of that book to be given to each + of his parishioners, that when he could no longer speak to them from + the pulpit, he might endeavour to instruct them in his writings. + + + * * * * * + + +MR. SAMUEL BOYSE. + +This Poet was the son of the Revd. Mr. Joseph Boyse, a Dissenting +minister of great eminence in Dublin. Our author's father was a person +so much respected by those immediately under his ministerial care, and +whoever else had the happiness of his acquaintance, that people of all +denominations united in esteeming him, not only for his learning and +abilities, but his extensive humanity and undisembled piety. + +The Revd. Gentleman had so much dignity in his manner, that he obtained +from the common people the name of bishop Boyse, meant as a compliment +to the gracefulness of his person and mien. But though Mr. Boyse was +thus reverenced by the multitude, and courted by people of fashion, he +never contracted the least air of superciliousness: He was humane and +affable in his temper, equally removed from the stiffness of pedantry, +and offensive levity. During his ministerial charge at Dublin, he +published many sermons, which compose several folio volumes, a few Poems +and other Tracts; but what chiefly distinguished him as a writer, was +the controversy he carried on with Dr. King, archbishop of Dublin, and +author of the Origin of Evil, concerning the office of a scriptural +bishop. This controverted point was managed on both sides with great +force of argument, and calmness of temper. The bishop asserted that the +episcopal right of jurisdiction had its foundation in the New-Testament: +Mr. Boyse, consistent with his principles, denied that any +ecclesiastical superiority appeared there; and in the opinion of many, +Mr. Boyse was more than equal to his antagonist, whom he treated in the +course of the controversy, with the greatest candour and good-manners. + +It has been reported that Mr. Boyse had two brothers, one a clergyman of +the church of England, and the other a cardinal at Rome; but of this +circumstance we have no absolute certainty: Be it as it may, he had, +however, no brother so much distinguished in the world as himself. + +We shall now enter upon the life of our poet, who will appear while we +trace it, to have been in every respect the reverse of his father, +genius excepted.-- + +He was born in the year 1708, and received the rudiments of his +education in a private school in Dublin. When he was but eighteen years +old, his father, who probably intended him for the ministry, sent him to +the university of Glasgow, that he might finish his education there. He +had not been a year at the university, till he fell in love with one +Miss Atchenson, the daughter of a tradesman in that city, and was +imprudent enough to interrupt his education, by marrying her, before he +had entered into his 20th year. + +The natural extravagance of his temper soon exposed him to want, and as +he had now the additional charge of a wife, his reduced circumstances +obliged him to quit the university, and go over with his wife (who also +carried a sister with her) to Dublin; where they relied upon the old +gentleman for support. His behaviour in this dependent state, was the +very reverse of what it should have been. In place of directing his +studies to some useful acquisition, so as to support himself and family, +he spent his time in the most abject trifling, and drew many heavy +expences upon his father, who had no other means of supporting himself +than what his congregation afforded, and a small estate of fourscore +pounds a year in Yorkshire. + +Considerations of prudence never entered into the heart of this unhappy +young roan, who ran from one excess to another, till an indulgent parent +was reduced by his means to very great embarrassments. Young Boyse was +of all men the farthest removed from a gentleman; he had no graces of +person, and fewer still of conversation. To this cause it was perhaps +owing, that his wife, naturally of a very volatile sprightly temper, +either grew tired of him, or became enamour'd of variety. It was however +abundantly certain, that she pursued intrigues with other men; and what +is still more surprising, not without the knowledge of her husband, who +had either too abject a spirit to resent it; or was bribed by some +lucrative advantage, to which, he had a mind mean enough to stoop. +Though never were three people of more libertine characters than young +Boyse, his wife, and sister-in-law; yet the two ladies wore such a mask +of decency before the old gentleman, that his fondness was never abated. +He hoped that time and experience would recover his son from his courses +of extravagance; and as he was of an unsuspecting temper, he had not the +least jealousy of the real conduct of his daughter-in-law, who grew +every day in his favour, and continued to blind him, by the seeming +decency of her behaviour, and a performance of those acts of piety, he +naturally expected from her. But the old gentleman was deceived in his +hopes, for time made no alteration in his son. The estate his father +possessed in Yorkshire was sold to discharge his debts; and when the old +man lay in his last sickness, he was entirely supported by presents from +his congregation, and buried at their expence. + +We have no farther account of Mr. Boyse, till we find him soon after his +father's death at Edinburgh; but from what motives he went there we +cannot now discover. At this place his poetical genius raised him many +friends, and some patrons of very great eminence. He published a volume +of poems in 1731, to which is subjoined The Tablature of Cebes, and a +Letter upon Liberty, inserted in the Dublin Journal 1726; and by these +he obtained a very great reputation. They are addressed to the countess +of Eglington, a lady of distinguished excellencies, and so much +celebrated for her beauty, that it would be difficult for the best +panegyrist to be too lavish in her praise. This amiable lady was +patroness of all men of wit, and very much distinguished Mr. Boyse, +while he resided in that country. She was not however exempt from the +lot of humanity, and her conspicuous accomplishments were yet chequered +with failings: The chief of which was too high a consciousness of her +own charms, which inspired a vanity that sometimes betrayed her into +errors. + +The following short anecdote was frequently related by Mr. Boyse. The +countess one day came into the bed chamber of her youngest daughter, +then about 13 years old, while she was dressing at her toilet. The +countess observing the assiduity with which the young lady wanted to set +off her person to the best advantage, asked her, what she would give to +be 'as handsome as her mamma?' To which Miss replied; 'As much as your +ladyship would give to be as young as me.' This smart repartee which was +at once pungent and witty, very sensibly affected the countess; who for +the future was less lavish in praise of her own charms.-- + +Upon the death of the viscountess Stormont, Mr. Boyse wrote an Elegy, +which was very much applauded by her ladyship's relations. This Elegy he +intitled, The Tears of the Muses, as the deceased lady was a woman of +the most refined taste in the sciences, and a great admirer of poetry. +The lord Stormont was so much pleased with this mark of esteem paid to +the memory of his lady, that he ordered a very handsome present to be +given to Mr. Boyse, by his attorney at Edinburgh. + +Though Mr. Boyse's name was very well known in that city, yet his person +was obscure; for as he was altogether unsocial in his temper, he had but +few acquaintances, and those of a cast much inferior to himself, and +with whom he ought to have been ashamed to associate. It was some time +before he could be found out; and lord Stormont's kind intentions had +been defeated, if an advertisement had not been published in one of +their weekly papers, desiring the author of the Tears of the Muses to +call at the house of the attorney[1]. + +The personal obscurity of Mr. Boyse might perhaps not be altogether +owing to his habits of gloominess and retirement. Nothing is more +difficult in that city, than to make acquaintances; There are no places +where people meet and converse promiscuously: There is a reservedness +and gravity in the manner of the inhabitants, which makes a stranger +averse to approach them. They naturally love solitude; and are very slow +in contracting friendships. They are generous; but it is with a bad +grace. They are strangers to affability, and they maintain a haughtiness +and an apparent indifference, which deters a man from courting them. +They may be said to be hospitable, but not complaisant to strangers: +Insincerity and cruelty have no existence amongst them; but if they +ought not to be hated, they can never be much loved, for they are +incapable of insinuation, and their ignorance of the world makes them +unfit for entertaining sensible strangers. They are public-spirited, but +torn to pieces by factions. A gloominess in religion renders one part of +them very barbarous, and an enthusiasm in politics so transports the +genteeler part, that they sacrifice to party almost every consideration +of tenderness. Among such a people, a man may long live, little known, +and less instructed; for their reservedness renders them +uncommunicative, and their excessive haughtiness prevents them from +being solicitous of knowledge. + +The Scots are far from being a dull nation; they are lovers of pomp and +shew; but then there is an eternal stiffness, a kind of affected +dignity, which spoils their pleasures. Hence we have the less reason to +wonder that Boyse lived obscurely at Edinburgh. His extreme carelesness +about his dress was a circumstance very inauspicious to a man who lives +in that city. They are such lovers of this kind of decorum, that they +will admit of no infringement upon it; and were a man with more wit than +Pope, and more philosophy than Newton, to appear at their market place +negligent in his apparel, he would be avoided by his acquaintances who +would rather risk his displeasure, than the censure of the public, which +would not fail to stigmatize them, for assocciating with a man seemingly +poor; for they measure poverty, and riches, understanding, or its +opposite, by exterior appearance. They have many virtues, but their not +being polished prevents them from shining. + +The notice which Lady Eglington and the lord Stormont took of our poet, +recommended him likewise to the patronage of the dutchess of Gordon, who +was a lady not only distinguished for her taste; but cultivated a +correspondence with some of the most eminent poets then living. The +dutchess was so zealous in Mr. Boyse's affairs, and so felicitous to +raise him above necessity, that she employed her interest in procuring +the promise of a place for him. She gave him a letter, which he was next +day to deliver to one of the commissioners of the customs at Edinburgh. +It happened that he was then some miles distant from the city, and the +morning on which he was to have rode to town with her grace's letter of +recommendation proved to be rainy. This slender circumstance was enough +to discourage Boyse, who never looked beyond the present moment: He +declined going to town on account of the rainy weather, and while he let +slip the opportunity, the place was bestowed upon another, which the +commissioner declared he kept for some time vacant, in expectation of +seeing a person recommended by the dutchess of Gordon. + +Of a man of this indolence of temper, this sluggish meanness of spirit, +the reader cannot be surprised to find the future conduct consist of a +continued serious of blunders, for he who had not spirit to prosecute an +advantage put in his hands, will neither bear distress with fortitude, +nor struggle to surmount it with resolution. + +Boyse at last, having defeated all the kind intentions of his patrons +towards him, fell into a contempt and poverty, which obliged him to quit +Edinburgh, as his creditors began to sollicit the payment of their +debts, with an earnestness not to be trifled with. He communicated his +design of going to London to the dutchess of Gordon; who having still a +very high opinion of his poetical abilities, gave him a letter of +recommendation to Mr. Pope, and obtained another for him to Sir Peter +King, the lord chancellor of England. Lord Stormont recommended him to +the sollicitor-general his brother, and many other persons of the first +fashion. + +Upon receiving these letters, he, with great caution, quitted Edinburgh, +regretted by none but his creditors, who were so exaggerated as to +threaten to prosecute him wherever he should be found. But these menaces +were never carried into execution, perhaps from the consideration of his +indigence, which afforded no probable prospect of their being paid. + +Upon his arrival in London, he went to Twickenham, in order to deliver +the dutchess of Gordon's letter to Mr. Pope; but that gentleman not +being at home, Mr. Boyse never gave himself the trouble to repeat his +visit, nor in all probability would Pope have been over-fond of him; as +there was nothing in his conversation which any wife indicated the +abilities he possessed. He frequently related, that he was graciously +received by Sir Peter King, dined at his table, and partook of his +pleasures. But this relation, they who knew Mr. Boyse well, never could +believe; for he was so abject in his disposition, that he never could +look any man in the face whose appearance was better than his own; nor +likely had courage to sit at Sir Peter King's table, where every one was +probably his superior. He had no power of maintaining the dignity of +wit, and though his understanding was very extensive, yet but a few +could discover that he had any genius above the common rank. This want +of spirit produced the greatest part of his calamities, because he; knew +not how to avoid them by any vigorous effort of his mind. He wrote +poems, but those, though excellent in their kind, were lost to the +world, by being introduced with no advantage. He had so strong a +propension to groveling, that his acquaintance were generally of such a +cast, as could be of no service to him; and those in higher life he +addressed by letters, not having sufficient confidence or politeness to +converse familiarly with them; a freedom to which he was intitled by the +power of his genius. Thus unfit to support himself in the world, he was +exposed to variety of distress, from which he could invent no means of +extricating himself, but by writing mendicant letters. It will appear +amazing, but impartiality obliges us to relate it, that this man, of so +abject a spirit, was voluptuous and luxurious: He had no taste for any +thing elegant, and yet was to the last degree expensive. Can it be +believed, that often when he had received half a guinea, in consequence +of a supplicating letter, he would go into a tavern, order a supper to +be prepared, drink of the richest wines, and spend all the money that +had just been given him in charity, without having any one to +participate the regale with him, and while his wife and child were +starving home? This is an instance of base selfishness, for which no +name is as yet invented, and except by another poet[2], with some +variation of circumstances, was perhaps never practiced by the most +sensual epicure. + +He had yet some friends, many of the most eminent dissenters, who from a +regard to the memory of his father, afforded him supplies from time to +time. Mr. Boyse by perpetual applications, at last exhausted their +patience; and they were obliged to abandon a man on whom their +liberality was ill bestowed, as it produced no other advantage to him, +than a few days support, when he returned again with the same +necessities. + +The epithet of cold has often been given to charity, perhaps with a +great deal of truth; but if any thing can warrant us to withhold our +charity, it is the consideration that its purposes are prostituted by +those on whom it is bestowed. + +We have already taken notice of the infidelity of his wife; and now her +circumstances were reduced, her virtue did not improve. She fell into a +way of life disgraceful to the sex; nor was his behaviour in any degree +more moral. They were frequently covered with ignominy, reproaching one +another for the acquisition of a disease, which both deserved, because +mutually guilty. + +It was about the year 1740, that Mr. Boyse reduced to the last extremity +of human wretchedness, had not a shirt, a coat, or any kind of apparel +to put on; the sheets in which he lay were carried to the pawnbroker's, +and he was obliged to be confined to bed, with no other covering than a +blanket. He had little support but what he got by writing letters to his +friends in the most abject stile. He was perhaps ashamed to let this +instance of distress be known to his friends, which might be the +occasion of his remaining six weeks in that situation. During this time +he had some employment in writing verses for the Magazines; and whoever +had seen him in his study, must have thought the object singular enough. +He sat up in bed with the blanket wrapt about him, through which he had +cut a hole large enough to admit his arm, and placing the paper upon his +knee, scribbled in the best manner he could the verses he was obliged to +make: Whatever he got by those, or any of his begging letters, was but +just sufficient for the preservation of life. And perhaps he would have +remained much longer in this distressful state, had not a compassionate +gentleman, upon hearing this circumstance related, ordered his cloaths +to be taken out of pawn, and enabled him to appear again abroad. + +This six weeks penance one would imagine sufficient to deter him for the +future, from suffering himself to be exposed to such distresses; but by +a long habit of want it grew familiar to him, and as he had less +delicacy than other men, he was perhaps less afflicted with his exterior +meanness. For the future, whenever his distresses so press'd, as to +induce him to dispose of his shirt, he fell upon an artificial method of +supplying one. He cut some white paper in slips, which he tyed round his +wrists, and in the same manner supplied his neck. In this plight he +frequently appeared abroad, with the additional inconvenience of want of +breeches. + +He was once sent for in a hurry, to the house of a printer who had +employed him to write a poem for his Magazine: Boyse then was without +breeches, or waistcoat, but was yet possessed of a coat, which he threw +upon him, and in this ridiculous manner went to the printer's house; +where he found several women, whom his extraordinary appearance obliged +immediately to retire. + +He fell upon many strange schemes of raising trifling sums: He sometimes +ordered his wife to inform people that he was just expiring, and by this +artifice work upon their compassion; and many of his friends were +frequently surprised to meet the man in the street to day, to whom they +had yesterday sent relief, as to a person on the verge of death. At +other times he would propose subscriptions for poems, of which only the +beginning and conclusion were written; and by this expedient would +relieve some present necessity. But as he seldom was able to put any of +his poems to the press, his veracity in this particular suffered a +diminution; and indeed in almost every other particular he might justly +be suspected; for if he could but gratify an immediate appetite, he +cared not at what expence, whether of the reputation, or purse of +another. + +About the year 1745 Mr. Boyse's wife died. He was then at Reading, and +pretended much concern when he heard of her death. + +It was an affectation in Mr. Boyse to appear very fond of a little lap +dog which he always carried about with him in his arms, imagining it +gave him the air of a man of taste. Boyse, whose circumstances were then +too mean to put himself in mourning, was yet resolved that some part of +his family should. He step'd into a little shop, purchased half a yard +of black ribbon, which he fixed round his dog's neck by way of mourning +for the loss of its mistress. But this was not the only ridiculous +instance of his behaviour on the death of his wife. Such was the +sottishness of this man, that when he was in liquor, he always indulged +a dream of his wife's being still alive, and would talk very spightfully +of those by whom he suspected she was entertained. This he never +mentioned however, except in his cups, which was only as often as he had +money to spend. The manner of his becoming intoxicated was very +particular. As he had no spirit to keep good company, so he retired to +some obscure ale-house, and regaled himself with hot two-penny, which +though he drank in very great quantities, yet he had never more than a +pennyworth at a time.--Such a practice rendered him so compleatly +sottish, that even his abilities, as an author, became sensibly +impaired. + +We have already mentioned his being at Reading. His business there was +to compile a Review of the most material transactions at home and +abroad, during the last war; in which he has included a short account of +the late rebellion. For this work by which he got some reputation, he +was paid by the sheet, a price sufficient to keep him from starving, and +that was all. To such distress must that man be driven, who is destitute +of prudence to direct the efforts of his genius. In this work Mr. Boyse +discovers how capable he was of the most irksome and laborious +employment, when he maintained a power over his appetites, and kept +himself free from intemperance. + +While he remained at Reading, he addressed, by supplicating letters, two +Irish noblemen, lord Kenyston, and lord Kingsland, who resided in +Berkshire, and received some money from them; he also met with another +gentleman there of a benevolent disposition, who, from the knowledge he +had of the father, pitied the distresses of the son, and by his interest +with some eminent Dissenters in those parts, railed a sufficient sum to +cloath him, for the abjectness of his appearance secluded our poet even +from the table of his Printer[3]. + +Upon his return from Reading, his behaviour was more decent than it had +ever been before, and there were some hopes that a reformation, tho' +late, would be wrought upon him. He was employed by a Bookseller to +translate Fenelon on the Existence of God, during which time he married +a second wife, a woman in low circumstances, but well enough adapted to +his taste. He began now to live with more regard to his character, and +support a better appearance than usual; but while his circumstances were +mending, and his irregular appetites losing ground, his health visibly +declined: he had the satisfaction, while in this lingering illness, to +observe a poem of his, entitled The Deity, recommended by two eminent +writers, the ingenious Mr. Fielding, and the rev. Mr. James Harvey, +author of The Meditations. The former, in the beginning of his humorous +History of Tom Jones, calls it an excellent poem. Mr. Harvey stiles it a +pious and instructive piece; and that worthy gentleman, upon hearing +that the author was in necessitous circumstances, deposited two guineas +in the hands of a trusty person to be given him, whenever his occasions +should press. This poem was written some years before Mr. Harvey or Mr. +Fielding took any notice of it, but it was lost to the public, as the +reputation of the Bookseller consisted in sending into the world +abundance of trifles, amongst which, it was considered as one. Mr. Boyse +said, that upon its first publication, a gentleman acquainted with Mr. +Pope, took occasion to ask that poet, if he was not the author of it, to +which Mr. Pope replied, 'that he was not the author, but that there were +many lines in it, of which he should not be ashamed.' This Mr. Boyse +considered as a very great compliment. The poem indeed abounds with +shining lines and elevated sentiments on the several Attributes of the +Supreme Being; but then it is without a plan, or any connexion of parts, +for it may be read either backwards or forwards, as the reader pleases. + +While Mr. Boyse was in this lingering illness, he seemed to have no +notion of his approaching end, nor did he expect it, 'till it was almost +past the thinking of. His mind, indeed, was often religiously disposed; +he frequently talked upon that subject, and, probably suffered a great +deal from the remorse of his conscience. The early impressions of his +good education were never entirely obliterated, and his whole life was a +continued struggle between his will and reason, as he was always +violating his duty to the one, while he fell under the subjection of the +other. It was in consequence of this war in his mind, that he wrote a +beautiful poem called The Recantation. + +In the month of May, 1749, he died in obscure lodgings near Shoe-Lane. +An old acquaintance of his endeavoured to collect money to defray the +expences of his funeral, so that the scandal of being buried by the +parish might be avoided. But his endeavours were in vain, for the +persons he sollicited, had been so troubled with applications during the +life of this unhappy man, that they refused to contribute any thing +towards his funeral. The remains of this son of the muses were, with +very little ceremony, hurried away by the parish officers, and thrown +amongst common beggars; though with this distinction, that the service +of the church was performed over his corpse. Never was an exit more +shocking, nor a life spent with less grace, than those of Mr. Boyse, and +never were such distinguished abilities given to less purpose. His +genius was not confined to poetry only, he had a taste for painting, +music and heraldry, with the latter of which he was very well +acquainted. His poetical pieces, if collected, would make six moderate +volumes. Many of them are featured in the Gentleman's Magazine, marked +with the letter Y. and Alceus. Two volumes were published in London, but +as they never had any great sale, it will be difficult to find them. + +An ode of his in the manner of Spenser, entitled The Olive, was +addressed to Sir Robert Walpole, which procured him a present of ten +guineas. He translated a poem from the High Dutch of Van Haren, in +praise of peace, upon the conclusion of that made at Aix la Chapelle; +but the poem which procured him the greatest reputation, was, that upon +the Attributes of the Deity, of which we have already taken notice. He +was employed by Mr. Ogle to translate some of Chaucer's Tales into +modern English, which he performed with great spirit, and received at +the rate of three pence a line for his trouble. Mr. Ogle published a +complete edition of that old poet's Canterbury Tales Modernized; and Mr. +Boyse's name is put to such Tales as were done by him. It had often been +urged to Mr. Boyse to turn his thoughts towards the drama, as that was +the most profitable kind of poetical writing, and as many a poet of +inferior genius to him has raised large contributions on the public by +the success of their plays. But Boyse never seemed to relish this +proposal, perhaps from a consciousness that he had not spirit to +prosecute the arduous task of introducing it on the stage; or that he +thought himself unequal to the task. + +In the year 1743 Mr. Boyse published without his name, an Ode on the +battle of Dettingen, entitled Albion's Triumph; some Stanza's of which +we shall give as a specimen of Mr. Boyse's poetry. + +STANZA's from ALBION's Triumph. + +XIII. + + But how, blest sovereign! shall th'unpractis'd muse + These recent honours of thy reign rehearse! + How to thy virtues turn her dazzled views, + Or consecrate thy deeds in equal verse! + Amidst the field of horrors wide display'd, + How paint the calm[4] that smil'd upon, thy brow! + Or speak that thought which every part surveyed, + 'Directing where the rage of war should glow:'[5] + While watchful angels hover'd round thy head, + And victory on high the palm of glory spread. + +XIV. + + Nor royal youth reject the artless praise, + Which due to worth like thine the Muse bestows, + Who with prophetic extasy surveys + These early wreaths of fame adorn thy brows. + Aspire like Nassau in the glorious strife, + Keep thy great fires' examples full in eye; + But oh! for Britain's sake, consult a life + The noblest triumphs are too mean to buy; + And while you purchase glory--bear in mind, + A prince's truest fame is to protect mankind. + +XV. + + Alike in arts and arms acknowledg'd great, + Let Stair accept the lays he once could own! + Nor Carteret, thou the column of the state! + The friend of science! on the labour frown! + Nor shall, unjust to foreign worth, the Muse + In silence Austria's valiant chiefs conceal; + While Aremberg's heroic line she views, + And Neiperg's conduct strikes even envy pale: + Names Gallia yet shall further learn to fear, + And Britain, grateful still, shall treasure up as dear! + +XIX. + + But oh! acknowledg'd victor in the field, + What thanks, dread sovereign, shall thy toils reward! + Such honours as delivered nations yield, + Such for thy virtues justly stand prepar'd: + When erst on Oudenarde's decisive plain, + Before thy youth, the Gaul defeated fled, + The eye of fate[6] foresaw on distant Maine, + The laurels now that shine around thy head: + Oh should entwin'd with these fresh Olives bloom! + Thy Triumphs then would shame the pride of antient Rome. + +XX. + + Mean time, while from this fair event we shew + That British valour happily survives, + And cherish'd by the king's propitious view, + The rising plant of glory sweetly thrives! + Let all domestic faction learn to cease, + Till humbled Gaul no more the world alarms: + Till GEORGE procures to Europe solid peace, + A peace secur'd by his victorious arms: + And binds in iron fetters ear to ear, + Ambition, Rapine, Havock, and Despair, + With all the ghastly fiends of desolating war. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] A Profession, which in that City is denominated a Writer. + +[2] Savage. + +[3] During his abode at Reading an accident had like to have put an end + to his follies and his life together; for he had the ill-luck to + fall from his garret down the whole flight of stairs; but being + destined to lengthen out a useless life for some time longer, he + escaped with only a severe bruising. + +[4] The King gave his orders with the utmost calmness, tho' no body was + more expos'd. + +[5] + Inspir'd repuls'd battalions to engage, + And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + Mr. Addison's Campaign. + +[6] His Majesty early distinguished himself as a volunteer at the battle + of Oudenarde, in 1708. + + + * * * * * + + +Sir RICHARD BLACKMORE. + +This eminent poet and physician was son of Mr. Robert Blackmore, an +Attorney at Law. He received his early education at a private country +school, from whence, in the 13th year of his age, he was removed to +Westminster, and in a short time after to the university of Oxford, +where he continued thirteen years. + +In the early period of our author's life he was a Schoolmaster, as +appears by a satirical copy of verses Dr. Drake wrote against him, +consisting of upwards of forty lines, of which the following are very +pungent. + + By nature form'd, by want a pedant made, + Blackmore at first set up the whipping trade: + Next quack commenc'd; then fierce with pride he swore, + That tooth-ach, gout, and corns should be no more. + In vain his drugs, as well as birch he tried; + His boys grew blockheads, and his patients died. + +Some circumstances concurring, it may be presumed in Sir Richard's +favour, he travelled into Italy, and at Padua took his degrees in +physic[1]. + +He gratified his curiosity in visiting France, Germany, and the Low +Countries, and after spending a year and a half in this delightful +exercise, he returned to England. As Mr. Blackmore had made physic his +chief study, so he repaired to London to enter upon the practice of it, +and no long after he was chosen fellow of the Royal College of +Physicians, by the charter of King James II. Sir Richard had seen too +much of foreign slavery to be fond of domestic chains, and therefore +early declared himself in favour of the revolution, and espoused those +principles upon which it was effected. This zeal, recommended him to +King William, and in the year 1697 he was sworn one of his physicians in +ordinary. He was honoured by that Prince with a gold medal and chain, +was likewise knighted by him, and upon his majesty's death was one of +those who gave their opinion in the opening of the king's body. Upon +Queen Anne's accession to the throne, he was appointed one of her +physicians, and continued so for some time. + +This gentleman is author of more original poems, of a considerable +length, besides a variety of other works, than can well be conceived +could have been composed by one man, during the longest period of human +life. He was a chaste writer; he struggled in the cause of virtue, even +in those times, when vice had the countenance of the great, and when an +almost universal degeneracy prevailed. He was not afraid to appear the +advocate of virtue, in opposition to the highest authority, and no +lustre of abilities in his opponents could deter him from stripping vice +of those gaudy colours, with which poets of the first eminence had +cloathed her. + +An elegant writer having occasion to mention the state of wit in the +reign of King Charles II, characterizes the poets in the following +manner; + + The wits of Charles found easier ways to fame: + Nor sought for Johnson's art, nor Shakespear's flame: + Themselves they studied; as they lived, they writ, + Intrigue was plot, obscenity was wit. + Their cause was gen'ral, their supports were strong, + Their slaves were willing, and their reign was long. + +Mr. Pope somewhere says, + + Unhappy Dryden--in all Charles's days, + Roscommon only boasts unspotted lays. + +He might likewise have excepted Blackmore, who was not only chaste in +his own writings, but endeavoured to correct those who prostituted the +gifts of heaven, to the inglorious purposes of vice and folly, and he +was, at least, as good a poet as Roscommon. + +Sir Richard had, by the freedom of his censures on the libertine writers +of his age, incurred the heavy displeasure of Dryden, who takes all +opportunities to ridicule him, and somewhere says, that he wrote to the +rumbling of his chariot wheels. And as if to be at enmity with Blackmore +had been hereditary to our greatest poets, we find Mr. Pope taking up +the quarrel where Dryden left it, and persecuting this worthy man with +yet a severer degree of satire. Blackmore had been informed by Curl, +that Mr. Pope was the author of a Travestie on the first Psalm, which he +takes occasion to reprehend in his Essay on Polite Learning, vol. ii. p. +270. He ever considered it as the disgrace of genius, that it should be +employed to burlesque any of the sacred compositions, which as they +speak the language of inspiration, tend to awaken the soul to virtue, +and inspire it with a sublime devotion. Warmed in this honourable cause, +he might, perhaps, suffer his zeal to transport him to a height, which +his enemies called enthusiasm; but of the two extremes, no doubt can be +made, that Blackmore's was the safest, and even dullness in favour of +virtue (which, by the way, was not the case with Sir Richard) is more +tolerable than the brightest parts employed in the cause of lewdness and +debauchery. + +The poem for which Sir Richard had been most celebrated, was, +undoubtedly, his Creation, now deservedly become a classic. We cannot +convey a more amiable idea of this great production, than in the words +of Mr. Addison, in his Spectator, Number 339, who, after having +criticised on that book of Milton, which gives an account of the Works +of Creation, thus proceeds, 'I cannot conclude this book upon the +Creation, without mentioning a poem which has lately appeared under that +title. The work was undertaken with so good an intention, and executed +with so great a mastery, that it deserves to be, looked upon as one of +the most useful and noble productions in our English verse. The reader +cannot but be pleased to find the depths of philosophy, enlivened with +all the charms of poetry, and to see so great a strength of reason +amidst so beautiful a redundancy of the imagination. The author has +shewn us that design in all the works of nature, which necessarily leads +us to the knowledge of its first cause. In short, he has illustrated, by +numberless and incontestable instances, that divine wisdom, which the +son of Sirach has so nobly ascribed to the Supreme Being in his +formation of the world, when he tells us, that he _created her, and saw +her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works_.' + +The design of this excellent poem is to demonstrate the self-existence +of an eternal mind, from the created and dependent existence of the +universe, and to confute the hypothesis of the Epicureans and the +Fatalists, under whom all the patrons of impiety, ancient and modern, of +whatsoever denomination may be ranged. The first of whom affirm, the +world was in time caused by chance, and the other, that it existed from +eternity without a cause. 'Tis true, both these acknowledge the +existence of Gods, but by their absurd and ridiculous description of +them, it is plain, they had nothing else in view, but to avoid the +obnoxious character of atheistical philosophers. To adorn this poem, no +embellishments are borrowed from the exploded and obsolete theology of +the ancient idolaters of Greece and Rome; no rapturous invocations are +addressed to their idle deities, nor any allusions to their fabulous +actions. 'I have more than once (says Sir Richard) publicly declared my +opinion, that a Christian poet cannot but appear monstrous and +ridiculous in a Pagan dress. That though it should be granted, that the +Heathen religion might be allowed a place in light and loose songs, mock +heroic, and the lower lyric compositions, yet in Christian poems, of the +sublime and greater kind, a mixture of the Pagan theology must, by all +who are masters of reflexion and good sense, be condemned, if not as +impious, at least, as impertinent and absurd. And this is a truth so +clear and evident, that I make no doubt it will, by degrees, force its +way, and prevail over the contrary practice. Should Britons recover +their virtue, and reform their taste, they could no more bear the +Heathen religion in verse, than in prose. Christian poets, as well as +Christian preachers, the business of both being to instruct the people, +though the last only are wholly appropriated to it, should endeavour to +confirm, and spread their own religion. If a divine should begin his +sermon with a solemn prayer to Bacchus or Apollo, to Mars or Venus, what +would the people think of their preacher? and is it not as really, +though not equally absurd, for a poet in a great and serious poem, +wherein he celebrates some wonderful and happy event of divine +providence, or magnifies the illustrious instrument that was honoured to +bring the event about, to address his prayer to false deities, and cry +for help to the abominations of the heathen?' + +Mr. Gildon, in his Compleat Art of Poetry, after speaking of our author +in the most respectful terms, says, 'that notwithstanding his merit, +this admirable author did not think himself upon the same footing with +Homer.' But how different is the judgment of Mr. Dennis, who, in this +particular, opposes his friend Mr. Gildon. + +'Blackmore's action (says he) has neither unity, integrity, morality, +nor universality, and consequently he can have no fable, and no heroic +poem. His narration is neither probable, delightful, nor wonderful. His +characters have none of these necessary qualifications.--The things +contained in his narrations, are neither in their own nature delightful +nor numerous enough, nor rightly disposed, nor surprizing, nor +pathetic;' nay he proceeds so far as to say Sir Richard has no genius; +first establishing it as a principle, 'That genius is known by a furious +joy, and pride of soul, on the conception of an extraordinary hint. Many +men (says he) have their hints without these motions of fury and pride +of soul; because they want fire enough to agitate their spirits; and +these we call cold writers. Others who have a great deal of fire, but +have not excellent organs, feel the fore-mentioned motions, without the +extraordinary hints; and these we call fustian writers.' + +And he declares, that Sir Richard hath neither the hints nor the +motions[2]. But Dennis has not contented himself, with charging +Blackmore with want of genius; but has likewise the following remarks to +prove him a bad Church of England man: These are his words. 'All Mr. +Blackmore's coelestial machines, as they cannot be defended so much as +by common received opinion, so are they directly contrary to the +doctrine of the church of England, that miracles had ceased a long time +before prince Arthur come into the world. Now if the doctrine of the +church of England be true, as we are obliged to believe, then are all +the coelestial machines of prince Arthur unsufferable, as wanting not +only human but divine probability. But if the machines are sufferable, +that is, if they have so much as divine probability, then it follows of +necessity, that the doctrine of the church is false; so that I leave it +to every impartial clergyman to consider.' + +If no greater objection could be brought against Blackmore's Prince +Arthur, than those raised by Mr. Dennis, the Poem would be faultless; +for what has the doctrine of the church of England to do with an epic +poem? It is not the doctrine of the church of England, to suppose that +the apostate spirits put the power of the Almighty to proof, by openly +resisting his will, and maintaining an obstinate struggle with the +angels commissioned by him, to drive them from the mansions of the +bless'd; or that they attempted after their perdition, to recover heaven +by violence. These are not the doctrines of the church of England; but +they are conceived in a true spirit of poetry, and furnish those +tremendous descriptions with which Milton has enriched his Paradise +Lost. + +Whoever has read Mr. Dryden's dedication of his Juvenal, will there +perceive, that in that great man's opinion, coelestial machines might +with the utmost propriety be introduced in an Epic Poem, built upon a +christian model; but at the same time he adds, 'The guardian angels of +states and kingdoms are not to be managed by a vulgar hand.' + +Perhaps it may be true, that the guardian angels of states and kingdoms +may have been too powerful for the conduct of Sir Richard Blackmore; but +he has had at least the merit of paving the way, and has set an example +how Epic Poems may be written, upon the principles of christianity; and +has enjoyed a comfort of which no bitterness, or raillery can deprive +him, namely the virtuous intention of doing good, and as he himself +expresses it, 'of rescuing the Muses from the hands of ravishers, +and restoring them again to their chaste and pure mansions.' + +Sir Richard Blackmore died on the 9th of October 1729, in an advanced +age; and left behind him the character of a worthy man, a great poet, +and a friend to religion. Towards the close of his life, his business as +a physician declined, but as he was a man of prudent conduct, it is not +to be supposed that he was subjected to any want by that accident, for +in his earlier years he was considered amongst the first in his +profession, and his practice was consequently very extensive. + +The decay of his employment might partly be owing to old age and +infirmities, which rendered him less active than before, and partly to +the diminution his character might suffer by the eternal war, which the +wits waged against him, who spared neither bitterness nor calumny; and, +perhaps, Sir Richard may be deemed the only poet, who ever suffered for +having too much religion and morality. + +The following is the most accurate account we could obtain of his +writings, which for the sake of distinction we have divided into +classes, by which the reader may discern how various and numerous his +compositions are--To have written so much upon so great a variety of +subjects, and to have written nothing contemptibly, must indicate a +genius much superior to the common standard.--His versification is +almost every where beautiful; and tho' he has been ridiculed in the +Treatise of the Bathos, published in Pope's works, for being too minute +in his descriptions of the objects of nature; yet it rather proceeded +from a philosophical exactness, than a penury of genius. + +It is really astonishing to find Dean Swift, joining issue with less +religious wits, in laughing at Blackmore's works, of which he makes a +ludicrous detail, since they were all written in the cause of virtue, +which it was the Dean's business more immediately to support, as on this +account he enjoy'd his preferment: But the Dean perhaps, was one of +those characters, who chose to sacrifice his cause to his joke. This was +a treatment Sir Richard could never have expected at the hands of a +clergyman. + +A List of Sir Richard Blackmore's +Works. + +THEOLOGICAL. + +I. Just Prejudices against the Arian Hypothesis, Octavo. 1725 + +II. Modern Arians Unmask'd, Octavo, 1721 + +III. Natural Theology; or Moral Duties considered apart from positive; +with some Observations on the Desirableness and Necessity of a +super-natural Revelation, Octavo, 1728 + +IV. The accomplished Preacher; or an Essay upon Divine Eloquence, +Octavo, 1731 + +This Tract was published after the author's death, in pursuance of his +express order, by the Reverend Mr. John White of Nayland in Essex; who +attended on Sir Richard during his last illness, in which he manifested +an elevated piety towards God, and faith in Christ, the Saviour of the +World. Mr. White also applauds him as a person in whose character great +candour and the finest humanity were the prevailing qualities. He +observes also that he had the greatest veneration for the clergy of the +Church of England, whereof he was a member. No one, says he, did more +highly magnify our office, or had a truer esteem and honour for our +persons, discharging our office as we ought, and supporting the holy +character we bear, with an unblameable conversation, + +POETICAL. + +I. Creation, a Philosophical Poem, demonstrating the Existence and +Providence of God, in seven Books, Octavo, 1712 + +II. The Redeemer, a Poem in six Books, Octavo, 1721 + +III. Eliza, a Poem in ten Books, Folio, 1705 + +IV. King Arthur, in ten Books, 1697 + +V. Prince Arthur, in ten Books, 1695 + +VI. King Alfred, in twelve books, Octavo, 1723 + +VII. A Paraphrase on the Book of Job; the Songs of Moses, Deborah and +David; the ii. viii. ciii. cxiv, cxlviii. Psalms. Four chapters of +Isaiah, and the third of Habbakkuk, Folio and Duodecimo, 1716 + +VIII. A New Version of the Book of Psalms, Duodecimo, 1720 + +IX. The Nature of Man, a Poem in three Books, Octavo, 1720 + +X. A Collection of Poems, Octavo, 1716 + +XI. Essays on several Subjects, 2 vols. Octavo. Vol. I. On Epic Poetry, +Wit, False Virtue, Immortality of the Soul, Laws of Nature, Origin of +Civil Power. Vol. II. On Athesim, Spleen, Writing, Future Felicity, +Divine Love. 1716 + +XII. History of the Conspiracy against King William the IIId, 1696, +Octavo, 1723 + +MEDICINAL. + +I. A Discourse on the Plague, with a preparatory Account of Malignant +Fevers, in two Parts; containing an Explication of the Nature of those +Diseases, and the Method of Cure, Octavo, 1720 + +II. A Treatise on the Small-Pox, in two Parts; containing an Account of +the Nature, and several Kinds of that Disease; with the proper Methods +of Cure: And a Dissertation upon the modern Practice of Inoculation, +Octavo, 1722 + +III. A Treatise on Consumptions, and other Distempers belonging to the +Breast and Lungs, Octavo, 1724 + +VI. A Treatise on the Spleen and Vapours; or Hyppocondriacal and +Hysterical Affections; with three Discourses on the Nature and Cure of +the Cholic, Melancholly and Palsy, Octavo, 1725 + +V. A Critical Dissertation upon the Spleen, so far as concerns the +following Question, viz. Whether the Spleen is necessary or useful to +the animal possessed of it? 1725 + +VI. Discourses on the Gout, Rheumatism, and the King's Evil; containing +an Explanation of the Nature, Causes, and different Species of those +Diseases, and the Method of curing them, Octavo, 1726 + +VII. Dissertations on a Dropsy, a Tympany, the Jaundice, the Stone, and +the Diabetes, Octavo, 1727 + +Single POEMS by Sir _Richard Blackmore_. + +I. His Satire against Wit, Folio, 1700 + +II. His Hymn to the Light of the World; with a short Description of the +Cartoons at Hampton-Court, Folio, 1703 + +III. His Advice to the Poets, Folio, 1706 + +IV. His Kit-Kats, Folio, 1708 + +It might justly be esteemed an injury to Blackmore, to dismiss his life +without a specimen from his beautiful and philosophical Poem on the +Creation. In his second Book he demonstrates the existence of a God, +from the wisdom and design which appears in the motions of the heavenly +orbs; but more particularly in the solar system. First in the situation +of the Sun, and its due distance from the earth. The fatal consequences +of its having been placed, otherwise than it is. Secondly, he considers +its diurnal motion, whence the change of the day and night proceeds; +which we shall here insert as a specimen of the elegant versification, +and sublime energy of this Poem. + + Next see Lucretian Sages, see the Sun, + His course diurnal, and his annual run. + How in his glorious race he moves along, + Gay as a bridegroom, as a giant strong. + How his unweari'd labour he repeats, + Returns at morning, and at eve retreats; + And by the distribution of his light, + Now gives to man the day, and now the night: + Night, when the drowsy swain, and trav'ler cease + Their daily toil, and sooth their limbs with ease; + When all the weary sons of woe restrain + Their yielding cares with slumber's silken chain, + Solace sad grief, and lull reluctant pain. + And while the sun, ne'er covetous of rest, + Flies with such rapid speed from east to west, + In tracks oblique he thro' the zodiac rolls, + Between the northern and the southern poles; + From which revolving progress thro' the skies. + The needful seasons of the year arise: + And as he now advances, now retreats, + Whence winter colds proceed, and summer heats, + He qualifies, and chears the air by turns, + Which winter freezes, and which summer burns. + Thus his kind rays the two extremes reduce, + And keep a temper fit for nature's use. + The frost and drought by this alternate pow'r. + The earth's prolific energy restore. + The lives of man and beast demand the change; + Hence fowls the air, and fish the ocean range. + Of heat and cold, this just successive reign, + Which does the balance of the year maintain, + The gard'ner's hopes, and farmer's patience props, + Gives vernal verdure, and autumnal crops. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Jacob. + +[2] Preface to Remarks on Prince Arthur, octavo 1696. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. JAMES THOMSON. + +This celebrated poet, from whom his country has derived the most +distinguished honour, was son of the revd. Mr. Thomson, a minister of +the church of Scotland, in the Presbytery of Jedburgh. + +He was born in the place where his father was minister, about the +beginning of the present century, and received the rudiments of his +education at a private country school. Mr. Thomson, in the early part of +his life, so far from appearing to possess a sprightly genius, was +considered by his school master, and those which directed his education, +as being really without a common share of parts. + +While he was improving himself in the Latin and Greek tongues at this +country school, he often visited a minister, whose charge lay in the +same presbytery with his father's, the revd. Mr. Rickerton, a man of +such amazing powers, that many persons of genius, as well as Mr. +Thomson, who conversed with him, have been astonished, that such great +merit should be buried in an obscure part of the country, where he had +no opportunity to display himself, and, except upon periodical meetings +of the ministers, seldom an opportunity of conversing with men of +learning. + +Though Mr. Thomson's schoolmaster could not discover that he was endowed +with a common portion of understanding, yet Mr. Rickerton was not so +blind to his genius; he distinguished our author's early propension to +poetry, and had once in his hands some of the first attempts Mr. Thomson +ever made in that province. + +It is not to be doubted but our young poet greatly improved while he +continued to converse with Mr. Rickerton, who, as he was a philosophical +man, inspired his mind with a love of the Sciences, nor were the revd. +gentleman's endeavours in vain, for Mr. Thomson has shewn in his works +how well he was acquainted with natural and moral philosophy, a +circumstance which, perhaps, is owing to the early impressions he +received from Mr. Rickerton. + +Nature, which delights in diversifying her gifts, does not bestow upon +every one a power of displaying the abilities she herself has granted to +the best advantage. Though Mr. Rickerton could discover that Mr. +Thomson, so far from being without parts, really possessed a very fine +genius, yet he never could have imagined, as he often declared, that +there existed in his mind such powers, as even by the best cultivation +could have raised him to so high a degree of eminence amongst the poets. + +When Mr. Rickerton first saw Mr. Thomson's Winter, which was in a +Bookseller's shop at Edinburgh, he stood amazed, and after he had read +the lines quoted below, he dropt the poem from his hand in the extasy of +admiration. The lines are his induction to Winter, than which few poets +ever rose to a more sublime height[1]. + +After spending the usual time at a country school in the acquisition of +the dead languages, Mr. Thomson was removed to the university of +Edinburgh, in order to finish his education, and be fitted for the +ministry. Here, as at the country school, he made no great figure: his +companions thought contemptuously of him, and the masters under whom he +studied, had not a higher opinion of our poet's abilities, than their +pupils. His course of attendance upon the classes of philosophy being +finished, he was entered in the Divinity Hall, as one of the candidates +for the ministry, where the students, before they are permitted to enter +on their probation, must yield six years attendance. + +It was in the second year of Mr. Thomson's attendance upon this school +of divinity, whose professor at that time was the revd. and learned Mr. +William Hamilton, a person whom he always mentioned with respect, that +our author was appointed by the professor to write a discourse on the +Power of the Supreme Being. When his companions heard their task +assigned him, they could not but arraign the professor's judgment, for +assigning so copious a theme to a young man, from whom nothing equal to +the subject could be expected. But when Mr. Thomson delivered the +discourse, they had then reason to reproach themselves for want of +discernment, and for indulging a contempt of one superior to the +brightest genius amongst them. This discourse was so sublimely elevated, +that both the professor and the students who heard it delivered, were +astonished. It was written in blank verse, for which Mr. Hamilton +rebuked him, as being improper upon that occasion. Such of his +fellow-students as envied him the success of this discourse, and the +admiration it procured him, employed their industry to trace him as a +plagiary; for they could not be persuaded that a youth seemingly so much +removed from the appearance of genius, could compose a declamation, in +which learning, genius, and judgment had a very great share. Their +search, however, proved fruitless, and Mr. Thomson continued, while he +remained at the university, to possess the honour of that discourse, +without any diminution. + +We are not certain upon what account it was that Mr. Thomson dropt the +notion of going into the ministry; perhaps he imagined it a way of life +too severe for the freedom of his disposition: probably he declined +becoming a presbyterian minister, from a consciousness of his own +genius, which gave him a right to entertain more ambitious views; for it +seldom happens, that a man of great parts can be content with obscurity, +or the low income of sixty pounds a year, in some retired corner of a +neglected country; which must have been the lot of Thomson, if he had +not extended his views beyond the sphere of a minister of the +established church of Scotland. + +After he had dropt all thoughts of the clerical profession, he began to +be more sollicitous of distinguishing his genius, as he placed some +dependence upon it, and hoped to acquire such patronage as would enable +him to appear in life with advantage. But the part of the world where he +then was, could not be very auspicious to such hopes; for which reason +he began to turn his eyes towards the grand metropolis. + +The first poem of Mr. Thomson's, which procured him any reputation from +the public, was his Winter, of which mention is already made, and +further notice will be taken; but he had private approbation for several +of his pieces, long before his Winter was published, or before he +quitted his native country. He wrote a Paraphrase on the 104th Psalm, +which, after it had received the approbation of Mr. Rickerton, he +permitted his friends to copy. By some means or other this Paraphrase +fell into the hands of Mr. Auditor Benson, who, expressing his +admiration of it, said, that he doubted not if the author was in London, +but he would meet with encouragement equal to his merit. This +observation of Benson's was communicated to Thomson by a letter, and, no +doubt, had its natural influence in inflaming his heart, and hastening +his journey to the metropolis. He soon set out for Newcastle, where he +took shipping, and landed at Billinsgate. When he arrived, it was his +immediate care to wait on [2]Mr. Mallet, who then lived in +Hanover-Square in the character of tutor to his grace the duke of +Montrose, and his late brother lord G. Graham. Before Mr. Thomson +reached Hanover-Square, an accident happened to him, which, as it may +divert some of our readers, we shall here insert. He had received +letters of recommendation from a gentleman of rank in Scotland, to some +persons of distinction in London, which he had carefully tied up in his +pocket-handkerchief. As he sauntered along the streets, he could not +withhold his admiration of the magnitude, opulence, and various objects +this great metropolis continually presented to his view. These must +naturally have diverted the imagination of a man of less reflexion, and +it is not greatly to be wondered at, if Mr. Thomson's mind was so +ingrossed by these new presented scenes, as to be absent to the busy +crowds around him. He often stopped to gratify his curiosity, the +consequences of which he afterwards experienced. With an honest +simplicity of heart, unsuspecting, as unknowing of guilt, he was ten +times longer in reaching Hanover-Square, than one less sensible and +curious would have been. When he arrived, he found he had paid for his +curiosity; his pocket was picked of his handkerchief, and all the +letters that were wrapped up in it. This accident would have proved very +mortifying to a man less philosophical than Thomson; but he was of a +temper never to be agitated; he then smiled at it, and frequently made +his companions laugh at the relation. + +It is natural to suppose, that as soon as Mr. Thomson arrived in town, +he shewed to some of his friends his poem on Winter[3]. The approbation +it might meet with from them, was not, however, a sufficient +recommendation to introduce it to the world. He had the mortification of +offering it to several Booksellers without success, who, perhaps, not +being qualified themselves to judge of the merit of the performance, +refused to risque the necessary expences, on the work of an obscure +stranger, whose name could be no recommendation to it. These were severe +repulses; but, at last, the difficulty was surmounted. Mr. Mallet, +offered it to Mr. Millan, now Bookseller at Charing-Cross, who without +making any scruples, printed it. For some time Mr. Millan had reason to +believe, that he should be a loser by his frankness; for the impression +lay like as paper on his hands, few copies being sold, 'till by an +accident its merit was discovered.[4] One Mr. Whatley, a man of some +taste in letters, but perfectly enthusiastic in the admiration of any +thing which pleased him, happened to cast his eye upon it, and finding +something which delighted him, perused the whole, not without growing +astonishment, that the poem should be unknown, and the author obscure. +He learned from the Bookseller the circumstances already mentioned, and, +in the extasy of his admiration of this poem, he went from Coffee-house +to Coffee house, pointing out its beauties, and calling upon all men of +taste, to exert themselves in rescuing one of the greatest geniuses that +ever appeared, from obscurity. This had a very happy effect, for, in a +short time, the impression was bought up, and they who read the poem, +had no reason to complain of Mr. Whatley's exaggeration; for they found +it so compleatly beautiful, that they could not but think themselves +happy in doing justice to a man of so much merit. + +The poem of Winter is, perhaps, the most finished, as well as most +picturesque, of any of the Four Seasons. The scenes are grand and +lively. It is in that season that the creation appears in distress, and +nature assumes a melancholy air; and an imagination so poetical as +Thomson's, could not but furnish those awful and striking images, which +fill the soul with a solemn dread of _those Vapours, and Storms, and +Clouds_, he has so well painted. Description is the peculiar talent of +Thomson; we tremble at his thunder in summer, we shiver with his +winter's cold, and we rejoice at the renovation of nature, by the sweet +influence of spring. But the poem deserves a further illustration, and +we shall take an opportunity of pointing out some of its most striking +beauties; but before we speak of these, we beg leave to relate the +following anecdote. + +As soon as Winter was published, Mr. Thomson sent a copy of it as a +present to Mr. Joseph Mitchell, his countryman, and brother poet, who, +not liking many parts of it, inclosed to him the following couplet; + + Beauties and faults so thick lye scattered here, + Those I could read, if these were not so near. + +To this Mr. Thomson answered extempore. + + Why all not faults, injurious Mitchell; why + Appears one beauty to thy blasted eye; + Damnation worse than thine, if worse can be, + Is all I ask, and all I want from thee. + +Upon a friend's remonstrating to Mr. Thomson, that the expression of +blasted eye would look like a personal reflexion, as Mr. Mitchell had +really that misfortune, he changed the epithet blasted, into blasting. +But to return: + +After our poet has represented the influence of Winter upon the face of +nature, and particularly described the severities of the frost, he has +the following beautiful transition; + + --Our infant winter sinks, + Divested of its grandeur; should our eye + Astonish'd shoot into the frigid zone; + Where, for relentless months, continual night + Holds o'er the glitt'ring waste her starry reign: + There thro' the prison of unbounded wilds + Barr'd by the hand of nature from escape, + Wide roams the Russian exile. Nought around + Strikes his sad eye, but desarts lost in snow; + And heavy loaded groves; and solid floods, + That stretch athwart the solitary waste, + Their icy horrors to the frozen main; + And chearless towns far distant, never bless'd + Save when its annual course, the caravan + Bends to the golden coast of rich Cathay[5] + With news of human-kind. Yet there life glows; + Yet cherished there, beneath the shining waste, + The furry nations harbour: tipt with jet + Fair ermines, spotless as the snows they press; + Sables of glossy black; and dark embrown'd + Or beauteous, streak'd with many a mingled hue, + Thousands besides, the costly pride of courts. + +The description of a thaw is equally picturesque. The following lines +consequent upon it are excellent. + + --Those sullen seas + That wash th'ungenial pole, will rest no more + Beneath the shackles of the mighty North; + But rousing all their waves resistless heave.-- + And hark! the lengthen'd roar continuous runs + Athwart the rested deep: at once it bursts + And piles a thousand mountains to the clouds. + Ill fares the bark, with trembling wretches charg'd, + That tost amid the floating fragments, moors + Beneath the shelter of an icy isle, + While night o'erwhelms the sea, and horror looks + More horrible. Can human force endure + Th' assembled mischiefs that besiege 'em round! + Heart-gnawing hunger, fainting weariness, + The roar of winds and waves, the crush of ice, + Now ceasing, now renew'd with louder rage, + And in dire ecchoes bellowing round the main. + +As the induction of Mr. Thomson's Winter has been celebrated for its +sublimity, so the conclusion has likewise a claim to praise, for the +tenderness of the sentiments, and the pathetic force of the expression. + + 'Tis done!--Dread winter spreads her latest glooms, + And reigns tremendous o'er the conquer'd year. + How dead the vegetable kingdom lies! + How dumb the tuneful! horror wide extends + Her desolate domain. Behold, fond man! + See here thy pictur'd life; pass some few years, + Thy flow'ring spring, thy summer's ardent strength, + Thy sober autumn fading into age, + And page concluding winter comes at last, + And shuts the scene.-- + +He concludes the poem by enforcing a reliance on providence, which will +in proper compensate for all those seeming severities, with which good +men are often oppressed. + + --Ye good distrest! + Ye noble few! who here unbending stand + Beneath life's pressure, yet bear up awhile, + And what your bounded view which only saw + A little part, deemed evil, is no more: + The storms of Wintry time will quickly pass, + And one unbounded Spring encircle all. + +The poem of Winter meeting with such general applause, Mr. Thomson was +induced to write the other three seasons, which he finished with equal +success. His Autumn was next given to the public, and is the most +unfinished of the four; it is not however without its beauties, of which +many have considered the story of Lavinia, naturally and artfully +introduced, as the most affecting. The story is in itself moving and +tender. It is perhaps no diminution to the merit of this beautiful tale, +that the hint of it is taken from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. + +The author next published the Spring, the induction to which is very +poetical and beautiful. + + Come gentle Spring, etherial mildness come, + And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud, + While music wakes around, veil'd in a show'r + Of shadowing roses, on our plains descend. + +It is addressed to the countess of Hertford, with the following elegant +compliment, + + O Hertford! fitted, or to shine in courts + With unaffected grace, or walk the plains, + With innocence and meditation joined, + In soft assemblage; listen to the song, + Which thy own season paints; while nature all + Is blooming, and benevolent like thee.-- + +The descriptions in this poems are mild, like the season they paint; but +towards the end of it, the poet takes occasion to warn his countrymen +against indulging the wild and irregular passion of love. This +digression is one of the most affecting in the whole piece, and while he +paints the language of a lover's breast agitated with the pangs of +strong desire, and jealous transports, he at the same time dissuades the +ladies from being too credulous in the affairs of gallantry. He +represents the natural influence of spring, in giving a new glow to the +beauties of the fair creation, and firing their hearts with the passion +of love. + + The shining moisture swells into her eyes, + In brighter flow; her wishing bosom heaves, + With palpitations wild; kind tumults seize + Her veins; and all her yielding soul is love. + From the keen gaze her lover turns away, + Full of the dear extatic power, and sick + With sighing languishment. Ah then, ye fair! + Be greatly cautious of your sliding hearts: + Dare not th'infectious sigh; the pleading look, + Down-cast, and low, in meek submission drest, + But full of guile. Let not the fervent tongue, + Prompt to deceive, with adulation smooth, + Gain on your purpos'd will. Nor in the bower, + Where woodbines flaunt, and roses shed a couch, + While evening draws her crimson curtains round, + Trust your soft minutes with betraying man. + +Summer has many manly and striking beauties, of which the Hymn to the +Sun, is one of the sublimest and most masterly efforts of genius we have +ever seen.--There are some hints taken from Cowley's beautiful Hymn to +Light.--Mr. Thomson has subjoined a Hymn to the Seasons, which is not +inferior to the foregoing in poetical merit. + +The Four Seasons considered separately, each Season as a distinct poem +has been judged defective in point of plan. There appears no particular +design; the parts are not subservient to one another; nor is there any +dependance or connection throughout; but this perhaps is a fault almost +inseparable from a subject in itself so diversified, as not to admit of +such limitation. He has not indeed been guilty of any incongruity; the +scenes described in spring, are all peculiar to that season, and the +digressions, which make up a fourth part of the poem, flow naturally. He +has observed the same regard to the appearances of nature in the other +seasons; but then what he has described in the beginning of any of the +seasons, might as well be placed in the middle, and that in the middle, +as naturally towards the close. So that each season may rather be called +an assemblage of poetical ideas, than a poem, as it seems written +without a plan. + +Mr. Thomson's poetical diction in the Seasons is very peculiar to him: +His manner of writing is entirely his own: He has introduced a number of +compound words; converted substantives into verbs, and in short has +created a kind of new language for himself. His stile has been blamed +for its singularity and stiffness; but with submission to superior +judges, we cannot but be of opinion, that though this observation is +true, yet is it admirably fitted for description. The object he paints +stands full before the eye, we admire it in all its lustre, and who +would not rather enjoy a perfect inspection into a natural curiosity +through a microscope capable of discovering all the minute beauties, +though its exterior form should not be comely, than perceive an object +but faintly, through a microscope ill adapted for the purpose, however +its outside may be decorated. Thomson has a stiffness in his manner, but +then his manner is new; and there never yet arose a distinguished +genius, who had not an air peculiarly his own. 'Tis true indeed, the +tow'ring sublimity of Mr. Thomson's stile is ill adapted for the tender +passions, which will appear more fully when we consider him as a +dramatic writer, a sphere in which he is not so excellent as in other +species of poetry. + +The merit of these poems introduced our author to the acquaintance and +esteem of several persons, distinguished by their rank, or eminent for +their talents:--Among the latter Dr. Rundle, afterwards bishop of Derry, +was so pleased with the spirit of benevolence and piety, which breathes +throughout the Seasons, that he recommended him to the friendship of the +late lord chancellor Talbot, who committed to him the care of his eldest +son, then preparing to set out on his travels into France and Italy. + +With this young nobleman, Mr. Thomson performed (what is commonly +called) The Tour of Europe, and stay'd abroad about three years, where +no doubt he inriched his mind with the noble monuments of antiquity, and +the conversation of ingenious foreigners. 'Twas by comparing modern +Italy with the idea he had of the antient Romans, which furnished him +with the hint of writing his Liberty, in three parts. The first is +Antient and Modern Italy compared. The second Greece, and the third +Britain. The whole is addressed to the eldest son of lord Talbot, who +died in the year 1734, upon his travels. + +Amongst Mr. Thomson's poems, is one to the memory of Sir Isaac Newton, +of which we shall say no more than this, that if he had never wrote any +thing besides, he deserved to enjoy a distinguished reputation amongst +the poets. Speaking of the amazing genius of Newton, he says, + + Th'aerial flow of sound was known to him, + From whence it first in wavy circles breaks. + Nor could the darting beam of speed immense, + Escape his swift pursuit, and measuring eye. + Ev'n light itself, which every thing displays, + Shone undiscover'd, till his brighter mind + Untwisted all the shining robe of day; + And from the whitening undistinguished blaze, + Collecting every separated ray, + To the charm'd eye educ'd the gorgeous train + Of parent colours. First, the flaming red, + Sprung vivid forth, the tawny orange next, + And next refulgent yellow; by whose side + Fell the kind beams of all-refreshing green. + Then the pure blue, that swells autumnal skies, + Ætherial play'd; and then of sadder hue, + Emerg'd the deepen'd indico, as when + The heavy skirted evening droops with frost, + While the last gleamings of refracted light, + Died in the fainting violet away. + These when the clouds distil the rosy shower, + Shine out distinct along the watr'y bow; + While o'er our heads the dewy vision bends, + Delightful melting in the fields beneath. + Myriads of mingling dyes from these result, + And myriads still remain--Infinite source + Of beauty ever-flushing, ever new. + +About the year 1728 Mr. Thomson wrote a piece called Britannia, the +purport of which was to rouse the nation to arms, and excite in the +spirit of the people a generous disposition to revenge the injuries done +them by the Spaniards: This is far from being one of his best poems. + +Upon the death of his generous patron, lord chancellor Talbot, for whom +the nation joined with Mr. Thomson in the most sincere inward sorrow, he +wrote an elegiac poem, which does honour to the author, and to the +memory of that great man he meant to celebrate. He enjoyed, during lord +Talbot's life, a very profitable place, which that worthy patriot had +conferred upon him, in recompence of the care he had taken in forming +the mind of his son. Upon his death, his lordship's successor reserved +the place for Mr. Thomson, and always expected when he should wait upon +him, and by performing some formalities enter into the possession of it. +This, however, by an unaccountable indolence he neglected, and at last +the place, which he might have enjoyed with so little trouble, was +bestowed upon another. + +Amongst the latest of Mr. Thomson's productions is his Castle of +Indolence, a poem of so extraordinary merit, that perhaps we are not +extravagant, when we declare, that this single performance discovers +more genius and poetical judgment, than all his other works put +together. We cannot here complain of want of plan, for it is artfully +laid, naturally conducted, and the descriptions rise in a beautiful +succession: It is written in imitation of Spenser's stile; and the +obsolete words, with the simplicity of diction in some of the lines, +which borders on the ludicrous, have been thought necessary to make the +imitation more perfect. + +'The stile (says Mr. Thomson) of that admirable poet, as well as the +measure in which he wrote, are, as it were, appropriated by custom to +all allegorical poems written in our language; just as in French, the +stile of Marot, who lived under Francis the 1st, has been used in Tales +and familiar Epistles, by the politest writers of the age of Louis the +XIVth.' + +We shall not at present enquire how far Mr. Thomson is justifiable in +using the obsolete words of Spenser: As Sir Roger de Coverley observed +on another occasion, much may be said on both sides. One thing is +certain, Mr. Thomson's imitation is excellent, and he must have no +poetry in his imagination, who can read the picturesque descriptions in +his Castle of Indolence, without emotion. In his LXXXIst Stanza he has +the following picture of beauty: + + Here languid beauty kept her pale-fac'd court, + Bevies of dainty dames, of high degree, + From every quarter hither made resort; + Where, from gross mortal care, and bus'ness free, + They lay, pour'd out in ease and luxury: + Or should they a vain shew of work assume, + Alas! and well-a-day! what can it be? + To knot, to twist, to range the vernal bloom; + But far is cast the distaff, spinning-wheel and loom. + +He pursues the description in the subsequent Stanza. + + Their only labour was to kill the time; + And labour dire it is, and weary woe. + They fit, they loll, turn o'er some idle rhime; + Then rising sudden, to the glass they go, + Or saunter forth, with tott'ring steps and slow: + This soon too rude an exercise they find; + Strait on the couch their limbs again they throw, + Where hours on hours they sighing lie reclin'd, + And court the vapoury God soft breathing in the wind. + +In the two following Stanzas, the dropsy and hypochondria are +beautifully described. + + Of limbs enormous, but withal unsound, + Soft swoln and pale, here lay the Hydropsy: + Unwieldly man; with belly monstrous round, + For ever fed with watery supply; + For still he drank, and yet he still was dry. + And moping here did Hypochondria sit, + Mother of spleen, in robes of various die, + Who vexed was full oft with ugly fit; + And some her frantic deem'd, and some her deem'd a wit. + A lady proud she was, of antient blood, + Yet oft her fear, her pride made crouchen low: + She felt, or fancy'd in her fluttering mood, + All the diseases which the spitals know, + And sought all physic which the shops bestow; + And still new leaches, and new drugs would try, + Her humour ever wavering too and fro; + For sometimes she would laugh, and sometimes cry, + And sudden waxed wroth, and all she knew not why. + +The speech of Sir Industry in the second Canto, when he enumerates the +various blessings which flow from action, is surely one of the highest +instances of genius which can be produced in poetry. In the second +stanza, before he enters upon the subject, the poet complains of the +decay of patronage, and the general depravity of taste; and in the third +breaks out into the following exclamation, which is so perfectly +beautiful, that it would be the greatest mortification not to transcribe +it, + + I care not, fortune, what you me deny: + You cannot rob me of free nature's grace; + You cannot shut the windows of the sky, + Through which Aurora shews her bright'ning face; + You cannot bar my constant feet to trace + The woods and lawns, by living stream at eve: + Let health my nerves, and finer fibres brace, + And I their toys to the great children leave; + Of fancy, reason, virtue, nought can me bereave. + +Before we quit this poem, permit us, reader, to give you two more +stanzas from it: the first shews Mr. Thomson's opinion of Mr. Quin as an +actor; of their friendship we may say more hereafter. + +STANZA LXVII. + +Of the CASTLE of INDOLENCE. + + Here whilom ligg'd th'Aesopus[6] of the age; + But called by fame, in foul ypricked deep, + A noble pride restor'd him to the stage, + And rous'd him like a giant from his sleep. + Even from his slumbers we advantage reap: + With double force th'enliven'd scene he wakes, + Yet quits not nature's bounds. He knows to keep + Each due decorum: now the heart he shakes, + And now with well-urg'd sense th'enlighten'd judgment takes. + +The next stanza (wrote by a friend of the author's, as the note +mentions) is a friendly, though familiar, compliment; it gives us an +image of our bard himself, at once entertaining, striking, and just. + +STANZA LXVIII. + + A bard here dwelt, more fat than bard beseems, + Who void of envy, guile, and lust of gain, + On virtue still, and nature's pleasing themes, + Pour'd forth his unpremeditated strain: + The world forsaking with a calm disdain. + Here laugh'd he, careless in his easy seat; + Here quaff'd, encircl'd with the joyous train, + Oft moralizing sage: his ditty sweet + He loathed much to write, ne cared to repeat. + +We shall now consider Mr. Thomson as a dramatic writer. + +In the year 1730, about six years after he had been in London, he +brought a Tragedy upon the stage, called Sophonisba, built upon the +Carthaginian history of that princess, and upon which the famous +Nathaniel Lee has likewise written a Tragedy. This play met with a +favourable reception from the public. Mrs. Oldfield greatly +distinguished herself in the character of Sophonisba, which Mr. Thomson +acknowledges in his preface.--'I cannot conclude, says he, without +owning my obligations to those concerned in the representation. They +have indeed done me more than justice; Whatever was designed as amiable +and engageing in Masinessa shines out in Mr. Wilks's action. Mrs. +Oldfield, in the character of Sophonisba, has excelled what even in the +fondness of an author I could either wish or imagine. The grace, dignity +and happy variety of her action, have been universally applauded, and +are truly admirable.' + +Before we quit this play, we must not omit two anecdotes which happened +the first night of the representation. Mr. Thomson makes one of his +characters address Sophonisba in a line, which some critics reckoned the +false pathetic. + + O! Sophonisba, Sophonisba Oh! + +Upon which a smart from the pit cried out, + + Oh! Jamey Thomson, Jamey Thomson Oh! + +However ill-natured this critic might be in interrupting the action of +the play for sake of a joke; yet it is certain that the line ridiculed +does partake of the false pathetic, and should be a warning to tragic +poets to guard against the swelling stile; for by aiming at the sublime, +they are often betrayed into the bombast.--Mr. Thomson who could not but +feel all the emotions and sollicitudes of a young author the first night +of his play, wanted to place himself in some obscure part of the house, +in order to see the representation to the best advantage, without being +known as the poet.--He accordingly placed himself in the upper gallery; +but such was the power of nature in him, that he could not help +repeating the parts along with the players, and would sometimes whisper +to himself, 'now such a scene is to open,' by which he was soon +discovered to be the author, by some gentlemen who could not, on account +of the great crowd, be situated in any other part of the house. + +After an interval of four years, Mr. Thomson exhibited to the public his +second Tragedy called Agamemnon. Mr. Pope gave an instance of his great +affection to Mr. Thomson on this occasion: he wrote two letters in its +favour to the managers, and honoured the representation on the first +night with his presence. As he had not been for some time at a play, +this was considered as a very great instance of esteem. Mr. Thomson +submitted to have this play considerably shortened in the action, as +some parts were too long, other unnecessary, in which not the character +but the poet spoke; and though not brought on the stage till the month +of April, it continued to be acted with applause for several nights. + +Many have remark'd that his characters in his plays are more frequently +descriptive, than expressive, of the passions; but they all abound with +uncommon beauties, with fire, and depth of thought, with noble +sentiments and nervous writing. His speeches are often too long, +especially for an English audience; perhaps sometimes they are +unnaturally lengthened: and 'tis certainly a greater relief to the ear +to have the dialogue more broken; yet our attention is well rewarded, +and in no passages, perhaps, in his tragedies, more so, than in the +affecting account Melisander [7] gives of his being betrayed, and left +on the desolate island. + + --'Tis thus my friend. + Whilst sunk in unsuspecting sleep I lay, + Some midnight ruffians rush'd into my chamber, + Sent by Egisthus, who my presence deem'd + Obstructive (so I solve it) to his views, + Black views, I fear, as you perhaps may know, + Sudden they seiz'd, and muffled up in darkness, + Strait bore me to the sea, whose instant prey + I did conclude myself, when first around + The ship unmoor'd, I heard the chiding wave. + But these fel tools of cruel power, it seems, + Had orders in a desart isle to leave me; + There hopeless, helpless, comfortless, to prove + The utmost gall and bitterness of death. + Thus malice often overshoots itself, + And some unguarded accident betrays + The man of blood.--Next night--a dreary night! + Cast on the wildest of the Cyclad Isles, + Where never human foot had mark'd the shore, + These ruffians left me.--Yet believe me, Arcas, + Such is the rooted love we bear mankind, + All ruffians as they were, I never heard + A sound so dismal as their parting oars.-- + Then horrid silence follow'd, broke alone + By the low murmurs of the restless deep, + Mixt with the doubtful breeze that now and then + Sigh'd thro' the mournful woods. Beneath a shade + I sat me down, more heavily oppress'd, + More desolate at heart, than e'er I felt + Before. When, Philomela, o'er my head + Began to tune her melancholy strain, + As piteous of my woes, 'till, by degrees, + Composing sleep on wounded nature shed + A kind but short relief. At early morn, + Wak'd by the chant of birds, I look'd around + For usual objects: objects found I none, + Except before me stretch'd the toiling main, + And rocks and woods in savage view behind. + Wrapt for a moment in amaz'd confusion, + My thought turn'd giddy round; when all at once, + To memory full my dire condition rush'd-- + +In the year 1736 Mr. Thomson offered to the stage a Tragedy called +Edward and Eleonora, which was forbid to be acted, for some political +reason, which it is not in our power to guess. + +The play of Tancred and Sigismunda was acted in the year 1744; this +succeeded beyond any other of Thomson's plays, and is now in possesion +of the stage. The plot is borrowed from a story in the celebrated +romance of Gil Blas: The fable is very interesting, the characters are +few, but active; and the attention in this play is never suffered to +wander. The character of Seffredi has been justly censured as +inconsistent, forced, and unnatural. + +By the command of his royal highness the prince of Wales, Mr. Thomson, +in conjunction with Mr. Mallet, wrote the Masque of Alfred, which was +performed twice in his royal highness's gardens at Cliffden. Since Mr. +Thomson's death, this piece has been almost entirely new modelled by Mr. +Mallet, and brought on the stage in the year 1751, its success being +fresh in the memory of its frequent auditors, 'tis needless to say more +concerning it. + +Mr. Thomson's last Tragedy, called Coriolanus, was not acted till after +his death; the profits of it were given to his sisters in Scotland, one +of whom is married to a minister there, and the other to a man of low +circumstances in the city of Edinburgh. This play, which is certainly +the least excellent of any of Thomson's, was first offered to Mr. +Garrick, but he did not think proper to accept it. The prologue was +written by Sir George Lyttleton, and spoken by Mr. Quin, which had a +very happy effect upon the audience. Mr. Quin was the particular friend +of Thomson, and when he spoke the following lines, which are in +themselves very tender, all the endearments of a long acquaintance, rose +at once to his imagination, while the tears gushed from his eyes. + + He lov'd his friends (forgive this gushing tear: + Alas! I feel I am no actor here) + He lov'd his friends with such a warmth of heart, + So clear of int'rest, so devoid of art, + Such generous freedom, such unshaken real, + No words can speak it, but our tears may tell. + +The beautiful break in these lines had a fine effect in speaking. Mr. +Quin here excelled himself; he never appeared a greater actor than at +this instant, when he declared himself none: 'twas an exquisite stroke +to nature; art alone could hardly reach it. Pardon the digression, +reader, but, we feel a desire to say somewhat more on this head. The +poet and the actor were friends, it cannot then be quite foreign to the +purpose to proceed. A deep fetch'd sigh filled up the heart felt pause; +grief spread o'er all the countenance; the tear started to the eye, the +muscles fell, and, + + 'The whiteness of his cheek + Was apter than his tongue to speak his tale.' + + +They all expressed the tender feelings of a manly heart, becoming a +Thomson's friend. His pause, his recovery were masterly; and he +delivered the whole with an emphasis and pathos, worthy the excellent +lines he spoke; worthy the great poet and good man, whose merits they +painted, and whose loss they deplored. + +The epilogue too, which was spoken by Mrs. Woffington, with an exquisite +humour, greatly pleased. These circumstances, added to the consideration +of the author's being no more, procured this play a run of nine nights, +which without these assistances 'tis likely it could not have had; for, +without playing the critic, it is not a piece of equal merit to many +other of his works. It was his misfortune as a dramatist, that he never +knew when to have done; he makes every character speak while there is +any thing to be said; and during these long interviews, the action too +stands still, and the story languishes. His Tancred and Sigismunda may +be excepted from this general censure: But his characters are too little +distinguished; they seldom vary from one another in their manner of +speaking. In short, Thomson was born a descriptive poet; he only wrote +for the stage, from a motive too obvious to be mentioned, and too strong +to be refilled. He is indeed the eldest born of Spenser, and he has +often confessed that if he had any thing excellent in poetry, he owed it +to the inspiration he first received from reading the Fairy Queen, in +the very early part of his life. + +In August 1748 the world was deprived of this great ornament of poetry +and genius, by a violent fever, which carried him off in the 48th year +of his age. Before his death he was provided for by Sir George +Littleton, in the profitable place of comptroller of America, which he +lived not long to enjoy. Mr. Thomson was extremely beloved by his +acquaintance. He was of an open generous disposition; and was sometimes +tempted to an excessive indulgence of the social pleasures: A failing +too frequently inseparable from men of genius. His exterior appearance +was not very engaging, but he grew more and more agreeable, as he +entered into conversation: He had a grateful heart, ready to acknowledge +every favour he received, and he never forgot his old benefactors, +notwithstanding a long absence, new acquaintance, and additional +eminence; of which the following instance cannot be unacceptable to the +reader. + +Some time before Mr. Thomson's fatal illness, a gentleman enquired for +him at his house in Kew-Lane, near Richmond, where he then lived. This +gentleman had been his acquaintance when very young, and proved to be +Dr. Gustard, the son of a revd. minister in the city of Edinburgh. Mr. +Gustard had been Mr. Thomson's patron in the early part of his life, and +contributed from his own purse (Mr. Thomson's father not being in very +affluent circumstances) to enable him to prosecute his studies. The +visitor sent not in his name, but only intimated to the servant that an +old acquaintance desired to see Mr. Thomson. Mr. Thomson came forward to +receive him, and looking stedfastly at him (for they had not seen one +another for many years) said, Troth Sir, I cannot say I ken your +countenance well--Let me therefore crave your name. Which the gentleman +no sooner mentioned but the tears gushed from Mr. Thomson's eyes. He +could only reply, good God! are you the son of my dear friend, my old +benefactor; and then rushing to his arms, he tenderly embraced him; +rejoicing at so unexpected a meeting. + +It is a true observation, that whenever gratitude is absent from a +heart, it is generally capable of the most consummate baseness; and on +the other hand, where that generous virtue has a powerful prevalence in +the soul, the heart of such a man is fraught with all those other +endearing and tender qualities, which constitute goodness. Such was the +heart of this amiable poet, whose life was as inoffensive as his page +was moral: For of all our poets he is the farthest removed from whatever +has the appearance of indecency; and, as Sir George Lyttleton happily +expresses it, in the prologue to Mr. Thomson's Coriolanus, + + --His chaste muse employ'd her heav'n-taught lyre + None but the noblest passions to inspire, + Not one immoral, one corrupted thought, + One line, which dying he could wish to blot. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] + See winter comes to rule the varied year, + Sullen and sad, with all his rising train! + Vapours, and storms, and clouds; be these my theme; + These that exalt the soul to solemn thought, + And heav'nly musing; welcome kindred glooms. + Congenial horrors hail!--with frequent foot + Oft have I in my pleasing calm of life, + When nurs'd by careless solitude I liv'd, + Oft have I wander'd thro' your rough domain; + Trod the pure virgin snows; my self as pure; + Heard the winds blow, or the big torrents burst, + Or seen the deep fermenting tempest brew'd + In the red evening sky. Thus pass'd the time, + 'Till from the lucid chambers of the south + Look'd out the joyous spring, look'd out and smil'd. + +[2] Mr. Mallet was his quondam schoolfellow (but much his junior) they + contracted an early intimacy, which improved with their years, nor + was it ever once disturbed by any casual mistake, envy, or jealousy + on either side: a proof that two writers of merit may agree, in + spite of the common observation to the contrary. + +[3] The Winter was first wrote in detached pieces, or occasional + descriptions; it was by the advice of Mr. Mallet they were collected + and made into one connected piece. This was finished the first of + all the seasons, and was the first poem he published. By the farther + advice, and at the earnest request, of Mr. Mallet, he wrote the + other three seasons. + +[4] Though 'tis possible this piece might be offered to more Printers + who could read, than could taste, nor is it very surprizing, that an + unknown author might meet with a difficulty of this sort; since an + eager desire to peruse a new piece, with a fashionable name to it, + shall, in one day, occasion the sale of thousands of what may never + reach a second edition: while a work, that has only its intrinsic + merit to depend on, may lie long dormant in a Bookseller's shop, + 'till some person, eminent for taste, points out its worth to the + many, declares the bullion sterling, stamps its value with his name, + and makes it pass current with the world. Such was the fate of + Thomson at this juncture: Such heretofore was Milton's, whose works + were only found in the libraries of the curious, or judicious few, + 'till Addison's remarks spread a taste for them; and, at length, it + became even unfashionable not to have read them. + +[5] The old name of China. + +[6] Mr. Quin. + +[7] The mention of this name reminds me of an obligation I had to Mr. + Thomson; and, at once, an opportunity offers, of gratefully + acknowledging the favour, and doing myself justice. + + I had the pleasure of perusing the play of Agamemnon, before it was + introduced to the manager. Mr. Thomson was so thoroughly satisfied + (I might say more) with my reading of it; he said, he was confirmed + in his design of giving to me the part of Melisander. When I + expressed my sentiments of the favour, he told me, he thought it + none; that my old acquaintance Savage knew, he had not forgot my + taste in reading the poem of Winter some years before: he added, + that when (before this meeting) he had expressed his doubt, to which + of the actors he should give this part (as he had seen but few plays + since his return from abroad) Savage warmly urged, I was the fittest + person, and, with an oath affirmed, that Theo. Cibber would taste + it, feel it, and act it; perhaps he might extravagantly add, 'beyond + any one else.' 'Tis likely, Mr. Savage might be then more vehement + in this assertion, as some of his friends had been more used to see + me in a comic, than a serious light; and which was, indeed, more + frequently my choice. But to go on. When I read the play to the + manager, Mr. Quin, &c. (at which several gentlemen, intimate friends + of the author, were present) I was complimented by them all; Mr. + Quin particularly declared, he never heard a play done so much + justice to, in reading, through all its various parts, Mrs. Porter + also (who on this occasion was to appear in the character of + Clytemnestra) so much approved my entering into the taste, sense, + and spirit of the piece, that she was pleased to desire me to repeat + a reading of it, which, at her request, and that of other principal + performers, I often did; they all confessed their approbation, with + thanks. + + When this play was to come forward into rehearsal, Mr. Thomson told + me, another actor had been recommended to him for this part in + private, by the manager (who, by the way) our author, or any one + else, never esteemed as the best judge, of either play, or player. + But money may purchase, and interest procure, a patent, though they + cannot purchase taste, or parts, the person proposed was, possibly, + some favoured flatterer, the partner of his private pleasures, or + humble admirer of his table talk: These little monarchs have their + little courtiers. Mr. Thomson insisted on my keeping the part. He + said, 'Twas his opinion, none but myself, or Mr. Quin, could do it + any justice; and, as that excellent actor could not be spared from + the part of Agamemnon (in the performance of which character he + added to his reputation, though before justly rated as the first + actor of that time) he was peremptory for my appearing in it; I did + so, and acquitted myself to the satisfaction of the author and his + friends (men eminent in rank, in taste, and knowledge) and received + testimonies of approbation from the audience, by their attention and + applause. + + By this time the reader may be ready to cry out, 'to what purpose is + all this?' Have patience, sir. As I gained reputation in the + forementioned character, is there any crime in acknowledging my + obligation to Mr. Thomson? or, am I unpardonable, though I should + pride myself on his good opinion and friendship? may not gratitude, + as well as vanity, be concerned in this relation? but there is + another reason that may stand as an excuse, for my being led into + this long narrative; which, as it is only an annotation, not made + part of our author's life, the reader, at his option, may peruse, or + pass it over, without being interrupted in his attention to what + more immediately concerns Mr. Thomson. As what I have related is a + truth, which living men of worth can testify; and as it evidently + shows that Mr. Savage's opinion of me as an actor was, in this + latter part of his life, far from contemptible, of which, perhaps, + in his earlier days he had too lavishly spoke; I thought this no + improper (nor ill-timed) contradiction to a remark the writer of[7A] + Mr. Savage's Life has been pleased, in his Gaité de Coeur, to make, + which almost amounts to an unhandsome innuendo, that Mr. Savage, and + some of his friends, thought me no actor at all. + + I accidentally met with the book some years ago, and dipt into that + part where the author says, 'The preface (to Sir Thomas Overbury) + contains a very liberal encomium on the blooming excellences of Mr. + Theophilus Cibber, which Mr. Savage could not, in the latter part of + his life, see his friends about to read, without snatching the play + out of their hands.' As poor Savage was well remembered to have been + as inconsiderate, inconsistent, and inconstant a mortal as ever + existed, what he might have said carried but little weight; and, as + he would blow both hot and cold, nay, too frequently, to gratify the + company present, would sacrifice the absent, though his best friend, + I disregarded this invidious hint, 'till I was lately informed, a + person of distinction in the learned world, had condescended to + become the biographer of this unhappy man's unimportant life: as the + sanction of such a name might prove of prejudice to me, I have since + thought it worth my notice. + + The truth is, I met Savage one summer, in a condition too melancholy + for description. He was starving; I supported him, and my father + cloathed him, 'till his tragedy was brought on the stage, where it + met with success in the representation, tho' acted by the young part + of the company, in the summer season; whatever might be the merit of + his play, his necessities were too pressing to wait 'till winter for + its performance. When it was just going to be published (as I met + with uncommon encouragement in my young attempt in the part of + Somerset) he repeated to me a most extraordinary compliment, as he + might then think it, which, he said, he intended to make me in his + preface. Neither my youth (for I was then but 18) or vanity, was so + devoid of judgment, as to prevent my objecting to it. I told him, I + imagined this extravagancy would have so contrary an effect to his + intention, that what he kindly meant for praise, might be + misinterpreted, or render him liable to censure, and me to ridicule; + I insisted on his omitting it: contrary to his usual obstinacy, he + consented, and sent his orders to the Printer to leave it out; it + was too late; the sheets were all work'd off, and the play was + advertised to come out (as it did) the next day. T.C. + +[7A] _Published about the year_ 1743. + + + * * * * * + + +ALEXANDER POPE, Esq; + +This illustrious poet was born at London, in 1688, and was descended +from a good family of that name, in Oxfordshire, the head of which was +the earl of Downe, whose sole heiress married the earl of Lindsey. His +father, a man of primitive simplicity, and integrity of manners, was a +merchant of London, who upon the Revolution quitted trade, and converted +his effects into money, amounting to near 10,000 l. with which he +retired into the country; and died in 1717, at the age of 75. + +Our poet's mother, who lived to a very advanced age, being 93 years old +when she died, in 1733, 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; and the eldest following his fortunes, and +becoming a general officer in Spain, left her what estate remained after +sequestration, and forfeitures of her family. To these circumstances our +poet alludes in his epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, in which he mentions his +parents. + + Of gentle blood (part shed in honour's cause, + While yet in Britain, honour had applause) + Each parent sprang,--What fortune pray?--their own, + And better got than Bestia's from the throne. + Born to no pride, inheriting no strife, + Nor marrying discord in a noble wife; + Stranger to civil and religious rage, + The good man walked innoxious thro' his age: + No courts he saw; no suits would ever try; + Nor dar'd an oath, nor hazarded a lye: + Unlearn'd, he knew no schoolmen's subtle art, + No language, but the language of the heart: + By nature honest, by experience wise, + Healthy by temp'rance, and by exercise; + His life though long, to sickness past unknown, + His death was instant and without a groan. + +The education of our great author was attended with circumstances very +singular; and some of them extremely unfavourable; but the amazing force +of his genius fully compensated the want of any advantage in his +earliest instruction. He owed the knowledge of his letters to an aunt; +and having learned very early to read, took great delight in it, and +taught himself to write by copying after printed books, the characters +of which he could imitate to great perfection. He began to compose +verses, farther back than he could well remember; and at eight years of +age, when he was put under one Taverner a priest, who taught him the +rudiments of the Latin and Greek tongues at the same time, he met with +Ogilby's Homer, which gave him great delight; and this was encreased by +Sandys's Ovid: The raptures which these authors, even in the disguise of +such translations, then yielded him, were so strong, that he spoke of +them with pleasure ever after. From Mr. Taverner's tuition he was sent +to a private school at Twiford, near Winchester, where he continued +about a year, and was then removed to another near Hyde Park Corner; but +was so unfortunate as to lose under his two last masters, what he had +acquired under the first. + +While he remained at this school, being permitted to go to the +play-house, with some of his school fellows of a more advanced age, he +was so charmed with dramatic representations, that he formed the +translation of the Iliad into a play, from several of the speeches in +Ogilby's translation, connected with verses of his own; and the several +parts were performed by the upper boys of the school, except that of +Ajax by the master's gardener. At the age of 12 our young poet, went +with his father to reside at his house at Binfield, in Windsor forest, +where he was for a few months under the tuition of another priest, with +as little success as before; so that he resolved now to become his own +master, by reading those Classic Writers which gave him most +entertainment; and by this method, at fifteen he gained a ready habit in +the learned languages, to which he soon after added the French and +Italian. Upon his retreat to the forest, he became first acquainted with +the writings of Waller, Spenser and Dryden; in the last of which he +immediately found what he wanted; and the poems of that excellent writer +were never out of his hands; they became his model, and from them alone +he learned the whole magic of his versification. + +The first of our author's compositions now extant in print, is an Ode on +Solitude, written before he was twelve years old: Which, consider'd as +the production of so early an age, is a perfect master piece; nor need +he have been ashamed of it, had it been written in the meridian of his +genius. While it breathes the most delicate spirit of poetry, it at the +same time demonstrates his love of solitude, and the rational pleasures +which attend the retreats of a contented country life. + +Two years after this he translated the first Book of Statius' Thebais, +and wrote a copy of verses on Silence, in imitation of the Earl of +Rochester's poem on Nothing[1]. Thus we find him no sooner capable of +holding the pen, than he employed it in writing verses, + + "_He lisp'd [Transcriber's note: 'lips'd' in original] in Numbers, for + the Numbers came_." + +Though we have had frequent opportunity to observe, that poets have +given early displays of genius, yet we cannot recollect, that among the +inspired tribe, one can be found who at the age of twelve could produce +so animated an Ode; or at the age of fourteen translate from the Latin. +It has been reported indeed, concerning Mr. Dryden, that when he was at +Westminster-School, the master who had assigned a poetical task to some +of the boys, of writing a Paraphrase on our Saviour's Miracle, of +turning Water into Wine, was perfectly astonished when young Dryden +presented him with the following line, which he asserted was the best +comment could be written upon it. + + The conscious water saw its God, and blush'd. + +This was the only instance of an early appearance of genius in this +great man, for he was turn'd of 30 before he acquired any reputation; an +age in which Mr. Pope's was in its full distinction. + +The year following that in which Mr. Pope wrote his poem on Silence, he +began an Epic Poem, intitled Alcander, which he afterwards very +judiciously committed to the flames, as he did likewise a Comedy, and a +Tragedy; the latter taken from a story in the legend of St. Genevieve; +both of these being the product of those early days. But his Pastorals, +which were written in 1704, when he was only 16 years of age, were +esteemed by Sir William Trumbull, Mr. Granville, Mr. Wycherley, Mr. +Walsh and others of his friends, too valuable to be condemned to the +same fate. + +Mr. Pope's Pastorals are four, viz. + + Spring, address'd to Sir William Trumbull, + Summer, to Dr. Garth. + Autumn, to Mr. Wycherley. + Winter, in memory of Mrs. Tempest. + +The three great writers of Pastoral Dialogue, which Mr. Pope in some +measure seems to imitate, are Theocritus, Virgil, and Spenser. Mr. Pope +is of opinion, that Theocritus excells all others in nature and +simplicity. + +That Virgil, who copies Theocritus, refines on his original; and in all +points in which judgment has the principal part is much superior to his +master. + +That among the moderns, their success has been, greatest who have most +endeavoured to make these antients their pattern. The most considerable +genius appears in the famous Tasso, and our Spenser. Tasso in his Aminta +has far excelled all the pastoral writers, as in his Gierusalemme he has +outdone the Epic Poets of his own country. But as this piece seems to +have been the original of a new sort of poem, the Pastoral Comedy, in +Italy, it cannot so well be considered as a copy of the antients. +Spenser's Calendar, in Mr. Dryden's opinion, is the most compleat work +of this kind, which any nation has produced ever since the time of +Virgil. But this he said before Mr. Pope's Pastorals appeared. + +Mr. Walsh pronounces on our Shepherd's Boy (as Mr. Pope called himself) +the following judgment, in a letter to Mr. Wycherly. + +'The verses are very tender and easy. The author seems to have a +particular genius for that kind of poetry, and a judgment that much +exceeds the years, you told me he was of. It is no flattery at all to +say, that Virgil had written nothing so good at his age. I shall take it +as a favour if you will bring me acquainted with him; and if he will +give himself the trouble, any morning, to call at my house, I shall be +very glad to read the verses with him, and give him him my opinion of +the particulars more largely than I can well do in this letter.' + +Thus early was Mr. Pope introduced to the acquaintance of men of genius, +and so improved every advantage, that he made a more rapid progress +towards a consummation in fame, than any of our former English poets. +His Messiah; his Windsor-Forest, the first part of which was written at +the same time with his pastorals; his Essay on Criticism in 1709, and +his Rape of the Lock in 1712, established his poetical character in such +a manner, that he was called upon by the public voice, to enrich our +language with the translation of the Iliad; which he began at 25, and +executed in five years. This was published for his own benefit, by +subscription, the only kind of reward, which he received for his +writings, which do honour to our age and country: His religion rendering +him incapable of a place, which the lord treasurer Oxford used to +express his concern for, but without offering him a pension, as the earl +of Halifax, and Mr. Secretary Craggs afterwards did, though Mr. Pope +declined it. + +The reputation of Mr. Pope gaining every day upon the world, he was +caressed, flattered, and railed at; according as he was feared, or loved +by different persons. Mr. Wycherley was amongst the first authors of +established reputation, who contributed to advance his fame, and with +whom he for some time lived in the most unreserved intimacy. This poet, +in his old age, conceived a design of publishing his poems, and as he +was but a very imperfect master of numbers, he entrusted his manuscripts +to Mr. Pope, and submitted them to his correction. The freedom which our +young bard was under a necessity to use, in order to polish and refine +what was in the original, rough, unharmonious, and indelicate, proved +disgustful to the old gentleman, then near 70, who, perhaps, was a +little ashamed, that a boy at 16 should so severely correct his works. +Letters of dissatisfaction were written by Mr. Wycherley, and at last he +informed him, in few words, that he was going out of town, without +mentioning to what place, and did not expect to hear from him 'till he +came back. This cold indifference extorted from Mr. Pope a protestation, +that nothing should induce him ever to write to him again. +Notwithstanding this peevish behaviour of Mr. Wycherley, occasioned by +jealousy and infirmities, Mr. Pope preserved a constant respect and +reverence for him while he lived, and after his death lamented him. In a +letter to Edward Blount, esq; written immediately upon the death of this +poet, he has there related some anecdotes of Wycherly, which we shall +insert here, especially as they are not taken notice of in his life. + +'DEAR SIR, + +'I know of nothing that will be so interesting to you, at present, as +some circumstances of the last act of that eminent comic poet, and our +friend, Wycherley. He had often told me, as, I doubt not, he did all his +acquaintance, that he would marry, as soon as his life was despaired of: +accordingly, a few days before his death, he underwent the ceremony, and +joined together those two sacraments, which, wise men say, should be the +last we receive; for, if you observe, matrimony is placed after extreme +unction in our catechism, as a kind of hint of the order of time in +which they are to be taken. The old man then lay down, satisfied in the +conscience of having, by this one act, paid his just debts, obliged a +woman, who, he was told, had merit, and shewn a heroic resentment of +the ill usage of his next heir. Some hundred pounds which he had with +the lady, discharged those debts; a jointure of four hundred a year made +her a recompence; and the nephew he left to comfort himself, as well as +he could, with the miserable remains of a mortgaged estate. I saw our +friend twice after this was done, less peevish in his sickness, than he +used to be in his health, neither much afraid of dying, nor (which in +him had been more likely) much ashamed of marrying. The evening before +he expired, he called his young wife to the bed side, and earnestly +entreated her not to deny him one request, the last he should ever make. +Upon her assurance of consenting to it, he told her, my dear, it is only +this, that you will never marry an old man again. I cannot help +remarking, that sickness, which often destroys both wit and wisdom, yet +seldom has power to remove that talent we call humour. Mr. Wycherley +shewed this even in this last compliment, though, I think, his request a +little hard; for why should he bar her from doubling her jointure on the +same easy terms.' + +One of the most affecting and tender compositions of Mr. Pope, is, his +Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady, built on a true story. We +are informed in the Life of Pope, for which Curl obtained a patent, that +this young lady was a particular favourite of the poet, though it is not +ascertained whether he himself was the person from whom she was removed. +This young lady was of very high birth, possessed an opulent fortune, +and under the tutorage of an uncle, who gave her an education suitable +to her titles and pretensions. She was esteemed a match for the greatest +peer in the realm, but, in her early years, she suffered her heart to be +engaged by a young gentleman, and in consequence of this attachment, +rejected offers made to her by persons of quality, seconded by the +sollicitations of her uncle. Her guardian being surprized at this +behaviour, set spies upon her, to find out the real cause of her +indifference. Her correspondence with her lover was soon discovered, +and, when urged upon that topic, she had too much truth and honour to +deny it. The uncle finding, that she would make no efforts to disengage +her affection, after a little time forced her abroad, where she was +received with a ceremony due to her quality, but restricted from the +conversation of every one, but the spies of this severe guardian, so +that it was impossible for her lover even to have a letter delivered to +her hands. She languished in this place a considerable time, bore an +infinite deal of sickness, and was overwhelmed with the profoundest +sorrow. Nature being wearied out with continual distress, and being +driven at last to despair, the unfortunate lady, as Mr. Pope justly +calls her, put an end to her own life, having bribed a maid servant to +procure her a sword. She was found upon the ground weltering in her +blood. The severity of the laws of the place, where this fair +unfortunate perished, denied her Christian burial, and she was interred +without solemnity, or even any attendants to perform the last offices of +the dead, except some young people of the neighbourhood, who saw her put +into common ground, and strewed the grave with flowers. + +The poet in the elegy takes occasion to mingle with the tears of sorrow, +just reproaches upon her cruel uncle, who drove her to this violation. + + But thou, false guardian of a charge too good, + Thou base betrayer of a brother's blood! + See on those ruby lips the trembling breath, + Those cheeks now fading at the blast of death: + Lifeless the breast, which warm'd the world before, + And those love-darting eyes must roll no more. + +The conclusion of this elegy is irresistably affecting. + + So peaceful rests, without a stone, a name, + Which once had beauty, titles, wealth and fame, + How lov'd, how honoured once, avails thee not, + To whom related, or by whom begot; + A heap of dust alone remains of thee; + 'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be! + +No poem of our author's more deservedly obtained him reputation, than +his Essay on Criticism. Mr. Addison, in his Spectator, No. 253, has +celebrated it with such profuse terms of admiration, that it is really +astonishing, to find the same man endeavouring afterwards to diminish +that fame he had contributed to raise so high. + +The art of criticism (says he) which was published some months ago, is a +master-piece in its kind. The observations follow one another, like +those in Horace's Art of Poetry, without that methodical regularity, +which would have been requisite in a prose writer. They are some of them +uncommon, but such as the reader must assent to, when he sees them +explained with that elegance and perspicuity in which they are +delivered. As for those which are the most known, and the most received, +they are placed in so beautiful a light, and illustrated with such apt +allusions, that they have in them all the graces of novelty, and make +the reader, who was before acquainted with them, still more convinced of +their truth and solidity. And here give me leave to mention, what +Monsieur Boileau has so well enlarged upon, in the preface to his works; +that wit and fine writing do not consist so much in advancing things +that are new, as in giving things that are known an agreeable turn. It +is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make +observations in criticism, morality, or any art and science, which have +not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us, but to +represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or +more uncommon lights. If a reader examines Horace's Art of Poetry, he +will find but few precepts in it, which he may not meet with in +Aristotle, and which were not commonly known by all the poets of the +Augustan age. His way of expressing, and applying them, not his +invention of them, is what we are chiefly to admire.