Monthly Review, v. 44, p. 286. When the first book was published, the Reviewer said "We would not by any means have him stop here. The Minstrel's progress to his profession cannot possibly be so entertaining as his practice in it. To represent him in his itinerant life; to invent amusing incidents expressive of the might of his minstrelsy over the natural and moral evils that may disturb the peace of families where he is entertained, and over all

'The strewed ills that watch his way' would certainly be a glorious field for fancy and variety. What, for instance, could be more striking than the Minstrel's soliciting entertainment at the door of Spleen or Avarice, elevating the heart of one, and opening that of the other? The description of so many different objects would greatly animate and diversify the poem."

"The

ANDREW ERSKINE says to Boswell (1761) of the country about Aberdeen. country around is dismal; long gloomy moors, and the extended ocean, are the only prospects that present themselves. The whole region seems as if made in direct opposition to descriptive poetry. You meet here with none of the lengthened meads, sunny vales, and dashing streams that brighten in the raptured poet's eye." -Letters, p. 145.

BEATTIE says truly enough, that "among contemporary poets we may sometimes observe a similarity of genius, which is probably occasioned by their imitating one

another."

"I have heard, that, after a successful work, he usually precipitated the publication of another, relying on its crudeness being passed over by the public curiosity excited by its better brother. He called this getting double pay. But Churchill was spendthrift of fame, and enjoyed all his revenue while he lived. Posterity owes him little, and pays him nothing."-Curiosities of Literature, vol. 3, p. 129.

PINKERTON says, (Lett. of Lit., p. 369), "Churchill's works have passed through more editions, and are more read in Scotland than in England, which shews that the love of that country for liberty is superior even to the most inveterate national prejudices."

SHENSTONE.

D'ISRAELI says that he educated the nation into that taste for landscape gardening which has become the model of all Europe." -Curiosities of Literature, p. 5.

See the whole article.

HULL'S Select Letters.

P. 2. SHENSTONE, 1736, to Mr. D. "I am at present in a very refined state of indolence and inactivity. Indeed I make

over again the pleasures of Oxford and your

company."

"I aim at rendering my letters as odd and fantastical as possible, but when I write to a person of your elegant character, my compliments degenerate into downright truths."

MISS F-R to Shenstone. 1745.

P. 13. "Mrs. A. says, though you cut off your hair, she believes your ears will remain, and wishes nothing so much as an opportunity to pinch 'em.”

17. "Tell Mrs. A. my ears make great shoots, and such as may tempt her hand egregiously: but if I am metamorphosed into an Ass entirely, I will come and serenade her in a morning, when she has been up late the night before." 51. " during the winter season he describes himself, as being,-without any affectation- the dullest of the sons of men,' altogether in what I think they call Swiss Meditation, that is, thinking upon nothing."

110. DUCHESS OF SOMERSET. "Mr. Lind

sey, my Lord's chaplain, (who, by the way is a very good judge, and a pretty sort of man,) prefers his (Shenstone's) Ode on Autumn to almost every modern performance."

66

115. SHENSTONE to Lady Luxborough. Notwithstanding the supposed qualifications of the Glums and the Gawries excite one's curiosity, the book does not, I think, deserve a place in your Ladyship's library, and I would not have you purchase it. It makes two vols. in 12mo, price 6s. It came into my way, so I read it, giving it just attention enough to let it amuse me with the imaginary scenes it describes."

117. His Ode on Rural Elegance.

"I calculated the subject as well as I could; but I am fearful you will discover nothing but common-place thoughts. I think most of my verses smell of nothing

spend my time, they can scarce do otherwise."

156. The Gamester.

SHENSTONE Says-" I never yet had any opinion of the genius of Mr. Moore, and I hardly think I shall alter my sentiments on account of this performance."

175. Oct. 25, 1753.

"I am now in some sort of doubt con

cerning my snuff-box, whether to have it repaired in the cheapest way, with a figured tortoise-shell on the top, and a plain tortoise-shell on the bottom; or to exchange the gold of it, and have a figured tortoiseshell box with a gold rim, like yours with a gilt one, only in the shape of an oblong square, a little rounded at the corners. I should have no thoughts of this, but that my own seems too little and unmanly."