-- + +"Longinus, in his Reflexions, has given us the same kind of sublime, +which he observes in the several passages which occasioned them. I +cannot but take notice, that our English author has, after the same +manner, exemplified several of his precepts, in the very precepts +themselves." He then produces some instances of a particular kind of +beauty in the numbers, and concludes with saying, that "we have three +poems in our tongue of the same nature, and each a master-piece in its +kind: The Essay on Translated Verse, the Essay on the Art of Poetry, and +the Essay on Criticism." [Transcriber's note: Opening quotes missing in +original.] + +In the Lives of Addison and Tickell, we have thrown out some general +hints concerning the quarrel which subsisted between our poet and the +former of these gentlemen; here it will not be improper to give a more +particular account of it. + +The author of Mist's Journal positively asserts, 'that Mr. Addison +raised Pope from obscurity, obtained him the acquaintance and friendship +of the whole body of our nobility, and transferred his powerful +influence with those great men to this rising bard, who frequently +levied by that means, unusual contributions on the public.[Transcriber's +note: 'pubic' in original.] No sooner was his body lifeless, but this +author reviving his resentment, libelled the memory of his departed +friend, and what was still more heinous, made the scandal public.' + +When this charge of ingratitude and dishonour was published against Mr. +Pope, to acquit himself of it, he called upon any nobleman, whose +friendship, or any one gentleman, whose subscription Mr. Addison had +procured to our author, to stand forth, and declare it, that truth might +appear. But the whole libel was proved a malicious story, by many +persons of distinction, who, several years before Mr. Addison's decease, +approved those verses denominated a libel, but which were, 'tis said, a +friendly rebuke, sent privately in our author's own hand, to Mr. Addison +himself, and never made public, 'till by Curl in his Miscellanies, 12mo. +1727. The lines indeed are elegantly satirical, and, in the opinion of +many unprejudiced judges, who had opportunities of knowing the character +of Mr. Addison, are no ill representation of him. Speaking of the +poetical triflers of the times, who had declared against him, he makes a +sudden transition to Addison. + + Peace to all such! But were there one whose fires + True genius kindles, and fair fame inspires, + Blest with each talent, and each art to please, + And born to write, converse, and live with ease; + Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, + Bear, like the Turk, no rival near the throne, + View him with scornful, yet with jealous eyes, + And hate for arts, that caus'd himself to rise; + Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, + And, without sneering, others teach to sneer; + Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike, + Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike; + Alike reserv'd to blame or to commend, + A tim'rous foe, and a suspicious friend; + Dreading even fools; by flatt'rers besieg'd; + And so obliging, that he ne'er oblig'd. + Like Cato give his little senate laws, + [Transcriber's note: 'litttle' in original] + And sit attentive to his own applause; + While Wits and Templars ev'ry sentence raise, + And wonder with a foolish face of praise. + Who but must laugh, if such a man there be! + Who would not weep, if Atticus were he! + +Some readers may think these lines severe, but the treatment he received +from Mr. Addison, was more than sufficient to justify them, which will +appear when we particularize an interview between these two poetical +antagonists, procured by the warm sollicitations of Sir Richard Steele, +who was present at it, as well as Mr. Gay. + +Mr. Jervas being one day in company with Mr. Addison, the conversation +turned upon Mr. Pope, for whom Addison, at that time, expressed the +highest regard, and assured Mr. Jervas, that he would make use not only +of his interest, but of his art likewise, to do Mr. Pope service; he +then said, he did not mean his art of poetry, but his art at court, and +protested, notwithstanding many insinuations were spread, that it shall +not be his fault, if there was not the best understanding and +intelligence between them. He observed, that Dr. Swift might have +carried him too far among the enemy, during the animosity, but now all +was safe, and Mr. Pope, in his opinion, was escaped. When Mr. Jervas +communicated this conversation to Mr. Pope, he made this reply: 'The +friendly office you endeavour to do between Mr. Addison and me deserves +acknowledgments on my part. You thoroughly know my regard to his +character, and my readiness to testify it by all ways in my power; you +also thoroughly knew the meanness of that proceeding of Mr. Phillips, to +make a man I so highly value suspect my disposition towards him. But as, +after all, Mr. Addison must be judge in what regards himself, and as he +has seemed not to be a very just one to me, so I must own to you, I +expect nothing but civility from him, how much soever I wish for his +friendship; and as for any offers of real kindness or service which it +is in his power to do me, I should be ashamed to receive them from a +man, who has no better opinion of my morals, than to think me a party +man, nor of my temper, than to believe me capable of maligning, or +envying another's reputation as a poet. In a word, Mr. Addison is sure +of my respect at all times, and of my real friendship, whenever he shall +think fit to know me for what I am.' + +Some years after this conversation, at the desire of Sir Richard Steele, +they met. At first, a very cold civility, and nothing else appeared on +either side, for Mr. Addison had a natural reserve and gloom at the +beginning of an evening, which, by conversation and a glass, brightened +into an easy chearfulness. Sir Richard Steele, who was a most social +benevolent man, begged of him to fulfill his promise, in dropping all +animosity against Mr. Pope. Mr. Pope then desired to be made sensible +how he had offended; and observed, that the translation of Homer, if +that was the great crime, was undertaken at the request, and almost at +the command of Sir Richard Steele. He entreated Mr. Addison to speak +candidly and freely, though it might be with ever so much severity, +rather than by keeping up forms of complaisance, conceal any of his +faults. This Mr. Pope spoke in such a manner as plainly indicated he +thought Mr. Addison the aggressor, and expected him to condescend, and +own himself the cause of the breach between them. But he was +disappointed; for Mr. Addison, without appearing to be angry, was quite +overcome with it. He began with declaring, that he always had wished him +well, had often endeavoured to be his friend, and in that light advised +him, if his nature was capable of it, to divert himself of part of his +vanity, which was too great for his merit; that he had not arrived yet +to that pitch of excellence he might imagine, or think his most partial +readers imagined; that when he and Sir Richard Steele corrected his +verses, they had a different air; reminding Mr. Pope of the amendment +(by Sir Richard) of a line, in the poem called The MESSIAH. + + He wipes the tears for ever from our eyes. + +Which is taken from the prophet Isaiah, + + The Lord God will wipe all tears from off all faces. + + From every face he wipes off ev'ry tear. + +And it stands so altered in the newer editions of Mr. Pope's works. He +proceeded to lay before him all the mistakes and inaccuracies hinted at +by the writers, who had attacked Mr. Pope, and added many things, which +he himself objected to. Speaking of his translation in general, he said, +that he was not to be blamed for endeavouring to get so large a sum of +money, but that it was an ill-executed thing, and not equal to Tickell, +which had all the spirit of Homer. Mr. Addison concluded, in a low +hollow voice of feigned temper, that he was not sollicitous about his +own fame as a poet; that he had quitted the muses to enter into the +business of the public, and that all he spoke was through friendship to +Mr. Pope, whom he advised to have a less exalted sense of his own merit. + +Mr. Pope could not well bear such repeated reproaches, but boldly told +Mr. Addison, that he appealed from his judgment to the public, and that +he had long known him too well to expect any friendship from him; +upbraided him with being a pensioner from his youth, sacrificing the +very learning purchased by the public money, to a mean thirst of power; +that he was sent abroad to encourage literature, in place of which he +had always endeavoured to suppress merit. At last, the contest grew so +warm, that they parted without any ceremony, and Mr. Pope upon this +wrote the foregoing verses, which are esteemed too true a picture of Mr. +Addison. + +In this account, and, indeed, in all other accounts, which have been +given concerning this quarrel, it does not appear that Mr. Pope was the +aggressor. If Mr. Addison entertained suspicions of Mr. Pope's being +carried too far among the enemy, the danger was certainly Mr. Pope's, +and not Mr. Addison's. It was his misfortune, and not his crime. If Mr. +Addison should think himself capable of becoming a rival to Mr. Pope, +and, in consequence of this opinion, publish a translation of part of +Homer; at the same time with Mr. Pope's, and if the public should decide +in favour of the latter by reading his translation, and neglecting the +other, can any fault be imputed to Mr. Pope? could he be blamed for +exerting all his abilities in so arduous a province? and was it his +fault that Mr. Addison (for the first book of Homer was undoubtedly his) +could not translate to please the public? Besides, was it not somewhat +presumptuous to insinuate to Mr. Pope, that his verses bore another face +when he corrected them, while, at the same time, the translation of +Homer, which he had never seen in manuscript, bore away the palm from +that very translation, he himself asserted was done in the true spirit +of Homer? In matters of genius the public judgment seldom errs, and in +this case posterity has confirmed the sentence of that age, which gave +the preference to Mr. Pope; for his translation is in the hands of all +readers of taste, while the other is seldom regarded but as a soil to +Pope's. + +It would appear as if Mr. Addison were himself so immersed in party +business, as to contrast his benevolence to the limits of a faction: +Which was infinitely beneath the views of a philosopher, and the rules +which that excellent writer himself established. If this was the failing +of Mr. Addison, it was not the error of Pope, for he kept the strictest +correspondence with some persons, whose affections to the Whig-interest +were suspected, yet was his name never called in question. While he was +in favour with the duke of Buckingham, the lords Bolingbroke, Oxford, +and Harcourt, Dr. Swift, and Mr. Prior, he did not drop his +correspondence with the lord Hallifax, Mr. Craggs, and most of those who +were at the head of the Whig interest. A professed Jacobite one day +remonstrated to Mr. Pope, that the people of his party took it ill that +he should write with Mr. Steele upon ever so indifferent a subject; at +which he could not help smiling, and observed, that he hated narrowness +of soul in any party; and that if he renounced his reason in religious +matters, he should hardly do it on any other, and that he could pray not +only for opposite parties, but even for opposite religions. Mr. Pope +considered himself as a citizen of the world, and was therefore obliged +to pray for the prosperity of mankind in general. As a son of Britain he +wished those councils might be suffered by providence to prevail, which +were most for the interest of his native country: But as politics was +not his study, he could not always determine, at least, with any degree +of certainty, whose councils were best; and had charity enough to +believe, that contending parties might mean well. As taste and science +are confined to no country, so ought they not to be excluded from any +party, and Mr. Pope had an unexceptionable right to live upon terms of +the strictest friendship with every man of parts, to which party soever +he might belong. Mr. Pope's uprightness in his conduct towards +contending politicians, is demonstrated by his living independent of +either faction. He accepted no place, and had too high a spirit to +become a pensioner. + +Many effects however were made to proselyte him from the Popish faith, +which all proved ineffectual. His friends conceived hopes from the +moderation which he on all occasions expressed, that he was really a +Protestant in his heart, and that upon the death of his mother, he would +not scruple to declare his sentiments, notwithstanding the reproaches he +might incur from the Popish party, and the public observation it would +draw upon him. The bishop of Rochester strongly advised him to read the +controverted points between the Protestant and the Catholic church, to +suffer his unprejudiced reason to determine for him, and he made no +doubt, but a separation from the Romish communion would soon ensue. To +this Mr. Pope very candidly answered, 'Whether the change would be to my +spiritual advantage, God only knows: This I know, that I mean as well in +the religion I now profess, as ever I can do in any other. Can a man who +thinks so, justify a change, even if he thought both equally good? To +such an one, the part of joining with any one body of Christians might +perhaps be easy, but I think it would not be so to renounce the other. + +'Your lordship has formerly advised me to read the best controversies +between the churches. Shall I tell you a secret? I did so at 14 years +old (for I loved reading, and my father had no other books) there was a +collection of all that had been written on both sides, in the reign of +King James II. I warmed my head with them, and the consequence was, I +found myself a Papist, or a Protestant by turns, according to the last +book I read. I am afraid most seekers are in the same case, and when +they stop, they are not so properly converted, as outwitted. You see how +little glory you would gain by my conversion: and after all, I verily +believe, your lordship and I are both of the same religion, if we were +thoroughly understood by one another, and that all honest and reasonable +Christians would be so, if they did but talk enough together every day, +and had nothing to do together but to serve God, and live in peace with +their neighbours. + +"As to the temporal side of the question, I can have no dispute with +you; it is certain, all the beneficial circumstances of life, and all +the shining ones, lie on the part you would invite me to. But if I could +bring myself to fancy, what I think you do but fancy, that I have any +talents for active life, I want health for it; and besides it is a real +truth. I have, if possible, less inclination, than ability. +Contemplative life is not only my scene, but is my habit too. I begun my +life where most people end theirs, with all that the world calls +ambition. I don't know why it is called so, for, to me, it always seemed +to be stooping, or climbing. I'll tell you my politic and religious +sentiments in a few words. In my politics, I think no farther, than how +to preserve my peace of life, in any government under which I live; nor +in my religion, than to preserve the peace of my conscience, in any +church with which I communicate. I hope all churches, and all +governments are so far of God, as they are rightly understood, and +rightly administered; and where they are, or may be wrong, I leave it to +God alone to mend, or reform them, which, whenever he does, it must be +by greater instruments than I am. I am not a Papist, for I renounce the +temporal invasions of the papal power, and detest their arrogated +authority over Princes and States. I am a Catholic in the strictest +sense of the word. If I was born under an absolute Prince, I would be a +quiet subject; but, I thank God, I was not. I have a due sense of the +excellence of the British constitution. In a word, the things I have +always wished to see, are not a Roman Catholic, or a French Catholic, or +a Spanish Catholic, but a True Catholic; and not a King of Whigs, or +[Transcriber's note: repeated 'or' removed] a King of Tories, but a King +of England." + +These are the peaceful maxims upon which we find Mr. Pope conducted his +life, and if they cannot in some respects be justified, yet it must be +owned, that his religion and his politics were well enough adapted for a +poet, which entitled him to a kind of universal patronage, and to make +every good man his friend. + +Dean Swift sometimes wrote to Mr. Pope on the topic of changing his +religion, and once humorously offered him twenty pounds for that +purpose. Mr. Pope's answer to this, lord Orrery has obliged the world by +preserving in the life of Swift. It is a perfect master-piece of wit and +pleasantry. + +We have already taken notice, that Mr. Pope was called upon by the +public voice to translate the Iliad, which he performed with so much +applause, and at the same time, with so much profit to himself, that he +was envied by many writers, whose vanity perhaps induced them to believe +themselves equal to so great a design. A combination of inferior wits +were employed to write The Popiad, in which his translation is +characterized, as unjust to the original, without beauty of language, or +variety of numbers. Instead of the justness of the original, they say +there is absurdity and extravagance. Instead of the beautiful language +of the original, there is solecism and barbarous English. A candid +reader may easily discern from this furious introduction, that the +critics were actuated rather by malice than truth, and that they must +judge with their eyes shut, who can see no beauty of language, no +harmony of numbers in this translation. + +But the most formidable critic against Mr. Pope in this great +undertaking, was the celebrated Madam Dacier, whom Mr. Pope treated with +less ceremony in his Notes on the Iliad, than, in the opinion of some +people, was due to her sex. This learned lady was not without a sense of +the injury, and took an opportunity of discovering her resentment. + +"Upon finishing (says she) the second edition of my translation of +Homer, a particular friend sent me a translation of part of Mr. Pope's +preface to his Version of the Iliad. As I do not understand English, I +cannot form any judgment of his performance, though I have heard much of +it. I am indeed willing to believe, that the praises it has met with are +not unmerited, because whatever work is approved by the English nation, +cannot be bad; but yet I hope I may be permitted to judge of that part +of the preface, which has been transmitted to me, and I here take the +liberty of giving my sentiments concerning it. I must freely acknowledge +that Mr. Pope's invention is very lively, though he seems to have been +guilty of the same fault into which he owns we are often precipitated by +our invention, when we depend too much upon the strength of it; as +magnanimity (says he) may run up to confusion and extravagance, so may +great invention to redundancy and wildness. + +"This has been the very case of Mr. Pope himself; nothing is more +overstrained, or more false than the images in which his fancy has +represented Homer; sometimes he tells us, that the Iliad is a wild +paradise, where, if we cannot see all the beauties, as in an ordered +garden, it is only because the number of them is infinitely greater. +Sometimes he compares him to a copious nursery, which contains the seeds +and first productions of every kind; and, lastly, he represents him +under the notion of a mighty tree, which rises from the most vigorous +seed, is improved with industry, flourishes and produces the finest +fruit, but bears too many branches, which might be lopped into form, to +give it a more regular appearance. + +"What! is Homer's poem then, according to Mr. Pope, a confused heap of +beauties, without order or symmetry, and a plot whereon nothing but +seeds, nor nothing perfect or formed is to be found; and a production +loaded with many unprofitable things which ought to be retrenched, and +which choak and disfigure those which deserve to be preserved? Mr. Pope +will pardon me if I here oppose those comparisons, which to me appear +very false, and entirely contrary to what the greatest of ancient, and +modern critics ever thought. + +"The Iliad is so far from being a wild paradise, that it is the most +regular garden, and laid out with more symmetry than any ever was. Every +thing herein is not only in the place it ought to have been, but every +thing is fitted for the place it hath. He presents you at first with +that which ought to be first seen; he places in the middle what ought to +be in the middle, and what would be improperly placed at the beginning +or end, and he removes what ought to be at a greater distance, to create +the more agreeable surprize; and, to use a comparison drawn from +painting, he places that in the greatest light which cannot be too +visible, and sinks in the obscurity of the shade, what does not require +a full view; so that it may be said, that Homer is the Painter who best +knew how to employ the shades and lights. The second comparison is +equally unjust; how could Mr. Pope say, 'that one can only discover +seeds, and the first productions of every kind in the Iliad?' every +beauty is there to such an amazing perfection, that the following ages +could add nothing to those of any kind; and the ancients have always +proposed Homer, as the most perfect model in every kind of poetry. + +"The third comparison is composed of the errors of the two former; Homer +had certainly an incomparable fertility of invention, but his fertility +is always checked by that just sense, which made him reject every +superfluous thing which his vast imagination could offer, and to retain +only what was necessary and useful. Judgment guided the hand of this +admirable gardener, and was the pruning hook he employed to lop off +every useless branch." + +Thus far Madam Dacier differs in her opinion from Mr. Pope concerning +Homer; but these remarks which we have just quoted, partake not at all +of the nature of criticism; they are meer assertion. Pope had declared +Homer to abound with irregular beauties. Dacier has contradicted him, +and asserted, that all his beauties are regular, but no reason is +assigned by either of these mighty geniuses in support of their +opinions, and the reader is left in the dark, as to the real truth. If +he is to be guided by the authority of a name only, no doubt the +argument will preponderate in favour of our countryman. The French lady +then proceeds to answer some observations, which Mr. Pope made upon her +Remarks on the Iliad, which she performs with a warmth that generally +attends writers of her sex. Mr. Pope, however, paid more regard to this +fair antagonist, than any other critic upon his works. He confessed that +he had received great helps from her, and only thought she had (through +a prodigious, and almost superstitious, fondness for Homer) endeavoured +to make him appear without any fault, or weakness, and stamp a +perfection on his works, which is no where to be found. He wrote her a +very obliging letter, in which he confessed himself exceedingly sorry +that he ever should have displeased so excellent a wit, and she, on the +other hand, with a goodness and frankness peculiar to her, protested to +forgive it, so that there remained no animosities between those two +great admirers and translators of Homer. + +Mr. Pope, by his successful translation of the Iliad, as we have before +remarked, drew upon him the envy and raillery of a whole tribe of +writers. Though he did not esteem any particular man amongst his enemies +of consequence enough to provoke an answer, yet when they were +considered collectively, they offered excellent materials for a general +satire. This satire he planned and executed with so extraordinary a +mastery, that it is by far the most compleat poem of our author's; it +discovers more invention, and a higher effort of genius, than any other +production of his. The hint was taken from Mr. Dryden's Mac Flecknoe, +but as it is more general, so it is more pleasing. The Dunciad is so +universally read, that we reckon it superfluous to give any further +account of it here; and it would be an unpleasing task to trace all the +provocations and resentments, which were mutually discovered upon this +occasion. Mr. Pope was of opinion, that next to praising good writers, +there was a merit in exposing bad ones, though it does not hold +infallibly true, that each person stigmatized as a dunce, was genuinely +so. Something must be allowed to personal resentment; Mr. Pope was a man +of keen passions; he felt an injury strongly, retained a long +remembrance of it, and could very pungently repay it. Some of the +gentlemen, however, who had been more severely lashed than the rest, +meditated a revenge, which redounds but little to their honour. They +either intended to chastize him corporally, or gave it out that they had +really done so, in order to bring shame upon Mr. Pope, which, if true, +could only bring shame upon themselves. + +While Mr. Pope enjoyed any leisure from severer applications to study, +his friends were continually solliciting him to turn his thoughts +towards something that might be of lasting use to the world, and engage +no more in a war with dunces who were now effectually humbled. Our great +dramatic poet Shakespear had pass'd through several hands, some of whom +were very reasonably judged not to have understood any part of him +tolerably, much less were capable to correct or revise him. + +The friends of Mr. Pope therefore strongly importuned him, to undertake +the whole of Shakespear's plays, and, if possible, by comparing all the +different copies now to be procured, restore him to his ancient purity. +To which our poet made this modest reply, that not having attempted any +thing in the Drama, it might in him be deemed too much presumption. To +which he was answered, that this did not require great knowledge of the +foundation and disposition of the drama, as that must stand as it was, +and Shakespear [Transcriber's note: 'Skakespear' in original] himself +had not always paid strict regard to the rules of it; but this was to +clear the scenes from the rubbish with which ignorant editors had filled +them. + +His proper business in this work was to render the text so clear as to +be generally understood, to free it from obscurities, and sometimes +gross absurdities, which now seem to appear in it, and to explain +doubtful and difficult passages of which there are great numbers. This +however was an arduous province, and how Mr. Pope has acquitted himself +in it has been differently determined: It is certain he never valued +himself upon that performance, nor was it a task in the least adapted to +his genius; for it seldom happens that a man of lively parts can undergo +the servile drudgery of collecting passages, in which more industry and +labour are necessary than persons of quick penetration generally have to +bestow. + +It has been the opinion of some critics, that Mr. Pope's talents were +not adapted for the drama, otherwise we cannot well account for his +neglecting the most gainful way of writing which poetry affords, +especially as his reputation was so high, that without much ceremony or +mortification, he might have had any piece of his brought upon the +stage. Mr. Pope was attentive to his own interest, and if he had not +either been conscious of his inability in that province, or too timid to +wish the popular approbation, he would certainly have attempted the +drama. Neither was he esteemed a very competent judge of what plays were +proper or improper for representation. He wrote several letters to the +manager of Drury-Lane Theatre, in favour of Thomson's Agamemnon, which +notwithstanding his approbation, Thomson's friends were obliged to +mutulate and shorten; and after all it proved a heavy play.--Though it +was generally allowed to have been one of the best acted plays that had +appeared for some years. + +He was certainly concerned in the Comedy, which was published in Mr. +Gay's name, called Three Hours after Marriage, as well as Dr. Arbuthnot. +This illustrious triumvirate, though men of the most various parts, and +extensive understanding, yet were not able it seems to please the +people, tho' the principal parts were supported by the best actors in +that way on the stage. Dr. Arbuthnot and Mr. Pope were no doubt +solicitous to conceal their concern in it; but by a letter which Gay +wrote to Pope, published in Ayre's Memoirs, it appears evident (if +Ayre's authority may be depended on) that they, both assisted in the +composition. + +DEAR POPE, + +'Too late I see, and confess myself mistaken in relation to the Comedy; +yet I do not think, had I followed your advice, and only introduced the +mummy, that the absence of the crocodile had saved it. I can't help +laughing myself (though the vulgar do not consider it was designed to +look ridiculous) to think how the poor monster and mummy were dashed at +their reception, and when the cry was loudest, I thought that if the +thing had been written by another, I should have deemed the town in some +measure mistaken; and as to your apprehension that this may do us future +injury, do not think of it; the Dr. has a more valuable name than can be +hurt by any thing of this nature; and your's is doubly safe. I will, if +any shame there be, take it all to myself, and indeed I ought, the +motion being first mine, and never heartily approved by you.' + +Of all our poet's writings none were read with more general approbation +than his Ethic Epistles, or multiplied into more editions. Mr. Pope who +was a perfect oeconomist, secured to himself the profits arising from +his own works; he was never subjected to necessity, and therefore was +not to be imposed upon by the art or fraud of publishers. + +But now approaches the period in which as he himself expressed it, he +stood in need of the generous tear he paid, + + Posts themselves must fall like those they sung, + Deaf the prais'd ear, and mute the tuneful tongue. + Ev'n he whose soul now melts in mournful lays, + Shall shortly want the generous tear he pays. + +Mr. Pope who had been always subjected to a variety of bodily +infirmities, finding his strength give way, began to think that his +days, which had been prolonged past his expectation, were drawing +towards a conclusion. However, he visited the Hot-Wells at Bristol, +where for some time there were small hopes of his recovery; but making +too free with purges he grew worse, and seemed desirous to draw nearer +home. A dropsy in the breast at last put a period to his life, at the +age of 56, on the 30th of May 1744, at his house at Twickenham, where he +was interred in the same grave with his father and mother. + +Mr. Pope's behaviour in his last illness has been variously represented +to the world: Some have affirmed that it was timid and peevish; that +having been fixed in no particular system of faith, his mind was +wavering, and his temper broken and disturb'd. Others have asserted that +he was all chearfulness and resignation to the divine will: Which of +these opinions is true we cannot now determine; but if the former, it +must be regretted, that he, who had taught philosophy to others, should +himself be destitute of its assistance in the most critical moments of +his life. + +The bulk of his fortune he bequeath'd to Mrs. Blount, with whom he lived +in the strictest friendship, and for whom he is said to have entertained +the warmest affection. His works, which are in the hands of every person +of true taste, and will last as long as our language will be understood, +render unnecessary all further remarks on his writings. He was equally +admired for the dignity and sublimity of his moral and philosophical +works, the vivacity of his satirical, the clearness and propriety of his +didactic, the richness and variety of his descriptive, and the elegance +of all, added to an harmony of versification and correctness of +sentiment and language, unknown to our former poets, and of which he has +set an example which will be an example or a reproach to his successors. +His prose-stile is as perfect in its kind as his poetic, and has all the +beauties proper for it, joined to an uncommon force and perspicuity. + +Under the profession of the Roman-Catholic religion, to which he adhered +to the last, he maintained all the moderation and charity becoming the +most thorough and confident Protestant. His conversation was natural, +easy and agreeable, without any affectation of displaying his wit, or +obtruding his own judgment, even upon subjects of which he was so +eminently a master. + +The moral character of our author, as it did not escape the lash of his +calumniators in his life; so have there been attempts since his death to +diminish his reputation. Lord Bolingbroke, whom Mr. Pope esteemed to +almost an enthusiastic degree of admiration, was the first to make this +attack. Not many years ago, the public were entertained with this +controversy immediately upon the publication of his lordship's Letters +on the Spirit of Patriotism, and the Idea of a Patriot King. Different +opinions have been offered, some to extenuate the fault of Mr. Pope, for +printing and mutilating these letters, without his lordship's knowledge; +others to blame him for it as the highest breach of friendship, and the +greatest mark of dishonour. It would exceed our proposed bounds to enter +into the merits of this controversy; the reader, no doubt, will find it +amply discussed in that account of the life of this great author, which +Mr. Warburton has promised the public. + +This great man is allowed to have been one of the first rank amongst the +poets of our nation, and to acknowledge the superiority of none but +Shakespear, Milton, and Dryden. With the two former, it is unnatural to +compare him, as their province in writing is so very different. Pope has +never attempted the drama, nor published an Epic Poem, in which these +two distinguished genius's have so wonderfully succeeded. Though Pope's +genius was great, it was yet of so different a cast from Shakespear's, +and Milton's, that no comparison can be justly formed. But if this may +be said of the former two, it will by no means hold with respect to the +later, for between him and Dryden, there is a great similarity of +writing, and a very striking coincidence of genius. It will not perhaps +be unpleasing to our readers, if we pursue this comparison, and +endeavour to discover to whom the superiority is justly to be +attributed, and to which of them poetry owes the highest obligations. + +When Dryden came into the world, he found poetry in a very imperfect +state; its numbers were unpolished; its cadences rough, and there was +nothing of harmony or mellifluence to give it a graceful of flow. In +this harsh, unmusical situation, Dryden found it (for the refinements of +Waller were but puerile and unsubstantial) he polished the rough +diamond, he taught it to shine, and connected beauty, elegance, and +strength, in all his poetical compositions. Though Dryden thus polished +our English numbers, and thus harmonized versification, it cannot be +said, that he carried his art to perfection. Much was yet left undone; +his lines with all their smoothness were often rambling, and expletives +were frequently introduced to compleat his measures. It was apparent +therefore that an additional harmony might still be given to our +numbers, and that cadences were yet capable of a more musical +modulation. To effect this purpose Mr. Pope arose, who with an ear +elegantly delicate, and the advantage of the finest genius, so +harmonized the English numbers, as to make them compleatly musical. His +numbers are likewise so minutely correct, that it would be difficult to +conceive how any of his lines can be altered to to advantage. He has +created a kind of mechanical versification; every line is alike; and +though they are sweetly musical, they want diversity, for he has not +studied so great a variety of pauses, and where the accents may be laid +gracefully. The structure of his verse is the best, and a line of his is +more musical than any other line can be made, by placing the accents +elsewhere; but we are not quite certain, whether the ear is not apt to +be soon cloy'd with this uniformity of elegance, this sameness of +harmony. It must be acknowledged however, that he has much improved upon +Dryden in the article of versification, and in that part of poetry is +greatly his superior. But though this must be acknowledged, perhaps it +will not necessarily follow that his genius was therefore superior. + +The grand characteristic of a poet is his invention, the surest +distinction of a great genius. In Mr. Pope, nothing is so truly original +as his Rape of the Lock, nor discovers so much invention. In this kind +of mock-heroic, he is without a rival in our language, for Dryden has +written nothing of the kind. His other work which discovers invention, +fine designing, and admirable execution, is his Dunciad; which, tho' +built on Dryden's Mac Flecknoe, is yet so much superior, that in satiric +writing, the Palm must justly be yielded to him. In Mr. Dryden's Absalom +and Achitophel, there are indeed the most poignant strokes of satire, +and characters drawn with the most masterly touches; but this poem with +all its excellencies is much inferior to the Dunciad, though Dryden had +advantages which Mr. Pope had not; for Dryden's characters are men of +great eminence and figure in the state, while Pope has to expose men of +obscure birth and unimportant lives only distinguished from the herd of +mankind, by a glimmering of genius, which rendered the greatest part of +them more emphatically contemptible. Pope's was the hardest task, and he +has executed it with the greatest success. As Mr. Dryden must +undoubtedly have yielded to Pope in satyric writing, it is incumbent on +the partizans of Dryden to name another species of composition, in which +the former excells so as to throw the ballance again upon the side of +Dryden. This species is the Lyric, in which the warmest votaries of Pope +must certainly acknowledge, that he is much inferior; as an irrefutable +proof of this we need only compare Mr. Dryden's Ode on St. Cecilia's +Day, with Mr. Pope's; in which the disparity is so apparent, that we +know not if the most finished of Pope's compositions has discovered such +a variety and command of numbers. + +It hath been generally acknowledged, that the Lyric is a more excellent +kind of writing than the Satiric; and consequently he who excells in the +most excellent species, must undoubtedly be esteemed the greatest poet. +--Mr. Pope has very happily succeeded in many of his occasional pieces, +such as Eloisa to Abelard, his Elegy on an unfortunate young Lady, and a +variety of other performances deservedly celebrated. To these may be +opposed Mr. Dryden's Fables, which though written in a very advanced +age, are yet the most perfect of his works. In these Fables there is +perhaps a greater variety than in Pope's occasional pieces: Many of them +indeed are translations, but such as are original shew a great extent of +invention, and a large compass of genius. + +There are not in Pope's works such poignant discoveries of wit, or such +a general knowledge of the humours and characters of men, as in the +Prologues and Epilogues of Dryden, which are the best records of the +whims and capricious oddities of the times in which they are written. + +When these two great genius's are considered in the light of +translators, it will indeed be difficult to determine into whose scale +the ballance should be thrown: That Mr. Pope had a more arduous province +in doing justice to Homer, than Dryden with regard to Virgil is +certainly true; as Homer is a more various and diffuse poet than Virgil; +and it is likewise true, that Pope has even exceeded Dryden in the +execution, and none will deny, that Pope's Homer's Iliad, is a finer +poem than Dryden's Aeneis of Virgil: Making a proper allowance for the +disproportion of the original authors. But then a candid critic should +reflect, that as Dryden was prior in the great attempt of rendering +Virgil into English, so did he perform the task under many +disadvantages, which Pope, by a happier situation in life, was enabled +to avoid; and could not but improve upon Dryden's errors, though the +authors translated were not the same: And it is much to be doubted, if +Dryden were to translate the Aeneid now, with that attention which the +correctness of the present age would force upon him, whether the +preference would be due to Pope's Homer. + +But supposing it to be yielded (as it certainly must) that the latter +bard was the greatest translator; we are now to throw into Mr. Dryden's +scale all his dramatic works; which though not the most excellent of his +writings, yet as nothing of Mr. Pope's can be opposed to them, they have +an undoubted right to turn the ballance greatly in favour of Mr. +Dryden.--When the two poets are considered as critics, the comparison +will very imperfectly hold. Dryden's Dedications and Prefaces, besides +that they are more numerous, and are the best models for courtly +panegyric, shew that he understood poetry as an art, beyond any man that +ever lived. And he explained this art so well, that he taught his +antagonists to turn the tables against himself; for he so illuminated +the mind by his clear and perspicuous reasoning, that dullness itself +became capable of discerning; and when at any time his performances fell +short of his own ideas of excellence; his enemies tried him by rules of +his own establishing; and though they owed to him the ability of +judging, they seldom had candour enough to spare him. + +Perhaps it may be true that Pope's works are read with more appetite, as +there is a greater evenness and correctness in them; but in perusing the +works of Dryden the mind will take a wider range, and be more fraught +with poetical ideas: We admire Dryden as the greater genius, and Pope as +the most pleasing versifier. + +ERRATA in the foregoing life, viz. + +P. 237. l. 27. for with all that the world calls ambition, read with _a +disgust of_ all, &c. And l. 29. for 'stooping or climbing' read, +_rather_ stooping _than_ climbing. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] See a Note in Warburton's Edition of Pope's Works. + + + * * * * * + + +AARON HILL, Esq;[1] + +Was the son of George Hill, esq; of Malmsbury-Abbey in Wiltshire; a +gentleman possessed of an estate of about 2000 l. a year, which was +entailed upon him, and the eldest son, and to his heirs for many +descents. But the unhappy misconduct of Mr. George Hill, and the +weakness of the trustees, entangled it in such a manner as hitherto has +rendered it of no advantage to his family; for, without any legal title +so to do, he sold it all, at different times, for sums greatly beneath +the value of it, and left his children to their mother's care, and her +mother's (Mrs. Ann Gregory) who took great pains with her grandson's +education. At nine years old she put him to school to Mr. Rayner at +Barnstable in Devonshire, from whence, he went to Westminster school; +where soon (under the care of Dr. Knipe) his genius shewed itself in a +distinguished light, and often made him some amends for his hard +fortune, which denied him such supplies of pocket-money as his spirit +wished, by enabling him to perform the tasks of many who had not his +capacity. + +Mr. Aaron Hill, was born in Beaufort-Buildings in the Strand, on +February 10, 1684-5. At fourteen years of age he left Westminster +school; and, shortly after, hearing his grandmother make mention of a +relation much esteemed (lord Paget, then ambassador at Constantinople) +he formed a resolution of paying him a visit there, being likewise very +desirous to see that empire. + +His grandmother being a woman of uncommon understanding, and great +good-nature, would not oppose him in it; and accordingly he soon +embark'd on board a ship, then going there, March 2, 1700, as appears by +a Journal which he kept during his voyage, and in his travels (though at +so weak an age) wherein he gave the most accurate account of every +particular, in a manner much above his years. + +When he arrived, lord Paget received him with as much surprize, as +pleasure, wondering that so young a person as he was (but then in his +fifteenth year) should chuse to run the hazard of such a voyage to visit +a relation, whom he knew but by character. The ambassador immediately +provided for him a very learned ecclesiastic in his own house, and, +under his tuition, sent him to travel, being desirous to improve, as far +as possible, the education of a person he found worthy of it. With this +tutor he had the opportunity of seeing Egypt, Palestine, and a great +part of the Eastern country. + +With lord Paget he returned home, about the year 1703, through great +part of Europe; in which tour he saw most of the courts. + +He was in great esteem with that nobleman; insomuch, that in all +probability he had been still more distinguished by him at his death, +than in his life time, had not the envious fears and malice of a certain +female, who was in high authority and favour with that lord, prevented +and supplanted his kind disposition towards him: My lord took great +pleasure in instructing him himself, wrote him whole books in different +languages, on which his student placed the greatest value; which was no +sooner taken notice of by jealous observation, than they were stolen +from his apartment, and suffered to be some days missing, to the great +displeasure of my lord, but still much greater affliction of his pupil, +whose grief for losing a treasure he so highly valued, was more than +doubled, by perceiving that from some false insinuation that had been +made, it was believed he had himself wilfully lost them: But young Mr. +Hill was soon entirely cleared on this head. + +A few years after, he was desired both on account of his sobriety and +understanding, to accompany Sir William Wentworth, a worthy baronet of +Yorkshire, who was then going to make the tour of Europe; with whom he +travelled two or three years, and brought him home improved, to the +satisfaction of that gentleman's relations. + +'Twas in those different travels he collected matter for the history he +wrote of Turkey, and published in 1709; a work he afterwards often +repented having printed; and (though his own) would criticise upon it +with much severity. (But, as he used to say, he was a very boy when he +began and ended it; therefore great allowance may be made on that +account); and in a letter which has since been printed in his works, +wrote to his greatly valued friend, the worthy author of Clarissa, he +acknowledges his consciousness of such defects: where speaking of +obscurity, he says, + + 'Obscurity, indeed (if they had penetration to mean that) is burying + sense alive, and some of my rash, early, too affected, puerile + scriblings must, and should, have pleaded guilty to so just an + accusation.' + +The fire of youth, with an imagination lively as his was, seldom, if +ever, go hand in hand with solid judgment. Mr. Hill did not give himself +indeed time for correction, having wrote it so very expeditiously, as +hardly would be credited. But (as Dr. Sprat, then bishop of Rochester, +used to observe) there is certainly visible in that book, the seeds of a +great writer.--He seldom in his riper years was guilty of the fault of +non-correction; for he revis'd, too strictly rather, every piece he +purposed for the public eye (exclusive of an author's natural fondness); +and it has been believed by many, who have read some of his pieces in +the first copy, that had they never been by a revisal deepened +[Transcriber's note: 'deepned' in original] into greater strength, they +would have pleased still more, at least more generally. + +About the year 1709 he published his first poem, called Camillus; in +vindication, and honour of the earl of Peterborough, who had been +general in Spain. After that nobleman had seen it, he was desirous to +know who was the author of it; which having found by enquiry, he +complimented him by making him his secretary, in the room of Mr. Furly, +who was gone abroad with another nobleman: And Mr. Hill was always held +in high esteem with that great peer; with whom, however, he did not +continue long; for in the year 1710 he married the only daughter of +Edmund Morris, Esq; of Stratford, in Essex; with whom he had a very +handsome fortune: By her he had nine children, four of whom (a son, and +three daughters) are still living. + +In 1709 he was made master of the Theatre in Drury-Lane; and then, at +the desire of Mr. Barton Booth, wrote his first Tragedy, (Elfrid, or the +Fair Inconstant) which from his first beginning of it he compleated in a +little more than a week.--The following year, 1710, he was master of the +Opera House in the Hay-Market; and then wrote an Opera called Rinaldo, +which met with great success: It was the first which that admirable +genius Mr. Handel compos'd, after he came to England; (this he dedicated +to Queen Anne).--His genius was adapted greatly to the business of the +stage; and while he held the management, he conducted both Theatres, +intirely to the satisfaction of the public.--But in a few months he +relinquished it, from some misunderstanding with the then lord +chamberlain; and though he was soon after sollicited to take that charge +again upon him (by a person the highest in command) he still declined +it. + +From that time he bent his thoughts on studies far more solid and +desirable to him; to views of public benefit: For his mind was ardently +devoted to the pursuit of general improvement. But, as one genius seldom +is adapted to both theory and practice; so in the execution of a variety +of undertakings, the most advantageous in themselves, by some +mismanagement of those concerned with him, he fail'd of the success his +labours merited. + +As in particular, in an affair he set on foot about the year 1715, and +was the sole discoverer of, for which he had a patent; the making of an +Oil, as sweet as that from Olives, from the Beech-Nuts: But this being +an undertaking of a great extent, he was obliged to work conjointly with +other men's assistance, and materials; whence arose disputes among them, +which terminated in the overthrowing the advantage then arising from it; +which otherwise might have been great and lasting. + +This, has occasioned that affair to be misunderstood by many; it +therefore may not be thought improper, here, to set it in a juster +light; and this cannot more exactly be given, than from his own words, +called, A fair state of the Account, published in the year 1716. + +'An impartial state of the case, between the patentee, annuitants, and +sharers, in the Beech-Oil-Company.'--Some part of which is here +recited. + +'The disappointments of the Beech-Oil-Company this year have made +abundance of sharers peevish; the natural effect of peevishness is +clamour, and clamour like a tide will work itself a passage, where it +has no right of flowing; some gentlemen, misled by false conceptions +both of the affair and its direction, have driven their discontent +through a mistaken chanel, and inclined abundance who are strangers to +the truth, to accuse the patentee of faults, he is not only absolutely +free from, but by which he is, of all concern'd, the greatest sufferer. + +'But, he is not angry with the angry; he considers they must take things +as they hear them represented; he governs all his actions by this +general maxim; never to be moved at a reproach, unless it be a just one. + +'In October 1713 the patentee procured a grant for fourteen years, to +him and his assigns, for the Beech-Oil invention. + +'Anno 1714, he made and published proposals, for taking a subscription +of 20,000 l. upon the following conditions; + +'That every subscriber should receive, by half yearly payments, at +Lady-Day and Michaelmas, during the continuance of the patent from +Lady-Day 1715, inclusive, an annuity amounting to fifty-pound per cent, +for any sum subscribed, excepting a deduction for the payment of the +directors. + +'That nine directors should be chosen on midsummer-day, who should +receive complaints upon non-payments of annuities; and in such case, +upon refusal, any five of the nine directors had power to meet and chuse +a governor from among themselves, enrolling that choice in chancery, +together with the reasons for it. + +'That after such choice and enrollment, the patentee should stand +absolutely excluded, the business be carried on, and all the right of +the grant be vested (not as a mortgage, but as a sale without +redemption) in the governor so chosen, for the joint advantage of the +annuitants, in proportion to their several interests. + +'As a security for making good the articles, the patentee did, by +indenture enrolled in chancery, assign and make over his patent to +trustees, in the indenture named, for the uses above-mentioned. + +'In the mean time the first half yearly payments to the annuitants, +amounting to 3750 l. became due, and the company not being yet +compleated, the patentee himself discharged it, and has never reckon'd +that sum to the account between him and the company; which he might have +done by virtue of the articles on which he gave admission to the +sharers. + +'For the better explanation of this scheme it will be necessary to +observe, that while the shares were selling, he grew apprehensive that +the season would be past, before the fifty pounds per share they were to +furnish by the articles could be contributed: He therefore gave up +voluntarily, and for the general good, 20,000 l. of his own 25,000 +guineas purchase money, as a loan to the company till the expiration of +the patent, after which it was again to be made good to him, or his +assigns; and this money so lent by the patentee, is all the stock that +ever has been hitherto employed by the company. + +'But instead of making good the above-mentioned conditional covenant, +the board proceeded to unnecessary warmth, and found themselves involved +still more and more in animosities, and those irregularities which +naturally follow groundless controversy. He would therefore take upon +himself the hazard and the power of the whole affair, accountable +however to the board, as to the money part; and yet would bind himself +to pay for three years to come, a profit of forty shillings per annum +upon every share, and then deliver back the business to the general +care, above the reach of future disappointments. + +'What reasons the gentlemen might have to refuse so inviting an offer is +best known to themselves; but they absolutely rejected that part of it, +which was to fix the sole power of management in the patentee. Upon +which, and many other provocations afterward, becoming more and more +dissatisfied, he thought fit to demand repayment of five hundred pounds, +which he had lent the company; as he had several other sums before; and +not receiving it, but, on the contrary, being denied so much as an +acknowledgment that it was due, withdrew himself intirely from the +board, and left them to their measures. + +'Thus at the same time have I offered my defence, and my opinion: By the +first I am sure I shall be acquitted from all imputations; and confirmed +in the good thoughts of the concerned on either side, who will know for +the future what attention they should give to idle reflections, and the +falsehood of rumour; and from the last, I have hopes that a plan may be +drawn, which will settle at once all disputed pretensions, and restore +that fair prospect, which the open advantage of last year's success +(indifferent as it was) has demonstrated to be a view that was no way +chimerical.-- + +'They know how to judge of malicious insinuations to my prejudice, by +this _one most scandalous example_, which has been given by the +endeavours of some to persuade the out-sharers that I have made an +extravagant _profit_ from the _losses_ of the adventurers. Whereas on +the contrary, out of _Twenty-five Thousand Guineas_, which was the whole +I should have received by the sale of the shares, I have given up +_Twenty Thousand Pounds_ to the use of the company, and to the annuities +afterward; and three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds more I paid +to the annuitants, at Lady-Day 1715, on the company's account; and have +never demanded it again, in consideration of their disappointments the +first year. + +'So that it plainly appears, that out of twenty-five thousand guineas, I +have given away in two articles only, twenty-three thousand seven +hundred and fifty pounds for the public advantage. And I can easily +prove, that the little remainder has been short of making good the +charges I have been at for their service; by which means I am not one +farthing a gainer by the company, notwithstanding the clamour and malice +of some unthinking adventurers: And for the truth of all this, I appeal +to their own _Office-Books_, and defy the most angry among them to deny +any article of it. See then what a grateful and generous encouragement +may be expected by men, who would dedicate their labours to the profit +of others. + +November the 30th. 1716. A. HILL.' + +This, and much more, too tedious to insert, serves to demonstrate that +it was a great misfortune, for a mind so fertile of invention and +improvement, to be embarrassed by a narrow power of fortune; too weak +alone to execute such undertakings. + +About the same year he wrote another Tragedy, intitled [Transcriber's +note: 'intiled' in original] the Fatal Vision[2], or the Fall of Siam +(which was acted the same year, in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields) to which he +gave this Motto out of Horace. + + I not for vulgar admiration write; + To be well read, not much, is my delight. + +And to his death he would declare in favour of that choice.--That year, +he likewise published the two first books of an Epic Poem, called Gideon +(founded on a Hebrew Story) which like its author, and all other +authors, had its enemies; but many more admirers. + +But his poetic pieces were not frequent in their appearance. They were +the product of some leisure hours, when he relaxed his thoughts from +drier study; as he took great delight in diving into every useful +science, viz. criticism, history, geography, physic, commerce in +general, agriculture, war, and law; but in particular natural +philosophy, wherein he has made many and valuable discoveries. + +Concerning poetry, he says, in his preface to King Henry the Vth, where +he laments the want of taste for Tragedy, + +'But in all events I will be easy, who have no better reason to wish +well to poetry, than my love for a mistress I shall never be married to: +For, whenever I grow ambitious, I shall wish to build higher; and owe my +memory to some occasion of more importance than my writings.' + +He had acquired so deep an insight in law, that he has from his +arguments and demonstrations obliged some of the greatest council +(formally) under their hands, to retract their own first-given opinions. + +He wrote part of a Tract of War; another upon Agriculture; but they are +left unfinished, with several other pieces. + +In his younger days he bought a grant of Sir Robert Montgomery (who had +purchas'd it of the lords proprietors of Carolina) with whom, &c. be had +been concern'd, in a design of settling a new plantation in the South of +Carolina, of a vast tract of land; on which he then designed to pursue +the same intention.--But being not master of a fortune equal to that +scheme, it never proved of any service to him, though many years since, +it has been cultivated largely[3]. + +His person was (in youth) extremely fair, and handsome; his eyes were a +dark blue, both bright and penetrating; brown hair and visage oval; +which was enlivened with a smile, the most agreeable in conversation; +where his address was affably engageing; to which was joined a dignity, +which rendered him at once respected and admired, by those (of either +sex) who were acquainted with him--He was tall, genteelly made, and not +thin.--His voice was sweet, his conversation elegant; and capable of +entertaining upon various subjects.--His disposition was benevolent, +beyond the power of the fortune he was blessed with; the calamities of +those he knew (and valued as deserving) affected him more than his own: +He had fortitude of mind sufficient to support with calmness great +misfortune; and from his birth it may be truly said he was obliged to +meet it. + +Of himself, he says in his epistle dedicatory to one of his poems, + + 'I am so devoted a lover of a private and unbusy life, that I cannot + recollect a time wherein I wish'd an increase to the little influence + I cultivate in the dignified world, unless when I have felt the + deficience of my own power, to reward some merit that has charm'd + me:'-- + +His temper, though by nature warm (when injuries were done him) was as +nobly forgiving; mindful of that great lesson in religion, of returning +good for evil; and he fulfilled it often to the prejudice of his own +circumstances. He was a tender husband, friend, and father; one of the +best masters to his servants, detesting the too common inhumanity, that +treats them almost as if they were not fellow-creatures. + +His manner of life was temperate in all respects (which might have +promis'd greater length of years) late hours excepted which his +indefatigable love of study drew him into; night being not liable to +interruptions like the day. + +About the year 1718 he wrote a poem called the Northern-Star, upon the +actions of the Czar Peter the Great; and several years after he was +complimented with a gold medal from the empress Catherine (according to +the Czar's desire before his death) and was to have wrote his life, from +papers which were to be sent him of the Czar's: But the death of the +Czarina, quickly after, prevented it.--In an advertisement to the +reader, in the fifth edition of that poem, published in 1739, the author +says of it. + +'Though the design was profess'd panegyric, I may with modesty venture +to say it was not a very politic, perhaps, but an honest example of +praise without flattery.--In the verse, I am afraid there was much to be +blamed, as too low; but, I am sure there was none of that fault in the +purpose: The poem having never been hinted, either before or after the +publication, to any person (native or foreigner) who could be supposed +to have interest in, or concern for, its subject. + +'In effect, it had for six years or more been forgot by myself--and my +country,--when upon the death of the prince it referred to, I was +surprized by the condescension of a compliment from the empress his +relict, and immediate successor; and thereby first became sensible that +the poem had, by means of some foreign translation, reach'd the eye and +regard of that emphatically great monarch, in justice to whom it was +written.' + +Soon after he finished six books more of Gideon; which made eight, of +the twelve he purpos'd writing; but did not live to finish it. + +In 1723 he brought his Tragedy called King Henry the Vth, upon the stage +in Drury-Lane; which is (as he declares in the preface) a new fabric, +yet built on Shakespear's foundation. + +In 1724, for the advantage of an unhappy gentleman (an old officer in +the army) he wrote a paper in the manner of the Spectators, in +conjunction with Mr. William Bond, &c. intitled the Plain Dealer; which +were some time after published in two volumes octavo. And many of his +former writings were appropriated to such humane uses; both those to +which he has prefixed his name, and several others which he wrote and +gave away intirely. But, though the many imagined authors are not +living, their names, and those performances will be omitted here; yet, +in mere justice to the character of Mr. Hill, we mention this +particular. + +In 1728, he made a journey into the North of Scotland, where he had been +about two years before, having contracted with the York-Buildings +Company, concerning many woods of great extent in that kingdom, for +timber for the uses of the navy; and many and various were the +assertions upon this occasion: Some thought, and thence reported, that +there was not a stick in Scotland could be capable of answering that +purpose; but he demonstrated the contrary: For, though there was not a +great number large enough for masts to ships of the greatest burthen; +yet there were millions, fit for all smaller vessels; and planks and +banks, proper for every sort of building.--One ship was built entirely +of it; and a report was made, that never any better timber was brought +from any part of the world: But he found many difficulties in this +undertaking; yet had sagacity to overcome them all (as far as his own +management extended) for when the trees were by his order chain'd +together into floats, the ignorant Highlanders refus'd to venture +themselves on them down the river Spey; till he first went himself, to +make them sensible there was no danger.--In which passage however, he +found a great obstacle in the rocks, by which that river seemed +impassible; but on these he ordered fires to be made, when by the +lowness of the river they were most expos'd; and then had quantities of +water thrown upon them: Which method being repeated with the help of +proper tools, they were broke in pieces and thrown down, which made the +passage easy for the floats. + +This affair was carried on to a very good account, till those concern'd +thought proper to call off the men and horses from the woods of +Abernethy, in order to employ them in their lead mines in the same +country; from which they hoped to make greater advantage. + +The magistrates of Inverness paid him the compliment of making him a +present of the freedom of that place (at an elegant entertainment made +by them on that occasion) a favour likewise offered him at Aberdeen, &c. + +After a stay of several months in the Highlands, during which time he +visited the duke and duchess of Gordon, who distinguished him with great +civilities, he went to York, and other places in that country; where his +wife then was, with some relations, for the recovery of her health; but +his staying longer there (on that account) than he intended, had like to +have proved of unhappy consequence; by giving room for some, who +imagined (as they wished) that he would not return, to be guilty of a +breach of trust that aimed at the destruction of great part of what he +then was worth; but they were disappointed. + +In that retirement in the North, he wrote a poem intitled, The Progress +of Wit, a Caveat for the use of an eminent Writer. It was composed of +the genteelest praise, and keenest allegorical satire; and it gave no +small uneasiness to Mr. Pope: Who had indeed drawn it upon himself, by +being the aggressor in his Dunciad.--This afterwards occasioned a +private paper-war between those writers, in which 'tis generally thought +that Mr. Hill had greatly the advantage of Mr. Pope. For the +particulars, the reader is referred to a shilling pamphlet lately +published by Owen, containing Letters between Mr. Pope and Mr. Hill, &c. + +The progress of wit begins with the eight following lines, wherein the +SNEAKINGLY APPROVES affected Mr. Pope extreamly. + + Tuneful Alexis on the Thames' fair side, + The Ladies play-thing, and the Muses pride, + With merit popular, with wit polite, + Easy tho' vain, and elegant tho' light: + Desiring, and deserving other's praise, + Poorly accepts a fame he ne'er repays: + Unborn to cherish, SNEAKINGLY APPROVES, + And wants the soul to spread the worth he loves. + +During their controversy, Mr. Pope seemed to express his repentance, by +denying the offence he had given; thus, in one of his letters, he says, + +'That the letters A.H. were apply'd to you in the papers I did not know +(for I seldom read them) I heard it only from Mr. Savage[4], as from +yourself, and sent my assurances to the contrary: But I don't see how +the annotator on the D. could have rectified that mistake publicly, +without particularizing your name in a book where I thought it too good +to be inserted, &c.[5].' + +And in another place he says, + +'I should imagine the Dunciad meant you a real compliment, and so it has +been thought by many who have ask'd to whom that passage made that +oblique panegyric. As to the notes, I am weary of telling a great truth, +which is, that I am not author of them, &c.' + +Which paragraph was answer'd by the following in Mr. Hill's reply. + +'As to your oblique panegyric, I am not under so blind an attachment to +the goddess I was devoted to in the Dunciad, but that I know it was a +commendation; though a dirtier one than I wished for; who am neither +fond of some of the company in which I was listed--the noble reward, for +which I was to become a diver;--the allegorical muddiness in which I was +to try my skill;--nor the institutor of the games you were so kind to +allow me a share in, &c.'--A genteel severe reprimand. + +Much about the same time he wrote another poem, called Advice to the +Poets; in praise of worthy poetry, and in censure of the misapplication +of poetry in general. The following lines here quoted, are the motto of +it, taken from the poem. + + Shame on your jingling, ye soft sons of rhyme, + Tuneful consumers of your reader's time! + Fancy's light dwarfs! whose feather-footed strains, + Dance in wild windings, thro' a waste of brains: + Your's is the guilt of all, who judging wrong, + Mistake tun'd nonsense for the poet's song. + +He likewise in this piece, reproves the above named celebrated author, +for descending below his genius; and in speaking of the inspiration of +the Muse, he says, + + I feel her now.--Th'invader fires my breast: + And my soul swells, to suit the heav'nly guest. + Hear her, O Pope!--She sounds th'inspir'd decree, + Thou great Arch-Angel of wit's heav'n! for thee! + Let vulgar genii, sour'd by sharp disdain, + Piqu'd and malignant, words low war maintain, + While every meaner art exerts her aim, + O'er rival arts, to list her question'd fame; + Let half-soul'd poets still on poets fall, + And teach the willing world to scorn them all. + But, let no Muse, pre-eminent as thine, + Of voice melodious, and of force divine, + Stung by wits, wasps, all rights of rank forego, + And turn, and snarl, and bite, at every foe. + No--like thy own Ulysses, make no stay + Shun monsters--and pursue thy streamy way. + +In 1731 he brought his Tragedy of Athelwold upon the stage in +Drury-Lane; which, as he says in his preface to it, was written on the +same subject as his Elfrid or the Fair Inconstant, which he there calls, +'An unprun'd wilderness of fancy, with here and there a flower among the +leaves; but without any fruit of judgment.'-- + +He likewise mentions it as a folly, having began and finished Elfrid in +a week; and both the difference of time and judgment are visible in +favour of the last of those performances. + +That year he met the greatest shock that affliction ever gave him; in +the loss of one of the most worthy of wives, to whom he had been married +above twenty years. + +The following epitaph he wrote, and purpos'd for a monument which he +designed to erect over her grave. + + Enough, cold stone! suffice her long-lov'd name; + Words are too weak to pay her virtues claim. + Temples, and tombs, and tongues, shall waste away, + And power's vain pomp, in mould'ring dust decay. + But e'er mankind a wife more perfect see, + Eternity, O Time! shall bury thee. + +He was a man susceptible of love, in its sublimest sense; as may be seen +in that poetical description of that passion, which he has given in his +poem called the Picture of Love; wrote many years ago (from whence the +following two lines are taken) + + No wild desire can this proud bliss bestow, + Souls must be match'd in heav'n, tho' mix'd below. + +About the year 1735 he was concern'd with another gentleman in writing a +paper called the Prompter; all those mark'd with a B. were his.--This +was meant greatly for the service of the stage; and many of them have +been regarded in the highest manner.--But, as there was not only +instruction, but reproof, the bitter, with the sweet, by some could not +be relish'd. + +In 1736 having translated from the French of Monsieur de Voltaire, the +Tragedy of Zara, he gave it to be acted for the benefit of Mr. William +Bond; and it was represented first, at the Long-Room in Villars-Street, +York-Buildings; where that poor gentleman performed the part of Lusignan +(the old expiring king) a character he was at that time too well suited +to; being, and looking, almost dead, as in reality he was before the run +of it was over.--Soon after this play was brought upon the stage in +Drury-Lane, by Mr. Fleetwood, at the earnest sollicitation of Mr. +Theophilus Cibber; the part of Zara was played by Mrs. Cibber, and was +her first attempt in Tragedy; of the performers therein he makes very +handsome mention in the preface. This play he dedicated to his royal +highness the Prince of Wales. + +The same year was acted, at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, another +Tragedy of his translating from the same French author, called Alzira, +which was likewise dedicated to the Prince.--His dedications generally +wore a different face from those of other writers; he there most warmly +recommends Monsieur de Voltaire, as worthy of his royal highness's +partiality; disclaiming for himself all expectations of his notice. But +he was, notwithstanding, particularly honoured with his approbation. + +These plays, if not a litteral translation, have been thought much +better, for their having past his hands; as generously was acknowledged +by Monsieur de Voltaire himself. + +In 1737 he published a poem called, The Tears of the Muses; composed of +general satire: in the address to the reader he says (speaking of +satire) + + 'There is, indeed, something so like cruelty in the face of that + species of poetry, that it can only be reconciled to humanity, by the + general benevolence of its purpose; attacking particulars for the + public advantage.' + +The following year he wrote (in prose) a book called, An Enquiry into +the Merit of Assassination, with a View to the Character of Cæsar; and +his Designs on the Roman Republic. + +About this time, he in a manner left the world, (though living near so +populous a part of it as London) and settled at Plaistow in Essex; where +he entirely devoted himself to his study, family, and garden; and the +accomplishment of many profitable views; particularly one, in which for +years he had laboured through experiments in vain; and when he brought +it to perfection, did not live to reap the benefit of it: The discovery +of the art of making pot-ash like the Russian, which cost this nation, +yearly, an immense sum of money. + +In the year 1743 he published The Fanciad, an Heroic Poem; inscribed to +his grace the duke of Marlborough: Who as no name was then prefixed to +it, perhaps, knew not the author by whom he was distinguished in it. + +Soon after he wrote another, intitled the Impartial; which he inscribed, +in the same manner, to the lord Carteret (now earl of Granville). In the +beginning of it are the following lines, + + Burn, sooty slander, burn thy blotted scroll; + Greatness is greatness, spite of faction's soul. + + Deep let my soul detest th'adhesive pride, + That changing sentiment, unchanges side. + +It would be tedious to enumerate the variety of smaller pieces he at +different times was author of. + +His notions of the deity were boundlessly extensive; and the few lines +here quoted from his Poem upon faith, published in 1746, must give the +best idea of his sentiments upon that most elevated of all subjects. + + What then must be believ'd?--Believe God kind, + To fear were to offend him. Fill thy heart + With his felt laws; and act the good he loves. + Rev'rence his power. Judge him but by his works: + Know him but in his mercies. Rev'rence too + The most mistaken schemes that mean his praise. + Rev'rence his priests.--for ev'ry priest is his,-- + Who finds him in his conscience.-- + +This year he published his Art of Acting, a Poem, deriving Rules from a +new Principle, for touching the Passions in a natural Manner, &c. Which +was dedicated to the Earl of Chesterfield. + +Having for many years been in a manner forgetful of the eight Books he +had finished of his Epic Poem called Gideon,--in 1749 he re-perused that +work, and published three of the Books; to which he gave the name of +Gideon, or the Patriot.--They were inscribed to the late lord +Bolingbroke; to whom he accounts as follows, for the alterations he had +made since the first publication of two Books. + + Erring, where thousands err'd, in youth's hot smart, + Propulsive prejudice had warp'd his heart: + Bold, and too loud he sigh'd, for high distress, + Fond of the fall'n, nor form'd to serve success; + Partial to woes, had weigh'd their cause too light, + Wept o'er misfortune,--and mis-nam'd it right: + Anguish, attracting, turn'd attachment wrong, + And pity's note mis-tun'd his devious song. + +'Tis much lamented by many who are admirers of that species of poetry, +that the author did not finish it. + +The same year (after a length of different applications, for several +seasons, at both Theatres without success) his Tragedy, called Merope, +was brought upon the stage in Drury-Lane by Mr. Garrick; to whom, as +well as to another gentleman he likewise highly both admired and +esteemed, he was greatly obliged; and his own words (here borrowed) will +shew how just a sense he had of these obligations.--They begin the +preface to the play. + +'If there can be a pride that ranks with virtues, it is that we feel +from friendships with the worthy. Mr. Mallet, therefore, must forgive +me, that I boast the honour he has done my Merope--I have so long been a +retreater from the world, that one of the best spirits in it told me +lately, I had made myself an alien there. I must confess, I owe so many +obligations to its ornaments of most distinguished genius, that I must +have looked upon it as a great unhappiness to have made choice of +solitude, could I have judged society in general, by a respect so due to +these adorners of it.' + +And in relation to this Tragedy he says, after very justly censuring +Monsieur de Voltaire, for representing in the preface to his Merope the +English as incapable of Tragedy, + +'To such provoking stimulations I have owed inducement to retouch, for +Mr. Voltaire's use, the characters in his high boasted Merope; and I +have done it on a plan as near his own as I could bring it with a safe +conscience; that is to say, without distaste to English audiences. + +This he likewise dedicated to lord Bolingbroke; and was the last he ever +wrote.--There is a melancholy thread of fatal prophecy in the beginning +of it; of his own approaching dissolution. + + Cover'd in fortune's shade, I rest reclin'd; + My griefs all silent; and my joys resign'd. + With patient eye life's evening gloom survey: + Nor shake th'out-hast'ning sands; nor bid 'em stay-- + Yet, while from life my setting prospects fly, + Fain wou'd my mind's weak offspring shun to die. + Fain wou'd their hope some light through time explore; + The name's kind pasport--When the man's no more. + +From about the time he was solliciting the bringing on this play, an +illness seized him; from the tormenting pains of which he had scarce an +hour's intermission; and after making trial of all he thought could be +of service to him in medicine; he was desirous to try his native air of +London (as that of Plaistow was too moist a one) but he was then past +all recovery, and wasted almost to a skeleton, from some internal cause, +that had produced a general decay (and was believed to have been an +inflamation in the kidneys; which his intense attachment to his studies +might probably lay the foundation of.--When in town, he had the comfort +of being honoured with the visits of the most worthy and esteemed among +his friends; but he was not permitted many weeks to taste that blessing. +[Transcriber's note: closing brackets missing in original.] + +The same humane and generous Mr. Mallet, who had before aided his +Merope, about this time was making interest for its being played again, +for the advantage of its author:--His royal highness the prince of +Wales; had the great goodness to command it; and Mr. Hill just lived to +express his grateful acknowledgments (to those about him) upon hearing +of it:--But on the day before it was to be represented he died, in the +very minute of the earthquake, February the eighth, 1749, which he +seemed sensible of, though then deprived of utterance. Had he lived two +days longer, he had been sixty-five years old.--He endur'd a +twelve-month's torment of the body with a calmness that confess'd a +superiority of soul! He was interred in the same grave with her the most +dear to him when living, in the great cloister of Westminster-Abbey; +near the lord Godolphin's tomb. + +It may be truly said of Mr. Hill, he was a great and general writer; and +had he been possest of the estate he was intitled to, his liberality had +been no less extensive than his genius. But often do we see misfortune's +clouds obscure the brightest sunshine. + +Besides his works which here have been enumerated, there are several +other; particularly two poems, intitled the Creation, and the +Judgment-Day; which were published many years ago.--Another in blank +verse he published in the time of his retreat into Essex; it was called, +Cleon to Lycidas, a Time Piece; the date not marked by the printer. + +Some years before his death, he talked of making a collection of his +works for publication; but postponed it for the finishing some pieces, +which he did not live to effect. + +Since his death, four volumes of them have been published by +subscription, for his family. He left one Tragedy, never yet acted; +which was wrote originally about 1737, and intitled Cæsar; but since, he +has named it the Roman Revenge:--But as the author was avowedly a great +admirer of Cæsar's character, not in the light he is generally +understood (that of a tyrant) but in one much more favourable, he was +advised by several of the first distinction, both in rank and judgment, +to make such alterations in it as should adapt it more to the general +opinion; and upon that advice he in a manner new wrote the play: But as +most first opinions are not easily eradicated, it has been never able to +make a public trial of the success; which many of the greatest +understanding have pronounced it highly worthy of.--The late lord +Bolingbroke (in a letter wrote to the author) has called it one of the +noblest drama's, that our language, or any age can boast. + +These few little speeches are taken from the part of Cæsar. + + 'Tis the great mind's expected pain, Calphurnia, + To labour for the thankless.--He who seeks + Reward in ruling, makes ambition guilt; + And living for himself disclaims mankind. + +And thus speaking to Mark Anthony; + + If man were placed above the reach of insult, + To pardon were no virtue.--Think, warm Anthony, + What mercy is--'Tis, daring to be wrong'd, + Yet unprovok'd by pride, persist, in pity. + +This again to Calphurnia. + + No matter.--Virtue triumphs by neglect: + Vice, while it darkens, lends but foil to brightness: + And juster times, removing slander's veil, + Wrong'd merit after death is help'd to live. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This was sent us by an unknown hand. + +[2] This play he made a present of to the patentee, and had several fine + scenes painted for it, at his own expence: He indeed gave all his + pieces to the stage; never taking any benefit, or gratuity from the + managers, as an author--'till his last piece, Merope, was brought on + the stage; when (unhappy gentleman) he was under the necessity of + receiving his profits of the third nights; which 'till then, his + generosity, and spirit, had ever declined. + +[3] Under the name of Georgia. + +[4] Savage was of great use to Mr. Pope, in helping him to little + stories, and idle tales, of many persons whose names, lives, and + writings, had been long since forgot, had not Mr. Pope mentioned + them in his Dunciad:--This office was too mean for any one but + inconsistent Savage: Who, with a great deal of absurd pride, could + submit to servile offices; and for the vanity of being thought Mr. + Pope's intimate, made no scruple of frequently sacrificing a regard + to sincerity or truth. He had certainly, at one time, considerable + influence over that great poet; but an assuming arrogance at last + tired out Mr. Pope's patience. + +[5] A lame come-off. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. LEWIS THEOBALD. + +This gentleman was born at Sittingburn in Kent, of which place his +father, Mr. Peter Theobald, was an eminent attorney. His grammatical +learning he received chiefly under the revd. Mr. Ellis, at Isleworth in +Middlesex, and afterwards applied himself to the study and practice of +the law: but finding that study too tedious and irksome for his genius, +he quitted it for the profession of poetry. He engaged in a paper called +the Censor, published in Mill's Weekly Journal; and by delivering his +opinion with two little reserve, concerning some eminent wits, he +exposed himself to their lashes, and resentment. Upon the publication of +Pope's Homer, he praised it in the most extravagant terms of admiration; +but afterwards thought proper to retract his opinion, for reasons we +cannot guess, and abused the very performance he had before +hyperbollically praised. + +Mr. Pope at first made Mr. Theobald the hero of his Dunciad, but +afterwards, for reasons best known to himself, he thought proper to +disrobe him of that dignity, and bestow it upon another: with what +propriety we shall not take upon us to determine, but refer the reader +to Mr. Cibber's two letters to Mr. Pope. He was made hero of the poem, +the annotator informs us, because no better was to be had. In the first +book of the Dunciad, Mr. Theobald, or Tibbald, as he is there called, is +thus stigmatised, + + --Dullness her image full exprest, + But chief in Tibbald's monster-breeding breast; + Sees Gods with Daemons in strange league engage, + And Earth, and heav'n, and hell her battles wage; + She eyed the bard, where supperless he sate, + And pin'd unconscious of his rising fate; + Studious he sate, with all his books around, + Sinking from thought to thought, a vast profound! + Plung'd for his sense, but found no bottom there; + Then writ, and flounder'd on, in meer despair. + He roll'd his eyes, that witness'd huge dismay, + Where yet unpawn'd much learned lumber lay. + +He describes Mr. Theobald as making the following address to Dulness. + + --For thee + Old puns restore, lost blunders nicely seek, + And crucify poor Shakespear once a-week. + For thee I dim these eyes, and stuff this head, + With all such reading as was never read; + For thee, supplying in the worst of days, + Notes to dull books, and prologues to dull plays; + For thee explain a thing till all men doubt it, + And write about it, goddess, and about it; + So spins the silk-worm small its slender store, + And labours till it clouds itself all o'er. + +In the year 1726 Mr. Theobald published a piece in octavo, called +Shakespear Restored: Of this it is said, he was so vain as to aver, in +one of Mist's Journals, June the 8th, 'That to expose any errors in it +was impracticable;' and in another, April the 27th, 'That whatever care +might for the future be taken, either by Mr. Pope, or any other +assistants, he would give above five-hundred emendations, that would +escape them all.' + +During two whole years, while Mr. Pope was preparing his edition, he +published advertisements, requesting assistance, and promising +satisfaction to any who would contribute to its greater perfection. But +this restorer, who was at that time solliciting favours of him, by +letters, did wholly conceal that he had any such design till after its +publication; which he owned in the Daily Journal of November 26, 1728: +and then an outcry was made, that Mr. Pope had joined with the +bookseller to raise an extravagant subscription; in which he had no +share, of which he had no knowledge, and against which he had publickly +advertised in his own proposals for Homer. + +Mr. Theobald was not only thus obnoxious to the resentment of Pope, but +we find him waging war with Mr. Dennis, who treated him with more +roughness, though with less satire. Mr. Theobald in the Censor, Vol. II. +No. XXXIII. calls Mr. Dennis by the name of Furius. 'The modern Furius +(says he) is to be looked upon as more the object of pity, than that +which he daily provokes, laughter, and contempt. Did we really know how +much this poor man suffers by being contradicted, or which is the same +thing in effect, by hearing another praised; we should in compassion +sometimes attend to him with a silent nod, and let him go away with the +triumphs of his ill-nature. Poor Furius, where any of his cotemporaries +are spoken well of, quitting the ground of the present dispute, steps +back a thousand years, to call in the succour of the antients. His very +panegyric is spiteful, and he uses it for the same reason as some ladies +do their commendations of a dead beauty, who never would have had their +good word; but that a living one happened to be mentioned in their +company. His applause is not the tribute of his heart, but the sacrifice +of his revenge.' + +Mr. Dennis in resentment of this representation made of him, in his +remarks on Pope's Homer, page 9. 10. thus mentions him. 'There is a +notorious idiot, one HIGHT WHACHUM, who from an Under-spur-leather to +the law, is become an Under strapper to the play-house, who has lately +burlesqued the Metamorphoses of Ovid, by a vile translation, &c. This +fellow is concerned in an impertinent paper called the Censor.' Such was +the language of Mr. Dennis, when enflamed by contradiction. + +In the year 1729 Mr. Theobald introduced upon the stage a Tragedy called +the Double Falsehood; the greatest part of which he asserted was +Shakespear's. Mr. Pope insinuated to the town, that it was all, or +certainly the greatest part written, not by Shakespear, but Theobald +himself, and quotes this line, + + None but thyself can be thy parallel. + +Which he calls a marvellous line of Theobald, 'unless (says he) the play +called the Double Falsehood be (as he would have it thought) +Shakespear's; but whether this line is his or not, he proves Shakespear +to have written as bad.' The arguments which Mr. Theobald uses to prove +the play to be Shakespear's are indeed far from satisfactory;--First, +that the MS. was above sixty years old;--Secondly, that once Mr. +Betterton had it, or he hath heard so;--Thirdly, that some body told him +the author gave it to a bastard daughter of his;--But fourthly, and +above all, that he has a great mind that every thing that is good in our +tongue should be Shakespear's. + +This Double Falsehood was vindicated by Mr. Theobald, who was attacked +again in the art of sinking in poetry. Here Mr. Theobald endeavours to +prove false criticisms, want of understanding Shakespear's manner, and +perverse cavelling in Mr. Pope: He justifies himself and the great +dramatic poet, and essays to prove the Tragedy in question to be in +reality Shakespear's, and not unworthy of him. We cannot set this +controversy in a clearer light, than by transcribing a letter subjoined +to the Double Falsehood. + +Dear Sir, + +You desire to know, why in the general attack which Mr. Pope has lately +made against writers living and dead, he has so often had a fling of +satire at me. I should be very willing to plead guilty to his +indictment, and think as meanly of myself as he can possibly do, were +his quarrel altogether upon a fair, or unbiassed nature. But he is angry +at the man; and as Juvenal says-- + + Facit indignatio versum. + +He has been pleased to reflect on me in a few quotations from a play, +which I had lately the good fortune to usher into the world; I am there +concerned in reputation to enter upon my defence. There are three +passages in his Art of Sinking in Poetry, which he endeavours to bring +into disgrace from the Double Falsehood. + +One of these passages alledged by our critical examiner is of that +stamp, which is certain to include me in the class of profound writers. +The place so offensive for its cloudiness, is, + + --The obscureness of her birth + Cannot eclipse the lustre of her eyes, + Which make her all one light. + +I must own, I think, there needs no great Oedipus to solve the +difficulty of this passage. Nothing has ever been more common, than for +lovers to compare their mistresses eyes to suns and stars. And what does +Henriquez say more here than this, 'That though his mistress be obscure +by her birth; yet her eyes are so refulgent, they set her above that +disadvantage, and make her all over brightness.' I remember another +rapture in Shakespear, upon a painter's drawing a fine lady's picture, +where the thought seems to me every whit as magnified and dark at the +first glance, + +--But her eyes-- + How could he see to do them! having done one, + Methinks it should have power to steal both his, + And leave itself unfinished.-- + +This passage is taken from the Merchant of Venice, which will appear the +more beautiful, the more it is considered. + +Another passage which Mr. Pope is pleased to be merry with, is in a +speech of Violante's; + + Wax! render up thy trust.-- + +This, in his English is open the letter; and he facetiously mingles it +with some pompous instances, most I believe of his own framing; which in +plain terms signify no more than, See, whose there; snuff the candle; +uncork the bottle; chip the bread; to shew how ridiculous actions of no +consequence are, when too much exalted in the diction. This he brings +under a figure, which he calls the Buskin, or Stately. But we'll examine +circumstances fairly, and then we shall see which is most ridiculous; +the phrase, or our sagacious censurer. + +Violante is newly debauched by Henriquez, on his solemn promise of +marrying her: She thinks he is returning to his father's court, as he +told her, for a short time; and expects no letter from him. His servant +who brings the letter, contradicts his master's going for court; and +tells her he is gone some two months progress another way, upon a change +of purpose. She who knew what concessions she had made to him, declares +herself by starts, under the greatest agonies; and immediately upon the +servant leaving her, expresses an equal impatience, and fear of the +contents of this unexpected letter. + + To hearts like mine, suspence is misery. + Wax! render up thy trust,--Be the contents + Prosperous, or fatal, they are all my due. + +Now Mr. Pope shews us his profound judgment in dramatical passions; +thinks a lady in her circumstances cannot without absurdity open a +letter that seems to her as surprize, with any more preparation than the +most unconcerned person alive should a common letter by the penny-post. +I am aware Mr. Pope may reply, his cavil was not against the action +itself of addressing to the wax, but of exalting that action in the +terms. In this point I may fairly shelter myself under the judgment of a +man, whose character in poetry will vie with any rival this age shall +produce. + +Mr. Dryden in his Essay on Dramatic Poetry, tells us. 'That when from +the most elevated thoughts of verse, we pass to those which are most +mean, and which are common with the lowest houshold conversation; yet +still there is a choice to be made of the best words, and the least +vulgar (provided they be apt) to express such thoughts. Our language, +says he, is noble, full, and significant; and I know not, why he who is +master of it, may not cloath ordinary things in it as decently as the +Latin, if we use the same diligence in the choice of words.' + +I come now to the last quotation, which in our examiner's handling, +falls under this predicament of _being a thought astonishingly out of +the way of common sense._ + + None but himself can be his parallel. + +This, he hints, may seem borrowed from the thought of that master of a +show in Smithfield, who wrote in large letters over the picture of his +Elephant. _This is the greatest Elephant in the world except himself._ I +like the pleasantry of the banter, but have no great doubt of getting +clear from the severity of it. The lines in the play stand thus. + + + Is there a treachery like this in baseness, + Recorded any where? It is the deepest; + None but itself can be its parallel. + +I am not a little surprized, to find that our examiner at last is +dwindled into a word-catcher. Literally speaking, indeed, I agree with +Mr. Pope, that nothing can be the parallel to itself; but allowing a +little for the liberty of expression, does it not plainly imply, that it +is a treachery which stands single for the nature of its baseness, and +has not its parallel on record; and that nothing but a treachery equal +to it in baseness can parallel it? If this were such nonsense as Pope +would willingly have it, it would be a very bad plea for me to alledge, +as the truth is, that the line is in Shakespear's old copy; for I might +have suppressed it. But I hope it is defensible; at least if examples +can keep it in countenance. There is a piece of nonsense of the same +kind in the Amphytrio of Plautus: Sofia having survey'd Mercury from top +to toe, finds him such an exact resemblance of himself, in dress, shape, +and features, that he cries out, + + Tam consimil' est, atq; ego. + +That is, he is as like me, as I am to myself. Now I humbly conceive, in +strictness of expression a man can no more be like himself, than a thing +its own parallel. But to confine myself to Shakespear. I doubt not but I +can produce some similar passages from him, which literally examined, +are stark nonsense; and yet taken with a candid latitude have never +appeared ridiculous. Mr. Pope would scarce allow one man to say to +another. 'Compare and weigh your mistress with your mistress; and I +grant she is a very fair woman; but compare her with some other woman +that I could name, and the case will be very much altered.' Yet the very +substance of this, is said by Shakespear, in Romeo and Juliet; and Mr. +Pope has not degraded it as any absurdity, or unworthy of the author. + + Pho! pho! you saw her fair, none else being by; + HERSELF poiz'd with HERSELF in either eye. + But, &c. + +Or, what shall we say of the three following quotations. + +ROMEO and JULIET. + --Oh! so light a foot + Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint. + +WINTER'S TALE. + --For _Cogitation_ + Resides not in the man _that does not think._ + +HAMLET. + --Try what repentance can, what can it not? + Yet what can it, when one _cannot repent._ + +Who does not see at once, the heaviest foot that ever trod cannot wear +out the everlasting flint? or that he who does not think has no thoughts +in him? or that repentance can avail nothing when a man has not +repentance? yet let these passages appear, with a casting weight of +allowance, and their absurdity will not be so extravagant, as when +examined by the literal touchstone.-- + +Your's, &c. + +LEWIS THEOBALD. + +By perusing the above, the reader will be enabled to discern whether Mr. +Pope has wantonly ridiculed the passages in question; or whether Mr. +Theobald has, from a superstitious zeal for the memory of Shakespear, +defended absurdities, and palliated extravagant blunders. + +The ingenious Mr. Dodd, who has lately favoured the public with a +judicious collection of the beauties of Shakespear, has quoted a +beautiful stroke of Mr. Theobald's, in his Double Falsehood, upon music. + + --Strike up, my masters; + But touch the strings with a religious softness; + Teach sounds to languish thro' the night's dull ear, + 'Till Melancholy start from her lazy couch, + And carelessness grow concert to attention. + +ACT I. SCENE III. + +A gentleman of great judgment happening to commend these lines to Mr. +Theobald, he assured him he wrote them himself, and only them in the +whole play. + +Mr. Theobald, besides his edition of all Shakespear's plays, in which he +corrected, with great pains and ingenuity, many faults which had crept +into that great poet's writings, is the author of the following dramatic +pieces. + +I. The Persian Princess, or the Royal Villain; a Tragedy, acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, printed in the year 1715. The author +observes in his preface, this play was written and acted before he was +full nineteen years old. + +II. The Perfidious Brother; a Tragedy acted at the Theatre in Little +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1716. This play is written on the model of Otway's +Orphan; the scene is in a private family in Brussels. + +III. Pan and Syrinx; an Opera of one act, performed on the Theatre in +Little Lincoln's Inn-Fields, 1717. + +IV. Decius and Paulina, a Masque; to which is added Musical +Entertainments, as performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, in +the Dramatic Opera of Circe. + +V. Electra, a Tragedy; translated from the Greek of Sophocles, with +notes, printed in the year 1714, dedicated to Joseph Addison, Esq; + +VI. Oedipus King of Thebes; a Tragedy translated from Sophocles, with +notes, translated in the year 1715, dedicated to the earl of Rockingham. + +VII. Plutus, or the World's Idol; a Comedy translated from the Greek of +Aristophanes, with notes, printed in the year 1715. The author has to +this Translation prefixed a Discourse, containing some Account of +Aristophanes, and his two Comedies of Plutus and the Clouds. + +VIII. The Clouds, a Comedy; translated from Aristophanes, with notes, +printed in the year 1715. + +IX. The Rape of Proserpine; a Farce acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1727. + +X. The Fatal Secret; a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Covent-Garden, 1725. + +XI. The Vocal Parts of an Entertainment, called Apollo and Daphne, +or the Burgo Master Trick'd; performed at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1726. + +XII. Double Falsehood; which we have already mentioned. + +Mr. Theobald's other Works are chiefly these. + +The Gentleman's Library, containing Rules for Conduct in all Parts of +Life, in 12mo. 1722. + +The first Book of Homer's Odyssey translated, with notes, 8vo. 1716. + +The Cave of Poverty, written in imitation of Shakespear. + +Pindaric Ode on the Union, 1707. + +A Poem sacred to the Memory of Queen Anne, Folio 1714. + +Translations from Ovid's Metamorphoses. + +Lives of Antiochus, and Berenice, from the French, 1717. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Dr. SAMUEL CROXALL, + +The celebrated author of the Fair Circassian, was son of the revd. Mr. +Samuel Croxall, rector of Hanworth, Middlesex, and vicar of Walton upon +Thames in Surry, in the last of which places our author was born. He +received his early education at Eton school, and from thence was +admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge. Probably while he was at the +university, he became enamoured of Mrs. Anna Maria Mordaunt, who first +inspired his breast with love, and to whom he dedicates the poem of the +Circassian, for which he has been so much distinguished. This dedication +is indeed the characteristic of a youth in love, but then it likewise +proves him altogether unacquainted with the world, and with that +easiness of address which distinguishes a gentleman. A recluse scholar +may be passionately in love, but he discovers it by strains of bombast, +and forced allusions, of which this dedication is a very lively +instance. + +'The language of the Fair Circassian, says he, like yours, was natural +poetry; her voice music, and the excellent colouring and formation of +her features, painting; but still, like yours, drawn by the inimitable +pencil of nature, life itself; a pattern for the greatest master, but +copying after none; I will not say angels are not cast in the same +mould.' And again in another place, 'Pardon, O lovely deity, the +presumption of this address, and favour my weak endeavours. If my +confession of your divine power is any where too faint, believe it not +to proceed from a want of due respect, but of a capacity more than +human. Whoever thinks of you can no longer be himself; and if he could, +ought to be something above man to celebrate the accomplishment of a +goddess. To you I owe my creation as a lover, and in the beams of your +beauty only I live, move, and exist. If there should be a suspension of +your charms, I should fall to nothing. But it seems to be out of your +power to deprive us of their kind influence; wherever you shine they +fill all our hearts, and you are charming out of necessity, as the +author of nature is good.' We have quoted enough to shew the enthusiasm, +or rather phrenzy, of this address, which is written in such a manner as +if it were intended for a burlesque on the False Sublime, as the +speeches of James I. are upon pedantry. + +Mr. Croxall, who was intended for holy orders, and, probably, when he +published the Circassian, had really entered into them, was cautious +lest he should be known to be the author of this piece, since many +divines have esteemed the Song of Solomon, from which it is taken, as an +inspired poem, emblematic of the Messiah and the Church. Our author was +of another opinion, and with him almost all sensible men join, in +believing that it is no more than a beautiful poem, composed by that +Eastern monarch, upon some favourite lady in his Seraglio. He artfully +introduces it with a preface, in which he informs us, that it was the +composition of a young gentleman, his pupil, lately deceased, executed +by him, while he was influenced by that violent passion with which Mrs. +Mordaunt inspired him. He then endeavours to ascertain who this Eastern +beauty was, who had charms to enflame the heart of the royal poet. He is +of opinion it could not be Pharaoh's daughter, as has been commonly +conjectured, because the bride in the Canticles is characterised as a +private person, a shepherdess, one that kept a vineyard, and was ill +used by her mother's children, all which will agree very well with +somebody else, but cannot, without great straining, be drawn to fit the +Egyptian Princess. He then proceeds, 'seeing we have so good reason to +conclude that it was not Pharaoh's daughter, we will next endeavour to +shew who she was: and here we are destitute of all manner of light, but +what is afforded us by that little Arabian manuscript, mentioned in the +Philosophical Transactions of Amsterdam, 1558, said to be found in a +marble chest among the ruins of Palmyra, and presented to the university +of Leyden by Dr. Hermanus Hoffman. The contents of which are something +in the nature of Memoirs of the Court of Solomon; giving a sufficient +account of the chief offices and posts in his houshold; of the several +funds of the royal revenue; of the distinct apartments of his palace +there; of the different Seraglios, being fifty two in number in that one +city. Then there is an account given of the Sultanas; their manner of +treatment and living; their birth and country, with some touches of +their personal endowments, how long they continued in favour, and what +the result was of the King's fondness for each of them. Among these, +there is particular mention made of a slave of more exceeding beauty +than had ever been known before; at whose appearance the charms of all +the rest vanished like stars before the morning sun; that the King +cleaved to her with the strongest affection, and was not seen out of the +Seraglio, where she was kept, for about a month. That she was taken +captive, together with her mother, out of a vineyard, on the Coast of +Circassia, by a Corsair of Hiram King of Tyre, and brought to Jerusalem. +It is said, she was placed in the ninth Seraglio, to the east of +Palmyra, which, in the Hebrew tongue, is called Tadmor; which, without +farther particulars, are sufficient to convince us that this was the +charming person, sung with so much rapture by the Royal poet, and in the +recital of whose amour he seems so transported. For she speaks of +herself as one that kept a vineyard, and her mother's introducing her in +one of the gardens of pleasure (as it seems she did at her first +presenting her to the King) is here distinctly mentioned. The manuscript +further takes notice, that she was called Saphira, from the heavenly +blue of her eyes.' + +Notwithstanding the caution with which Mr. Croxall published the Fair +Circassian, yet it was some years after known to be his. The success it +met with, which was not indeed above its desert, was perhaps too much +for vanity (of which authors are seldom entirely divested) to resist, +and he might be betrayed into a confession, from that powerful +principle, of what otherwise would have remained concealed. + +Some years after it was published, Mr. Cragg, one of the ministers of +the city of Edinburgh, gave the world a small volume of spiritual poems, +in one of which he takes occasion to complain of the prostitution of +genius, and that few poets have ever turned their thoughts towards +religious subjects; and mentions the author of the Circassian with great +indignation, for having prostituted his Muse to the purposes of +lewdness, in converting the Song of Solomon (a work, as he thought it, +of sacred inspiration) into an amorous dialogue between a King and his +mistress. His words are, + + Curss'd be he that the Circassian wrote, + Perish his fame, contempt be all his lot, + Who basely durst in execrable strains, + Turn holy mysteries into impious scenes. + +The revd. gentleman met with some remonstrances from his friends, for +indulging so splenetic a temper, when he was writing in the cause of +religion, as to wish any man accursed. Of this censure he was not +insensible; in the next edition of his poems, he softened the sarcasm, +by declaring, in a note, that he had no enmity to the author's person, +and that when he wished him accursed, be meant not the man, but the +author, which are two very distinct considerations; for an author may be +accursed, that is, damned to fame, while the man may be in as fair a way +to happiness as any body; but, continues he, I should not have expected +such prophanation from a clergyman. + +The Circassian, however, is a beautiful poem, the numbers are generally +smooth, and there is a tender delicacy in the dialogue, though greatly +inferior to the noble original. + +Mr. Croxall had not long quitted the university, e'er he was instituted +to the living of Hampton in Middlesex; and afterwards to the united +parishes of St. Mary Somerset, and St. Mary Mounthaw, in the city of +London, both which he held 'till his death. He was also chancellor, +prebend, and canon residentiary and portionist of the church of +Hereford. Towards the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne he published +two original Cantos, in imitation of Spenser's Fairy Queen, which were +meant as a satire on the earl of Oxford's administration. In the year +1715 he addressed a poem to the duke of Argyle, upon his obtaining a +Victory over the Rebels, and the same year published The Vision, a poem, +addressed to the earl of Halifax. He was concerned, with many others, in +the translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, of which the following were +performed by him: + +The Story of Nisus and Scylla, from the sixth Book. + +The Labyrinth, and Dædalus and Icarus, from the eighth Book. + +Part of the Fable of Cyparissus from the tenth Book. + +Most part of the eleventh Book, and The Funeral of Memnon, from the +thirteenth Book. + +He likewise performed an entire Translation of Æsop's Fables. + +Subjoined to the Fair Circassian are several Poems addressed to Sylvia; +Naked Truth, from the second Book of Ovid's Fastorum; Heathen +Priestcraft, from the first Book of Ovid's Fastorum; A Midsummer's Wish; +and an Ode on Florinda, seen while she was Bathing. He is also author of +a curious work, in one Volume Octavo, entitled Scripture Politics: being +a view of the original constitution, and subsequent revolutions in the +government of that people, out of whom the Saviour of the World was to +arise: As it is contained in the Bible. + +In consequence of his strong attachment to the Whig interest, he was +made archdeacon of Salop 1732, and chaplain in ordinary to his present +Majesty. + +As late as the year 1750, Dr. Croxall published a poem called The Royal +Manual, in the preface to which he endeavours to shew, that it was +composed by Mr. Andrew Marvel, and found amongst his MSS. but the +proprietor declares, that it was written by Dr. Croxall himself. This +was the last of his performances, for he died the year following, in a +pretty advanced age. His abilities, as a poet, we cannot better display, +than by the specimen we are about to quote. + +On FLORINDA, Seen while she was Bathing. + + Twas summer, and the clear resplendent moon + Shedding far o'er the plains her full-orb'd light, + Among the lesser stars distinctly shone, + Despoiling of its gloom the scanty night, + When, walking forth, a lonely path I took + Nigh the fair border of a purling brook. + + Sweet and refreshing was the midnight air, + Whose gentle motions hush'd the silent grove; + Silent, unless when prick'd with wakeful care + Philomel warbled out her tale of love: + While blooming flowers, which in the meadows grew, + O'er all the place their blended odours threw. + + Just by, the limpid river's crystal wave, + Its eddies gilt with Phoebe's silver ray, + Still as it flow'd a glittering lustre gave + With glancing gleams that emulate the day; + Yet oh! not half so bright as those that rise + Where young Florinda bends her smiling eyes. + + Whatever pleasing views my senses meet, + Her intermingled charms improve the theme; + The warbling birds, the flow'rs that breath so sweet, + And the soft surface of the dimpled stream, + Resembling in the nymph some lovely part, + With pleasures more exalted seize my heart. + + Rapt in these thoughts I negligently rov'd, + Imagin'd transports all my soul employ, + When the delightful voice of her I lov'd + Sent thro' the Shades a sound of real joy. + Confus'd it came, with giggling laughter mixt, + And echo from the banks reply'd betwixt. + + Inspir'd with hope, upborn with light desire, + To the dear place my ready footsteps tend. + Quick, as when kindling trails of active fire + Up to their native firmament ascend: + There shrouded in the briers unseen I stood, + And thro' the leaves survey'd the neighb'ring flood. + + Florinda, with two sister nymphs, undrest, + Within the channel of the cooly tide, + By bathing sought to sooth her virgin breast, + Nor could the night her dazzling beauties hide; + Her features, glowing with eternal bloom, + Darted, like Hesper, thro' the dusky gloom. + + Her hair bound backward in a spiral wreath + Her upper beauties to my sight betray'd; + The happy stream concealing those beneath, + Around her waste with circling waters play'd; + Who, while the fair one on his bosom sported, + Her dainty limbs with liquid kisses courted. + + A thousand Cupids with their infant arms + Swam padling in the current here and there; + Some, with smiles innocent, remarked the charms + Of the regardless undesigning fair; + Some, with their little Eben bows full-bended, + And levell'd shafts, the naked girl defended. + + Her eyes, her lips, her breasts exactly round, + Of lilly hue, unnumber'd arrows sent; + Which to my heart an easy passage found, + Thrill'd in my bones, and thro' my marrow went: + Some bubbling upward thro' the water came, + Prepar'd by fancy to augment my flame. + + Ah love! how ill I bore thy pleasing pain? + For while the tempting scene so near I view'd, + A fierce impatience throb'd in every vein, + Discretion fled and reason lay subdu'd; + My blood beat high, and with its trembling made + A strange commotion in the rustling shade. + + Fear seiz'd the tim'rous Naiads, all aghast + Their boding spirits at the omen sink, + Their eyes they wildly on each other cast, + And meditate to gain the farther brink; + When in I plung'd, resolving to asswage + In the cool gulph love's importuning rage. + + Ah, stay Florinda (so I meant to speak) + Let not from love the loveliest object fly! + But ere I spoke, a loud combining squeak + From shrilling voices pierc'd the distant sky: + When straight, as each was their peculiar care, + Th' immortal pow'rs to bring relief prepare. + + A golden cloud descended from above, + Like that which whilom hung on Ida's brow, + Where Juno, Pallas, and the queen of love, + As then to Paris, were conspicuous now. + Each goddess seiz'd her fav'rite charge, and threw + Around her limbs a robe of azure hue. + + But Venus, who with pity saw my flame + Kindled by her own Amorer so bright, + Approv'd in private what she seem'd to blame, + And bless'd me with a vision of delight: + Careless she dropt Florinda's veil aside, + That nothing might her choicest beauties hide. + + I saw Elysium and the milky way + Fair-opening to the shades beneath her breast; + In Venus' lap the struggling wanton lay, + And, while she strove to hide, reveal'd the rest. + A mole, embrown'd with no unseemly grace, + Grew near, embellishing the sacred place. + + So pleas'd I view'd, as one fatigu'd with heat, + Who near at hand beholds a shady bower, + Joyful, in hope-amidst the kind retreat + To shun the day-star in his noon-tide hour; + Or as when parch'd with droughty thirst he spies + A mossy grot whence purest waters rise. + + So I Florinda--but beheld in vain: + Like Tantalus, who in the realms below + Sees blushing fruits, which to increase his pain, + When he attempts to eat, his taste forego. + O Venus! give me more, or let me drink + Of Lethe's fountain, and forget to think. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Mr. CHRISTOPHER PITT, + +The celebrated translator of Virgil, was born in the year 1699. He +received his early education in the college near Winchester; and in 1719 +was removed from thence to new college in Oxford. When he had studied +there four years, he was preferred to the living of Pimperne in +Dorsetshire, by his friend and relation, Mr. George Pitt; which he held +during the remaining part of his life. While he was at the university, +he possessed the affection and esteem of all who knew him; and was +particularly distinguished by that great poet Dr. Young, who so much +admired the early displays of his genius, that with an engaging +familiarity he used to call him his son. + +Amongst the first of Mr. Pitt's performances which saw the light, were a +panegyric on lord Stanhope, and a poem on the Plague of Marseilles: But +he had two large Folio's of MS. Poems, very fairly written out, while he +was a school-boy, which at the time of election were delivered to the +examiners. One of these volumes contained an entire translation of +Lucan; and the other consisted of Miscellaneous pieces. Mr. Pitt's Lucan +has never been published; perhaps from the consideration of its being +the production of his early life, or from a consciousness of its not +equalling the translation of that author by Rowe, who executed this talk +in the meridian of his genius. Several of his other pieces were +published afterwards, in his volume of Miscellaneous Poems. + +The ingenious writer of the Student hath obliged the world by inferring +in that work several original pieces by Mr. Pitt; whose name is prefixed +to them. + +Next to his beautiful Translation of Virgil, Mr. Pitt gained the +greatest reputation by rendering into English, Vida's Art of Poetry, +which he has executed with the strictest attention to the author's +sense, with the utmost elegance of versification, and without suffering +the noble spirit of the original to be lost in his translation. + +This amiable poet died in the year 1748, without leaving one enemy +behind him. On his tombstone were engraved these words, + + "He lived innocent, and died beloved." + +Mr. Auditor Benson, who in a pamphlet of his writing, has treated +Dryden's translation of Virgil with great contempt, was yet charmed with +that by Mr. Pitt, and found in it some beauties, of which he was fond +even to a degree of enthusiasm. Alliteration is one of those beauties +Mr. Benson so much admired, and in praise of which he has a long +dissertation in his letters on translated verse. He once took an +opportunity, in conversation with Mr. Pitt, to magnify that beauty, and +to compliment him upon it. Mr. Pitt thought this article far less +considerable than Mr. Benson did; but says he, 'since you are so fond of +alliteration, the following couplet upon Cardinal Woolsey will not +displease you, + + 'Begot by butchers, but by bishops bred, + How high his honour holds his haughty head. + +Benson was no doubt charmed to hear his favourite grace in poetry so +beautifully exemplified, which it certainly is, without any affectation +or stiffness. Waller thought this a beauty; and Dryden was very fond of +it. Some late writers, under the notion of imitating these two great +versifiers in this point, run into downright affectation, and are guilty +of the most improper and ridiculous expressions, provided there be but +an alliteration. It is very remarkable, that an affectation of this +beauty is ridiculed by Shakespear, in Love's Labour Lost, Act II. where +the Pedant Holofernes says, + + I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility.-- + The praiseful princess pierced, and prickt.-- + +Mr. Upton, in his letter concerning Spencer, observes, that alliteration +is ridiculed too in Chaucer, in a passage which every reader does not +understand. + +The Ploughman's Tale is written, in some measure, in imitation of +Pierce's Ploughman's Visions; and runs chiefly upon some one letter, or +at least many stanza's have this affected iteration, as + + A full sterne striefe is stirr'd now,-- + For some be grete grown on grounde. + +When the Parson therefore in his order comes to tell his tale, which +reflected on the clergy, he says, + + --I am a southern man, + I cannot jest, rum, ram, riff, by letter, + And God wote, rime hold I but little better. + +Ever since the publication of Mr. Pitt's version of the Aeneid, the +learned world has been divided concerning the just proportion of merit, +which ought to be ascribed to it. Some have made no scruple in defiance +of the authority of a name, to prefer it to Dryden's, both in exactness, +as to his author's sense, and even in the charms of poetry. This +perhaps, will be best discovered by producing a few shining passages of +the Aeneid, translated by these two great masters. + +In biographical writing, the first and most essential principal is +candour, which no reverence for the memory of the dead, nor affection +for the virtues of the living should violate. The impartiality which we +have endeavoured to observe through this work, obliges us to declare, +that so far as our judgment may be trusted, the latter poet has done +most justice to Virgil; that he mines in Pitt with a lustre, which +Dryden wanted not power, but leisure to bestow; and a reader, from +Pitt's version, will both acquire a more intimate knowledge of Virgil's +meaning, and a more exalted idea of his abilities.--Let not this detract +from the high representations we have endeavoured in some other places +to make of Dryden. When he undertook Virgil, he was stooping with age, +oppressed with wants, and conflicting with infirmities. In this +situation, it was no wonder that much of his vigour was lost; and we +ought rather to admire the amazing force of genius, which was so little +depressed under all these calamities, than industriously to dwell on his +imperfections. + +Mr. Spence in one of his chapters on Allegory, in his Polymetis, has +endeavoured to shew, how very little our poets have understood the +allegories of the antients, even in their translations of them; and has +instanced Mr. Dryden's translation of the Aeneid, as he thought him one +of our most celebrated poets. The mistakes are very numerous, and some +of them unaccountably gross. Upon this, says Mr. Warton, "I was desirous +to examine Mr. Pitt's translation of the same passages; and was +surprized to find near fifty instances which Mr. Spence has given of +Dryden's mistakes of that kind, when Mr. Pitt had not fallen into above +three or four." Mr. Warton then produces some instances, which we shall +not here transcribe, as it will be more entertaining to our readers to +have a few of the most shining passages compared, in which there is the +highest room for rising to a blaze of poetry. + +There are few strokes in the whole Aeneid, which have been more admired +than Virgil's description of the Lake of Avernus, Book VI. + + Spelunca alta fuit, vastoque immanis hiatu, + Scrupea, tuta lacu nigro, nemorumque tenebris; + Quam super haud ullæ poterant impune volantes. + Tendere iter pennis; talis sese halitus atris, + Faucibus effundens supera ad convexa ferebat: + Unde locum Graii dixerunt nomine Aornon. + Quatuor hic primum nigrantes terga juvencos + Constituit, frontique invergit vina sacerdos; + Et, summas carpens media inter cornua setas, + Ignibus imponit sacris libarmina prima, + Voce vocans Hecaten, cæloque ereboque potentem. + + +DRYDEN. + + Deep was the cave; and downward as it went, + From the wide mouth, a rocky wide descent; + And here th'access a gloomy grove defends; + And there th'innavigable lake extends. + O'er whose unhappy waters, void of light, + No bird presumes to steer his airy flight; + Such deadly stenches from the depth arise, + And steaming sulphur that infects the skies. + From hence the Grecian bards their legends make, + And give the name Aornus to the lake. + Four fable bullocks in the yoke untaught, + For sacrifice, the pious hero brought. + The priestess pours the wine betwixt their horns: + Then cuts the curling hair, that first oblation burns, + Invoking Hecate hither to repair; + (A powerful name in hell and upper air.) + + +PITT. + + Deep, deep, a cavern lies, devoid of light, + All rough with rocks, and horrible to sight; + Its dreadful mouth is fenc'd with sable floods, + And the brown horrors of surrounding woods. + From its black jaws such baleful vapours rise, + Blot the bright day, and blast the golden skies, + That not a bird can stretch her pinions there, + Thro' the thick poisons, and incumber'd air, + But struck by death, her flagging pinions cease; + And hence Aornus was it call'd by Greece. + Hither the priestess, four black heifers led, + Between their horns the hallow'd wine she shed; + From their high front the topmost hairs she drew, + And in the flames the first oblations threw. + Then calls on potent Hecate, renown'd + In Heav'n above, and Erebus profound. + +The next instance we shall produce, in which, as in the former, Mr. Pitt +has greatly exceeded Dryden, is taken from Virgil's description of +Elysium, which says Dr. Trap is so charming, that it is almost Elysium +to read it. + + His demum exactis, perfecto munere divæ, + Devenere locos lætos, & amoena vireta + Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas. + Largior hic campos æther & lumine vestit + Purpureo; solemque suum, sua sidera norunt. + Pars in gramineis exercent membra palæstris, + Contendunt ludo, & fulva luctanter arena: + Pars pedibus plaudunt choreas, & carmina dicunt. + Necnon Threicius longa cum veste sacerdos + Obloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum: + Jamque eadem digitis, jam pectine pulsat eburno. + + +PITT. + + These rites compleat, they reach the flow'ry plains, + The verdant groves, where endless pleasure reigns. + Here glowing Æther shoots a purple ray, + And o'er the region pours a double day. + From sky to sky th'unwearied splendour runs, + And nobler planets roll round brighter suns. + Some wrestle on the sands, and some in play + And games heroic pass the hours away. + Those raise the song divine, and these advance + In measur'd steps to form the solemn dance. + There Orpheus graceful in his long attire, + In seven divisions strikes the sounding lyre; + Across the chords the quivering quill he flings, + Or with his flying fingers sweeps the strings. + + +DRYDEN. + + These holy rites perform'd, they took their way, + Where long extended plains of pleasure lay. + The verdant fields with those of heav'n may vie; + With Æther veiled, and a purple sky: + The blissful seats of happy souls below; + Stars of their own, and their own suns they know. + Their airy limbs in sports they exercise, + And on the green contend the wrestlers prize. + Some in heroic verse divinely sing, + Others in artful measures lead the ring. + The Thracian bard surrounded by the rest, + There stands conspicuous in his flowing vest. + His flying fingers, and harmonious quill, + Strike seven distinguish'd notes, and seven at once they fill. + +In the celebrated description of the swiftness of Camilla in the VIIth +Aeneid, which Virgil has laboured with so much industry, Dryden is more +equal to Pitt than in the foregoing instances, tho' we think even in +this he falls short of him. + + Illa vel intactæ segetis per summa volaret + Gramina, nec teneras curfu læsisset aristas: + Vel mare per medium, fluctu suspensa tumenti + Ferret iter; celeres nec tingeret æquore plantas. + + +DRYDEN. + +--The fierce virago fought,-- + Outstrip'd the winds, in speed upon the plain, + Flew o'er the fields, nor hurt the bearded grain: + She swept the seas, and as she skim'd along, + Her flying feet, unbath'd, on billows hung. + + +PITT. + + She led the rapid race, and left behind, + The flagging floods, and pinions of the wind; + Lightly she flies along the level plain, + Nor hurts the tender grass, nor bends the golden grain; + Or o'er the swelling surge suspended sweeps, + And smoothly skims unbath'd along the deeps. + +We shall produce one passage of a very different kind from the former, +that the reader may have the pleasure of making the comparison. This is +the celebrated simile in the XIth Book, when the fiery eagerness of +Turnus panting for the battle, is resembled to that of a Steed; which is +perhaps one of the most picturesque beauties in the whole Aeneid. + + Qualis, ubi abruptis fugit præsepia vinc'lis, + Tandem liber equus, campoque potitus aperto; + Aut ille in pastus armentaque tendit equarum, + Aut assuetus aquæ perfundi flumine noto + Emicat; arrectisque fremit cervicibus alte + Luxurians, luduntque jubæ per colla, per armos. + + +DRYDEN. + + Freed from his keepers, thus with broken reins, + The wanton courser prances o'er the plains: + Or in the pride of youth, o'erleaps the mounds, + And snuffs the females in forbidden grounds. + Or seeks his wat'ring in the well-known flood, + To quench his thirst, and cool his fiery blood: + He swims luxuriant in the liquid plain; + And o'er his shoulders flows his waving main. + He neighs, he snorts, he bears his head on high; + Before his ample chest, the frothy waters fly. + + +PITT. + + So the gay pamper'd steed with loosen'd reins, + Breaks from the stall, and pours along the plains; + With large smooth strokes he rushes to the flood, + Bathes his bright sides, and cools his fiery blood; + Neighs as he flies, and tossing high his head, + Snuffs the fair females in the distant mead; + At every motion o'er his neck reclin'd, + Plays his redundant main, and dances in the wind. + +From the above specimens, our readers may determine for themselves to +whose translation they would give the preference. Critics, like +historians, should divest themselves of prejudice: they should never be +misguided by the authority of a great name, nor yield that tribute to +prescription, which is only due to merit. Mr. Pitt, no doubt, had many +advantages above Dryden in this arduous province: As he was later in the +attempt, he had consequently the version of Dryden to improve upon. He +saw the errors of that great poet, and avoided them; he discovered his +beauties, and improved upon them; and as he was not impelled by +necessity, he had leisure to revise, correct, and finish his excellent +work. + +The Revd. and ingenious Mr. Joseph Warton has given to the world a +compleat edition of Virgil's works made English. The Aeneid by Mr. Pitt: +The Eclogues, Georgics, and notes on the whole, by himself; with some +new observations by Mr. Holdsworth, Mr. Spence, and others. This is the +compleatest English dress, in which Virgil ever appeared. It is enriched +with a dissertation on the VIth Book of the Aeneid, by Warburton. On the +Shield of Aeneas, by Mr. William Whitehead. On the Character of Japis, +by the late Dr. Atterbury bishop of Rochester; and three Essays on +Pastoral, Didactic, and Epic Poetry, by Mr. Warton. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. HAMMOND. + +This Gentleman, known to the world by the Love Elegies, which some years +after his death were published by the Earl of Chesterfield, was the son +of a Turkey merchant, in the city of London. We cannot ascertain where +he received his education; but it does not appear that he was at any of +the universities. Mr. Hammond was early preferred to a place about the +person of the late Prince of Wales, which he held till an unfortunate +accident stript him of his reason, or at least so affected his +imagination, that his senses were greatly disordered. The unhappy cause +of his calamity was a passion he entertained for one Miss Dashwood, +which proved unsuccessful. Upon this occasion it was that he wrote his +Love Elegies, which have been much celebrated for their tenderness. The +lady either could not return his passion with a reciprocal fondness, or +entertained too ambitious views to settle her affections upon him, which +he himself in some of his Elegies seems to hint; for he frequently +mentions her passion for gold and splendour, and justly treats it as +very unworthy a fair one's bosom. The chief beauty of these Elegies +certainly consists in their being written by a man who intimately felt +the subject; for they are more the language of the heart than of the +head. They have warmth, but little poetry, and Mr. Hammond seems to have +been one of those poets, who are made so by love, not by nature. + +Mr. Hammond died in the year 1743, in the thirty-first year of his age, +at Stow, the seat of his kind patron, the lord Cobham, who honoured him +with a particular intimacy. The editor of Mr. Hammond's Elegies +observes, that he composed them before he was 21 years of age; a period, +says he, when fancy and imagination commonly riot at the expence of +judgment and correctness. He was sincere in his love, as in his +friendship; he wrote to his mistress, as he spoke to his friends, +nothing but the true genuine sentiments of his heart. Tibullus seems to +have been the model our author judiciously preferred to Ovid; the former +writing directly from the heart to the heart, the latter too often +yielding and addressing himself to the imagination. + +As a specimen of Mr. Hammond's turn for Elegiac Poetry, we shall quote +his third Elegy, in which he upbraids and threatens the avarice of +Neæra, and resolves to quit her. + + Should Jove descend in floods of liquid ore, + And golden torrents stream from every part, + That craving bosom still would heave for more, + Not all the Gods cou'd satisfy thy heart. + + But may thy folly, which can thus disdain + My honest love, the mighty wrong repay, + May midnight-fire involve thy sordid gain, + And on the shining heaps of rapine prey. + + May all the youths, like me, by love deceiv'd, + Not quench the ruin, but applaud the doom, + And when thou dy'st, may not one heart be griev'd: + May not one tear bedew the lonely tomb. + + But the deserving, tender, gen'rous maid, + Whose only care is her poor lover's mind, + Tho' ruthless age may bid her beauty fade, + In every friend to love, a friend shall find. + + And when the lamp of life will burn no more, + When dead, she seems as in a gentle sleep, + The pitying neighbour shall her loss deplore; + And round the bier assembled lovers weep. + + With flow'ry garlands, each revolving year + Shall strow the grave, where truth and softness rest, + Then home returning drop the pious tear, + And bid the turff lie easy on her breast. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. JOHN BANKS. + +This poet was the son of Mr. John Banks of Sunning in Berkshire, in +which place he was born in 1709. His father dying while our author was +very young, the care of his education devolved upon an uncle in law, who +placed him at a private school, under the tuition of one Mr. Belpene, an +Anabaptist. This schoolmaster, so far from encouraging young Banks to +make a great progress in classical learning, exerted his influence with +his relations to have him taken from school, and represented him as +incapable of receiving much erudition. This conduct in Mr. Belpene +proceeded from an early jealousy imbibed against this young man, who, so +far from being dull, as the school-master represented him, possessed +extraordinary parts, of which he gave very early proofs. + +Mr. Belpene was perhaps afraid, that as soon as Mr. Banks mould finish +his education, he would be preferred to him as minister to the +congregation of Anabaptists, which place he enjoyed, independent of his +school. The remonstrances of Mr. Belpene prevailed with Mr. Banks's +uncle, who took him from school, and put him apprentice to a Weaver at +Reading. Before the expiration of the apprenticeship, Mr. Banks had the +misfortune to break his arm, and by that accident was disqualified from +pursuing the employment to which he was bred. How early Mr. Banks began +to write we cannot determine, but probably the first sallies of his wit +were directed against this school-master, by whom he was injuriously +treated, and by whose unwarrantable jealousy his education, in some +measure, was ruined. Our author, by the accident already mentioned, +being rendered unfit to obtain a livelihood, by any mechanical +employment, was in a situation deplorable enough. His uncle was either +unable, or unwilling to assist him, or, perhaps, as the relation between +them was only collateral, he had not a sufficient degree of tenderness +for him, to make any efforts in his favour. In this perplexity of our +young poet's affairs, ten pounds were left him by a relation, which he +very oeconomically improved to the best advantage. He came to London, +and purchasing a parcel of old books, he set up a stall in +Spital-Fields. + +Much about this time Stephen Duck, who had wrote a poem called The +Thresher, reaped very great advantages from it, and was caressed by +persons in power, who, in imitation of the Royal patroness, heaped +favours upon him, perhaps more on account of the extraordinary regard +Queen Caroline had shewn him, than any opinion of his merit. Mr. Banks +considered that the success of Mr. Duck was certainly owing to the +peculiarity of his circumstances, and that the novelty of a thresher +writing verses, was the genuine cause of his being taken notice of, and +not any intrinsic excellence in the verses themselves. This reflexion +inspired him with a resolution of making an effort of the same kind; but +as curiosity was no more to be excited by novelty, the attempt was +without success. He wrote, in imitation of The Thresher, The Weaver's +Miscellany, which failed producing the intended effect, and, 'tis said, +never was reckoned by Mr. Banks himself as any way worthy of particular +distinction. His business of selling books upon a stall becoming +disagreeable to him, as it demanded a constant and uncomfortable +attendance, he quitted that way of life, and was received into the shop +of one Mr. Montague a bookbinder, and bookseller, whom he served some +time as a journeyman. During the time he lived with Mr. Montague, he +employed his leisure hours in composing several poems, which were now +swelled to such a number, that he might sollicit a subscription for them +with a good grace. He had taken care to improve his acquaintance, and as +he had a power of distinguishing his company, he found his interest +higher in the world than he had imagined. He addressed a poem to Mr. +Pope, which he transmitted to that gentleman, with a copy of his +proposals inclosed. Mr. Pope answered his letter, and the civilities +contained in it, by subscribing for two setts of his poems, and 'tis +said he wrote to Mr. Banks the following compliment, + + 'May this put money in your purse: + For, friend, believe me, I've seen worse.' + +The publication of these poems, while they, no doubt, enhanced his +interest, added likewise something to his reputation; and quitting his +employment at Mr. Montague's, he made an effort to live by writing only. +He engaged in a large work in folio, entitled, The Life of Christ, which +was very acceptable to the public, and was executed with much piety and +precision. + +Mr. Banks's next prose work, of any considerable length, was A Critical +Review of the Life of Oliver Cromwell. We have already taken notice that +he received his education among the Anabaptists, and consequently was +attached to those principles, and a favourer of that kind of +constitution which Cromwell, in the first period of his power, meant to +establish. Of the many Lives of this great man, with which the biography +of this nation has been augmented, perhaps not one is written with a +true dispassionate candour. Men are divided in their sentiments +concerning the measures which, at that critical Æra, were pursued by +contending factions. The writers, who have undertaken to review those +unhappy times, have rather struggled to defend a party, to which they +may have been swayed by education or interest, than, by stripping +themselves of all partiality, to dive to the bottom of contentions in +search of truth. The heats of the Civil War produced such animosities, +that the fervour which then prevailed, communicated itself to posterity, +and, though at the distance of a hundred years, has not yet subsided. It +will be no wonder then if Mr. Banks's Review is not found altogether +impartial. He has, in many cases, very successfully defended Cromwell; +he has yielded his conduct, in others, to the just censure of the world. +But were a Whig and a Tory to read this book, the former would pronounce +him a champion for liberty, and the latter would declare him a subverter +of truth, an enemy to monarchy, and a friend to that chaos which Oliver +introduced. + +Mr. Banks, by his early principles, was, no doubt, biassed to the Whig +interest, and, perhaps, it may be true, that in tracing the actions of +Cromwell, he may have dwelt with a kind of increasing pleasure on the +bright side of his character, and but slightly hinted at those facts on +which the other party fasten, when they mean to traduce him as a +parricide and an usurper. But supposing the allegation to be true, Mr. +Banks, in this particular, has only discovered the common failing of +humanity: prejudice and partiality being blemishes from which the mind +of man, perhaps, can never be entirely purged. + +Towards the latter end of Mr. Banks's life, he was employed in writing +two weekly news-papers, the Old England, and the Westminster Journals. +Those papers treated chiefly on the politics of the times, and the trade +and navigation of England. They were carried on by our author, without +offence to any party, with an honest regard to the public interest, and +in the same kind of spirit, that works of that sort generally are. These +papers are yet continued by other hands. + +Mr. Banks had from nature very considerable abilities, and his poems +deservedly hold the second rank. They are printed in two volumes 8vo. +Besides the poems contained in these volumes, there are several other +poetical pieces of his scattered in news-papers, and other periodical +works to which he was an occasional contributer. He had the talent of +relating a tale humorously in verse, and his graver poems have both +force of thinking, and elegance of numbers to recommend them. + +Towards the spring of the year 1751 Mr. Banks, who had long been in a +very indifferent state of health, visibly declined. His disorder was of +a nervous sort, which he bore with great patience, and even with a +chearful resignation. This spring proved fatal to him; he died on the +19th of April at his house at Islington, where he had lived several +years in easy circumstances, by the produce of his pen, without leaving +one enemy behind him. + +Mr. Banks was a man of real good nature, of an easy benevolent +disposition, and his friends ever esteemed him as a most agreeable +companion. He had none of the petulance, which too frequently renders +men of genius unacceptable to their acquaintance. He was of so composed +a temper, that he was seldom known to be in a passion, and he wore a +perpetual chearfulness in his countenance. He was rather bashful, than +forward; his address did not qualify him for gay company, and though he +possessed a very extensive knowledge of things, yet, as he had not much +grace of delivery, or elegance of manner, he could not make so good a +figure in conversation, as many persons of his knowledge, with a happier +appearance. Of all authors Mr. Banks was the farthest removed from envy +or malevolence. As he could not bear the least whisper of detraction, so +he was never heard to express uneasiness at the growing reputation of +another; nor was he ever engaged in literacy contests. We shall conclude +this article in the words of lord Clarendon. 'He that lives such a life, +need be less anxious at how short warning it is taken from him [1].' + +[1] See lord Clarendon's character of the lord Falkland. + + + * * * * * + + +Mrs. LÆTITIA PILKINGTON. + +This unfortunate poetess, the circumstances of whose life, written by +herself, have lately entertained the public, was born in the year 1712. +She was the daughter of Dr. Van Lewen, a gentleman of Dutch extraction, +who settled in Dublin. Her mother was descended of an ancient and +honourable family, who have frequently intermarried with the nobility. + +Mrs. Pilkington, from her earliest infancy, had a strong disposition to +letters, and particularly to poetry. All her leisure hours were +dedicated to the muses; from a reader she quickly became a writer, and, +as Mr. Pope expresses it, + + 'She lisp'd in numbers, for the numbers came.' + +Her performances were considered as extraordinary for her years, and +drew upon her the admiration of many, who found more pleasure in her +conversation, than that of girls generally affords. In consequence of a +poetical genius, and an engaging sprightliness peculiar to her, she had +many wooers, some of whom seriously addressed her, while others meant no +more than the common gallantries of young people. After the usual +ceremony of a courtship, she became the wife of Mr. Matthew Pilkington, +a gentleman in holy orders, and well known in the poetical world by his +volume of Miscellanies, revised by dean Swift. As we have few materials +for Mrs. Pilkington's life, beside those furnished by herself in her +Memoirs published in 1749, our readers must depend upon her veracity for +some facts which we may be obliged to mention, upon her sole authority. + +Our poetess, says she, had not been long married, e'er Mr. Pilkington +became jealous, not of her person, but her understanding. She was +applauded by dean Swift, and many other persons of taste; every +compliment that was paid her, gave a mortal stab to his peace. Behold +the difference between the lover and the husband! When Mr. Pilkington +courted her, he was not more enamoured of her person, than her poetry, +he shewed her verses to every body in the enthusiasm of admiration: but +now he was become a husband, it was a kind of treason for a wife to +pretend to literary accomplishments. + +It is certainly true, that when a woman happens to have more +understanding than her husband, she should be very industrious to +conceal it; but it is like wise true, that the natural vanity of the sex +is difficult to check, and the vanity of a poet still more difficult: +wit in a female mind can no more cease to sparkle, than she who +possesses it, can cease to speak. Mr. Pilkington began to view her with +scornful, yet with jealous eyes, and in this situation, nothing but +misery was likely to be their lot. While these jealousies subsisted, Mr. +Pilkington, contrary to the advice of his friends, went into England, in +order to serve as chaplain to alderman Barber during his mayoralty of +the city of London. + +While he remained in London, and having the strange humour of loving his +wife best at a distance, he wrote her a very kind letter, in which he +informed her, that her verses were like herself, full of elegance and +beauty[1]; that Mr. Pope and others, to whom he had shewn them, longed +to see the writer, and that he heartily wished her in London. This +letter set her heart on flame. London has very attractive charms to most +young people, and it cannot be much wondered at if Mrs. Pilkington +should take the only opportunity she was ever likely to have, of +gratifying her curiosity: which however proved fatal to her; for though +we cannot find, that during this visit to London, her conduct was the +least reproachable, yet, upon her return to Ireland, she underwent a +violent persecution of tongues. They who envied her abilities, fastened +now upon her morals; they were industrious to trace the motives of her +going to London; her behaviour while she was there; and insinuated +suspicions against her chastity. These detracters were chiefly of her +own sex, who supplied by the bitterest malice what they wanted in power. + +Not long after this an accident happened, which threw Mrs. Pilkington's +affairs into the utmost confusion. Her father was stabbed, as she has +related, by an accident, but many people in Dublin believe, by his own +wife, though some say, by his own hand. Upon this melancholy occasion, +Mrs. Pilkington has given an account of her father, which places her in +a very amiable light. She discovered for him the most filial tenderness; +she watched round his bed, and seems to have been the only relation then +about him, who deserved his blessing. From the death of her father her +sufferings begin, and the subsequent part of her life is a continued +series of misfortunes. + +Mr. Pilkington having now no expectation of a fortune by her, threw off +all reserve in his behaviour to her. While Mrs. Pilkington was in the +country for her health, his dislike of her seems to have encreased, +and, perhaps, he resolved to get rid of his wife at any rate: nor was he +long waiting for an occasion of parting with her. The story of their +separation may be found at large in her Memoirs. The substance is, that +she was so indiscreet as to permit a gentleman to be found in her +bed-chamber at an unseasonable hour; for which she makes this apology. +'Lovers of learning I am sure will pardon me, as I solemnly declare, it +was the attractive charms of a new book, which the gentleman would not +lend me, but consented to stay till I read it through, that was the +sole motive of my detaining him.' This indeed is a poor evasion; and as +Mrs. Pilkington has said no more in favour of her innocence, they must +have great charity indeed with whom she can stand exculpated. + +While the gentleman was with her, the servants let in twelve men at the +kitchen window, who, though they might, as she avers, have opened the +chamber door, chose rather to break it to pieces, and took both her and +the gentleman prisoners. Her husband now told her, that she must turn +out of doors; and taking hold of her hand, made a present of it to the +gentleman, who could not in honour refuse to take her, especially as his +own liberty was to be procured upon no other terms. It being then two +o'clock in the morning, and not knowing where to steer, she went home +with her gallant: but she sincerely assures us, that neither of them +entertained a thought of any thing like love, but sat like statues 'till +break of day. + +The gentleman who was found with her, was obliged to fly, leaving a +letter and five guineas inclosed in it for her. She then took a lodging +in some obscure street, where she was persecuted by infamous women, who +were panders to men of fortune. + +In the mean time Mr. Pilkington carried on a vigorous prosecution +against her in the Spiritual Court; during which, as she says, he +solemnly declared, he would allow her a maintainance, if she never gave +him any opposition: but no sooner had he obtained a separation, than he +retracted every word he had said on that subject. Upon this she was +advised to lodge an appeal, and as every one whom he consulted, assured +him he would be cast, he made a proposal of giving her a small annuity, +and thirty pounds[2] in money; which, in regard to her children, she +chose to accept, rather than ruin their father. She was with child at +the time of her separation, and when her labour came on, the woman where +she lodged insisted upon doubling her rent: whereupon she was obliged to +write petitionary letters, which were not always successful. + +Having passed the pains and peril of childbirth, she begged of Mr. +Pilkington to send her some money to carry her to England; who, in hopes +of getting rid of her, sent her nine pounds. She was the more desirous +to leave Ireland, as she found her character sinking every day with the +public. When she was on board the yacht, a gentleman of figure in the +gay world took an opportunity of making love to her, which she rejected +with some indignation. 'Had I (said she) accepted the offers he made me, +poverty had never approached me. I dined with him at Parkgate, and I +hope virtue will be rewarded; for though I had but five guineas in the +world to carry me to London, I yet possessed chastity enough to refuse +fifty for a night's lodging, and that too from a handsome well-bred man. +I shall scarcely ever forget his words to me, as they seemed almost +prophetic. "Well, madam, said he, you do not know London; you will be +undone there." "Why, sir, said I, I hope you don't imagine I will go +into a bad course of life?" "No, madam, said he, but I think you will +sit in your chamber and starve;" which, upon my word, I have been pretty +near doing; and, but that the Almighty raised me one worthy friend, good +old Mr. Cibber, to whose humanity I am indebted, under God, both for +liberty and life, I had been quite lost.' + +When Mrs. Pilkington arrived in London, her conduct was the reverse of +what prudence would have dictated. She wanted to get into favour with +the great, and, for that purpose, took a lodging in St. James's Street, +at a guinea a week; upon no other prospect of living, than what might +arise from some poems she intended to publish by subscription. In this +place she attracted the notice of the company frequenting White's +Chocolate-House; and her story, by means of Mr. Cibber, was made known +to persons of the first distinction, who, upon his recommendation, were +kind to her. + +Her acquaintance with Mr. Cibber began by a present she made him of The +Trial of Constancy, a poem of hers, which Mr. Dodsley published. Mr. +Cibber, upon this, visited her, and, ever after, with the most unwearied +zeal, promoted her interest. The reader cannot expect that we should +swell this volume by a minute relation of all the incidents which +happened to her, while she continued a poetical mendicant. She has not, +without pride, related all the little tattle which passed between her +and persons of distinction, who, through the abundance of their +idleness, thought proper to trifle an hour with her. + +Her virtue seems now to have been in a declining state; at least, her +behaviour was such, that a man, must have extraordinary faith, who can +think her innocent. She has told us, in the second volume of her +Memoirs, that she received from a noble person a present of fifty +pounds. This, she says, was the ordeal, or fiery trial; youth, beauty, +nobility of birth, attacking at once the most desolate person in the +world. However, we find her soon after this thrown into great distress, +and making various applications to persons of distinction for +subscriptions to her poems. Such as favoured her by subscribing, she has +repaid with most lavish encomiums, and those that withheld that proof of +their bounty, she has sacrificed to her resentment, by exhibiting them +in the most hideous light her imagination could form. + +From the general account of her characters, this observation results, +That such as she has stigmatized for want of charity, ought rather to be +censured for want of decency. There might be many reasons, why a person +benevolent in his nature, might yet refuse to subscribe to her; but, in +general, such as refused, did it (as she says) in a rude manner, and she +was more piqued at their deficiency in complaisance to her, than their +want of generosity. Complaisance is easily shewn; it may be done without +expence; it often procures admirers, and can never make an enemy. On the +other hand, benevolence itself, accompanied with a bad grace, may lay us +under obligations, but can never command our affection. It is said of +King Charles I. that he bestowed his bounty with so bad a grace, that he +disobliged more by giving, than his son by refusing; and we have heard +of a gentleman of great parts, who went to Newgate with a greater +satisfaction, as the judge who committed him accompanied the sentence +with an apology and a compliment, than he received from his releasment +by another, who, in extending the King's mercy to him, allayed the Royal +clemency by severe invectives against the gentleman's conduct. + +We must avoid entering into a detail of the many addresses, +disappointments and encouragements, which she met with in her attendance +upon the great: her characters are naturally, sometimes justly, and +often strikingly, exhibited. The incidents of her life while she +remained in London were not very important, though she has related them +with all the advantage they can admit of. They are such as commonly +happen to poets in distress, though it does not often fall out, that the +insolence of wealth meets with such a bold return as this lady has given +it. There is a spirit of keenness, and freedom runs through her book, +she spares no man because he is great by his station, or famous by his +abilities. Some knowledge of the world may be gained from reading her +Memoirs; the different humours of mankind she has shewn to the life, and +whatever was ridiculous in the characters she met with, is exposed in +very lively terms. + +The next scene which opens in Mrs. Pilkington's life, is the prison of +the Marshalsea. The horrors and miseries of this jail she has +pathetically described, in such a manner as should affect the heart of +every rigid creditor. In favour of her fellow-prisoners, she wrote a +very moving memorial, which, we are told, excited the legislative power +to grant an Act of Grace for them. After our poetess had remained nine +weeks in this prison, she was at last released by the goodness of Mr. +Cibber, from whose representation of her distress, no less than sixteen +dukes contributed a guinea apiece towards her enlargement. When this +news was brought her, she fainted away with excess of joy. Some time +after she had tasted liberty, she began to be weary of that continued +attendance upon the great; and therefore was resolved, if ever she was +again favoured with a competent sum, to turn it into trade, and quit the +precarious life of a poetical mendicant. Mr. Cibber had five guineas in +reserve for her, which, with ten more she received from the duke of +Marlborough, enabled her to take a shop in St. James's Street, which she +filled with pamphlets and prints, as being a business better suited to +her taste and abilities, than any other. Her adventures, while she +remained a shopkeeper, are not extremely important. She has neglected to +inform us how long she continued behind the counter, but has told us, +however, that by the liberality of her friends, and the bounty of her +subscribers, she was set above want, and that the autumn of her days was +like to be spent in peace and serenity. + +But whatever were her prospects, she lived not long to enjoy the +comforts of competence, for on the 29th of August, 1750, a few years +after the publication of her second volume, she died at Dublin, in the +thirty ninth year of her age. + +Considered as a writer, she holds no mean rank. She was the author of +The Turkish Court, or The London Apprentice, acted at the theatre in +Caple-street, Dublin, 1748, but never printed. This piece was poorly +performed, otherwise it promised to have given great satisfaction. The +first act of her tragedy of the Roman Father, is no ill specimen of her +talents that way, and throughout her Memoirs there are scattered many +beautiful little pieces, written with a true spirit of poetry, though +under all the disadvantages that wit can suffer. Her memory seems to +have been amazingly great, of which her being able to repeat almost all +Shakespear is an astonishing instance. + +One of the prettiest of her poetical performances, is the following +Address to the reverend Dr. Hales, with whom she became acquainted at +the house of captain Mead, near Hampton-Court. + +To the Revd. Dr. HALES. + + Hail, holy sage! whose comprehensive mind, + Not to this narrow spot of earth confin'd, + Thro' num'rous worlds can nature's laws explore, + Where none but Newton ever trod before; + And, guided by philosophy divine, + See thro' his works th'Almighty Maker shine: + Whether you trace him thro' yon rolling spheres, + Where, crown'd with boundless glory, he appears; + Or in the orient sun's resplendent rays, + His setting lustre, or his noon-tide blaze, + New wonders still thy curious search attend, + Begun on earth, in highest Heav'n to end. + O! while thou dost those God-like works pursue, + What thanks, from human-kind to thee are due! + Whose error, doubt, and darkness, you remove, + And charm down knowledge from her throne above. + Nature to thee her choicest secrets yields, + Unlocks her springs, and opens all her fields; + Shews the rich treasure that her breast contains, + In azure fountains, or enamell'd plains; + Each healing stream, each plant of virtuous use, + To thee their medicinal pow'rs produce. + Pining disease and anguish wing their flight, + And rosy health renews us to delight. + + When you, with art, the animal dissect, + And, with the microscopic aid, inspect + [Transcriber's note: 'microsopic' in + original] + Where, from the heart, unnumbered rivers glide, + And faithful back return their purple tide; + How fine the mechanism, by thee display'd! + How wonderful is ev'ry creature made! + Vessels, too small for sight, the fluids strain, + Concoct, digest, assimilate, sustain; + In deep attention, and surprize, we gaze, + And to life's author, raptur'd, pour out praise. + + What beauties dost thou open to the sight, + Untwisting all the golden threads of light! + Each parent colour tracing to its source, + Distinct they live, obedient to thy force! + Nought from thy penetration is conceal'd, + And light, himself, shines to thy soul reveal'd. + + So when the sacred writings you display, + And on the mental eye shed purer day; + In radiant colours truth array'd we see, + Confess her charms, and guided up by thee; + Soaring sublime, on contemplation's wings, + The fountain seek, whence truth eternal springs. + Fain would I wake the consecrated lyre, + And sing the sentiments thou didst inspire! + But find my strength unequal to a theme, + Which asks a Milton's, or a Seraph's flame! + If, thro' weak words, one ray of reason shine, + Thine was the thought, the errors only mine. + Yet may these numbers to thy soul impart + The humble incense of a grateful heart. + Trifles, with God himself, acceptance find, + If offer'd with sincerity of mind; + Then, like the Deity, indulgence shew, + Thou, most like him, of all his works below. + +FOOTNOTES: +[1] An extravagant compliment; for Mrs. Pilkington was far from being a + beauty. + +[2] Of which, she says, she received only 15 l. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. THOMAS SOUTHERN. + +This eminent poet was born in Dublin, on the year of the Restoration of +Charles the IId. and received his early education at the university +there. In the 18th year of his age, he quitted Ireland, and as his +intention was to pursue a lucrative profession, he entered himself in +the Middle-Temple. But the natural vivacity of his mind overcoming +considerations of advantage, he quitted that state of life, and entered +into the more agreeable service of the Muses[1]. + +The first dramatic performance of Mr. Southern, his Persian Prince, or +Loyal Brother, was acted in the year 1682. The story is taken from +Thamas Prince of Persia, a Novel; and the scene is laid in Ispahan in +Persia. This play was introduced at a time when the Tory interest was +triumphant in England, and the character of the Loyal brother was no +doubt intended to compliment James Duke of York, who afterwards rewarded +the poet for his service. To this Tragedy Mr. Dryden wrote the Prologue +and Epilogue, which furnished Mr. Southern with an opportunity of saying +in his dedication, 'That the Laureat's own pen secured me, maintaining +the out-works, while I lay safe entrenched within his lines; and malice, +ill-nature, and censure were forced to grin at a distance.' + +The Prologue is a continued invective against the Whigs, and whether +considered as a party libel, or an induction to a new play, is in every +respect unworthy of the great hand that wrote it. His next play was a +Comedy, called the Disappointment, or the Mother in Fashion, performed +in the year 1684.--After the accession of king James the IId to the +throne, when the duke of Monmouth made an unfortunate attempt upon his +uncle's crown, Mr. Southern went into the army, in the regiment of foot +raised by the lord Ferrers, afterwards commanded by the duke of Berwick; +and he had three commissions, viz. ensign, lieutenant, and captain, +under King James, in that regiment. + +During the reign of this prince, in the year before the Revolution, he +wrote a Tragedy called the Spartan Dame, which however was not acted +till the year 1721. The subject is taken from the Life of Agis in +Plutarch, where the character of Chelonis, between the duties of a wife +and daughter was thought to have a near resemblance to that of King +William's Queen Mary. 'I began this play, says Mr. Southern, a year +before the Revolution, and near four acts written without any view. Many +things interfering with those times, I laid by what I had written for +seventeen years: I shewed it then to the late duke of Devonshire, who +was in every regard a judge; he told me he saw no reason why it might +not have been acted the year of the Revolution: I then finished it, and +as I thought cut out the exceptionable parts, but could not get it +acted, not being able to persuade myself to the cutting off those limbs, +which I thought essential to the strength and life of it. But since I +found it must pine in obscurity without it, I consented to the +operation, and after the amputation of every line, very near to the +number of 400, it stands on its own legs still, and by the favour of the +town, and indulging assistance of friends, has come successfully forward +on the stage.' This play was inimitably acted. Mr. Booth, Mr. Wilks, Mr. +Cibber, Mr. Mills, sen. Mrs. Oldfield, and Mrs. Porter, all performed in +it, in their heighth of reputation, and the full vigour of their powers. + +Mr. Southern acknowledges in his preface to this play, that the last +scene of the third Act, was almost all written by the honourable John +Stafford, father to the earl of Stafford. Mr. Southern has likewise +acknowledged, that he received from the bookseller, as a price for this +play, 150 l. which at that time was very extraordinary. He was the first +who raised the advantage of play writing to a second and third night, +which Mr. Pope mentions in the following manner, + + --Southern born to raise, + The price of Prologues and of Plays. + +The reputation which Mr. Dryden gained by the many Prologues he wrote, +induced the players to be sollicitous to have one of his to speak, which +were generally well received by the public. Mr. Dryden's price for a +Prologue had usually been five guineas, with which sum Mr. Southern +presented him when he received from him a Prologue for one of his plays. +Mr. Dryden returned the money, and said to him; 'Young man this is too +little, I must have ten guineas.' Mr. Southern on this observ'd, that +his usual price was five guineas. Yes answered Dryden, it has been so, +but the players have hitherto had my labours too cheap; for the future I +must have ten guineas [2]. + +Mr. Southern was industrious to draw all imaginable profits from his +poetical labours. Mr. Dryden once took occasion to ask him how much he +got by one of his plays; to which he answered, that he was really +ashamed to inform him. But Mr. Dryden being a little importunate to +know, he plainly told him, that by his last play he cleared seven +hundred pounds; which appeared astonishing to Mr. Dryden, as he himself +had never been able to acquire more than one hundred by any of his most +successful pieces. The secret is, Mr. Southern was not beneath the +drudgery of sollicitation, and often sold his tickets at a very high +price, by making applications to persons of distinction: a degree of +servility which perhaps Mr. Dryden thought was much beneath the dignity +of a poet; and too much in the character of an under-player. + +That Mr. Dryden entertained a very high opinion of our author's +abilities, appears from his many expressions of kindness towards him. He +has prefixed a copy of verses to a Comedy of his, called the Wife's +Excuse, acted in the year 1692, with very indifferent success: Of this +Comedy, Mr. Dryden had so high an opinion, that he bequeathed to our +poet, the care of writing half the last act of his Tragedy of Cleomenes, +'Which, says Mr. Southern, when it comes into the world will appear to +be so considerable a trust, that all the town will pardon me for +defending this play, that preferred me to it.' + +Our author continued from time to time to entertain the public with his +dramatic pieces, the greatest part of which met with the success they +deserved. The night on which his Innocent Adultery was first acted, +which is perhaps the most moving play in any language; a gentleman took +occasion to ask Mr. Dryden, what was his opinion of Southern's genius? +to which that great poet replied, 'That he thought him such another poet +as Otway.' When this reply was communicated to Mr. Southern, he +considered it as a very great compliment, having no ambition to be +thought a more considerable poet than Otway was. + +Of our author's Comedies, none are in possession of the stage, nor +perhaps deserve to be so; for in that province he is less excellent than +in Tragedy. The present Laureat, who is perhaps one of the best judges +of Comedy now living, being asked his opinion by a gentleman, of +Southern's comic dialogue, answered, That it might be denominated +Whip-Syllabub, that is, flashy and light, but indurable; and as it is +without the Sal Atticum of wit, can never much delight the intelligent +part of the audience. + +The most finished, and the most pathetic of Mr. Southern's plays, in the +opinion of the critics, is his Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave. This drama +is built upon a true story, related by Mrs. Behn, in a Novel; and has so +much the greater influence on the audience, as they are sensible that +the representation is no fiction. In this piece, Mr. Southern has +touched the tender passions with so much skill, that it will perhaps be +injurious to his memory to say of him, that he is second to Otway. +Besides the tender and delicate strokes of passion, there are many +shining and manly sentiments in Oroonoko; and one of the greatest +genius's of the present age, has often observed, that in the most +celebrated play of Shakespear, so many striking thoughts, and such a +glow of animated poetry cannot be furnished. This play is so often +acted, and admired, that any illustration of its beauties here, would be +entirely superfluous. His play of The Fatal Marriage, or The Innocent +Adultery, met with deserved success; the affecting incidents, and +interesting tale in the tragic part, sufficiently compensate for the +low, trifling, comic part; and when the character of Isabella is acted, +as we have seen it, by Mrs. Porter, and Mrs. Woffington, the ladies +seldom fail to sympathise in grief. + +Mr. Southern died on the 26th of May, in the year 1746, in the 86th year +of his age; the latter part of which he spent in a peaceful serenity, +having by his commission as a soldier, and the profits of his dramatic +works, acquired a handsome fortune; and being an exact oeconomist, he +improved what fortune he gained, to the best advantage: He enjoyed the +longest life of all our poets, and died the richest of them, a very few +excepted. + +A gentleman whose authority we have already quoted, had likewise +informed us, that Mr. Southern lived for the last ten years of his life +in Westminster, and attended very constant at divine service in the +Abbey, being particularly fond of church music. He never staid within +doors while in health, two days together, having such a circle of +acquaintance of the best rank, that he constantly dined with one or +other, by a kind of rotation. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Jacob. + +[2] From the information of a gentleman personally acquainted +with Mr. Southern, who desires to have his name conceal'd. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Mr. JAMES MILLER. + +This gentleman was born in the year 1703. He was the son of a clergyman, +who possessed two considerable livings in Dorsetshire[1]. He received +his education at Wadham-College in Oxford, and while he was resident in +that university he composed part of his famous Comedy called the Humours +of Oxford, acted in the year 1729, by the particular recommendation of +Mrs. Oldfield. + +This piece, as it was a lively representation of the follies and vices +of the students of that place, procured the author many enemies. + +Mr. Miller was designed by his relations to be bred to business, which +he declined, not being able to endure the servile drudgery it demanded. +He no sooner quitted the university than he entered into holy orders, +and was immediately preferred to be lecturer in Trinity-College in +Conduit-Street, and preacher of Roehampton-Chapel. These livings were +too inconsiderable to afford a genteel subsistence, and therefore it may +be supposed he had recourse to dramatic writing to encrease his +finances. This kind of composition, however, being reckoned by some very +foreign to his profession, if not inconsistent with it, was thought to +have retarded his preferment in the church. Mr. Miller was likewise +attached to the High-Church interest, a circumstance in the times in +which he lived, not very favourable to preferment. He was so honest +however in these principles, that upon a large offer being made him by +the agents for the ministry in the time of a general opposition, he had +virtue sufficient to withstand the temptation, though his circumstances +at that time were far from being easy. Mr. Miller often confessed to +some of his friends, that this was the fiery trial of his constancy. He +had received by his wife a very genteel fortune, and a tenderness for +her had almost overcome his resolutions; but he recovered again to his +former firmness, when upon hinting to his wife, the terms upon which +preferment might be procured, she rejected them with indignation; and he +became ashamed of his own wavering. This was an instance of honour, few +of which are to be met with in the Lives of the Poets, who have been too +generally of a time-serving temper, and too pliant to all the follies +and vices of their age. But though Mr. Miller would not purchase +preferment upon the terms of writing for the ministry, he was content to +stipulate, never to write against them, which proposal they rejected in +their turn. + +About a year before Mr. Miller's death, which happened in 1743, he was +presented by Mr. Cary of Dorsetshire, to the profitable living of Upsun, +his father had before possess'd, but which this worthy man lived not +long to enjoy; nor had he ever an opportunity of making that provision +for his family he so much sollicited; and which he even disdained to do +at the expence of his honour. + +Mr. Miller's dramatic works are, + +I. Humours of Oxford, which we have already mentioned. + +II. The Mother-in-Law, or the Doctor the Disease; a Comedy, 1733. + +III. The Man of Taste, a Comedy; acted in the year 1736, which had a run +of 30 nights[2]. + +IV. Universal Passion, a Comedy, 1736. + +V. Art and Nature, a Comedy, 1737. + +VI. The Coffee-House, a Farce, 1737. + +VII. An Hospital for Fools, a Farce, 1739. + +VIII. The Picture, or Cuckold in Conceit. + +IX. Mahomet the Impostor, a Tragedy; during the run of this play the +author died. + +X. Joseph and his Brethren; a sacred Drama. + +Mr. Miller was author of many occasional pieces in poetry, of which his +Harlequin Horace is the most considerable. This Satire is dedicated to +Mr. Rich, the present manager of Covent-Garden Theatre, in which with an +ironical severity he lashes that gentleman, in consequence of some +offence Mr. Rich had given him. + +Mr. Miller likewise published a volume of Sermons, all written with a +distinguished air of piety, and a becoming zeal for the interest of true +religion; and was principally concerned in the translation of Moliere's +comedies, published by Watts. + +Our author left behind him a son, whose profession is that of a sea +surgeon. Proposals for publishing his Poems have been inserted in the +Gentleman's Magazine, with a specimen, which does him honour. The +profits of this subscription, are to be appropriated to his mother, whom +he chiefly supported, an amiable instance of filial piety. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The account of this gentleman is taken from the information of his + widow. + +[2] These two pieces were brought on the stage, without the author's + name being known; which, probably, not a little contributed to their + success; the care of the rehearsals being left to Mr. Theo. Cibber, + who played the characters of the Man of Taste, and Squire + Headpiece. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. NICHOLAS AMHURST. + +This gentleman, well known to the world, by the share he had in the +celebrated anti-court paper called The Craftsman, was born in Marden in +Kent, but in what year we cannot be certain. Mr. Amhurst's grandfather +was a clergyman, under whose protection and care he received his +education at Merchant-Taylors school. Having received there the +rudiments of learning, he was removed to St. John's College, Oxford, +from which, on account of the libertinism of his principles, and some +offence he gave to the head of that college, it appears, he was ejected. +We can give no other account of this affair, than what is drawn from Mr. +Amhurst's dedication of his poems to Dr. Delaune, President of St. +John's College in Oxford. This dedication abounds with mirth and +pleasantry, in which he rallies the Dr. with very pungent irony, and +hints at the causes of his disgrace in that famous college. In page 10, +of his dedication, he says, + +'You'll pardon me, good sir, if I think it necessary for your honour to +mention the many heinous crimes for which I was brought to shame. None +were indeed publicly alledged against me at that time, because it might +as well be done afterwards; sure old Englishmen can never forget that +there is such a thing as hanging a man for it, and trying him +afterwards: so fared it with me; my prosecutors first proved me, by an +undeniable argument, to be no fellow of St. John's College, and then to +be--the Lord knows what. + +'My indictment may be collected out of the faithful annals of common +fame, which run thus, + +'Advices from Oxford say, that on the 29th of June, 1719, one Nicholas +Amhurst of St. John's College was expelled for the following reasons; + +'Imprimis, For loving foreign turnips and Presbyterian bishops. + +'Item, For ingratitude to his benefactor, that spotless martyr, Sir +William Laud. + +'Item, For believing that steeples and organs are not necessary to +salvation. + +'Item, For preaching without orders, and praying without a commission. + +'Item, For lampooning priestcraft and petticoatcraft. + +'Item, For not lampooning the government and the revolution. + +'Item, For prying into secret history. + +'My natural modesty will not permit me, like other apologists, to +Vindicate myself in any one particular, the whole charge is so artfully +drawn up, that no reasonable person would ever think the better of me, +should I justify myself 'till doomsday.' Towards the close of the +dedication, he takes occasion to complain of some severities used +against him, at the time of his being excluded the college. 'But I must +complain of one thing, whether reasonable or not, let the world judge. +When I was voted out of your college, and the nusance was thereby +removed, I thought the resentments of the holy ones would have proceeded +no further; I am sure the cause of virtue and sound religion I was +thought to offend, required no more; nor could it be of any possible +advantage to the church, to descend to my private affairs, and stir up +my creditors in the university to take hold of me at a disadvantage, +before I could get any money returned; but there are some persons in the +world, who think nothing unjust or inhuman in the prosecution of their +implacable revenge.' + +It is probable, that upon this misfortune happening to our author, he +repaired to the capital, there to retrieve his ruined affairs. We find +him engaged deeply in the Craftsman, when that paper was in its +meridian, and when it was more read and attended to than any political +paper ever published in England, on account of the assistance given to +it by some of the most illustrious and important characters of the +nation. It is said, that ten thousand of that paper have been sold in +one day. + +The Miscellanies of Mr. Amhurst, the greatest part of which were written +at the university, consist chiefly of poems sacred and profane, +original, paraphrased, imitated, and translated; tales, epigrams, +epistles, love-verses, elegies, and satires. The Miscellany begins with +a beautiful paraphrase on the Mosaic Account of the Creation; and ends +with a very humorous tale upon the discovery of that useful utensil, A +Bottle-Screw. + +Mr. Amhurst died of a fever at Twickenham, April 27, 1742. Our poet had +a great enmity to the exorbitant demands, and domineering spirit of the +High-Church clergy, which he discovers by a poem of his, called, The +convocation, in five cantos; a kind of satire against all the writers, +who shewed themselves enemies of the bishop of Bangor. He translated The +Resurrection, and some other of Mr. Addison's Latin pieces. + +He wrote an epistle (with a petition in it) to Sir John Blount, Bart. +one of the directors of the South-Sea Company, 1726. + +Oculus Britanniæ, an Heroi-panegyrical Poem, on the University of +Oxford, 8vo. 1724. + +In a poem of Mr. Amhurst's, called, An Epistle from the Princess +Sobiesky to the Chevalier de St. George, he has the following nervous +lines, strongly expressive of the passion of love. + + Relentless walls and bolts obstruct my way, + And, guards as careless, and as deaf as they; + Or to my James thro' whirlwinds I would, go, + Thro' burning deserts, and o'er alps of snow, + Pass spacious roaring, oceans undismay'd, + And think the mighty dangers well repaid. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. GEORGE LILLO. + +Was by profession a jeweller. He was born in London, on the 4th of Feb. +1693. He lived, as we are informed, near Moorgate, in the same +neighbourhood where he received his birth, and where he was always +esteemed as a person of unblemished character. 'Tis said, he was +educated in the principles of the dissenters: be that as it will, his +morals brought no disgrace on any sect or party. Indeed his principal +attachment was to the muses. + +His first piece, brought on the stage, was a Ballad Opera, called +Sylvia; or, The Country Burial; performed at the Theatre Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn Fields, but with no extraordinary success, in the year +1730. The year following he brought his play, called The London +Merchant; or, The True Story of George Barnwell, to Mr. Cibber junior; +(then manager of the summer company, at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane) +who originally played the part of Barnwell.--The author was not then +known. As this was almost a new species of tragedy, wrote on a very +uncommon subject, he rather chose it should take its fate in the summer, +than run the more hazardous fate of encountering the winter criticks. +The old ballad of George Barnwell (on which the story was founded) was +on this occasion reprinted, and many thousands sold in one day. Many +gaily-disposed spirits brought the ballad with them to the play, +intending to make their pleasant remarks (as some afterwards owned) and +ludicrous comparisons between the antient ditty and the modern drama. +But the play was very carefully got up, and universally allowed to be +well performed. The piece was thought to be well conducted, and the +subject well managed, and the diction proper and natural; never low, and +very rarely swelling above the characters that spoke. Mr. Pope, among +other persons, distinguished by their rank, or particular publick merit, +had the curiosity to attend the performance, and commended the actors, +and the author; and remarked, if the latter had erred through the whole +play, it was only in a few places, where he had unawares led himself +into a poetical luxuriancy, affecting to be too elevated for the +simplicity of the subject. But the play, in general, spoke so much to +the heart, that the gay persons before mentioned confessed, they were +drawn in to drop their ballads, and pull out their handkerchiefs. It met +with uncommon success; for it was acted above twenty times in the summer +season to great audiences; was frequently bespoke by some eminent +merchants and citizens, who much approved its moral tendency: and, in +the winter following, was acted often to crowded houses: And all the +royal family, at several different times, honoured it with their +appearance. It gained reputation, and brought money to the poet, the +managers, and the performers. Mr. Cibber, jun. not only gave the author +his usual profits of his third days, &c. but procured him a +benefit-night in the winter season, which turned out greatly to his +advantage; so that he had four benefit-nights in all for that piece; by +the profits whereof, and his copy-money, he gained several hundred +pounds. It continued a stock-play in Drury-Lane Theatre till Mr. Cibber +left that house, and went to the Theatre in Covent-Garden. It was often +acted in the Christmas and Easter holidays, and judged a proper +entertainment for the apprentices, &c. as being a more instructive, +moral, and cautionary drama, than many pieces that had been usually +exhibited on those days, with little but farce and ribaldry to +recommend them. + +A few years after, he brought out his play of The Christian Hero at the +Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. + +And another Tragedy called Elmerick. + +His tragedy of three acts, called Fatal Curiosity, founded on an old +English story, was acted with success at the Hay-Market, in 1737. + +He wrote another tragedy, never yet acted, called Arden of Feversham. + +He was a man of strict morals, great good-nature, and sound sense, with +an uncommon share of modesty. + +He died Sept. 3. 1739. and was buried in the vault of Shoreditch church. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. CHARLES JOHNSON. + +Mr. Charles Johnson was designed for the law; but being an admirer of +the muses, turned his thoughts to dramatic writing; and luckily being an +intimate of Mr. Wilks, by the assistance of his friendship, Mr. Johnson +had several plays acted, some of which met with success. He was a +constant attendant at Will's and Button's coffee houses, which were the +resort of most of the men of taste and literature, during the reigns of +queen Anne and king George the first. Among these he contracted intimacy +enough to intitle him to their patronage, &c on his benefit-nights; by +which means he lived (with oeconomy) genteelly. At last he married a +young widow, with a tolerable fortune, and set up a tavern in +Bow-street, which he quitted on his wife's dying, and lived privately on +the small remainder of his fortune. + +He died about the year 1744. His parts were not very brilliant; but his +behaviour was generally thought inoffensive; yet he escaped not the +satire of Mr. Pope, who has been pleased to immortalize him in his +Dunciad. + +His dramatic pieces are, + +1. The Gentleman Cully, a Comedy: acted at the Theatre-Royal, +Covent-Garden, 1702. + +2. Fortune in her Wits, a Comedy; 1705. It is a very indifferent +translation of Mr. Cowley's Naufragium Joculare. + +3. The Force of Friendship, a Tragedy, 1710. + +4. Love in a Chest, a Farce, 1710. + +5. The Wife's Relief; or, the Husband's Cure; a Comedy. It is chiefly +borrowed from Shirley's Gamester, 1711. + +6. The Successful Pirate, a Tragi-Comedy, 1712. + +7. The Generous Husband; or, the Coffee-house Politician; a Comedy, +1713. + +8. The Country Lasses; or, the Custom of the Manor; a Comedy, 1714. + +9. Love and Liberty; a Tragedy, 1715. + +10. The Victim; a Tragedy, 1715. + +11. The Sultaness; a Tragedy, 1717. + +12. The Cobler of Preston; a Farce of two Acts, 1717. + +13. Love in a Forest; a Comedy, 1721. Taken from Shakespear's Comedy, As +you like it. + +14. The Masquerade; a Comedy, 1723. + +15. The Village Opera, 1728. + +16. The Ephesian Matron; a Farce of one Act, 1730. + +17. Celia; or, the Perjured Lovers; a Tragedy, 1732. + + + * * * * * + + +PHILIP FROWDE, Esq; + +This elegant poet was the son of a gentleman who had been +post-master-general in the reign of queen Anne. Where our author +received his earliest instructions in literature we cannot ascertain; +but, at a proper time of life, he was sent to the university of Oxford, +where he had the honour of being particularly distinguished by Mr. +Addison, who took him under his immediate protection. While he remained +at that university, he became author of several poetical performances; +some of which, in Latin, were sufficiently elegant and pure, to intitle +them to a place in the Musæ Anglicanæ, published by Mr. Addison; an +honour so much the more distinguished, as the purity of the Latin poems +contained in that collection, furnished the first hint to Boileau of the +greatness of the British genius. That celebrated critick of France +entertained a mean opinion of the English poets, till he occasionally +read the Musæ Anglicanæ; and then he was persuaded that they who could +write with so much elegance in a dead language, must greatly excel in +that which was native to them. + +Mr. Frowde has likewise obliged the publick with two tragedies; the Fall +of Saguntum, dedicated to sir Robert Walpole; and Philotas, addressed to +the earl of Chesterfield. The first of these performances, so far as we +are able to judge, has higher merit than the last. The story is more +important, being the destruction of a powerful city, than the fall of a +single hero; the incidents rising out of this great event are likewise +of a very interesting nature, and the scenes in many places are not +without passion, though justly subject to a very general criticism, that +they are written with too little. Mr. Frowde has been industrious in +this play to conclude his acts with similes, which however exceptionable +for being too long and tedious for the situations of the characters who +utter them, yet are generally just and beautiful. At the end of the +first act he has the following simile upon sedition: + + Sedition, thou art up; and, in the ferment, + To what may not the madding populace, + Gathered together for they scarce know what, + Now loud proclaiming their late, whisper'd grief, + Be wrought at length? Perhaps to yield the city. + Thus where the Alps their airy ridge extend, + Gently at first the melting snows descend; + From the broad slopes, with murm'ring lapse they glide + In soft meanders, down the mountain's side; + But lower fall'n streams, with each other crost, + From rock to rock impetuously are tost, + 'Till in the Rhone's capacious bed they're lost. + United there, roll rapidly away, + And roaring, reach, o'er rugged rocks, the sea. + +In the third act, the poet, by the mouth of a Roman hero, gives the +following concise definition of true courage. + + True courage is not, where fermenting spirits + Mount in a troubled and unruly stream; + The soul's its proper seat; and reason there + Presiding, guides its cool or warmer motions. + +The representation of besiegers driven back by the impetuosity of the +inhabitants, after they had entered a gate of the city, is strongly +pictured by the following simile. + + Imagine to thyself a swarm of bees + Driv'n to their hive by some impending storm, + Which, at its little pest, in clustering heaps, + And climbing o'er each other's backs they enter. + Such was the people's flight, and such their haste + To gain the gate. + +We have observed, that Mr. Frowde's other tragedy, called Philotas, was +addressed to the earl of Chesterfield; and in the dedication he takes +care to inform his lordship, that it had obtained his private +approbation, before it appeared on the stage. At the time of its being +acted, lord Chesterfield was then embassador to the states-general, and +consequently he was deprived of his patron's countenance during the +representation. As to the fate of this play, he informs his lordship, it +was very particular: "And I hope (says he) it will not be imputed as +vanity to me, when I explain my meaning in an expression of Juvenal, +Laudatur & al-get." But from what cause this misfortune attended it, we +cannot take upon us to say. + +Mr. Frowde died at his lodgings in Cecil-street in the Strand, on the +19th of Dec. 1738. In the London Daily Post 22d December, the following +amiable character is given of our poet: + +"But though the elegance of Mr. Frowde's writings has recommended him to +the general publick esteem, the politeness of his genius is the least +amiable part of his character; for he esteemed the talents of wit and +learning, only as they were, conducive to the excitement and practice of +honour and humanity. Therefore, + +"with a soul chearful, benevolent, and virtuous, he was in conversation +genteelly delightful; in friendship punctually sincere; in death +christianly resigned. No man could live more beloved; no private man +could die more lamented." + + + * * * * * + + +Mrs. MARY CHANDLER, + +Was born at Malmsbury in Wiltshire, in the year 1687, of worthy and +reputable parents; her father, Mr. Henry Chandler, being minister, many +years, of the congregation of protestant dissenters in Bath, whose +integrity, candour, and catholick spirit, gained him the esteem and +friendship of all ranks and parties. She was his eldest daughter, and +trained up carefully in the principles of religion and virtue. But as +the circumstances of the family rendered it necessary that she should be +brought up to business, she was very early employed in it, and incapable +of receiving that polite and learned education which she often regretted +the loss of, and which she afterwards endeavoured to repair by +diligently reading, and carefully studying the best modern writers, and +as many as she could of the antient ones, especially the poets, as far +as the best translations could assist her. + +Amongst these, Horace was her favourite; and how just her sentiments +were of that elegant writer, will fully appear from her own words, in a +letter to an intimate friend, relating to him, in which she thus +expresses herself: "I have been reading Horace this month past, in the +best translation I could procure of him. O could I read his fine +sentiments cloathed in his own dress, what would I, what would I not +give! He is more my favorite than Virgil or Homer. I like his subjects, +his easy manner. It is nature within my view. He doth not lose me in +fable, or in the clouds amidst gods and goddesses, who, more brutish +than myself, demand my homage, nor hurry me into the noise and confusion +of battles, nor carry me into inchanted circles, to conjure with witches +in an unknown land, but places me with persons like myself, and in +countries where every object is familiar to me. In short, his precepts +are plain, and morals intelligible, though not always so perfect as one +could have wished them. But as to this, I consider when and where he +lived." + +The hurries of life into which her circumstances at Bath threw her, sat +frequently extremely heavy upon a mind so intirely devoted to books and +contemplation as hers was; and as that city, especially in the seasons, +but too often furnished her with characters in her own sex that were +extremely displeasing to her, she often, in the most passionate manner, +lamented her fate, that tied her down to so disagreeable a situation; +for she was of so extremely delicate and generous a soul, that the +imprudences and faults of others gave her a very sensible pain, though +she had no other connexion with, or interest in them, but what arose +from the common ties of human nature. This made her occasional +retirements from that place to the country-seats of some of her +peculiarly intimate and honoured friends, doubly delightful to her, as +she there enjoyed the solitude she loved, and could converse, without +interruption, with those objects of nature, that never failed to inspire +her with the most exquisite satisfaction. One of her friends, whom she +highly honoured and loved, and of whose hospitable house, and pleasant +gardens, she was allowed the freest use, was the late excellent Mrs. +Stephens, of Sodbury in Gloucestershire, whose feat she celebrated in a +poem inscribed to her, inserted in the collection she published. A lady, +that was worthy of the highest commendation her muse could bestow upon +her. The fine use she made of solitude, the few following lines me wrote +on it, will be an honourable testimony to her. + + Sweet solitude, the Muses dear delight, + Serene thy day, and peaceful is thy night! + Thou nurse of innocence, fair virtue's friend, + Silent, tho' rapturous, pleasures thee attend. + Earth's verdant scenes, the all surrounding skies + Employ my wondring thoughts, and feast my eyes, + Nature in ev'ry object points the road, + Whence contemplation wings my soul to God. + He's all in all. His wisdom, goodness, pow'r, + Spring in each blade, and bloom in ev'ry flow'r, + Smile o'er the meads, and bend in ev'ry hill, + Glide in the stream, and murmur in the rill + All nature moves obedient to his will. + Heav'n shakes, earth trembles, and the forests nod, + When awful thunders speak the voice of God. + +However, notwithstanding her love of retirement, and the happy +improvement she knew how to make of it, yet her firm belief that her +station was the appointment of providence, and her earnest desire of +being useful to her relations, whom she regarded with the warmest +affection, brought her to submit to the fatigues of her business, to +which, during thirty-five years, she applied herself with, the utmost +diligence and care. + +Amidst such perpetual avocations, and constant attention to business, +her improvements in knowledge, and her extensive acquaintance with the +best writers, are truly surprising. But she well knew the worth of time, +and eagerly laid hold of all her leisure hours, not to lavish them away +in fashionable unmeaning amusements; but in the pursuit of what she +valued infinitely more, those substantial acquisitions of true wisdom +and goodness, which she knew were the noblest ornaments of the +reasonable mind, and the only sources of real and permanent happiness: +and she was the more desirous of this kind of accomplishments, as she +had nothing in her shape to recommend her, being grown, by an accident +in her childhood, very irregular in her body, which she had resolution +enough often to make the subject of her own pleasantry, drawing this +wise inference from it, "That as her person would not recommend her, she +must endeavour to cultivate her mind, to make herself agreeable." + +And indeed this she did with the greatest care; and she had so many +excellent qualities in her, that though her first appearance could never +create any prejudice in her favour, yet it was impossible to know her +without valuing and esteeming her. + +Wherever she professed friendship, it was sincere and cordial to the +objects of it; and though she admired whatever was excellent in them, +and gave it the commendations it deserved, yet she was not blind to +their faults, especially if such as she apprehended to be inconsistent +with the character of integrity and virtue. As she thought one of the +noblest advantages of real friendship, was the rendering it serviceable +mutually to correct, polish, and perfect the characters of those who +professed it, and as she was not displeased to be kindly admonished +herself for what her friends thought any little disadvantage to her +character, so she took the same liberty with others; but used that +liberty with such a remarkable propriety, tenderness, and politeness, as +made those more sincerely esteem her, with whom she used the greatest +freedom, and has lost her no intimacy but with one person, with whom, +for particular reasons, she thought herself obliged to break off all +correspondence. + +Nor could one, who had so perfect a veneration and love for religion and +virtue, fail to make her own advantage of the admonitions and reproofs +she gave to others: and she often expressed a very great pleasure, that +the care she had of those young persons, that were frequently committed +to her friendship, put her upon her guard, as to her own temper and +conduct, and on a review of her own actions, lest she should any way +give them a wrong example, or omit any thing that was really for their +good. And if she at any time reflected, that her behaviour to others had +been wrong, she, with the greatest ease and frankness, asked the pardon +of those she had offended; as not daring to leave to their wrong +construction any action of hers, lest they should imagine that she +indulged to those faults for which she took the liberty of reproving +them. Agreeable to this happy disposition of mind, she gave, in an +off-hand manner, the following advice to an intimate friend, who had +several children, whom she deservedly honoured, and whom she could not +esteem and love beyond his real merits. + + To virtue strict, to merit kind, + With temper calm, to trifles blind, + Win them to mend the faults they see, + And copy prudent rules from thee. + Point to examples in their sight, + T'avoid, and scorn, and to delight. + Then love of excellence inspire, + By hope their emulation fire, + You'll gain in time your own desire. + +She used frequently to complain of herself, as naturally eager, anxious, +and peevish. But, by a constant cultivation of that benevolent +disposition, that was never inwrought in any heart in a stronger and +more prevailing manner than in hers, she, in a good measure, dispossest +herself of those inward sources of uneasiness, and was pleased with the +victory she had gained over herself, and continually striving to render +it more absolute and complete. + +Her religion was rational and prevalent. She had, in the former part of +her life, great doubts about christianity, during which state of +uncertainty, she was one of the most uneasy and unhappy persons living. +But her own good sense, her inviolable attachment to religion and +virtue, her impartial inquiries, her converse with her believing +friends, her study of the best writers in defence of christianity, and +the observations she made on the temper and conduct, the fall and ruin +of some that had discarded their principles, and the irregularities of +others, who never attended to them, fully at last released her from all +her doubts, and made her a firm and established christian. The immediate +consequence of this was, the return of her peace, the possession of +herself, the enjoyment of her friends, and an intire freedom from the +terror of any thing that could befall her in the future part of her +existence. Thus she lived a pleasure to all who knew her, and being, at +length, resolved to disengage herself from the hurries of life, and wrap +herself up in that retirement she was so fond of, after having gained +what she thought a sufficient competency for one of her moderate +desires, and in that station that was allotted her, and settled her +affairs to her own mind, she finally quitted the world, and in a manner +agreeable to her own wishes, without being suffered to lie long in +weakness and pain, a burthen to herself, or those who attended her: +dying after about two days illness, in the 58th year of her age, Sept. +11, 1745. + +She thought the disadvantages of her shape were such, as gave her no +reasonable prospect of being happy in a married state, and therefore +chose to continue single. She had, however, an honourable offer from a +country gentleman of worth and large fortune, who, attracted merely by +the goodness of her character, took a journey of an hundred miles to +visit her at Bath, where he made his addresses to her. But she convinced +him that such a match could neither be for his happiness, or her own. +She had, however, something extremely agreeable and pleasing in her +face, and no one could enter into any intimacy of conversation with her, +but he immediately lost every disgust towards her, that the first +appearance of her person tended to excite in him. + +She had the misfortune of a very valetudinary constitution, owing, in +some measure, probably to the irregularity of her form. At last, after +many years illness, she entered, by the late ingenious Dr. Cheney's +advice, into the vegetable diet, and indeed the utmost extremes of it, +living frequently on bread and water; in which she continued so long, as +rendered her incapable of taking any more substantial food when she +afterwards needed it; for want of which she was so weak as not to be +able to support the attack of her last disorder, and which, I doubt not, +hastened on her death. But it must be added, in justice to her +character, that the ill state of her health was not the only or +principal reason that brought her to, and kept her fixed in her +resolution, of attempting, and persevering in this mortifying diet. The +conquest of herself, and subjecting her own heart more intirely to the +command of her reason and principles, was the object she had in especial +view in this change of her manner of living; as being firmly persuaded, +that the perpetual free use of animal food, and rich wines, tends so to +excite and inflame the passions, as scarce to leave any hope or chance, +for that conquest of them which she thought not only religion requires, +but the care of our own happiness, renders necessary. And the effect of +the trial, in her own case, was answerable to her wishes; and what she +says of herself in her own humorous epitaph, + + _That time and much thought had all passion extinguish'd_, + +was well known to be true, by those who were most nearly acquainted with +her. Those admirable lines on _Temperance_, in her Bath poem, she penned +from a very feeling experience of what she found by her own regard to +it, and can never be read too often, as the sense is equal to the +goodness of the poetry. + + Fatal effects of luxury and ease! + We drink our poison, and we eat disease, + Indulge our senses at our reason's cost, + Till sense is pain, and reason hurt, or lost. + Not so, O temperance bland! when rul'd by thee, + The brute's obedient, and the man is free. + Soft are his slumbers, balmy is his rest, + His veins not boiling from the midnight feast. + Touch'd by Aurora's rosy hand, he wakes + Peaceful and calm, and with the world partakes + The joyful dawnings of returning day, + For which their grateful thanks the whole creation pay, + All but the human brute. 'Tis he alone, + Whose works of darkness fly the rising sun. + 'Tis to thy rules, O temperance, that we owe + All pleasures, which from health and strength can flow, + Vigour of body, purity of mind, + Unclouded reason, sentiments refin'd, + Unmixt, untainted joys, without remorse, + Th' intemperate sinner's never-failing curse. + +She was observed, from her childhood, to have a fondness for poetry, +often entertaining her companions, in a winter's evening, with riddles +in verse, and was extremely fond, at that time of life, of Herbert's +poems. And this disposition grew up with her, and made her apply, in her +riper years, to the study of the best of our English poets; and before +she attempted any thing considerable, sent many small copies of verses, +on particular characters and occasions, to her peculiar friends. Her +poem on the Bath had the full approbation of the publick; and what sets +it above censure, had the commendation of Mr. Pope, and many others of +the first rank, for good sense and politeness. And indeed there are many +lines in it admirably penn'd, and that the finest genius need not to be +ashamed of. It hath ran through several editions; and, when first +published, procured her the personal acknowledgments of several of the +brightest quality, and of many others, greatly distinguished as the best +judges of poetical performances. + +She was meditating a nobler work, a large poem on the Being and +Attributes of God, which was her favourite subject; and, if one may +judge by the imperfect pieces of it, which she left behind her in her +papers, would have drawn the publick attention, had she liv'd to finish +it. + +She was peculiarly happy in her acquaintance, as she had good sense +enough to discern that worth in others she justly thought was the +foundation of all real friendship, and was so happy as to be honoured +and loved as a friend, by those whom she would have wished to be +connected with in that sacred character. She had the esteem of that most +excellent lady, who was superior to all commendation, the late dutchess +of Somerset, then countess of Hertford, who hath done her the honour of +several visits, and allowed her to return them at the Mount of +Marlborough. Mr. Pope favoured her with his at Bath, and complimented +her for her poem on that place. Mrs. Rowe, of Froom, was one of her +particular friends. 'Twould be endless to name all the persons of +reputation and fortune whom she had the pleasure of being intimately +acquainted with. She was a good woman, a kind relation, and a faithful +friend. She had a real genius for poetry, was a most agreeable +correspondent, had a large fund of good sense, was unblemished in her +character, lived highly esteemed, and died greatly lamented, + +_FINIS_. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great +Britain and Ireland (1753),Vol. V., by Theophilus Cibber + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIVES OF THE POETS *** + +***** This file should be named 12090-8.txt or 12090-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/9/12090/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Carol David and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/12090-8.zip b/old/12090-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9bd2e11 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12090-8.zip diff --git a/old/12090.txt b/old/12090.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a911ee9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12090.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11664 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and +Ireland (1753),Vol. V., by Theophilus Cibber + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753),Vol. V. + +Author: Theophilus Cibber + +Release Date: April 20, 2004 [EBook #12090] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIVES OF THE POETS *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Carol David and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE + +LIVES + +OF THE + +POETS + +OF + +_Great-Britain_ and _Ireland._ + +By Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands. + +VOL. V. + + +M DCC LIII + + +CONTENTS + + A Vol. + +_Aaron Hill_ V +_Addison_ III +_Amhurst_ V +_Anne_, Countess of _Winchelsea_ III + + B + +_Bancks_ III +_Banks_ V +_Barclay_ I +_Barton Booth_ IV +_Beaumont_ I +_Behn, Aphra_ III +_Betterton_ III +_Birkenhead_ II +_Blackmore_ V +_Booth_, Vid. _Barton Boyce_ V +_Boyle_, E. _Orrery_ II +_Brady_ IV +_Brewer_ II +_Brooke_, Sir _Fulk Greville_ I +_Brown, Tom_ III +_Buckingham_, Duke of II +_Budgell_ V +_Butler_ II + + C + +_Carew_ I +_Cartwright_ I +_Centlivre_, Mrs. IV +_Chandler_, Mrs. V +_Chapman_ I +_Chaucer_ I +_Chudleigh_, Lady III +_Churchyard_ I +_Cleveland_ II +_Cockaine_ II +_Cockburne_, Mrs. V +_Codrington_ IV +_Concanen_ V +_Congreve_ IV +_Corbet_ I +_Cotton_ III +_Cowley_ II +_Crashaw_ I +_Creech_ III +_Crowne_ III +_Croxal_ V + + D + +_Daniel_ I +_Davenant_ II +_Davies_ I +_Dawes_, Arch. of _York_ IV +_Day_ I +_Decker_ I +_De Foe_ IV +_Denham_ IV +_Dennis_ IV +_Donne_ I +_Dorset_, Earl of I +_Dorset_, Earl of III +_Drayton_ I +_Drummond_ I +_Dryden_ III +_D'Urfey_ III + + E + +_Eachard_ IV +_Etheredge_ III +_Eusden_ V +_Eustace Budgel_ V + + F + +_Fairfax_ I +_Fanshaw_ II +_Farquhar_ I +_Faulkland_ I +_Fenton_ IV +_Ferrars_ I +_Flecknoe_ III +_Fletcher_ I +_Ford_ I +_Frowde_ V + + G + +_Garth_ III +_Gay_ IV +_Gildon_ III +_Goff_ I +_Goldsmith_ II +_Gower_ I +_Granville_, Lord _Landsdown_ IV +_Green_ I +_Greville_, Lord _Brooke_ I +_Grierson_ V + + H + +_Harrington_ II +_Hall_, Bishop I +_Hammond_ V +_Hammond_, Esq; IV +_Harding_ I +_Harrington_ I +_Hausted_ I +_Head_ II +_Haywood, John_ I +_Haywood, Jasper_ I +_Haywood, Thomas_ I +_Hill_ V +_Hinchliffe_ V +_Hobbs_ II +_Holliday_ II +_Howard, Esq_; III +_Howard_, Sir _Robert_ III +_Howel_ II +_Hughes_ IV + + I + +_Johnson, Ben_ I +_Johnson, Charles_ V + + K + +_Killegrew, Anne_ II +_Killegrew, Thomas_ III +_Killegrew, William_ III +_King_, Bishop of _Chichester_ II +_King_, Dr. _William_ III + + L + +_Lauderdale_, Earl of V +_Langland_ I +_Lansdown_, Lord _Granville_ IV +_Lee_ II +_L'Estrange_ IV +_Lillo_ V +_Lilly_ I +_Lodge_ I +_Lydgate_ III + + M + +_Main_ II +_Manley_, Mrs. IV +_Markham_ I +_Marloe_ I +_Marston_ I +_Marvel_ IV +_Massinger_ II +_May_ II +_Maynwaring_ III +_Miller_ V +_Middleton_ I +_Milton_ II +_Mitchel_ IV +_Monk_, the Hon. Mrs. III +_Montague_, Earl of _Hallifax_ III +_More_, Sir _Thomas_ I +_More, Smyth_ IV +_Motteaux_ IV +_Mountford_ III + + N + +_Nabbes_ II +_Nash_ I +_Needler_ IV +_Newcastle_, Duchess of II +_Newcastle_, Duke of II + + O + +_Ogilby_ II +_Oldham_ II +_Oldmixon_ IV +_Orrery, Boyle_, Earl of II +_Otway_ II +_Overbury_ I +_Ozell_ IV + + P + +_Pack_ IV +_Phillips_, Mrs. _Katherine_ II +_Phillips, John_ III +_Phillips, Ambrose_ V +_Pilkington_ V +_Pit_ V +_Pomfret_ III +_Pope_ V +_Prior_ IV + + R + +_Raleigh_ I +_Randolph_ I +_Ravenscroft_ III +_Rochester_ II +_Roscommon_, Earl of III +_Rowe, Nicholas_ III +_Rowe_, Mrs. IV +_Rowley_ I + + S + +_Sackville_, E. of _Dorset_ I +_Sandys_ I +_Savage_ V +_Sedley_ III +_Settle_ III +_Sewel_ IV +_Shadwell_ III +_Shakespear_ I +_Sheffield_, Duke of Buckingham III +_Sheridan_ V +_Shirley_ II +_Sidney_ I +_Skelton_ I +_Smith, Matthew_ II +_Smith, Edmund_ IV +_Smyth, More_ IV +_Southern_ V +_Spenser_ I +_Sprat_ III +_Stapleton_ II +_Steele_ IV +_Stepney_ IV +_Stirling_, Earl of I +_Suckling_ I +_Surry_, Earl of I +_Swift_ V +_Sylvester_ I + + T +_Tate_ III +_Taylor_ II +_Theobald_ V +_Thomas_, Mrs. IV +_Thompson_ V +_Tickell_ V +_Trap_ V + + V + +_Vanbrugh_ IV + + W + +_Waller_ II +_Walsh_ III +_Ward_ IV +_Welsted_ IV +_Wharton_ II +_Wharton, Philip_ Duke of IV +_Wycherley_ III +_Winchelsea, Anne_, Countess of III +_Wotton_ I +_Wyatt_ I + + Y + +_Yalden_ IV + + + +THE + +LIVES + +OF THE + +POETS + + + * * * * * + + +EUSTACE BUDGELL, Esq; + +was the eldest son of Gilbert Budgell, D.D. of St. Thomas near Exeter, +by his first wife Mary, the only daughter of Dr. William Gulston, bishop +of Bristol; whose sister Jane married dean Addison, and was mother to +the famous Mr. Addison the secretary of state. This family of Budgell is +very old, and has been settled, and known in Devonshire above 200 +years[1]. + +Eustace was born about the year 1685, and distinguished himself very +soon at school, from whence he was removed early to Christ's Church +College in Oxford, where he was entered a gentleman commoner. He staid +some years in that university, and afterwards went to London, where, by +his father's directions, he was entered of the Inner-Temple, in order to +be bred to the Bar, for which his father had always intended him: but +instead of the Law, he followed his own inclinations, which carried him +to the study of polite literature, and to the company of the genteelest +people in town. This proved unlucky; for the father, by degrees, grew +uneasy at his son's not getting himself called to the Bar, nor properly +applying to the Law, according to his reiterated directions and request; +and the son complained of the strictness and insufficiency of his +father's allowance, and constantly urged the necessity of his living +like a gentleman, and of his spending a great deal of money. During this +slay, however, at the Temple, Mr. Budgell made a strict intimacy and +friendship with Mr. Addison, who was first cousin to his mother; and +this last gentleman being appointed, in the year 1710, secretary to lord +Wharton, the lord lieutenant of Ireland, he made an offer to his friend +Eustace of going with him as one of the clerks in his office. The +proposal being advantageous, and Mr. Budgell being then on bad terms +with his father, and absolutely unqualified for the practice of the Law, +it was readily accepted. Nevertheless, for fear of his father's +disapprobation of it, he never communicated his design to him 'till the +very night of his setting out for Ireland, when he wrote him a letter +to inform him at once of his resolution and journey. This was in the +beginning of April 1710, when he was about twenty five years of age. He +had by this time read the classics, the most reputed historians, and all +the best French, English, or Italian writers. His apprehension was +quick, his imagination fine, and his memory remarkably strong; though +his greatest commendations were a very genteel address, a ready wit and +an excellent elocution, which shewed him to advantage wherever he went. +There was, notwithstanding, one principal defect in his disposition, and +this was an infinite vanity, which gave him so insufferable a +presumption, as led him to think that nothing was too much for his +capacity, nor any preferment, or favour, beyond his deserts. Mr. +Addison's fondness for him perhaps increased this disposition, as he +naturally introduced him into all the company he kept, which at that +time was the best, and most ingenious in the two kingdoms. In short, +they lived and lodged together, and constantly followed the lord +lieutenant into England at the same time. + +It was now that Mr. Budgell commenced author, and was partly concerned +with Sir Richard Steele and Mr. Addison in writing the Tatler. The +Spectators being set on foot in 1710-11, Mr. Budgell had likewise a +share in them, as all the papers marked with an X may easily inform the +reader, and indeed the eighth volume was composed by Mr. Addison and +himself[2], without the assistance of Sir Richard Steele. The +speculations of our author were generally liked, and Mr. Addison was +frequently complimented upon the ingenuity of his kinsman. About the +same time he wrote an epilogue to the Distress'd Mother[3], which had a +greater run than any thing of that kind ever had before, and has had +this peculiar regard shewn to it since, that now, above thirty years +afterwards, it is generally spoke at the representation of that play. +Several little epigrams and songs, which have a good deal of wit in +them, were also written by Mr. Budgell near this period of time, all +which, together with the known affection of Mr. Addison for him, raised +his character so much, as to make him be very generally known and talked +of. + +His father's death in 1711 threw into his hands all the estates of the +family, which were about 950 l. a year, although they were left +incumbered with some debts, as his father was a man of pride and spirit, +kept a coach and six, and always lived beyond his income, +notwithstanding his spiritual preferments, and the money he had received +with his wives. Dr. Budgell had been twice married, and by his first +lady left five children living after him, three of whom were sons, +Eustace, our author, Gilbert, a Clergyman, and William, the fellow of +New College in Oxford. By his last wife (who was Mrs. Fortescue, mother +to the late master of the rolls, and who survived him) he had no issue. +Notwithstanding this access of fortune, Mr. Budgell in no wise altered +his manner of living; he was at small expence about his person, stuck +very close to business, and gave general satisfaction in the discharge +of his office. + +Upon the laying down of the Spectator, the Guardian was set up, and in +this work our author had a hand along with Mr. Addison and Sir Richard +Steele. In the preface it is said, those papers marked with an asterisk +are by Mr. Budgell. + +In the year 1713 he published a very elegant translation of +Theophrastus's Characters, which Mr. Addison in the Lover says, 'is the +best version extant of any ancient author in the English language.' It +was dedicated to the lord Hallifax, who was the greatest patron our +author ever had, and with whom he always lived in the greatest intimacy. + +Mr. Budgell having regularly made his progress in the secretary of +State's office in Ireland; upon the arrival of his late Majesty in +England, was appointed under secretary to Mr. Addison, and chief +secretary to the Lords Justices of Ireland. He was made likewise deputy +clerk of the council in that kingdom, and soon after chose member of the +Irish parliament, where he became a very good speaker. The post of under +secretary is reckoned worth 1500 l. a year, and that of deputy clerk to +the council 250 l. a year. Mr. Budgell set out for Ireland the 8th of +October, 1714, officiated in his place in the privy council the 14th, +took possession of the secretary's office, and was immediately admitted +secretary to the Lords Justices. In the same year at a public +entertainment at the Inns of Court in Dublin, he, with many people of +distinction, was made an honorary bencher. At his first entering upon +the secretary's place, after the removal of the tories on the accession +of his late Majesty, he lay under very great difficulties; all the +former clerks of his office refusing to serve, all the books with the +form of business being secreted, and every thing thrown into the utmost +confusion; yet he surmounted these difficulties with very uncommon +resolution, assiduity, and ability, to his great honour and applause. + +Within a twelvemonth of his entering upon his employments, the rebellion +broke out, and as, for several years (during all the absences of the +lord lieutenant) he had discharged the office of secretary of state, and +as no transport office at that time subsisted, he was extraordinarily +charged with the care of the embarkation, and the providing of shipping +(which is generally the province of a field-officer) for all the troops +to be transported to Scotland. However, he went through this extensive +and unusual complication of business, with great exactness and ability, +and with very singular disinterestedness, for he took no extraordinary +service money on this account, nor any gratuity, or fees for any of the +commissions which passed through his office for the colonels and +officers of militia then raising in Ireland. The Lords Justices pressed +him to draw up a warrant for a very handsome present, on account of his +great zeal, and late extraordinary pains (for he had often sat up whole +nights in his office) but he very genteely and firmly refused it. + +Mr. Addison, upon becoming principal secretary of state in England in +1717, procured the place of accomptant and comptroller general of the +revenue in Ireland for Mr. Budgell, which is worth 400 l. a year, and +might have had him for his under secretary, but it was thought more +expedient for his Majesty's service, that Mr. Budgell should continue +where he was. Our author held these several places until the year 1718, +at which time the duke of Bolton was appointed lord lieutenant. His +grace carried one Mr. Edward Webster over with him (who had been an +under clerk in the Treasury) and made him a privy counsellor and his +secretary. This gentleman, 'twas said, insisted upon the quartering a +friend on the under secretary, which produced a misunderstanding between +them; for Mr. Budgell positively declared, he would never submit to any +such condition whilst he executed the office, and affected to treat Mr. +Webster himself, his education, abilities, and family, with the utmost +contempt. He was indiscreet enough, prior to this, to write a lampoon, +in which the lord lieutenant was not spared: he would publish it (so +fond was he of this brat of his brain) in opposition to Mr. Addison's +opinion, who strongly persuaded him to suppress it; as the publication, +Mr. Addison said, could neither serve his interest, or reputation. Hence +many discontents arose between them, 'till at length the lord +lieutenant, in support of his secretary, superseded Mr. Budgell, and +very soon after got him removed from the place of accomptant-general. +However, upon the first of these removals taking place, and upon some +hints being given by his private secretary, captain Guy Dickens (now our +minister at Stockholm) that it would not probably be safe for him to +remain any longer in Ireland, he immediately entrusted his papers and +private concerns to the hands of his brother William, then a clerk in +his office, and set out for England. Soon after his arrival he published +a pamphlet representing his case, intituled, A Letter to the Lord---- +from Eustace Budgell, Esq; Accomptant General of Ireland, and late +Secretary to their Excellencies the Lords Justices of that Kingdom; +eleven hundred copies of which were sold off in one day, so great was +the curiosity of the public in that particular. Afterwards too in the +Post-Boy of January 17, 1718-19, he published an Advertisement to +justify his character against a report that had been spread to his +disadvantage: and he did not scruple to declare in all companies that +his life was attempted by his enemies, or otherwise he should have +attended his feat in the Irish Parliament. His behaviour, about this +time, made many of his friends judge he was become delirious; his +passions were certainly exceeding strong, nor were his vanity and +jealousy less. Upon his coming to England he had lost no time in waiting +upon Mr. Addison, who had resigned the seals, and was retired into the +country for the sake of his health; but Mr. Addison found it impossible +to stem the tide of opposition, which was every where running against +his kinsman, through the influence and power of the duke of Bolton. He +therefore disswaded him in the strongest manner from publishing his +case, but to no manner of purpose, which made him tell a friend in great +anxiety, 'Mr. Budgell was wiser than any man he ever knew, and yet he +supposed the world would hardly believe he acted contrary to his +advice.' Our author's great and noble friend the lord Hallifax was dead, +and my lord Orrery, who held him in the highest esteem, had it not in +his power to procure him any redress. However, Mr. Addison had got a +promise from lord Sunderland, that as soon as the present clamour was a +little abated, he would do something for him. + +Mr. Budgell had held the considerable places of under secretary to the +Lord Lieutenant, and secretary to the Lords Justices for four years, +during which time he had never been absent four days from his office, +nor ten miles from Dublin. His application was indefatigable, and his +natural spirits capable of carrying him through any difficulty. He had +lived always genteelly, but frugally, and had saved a large sum of +money, which he now engaged in the South-Sea scheme. During his abode in +Ireland, he had collected materials for writing a History of that +kingdom, for which he had great advantages, by having an easy recourse +to all the public offices; but what is become of it, and whether he ever +finished it, we are not certainly informed. It is undoubtedly a +considerable loss, because there is no tolerable history of that nation, +and because we might have expected a satisfactory account from so +pleasing a writer. + +He wrote a pamphlet, after he came to England, against the famous +Peerage Bill, which was very well received by the public, but highly +offended the earl of Sunderland. It was exceedingly cried up by the +opposition, and produced some overtures of friendship at the time, from +Mr. Robert Walpole, to our author. Mr. Addison's death, in the year +1719, put an end, however, to all his hopes of succeeding at court, +where he continued, nevertheless, to make several attempts, but was +constantly kept down by the weight of the duke of Bolton. In the +September of that year he went into France, through all the strong +places in Flanders and Brabant, and all the considerable towns in +Holland, and then went to Hanover, from whence he returned with his +Majesty's retinue the November following. + +But the fatal year of the South-Sea, 1720, ruined our author entirely, +for he lost above 20,000 l. in it; however he was very active on that +occasion, and made many speeches at the general courts of the South-Sea +Company in Merchant-Taylors Hall, and one in particular, which was +afterwards printed both in French and English, and run to a third +edition. And in 1721 he published a pamphlet with success, called, A +Letter to a Friend in the Country, occasioned by a Report that there is +a Design still forming by the late Directors of the South-Sea Company, +their Agents and Associates, to issue the Receipts of the 3d and 4th +Subscriptions at 1000 l. per Cent. and to extort about 10 Millions more +from the miserable People of Great Britain; with some Observations on +the present State of Affairs both at Home and Abroad. In the same year +he published A Letter to Mr. Law upon his Arrival in Great Britain, +which run through seven editions very soon. Not long afterwards the duke +of Portland, whose fortune had been likewise destroyed by the South-Sea, +was appointed governor of Jamaica, upon which he immediately told Mr. +Budgell he should go with him as his secretary, and should always live +in the same manner with himself, and that he would contrive every method +of making the employment profitable and agreeable to him: but his grace +did not know how obnoxious our author had rendered himself; for within a +few days after this offer's taking air, he was acquainted in form by a +secretary of state, that if he thought of Mr. Budgell, the government +would appoint another governor in his room. + +After being deprived of this last resource, he tried to get into the +next parliament at several places, and spent near 5000 l. in +unsuccessful attempts, which compleated his ruin. And from this period +he began to behave and live in a very different manner from what he had +ever done before; wrote libellous pamphlets against Sir Robert Walpole +and the ministry; and did many unjust things with respect to his +relations; being distracted in his own private fortune, as, indeed, he +was judged to be, in his senses; torturing his invention to find out +ways of subsisting and eluding his ill-stars, his pride at the same time +working him up to the highest pitches of resentment and indignation +against all courts and courtiers. + +His younger brother, the fellow of New-College, who had more weight with +him than any body, had been a clerk under him in Ireland, and continued +still in the office, and who bad fair for rising in it, died in the year +1723, and after that our author seemed to pay no regard to any person. +Mr. William Budgell was a man of very good sense, extremely steady in +his conduct, and an adept in all calculations and mathematical +questions; and had besides great good-nature and easiness of temper. + +Our author as I before observed, perplexed his private affairs from this +time as much as possible, and engaged in numberless law-suits, which +brought him into distresses that attended him to the end of his life. + +In 1727 Mr. Budgell had a 1000 l. given him by the late Sarah, duchess +dowager of Marlborough, to whose husband (the famous duke of +Marlborough) he was a relation by his mother's side, with a view to his +getting into parliament. She knew he had a talent for speaking in +public, and that he was acquainted with business, and would probably run +any lengths against the ministry. However this scheme failed, for he +could never get chosen. + +In the year 1730 and about that time, he closed in with the writers +against the administration, and wrote many papers in the Craftsman. He +likewise published a pamphlet, intitled, A Letter to the Craftsman, +from E. Budgell, Esq; occasioned by his late presenting an humble +complaint against the right honourable Sir Robert Walpole, with a +Post-script. This ran to a ninth edition. Near the same time too he +wrote a Letter to Cleomenes King of Sparta, from E. Budgell, Esq; being +an Answer Paragraph by Paragraph to his Spartan Majesty's Royal Epistle, +published some time since in the Daily Courant, with some Account of the +Manners and Government of the Antient Greeks and Romans, and Political +Reflections thereon. And not long after there came out A State of one of +the Author's Cases before the House of Lords, which is generally printed +with the Letter to Cleomenes: He likewise published on the same occasion +a pamphlet, which he calls Liberty and Property, by E. Budgell, Esq; +wherein he complains of the seizure and loss of many valuable papers, +and particularly a collection of Letters from Mr. Addison, lord +Hallifax, Sir Richard Steele, and other people, which he designed to +publish; and soon after he printed a sequel or second part, under the +same title. + +The same year he also published his Poem upon his Majesty's Journey to +Cambridge and New-market, and dedicated it to the Queen. Another of his +performances is a poetical piece, intitled A Letter to his Excellency +Ulrick D'Ypres, and C----, in Answer to his excellency's two Epistles in +the Daily Courant; with a Word or Two to Mr. Osborn the Hyp Doctor, and +C----. These several performances were very well received by the public. + +In the year 1733 he began a weekly pamphlet (in the nature of a +Magazine, though more judiciously composed) called The Bee, which he +continued for about 100 Numbers, that bind into eight Volumes Octavo, +but at last by quarrelling with his booksellers, and filling his +pamphlet with things entirely relating to himself, he was obliged to +drop it. During the progress of this work, Dr. Tindall's death happened, +by whose will Mr. Budgell had 2000 l. left him; and the world being +surprised at such a gift, immediately imputed it to his making the will +himself. This produced a paper-war between him and Mr. Tindall, the +continuator of Rapin, by which Mr. Budgell's character considerably +suffered; and this occasioned his Bee's being turned into a meer +vindication of himself. + +It is thought he had some hand in publishing Dr. Tindall's Christianity +as old as the Creation; and he often talked of another additional volume +on the same subject, but never published it. However he used to enquire +very frequently after Dr. Conybear's health (who had been employed by +her late majesty to answer the first, and had been rewarded with the +deanery of Christ-Church for his pains) saying he hoped Mr. Dean would +live a little while longer, that he might have the pleasure of making +him a bishop, for he intended very soon to publish the other volume of +Tindall which would do the business. Mr. Budgell promised likewise a +volume of several curious pieces of Tindall's, that had been committed +to his charge, with the life of the doctor; but never fulfilled his +promise[4]. + +During the publication of the Bee a smart pamphlet came out, called A +Short History of Prime Ministers, which was generally believed to be +written by our author; and in the same year he published A Letter to the +Merchants and Tradesmen of London and Bristol, upon their late glorious +behaviour against the Excise Law. + +After the extinction of the Bee, our author became so involved with +law-suits, and so incapable of living in the manner he wished and +affected to do, that he was reduced to a very unhappy situation. He got +himself call'd to the bar, and attended for some time in the courts of +law; but finding it was too late to begin that profession, and too +difficult for a man not regularly trained to it, to get into business, +he soon quitted it. And at last, after being cast in several of his own +suits, and being distressed to the utmost, he determined to make away +with himself. He had always thought very loosely of revelation, and +latterly became an avowed deist; which, added to his pride, greatly +disposed him to this resolution. + +Accordingly within a few days after the loss of his great cause, and his +estates being decreed for the satisfaction of his creditors, in the year +1736 he took boat at Somerset-Stairs (after filling his pockets with +stones upon the beach) ordered the waterman to shoot the bridge, and +whilst the boat was going under it threw himself over-board. Several +days before he had been visibly distracted in his mind, and almost mad, +which makes such an action the less wonderful. + +He was never married, but left one natural daughter behind him, who +afterwards took his name, and was lately an actress at Drury-Lane. + +It has been said, Mr. Budgell was of opinion, that when life becomes +uneasy to support, and is overwhelmed with clouds, and sorrows, that a +man has a natural right to take it away, as it is better not to live, +than live in pain. The morning before he carried his notion of +self-murder into execution, he endeavoured to persuade his daughter to +accompany him, which she very wisely refused. His argument to induce her +was; life is not worth the holding.--Upon Mr. Budgell's beauroe was +found a slip of paper; in which were written these words. + + What Cato did, and Addison approv'd[5], + Cannot be wrong.-- + +Mr. Budgell had undoubtedly strong natural parts, an excellent +education, and set out in life with every advantage that a man could +wish, being settled in very great and profitable employments, at a very +early age, by Mr. Addison: But by excessive vanity and indiscretion, +proceeding from a false estimation of his own weight and consequence, he +over-stretched himself, and ruined his interest at court, and by the +succeeding loss of his fortune in the South-Sea, was reduced too low to +make any other head against his enemies. The unjustifiable and +dishonourable law-suits he kept alive, in the remaining part of his +life, seem to be intirely owing to the same disposition, which could +never submit to the living beneath what he had once done, and from that +principle he kept a chariot and house in London to the very last. + +His end was like that of many other people of spirit, reduced to great +streights; for some of the greatest, as well as some of the most +infamous men have laid violent hands upon themselves. As an author where +he does not speak of himself, and does not give a loose to his vanity, +he is a very agreeable and deserving writer; not argumentative or deep, +but very ingenious and entertaining, and his stile is peculiarly +elegant, so as to deserve being ranked in that respect with Addison's, +and is superior to most of the other English writers. His Memoirs of the +Orrery Family and the Boyle's, is the most indifferent of his +performances; though the translations of Phalaris's Epistles in that +work are done with great spirit and beauty. + +As to his brothers, the second, Gilbert, was thought a man of deeper +learning and better judgment when he was young than our author, but was +certainly inferior to him in his appearance in life; and, 'tis thought, +greatly inferior to him in every respect. He was author of a pretty Copy +of Verses in the VIIIth Vol. of the Spectators, Numb, 591, which begins +thus, + + Conceal, fond man, conceal the mighty smart, + Nor tell Corinna she has fir'd thy heart. + +And it is said that it was a repulse from a lady of great fortune, with +whom he was desperately in love whilst at Oxford, and to whom he had +addressed these lines, that made him disregard himself ever after, +neglect his studies, and fall into a habit of drinking. Whatever was the +occasion of this last vice it ruined him. A lady had commended and +desired to have a copy of his Verses once, and he sent them, with these +lines on the first leaf-- + + Lucretius hence thy maxim I abjure + Nought comes from nought, nothing can nought procure. + + If to these lines your approbation's join'd, + Something I'm sure from nothing has been coin'd. + +This gentleman died unmarried, a little after his brother Eustace, at +Exeter; having lived in a very disreputable manner for some time, and +having degenerated into such excessive indolence, that he usually picked +up some boy in the streets, and carried him into the coffee-house to +read the news-papers to him. He had taken deacon's orders some years +before his death, but had always been averse to that kind of life; and +therefore became it very ill, and could never be prevailed upon to be a +priest. + +The third brother William, fellow of New-College in Oxford, died (as I +mentioned before) one of the clerks in the Irish secretary of state's +office, very young. He had been deputy accomptant general, both to his +brother and his successor; and likewise deputy to Mr. Addison, as keeper +of the records in Birmingham-Tower. Had he lived, 'tis probable he would +have made a considerable figure, being a man of sound sense and +learning, with great prudence and honour. His cousin Dr. Downes, then +bishop of London-Derry, was his zealous friend, and Dr. Lavington the +present bishop of Exeter, his fellow-collegian, was his intimate +correspondent. Of the two sisters, the eldest married captain Graves of +Thanks, near Saltash in Cornwall, a sea-officer, and died in 1738, +leaving some children behind her; and the other is still alive, +unmarried. The father Dr. Gilbert Budgell, was esteemed a sensible man, +and has published a discourse upon Prayer, and some Sermons[6]. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] See Budgell's Letter to Cleomenes. Appendix p. 79. + +[2] See The Bee, vol. ii. p. 854. + +[3] 'Till then it was usual to discontinue an epilogue after the sixth + night. But this was called for by the audience, and continued for + the whole run of this play: Budgell did not scruple to sit in the + it, and call for it himself. + +[4] Vide Bee, Vol. II. page 1105. + +[5] Alluding to Cato's destroying himself. + +[6] There is an Epigram of our author's, which I don't remember to have + seen published any where, written upon the death of a very fine + young lady. + + She was, she is, + (What can theremore be said) + On Earth [the] first, + In Heav'n the second Maid. +[Transcriber's note: Print unclear, word in square bracket assumed.] + + See a Song of our author's in Steele's Miscellanies, published in + 1714. Page 210. + + There is an Epigram of his printed in the same book and in many + collections, Upon a Company of bad Dancers to good Music. + + How ill the motion with the music suits! + So fiddled Orpheus--and so danc'd the Brutes. + + + * * * * * + + +THOMAS TICKELL, Esq. + +This Gentleman, well known, to the world by the friendship and intimacy +which subsisted between him and Mr. Addison, was the son of the revd. +Mr. Richard Tickell, who enjoy'd a considerable preferment in the North +of England. Our poet received his education at Queen's-College in +Oxford, of which he was a fellow. + +While he was at that university, he wrote a beautiful copy of verses +addressed to Mr. Addison, on his Opera of Rosamond. These verses +contained many elegant compliments to the author, in which he compares +his softness to Corelli, and his strength to Virgil[1]. + + The Opera first Italian masters taught, + Enrich'd with songs, but innocent of thought; + Britannia's learned theatre disdains + Melodious trifles, and enervate strains; + And blushes on her injur'd stage to see, + Nonsense well tun'd with sweet stupidity. + + No charms are wanting to thy artful song + Soft as Corelli, and as Virgil strong. + +These complimentary lines, a few of which we have now quoted, so +effectually recommended him to Mr. Addison, that he held him in esteem +ever afterwards; and when he himself was raised to the dignity of +secretary of state, he appointed Mr. Tickell his under-secretary. Mr. +Addison being obliged to resign on account of his ill-state of health, +Mr. Craggs who succeeded him, continued Mr. Tickell in his place, which +he held till that gentleman's death. When Mr. Addison was appointed +secretary, being a diffident man, he consulted with his friends about +disposing such places as were immediately dependent on him. He +communicated to Sir Richard Steele, his design of preferring Mr. Tickell +to be his under-secretary, which Sir Richard, who considered him as a +petulant man, warmly opposed. He observed that Mr. Tickell was of a +temper too enterprising to be governed, and as he had no opinion of his +honour, he did not know what might be the consequence, if by insinuation +and flattery, or by bolder means, he ever had an opportunity of raising +himself. It holds pretty generally true, that diffident people under the +appearance of distrusting their own opinions, are frequently positive, +and though they pursue their resolutions with trembling, they never fail +to pursue them. Mr. Addison had a little of this temper in him. He could +not be persuaded to set aside Mr. Tickell, nor even had secrecy enough +to conceal from him Sir Richard's opinion. This produced a great +animosity between Sir Richard and Mr. Tickell, which subsisted during +their lives. + +Mr. Tickell in his life of Addison, prefixed to his own edition of that +great man's works, throws out some unmannerly reflexions against Sir +Richard, who was at that time in Scotland, as one of the commissioners +on the forfeited estates. Upon Sir Richard's return to London, he +dedicates to Mr. Congreve, Addison's Comedy, called the Drummer, in +which he takes occasion very smartly to retort upon Tickell, and clears +himself of the imputation laid to his charge, namely that of valuing +himself upon Mr. Addison's papers in the Spectator. + +In June 1724 Mr. Tickell was appointed secretary to the Lords Justices +in Ireland, a place says Mr. Coxeter, which he held till his death, +which happened in the year 1740. + +It does not appear that Mr. Tickell was in any respect ungrateful to Mr. +Addison, to whom he owed his promotion; on the other hand we find him +take every opportunity to celebrate him, which he always performs with +so much zeal, and earnestness, that he seems to have retained the most +lasting sense of his patron's favours. His poem to the earl of Warwick +on the death of Mr. Addison, is very pathetic. He begins it thus, + + If dumb too long, the drooping Muse hath stray'd, + And left her debt to Addison unpaid, + Blame not her silence, Warwick, but bemoan, + And judge, O judge, my bosom by your own. + What mourner ever felt poetic fires! + Slow comes the verse, that real woe inspires: + Grief unaffected suits but ill with art, + Or flowing numbers with a bleeding heart. + +Mr. Tickell's works are printed in the second volume of the Minor Poets, +and he is by far the most considerable writer amongst them. He has a +very happy talent in versification, which much exceeds Addison's, and is +inferior to few of the English Poets, Mr. Dryden and Pope excepted. The +first poem in this collection is addressed to the supposed author of the +Spectator. + +In the year 1713 Mr. Tickell wrote a poem, called The Prospect of Peace, +addressed to his excellency the lord privy-seal; which met with so +favourable a reception from the public, as to go thro' six editions. The +sentiments in this poem are natural, and obvious, but no way +extraordinary. It is an assemblage of pretty notions, poetically +expressed; but conducted with no kind of art, and altogether without a +plan. The following exordium is one of the most shining parts of the +poem. + + Far hence be driv'n to Scythia's stormy shore + The drum's harsh music, and the cannon's roar; + Let grim Bellona haunt the lawless plain, + Where Tartar clans, and grizly Cossacks reign; + Let the steel'd Turk be deaf to Matrons cries, + See virgins ravish'd, with relentless eyes, + To death, grey heads, and smiling infants doom. + Nor spare the promise of the pregnant womb: + O'er wafted kingdoms spread his wide command. + The savage lord of an unpeopled land. + Her guiltless glory just Britannia draws + From pure religion, and impartial laws, + To Europe's wounds a mother's aid she brings, + And holds in equal scales the rival kings: + Her gen'rous sons in choicest gifts abound, + Alike in arms, alike in arts renown'd. + +The Royal Progress. This poem is mentioned in the Spectator, in +opposition to such performances, as are generally written in a swelling +stile, and in which the bombast is mistaken for the sublime. It is meant +as a compliment to his late majesty, on his arrival in his British +dominions. + +An imitation of the Prophesy of Nereus. Horace, Book I. Ode XV.--This +was written about the year 1715, and intended as a ridicule upon the +enterprize of the earl of Marr; which he prophesies will be crushed by +the duke of Argyle. + +An Epistle from a Lady in England, to a gentleman at Avignon. Of this +piece five editions were sold; it is written in the manner of a Lady to +a Gentleman, whose principles obliged him to be an exile with the Royal +Wanderer. The great propension of the Jacobites to place confidence in +imaginary means; and to construe all extraordinary appearances, into +ominous signs of the restoration of their king is very well touched. + + Was it for this the sun's whole lustre fail'd, + And sudden midnight o'er the Moon prevail'd! + For this did Heav'n display to mortal eyes + Aerial knights, and combats in the skies! + Was it for this Northumbrian streams look'd red! + And Thames driv'n backwards shew'd his secret bed! + + False Auguries! th'insulting victors scorn! + Ev'n our own prodigies against us turn! + O portents constru'd, on our side in vain! + Let never Tory trust eclipse again! + Run clear, ye fountains! be at peace, ye skies; + And Thames, henceforth to thy green borders rise! + +An Ode, occasioned by his excellency the earl of Stanhope's Voyage to +France. + +A Prologue to the University of Oxford. + +Thoughts occasioned by the sight of an original +picture of King Charles the 1st, taken at the time of +his Trial. + +A Fragment of a Poem, on Hunting. + +A Description of the Phoenix, from Claudian. + +To a Lady; with the Description of the Phoenix. + +Part of the Fourth Book of Lucan translated. + +The First Book of Homer's Iliad. + +Kensington-Gardens. + +Several Epistles and Odes. + +This translation was published much about the same time with Mr. Pope's. +But it will not bear a comparison; and Mr. Tickell cannot receive a +greater injury, than to have his verses placed in contradistinction to +Pope's. Mr. Melmoth, in his Letters, published under the name of Fitz +Osborne, has produced some parallel passages, little to the advantage of +Mr. Tickell, who if he fell greatly short of the elegance and beauty of +Pope, has yet much exceeded Mr. Congreve, in what he has attempted of +Homer. + +In the life of Addison, some farther particulars concerning this +translation are related; and Sir Richard Steele, in his dedication of +the Drummer to Mr. Congreve, gives it as his opinion, that Addison was +himself the author. + +These translations, published at the same time, were certainly meant as +rivals to one another. We cannot convey a more adequate idea of this, +than in the words of Mr. Pope, in a Letter to James Craggs, Esq.; dated +July the 15th, 1715. + +'Sir, + +'They tell me, the busy part of the nation are not more busy about Whig +and Tory; than these idle-fellows of the feather, about Mr. Tickell's +and my translation. I (like the Tories) have the town in general, that +is, the mob on my side; but it is usual with the smaller part to make up +in industry, what they want in number; and that is the case with the +little senate of Cato. However, if our principles be well considered, I +must appear a brave Whig, and Mr. Tickell a rank Tory. I translated +Homer, for the public in general, he to gratify the inordinate desires +of one man only. We have, it seems, a great Turk in poetry, who can +never bear a brother on the throne; and has his Mutes too, a set of +Medlers, Winkers, and Whisperers, whose business 'tis to strangle all +other offsprings of wit in their birth. The new translator of Homer, is +the humblest slave he has, that is to say, his first minister; let him +receive the honours he gives me, but receive them with fear and +trembling; let him be proud of the approbation of his absolute lord, I +appeal to the people, as my rightful judges, and masters; and if they +are not inclined to condemn me, I fear no arbitrary high-flying +proceeding, from the Court faction at Button's. But after all I have +said of this great man, there is no rupture between us. We are each of +us so civil, and obliging, that neither thinks he's obliged: And I for +my part, treat with him, as we do with the Grand Monarch; who has too +many great qualities, not to be respected, though we know he watches any +occasion to oppress us.' + +Thus we have endeavoured to exhibit an Idea of the writings of Mr. +Tickell, a man of a very elegant genius: As there appears no great +invention in his works, if he cannot be placed in the first rank of +Poets; yet from the beauty of his numbers, and the real poetry which +enriched his imagination, he has, at least, an unexceptionable claim to +the second. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Jacob. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. WILLIAM HINCHLIFFE, + +was the son of a reputable tradesman of St. Olave's in Southwark, and +was born there May 12, 1692; was educated at a private grammar school +with his intimate and ingenious friend Mr. Henry Needler. He made a +considerable progress in classical learning, and had a poetical genius. +He served an apprenticeship to Mr. Arthur Bettesworth, Bookseller in +London, and afterwards followed that business himself near thirty years, +under the Royal Exchange, with reputation and credit, having the esteem +and friendship of many eminent merchants and gentlemen. In 1718 he +married Jane, one of the daughters of Mr. William Leigh, an eminent +citizen. Mrs. Hinchliffe was sister of William Leigh, esq; one of his +Majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Surry, and of the +revd. Thomas Leigh, late rector of Heyford in Oxfordshire, by whom he +had two sons and three daughters, of which only one son and one daughter +are now living. He died September 20, 1742, and was buried in the parish +church of St. Margaret's Lothbury, London. + +In 1714 he had the honour to present an Ode to King George I. on his +Arrival at Greenwich, which is printed in a Collection of Poems, +Amorous, Moral, and Divine, which he published in octavo, 1718, and +dedicated them to his friend Mr. Needler. + +He published a History of the Rebellion of 1715, and dedicated it to the +late Duke of Argyle. + +He made himself master of the French tongue by his own application and +study; and in 1734 published a Translation of Boulainvillers's Life of +Mahomet, which is well esteemed, and dedicated it to his intimate and +worthy friend Mr. William Duncombe, Esq; + +He was concerned, with others, in the publishing several other ingenious +performances, and has left behind him in manuscript, a Translation of +the nine first Books of Telemachus in blank Verse, which cost him great +labour, but he did not live to finish the remainder. + +He is the author of a volume of poems in 8vo, many of which are written +with a true poetical spirit. + + +The INVITATION[1]. + +1. + +O come Lavinia, lovely maid, + Said Dion, stretch'd at ease, +Beneath the walnut's fragrant shade, +A sweet retreat! by nature made + With elegance to please. + +2. + +O leave the court's deceitful glare, + Loath'd pageantry and pride, +Come taste our solid pleasures here. +Which angels need not blush to share, + And with bless'd men divide. + +3. + +What raptures were it in these bow'rs, + Fair virgin, chaste, and wise, +With thee to lose the learned hours, +And note the beauties in these flowers, + Conceal'd from vulgar eyes. + +4. + +For thee my gaudy garden blooms, + And richly colour'd glows; +Above the pomp of royal rooms, +Or purpled works of Persian looms, + Proud palaces disclose. + +5. + +Haste, nymph, nor let me sigh in vain, + Each grace attends on thee; +Exalt my bliss, and point my strain, +For love and truth are of thy train, + Content and harmony. + +[1] This piece is not in Mr. Hinchliffe's works, but is assuredly his. + + + * * * * * + + +MR. MATTHEW CONCANEN. + +This gentleman was a native of Ireland, and was bred to the Law. In this +profession he seems not to have made any great figure. By some means or +other he conceived an aversion to Dr. Swift, for his abuse of whom, the +world taxed him with ingratitude. Concanen had once enjoyed some degree +of Swift's favour, who was not always very happy in the choice of his +companions. He had an opportunity of reading some of the Dr's poems in +MS. which it is said he thought fit to appropriate and publish as his +own. + +As affairs did not much prosper with him in Ireland, he came over to +London, in company with another gentleman, and both commenced writers. +These two friends entered into an extraordinary agreement. As the +subjects which then attracted the attention of mankind were of a +political cast, they were of opinion that no species of writing could so +soon recommend them to public notice; and in order to make their trade +more profitable, they resolved to espouse different interests; one +should oppose, and the other defend the ministry. They determined the +side of the question each was to espouse, by tossing up a half-penny, +and it fell to the share of Mr. Concanen to defend the ministry, which +task he performed with as much ability, as political writers generally +discover. + +He was for some time, concerned in the British, and London Journals, and +a paper called The Speculatist. These periodical pieces are long since +buried in neglect, and perhaps would have even sunk into oblivion, had +not Mr. Pope, by his satyrical writings, given them a kind of +disgraceful immortality. In these Journals he published many +scurrilities against Mr. Pope; and in a pamphlet called, The Supplement +to the Profound, he used him with great virulence, and little candour. +He not only imputed to him Mr. Brome's verses (for which he might indeed +seem in some degree accountable, having corrected what that gentleman +did) but those of the duke of Buckingham and others. To this rare piece +some body humorously perswaded him to take for his motto, De profundis +clamavi. He afterwards wrote a paper called The Daily Courant, wherein +he shewed much spleen against lord Bolingbroke, and some of his friends. +All these provocations excited Mr. Pope to give him a place in his +Dunciad. In his second book, l. 287, when he represents the dunces +diving in the mud of the Thames for the prize, he speaks thus of +Concanen; + + True to the bottom see Concanen creep, + A cold, long winded, native of the deep! + If perseverance gain the diver's prize, + Not everlasting Blackmore this denies. + +In the year 1725 Mr. Concanen published a volume of poems in 8vo. +consisting chiefly of compositions of his own, and some few of other +gentlemen; they are addressed to the lord Gage, whom he endeavours +artfully to flatter, without offending his modesty. 'I shall begin this +Address, says he, by declaring that the opinion I have of a great part +of the following verses, is the highest indication of the esteem in +which I hold the noble character I present them to. Several of them have +authors, whose names do honour to whatever patronage they receive. As to +my share of them, since it is too late, after what I have already +delivered, to give my opinion of them, I'll say as much as can be said +in their favour. I'll affirm that they have one mark of merit, which is +your lordship's approbation; and that they are indebted to fortune for +two other great advantages, a place in good company, and an honourable +protection.' + +The gentlemen, who assisted Concanen in this collection, were Dean +Swift, Mr. Parnel, Dr. Delany, Mr. Brown, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Stirling. In +this collection there is a poem by Mr. Concanen, called A Match at +Football, in three Cantos; written, 'tis said, in imitation of The Rape +of the Lock. This performance is far from being despicable; the +verification is generally smooth; the design is not ill conceived, and +the characters not unnatural. It perhaps would be read with more +applause, if The Rape of the Lock did not occur to the mind, and, by +forcing a comparison, destroy all the satisfaction in perusing it; as +the disproportion is so very considerable. We shall quote a few lines +from the beginning of the third canto, by which it will appear that +Concanen was not a bad rhimer. + + In days of yore a lovely country maid + Rang'd o'er these lands, and thro' these forests stray'd; + Modest her pleasures, matchless was her frame, + Peerless her face, and Sally was her name. + By no frail vows her young desires were bound, + No shepherd yet the way to please her found. + Thoughtless of love the beauteous nymph appear'd, + Nor hop'd its transports, nor its torments fear'd. + But careful fed her flocks, and grac'd the plain, + She lack'd no pleasure, and she felt no pain. + She view'd our motions when we toss'd the ball, + And smil'd to see us take, or ward, a fall; + 'Till once our leader chanc'd the nymph to spy, + And drank in poison from her lovely eye. + Now pensive grown, he shunn'd the long-lov'd plains, + His darling pleasures, and his favour'd swains, + Sigh'd in her absence, sigh'd when she was near, + Now big with hope, and now dismay'd with fear; + At length with falt'ring tongue he press'd the dame, + For some returns to his unpity'd flame; + But she disdain'd his suit, despis'd his care, + His form unhandsome, and his bristled hair; + Forward she sprung, and with an eager pace + The god pursu'd, nor fainted in the race; + Swift as the frighted hind the virgin flies, + When the woods ecchoe to the hunters cries: + Swift as the fleetest hound her flight she trac'd, + When o'er the lawns the frighted hind is chac'd; + The winds which sported with her flowing vest + Display'd new charms, and heightened all the rest: + Those charms display'd, increas'd the gods desire, + What cool'd her bosom, set his breast on fire: + With equal speed, for diff'rent ends they move, + Fear lent the virgin wings, the shepherd love: + Panting at length, thus in her fright she pray'd, + Be quick ye pow'rs, and save a wretched maid. + [Protect] my honour, shelter me from shame, + [Beauty] and life with pleasure I disclaim. + +[Transcriber's note: print unclear for words in square brackets, +therefore words are assumed.] + +Mr. Concanen was also concerned with the late Mr. Roome [Transcriber's +note: print unclear, "m" assumed], and a certain eminent senator, in +making The Jovial Crew, an old Comedy, into a Ballad Opera; which was +performed about the year 1730; and the profits were given entirely to +Mr. Concanen. Soon after he was preferred to be attorney-general in +Jamaica, a post of considerable eminence, and attended with a very large +income. In this island he spent the remaining part of his days, and, we +are informed made a tolerable accession of fortune, by marrying a +planter's daughter, who surviving him was left in the possession of +several hundred pounds a year. She came over to England after his death, +and married the honourable Mr. Hamilton. + + + * * * * * + + +RICHARD SAVAGE, Esq; + +This unhappy gentleman, who led a course of life imbittered with the +most severe calamities, was not yet destitute of a friend to close his +eyes. It has been remarked of Cowley, who likewise experienced many of +the vicissitudes of fortune, that he was happy in the acquaintance of +the bishop of Rochester, who performed the last offices which can be +paid to a poet, in the elegant Memorial he made of his Life. Though Mr. +Savage was as much inferior to Cowley in genius, as in the rectitude of +his life, yet, in some respect, he bears a resemblance to that great +man. None of the poets have been more honoured in the commemoration of +their history, than this gentleman. The life of Mr. Savage was written +some years after his death by a gentleman, who knew him intimately, +capable to distinguish between his follies, and those good qualities +which were often concealed from the bulk of mankind by the abjectness of +his condition. From this account[1] we have compiled that which we now +present to the reader. + +In the year 1697 Anne countess of Macclesfield, having lived for some +time on very uneasy terms with her husband, thought a public confession +of adultery the most expeditious method of obtaining her liberty, and +therefore declared the child with which she then was big was begotten by +the earl of Rivers. This circumstance soon produced a separation, which, +while the earl of Macclesfield was prosecuting, the countess, on the +10th of January 1697-8, was delivered of our author; and the earl of +Rivers, by appearing to consider him as his own, left no room to doubt +of her declaration. However strange it may appear, the countess looked +upon her son, from his birth, with a kind of resentment and abhorrence. +No sooner was her son born, than she discovered a resolution of +disowning him, in a short time removed him from her sight, and committed +him to the care of a poor woman, whom she directed to educate him as her +own, and enjoined her never to inform him of his true parents. Instead +of defending his tender years, she took delight to see him struggling +with misery, and continued her persecution, from the first hour of his +life to the last, with an implacable and restless cruelty. His mother, +indeed, could not affect others with the same barbarity, and though she, +whose tender sollicitudes should have supported him, had launched him +into the ocean of life, yet was he not wholly abandoned. The lady Mason, +mother to the countess, undertook to transact with the nurse, and +superintend the education of the child. She placed him at a grammar +school near St. Albans, where he was called by the name of his nurse, +without the least intimation that he had a claim to any other. While he +was at this school, his father, the earl of Rivers, was seized with a +distemper which in a short time put an end to his life. While the earl +lay on his death-bed, he thought it his duty to provide for him, amongst +his other natural children, and therefore demanded a positive account of +him. His mother, who could no longer refuse an answer, determined, at +least, to give such, as should deprive him for ever of that happiness +which competency affords, and declared him dead; which is, perhaps, the +first instance of a falshood invented by a mother, to deprive her son of +a provision which was designed him by another. The earl did not imagine +that there could exist in nature, a mother that would ruin her son, +without enriching herself, and therefore bestowed upon another son six +thousand pounds, which he had before in his will bequeathed to Savage. +The same cruelty which incited her to intercept this provision intended +him, suggested another project, worthy of such a disposition. She +endeavoured to rid herself from the danger of being at any time made +known to him, by sending him secretly to the American Plantations; but +in this contrivance her malice was defeated. + +Being still restless in the persecution of her son, she formed another +scheme of burying him in poverty and obscurity; and that the state of +his life, if not the place of his residence, might keep him for ever at +a distance from her, she ordered him to be placed with a Shoemaker in +Holbourn, that after the usual time of trial he might become his +apprentice. It is generally reported, that this project was, for some +time, successful, and that Savage was employed at the awl longer than he +was willing to confess; but an unexpected discovery determined him to +quit his occupation. + +About this time his nurse, who had always treated him as her own son, +died; and it was natural for him to take care of those effects, which by +her death were, as he imagined, become his own. He therefore went to her +house, opened her boxes, examined her papers, and found some letters +written to her by the lady Mason, which informed him of his birth, and +the reasons for which it was concealed. + +He was now no longer satisfied with the employment which had been +allotted him, but thought he had a right to share the affluence of his +mother, and therefore, without scruple, applied to her as her son, and +made use of every art to awake her tenderness, and attract her regard. +It was to no purpose that he frequently sollicited her to admit him to +see her, she avoided him with the utmost precaution, and ordered him to +be excluded from her house, by whomsoever he might be introduced, and +what reason soever he might give for entering it. + +Savage was at this time so touched with the discovery of his real +mother, that it was his frequent practice to walk in the dark evenings +for several hours before her door, in hopes of seeing her by accident. + +But all his assiduity was without effect, for he could neither soften +her heart, nor open her hand, and while he was endeavouring to rouse the +affections of a mother, he was reduced to the miseries of want. In this +situation he was obliged to find other means of support, and became by +necessity an author. + +His first attempt in that province was, a poem against the bishop of +Bangor, whose controversy, at that time, engaged the attention of the +nation, and furnished the curious with a topic of dispute. Of this +performance Mr. Savage was afterwards ashamed, as it was the crude +effort of a yet uncultivated genius. He then attempted another kind of +writing, and, while but yet eighteen, offered a comedy to the stage, +built upon a Spanish plot; which was refused by the players. Upon this +he gave it to Mr. Bullock, who, at that time rented the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields of Mr. Rich, and with messieurs Keene, Pack, and +others undertook the direction thereof. Mr. Bullock made some slight +alterations, and brought it upon the stage, under the title of Woman's a +Riddle, but allowed the real author no part of the profit. This +occasioned a quarrel between Savage and Bullock; but it ended without +bloodshed, though not without high words: Bullock insisted he had a +translation of the Spanish play, from whence the plot was taken, given +him by the same lady who had bestowed it on Savage.--Which was not +improbable, as that whimsical lady had given a copy to several others. + +Not discouraged, however, at this repulse, he wrote, two years after, +Love in a Veil, another Comedy borrowed likewise from the Spanish, but +with little better success than before; for though it was received and +acted, yet it appeared so late in the year, that Savage obtained no +other advantage from it, than the acquaintance of Sir Richard Steele, +and Mr. Wilks, by whom, says the author of his Life, he was pitied, +caressed, and relieved. Sir Richard Steele declared in his favour, with +that genuine benevolence which constituted his character, promoted his +interest with the utmost zeal, and taking all opportunities of +recommending him; he asserted, 'that the inhumanity of his mother had +given him a right to find every good man his father.' Nor was Mr. Savage +admitted into his acquaintance only, but to his confidence and esteem. +Sir Richard intended to have established him in some settled scheme of +life, and to have contracted a kind of alliance with him, by marrying +him to a natural daughter, on whom he intended to bestow a thousand +pounds. But Sir Richard conducted his affairs with so little oeconomy, +that he was seldom able to raise the sum, which he had offered, and the +marriage was consequently delayed. In the mean time he was officiously +informed that Mr. Savage had ridiculed him; by which he was so much +exasperated that he withdrew the allowance he had paid him, and never +afterwards admitted him to his house. + +He was now again abandoned to fortune, without any other friend but Mr. +Wilks, a man to whom calamity seldom complained without relief. He +naturally took an unfortunate wit into his protection, and not only +assisted him in any casual distresses, but continued an equal and steady +kindness to the time of his death. By Mr. Wilks's interposition Mr. +Savage once obtained of his mother fifty pounds, and a promise of one +hundred and fifty more, but it was the fate of this unhappy man, that +few promises of any advantage to him were ever performed. + +Being thus obliged to depend [Transcriber's note: 'depended' in +original] upon Mr. Wilks, he was an assiduous frequenter of the +theatres, and, in a short time, the amusements of the stage took such a +possession of his mind, that he was never absent from a play in several +years. + +In the year 1723 Mr. Savage brought another piece on the stage. He made +choice of the subject of Sir Thomas Overbury: If the circumstances in +which he wrote it be considered, it will afford at once an uncommon +proof of strength of genius, and an evenness of mind not to be ruffled. +During a considerable part of the time in which he was employed upon +this performance, he was without lodging, and often without food; nor +had he any other conveniencies for study than the fields, or the street; +in which he used to walk, and form his speeches, and afterwards step +into a shop, beg for a few moments the use of pen and ink, and write +down what he had composed, upon paper which he had picked up by +accident. + +Mr. Savage had been for some time distinguished by Aaron Hill, Esq; with +very particular kindness; and on this occasion it was natural to apply +to him, as an author of established reputation. He therefore sent this +Tragedy to him, with a few verses, in which he desired his correction. +Mr. Hill who was a man of unbounded humanity, and most accomplished +politeness, readily complied with his request; and wrote the prologue +and epilogue, in which he touches the circumstances [Transcriber's note: +'cirumstances' in original] of the author with great tenderness. + +Mr. Savage at last brought his play upon the stage, but not till the +chief actors had quitted it, and it was represented by what was then +called the summer-company. In this Tragedy Mr. Savage himself performed +the part of Sir Thomas Overbury, with so little success, that he always +blotted out his name from the list of players, when a copy of his +Tragedy was to be shewn to any of his friends. This play however +procured him the notice and esteem of many persons of distinction, for +some rays of genius glimmered thro' all the mists which poverty and +oppression had spread over it. The whole profits of this performance, +acted, printed, and dedicated, amounted to about 200 l. But the +generosity of Mr. Hill did not end here; he promoted the subscription to +his Miscellanies, by a very pathetic representation of the author's +sufferings, printed in the Plain-Dealer, a periodical paper written by +Mr. Hill. This generous effort in his favour soon produced him +seventy-guineas, which were left for him at Button's, by some who +commiserated his misfortunes. + +Mr. Hill not only promoted the subscription to the Miscellany, but +furnished likewise the greatest part of the poems of which it is +composed, and particularly the Happy Man, which he published as a +specimen. To this Miscellany he wrote a preface, in which he gives an +account of his mother's cruelty, in a very uncommon strain of humour, +which the success of his subscriptions probably inspired. + +Savage was now advancing in reputation, and though frequently involved +in very perplexing necessities, appeared however to be gaining on +mankind; when both his fame and his life were endangered, by an event of +which it is not yet determined, whether it ought to be mentioned as a +crime or a calamity. As this is by far the most interesting circumstance +in the life of this unfortunate man, we shall relate the particulars +minutely. + +On the 20th of November 1727 Mr. Savage came from Richmond, where he had +retired, that he might pursue his studies with less interruption, with +an intent to discharge a lodging which he had in Westminster; and +accidentally meeting two gentlemen of his acquaintance, whose names were +Marchant and Gregory, he went in with them to a neighbouring +Coffee-House, and sat drinking till it was late. He would willingly have +gone to bed in the same house, but there was not room for the whole +company, and therefore they agreed to ramble about the streets, and +divert themselves with such amusements as should occur till morning. In +their walk they happened unluckily to discover light in Robinson's +Coffee-House, near Charing-Cross, and went in. Marchant with some +rudeness demanded a room, and was told that there was a good fire in the +next parlour, which the company were about to leave, being then paying +their reckoning. Marchant not satisfied with this answer, rushed into +the room, and was followed by his companions. He then petulantly placed +himself between the company and the fire; and soon afterwards kicked +down the table. This produced a quarrel, swords were drawn on both +sides; and one Mr. James Sinclair was killed. Savage having wounded +likewise a maid that held him, forced his way with Gregory out of the +house; but being intimidated, and confus'd, without resolution, whether +to fly, or stay, they were taken in a back court by one of the company, +and some soldiers, whom he had called to his assistance. + +When the day of the trial came on, the court was crowded in a very +unusual manner, and the public appeared to interest itself as in a cause +of general concern. The witnesses against Mr. Savage and his friends, +were the woman who kept the house, which was a house of ill-fame, and +her maid, the men who were in the room with Mr. Sinclair, and a woman of +the town, who had been drinking with them, and with whom one of them had +been seen in bed. + +They swore in general, that Marchant gave the provocation, which Savage +and Gregory drew their swords to justify; that Savage drew first, that +he stabb'd Sinclair, when he was not in a posture of defence, or while +Gregory commanded his sword; that after he had given the thrust he +turned pale, and would have retired, but that the maid clung round him, +and one of the company endeavoured to detain him, from whom he broke, by +cutting the maid on the head. + +Sinclair had declared several times before his death, for he survived +that night, that he received his wound from Savage; nor did Savage at +his trial deny the fact, but endeavoured partly to extenuate it, by +urging the suddenness of the whole action, and the impossibility of any +ill design, or premeditated malice, and partly to justify it by the +necessity of self-defence, and the hazard of his own life, if he had +lost that opportunity of giving the thrust. He observed that neither +reason nor law obliged a man to wait for the blow which was threatened, +and which if he should suffer, he might never be able to return; that it +was always allowable to prevent an assault, and to preserve life, by +taking away that of the adversary, by whom it was endangered. + +With regard to the violence with which he endeavoured his escape, he +declared it was not his design to fly from justice, or decline a trial, +but to avoid the expences and severities of a prison, and that he +intended to appear at the bar, without compulsion. This defence which +took up more than an hour, was heard by the multitude that thronged the +court, with the most attentive and respectful silence. Those who thought +he ought not to be acquitted, owned that applause could not be refused +him; and those who before pitied his misfortunes, now reverenced his +abilities. + +The witnesses who appeared against him were proved to be persons of such +characters as did not entitle them to much credit; a common strumpet, a +woman by whom such wretches were entertained, and a man by whom they +were supported. The character of Savage was by several persons of +distinction asserted to be that of a modest inoffensive man, not +inclined to broils, or to insolence, and who had to that time been only +known by his misfortunes and his wit. + +Had his audience been his judges, he had undoubtedly been acquitted; but +Mr. Page, who was then upon the bench, treated him with the most brutal +severity, and in summing up the evidence endeavoured to exasperate the +jury against him, and misrepresent his defence. This was a provocation, +and an insult, which the prisoner could not bear, and therefore Mr. +Savage resolutely asserted, that his cause was not candidly explained, +and began to recapitulate what he had before said; but the judge having +ordered him to be silent, which Savage treated with contempt, he +commanded that he should be taken by force from the bar. The jury then +heard the opinion of the judge, that good characters were of no weight +against positive evidence, though they might turn the scale, where it +was doubtful; and that though two men attack each other, the death of +either is only manslaughter; but where one is the aggressor, as in the +case before them, and in pursuance of his first attack kills the other, +the law supposes the action, however sudden, to be malicious. The jury +determined, that Mr. Savage and Mr. Gregory were guilty of murder, and +Mr. Marchant who had no sword, only manslaughter. + +Mr. Savage and Mr. Gregory were conducted back to prison, where they +were more closely confined, and loaded with irons of fifty pound weight. +Savage had now no hopes of life but from the king's mercy, and can it be +believed, that mercy his own mother endeavoured to intercept. + +When Savage (as we have already observed) was first made acquainted with +the story of his birth, he was so touched with tenderness for his +mother, that he earnestly sought an opportunity to see her. + +To prejudice the queen against him, she made use of an incident, which +was omitted in the order of time, that it might be mentioned together +with the purpose it was made to serve. + +One evening while he was walking, as was his custom, in the street she +inhabited, he saw the door of her house by accident open; he entered it, +and finding no persons in the passage to prevent him, went up stairs to +salute her. She discovered him before he could enter her chamber, +alarmed the family with the most distressful out-cries, and when she had +by her screams gathered them about her, ordered them to drive out of the +house that villain, who had forced himself in upon her, and endeavoured +to murder her. + +This abominable falsehood his mother represented to the queen, or +communicated it to some who were base enough to relate it, and so +strongly prepossessed her majesty against this unhappy man, that for a +long while she rejected all petitions that were offered in his favour. + +Thus had Savage perished by the evidence of a bawd, of a strumpet, and +of his mother; had not justice and compassion procured him an advocate, +of a rank too great to be rejected unheard, and of virtue too eminent to +be heard without being believed. The story of his sufferings reached the +ear of the countess of Hertford, who engaged in his support with the +tenderness and humanity peculiar to that amiable lady. She demanded an +audience of the queen, and laid before her the whole series of his +mother's cruelty, exposed the improbability of her accusation of murder, +and pointed out all the circumstances of her unequall'd barbarity. + +The interposition of this lady was so successful, that he was soon after +admitted to bail, and on the 9th of March 1728, pleaded the king's +pardon.[2] + +Mr. Savage during his imprisonment, his trial, and the time in which he +lay under sentence of death, behaved with great fortitude, and confirmed +by his unshaken equality of mind, the esteem of those who before admired +him for his abilities. Upon weighing all the circumstances relating to +this unfortunate event, it plainly appears that the greatest guilt could +not be imputed to Savage. His killing Sinclair, was rather rash than +totally dishonourable, for though Marchant had been the aggressor, who +would not procure his friend from being over-powered by numbers? + +Some time after he had obtained his liberty, he met in the street the +woman of the town that had swore against him: She informed him that she +was in distress, and with unparalleled assurance desired him to relieve +her. He, instead of insulting her misery, and taking pleasure in the +calamity of one who had brought his life into danger, reproved her +gently for her perjury, and changing the only guinea he had, divided it +equally between her and himself. + +Compassion seems indeed to have been among the few good qualities +possessed by Savage; he never appeared inclined to take the advantage of +weakness, to attack the defenceless, or to press upon the falling: +Whoever was distressed was certain at last of his good wishes. But when +his heart was not softened by the sight of misery, he was obstinate in +his resentment, and did not quickly lose the remembrance of an injury. +He always harboured the sharpest resentment against judge Page; and a +short time before his death, he gratified it in a satire upon that +severe magistrate. + +When in conversation this unhappy subject was mentioned, Savage appeared +neither to consider himself as a murderer, nor as a man wholly free from +blood. How much, and how long he regretted it, appeared in a poem +published many years afterwards, which the following lines will set in a +very striking light. + + Is chance a guilt, that my disast'rous heart, + For mischief never meant, must ever smart? + Can self-defence be sin?--Ah! plead no more! + What tho' no purpos'd malice stain'd thee o'er; + Had Heav'n befriended thy unhappy side, + Thou had'st not been provok'd, or thou had'st died. + + Far be the guilt of home-shed blood from all, + On whom, unfought, imbroiling dangers fall. + Still the pale dead revives and lives to me, + To me through pity's eye condemn'd to see. + Remembrance veils his rage, but swells his fate, + Griev'd I forgive, and am grown cool too late, + + Young and unthoughtful then, who knows one day, + What rip'ning virtues might have made their way? + He might, perhaps, his country's friend have prov'd, + Been gen'rous, happy, candid and belov'd; + He might have sav'd some worth now doom'd to fall, + And I, perchance, in him have murder'd all. + +Savage had now obtained his liberty, but was without any settled means +of support, and as he had lost all tenderness for his mother, who had +thirsted for his blood, he resolved to lampoon her, to extort that +pension by satire, which he knew she would never grant upon any +principles of honour, or humanity. This expedient proved successful; +whether shame still survived, though compassion was extinct, or whether +her relations had more delicacy than herself, and imagined that some of +the darts which satire might point at her, would glance upon them: Lord +Tyrconnel, whatever were his motives, upon his promise to lay aside the +design of exposing his mother, received him into his family, treated him +as his equal, and engaged to allow him a pension of 200 l. a year. + +This was the golden part of Mr. Savage's life; for some time he had no +reason to complain of fortune; his appearance was splendid, his expences +large, and his acquaintance extensive. 'He was courted, says the author +of his life, by all who endeavoured to be thought men of genius, and +caressed by all that valued themselves upon a fine taste. To admire Mr. +Savage was a proof of discernment, and to be acquainted with him was a +title to poetical reputation. His presence was sufficient to make any +place of entertainment popular; and his approbation and example +constituted the fashion. So powerful is genius, when it is invested with +the glitter of affluence. Men willingly pay to fortune that regard which +they owe to merit, and are pleased when they have at once an opportunity +of exercising their vanity, and practising their duty. This interval of +prosperity furnished him with opportunities of enlarging his knowledge +of human nature, by contemplating life from its highest gradation to its +lowest.' + +In this gay period of life, when he was surrounded by the affluence of +pleasure, 1729, he published the Wanderer, a Moral Poem, of which the +design is comprised in these lines. + + I fly all public care, all venal strife, + To try the _Still_, compared with _Active Life_. + To prove by these the sons of men may owe, + The fruits of bliss to bursting clouds of woe, + That ev'n calamity by thought refin'd + Inspirits, and adorns the thinking mind. + +And more distinctly in the following passage: + + By woe the soul to daring actions swells, + By woe in plaintless patience it excells; + From patience prudent, clear experience springs, + And traces knowledge through the course of things. + Thence hope is form'd, thence fortitude, success, + Renown--Whate'er men covet or caress. + +This performance was always considered by Mr. Savage as his +master-piece; but Mr. Pope, when he asked his opinion of it, told him, +that he read it once over, and was not displeased with it, that it gave +him more pleasure at the second perusal, and delighted him still more at +the third. From a poem so successfully written, it might be reasonably +expected that he should have gained considerable advantages; but the +case was otherwise; he sold the copy only for ten guineas. That he got +so small a price for so finished a poem, was not to be imputed either to +the necessity of the writer, or to the avarice of the bookseller. He was +a slave to his passions, and being then in the pursuit of some trifling +gratification, for which he wanted a supply of money, he sold his poem +to the first bidder, and perhaps for the first price which was proposed, +and probably would have been content with less, if less had been +offered. It was addressed to the earl of Tyrconnel, not only in the +first lines, but in a formal dedication, filled with the highest strains +of panegyric. These praises in a short time he found himself inclined to +retract, being discarded by the man on whom he had bestowed them, and +whom he said, he then discovered, had not deserved them. + +Of this quarrel, lord Tyrconnel and Mr. Savage assigned very different +reasons. Lord Tyrconnel charged Savage with the most licentious +behaviour, introducing company into his house, and practising with them +the most irregular frolics, and committing all the outrages of +drunkenness. Lord Tyrconnel farther alledged against Savage, that the +books of which he himself had made him a present, were sold or pawned by +him, so that he had often the mortification to see them exposed to sale +upon stalls. + +Savage, it seems, was so accustomed to live by expedients, that +affluence could not raise him above them. He often went to the tavern +and trusted the payment of his reckoning to the liberality of his +company; and frequently of company to whom he was very little known. +This conduct indeed, seldom drew him into much inconvenience, or his +conversation and address were so pleasing, that few thought the pleasure +which they received from him, dearly purchased by paying for his wine. +It was his peculiar happiness that he scarcely ever found a stranger, +whom he did not leave a friend; but it must likewise be added, that he +had not often a friend long, without obliging him to become an enemy. + +Mr. Savage on the other hand declared, that lord Tyrconnel quarrelled +with him because he would not subtract from his own luxury and +extravagance what he had promised to allow him; and that his resentment +was only a plea for the violation of his promise: He asserted that he +had done nothing which ought to exclude him from that subsistence which +he thought not so much a favour as a debt, since it was offered him upon +conditions, which he had never broken; and that his only fault was, that +he could not be supported upon nothing. + +Savage's passions were strong, among which his resentment was not the +weakest; and as gratitude was not his constant virtue, we ought not too +hastily to give credit to all his prejudice asserts against (his once +praised patron) lord Tyrconnel. + +During his continuance with the lord Tyrconnel, he wrote the Triumph of +Health and Mirth, on the recovery of the lady Tyrconnel, from a +languishing illness. This poem is built upon a beautiful fiction. Mirth +overwhelmed with sickness for the death of a favourite, takes a flight +in quest of her sister Health, whom she finds reclined upon the brow of +a lofty mountain, amidst the fragrance of a perpetual spring, and the +breezes of the morning sporting about her. Being solicited by her sister +Mirth, she readily promises her assistance, flies away in a cloud, and +impregnates the waters of Bath with new virtues, by which the sickness +of Belinda is relieved. + +While Mr. Savage continued in high life, he did not let slip any +opportunity to examine whether the merit of the great is magnified or +diminished by the medium through which it is contemplated, and whether +great men were selected for high stations, or high stations made great +men. The result of his observations is not much to the advantage of +those in power. + +But the golden aera of Savage's life was now at an end, he was banished +the table of lord Tyrconnel, and turned again a-drift upon the world. +While he was in prosperity, he did not behave with a moderation likely +to procure friends amongst his inferiors. He took an opportunity in the +sun-shine of his fortune, to revenge himself of those creatures, who, as +they are the worshippers of power, made court to him, whom they had +before contemptuously treated. This assuming behaviour of Savage was not +altogether unnatural. He had been avoided and despised by those +despicable sycophants, who were proud of his acquaintance when railed to +eminence. In this case, who would not spurn such mean Beings? His +degradation therefore from the condition which he had enjoyed with so +much superiority, was considered by many as an occasion of triumph. +Those who had courted him without success, had an opportunity to return +the contempt they had suffered. + +Mean time, Savage was very diligent in exposing the faults of lord +Tyrconnel, over whom he obtained at least this advantage, that he drove +him first to the practice of outrage and violence; for he was so much +provoked by his wit and virulence, that he came with a number of +attendants, to beat him at a coffee-house; but it happened that he had +left the place a few minutes before: Mr. Savage went next day to repay +his visit at his own house, but was prevailed upon by his domestics to +retire without insisting upon seeing him. + +He now thought himself again at full liberty to expose the cruelty of +his mother, and therefore about this time published THE BASTARD, a Poem +remarkable for the vivacity in the beginning, where he makes a pompous +enumeration of the imaginary advantages of base birth, and the pathetic +sentiments at the close; where he recounts the real calamities which he +suffered by the crime of his parents. + +The verses which have an immediate relation to those two circumstances, +we shall here insert. + + In gayer hours, when high my fancy ran, + The Muse exulting thus her lay began. + + Bless'd be the Bastard's birth! thro' wond'rous ways, + He shines excentric like a comet's blaze. + No sickly fruit of faint compliance he; + He! stamp'd in nature's mint with extasy! + He lives to build, not boast a gen'rous race, + No tenth transmitter of a foolish face. + His daring hope, no fire's example bounds; + His first-born nights no prejudice confounds. + He, kindling from within requires no flame, + He glories in a bastard's glowing name. + --Nature's unbounded son he stands alone, + His heart unbiass'd, and his mind his own. + --O mother! yet no mother!--'Tis to you + My thanks for such distinguish'd claims are due. + --What had I lost if conjugally kind, + By nature hating, yet by vows confin'd, + You had faint drawn me with a form alone, + A lawful lump of life, by force your own! + --I had been born your dull domestic heir, + Load of your life and motive of your care; + Perhaps been poorly rich and meanly great; + The slave of pomp, a cypher in the state: + Lordly neglectful of a worth unknown, + And slumb'ring in a feat by chance my own, + +After mentioning the death of Sinclair, he goes on thus: + + --Where shall my hope find rest?--No mother's care + Shielded my infant innocence with prayer; + No father's guardian hand my youth maintain'd, + Call'd forth my virtues, and from vice refrain'd. + +This poem had extraordinary success, great numbers were immediately +dispersed, and editions were multiplied with unusual rapidity. + +One circumstance attended the publication, which Savage used to relate +with great satisfaction. His mother, to whom the poem with due reverence +was inscribed, happened then to be at Bath, where she could not +conveniently retire from censure, or conceal herself from observation; +and no sooner did the reputation of the poem begin to spread, than she +heard it repeated in all places of concourse; nor could she enter the +assembly rooms, or cross the walks, without being saluted with some +lines from the Bastard. She therefore left Bath with the utmost haste, +to shelter herself in the crowds of London. Thus Savage had the +satisfaction of finding, that tho' he could not reform, he could yet +punish his mother. + +Some time after Mr. Savage took a resolution of applying to the queen, +that having once given him life, she would enable him to support it, and +therefore published a short poem on her birth day, to which he gave the +odd title of Volunteer-Laureat. He had not at that time one friend to +present his poem at court, yet the Queen, notwithstanding this act of +ceremony was wanting, in a few days after publication, sent him a bank +note of fifty-pounds, by lord North and Guildford; and her permission to +write annually on the same subject, and that he should yearly receive +the like present, till something better should be done for him. After +this he was permitted to present one of his annual poems to her majesty, +and had the honour of kissing her hand. + +When the dispute between the bishop of London, and the chancellor, +furnished for some time the chief topic of conversation, Mr. Savage who +was an enemy to all claims of ecclesiastical power, engaged with his +usual zeal against the bishop. In consequence of his aversion to the +dominion of superstitious churchmen, he wrote a poem called The Progress +of a Divine, in which he conducts a profligate priest thro' all the +gradations of wickedness, from a poor curacy in the country, to the +highest preferment in the church; and after describing his behaviour in +every station, enumerates that this priest thus accomplished, found at +last a patron in the bishop of London. + +The clergy were universally provoked with this satire, and Savage was +censured in the weekly Miscellany, with a severity he did not seem +inclined to forget: But a return of invective was not thought a +sufficient punishment. The court of King's-Bench was moved against him, +and he was obliged to return an answer to a charge of obscenity. It was +urged in his defence, that obscenity was only criminal, when it was +intended to promote the practice of vice; but that Mr. Savage had only +introduced obscene ideas, with a view of exposing them to detestation, +and of amending the age, by shewing the deformity of wickedness. This +plea was admitted, and Sir Philip York, now lord Chancellor, who then +presided in that court, dismissed the information, with encomiums upon +the purity and excellence of Mr. Savage's writings. + +He was still in his usual exigencies, having no certain support, but the +pension allowed him from the Queen, which was not sufficient to last him +the fourth part of the year. His conduct, with regard to his pension, +was very particular. No sooner had he changed the bill, than he vanished +from the sight of all his acquaintances, and lay, for some time, out of +the reach of his most intimate friends. At length he appeared again +pennyless as before, but never informed any person where he had been, +nor was his retreat ever discovered. This was his constant practice +during the whole time he received his pension. He regularly disappeared, +and returned. He indeed affirmed that he retired to study, and that the +money supported him in solitude for many months, but his friends +declared, that the short time in which it was spent, sufficiently +confuted his own account of his conduct. + +His perpetual indigence, politeness, and wit, still raised him friends, +who were desirous to set him above want, and therefore sollicited Sir +Robert Walpole in his favour, but though promises were given, and Mr. +Savage trusted, and was trusted, yet these added but one mortification +more to the many he had suffered. His hopes of preferment from that +statesman; issued in a disappointment; upon which he published a poem in +the Gentleman's Magazine, entitled, The Poet's Dependance on a +Statesman; in which he complains of the severe usage he met with. But to +despair was no part of the character of Savage; when one patronage +failed, he had recourse to another. The Prince was now extremely +popular, and had very liberally rewarded the merit of some writers, whom +Mr. Savage did not think superior to himself; and therefore he resolved +to address a poem to him. + +For this purpose he made choice of a subject, which could regard only +persons of the highest rank, and greatest affluence, and which was +therefore proper for a poem intended to procure the patronage of a +prince; namely, public spirit, with regard to public works. But having +no friend upon whom he could prevail to present it to the Prince, he had +no other method of attracting his observation, than by publishing +frequent advertisements, and therefore received no reward from his +patron, however generous upon other occasions. His poverty still +pressing, he lodged as much by accident, as he dined; for he generally +lived by chance, eating only when he was invited to the tables of his +acquaintance, from which, the meanness of his dress often excluded him, +when the politeness, and variety of his conversation, would have been +thought a sufficient recompence for his entertainment. Having no +lodging, he passed the night often in mean houses, which are set open +for any casual wanderers; sometimes in cellars, amongst the riot and +filth of the meanest and most profligate of the rabble; and sometimes +when he was totally without money, walked about the streets till he was +weary, and lay down in the summer upon a bulk, and in the winter, with +his associates in poverty, among the ashes of a glass-house. + +In this manner were passed those days and nights, which nature had +enabled him to have employed in elevated speculations. On a bulk, in a +cellar, or in a glass-house, among thieves and beggars, was to be found +the author of The Wanderer, the man, whose remarks in life might have +assisted the statesman, whose ideas of virtue might have enlightened the +moralist, whose eloquence might have influenced senates, and whose +delicacy might have polished courts. His distresses, however afflictive, +never dejected him. In his lowest sphere he wanted not spirit to assert +the natural dignity of wit, and was always ready to repress that +insolence, which superiority of fortune incited, and to trample that +reputation which rose upon any other basis, than that of merit. He never +admitted any gross familiarity, or submitted to be treated otherwise +than as an equal. + +Once, when he was without lodging, meat, or cloaths, one of his friends, +a man indeed not remarkable for moderation in prosperity, left a +message, that he desired to see him about nine in the morning. Savage +knew that his intention was to assist him, but was very much disgusted, +that he should presume to prescribe the hour of his attendance; and +therefore rejected his kindness. + +The greatest hardships of poverty were to Savage, not the want of +lodging, or of food, but the neglect and contempt it drew upon him. He +complained that as his affairs grew desperate, he found his reputation +for capacity visibly decline; that his opinion in questions of criticism +was no longer regarded, when his coat was out of fashion; and that +those, who in the interval of his prosperity, were always encouraging +him to great undertakings, by encomiums on his genius, and assurances of +success, now received any mention of his designs with coldness, and, in +short, allowed him to be qualified for no other performance than +volunteer-laureat. Yet even this kind of contempt never depressed him, +for he always preserved a steady confidence in his own capacity, and +believed nothing above his reach, which he should at any time earnestly +endeavour to attain. + +This life, unhappy as it may be already imagined, was yet embittered in +1738 with new distresses. The death of the Queen deprived him of all the +prospects of preferment, with which he had so long entertained his +imagination. But even against this calamity there was an expedient at +hand. He had taken a resolution of writing a second tragedy upon the +story of Sir Thomas Overbury, in which he made a total alteration of the +plan, added new incidents, and introduced new characters, so that it was +a new tragedy, not a revival of the former. With the profits of this +scheme, when finished, he fed his imagination, but proceeded slowly in +it, and, probably, only employed himself upon it, when he could find no +other amusement. Upon the Queen's death it was expected of him, that he +should honour her memory with a funeral panegyric: He was thought +culpable for omitting it; but on her birth-day, next year, he gave a +proof of the power of genius and judgment. He knew that the track of +elegy had been so long beaten, that it was impossible to travel in it, +without treading the footsteps of those who had gone before him, and +therefore it was necessary that he might distinguish himself from the +herd of encomists, to find out some new walk of funeral panegyric. + +This difficult task he performed in such a manner, that this poem may be +justly ranked the best of his own, and amongst the best pieces that the +death of Princes has produced. By transferring the mention of her death, +to her birth-day, he has formed a happy combination of topics, which any +other man would have thought it difficult to connect in one view; but +the relation between them appears natural; and it may be justly said, +that what no other man could have thought on, now seems scarcely +possible for any man to miss. In this poem, when he takes occasion to +mention the King, he modestly gives him a hint to continue his pension, +which, however, he did not receive at the usual time, and there was some +reason to think that it would be discontinued. He did not take those +methods of retrieving his interest, which were most likely to succeed, +for he went one day to Sir Robert Walpole's levee, and demanded the +reason of the distinction that was made between him and the other +pensioners of the Queen, with a degree of roughness which, perhaps, +determined him to withdraw, what had only been delayed. This last +misfortune he bore not only with decency, but cheerfulness, nor was his +gaiety clouded, even by this disappointment, though he was, in a short +time, reduced to the lowest degree of distress, and often wanted both +lodging and food. At this time he gave another instance of the +insurmountable obstinacy of his spirit. His cloaths were worn out, and +he received notice, that at a coffee-house some cloaths and linen were +left for him. The person who sent them did not, we believe, inform him +to whom he was to be obliged, that he might spare the perplexity of +acknowledging the benefit; but though the offer was so far generous, it +was made with some neglect of ceremonies, which Mr. Savage so much +resented, that he refused the present, and declined to enter the house +'till the cloaths, which were designed for him, were taken away. + +His distress was now publicly known, and his friends therefore thought +it proper to concert some measures for his relief. The scheme proposed +was, that he should retire into Wales, and receive an allowance of fifty +pounds a year, to be raised by subscription, on which he was to live +privately in a cheap place, without aspiring any more to affluence, or +having any farther sollicitude for fame. + +This offer Mr. Savage gladly accepted, though with intentions very +different from those of his friends; for they proposed that he should +continue an exile from London for ever, and spend all the remaining part +of his life at Swansea; but he designed only to take the opportunity +which their scheme offered him, of retreating for a short time, that he +might prepare his play for the stage, and his other works for the press, +and then to return to London to exhibit his tragedy, and live upon the +profits of his own labour. + +After many sollicitations and delays, a subscription was at last raised, +which did not amount to fifty pounds a year, though twenty were paid by +one gentleman. He was, however, satisfied, and willing to retire, and +was convinced that the allowance, though scanty, would be more than +sufficient for him, being now determined to commence a rigid oeconomist. + +Full of these salutary resolutions, he quitted London in 1739. He was +furnished with fifteen guineas, and was told, that they would be +sufficient, not only for the expence of his journey, but for his support +in Wales for some time; and that there remained but little more of the +first collection. He promised a strict adherence to his maxims of +parsimony, and went away in the stage coach; nor did his friends expect +to hear from him, 'till he informed them of his arrival at Swansea. But, +when they least expected, arrived a letter dated the 14th day after his +departure, in which he sent them word, that he was yet upon the road, +and without money, and that he therefore could not proceed without a +remittance. They then sent him the money that was in their hands, with +which he was enabled to reach Bristol, from whence he was to go to +Swansea by water. At Bristol he found an embargo laid upon the shipping, +so that he could not immediately obtain a passage, and being therefore +obliged to stay there some time, he, with his usual felicity, +ingratiated himself with many of the principal inhabitants, was invited +to their houses, distinguished at their public feasts, and treated with +a regard that gratified his vanity, and therefore easily engaged his +affection. + +After some stay at Bristol, he retired to Swansea, the place originally +proposed for his residence, where he lived about a year very much +disatisfied with the diminution of his salary, for the greatest part of +the contributors, irritated by Mr. Savage's letters, which they imagined +treated them contemptuously, withdrew their subscriptions. At this +place, as in every other, he contracted an acquaintance with those who +were most distinguished in that country, among whom, he has celebrated +Mr. Powel, and Mrs. Jones, by some verses inserted in the Gentleman's +Magazine. Here he compleated his tragedy, of which two acts were wanting +when he left London, and was desirous of coming to town to bring it on +the stage. This design was very warmly opposed, and he was advised by +his chief benefactor, who was no other than Mr. Pope, to put it in the +hands of Mr. Thomson and Mr. Mallet, that it might be fitted for the +stage, and to allow his friends to receive the profits, out of which an +annual pension should be paid him. This proposal he rejected with the +utmost contempt. He was by no means convinced that the judgment of those +to whom he was required to submit, was superior to his own. He was now +determined, as he expressed, to be no longer kept in leading-strings, +and had no elevated idea of his bounty, who proposed to pension him out +of the profits of his own labours. He soon after this quitted Swansea, +and, with an intent to return to London, went to Bristol, where a +repetition of the kindness which he had formerly found, invited +him to stay. He was not only caressed, and treated, but had a collection +made for him of about thirty pounds, with which it had been happy if +he had immediately departed for London; but he never considered that +such proofs of kindness were not often to be expected, and that this +ardour of benevolence was, in a great degree, the effect of novelty. + +Another part of his misconduct was, the practice of prolonging his +visits to unseasonable hours, and disconcerting all the families into +which he was admitted. This was an error in a place of commerce, which +all the charms of conversion could not compensate; for what trader would +purchase such airy satisfaction, with the loss of solid gain, which must +be the consequence of midnight merriment, as those hours which were +gained at night were generally lost in the morning? Distress at last +stole upon him by imperceptible degrees; his conduct had already wearied +some of those who were at first enamoured of his conversation; but he +still might have devolved to others, whom he might have entertained with +equal success, had not the decay of his cloaths made it no longer +consistent with decency to admit him to their tables, or to associate +with him in public places. He now began to find every man from home, at +whose house he called; and was therefore no longer able to procure the +necessaries of life, but wandered about the town, slighted and +neglected, in quest of a dinner, which, he did not always obtain. To +compleat his misery, he was obliged to withdraw from the small number of +friends from whom he had still reason to hope for favours. His custom +was to lie in bed the greatest part of the day, and to go out in the +dark with the utmost privacy, and after having paid his visit, return +again before morning to his lodging, which was in the garret of an +obscure inn. + +Being thus excluded on one hand, and confined on the other, he suffered +the utmost extremities of poverty, and often waited so long, that he was +seized with faintness, and had lost his appetite, not being able to bear +the smell of meat, 'till the action of his stomach was restored by a +cordial. + +He continued to bear these severe pressures, 'till the landlady of a +coffee-house, to whom he owed about eight pounds, compleated his +wretchedness. He was arrested by order of this woman, and conducted to +the house of a Sheriff's Officer, where he remained some time at a great +expence, in hopes of finding bail. This expence he was enabled to +support by a present from Mr. Nash of Bath, who, upon hearing of his +late mis-fortune, sent him five guineas. No friends would contribute to +release him from prison at the expence of eight pounds, and therefore he +was removed to Newgate. He bore this misfortune with an unshaken +fortitude, and indeed the treatment he met with from Mr. Dagg, the +keeper of the prison, greatly softened the rigours of his confinement. +He was supported by him at his own table, without any certainty of +recompence; had a room to himself, to which he could at any time retire +from all disturbance; was allowed to stand at the door of the prison, +and sometimes taken out into the fields; so that he suffered fewer +hardships in the prison, than he had been accustomed to undergo the +greatest part of his life. Virtue is undoubtedly most laudable in that +state which makes it most difficult; and therefore the humanity of the +gaoler certainly deserves this public attestation. + +While Mr. Savage was in prison, he began, and almost finished a satire, +which he entitled London and Bristol Delineated; in order to be revenged +of those who had had no more generosity for a man, to whom they +professed friendship, than to suffer him to languish in a gaol for eight +pounds. He had now ceased from corresponding with any of his +subscribers, except Mr. Pope, who yet continued to remit him twenty +pounds a year, which he had promised, and by whom he expected to be in a +very short time enlarged; because he had directed the keeper to enquire +after the state of his debts. + +However he took care to enter his name according to the forms of the +court, that the creditors might be obliged to make him some allowance, +if he was continued a prisoner; and when on that occasion he appeared in +the Hall, was treated with very unusual respect. + +But the resentment of the City was afterwards raised, by some accounts +that had been spread of the satire, and he was informed, that some of +the Merchants intended to pay the allowance which the law required, and +to detain him a prisoner at their own expence. This he treated as an +empty menace, and had he not been prevented by death, he would have +hastened the publication of the satire, only to shew how much he was +superior to their insults. + +When he had been six months in prison, he received from Mr. Pope, in +whose kindness he had the greatest confidence, and on whose assistance +he chiefly depended, a letter that contained a charge of very atrocious +ingratitude, drawn up in such terms as sudden resentment dictated. Mr. +Savage returned a very solemn protestation of his innocence, but however +appeared much disturbed at the accusation. Some days afterwards he was +seized with a pain in his back and side, which, as it was not violent, +was not suspected to be dangerous; but growing daily more languid and +dejected, on the 25th of July he confined himself to his room, and a +fever seized his spirits. The symptoms grew every day more formidable, +but his condition did not enable him to procure any assistance. The last +time the keeper saw him was on July 31, when Savage, seeing him at his +bed-side, said, with uncommon earnestness, I have something to say to +you, sir, but, after a pause, moved his hand in a melancholy manner, and +finding himself unable to recollect what he was going to communicate, +said, 'tis gone. The keeper soon after left him, and the next morning he +died. He was buried in the church-yard of St. Peter, at the expence of +the keeper. + +Such were the life and death of this unfortunate poet; a man equally +distinguished by his virtues and vices, and, at once, remarkable for his +weaknesses and abilities. He was of a middle stature, of a thin habit of +body, a long visage, coarse features, and a melancholy aspect; of a +grave and manly deportment, a solemn dignity of mien, but which, upon a +nearer acquaintance, softened into an engaging easiness of manners. His +walk was slow, and his voice tremulous and mournful. He was easily +excited to smiles, but very seldom provoked to laughter. His judgment +was eminently exact, both with regard to writings and to men. The +knowledge of life was his chief attainment. He was born rather to bear +misfortunes greatly, than to enjoy prosperity with moderation. He +discovered an amazing firmness of spirit, in spurning those who presumed +to dictate to him in the lowest circumstances of misery; but we never +can reconcile the idea of true greatness of mind, with the perpetual +inclination Savage discovered to live upon the bounty of his friends. To +struggle for independence appears much more laudable, as well as a +higher instance of spirit, than to be the pensioner of another. + +As Savage had seen so much of the world, and was capable of so deep a +penetration into nature, it was strange he could not form some scheme of +a livelihood, more honourable than that of a poetical mendicant: his +prosecuting any plan of life with diligence, would have thrown more +lustre on his character, than, all his works, and have raised our ideas +of the greatness of his spirit, much, beyond the conduct we have already +seen. If poverty is so great an evil as to expose a man to commit +actions, at which he afterwards blushes, to avoid this poverty should be +the continual care of every man; and he, who lets slip every opportunity +of doing so, is more entitled to admiration than pity, should he bear +his sufferings nobly. + +Mr. Savage's temper, in consequence of the dominion of his passions, was +uncertain and capricious. He was easily engaged, and easily disgusted; +but he is accused of retaining his hatred more tenaciously than his +benevolence. He was compassionate both by nature and principle, and +always ready to perform offices of humanity; but when he was provoked, +and very small offences were sufficient to provoke him, he would +prosecute his revenge with the utmost acrimony, 'till his passion had +subsided. His friendship was therefore of little value, for he was +zealous in the support, or vindication of those whom he loved, yet it +was always dangerous to trust him, because he considered himself as +discharged by the first quarrel, from all ties of honour and gratitude. +He would even betray those secrets, which, in the warmth of confidence, +had been imparted to him. His veracity was often questioned, and not +without reason. When he loved any man, he suppressed all his faults, and +when he had been offended by him, concealed all his virtues. But his +characters were generally true, so far as he proceeded, though it cannot +be denied, but his partiality might have sometimes the effect of +falshood. + +In the words of the celebrated writer of his life, from whom, as we +observed in the beginning, we have extracted the account here given, we +shall conclude this unfortunate person's Memoirs, which were so various +as to afford large scope for an able biographer, and which, by this +gentleman, have been represented with so great a mastery, and force of +penetration, that the Life of Savage, as written by him, is an excellent +model for this species of writing. + +'This relation (says he) will not be wholly without its use, if those, +who languish under any part of his sufferings, should be enabled to +fortify their patience, by reflecting that they feel only those +afflictions from which the abilities of Savage did not exempt him; or +those, who in confidence of superior capacities, or attainments, +disregard the common maxims of life, shall be reminded that nothing can +supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity long +continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius +contemptible.' + +FOOTNOTES: +[1] However slightly the author of Savage's life passes over the less + amiable characteristics of that unhappy man; yet we cannot but + discover therein, that vanity and ingratitude were the principal + ingredients in poor Savage's composition; nor was his veracity + greatly to be depended on. No wonder therefore, if the good-natur'd + writer suffer'd his better understanding to be misled, in some + accounts relative to the poet we are now speaking of.--Among many, + we shall at present only take notice of the following, which makes + too conspicuous a figure to pass by entirely unnoticed. + + In this life of Savage 'tis related, that Mrs. Oldfield was very + fond of Mr. Savage's conversation, and allowed him an annuity, + during her life, of 50 l.--These facts are equally ill-grounded:-- + There was no foundation for them. That Savage's misfortunes pleaded + for pity, and had the desired effect on Mrs. Oldfield's compassion, + is certain:--But she so much disliked the man, and disapproved his + conduct, that she never admitted him to her conversation, nor + suffer'd him to enter her house. She, indeed, often relieved him + with such donations, as spoke her generous disposicion.--But this + was on the sollicitation of friends, who frequently set his + calamities before her in the most piteous light; and from a + principle of humanity, she became not a little instrumental in + saving his life. + +[2] Lord Tyrconnel delivered a petition to his majesty in Savage's + behalf: And Mrs. Oldfield sollicited Sir Robert Walpole on his + account. This joint-interest procured him his pardon. + + + * * * * * + + +Dr. THOMAS SHERIDAN. + +was born in the county of Cavan, where his father kept a public house. A +gentleman, who had a regard for his father, and who observed the son +gave early indications of genius above the common standard, sent him to +the college of Dublin, and contributed towards the finishing his +education there. Our poet received very great encouragement upon his +setting out in life, and was esteemed a fortunate man. The agreeable +humour, and the unreserved pleasantry of his temper, introduced him to +the acquaintance, and established him in the esteem, of the wits of that +age. He set up a school in Dublin, which, at one time, was so +considerable as to produce an income of a thousand pounds a year, and +possessed besides some good livings, and bishops leases, which are +extremely lucrative. + +Mr. Sheridan married the daughter of Mr. Macpherson, a Scots gentleman, +who served in the wars under King William, and, during the troubles of +Ireland, became possessed of a small estate of about 40 l. per annum, +called Quilca. This little fortune devolved on Mrs. Sheridan, which +enabled her husband to set up a school. Dr. Sheridan, amongst his +virtues, could not number oeconomy; on the contrary, he was remarkable +for profusion and extravagance, which exposed him to such +inconveniences, that he was obliged to mortgage all he had. His school +daily declined, and by an act of indiscretion, he was stript of the best +living he then enjoyed. On the birth-day of his late Majesty, the Dr. +having occasion to preach, chose for his text the following words, + + Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. + +This procured him the name of a Jacobite, or a disaffected person, a +circumstance sufficient to ruin him in his ecclesiastical capacity. His +friends, who were disposed to think favourably of him, were for softning +the epithet of Jacobite into Tory, imputing his choice of that text, +rather to whim and humour, than any settled prejudice against his +Majesty, or the government; but this unseasonable pleasantry was not so +easily passed over, and the Dr. had frequent occasion to repent the +choice of his text. + +Unhappy Sheridan! he lived to want both money and friends. He spent his +money and time merrily among the gay and the great, and was an example, +that there are too many who can relish a man's humour, who have not so +quick a sense of his misfortunes. The following story should not have +been told, were it not true. + +In the midst of his misfortunes, when the demands of his creditors +obliged him to retirement, he went to dean Swift, and sollicited a +lodging for a few days, 'till by a proper composition he might be +restored to his freedom. The dean retired early to rest. The Dr. +fatigued, but not inclinable to go so soon to bed, sent the servant to +the dean, desiring the key of the cellar, that he might have a bottle of +wine. The dean, in one of his odd humours, returned for answer, he +promised to find him a lodging, but not in wine; and refused to send the +key. The Dr. being thunderstruck at this unexpected incivility, the +tears burst from his eyes; he quitted the house, and we believe never +after repeated the visit. + +Dr. Sheridan died in the year 1738, in the 55th year of his age. The +following epitaph for him was handed about. + + Beneath this marble stone here lies + Poor Tom, more merry much than wise; + Who only liv'd for two great ends, + To spend his cash, and lose his friends: + His darling wife of him bereft, + Is only griev'd--there's nothing left. + + +When the account of his death was inserted in the papers, it was done in +the following particular terms; + + 'September 10, died the revd. Dr. Thomas Sheridan of Dublin. He was a + great linguist, a most sincere friend, a delightful companion, and the + best Schoolmaster in Europe: He took the greatest care of the morals + of the young gentlemen, who had the happiness of being bred up under + him; and it was remarked, that none of his scholars ever was an + Atheist, or a Free-Thinker.' + +We cannot more successfully convey to the reader a true idea of Dr. +Sheridan, than by the two following quotations from Lord Orrery in his +life of Swift, in which he occasionally mentions Swift's friend. + + 'Swift was naturally fond of seeing his works in print, and he was + encouraged in this fondness by his friend Dr. Sheridan, who had the + Cacoethea Scribendi, to the greatest degree, and was continually + letting off squibs, rockets, and all sorts of little fire-works from + the press; by which means he offended many particular persons, who, + although they stood in awe of Swift, held Sheridan at defiance. The + truth is, the poor doctor by nature the most peacable, inoffensive man + alive, was in a continual state of warfare with the Minor Poets, and + they revenged themselves; or, in the style of Mr. Bays, often gave him + flash for flash, and singed his feathers. The affection between + Theseus and Perithous was not greater than the affection between Swift + and Sheridan: But the friendship that cemented the two ancient heroes + probably commenced upon motives very different from those which united + the two modern divines.' + + 'Dr. Sheridan was a school-master, and in many instances, perfectly + well adapted for that station. He was deeply vers'd in the Greek and + Roman languages; and in their customs and antiquities. He had that + kind of good nature, which absence of mind, indolence of body, and + carelessness of fortune produce: And although not over-strict in his + own conduct, yet he took care of the morality of his scholars, whom he + sent to the university, remarkably well founded in all kind of + classical learning, and not ill instructed in the social duties of + life. He was slovenly, indigent, and chearful. He knew books much + better than men; And he knew the value of money least of all. In this + situation, and with this disposition, Swift fattened upon him as upon + a prey, with which he intended to regale himself, whenever his + appetite should prompt him. Sheridan was therefore certainly within + his reach; and the only time he was permitted to go beyond the limits + of his chain, was to take possession of a living in the county of + Corke, which had been bestowed upon him, by the then lord lieutenant + of Ireland, the present earl of Granville. Sheridan, in one fatal + moment, or by one fatal text, effected his own ruin. You will find the + story told by Swift himself, in the fourth volume of his works [page + 289. in a pamphlet intitled a Vindication of his Excellency John Lord + Carteret, from the charge of favouring none but Tories, + High-Churchmen, and Jacobites.] So that here I need only tell you, + that this ill-starred, good-natur'd, improvident man returned to + Dublin, unhinged from all favour at court, and even banished from the + Castle: But still he remained a punster, a quibbler, a fiddler, and a + wit. Not a day passed without a rebus, an anagram, or a madrigal. His + pen and his fiddle-stick were in continual motion; and yet to little + or no purpose, if we may give credit to the following verses, which + shall serve as the conclusion of his poetical character.' + + With music and poetry equally bless'd[1], + A bard thus Apollo most humbly address'd, + Great author of poetry, music, and light, + Instructed by thee, I both fiddle and write: + + Yet unheeded I scrape, or I scribble all day, + My tunes are neglected, my verse flung away. + Thy substantive here, Vice Apollo [2] disdains, + To vouch for my numbers, or list to my strains. + Thy manual sign he refuses to put + To the airs I produce from the pen, or the gut: + Be thou then propitious, great Phoebus, and grant + Belief, or reward to my merit, or want, + Tho' the Dean and Delany [3] transcendently shine, + O! brighten one solo, or sonnet of mine, + Make one work immortal, 'tis all I request; + Apollo look'd pleas'd, and resolving to jest, + Replied--Honest friend, I've consider'd your case. + Nor dislike your unmeaning and innocent face. + Your petition I grant, the boon is not great, + Your works shall continue, and here's the receipt; + On Roundo's[4] hereafter, your fiddle-strings spend. + Write verses in circles, they never shall end. + +Dr. Sheridan gained some reputation by his Prose-translation of Persius; +to which he added a Collection of the best Notes of the Editors of this +intricate Satyrist, who are in the best esteem; together with many +judicious Notes of his own. This work was printed in 12mo. for A. +Millar, 1739. + +One of the volumes of Swift's Miscellanies consists almost entirely of +Letters between the Dean and the Dr. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Not a first rate genius, or extraordinary proficient, in either. + +[2] Dr. Swift. + +[3] Now Dean of Downe. + +[4] A Song, or peculiar kind of Poetry, which returns to the beginning + of the first verse, and continues in a perpetual rotation. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Dr. JONATHAN SWIFT. + +When the life of a person, whose wit and genius raised him to an +eminence among writers of the first class, is written by one of uncommon +abilities:--One possess'd of the power (as Shakespear says) _of looking +quite thro' the deeds of men_; we are furnished with one of the highest +entertainments a man can enjoy:--Such an author also presents us with a +true picture of human nature, which affords us the most ample +instruction:--He discerns the passions which play about the heart; and +while he is astonished with the high efforts of genius, is at the same +time enabled to observe nature as it really is, and how distant from +perfection mankind are in this world, even in the most refined state of +humanity. Such an intellectual feast they enjoy, who peruse the life of +this great author, drawn by the masterly and impartial hand of lord +Orrery. We there discern the greatness and weakness of Dean Swift; we +discover the patriot, the genius, and the humourist; the peevish master, +the ambitious statesman, the implacable enemy, and the warm friend. His +mixed qualities and imperfections are there candidly marked: His errors +and virtues are so strongly represented, that while we reflect upon his +virtues, we forget he had so many failings; and when we consider his +errors, we are disposed to think he had fewer virtues. With such candour +and impartiality has lord Orrery drawn the portrait of Swift; and, as +every biographer ought to do, has shewn us the man as he really was. + +Upon this account given by his lordship, is the following chiefly built. +It shall be our business to take notice of the most remarkable passages +of the life of Swift; to omit no incidents that can be found concerning +him, and as our propos'd bounds will not suffer us to enlarge, we shall +endeavour to display, with as much conciseness as possible, those +particulars which may be most entertaining to the reader. + +He was born in Dublin, November the 30th, 1667, and was carried into +England soon after his birth, by his nurse, who being obliged to cross +the sea, and having a nurse's fondness for the child at her breast, +convey'd him ship-board without the knowledge of his mother or +relations, and kept him with her at Whitehaven in Cumberland, during her +residence about three-years in that place. This extraordinary event made +his return seem as if he had been transplanted to Ireland, rather than +that he owed his original existence to that soil. But perhaps he tacitly +hoped to inspire different nations with a contention for his birth; at +least in his angry moods, when he was peevish and provoked at the +ingratitude of Ireland, he was frequently heard to say, 'I am not of +this vile country, I am an Englishman.' Such an assertion tho' meant +figuratively, was often received literally; and the report was still +farther propagated by Mr. Pope, who in one of his letters has this +expression. 'Tho' one, or two of our friends are gone, since you saw +your native country, there remain a few.' But doctor Swift, in his +cooler hours, never denied his country: On the contrary he frequently +mentioned, and pointed out, the house where he was born. + +The other suggestion concerning the illegitimacy of his birth, is +equally false. Sir William Temple was employed as a minister abroad, +from the year 1665, to the year 1670; first at Brussels, and afterwards +at the Hague, as appears by his correspondence with the earl of +Arlington, and other ministers of state. So that Dr. Swift's mother, who +never crossed the sea, except from England to Ireland, was out of all +possibility of a personal correspondence with Sir William Temple, till +some years after her son's birth. Dr. Swift's ancestors were persons of +decent and reputable characters. His grand-father was the Revd. Mr. +Thomas Swift, vicar of Goodridge, near Ross in Herefordshire. He enjoyed +a paternal estate in that county, which is still in possession of his +great-grandson, Dean Swift, Esq; He died in the year 1658, leaving five +sons, Godwin, Thomas, Dryden, Jonathan, and Adam. + +Two of them only, Godwin and Jonathan, left sons. Jonathan married Mrs. +Abigail Erick of Leicestershire, by whom he had one daughter and a son. +The daughter was born in the first year of Mr. Swift's marriage; but he +lived not to see the birth of his son, who was born two months after his +death, and became afterwards the famous Dean of St. Patrick's. + +The greatest part of Mr. Jonathan Swift's income had depended upon +agencies, and other employments of that kind; so that most of his +fortune perished with him[1], and the remainder being the only support +that his widow could enjoy, the care, tuition, and expence of her two +children devolved upon her husband's elder brother, Mr. Godwin Swift, +who voluntarily became their guardian, and supplied the loss which they +had sustained in a father. + +The faculties of the mind appear and shine forth at different ages in +different men. The infancy of Dr. Swift pass'd on without any marks of +distinction. At six years old he was sent to school at Kilkenny, and +about eight years afterwards he was entered a student of Trinity College +in Dublin. He lived there in perfect regularity, and under an entire +obedience to the statutes; but the moroseness of his temper rendered him +very unacceptable to his companions, so that he was little regarded, and +less beloved, nor were the academical exercises agreeable to his genius. +He held logic and metaphysics in the utmost contempt; and he scarce +considered mathematics, and natural philosophy, unless to turn them into +ridicule. The studies which he followed were history and poetry. In +these he made a great progress, but to all other branches of science, he +had given so very little application, that when he appeared as a +candidate for the degree of batchelor of arts, he was set aside on +account of insufficiency. + +'This, says lord Orrery, is a surprising incident in his life, but it is +undoubtedly true; and even at last he obtained his admission Speciali +Gratia. A phrase which in that university carries with it the utmost +marks of reproach. It is a kind of dishonourable degree, and the record +of it (notwithstanding Swift's present established character throughout +the learned world) must for ever remain against him in the academical +register at Dublin.' + +The more early disappointments happen in life, the deeper impression +they make upon the heart. Swift was full of indignation at the treatment +he received in Dublin; and therefore resolved to pursue his studies at +Oxford. However, that he might be admitted Ad Eundem, he was obliged to +carry with him the testimonium of his degree. The expression Speciali +Gratia is so peculiar to the university of Dublin, that when Mr. Swift +exhibited his testimonium at Oxford, the members of the English +university concluded, that the words Speciali Grata must signify a +degree conferred in reward of extraordinary diligence and learning. It +is natural to imagine that he did not try to undeceive them; he was +entered in Hart-Hall, now Hartford-College, where he resided till he +took his degree of master of arts in the year 1691. + +Dr. Swift's uncle, on whom he had placed his chief dependance, dying in +the Revolution year, he was supported chiefly by the bounty of Sir +William Temple, to whose lady he was a distant relation. Acts of +generosity seldom meet with their just applause. Sir William Temple's +friendship was immediately construed to proceed from a consciousness +that he was the real father of Mr. Swift, otherwise it was thought +impossible he could be so uncommonly munificent to a young man, so +distantly related to his wife. + +'I am not quite certain, (says his noble Biographer) that Swift himself +did not acquiesce in the calumny; perhaps like Alexander, he thought the +natural son of Jupiter would appear greater than the legitimate son of +Philip.' + +As soon as Swift quitted the university, he lived with Sir William +Temple as his friend, and domestic companion. When he had been about two +years in the family of his patron, he contracted a very long, and +dangerous illness, by eating an immoderate quantity of fruit. To this +surfeit he used to ascribe the giddiness in his head, which, with +intermissions sometimes of a longer, and sometimes of a shorter +continuance, pursued him till it seemed to compleat its conquest, by +rendering him the exact image of one of his own STRULDBRUGGS; a +miserable spectacle, devoid of every appearance of human nature, except +the outward form. + +After Swift had sufficiently recovered to travel, he went into Ireland +to try the effects of his native air; and he found so much benefit by +the journey, that pursuant to his own inclinations he soon returned into +England, and was again most affectionately received by Sir William +Temple, whose house was now at Sheen, where he was often visited by King +William. Here Swift had frequent opportunities of conversing with that +prince; in some of which conversations the king offered to make him a +captain of horse: An offer, which in his splenetic dispositions, he +always seemed sorry to have refused; but at that time he had resolved +within his own mind to take orders, and during his whole life his +resolutions, like the decrees of fate, were immoveable. Thus determined, +he again went over to Ireland, and immediately inlisted himself under +the banner of the church. He was recommended to lord Capel, then +Lord-Deputy, who gave him, the first vacancy, a prebend, of which the +income was about a hundred pounds a year. + +Swift soon grew weary of a preferment, which to a man of his ambition +was far from being sufficiently considerable. He resigned his prebend in +favour of a friend, and being sick of solitude he returned to Sheen, +were he lived domestically as usual, till the death of Sir William +Temple; who besides a legacy in money, left to him the care and trust of +publishing his posthumous works. + +During Swift's residence with Sir William Temple he became intimately +acquainted with a lady, whom he has distinguished, and often celebrated, +under the name of Stella. The real name of this lady was Johnson. She +was the daughter of Sir William Temple's steward; and the concealed but +undoubted wife of doctor Swift. Sir William Temple bequeathed her in his +will 1000 l. as an acknowledgment of her father's faithful services. In +the year 1716 she was married to doctor Swift, by doctor Ashe, then +bishop of Clogher. + +The reader must observe, there was a long interval between the +commencement of his acquaintance with Stella, and the time of making her +his wife, for which (as it appears he was fond of her from the beginning +of their intimacy) no other cause can be assigned, but that the same +unaccountable humour, which had so long detained him from marrying, +prevented him from acknowledging her after she was his wife. + +'Stella (says lord Orrery) was a most amiable woman both in mind and +person: She had an elevated understanding, with all the delicacy, and +softness of her own sex. Her voice, however sweet in itself, was still +rendered more harmonious by what she said. Her wit was poignant without +severity: Her manners were humane, polite, easy and unreserved.-- +Wherever she came, she attracted attention and esteem. As virtue was her +guide in morality, sincerity was her guide in religion. She was +constant, but not ostentatious in her devotions: She was remarkably +prudent in her conversation: She had great skill in music; and was +perfectly well versed in all the lesser arts that employ a lady's +leisure. Her wit allowed her a fund of perpetual cheerfulness within +proper limits. She exactly answered the description of Penelope in +Homer. + + A woman, loveliest of the lovely kind, + In body perfect, and compleat in mind.' + +Such was this amiable lady, yet, with all these advantages, she could +never prevail on Dr. Swift to acknowledge her openly as his wife. A +great genius must tread in unbeaten paths, and deviate from the common +road of life; otherwise a diamond of so much lustre might have been +publickly produced, although it had been fixed within the collet of +matrimony: But that which diminished the value of this inestimable jewel +in Swift's eye was the servile state of her father. + +Ambition and pride, the predominant principles which directed all the +actions of Swift, conquered reason and justice; and the vanity of +boasting such a wife was suppressed by the greater vanity of keeping +free from a low alliance. Dr. Swift and Mrs. Johnson continued the same +oeconomy of life after marriage, which they had pursued before it. They +lived in separate houses; nothing appeared in their behaviour +inconsistent in their decorum, and beyond the limits of platonic love. +However unaccountable this renunciation of marriage rites might appear +to the world, it certainly arose, not from any consciousness of a too +near consanguinity between him and Mrs. Johnson, although the general +voice of some was willing to make them both the natural children of Sir +William Temple. Dr. Swift, (says lord Orrery) was not of that opinion, +for the same false pride which induced him to deny the legitimate +daughter of an obscure servant, might have prompted him to own the +natural daughter of Sir William Temple.[2] + +It is natural to imagine, that a woman of Stella's delicacy must repine +at such an extraordinary situation. The outward honours she received are +as frequently bestowed upon a mistress as a wife; she was absolutely +virtuous, and was yet obliged to submit to all the appearances of vice. +Inward anxiety affected by degrees the calmness of her mind, and the +strength of her body. She died towards the end of January 1727, +absolutely destroy'd by the peculiarity of her fate; a fate which +perhaps she could not have incurred by an alliance with any other person +in the world. + +Upon the death of Sir William Temple, Swift came to London, and took the +earliest opportunity of delivering a petition to King William, under the +claim of a promise made by his majesty to Sir William Temple, that Mr. +Swift should have the first vacancy which might happen among the +prebends of Westminster or Canterbury. But this promise was either +totally forgotten, or the petition which Mr. Swift presented was drowned +amidst the clamour of more urgent addresses. From this first +disappointment may be dated that bitterness towards kings and courtiers, +which is to be found so universally dispersed throughout his works. + +After a long and fruitless attendance at Whitehall, Swift reluctantly +gave up all thoughts of a settlement in England: Pride prevented him +from remaining longer in a state of servility and contempt. He complied +therefore with an invitation from the earl of Berkley (appointed one of +the Lords Justices in Ireland) to attend him as his chaplain, and +private secretary.--Lord Berkley landed near Waterford, and Mr. Swift +acted as secretary during the whole journey to Dublin. But another of +lord Berkley's attendants, whose name was Bush, had by this time +insinuated himself into the earl's favour, and had whispered to his +lordship, that the post of secretary was not proper for a clergyman, to +whom only church preferments could be suitable or advantageous. Lord +Berkley listened perhaps too attentively to these insinuations, and +making some slight apology to Mr. Swift, divested him of that office, +and bestowed it upon Mr. Bush. + +Here again was another disappointment, and a fresh object of +indignation. The treatment was thought injurious, and Swift expressed +his sensibility of it in a short but satyrical copy of verses, intitled +the Discovery. However, during the government of the Earls of Berkley +and Galway, who were jointly Lords Justices of Ireland, two livings, +Laracor and Rathbeggan, were given to Mr. Swift. The first of these +rectories was worth about 200, and the latter about 60 l. a year; and +they were the only church preferments which he enjoyed till he was +appointed Dean of St. Patrick's, in the year 1713. + +Lord Orrery gives the following instances of his humour and of his +pride. + +As soon as he had taken possession of his two livings, he went to reside +at Laracor, and gave public notice to his parishioners, that he would +read prayers on every Wednesday and Friday. Upon the subsequent +Wednesday the bell was rung, and the rector attended in his desk, when +after having sat some time, and finding the congregation to consist only +of himself and his clerk Roger, he began with great composure and +gravity; but with a turn peculiar to himself. "_Dearly beloved_ Roger, +_the scripture moveth you and me in sundry places, &c_." And then +proceeded regularly thro' the whole service. This trifling circumstance +serves to shew; that he could not resist a vein of humour, whenever he +had an opportunity of exerting it. + +The following is the instance of his pride. While Swift was chaplain to +lord Berkley, his only sister, by the consent and approbation of her +uncle and relations, was married to a man in trade, whose fortune, +character, and situation were esteemed by all her friends, and suitable +to her in every respect. + +But the marriage was intirely disagreeable to her brother. It seemed to +interrupt those ambitious views he had long since formed: He grew +outragious at the thoughts of being brother-in law to a trademan. He +utterly refused all reconciliation with his father; nor would he even +listen to the entreaties of his mother, who came over to Ireland under +the strongest hopes of pacifying his anger; having in every other +instance found him a dutiful and obedient son: But his pride was not to +be conquered, and Mrs. Swift finding her son inflexible, hastened back +to Leicester, where she continued till her death. + +During his mother's life time, he scarce ever failed to pay her an +annual visit. But his manner of travelling was as singular as any other +of his actions. He often went in a waggon, but more frequently walked +from Holyhead to Leicester, London, or any other part of England. He +generally chose to dine with waggoners, ostlers, and persons of that +rank; and he used to lye at night in houses where he found written over +the door, Lodgings for a Penny. He delighted in scenes of low life. The +vulgar dialect was not only a fund of humour for him; but seems to have +been acceptable to his nature, as appears from the many filthy ideas, +and indecent expressions found throughout his works. + +A strict residence in a country place was not in the least suitable to +the restless temper of Swift. He was perpetually making excursions not +only to Dublin, and other places in Ireland, but likewise to London; so +rambling a disposition occasioned to him a considerable loss. The rich +deanery of Derry became vacant at this time, and was intended for him by +lord Berkley, if Dr. King, then bishop of Derry, and afterwards +archbishop of Dublin, had not interposed; entreating with great +earnestness, that the deanery might be given to some grave and elderly +divine, rather than to so young a man 'because (added the bishop) the +situation of Derry is in the midst of Presbyterians, and I should be +glad of a clergyman, who might be of assistance to me. I have no +objection to Mr. Swift. I know him to be a sprightly ingenious young +man; but instead of residing, I dare say he will be eternally flying +backwards and forwards to London; and therefore I entreat that he may be +provided for in some other place.' + +Swift was accordingly set aside on account of youth, and from the year +1702, to the change of the ministry in the year 1710, few circumstances +of his life can be found sufficiently material to be inserted here. From +this last period, 'till the death of Queen Anne, we find him fighting on +the side of the Tories, and maintaining their cause in pamphlets, poems, +and weekly papers. In one of his letters to Mr. Pope he has this +expression, 'I have conversed, in some freedom, with more ministers of +state, of all parties, than usually happens to men of my level; and, I +confess, in their capacity as ministers I look upon them as a race of +people, whose acquaintance no man would court otherwise, than on the +score of vanity and ambition.' A man always appears of more consequence +to himself, than he is in reality to any other person. Such, perhaps, +was the case of Dr. Swift. He knew how useful he was to the +administration in general; and in one of his letters he mentions, that +the place of historiographer was intended for him; but in this +particular he flattered himself; at least, he remained without any +preferment 'till the year 1713, when he was made dean of St. Patrick's. +In point of power and revenue, such a deanery might be esteemed no +inconsiderable promotion; but to an ambitious mind, whose perpetual view +was a settlement in England, a dignity in any other country must appear +only a profitable and an honourable kind of banishment. It is very +probable, that the temper of Swift might occasion his English friends to +wish him promoted at a distance. His spirit was ever untractable. The +motions of his genius were often irregular. He assumed more of the air +of a patron, than of a friend. He affected rather to dictate than +advise. He was elated with the appearance of enjoying ministerial +confidence. He enjoyed the shadow indeed, but the substance was detained +from him. He was employed, not entrusted; and at the same time he +imagined himself a subtle diver, who dextrously shot down into the +profoundest regions of politics, he was suffered only to sound the +shallows nearest the shore, and was scarce admitted to descend below the +froth at the top. Swift was one of those strange kind of Tories, who +lord Bolingbroke, in his letter to Sir William Wyndham, calls the +Whimsicals, that is, they were Tories attach'd to the Hanoverian +succession. This kind of Tory is so incongruous a creature, that it is a +wonder ever such a one existed. Mrs. Pilkington informs us, that Swift +had written A Defence of the last Ministers of Queen Anne, from an +intention of restoring the Pretender, which Mr. Pope advised him to +destroy, as not one word of it was true. Bolingbroke, by far the most +accomplished man in that ministry (for Oxford was, in comparison of him, +a statesman of no compass) certainly aimed at the restoration of the +exiled family, however he might disguise to some people his real +intentions, under the masque of being a Hanoverian Tory. This serves to +corroberate the observation which lord Orrery makes of Swift: 'that he +was employed, not trusted, &c.' + +By reflexions of this sort, says lord Orrery, we may account for his +disappointment of an English bishopric. A disappointment, which, he +imagined, he owed to a joint application, made against him to the Queen, +by Dr. Sharp, archbishop of York, and by a lady of the highest rank and +character. Archbishop Sharpe, according to Swift's account, had +represented him to the Queen as a person, who was no Christian; the +great lady had supported the assertion, and the Queen, upon such +assurances, had given away the bishopric, contrary to her Majesty's +intentions. Swift kept himself, indeed, within some tolerable bounds +when he spoke of the Queen; but his indignation knew no limits when he +mentioned the archbishop, or the lady. + +Most people are fond of a settlement in their native country, but Swift +had not much reason to rejoice in the land where his lot had fallen; for +upon his arrival in Ireland to take possesion of the deanery, he found +the violence of party raging in that kingdom to the highest degree. The +common people were taught to consider him as a Jacobite, and they +proceeded so far in their detestation, as to throw stones and dirt at +him as he passed thro' the streets. The chapter of St. Patrick's, like +the rest of the kingdom, received him with great reluctance. They +opposed him in every point he proposed. They avoided him as a +pestilence, and resisted him as an invader and an enemy to his country. +Such was his first reception, as dean of St. Patrick's. Fewer talents, +and less firmness must have yielded to so outrageous an opposition. He +had seen enough of human nature to be convinced that the passions of +low, self-interested minds ebb and flow continually. They love they know +not whom, they hate they know not why. They are captivated by words, +guided by names, and governed by accidents. But to few the strange +revolutions in this world, Dr. Swift, who was now the detestion of the +Irish rabble, lived to be afterwards the most absolute monarch over +them, that ever governed men. His first step was to reduce to reason and +obedience his revd. brethren the the chapter of St. Patrick's; in which +he succeeded so perfectly, and so speedily, that, in a short time after +his arrival, not one member in that body offered to contradict him, even +in trifles: on the contrary, they held him in the highest respect and +veneration, so that he sat in the Chapter-House, like Jupiter in the +Synod of the Gods. + +In the beginning of the year 1714 Swift returned to England. He found +his great friends, who sat in the seat of power, much disunited among +themselves. He saw the Queen declining in her health, and distressed in +her situation; while faction was exerting itself, and gathering new +strength every day. He exerted the utmost of his skill to unite the +ministers, and to cement the apertures of the state: but he found his +pains fruitless, his arguments unavailing, and his endeavours, like the +stone of Sisyphus, rolling back upon himself. He retired to a friend's +house in Berkshire, where he remained 'till the Queen died. So fatal an +event terminated all his views in England, and made him return as fast +as possible to his deanery in Ireland, oppressed with grief and +discontent. His hopes in England were now crushed for ever. As Swift was +well known to have been attached to the Queen's last ministry, he met +with several indignities from the populace, and, indeed, was equally +abused by persons of all ranks and denominations. Such a treatment +soured his temper, confined his acquaintance, and added bitterness to +his stile. + +From the year 1714, 'till he appeared in the year 1720 a champion for +Ireland, against Wood's halfpence, his spirit of politics and patriotism +was kept almost closely confined within his own breast. Idleness and +trifles engrossed too many of his leisure hours; fools and sycophants +too much of his conversation. His attendance upon the public service of +the church was regular and uninterrupted; and indeed regularity was +peculiar to all his actions, even in the meerest trifles. His hours of +walking and reading never varied. His motions were guided by his watch, +which was so constantly held in his hand, or placed before him on the +table, that he seldom deviated many minutes in the revolution of his +exercises and employments. In the year 1720 he began to re-assume, in +some degree, the character of a political writer. A small pamphlet in +defence of the Irish Manufactures was his first essay in Ireland in that +kind of writing, and to that pamphlet he owed the turn of the popular +tide in his favour. It was entitled, A Proposal for the Universal Use of +Irish Manufacture in Clothes and Furniture of Houses, &c. utterly +rejecting and renouncing every thing wearable that comes from England. +This proposal immediately raised a very violent flame. The Printer was +prosecuted, and the prosecution had the same effect, which generally +attends those kind of measures. It added fuel to flame. But his greatest +enemies must confess, that the pamphlet is written in the stile of a man +who had the good of his country nearest his heart, who saw her errors, +and wished to correct them; who felt her oppressions, and wished to +relieve them; and who had a desire to rouze and awaken an indolent +nation from a lethargic disposition, that might prove fatal to her +constitution. This temporary opposition but increased the stream of his +popularity. He was now looked upon in a new light, and was distinguished +by the title of THE DEAN, and so high a degree of popularity did he +attain, as to become an arbitrator, in disputes of property, amongst his +neighbours; nor did any man dare to appeal from his opinion, or murmur +at his decrees. + +But the popular affection, which the dean had hitherto acquired, may be +said not to have been universal, 'till the publication of the Drapier's +Letters, which made all ranks, and all professions unanimous in his +applause. The occasion of those letters was, a scarcity of copper coin +in Ireland, to so great a degree, that, for some time past, the chief +manufacturers throughout the kingdom were obliged to pay their workmen +in pieces of tin, or in other tokens of suppositious value. Such a +method was very disadvantageous to the lower parts of traffic, and was +in general an impediment to the commerce of the state. To remedy this +evil, the late King granted a patent to one Wood, to coin, during the +term of fourteen years, farthings and halfpence in England, for the use +of Ireland, to the value of a certain Aim specified. These halfpence and +farthings were to be received by those persons, who would voluntarily +accept them. But the patent was thought to be of such dangerous +consequence to the public, and of such exorbitant advantage to the +patentee, that the dean, under the character of M. B. Drapier, wrote a +Letter to the People, warning them not to accept Wood's halfpence and +farthings, as current coin. This first letter was succeeded by several +others to the same purpose, all which are inserted in his works. + +At the sound of the Drapier's trumpet, a spirit arose among the people. +Persons of all ranks, parties and denominations, were convinced that the +admission of Wood's copper must prove fatal to the commonwealth. The +Papist, the Fanatic, the Tory, the Whig, all listed themselves +volunteers, under the banner of the Drapier, and were all equally +zealous to serve the common cause. Much heat, and many fiery speeches +against the administration were the consequence of this union; nor had +the flames been allayed, notwithstanding threats and proclamations, had +not the coin been totally suppressed, and Wood withdrawn his patent. The +name of Augustus was not bestowed upon Octavius Caesar with more +universal approbation, than the name of the Drapier was bestowed upon +the dean. He had no sooner assumed his new cognomen, than he became the +idol of the people of Ireland, to a degree of devotion, that in the most +superstitious country, scarce any idol ever obtained. Libations to his +health were poured out as frequent as to the immortal memory of King +William. His effigies was painted in every street in Dublin. +Acclamations and vows for his prosperity attended his footsteps wherever +he passed. He was consulted in all points relating to domestic policy in +general, and to the trade of Ireland in particular; but he was more +immediately looked upon as the legislator of the Weavers, who frequently +came in a body, consisting of 40 or 50 chiefs of their trade, to receive +his advice in settling the rates of their manufactures, and the wages of +their journeymen. He received their address with less majesty than +sternness, and ranging his subjects in a circle round his parlour, spoke +as copiously, and with as little difficulty and hesitation, to the +several points in which they supplicated his assistance, as if trade had +been the only study and employment of his life. When elections were +depending for the city of Dublin, many Corporations refused to declare +themselves, 'till they had consulted his sentiments and inclinations, +which were punctually followed with equal chearfulness and submission. + +In this state of power, and popular admiration, he remained 'till he +lost his senses; a loss which he seemed to foresee, and prophetically +lamented to many of his friends. The total deprivation of his senses +came upon him by degrees. In the year 1736 he was seized with a violent +fit of giddiness; he was at that time writing a satirical poem, called +The Legion Club; but he found the effects of his giddiness so dreadful, +that he left the poem unfinished, and never afterwards attempted a +composition, either in verse or prose. However, his conversation still +remained the same, lively and severe, but his memory gradually grew +worse and worse, and as that decreased, he grew every day more fretful +and impatient. In the year 1741, his friends found his passions so +violent and ungovernable, his memory so decayed, and his reason so +depraved, that they took the utmost precautions to keep all strangers +from approaching him; for, 'till then, he had not appeared totally +incapable of conversation. But early in the year 1742, the small remains +of his understanding became entirely confused, and the violence of his +rage increased absolutely to a degree of madness. In this miserable +state he seemed to be appointed the first inhabitant of his own +Hospital; especially as from an outrageous lunatic, he sunk afterwards +to a quiet speechless ideot; and dragged out the remainder of his life +in that helpless situation. He died towards the latter end of October +1745. The manner of his death was easy, without the least pang, or +convulsion; even the rattling of his throat was scarce sufficient to +give an alarm to his attendants, 'till within some very little time +before he expired. A man in possession of his reason would have wished +for such a kind dissolution; but Swift was totally insensible of +happiness, or pain. He had not even the power or expression of a child, +appearing for some years before his death, referred only as an example +to mortify human pride, and to reverse that fine description of human +nature, which is given us by the inimitable Shakespeare. 'What a piece +of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form +and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in +apprehension how like a God! the beauty of the world! the paragon of +animals!' Swift's friends often heard him lament the state of childhood +and idiotism, to which some of the greatest men of this nation were +reduced before their death. He mentioned, as examples within his own +time, the duke of Marlborough and lord Somers; and when he cited these +melancholy instances, it was always with a heavy sigh, and with gestures +that shewed great uneasiness, as if he felt an impulse of what was to +happen to him before he died. He left behind him about twelve thousand +pounds, inclusive of the specific legacies mentioned in his will, and +which may be computed at the sum of twelve hundred pounds, so that the +remaining ten thousand eight hundred pounds, is entirely applicable to +the Hospital for Idiots and Lunatics; an establishment remarkably +generous, as those who receive the benefit, must for ever remain +ignorant of their benefactor. + +Lord Orerry has observed, that a propension to jocularity and humour is +apparent in the last works of Swift. His Will, like all his other +writings, is drawn up in his own peculiar manner. Even in so serious a +composition, he cannot help indulging himself in leaving legacies, that +carry with them an air of raillery and jest. He disposes of his three +best hats (his best, his second best, and his third best beaver) with an +ironical solemnity, that renders the bequests ridiculous. He bequeaths, +'To Mr. John Grattan a silver-box, to keep in it the tobacco which the +said John usually chewed, called pigtail.' But his legacy to Mr. Robert +Grattan, is still more extraordinary. 'Item, I bequeath to the Revd. Mr. +Robert Grattan, Prebendary of St. Audeon's, my strong box, on condition +of his giving the sole use of the said box to his brother, Dr. James +Grattan, during the life of the said Doctor, who hath more occasion for +it.' + +These are so many last expressions of his turn, and way of thinking, and +no doubt the persons thus distinguished looked upon these instances as +affectionate memorials of his friendship, and tokens of the jocose +manner, in which he had treated them during his life-time. + +With regard to Dean Swift's poetical character, the reader will take the +following sketch of it in the words of Lord Orrery. 'The poetical +performances of Swift (says he) ought to be considered as occasional +poems, written either to pleasure[3], or to vex some particular persons. +We must not suppose them designed for posterity; if he had cultivated +his genius that way, he must certainly have excelled, especially in +satire. We see fine sketches in several of his pieces; but he seems more +desirous to inform and strengthen his mind, than to indulge the +luxuriancy of his imagination. He chuses to discover, and correct errors +in the works of others, rather than to illustrate, and add beauties of +his own. Like a skilful artist, he is fond of probing wounds to their +depth, and of enlarging them to open view. He aims to be severely +useful, rather than politely engaging; and as he was either not formed, +nor would take pains to excel in poetry, he became in some measure +superior to it; and assumed more the air, and manner of a critic than a +poet.' Thus far his lordship in his VIth letter, but in his IXth, he +adds, when speaking of the Second Volume of Swift's Works, 'He had the +nicest ear; he is remarkably chaste, and delicate in his rhimes. A bad +rhime appeared to him one of the capital sins of poetry.' + +The Dean's poem on his celebrated Vanessa, is number'd among the best of +his poetical pieces. Of this lady it will be proper to give some +account, as she was a character as singular as Swift himself. + +Vanessa's real name was Esther Vanhomrich[4]. She was one of the +daughters of Bartholomew Vanhomrich, a Dutch merchant of Amsterdam; who +upon the Revolution went into Ireland, and was appointed by king William +a commissioner of the revenue. The Dutch merchant, by parsimony and +prudence, had collected a fortune of about 16,000 _l_. He bequeathed an +equal division of it to his wife, and his four children, of which two +were sons, and two were daughters. The sons after the death of their +father travelled abroad: The eldest died beyond sea; and the youngest +surviving his brother only a short time, the whole patrimony fell to his +two sisters, Esther and Mary. + +With this encrease of wealth, and with heads and hearts elated by +affluence, and unrestrained by fore-sight or discretion, the widow +Vanhomrich, and her two daughters, quitted their native country for the +more elegant pleasures of the English court. During their residence at +London, they lived in a course of prodigality, that stretched itself far +beyond the limits of their income, and reduced them to great distress, +in the midst of which the mother died, and the two daughters hastened in +all secresy back to Ireland, beginning their journey on a Sunday, to +avoid the interruption of creditors. Within two years after their +arrival in Ireland, Mary the youngest sister died, and the small remains +of the shipwreck'd fortune center'd in Vanessa. + +Vanity makes terrible devastations in a female breast: Vanessa was +excessively vain. She was fond of dress; impatient to be admired; very +romantic in her turn of mind; superior in her own opinion to all her +sex; full of pertness, gaiety, and pride; not without some agreeable +accomplishments, but far from being either beautiful or genteel: +Ambitious at any rate to be esteemed a wit; and with that view always +affecting to keep company with wits; a great reader, and a violent +admirer of poetry; happy in the thoughts of being reputed Swift's +concubine; but still aiming to be his wife. By nature haughty and +disdainful, looking with contempt upon her inferiors; and with the +smiles of self-approbation upon her equals; but upon Dr. Swift, with the +eyes of love: Her love was no doubt founded in vanity. + +Though Vanessa had exerted all the arts of her sex, to intangle Swift in +matrimony; she was yet unsuccessful. She had lost her reputation, and +the narrowness of her income, and coldness of her lover contributed to +make her miserable, and to increase the phrensical disposition of her +mind. In this melancholly situation she remained several years, during +which time Cadenus (Swift) visited her frequently. She often press'd him +to marry her: His answers were rather turns of wit, than positive +denials; till at last being unable to sustain the weight of misery any +longer, she wrote a very tender epistle to him, insisting peremptorily +upon a serious answer, and an immediate acceptance, or absolute refusal +of her as his wife. His reply was delivered by his own hand. He brought +it with him when he made his final visit; and throwing down the letter +upon the table with great passion, hastened back to his house, carrying +in his countenance the frown of anger, and indignation. Vanessa did not +survive many days the letter delivered to her by Swift, but during that +short interval she was sufficiently composed, to cancel a will made in +his favour, and to make another, wherein she left her fortune (which by +a long retirement was in some measure retrieved) to her two executors, +Dr. Berkley the late lord bishop of Cloyne, and Mr. Marshal one of the +king's Serjeants at law. Thus perished under all the agonies of despair, +Mrs. Esther Vanhomrich; a miserable example of an ill-spent life, +fantastic wit, visionary schemes, and female weakness. + +It is strange that vanity should have so great a prevalence in the +female breast, and yet it is certain that to this principle it was +owing, that Swift's house was often a seraglio of very virtuous women, +who attended him from morning till night, with an obedience, an awe, and +an assiduity that are seldom paid to the richest, or the most powerful +lovers. These ladies had no doubt a pride in being thought the +companions of Swift; but the hours which were spent in his company could +not be very pleasant, as his sternness and authority were continually +exerted to keep them in awe. + +Lord Orrery has informed us, that Swift took every opportunity to expose +and ridicule Dryden, for which he imagines there must have been some +affront given by that great man to Swift. In this particular we can +satisfy the reader from authentic information. + +When Swift was a young man, and not so well acquainted with the world as +he afterwards became, he wrote some Pindaric Odes. In this species of +composition he succeeded ill; sublimity and fire, the indispensable +requisites in a Pindaric Ode not being his talent. As Mr. Dryden was +Swift's kinsman, these odes were shewn to him for his approbation, who +said to him with an unreserved freedom, and in the candour of a friend, +'Cousin Swift, turn your thoughts some other way, for nature has never +formed you for a Pindaric poet.' + +Though what Dryden observed, might in some measure be true, and Swift +perhaps was conscious that he had not abilities to succeed in that +species of writing; yet this honest dissuasive of his kinsman he never +forgave. The remembrance of it soured his temper, and heated his +passions, whenever Dryden's name was mention'd. + +We shall now take a view of Swift in his moral life, the distinction he +has obtained in the literary world having rendered all illustrations of +his genius needless. + +Lord Orrery, throughout his excellent work, from which we have drawn our +account of Swift, with his usual marks of candour, has displayed his +moral character. In many particulars, the picture he draws of the Dean +resembles the portrait of the same person as drawn by Mrs. Pilkington. + +'I have beheld him (says his lordship) in all humours and dispositions, +and I have formed various speculations from the several weaknesses to +which I observed him liable. His capacity, and strength of mind, were +undoubtedly equal to any talk whatsoever. His pride, his spirit, or his +ambition (call it by what name you please) was boundless; but his views +were checked in his younger years, and the anxiety of that +disappointment had a sensible effect upon all his actions. He was sour +and severe, but not absolutely ill-natur'd. He was sociable only to +particular friends, and to them only at particular hours. He knew +politeness more than he practiced it. He was a mixture of avarice and +generosity; the former was frequently prevalent, the latter seldom +appeared unless excited by compassion. He was open to adulation, and +would not, or could not, distinguish between low flattery and just +applause. His abilities rendered him superior to envy. He was +undisguised, and perfectly sincere. I am induced to think that he +entered into orders, more from some private and fixed resolution, than +from absolute choice: Be that as it may, he performed the duties of the +church with great punctuality, and a decent degree of devotion. He read +prayers, rather in a strong nervous voice, than in a graceful manner; +and although he has been often accused of irreligion, nothing of that +kind appeared in his conversation or behaviour. His cast of mind induced +him to think and speak more of politics than religion. His perpetual +views were directed towards power; and his chief aim was to be removed +to England: But when he found himself entirely disappointed, he turned +his thoughts to opposition, and became the Patron of Ireland.' + +Mrs. Pilkington has represented him as a tyrant in his family, and has +discovered in him a violent propension to be absolute in every company +where he was. This disposition, no doubt, made him more feared than +loved; but as he had the most unbounded vanity to gratify, he was +pleased with the servility and awe with which inferiors approached him. +He may be resembled to an eastern monarch, who takes delight in +surveying his slaves, trembling at his approach, and kneeling with +reverence at his feet. + +Had Swift been born to regal honours, he would doubtless have bent the +necks of his people to the yoke: As a subject, he was restless and +turbulent; and though as lord Orrery says, he was above corruption, yet +that virtue was certainly founded on his pride, which disdained every +measure, and spurned every effort in which he himself was not the +principal. + +He was certainly charitable, though it had an unlucky mixture of +ostentation in it. One particular act of his charity (not mentioned, +except by Mrs. Pilkington, in any account of him yet published) is well +worthy of remembrance, praise, and imitation:--He appropriated the sum +of five-hundred pounds intirely to the use of poor tradesmen and +handicraftsmen, whose honesty and industry, he thought merited +assistance, and encouragement: This he lent to them in small loans, as +their exigencies required, without any interest; and they repaid him at +so much per week, or month, as their different circumstances best +enabled them.--To the wealthy let us say-- + + "Abi tu et fac similiter." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Lord Orrery, page 6. + +[2] The authors of the Monthly Review have justly remarked, that this + observation of his lordship's seems premature. + + The same public rumour, say they, that made HER Sir William Temple's + daughter, made HIM also Sir William's son: Therefore he (Swift) + could never with decency, have acknowledged Mrs. Johnson as his + wife, while that rumour continued to retain any degree of credit; + and if there had been really no foundation for it, surely it might + have been no very hard task to obviate its force, by producing the + necessary proofs and circumstances of his birth: Yet, we do not + find that ever this was done, either by the Dean or his relations. + +[3] We are assured, there was one while a misunderstanding subsisting + between Swift and Pope: But that worthy gentleman, the late general + Dormer (who had a great regard for both) reconciled them, e'er it + came to an open rupture:--Though the world might be deprived by the + general's mediation of great matter of entertainment, which the + whetted wit of two such men might have afforded; yet his + good-nature, and sincere friendship, deserves to be remember'd with + honour.--This gentleman Mr. Cibber senior was very intimate with, + and once hinted to him, 'He was concerned to find he stood so ill in + the Dean's opinion, whose great parts, wit, genius, &c. he held in + the highest estimation; nor could he easily account for the Dean's + so frequently appearing his enemy, as he never knowingly had + offended him; and regretted the want of an opportunity of being + better acquainted with him.'--The general had also a great regard + for Mr. Cibber, and wished to bring them together on an agreeable + footing:--Why they were not so, came out soon after.--The secret + was,--Mr. Pope was angry; [for the long-latent cause, look into Mr. + Cibber's letter to Mr. Pope.] Passion and prejudice are not always + friends to truth;--and the foam of resentment never rose higher, + than when it boil'd and swell'd in Mr. Pope's bosom: No wonder then, + that his misrepresentation might make the Dean believe, Mr. Cibber + was not unworthy of that satire and raillery (not always just + neither, and sometimes solicited) which is not unsparingly thrown on + him in the Dean's works:--That this was the case, appears from the + following circumstance. + + As soon as Mr. Cibber's Apology was first printed, it was + immediately carried over to Dublin, and given to Mr. Faulkner (an + eminent printer and bookseller there) by a gentleman, who wished to + see an edition of it in Ireland; Mr. Faulkner published it, and the + success thereof was so great, some thousands thereof were disposed + of in a very short time: Just before the intended edition appeared, + the Dean (who often visited Mr. Faulkner) coming into the shop, + asked, 'What new pieces were likely to come forth?'--Mr. Faulkner + gave Mr. Cibber's Apology to him;--The Dean's curiosity + [Transcriber's note: 'curosity' in original] was pretty strong to + see a work of that uncommon sort:--In short, he stay'd and dined + there; and did not quit the house, or the book, 'till he had read it + through: He advised Faulkner, to lose no time in printing it; and + said, he would answer for it's success:--He declared, he had not + perus'd any thing a long time that had pleas'd him so much; and + dwelt long in commendation of it: He added, that he almost envy'd + the author the pleasure he must have in writing it;--That he was + sorry he had ever said any thing to his disadvantage; and was + convinced Cibber had been very much misrepresented to him; nor did + he scruple to say, that, as it had been formerly the fashion to + abuse Cibber, he had unwarily been drawn into it by Pope, and + others. He often, afterwards, spoke in praise of Mr. Cibber, and his + writing in general, and of this work in particular.--He afterwards + told Mr. Faulkner, he had read Cibber's Apology thro' three times; + that he was more and more pleased with it: That the style was not + inferior to any English he had ever read: That his words were + properly adapted: His similes happy, uncommon, and well chosen: He + then in a pleasant manner said--'You must give me this book, which + is the first thing I ever begg'd from you.' To this, we may be sure + Mr. Faulkner readily consented. Ever after in company, the Dean gave + this book a great character.--Let the reader make the application of + this true and well known fact. + +[4] The name is pronounced Vannumery. + + + * * * * * + + +MRS. CONSTANTIA GRIERSON. + +This lady was born in Ireland; and, as Mrs. Barber judiciously remarks, +was one of the most extraordinary women that either this age, or perhaps +any other, ever produced. She died in the year 1733, at the age of 27, +and was allowed long before to be an excellent scholar, not only in +Greek and Roman literature, but in history, divinity, philosophy, and +mathematics. + +Mrs. Grierson (says she) 'gave a proof of her knowledge in the Latin +tongue, by her dedication of the Dublin edition of Tacitus to the lord +Carteret, and by that of Terence to his son, to whom she likewise wrote +a Greek epigram. She wrote several fine poems in English[1], on which +she set so little value, that she neglected to leave copies behind her +of but very few. + +'What makes her character the more remarkable is, that she rose to this +eminence of learning merely by the force of her own genius, and +continual application. She was not only happy in a fine imagination, a +great memory, an excellent understanding, and an exact judgment, but had +all these crowned by virtue and piety: she was too learned to be vain, +too wise to be conceited, too knowing and too clear-sighted to +irreligious. + +'If heaven had spared her life, and blessed her with health, which she +wanted for some years before her death, there is good reason to think +she would have made as great a figure in the learned world, as any of +her sex are recorded to have done. + +'As her learning and abilities raised her above her own sex, so they +left her no room to envy any; on the contrary, her delight was to see +others excel. She was always ready to advise and direct those who +applied to her, and was herself willing to be advised. + +'So little did she value herself upon her uncommon excellences, that it +has often recalled to my mind a fine reflexion of a French author, _That +great geniuses should be superior to their own abilities._ + +'I perswade myself that this short account of so extraordinary a woman, +of whom much more might have been said, will not be disagreeable to my +readers; nor can I omit what I think is greatly to the lord Carteret's +honour, that when he was lord lieutenant of Ireland, he obtained a +patent for Mr. Grierson, her husband, to be the King's Printer, and to +distinguish and reward her uncommon merit, had her life inserted in it.' +Thus far Mrs. Barber. We shall now subjoin Mrs. Pilkington's account of +this wonderful genius. + +'About two years before this, a young woman (afterwards married to Mr. +Grierson) of about eighteen years of age, was brought to my father[2], +to be by him instructed in Midwifry: she was mistress of Hebrew[3], +Greek, Latin, and French, and understood the mathematics as well as most +men: and what made these extraordinary talents yet more surprizing was, +that her parents were poor, illiterate, country people: so that her +learning appeared like the gift poured out on the apostles, of speaking +all languages without the pains of study; or, like the intuitive +knowledge of angels: yet inasmuch as the power of miracles is ceased, we +must allow she used human means for such great and excellent +acquirements. And yet, in a long friendship and familiarity with her, I +could never obtain a satisfactory account from her on this head; only +she said, she had received some little instruction from the minister of +the parish, when she could spare time from her needle-work, to which she +was closely kept by her mother. She wrote elegantly both in verse and +prose, and some of the most delightful hours I ever passed were in the +conversation of this female philosopher. + +'My father readily consented to accept of her as a pupil, and gave her a +general invitation to his table; so that she and I were seldom asunder. +My parents were well pleased with our intimacy, as her piety was not +inferior to her learning. Her turn was chiefly to philosophical or +divine subjects; yet could her heavenly muse descend from its sublime +height to the easy epistolary stile, and suit itself to my then gay +disposition[4]. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Mrs. Barber has preserved several specimens of her talent in this + way, which are printed with her own poems. + +[2] Dr. Van Lewen of Dublin, an eminent physician and man-midwife. + +[3] Her knowledge of the Hebrew is not mentioned by Mrs. Barber. + +[4] Vide MRS. PILKINGTON'S MEMOIRS, Vol. I. + + + * * * * * + + +MRS. CATHERINE COCKBURN. + +The Revd. Dr. Birch, who has prefixed a life of Mrs. Cockburn before the +collection he has made of her works, with great truth observes, that it +is a justice due to the public, as well as to the memory of Mrs. +Cockburn, to premise some account of so extraordinary a person. +"Posterity, at least, adds he, will be so sollicitous to know, to whom +they will owe the most demonstrative and perspicuous reasonings, upon +subjects of eternal importance; and her own sex is entitled to the +fullest information about one, who has done such honour to them, and +raised our ideas of their intellectual powers, by an example of the +greatest extent of understanding and correctness of judgment, united to +all the vivacity of imagination. Antiquity, indeed, boasted of its +Female Philosophers, whose merits have been drawn forth in an elaborate +treatise of Menage[1]. But our own age and country may without injustice +or vanity oppose to those illustrious ladies the defender of Lock and +Clark; who, with a genius equal to the most eminent of them, had the +superior advantage of cultivating it in the only effectual method of +improvement, the study of a real philosophy, and a theology worthy human +nature, and its all-perfect author. [Transcriber's note: closing quotes +missing from original.] + +She was the daughter of captain David Trotter, a Scots gentleman, and +commander of the royal navy in the reign of Charles II. He was highly in +favour with that prince, who employed him as commodore in the demolition +of Tangier, in the year 1683. Soon after he was sent to convoy the fleet +of the Turkey company; when being seized by the plague, then raging at +Scanderoon, he died there. His death was an irreparable loss to his +family, who were defrauded of all his effects on board his ship, which +were very considerable, and of all the money which he had advanced to +the seamen, during a long voyage: And to add to this misfortune, the +goldsmith, in whose hands the greatest part of his money was lodged, +became soon after a bankrupt. These accumulated circumstances of +distress exciting the companion of king Charles, the captain's widow was +allowed a pension, which ended with that king's life; nor had she any +consideration for her losses in the two succeeding reigns. But queen +Anne, upon her accession to the throne, granted her an annual pension of +twenty pounds. + +Captain Trotter at his death, left only two daughters, the youngest of +whom, Catherine, our celebrated author, was born in London, August 16, +1679. She gave early marks of her genius, and was not passed her +childhood when she surprized a company of her relations and friends with +extemporary verses, on an accident which had fallen under her +observation in the street. She both learned to write, and made herself +mistress of the French language, by her own application and diligence, +without any instructor. But she had some assistance in the study of the +Latin Grammar and Logic, of which latter she drew up an abstract for her +own use. The most serious and important subjects, and especially +[Transcriber's note: 'espepecially' in original] those of religion, soon +engaged her attention. But not withstanding her education, her intimacy +with several families of distinction of the Romish persuasion exposed +her, while very young, to impressions in favour of that church, which +not being removed by her conferences with some eminent and learned +members of the church of England, she followed the dictates of a +misguided conscience, and embraced the Romish communion, in which she +continued till the year 1707. + +She was but 14 years of age, when she wrote a copy of verses upon Mr. +Bevil Higgons's sickness and recovery from the small pox, which are +printed in our author's second volume. Her next production was a Tragedy +called Agnes de Castro, which was acted at the Theatre-royal, in 1695, +when she was only in her seventeenth year, and printed in 1696. The +reputation of this performance, and the verses which she addressed to +Mr. Congreve upon his Mourning Bride, in 1697, were probably the +foundation of her acquaintance with that admirable writer. + +Her second Tragedy, intitled Fatal Friendship, was acted in 1698, at the +new Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. This Tragedy met with great +applause, and is still thought the most perfect of her dramatic +performances. Among other copies of verses sent to her upon occasion of +it, and prefixed to it, was one from an unknown hand, which afterwards +appeared to be from the elegant pen of Mr. Hughs, author of the Siege of +Damascus [2]. + +The death of Mr. Dryden engaged her to join with several other ladies in +paying a just tribute to the memory of that great improver of the +strength, fulness, and harmony of English verse; and their performances +were published together, under the title of the Nine Muses; or Poems +written by so many Ladies, upon the Death of the late famous John +Dryden, Esq; + +Her dramatic talents not being confined to Tragedy, she brought upon the +stage, in 1701, a Comedy called Love at a Loss; or most Votes carry it, +published in May that year. In the same year she gave the public her +third Tragedy, intitled, The Unhappy Penitent, acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. In the dedication to Charles lord Hallifax, +she draws the characters of several of the most eminent of her +predecessors in tragic poetry, with great judgment and precision. She +observes, that Shakespear had all the images of nature present to him, +studied her thoroughly, and boldly copied all her various features: and +that though he chiefly exerted himself on the more masculine passions, +it was the choice of his judgment, not the restraint of his genius; and +he seems to have designed those few tender moving scenes, which he has +given us, as a proof that he could be every way equally admirable. She +allows Dryden to have been the most universal genius which this nation +ever bred; but thinks that he did not excel in every part; for though he +is distinguished in most of his writings, by greatness and elevation of +thought, yet at the same time that he commands our admiration of +himself, he little moves our concern for those whom he represents, not +being formed for touching the softer passions. On the other hand, Otway, +besides his judicious choice of the fable, had a peculiar art to move +compassion, which, as it is one of the chief ends of Tragedy, he found +most adapted to his genius; and never venturing where that did not lead +him, excelled in the pathetic. And had Lee, as she remarks, consulted +his strength as well, he might have given us more perfect pieces; but +aiming at the sublime, instead of being great, he is extravagant; his +stile too swelling; and if we pursue him in his flight, he often carries +us out of nature. Had he restrained that vain ambition, and intirely +applied himself to describe the softest of the passions (for love, of +all the passions, he seems best to have understood, if that be allowed a +proper subject for Tragedy) he had certainly had fewer defects. + +But poetry and dramatic writing did not so far engross the thoughts of +our author, but that she sometimes turned them to subjects of a very +different nature; and at an age when few of the other sex were capable +of understanding the Essay of Human Understanding, and most of them +prejudiced against the novelty of its principles; and though she was at +that time engaged in the profession of a religion not very favourable to +so rational a philosophy as that of Mr. Lock; yet she had read that +incomparable book, with so clear a comprehension, and so unbiassed a +judgment, that her own conviction of the truth and importance of the +notions contained in it, led her to endeavour that of others, by +removing some of the objections urged against them. She drew up +therefore a Defence of the Essay, against some Remarks which had been +published against it in 1667. The author of these remarks was never +known to Mr. Lock, who animadverted upon them with some marks of +chagrin, at the end of his reply to Stillingfleet, 1697. But after the +death of the ingenious Dr. Thomas Burner, master of the Charter-House, +it appeared from his papers, that the Remarks were the product of his +pen. They were soon followed by second Remarks, printed the same year, +in vindication of the first, against Mr. Lock's Answer to them; and in +1699, by Third Remarks, addressed likewise to Mr. Lock. Mrs. Trotter's +Defence of the Essay against all these Remarks was finished so early as +the beginning of December 1701, when she was but 22 years old. But being +more apprehensive of appearing before the great writer whom she +defended, than of the public censure, and conscious that the name of a +woman would be a prejudice against a work of that nature, she resolved +to conceal herself with the utmost care. But her title to the reputation +of this piece did not continue long a secret to the world. For Mrs. +Burnet, the late wife of Dr. Burnet, bishop of Sarum, a lady of an +uncommon degree of knowledge, and whose Method of Devotion, which passed +through several editions, is a proof of her exemplary piety, and who, as +well as that prelate, honoured our author with a particular friendship, +notwithstanding the difference of her religion, being informed that she +was engaged in writing, and that it was not poetry, was desirous to know +the subject. This Mrs. Trotter could not deny a lady of her merit, in +whom she might safely confide, and who, upon being acquainted with it, +shewed an equal sollicitude that the author might not be known. But +afterwards finding the performance highly approved by the bishop her +husband, Mr. Norris of Bemmerton, and Mr. Lock himself; she thought the +reasons of secrecy ceased, and discovered the writer; and in June 1707 +returned her thanks to Mrs. Trotter, then in London, for her present of +the book, in a letter which does as much honour to her own +understanding, principles and temper, as to her friend, to whom she +addressed it. Dr. Birch has given a copy of this letter. + +Mr. Lock likewise was so highly satisfied with the Defence, (which was +perhaps the only piece that appeared in favour of his Essay, except one +by Mr. Samuel Bold, rector of Steeple in Dorsetshire, 1699) that being +in London, he desired Mr. King, afterwards lord high chancellor, to make +Mrs. Trotter a visit, and a present of books; and when she had owned +herself, he wrote to her a letter of compliment, a copy of which is +inserted in these memoirs. + +But while our author continued to shew the world so deep a penetration +into subjects of the most difficult and abstract kind, she was still +incapable of extricating herself from those subtilties and perplexities +of argument, which retained her in the church of Rome. And the sincerity +of her attachment to it, in all its outward severities, obliged her to +so strict an observance of its fasts, as proved extremely injurious to +her health. Upon which Dr. Denton Nicholas, a very ingenious learned +physician of her acquaintance, advised her to abate of those rigours of +abstinence, as insupportable to a constitution naturally infirm. + +She returned to the exercise of her dramatic genius in 1703, and having +fixed upon the Revolution of Sweden under Gustavus Erickson (which has +been related in prose with so much force and beauty by the Abbe Vertot) +for the subject of a Tragedy, she sent the first draught of it to Mr. +Congreve, who returned her an answer, which, on account of the just +remarks upon the conduct of the drama, well deserves a place here, did +it not exceed our proposed bounds, and therefore we must refer the +reader to Dr. Birch's account. This Tragedy was acted in 1706, at the +Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market, and was printed in quarto. + +By a letter from Mrs. Trotter to her friend George Burnet of Kemnay in +Scotland, Esq; then at Geneva, dated February 2, 1703-4, it appears that +she then began to entertain more moderate notions of religion, and to +abate of her zeal for the church of Rome. Her charitableness and +latitude of sentiments seems to have increased a-pace, from the farther +examination which she was now probably making into the state of the +controversy between the church of Rome and the Protestants; for in +another letter to Mr. Burnet, of August 8, 1704, she speaks to the +subject of religion, with a spirit of moderation unusual in the +communion of which she still professed herself. + +'I wish, (says she) there was no distinction of churches; and then I +doubt not there would be much more real religion, the name and notion of +which I am so sorry to observe confined to the being of some particular +community; and the whole of it, I am afraid, placed by most in a zeal +of those points, which make the differences between them; from which +mistaken zeal, no doubt, have proceeded all the massacres, +persecutions, and hatred of their fellow christians, which all churches +have been inclined to, when in power. And I believe it is generally +true, that those who are most bigotted to a sect, or most rigid and +precise in their forms and outward discipline, are most negligent of +the moral duties, which certainly are the main end of religion. I have +observed this so often, both in private persons and public societies, +that I am apt to suspect it every where.' + +The victory at Blenheim, which exercised the pens of Mr. Addison and Mr. +John Philips, whose poems on that occasion divided the admiration of the +public, tempted Mrs. Trotter to write a copy of verses to the duke of +Marlborough, upon his return from his glorious campaign in Germany, +December, 1704. But being doubtful with respect to the publication of +them, she sent them in manuscript to his grace; and received for answer, +that the duke and duchess, and the lord treasurer Godolphin, with +several others to whom they were shewn, were greatly pleased with them; +and that good judges of poetry had declared, that there were some lines +in them superior to any that had been written on the subject. Upon this +encouragement she sent the poem to the press. + +The high degree of favour with which she was honoured by these +illustrious persons, gave her, about this time, hopes of some +establishment of her fortune, which had hitherto been extremely narrow +and precarious. But though she failed of such an establishment, she +succeeded in 1705, in another point, which was a temporary relief to +her. This particular appears from one of her letters printed in the +second volume; but of what nature or amount this relief was, we do not +find. + +Her enquiries into the nature of true religion were attended with their +natural and usual effects, in opening and enlarging her notions beyond +the contracted pale of her own church. For in her letter of the 7th of +July 1705, to Mr. Burnet, she says, 'I am zealous to have you agree with +me in this one article, that all good christians are of the same +religion; a sentiment which I sincerely confess, how little soever it is +countenanced by the church of Rome.' And in the latter end of the +following year, or the beginning of 1707, her doubts about the Romish +religion, which she had so many years professed, having led her to a +thorough examination of the grounds of it, by consulting the best books +on both sides of the question, and advising with men of the best +judgment, the result was a conviction of the falseness of the +pretensions of that church, and a return to that of England, to which +she adhered during the rest of her life. In the course of this enquiry, +the great and leading question concerning A Guide in Controversy, was +particularly discussed by her; and the two letters which she wrote upon +it, the first to Mr. Bennet, a Romish priest, and the second to Mr. +H----, who had procured an answer to that letter from a stranger, Mr. +Beimel's indisposition preventing him from returning one, were thought +so valuable on account of the strength and perspicuity of reasoning, as +well as their conciseness, that she consented to the importunity of her +friends, for their publication in June 1707, under the following title, +A Discourse concerning a Guide in Controversies; in two Letters: Written +to one of the Church Church of Rome, by a Person lately converted from +that Communion; a later edition of them being since printed at Edinburgh +in 1728 in 8vo. Bishop Burnet wrote the preface to them, though without +his name to it; and he observes, that they might be of use to such of +the Roman Catholics as are perswaded, that those who deny the +infallibility of their church, take away all certainty of the Christian +religion, or of the authority of the scriptures. This is the main topic +of those two letters, and the point was considered by our author as of +such importance, that she procured her friend Mrs. Burnet to consult Mr. +(afterwards Dr.) Clark upon it, and to show him a paper, which had been +put into her hands, urging the difficulties on that article, on the side +of the Papists. The sentiments of that great man upon this subject are +comprised in a letter from Mrs. Burnet to Mrs. Trotter, of which our +editor has given a copy, to which we refer the reader in the 31st page +of his account. + +In 1708 our author was married to Mr. Cockburn, the son of Dr. Cockburn, +an eminent and learned divine of Scotland, at first attached to the +court of St. Germains, but obliged to quit it on account of his +inflexible adherence to the Protestant religion; then for some time +minister of the Episcopal church at Amsterdam, and at last collated to +the rectory of Northaw in Middlesex, by Dr. Robinson bishop of London, +at the recommendation of Queen Anne. Mr. Cockburn, his son, soon after +his marriage with our author, had the donative of Nayland in Sussex, +where he settled in the same year 1708; but returned afterwards from +thence to London, to be curate of St. Dunstan's in Fleet-street, where +he continued 'till the accession of his late majesty to the throne, when +falling into a scruple about the oath of abjuration, though he always +prayed for the King and Royal Family by name, he was obliged to quit +that station, and for ten or twelve years following was reduced to great +difficulties in the support of his family; during which time he +instructed the youth of the academy in Chancery-Lane, in the Latin +tongue. At last, in 1726, by consulting the lord chancellor King and his +own father, upon the sense and intent of that oath, and by reading some +papers put into his hands, with relation to it, he was reconciled to the +taking of it. In consequence of this, being the year following invited +to be minister of the Episcopal congregation at Aberdeen in Scotland, he +qualified himself conformably to the law, and, on the day of his present +Majesty's accession, preached a sermon there on the duty and benefit of +praying for the government. This sermon being printed and animadverted +upon, he published a reply to the remarks on it, with some papers +relating to the oath of abjuration, which have been much esteemed. Soon +after his settlement at Aberdeen, the lord chancellor presented him to +the living of Long-Horsely, near Morpeth in Northumberland, as a means +of enabling him to support and educate his family; for which purpose he +was allowed to continue his function at Aberdeen, 'till the negligence +and ill-behaviour of the curates, whom he employed at Long Horsely, +occasioned Dr. Chandler, the late bishop of Durham, to call him to +residence on that living, 1737; by which means he was forced to quit his +station at Aberdeen, to the no small diminution of his income. He was a +man of considerable learning; and besides his sermon abovementioned, and +the vindication of it, he published, in the Weekly Miscellany, A Defence +of Prime Ministers, in the Character of Joseph; and a Treatise of the +Mosaic Design, published since his death. + +Mrs. Cockburn, after her marriage, was entirely diverted from her +studies for many years, by attending tending upon the duties of a wife +and a mother, and by the ordinary cares of an encreasing family, and the +additional ones arising from the reduced circumstances of her husband. +However, her zeal for Mr. Lock's character and writings drew her again +into the public light in 1716, upon this occasion. + +Dr. Holdsworth, fellow of St. John's College in Oxford, had preached on +Easter-Monday, 1719 20, before that university, a sermon on John v. 28, +29, which he published, professing in his title page to examine and +answer the Cavils, False Reasonings, and False Interpretations of +Scripture, of Mr. Lock and others, against the Resurrection of the Same +Body. This sermon did not reach Mrs. Cockburn's hands 'till some years +after; when the perusal of it forced from her some animadversions, which +she threw together in the form of a letter to the Dr. and sent to him in +May 1724, with a design of suppressing it entirely, if it should have +the desired effect upon him. After nine months the Dr. informed her, +that he had drawn up a large and particular answer to it, but was +unwilling to trust her with his manuscript, 'till she should publish her +own. However, after a long time, and much difficulty, she at last +obtained the perusal of his answer; but not meeting with that conviction +from it, which would have made her give up her cause, she was prevailed +on to let the world judge between them, and accordingly published her +Letter to Dr. Holdsworth, in January 1726 7, without her name, but said +in the title page to be by the author of, A Defence of Mr. Lock's Essay +of Human Understanding. The Dr. whose answer to it was already finished, +was very expeditious in the publication of it in June 1727, in an 8vo +volume, under the title of A Defence of the Doctrine of the Resurrection +of the same Body, &c. + +Mrs. Cockburn wrote a very particular reply to this, and entitled it, A +Vindication of Mr. Lock's Principles, from the injurious Imputations of +Dr. Holdsworth. But though it is an admirable performance, and she was +extremely desirous of doing justice to Mr. Lock and herself, yet not +meeting with any Bookseller willing to undertake, nor herself being able +to support the expence of the impression, it continued in manuscript, +and was reserved to enrich the collection published after her death. + +Her Remarks upon some Writers in the Controversy concerning the +Foundation of Moral Duty and Moral Obligation were begun during the +winter of the year 1739, and finished in the following one; for the +weakness of her eyes, which had been a complaint of many years standing, +not permitting her to use, by candlelight, her needle, which so fully +employed her in the summer season, that she read little, and wrote less; +she amused herself, during the long winter-evenings, in digesting her +thoughts upon the most abstract subjects in morality and metaphysics. +They continued in manuscript till 1743, for want of a Bookseller +inclined to accept the publication of them, and were introduced to the +world in August that year, in The History of the Works of the Learned. +Her name did not go with them, but they were Inscribed with the utmost +Deference to Alexander Pope, Esq; by an Admirer of his moral Character; +for which she shews a remarkable zeal in her letters, whenever she has +occasion to mention him. And her high opinion of him in that respect, +founded chiefly on his writings, and especially his letters, as well as +her admiration of his genius, inspired her with a strong desire of being +known to him; for which purpose she drew up a pretty long letter to him +about the year 1738: but it was never sent. The strength, clearness, and +vivacity shewn in her Remarks upon the most abstract and perplexed +questions, immediately raised the curiosity of all good judges about the +concealed writer; and their admiration was greatly increased when her +sex and advanced age were known. And the worthy Dr. Sharp[3], archdeacon +of Northumberland, who had these Remarks in manuscript, and encouraged +the publication of them, being convinced by them, that no person was +better qualified for a thorough examination of the grounds of morality, +entered into a correspondence with her upon that subject. But her ill +state of health at last interrupted her prosecution of it; a +circumstance to be regretted, since a discussion carried on with so much +sagacity and candour on both sides, would, in all probability, have left +little difficulty remaining on the question. + +Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on the Nature and Obligations of virtue, +published in May 1744, soon engaged her thoughts, and notwithstanding +the asthmatic disorder, which had seized her many years before, and now +left her small intervals of ease, she applied herself to the confutation +of that elaborate discourse; and having finished it with a spirit, +elegance, and perspicuity equal, if not superior to all her former +writings, transmitted her manuscript to Mr. Warburton, who published it +in 8vo. with a Preface of his own, in April 1747, under the title of +Remarks upon the Principles and Reasonings of Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on +the Nature and Obligations of Virtue, in Vindication of the contrary +Principles and Reasons inforced in the Writings of the late Dr. Samuel +Clark. + +The extensive reputation which this and her former writings had gained +her, induced her friends to propose to her, the collecting and +publishing them in a body. And upon her consenting to the scheme, which +was to be executed by subscription, in order to secure to her the full +benefit of the edition, it met with a ready encouragement from all +persons of true taste; but though Mrs. Cockburn did not live to +discharge the office of editor, yet the public has received the +acquisition by her death, of a valuable series of letters, which her own +modesty would have restrained her from permitting to see the light. And +it were to be wished that these two volumes, conditioned for by the +terms of subscription, could have contained all her dramatic writings, +of which only one is here published. But as that was impossible, the +preference was, upon the maturest deliberation, given to those in prose, +as superior in their kind to the most perfect of her poetical, and of +more general and lasting use to the world. + +The loss of her husband on the 4th of January 1748, in the 71st year of +his age, was a severe shock to her; and she did not long survive him, +dying on the 11th of May, 1749, in her 71st year, after having long +supported a painful disorder, with a resignation to the divine will, +which had been the governing principle of her whole life, and her +support under the various trials of it. Her memory and understanding +continued unimpaired, 'till within a few days of her death. She was +interred near her husband and youngest daughter at Long-Horsley, with +this short sentence on their tomb: + + Let their works praise them in the gates. + Prov. xxxi. 31. + +They left only one son, who is clerk of the cheque at Chatham, and two +daughters. + +Mrs. Cockburn was no less celebrated for her beauty, in her younger +days, than for her genius and accomplishments. She was indeed small of +stature, but had a remarkable liveliness in her eye, and delicacy of +complexion, which continued to her death. Her private character rendered +her extremely amiable to those who intimately knew her. Her conversation +was always innocent, useful and agreeable, without the least affectation +of being thought a wit, and attended with a remarkable modesty and +diffidence of herself, and a constant endeavour to adapt her discourse +to her company. She was happy in an uncommon evenness and chearfulness +of temper. Her disposition was generous and benevolent; and ready upon +all occasions to forgive injuries, and bear them, as well as +misfortunes, without interrupting her own ease, or that of others, with +complaints or reproaches. The pressures of a very contracted fortune +were supported by her with calmness and in silence; nor did she ever +attempt to improve it among those great personages to whom she was +known, by importunities; to which the best minds are most averse, and +which her approved merit and established reputation mould have rendered +unnecessary. + +The collection now exhibited to the world is, says Dr. Birch, and we +entirely agree with him, so incontestable a proof of the superiority of +our author's genius, as in a manner supersedes every thing that can be +said upon that head. But her abilities as a writer, and the merit of her +works, will not have full justice done them, without a due attention to +the peculiar circumstances, in which they were produced: her early +youth, when she wrote some, her very advanced age, and ill state of +health, when she drew up others; the uneasy situation of her fortune, +during the whole course of her life; and an interval of near twenty +years in the vigour of it, spent in the cares of a family, without the +least leisure for reading or contemplation: after which, with a mind so +long diverted and incumbered, resuming her studies, she instantly +recovered its intire powers, and in the hours of relaxation from her +domestic employments, pursued, to their utmost limits, some of the +deepest enquiries of which the human mind is capable! + +CONTENTS of the First Volume of Mrs. COCKBURN'S Works. + +I. A Discourse concerning a Guide in Controversy. First published in +1707, with a preface by bishop Burnet. + +II. A Defence of Mr. Lock's Essay of Human Understanding. First +published in 1702. + +III. A Letter to Dr. Holdsworth, concerning the Resurrection of the +same Body. First published in 1726. + +IV. A Vindication of Mr. Lock's Christian Principles, from the +injurious Imputations of Dr. Holdsworth. Now first published. + +V. Remarks upon some Writers in the Controversy, concerning the +Foundation of Moral Virtue, and Moral Obligation. With some Thoughts +concerning Necessary Existence; the Reality and Infinity of Space; the +Extension and Place of Spirits; and on Dr. Watts's Notion of Substance. +First published in 1743. + +CONTENTS of the Second Volume. + +I. Remarks upon Dr. Rutherforth's Essay on the Nature and Obligations of +Virtue. First published in the year 1747. + +II. Miscellaneous Pieces. Now first printed. Containing a Letter of +Advice to her Son.--Sunday's Journal.--On the Usefulness of Schools and +Universities.--On the Credibility of the Historical Parts of Scripture. +--On Moral Virtue.--Notes on Christianity as old as the Creation.--On +the Infallibility of the Church of Rome.--Answer to a Question +concerning the Jurisdiction of the Magistrate over the Life of the +Subject.--Remarks on Mr. Seed's Sermon on Moral Virtue.--Remarks upon +an Enquiry into the Origin of Human Appetites and Affections. + +III. Letters between Mrs. Cockburn and several of her Friends. These +take up the greatest part of the volume. + +IV. Letters between the Rev. Dr. Sharp, Archdeacon of Northumberland and +Mrs. Cockburn concerning the Foundation of Moral Virtue. + +V. Fatal Friendship, a Tragedy. + +VI. Poems on several Occasions. There are very few of these, and what +there are, are of little note. Her poetical talent was the smallest and +least valuable of our author's literary accomplishments. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Historia Mulierum Philosopharum. 8vo. Lyons. 1690. + +[2] Dr. Birch mentions also Mr. Higgons's verses on this occasion, and + gives a copy of a complimentary letter to our author, from Mr. + George Farquhar. + +[3] Author of an excellent pamphlet, entitled, Two Dissertations + concerning the Etymology and Scripture-meaning of the Hebrew Words + Elohim and Berith. Vide Monthly Review. + + + * * * * * + + +AMBROSE PHILLIPS, ESQ; + +This Gentleman was descended from a very ancient, and considerable +family in the county of Leicester, and received his education in St. +John's college Cambridge, where he wrote his Pastorals, a species of +excellence, in which he is thought to have remarkably distinguished +himself. When Mr. Philips quitted the university, and repaired to the +metropolis, he became, as Mr. Jacob phrases it, one of the wits at +Buttons; and in consequence of this, contracted an acquaintance with +those bright genius's who frequented it; especially Sir Richard Steele, +who in the first volume of his Tatler inserts a little poem of this +author's dated from Copenhagen, which he calls a winter piece; Sir +Richard thus mentions it with honour. 'This is as fine a piece, as we +ever had from any of the schools of the most learned painters; such +images as these give us a new pleasure in our fight, and fix upon our +minds traces of reflexion, which accompany us wherever the like objects +occur.' + +This short performance which we shall here insert, was reckoned so +elegant, by men of taste then living, that Mr. Pope himself, who had a +confirmed aversion to Philips, when he affected to despise his other +works, always excepted this out of the number. + +It is written from Copenhagen, addressed to the Earl of Dorset, and +dated the 9th of May 1709. + + A WINTER PIECE. + + From frozen climes, and endless tracks of snow, + From streams that northern winds forbid to flow; + What present shall the Muse to Dorset bring, + Or how, so near the Pole, attempt to sing? + The hoary winter here conceals from sight, + All pleasing objects that to verse invite. + The hills and dales, and the delightful woods, + The flow'ry plains, and silver streaming floods, + By snow distinguished in bright confusion lie, + And with one dazling waste, fatigue the eye. + + No gentle breathing breeze prepares the spring, + No birds within the desart region sing. + The ships unmov'd the boist'rous winds defy, + While rattling chariots o'er the ocean fly. + The vast Leviathan wants room to play, + And spout his waters in the face of day. + The starving wolves along the main sea prowl, + And to the moon in icy valleys howl, + For many a shining league the level main, + Here spreads itself into a glassy plain: + There solid billows of enormous size, + Alps of green ice, in wild disorder rise. + + And yet but lately have I seen ev'n here, + The winter in a lovely dress appear. + Ere yet the clouds let fall the treasur'd snow, + Or winds begun through hazy skies to blow; + At ev'ning a keen eastern breeze arose; + And the descending rain unsully'd froze. + Soon as the silent shades of night withdrew, + The ruddy morn disclos'd at once to view, + The face of nature in a rich disguise, + And brighten'd every object to my eyes: + + And ev'ry shrub, and ev'ry blade of grass, + And ev'ry pointed thorn seem'd wrought in glass. + In pearls and rubies rich, the hawthorns show, + While through the ice the crimson berries glow. + The thick sprung reeds, the watry marshes yield, + Seem polish'd lances in a hostile field. + The flag in limpid currents with surprize, + Sees crystal branches on his fore-head rise. + The spreading oak, the beech, and tow'ring pine, + Glaz'd over, in the freezing aether shine. + The frighted birds, the rattling branches shun. + That wave and glitter in the distant sun. + + When if a sudden gust of wind arise, + The brittle forest into atoms flies: + The crackling wood beneath the tempest bends, + And in a spangled show'r the prospect ends. + Or, if a southern gale the region warm, + And by degrees unbind the wintry charm, + The traveller, a miry country sees, + And journeys sad beneath the dropping trees. + + Like some deluded peasant, Merlin leads + Thro' fragrant bow'rs, and thro' delicious meads; + While here inchanted gardens to him rise, + And airy fabrics there attract his eyes, + His wand'ring feet the magic paths pursue; + And while he thinks the fair illusion true, + The trackless scenes disperse in fluid air, + And woods, and wilds, and thorny ways appear: + A tedious road the weary wretch returns, + And, as he goes, the transient vision mourns. + +But it was not enough for Sir Richard to praise this performance of Mr. +Philips. He was also an admirer of his Pastorals, which had then +obtained a great number of readers: He was about to form a Critical +Comparison of Pope's Pastorals, and these of Mr. Philips; and giving in +the conclusion, the preference to the latter. Sir Richard's design being +communicated to Mr. Pope, who was not a little jealous of his +reputation, he took the alarm; and by the most artful and insinuating +method defeated his purpose. + +The reader cannot be ignorant, that there are several numbers in the +Guardian, employed upon Pastoral Poetry, and one in particular, upon the +merits of Philips and Pope, in which the latter is found a better +versifier; but as a true Arcadian, the preference is given to Philips. +That we may be able to convey a perfect idea of the method which Mr. +Pope took to prevent the diminution of his reputation, we shall +transcribe the particular parts of that paper in the Guardian, Number +XL. Monday April the 27th. + +I designed to have troubled the reader with no farther discourses of +Pastorals, but being informed that I am taxed of partiality, in not +mentioning an author, whose Eclogues are published in the same volume +with Mr. Philips's, I shall employ this paper in observations upon him, +written in the free spirit of criticism, and without apprehensions of +offending that gentleman, whose character it is, that he takes the +greatest care of his works before they are published, and has the least +concern for them afterwards. I have laid it down as the first rule of +Pastoral, that its idea should be taken from the manners of the Golden +Age, and the moral formed upon the representation of innocence; 'tis +therefore plain, that any deviations from that design, degrade a poem +from being true Pastoral. + +So easy as Pastoral writing may seem (in the simplicity we have +described it) yet it requires great reading, both of the ancients and +moderns, to be a master of it. Mr. Philips hath given us manifest proofs +of his knowledge of books; it must be confessed his competitor has +imitated some single thoughts of the antients well enough, if we +consider he had not the happiness of an university education: but he +hath dispersed them here and there without that order and method Mr. +Philips observes, whose whole third pastoral, is an instance how well he +studied the fifth of Virgil, and how judiciously he reduced Virgil's +thoughts to the standard of pastoral; and his contention of Colin Clout, +and the Nightingale, shews with what exactness he hath imitated Strada. +When I remarked it as a principal fault to introduce fruits, and flowers +of a foreign growth in descriptions, where the scene lies in our +country, I did not design that observation should extend also to +animals, or the sensitive life; for Philips hath with great judgment +described wolves in England in his first pastoral. Nor would I have a +poet slavishly confine himself, (as Mr. Pope hath done) to one +particular season of the year, one certain time of the day, and one +unbroken scene in each Eclogue. It is plain, Spencer neglected this +pedantry, who in his Pastoral of November, mentions the mournful song of +the Nightingale. + + Sad Philomel, her song in tears doth sleep. + +And Mr. Philips by a poetical creation, hath raised up finer beds of +flowers, than the most industrious gardener; his roses, lilies, and +daffadils, blow in the same season. + +But the better to discover the merit of our two cotemporary pastoral +writers. I shall endeavour to draw a parallel of them, by placing +several of their particular thoughts in the same light; whereby it will +be obvious, how much Philips hath the advantage: With what simplicity he +introduces two shepherds singing alternately. + + HOBB. + + Come Rosalind, O come, for without thee + What pleasure can the country have for me? + Come Rosalind, O come; my brinded kine, + My snowy sheep, my farm and all is thine. + + LANG. + + Come Rosalind, O come; here shady bowers. + Here are cool fountains, and here springing flowers. + Come Rosalind; here ever let us stay, + And sweetly waste our live-long time away. + +Our other pastoral writer in expressing the same thought, deviates into +downright poetry. + + STREPHON. + + In spring the fields, in autumn hills I love, + At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove, + But Delia always; forc'd from Delia's sight, + Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. + + DAPHNE. + + Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, + More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day; + Ev'n spring displeases when she shines not here: + But blest with her, 'tis spring throughout the year. + +In the first of these authors, two shepherds thus innocently describe +the behaviour of their mistresses. + + HOBB. + + As Marian bath'd, by chance I passed by; + She blush'd, and at me cast a side-long eye: + Then swift beneath, the crystal waves she tried, + Her beauteous form, but all in vain, to hide. + + LANG. + + As I to cool me bath'd one sultry day, + Fond Lydia lurking in the sedges lay, + The woman laugh'd, and seem'd in haste to fly; + Yet often stopp'd, and often turn'd her eye. + +The other modern (who it must be confess'd has a knack at versifying) +has it as follows, + + STREPHON. + + Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, + Thus, hid in shades, eludes her eager swain; + But feigns a laugh, to see me search around, + And by that laugh the willing fair is found. + + DAPHNE. + + The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green; + She runs, but hopes she does not run unseen; + While a kind glance, at her pursuer flies, + How much at variance are her feet and eyes. + +There is nothing the writers of this kind of poetry are fonder of, than +descriptions of pastoral presents. + +Philips says thus of a Sheep-hook. + + Of season'd elm, where studs of brass appear, + To speak the giver's name, the month, and year; + The hook of polished steel, the handle turn'd, + And richly by the graver's skill adorn'd. + +The other of a bowl embossed with figures, + +--Where wanton ivy twines, + And swelling clusters bend the curling vines, + Four figures rising from the work appear, + The various seasons of the rolling year; + And what is that which binds the radiant sky, + Where twelve bright signs, in beauteous order lye. + +The simplicity of the swain in this place who forgets the name of the +Zodiac, is no ill imitation of Virgil; but how much more plainly, and +unaffectedly would Philips have dressed this thought in his Doric. + + And what that height, which girds the welkin-sheen + Where twelve gay signs in meet array are seen. + +If the reader would indulge his curiosity any farther in the comparison +of particulars, he may read the first Pastoral of Philips, with the +second of his contemporary, and the fourth and fifth of the former, with +the fourth and first of the latter; where several parallel places will +occur to every one. + +Having now shewn some parts, in which these two writers may be compared, +it is a justice I owe to Mr. Philips, to discover those in which no man +can compare with him. First, the beautiful rusticity, of which I shall +now produce two instances, out of a hundred not yet quoted. + + O woeful day! O day of woe, quoth he, + And woeful I, who live the day to see! + +That simplicity of diction, the melancholy flowing of the numbers, the +solemnity of the sound, and the easy turn of the words, are extremely +elegant. + +In another Pastoral, a shepherd utters a Dirge, not much inferior to the +former in the following lines. + + Ah me the while! ah me, the luckless day! + Ah luckless lad, the rather might I say; + Ah silly I! more silly than my sheep, + Which on the flow'ry plains I once did keep. + +How he still charms the ear, with his artful repetition of the epithets; +and how significant is the last verse! I defy the most common reader to +repeat them, without feeling some motions of compassion. In the next +place, I shall rank his Proverbs in which I formerly observed he excels: +For example, + + A rolling stone is ever bare of moss; + And, to their cost, green years old proverbs cross, +--He that late lies down, as late will rise, + And sluggard like, till noon-day snoring lies. + Against ill-luck, all cunning foresight fails; + Whether we sleep or wake, it nought avails. +--Nor fear, from upright sentence wrong, + +Lastly, His excellent dialect, which alone might prove him the eldest +born of Spencer, and the only true Arcadian, &c. + +Thus far the comparison between the merit of Mr. Pope and Mr. Philips, +as writers of Pastoral, made by the author of this paper in the +Guardian, after the publication of which, the enemies of Pope exulted, +as in one particular species of poetry, upon which he valued himself, he +was shewn to be inferior to his contemporary. For some time they enjoyed +their triumph; but it turned out at last to their unspeakable +mortification. + +The paper in which the comparison is inserted, was written by Mr. Pope +himself. Nothing could have so effectually defeated the design of +diminishing his reputation, as this method, which had a very contrary +effect. He laid down some false principles, upon these he reasoned, and +by comparing his own and Philips's Pastorals, upon such principles it +was no great compliment to the latter, that he wrote more agreeable to +notions which are in themselves false. + +The subjects of pastoral are as various as the passions of human nature; +nay, it may in some measure partake of every kind of poetry, but with +this limitation, that the scene of it ought always to be laid in the +country, and the thoughts never contrary to the ideas of those who are +bred there. The images are to be drawn from rural life; and provided the +language is perspicuous, gentle, and flowing, the sentiments may be as +elegant as the country scenes can furnish.--In the particular comparison +of passages between Pope and Philips, the former is so much superior, +that one cannot help wondering, that Steele could be thus imposed upon, +who was in other respects a very quick discerner. Though 'tis not +impossible, but that Guardian might go to the press without Sir +Richard's seeing it; he not being the only person concern'd in that +paper. + +The two following lines so much celebrated in this paper, are +sufficiently convincing, that the whole criticism is ironical. + + Ah! silly I, more silly than my sheep, + Which on the flowr'y plains I once did keep. + +Nothing can be much more silly than these lines; and yet the author +says, "How he still charms the ear with the artful repetitions of +epithets." + + SILLY I, MORE SILLY THAN MY SHEEP. + +The next work Mr. Philips published after his Pastorals, and which it is +said he wrote at the university, was his life of John Williams lord +keeper of the great-seal, bishop of Lincoln and archbishop of York, in +the reigns of king James and Charles the First, in which are related +some remarkable occurrences in those times, both in church and state, +with an appendix, giving an account of his benefactions to St. John's +college. + +Mr. Philips, seems to have made use of archbishop William's life, the +better to make known his own state principles, which in the course of +that work he had a fair occasion of doing. Bishop Williams was the great +opposer of High-Church measures, he was a perpetual antagonist to Laud; +and lord Clarendon mentions him in his history with very great decency +and respect, when it is considered that they adhered to opposite +parties. + +Mr. Philips, who early distinguished himself in revolution principles, +was concerned with Dr. Boulter, afterwards archbishop of Armagh, the +right honourable Richard West, Esq; lord chancellor of Ireland; the +revd. Mr. Gilbert Burnet, and the revd. Mr. Henry Stevens, in writing a +paper called the Free-Thinker; but they were all published by Mr. +Philips, and since re-printed in three volumes in 12mo. In the latter +part of the reign of queen Anne, he was secretary to the Hanover Club, a +set of noblemen and gentlemen, who associated in honour of that +succession. They drank regular toasts to the health of those ladies, who +were most zealously attached to the Hanoverian family; upon whom Mr. +Philips wrote the following lines, + + While these, the chosen beauties of our isle, + Propitious on the cause of freedom smile, + The rash Pretender's hopes we may despise, + And trust Britannia's safety to their eyes. + +After the accession of his late majesty, Mr. Philips was made a justice +of peace, and appointed a commissioner of the lottery. But though his +circumstances were easy, the state of his mind was not so; he fell under +the severe displeasure of Mr. Pope, who has satirized him with his usual +keenness. + +'Twas said, he used to mention Mr. Pope as an enemy to the government; +and that he was the avowed author of a report, very industriously +spread, that he had a hand in a paper called The Examiner. The revenge +which Mr. Pope took in consequence of this abuse, greatly ruffled the +temper of Mr. Philips, who as he was not equal to him in wit, had +recourse to another weapon; in the exercise of which no great parts are +requisite. He hung up a rod at Button's, with which he resolved to +chastise his antagonist, whenever he should come there. But Mr. Pope, +who got notice of this design, very prudently declined coming to a +place, where in all probability he must have felt the resentment of an +enraged author, as much superior to him in bodily strength, as inferior +in wit and genius. + +When Mr. Philips's friend, Dr. Boulter, rose to be archbishop of Dublin, +he went with him into Ireland, where he had considerable preferments; +and was a member of the House of Commons there, as representative of the +county of Armagh. + +Notwithstanding the ridicule which Mr. Philips has drawn upon himself, +by his opposition to Pope, and the disadvantageous light his Pastorals +appear in, when compared with his; yet, there is good reason to believe, +that Mr. Philips was no mean Arcadian: By endeavouring to imitate too +servilely the manners and sentiments of vulgar rustics, he has sometimes +raised a laugh against him; yet there are in some of his Pastorals a +natural simplicity, a true Doric dialect, and very graphical +descriptions. + +Mr. Gildon, in his compleat Art of Poetry, mentions him with Theocritus +and Virgil; but then he defeats the purpose of his compliment, for by +carrying the similitude too far, he renders his panegyric hyperbolical. + +We shall now consider Mr. Philips as a dramatic writer. The first piece +he brought upon the stage, was his Distress'd Mother, translated from +the French of Monsieur Racine, but not without such deviations as Mr. +Philips thought necessary to heighten the distress; for writing to the +heart is a secret which the best of the French poets have not found out. +This play was acted first in the year 1711, with every advantage a play +could have. Pyrrhus was performed by Mr. Booth, a part in which he +acquired great reputation. Orestes was given to Mr. Powel, and +Andromache was excellently personated by the inimitable Mrs. Oldfield. +Nor was Mrs. Porter beheld in Hermione without admiration. The +Distress'd Mother is so often acted, and so frequently read, we shall +not trouble the reader with giving any farther account of it. + +A modern critic speaking of this play, observes that the distress of +Andromache moves an audience more than that of Belvidera, who is as +amiable a wife, as Andromache is an affectionate mother; their +circumstances though not similar, are equally interesting, and yet says +he, 'the female part of the audience is more disposed to weep for the +suffering mother, than the suffering wife.[1]' The reason 'tis imagin'd +is this, there are more affectionate mothers in the world than wives. + +Mr. Philips's next dramatic performance was The Briton, a Tragedy; acted +1721. This is built on a very interesting and affecting story, whether +founded on real events I cannot determine, but they are admirably fitted +to raise the passion peculiar to tragedy. Vanoc Prince of the Cornavians +married for his second wife Cartismand, Queen of the Brigantians, a +woman of an imperious spirit, who proved a severe step-mother to the +King's daughter Gwendolen, betrothed to Yvor, the Prince of the +Silurians. The mutual disagreement between Vanoc and his Queen, at last +produced her revolt from him. She intrigues with Vellocad, who had been +formerly the King's servant, and enters into a league with the Roman +tribune, in order to be revenged on her husband. Vanoc fights some +successful battles, but his affairs are thrown into the greatest +confusion, upon receiving the news that a party of the enemy has carried +off the Princess his daughter. She is conducted to the tent of Valens +the Roman tribune, who was himself in love with her, but who offered her +no violation. He went to Vanoc in the name of Didius the Roman general, +to offer terms of peace, but he was rejected with indignation. The scene +between Vanoc and Valens is one of the most masterly to be met with in +tragedy. Valens returns to his fair charge, while her father prepares +for battle, and to rescue his daughter by the force of arms. But +Cartismand, who knew that no mercy would be shewn her at the hands of +her stern husband, flies to the Princess's tent, and in the violence of +her rage stabs her. The King and Yvor enter that instant, but too late +to save the beauteous Gwendolen from the blow, who expires in the arms +of her betrothed husband, a scene wrought up with the greatest +tenderness. When the King reproaches Cartismand for this deed of horror, +she answers, + + Hadst thou been more forgiving, I had been less cruel. + + VANOC + + Wickedness! barbarian! monster-- + What had she done, alas!--Sweet innocence! + She would have interceded for thy crimes. + + CARTISMAND + + Too well I knew the purpose of thy soul.-- + Didst thou believe I would submit?--resign my crown?-- + Or that thou only hadst the power to punish? + + VANOC + + Yet I will punish;--meditate strange torments!-- + Then give thee to the justice of the Gods. + + CARTISMAND + + Thus Vanoc, do I mock thy treasur'd rage.-- + My heart springs forward to the dagger's point. + + Vanoc + + Quick, wrest it from her!--drag her hence to chains. + + CARTISMAND + + There needs no second stroke-- + Adieu, rash man!--my woes are at an end:-- + Thine's but begun;--and lasting as thy life. + +Mr. Philips in this play has shewn how well he was acquainted with the +stage; he keeps the scene perpetually busy; great designs are carrying +on, the incidents rise naturally from one another, and the catastrophe +is moving. He has not observed the rules which some critics have +established, of distributing poetical justice; for Gwendolen, the most +amiable character in the play is the chief sufferer, arising from the +indulgence of no irregular passion, nor any guilt of hers. + +The next year Mr. Philips introduced another tragedy on the stage called +Humfrey Duke of Gloucester, acted 1721. The plot of this play is founded +on history. During the minority of Henry VI. his uncle, the duke of +Gloucester, was raised to the dignity of Regent of the Realm. This high +station could not but procure him many enemies, amongst whom was the +duke of Suffolk, who, in order to restrain his power, and to inspire the +mind of young Henry with a love of independence, effected a marriage +between that Prince, and Margaret of Anjou, a Lady of the most +consummate beauty, and what is very rare amongst her sex, of the most +approved courage. This lady entertained an aversion for the duke of +Gloucester, because he opposed her marriage with the King, and +accordingly resolves upon his ruin. + +She draws over to her party cardinal Beaufort, the Regent's uncle, a +supercilious proud churchman. They fell upon a very odd scheme to shake +the power of Gloucester, and as it is very singular, and absolutely +fact, we shall here insert it. + +The duke of Gloucester had kept Eleanor Cobham, daughter to the lord +Cobham, as his concubine, and after the dissolution of his marriage with +the countess of Hainault, he made her his wife; but this did not restore +her reputation: she was, however, too young to pass in common repute for +a witch, yet was arrested for high treason, founded on a pretended piece +of witchcraft, and after doing public penance several days, by sentence +of convocation, was condemned to perpetual imprisonment in the Isle of +Man, but afterwards removed to Killingworth-castle. The fact charged +upon her, was the making an image of wax resembling the King, and +treated in such a manner by incantations, and sorceries, as to make +him waste away, as the image gradually consumed. John Hume, her +chaplain, Thomas Southwell, a canon of St. Stephen's Westminster, Roger +Bolingbroke, a clergyman highly esteemed, and eminent for his uncommon +learning, and merit, and perhaps on that account, reputed to have great +skill in necromancy, and Margery Jourdemain, commonly called The Witch +of Eye, were tried as her accomplices, and condemned, the woman to be +burnt, the others to be drawn, hanged, and quartered at Tyburn[2]. This +hellish contrivance against the wife of the duke of Gloucester, was +meant to shake the influence of her husband, which in reality it did, as +ignorance and credulity cooperated with his enemies to destroy him. He +was arrested for high treason, a charge which could not be supported, +and that his enemies might have no further trouble with him, cardinal +Beaufort hired assassins to murder him. The poet acknowledges the hints +he has taken from the Second Part of Shakespear's Henry VI, and in some +scenes has copied several lines from him. In the last scene, that +pathetic speech of Eleanor's to Cardinal Beaufort when he was dying in +the agonies of remorse and despair, is literally borrowed. + + WARWICK + + See how the pangs of death work in his features. + + YORK + + Disturb him not--let him pass peaceably. + + ELEANOR + + Lord Cardinal;--if thou think'st of Heaven's bliss + Hold up thy hand;--make signal of that hope. + He dies;--and makes no sign!-- + +In praise of this tragedy, Mr. Welsted has prefixed a very elegant copy +of verses. + +Mr. Philips by a way of writing very peculiar, procured to himself the +name of Namby Pamby. This was first bestowed on him by Harry Cary, who +burlesqued some little pieces of his, in so humorous a manner, that for +a long while, Harry's burlesque, passed for Swift's with many; and by +others were given to Pope: 'Tis certain, each at first, took it for the +other's composition. + +In ridicule of this manner, the ingenious Hawkins Brown, Esq; now a +Member of Parliament, in his excellent burlesque piece called The Pipe +of Tobacco, has written an imitation, in which the resemblance is so +great, as not to be distinguished from the original. This gentleman has +burlesqued the following eminent authors, by such a close imitation of +their turn of verse, that it has not the appearance of a copy, but an +original. + +SWIFT, + +POPE, + +THOMSON, + +YOUNG, + +PHILIPS, + +CIBBER. + +As a specimen of the delicacy of our author's turn of verification, we +shall present the reader with his translation of the following beautiful +Ode of Sappho. + + Hymn to Venus + + 1. + + O Venus, beauty of the skies, + To whom a thousand temples rise, + Gayly false, in gentle smiles, + Full of love, perplexing wiles; + O Goddess! from my heart remove + The wasting cares and pains of love. + + 2. + + If ever thou hast kindly heard + A song in soft distress preferr'd, + Propitious to my tuneful vow, + O gentle goddess! hear me now. + Descend, thou bright immortal guest! + In all thy radiant charms confess'd. + + 3. + + Thou once did leave almighty Jove, + And all the golden roofs above; + The carr thy wanton sparrows drew, + Hov'ring in air, they lightly flew; + As to my bower they wing'd their way, + I saw their quiv'ring pinions play. + + 4. + + The birds dismiss'd (while you remain) + Bore back their empty car again; + Then you, with looks divinely mild, + In ev'ry heav'nly feature smil'd, + And ask'd what new complaints I made, + And why I call'd you to my aid? + + 5. + + What frenzy in my bosom rag'd, + And by what cure to be asswag'd? + What gentle youth I would allure, + Whom in my artful toils secure? + Who does thy tender heart subdue, + Tell me, my Sappho, tell me who! + + 6. + + Tho' now he shuns my longing arms, + He soon shall court thy slighted charms; + Tho' now thy off'rings he despise, + He soon to thee shall sacrifice; + Tho' now he freeze, he soon shall burn, + And be thy victim in his turn. + + 7. + + Celestial visitant once more, + Thy needful presence I implore. + In pity come, and ease my grief, + Bring my distemper'd soul relief, + Favour thy suppliant's hidden fires, + And give me all my heart's desires. + +There is another beautiful ode by the same Grecian poetess, rendered +into English by Mr. Philips with inexpressible delicacy, quoted in the +Spectator, vol. iii,. No. 229. + + 1. + + Blest, as th'immortal Gods is he + The youth who fondly fits by thee, + And hears, and sees thee all the while + Softly speak, and sweetly smile. + + 2. + + 'Twas this depriv'd my soul of rest, + And raised such tumults in my breast; + For while I gaz'd, in transport tost, + My breath was gone, my voice was lost. + + 3. + + My bosom glow'd; the subtle flame + Ran quick thro' all my vital frame, + O'er my dim eyes a darkness hung; + My ears with hollow murmurs rung. + + 4. + + In dewy damps my limbs were chill'd; + My blood with gentle horrors thrill'd; + My feeble pulse forgot to play; + I fainted, sunk, and died away. + +Mr. Philips having purchased an annuity of 400 l. per annum, for his +life, came over to England sometime in the year 1748: But had not his +health; and died soon after at his lodgings near Vauxhall. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Vide the ACTOR. + +[2] See Cart's History of England, Reign of Henry VI. + + + * * * * * + + +RICHARD MAITLAND, EARL OF LAUDERDALE + +This learned nobleman was nephew to John, the great duke of Lauderdale, +who was secretary of state to King Charles II for Scotch affairs, and +for many years had the government of that kingdom entirely entrusted to +him. Whoever is acquainted with history will be at no loss to know, with +how little moderation he exercised his power; he ruled his native +country with a rod of iron, and was the author of all those disturbances +and persecutions which have stained the Annals of Scotland, during that +inglorious period. + +As the duke of Lauderdale was without issue-male of his own body, he +took our author into his protection as his immediate heir, and ordered +him to be educated in such a manner as to qualify him for the possession +of those great employments his ancestors enjoyed in the state. The +improvement of this young nobleman so far exceeded his years, that he +was very early admitted into the privy council, and made lord justice +clerk, anno 1681. He married the daughter of the earl of Argyle, who was +tried for sedition in the state, and confined in the castle of +Edinburgh. When Argyle found his fate approaching, he meditated, and +effected his escape; and some letters of his being intercepted and +decyphered, which had been written to the earl of Lauderdale, his +lordship fell under a cloud, and was stript of his preferments. These +letters were only of a familiar nature, and contained nothing but +domestic business; but a correspondence with a person condemned, was +esteemed a sin in politics not to be forgiven, especially by a man of +the Duke of York's furious disposition. + +Though the duke of Lauderdale had ordered our author to be educated as +his heir, yet he left all his personal estate, which was very great, to +another, the young nobleman having, by some means, disobliged him; and +as he was of an ungovernable implacable temper, could never again +recover his favour[1]. Though the earl of Lauderdale was thus removed +from his places by the court, yet he persisted in his loyalty to the +Royal Family, and, upon the revolution, followed the fortune of King +James II, and some years after died in France, leaving no surviving +issue, so that the titles devolved on his younger brother. + +While the earl was in exile with his Royal master, he applied his mind +to the delights of poetry, and, in his leisure hours, compleated a +translation of Virgil's works. Mr. Dryden, in his dedication of the +Aeneis, thus mentions it; 'The late earl of Lauderdale, says he, sent me +over his new translation of the Aeneis, which he had ended before I +engaged in the same design. Neither did I then intend it, but some +proposals being afterwards made me by my Bookseller, I desired his +lordship's leave that I might accept them, which he freely granted, and +I have his letter to shew for that permission. He resolved to have +printed his work, which he might have done two years before I could have +published mine; and had performed it, if death had not prevented him. +But having his manuscript in my hands, I consulted it as often as I +doubted of my author's sense; for no man understood Virgil better than +that learned nobleman. His friends have yet another, and more correct +copy of that translation by them, which if they had pleased to have +given the public, the judges might have been convinced that I have not +flattered him.' + +Lord Lauderdale's friends, some years after the publication of Dryden's +Translation, permitted his lordship's to be printed, and, in the late +editions of that performance, those lines are marked with inverted +commas, which Dryden thought proper to adopt into his version, which are +not many; and however closely his lordship may have rendered Virgil, no +man can conceive a high opinion of that poet, contemplated through the +medium of his Translation. + +Dr. Trapp, in his preface to the Aeneis, observes, +'that his lordship's Translation is pretty near to the original, though +not so close as its brevity would make one imagine; and it sufficiently +appears, that he had a right taste in poetry in general, and the Aeneid +in particular. He shews a true spirit, and, in many places, is very +beautiful. But we should certainly have seen Virgil far better +translated, by a noble hand, had the earl of Lauderdale been the earl of +Roscommon, and had the Scottish peer followed all the precepts, and been +animated with the genius of the Irish.' + +We know of no other poetical compositions of this learned nobleman, and +the idea we have received from history of his character, is, that he was +in every respect the reverse of his uncle, from whence we may reasonably +conclude, that he possessed many virtues, since few statesmen of any age +ever were tainted with more vices than the duke of Lauderdale. + +FOOTNOTE: +[1] Crawford's Peerage of Scotland. + + + * * * * * + + +DR. JOSEPH TRAPP + +This poet was second son to the rev. Mr. Joseph Trapp, rector of +Cherington in Gloucestershire, at which place he was born, anno 1679. He +received the first rudiments of learning from his father, who instructed +him in the languages, and superintended his domestic education. When he +was ready for the university he was sent to Oxford, and was many years +scholar and fellow of Wadham College, where he took the degree of master +of arts. In the year 1708 he was unanimously chosen professor of poetry, +being the first of that kind. This institution was founded by Dr. Henry +Birkhead, formerly fellow of All-Souls, and the place of lecturer can be +held only for ten years. + +Dr. Trapp was, in the early part of his life, chaplain to lord +Bolingbroke, the father of the famous Bolingbroke, lately deceased. The +highest preferment Dr. Trapp ever had in the church, though he was a man +of extensive learning, was, the rectory of Harlington, Middlesex, and of +the united parishes of Christ-Church, Newgate Street, and St. Leonard's +Foster-Lane, with the lectureship of St. Lawrence Jewry, and St. +Martin's in the Fields. The Dr's principles were not of that cast, by +which promotion could be expected. He was attached to the High-Church +interest, and as his temper was not sufficiently pliant to yield to the +prevalence of party, perhaps for that very reason, his rising in the +church was retarded. A gentleman of learning and genius, when paying a +visit to the Dr. took occasion to lament, as there had been lately some +considerable alterations made, and men less qualified than he, raised to +the mitre, that distinctions should be conferred with so little regard +to merit, and wondered that he (the Dr.) had never been promoted to a +see. To this the Dr. replied, 'I am thought to have some learning, and +some honesty, and these are but indifferent qualifications to enable a +man to rise in the church.' + +Dr. Trapp's action in the pulpit has been censured by many, as +participating too much of the theatrical manner, and having more the air +of an itinerant enthusiast, than a grave ecclesiastic. Perhaps it may be +true, that his pulpit gesticulations were too violent, yet they bore +strong expressions of sincerity, and the side on which he erred, was the +most favourable to the audience; as the extreme of over-acting any part, +is not half so intolerable as a languid indifference, whether what the +preacher is then uttering, is true or false, is worth attention or no. +The Dr. being once in company with a person, whose profession was that +of a player, took occasion to ask him, 'what was the reason that an +actor seemed to feel his part with so much sincerity, and utter it with +so much emphasis and spirit, while a preacher, whose profession is of a +higher nature, and whose doctrines are of the last importance, remained +unaffected, even upon the most solemn occasion, while he stood in the +pulpit as the ambassador of God, to teach righteousness to the people?' +the player replied, 'I believe no other reason can be given, sir, but +that we are sincere in our parts, and the preachers are insincere in +theirs.' The Dr. could not but acknowledge the truth of this observation +in general, and was often heard to complain of the coldness and +unaffected indifference of his brethren in those very points, in which +it is their business to be sincere and vehement. Would you move your +audience, says an ancient sage, you must yourself be moved; and it is a +proposition which holds universally true. Dr. Trapp was of opinion, that +the highest doctrines of religion were to be considered as infallibly +true, and that it was of more importance to impress them strongly on the +minds of the audience, to speak to their hearts, and affect their +passions, than to bewilder them in disputation, and lead them through +labyrinths of controversy, which can yield, perhaps, but little +instruction, can never tend to refine the passions, or elevate the mind. +Being of this opinion, and from a strong desire of doing good, Dr. Trapp +exerted himself in the pulpit, and strove not only to convince the +judgment, but to warm the heart, for if passions are the elements of +life, they ought to be devoted to the service of religion, as well as +the other faculties, and powers of the soul. + +But preaching was not the only method by which, this worthy man promoted +the interest of religion; he drew the muses into her service, and that +he might work upon the hopes and fears of his readers, he has presented +them with four poems, on these important subjects; _Death, Judgment, +Heaven_, and _Hell._ The reason of his making choice of those themes on +which to write, he very fully explains in his preface. He observes, that +however dull, and trite it may be to declaim against the corruption of +the age one lives in, yet he presumes it will be allowed by every body, +that all manner of wickedness, both in principles and practice, abounds +amongst men. 'I have lived (says he) in six reigns, but for about these +twenty years last past, the English nation has been, and is so +prodigiously debauched, its very nature and genius so changed, that I +scarce know it to be the English nation, and am almost a foreigner in +my own country. Not only barefaced, impudent, immorality of all kinds, +but often professed infidelity and atheism. To slop these overflowings +of ungodliness, much has been done in prose, yet not so as to supersede +all other endeavours: and therefore the author of these poems was +willing to try, whether any good might be done in verse. This manner of +conveyance may, perhaps, have some advantage, which the other has not; +at least it makes variety, which is something considerable. The four +last things are manifestly subjects of the utmost importance. If due +reflexions upon Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell, will not reclaim men +from their vices, nothing will. This little work was intended for the +use of all, from the greatest to the least. But as it would have been +intolerably flat, and insipid to the former, had it been wholly written +in a stile level to the capacities of the latter; to obviate +inconveniences on both sides, an attempt has been made to entertain the +upper class of readers, and, by notes, to explain such passages in +divinity, philosophy, history, &c. as might be difficult to the lower. +The work (if it may be so called) being partly argumentative, and partly +descriptive, it would have been ridiculous, had it been possible to make +the first mentioned as poetical as the other. In long pieces of music +there is the plain recitativo, as well as the higher, and more musical +modulation, and they mutually recommend, and set off each other. But +about these matters the writer is little sollicitous, and otherwise, +than as they are subservient to the design of doing good.' + +A good man would naturally wish, that such generous attempts, in the +cause of virtue, were always successful. With the lower class of +readers, it is more than probably that these poems may have inspired +religious thoughts, have awaked a solemn dread of punishment, kindled a +sacred hope of happiness, and fitted the mind for the four last +important period[1]; But with readers of a higher taste, they can have +but little effect. There is no doctrine placed in a new light, no +descriptions are sufficiently emphatical to work upon a sensible mind, +and the perpetual flatness of the poetry is very disgustful to a +critical reader, especially, as there were so many occasions of rising +to an elevated sublimity. + +The Dr. has likewise written a Paraphrase on the 104th Psalm, which, +though much superior in poetry to his Four Last Things, yet falls +greatly short of that excellent version by Mr. Blacklocke, quoted in the +Life of Dr. Brady. + +Our author has likewise published four volumes of sermons, and a volume +of lectures on poetry, written in Latin. + +Before we mention his other poetical compositions, we shall consider him +as the translator of Virgil, which is the most arduous province he ever +undertook. Dr. Trapp, in his preface, after stating the controversy, +which has been long held, concerning the genius of Homer and Virgil, to +whom the superiority belongs, has informed us, that this work was very +far advanced before it was undertaken, having been, for many years, the +diversion of his leisure hours at the university, and grew upon him, by +insensible degrees, so that a great part of the Aeneis was actually +translated, before he had any design of attempting the whole. + +He further informs us, 'that one of the greatest geniuses, and best +judges, and critics, our age has produced, Mr. Smith of Christ Church, +having seen the first two or three hundred lines of this translation, +advised him by all means to go through with it. I said, he laughed at +me, replied the Dr. and that I should be the most impudent of mortals to +have such a thought. He told me, he was very much in earnest; and asked +me why the whole might not be done, in so many years, as well as such a +number of lines in so many days? which had no influence upon me, nor did +I dream of such an undertaking, 'till being honoured by the university +of Oxford with the public office of professor of poetry, which I shall +ever gratefully acknowledge, I thought it might not be improper for me +to review, and finish this work, which otherwise had certainly been as +much neglected by me, as, perhaps, it will now be by every body else.' + +As our author has made choice of blank verse, rather than rhime, in +order to bear a nearer resemblance to Virgil, he has endeavoured to +defend blank verse, against the advocates for rhime, and shew its +superiority for any work of length, as it gives the expression a greater +compass, or, at least, does not clog and fetter the verse, by which the +substance and meaning of a line must often be mutilated, twisted, and +sometimes sacrificed for the sake of the rhime. + +'Blank verse (says he) is not only more majestic and sublime, but more +musical and harmonious. It has more rhime in it, according to the +ancient, and true sense of the word, than rhime itself, as it is now +used: for, in its original signification, it consists not in the +tinkling of vowels and consonants, but in the metrical disposition of +words and syllables, and the proper cadence of numbers, which is more +agreeable to the ear, without the jingling of like endings, than with +it. And, indeed, let a man consult his own ears. + + Him th'Almighty pow'r + Hurl'd headlong, flaming from the aetherial sky, + With hideous ruin and combustion, down + To bottomless perdition; there to dwell + In adamantine chains, and penal fire; + Who durst defy th'Omnipotent to arms. + Nine times the space that measures day and night + + To mortal men, he with his horrid crew + Lay vanquish'd, rowling in the fiery gulph, + Confounded, tho' immortal + +Who that hears this, can think it wants rhime to recommend it? or rather +does not think it sounds far better without it? We purposely produced a +citation, beginning and ending in the middle of a verse, because the +privilege of resting on this, or that foot, sometimes one, and sometimes +another, and so diversifying the pauses and cadences, is the greatest +beauty of blank verse, and perfectly agreeable to the practice of our +masters, the Greeks and Romans. This can be done but rarely in rhime; +for if it were frequent, the rhime would be in a manner lost by it; the +end of almost every verse must be something of a pause; and it is but +seldom that a sentence begins in the middle. Though this seems to be the +advantage of blank verse over rhime, yet we cannot entirely condemn the +use of it, even in a heroic poem; nor absolutely reject that in +speculation, which. Mr. Dryden and Mr. Pope have enobled by their +practice. We acknowledge too, that in some particular views, what way of +writing has the advantage over this. You may pick out mere lines, which, +singly considered, look mean and low, from a poem in blank verse, than +from one in rhime, supposing them to be in other respects equal. For +instance, the following verses out of Milton's Paradise Lost, b. ii. + + Of Heav'n were falling, and these elements-- + Instinct with fire, and nitre hurried him-- + +taken singly, look low and mean: but read them in conjunction with +others, and then see what a different face will be set upon them. + + --Or less than of this frame + Of Heav'n were falling, and these elements + In mutiny had from her axle torn + The stedfast earth. As last his sail-broad vans + He spreads for flight; and in the surging smoke + Uplifted spurns the ground-- + --Had not by ill chance + The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud + Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him + As many miles aloft. That fury stay'd; + Quench'd in a boggy syrtis, neither sea, + Nor good dry land: night founder'd on he fares, + Treading the crude consistence. + +Our author has endeavoured to justify his choice of blank verse, by +shewing it less subject to restraints, and capable of greater sublimity +than rhime. But tho' this observation may hold true, with respect to +elevated and grand subjects, blank verse is by no means capable of so +great universality. In satire, in elegy, or in pastoral writing, our +language is, it seems, so feebly constituted, as to stand in need of the +aid of rhime; and as a proof of this, the reader need only look upon the +pastorals of Virgil, as translated by Trapp in blank verse, and compare +them with Dryden's in rhime. He will then discern how insipid and fiat +the pastorals of the same poet are in one kind of verification, and how +excellent and beautiful in another. Let us give one short example to +illustrate the truth of this, from the first pastoral of Virgil. + + MELIBAEUS. + + Beneath the covert of the spreading beech + Thou, Tityrus, repos'd, art warbling o'er, + Upon a slender reed, thy sylvan lays: + We leave our country, and sweet native fields; + We fly our country: careless in the shade, + Thou teachest, Tityrus, the sounding groves + To eccho beauteous Amaryllis' name. + + TITYRUS. + + O Melibaeus, 'twas a god to us + Indulged this freedom: for to me a god + He shall be ever: from my folds full oft + A tender lamb his altar shall embrue: + He gave my heifers, as thou seest, to roam; + And me permitted on my rural cane + To sport at pleasure, and enjoy my muse, + +TRAPP. + + MELIBAEUS. + + Beneath the shade which beechen-boughs diffuse, + You, Tityrus, entertain your Silvan muse: + Round the wide world in banishment we roam, + Forc'd from our pleasing fields, and native home: + While stretch'd at ease you sing your happy loves: + And Amaryllis fills the shady groves. + + TITYRUS. + + These blessings, friend, a deity bestow'd: + For never can I deem him less than God. + The tender firstlings of my woolly breed + Shall on his holy altar often bleed. + He gave my kine to graze the flowry plain: + And to my pipe renew'd the rural strain. + +DRYDEN. + +Dr. Trapp towards the conclusion of his Preface to the Aeneid, has +treated Dryden with less reverence, than might have been expected from a +man of his understanding, when speaking of so great a genius. The cause +of Trapp's disgust to Dryden, seems to have been this: Dryden had a +strong contempt for the priesthood, which we have from his own words, + + "Priests of all professions are the same." + +and takes every opportunity to mortify the usurping superiority of +spiritual tyrants. Trapp, with all his virtues (for I think it appears +he possessed many) had yet much of the priest in him, and for that very +reason, perhaps, has shewn some resentment to Dryden; but if he has with +little candour of criticism treated Mr. Dryden, he has with great +servility flattered Mr. Pope; and has insinuated, as if the Palm of +Genius were to be yielded to the latter. He observes in general, that +where Mr. Dryden shines most, we often see the least of Virgil. To omit +many other instances, the description of the Cyclops forging Thunder for +Jupiter, and Armour for Aeneas, is elegant and noble to the last degree +in the Latin; and it is so to a great degree in the English. But then is +the English a translation of the Latin? + + Hither the father of the fire by night, + Thro' the brown air precipitates his flight: + On their eternal anvil, here he found + The brethren beating, and the blows go round. + +The lines are good, and truely poetical; but the two first are set to +render + + Hoc tunc ignipotens caelo descendit ab alto. + +There is nothing of _caelo ab alto_ in the version; nor by _night, brown +air_, or _precipitates his sight_, in the original. The two last are put +in the room of + + Ferrum exercebant vasto Cylopes in antro, + Brontesque, Steropesque, & nudus membra Pyraemon. + +Vasto in antro, in the first of these lines, and the last line is +entirely left out in the translation. Nor is there any thing of eternal +anvils, or _hers he found_, in the original, and the brethren beating, +and the blows go round, is but a loose version of _Ferrum exercebant._ +Dr. Trapp has allowed, however, that though Mr. Dryden is often distant +from the original, yet he sometimes rises to a more excellent height, by +throwing out implied graces, which none but so great a poet was capable +of. Thus in the 12th book, after the last speech of Saturn, + + Tantum effata, caput glauco contexit amictu, + Multa gemens, & se fluvio Dea condidit also. + + She drew a length of sighs, no more she said, + But with an azure mantle wrapp'd her head; + Then plunged into her stream with deep despair, + _And her last sobs came bubbling up in air_. + +Though the last line is not expressed in the original, it is yet in some +measure implied, and it is in itself so exceedingly beautiful, that the +whole passage can never be too much admired. These are excellencies +indeed; this is truly Mr. Dryden. The power of truth, no doubt, extorted +this confession from the Dr. and notwithstanding many objections may be +brought against this performance of Dryden, yet we believe most of our +poetical readers upon perusing it, will be of the opinion of Pope, +'that, excepting a few human errors, it is the noblest and most spirited +translation in any language.' To whom it may reasonable be asked, has +Virgil been most obliged? to Dr. Trapp who has followed his footsteps in +every line; has shewn you indeed the design, the characters, contexture, +and moral of the poem, that is, has given you Virgil's account of the +actions of AEneas, or to Mr. Dryden, who has not only conveyed the +general ideas of his author, but has conveyed them with the same majesty +and fire, has led you through every battle with trepidation, has soothed +you in the tender scenes, and inchanted you with the flowers of poetry? +Virgil contemplated thro' the medium of Trapp, appears an accurate +writer, and the Aeneid as well conducted fable, but discerned in +Dryden's page, he glows as with fire from heaven, and the Aeneid is a +continued series of whatever is great, elegant, pathetic, and sublime. + +We have already observed, in the Life of Dryden, that it is easier to +discern wherein the beauties of poetical composition consist, than to +throw out those beauties. Dr. Trapp, in his Praelectiones Poeticae, has +shewn how much he was master of every species of poetry; that is, how +excellently he understood the structure of a poem; what noble rules he +was capable of laying down, and what excellent materials he could +afford, for building upon such a foundation, a beautiful fabric. There +are few better criticisms in any language, Dryden's dedications and +prefaces excepted, than are contained in these lectures. The mind is +enlarged by them, takes in a wide range of poetical ideas, and is taught +to discover how many amazing requisites are necessary to form a poet. In +his introduction to the first lecture, he takes occasion to state a +comparison between poetry and painting, and shew how small pretensions +the professors of the latter have, to compare themselves with the +former. 'The painter indeed (says he) has to do with the passions, but +then they are such passions only, as discover themselves in the +countenance; but the poet is to do more, he is to trace the rise of +those passions, to watch their gradations, to pain their progress, and +mark them in the heart in their genuine conflicts; and, continues he, +the disproportion between the soul and the body, is not greater than the +disproportion between the painter and the poet. + +Dr. Trapp is author of a tragedy called Abramule, or Love and Empire, +acted at the New Theatre at Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1704, dedicated to the +Right Honourable the Lady Harriot Godolphin. Scene Constantinople. The +story is built upon the dethronement of Mahomet IV. + +Our author has likewise written a piece called The Church of England +Defended against the False Reasoning of the Church of Rome. Several +occasional poems were written by him in English; and there is one Latin +poem of his in the Musae Anglicanae. He has translated the Paradise Lost +into Latin Verse, with little success, and, as he published it at his +own risk, he was a considerable loser. The capital blemish of that work, +is, the unharmonious versification, which gives perpetual offence to the +ear, neither is the language universally pure. + +He died in the month of November 1747, and left behind him the character +of a pathetic and instructive preacher, a profound scholar, a discerning +critic, a benevolent gentleman, and a pious Christian. + +We shall conclude the life of Dr. Trapp with the following verses of Mr. +Layng, which are expressive of the Dr's. character as a critic and a +poet. The author, after applauding Dryden's version, proceeds thus in +favour of Trapp. + + Behind we see a younger bard arise, + No vulgar rival in the grand emprize. + Hail! learned Trapp! upon whose brow we find + The poet's bays, and critic's ivy join'd. + Blest saint! to all that's virtuous ever dear, + Thy recent fate demands a friendly tear. + None was more vers'd in all the Roman store, + Or the wide circle of the Grecian lore, + Less happy, from the world recluse too long, + In all the sweeter ornaments of song; + Intent to teach, too careless how to please, + He boasts in strength, whate'er he wants in ease. + +FOOTNOTE + +[1] By his last Will he ordered a copy of that book to be given to each + of his parishioners, that when he could no longer speak to them from + the pulpit, he might endeavour to instruct them in his writings. + + + * * * * * + + +MR. SAMUEL BOYSE. + +This Poet was the son of the Revd. Mr. Joseph Boyse, a Dissenting +minister of great eminence in Dublin. Our author's father was a person +so much respected by those immediately under his ministerial care, and +whoever else had the happiness of his acquaintance, that people of all +denominations united in esteeming him, not only for his learning and +abilities, but his extensive humanity and undisembled piety. + +The Revd. Gentleman had so much dignity in his manner, that he obtained +from the common people the name of bishop Boyse, meant as a compliment +to the gracefulness of his person and mien. But though Mr. Boyse was +thus reverenced by the multitude, and courted by people of fashion, he +never contracted the least air of superciliousness: He was humane and +affable in his temper, equally removed from the stiffness of pedantry, +and offensive levity. During his ministerial charge at Dublin, he +published many sermons, which compose several folio volumes, a few Poems +and other Tracts; but what chiefly distinguished him as a writer, was +the controversy he carried on with Dr. King, archbishop of Dublin, and +author of the Origin of Evil, concerning the office of a scriptural +bishop. This controverted point was managed on both sides with great +force of argument, and calmness of temper. The bishop asserted that the +episcopal right of jurisdiction had its foundation in the New-Testament: +Mr. Boyse, consistent with his principles, denied that any +ecclesiastical superiority appeared there; and in the opinion of many, +Mr. Boyse was more than equal to his antagonist, whom he treated in the +course of the controversy, with the greatest candour and good-manners. + +It has been reported that Mr. Boyse had two brothers, one a clergyman of +the church of England, and the other a cardinal at Rome; but of this +circumstance we have no absolute certainty: Be it as it may, he had, +however, no brother so much distinguished in the world as himself. + +We shall now enter upon the life of our poet, who will appear while we +trace it, to have been in every respect the reverse of his father, +genius excepted.-- + +He was born in the year 1708, and received the rudiments of his +education in a private school in Dublin. When he was but eighteen years +old, his father, who probably intended him for the ministry, sent him to +the university of Glasgow, that he might finish his education there. He +had not been a year at the university, till he fell in love with one +Miss Atchenson, the daughter of a tradesman in that city, and was +imprudent enough to interrupt his education, by marrying her, before he +had entered into his 20th year. + +The natural extravagance of his temper soon exposed him to want, and as +he had now the additional charge of a wife, his reduced circumstances +obliged him to quit the university, and go over with his wife (who also +carried a sister with her) to Dublin; where they relied upon the old +gentleman for support. His behaviour in this dependent state, was the +very reverse of what it should have been. In place of directing his +studies to some useful acquisition, so as to support himself and family, +he spent his time in the most abject trifling, and drew many heavy +expences upon his father, who had no other means of supporting himself +than what his congregation afforded, and a small estate of fourscore +pounds a year in Yorkshire. + +Considerations of prudence never entered into the heart of this unhappy +young roan, who ran from one excess to another, till an indulgent parent +was reduced by his means to very great embarrassments. Young Boyse was +of all men the farthest removed from a gentleman; he had no graces of +person, and fewer still of conversation. To this cause it was perhaps +owing, that his wife, naturally of a very volatile sprightly temper, +either grew tired of him, or became enamour'd of variety. It was however +abundantly certain, that she pursued intrigues with other men; and what +is still more surprising, not without the knowledge of her husband, who +had either too abject a spirit to resent it; or was bribed by some +lucrative advantage, to which, he had a mind mean enough to stoop. +Though never were three people of more libertine characters than young +Boyse, his wife, and sister-in-law; yet the two ladies wore such a mask +of decency before the old gentleman, that his fondness was never abated. +He hoped that time and experience would recover his son from his courses +of extravagance; and as he was of an unsuspecting temper, he had not the +least jealousy of the real conduct of his daughter-in-law, who grew +every day in his favour, and continued to blind him, by the seeming +decency of her behaviour, and a performance of those acts of piety, he +naturally expected from her. But the old gentleman was deceived in his +hopes, for time made no alteration in his son. The estate his father +possessed in Yorkshire was sold to discharge his debts; and when the old +man lay in his last sickness, he was entirely supported by presents from +his congregation, and buried at their expence. + +We have no farther account of Mr. Boyse, till we find him soon after his +father's death at Edinburgh; but from what motives he went there we +cannot now discover. At this place his poetical genius raised him many +friends, and some patrons of very great eminence. He published a volume +of poems in 1731, to which is subjoined The Tablature of Cebes, and a +Letter upon Liberty, inserted in the Dublin Journal 1726; and by these +he obtained a very great reputation. They are addressed to the countess +of Eglington, a lady of distinguished excellencies, and so much +celebrated for her beauty, that it would be difficult for the best +panegyrist to be too lavish in her praise. This amiable lady was +patroness of all men of wit, and very much distinguished Mr. Boyse, +while he resided in that country. She was not however exempt from the +lot of humanity, and her conspicuous accomplishments were yet chequered +with failings: The chief of which was too high a consciousness of her +own charms, which inspired a vanity that sometimes betrayed her into +errors. + +The following short anecdote was frequently related by Mr. Boyse. The +countess one day came into the bed chamber of her youngest daughter, +then about 13 years old, while she was dressing at her toilet. The +countess observing the assiduity with which the young lady wanted to set +off her person to the best advantage, asked her, what she would give to +be 'as handsome as her mamma?' To which Miss replied; 'As much as your +ladyship would give to be as young as me.' This smart repartee which was +at once pungent and witty, very sensibly affected the countess; who for +the future was less lavish in praise of her own charms.-- + +Upon the death of the viscountess Stormont, Mr. Boyse wrote an Elegy, +which was very much applauded by her ladyship's relations. This Elegy he +intitled, The Tears of the Muses, as the deceased lady was a woman of +the most refined taste in the sciences, and a great admirer of poetry. +The lord Stormont was so much pleased with this mark of esteem paid to +the memory of his lady, that he ordered a very handsome present to be +given to Mr. Boyse, by his attorney at Edinburgh. + +Though Mr. Boyse's name was very well known in that city, yet his person +was obscure; for as he was altogether unsocial in his temper, he had but +few acquaintances, and those of a cast much inferior to himself, and +with whom he ought to have been ashamed to associate. It was some time +before he could be found out; and lord Stormont's kind intentions had +been defeated, if an advertisement had not been published in one of +their weekly papers, desiring the author of the Tears of the Muses to +call at the house of the attorney[1]. + +The personal obscurity of Mr. Boyse might perhaps not be altogether +owing to his habits of gloominess and retirement. Nothing is more +difficult in that city, than to make acquaintances; There are no places +where people meet and converse promiscuously: There is a reservedness +and gravity in the manner of the inhabitants, which makes a stranger +averse to approach them. They naturally love solitude; and are very slow +in contracting friendships. They are generous; but it is with a bad +grace. They are strangers to affability, and they maintain a haughtiness +and an apparent indifference, which deters a man from courting them. +They may be said to be hospitable, but not complaisant to strangers: +Insincerity and cruelty have no existence amongst them; but if they +ought not to be hated, they can never be much loved, for they are +incapable of insinuation, and their ignorance of the world makes them +unfit for entertaining sensible strangers. They are public-spirited, but +torn to pieces by factions. A gloominess in religion renders one part of +them very barbarous, and an enthusiasm in politics so transports the +genteeler part, that they sacrifice to party almost every consideration +of tenderness. Among such a people, a man may long live, little known, +and less instructed; for their reservedness renders them +uncommunicative, and their excessive haughtiness prevents them from +being solicitous of knowledge. + +The Scots are far from being a dull nation; they are lovers of pomp and +shew; but then there is an eternal stiffness, a kind of affected +dignity, which spoils their pleasures. Hence we have the less reason to +wonder that Boyse lived obscurely at Edinburgh. His extreme carelesness +about his dress was a circumstance very inauspicious to a man who lives +in that city. They are such lovers of this kind of decorum, that they +will admit of no infringement upon it; and were a man with more wit than +Pope, and more philosophy than Newton, to appear at their market place +negligent in his apparel, he would be avoided by his acquaintances who +would rather risk his displeasure, than the censure of the public, which +would not fail to stigmatize them, for assocciating with a man seemingly +poor; for they measure poverty, and riches, understanding, or its +opposite, by exterior appearance. They have many virtues, but their not +being polished prevents them from shining. + +The notice which Lady Eglington and the lord Stormont took of our poet, +recommended him likewise to the patronage of the dutchess of Gordon, who +was a lady not only distinguished for her taste; but cultivated a +correspondence with some of the most eminent poets then living. The +dutchess was so zealous in Mr. Boyse's affairs, and so felicitous to +raise him above necessity, that she employed her interest in procuring +the promise of a place for him. She gave him a letter, which he was next +day to deliver to one of the commissioners of the customs at Edinburgh. +It happened that he was then some miles distant from the city, and the +morning on which he was to have rode to town with her grace's letter of +recommendation proved to be rainy. This slender circumstance was enough +to discourage Boyse, who never looked beyond the present moment: He +declined going to town on account of the rainy weather, and while he let +slip the opportunity, the place was bestowed upon another, which the +commissioner declared he kept for some time vacant, in expectation of +seeing a person recommended by the dutchess of Gordon. + +Of a man of this indolence of temper, this sluggish meanness of spirit, +the reader cannot be surprised to find the future conduct consist of a +continued serious of blunders, for he who had not spirit to prosecute an +advantage put in his hands, will neither bear distress with fortitude, +nor struggle to surmount it with resolution. + +Boyse at last, having defeated all the kind intentions of his patrons +towards him, fell into a contempt and poverty, which obliged him to quit +Edinburgh, as his creditors began to sollicit the payment of their +debts, with an earnestness not to be trifled with. He communicated his +design of going to London to the dutchess of Gordon; who having still a +very high opinion of his poetical abilities, gave him a letter of +recommendation to Mr. Pope, and obtained another for him to Sir Peter +King, the lord chancellor of England. Lord Stormont recommended him to +the sollicitor-general his brother, and many other persons of the first +fashion. + +Upon receiving these letters, he, with great caution, quitted Edinburgh, +regretted by none but his creditors, who were so exaggerated as to +threaten to prosecute him wherever he should be found. But these menaces +were never carried into execution, perhaps from the consideration of his +indigence, which afforded no probable prospect of their being paid. + +Upon his arrival in London, he went to Twickenham, in order to deliver +the dutchess of Gordon's letter to Mr. Pope; but that gentleman not +being at home, Mr. Boyse never gave himself the trouble to repeat his +visit, nor in all probability would Pope have been over-fond of him; as +there was nothing in his conversation which any wife indicated the +abilities he possessed. He frequently related, that he was graciously +received by Sir Peter King, dined at his table, and partook of his +pleasures. But this relation, they who knew Mr. Boyse well, never could +believe; for he was so abject in his disposition, that he never could +look any man in the face whose appearance was better than his own; nor +likely had courage to sit at Sir Peter King's table, where every one was +probably his superior. He had no power of maintaining the dignity of +wit, and though his understanding was very extensive, yet but a few +could discover that he had any genius above the common rank. This want +of spirit produced the greatest part of his calamities, because he; knew +not how to avoid them by any vigorous effort of his mind. He wrote +poems, but those, though excellent in their kind, were lost to the +world, by being introduced with no advantage. He had so strong a +propension to groveling, that his acquaintance were generally of such a +cast, as could be of no service to him; and those in higher life he +addressed by letters, not having sufficient confidence or politeness to +converse familiarly with them; a freedom to which he was intitled by the +power of his genius. Thus unfit to support himself in the world, he was +exposed to variety of distress, from which he could invent no means of +extricating himself, but by writing mendicant letters. It will appear +amazing, but impartiality obliges us to relate it, that this man, of so +abject a spirit, was voluptuous and luxurious: He had no taste for any +thing elegant, and yet was to the last degree expensive. Can it be +believed, that often when he had received half a guinea, in consequence +of a supplicating letter, he would go into a tavern, order a supper to +be prepared, drink of the richest wines, and spend all the money that +had just been given him in charity, without having any one to +participate the regale with him, and while his wife and child were +starving home? This is an instance of base selfishness, for which no +name is as yet invented, and except by another poet[2], with some +variation of circumstances, was perhaps never practiced by the most +sensual epicure. + +He had yet some friends, many of the most eminent dissenters, who from a +regard to the memory of his father, afforded him supplies from time to +time. Mr. Boyse by perpetual applications, at last exhausted their +patience; and they were obliged to abandon a man on whom their +liberality was ill bestowed, as it produced no other advantage to him, +than a few days support, when he returned again with the same +necessities. + +The epithet of cold has often been given to charity, perhaps with a +great deal of truth; but if any thing can warrant us to withhold our +charity, it is the consideration that its purposes are prostituted by +those on whom it is bestowed. + +We have already taken notice of the infidelity of his wife; and now her +circumstances were reduced, her virtue did not improve. She fell into a +way of life disgraceful to the sex; nor was his behaviour in any degree +more moral. They were frequently covered with ignominy, reproaching one +another for the acquisition of a disease, which both deserved, because +mutually guilty. + +It was about the year 1740, that Mr. Boyse reduced to the last extremity +of human wretchedness, had not a shirt, a coat, or any kind of apparel +to put on; the sheets in which he lay were carried to the pawnbroker's, +and he was obliged to be confined to bed, with no other covering than a +blanket. He had little support but what he got by writing letters to his +friends in the most abject stile. He was perhaps ashamed to let this +instance of distress be known to his friends, which might be the +occasion of his remaining six weeks in that situation. During this time +he had some employment in writing verses for the Magazines; and whoever +had seen him in his study, must have thought the object singular enough. +He sat up in bed with the blanket wrapt about him, through which he had +cut a hole large enough to admit his arm, and placing the paper upon his +knee, scribbled in the best manner he could the verses he was obliged to +make: Whatever he got by those, or any of his begging letters, was but +just sufficient for the preservation of life. And perhaps he would have +remained much longer in this distressful state, had not a compassionate +gentleman, upon hearing this circumstance related, ordered his cloaths +to be taken out of pawn, and enabled him to appear again abroad. + +This six weeks penance one would imagine sufficient to deter him for the +future, from suffering himself to be exposed to such distresses; but by +a long habit of want it grew familiar to him, and as he had less +delicacy than other men, he was perhaps less afflicted with his exterior +meanness. For the future, whenever his distresses so press'd, as to +induce him to dispose of his shirt, he fell upon an artificial method of +supplying one. He cut some white paper in slips, which he tyed round his +wrists, and in the same manner supplied his neck. In this plight he +frequently appeared abroad, with the additional inconvenience of want of +breeches. + +He was once sent for in a hurry, to the house of a printer who had +employed him to write a poem for his Magazine: Boyse then was without +breeches, or waistcoat, but was yet possessed of a coat, which he threw +upon him, and in this ridiculous manner went to the printer's house; +where he found several women, whom his extraordinary appearance obliged +immediately to retire. + +He fell upon many strange schemes of raising trifling sums: He sometimes +ordered his wife to inform people that he was just expiring, and by this +artifice work upon their compassion; and many of his friends were +frequently surprised to meet the man in the street to day, to whom they +had yesterday sent relief, as to a person on the verge of death. At +other times he would propose subscriptions for poems, of which only the +beginning and conclusion were written; and by this expedient would +relieve some present necessity. But as he seldom was able to put any of +his poems to the press, his veracity in this particular suffered a +diminution; and indeed in almost every other particular he might justly +be suspected; for if he could but gratify an immediate appetite, he +cared not at what expence, whether of the reputation, or purse of +another. + +About the year 1745 Mr. Boyse's wife died. He was then at Reading, and +pretended much concern when he heard of her death. + +It was an affectation in Mr. Boyse to appear very fond of a little lap +dog which he always carried about with him in his arms, imagining it +gave him the air of a man of taste. Boyse, whose circumstances were then +too mean to put himself in mourning, was yet resolved that some part of +his family should. He step'd into a little shop, purchased half a yard +of black ribbon, which he fixed round his dog's neck by way of mourning +for the loss of its mistress. But this was not the only ridiculous +instance of his behaviour on the death of his wife. Such was the +sottishness of this man, that when he was in liquor, he always indulged +a dream of his wife's being still alive, and would talk very spightfully +of those by whom he suspected she was entertained. This he never +mentioned however, except in his cups, which was only as often as he had +money to spend. The manner of his becoming intoxicated was very +particular. As he had no spirit to keep good company, so he retired to +some obscure ale-house, and regaled himself with hot two-penny, which +though he drank in very great quantities, yet he had never more than a +pennyworth at a time.--Such a practice rendered him so compleatly +sottish, that even his abilities, as an author, became sensibly +impaired. + +We have already mentioned his being at Reading. His business there was +to compile a Review of the most material transactions at home and +abroad, during the last war; in which he has included a short account of +the late rebellion. For this work by which he got some reputation, he +was paid by the sheet, a price sufficient to keep him from starving, and +that was all. To such distress must that man be driven, who is destitute +of prudence to direct the efforts of his genius. In this work Mr. Boyse +discovers how capable he was of the most irksome and laborious +employment, when he maintained a power over his appetites, and kept +himself free from intemperance. + +While he remained at Reading, he addressed, by supplicating letters, two +Irish noblemen, lord Kenyston, and lord Kingsland, who resided in +Berkshire, and received some money from them; he also met with another +gentleman there of a benevolent disposition, who, from the knowledge he +had of the father, pitied the distresses of the son, and by his interest +with some eminent Dissenters in those parts, railed a sufficient sum to +cloath him, for the abjectness of his appearance secluded our poet even +from the table of his Printer[3]. + +Upon his return from Reading, his behaviour was more decent than it had +ever been before, and there were some hopes that a reformation, tho' +late, would be wrought upon him. He was employed by a Bookseller to +translate Fenelon on the Existence of God, during which time he married +a second wife, a woman in low circumstances, but well enough adapted to +his taste. He began now to live with more regard to his character, and +support a better appearance than usual; but while his circumstances were +mending, and his irregular appetites losing ground, his health visibly +declined: he had the satisfaction, while in this lingering illness, to +observe a poem of his, entitled The Deity, recommended by two eminent +writers, the ingenious Mr. Fielding, and the rev. Mr. James Harvey, +author of The Meditations. The former, in the beginning of his humorous +History of Tom Jones, calls it an excellent poem. Mr. Harvey stiles it a +pious and instructive piece; and that worthy gentleman, upon hearing +that the author was in necessitous circumstances, deposited two guineas +in the hands of a trusty person to be given him, whenever his occasions +should press. This poem was written some years before Mr. Harvey or Mr. +Fielding took any notice of it, but it was lost to the public, as the +reputation of the Bookseller consisted in sending into the world +abundance of trifles, amongst which, it was considered as one. Mr. Boyse +said, that upon its first publication, a gentleman acquainted with Mr. +Pope, took occasion to ask that poet, if he was not the author of it, to +which Mr. Pope replied, 'that he was not the author, but that there were +many lines in it, of which he should not be ashamed.' This Mr. Boyse +considered as a very great compliment. The poem indeed abounds with +shining lines and elevated sentiments on the several Attributes of the +Supreme Being; but then it is without a plan, or any connexion of parts, +for it may be read either backwards or forwards, as the reader pleases. + +While Mr. Boyse was in this lingering illness, he seemed to have no +notion of his approaching end, nor did he expect it, 'till it was almost +past the thinking of. His mind, indeed, was often religiously disposed; +he frequently talked upon that subject, and, probably suffered a great +deal from the remorse of his conscience. The early impressions of his +good education were never entirely obliterated, and his whole life was a +continued struggle between his will and reason, as he was always +violating his duty to the one, while he fell under the subjection of the +other. It was in consequence of this war in his mind, that he wrote a +beautiful poem called The Recantation. + +In the month of May, 1749, he died in obscure lodgings near Shoe-Lane. +An old acquaintance of his endeavoured to collect money to defray the +expences of his funeral, so that the scandal of being buried by the +parish might be avoided. But his endeavours were in vain, for the +persons he sollicited, had been so troubled with applications during the +life of this unhappy man, that they refused to contribute any thing +towards his funeral. The remains of this son of the muses were, with +very little ceremony, hurried away by the parish officers, and thrown +amongst common beggars; though with this distinction, that the service +of the church was performed over his corpse. Never was an exit more +shocking, nor a life spent with less grace, than those of Mr. Boyse, and +never were such distinguished abilities given to less purpose. His +genius was not confined to poetry only, he had a taste for painting, +music and heraldry, with the latter of which he was very well +acquainted. His poetical pieces, if collected, would make six moderate +volumes. Many of them are featured in the Gentleman's Magazine, marked +with the letter Y. and Alceus. Two volumes were published in London, but +as they never had any great sale, it will be difficult to find them. + +An ode of his in the manner of Spenser, entitled The Olive, was +addressed to Sir Robert Walpole, which procured him a present of ten +guineas. He translated a poem from the High Dutch of Van Haren, in +praise of peace, upon the conclusion of that made at Aix la Chapelle; +but the poem which procured him the greatest reputation, was, that upon +the Attributes of the Deity, of which we have already taken notice. He +was employed by Mr. Ogle to translate some of Chaucer's Tales into +modern English, which he performed with great spirit, and received at +the rate of three pence a line for his trouble. Mr. Ogle published a +complete edition of that old poet's Canterbury Tales Modernized; and Mr. +Boyse's name is put to such Tales as were done by him. It had often been +urged to Mr. Boyse to turn his thoughts towards the drama, as that was +the most profitable kind of poetical writing, and as many a poet of +inferior genius to him has raised large contributions on the public by +the success of their plays. But Boyse never seemed to relish this +proposal, perhaps from a consciousness that he had not spirit to +prosecute the arduous task of introducing it on the stage; or that he +thought himself unequal to the task. + +In the year 1743 Mr. Boyse published without his name, an Ode on the +battle of Dettingen, entitled Albion's Triumph; some Stanza's of which +we shall give as a specimen of Mr. Boyse's poetry. + +STANZA's from ALBION's Triumph. + +XIII. + + But how, blest sovereign! shall th'unpractis'd muse + These recent honours of thy reign rehearse! + How to thy virtues turn her dazzled views, + Or consecrate thy deeds in equal verse! + Amidst the field of horrors wide display'd, + How paint the calm[4] that smil'd upon, thy brow! + Or speak that thought which every part surveyed, + 'Directing where the rage of war should glow:'[5] + While watchful angels hover'd round thy head, + And victory on high the palm of glory spread. + +XIV. + + Nor royal youth reject the artless praise, + Which due to worth like thine the Muse bestows, + Who with prophetic extasy surveys + These early wreaths of fame adorn thy brows. + Aspire like Nassau in the glorious strife, + Keep thy great fires' examples full in eye; + But oh! for Britain's sake, consult a life + The noblest triumphs are too mean to buy; + And while you purchase glory--bear in mind, + A prince's truest fame is to protect mankind. + +XV. + + Alike in arts and arms acknowledg'd great, + Let Stair accept the lays he once could own! + Nor Carteret, thou the column of the state! + The friend of science! on the labour frown! + Nor shall, unjust to foreign worth, the Muse + In silence Austria's valiant chiefs conceal; + While Aremberg's heroic line she views, + And Neiperg's conduct strikes even envy pale: + Names Gallia yet shall further learn to fear, + And Britain, grateful still, shall treasure up as dear! + +XIX. + + But oh! acknowledg'd victor in the field, + What thanks, dread sovereign, shall thy toils reward! + Such honours as delivered nations yield, + Such for thy virtues justly stand prepar'd: + When erst on Oudenarde's decisive plain, + Before thy youth, the Gaul defeated fled, + The eye of fate[6] foresaw on distant Maine, + The laurels now that shine around thy head: + Oh should entwin'd with these fresh Olives bloom! + Thy Triumphs then would shame the pride of antient Rome. + +XX. + + Mean time, while from this fair event we shew + That British valour happily survives, + And cherish'd by the king's propitious view, + The rising plant of glory sweetly thrives! + Let all domestic faction learn to cease, + Till humbled Gaul no more the world alarms: + Till GEORGE procures to Europe solid peace, + A peace secur'd by his victorious arms: + And binds in iron fetters ear to ear, + Ambition, Rapine, Havock, and Despair, + With all the ghastly fiends of desolating war. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] A Profession, which in that City is denominated a Writer. + +[2] Savage. + +[3] During his abode at Reading an accident had like to have put an end + to his follies and his life together; for he had the ill-luck to + fall from his garret down the whole flight of stairs; but being + destined to lengthen out a useless life for some time longer, he + escaped with only a severe bruising. + +[4] The King gave his orders with the utmost calmness, tho' no body was + more expos'd. + +[5] + Inspir'd repuls'd battalions to engage, + And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + Mr. Addison's Campaign. + +[6] His Majesty early distinguished himself as a volunteer at the battle + of Oudenarde, in 1708. + + + * * * * * + + +Sir RICHARD BLACKMORE. + +This eminent poet and physician was son of Mr. Robert Blackmore, an +Attorney at Law. He received his early education at a private country +school, from whence, in the 13th year of his age, he was removed to +Westminster, and in a short time after to the university of Oxford, +where he continued thirteen years. + +In the early period of our author's life he was a Schoolmaster, as +appears by a satirical copy of verses Dr. Drake wrote against him, +consisting of upwards of forty lines, of which the following are very +pungent. + + By nature form'd, by want a pedant made, + Blackmore at first set up the whipping trade: + Next quack commenc'd; then fierce with pride he swore, + That tooth-ach, gout, and corns should be no more. + In vain his drugs, as well as birch he tried; + His boys grew blockheads, and his patients died. + +Some circumstances concurring, it may be presumed in Sir Richard's +favour, he travelled into Italy, and at Padua took his degrees in +physic[1]. + +He gratified his curiosity in visiting France, Germany, and the Low +Countries, and after spending a year and a half in this delightful +exercise, he returned to England. As Mr. Blackmore had made physic his +chief study, so he repaired to London to enter upon the practice of it, +and no long after he was chosen fellow of the Royal College of +Physicians, by the charter of King James II. Sir Richard had seen too +much of foreign slavery to be fond of domestic chains, and therefore +early declared himself in favour of the revolution, and espoused those +principles upon which it was effected. This zeal, recommended him to +King William, and in the year 1697 he was sworn one of his physicians in +ordinary. He was honoured by that Prince with a gold medal and chain, +was likewise knighted by him, and upon his majesty's death was one of +those who gave their opinion in the opening of the king's body. Upon +Queen Anne's accession to the throne, he was appointed one of her +physicians, and continued so for some time. + +This gentleman is author of more original poems, of a considerable +length, besides a variety of other works, than can well be conceived +could have been composed by one man, during the longest period of human +life. He was a chaste writer; he struggled in the cause of virtue, even +in those times, when vice had the countenance of the great, and when an +almost universal degeneracy prevailed. He was not afraid to appear the +advocate of virtue, in opposition to the highest authority, and no +lustre of abilities in his opponents could deter him from stripping vice +of those gaudy colours, with which poets of the first eminence had +cloathed her. + +An elegant writer having occasion to mention the state of wit in the +reign of King Charles II, characterizes the poets in the following +manner; + + The wits of Charles found easier ways to fame: + Nor sought for Johnson's art, nor Shakespear's flame: + Themselves they studied; as they lived, they writ, + Intrigue was plot, obscenity was wit. + Their cause was gen'ral, their supports were strong, + Their slaves were willing, and their reign was long. + +Mr. Pope somewhere says, + + Unhappy Dryden--in all Charles's days, + Roscommon only boasts unspotted lays. + +He might likewise have excepted Blackmore, who was not only chaste in +his own writings, but endeavoured to correct those who prostituted the +gifts of heaven, to the inglorious purposes of vice and folly, and he +was, at least, as good a poet as Roscommon. + +Sir Richard had, by the freedom of his censures on the libertine writers +of his age, incurred the heavy displeasure of Dryden, who takes all +opportunities to ridicule him, and somewhere says, that he wrote to the +rumbling of his chariot wheels. And as if to be at enmity with Blackmore +had been hereditary to our greatest poets, we find Mr. Pope taking up +the quarrel where Dryden left it, and persecuting this worthy man with +yet a severer degree of satire. Blackmore had been informed by Curl, +that Mr. Pope was the author of a Travestie on the first Psalm, which he +takes occasion to reprehend in his Essay on Polite Learning, vol. ii. p. +270. He ever considered it as the disgrace of genius, that it should be +employed to burlesque any of the sacred compositions, which as they +speak the language of inspiration, tend to awaken the soul to virtue, +and inspire it with a sublime devotion. Warmed in this honourable cause, +he might, perhaps, suffer his zeal to transport him to a height, which +his enemies called enthusiasm; but of the two extremes, no doubt can be +made, that Blackmore's was the safest, and even dullness in favour of +virtue (which, by the way, was not the case with Sir Richard) is more +tolerable than the brightest parts employed in the cause of lewdness and +debauchery. + +The poem for which Sir Richard had been most celebrated, was, +undoubtedly, his Creation, now deservedly become a classic. We cannot +convey a more amiable idea of this great production, than in the words +of Mr. Addison, in his Spectator, Number 339, who, after having +criticised on that book of Milton, which gives an account of the Works +of Creation, thus proceeds, 'I cannot conclude this book upon the +Creation, without mentioning a poem which has lately appeared under that +title. The work was undertaken with so good an intention, and executed +with so great a mastery, that it deserves to be, looked upon as one of +the most useful and noble productions in our English verse. The reader +cannot but be pleased to find the depths of philosophy, enlivened with +all the charms of poetry, and to see so great a strength of reason +amidst so beautiful a redundancy of the imagination. The author has +shewn us that design in all the works of nature, which necessarily leads +us to the knowledge of its first cause. In short, he has illustrated, by +numberless and incontestable instances, that divine wisdom, which the +son of Sirach has so nobly ascribed to the Supreme Being in his +formation of the world, when he tells us, that he _created her, and saw +her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works_.' + +The design of this excellent poem is to demonstrate the self-existence +of an eternal mind, from the created and dependent existence of the +universe, and to confute the hypothesis of the Epicureans and the +Fatalists, under whom all the patrons of impiety, ancient and modern, of +whatsoever denomination may be ranged. The first of whom affirm, the +world was in time caused by chance, and the other, that it existed from +eternity without a cause. 'Tis true, both these acknowledge the +existence of Gods, but by their absurd and ridiculous description of +them, it is plain, they had nothing else in view, but to avoid the +obnoxious character of atheistical philosophers. To adorn this poem, no +embellishments are borrowed from the exploded and obsolete theology of +the ancient idolaters of Greece and Rome; no rapturous invocations are +addressed to their idle deities, nor any allusions to their fabulous +actions. 'I have more than once (says Sir Richard) publicly declared my +opinion, that a Christian poet cannot but appear monstrous and +ridiculous in a Pagan dress. That though it should be granted, that the +Heathen religion might be allowed a place in light and loose songs, mock +heroic, and the lower lyric compositions, yet in Christian poems, of the +sublime and greater kind, a mixture of the Pagan theology must, by all +who are masters of reflexion and good sense, be condemned, if not as +impious, at least, as impertinent and absurd. And this is a truth so +clear and evident, that I make no doubt it will, by degrees, force its +way, and prevail over the contrary practice. Should Britons recover +their virtue, and reform their taste, they could no more bear the +Heathen religion in verse, than in prose. Christian poets, as well as +Christian preachers, the business of both being to instruct the people, +though the last only are wholly appropriated to it, should endeavour to +confirm, and spread their own religion. If a divine should begin his +sermon with a solemn prayer to Bacchus or Apollo, to Mars or Venus, what +would the people think of their preacher? and is it not as really, +though not equally absurd, for a poet in a great and serious poem, +wherein he celebrates some wonderful and happy event of divine +providence, or magnifies the illustrious instrument that was honoured to +bring the event about, to address his prayer to false deities, and cry +for help to the abominations of the heathen?' + +Mr. Gildon, in his Compleat Art of Poetry, after speaking of our author +in the most respectful terms, says, 'that notwithstanding his merit, +this admirable author did not think himself upon the same footing with +Homer.' But how different is the judgment of Mr. Dennis, who, in this +particular, opposes his friend Mr. Gildon. + +'Blackmore's action (says he) has neither unity, integrity, morality, +nor universality, and consequently he can have no fable, and no heroic +poem. His narration is neither probable, delightful, nor wonderful. His +characters have none of these necessary qualifications.--The things +contained in his narrations, are neither in their own nature delightful +nor numerous enough, nor rightly disposed, nor surprizing, nor +pathetic;' nay he proceeds so far as to say Sir Richard has no genius; +first establishing it as a principle, 'That genius is known by a furious +joy, and pride of soul, on the conception of an extraordinary hint. Many +men (says he) have their hints without these motions of fury and pride +of soul; because they want fire enough to agitate their spirits; and +these we call cold writers. Others who have a great deal of fire, but +have not excellent organs, feel the fore-mentioned motions, without the +extraordinary hints; and these we call fustian writers.' + +And he declares, that Sir Richard hath neither the hints nor the +motions[2]. But Dennis has not contented himself, with charging +Blackmore with want of genius; but has likewise the following remarks to +prove him a bad Church of England man: These are his words. 'All Mr. +Blackmore's coelestial machines, as they cannot be defended so much as +by common received opinion, so are they directly contrary to the +doctrine of the church of England, that miracles had ceased a long time +before prince Arthur come into the world. Now if the doctrine of the +church of England be true, as we are obliged to believe, then are all +the coelestial machines of prince Arthur unsufferable, as wanting not +only human but divine probability. But if the machines are sufferable, +that is, if they have so much as divine probability, then it follows of +necessity, that the doctrine of the church is false; so that I leave it +to every impartial clergyman to consider.' + +If no greater objection could be brought against Blackmore's Prince +Arthur, than those raised by Mr. Dennis, the Poem would be faultless; +for what has the doctrine of the church of England to do with an epic +poem? It is not the doctrine of the church of England, to suppose that +the apostate spirits put the power of the Almighty to proof, by openly +resisting his will, and maintaining an obstinate struggle with the +angels commissioned by him, to drive them from the mansions of the +bless'd; or that they attempted after their perdition, to recover heaven +by violence. These are not the doctrines of the church of England; but +they are conceived in a true spirit of poetry, and furnish those +tremendous descriptions with which Milton has enriched his Paradise +Lost. + +Whoever has read Mr. Dryden's dedication of his Juvenal, will there +perceive, that in that great man's opinion, coelestial machines might +with the utmost propriety be introduced in an Epic Poem, built upon a +christian model; but at the same time he adds, 'The guardian angels of +states and kingdoms are not to be managed by a vulgar hand.' + +Perhaps it may be true, that the guardian angels of states and kingdoms +may have been too powerful for the conduct of Sir Richard Blackmore; but +he has had at least the merit of paving the way, and has set an example +how Epic Poems may be written, upon the principles of christianity; and +has enjoyed a comfort of which no bitterness, or raillery can deprive +him, namely the virtuous intention of doing good, and as he himself +expresses it, 'of rescuing the Muses from the hands of ravishers, +and restoring them again to their chaste and pure mansions.' + +Sir Richard Blackmore died on the 9th of October 1729, in an advanced +age; and left behind him the character of a worthy man, a great poet, +and a friend to religion. Towards the close of his life, his business as +a physician declined, but as he was a man of prudent conduct, it is not +to be supposed that he was subjected to any want by that accident, for +in his earlier years he was considered amongst the first in his +profession, and his practice was consequently very extensive. + +The decay of his employment might partly be owing to old age and +infirmities, which rendered him less active than before, and partly to +the diminution his character might suffer by the eternal war, which the +wits waged against him, who spared neither bitterness nor calumny; and, +perhaps, Sir Richard may be deemed the only poet, who ever suffered for +having too much religion and morality. + +The following is the most accurate account we could obtain of his +writings, which for the sake of distinction we have divided into +classes, by which the reader may discern how various and numerous his +compositions are--To have written so much upon so great a variety of +subjects, and to have written nothing contemptibly, must indicate a +genius much superior to the common standard.--His versification is +almost every where beautiful; and tho' he has been ridiculed in the +Treatise of the Bathos, published in Pope's works, for being too minute +in his descriptions of the objects of nature; yet it rather proceeded +from a philosophical exactness, than a penury of genius. + +It is really astonishing to find Dean Swift, joining issue with less +religious wits, in laughing at Blackmore's works, of which he makes a +ludicrous detail, since they were all written in the cause of virtue, +which it was the Dean's business more immediately to support, as on this +account he enjoy'd his preferment: But the Dean perhaps, was one of +those characters, who chose to sacrifice his cause to his joke. This was +a treatment Sir Richard could never have expected at the hands of a +clergyman. + +A List of Sir Richard Blackmore's +Works. + +THEOLOGICAL. + +I. Just Prejudices against the Arian Hypothesis, Octavo. 1725 + +II. Modern Arians Unmask'd, Octavo, 1721 + +III. Natural Theology; or Moral Duties considered apart from positive; +with some Observations on the Desirableness and Necessity of a +super-natural Revelation, Octavo, 1728 + +IV. The accomplished Preacher; or an Essay upon Divine Eloquence, +Octavo, 1731 + +This Tract was published after the author's death, in pursuance of his +express order, by the Reverend Mr. John White of Nayland in Essex; who +attended on Sir Richard during his last illness, in which he manifested +an elevated piety towards God, and faith in Christ, the Saviour of the +World. Mr. White also applauds him as a person in whose character great +candour and the finest humanity were the prevailing qualities. He +observes also that he had the greatest veneration for the clergy of the +Church of England, whereof he was a member. No one, says he, did more +highly magnify our office, or had a truer esteem and honour for our +persons, discharging our office as we ought, and supporting the holy +character we bear, with an unblameable conversation, + +POETICAL. + +I. Creation, a Philosophical Poem, demonstrating the Existence and +Providence of God, in seven Books, Octavo, 1712 + +II. The Redeemer, a Poem in six Books, Octavo, 1721 + +III. Eliza, a Poem in ten Books, Folio, 1705 + +IV. King Arthur, in ten Books, 1697 + +V. Prince Arthur, in ten Books, 1695 + +VI. King Alfred, in twelve books, Octavo, 1723 + +VII. A Paraphrase on the Book of Job; the Songs of Moses, Deborah and +David; the ii. viii. ciii. cxiv, cxlviii. Psalms. Four chapters of +Isaiah, and the third of Habbakkuk, Folio and Duodecimo, 1716 + +VIII. A New Version of the Book of Psalms, Duodecimo, 1720 + +IX. The Nature of Man, a Poem in three Books, Octavo, 1720 + +X. A Collection of Poems, Octavo, 1716 + +XI. Essays on several Subjects, 2 vols. Octavo. Vol. I. On Epic Poetry, +Wit, False Virtue, Immortality of the Soul, Laws of Nature, Origin of +Civil Power. Vol. II. On Athesim, Spleen, Writing, Future Felicity, +Divine Love. 1716 + +XII. History of the Conspiracy against King William the IIId, 1696, +Octavo, 1723 + +MEDICINAL. + +I. A Discourse on the Plague, with a preparatory Account of Malignant +Fevers, in two Parts; containing an Explication of the Nature of those +Diseases, and the Method of Cure, Octavo, 1720 + +II. A Treatise on the Small-Pox, in two Parts; containing an Account of +the Nature, and several Kinds of that Disease; with the proper Methods +of Cure: And a Dissertation upon the modern Practice of Inoculation, +Octavo, 1722 + +III. A Treatise on Consumptions, and other Distempers belonging to the +Breast and Lungs, Octavo, 1724 + +VI. A Treatise on the Spleen and Vapours; or Hyppocondriacal and +Hysterical Affections; with three Discourses on the Nature and Cure of +the Cholic, Melancholly and Palsy, Octavo, 1725 + +V. A Critical Dissertation upon the Spleen, so far as concerns the +following Question, viz. Whether the Spleen is necessary or useful to +the animal possessed of it? 1725 + +VI. Discourses on the Gout, Rheumatism, and the King's Evil; containing +an Explanation of the Nature, Causes, and different Species of those +Diseases, and the Method of curing them, Octavo, 1726 + +VII. Dissertations on a Dropsy, a Tympany, the Jaundice, the Stone, and +the Diabetes, Octavo, 1727 + +Single POEMS by Sir _Richard Blackmore_. + +I. His Satire against Wit, Folio, 1700 + +II. His Hymn to the Light of the World; with a short Description of the +Cartoons at Hampton-Court, Folio, 1703 + +III. His Advice to the Poets, Folio, 1706 + +IV. His Kit-Kats, Folio, 1708 + +It might justly be esteemed an injury to Blackmore, to dismiss his life +without a specimen from his beautiful and philosophical Poem on the +Creation. In his second Book he demonstrates the existence of a God, +from the wisdom and design which appears in the motions of the heavenly +orbs; but more particularly in the solar system. First in the situation +of the Sun, and its due distance from the earth. The fatal consequences +of its having been placed, otherwise than it is. Secondly, he considers +its diurnal motion, whence the change of the day and night proceeds; +which we shall here insert as a specimen of the elegant versification, +and sublime energy of this Poem. + + Next see Lucretian Sages, see the Sun, + His course diurnal, and his annual run. + How in his glorious race he moves along, + Gay as a bridegroom, as a giant strong. + How his unweari'd labour he repeats, + Returns at morning, and at eve retreats; + And by the distribution of his light, + Now gives to man the day, and now the night: + Night, when the drowsy swain, and trav'ler cease + Their daily toil, and sooth their limbs with ease; + When all the weary sons of woe restrain + Their yielding cares with slumber's silken chain, + Solace sad grief, and lull reluctant pain. + And while the sun, ne'er covetous of rest, + Flies with such rapid speed from east to west, + In tracks oblique he thro' the zodiac rolls, + Between the northern and the southern poles; + From which revolving progress thro' the skies. + The needful seasons of the year arise: + And as he now advances, now retreats, + Whence winter colds proceed, and summer heats, + He qualifies, and chears the air by turns, + Which winter freezes, and which summer burns. + Thus his kind rays the two extremes reduce, + And keep a temper fit for nature's use. + The frost and drought by this alternate pow'r. + The earth's prolific energy restore. + The lives of man and beast demand the change; + Hence fowls the air, and fish the ocean range. + Of heat and cold, this just successive reign, + Which does the balance of the year maintain, + The gard'ner's hopes, and farmer's patience props, + Gives vernal verdure, and autumnal crops. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Jacob. + +[2] Preface to Remarks on Prince Arthur, octavo 1696. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. JAMES THOMSON. + +This celebrated poet, from whom his country has derived the most +distinguished honour, was son of the revd. Mr. Thomson, a minister of +the church of Scotland, in the Presbytery of Jedburgh. + +He was born in the place where his father was minister, about the +beginning of the present century, and received the rudiments of his +education at a private country school. Mr. Thomson, in the early part of +his life, so far from appearing to possess a sprightly genius, was +considered by his school master, and those which directed his education, +as being really without a common share of parts. + +While he was improving himself in the Latin and Greek tongues at this +country school, he often visited a minister, whose charge lay in the +same presbytery with his father's, the revd. Mr. Rickerton, a man of +such amazing powers, that many persons of genius, as well as Mr. +Thomson, who conversed with him, have been astonished, that such great +merit should be buried in an obscure part of the country, where he had +no opportunity to display himself, and, except upon periodical meetings +of the ministers, seldom an opportunity of conversing with men of +learning. + +Though Mr. Thomson's schoolmaster could not discover that he was endowed +with a common portion of understanding, yet Mr. Rickerton was not so +blind to his genius; he distinguished our author's early propension to +poetry, and had once in his hands some of the first attempts Mr. Thomson +ever made in that province. + +It is not to be doubted but our young poet greatly improved while he +continued to converse with Mr. Rickerton, who, as he was a philosophical +man, inspired his mind with a love of the Sciences, nor were the revd. +gentleman's endeavours in vain, for Mr. Thomson has shewn in his works +how well he was acquainted with natural and moral philosophy, a +circumstance which, perhaps, is owing to the early impressions he +received from Mr. Rickerton. + +Nature, which delights in diversifying her gifts, does not bestow upon +every one a power of displaying the abilities she herself has granted to +the best advantage. Though Mr. Rickerton could discover that Mr. +Thomson, so far from being without parts, really possessed a very fine +genius, yet he never could have imagined, as he often declared, that +there existed in his mind such powers, as even by the best cultivation +could have raised him to so high a degree of eminence amongst the poets. + +When Mr. Rickerton first saw Mr. Thomson's Winter, which was in a +Bookseller's shop at Edinburgh, he stood amazed, and after he had read +the lines quoted below, he dropt the poem from his hand in the extasy of +admiration. The lines are his induction to Winter, than which few poets +ever rose to a more sublime height[1]. + +After spending the usual time at a country school in the acquisition of +the dead languages, Mr. Thomson was removed to the university of +Edinburgh, in order to finish his education, and be fitted for the +ministry. Here, as at the country school, he made no great figure: his +companions thought contemptuously of him, and the masters under whom he +studied, had not a higher opinion of our poet's abilities, than their +pupils. His course of attendance upon the classes of philosophy being +finished, he was entered in the Divinity Hall, as one of the candidates +for the ministry, where the students, before they are permitted to enter +on their probation, must yield six years attendance. + +It was in the second year of Mr. Thomson's attendance upon this school +of divinity, whose professor at that time was the revd. and learned Mr. +William Hamilton, a person whom he always mentioned with respect, that +our author was appointed by the professor to write a discourse on the +Power of the Supreme Being. When his companions heard their task +assigned him, they could not but arraign the professor's judgment, for +assigning so copious a theme to a young man, from whom nothing equal to +the subject could be expected. But when Mr. Thomson delivered the +discourse, they had then reason to reproach themselves for want of +discernment, and for indulging a contempt of one superior to the +brightest genius amongst them. This discourse was so sublimely elevated, +that both the professor and the students who heard it delivered, were +astonished. It was written in blank verse, for which Mr. Hamilton +rebuked him, as being improper upon that occasion. Such of his +fellow-students as envied him the success of this discourse, and the +admiration it procured him, employed their industry to trace him as a +plagiary; for they could not be persuaded that a youth seemingly so much +removed from the appearance of genius, could compose a declamation, in +which learning, genius, and judgment had a very great share. Their +search, however, proved fruitless, and Mr. Thomson continued, while he +remained at the university, to possess the honour of that discourse, +without any diminution. + +We are not certain upon what account it was that Mr. Thomson dropt the +notion of going into the ministry; perhaps he imagined it a way of life +too severe for the freedom of his disposition: probably he declined +becoming a presbyterian minister, from a consciousness of his own +genius, which gave him a right to entertain more ambitious views; for it +seldom happens, that a man of great parts can be content with obscurity, +or the low income of sixty pounds a year, in some retired corner of a +neglected country; which must have been the lot of Thomson, if he had +not extended his views beyond the sphere of a minister of the +established church of Scotland. + +After he had dropt all thoughts of the clerical profession, he began to +be more sollicitous of distinguishing his genius, as he placed some +dependence upon it, and hoped to acquire such patronage as would enable +him to appear in life with advantage. But the part of the world where he +then was, could not be very auspicious to such hopes; for which reason +he began to turn his eyes towards the grand metropolis. + +The first poem of Mr. Thomson's, which procured him any reputation from +the public, was his Winter, of which mention is already made, and +further notice will be taken; but he had private approbation for several +of his pieces, long before his Winter was published, or before he +quitted his native country. He wrote a Paraphrase on the 104th Psalm, +which, after it had received the approbation of Mr. Rickerton, he +permitted his friends to copy. By some means or other this Paraphrase +fell into the hands of Mr. Auditor Benson, who, expressing his +admiration of it, said, that he doubted not if the author was in London, +but he would meet with encouragement equal to his merit. This +observation of Benson's was communicated to Thomson by a letter, and, no +doubt, had its natural influence in inflaming his heart, and hastening +his journey to the metropolis. He soon set out for Newcastle, where he +took shipping, and landed at Billinsgate. When he arrived, it was his +immediate care to wait on [2]Mr. Mallet, who then lived in +Hanover-Square in the character of tutor to his grace the duke of +Montrose, and his late brother lord G. Graham. Before Mr. Thomson +reached Hanover-Square, an accident happened to him, which, as it may +divert some of our readers, we shall here insert. He had received +letters of recommendation from a gentleman of rank in Scotland, to some +persons of distinction in London, which he had carefully tied up in his +pocket-handkerchief. As he sauntered along the streets, he could not +withhold his admiration of the magnitude, opulence, and various objects +this great metropolis continually presented to his view. These must +naturally have diverted the imagination of a man of less reflexion, and +it is not greatly to be wondered at, if Mr. Thomson's mind was so +ingrossed by these new presented scenes, as to be absent to the busy +crowds around him. He often stopped to gratify his curiosity, the +consequences of which he afterwards experienced. With an honest +simplicity of heart, unsuspecting, as unknowing of guilt, he was ten +times longer in reaching Hanover-Square, than one less sensible and +curious would have been. When he arrived, he found he had paid for his +curiosity; his pocket was picked of his handkerchief, and all the +letters that were wrapped up in it. This accident would have proved very +mortifying to a man less philosophical than Thomson; but he was of a +temper never to be agitated; he then smiled at it, and frequently made +his companions laugh at the relation. + +It is natural to suppose, that as soon as Mr. Thomson arrived in town, +he shewed to some of his friends his poem on Winter[3]. The approbation +it might meet with from them, was not, however, a sufficient +recommendation to introduce it to the world. He had the mortification of +offering it to several Booksellers without success, who, perhaps, not +being qualified themselves to judge of the merit of the performance, +refused to risque the necessary expences, on the work of an obscure +stranger, whose name could be no recommendation to it. These were severe +repulses; but, at last, the difficulty was surmounted. Mr. Mallet, +offered it to Mr. Millan, now Bookseller at Charing-Cross, who without +making any scruples, printed it. For some time Mr. Millan had reason to +believe, that he should be a loser by his frankness; for the impression +lay like as paper on his hands, few copies being sold, 'till by an +accident its merit was discovered.[4] One Mr. Whatley, a man of some +taste in letters, but perfectly enthusiastic in the admiration of any +thing which pleased him, happened to cast his eye upon it, and finding +something which delighted him, perused the whole, not without growing +astonishment, that the poem should be unknown, and the author obscure. +He learned from the Bookseller the circumstances already mentioned, and, +in the extasy of his admiration of this poem, he went from Coffee-house +to Coffee house, pointing out its beauties, and calling upon all men of +taste, to exert themselves in rescuing one of the greatest geniuses that +ever appeared, from obscurity. This had a very happy effect, for, in a +short time, the impression was bought up, and they who read the poem, +had no reason to complain of Mr. Whatley's exaggeration; for they found +it so compleatly beautiful, that they could not but think themselves +happy in doing justice to a man of so much merit. + +The poem of Winter is, perhaps, the most finished, as well as most +picturesque, of any of the Four Seasons. The scenes are grand and +lively. It is in that season that the creation appears in distress, and +nature assumes a melancholy air; and an imagination so poetical as +Thomson's, could not but furnish those awful and striking images, which +fill the soul with a solemn dread of _those Vapours, and Storms, and +Clouds_, he has so well painted. Description is the peculiar talent of +Thomson; we tremble at his thunder in summer, we shiver with his +winter's cold, and we rejoice at the renovation of nature, by the sweet +influence of spring. But the poem deserves a further illustration, and +we shall take an opportunity of pointing out some of its most striking +beauties; but before we speak of these, we beg leave to relate the +following anecdote. + +As soon as Winter was published, Mr. Thomson sent a copy of it as a +present to Mr. Joseph Mitchell, his countryman, and brother poet, who, +not liking many parts of it, inclosed to him the following couplet; + + Beauties and faults so thick lye scattered here, + Those I could read, if these were not so near. + +To this Mr. Thomson answered extempore. + + Why all not faults, injurious Mitchell; why + Appears one beauty to thy blasted eye; + Damnation worse than thine, if worse can be, + Is all I ask, and all I want from thee. + +Upon a friend's remonstrating to Mr. Thomson, that the expression of +blasted eye would look like a personal reflexion, as Mr. Mitchell had +really that misfortune, he changed the epithet blasted, into blasting. +But to return: + +After our poet has represented the influence of Winter upon the face of +nature, and particularly described the severities of the frost, he has +the following beautiful transition; + + --Our infant winter sinks, + Divested of its grandeur; should our eye + Astonish'd shoot into the frigid zone; + Where, for relentless months, continual night + Holds o'er the glitt'ring waste her starry reign: + There thro' the prison of unbounded wilds + Barr'd by the hand of nature from escape, + Wide roams the Russian exile. Nought around + Strikes his sad eye, but desarts lost in snow; + And heavy loaded groves; and solid floods, + That stretch athwart the solitary waste, + Their icy horrors to the frozen main; + And chearless towns far distant, never bless'd + Save when its annual course, the caravan + Bends to the golden coast of rich Cathay[5] + With news of human-kind. Yet there life glows; + Yet cherished there, beneath the shining waste, + The furry nations harbour: tipt with jet + Fair ermines, spotless as the snows they press; + Sables of glossy black; and dark embrown'd + Or beauteous, streak'd with many a mingled hue, + Thousands besides, the costly pride of courts. + +The description of a thaw is equally picturesque. The following lines +consequent upon it are excellent. + + --Those sullen seas + That wash th'ungenial pole, will rest no more + Beneath the shackles of the mighty North; + But rousing all their waves resistless heave.-- + And hark! the lengthen'd roar continuous runs + Athwart the rested deep: at once it bursts + And piles a thousand mountains to the clouds. + Ill fares the bark, with trembling wretches charg'd, + That tost amid the floating fragments, moors + Beneath the shelter of an icy isle, + While night o'erwhelms the sea, and horror looks + More horrible. Can human force endure + Th' assembled mischiefs that besiege 'em round! + Heart-gnawing hunger, fainting weariness, + The roar of winds and waves, the crush of ice, + Now ceasing, now renew'd with louder rage, + And in dire ecchoes bellowing round the main. + +As the induction of Mr. Thomson's Winter has been celebrated for its +sublimity, so the conclusion has likewise a claim to praise, for the +tenderness of the sentiments, and the pathetic force of the expression. + + 'Tis done!--Dread winter spreads her latest glooms, + And reigns tremendous o'er the conquer'd year. + How dead the vegetable kingdom lies! + How dumb the tuneful! horror wide extends + Her desolate domain. Behold, fond man! + See here thy pictur'd life; pass some few years, + Thy flow'ring spring, thy summer's ardent strength, + Thy sober autumn fading into age, + And page concluding winter comes at last, + And shuts the scene.-- + +He concludes the poem by enforcing a reliance on providence, which will +in proper compensate for all those seeming severities, with which good +men are often oppressed. + + --Ye good distrest! + Ye noble few! who here unbending stand + Beneath life's pressure, yet bear up awhile, + And what your bounded view which only saw + A little part, deemed evil, is no more: + The storms of Wintry time will quickly pass, + And one unbounded Spring encircle all. + +The poem of Winter meeting with such general applause, Mr. Thomson was +induced to write the other three seasons, which he finished with equal +success. His Autumn was next given to the public, and is the most +unfinished of the four; it is not however without its beauties, of which +many have considered the story of Lavinia, naturally and artfully +introduced, as the most affecting. The story is in itself moving and +tender. It is perhaps no diminution to the merit of this beautiful tale, +that the hint of it is taken from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. + +The author next published the Spring, the induction to which is very +poetical and beautiful. + + Come gentle Spring, etherial mildness come, + And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud, + While music wakes around, veil'd in a show'r + Of shadowing roses, on our plains descend. + +It is addressed to the countess of Hertford, with the following elegant +compliment, + + O Hertford! fitted, or to shine in courts + With unaffected grace, or walk the plains, + With innocence and meditation joined, + In soft assemblage; listen to the song, + Which thy own season paints; while nature all + Is blooming, and benevolent like thee.-- + +The descriptions in this poems are mild, like the season they paint; but +towards the end of it, the poet takes occasion to warn his countrymen +against indulging the wild and irregular passion of love. This +digression is one of the most affecting in the whole piece, and while he +paints the language of a lover's breast agitated with the pangs of +strong desire, and jealous transports, he at the same time dissuades the +ladies from being too credulous in the affairs of gallantry. He +represents the natural influence of spring, in giving a new glow to the +beauties of the fair creation, and firing their hearts with the passion +of love. + + The shining moisture swells into her eyes, + In brighter flow; her wishing bosom heaves, + With palpitations wild; kind tumults seize + Her veins; and all her yielding soul is love. + From the keen gaze her lover turns away, + Full of the dear extatic power, and sick + With sighing languishment. Ah then, ye fair! + Be greatly cautious of your sliding hearts: + Dare not th'infectious sigh; the pleading look, + Down-cast, and low, in meek submission drest, + But full of guile. Let not the fervent tongue, + Prompt to deceive, with adulation smooth, + Gain on your purpos'd will. Nor in the bower, + Where woodbines flaunt, and roses shed a couch, + While evening draws her crimson curtains round, + Trust your soft minutes with betraying man. + +Summer has many manly and striking beauties, of which the Hymn to the +Sun, is one of the sublimest and most masterly efforts of genius we have +ever seen.--There are some hints taken from Cowley's beautiful Hymn to +Light.--Mr. Thomson has subjoined a Hymn to the Seasons, which is not +inferior to the foregoing in poetical merit. + +The Four Seasons considered separately, each Season as a distinct poem +has been judged defective in point of plan. There appears no particular +design; the parts are not subservient to one another; nor is there any +dependance or connection throughout; but this perhaps is a fault almost +inseparable from a subject in itself so diversified, as not to admit of +such limitation. He has not indeed been guilty of any incongruity; the +scenes described in spring, are all peculiar to that season, and the +digressions, which make up a fourth part of the poem, flow naturally. He +has observed the same regard to the appearances of nature in the other +seasons; but then what he has described in the beginning of any of the +seasons, might as well be placed in the middle, and that in the middle, +as naturally towards the close. So that each season may rather be called +an assemblage of poetical ideas, than a poem, as it seems written +without a plan. + +Mr. Thomson's poetical diction in the Seasons is very peculiar to him: +His manner of writing is entirely his own: He has introduced a number of +compound words; converted substantives into verbs, and in short has +created a kind of new language for himself. His stile has been blamed +for its singularity and stiffness; but with submission to superior +judges, we cannot but be of opinion, that though this observation is +true, yet is it admirably fitted for description. The object he paints +stands full before the eye, we admire it in all its lustre, and who +would not rather enjoy a perfect inspection into a natural curiosity +through a microscope capable of discovering all the minute beauties, +though its exterior form should not be comely, than perceive an object +but faintly, through a microscope ill adapted for the purpose, however +its outside may be decorated. Thomson has a stiffness in his manner, but +then his manner is new; and there never yet arose a distinguished +genius, who had not an air peculiarly his own. 'Tis true indeed, the +tow'ring sublimity of Mr. Thomson's stile is ill adapted for the tender +passions, which will appear more fully when we consider him as a +dramatic writer, a sphere in which he is not so excellent as in other +species of poetry. + +The merit of these poems introduced our author to the acquaintance and +esteem of several persons, distinguished by their rank, or eminent for +their talents:--Among the latter Dr. Rundle, afterwards bishop of Derry, +was so pleased with the spirit of benevolence and piety, which breathes +throughout the Seasons, that he recommended him to the friendship of the +late lord chancellor Talbot, who committed to him the care of his eldest +son, then preparing to set out on his travels into France and Italy. + +With this young nobleman, Mr. Thomson performed (what is commonly +called) The Tour of Europe, and stay'd abroad about three years, where +no doubt he inriched his mind with the noble monuments of antiquity, and +the conversation of ingenious foreigners. 'Twas by comparing modern +Italy with the idea he had of the antient Romans, which furnished him +with the hint of writing his Liberty, in three parts. The first is +Antient and Modern Italy compared. The second Greece, and the third +Britain. The whole is addressed to the eldest son of lord Talbot, who +died in the year 1734, upon his travels. + +Amongst Mr. Thomson's poems, is one to the memory of Sir Isaac Newton, +of which we shall say no more than this, that if he had never wrote any +thing besides, he deserved to enjoy a distinguished reputation amongst +the poets. Speaking of the amazing genius of Newton, he says, + + Th'aerial flow of sound was known to him, + From whence it first in wavy circles breaks. + Nor could the darting beam of speed immense, + Escape his swift pursuit, and measuring eye. + Ev'n light itself, which every thing displays, + Shone undiscover'd, till his brighter mind + Untwisted all the shining robe of day; + And from the whitening undistinguished blaze, + Collecting every separated ray, + To the charm'd eye educ'd the gorgeous train + Of parent colours. First, the flaming red, + Sprung vivid forth, the tawny orange next, + And next refulgent yellow; by whose side + Fell the kind beams of all-refreshing green. + Then the pure blue, that swells autumnal skies, + AEtherial play'd; and then of sadder hue, + Emerg'd the deepen'd indico, as when + The heavy skirted evening droops with frost, + While the last gleamings of refracted light, + Died in the fainting violet away. + These when the clouds distil the rosy shower, + Shine out distinct along the watr'y bow; + While o'er our heads the dewy vision bends, + Delightful melting in the fields beneath. + Myriads of mingling dyes from these result, + And myriads still remain--Infinite source + Of beauty ever-flushing, ever new. + +About the year 1728 Mr. Thomson wrote a piece called Britannia, the +purport of which was to rouse the nation to arms, and excite in the +spirit of the people a generous disposition to revenge the injuries done +them by the Spaniards: This is far from being one of his best poems. + +Upon the death of his generous patron, lord chancellor Talbot, for whom +the nation joined with Mr. Thomson in the most sincere inward sorrow, he +wrote an elegiac poem, which does honour to the author, and to the +memory of that great man he meant to celebrate. He enjoyed, during lord +Talbot's life, a very profitable place, which that worthy patriot had +conferred upon him, in recompence of the care he had taken in forming +the mind of his son. Upon his death, his lordship's successor reserved +the place for Mr. Thomson, and always expected when he should wait upon +him, and by performing some formalities enter into the possession of it. +This, however, by an unaccountable indolence he neglected, and at last +the place, which he might have enjoyed with so little trouble, was +bestowed upon another. + +Amongst the latest of Mr. Thomson's productions is his Castle of +Indolence, a poem of so extraordinary merit, that perhaps we are not +extravagant, when we declare, that this single performance discovers +more genius and poetical judgment, than all his other works put +together. We cannot here complain of want of plan, for it is artfully +laid, naturally conducted, and the descriptions rise in a beautiful +succession: It is written in imitation of Spenser's stile; and the +obsolete words, with the simplicity of diction in some of the lines, +which borders on the ludicrous, have been thought necessary to make the +imitation more perfect. + +'The stile (says Mr. Thomson) of that admirable poet, as well as the +measure in which he wrote, are, as it were, appropriated by custom to +all allegorical poems written in our language; just as in French, the +stile of Marot, who lived under Francis the 1st, has been used in Tales +and familiar Epistles, by the politest writers of the age of Louis the +XIVth.' + +We shall not at present enquire how far Mr. Thomson is justifiable in +using the obsolete words of Spenser: As Sir Roger de Coverley observed +on another occasion, much may be said on both sides. One thing is +certain, Mr. Thomson's imitation is excellent, and he must have no +poetry in his imagination, who can read the picturesque descriptions in +his Castle of Indolence, without emotion. In his LXXXIst Stanza he has +the following picture of beauty: + + Here languid beauty kept her pale-fac'd court, + Bevies of dainty dames, of high degree, + From every quarter hither made resort; + Where, from gross mortal care, and bus'ness free, + They lay, pour'd out in ease and luxury: + Or should they a vain shew of work assume, + Alas! and well-a-day! what can it be? + To knot, to twist, to range the vernal bloom; + But far is cast the distaff, spinning-wheel and loom. + +He pursues the description in the subsequent Stanza. + + Their only labour was to kill the time; + And labour dire it is, and weary woe. + They fit, they loll, turn o'er some idle rhime; + Then rising sudden, to the glass they go, + Or saunter forth, with tott'ring steps and slow: + This soon too rude an exercise they find; + Strait on the couch their limbs again they throw, + Where hours on hours they sighing lie reclin'd, + And court the vapoury God soft breathing in the wind. + +In the two following Stanzas, the dropsy and hypochondria are +beautifully described. + + Of limbs enormous, but withal unsound, + Soft swoln and pale, here lay the Hydropsy: + Unwieldly man; with belly monstrous round, + For ever fed with watery supply; + For still he drank, and yet he still was dry. + And moping here did Hypochondria sit, + Mother of spleen, in robes of various die, + Who vexed was full oft with ugly fit; + And some her frantic deem'd, and some her deem'd a wit. + A lady proud she was, of antient blood, + Yet oft her fear, her pride made crouchen low: + She felt, or fancy'd in her fluttering mood, + All the diseases which the spitals know, + And sought all physic which the shops bestow; + And still new leaches, and new drugs would try, + Her humour ever wavering too and fro; + For sometimes she would laugh, and sometimes cry, + And sudden waxed wroth, and all she knew not why. + +The speech of Sir Industry in the second Canto, when he enumerates the +various blessings which flow from action, is surely one of the highest +instances of genius which can be produced in poetry. In the second +stanza, before he enters upon the subject, the poet complains of the +decay of patronage, and the general depravity of taste; and in the third +breaks out into the following exclamation, which is so perfectly +beautiful, that it would be the greatest mortification not to transcribe +it, + + I care not, fortune, what you me deny: + You cannot rob me of free nature's grace; + You cannot shut the windows of the sky, + Through which Aurora shews her bright'ning face; + You cannot bar my constant feet to trace + The woods and lawns, by living stream at eve: + Let health my nerves, and finer fibres brace, + And I their toys to the great children leave; + Of fancy, reason, virtue, nought can me bereave. + +Before we quit this poem, permit us, reader, to give you two more +stanzas from it: the first shews Mr. Thomson's opinion of Mr. Quin as an +actor; of their friendship we may say more hereafter. + +STANZA LXVII. + +Of the CASTLE of INDOLENCE. + + Here whilom ligg'd th'Aesopus[6] of the age; + But called by fame, in foul ypricked deep, + A noble pride restor'd him to the stage, + And rous'd him like a giant from his sleep. + Even from his slumbers we advantage reap: + With double force th'enliven'd scene he wakes, + Yet quits not nature's bounds. He knows to keep + Each due decorum: now the heart he shakes, + And now with well-urg'd sense th'enlighten'd judgment takes. + +The next stanza (wrote by a friend of the author's, as the note +mentions) is a friendly, though familiar, compliment; it gives us an +image of our bard himself, at once entertaining, striking, and just. + +STANZA LXVIII. + + A bard here dwelt, more fat than bard beseems, + Who void of envy, guile, and lust of gain, + On virtue still, and nature's pleasing themes, + Pour'd forth his unpremeditated strain: + The world forsaking with a calm disdain. + Here laugh'd he, careless in his easy seat; + Here quaff'd, encircl'd with the joyous train, + Oft moralizing sage: his ditty sweet + He loathed much to write, ne cared to repeat. + +We shall now consider Mr. Thomson as a dramatic writer. + +In the year 1730, about six years after he had been in London, he +brought a Tragedy upon the stage, called Sophonisba, built upon the +Carthaginian history of that princess, and upon which the famous +Nathaniel Lee has likewise written a Tragedy. This play met with a +favourable reception from the public. Mrs. Oldfield greatly +distinguished herself in the character of Sophonisba, which Mr. Thomson +acknowledges in his preface.--'I cannot conclude, says he, without +owning my obligations to those concerned in the representation. They +have indeed done me more than justice; Whatever was designed as amiable +and engageing in Masinessa shines out in Mr. Wilks's action. Mrs. +Oldfield, in the character of Sophonisba, has excelled what even in the +fondness of an author I could either wish or imagine. The grace, dignity +and happy variety of her action, have been universally applauded, and +are truly admirable.' + +Before we quit this play, we must not omit two anecdotes which happened +the first night of the representation. Mr. Thomson makes one of his +characters address Sophonisba in a line, which some critics reckoned the +false pathetic. + + O! Sophonisba, Sophonisba Oh! + +Upon which a smart from the pit cried out, + + Oh! Jamey Thomson, Jamey Thomson Oh! + +However ill-natured this critic might be in interrupting the action of +the play for sake of a joke; yet it is certain that the line ridiculed +does partake of the false pathetic, and should be a warning to tragic +poets to guard against the swelling stile; for by aiming at the sublime, +they are often betrayed into the bombast.--Mr. Thomson who could not but +feel all the emotions and sollicitudes of a young author the first night +of his play, wanted to place himself in some obscure part of the house, +in order to see the representation to the best advantage, without being +known as the poet.--He accordingly placed himself in the upper gallery; +but such was the power of nature in him, that he could not help +repeating the parts along with the players, and would sometimes whisper +to himself, 'now such a scene is to open,' by which he was soon +discovered to be the author, by some gentlemen who could not, on account +of the great crowd, be situated in any other part of the house. + +After an interval of four years, Mr. Thomson exhibited to the public his +second Tragedy called Agamemnon. Mr. Pope gave an instance of his great +affection to Mr. Thomson on this occasion: he wrote two letters in its +favour to the managers, and honoured the representation on the first +night with his presence. As he had not been for some time at a play, +this was considered as a very great instance of esteem. Mr. Thomson +submitted to have this play considerably shortened in the action, as +some parts were too long, other unnecessary, in which not the character +but the poet spoke; and though not brought on the stage till the month +of April, it continued to be acted with applause for several nights. + +Many have remark'd that his characters in his plays are more frequently +descriptive, than expressive, of the passions; but they all abound with +uncommon beauties, with fire, and depth of thought, with noble +sentiments and nervous writing. His speeches are often too long, +especially for an English audience; perhaps sometimes they are +unnaturally lengthened: and 'tis certainly a greater relief to the ear +to have the dialogue more broken; yet our attention is well rewarded, +and in no passages, perhaps, in his tragedies, more so, than in the +affecting account Melisander [7] gives of his being betrayed, and left +on the desolate island. + + --'Tis thus my friend. + Whilst sunk in unsuspecting sleep I lay, + Some midnight ruffians rush'd into my chamber, + Sent by Egisthus, who my presence deem'd + Obstructive (so I solve it) to his views, + Black views, I fear, as you perhaps may know, + Sudden they seiz'd, and muffled up in darkness, + Strait bore me to the sea, whose instant prey + I did conclude myself, when first around + The ship unmoor'd, I heard the chiding wave. + But these fel tools of cruel power, it seems, + Had orders in a desart isle to leave me; + There hopeless, helpless, comfortless, to prove + The utmost gall and bitterness of death. + Thus malice often overshoots itself, + And some unguarded accident betrays + The man of blood.--Next night--a dreary night! + Cast on the wildest of the Cyclad Isles, + Where never human foot had mark'd the shore, + These ruffians left me.--Yet believe me, Arcas, + Such is the rooted love we bear mankind, + All ruffians as they were, I never heard + A sound so dismal as their parting oars.-- + Then horrid silence follow'd, broke alone + By the low murmurs of the restless deep, + Mixt with the doubtful breeze that now and then + Sigh'd thro' the mournful woods. Beneath a shade + I sat me down, more heavily oppress'd, + More desolate at heart, than e'er I felt + Before. When, Philomela, o'er my head + Began to tune her melancholy strain, + As piteous of my woes, 'till, by degrees, + Composing sleep on wounded nature shed + A kind but short relief. At early morn, + Wak'd by the chant of birds, I look'd around + For usual objects: objects found I none, + Except before me stretch'd the toiling main, + And rocks and woods in savage view behind. + Wrapt for a moment in amaz'd confusion, + My thought turn'd giddy round; when all at once, + To memory full my dire condition rush'd-- + +In the year 1736 Mr. Thomson offered to the stage a Tragedy called +Edward and Eleonora, which was forbid to be acted, for some political +reason, which it is not in our power to guess. + +The play of Tancred and Sigismunda was acted in the year 1744; this +succeeded beyond any other of Thomson's plays, and is now in possesion +of the stage. The plot is borrowed from a story in the celebrated +romance of Gil Blas: The fable is very interesting, the characters are +few, but active; and the attention in this play is never suffered to +wander. The character of Seffredi has been justly censured as +inconsistent, forced, and unnatural. + +By the command of his royal highness the prince of Wales, Mr. Thomson, +in conjunction with Mr. Mallet, wrote the Masque of Alfred, which was +performed twice in his royal highness's gardens at Cliffden. Since Mr. +Thomson's death, this piece has been almost entirely new modelled by Mr. +Mallet, and brought on the stage in the year 1751, its success being +fresh in the memory of its frequent auditors, 'tis needless to say more +concerning it. + +Mr. Thomson's last Tragedy, called Coriolanus, was not acted till after +his death; the profits of it were given to his sisters in Scotland, one +of whom is married to a minister there, and the other to a man of low +circumstances in the city of Edinburgh. This play, which is certainly +the least excellent of any of Thomson's, was first offered to Mr. +Garrick, but he did not think proper to accept it. The prologue was +written by Sir George Lyttleton, and spoken by Mr. Quin, which had a +very happy effect upon the audience. Mr. Quin was the particular friend +of Thomson, and when he spoke the following lines, which are in +themselves very tender, all the endearments of a long acquaintance, rose +at once to his imagination, while the tears gushed from his eyes. + + He lov'd his friends (forgive this gushing tear: + Alas! I feel I am no actor here) + He lov'd his friends with such a warmth of heart, + So clear of int'rest, so devoid of art, + Such generous freedom, such unshaken real, + No words can speak it, but our tears may tell. + +The beautiful break in these lines had a fine effect in speaking. Mr. +Quin here excelled himself; he never appeared a greater actor than at +this instant, when he declared himself none: 'twas an exquisite stroke +to nature; art alone could hardly reach it. Pardon the digression, +reader, but, we feel a desire to say somewhat more on this head. The +poet and the actor were friends, it cannot then be quite foreign to the +purpose to proceed. A deep fetch'd sigh filled up the heart felt pause; +grief spread o'er all the countenance; the tear started to the eye, the +muscles fell, and, + + 'The whiteness of his cheek + Was apter than his tongue to speak his tale.' + + +They all expressed the tender feelings of a manly heart, becoming a +Thomson's friend. His pause, his recovery were masterly; and he +delivered the whole with an emphasis and pathos, worthy the excellent +lines he spoke; worthy the great poet and good man, whose merits they +painted, and whose loss they deplored. + +The epilogue too, which was spoken by Mrs. Woffington, with an exquisite +humour, greatly pleased. These circumstances, added to the consideration +of the author's being no more, procured this play a run of nine nights, +which without these assistances 'tis likely it could not have had; for, +without playing the critic, it is not a piece of equal merit to many +other of his works. It was his misfortune as a dramatist, that he never +knew when to have done; he makes every character speak while there is +any thing to be said; and during these long interviews, the action too +stands still, and the story languishes. His Tancred and Sigismunda may +be excepted from this general censure: But his characters are too little +distinguished; they seldom vary from one another in their manner of +speaking. In short, Thomson was born a descriptive poet; he only wrote +for the stage, from a motive too obvious to be mentioned, and too strong +to be refilled. He is indeed the eldest born of Spenser, and he has +often confessed that if he had any thing excellent in poetry, he owed it +to the inspiration he first received from reading the Fairy Queen, in +the very early part of his life. + +In August 1748 the world was deprived of this great ornament of poetry +and genius, by a violent fever, which carried him off in the 48th year +of his age. Before his death he was provided for by Sir George +Littleton, in the profitable place of comptroller of America, which he +lived not long to enjoy. Mr. Thomson was extremely beloved by his +acquaintance. He was of an open generous disposition; and was sometimes +tempted to an excessive indulgence of the social pleasures: A failing +too frequently inseparable from men of genius. His exterior appearance +was not very engaging, but he grew more and more agreeable, as he +entered into conversation: He had a grateful heart, ready to acknowledge +every favour he received, and he never forgot his old benefactors, +notwithstanding a long absence, new acquaintance, and additional +eminence; of which the following instance cannot be unacceptable to the +reader. + +Some time before Mr. Thomson's fatal illness, a gentleman enquired for +him at his house in Kew-Lane, near Richmond, where he then lived. This +gentleman had been his acquaintance when very young, and proved to be +Dr. Gustard, the son of a revd. minister in the city of Edinburgh. Mr. +Gustard had been Mr. Thomson's patron in the early part of his life, and +contributed from his own purse (Mr. Thomson's father not being in very +affluent circumstances) to enable him to prosecute his studies. The +visitor sent not in his name, but only intimated to the servant that an +old acquaintance desired to see Mr. Thomson. Mr. Thomson came forward to +receive him, and looking stedfastly at him (for they had not seen one +another for many years) said, Troth Sir, I cannot say I ken your +countenance well--Let me therefore crave your name. Which the gentleman +no sooner mentioned but the tears gushed from Mr. Thomson's eyes. He +could only reply, good God! are you the son of my dear friend, my old +benefactor; and then rushing to his arms, he tenderly embraced him; +rejoicing at so unexpected a meeting. + +It is a true observation, that whenever gratitude is absent from a +heart, it is generally capable of the most consummate baseness; and on +the other hand, where that generous virtue has a powerful prevalence in +the soul, the heart of such a man is fraught with all those other +endearing and tender qualities, which constitute goodness. Such was the +heart of this amiable poet, whose life was as inoffensive as his page +was moral: For of all our poets he is the farthest removed from whatever +has the appearance of indecency; and, as Sir George Lyttleton happily +expresses it, in the prologue to Mr. Thomson's Coriolanus, + + --His chaste muse employ'd her heav'n-taught lyre + None but the noblest passions to inspire, + Not one immoral, one corrupted thought, + One line, which dying he could wish to blot. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] + See winter comes to rule the varied year, + Sullen and sad, with all his rising train! + Vapours, and storms, and clouds; be these my theme; + These that exalt the soul to solemn thought, + And heav'nly musing; welcome kindred glooms. + Congenial horrors hail!--with frequent foot + Oft have I in my pleasing calm of life, + When nurs'd by careless solitude I liv'd, + Oft have I wander'd thro' your rough domain; + Trod the pure virgin snows; my self as pure; + Heard the winds blow, or the big torrents burst, + Or seen the deep fermenting tempest brew'd + In the red evening sky. Thus pass'd the time, + 'Till from the lucid chambers of the south + Look'd out the joyous spring, look'd out and smil'd. + +[2] Mr. Mallet was his quondam schoolfellow (but much his junior) they + contracted an early intimacy, which improved with their years, nor + was it ever once disturbed by any casual mistake, envy, or jealousy + on either side: a proof that two writers of merit may agree, in + spite of the common observation to the contrary. + +[3] The Winter was first wrote in detached pieces, or occasional + descriptions; it was by the advice of Mr. Mallet they were collected + and made into one connected piece. This was finished the first of + all the seasons, and was the first poem he published. By the farther + advice, and at the earnest request, of Mr. Mallet, he wrote the + other three seasons. + +[4] Though 'tis possible this piece might be offered to more Printers + who could read, than could taste, nor is it very surprizing, that an + unknown author might meet with a difficulty of this sort; since an + eager desire to peruse a new piece, with a fashionable name to it, + shall, in one day, occasion the sale of thousands of what may never + reach a second edition: while a work, that has only its intrinsic + merit to depend on, may lie long dormant in a Bookseller's shop, + 'till some person, eminent for taste, points out its worth to the + many, declares the bullion sterling, stamps its value with his name, + and makes it pass current with the world. Such was the fate of + Thomson at this juncture: Such heretofore was Milton's, whose works + were only found in the libraries of the curious, or judicious few, + 'till Addison's remarks spread a taste for them; and, at length, it + became even unfashionable not to have read them. + +[5] The old name of China. + +[6] Mr. Quin. + +[7] The mention of this name reminds me of an obligation I had to Mr. + Thomson; and, at once, an opportunity offers, of gratefully + acknowledging the favour, and doing myself justice. + + I had the pleasure of perusing the play of Agamemnon, before it was + introduced to the manager. Mr. Thomson was so thoroughly satisfied + (I might say more) with my reading of it; he said, he was confirmed + in his design of giving to me the part of Melisander. When I + expressed my sentiments of the favour, he told me, he thought it + none; that my old acquaintance Savage knew, he had not forgot my + taste in reading the poem of Winter some years before: he added, + that when (before this meeting) he had expressed his doubt, to which + of the actors he should give this part (as he had seen but few plays + since his return from abroad) Savage warmly urged, I was the fittest + person, and, with an oath affirmed, that Theo. Cibber would taste + it, feel it, and act it; perhaps he might extravagantly add, 'beyond + any one else.' 'Tis likely, Mr. Savage might be then more vehement + in this assertion, as some of his friends had been more used to see + me in a comic, than a serious light; and which was, indeed, more + frequently my choice. But to go on. When I read the play to the + manager, Mr. Quin, &c. (at which several gentlemen, intimate friends + of the author, were present) I was complimented by them all; Mr. + Quin particularly declared, he never heard a play done so much + justice to, in reading, through all its various parts, Mrs. Porter + also (who on this occasion was to appear in the character of + Clytemnestra) so much approved my entering into the taste, sense, + and spirit of the piece, that she was pleased to desire me to repeat + a reading of it, which, at her request, and that of other principal + performers, I often did; they all confessed their approbation, with + thanks. + + When this play was to come forward into rehearsal, Mr. Thomson told + me, another actor had been recommended to him for this part in + private, by the manager (who, by the way) our author, or any one + else, never esteemed as the best judge, of either play, or player. + But money may purchase, and interest procure, a patent, though they + cannot purchase taste, or parts, the person proposed was, possibly, + some favoured flatterer, the partner of his private pleasures, or + humble admirer of his table talk: These little monarchs have their + little courtiers. Mr. Thomson insisted on my keeping the part. He + said, 'Twas his opinion, none but myself, or Mr. Quin, could do it + any justice; and, as that excellent actor could not be spared from + the part of Agamemnon (in the performance of which character he + added to his reputation, though before justly rated as the first + actor of that time) he was peremptory for my appearing in it; I did + so, and acquitted myself to the satisfaction of the author and his + friends (men eminent in rank, in taste, and knowledge) and received + testimonies of approbation from the audience, by their attention and + applause. + + By this time the reader may be ready to cry out, 'to what purpose is + all this?' Have patience, sir. As I gained reputation in the + forementioned character, is there any crime in acknowledging my + obligation to Mr. Thomson? or, am I unpardonable, though I should + pride myself on his good opinion and friendship? may not gratitude, + as well as vanity, be concerned in this relation? but there is + another reason that may stand as an excuse, for my being led into + this long narrative; which, as it is only an annotation, not made + part of our author's life, the reader, at his option, may peruse, or + pass it over, without being interrupted in his attention to what + more immediately concerns Mr. Thomson. As what I have related is a + truth, which living men of worth can testify; and as it evidently + shows that Mr. Savage's opinion of me as an actor was, in this + latter part of his life, far from contemptible, of which, perhaps, + in his earlier days he had too lavishly spoke; I thought this no + improper (nor ill-timed) contradiction to a remark the writer of[7A] + Mr. Savage's Life has been pleased, in his Gaite de Coeur, to make, + which almost amounts to an unhandsome innuendo, that Mr. Savage, and + some of his friends, thought me no actor at all. + + I accidentally met with the book some years ago, and dipt into that + part where the author says, 'The preface (to Sir Thomas Overbury) + contains a very liberal encomium on the blooming excellences of Mr. + Theophilus Cibber, which Mr. Savage could not, in the latter part of + his life, see his friends about to read, without snatching the play + out of their hands.' As poor Savage was well remembered to have been + as inconsiderate, inconsistent, and inconstant a mortal as ever + existed, what he might have said carried but little weight; and, as + he would blow both hot and cold, nay, too frequently, to gratify the + company present, would sacrifice the absent, though his best friend, + I disregarded this invidious hint, 'till I was lately informed, a + person of distinction in the learned world, had condescended to + become the biographer of this unhappy man's unimportant life: as the + sanction of such a name might prove of prejudice to me, I have since + thought it worth my notice. + + The truth is, I met Savage one summer, in a condition too melancholy + for description. He was starving; I supported him, and my father + cloathed him, 'till his tragedy was brought on the stage, where it + met with success in the representation, tho' acted by the young part + of the company, in the summer season; whatever might be the merit of + his play, his necessities were too pressing to wait 'till winter for + its performance. When it was just going to be published (as I met + with uncommon encouragement in my young attempt in the part of + Somerset) he repeated to me a most extraordinary compliment, as he + might then think it, which, he said, he intended to make me in his + preface. Neither my youth (for I was then but 18) or vanity, was so + devoid of judgment, as to prevent my objecting to it. I told him, I + imagined this extravagancy would have so contrary an effect to his + intention, that what he kindly meant for praise, might be + misinterpreted, or render him liable to censure, and me to ridicule; + I insisted on his omitting it: contrary to his usual obstinacy, he + consented, and sent his orders to the Printer to leave it out; it + was too late; the sheets were all work'd off, and the play was + advertised to come out (as it did) the next day. T.C. + +[7A] _Published about the year_ 1743. + + + * * * * * + + +ALEXANDER POPE, Esq; + +This illustrious poet was born at London, in 1688, and was descended +from a good family of that name, in Oxfordshire, the head of which was +the earl of Downe, whose sole heiress married the earl of Lindsey. His +father, a man of primitive simplicity, and integrity of manners, was a +merchant of London, who upon the Revolution quitted trade, and converted +his effects into money, amounting to near 10,000 l. with which he +retired into the country; and died in 1717, at the age of 75. + +Our poet's mother, who lived to a very advanced age, being 93 years old +when she died, in 1733, 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; and the eldest following his fortunes, and +becoming a general officer in Spain, left her what estate remained after +sequestration, and forfeitures of her family. To these circumstances our +poet alludes in his epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, in which he mentions his +parents. + + Of gentle blood (part shed in honour's cause, + While yet in Britain, honour had applause) + Each parent sprang,--What fortune pray?--their own, + And better got than Bestia's from the throne. + Born to no pride, inheriting no strife, + Nor marrying discord in a noble wife; + Stranger to civil and religious rage, + The good man walked innoxious thro' his age: + No courts he saw; no suits would ever try; + Nor dar'd an oath, nor hazarded a lye: + Unlearn'd, he knew no schoolmen's subtle art, + No language, but the language of the heart: + By nature honest, by experience wise, + Healthy by temp'rance, and by exercise; + His life though long, to sickness past unknown, + His death was instant and without a groan. + +The education of our great author was attended with circumstances very +singular; and some of them extremely unfavourable; but the amazing force +of his genius fully compensated the want of any advantage in his +earliest instruction. He owed the knowledge of his letters to an aunt; +and having learned very early to read, took great delight in it, and +taught himself to write by copying after printed books, the characters +of which he could imitate to great perfection. He began to compose +verses, farther back than he could well remember; and at eight years of +age, when he was put under one Taverner a priest, who taught him the +rudiments of the Latin and Greek tongues at the same time, he met with +Ogilby's Homer, which gave him great delight; and this was encreased by +Sandys's Ovid: The raptures which these authors, even in the disguise of +such translations, then yielded him, were so strong, that he spoke of +them with pleasure ever after. From Mr. Taverner's tuition he was sent +to a private school at Twiford, near Winchester, where he continued +about a year, and was then removed to another near Hyde Park Corner; but +was so unfortunate as to lose under his two last masters, what he had +acquired under the first. + +While he remained at this school, being permitted to go to the +play-house, with some of his school fellows of a more advanced age, he +was so charmed with dramatic representations, that he formed the +translation of the Iliad into a play, from several of the speeches in +Ogilby's translation, connected with verses of his own; and the several +parts were performed by the upper boys of the school, except that of +Ajax by the master's gardener. At the age of 12 our young poet, went +with his father to reside at his house at Binfield, in Windsor forest, +where he was for a few months under the tuition of another priest, with +as little success as before; so that he resolved now to become his own +master, by reading those Classic Writers which gave him most +entertainment; and by this method, at fifteen he gained a ready habit in +the learned languages, to which he soon after added the French and +Italian. Upon his retreat to the forest, he became first acquainted with +the writings of Waller, Spenser and Dryden; in the last of which he +immediately found what he wanted; and the poems of that excellent writer +were never out of his hands; they became his model, and from them alone +he learned the whole magic of his versification. + +The first of our author's compositions now extant in print, is an Ode on +Solitude, written before he was twelve years old: Which, consider'd as +the production of so early an age, is a perfect master piece; nor need +he have been ashamed of it, had it been written in the meridian of his +genius. While it breathes the most delicate spirit of poetry, it at the +same time demonstrates his love of solitude, and the rational pleasures +which attend the retreats of a contented country life. + +Two years after this he translated the first Book of Statius' Thebais, +and wrote a copy of verses on Silence, in imitation of the Earl of +Rochester's poem on Nothing[1]. Thus we find him no sooner capable of +holding the pen, than he employed it in writing verses, + + "_He lisp'd [Transcriber's note: 'lips'd' in original] in Numbers, for + the Numbers came_." + +Though we have had frequent opportunity to observe, that poets have +given early displays of genius, yet we cannot recollect, that among the +inspired tribe, one can be found who at the age of twelve could produce +so animated an Ode; or at the age of fourteen translate from the Latin. +It has been reported indeed, concerning Mr. Dryden, that when he was at +Westminster-School, the master who had assigned a poetical task to some +of the boys, of writing a Paraphrase on our Saviour's Miracle, of +turning Water into Wine, was perfectly astonished when young Dryden +presented him with the following line, which he asserted was the best +comment could be written upon it. + + The conscious water saw its God, and blush'd. + +This was the only instance of an early appearance of genius in this +great man, for he was turn'd of 30 before he acquired any reputation; an +age in which Mr. Pope's was in its full distinction. + +The year following that in which Mr. Pope wrote his poem on Silence, he +began an Epic Poem, intitled Alcander, which he afterwards very +judiciously committed to the flames, as he did likewise a Comedy, and a +Tragedy; the latter taken from a story in the legend of St. Genevieve; +both of these being the product of those early days. But his Pastorals, +which were written in 1704, when he was only 16 years of age, were +esteemed by Sir William Trumbull, Mr. Granville, Mr. Wycherley, Mr. +Walsh and others of his friends, too valuable to be condemned to the +same fate. + +Mr. Pope's Pastorals are four, viz. + + Spring, address'd to Sir William Trumbull, + Summer, to Dr. Garth. + Autumn, to Mr. Wycherley. + Winter, in memory of Mrs. Tempest. + +The three great writers of Pastoral Dialogue, which Mr. Pope in some +measure seems to imitate, are Theocritus, Virgil, and Spenser. Mr. Pope +is of opinion, that Theocritus excells all others in nature and +simplicity. + +That Virgil, who copies Theocritus, refines on his original; and in all +points in which judgment has the principal part is much superior to his +master. + +That among the moderns, their success has been, greatest who have most +endeavoured to make these antients their pattern. The most considerable +genius appears in the famous Tasso, and our Spenser. Tasso in his Aminta +has far excelled all the pastoral writers, as in his Gierusalemme he has +outdone the Epic Poets of his own country. But as this piece seems to +have been the original of a new sort of poem, the Pastoral Comedy, in +Italy, it cannot so well be considered as a copy of the antients. +Spenser's Calendar, in Mr. Dryden's opinion, is the most compleat work +of this kind, which any nation has produced ever since the time of +Virgil. But this he said before Mr. Pope's Pastorals appeared. + +Mr. Walsh pronounces on our Shepherd's Boy (as Mr. Pope called himself) +the following judgment, in a letter to Mr. Wycherly. + +'The verses are very tender and easy. The author seems to have a +particular genius for that kind of poetry, and a judgment that much +exceeds the years, you told me he was of. It is no flattery at all to +say, that Virgil had written nothing so good at his age. I shall take it +as a favour if you will bring me acquainted with him; and if he will +give himself the trouble, any morning, to call at my house, I shall be +very glad to read the verses with him, and give him him my opinion of +the particulars more largely than I can well do in this letter.' + +Thus early was Mr. Pope introduced to the acquaintance of men of genius, +and so improved every advantage, that he made a more rapid progress +towards a consummation in fame, than any of our former English poets. +His Messiah; his Windsor-Forest, the first part of which was written at +the same time with his pastorals; his Essay on Criticism in 1709, and +his Rape of the Lock in 1712, established his poetical character in such +a manner, that he was called upon by the public voice, to enrich our +language with the translation of the Iliad; which he began at 25, and +executed in five years. This was published for his own benefit, by +subscription, the only kind of reward, which he received for his +writings, which do honour to our age and country: His religion rendering +him incapable of a place, which the lord treasurer Oxford used to +express his concern for, but without offering him a pension, as the earl +of Halifax, and Mr. Secretary Craggs afterwards did, though Mr. Pope +declined it. + +The reputation of Mr. Pope gaining every day upon the world, he was +caressed, flattered, and railed at; according as he was feared, or loved +by different persons. Mr. Wycherley was amongst the first authors of +established reputation, who contributed to advance his fame, and with +whom he for some time lived in the most unreserved intimacy. This poet, +in his old age, conceived a design of publishing his poems, and as he +was but a very imperfect master of numbers, he entrusted his manuscripts +to Mr. Pope, and submitted them to his correction. The freedom which our +young bard was under a necessity to use, in order to polish and refine +what was in the original, rough, unharmonious, and indelicate, proved +disgustful to the old gentleman, then near 70, who, perhaps, was a +little ashamed, that a boy at 16 should so severely correct his works. +Letters of dissatisfaction were written by Mr. Wycherley, and at last he +informed him, in few words, that he was going out of town, without +mentioning to what place, and did not expect to hear from him 'till he +came back. This cold indifference extorted from Mr. Pope a protestation, +that nothing should induce him ever to write to him again. +Notwithstanding this peevish behaviour of Mr. Wycherley, occasioned by +jealousy and infirmities, Mr. Pope preserved a constant respect and +reverence for him while he lived, and after his death lamented him. In a +letter to Edward Blount, esq; written immediately upon the death of this +poet, he has there related some anecdotes of Wycherly, which we shall +insert here, especially as they are not taken notice of in his life. + +'DEAR SIR, + +'I know of nothing that will be so interesting to you, at present, as +some circumstances of the last act of that eminent comic poet, and our +friend, Wycherley. He had often told me, as, I doubt not, he did all his +acquaintance, that he would marry, as soon as his life was despaired of: +accordingly, a few days before his death, he underwent the ceremony, and +joined together those two sacraments, which, wise men say, should be the +last we receive; for, if you observe, matrimony is placed after extreme +unction in our catechism, as a kind of hint of the order of time in +which they are to be taken. The old man then lay down, satisfied in the +conscience of having, by this one act, paid his just debts, obliged a +woman, who, he was told, had merit, and shewn a heroic resentment of +the ill usage of his next heir. Some hundred pounds which he had with +the lady, discharged those debts; a jointure of four hundred a year made +her a recompence; and the nephew he left to comfort himself, as well as +he could, with the miserable remains of a mortgaged estate. I saw our +friend twice after this was done, less peevish in his sickness, than he +used to be in his health, neither much afraid of dying, nor (which in +him had been more likely) much ashamed of marrying. The evening before +he expired, he called his young wife to the bed side, and earnestly +entreated her not to deny him one request, the last he should ever make. +Upon her assurance of consenting to it, he told her, my dear, it is only +this, that you will never marry an old man again. I cannot help +remarking, that sickness, which often destroys both wit and wisdom, yet +seldom has power to remove that talent we call humour. Mr. Wycherley +shewed this even in this last compliment, though, I think, his request a +little hard; for why should he bar her from doubling her jointure on the +same easy terms.' + +One of the most affecting and tender compositions of Mr. Pope, is, his +Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady, built on a true story. We +are informed in the Life of Pope, for which Curl obtained a patent, that +this young lady was a particular favourite of the poet, though it is not +ascertained whether he himself was the person from whom she was removed. +This young lady was of very high birth, possessed an opulent fortune, +and under the tutorage of an uncle, who gave her an education suitable +to her titles and pretensions. She was esteemed a match for the greatest +peer in the realm, but, in her early years, she suffered her heart to be +engaged by a young gentleman, and in consequence of this attachment, +rejected offers made to her by persons of quality, seconded by the +sollicitations of her uncle. Her guardian being surprized at this +behaviour, set spies upon her, to find out the real cause of her +indifference. Her correspondence with her lover was soon discovered, +and, when urged upon that topic, she had too much truth and honour to +deny it. The uncle finding, that she would make no efforts to disengage +her affection, after a little time forced her abroad, where she was +received with a ceremony due to her quality, but restricted from the +conversation of every one, but the spies of this severe guardian, so +that it was impossible for her lover even to have a letter delivered to +her hands. She languished in this place a considerable time, bore an +infinite deal of sickness, and was overwhelmed with the profoundest +sorrow. Nature being wearied out with continual distress, and being +driven at last to despair, the unfortunate lady, as Mr. Pope justly +calls her, put an end to her own life, having bribed a maid servant to +procure her a sword. She was found upon the ground weltering in her +blood. The severity of the laws of the place, where this fair +unfortunate perished, denied her Christian burial, and she was interred +without solemnity, or even any attendants to perform the last offices of +the dead, except some young people of the neighbourhood, who saw her put +into common ground, and strewed the grave with flowers. + +The poet in the elegy takes occasion to mingle with the tears of sorrow, +just reproaches upon her cruel uncle, who drove her to this violation. + + But thou, false guardian of a charge too good, + Thou base betrayer of a brother's blood! + See on those ruby lips the trembling breath, + Those cheeks now fading at the blast of death: + Lifeless the breast, which warm'd the world before, + And those love-darting eyes must roll no more. + +The conclusion of this elegy is irresistably affecting. + + So peaceful rests, without a stone, a name, + Which once had beauty, titles, wealth and fame, + How lov'd, how honoured once, avails thee not, + To whom related, or by whom begot; + A heap of dust alone remains of thee; + 'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be! + +No poem of our author's more deservedly obtained him reputation, than +his Essay on Criticism. Mr. Addison, in his Spectator, No. 253, has +celebrated it with such profuse terms of admiration, that it is really +astonishing, to find the same man endeavouring afterwards to diminish +that fame he had contributed to raise so high. + +The art of criticism (says he) which was published some months ago, is a +master-piece in its kind. The observations follow one another, like +those in Horace's Art of Poetry, without that methodical regularity, +which would have been requisite in a prose writer. They are some of them +uncommon, but such as the reader must assent to, when he sees them +explained with that elegance and perspicuity in which they are +delivered. As for those which are the most known, and the most received, +they are placed in so beautiful a light, and illustrated with such apt +allusions, that they have in them all the graces of novelty, and make +the reader, who was before acquainted with them, still more convinced of +their truth and solidity. And here give me leave to mention, what +Monsieur Boileau has so well enlarged upon, in the preface to his works; +that wit and fine writing do not consist so much in advancing things +that are new, as in giving things that are known an agreeable turn. It +is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make +observations in criticism, morality, or any art and science, which have +not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us, but to +represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or +more uncommon lights. If a reader examines Horace's Art of Poetry, he +will find but few precepts in it, which he may not meet with in +Aristotle, and which were not commonly known by all the poets of the +Augustan age. His way of expressing, and applying them, not his +invention of them, is what we are chiefly to admire.-- + +"Longinus, in his Reflexions, has given us the same kind of sublime, +which he observes in the several passages which occasioned them. I +cannot but take notice, that our English author has, after the same +manner, exemplified several of his precepts, in the very precepts +themselves." He then produces some instances of a particular kind of +beauty in the numbers, and concludes with saying, that "we have three +poems in our tongue of the same nature, and each a master-piece in its +kind: The Essay on Translated Verse, the Essay on the Art of Poetry, and +the Essay on Criticism." [Transcriber's note: Opening quotes missing in +original.] + +In the Lives of Addison and Tickell, we have thrown out some general +hints concerning the quarrel which subsisted between our poet and the +former of these gentlemen; here it will not be improper to give a more +particular account of it. + +The author of Mist's Journal positively asserts, 'that Mr. Addison +raised Pope from obscurity, obtained him the acquaintance and friendship +of the whole body of our nobility, and transferred his powerful +influence with those great men to this rising bard, who frequently +levied by that means, unusual contributions on the public.[Transcriber's +note: 'pubic' in original.] No sooner was his body lifeless, but this +author reviving his resentment, libelled the memory of his departed +friend, and what was still more heinous, made the scandal public.' + +When this charge of ingratitude and dishonour was published against Mr. +Pope, to acquit himself of it, he called upon any nobleman, whose +friendship, or any one gentleman, whose subscription Mr. Addison had +procured to our author, to stand forth, and declare it, that truth might +appear. But the whole libel was proved a malicious story, by many +persons of distinction, who, several years before Mr. Addison's decease, +approved those verses denominated a libel, but which were, 'tis said, a +friendly rebuke, sent privately in our author's own hand, to Mr. Addison +himself, and never made public, 'till by Curl in his Miscellanies, 12mo. +1727. The lines indeed are elegantly satirical, and, in the opinion of +many unprejudiced judges, who had opportunities of knowing the character +of Mr. Addison, are no ill representation of him. Speaking of the +poetical triflers of the times, who had declared against him, he makes a +sudden transition to Addison. + + Peace to all such! But were there one whose fires + True genius kindles, and fair fame inspires, + Blest with each talent, and each art to please, + And born to write, converse, and live with ease; + Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, + Bear, like the Turk, no rival near the throne, + View him with scornful, yet with jealous eyes, + And hate for arts, that caus'd himself to rise; + Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, + And, without sneering, others teach to sneer; + Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike, + Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike; + Alike reserv'd to blame or to commend, + A tim'rous foe, and a suspicious friend; + Dreading even fools; by flatt'rers besieg'd; + And so obliging, that he ne'er oblig'd. + Like Cato give his little senate laws, + [Transcriber's note: 'litttle' in original] + And sit attentive to his own applause; + While Wits and Templars ev'ry sentence raise, + And wonder with a foolish face of praise. + Who but must laugh, if such a man there be! + Who would not weep, if Atticus were he! + +Some readers may think these lines severe, but the treatment he received +from Mr. Addison, was more than sufficient to justify them, which will +appear when we particularize an interview between these two poetical +antagonists, procured by the warm sollicitations of Sir Richard Steele, +who was present at it, as well as Mr. Gay. + +Mr. Jervas being one day in company with Mr. Addison, the conversation +turned upon Mr. Pope, for whom Addison, at that time, expressed the +highest regard, and assured Mr. Jervas, that he would make use not only +of his interest, but of his art likewise, to do Mr. Pope service; he +then said, he did not mean his art of poetry, but his art at court, and +protested, notwithstanding many insinuations were spread, that it shall +not be his fault, if there was not the best understanding and +intelligence between them. He observed, that Dr. Swift might have +carried him too far among the enemy, during the animosity, but now all +was safe, and Mr. Pope, in his opinion, was escaped. When Mr. Jervas +communicated this conversation to Mr. Pope, he made this reply: 'The +friendly office you endeavour to do between Mr. Addison and me deserves +acknowledgments on my part. You thoroughly know my regard to his +character, and my readiness to testify it by all ways in my power; you +also thoroughly knew the meanness of that proceeding of Mr. Phillips, to +make a man I so highly value suspect my disposition towards him. But as, +after all, Mr. Addison must be judge in what regards himself, and as he +has seemed not to be a very just one to me, so I must own to you, I +expect nothing but civility from him, how much soever I wish for his +friendship; and as for any offers of real kindness or service which it +is in his power to do me, I should be ashamed to receive them from a +man, who has no better opinion of my morals, than to think me a party +man, nor of my temper, than to believe me capable of maligning, or +envying another's reputation as a poet. In a word, Mr. Addison is sure +of my respect at all times, and of my real friendship, whenever he shall +think fit to know me for what I am.' + +Some years after this conversation, at the desire of Sir Richard Steele, +they met. At first, a very cold civility, and nothing else appeared on +either side, for Mr. Addison had a natural reserve and gloom at the +beginning of an evening, which, by conversation and a glass, brightened +into an easy chearfulness. Sir Richard Steele, who was a most social +benevolent man, begged of him to fulfill his promise, in dropping all +animosity against Mr. Pope. Mr. Pope then desired to be made sensible +how he had offended; and observed, that the translation of Homer, if +that was the great crime, was undertaken at the request, and almost at +the command of Sir Richard Steele. He entreated Mr. Addison to speak +candidly and freely, though it might be with ever so much severity, +rather than by keeping up forms of complaisance, conceal any of his +faults. This Mr. Pope spoke in such a manner as plainly indicated he +thought Mr. Addison the aggressor, and expected him to condescend, and +own himself the cause of the breach between them. But he was +disappointed; for Mr. Addison, without appearing to be angry, was quite +overcome with it. He began with declaring, that he always had wished him +well, had often endeavoured to be his friend, and in that light advised +him, if his nature was capable of it, to divert himself of part of his +vanity, which was too great for his merit; that he had not arrived yet +to that pitch of excellence he might imagine, or think his most partial +readers imagined; that when he and Sir Richard Steele corrected his +verses, they had a different air; reminding Mr. Pope of the amendment +(by Sir Richard) of a line, in the poem called The MESSIAH. + + He wipes the tears for ever from our eyes. + +Which is taken from the prophet Isaiah, + + The Lord God will wipe all tears from off all faces. + + From every face he wipes off ev'ry tear. + +And it stands so altered in the newer editions of Mr. Pope's works. He +proceeded to lay before him all the mistakes and inaccuracies hinted at +by the writers, who had attacked Mr. Pope, and added many things, which +he himself objected to. Speaking of his translation in general, he said, +that he was not to be blamed for endeavouring to get so large a sum of +money, but that it was an ill-executed thing, and not equal to Tickell, +which had all the spirit of Homer. Mr. Addison concluded, in a low +hollow voice of feigned temper, that he was not sollicitous about his +own fame as a poet; that he had quitted the muses to enter into the +business of the public, and that all he spoke was through friendship to +Mr. Pope, whom he advised to have a less exalted sense of his own merit. + +Mr. Pope could not well bear such repeated reproaches, but boldly told +Mr. Addison, that he appealed from his judgment to the public, and that +he had long known him too well to expect any friendship from him; +upbraided him with being a pensioner from his youth, sacrificing the +very learning purchased by the public money, to a mean thirst of power; +that he was sent abroad to encourage literature, in place of which he +had always endeavoured to suppress merit. At last, the contest grew so +warm, that they parted without any ceremony, and Mr. Pope upon this +wrote the foregoing verses, which are esteemed too true a picture of Mr. +Addison. + +In this account, and, indeed, in all other accounts, which have been +given concerning this quarrel, it does not appear that Mr. Pope was the +aggressor. If Mr. Addison entertained suspicions of Mr. Pope's being +carried too far among the enemy, the danger was certainly Mr. Pope's, +and not Mr. Addison's. It was his misfortune, and not his crime. If Mr. +Addison should think himself capable of becoming a rival to Mr. Pope, +and, in consequence of this opinion, publish a translation of part of +Homer; at the same time with Mr. Pope's, and if the public should decide +in favour of the latter by reading his translation, and neglecting the +other, can any fault be imputed to Mr. Pope? could he be blamed for +exerting all his abilities in so arduous a province? and was it his +fault that Mr. Addison (for the first book of Homer was undoubtedly his) +could not translate to please the public? Besides, was it not somewhat +presumptuous to insinuate to Mr. Pope, that his verses bore another face +when he corrected them, while, at the same time, the translation of +Homer, which he had never seen in manuscript, bore away the palm from +that very translation, he himself asserted was done in the true spirit +of Homer? In matters of genius the public judgment seldom errs, and in +this case posterity has confirmed the sentence of that age, which gave +the preference to Mr. Pope; for his translation is in the hands of all +readers of taste, while the other is seldom regarded but as a soil to +Pope's. + +It would appear as if Mr. Addison were himself so immersed in party +business, as to contrast his benevolence to the limits of a faction: +Which was infinitely beneath the views of a philosopher, and the rules +which that excellent writer himself established. If this was the failing +of Mr. Addison, it was not the error of Pope, for he kept the strictest +correspondence with some persons, whose affections to the Whig-interest +were suspected, yet was his name never called in question. While he was +in favour with the duke of Buckingham, the lords Bolingbroke, Oxford, +and Harcourt, Dr. Swift, and Mr. Prior, he did not drop his +correspondence with the lord Hallifax, Mr. Craggs, and most of those who +were at the head of the Whig interest. A professed Jacobite one day +remonstrated to Mr. Pope, that the people of his party took it ill that +he should write with Mr. Steele upon ever so indifferent a subject; at +which he could not help smiling, and observed, that he hated narrowness +of soul in any party; and that if he renounced his reason in religious +matters, he should hardly do it on any other, and that he could pray not +only for opposite parties, but even for opposite religions. Mr. Pope +considered himself as a citizen of the world, and was therefore obliged +to pray for the prosperity of mankind in general. As a son of Britain he +wished those councils might be suffered by providence to prevail, which +were most for the interest of his native country: But as politics was +not his study, he could not always determine, at least, with any degree +of certainty, whose councils were best; and had charity enough to +believe, that contending parties might mean well. As taste and science +are confined to no country, so ought they not to be excluded from any +party, and Mr. Pope had an unexceptionable right to live upon terms of +the strictest friendship with every man of parts, to which party soever +he might belong. Mr. Pope's uprightness in his conduct towards +contending politicians, is demonstrated by his living independent of +either faction. He accepted no place, and had too high a spirit to +become a pensioner. + +Many effects however were made to proselyte him from the Popish faith, +which all proved ineffectual. His friends conceived hopes from the +moderation which he on all occasions expressed, that he was really a +Protestant in his heart, and that upon the death of his mother, he would +not scruple to declare his sentiments, notwithstanding the reproaches he +might incur from the Popish party, and the public observation it would +draw upon him. The bishop of Rochester strongly advised him to read the +controverted points between the Protestant and the Catholic church, to +suffer his unprejudiced reason to determine for him, and he made no +doubt, but a separation from the Romish communion would soon ensue. To +this Mr. Pope very candidly answered, 'Whether the change would be to my +spiritual advantage, God only knows: This I know, that I mean as well in +the religion I now profess, as ever I can do in any other. Can a man who +thinks so, justify a change, even if he thought both equally good? To +such an one, the part of joining with any one body of Christians might +perhaps be easy, but I think it would not be so to renounce the other. + +'Your lordship has formerly advised me to read the best controversies +between the churches. Shall I tell you a secret? I did so at 14 years +old (for I loved reading, and my father had no other books) there was a +collection of all that had been written on both sides, in the reign of +King James II. I warmed my head with them, and the consequence was, I +found myself a Papist, or a Protestant by turns, according to the last +book I read. I am afraid most seekers are in the same case, and when +they stop, they are not so properly converted, as outwitted. You see how +little glory you would gain by my conversion: and after all, I verily +believe, your lordship and I are both of the same religion, if we were +thoroughly understood by one another, and that all honest and reasonable +Christians would be so, if they did but talk enough together every day, +and had nothing to do together but to serve God, and live in peace with +their neighbours. + +"As to the temporal side of the question, I can have no dispute with +you; it is certain, all the beneficial circumstances of life, and all +the shining ones, lie on the part you would invite me to. But if I could +bring myself to fancy, what I think you do but fancy, that I have any +talents for active life, I want health for it; and besides it is a real +truth. I have, if possible, less inclination, than ability. +Contemplative life is not only my scene, but is my habit too. I begun my +life where most people end theirs, with all that the world calls +ambition. I don't know why it is called so, for, to me, it always seemed +to be stooping, or climbing. I'll tell you my politic and religious +sentiments in a few words. In my politics, I think no farther, than how +to preserve my peace of life, in any government under which I live; nor +in my religion, than to preserve the peace of my conscience, in any +church with which I communicate. I hope all churches, and all +governments are so far of God, as they are rightly understood, and +rightly administered; and where they are, or may be wrong, I leave it to +God alone to mend, or reform them, which, whenever he does, it must be +by greater instruments than I am. I am not a Papist, for I renounce the +temporal invasions of the papal power, and detest their arrogated +authority over Princes and States. I am a Catholic in the strictest +sense of the word. If I was born under an absolute Prince, I would be a +quiet subject; but, I thank God, I was not. I have a due sense of the +excellence of the British constitution. In a word, the things I have +always wished to see, are not a Roman Catholic, or a French Catholic, or +a Spanish Catholic, but a True Catholic; and not a King of Whigs, or +[Transcriber's note: repeated 'or' removed] a King of Tories, but a King +of England." + +These are the peaceful maxims upon which we find Mr. Pope conducted his +life, and if they cannot in some respects be justified, yet it must be +owned, that his religion and his politics were well enough adapted for a +poet, which entitled him to a kind of universal patronage, and to make +every good man his friend. + +Dean Swift sometimes wrote to Mr. Pope on the topic of changing his +religion, and once humorously offered him twenty pounds for that +purpose. Mr. Pope's answer to this, lord Orrery has obliged the world by +preserving in the life of Swift. It is a perfect master-piece of wit and +pleasantry. + +We have already taken notice, that Mr. Pope was called upon by the +public voice to translate the Iliad, which he performed with so much +applause, and at the same time, with so much profit to himself, that he +was envied by many writers, whose vanity perhaps induced them to believe +themselves equal to so great a design. A combination of inferior wits +were employed to write The Popiad, in which his translation is +characterized, as unjust to the original, without beauty of language, or +variety of numbers. Instead of the justness of the original, they say +there is absurdity and extravagance. Instead of the beautiful language +of the original, there is solecism and barbarous English. A candid +reader may easily discern from this furious introduction, that the +critics were actuated rather by malice than truth, and that they must +judge with their eyes shut, who can see no beauty of language, no +harmony of numbers in this translation. + +But the most formidable critic against Mr. Pope in this great +undertaking, was the celebrated Madam Dacier, whom Mr. Pope treated with +less ceremony in his Notes on the Iliad, than, in the opinion of some +people, was due to her sex. This learned lady was not without a sense of +the injury, and took an opportunity of discovering her resentment. + +"Upon finishing (says she) the second edition of my translation of +Homer, a particular friend sent me a translation of part of Mr. Pope's +preface to his Version of the Iliad. As I do not understand English, I +cannot form any judgment of his performance, though I have heard much of +it. I am indeed willing to believe, that the praises it has met with are +not unmerited, because whatever work is approved by the English nation, +cannot be bad; but yet I hope I may be permitted to judge of that part +of the preface, which has been transmitted to me, and I here take the +liberty of giving my sentiments concerning it. I must freely acknowledge +that Mr. Pope's invention is very lively, though he seems to have been +guilty of the same fault into which he owns we are often precipitated by +our invention, when we depend too much upon the strength of it; as +magnanimity (says he) may run up to confusion and extravagance, so may +great invention to redundancy and wildness. + +"This has been the very case of Mr. Pope himself; nothing is more +overstrained, or more false than the images in which his fancy has +represented Homer; sometimes he tells us, that the Iliad is a wild +paradise, where, if we cannot see all the beauties, as in an ordered +garden, it is only because the number of them is infinitely greater. +Sometimes he compares him to a copious nursery, which contains the seeds +and first productions of every kind; and, lastly, he represents him +under the notion of a mighty tree, which rises from the most vigorous +seed, is improved with industry, flourishes and produces the finest +fruit, but bears too many branches, which might be lopped into form, to +give it a more regular appearance. + +"What! is Homer's poem then, according to Mr. Pope, a confused heap of +beauties, without order or symmetry, and a plot whereon nothing but +seeds, nor nothing perfect or formed is to be found; and a production +loaded with many unprofitable things which ought to be retrenched, and +which choak and disfigure those which deserve to be preserved? Mr. Pope +will pardon me if I here oppose those comparisons, which to me appear +very false, and entirely contrary to what the greatest of ancient, and +modern critics ever thought. + +"The Iliad is so far from being a wild paradise, that it is the most +regular garden, and laid out with more symmetry than any ever was. Every +thing herein is not only in the place it ought to have been, but every +thing is fitted for the place it hath. He presents you at first with +that which ought to be first seen; he places in the middle what ought to +be in the middle, and what would be improperly placed at the beginning +or end, and he removes what ought to be at a greater distance, to create +the more agreeable surprize; and, to use a comparison drawn from +painting, he places that in the greatest light which cannot be too +visible, and sinks in the obscurity of the shade, what does not require +a full view; so that it may be said, that Homer is the Painter who best +knew how to employ the shades and lights. The second comparison is +equally unjust; how could Mr. Pope say, 'that one can only discover +seeds, and the first productions of every kind in the Iliad?' every +beauty is there to such an amazing perfection, that the following ages +could add nothing to those of any kind; and the ancients have always +proposed Homer, as the most perfect model in every kind of poetry. + +"The third comparison is composed of the errors of the two former; Homer +had certainly an incomparable fertility of invention, but his fertility +is always checked by that just sense, which made him reject every +superfluous thing which his vast imagination could offer, and to retain +only what was necessary and useful. Judgment guided the hand of this +admirable gardener, and was the pruning hook he employed to lop off +every useless branch." + +Thus far Madam Dacier differs in her opinion from Mr. Pope concerning +Homer; but these remarks which we have just quoted, partake not at all +of the nature of criticism; they are meer assertion. Pope had declared +Homer to abound with irregular beauties. Dacier has contradicted him, +and asserted, that all his beauties are regular, but no reason is +assigned by either of these mighty geniuses in support of their +opinions, and the reader is left in the dark, as to the real truth. If +he is to be guided by the authority of a name only, no doubt the +argument will preponderate in favour of our countryman. The French lady +then proceeds to answer some observations, which Mr. Pope made upon her +Remarks on the Iliad, which she performs with a warmth that generally +attends writers of her sex. Mr. Pope, however, paid more regard to this +fair antagonist, than any other critic upon his works. He confessed that +he had received great helps from her, and only thought she had (through +a prodigious, and almost superstitious, fondness for Homer) endeavoured +to make him appear without any fault, or weakness, and stamp a +perfection on his works, which is no where to be found. He wrote her a +very obliging letter, in which he confessed himself exceedingly sorry +that he ever should have displeased so excellent a wit, and she, on the +other hand, with a goodness and frankness peculiar to her, protested to +forgive it, so that there remained no animosities between those two +great admirers and translators of Homer. + +Mr. Pope, by his successful translation of the Iliad, as we have before +remarked, drew upon him the envy and raillery of a whole tribe of +writers. Though he did not esteem any particular man amongst his enemies +of consequence enough to provoke an answer, yet when they were +considered collectively, they offered excellent materials for a general +satire. This satire he planned and executed with so extraordinary a +mastery, that it is by far the most compleat poem of our author's; it +discovers more invention, and a higher effort of genius, than any other +production of his. The hint was taken from Mr. Dryden's Mac Flecknoe, +but as it is more general, so it is more pleasing. The Dunciad is so +universally read, that we reckon it superfluous to give any further +account of it here; and it would be an unpleasing task to trace all the +provocations and resentments, which were mutually discovered upon this +occasion. Mr. Pope was of opinion, that next to praising good writers, +there was a merit in exposing bad ones, though it does not hold +infallibly true, that each person stigmatized as a dunce, was genuinely +so. Something must be allowed to personal resentment; Mr. Pope was a man +of keen passions; he felt an injury strongly, retained a long +remembrance of it, and could very pungently repay it. Some of the +gentlemen, however, who had been more severely lashed than the rest, +meditated a revenge, which redounds but little to their honour. They +either intended to chastize him corporally, or gave it out that they had +really done so, in order to bring shame upon Mr. Pope, which, if true, +could only bring shame upon themselves. + +While Mr. Pope enjoyed any leisure from severer applications to study, +his friends were continually solliciting him to turn his thoughts +towards something that might be of lasting use to the world, and engage +no more in a war with dunces who were now effectually humbled. Our great +dramatic poet Shakespear had pass'd through several hands, some of whom +were very reasonably judged not to have understood any part of him +tolerably, much less were capable to correct or revise him. + +The friends of Mr. Pope therefore strongly importuned him, to undertake +the whole of Shakespear's plays, and, if possible, by comparing all the +different copies now to be procured, restore him to his ancient purity. +To which our poet made this modest reply, that not having attempted any +thing in the Drama, it might in him be deemed too much presumption. To +which he was answered, that this did not require great knowledge of the +foundation and disposition of the drama, as that must stand as it was, +and Shakespear [Transcriber's note: 'Skakespear' in original] himself +had not always paid strict regard to the rules of it; but this was to +clear the scenes from the rubbish with which ignorant editors had filled +them. + +His proper business in this work was to render the text so clear as to +be generally understood, to free it from obscurities, and sometimes +gross absurdities, which now seem to appear in it, and to explain +doubtful and difficult passages of which there are great numbers. This +however was an arduous province, and how Mr. Pope has acquitted himself +in it has been differently determined: It is certain he never valued +himself upon that performance, nor was it a task in the least adapted to +his genius; for it seldom happens that a man of lively parts can undergo +the servile drudgery of collecting passages, in which more industry and +labour are necessary than persons of quick penetration generally have to +bestow. + +It has been the opinion of some critics, that Mr. Pope's talents were +not adapted for the drama, otherwise we cannot well account for his +neglecting the most gainful way of writing which poetry affords, +especially as his reputation was so high, that without much ceremony or +mortification, he might have had any piece of his brought upon the +stage. Mr. Pope was attentive to his own interest, and if he had not +either been conscious of his inability in that province, or too timid to +wish the popular approbation, he would certainly have attempted the +drama. Neither was he esteemed a very competent judge of what plays were +proper or improper for representation. He wrote several letters to the +manager of Drury-Lane Theatre, in favour of Thomson's Agamemnon, which +notwithstanding his approbation, Thomson's friends were obliged to +mutulate and shorten; and after all it proved a heavy play.--Though it +was generally allowed to have been one of the best acted plays that had +appeared for some years. + +He was certainly concerned in the Comedy, which was published in Mr. +Gay's name, called Three Hours after Marriage, as well as Dr. Arbuthnot. +This illustrious triumvirate, though men of the most various parts, and +extensive understanding, yet were not able it seems to please the +people, tho' the principal parts were supported by the best actors in +that way on the stage. Dr. Arbuthnot and Mr. Pope were no doubt +solicitous to conceal their concern in it; but by a letter which Gay +wrote to Pope, published in Ayre's Memoirs, it appears evident (if +Ayre's authority may be depended on) that they, both assisted in the +composition. + +DEAR POPE, + +'Too late I see, and confess myself mistaken in relation to the Comedy; +yet I do not think, had I followed your advice, and only introduced the +mummy, that the absence of the crocodile had saved it. I can't help +laughing myself (though the vulgar do not consider it was designed to +look ridiculous) to think how the poor monster and mummy were dashed at +their reception, and when the cry was loudest, I thought that if the +thing had been written by another, I should have deemed the town in some +measure mistaken; and as to your apprehension that this may do us future +injury, do not think of it; the Dr. has a more valuable name than can be +hurt by any thing of this nature; and your's is doubly safe. I will, if +any shame there be, take it all to myself, and indeed I ought, the +motion being first mine, and never heartily approved by you.' + +Of all our poet's writings none were read with more general approbation +than his Ethic Epistles, or multiplied into more editions. Mr. Pope who +was a perfect oeconomist, secured to himself the profits arising from +his own works; he was never subjected to necessity, and therefore was +not to be imposed upon by the art or fraud of publishers. + +But now approaches the period in which as he himself expressed it, he +stood in need of the generous tear he paid, + + Posts themselves must fall like those they sung, + Deaf the prais'd ear, and mute the tuneful tongue. + Ev'n he whose soul now melts in mournful lays, + Shall shortly want the generous tear he pays. + +Mr. Pope who had been always subjected to a variety of bodily +infirmities, finding his strength give way, began to think that his +days, which had been prolonged past his expectation, were drawing +towards a conclusion. However, he visited the Hot-Wells at Bristol, +where for some time there were small hopes of his recovery; but making +too free with purges he grew worse, and seemed desirous to draw nearer +home. A dropsy in the breast at last put a period to his life, at the +age of 56, on the 30th of May 1744, at his house at Twickenham, where he +was interred in the same grave with his father and mother. + +Mr. Pope's behaviour in his last illness has been variously represented +to the world: Some have affirmed that it was timid and peevish; that +having been fixed in no particular system of faith, his mind was +wavering, and his temper broken and disturb'd. Others have asserted that +he was all chearfulness and resignation to the divine will: Which of +these opinions is true we cannot now determine; but if the former, it +must be regretted, that he, who had taught philosophy to others, should +himself be destitute of its assistance in the most critical moments of +his life. + +The bulk of his fortune he bequeath'd to Mrs. Blount, with whom he lived +in the strictest friendship, and for whom he is said to have entertained +the warmest affection. His works, which are in the hands of every person +of true taste, and will last as long as our language will be understood, +render unnecessary all further remarks on his writings. He was equally +admired for the dignity and sublimity of his moral and philosophical +works, the vivacity of his satirical, the clearness and propriety of his +didactic, the richness and variety of his descriptive, and the elegance +of all, added to an harmony of versification and correctness of +sentiment and language, unknown to our former poets, and of which he has +set an example which will be an example or a reproach to his successors. +His prose-stile is as perfect in its kind as his poetic, and has all the +beauties proper for it, joined to an uncommon force and perspicuity. + +Under the profession of the Roman-Catholic religion, to which he adhered +to the last, he maintained all the moderation and charity becoming the +most thorough and confident Protestant. His conversation was natural, +easy and agreeable, without any affectation of displaying his wit, or +obtruding his own judgment, even upon subjects of which he was so +eminently a master. + +The moral character of our author, as it did not escape the lash of his +calumniators in his life; so have there been attempts since his death to +diminish his reputation. Lord Bolingbroke, whom Mr. Pope esteemed to +almost an enthusiastic degree of admiration, was the first to make this +attack. Not many years ago, the public were entertained with this +controversy immediately upon the publication of his lordship's Letters +on the Spirit of Patriotism, and the Idea of a Patriot King. Different +opinions have been offered, some to extenuate the fault of Mr. Pope, for +printing and mutilating these letters, without his lordship's knowledge; +others to blame him for it as the highest breach of friendship, and the +greatest mark of dishonour. It would exceed our proposed bounds to enter +into the merits of this controversy; the reader, no doubt, will find it +amply discussed in that account of the life of this great author, which +Mr. Warburton has promised the public. + +This great man is allowed to have been one of the first rank amongst the +poets of our nation, and to acknowledge the superiority of none but +Shakespear, Milton, and Dryden. With the two former, it is unnatural to +compare him, as their province in writing is so very different. Pope has +never attempted the drama, nor published an Epic Poem, in which these +two distinguished genius's have so wonderfully succeeded. Though Pope's +genius was great, it was yet of so different a cast from Shakespear's, +and Milton's, that no comparison can be justly formed. But if this may +be said of the former two, it will by no means hold with respect to the +later, for between him and Dryden, there is a great similarity of +writing, and a very striking coincidence of genius. It will not perhaps +be unpleasing to our readers, if we pursue this comparison, and +endeavour to discover to whom the superiority is justly to be +attributed, and to which of them poetry owes the highest obligations. + +When Dryden came into the world, he found poetry in a very imperfect +state; its numbers were unpolished; its cadences rough, and there was +nothing of harmony or mellifluence to give it a graceful of flow. In +this harsh, unmusical situation, Dryden found it (for the refinements of +Waller were but puerile and unsubstantial) he polished the rough +diamond, he taught it to shine, and connected beauty, elegance, and +strength, in all his poetical compositions. Though Dryden thus polished +our English numbers, and thus harmonized versification, it cannot be +said, that he carried his art to perfection. Much was yet left undone; +his lines with all their smoothness were often rambling, and expletives +were frequently introduced to compleat his measures. It was apparent +therefore that an additional harmony might still be given to our +numbers, and that cadences were yet capable of a more musical +modulation. To effect this purpose Mr. Pope arose, who with an ear +elegantly delicate, and the advantage of the finest genius, so +harmonized the English numbers, as to make them compleatly musical. His +numbers are likewise so minutely correct, that it would be difficult to +conceive how any of his lines can be altered to to advantage. He has +created a kind of mechanical versification; every line is alike; and +though they are sweetly musical, they want diversity, for he has not +studied so great a variety of pauses, and where the accents may be laid +gracefully. The structure of his verse is the best, and a line of his is +more musical than any other line can be made, by placing the accents +elsewhere; but we are not quite certain, whether the ear is not apt to +be soon cloy'd with this uniformity of elegance, this sameness of +harmony. It must be acknowledged however, that he has much improved upon +Dryden in the article of versification, and in that part of poetry is +greatly his superior. But though this must be acknowledged, perhaps it +will not necessarily follow that his genius was therefore superior. + +The grand characteristic of a poet is his invention, the surest +distinction of a great genius. In Mr. Pope, nothing is so truly original +as his Rape of the Lock, nor discovers so much invention. In this kind +of mock-heroic, he is without a rival in our language, for Dryden has +written nothing of the kind. His other work which discovers invention, +fine designing, and admirable execution, is his Dunciad; which, tho' +built on Dryden's Mac Flecknoe, is yet so much superior, that in satiric +writing, the Palm must justly be yielded to him. In Mr. Dryden's Absalom +and Achitophel, there are indeed the most poignant strokes of satire, +and characters drawn with the most masterly touches; but this poem with +all its excellencies is much inferior to the Dunciad, though Dryden had +advantages which Mr. Pope had not; for Dryden's characters are men of +great eminence and figure in the state, while Pope has to expose men of +obscure birth and unimportant lives only distinguished from the herd of +mankind, by a glimmering of genius, which rendered the greatest part of +them more emphatically contemptible. Pope's was the hardest task, and he +has executed it with the greatest success. As Mr. Dryden must +undoubtedly have yielded to Pope in satyric writing, it is incumbent on +the partizans of Dryden to name another species of composition, in which +the former excells so as to throw the ballance again upon the side of +Dryden. This species is the Lyric, in which the warmest votaries of Pope +must certainly acknowledge, that he is much inferior; as an irrefutable +proof of this we need only compare Mr. Dryden's Ode on St. Cecilia's +Day, with Mr. Pope's; in which the disparity is so apparent, that we +know not if the most finished of Pope's compositions has discovered such +a variety and command of numbers. + +It hath been generally acknowledged, that the Lyric is a more excellent +kind of writing than the Satiric; and consequently he who excells in the +most excellent species, must undoubtedly be esteemed the greatest poet. +--Mr. Pope has very happily succeeded in many of his occasional pieces, +such as Eloisa to Abelard, his Elegy on an unfortunate young Lady, and a +variety of other performances deservedly celebrated. To these may be +opposed Mr. Dryden's Fables, which though written in a very advanced +age, are yet the most perfect of his works. In these Fables there is +perhaps a greater variety than in Pope's occasional pieces: Many of them +indeed are translations, but such as are original shew a great extent of +invention, and a large compass of genius. + +There are not in Pope's works such poignant discoveries of wit, or such +a general knowledge of the humours and characters of men, as in the +Prologues and Epilogues of Dryden, which are the best records of the +whims and capricious oddities of the times in which they are written. + +When these two great genius's are considered in the light of +translators, it will indeed be difficult to determine into whose scale +the ballance should be thrown: That Mr. Pope had a more arduous province +in doing justice to Homer, than Dryden with regard to Virgil is +certainly true; as Homer is a more various and diffuse poet than Virgil; +and it is likewise true, that Pope has even exceeded Dryden in the +execution, and none will deny, that Pope's Homer's Iliad, is a finer +poem than Dryden's Aeneis of Virgil: Making a proper allowance for the +disproportion of the original authors. But then a candid critic should +reflect, that as Dryden was prior in the great attempt of rendering +Virgil into English, so did he perform the task under many +disadvantages, which Pope, by a happier situation in life, was enabled +to avoid; and could not but improve upon Dryden's errors, though the +authors translated were not the same: And it is much to be doubted, if +Dryden were to translate the Aeneid now, with that attention which the +correctness of the present age would force upon him, whether the +preference would be due to Pope's Homer. + +But supposing it to be yielded (as it certainly must) that the latter +bard was the greatest translator; we are now to throw into Mr. Dryden's +scale all his dramatic works; which though not the most excellent of his +writings, yet as nothing of Mr. Pope's can be opposed to them, they have +an undoubted right to turn the ballance greatly in favour of Mr. +Dryden.--When the two poets are considered as critics, the comparison +will very imperfectly hold. Dryden's Dedications and Prefaces, besides +that they are more numerous, and are the best models for courtly +panegyric, shew that he understood poetry as an art, beyond any man that +ever lived. And he explained this art so well, that he taught his +antagonists to turn the tables against himself; for he so illuminated +the mind by his clear and perspicuous reasoning, that dullness itself +became capable of discerning; and when at any time his performances fell +short of his own ideas of excellence; his enemies tried him by rules of +his own establishing; and though they owed to him the ability of +judging, they seldom had candour enough to spare him. + +Perhaps it may be true that Pope's works are read with more appetite, as +there is a greater evenness and correctness in them; but in perusing the +works of Dryden the mind will take a wider range, and be more fraught +with poetical ideas: We admire Dryden as the greater genius, and Pope as +the most pleasing versifier. + +ERRATA in the foregoing life, viz. + +P. 237. l. 27. for with all that the world calls ambition, read with _a +disgust of_ all, &c. And l. 29. for 'stooping or climbing' read, +_rather_ stooping _than_ climbing. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] See a Note in Warburton's Edition of Pope's Works. + + + * * * * * + + +AARON HILL, Esq;[1] + +Was the son of George Hill, esq; of Malmsbury-Abbey in Wiltshire; a +gentleman possessed of an estate of about 2000 l. a year, which was +entailed upon him, and the eldest son, and to his heirs for many +descents. But the unhappy misconduct of Mr. George Hill, and the +weakness of the trustees, entangled it in such a manner as hitherto has +rendered it of no advantage to his family; for, without any legal title +so to do, he sold it all, at different times, for sums greatly beneath +the value of it, and left his children to their mother's care, and her +mother's (Mrs. Ann Gregory) who took great pains with her grandson's +education. At nine years old she put him to school to Mr. Rayner at +Barnstable in Devonshire, from whence, he went to Westminster school; +where soon (under the care of Dr. Knipe) his genius shewed itself in a +distinguished light, and often made him some amends for his hard +fortune, which denied him such supplies of pocket-money as his spirit +wished, by enabling him to perform the tasks of many who had not his +capacity. + +Mr. Aaron Hill, was born in Beaufort-Buildings in the Strand, on +February 10, 1684-5. At fourteen years of age he left Westminster +school; and, shortly after, hearing his grandmother make mention of a +relation much esteemed (lord Paget, then ambassador at Constantinople) +he formed a resolution of paying him a visit there, being likewise very +desirous to see that empire. + +His grandmother being a woman of uncommon understanding, and great +good-nature, would not oppose him in it; and accordingly he soon +embark'd on board a ship, then going there, March 2, 1700, as appears by +a Journal which he kept during his voyage, and in his travels (though at +so weak an age) wherein he gave the most accurate account of every +particular, in a manner much above his years. + +When he arrived, lord Paget received him with as much surprize, as +pleasure, wondering that so young a person as he was (but then in his +fifteenth year) should chuse to run the hazard of such a voyage to visit +a relation, whom he knew but by character. The ambassador immediately +provided for him a very learned ecclesiastic in his own house, and, +under his tuition, sent him to travel, being desirous to improve, as far +as possible, the education of a person he found worthy of it. With this +tutor he had the opportunity of seeing Egypt, Palestine, and a great +part of the Eastern country. + +With lord Paget he returned home, about the year 1703, through great +part of Europe; in which tour he saw most of the courts. + +He was in great esteem with that nobleman; insomuch, that in all +probability he had been still more distinguished by him at his death, +than in his life time, had not the envious fears and malice of a certain +female, who was in high authority and favour with that lord, prevented +and supplanted his kind disposition towards him: My lord took great +pleasure in instructing him himself, wrote him whole books in different +languages, on which his student placed the greatest value; which was no +sooner taken notice of by jealous observation, than they were stolen +from his apartment, and suffered to be some days missing, to the great +displeasure of my lord, but still much greater affliction of his pupil, +whose grief for losing a treasure he so highly valued, was more than +doubled, by perceiving that from some false insinuation that had been +made, it was believed he had himself wilfully lost them: But young Mr. +Hill was soon entirely cleared on this head. + +A few years after, he was desired both on account of his sobriety and +understanding, to accompany Sir William Wentworth, a worthy baronet of +Yorkshire, who was then going to make the tour of Europe; with whom he +travelled two or three years, and brought him home improved, to the +satisfaction of that gentleman's relations. + +'Twas in those different travels he collected matter for the history he +wrote of Turkey, and published in 1709; a work he afterwards often +repented having printed; and (though his own) would criticise upon it +with much severity. (But, as he used to say, he was a very boy when he +began and ended it; therefore great allowance may be made on that +account); and in a letter which has since been printed in his works, +wrote to his greatly valued friend, the worthy author of Clarissa, he +acknowledges his consciousness of such defects: where speaking of +obscurity, he says, + + 'Obscurity, indeed (if they had penetration to mean that) is burying + sense alive, and some of my rash, early, too affected, puerile + scriblings must, and should, have pleaded guilty to so just an + accusation.' + +The fire of youth, with an imagination lively as his was, seldom, if +ever, go hand in hand with solid judgment. Mr. Hill did not give himself +indeed time for correction, having wrote it so very expeditiously, as +hardly would be credited. But (as Dr. Sprat, then bishop of Rochester, +used to observe) there is certainly visible in that book, the seeds of a +great writer.--He seldom in his riper years was guilty of the fault of +non-correction; for he revis'd, too strictly rather, every piece he +purposed for the public eye (exclusive of an author's natural fondness); +and it has been believed by many, who have read some of his pieces in +the first copy, that had they never been by a revisal deepened +[Transcriber's note: 'deepned' in original] into greater strength, they +would have pleased still more, at least more generally. + +About the year 1709 he published his first poem, called Camillus; in +vindication, and honour of the earl of Peterborough, who had been +general in Spain. After that nobleman had seen it, he was desirous to +know who was the author of it; which having found by enquiry, he +complimented him by making him his secretary, in the room of Mr. Furly, +who was gone abroad with another nobleman: And Mr. Hill was always held +in high esteem with that great peer; with whom, however, he did not +continue long; for in the year 1710 he married the only daughter of +Edmund Morris, Esq; of Stratford, in Essex; with whom he had a very +handsome fortune: By her he had nine children, four of whom (a son, and +three daughters) are still living. + +In 1709 he was made master of the Theatre in Drury-Lane; and then, at +the desire of Mr. Barton Booth, wrote his first Tragedy, (Elfrid, or the +Fair Inconstant) which from his first beginning of it he compleated in a +little more than a week.--The following year, 1710, he was master of the +Opera House in the Hay-Market; and then wrote an Opera called Rinaldo, +which met with great success: It was the first which that admirable +genius Mr. Handel compos'd, after he came to England; (this he dedicated +to Queen Anne).--His genius was adapted greatly to the business of the +stage; and while he held the management, he conducted both Theatres, +intirely to the satisfaction of the public.--But in a few months he +relinquished it, from some misunderstanding with the then lord +chamberlain; and though he was soon after sollicited to take that charge +again upon him (by a person the highest in command) he still declined +it. + +From that time he bent his thoughts on studies far more solid and +desirable to him; to views of public benefit: For his mind was ardently +devoted to the pursuit of general improvement. But, as one genius seldom +is adapted to both theory and practice; so in the execution of a variety +of undertakings, the most advantageous in themselves, by some +mismanagement of those concerned with him, he fail'd of the success his +labours merited. + +As in particular, in an affair he set on foot about the year 1715, and +was the sole discoverer of, for which he had a patent; the making of an +Oil, as sweet as that from Olives, from the Beech-Nuts: But this being +an undertaking of a great extent, he was obliged to work conjointly with +other men's assistance, and materials; whence arose disputes among them, +which terminated in the overthrowing the advantage then arising from it; +which otherwise might have been great and lasting. + +This, has occasioned that affair to be misunderstood by many; it +therefore may not be thought improper, here, to set it in a juster +light; and this cannot more exactly be given, than from his own words, +called, A fair state of the Account, published in the year 1716. + +'An impartial state of the case, between the patentee, annuitants, and +sharers, in the Beech-Oil-Company.'--Some part of which is here +recited. + +'The disappointments of the Beech-Oil-Company this year have made +abundance of sharers peevish; the natural effect of peevishness is +clamour, and clamour like a tide will work itself a passage, where it +has no right of flowing; some gentlemen, misled by false conceptions +both of the affair and its direction, have driven their discontent +through a mistaken chanel, and inclined abundance who are strangers to +the truth, to accuse the patentee of faults, he is not only absolutely +free from, but by which he is, of all concern'd, the greatest sufferer. + +'But, he is not angry with the angry; he considers they must take things +as they hear them represented; he governs all his actions by this +general maxim; never to be moved at a reproach, unless it be a just one. + +'In October 1713 the patentee procured a grant for fourteen years, to +him and his assigns, for the Beech-Oil invention. + +'Anno 1714, he made and published proposals, for taking a subscription +of 20,000 l. upon the following conditions; + +'That every subscriber should receive, by half yearly payments, at +Lady-Day and Michaelmas, during the continuance of the patent from +Lady-Day 1715, inclusive, an annuity amounting to fifty-pound per cent, +for any sum subscribed, excepting a deduction for the payment of the +directors. + +'That nine directors should be chosen on midsummer-day, who should +receive complaints upon non-payments of annuities; and in such case, +upon refusal, any five of the nine directors had power to meet and chuse +a governor from among themselves, enrolling that choice in chancery, +together with the reasons for it. + +'That after such choice and enrollment, the patentee should stand +absolutely excluded, the business be carried on, and all the right of +the grant be vested (not as a mortgage, but as a sale without +redemption) in the governor so chosen, for the joint advantage of the +annuitants, in proportion to their several interests. + +'As a security for making good the articles, the patentee did, by +indenture enrolled in chancery, assign and make over his patent to +trustees, in the indenture named, for the uses above-mentioned. + +'In the mean time the first half yearly payments to the annuitants, +amounting to 3750 l. became due, and the company not being yet +compleated, the patentee himself discharged it, and has never reckon'd +that sum to the account between him and the company; which he might have +done by virtue of the articles on which he gave admission to the +sharers. + +'For the better explanation of this scheme it will be necessary to +observe, that while the shares were selling, he grew apprehensive that +the season would be past, before the fifty pounds per share they were to +furnish by the articles could be contributed: He therefore gave up +voluntarily, and for the general good, 20,000 l. of his own 25,000 +guineas purchase money, as a loan to the company till the expiration of +the patent, after which it was again to be made good to him, or his +assigns; and this money so lent by the patentee, is all the stock that +ever has been hitherto employed by the company. + +'But instead of making good the above-mentioned conditional covenant, +the board proceeded to unnecessary warmth, and found themselves involved +still more and more in animosities, and those irregularities which +naturally follow groundless controversy. He would therefore take upon +himself the hazard and the power of the whole affair, accountable +however to the board, as to the money part; and yet would bind himself +to pay for three years to come, a profit of forty shillings per annum +upon every share, and then deliver back the business to the general +care, above the reach of future disappointments. + +'What reasons the gentlemen might have to refuse so inviting an offer is +best known to themselves; but they absolutely rejected that part of it, +which was to fix the sole power of management in the patentee. Upon +which, and many other provocations afterward, becoming more and more +dissatisfied, he thought fit to demand repayment of five hundred pounds, +which he had lent the company; as he had several other sums before; and +not receiving it, but, on the contrary, being denied so much as an +acknowledgment that it was due, withdrew himself intirely from the +board, and left them to their measures. + +'Thus at the same time have I offered my defence, and my opinion: By the +first I am sure I shall be acquitted from all imputations; and confirmed +in the good thoughts of the concerned on either side, who will know for +the future what attention they should give to idle reflections, and the +falsehood of rumour; and from the last, I have hopes that a plan may be +drawn, which will settle at once all disputed pretensions, and restore +that fair prospect, which the open advantage of last year's success +(indifferent as it was) has demonstrated to be a view that was no way +chimerical.-- + +'They know how to judge of malicious insinuations to my prejudice, by +this _one most scandalous example_, which has been given by the +endeavours of some to persuade the out-sharers that I have made an +extravagant _profit_ from the _losses_ of the adventurers. Whereas on +the contrary, out of _Twenty-five Thousand Guineas_, which was the whole +I should have received by the sale of the shares, I have given up +_Twenty Thousand Pounds_ to the use of the company, and to the annuities +afterward; and three thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds more I paid +to the annuitants, at Lady-Day 1715, on the company's account; and have +never demanded it again, in consideration of their disappointments the +first year. + +'So that it plainly appears, that out of twenty-five thousand guineas, I +have given away in two articles only, twenty-three thousand seven +hundred and fifty pounds for the public advantage. And I can easily +prove, that the little remainder has been short of making good the +charges I have been at for their service; by which means I am not one +farthing a gainer by the company, notwithstanding the clamour and malice +of some unthinking adventurers: And for the truth of all this, I appeal +to their own _Office-Books_, and defy the most angry among them to deny +any article of it. See then what a grateful and generous encouragement +may be expected by men, who would dedicate their labours to the profit +of others. + +November the 30th. 1716. A. HILL.' + +This, and much more, too tedious to insert, serves to demonstrate that +it was a great misfortune, for a mind so fertile of invention and +improvement, to be embarrassed by a narrow power of fortune; too weak +alone to execute such undertakings. + +About the same year he wrote another Tragedy, intitled [Transcriber's +note: 'intiled' in original] the Fatal Vision[2], or the Fall of Siam +(which was acted the same year, in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields) to which he +gave this Motto out of Horace. + + I not for vulgar admiration write; + To be well read, not much, is my delight. + +And to his death he would declare in favour of that choice.--That year, +he likewise published the two first books of an Epic Poem, called Gideon +(founded on a Hebrew Story) which like its author, and all other +authors, had its enemies; but many more admirers. + +But his poetic pieces were not frequent in their appearance. They were +the product of some leisure hours, when he relaxed his thoughts from +drier study; as he took great delight in diving into every useful +science, viz. criticism, history, geography, physic, commerce in +general, agriculture, war, and law; but in particular natural +philosophy, wherein he has made many and valuable discoveries. + +Concerning poetry, he says, in his preface to King Henry the Vth, where +he laments the want of taste for Tragedy, + +'But in all events I will be easy, who have no better reason to wish +well to poetry, than my love for a mistress I shall never be married to: +For, whenever I grow ambitious, I shall wish to build higher; and owe my +memory to some occasion of more importance than my writings.' + +He had acquired so deep an insight in law, that he has from his +arguments and demonstrations obliged some of the greatest council +(formally) under their hands, to retract their own first-given opinions. + +He wrote part of a Tract of War; another upon Agriculture; but they are +left unfinished, with several other pieces. + +In his younger days he bought a grant of Sir Robert Montgomery (who had +purchas'd it of the lords proprietors of Carolina) with whom, &c. be had +been concern'd, in a design of settling a new plantation in the South of +Carolina, of a vast tract of land; on which he then designed to pursue +the same intention.--But being not master of a fortune equal to that +scheme, it never proved of any service to him, though many years since, +it has been cultivated largely[3]. + +His person was (in youth) extremely fair, and handsome; his eyes were a +dark blue, both bright and penetrating; brown hair and visage oval; +which was enlivened with a smile, the most agreeable in conversation; +where his address was affably engageing; to which was joined a dignity, +which rendered him at once respected and admired, by those (of either +sex) who were acquainted with him--He was tall, genteelly made, and not +thin.--His voice was sweet, his conversation elegant; and capable of +entertaining upon various subjects.--His disposition was benevolent, +beyond the power of the fortune he was blessed with; the calamities of +those he knew (and valued as deserving) affected him more than his own: +He had fortitude of mind sufficient to support with calmness great +misfortune; and from his birth it may be truly said he was obliged to +meet it. + +Of himself, he says in his epistle dedicatory to one of his poems, + + 'I am so devoted a lover of a private and unbusy life, that I cannot + recollect a time wherein I wish'd an increase to the little influence + I cultivate in the dignified world, unless when I have felt the + deficience of my own power, to reward some merit that has charm'd + me:'-- + +His temper, though by nature warm (when injuries were done him) was as +nobly forgiving; mindful of that great lesson in religion, of returning +good for evil; and he fulfilled it often to the prejudice of his own +circumstances. He was a tender husband, friend, and father; one of the +best masters to his servants, detesting the too common inhumanity, that +treats them almost as if they were not fellow-creatures. + +His manner of life was temperate in all respects (which might have +promis'd greater length of years) late hours excepted which his +indefatigable love of study drew him into; night being not liable to +interruptions like the day. + +About the year 1718 he wrote a poem called the Northern-Star, upon the +actions of the Czar Peter the Great; and several years after he was +complimented with a gold medal from the empress Catherine (according to +the Czar's desire before his death) and was to have wrote his life, from +papers which were to be sent him of the Czar's: But the death of the +Czarina, quickly after, prevented it.--In an advertisement to the +reader, in the fifth edition of that poem, published in 1739, the author +says of it. + +'Though the design was profess'd panegyric, I may with modesty venture +to say it was not a very politic, perhaps, but an honest example of +praise without flattery.--In the verse, I am afraid there was much to be +blamed, as too low; but, I am sure there was none of that fault in the +purpose: The poem having never been hinted, either before or after the +publication, to any person (native or foreigner) who could be supposed +to have interest in, or concern for, its subject. + +'In effect, it had for six years or more been forgot by myself--and my +country,--when upon the death of the prince it referred to, I was +surprized by the condescension of a compliment from the empress his +relict, and immediate successor; and thereby first became sensible that +the poem had, by means of some foreign translation, reach'd the eye and +regard of that emphatically great monarch, in justice to whom it was +written.' + +Soon after he finished six books more of Gideon; which made eight, of +the twelve he purpos'd writing; but did not live to finish it. + +In 1723 he brought his Tragedy called King Henry the Vth, upon the stage +in Drury-Lane; which is (as he declares in the preface) a new fabric, +yet built on Shakespear's foundation. + +In 1724, for the advantage of an unhappy gentleman (an old officer in +the army) he wrote a paper in the manner of the Spectators, in +conjunction with Mr. William Bond, &c. intitled the Plain Dealer; which +were some time after published in two volumes octavo. And many of his +former writings were appropriated to such humane uses; both those to +which he has prefixed his name, and several others which he wrote and +gave away intirely. But, though the many imagined authors are not +living, their names, and those performances will be omitted here; yet, +in mere justice to the character of Mr. Hill, we mention this +particular. + +In 1728, he made a journey into the North of Scotland, where he had been +about two years before, having contracted with the York-Buildings +Company, concerning many woods of great extent in that kingdom, for +timber for the uses of the navy; and many and various were the +assertions upon this occasion: Some thought, and thence reported, that +there was not a stick in Scotland could be capable of answering that +purpose; but he demonstrated the contrary: For, though there was not a +great number large enough for masts to ships of the greatest burthen; +yet there were millions, fit for all smaller vessels; and planks and +banks, proper for every sort of building.--One ship was built entirely +of it; and a report was made, that never any better timber was brought +from any part of the world: But he found many difficulties in this +undertaking; yet had sagacity to overcome them all (as far as his own +management extended) for when the trees were by his order chain'd +together into floats, the ignorant Highlanders refus'd to venture +themselves on them down the river Spey; till he first went himself, to +make them sensible there was no danger.--In which passage however, he +found a great obstacle in the rocks, by which that river seemed +impassible; but on these he ordered fires to be made, when by the +lowness of the river they were most expos'd; and then had quantities of +water thrown upon them: Which method being repeated with the help of +proper tools, they were broke in pieces and thrown down, which made the +passage easy for the floats. + +This affair was carried on to a very good account, till those concern'd +thought proper to call off the men and horses from the woods of +Abernethy, in order to employ them in their lead mines in the same +country; from which they hoped to make greater advantage. + +The magistrates of Inverness paid him the compliment of making him a +present of the freedom of that place (at an elegant entertainment made +by them on that occasion) a favour likewise offered him at Aberdeen, &c. + +After a stay of several months in the Highlands, during which time he +visited the duke and duchess of Gordon, who distinguished him with great +civilities, he went to York, and other places in that country; where his +wife then was, with some relations, for the recovery of her health; but +his staying longer there (on that account) than he intended, had like to +have proved of unhappy consequence; by giving room for some, who +imagined (as they wished) that he would not return, to be guilty of a +breach of trust that aimed at the destruction of great part of what he +then was worth; but they were disappointed. + +In that retirement in the North, he wrote a poem intitled, The Progress +of Wit, a Caveat for the use of an eminent Writer. It was composed of +the genteelest praise, and keenest allegorical satire; and it gave no +small uneasiness to Mr. Pope: Who had indeed drawn it upon himself, by +being the aggressor in his Dunciad.--This afterwards occasioned a +private paper-war between those writers, in which 'tis generally thought +that Mr. Hill had greatly the advantage of Mr. Pope. For the +particulars, the reader is referred to a shilling pamphlet lately +published by Owen, containing Letters between Mr. Pope and Mr. Hill, &c. + +The progress of wit begins with the eight following lines, wherein the +SNEAKINGLY APPROVES affected Mr. Pope extreamly. + + Tuneful Alexis on the Thames' fair side, + The Ladies play-thing, and the Muses pride, + With merit popular, with wit polite, + Easy tho' vain, and elegant tho' light: + Desiring, and deserving other's praise, + Poorly accepts a fame he ne'er repays: + Unborn to cherish, SNEAKINGLY APPROVES, + And wants the soul to spread the worth he loves. + +During their controversy, Mr. Pope seemed to express his repentance, by +denying the offence he had given; thus, in one of his letters, he says, + +'That the letters A.H. were apply'd to you in the papers I did not know +(for I seldom read them) I heard it only from Mr. Savage[4], as from +yourself, and sent my assurances to the contrary: But I don't see how +the annotator on the D. could have rectified that mistake publicly, +without particularizing your name in a book where I thought it too good +to be inserted, &c.[5].' + +And in another place he says, + +'I should imagine the Dunciad meant you a real compliment, and so it has +been thought by many who have ask'd to whom that passage made that +oblique panegyric. As to the notes, I am weary of telling a great truth, +which is, that I am not author of them, &c.' + +Which paragraph was answer'd by the following in Mr. Hill's reply. + +'As to your oblique panegyric, I am not under so blind an attachment to +the goddess I was devoted to in the Dunciad, but that I know it was a +commendation; though a dirtier one than I wished for; who am neither +fond of some of the company in which I was listed--the noble reward, for +which I was to become a diver;--the allegorical muddiness in which I was +to try my skill;--nor the institutor of the games you were so kind to +allow me a share in, &c.'--A genteel severe reprimand. + +Much about the same time he wrote another poem, called Advice to the +Poets; in praise of worthy poetry, and in censure of the misapplication +of poetry in general. The following lines here quoted, are the motto of +it, taken from the poem. + + Shame on your jingling, ye soft sons of rhyme, + Tuneful consumers of your reader's time! + Fancy's light dwarfs! whose feather-footed strains, + Dance in wild windings, thro' a waste of brains: + Your's is the guilt of all, who judging wrong, + Mistake tun'd nonsense for the poet's song. + +He likewise in this piece, reproves the above named celebrated author, +for descending below his genius; and in speaking of the inspiration of +the Muse, he says, + + I feel her now.--Th'invader fires my breast: + And my soul swells, to suit the heav'nly guest. + Hear her, O Pope!--She sounds th'inspir'd decree, + Thou great Arch-Angel of wit's heav'n! for thee! + Let vulgar genii, sour'd by sharp disdain, + Piqu'd and malignant, words low war maintain, + While every meaner art exerts her aim, + O'er rival arts, to list her question'd fame; + Let half-soul'd poets still on poets fall, + And teach the willing world to scorn them all. + But, let no Muse, pre-eminent as thine, + Of voice melodious, and of force divine, + Stung by wits, wasps, all rights of rank forego, + And turn, and snarl, and bite, at every foe. + No--like thy own Ulysses, make no stay + Shun monsters--and pursue thy streamy way. + +In 1731 he brought his Tragedy of Athelwold upon the stage in +Drury-Lane; which, as he says in his preface to it, was written on the +same subject as his Elfrid or the Fair Inconstant, which he there calls, +'An unprun'd wilderness of fancy, with here and there a flower among the +leaves; but without any fruit of judgment.'-- + +He likewise mentions it as a folly, having began and finished Elfrid in +a week; and both the difference of time and judgment are visible in +favour of the last of those performances. + +That year he met the greatest shock that affliction ever gave him; in +the loss of one of the most worthy of wives, to whom he had been married +above twenty years. + +The following epitaph he wrote, and purpos'd for a monument which he +designed to erect over her grave. + + Enough, cold stone! suffice her long-lov'd name; + Words are too weak to pay her virtues claim. + Temples, and tombs, and tongues, shall waste away, + And power's vain pomp, in mould'ring dust decay. + But e'er mankind a wife more perfect see, + Eternity, O Time! shall bury thee. + +He was a man susceptible of love, in its sublimest sense; as may be seen +in that poetical description of that passion, which he has given in his +poem called the Picture of Love; wrote many years ago (from whence the +following two lines are taken) + + No wild desire can this proud bliss bestow, + Souls must be match'd in heav'n, tho' mix'd below. + +About the year 1735 he was concern'd with another gentleman in writing a +paper called the Prompter; all those mark'd with a B. were his.--This +was meant greatly for the service of the stage; and many of them have +been regarded in the highest manner.--But, as there was not only +instruction, but reproof, the bitter, with the sweet, by some could not +be relish'd. + +In 1736 having translated from the French of Monsieur de Voltaire, the +Tragedy of Zara, he gave it to be acted for the benefit of Mr. William +Bond; and it was represented first, at the Long-Room in Villars-Street, +York-Buildings; where that poor gentleman performed the part of Lusignan +(the old expiring king) a character he was at that time too well suited +to; being, and looking, almost dead, as in reality he was before the run +of it was over.--Soon after this play was brought upon the stage in +Drury-Lane, by Mr. Fleetwood, at the earnest sollicitation of Mr. +Theophilus Cibber; the part of Zara was played by Mrs. Cibber, and was +her first attempt in Tragedy; of the performers therein he makes very +handsome mention in the preface. This play he dedicated to his royal +highness the Prince of Wales. + +The same year was acted, at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, another +Tragedy of his translating from the same French author, called Alzira, +which was likewise dedicated to the Prince.--His dedications generally +wore a different face from those of other writers; he there most warmly +recommends Monsieur de Voltaire, as worthy of his royal highness's +partiality; disclaiming for himself all expectations of his notice. But +he was, notwithstanding, particularly honoured with his approbation. + +These plays, if not a litteral translation, have been thought much +better, for their having past his hands; as generously was acknowledged +by Monsieur de Voltaire himself. + +In 1737 he published a poem called, The Tears of the Muses; composed of +general satire: in the address to the reader he says (speaking of +satire) + + 'There is, indeed, something so like cruelty in the face of that + species of poetry, that it can only be reconciled to humanity, by the + general benevolence of its purpose; attacking particulars for the + public advantage.' + +The following year he wrote (in prose) a book called, An Enquiry into +the Merit of Assassination, with a View to the Character of Caesar; and +his Designs on the Roman Republic. + +About this time, he in a manner left the world, (though living near so +populous a part of it as London) and settled at Plaistow in Essex; where +he entirely devoted himself to his study, family, and garden; and the +accomplishment of many profitable views; particularly one, in which for +years he had laboured through experiments in vain; and when he brought +it to perfection, did not live to reap the benefit of it: The discovery +of the art of making pot-ash like the Russian, which cost this nation, +yearly, an immense sum of money. + +In the year 1743 he published The Fanciad, an Heroic Poem; inscribed to +his grace the duke of Marlborough: Who as no name was then prefixed to +it, perhaps, knew not the author by whom he was distinguished in it. + +Soon after he wrote another, intitled the Impartial; which he inscribed, +in the same manner, to the lord Carteret (now earl of Granville). In the +beginning of it are the following lines, + + Burn, sooty slander, burn thy blotted scroll; + Greatness is greatness, spite of faction's soul. + + Deep let my soul detest th'adhesive pride, + That changing sentiment, unchanges side. + +It would be tedious to enumerate the variety of smaller pieces he at +different times was author of. + +His notions of the deity were boundlessly extensive; and the few lines +here quoted from his Poem upon faith, published in 1746, must give the +best idea of his sentiments upon that most elevated of all subjects. + + What then must be believ'd?--Believe God kind, + To fear were to offend him. Fill thy heart + With his felt laws; and act the good he loves. + Rev'rence his power. Judge him but by his works: + Know him but in his mercies. Rev'rence too + The most mistaken schemes that mean his praise. + Rev'rence his priests.--for ev'ry priest is his,-- + Who finds him in his conscience.-- + +This year he published his Art of Acting, a Poem, deriving Rules from a +new Principle, for touching the Passions in a natural Manner, &c. Which +was dedicated to the Earl of Chesterfield. + +Having for many years been in a manner forgetful of the eight Books he +had finished of his Epic Poem called Gideon,--in 1749 he re-perused that +work, and published three of the Books; to which he gave the name of +Gideon, or the Patriot.--They were inscribed to the late lord +Bolingbroke; to whom he accounts as follows, for the alterations he had +made since the first publication of two Books. + + Erring, where thousands err'd, in youth's hot smart, + Propulsive prejudice had warp'd his heart: + Bold, and too loud he sigh'd, for high distress, + Fond of the fall'n, nor form'd to serve success; + Partial to woes, had weigh'd their cause too light, + Wept o'er misfortune,--and mis-nam'd it right: + Anguish, attracting, turn'd attachment wrong, + And pity's note mis-tun'd his devious song. + +'Tis much lamented by many who are admirers of that species of poetry, +that the author did not finish it. + +The same year (after a length of different applications, for several +seasons, at both Theatres without success) his Tragedy, called Merope, +was brought upon the stage in Drury-Lane by Mr. Garrick; to whom, as +well as to another gentleman he likewise highly both admired and +esteemed, he was greatly obliged; and his own words (here borrowed) will +shew how just a sense he had of these obligations.--They begin the +preface to the play. + +'If there can be a pride that ranks with virtues, it is that we feel +from friendships with the worthy. Mr. Mallet, therefore, must forgive +me, that I boast the honour he has done my Merope--I have so long been a +retreater from the world, that one of the best spirits in it told me +lately, I had made myself an alien there. I must confess, I owe so many +obligations to its ornaments of most distinguished genius, that I must +have looked upon it as a great unhappiness to have made choice of +solitude, could I have judged society in general, by a respect so due to +these adorners of it.' + +And in relation to this Tragedy he says, after very justly censuring +Monsieur de Voltaire, for representing in the preface to his Merope the +English as incapable of Tragedy, + +'To such provoking stimulations I have owed inducement to retouch, for +Mr. Voltaire's use, the characters in his high boasted Merope; and I +have done it on a plan as near his own as I could bring it with a safe +conscience; that is to say, without distaste to English audiences. + +This he likewise dedicated to lord Bolingbroke; and was the last he ever +wrote.--There is a melancholy thread of fatal prophecy in the beginning +of it; of his own approaching dissolution. + + Cover'd in fortune's shade, I rest reclin'd; + My griefs all silent; and my joys resign'd. + With patient eye life's evening gloom survey: + Nor shake th'out-hast'ning sands; nor bid 'em stay-- + Yet, while from life my setting prospects fly, + Fain wou'd my mind's weak offspring shun to die. + Fain wou'd their hope some light through time explore; + The name's kind pasport--When the man's no more. + +From about the time he was solliciting the bringing on this play, an +illness seized him; from the tormenting pains of which he had scarce an +hour's intermission; and after making trial of all he thought could be +of service to him in medicine; he was desirous to try his native air of +London (as that of Plaistow was too moist a one) but he was then past +all recovery, and wasted almost to a skeleton, from some internal cause, +that had produced a general decay (and was believed to have been an +inflamation in the kidneys; which his intense attachment to his studies +might probably lay the foundation of.--When in town, he had the comfort +of being honoured with the visits of the most worthy and esteemed among +his friends; but he was not permitted many weeks to taste that blessing. +[Transcriber's note: closing brackets missing in original.] + +The same humane and generous Mr. Mallet, who had before aided his +Merope, about this time was making interest for its being played again, +for the advantage of its author:--His royal highness the prince of +Wales; had the great goodness to command it; and Mr. Hill just lived to +express his grateful acknowledgments (to those about him) upon hearing +of it:--But on the day before it was to be represented he died, in the +very minute of the earthquake, February the eighth, 1749, which he +seemed sensible of, though then deprived of utterance. Had he lived two +days longer, he had been sixty-five years old.--He endur'd a +twelve-month's torment of the body with a calmness that confess'd a +superiority of soul! He was interred in the same grave with her the most +dear to him when living, in the great cloister of Westminster-Abbey; +near the lord Godolphin's tomb. + +It may be truly said of Mr. Hill, he was a great and general writer; and +had he been possest of the estate he was intitled to, his liberality had +been no less extensive than his genius. But often do we see misfortune's +clouds obscure the brightest sunshine. + +Besides his works which here have been enumerated, there are several +other; particularly two poems, intitled the Creation, and the +Judgment-Day; which were published many years ago.--Another in blank +verse he published in the time of his retreat into Essex; it was called, +Cleon to Lycidas, a Time Piece; the date not marked by the printer. + +Some years before his death, he talked of making a collection of his +works for publication; but postponed it for the finishing some pieces, +which he did not live to effect. + +Since his death, four volumes of them have been published by +subscription, for his family. He left one Tragedy, never yet acted; +which was wrote originally about 1737, and intitled Caesar; but since, he +has named it the Roman Revenge:--But as the author was avowedly a great +admirer of Caesar's character, not in the light he is generally +understood (that of a tyrant) but in one much more favourable, he was +advised by several of the first distinction, both in rank and judgment, +to make such alterations in it as should adapt it more to the general +opinion; and upon that advice he in a manner new wrote the play: But as +most first opinions are not easily eradicated, it has been never able to +make a public trial of the success; which many of the greatest +understanding have pronounced it highly worthy of.--The late lord +Bolingbroke (in a letter wrote to the author) has called it one of the +noblest drama's, that our language, or any age can boast. + +These few little speeches are taken from the part of Caesar. + + 'Tis the great mind's expected pain, Calphurnia, + To labour for the thankless.--He who seeks + Reward in ruling, makes ambition guilt; + And living for himself disclaims mankind. + +And thus speaking to Mark Anthony; + + If man were placed above the reach of insult, + To pardon were no virtue.--Think, warm Anthony, + What mercy is--'Tis, daring to be wrong'd, + Yet unprovok'd by pride, persist, in pity. + +This again to Calphurnia. + + No matter.--Virtue triumphs by neglect: + Vice, while it darkens, lends but foil to brightness: + And juster times, removing slander's veil, + Wrong'd merit after death is help'd to live. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This was sent us by an unknown hand. + +[2] This play he made a present of to the patentee, and had several fine + scenes painted for it, at his own expence: He indeed gave all his + pieces to the stage; never taking any benefit, or gratuity from the + managers, as an author--'till his last piece, Merope, was brought on + the stage; when (unhappy gentleman) he was under the necessity of + receiving his profits of the third nights; which 'till then, his + generosity, and spirit, had ever declined. + +[3] Under the name of Georgia. + +[4] Savage was of great use to Mr. Pope, in helping him to little + stories, and idle tales, of many persons whose names, lives, and + writings, had been long since forgot, had not Mr. Pope mentioned + them in his Dunciad:--This office was too mean for any one but + inconsistent Savage: Who, with a great deal of absurd pride, could + submit to servile offices; and for the vanity of being thought Mr. + Pope's intimate, made no scruple of frequently sacrificing a regard + to sincerity or truth. He had certainly, at one time, considerable + influence over that great poet; but an assuming arrogance at last + tired out Mr. Pope's patience. + +[5] A lame come-off. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. LEWIS THEOBALD. + +This gentleman was born at Sittingburn in Kent, of which place his +father, Mr. Peter Theobald, was an eminent attorney. His grammatical +learning he received chiefly under the revd. Mr. Ellis, at Isleworth in +Middlesex, and afterwards applied himself to the study and practice of +the law: but finding that study too tedious and irksome for his genius, +he quitted it for the profession of poetry. He engaged in a paper called +the Censor, published in Mill's Weekly Journal; and by delivering his +opinion with two little reserve, concerning some eminent wits, he +exposed himself to their lashes, and resentment. Upon the publication of +Pope's Homer, he praised it in the most extravagant terms of admiration; +but afterwards thought proper to retract his opinion, for reasons we +cannot guess, and abused the very performance he had before +hyperbollically praised. + +Mr. Pope at first made Mr. Theobald the hero of his Dunciad, but +afterwards, for reasons best known to himself, he thought proper to +disrobe him of that dignity, and bestow it upon another: with what +propriety we shall not take upon us to determine, but refer the reader +to Mr. Cibber's two letters to Mr. Pope. He was made hero of the poem, +the annotator informs us, because no better was to be had. In the first +book of the Dunciad, Mr. Theobald, or Tibbald, as he is there called, is +thus stigmatised, + + --Dullness her image full exprest, + But chief in Tibbald's monster-breeding breast; + Sees Gods with Daemons in strange league engage, + And Earth, and heav'n, and hell her battles wage; + She eyed the bard, where supperless he sate, + And pin'd unconscious of his rising fate; + Studious he sate, with all his books around, + Sinking from thought to thought, a vast profound! + Plung'd for his sense, but found no bottom there; + Then writ, and flounder'd on, in meer despair. + He roll'd his eyes, that witness'd huge dismay, + Where yet unpawn'd much learned lumber lay. + +He describes Mr. Theobald as making the following address to Dulness. + + --For thee + Old puns restore, lost blunders nicely seek, + And crucify poor Shakespear once a-week. + For thee I dim these eyes, and stuff this head, + With all such reading as was never read; + For thee, supplying in the worst of days, + Notes to dull books, and prologues to dull plays; + For thee explain a thing till all men doubt it, + And write about it, goddess, and about it; + So spins the silk-worm small its slender store, + And labours till it clouds itself all o'er. + +In the year 1726 Mr. Theobald published a piece in octavo, called +Shakespear Restored: Of this it is said, he was so vain as to aver, in +one of Mist's Journals, June the 8th, 'That to expose any errors in it +was impracticable;' and in another, April the 27th, 'That whatever care +might for the future be taken, either by Mr. Pope, or any other +assistants, he would give above five-hundred emendations, that would +escape them all.' + +During two whole years, while Mr. Pope was preparing his edition, he +published advertisements, requesting assistance, and promising +satisfaction to any who would contribute to its greater perfection. But +this restorer, who was at that time solliciting favours of him, by +letters, did wholly conceal that he had any such design till after its +publication; which he owned in the Daily Journal of November 26, 1728: +and then an outcry was made, that Mr. Pope had joined with the +bookseller to raise an extravagant subscription; in which he had no +share, of which he had no knowledge, and against which he had publickly +advertised in his own proposals for Homer. + +Mr. Theobald was not only thus obnoxious to the resentment of Pope, but +we find him waging war with Mr. Dennis, who treated him with more +roughness, though with less satire. Mr. Theobald in the Censor, Vol. II. +No. XXXIII. calls Mr. Dennis by the name of Furius. 'The modern Furius +(says he) is to be looked upon as more the object of pity, than that +which he daily provokes, laughter, and contempt. Did we really know how +much this poor man suffers by being contradicted, or which is the same +thing in effect, by hearing another praised; we should in compassion +sometimes attend to him with a silent nod, and let him go away with the +triumphs of his ill-nature. Poor Furius, where any of his cotemporaries +are spoken well of, quitting the ground of the present dispute, steps +back a thousand years, to call in the succour of the antients. His very +panegyric is spiteful, and he uses it for the same reason as some ladies +do their commendations of a dead beauty, who never would have had their +good word; but that a living one happened to be mentioned in their +company. His applause is not the tribute of his heart, but the sacrifice +of his revenge.' + +Mr. Dennis in resentment of this representation made of him, in his +remarks on Pope's Homer, page 9. 10. thus mentions him. 'There is a +notorious idiot, one HIGHT WHACHUM, who from an Under-spur-leather to +the law, is become an Under strapper to the play-house, who has lately +burlesqued the Metamorphoses of Ovid, by a vile translation, &c. This +fellow is concerned in an impertinent paper called the Censor.' Such was +the language of Mr. Dennis, when enflamed by contradiction. + +In the year 1729 Mr. Theobald introduced upon the stage a Tragedy called +the Double Falsehood; the greatest part of which he asserted was +Shakespear's. Mr. Pope insinuated to the town, that it was all, or +certainly the greatest part written, not by Shakespear, but Theobald +himself, and quotes this line, + + None but thyself can be thy parallel. + +Which he calls a marvellous line of Theobald, 'unless (says he) the play +called the Double Falsehood be (as he would have it thought) +Shakespear's; but whether this line is his or not, he proves Shakespear +to have written as bad.' The arguments which Mr. Theobald uses to prove +the play to be Shakespear's are indeed far from satisfactory;--First, +that the MS. was above sixty years old;--Secondly, that once Mr. +Betterton had it, or he hath heard so;--Thirdly, that some body told him +the author gave it to a bastard daughter of his;--But fourthly, and +above all, that he has a great mind that every thing that is good in our +tongue should be Shakespear's. + +This Double Falsehood was vindicated by Mr. Theobald, who was attacked +again in the art of sinking in poetry. Here Mr. Theobald endeavours to +prove false criticisms, want of understanding Shakespear's manner, and +perverse cavelling in Mr. Pope: He justifies himself and the great +dramatic poet, and essays to prove the Tragedy in question to be in +reality Shakespear's, and not unworthy of him. We cannot set this +controversy in a clearer light, than by transcribing a letter subjoined +to the Double Falsehood. + +Dear Sir, + +You desire to know, why in the general attack which Mr. Pope has lately +made against writers living and dead, he has so often had a fling of +satire at me. I should be very willing to plead guilty to his +indictment, and think as meanly of myself as he can possibly do, were +his quarrel altogether upon a fair, or unbiassed nature. But he is angry +at the man; and as Juvenal says-- + + Facit indignatio versum. + +He has been pleased to reflect on me in a few quotations from a play, +which I had lately the good fortune to usher into the world; I am there +concerned in reputation to enter upon my defence. There are three +passages in his Art of Sinking in Poetry, which he endeavours to bring +into disgrace from the Double Falsehood. + +One of these passages alledged by our critical examiner is of that +stamp, which is certain to include me in the class of profound writers. +The place so offensive for its cloudiness, is, + + --The obscureness of her birth + Cannot eclipse the lustre of her eyes, + Which make her all one light. + +I must own, I think, there needs no great Oedipus to solve the +difficulty of this passage. Nothing has ever been more common, than for +lovers to compare their mistresses eyes to suns and stars. And what does +Henriquez say more here than this, 'That though his mistress be obscure +by her birth; yet her eyes are so refulgent, they set her above that +disadvantage, and make her all over brightness.' I remember another +rapture in Shakespear, upon a painter's drawing a fine lady's picture, +where the thought seems to me every whit as magnified and dark at the +first glance, + +--But her eyes-- + How could he see to do them! having done one, + Methinks it should have power to steal both his, + And leave itself unfinished.-- + +This passage is taken from the Merchant of Venice, which will appear the +more beautiful, the more it is considered. + +Another passage which Mr. Pope is pleased to be merry with, is in a +speech of Violante's; + + Wax! render up thy trust.-- + +This, in his English is open the letter; and he facetiously mingles it +with some pompous instances, most I believe of his own framing; which in +plain terms signify no more than, See, whose there; snuff the candle; +uncork the bottle; chip the bread; to shew how ridiculous actions of no +consequence are, when too much exalted in the diction. This he brings +under a figure, which he calls the Buskin, or Stately. But we'll examine +circumstances fairly, and then we shall see which is most ridiculous; +the phrase, or our sagacious censurer. + +Violante is newly debauched by Henriquez, on his solemn promise of +marrying her: She thinks he is returning to his father's court, as he +told her, for a short time; and expects no letter from him. His servant +who brings the letter, contradicts his master's going for court; and +tells her he is gone some two months progress another way, upon a change +of purpose. She who knew what concessions she had made to him, declares +herself by starts, under the greatest agonies; and immediately upon the +servant leaving her, expresses an equal impatience, and fear of the +contents of this unexpected letter. + + To hearts like mine, suspence is misery. + Wax! render up thy trust,--Be the contents + Prosperous, or fatal, they are all my due. + +Now Mr. Pope shews us his profound judgment in dramatical passions; +thinks a lady in her circumstances cannot without absurdity open a +letter that seems to her as surprize, with any more preparation than the +most unconcerned person alive should a common letter by the penny-post. +I am aware Mr. Pope may reply, his cavil was not against the action +itself of addressing to the wax, but of exalting that action in the +terms. In this point I may fairly shelter myself under the judgment of a +man, whose character in poetry will vie with any rival this age shall +produce. + +Mr. Dryden in his Essay on Dramatic Poetry, tells us. 'That when from +the most elevated thoughts of verse, we pass to those which are most +mean, and which are common with the lowest houshold conversation; yet +still there is a choice to be made of the best words, and the least +vulgar (provided they be apt) to express such thoughts. Our language, +says he, is noble, full, and significant; and I know not, why he who is +master of it, may not cloath ordinary things in it as decently as the +Latin, if we use the same diligence in the choice of words.' + +I come now to the last quotation, which in our examiner's handling, +falls under this predicament of _being a thought astonishingly out of +the way of common sense._ + + None but himself can be his parallel. + +This, he hints, may seem borrowed from the thought of that master of a +show in Smithfield, who wrote in large letters over the picture of his +Elephant. _This is the greatest Elephant in the world except himself._ I +like the pleasantry of the banter, but have no great doubt of getting +clear from the severity of it. The lines in the play stand thus. + + + Is there a treachery like this in baseness, + Recorded any where? It is the deepest; + None but itself can be its parallel. + +I am not a little surprized, to find that our examiner at last is +dwindled into a word-catcher. Literally speaking, indeed, I agree with +Mr. Pope, that nothing can be the parallel to itself; but allowing a +little for the liberty of expression, does it not plainly imply, that it +is a treachery which stands single for the nature of its baseness, and +has not its parallel on record; and that nothing but a treachery equal +to it in baseness can parallel it? If this were such nonsense as Pope +would willingly have it, it would be a very bad plea for me to alledge, +as the truth is, that the line is in Shakespear's old copy; for I might +have suppressed it. But I hope it is defensible; at least if examples +can keep it in countenance. There is a piece of nonsense of the same +kind in the Amphytrio of Plautus: Sofia having survey'd Mercury from top +to toe, finds him such an exact resemblance of himself, in dress, shape, +and features, that he cries out, + + Tam consimil' est, atq; ego. + +That is, he is as like me, as I am to myself. Now I humbly conceive, in +strictness of expression a man can no more be like himself, than a thing +its own parallel. But to confine myself to Shakespear. I doubt not but I +can produce some similar passages from him, which literally examined, +are stark nonsense; and yet taken with a candid latitude have never +appeared ridiculous. Mr. Pope would scarce allow one man to say to +another. 'Compare and weigh your mistress with your mistress; and I +grant she is a very fair woman; but compare her with some other woman +that I could name, and the case will be very much altered.' Yet the very +substance of this, is said by Shakespear, in Romeo and Juliet; and Mr. +Pope has not degraded it as any absurdity, or unworthy of the author. + + Pho! pho! you saw her fair, none else being by; + HERSELF poiz'd with HERSELF in either eye. + But, &c. + +Or, what shall we say of the three following quotations. + +ROMEO and JULIET. + --Oh! so light a foot + Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint. + +WINTER'S TALE. + --For _Cogitation_ + Resides not in the man _that does not think._ + +HAMLET. + --Try what repentance can, what can it not? + Yet what can it, when one _cannot repent._ + +Who does not see at once, the heaviest foot that ever trod cannot wear +out the everlasting flint? or that he who does not think has no thoughts +in him? or that repentance can avail nothing when a man has not +repentance? yet let these passages appear, with a casting weight of +allowance, and their absurdity will not be so extravagant, as when +examined by the literal touchstone.-- + +Your's, &c. + +LEWIS THEOBALD. + +By perusing the above, the reader will be enabled to discern whether Mr. +Pope has wantonly ridiculed the passages in question; or whether Mr. +Theobald has, from a superstitious zeal for the memory of Shakespear, +defended absurdities, and palliated extravagant blunders. + +The ingenious Mr. Dodd, who has lately favoured the public with a +judicious collection of the beauties of Shakespear, has quoted a +beautiful stroke of Mr. Theobald's, in his Double Falsehood, upon music. + + --Strike up, my masters; + But touch the strings with a religious softness; + Teach sounds to languish thro' the night's dull ear, + 'Till Melancholy start from her lazy couch, + And carelessness grow concert to attention. + +ACT I. SCENE III. + +A gentleman of great judgment happening to commend these lines to Mr. +Theobald, he assured him he wrote them himself, and only them in the +whole play. + +Mr. Theobald, besides his edition of all Shakespear's plays, in which he +corrected, with great pains and ingenuity, many faults which had crept +into that great poet's writings, is the author of the following dramatic +pieces. + +I. The Persian Princess, or the Royal Villain; a Tragedy, acted at the +Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, printed in the year 1715. The author +observes in his preface, this play was written and acted before he was +full nineteen years old. + +II. The Perfidious Brother; a Tragedy acted at the Theatre in Little +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1716. This play is written on the model of Otway's +Orphan; the scene is in a private family in Brussels. + +III. Pan and Syrinx; an Opera of one act, performed on the Theatre in +Little Lincoln's Inn-Fields, 1717. + +IV. Decius and Paulina, a Masque; to which is added Musical +Entertainments, as performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, in +the Dramatic Opera of Circe. + +V. Electra, a Tragedy; translated from the Greek of Sophocles, with +notes, printed in the year 1714, dedicated to Joseph Addison, Esq; + +VI. Oedipus King of Thebes; a Tragedy translated from Sophocles, with +notes, translated in the year 1715, dedicated to the earl of Rockingham. + +VII. Plutus, or the World's Idol; a Comedy translated from the Greek of +Aristophanes, with notes, printed in the year 1715. The author has to +this Translation prefixed a Discourse, containing some Account of +Aristophanes, and his two Comedies of Plutus and the Clouds. + +VIII. The Clouds, a Comedy; translated from Aristophanes, with notes, +printed in the year 1715. + +IX. The Rape of Proserpine; a Farce acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1727. + +X. The Fatal Secret; a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal in +Covent-Garden, 1725. + +XI. The Vocal Parts of an Entertainment, called Apollo and Daphne, +or the Burgo Master Trick'd; performed at the Theatre in +Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1726. + +XII. Double Falsehood; which we have already mentioned. + +Mr. Theobald's other Works are chiefly these. + +The Gentleman's Library, containing Rules for Conduct in all Parts of +Life, in 12mo. 1722. + +The first Book of Homer's Odyssey translated, with notes, 8vo. 1716. + +The Cave of Poverty, written in imitation of Shakespear. + +Pindaric Ode on the Union, 1707. + +A Poem sacred to the Memory of Queen Anne, Folio 1714. + +Translations from Ovid's Metamorphoses. + +Lives of Antiochus, and Berenice, from the French, 1717. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Dr. SAMUEL CROXALL, + +The celebrated author of the Fair Circassian, was son of the revd. Mr. +Samuel Croxall, rector of Hanworth, Middlesex, and vicar of Walton upon +Thames in Surry, in the last of which places our author was born. He +received his early education at Eton school, and from thence was +admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge. Probably while he was at the +university, he became enamoured of Mrs. Anna Maria Mordaunt, who first +inspired his breast with love, and to whom he dedicates the poem of the +Circassian, for which he has been so much distinguished. This dedication +is indeed the characteristic of a youth in love, but then it likewise +proves him altogether unacquainted with the world, and with that +easiness of address which distinguishes a gentleman. A recluse scholar +may be passionately in love, but he discovers it by strains of bombast, +and forced allusions, of which this dedication is a very lively +instance. + +'The language of the Fair Circassian, says he, like yours, was natural +poetry; her voice music, and the excellent colouring and formation of +her features, painting; but still, like yours, drawn by the inimitable +pencil of nature, life itself; a pattern for the greatest master, but +copying after none; I will not say angels are not cast in the same +mould.' And again in another place, 'Pardon, O lovely deity, the +presumption of this address, and favour my weak endeavours. If my +confession of your divine power is any where too faint, believe it not +to proceed from a want of due respect, but of a capacity more than +human. Whoever thinks of you can no longer be himself; and if he could, +ought to be something above man to celebrate the accomplishment of a +goddess. To you I owe my creation as a lover, and in the beams of your +beauty only I live, move, and exist. If there should be a suspension of +your charms, I should fall to nothing. But it seems to be out of your +power to deprive us of their kind influence; wherever you shine they +fill all our hearts, and you are charming out of necessity, as the +author of nature is good.' We have quoted enough to shew the enthusiasm, +or rather phrenzy, of this address, which is written in such a manner as +if it were intended for a burlesque on the False Sublime, as the +speeches of James I. are upon pedantry. + +Mr. Croxall, who was intended for holy orders, and, probably, when he +published the Circassian, had really entered into them, was cautious +lest he should be known to be the author of this piece, since many +divines have esteemed the Song of Solomon, from which it is taken, as an +inspired poem, emblematic of the Messiah and the Church. Our author was +of another opinion, and with him almost all sensible men join, in +believing that it is no more than a beautiful poem, composed by that +Eastern monarch, upon some favourite lady in his Seraglio. He artfully +introduces it with a preface, in which he informs us, that it was the +composition of a young gentleman, his pupil, lately deceased, executed +by him, while he was influenced by that violent passion with which Mrs. +Mordaunt inspired him. He then endeavours to ascertain who this Eastern +beauty was, who had charms to enflame the heart of the royal poet. He is +of opinion it could not be Pharaoh's daughter, as has been commonly +conjectured, because the bride in the Canticles is characterised as a +private person, a shepherdess, one that kept a vineyard, and was ill +used by her mother's children, all which will agree very well with +somebody else, but cannot, without great straining, be drawn to fit the +Egyptian Princess. He then proceeds, 'seeing we have so good reason to +conclude that it was not Pharaoh's daughter, we will next endeavour to +shew who she was: and here we are destitute of all manner of light, but +what is afforded us by that little Arabian manuscript, mentioned in the +Philosophical Transactions of Amsterdam, 1558, said to be found in a +marble chest among the ruins of Palmyra, and presented to the university +of Leyden by Dr. Hermanus Hoffman. The contents of which are something +in the nature of Memoirs of the Court of Solomon; giving a sufficient +account of the chief offices and posts in his houshold; of the several +funds of the royal revenue; of the distinct apartments of his palace +there; of the different Seraglios, being fifty two in number in that one +city. Then there is an account given of the Sultanas; their manner of +treatment and living; their birth and country, with some touches of +their personal endowments, how long they continued in favour, and what +the result was of the King's fondness for each of them. Among these, +there is particular mention made of a slave of more exceeding beauty +than had ever been known before; at whose appearance the charms of all +the rest vanished like stars before the morning sun; that the King +cleaved to her with the strongest affection, and was not seen out of the +Seraglio, where she was kept, for about a month. That she was taken +captive, together with her mother, out of a vineyard, on the Coast of +Circassia, by a Corsair of Hiram King of Tyre, and brought to Jerusalem. +It is said, she was placed in the ninth Seraglio, to the east of +Palmyra, which, in the Hebrew tongue, is called Tadmor; which, without +farther particulars, are sufficient to convince us that this was the +charming person, sung with so much rapture by the Royal poet, and in the +recital of whose amour he seems so transported. For she speaks of +herself as one that kept a vineyard, and her mother's introducing her in +one of the gardens of pleasure (as it seems she did at her first +presenting her to the King) is here distinctly mentioned. The manuscript +further takes notice, that she was called Saphira, from the heavenly +blue of her eyes.' + +Notwithstanding the caution with which Mr. Croxall published the Fair +Circassian, yet it was some years after known to be his. The success it +met with, which was not indeed above its desert, was perhaps too much +for vanity (of which authors are seldom entirely divested) to resist, +and he might be betrayed into a confession, from that powerful +principle, of what otherwise would have remained concealed. + +Some years after it was published, Mr. Cragg, one of the ministers of +the city of Edinburgh, gave the world a small volume of spiritual poems, +in one of which he takes occasion to complain of the prostitution of +genius, and that few poets have ever turned their thoughts towards +religious subjects; and mentions the author of the Circassian with great +indignation, for having prostituted his Muse to the purposes of +lewdness, in converting the Song of Solomon (a work, as he thought it, +of sacred inspiration) into an amorous dialogue between a King and his +mistress. His words are, + + Curss'd be he that the Circassian wrote, + Perish his fame, contempt be all his lot, + Who basely durst in execrable strains, + Turn holy mysteries into impious scenes. + +The revd. gentleman met with some remonstrances from his friends, for +indulging so splenetic a temper, when he was writing in the cause of +religion, as to wish any man accursed. Of this censure he was not +insensible; in the next edition of his poems, he softened the sarcasm, +by declaring, in a note, that he had no enmity to the author's person, +and that when he wished him accursed, be meant not the man, but the +author, which are two very distinct considerations; for an author may be +accursed, that is, damned to fame, while the man may be in as fair a way +to happiness as any body; but, continues he, I should not have expected +such prophanation from a clergyman. + +The Circassian, however, is a beautiful poem, the numbers are generally +smooth, and there is a tender delicacy in the dialogue, though greatly +inferior to the noble original. + +Mr. Croxall had not long quitted the university, e'er he was instituted +to the living of Hampton in Middlesex; and afterwards to the united +parishes of St. Mary Somerset, and St. Mary Mounthaw, in the city of +London, both which he held 'till his death. He was also chancellor, +prebend, and canon residentiary and portionist of the church of +Hereford. Towards the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne he published +two original Cantos, in imitation of Spenser's Fairy Queen, which were +meant as a satire on the earl of Oxford's administration. In the year +1715 he addressed a poem to the duke of Argyle, upon his obtaining a +Victory over the Rebels, and the same year published The Vision, a poem, +addressed to the earl of Halifax. He was concerned, with many others, in +the translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, of which the following were +performed by him: + +The Story of Nisus and Scylla, from the sixth Book. + +The Labyrinth, and Daedalus and Icarus, from the eighth Book. + +Part of the Fable of Cyparissus from the tenth Book. + +Most part of the eleventh Book, and The Funeral of Memnon, from the +thirteenth Book. + +He likewise performed an entire Translation of AEsop's Fables. + +Subjoined to the Fair Circassian are several Poems addressed to Sylvia; +Naked Truth, from the second Book of Ovid's Fastorum; Heathen +Priestcraft, from the first Book of Ovid's Fastorum; A Midsummer's Wish; +and an Ode on Florinda, seen while she was Bathing. He is also author of +a curious work, in one Volume Octavo, entitled Scripture Politics: being +a view of the original constitution, and subsequent revolutions in the +government of that people, out of whom the Saviour of the World was to +arise: As it is contained in the Bible. + +In consequence of his strong attachment to the Whig interest, he was +made archdeacon of Salop 1732, and chaplain in ordinary to his present +Majesty. + +As late as the year 1750, Dr. Croxall published a poem called The Royal +Manual, in the preface to which he endeavours to shew, that it was +composed by Mr. Andrew Marvel, and found amongst his MSS. but the +proprietor declares, that it was written by Dr. Croxall himself. This +was the last of his performances, for he died the year following, in a +pretty advanced age. His abilities, as a poet, we cannot better display, +than by the specimen we are about to quote. + +On FLORINDA, Seen while she was Bathing. + + Twas summer, and the clear resplendent moon + Shedding far o'er the plains her full-orb'd light, + Among the lesser stars distinctly shone, + Despoiling of its gloom the scanty night, + When, walking forth, a lonely path I took + Nigh the fair border of a purling brook. + + Sweet and refreshing was the midnight air, + Whose gentle motions hush'd the silent grove; + Silent, unless when prick'd with wakeful care + Philomel warbled out her tale of love: + While blooming flowers, which in the meadows grew, + O'er all the place their blended odours threw. + + Just by, the limpid river's crystal wave, + Its eddies gilt with Phoebe's silver ray, + Still as it flow'd a glittering lustre gave + With glancing gleams that emulate the day; + Yet oh! not half so bright as those that rise + Where young Florinda bends her smiling eyes. + + Whatever pleasing views my senses meet, + Her intermingled charms improve the theme; + The warbling birds, the flow'rs that breath so sweet, + And the soft surface of the dimpled stream, + Resembling in the nymph some lovely part, + With pleasures more exalted seize my heart. + + Rapt in these thoughts I negligently rov'd, + Imagin'd transports all my soul employ, + When the delightful voice of her I lov'd + Sent thro' the Shades a sound of real joy. + Confus'd it came, with giggling laughter mixt, + And echo from the banks reply'd betwixt. + + Inspir'd with hope, upborn with light desire, + To the dear place my ready footsteps tend. + Quick, as when kindling trails of active fire + Up to their native firmament ascend: + There shrouded in the briers unseen I stood, + And thro' the leaves survey'd the neighb'ring flood. + + Florinda, with two sister nymphs, undrest, + Within the channel of the cooly tide, + By bathing sought to sooth her virgin breast, + Nor could the night her dazzling beauties hide; + Her features, glowing with eternal bloom, + Darted, like Hesper, thro' the dusky gloom. + + Her hair bound backward in a spiral wreath + Her upper beauties to my sight betray'd; + The happy stream concealing those beneath, + Around her waste with circling waters play'd; + Who, while the fair one on his bosom sported, + Her dainty limbs with liquid kisses courted. + + A thousand Cupids with their infant arms + Swam padling in the current here and there; + Some, with smiles innocent, remarked the charms + Of the regardless undesigning fair; + Some, with their little Eben bows full-bended, + And levell'd shafts, the naked girl defended. + + Her eyes, her lips, her breasts exactly round, + Of lilly hue, unnumber'd arrows sent; + Which to my heart an easy passage found, + Thrill'd in my bones, and thro' my marrow went: + Some bubbling upward thro' the water came, + Prepar'd by fancy to augment my flame. + + Ah love! how ill I bore thy pleasing pain? + For while the tempting scene so near I view'd, + A fierce impatience throb'd in every vein, + Discretion fled and reason lay subdu'd; + My blood beat high, and with its trembling made + A strange commotion in the rustling shade. + + Fear seiz'd the tim'rous Naiads, all aghast + Their boding spirits at the omen sink, + Their eyes they wildly on each other cast, + And meditate to gain the farther brink; + When in I plung'd, resolving to asswage + In the cool gulph love's importuning rage. + + Ah, stay Florinda (so I meant to speak) + Let not from love the loveliest object fly! + But ere I spoke, a loud combining squeak + From shrilling voices pierc'd the distant sky: + When straight, as each was their peculiar care, + Th' immortal pow'rs to bring relief prepare. + + A golden cloud descended from above, + Like that which whilom hung on Ida's brow, + Where Juno, Pallas, and the queen of love, + As then to Paris, were conspicuous now. + Each goddess seiz'd her fav'rite charge, and threw + Around her limbs a robe of azure hue. + + But Venus, who with pity saw my flame + Kindled by her own Amorer so bright, + Approv'd in private what she seem'd to blame, + And bless'd me with a vision of delight: + Careless she dropt Florinda's veil aside, + That nothing might her choicest beauties hide. + + I saw Elysium and the milky way + Fair-opening to the shades beneath her breast; + In Venus' lap the struggling wanton lay, + And, while she strove to hide, reveal'd the rest. + A mole, embrown'd with no unseemly grace, + Grew near, embellishing the sacred place. + + So pleas'd I view'd, as one fatigu'd with heat, + Who near at hand beholds a shady bower, + Joyful, in hope-amidst the kind retreat + To shun the day-star in his noon-tide hour; + Or as when parch'd with droughty thirst he spies + A mossy grot whence purest waters rise. + + So I Florinda--but beheld in vain: + Like Tantalus, who in the realms below + Sees blushing fruits, which to increase his pain, + When he attempts to eat, his taste forego. + O Venus! give me more, or let me drink + Of Lethe's fountain, and forget to think. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Mr. CHRISTOPHER PITT, + +The celebrated translator of Virgil, was born in the year 1699. He +received his early education in the college near Winchester; and in 1719 +was removed from thence to new college in Oxford. When he had studied +there four years, he was preferred to the living of Pimperne in +Dorsetshire, by his friend and relation, Mr. George Pitt; which he held +during the remaining part of his life. While he was at the university, +he possessed the affection and esteem of all who knew him; and was +particularly distinguished by that great poet Dr. Young, who so much +admired the early displays of his genius, that with an engaging +familiarity he used to call him his son. + +Amongst the first of Mr. Pitt's performances which saw the light, were a +panegyric on lord Stanhope, and a poem on the Plague of Marseilles: But +he had two large Folio's of MS. Poems, very fairly written out, while he +was a school-boy, which at the time of election were delivered to the +examiners. One of these volumes contained an entire translation of +Lucan; and the other consisted of Miscellaneous pieces. Mr. Pitt's Lucan +has never been published; perhaps from the consideration of its being +the production of his early life, or from a consciousness of its not +equalling the translation of that author by Rowe, who executed this talk +in the meridian of his genius. Several of his other pieces were +published afterwards, in his volume of Miscellaneous Poems. + +The ingenious writer of the Student hath obliged the world by inferring +in that work several original pieces by Mr. Pitt; whose name is prefixed +to them. + +Next to his beautiful Translation of Virgil, Mr. Pitt gained the +greatest reputation by rendering into English, Vida's Art of Poetry, +which he has executed with the strictest attention to the author's +sense, with the utmost elegance of versification, and without suffering +the noble spirit of the original to be lost in his translation. + +This amiable poet died in the year 1748, without leaving one enemy +behind him. On his tombstone were engraved these words, + + "He lived innocent, and died beloved." + +Mr. Auditor Benson, who in a pamphlet of his writing, has treated +Dryden's translation of Virgil with great contempt, was yet charmed with +that by Mr. Pitt, and found in it some beauties, of which he was fond +even to a degree of enthusiasm. Alliteration is one of those beauties +Mr. Benson so much admired, and in praise of which he has a long +dissertation in his letters on translated verse. He once took an +opportunity, in conversation with Mr. Pitt, to magnify that beauty, and +to compliment him upon it. Mr. Pitt thought this article far less +considerable than Mr. Benson did; but says he, 'since you are so fond of +alliteration, the following couplet upon Cardinal Woolsey will not +displease you, + + 'Begot by butchers, but by bishops bred, + How high his honour holds his haughty head. + +Benson was no doubt charmed to hear his favourite grace in poetry so +beautifully exemplified, which it certainly is, without any affectation +or stiffness. Waller thought this a beauty; and Dryden was very fond of +it. Some late writers, under the notion of imitating these two great +versifiers in this point, run into downright affectation, and are guilty +of the most improper and ridiculous expressions, provided there be but +an alliteration. It is very remarkable, that an affectation of this +beauty is ridiculed by Shakespear, in Love's Labour Lost, Act II. where +the Pedant Holofernes says, + + I will something affect the letter, for it argues facility.-- + The praiseful princess pierced, and prickt.-- + +Mr. Upton, in his letter concerning Spencer, observes, that alliteration +is ridiculed too in Chaucer, in a passage which every reader does not +understand. + +The Ploughman's Tale is written, in some measure, in imitation of +Pierce's Ploughman's Visions; and runs chiefly upon some one letter, or +at least many stanza's have this affected iteration, as + + A full sterne striefe is stirr'd now,-- + For some be grete grown on grounde. + +When the Parson therefore in his order comes to tell his tale, which +reflected on the clergy, he says, + + --I am a southern man, + I cannot jest, rum, ram, riff, by letter, + And God wote, rime hold I but little better. + +Ever since the publication of Mr. Pitt's version of the Aeneid, the +learned world has been divided concerning the just proportion of merit, +which ought to be ascribed to it. Some have made no scruple in defiance +of the authority of a name, to prefer it to Dryden's, both in exactness, +as to his author's sense, and even in the charms of poetry. This +perhaps, will be best discovered by producing a few shining passages of +the Aeneid, translated by these two great masters. + +In biographical writing, the first and most essential principal is +candour, which no reverence for the memory of the dead, nor affection +for the virtues of the living should violate. The impartiality which we +have endeavoured to observe through this work, obliges us to declare, +that so far as our judgment may be trusted, the latter poet has done +most justice to Virgil; that he mines in Pitt with a lustre, which +Dryden wanted not power, but leisure to bestow; and a reader, from +Pitt's version, will both acquire a more intimate knowledge of Virgil's +meaning, and a more exalted idea of his abilities.--Let not this detract +from the high representations we have endeavoured in some other places +to make of Dryden. When he undertook Virgil, he was stooping with age, +oppressed with wants, and conflicting with infirmities. In this +situation, it was no wonder that much of his vigour was lost; and we +ought rather to admire the amazing force of genius, which was so little +depressed under all these calamities, than industriously to dwell on his +imperfections. + +Mr. Spence in one of his chapters on Allegory, in his Polymetis, has +endeavoured to shew, how very little our poets have understood the +allegories of the antients, even in their translations of them; and has +instanced Mr. Dryden's translation of the Aeneid, as he thought him one +of our most celebrated poets. The mistakes are very numerous, and some +of them unaccountably gross. Upon this, says Mr. Warton, "I was desirous +to examine Mr. Pitt's translation of the same passages; and was +surprized to find near fifty instances which Mr. Spence has given of +Dryden's mistakes of that kind, when Mr. Pitt had not fallen into above +three or four." Mr. Warton then produces some instances, which we shall +not here transcribe, as it will be more entertaining to our readers to +have a few of the most shining passages compared, in which there is the +highest room for rising to a blaze of poetry. + +There are few strokes in the whole Aeneid, which have been more admired +than Virgil's description of the Lake of Avernus, Book VI. + + Spelunca alta fuit, vastoque immanis hiatu, + Scrupea, tuta lacu nigro, nemorumque tenebris; + Quam super haud ullae poterant impune volantes. + Tendere iter pennis; talis sese halitus atris, + Faucibus effundens supera ad convexa ferebat: + Unde locum Graii dixerunt nomine Aornon. + Quatuor hic primum nigrantes terga juvencos + Constituit, frontique invergit vina sacerdos; + Et, summas carpens media inter cornua setas, + Ignibus imponit sacris libarmina prima, + Voce vocans Hecaten, caeloque ereboque potentem. + + +DRYDEN. + + Deep was the cave; and downward as it went, + From the wide mouth, a rocky wide descent; + And here th'access a gloomy grove defends; + And there th'innavigable lake extends. + O'er whose unhappy waters, void of light, + No bird presumes to steer his airy flight; + Such deadly stenches from the depth arise, + And steaming sulphur that infects the skies. + From hence the Grecian bards their legends make, + And give the name Aornus to the lake. + Four fable bullocks in the yoke untaught, + For sacrifice, the pious hero brought. + The priestess pours the wine betwixt their horns: + Then cuts the curling hair, that first oblation burns, + Invoking Hecate hither to repair; + (A powerful name in hell and upper air.) + + +PITT. + + Deep, deep, a cavern lies, devoid of light, + All rough with rocks, and horrible to sight; + Its dreadful mouth is fenc'd with sable floods, + And the brown horrors of surrounding woods. + From its black jaws such baleful vapours rise, + Blot the bright day, and blast the golden skies, + That not a bird can stretch her pinions there, + Thro' the thick poisons, and incumber'd air, + But struck by death, her flagging pinions cease; + And hence Aornus was it call'd by Greece. + Hither the priestess, four black heifers led, + Between their horns the hallow'd wine she shed; + From their high front the topmost hairs she drew, + And in the flames the first oblations threw. + Then calls on potent Hecate, renown'd + In Heav'n above, and Erebus profound. + +The next instance we shall produce, in which, as in the former, Mr. Pitt +has greatly exceeded Dryden, is taken from Virgil's description of +Elysium, which says Dr. Trap is so charming, that it is almost Elysium +to read it. + + His demum exactis, perfecto munere divae, + Devenere locos laetos, & amoena vireta + Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas. + Largior hic campos aether & lumine vestit + Purpureo; solemque suum, sua sidera norunt. + Pars in gramineis exercent membra palaestris, + Contendunt ludo, & fulva luctanter arena: + Pars pedibus plaudunt choreas, & carmina dicunt. + Necnon Threicius longa cum veste sacerdos + Obloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum: + Jamque eadem digitis, jam pectine pulsat eburno. + + +PITT. + + These rites compleat, they reach the flow'ry plains, + The verdant groves, where endless pleasure reigns. + Here glowing AEther shoots a purple ray, + And o'er the region pours a double day. + From sky to sky th'unwearied splendour runs, + And nobler planets roll round brighter suns. + Some wrestle on the sands, and some in play + And games heroic pass the hours away. + Those raise the song divine, and these advance + In measur'd steps to form the solemn dance. + There Orpheus graceful in his long attire, + In seven divisions strikes the sounding lyre; + Across the chords the quivering quill he flings, + Or with his flying fingers sweeps the strings. + + +DRYDEN. + + These holy rites perform'd, they took their way, + Where long extended plains of pleasure lay. + The verdant fields with those of heav'n may vie; + With AEther veiled, and a purple sky: + The blissful seats of happy souls below; + Stars of their own, and their own suns they know. + Their airy limbs in sports they exercise, + And on the green contend the wrestlers prize. + Some in heroic verse divinely sing, + Others in artful measures lead the ring. + The Thracian bard surrounded by the rest, + There stands conspicuous in his flowing vest. + His flying fingers, and harmonious quill, + Strike seven distinguish'd notes, and seven at once they fill. + +In the celebrated description of the swiftness of Camilla in the VIIth +Aeneid, which Virgil has laboured with so much industry, Dryden is more +equal to Pitt than in the foregoing instances, tho' we think even in +this he falls short of him. + + Illa vel intactae segetis per summa volaret + Gramina, nec teneras curfu laesisset aristas: + Vel mare per medium, fluctu suspensa tumenti + Ferret iter; celeres nec tingeret aequore plantas. + + +DRYDEN. + +--The fierce virago fought,-- + Outstrip'd the winds, in speed upon the plain, + Flew o'er the fields, nor hurt the bearded grain: + She swept the seas, and as she skim'd along, + Her flying feet, unbath'd, on billows hung. + + +PITT. + + She led the rapid race, and left behind, + The flagging floods, and pinions of the wind; + Lightly she flies along the level plain, + Nor hurts the tender grass, nor bends the golden grain; + Or o'er the swelling surge suspended sweeps, + And smoothly skims unbath'd along the deeps. + +We shall produce one passage of a very different kind from the former, +that the reader may have the pleasure of making the comparison. This is +the celebrated simile in the XIth Book, when the fiery eagerness of +Turnus panting for the battle, is resembled to that of a Steed; which is +perhaps one of the most picturesque beauties in the whole Aeneid. + + Qualis, ubi abruptis fugit praesepia vinc'lis, + Tandem liber equus, campoque potitus aperto; + Aut ille in pastus armentaque tendit equarum, + Aut assuetus aquae perfundi flumine noto + Emicat; arrectisque fremit cervicibus alte + Luxurians, luduntque jubae per colla, per armos. + + +DRYDEN. + + Freed from his keepers, thus with broken reins, + The wanton courser prances o'er the plains: + Or in the pride of youth, o'erleaps the mounds, + And snuffs the females in forbidden grounds. + Or seeks his wat'ring in the well-known flood, + To quench his thirst, and cool his fiery blood: + He swims luxuriant in the liquid plain; + And o'er his shoulders flows his waving main. + He neighs, he snorts, he bears his head on high; + Before his ample chest, the frothy waters fly. + + +PITT. + + So the gay pamper'd steed with loosen'd reins, + Breaks from the stall, and pours along the plains; + With large smooth strokes he rushes to the flood, + Bathes his bright sides, and cools his fiery blood; + Neighs as he flies, and tossing high his head, + Snuffs the fair females in the distant mead; + At every motion o'er his neck reclin'd, + Plays his redundant main, and dances in the wind. + +From the above specimens, our readers may determine for themselves to +whose translation they would give the preference. Critics, like +historians, should divest themselves of prejudice: they should never be +misguided by the authority of a great name, nor yield that tribute to +prescription, which is only due to merit. Mr. Pitt, no doubt, had many +advantages above Dryden in this arduous province: As he was later in the +attempt, he had consequently the version of Dryden to improve upon. He +saw the errors of that great poet, and avoided them; he discovered his +beauties, and improved upon them; and as he was not impelled by +necessity, he had leisure to revise, correct, and finish his excellent +work. + +The Revd. and ingenious Mr. Joseph Warton has given to the world a +compleat edition of Virgil's works made English. The Aeneid by Mr. Pitt: +The Eclogues, Georgics, and notes on the whole, by himself; with some +new observations by Mr. Holdsworth, Mr. Spence, and others. This is the +compleatest English dress, in which Virgil ever appeared. It is enriched +with a dissertation on the VIth Book of the Aeneid, by Warburton. On the +Shield of Aeneas, by Mr. William Whitehead. On the Character of Japis, +by the late Dr. Atterbury bishop of Rochester; and three Essays on +Pastoral, Didactic, and Epic Poetry, by Mr. Warton. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. HAMMOND. + +This Gentleman, known to the world by the Love Elegies, which some years +after his death were published by the Earl of Chesterfield, was the son +of a Turkey merchant, in the city of London. We cannot ascertain where +he received his education; but it does not appear that he was at any of +the universities. Mr. Hammond was early preferred to a place about the +person of the late Prince of Wales, which he held till an unfortunate +accident stript him of his reason, or at least so affected his +imagination, that his senses were greatly disordered. The unhappy cause +of his calamity was a passion he entertained for one Miss Dashwood, +which proved unsuccessful. Upon this occasion it was that he wrote his +Love Elegies, which have been much celebrated for their tenderness. The +lady either could not return his passion with a reciprocal fondness, or +entertained too ambitious views to settle her affections upon him, which +he himself in some of his Elegies seems to hint; for he frequently +mentions her passion for gold and splendour, and justly treats it as +very unworthy a fair one's bosom. The chief beauty of these Elegies +certainly consists in their being written by a man who intimately felt +the subject; for they are more the language of the heart than of the +head. They have warmth, but little poetry, and Mr. Hammond seems to have +been one of those poets, who are made so by love, not by nature. + +Mr. Hammond died in the year 1743, in the thirty-first year of his age, +at Stow, the seat of his kind patron, the lord Cobham, who honoured him +with a particular intimacy. The editor of Mr. Hammond's Elegies +observes, that he composed them before he was 21 years of age; a period, +says he, when fancy and imagination commonly riot at the expence of +judgment and correctness. He was sincere in his love, as in his +friendship; he wrote to his mistress, as he spoke to his friends, +nothing but the true genuine sentiments of his heart. Tibullus seems to +have been the model our author judiciously preferred to Ovid; the former +writing directly from the heart to the heart, the latter too often +yielding and addressing himself to the imagination. + +As a specimen of Mr. Hammond's turn for Elegiac Poetry, we shall quote +his third Elegy, in which he upbraids and threatens the avarice of +Neaera, and resolves to quit her. + + Should Jove descend in floods of liquid ore, + And golden torrents stream from every part, + That craving bosom still would heave for more, + Not all the Gods cou'd satisfy thy heart. + + But may thy folly, which can thus disdain + My honest love, the mighty wrong repay, + May midnight-fire involve thy sordid gain, + And on the shining heaps of rapine prey. + + May all the youths, like me, by love deceiv'd, + Not quench the ruin, but applaud the doom, + And when thou dy'st, may not one heart be griev'd: + May not one tear bedew the lonely tomb. + + But the deserving, tender, gen'rous maid, + Whose only care is her poor lover's mind, + Tho' ruthless age may bid her beauty fade, + In every friend to love, a friend shall find. + + And when the lamp of life will burn no more, + When dead, she seems as in a gentle sleep, + The pitying neighbour shall her loss deplore; + And round the bier assembled lovers weep. + + With flow'ry garlands, each revolving year + Shall strow the grave, where truth and softness rest, + Then home returning drop the pious tear, + And bid the turff lie easy on her breast. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. JOHN BANKS. + +This poet was the son of Mr. John Banks of Sunning in Berkshire, in +which place he was born in 1709. His father dying while our author was +very young, the care of his education devolved upon an uncle in law, who +placed him at a private school, under the tuition of one Mr. Belpene, an +Anabaptist. This schoolmaster, so far from encouraging young Banks to +make a great progress in classical learning, exerted his influence with +his relations to have him taken from school, and represented him as +incapable of receiving much erudition. This conduct in Mr. Belpene +proceeded from an early jealousy imbibed against this young man, who, so +far from being dull, as the school-master represented him, possessed +extraordinary parts, of which he gave very early proofs. + +Mr. Belpene was perhaps afraid, that as soon as Mr. Banks mould finish +his education, he would be preferred to him as minister to the +congregation of Anabaptists, which place he enjoyed, independent of his +school. The remonstrances of Mr. Belpene prevailed with Mr. Banks's +uncle, who took him from school, and put him apprentice to a Weaver at +Reading. Before the expiration of the apprenticeship, Mr. Banks had the +misfortune to break his arm, and by that accident was disqualified from +pursuing the employment to which he was bred. How early Mr. Banks began +to write we cannot determine, but probably the first sallies of his wit +were directed against this school-master, by whom he was injuriously +treated, and by whose unwarrantable jealousy his education, in some +measure, was ruined. Our author, by the accident already mentioned, +being rendered unfit to obtain a livelihood, by any mechanical +employment, was in a situation deplorable enough. His uncle was either +unable, or unwilling to assist him, or, perhaps, as the relation between +them was only collateral, he had not a sufficient degree of tenderness +for him, to make any efforts in his favour. In this perplexity of our +young poet's affairs, ten pounds were left him by a relation, which he +very oeconomically improved to the best advantage. He came to London, +and purchasing a parcel of old books, he set up a stall in +Spital-Fields. + +Much about this time Stephen Duck, who had wrote a poem called The +Thresher, reaped very great advantages from it, and was caressed by +persons in power, who, in imitation of the Royal patroness, heaped +favours upon him, perhaps more on account of the extraordinary regard +Queen Caroline had shewn him, than any opinion of his merit. Mr. Banks +considered that the success of Mr. Duck was certainly owing to the +peculiarity of his circumstances, and that the novelty of a thresher +writing verses, was the genuine cause of his being taken notice of, and +not any intrinsic excellence in the verses themselves. This reflexion +inspired him with a resolution of making an effort of the same kind; but +as curiosity was no more to be excited by novelty, the attempt was +without success. He wrote, in imitation of The Thresher, The Weaver's +Miscellany, which failed producing the intended effect, and, 'tis said, +never was reckoned by Mr. Banks himself as any way worthy of particular +distinction. His business of selling books upon a stall becoming +disagreeable to him, as it demanded a constant and uncomfortable +attendance, he quitted that way of life, and was received into the shop +of one Mr. Montague a bookbinder, and bookseller, whom he served some +time as a journeyman. During the time he lived with Mr. Montague, he +employed his leisure hours in composing several poems, which were now +swelled to such a number, that he might sollicit a subscription for them +with a good grace. He had taken care to improve his acquaintance, and as +he had a power of distinguishing his company, he found his interest +higher in the world than he had imagined. He addressed a poem to Mr. +Pope, which he transmitted to that gentleman, with a copy of his +proposals inclosed. Mr. Pope answered his letter, and the civilities +contained in it, by subscribing for two setts of his poems, and 'tis +said he wrote to Mr. Banks the following compliment, + + 'May this put money in your purse: + For, friend, believe me, I've seen worse.' + +The publication of these poems, while they, no doubt, enhanced his +interest, added likewise something to his reputation; and quitting his +employment at Mr. Montague's, he made an effort to live by writing only. +He engaged in a large work in folio, entitled, The Life of Christ, which +was very acceptable to the public, and was executed with much piety and +precision. + +Mr. Banks's next prose work, of any considerable length, was A Critical +Review of the Life of Oliver Cromwell. We have already taken notice that +he received his education among the Anabaptists, and consequently was +attached to those principles, and a favourer of that kind of +constitution which Cromwell, in the first period of his power, meant to +establish. Of the many Lives of this great man, with which the biography +of this nation has been augmented, perhaps not one is written with a +true dispassionate candour. Men are divided in their sentiments +concerning the measures which, at that critical AEra, were pursued by +contending factions. The writers, who have undertaken to review those +unhappy times, have rather struggled to defend a party, to which they +may have been swayed by education or interest, than, by stripping +themselves of all partiality, to dive to the bottom of contentions in +search of truth. The heats of the Civil War produced such animosities, +that the fervour which then prevailed, communicated itself to posterity, +and, though at the distance of a hundred years, has not yet subsided. It +will be no wonder then if Mr. Banks's Review is not found altogether +impartial. He has, in many cases, very successfully defended Cromwell; +he has yielded his conduct, in others, to the just censure of the world. +But were a Whig and a Tory to read this book, the former would pronounce +him a champion for liberty, and the latter would declare him a subverter +of truth, an enemy to monarchy, and a friend to that chaos which Oliver +introduced. + +Mr. Banks, by his early principles, was, no doubt, biassed to the Whig +interest, and, perhaps, it may be true, that in tracing the actions of +Cromwell, he may have dwelt with a kind of increasing pleasure on the +bright side of his character, and but slightly hinted at those facts on +which the other party fasten, when they mean to traduce him as a +parricide and an usurper. But supposing the allegation to be true, Mr. +Banks, in this particular, has only discovered the common failing of +humanity: prejudice and partiality being blemishes from which the mind +of man, perhaps, can never be entirely purged. + +Towards the latter end of Mr. Banks's life, he was employed in writing +two weekly news-papers, the Old England, and the Westminster Journals. +Those papers treated chiefly on the politics of the times, and the trade +and navigation of England. They were carried on by our author, without +offence to any party, with an honest regard to the public interest, and +in the same kind of spirit, that works of that sort generally are. These +papers are yet continued by other hands. + +Mr. Banks had from nature very considerable abilities, and his poems +deservedly hold the second rank. They are printed in two volumes 8vo. +Besides the poems contained in these volumes, there are several other +poetical pieces of his scattered in news-papers, and other periodical +works to which he was an occasional contributer. He had the talent of +relating a tale humorously in verse, and his graver poems have both +force of thinking, and elegance of numbers to recommend them. + +Towards the spring of the year 1751 Mr. Banks, who had long been in a +very indifferent state of health, visibly declined. His disorder was of +a nervous sort, which he bore with great patience, and even with a +chearful resignation. This spring proved fatal to him; he died on the +19th of April at his house at Islington, where he had lived several +years in easy circumstances, by the produce of his pen, without leaving +one enemy behind him. + +Mr. Banks was a man of real good nature, of an easy benevolent +disposition, and his friends ever esteemed him as a most agreeable +companion. He had none of the petulance, which too frequently renders +men of genius unacceptable to their acquaintance. He was of so composed +a temper, that he was seldom known to be in a passion, and he wore a +perpetual chearfulness in his countenance. He was rather bashful, than +forward; his address did not qualify him for gay company, and though he +possessed a very extensive knowledge of things, yet, as he had not much +grace of delivery, or elegance of manner, he could not make so good a +figure in conversation, as many persons of his knowledge, with a happier +appearance. Of all authors Mr. Banks was the farthest removed from envy +or malevolence. As he could not bear the least whisper of detraction, so +he was never heard to express uneasiness at the growing reputation of +another; nor was he ever engaged in literacy contests. We shall conclude +this article in the words of lord Clarendon. 'He that lives such a life, +need be less anxious at how short warning it is taken from him [1].' + +[1] See lord Clarendon's character of the lord Falkland. + + + * * * * * + + +Mrs. LAETITIA PILKINGTON. + +This unfortunate poetess, the circumstances of whose life, written by +herself, have lately entertained the public, was born in the year 1712. +She was the daughter of Dr. Van Lewen, a gentleman of Dutch extraction, +who settled in Dublin. Her mother was descended of an ancient and +honourable family, who have frequently intermarried with the nobility. + +Mrs. Pilkington, from her earliest infancy, had a strong disposition to +letters, and particularly to poetry. All her leisure hours were +dedicated to the muses; from a reader she quickly became a writer, and, +as Mr. Pope expresses it, + + 'She lisp'd in numbers, for the numbers came.' + +Her performances were considered as extraordinary for her years, and +drew upon her the admiration of many, who found more pleasure in her +conversation, than that of girls generally affords. In consequence of a +poetical genius, and an engaging sprightliness peculiar to her, she had +many wooers, some of whom seriously addressed her, while others meant no +more than the common gallantries of young people. After the usual +ceremony of a courtship, she became the wife of Mr. Matthew Pilkington, +a gentleman in holy orders, and well known in the poetical world by his +volume of Miscellanies, revised by dean Swift. As we have few materials +for Mrs. Pilkington's life, beside those furnished by herself in her +Memoirs published in 1749, our readers must depend upon her veracity for +some facts which we may be obliged to mention, upon her sole authority. + +Our poetess, says she, had not been long married, e'er Mr. Pilkington +became jealous, not of her person, but her understanding. She was +applauded by dean Swift, and many other persons of taste; every +compliment that was paid her, gave a mortal stab to his peace. Behold +the difference between the lover and the husband! When Mr. Pilkington +courted her, he was not more enamoured of her person, than her poetry, +he shewed her verses to every body in the enthusiasm of admiration: but +now he was become a husband, it was a kind of treason for a wife to +pretend to literary accomplishments. + +It is certainly true, that when a woman happens to have more +understanding than her husband, she should be very industrious to +conceal it; but it is like wise true, that the natural vanity of the sex +is difficult to check, and the vanity of a poet still more difficult: +wit in a female mind can no more cease to sparkle, than she who +possesses it, can cease to speak. Mr. Pilkington began to view her with +scornful, yet with jealous eyes, and in this situation, nothing but +misery was likely to be their lot. While these jealousies subsisted, Mr. +Pilkington, contrary to the advice of his friends, went into England, in +order to serve as chaplain to alderman Barber during his mayoralty of +the city of London. + +While he remained in London, and having the strange humour of loving his +wife best at a distance, he wrote her a very kind letter, in which he +informed her, that her verses were like herself, full of elegance and +beauty[1]; that Mr. Pope and others, to whom he had shewn them, longed +to see the writer, and that he heartily wished her in London. This +letter set her heart on flame. London has very attractive charms to most +young people, and it cannot be much wondered at if Mrs. Pilkington +should take the only opportunity she was ever likely to have, of +gratifying her curiosity: which however proved fatal to her; for though +we cannot find, that during this visit to London, her conduct was the +least reproachable, yet, upon her return to Ireland, she underwent a +violent persecution of tongues. They who envied her abilities, fastened +now upon her morals; they were industrious to trace the motives of her +going to London; her behaviour while she was there; and insinuated +suspicions against her chastity. These detracters were chiefly of her +own sex, who supplied by the bitterest malice what they wanted in power. + +Not long after this an accident happened, which threw Mrs. Pilkington's +affairs into the utmost confusion. Her father was stabbed, as she has +related, by an accident, but many people in Dublin believe, by his own +wife, though some say, by his own hand. Upon this melancholy occasion, +Mrs. Pilkington has given an account of her father, which places her in +a very amiable light. She discovered for him the most filial tenderness; +she watched round his bed, and seems to have been the only relation then +about him, who deserved his blessing. From the death of her father her +sufferings begin, and the subsequent part of her life is a continued +series of misfortunes. + +Mr. Pilkington having now no expectation of a fortune by her, threw off +all reserve in his behaviour to her. While Mrs. Pilkington was in the +country for her health, his dislike of her seems to have encreased, +and, perhaps, he resolved to get rid of his wife at any rate: nor was he +long waiting for an occasion of parting with her. The story of their +separation may be found at large in her Memoirs. The substance is, that +she was so indiscreet as to permit a gentleman to be found in her +bed-chamber at an unseasonable hour; for which she makes this apology. +'Lovers of learning I am sure will pardon me, as I solemnly declare, it +was the attractive charms of a new book, which the gentleman would not +lend me, but consented to stay till I read it through, that was the +sole motive of my detaining him.' This indeed is a poor evasion; and as +Mrs. Pilkington has said no more in favour of her innocence, they must +have great charity indeed with whom she can stand exculpated. + +While the gentleman was with her, the servants let in twelve men at the +kitchen window, who, though they might, as she avers, have opened the +chamber door, chose rather to break it to pieces, and took both her and +the gentleman prisoners. Her husband now told her, that she must turn +out of doors; and taking hold of her hand, made a present of it to the +gentleman, who could not in honour refuse to take her, especially as his +own liberty was to be procured upon no other terms. It being then two +o'clock in the morning, and not knowing where to steer, she went home +with her gallant: but she sincerely assures us, that neither of them +entertained a thought of any thing like love, but sat like statues 'till +break of day. + +The gentleman who was found with her, was obliged to fly, leaving a +letter and five guineas inclosed in it for her. She then took a lodging +in some obscure street, where she was persecuted by infamous women, who +were panders to men of fortune. + +In the mean time Mr. Pilkington carried on a vigorous prosecution +against her in the Spiritual Court; during which, as she says, he +solemnly declared, he would allow her a maintainance, if she never gave +him any opposition: but no sooner had he obtained a separation, than he +retracted every word he had said on that subject. Upon this she was +advised to lodge an appeal, and as every one whom he consulted, assured +him he would be cast, he made a proposal of giving her a small annuity, +and thirty pounds[2] in money; which, in regard to her children, she +chose to accept, rather than ruin their father. She was with child at +the time of her separation, and when her labour came on, the woman where +she lodged insisted upon doubling her rent: whereupon she was obliged to +write petitionary letters, which were not always successful. + +Having passed the pains and peril of childbirth, she begged of Mr. +Pilkington to send her some money to carry her to England; who, in hopes +of getting rid of her, sent her nine pounds. She was the more desirous +to leave Ireland, as she found her character sinking every day with the +public. When she was on board the yacht, a gentleman of figure in the +gay world took an opportunity of making love to her, which she rejected +with some indignation. 'Had I (said she) accepted the offers he made me, +poverty had never approached me. I dined with him at Parkgate, and I +hope virtue will be rewarded; for though I had but five guineas in the +world to carry me to London, I yet possessed chastity enough to refuse +fifty for a night's lodging, and that too from a handsome well-bred man. +I shall scarcely ever forget his words to me, as they seemed almost +prophetic. "Well, madam, said he, you do not know London; you will be +undone there." "Why, sir, said I, I hope you don't imagine I will go +into a bad course of life?" "No, madam, said he, but I think you will +sit in your chamber and starve;" which, upon my word, I have been pretty +near doing; and, but that the Almighty raised me one worthy friend, good +old Mr. Cibber, to whose humanity I am indebted, under God, both for +liberty and life, I had been quite lost.' + +When Mrs. Pilkington arrived in London, her conduct was the reverse of +what prudence would have dictated. She wanted to get into favour with +the great, and, for that purpose, took a lodging in St. James's Street, +at a guinea a week; upon no other prospect of living, than what might +arise from some poems she intended to publish by subscription. In this +place she attracted the notice of the company frequenting White's +Chocolate-House; and her story, by means of Mr. Cibber, was made known +to persons of the first distinction, who, upon his recommendation, were +kind to her. + +Her acquaintance with Mr. Cibber began by a present she made him of The +Trial of Constancy, a poem of hers, which Mr. Dodsley published. Mr. +Cibber, upon this, visited her, and, ever after, with the most unwearied +zeal, promoted her interest. The reader cannot expect that we should +swell this volume by a minute relation of all the incidents which +happened to her, while she continued a poetical mendicant. She has not, +without pride, related all the little tattle which passed between her +and persons of distinction, who, through the abundance of their +idleness, thought proper to trifle an hour with her. + +Her virtue seems now to have been in a declining state; at least, her +behaviour was such, that a man, must have extraordinary faith, who can +think her innocent. She has told us, in the second volume of her +Memoirs, that she received from a noble person a present of fifty +pounds. This, she says, was the ordeal, or fiery trial; youth, beauty, +nobility of birth, attacking at once the most desolate person in the +world. However, we find her soon after this thrown into great distress, +and making various applications to persons of distinction for +subscriptions to her poems. Such as favoured her by subscribing, she has +repaid with most lavish encomiums, and those that withheld that proof of +their bounty, she has sacrificed to her resentment, by exhibiting them +in the most hideous light her imagination could form. + +From the general account of her characters, this observation results, +That such as she has stigmatized for want of charity, ought rather to be +censured for want of decency. There might be many reasons, why a person +benevolent in his nature, might yet refuse to subscribe to her; but, in +general, such as refused, did it (as she says) in a rude manner, and she +was more piqued at their deficiency in complaisance to her, than their +want of generosity. Complaisance is easily shewn; it may be done without +expence; it often procures admirers, and can never make an enemy. On the +other hand, benevolence itself, accompanied with a bad grace, may lay us +under obligations, but can never command our affection. It is said of +King Charles I. that he bestowed his bounty with so bad a grace, that he +disobliged more by giving, than his son by refusing; and we have heard +of a gentleman of great parts, who went to Newgate with a greater +satisfaction, as the judge who committed him accompanied the sentence +with an apology and a compliment, than he received from his releasment +by another, who, in extending the King's mercy to him, allayed the Royal +clemency by severe invectives against the gentleman's conduct. + +We must avoid entering into a detail of the many addresses, +disappointments and encouragements, which she met with in her attendance +upon the great: her characters are naturally, sometimes justly, and +often strikingly, exhibited. The incidents of her life while she +remained in London were not very important, though she has related them +with all the advantage they can admit of. They are such as commonly +happen to poets in distress, though it does not often fall out, that the +insolence of wealth meets with such a bold return as this lady has given +it. There is a spirit of keenness, and freedom runs through her book, +she spares no man because he is great by his station, or famous by his +abilities. Some knowledge of the world may be gained from reading her +Memoirs; the different humours of mankind she has shewn to the life, and +whatever was ridiculous in the characters she met with, is exposed in +very lively terms. + +The next scene which opens in Mrs. Pilkington's life, is the prison of +the Marshalsea. The horrors and miseries of this jail she has +pathetically described, in such a manner as should affect the heart of +every rigid creditor. In favour of her fellow-prisoners, she wrote a +very moving memorial, which, we are told, excited the legislative power +to grant an Act of Grace for them. After our poetess had remained nine +weeks in this prison, she was at last released by the goodness of Mr. +Cibber, from whose representation of her distress, no less than sixteen +dukes contributed a guinea apiece towards her enlargement. When this +news was brought her, she fainted away with excess of joy. Some time +after she had tasted liberty, she began to be weary of that continued +attendance upon the great; and therefore was resolved, if ever she was +again favoured with a competent sum, to turn it into trade, and quit the +precarious life of a poetical mendicant. Mr. Cibber had five guineas in +reserve for her, which, with ten more she received from the duke of +Marlborough, enabled her to take a shop in St. James's Street, which she +filled with pamphlets and prints, as being a business better suited to +her taste and abilities, than any other. Her adventures, while she +remained a shopkeeper, are not extremely important. She has neglected to +inform us how long she continued behind the counter, but has told us, +however, that by the liberality of her friends, and the bounty of her +subscribers, she was set above want, and that the autumn of her days was +like to be spent in peace and serenity. + +But whatever were her prospects, she lived not long to enjoy the +comforts of competence, for on the 29th of August, 1750, a few years +after the publication of her second volume, she died at Dublin, in the +thirty ninth year of her age. + +Considered as a writer, she holds no mean rank. She was the author of +The Turkish Court, or The London Apprentice, acted at the theatre in +Caple-street, Dublin, 1748, but never printed. This piece was poorly +performed, otherwise it promised to have given great satisfaction. The +first act of her tragedy of the Roman Father, is no ill specimen of her +talents that way, and throughout her Memoirs there are scattered many +beautiful little pieces, written with a true spirit of poetry, though +under all the disadvantages that wit can suffer. Her memory seems to +have been amazingly great, of which her being able to repeat almost all +Shakespear is an astonishing instance. + +One of the prettiest of her poetical performances, is the following +Address to the reverend Dr. Hales, with whom she became acquainted at +the house of captain Mead, near Hampton-Court. + +To the Revd. Dr. HALES. + + Hail, holy sage! whose comprehensive mind, + Not to this narrow spot of earth confin'd, + Thro' num'rous worlds can nature's laws explore, + Where none but Newton ever trod before; + And, guided by philosophy divine, + See thro' his works th'Almighty Maker shine: + Whether you trace him thro' yon rolling spheres, + Where, crown'd with boundless glory, he appears; + Or in the orient sun's resplendent rays, + His setting lustre, or his noon-tide blaze, + New wonders still thy curious search attend, + Begun on earth, in highest Heav'n to end. + O! while thou dost those God-like works pursue, + What thanks, from human-kind to thee are due! + Whose error, doubt, and darkness, you remove, + And charm down knowledge from her throne above. + Nature to thee her choicest secrets yields, + Unlocks her springs, and opens all her fields; + Shews the rich treasure that her breast contains, + In azure fountains, or enamell'd plains; + Each healing stream, each plant of virtuous use, + To thee their medicinal pow'rs produce. + Pining disease and anguish wing their flight, + And rosy health renews us to delight. + + When you, with art, the animal dissect, + And, with the microscopic aid, inspect + [Transcriber's note: 'microsopic' in + original] + Where, from the heart, unnumbered rivers glide, + And faithful back return their purple tide; + How fine the mechanism, by thee display'd! + How wonderful is ev'ry creature made! + Vessels, too small for sight, the fluids strain, + Concoct, digest, assimilate, sustain; + In deep attention, and surprize, we gaze, + And to life's author, raptur'd, pour out praise. + + What beauties dost thou open to the sight, + Untwisting all the golden threads of light! + Each parent colour tracing to its source, + Distinct they live, obedient to thy force! + Nought from thy penetration is conceal'd, + And light, himself, shines to thy soul reveal'd. + + So when the sacred writings you display, + And on the mental eye shed purer day; + In radiant colours truth array'd we see, + Confess her charms, and guided up by thee; + Soaring sublime, on contemplation's wings, + The fountain seek, whence truth eternal springs. + Fain would I wake the consecrated lyre, + And sing the sentiments thou didst inspire! + But find my strength unequal to a theme, + Which asks a Milton's, or a Seraph's flame! + If, thro' weak words, one ray of reason shine, + Thine was the thought, the errors only mine. + Yet may these numbers to thy soul impart + The humble incense of a grateful heart. + Trifles, with God himself, acceptance find, + If offer'd with sincerity of mind; + Then, like the Deity, indulgence shew, + Thou, most like him, of all his works below. + +FOOTNOTES: +[1] An extravagant compliment; for Mrs. Pilkington was far from being a + beauty. + +[2] Of which, she says, she received only 15 l. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. THOMAS SOUTHERN. + +This eminent poet was born in Dublin, on the year of the Restoration of +Charles the IId. and received his early education at the university +there. In the 18th year of his age, he quitted Ireland, and as his +intention was to pursue a lucrative profession, he entered himself in +the Middle-Temple. But the natural vivacity of his mind overcoming +considerations of advantage, he quitted that state of life, and entered +into the more agreeable service of the Muses[1]. + +The first dramatic performance of Mr. Southern, his Persian Prince, or +Loyal Brother, was acted in the year 1682. The story is taken from +Thamas Prince of Persia, a Novel; and the scene is laid in Ispahan in +Persia. This play was introduced at a time when the Tory interest was +triumphant in England, and the character of the Loyal brother was no +doubt intended to compliment James Duke of York, who afterwards rewarded +the poet for his service. To this Tragedy Mr. Dryden wrote the Prologue +and Epilogue, which furnished Mr. Southern with an opportunity of saying +in his dedication, 'That the Laureat's own pen secured me, maintaining +the out-works, while I lay safe entrenched within his lines; and malice, +ill-nature, and censure were forced to grin at a distance.' + +The Prologue is a continued invective against the Whigs, and whether +considered as a party libel, or an induction to a new play, is in every +respect unworthy of the great hand that wrote it. His next play was a +Comedy, called the Disappointment, or the Mother in Fashion, performed +in the year 1684.--After the accession of king James the IId to the +throne, when the duke of Monmouth made an unfortunate attempt upon his +uncle's crown, Mr. Southern went into the army, in the regiment of foot +raised by the lord Ferrers, afterwards commanded by the duke of Berwick; +and he had three commissions, viz. ensign, lieutenant, and captain, +under King James, in that regiment. + +During the reign of this prince, in the year before the Revolution, he +wrote a Tragedy called the Spartan Dame, which however was not acted +till the year 1721. The subject is taken from the Life of Agis in +Plutarch, where the character of Chelonis, between the duties of a wife +and daughter was thought to have a near resemblance to that of King +William's Queen Mary. 'I began this play, says Mr. Southern, a year +before the Revolution, and near four acts written without any view. Many +things interfering with those times, I laid by what I had written for +seventeen years: I shewed it then to the late duke of Devonshire, who +was in every regard a judge; he told me he saw no reason why it might +not have been acted the year of the Revolution: I then finished it, and +as I thought cut out the exceptionable parts, but could not get it +acted, not being able to persuade myself to the cutting off those limbs, +which I thought essential to the strength and life of it. But since I +found it must pine in obscurity without it, I consented to the +operation, and after the amputation of every line, very near to the +number of 400, it stands on its own legs still, and by the favour of the +town, and indulging assistance of friends, has come successfully forward +on the stage.' This play was inimitably acted. Mr. Booth, Mr. Wilks, Mr. +Cibber, Mr. Mills, sen. Mrs. Oldfield, and Mrs. Porter, all performed in +it, in their heighth of reputation, and the full vigour of their powers. + +Mr. Southern acknowledges in his preface to this play, that the last +scene of the third Act, was almost all written by the honourable John +Stafford, father to the earl of Stafford. Mr. Southern has likewise +acknowledged, that he received from the bookseller, as a price for this +play, 150 l. which at that time was very extraordinary. He was the first +who raised the advantage of play writing to a second and third night, +which Mr. Pope mentions in the following manner, + + --Southern born to raise, + The price of Prologues and of Plays. + +The reputation which Mr. Dryden gained by the many Prologues he wrote, +induced the players to be sollicitous to have one of his to speak, which +were generally well received by the public. Mr. Dryden's price for a +Prologue had usually been five guineas, with which sum Mr. Southern +presented him when he received from him a Prologue for one of his plays. +Mr. Dryden returned the money, and said to him; 'Young man this is too +little, I must have ten guineas.' Mr. Southern on this observ'd, that +his usual price was five guineas. Yes answered Dryden, it has been so, +but the players have hitherto had my labours too cheap; for the future I +must have ten guineas [2]. + +Mr. Southern was industrious to draw all imaginable profits from his +poetical labours. Mr. Dryden once took occasion to ask him how much he +got by one of his plays; to which he answered, that he was really +ashamed to inform him. But Mr. Dryden being a little importunate to +know, he plainly told him, that by his last play he cleared seven +hundred pounds; which appeared astonishing to Mr. Dryden, as he himself +had never been able to acquire more than one hundred by any of his most +successful pieces. The secret is, Mr. Southern was not beneath the +drudgery of sollicitation, and often sold his tickets at a very high +price, by making applications to persons of distinction: a degree of +servility which perhaps Mr. Dryden thought was much beneath the dignity +of a poet; and too much in the character of an under-player. + +That Mr. Dryden entertained a very high opinion of our author's +abilities, appears from his many expressions of kindness towards him. He +has prefixed a copy of verses to a Comedy of his, called the Wife's +Excuse, acted in the year 1692, with very indifferent success: Of this +Comedy, Mr. Dryden had so high an opinion, that he bequeathed to our +poet, the care of writing half the last act of his Tragedy of Cleomenes, +'Which, says Mr. Southern, when it comes into the world will appear to +be so considerable a trust, that all the town will pardon me for +defending this play, that preferred me to it.' + +Our author continued from time to time to entertain the public with his +dramatic pieces, the greatest part of which met with the success they +deserved. The night on which his Innocent Adultery was first acted, +which is perhaps the most moving play in any language; a gentleman took +occasion to ask Mr. Dryden, what was his opinion of Southern's genius? +to which that great poet replied, 'That he thought him such another poet +as Otway.' When this reply was communicated to Mr. Southern, he +considered it as a very great compliment, having no ambition to be +thought a more considerable poet than Otway was. + +Of our author's Comedies, none are in possession of the stage, nor +perhaps deserve to be so; for in that province he is less excellent than +in Tragedy. The present Laureat, who is perhaps one of the best judges +of Comedy now living, being asked his opinion by a gentleman, of +Southern's comic dialogue, answered, That it might be denominated +Whip-Syllabub, that is, flashy and light, but indurable; and as it is +without the Sal Atticum of wit, can never much delight the intelligent +part of the audience. + +The most finished, and the most pathetic of Mr. Southern's plays, in the +opinion of the critics, is his Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave. This drama +is built upon a true story, related by Mrs. Behn, in a Novel; and has so +much the greater influence on the audience, as they are sensible that +the representation is no fiction. In this piece, Mr. Southern has +touched the tender passions with so much skill, that it will perhaps be +injurious to his memory to say of him, that he is second to Otway. +Besides the tender and delicate strokes of passion, there are many +shining and manly sentiments in Oroonoko; and one of the greatest +genius's of the present age, has often observed, that in the most +celebrated play of Shakespear, so many striking thoughts, and such a +glow of animated poetry cannot be furnished. This play is so often +acted, and admired, that any illustration of its beauties here, would be +entirely superfluous. His play of The Fatal Marriage, or The Innocent +Adultery, met with deserved success; the affecting incidents, and +interesting tale in the tragic part, sufficiently compensate for the +low, trifling, comic part; and when the character of Isabella is acted, +as we have seen it, by Mrs. Porter, and Mrs. Woffington, the ladies +seldom fail to sympathise in grief. + +Mr. Southern died on the 26th of May, in the year 1746, in the 86th year +of his age; the latter part of which he spent in a peaceful serenity, +having by his commission as a soldier, and the profits of his dramatic +works, acquired a handsome fortune; and being an exact oeconomist, he +improved what fortune he gained, to the best advantage: He enjoyed the +longest life of all our poets, and died the richest of them, a very few +excepted. + +A gentleman whose authority we have already quoted, had likewise +informed us, that Mr. Southern lived for the last ten years of his life +in Westminster, and attended very constant at divine service in the +Abbey, being particularly fond of church music. He never staid within +doors while in health, two days together, having such a circle of +acquaintance of the best rank, that he constantly dined with one or +other, by a kind of rotation. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Jacob. + +[2] From the information of a gentleman personally acquainted +with Mr. Southern, who desires to have his name conceal'd. + + + * * * * * + + +The Revd. Mr. JAMES MILLER. + +This gentleman was born in the year 1703. He was the son of a clergyman, +who possessed two considerable livings in Dorsetshire[1]. He received +his education at Wadham-College in Oxford, and while he was resident in +that university he composed part of his famous Comedy called the Humours +of Oxford, acted in the year 1729, by the particular recommendation of +Mrs. Oldfield. + +This piece, as it was a lively representation of the follies and vices +of the students of that place, procured the author many enemies. + +Mr. Miller was designed by his relations to be bred to business, which +he declined, not being able to endure the servile drudgery it demanded. +He no sooner quitted the university than he entered into holy orders, +and was immediately preferred to be lecturer in Trinity-College in +Conduit-Street, and preacher of Roehampton-Chapel. These livings were +too inconsiderable to afford a genteel subsistence, and therefore it may +be supposed he had recourse to dramatic writing to encrease his +finances. This kind of composition, however, being reckoned by some very +foreign to his profession, if not inconsistent with it, was thought to +have retarded his preferment in the church. Mr. Miller was likewise +attached to the High-Church interest, a circumstance in the times in +which he lived, not very favourable to preferment. He was so honest +however in these principles, that upon a large offer being made him by +the agents for the ministry in the time of a general opposition, he had +virtue sufficient to withstand the temptation, though his circumstances +at that time were far from being easy. Mr. Miller often confessed to +some of his friends, that this was the fiery trial of his constancy. He +had received by his wife a very genteel fortune, and a tenderness for +her had almost overcome his resolutions; but he recovered again to his +former firmness, when upon hinting to his wife, the terms upon which +preferment might be procured, she rejected them with indignation; and he +became ashamed of his own wavering. This was an instance of honour, few +of which are to be met with in the Lives of the Poets, who have been too +generally of a time-serving temper, and too pliant to all the follies +and vices of their age. But though Mr. Miller would not purchase +preferment upon the terms of writing for the ministry, he was content to +stipulate, never to write against them, which proposal they rejected in +their turn. + +About a year before Mr. Miller's death, which happened in 1743, he was +presented by Mr. Cary of Dorsetshire, to the profitable living of Upsun, +his father had before possess'd, but which this worthy man lived not +long to enjoy; nor had he ever an opportunity of making that provision +for his family he so much sollicited; and which he even disdained to do +at the expence of his honour. + +Mr. Miller's dramatic works are, + +I. Humours of Oxford, which we have already mentioned. + +II. The Mother-in-Law, or the Doctor the Disease; a Comedy, 1733. + +III. The Man of Taste, a Comedy; acted in the year 1736, which had a run +of 30 nights[2]. + +IV. Universal Passion, a Comedy, 1736. + +V. Art and Nature, a Comedy, 1737. + +VI. The Coffee-House, a Farce, 1737. + +VII. An Hospital for Fools, a Farce, 1739. + +VIII. The Picture, or Cuckold in Conceit. + +IX. Mahomet the Impostor, a Tragedy; during the run of this play the +author died. + +X. Joseph and his Brethren; a sacred Drama. + +Mr. Miller was author of many occasional pieces in poetry, of which his +Harlequin Horace is the most considerable. This Satire is dedicated to +Mr. Rich, the present manager of Covent-Garden Theatre, in which with an +ironical severity he lashes that gentleman, in consequence of some +offence Mr. Rich had given him. + +Mr. Miller likewise published a volume of Sermons, all written with a +distinguished air of piety, and a becoming zeal for the interest of true +religion; and was principally concerned in the translation of Moliere's +comedies, published by Watts. + +Our author left behind him a son, whose profession is that of a sea +surgeon. Proposals for publishing his Poems have been inserted in the +Gentleman's Magazine, with a specimen, which does him honour. The +profits of this subscription, are to be appropriated to his mother, whom +he chiefly supported, an amiable instance of filial piety. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The account of this gentleman is taken from the information of his + widow. + +[2] These two pieces were brought on the stage, without the author's + name being known; which, probably, not a little contributed to their + success; the care of the rehearsals being left to Mr. Theo. Cibber, + who played the characters of the Man of Taste, and Squire + Headpiece. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. NICHOLAS AMHURST. + +This gentleman, well known to the world, by the share he had in the +celebrated anti-court paper called The Craftsman, was born in Marden in +Kent, but in what year we cannot be certain. Mr. Amhurst's grandfather +was a clergyman, under whose protection and care he received his +education at Merchant-Taylors school. Having received there the +rudiments of learning, he was removed to St. John's College, Oxford, +from which, on account of the libertinism of his principles, and some +offence he gave to the head of that college, it appears, he was ejected. +We can give no other account of this affair, than what is drawn from Mr. +Amhurst's dedication of his poems to Dr. Delaune, President of St. +John's College in Oxford. This dedication abounds with mirth and +pleasantry, in which he rallies the Dr. with very pungent irony, and +hints at the causes of his disgrace in that famous college. In page 10, +of his dedication, he says, + +'You'll pardon me, good sir, if I think it necessary for your honour to +mention the many heinous crimes for which I was brought to shame. None +were indeed publicly alledged against me at that time, because it might +as well be done afterwards; sure old Englishmen can never forget that +there is such a thing as hanging a man for it, and trying him +afterwards: so fared it with me; my prosecutors first proved me, by an +undeniable argument, to be no fellow of St. John's College, and then to +be--the Lord knows what. + +'My indictment may be collected out of the faithful annals of common +fame, which run thus, + +'Advices from Oxford say, that on the 29th of June, 1719, one Nicholas +Amhurst of St. John's College was expelled for the following reasons; + +'Imprimis, For loving foreign turnips and Presbyterian bishops. + +'Item, For ingratitude to his benefactor, that spotless martyr, Sir +William Laud. + +'Item, For believing that steeples and organs are not necessary to +salvation. + +'Item, For preaching without orders, and praying without a commission. + +'Item, For lampooning priestcraft and petticoatcraft. + +'Item, For not lampooning the government and the revolution. + +'Item, For prying into secret history. + +'My natural modesty will not permit me, like other apologists, to +Vindicate myself in any one particular, the whole charge is so artfully +drawn up, that no reasonable person would ever think the better of me, +should I justify myself 'till doomsday.' Towards the close of the +dedication, he takes occasion to complain of some severities used +against him, at the time of his being excluded the college. 'But I must +complain of one thing, whether reasonable or not, let the world judge. +When I was voted out of your college, and the nusance was thereby +removed, I thought the resentments of the holy ones would have proceeded +no further; I am sure the cause of virtue and sound religion I was +thought to offend, required no more; nor could it be of any possible +advantage to the church, to descend to my private affairs, and stir up +my creditors in the university to take hold of me at a disadvantage, +before I could get any money returned; but there are some persons in the +world, who think nothing unjust or inhuman in the prosecution of their +implacable revenge.' + +It is probable, that upon this misfortune happening to our author, he +repaired to the capital, there to retrieve his ruined affairs. We find +him engaged deeply in the Craftsman, when that paper was in its +meridian, and when it was more read and attended to than any political +paper ever published in England, on account of the assistance given to +it by some of the most illustrious and important characters of the +nation. It is said, that ten thousand of that paper have been sold in +one day. + +The Miscellanies of Mr. Amhurst, the greatest part of which were written +at the university, consist chiefly of poems sacred and profane, +original, paraphrased, imitated, and translated; tales, epigrams, +epistles, love-verses, elegies, and satires. The Miscellany begins with +a beautiful paraphrase on the Mosaic Account of the Creation; and ends +with a very humorous tale upon the discovery of that useful utensil, A +Bottle-Screw. + +Mr. Amhurst died of a fever at Twickenham, April 27, 1742. Our poet had +a great enmity to the exorbitant demands, and domineering spirit of the +High-Church clergy, which he discovers by a poem of his, called, The +convocation, in five cantos; a kind of satire against all the writers, +who shewed themselves enemies of the bishop of Bangor. He translated The +Resurrection, and some other of Mr. Addison's Latin pieces. + +He wrote an epistle (with a petition in it) to Sir John Blount, Bart. +one of the directors of the South-Sea Company, 1726. + +Oculus Britanniae, an Heroi-panegyrical Poem, on the University of +Oxford, 8vo. 1724. + +In a poem of Mr. Amhurst's, called, An Epistle from the Princess +Sobiesky to the Chevalier de St. George, he has the following nervous +lines, strongly expressive of the passion of love. + + Relentless walls and bolts obstruct my way, + And, guards as careless, and as deaf as they; + Or to my James thro' whirlwinds I would, go, + Thro' burning deserts, and o'er alps of snow, + Pass spacious roaring, oceans undismay'd, + And think the mighty dangers well repaid. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. GEORGE LILLO. + +Was by profession a jeweller. He was born in London, on the 4th of Feb. +1693. He lived, as we are informed, near Moorgate, in the same +neighbourhood where he received his birth, and where he was always +esteemed as a person of unblemished character. 'Tis said, he was +educated in the principles of the dissenters: be that as it will, his +morals brought no disgrace on any sect or party. Indeed his principal +attachment was to the muses. + +His first piece, brought on the stage, was a Ballad Opera, called +Sylvia; or, The Country Burial; performed at the Theatre Royal in +Lincoln's-Inn Fields, but with no extraordinary success, in the year +1730. The year following he brought his play, called The London +Merchant; or, The True Story of George Barnwell, to Mr. Cibber junior; +(then manager of the summer company, at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane) +who originally played the part of Barnwell.--The author was not then +known. As this was almost a new species of tragedy, wrote on a very +uncommon subject, he rather chose it should take its fate in the summer, +than run the more hazardous fate of encountering the winter criticks. +The old ballad of George Barnwell (on which the story was founded) was +on this occasion reprinted, and many thousands sold in one day. Many +gaily-disposed spirits brought the ballad with them to the play, +intending to make their pleasant remarks (as some afterwards owned) and +ludicrous comparisons between the antient ditty and the modern drama. +But the play was very carefully got up, and universally allowed to be +well performed. The piece was thought to be well conducted, and the +subject well managed, and the diction proper and natural; never low, and +very rarely swelling above the characters that spoke. Mr. Pope, among +other persons, distinguished by their rank, or particular publick merit, +had the curiosity to attend the performance, and commended the actors, +and the author; and remarked, if the latter had erred through the whole +play, it was only in a few places, where he had unawares led himself +into a poetical luxuriancy, affecting to be too elevated for the +simplicity of the subject. But the play, in general, spoke so much to +the heart, that the gay persons before mentioned confessed, they were +drawn in to drop their ballads, and pull out their handkerchiefs. It met +with uncommon success; for it was acted above twenty times in the summer +season to great audiences; was frequently bespoke by some eminent +merchants and citizens, who much approved its moral tendency: and, in +the winter following, was acted often to crowded houses: And all the +royal family, at several different times, honoured it with their +appearance. It gained reputation, and brought money to the poet, the +managers, and the performers. Mr. Cibber, jun. not only gave the author +his usual profits of his third days, &c. but procured him a +benefit-night in the winter season, which turned out greatly to his +advantage; so that he had four benefit-nights in all for that piece; by +the profits whereof, and his copy-money, he gained several hundred +pounds. It continued a stock-play in Drury-Lane Theatre till Mr. Cibber +left that house, and went to the Theatre in Covent-Garden. It was often +acted in the Christmas and Easter holidays, and judged a proper +entertainment for the apprentices, &c. as being a more instructive, +moral, and cautionary drama, than many pieces that had been usually +exhibited on those days, with little but farce and ribaldry to +recommend them. + +A few years after, he brought out his play of The Christian Hero at the +Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. + +And another Tragedy called Elmerick. + +His tragedy of three acts, called Fatal Curiosity, founded on an old +English story, was acted with success at the Hay-Market, in 1737. + +He wrote another tragedy, never yet acted, called Arden of Feversham. + +He was a man of strict morals, great good-nature, and sound sense, with +an uncommon share of modesty. + +He died Sept. 3. 1739. and was buried in the vault of Shoreditch church. + + + * * * * * + + +Mr. CHARLES JOHNSON. + +Mr. Charles Johnson was designed for the law; but being an admirer of +the muses, turned his thoughts to dramatic writing; and luckily being an +intimate of Mr. Wilks, by the assistance of his friendship, Mr. Johnson +had several plays acted, some of which met with success. He was a +constant attendant at Will's and Button's coffee houses, which were the +resort of most of the men of taste and literature, during the reigns of +queen Anne and king George the first. Among these he contracted intimacy +enough to intitle him to their patronage, &c on his benefit-nights; by +which means he lived (with oeconomy) genteelly. At last he married a +young widow, with a tolerable fortune, and set up a tavern in +Bow-street, which he quitted on his wife's dying, and lived privately on +the small remainder of his fortune. + +He died about the year 1744. His parts were not very brilliant; but his +behaviour was generally thought inoffensive; yet he escaped not the +satire of Mr. Pope, who has been pleased to immortalize him in his +Dunciad. + +His dramatic pieces are, + +1. The Gentleman Cully, a Comedy: acted at the Theatre-Royal, +Covent-Garden, 1702. + +2. Fortune in her Wits, a Comedy; 1705. It is a very indifferent +translation of Mr. Cowley's Naufragium Joculare. + +3. The Force of Friendship, a Tragedy, 1710. + +4. Love in a Chest, a Farce, 1710. + +5. The Wife's Relief; or, the Husband's Cure; a Comedy. It is chiefly +borrowed from Shirley's Gamester, 1711. + +6. The Successful Pirate, a Tragi-Comedy, 1712. + +7. The Generous Husband; or, the Coffee-house Politician; a Comedy, +1713. + +8. The Country Lasses; or, the Custom of the Manor; a Comedy, 1714. + +9. Love and Liberty; a Tragedy, 1715. + +10. The Victim; a Tragedy, 1715. + +11. The Sultaness; a Tragedy, 1717. + +12. The Cobler of Preston; a Farce of two Acts, 1717. + +13. Love in a Forest; a Comedy, 1721. Taken from Shakespear's Comedy, As +you like it. + +14. The Masquerade; a Comedy, 1723. + +15. The Village Opera, 1728. + +16. The Ephesian Matron; a Farce of one Act, 1730. + +17. Celia; or, the Perjured Lovers; a Tragedy, 1732. + + + * * * * * + + +PHILIP FROWDE, Esq; + +This elegant poet was the son of a gentleman who had been +post-master-general in the reign of queen Anne. Where our author +received his earliest instructions in literature we cannot ascertain; +but, at a proper time of life, he was sent to the university of Oxford, +where he had the honour of being particularly distinguished by Mr. +Addison, who took him under his immediate protection. While he remained +at that university, he became author of several poetical performances; +some of which, in Latin, were sufficiently elegant and pure, to intitle +them to a place in the Musae Anglicanae, published by Mr. Addison; an +honour so much the more distinguished, as the purity of the Latin poems +contained in that collection, furnished the first hint to Boileau of the +greatness of the British genius. That celebrated critick of France +entertained a mean opinion of the English poets, till he occasionally +read the Musae Anglicanae; and then he was persuaded that they who could +write with so much elegance in a dead language, must greatly excel in +that which was native to them. + +Mr. Frowde has likewise obliged the publick with two tragedies; the Fall +of Saguntum, dedicated to sir Robert Walpole; and Philotas, addressed to +the earl of Chesterfield. The first of these performances, so far as we +are able to judge, has higher merit than the last. The story is more +important, being the destruction of a powerful city, than the fall of a +single hero; the incidents rising out of this great event are likewise +of a very interesting nature, and the scenes in many places are not +without passion, though justly subject to a very general criticism, that +they are written with too little. Mr. Frowde has been industrious in +this play to conclude his acts with similes, which however exceptionable +for being too long and tedious for the situations of the characters who +utter them, yet are generally just and beautiful. At the end of the +first act he has the following simile upon sedition: + + Sedition, thou art up; and, in the ferment, + To what may not the madding populace, + Gathered together for they scarce know what, + Now loud proclaiming their late, whisper'd grief, + Be wrought at length? Perhaps to yield the city. + Thus where the Alps their airy ridge extend, + Gently at first the melting snows descend; + From the broad slopes, with murm'ring lapse they glide + In soft meanders, down the mountain's side; + But lower fall'n streams, with each other crost, + From rock to rock impetuously are tost, + 'Till in the Rhone's capacious bed they're lost. + United there, roll rapidly away, + And roaring, reach, o'er rugged rocks, the sea. + +In the third act, the poet, by the mouth of a Roman hero, gives the +following concise definition of true courage. + + True courage is not, where fermenting spirits + Mount in a troubled and unruly stream; + The soul's its proper seat; and reason there + Presiding, guides its cool or warmer motions. + +The representation of besiegers driven back by the impetuosity of the +inhabitants, after they had entered a gate of the city, is strongly +pictured by the following simile. + + Imagine to thyself a swarm of bees + Driv'n to their hive by some impending storm, + Which, at its little pest, in clustering heaps, + And climbing o'er each other's backs they enter. + Such was the people's flight, and such their haste + To gain the gate. + +We have observed, that Mr. Frowde's other tragedy, called Philotas, was +addressed to the earl of Chesterfield; and in the dedication he takes +care to inform his lordship, that it had obtained his private +approbation, before it appeared on the stage. At the time of its being +acted, lord Chesterfield was then embassador to the states-general, and +consequently he was deprived of his patron's countenance during the +representation. As to the fate of this play, he informs his lordship, it +was very particular: "And I hope (says he) it will not be imputed as +vanity to me, when I explain my meaning in an expression of Juvenal, +Laudatur & al-get." But from what cause this misfortune attended it, we +cannot take upon us to say. + +Mr. Frowde died at his lodgings in Cecil-street in the Strand, on the +19th of Dec. 1738. In the London Daily Post 22d December, the following +amiable character is given of our poet: + +"But though the elegance of Mr. Frowde's writings has recommended him to +the general publick esteem, the politeness of his genius is the least +amiable part of his character; for he esteemed the talents of wit and +learning, only as they were, conducive to the excitement and practice of +honour and humanity. Therefore, + +"with a soul chearful, benevolent, and virtuous, he was in conversation +genteelly delightful; in friendship punctually sincere; in death +christianly resigned. No man could live more beloved; no private man +could die more lamented." + + + * * * * * + + +Mrs. MARY CHANDLER, + +Was born at Malmsbury in Wiltshire, in the year 1687, of worthy and +reputable parents; her father, Mr. Henry Chandler, being minister, many +years, of the congregation of protestant dissenters in Bath, whose +integrity, candour, and catholick spirit, gained him the esteem and +friendship of all ranks and parties. She was his eldest daughter, and +trained up carefully in the principles of religion and virtue. But as +the circumstances of the family rendered it necessary that she should be +brought up to business, she was very early employed in it, and incapable +of receiving that polite and learned education which she often regretted +the loss of, and which she afterwards endeavoured to repair by +diligently reading, and carefully studying the best modern writers, and +as many as she could of the antient ones, especially the poets, as far +as the best translations could assist her. + +Amongst these, Horace was her favourite; and how just her sentiments +were of that elegant writer, will fully appear from her own words, in a +letter to an intimate friend, relating to him, in which she thus +expresses herself: "I have been reading Horace this month past, in the +best translation I could procure of him. O could I read his fine +sentiments cloathed in his own dress, what would I, what would I not +give! He is more my favorite than Virgil or Homer. I like his subjects, +his easy manner. It is nature within my view. He doth not lose me in +fable, or in the clouds amidst gods and goddesses, who, more brutish +than myself, demand my homage, nor hurry me into the noise and confusion +of battles, nor carry me into inchanted circles, to conjure with witches +in an unknown land, but places me with persons like myself, and in +countries where every object is familiar to me. In short, his precepts +are plain, and morals intelligible, though not always so perfect as one +could have wished them. But as to this, I consider when and where he +lived." + +The hurries of life into which her circumstances at Bath threw her, sat +frequently extremely heavy upon a mind so intirely devoted to books and +contemplation as hers was; and as that city, especially in the seasons, +but too often furnished her with characters in her own sex that were +extremely displeasing to her, she often, in the most passionate manner, +lamented her fate, that tied her down to so disagreeable a situation; +for she was of so extremely delicate and generous a soul, that the +imprudences and faults of others gave her a very sensible pain, though +she had no other connexion with, or interest in them, but what arose +from the common ties of human nature. This made her occasional +retirements from that place to the country-seats of some of her +peculiarly intimate and honoured friends, doubly delightful to her, as +she there enjoyed the solitude she loved, and could converse, without +interruption, with those objects of nature, that never failed to inspire +her with the most exquisite satisfaction. One of her friends, whom she +highly honoured and loved, and of whose hospitable house, and pleasant +gardens, she was allowed the freest use, was the late excellent Mrs. +Stephens, of Sodbury in Gloucestershire, whose feat she celebrated in a +poem inscribed to her, inserted in the collection she published. A lady, +that was worthy of the highest commendation her muse could bestow upon +her. The fine use she made of solitude, the few following lines me wrote +on it, will be an honourable testimony to her. + + Sweet solitude, the Muses dear delight, + Serene thy day, and peaceful is thy night! + Thou nurse of innocence, fair virtue's friend, + Silent, tho' rapturous, pleasures thee attend. + Earth's verdant scenes, the all surrounding skies + Employ my wondring thoughts, and feast my eyes, + Nature in ev'ry object points the road, + Whence contemplation wings my soul to God. + He's all in all. His wisdom, goodness, pow'r, + Spring in each blade, and bloom in ev'ry flow'r, + Smile o'er the meads, and bend in ev'ry hill, + Glide in the stream, and murmur in the rill + All nature moves obedient to his will. + Heav'n shakes, earth trembles, and the forests nod, + When awful thunders speak the voice of God. + +However, notwithstanding her love of retirement, and the happy +improvement she knew how to make of it, yet her firm belief that her +station was the appointment of providence, and her earnest desire of +being useful to her relations, whom she regarded with the warmest +affection, brought her to submit to the fatigues of her business, to +which, during thirty-five years, she applied herself with, the utmost +diligence and care. + +Amidst such perpetual avocations, and constant attention to business, +her improvements in knowledge, and her extensive acquaintance with the +best writers, are truly surprising. But she well knew the worth of time, +and eagerly laid hold of all her leisure hours, not to lavish them away +in fashionable unmeaning amusements; but in the pursuit of what she +valued infinitely more, those substantial acquisitions of true wisdom +and goodness, which she knew were the noblest ornaments of the +reasonable mind, and the only sources of real and permanent happiness: +and she was the more desirous of this kind of accomplishments, as she +had nothing in her shape to recommend her, being grown, by an accident +in her childhood, very irregular in her body, which she had resolution +enough often to make the subject of her own pleasantry, drawing this +wise inference from it, "That as her person would not recommend her, she +must endeavour to cultivate her mind, to make herself agreeable." + +And indeed this she did with the greatest care; and she had so many +excellent qualities in her, that though her first appearance could never +create any prejudice in her favour, yet it was impossible to know her +without valuing and esteeming her. + +Wherever she professed friendship, it was sincere and cordial to the +objects of it; and though she admired whatever was excellent in them, +and gave it the commendations it deserved, yet she was not blind to +their faults, especially if such as she apprehended to be inconsistent +with the character of integrity and virtue. As she thought one of the +noblest advantages of real friendship, was the rendering it serviceable +mutually to correct, polish, and perfect the characters of those who +professed it, and as she was not displeased to be kindly admonished +herself for what her friends thought any little disadvantage to her +character, so she took the same liberty with others; but used that +liberty with such a remarkable propriety, tenderness, and politeness, as +made those more sincerely esteem her, with whom she used the greatest +freedom, and has lost her no intimacy but with one person, with whom, +for particular reasons, she thought herself obliged to break off all +correspondence. + +Nor could one, who had so perfect a veneration and love for religion and +virtue, fail to make her own advantage of the admonitions and reproofs +she gave to others: and she often expressed a very great pleasure, that +the care she had of those young persons, that were frequently committed +to her friendship, put her upon her guard, as to her own temper and +conduct, and on a review of her own actions, lest she should any way +give them a wrong example, or omit any thing that was really for their +good. And if she at any time reflected, that her behaviour to others had +been wrong, she, with the greatest ease and frankness, asked the pardon +of those she had offended; as not daring to leave to their wrong +construction any action of hers, lest they should imagine that she +indulged to those faults for which she took the liberty of reproving +them. Agreeable to this happy disposition of mind, she gave, in an +off-hand manner, the following advice to an intimate friend, who had +several children, whom she deservedly honoured, and whom she could not +esteem and love beyond his real merits. + + To virtue strict, to merit kind, + With temper calm, to trifles blind, + Win them to mend the faults they see, + And copy prudent rules from thee. + Point to examples in their sight, + T'avoid, and scorn, and to delight. + Then love of excellence inspire, + By hope their emulation fire, + You'll gain in time your own desire. + +She used frequently to complain of herself, as naturally eager, anxious, +and peevish. But, by a constant cultivation of that benevolent +disposition, that was never inwrought in any heart in a stronger and +more prevailing manner than in hers, she, in a good measure, dispossest +herself of those inward sources of uneasiness, and was pleased with the +victory she had gained over herself, and continually striving to render +it more absolute and complete. + +Her religion was rational and prevalent. She had, in the former part of +her life, great doubts about christianity, during which state of +uncertainty, she was one of the most uneasy and unhappy persons living. +But her own good sense, her inviolable attachment to religion and +virtue, her impartial inquiries, her converse with her believing +friends, her study of the best writers in defence of christianity, and +the observations she made on the temper and conduct, the fall and ruin +of some that had discarded their principles, and the irregularities of +others, who never attended to them, fully at last released her from all +her doubts, and made her a firm and established christian. The immediate +consequence of this was, the return of her peace, the possession of +herself, the enjoyment of her friends, and an intire freedom from the +terror of any thing that could befall her in the future part of her +existence. Thus she lived a pleasure to all who knew her, and being, at +length, resolved to disengage herself from the hurries of life, and wrap +herself up in that retirement she was so fond of, after having gained +what she thought a sufficient competency for one of her moderate +desires, and in that station that was allotted her, and settled her +affairs to her own mind, she finally quitted the world, and in a manner +agreeable to her own wishes, without being suffered to lie long in +weakness and pain, a burthen to herself, or those who attended her: +dying after about two days illness, in the 58th year of her age, Sept. +11, 1745. + +She thought the disadvantages of her shape were such, as gave her no +reasonable prospect of being happy in a married state, and therefore +chose to continue single. She had, however, an honourable offer from a +country gentleman of worth and large fortune, who, attracted merely by +the goodness of her character, took a journey of an hundred miles to +visit her at Bath, where he made his addresses to her. But she convinced +him that such a match could neither be for his happiness, or her own. +She had, however, something extremely agreeable and pleasing in her +face, and no one could enter into any intimacy of conversation with her, +but he immediately lost every disgust towards her, that the first +appearance of her person tended to excite in him. + +She had the misfortune of a very valetudinary constitution, owing, in +some measure, probably to the irregularity of her form. At last, after +many years illness, she entered, by the late ingenious Dr. Cheney's +advice, into the vegetable diet, and indeed the utmost extremes of it, +living frequently on bread and water; in which she continued so long, as +rendered her incapable of taking any more substantial food when she +afterwards needed it; for want of which she was so weak as not to be +able to support the attack of her last disorder, and which, I doubt not, +hastened on her death. But it must be added, in justice to her +character, that the ill state of her health was not the only or +principal reason that brought her to, and kept her fixed in her +resolution, of attempting, and persevering in this mortifying diet. The +conquest of herself, and subjecting her own heart more intirely to the +command of her reason and principles, was the object she had in especial +view in this change of her manner of living; as being firmly persuaded, +that the perpetual free use of animal food, and rich wines, tends so to +excite and inflame the passions, as scarce to leave any hope or chance, +for that conquest of them which she thought not only religion requires, +but the care of our own happiness, renders necessary. And the effect of +the trial, in her own case, was answerable to her wishes; and what she +says of herself in her own humorous epitaph, + + _That time and much thought had all passion extinguish'd_, + +was well known to be true, by those who were most nearly acquainted with +her. Those admirable lines on _Temperance_, in her Bath poem, she penned +from a very feeling experience of what she found by her own regard to +it, and can never be read too often, as the sense is equal to the +goodness of the poetry. + + Fatal effects of luxury and ease! + We drink our poison, and we eat disease, + Indulge our senses at our reason's cost, + Till sense is pain, and reason hurt, or lost. + Not so, O temperance bland! when rul'd by thee, + The brute's obedient, and the man is free. + Soft are his slumbers, balmy is his rest, + His veins not boiling from the midnight feast. + Touch'd by Aurora's rosy hand, he wakes + Peaceful and calm, and with the world partakes + The joyful dawnings of returning day, + For which their grateful thanks the whole creation pay, + All but the human brute. 'Tis he alone, + Whose works of darkness fly the rising sun. + 'Tis to thy rules, O temperance, that we owe + All pleasures, which from health and strength can flow, + Vigour of body, purity of mind, + Unclouded reason, sentiments refin'd, + Unmixt, untainted joys, without remorse, + Th' intemperate sinner's never-failing curse. + +She was observed, from her childhood, to have a fondness for poetry, +often entertaining her companions, in a winter's evening, with riddles +in verse, and was extremely fond, at that time of life, of Herbert's +poems. And this disposition grew up with her, and made her apply, in her +riper years, to the study of the best of our English poets; and before +she attempted any thing considerable, sent many small copies of verses, +on particular characters and occasions, to her peculiar friends. Her +poem on the Bath had the full approbation of the publick; and what sets +it above censure, had the commendation of Mr. Pope, and many others of +the first rank, for good sense and politeness. And indeed there are many +lines in it admirably penn'd, and that the finest genius need not to be +ashamed of. It hath ran through several editions; and, when first +published, procured her the personal acknowledgments of several of the +brightest quality, and of many others, greatly distinguished as the best +judges of poetical performances. + +She was meditating a nobler work, a large poem on the Being and +Attributes of God, which was her favourite subject; and, if one may +judge by the imperfect pieces of it, which she left behind her in her +papers, would have drawn the publick attention, had she liv'd to finish +it. + +She was peculiarly happy in her acquaintance, as she had good sense +enough to discern that worth in others she justly thought was the +foundation of all real friendship, and was so happy as to be honoured +and loved as a friend, by those whom she would have wished to be +connected with in that sacred character. She had the esteem of that most +excellent lady, who was superior to all commendation, the late dutchess +of Somerset, then countess of Hertford, who hath done her the honour of +several visits, and allowed her to return them at the Mount of +Marlborough. Mr. Pope favoured her with his at Bath, and complimented +her for her poem on that place. Mrs. Rowe, of Froom, was one of her +particular friends. 'Twould be endless to name all the persons of +reputation and fortune whom she had the pleasure of being intimately +acquainted with. She was a good woman, a kind relation, and a faithful +friend. She had a real genius for poetry, was a most agreeable +correspondent, had a large fund of good sense, was unblemished in her +character, lived highly esteemed, and died greatly lamented, + +_FINIS_. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lives of the Poets of Great +Britain and Ireland (1753),Vol. V., by Theophilus Cibber + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIVES OF THE POETS *** + +***** This file should be named 12090.txt or 12090.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/9/12090/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Carol David and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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