191. "I am, as the phrase is, deeply penetrated by the civility of your neighbour."

227. March 21, 1755, to Graves.

"There is nothing that I can less forgive the world than your want of leisure. Do not misinterpret me, or take amiss what I say. I know you to be infinitely more happy than myself, who am cloyed with it; but it would add something to my happiness, if not to your own, that you had more vacant spaces, or intervals of time, to employ in those refined amusements for which you are so exquisitely qualified."

228. "As to sun-dials, I never much affected the things themselves, nor indeed any mottos with which I have seen them inscribed. Perhaps this indifference may arise from no very commendable sources; a reflection upon my own want of proficiency in mathematics, and an habitual consciousness of my own waste of time. However, I have often had thoughts of placing a slight one somewhere upon my premises, for the

1 Had Shenstone been a member of All-Souls, instead of Pembroke, he would have remem. bered the beautiful motto on the Dial there:

PEREUNT ET IMPUTANTUR! I could never pass it without turning back !—J. W. W.

swer a smaller voice than that of a musket. With a culverin I suppose it would hold a noble dialogue."

93. 1749.

"I lead the unhappy life of seeing nothing in the creation so idle as myself. I am continually piddling in little matters about my farm."

Vol. 2.

66

Nov. 20, 1762. SHENSTONE to Anon.

My dearest friend,—It is a very surprizing and a cruel thing, that you will not suppose me to have been out of order, after such a neglect of writing as can hardly be excused on any other score. I cannot, indeed, lay claim to what the doctors call an acute disease, but dizziness of head, and depression of spirits are at best no trivial maladies, and great discouragements to writing. There is a lethargic state of mind that deserves your pity, not your anger: though it may require the hellebore of sharp reproof. Why, then, did you not employ this pungent remedy before the disease was gone so far? But, seriously, I pass too

much of that sort of time, wherein I am neither well nor ill, and being unable to express myself at large, am averse to do so by halves."

P. 4. "Mr. Percy and his wife spent a good part of the week here, and he also would needs write a description of the Leasowes. I am more and more convinced that no description of this place can make any figure in print, unless some strictures upon gardening, and other embellishments, be superadded."

15. To Whistler.

"I used to think this a kind of distinction between Mr. Graves and you, that the one had the knack of making his virtues unenvied, and the other of rendering (what I perhaps unjustly termed) his weaknesses amiable. I am almost afraid of inserting this, lest it should seem to injure the superlative esteem I have of you: but I must add, that I consider a mixture of weaknesses, and an ingenuous confession of them, as

"Mr. Shenstone considered merely as an author, had the uncommon felicity of attracting the love of his readers, and those who from readers had the happiness of becoming acquainted with him as a man, never felt any diminution of that preconceived esteem for him, inspired by his works."-Monthly Review, vol. 41, p. 156. On the edition of his works, 1769.

"his writings, for the most part, have undoubtedly very considerable merit."

Cunningham was his direct imitator.Cowper in one or two pieces. But he long reigned as the model for magazine poetry.

The Monthly Review (vol. 61, p. 316,) thinks that Shenstone perhaps might sit for the more amiable part of Columella's picture in Greaves's book so called.

"I have been eagerly reading Mr. Shenstone's letters, which, though containing nothing but trifles, amused me extremely, as they mention so many persons I know, particularly myself.”—H. WALPOLE, vol. 3, p. 285.

"I FELT great pity, on reading these letters, for the narrow circumstances of the author, and the passion for fame that he was tormented with; and yet he had much more fame than his talents entitled him to. Poor man! he wanted to have all the world talk of him, for the pretty place he had made, and which he seems to have made only that it might be talked of. The first time a company came to see my house, I felt his joy. I am now so tired of it, that I shudder when the bell rings at the gate.

It is as bad as keeping an inn, and I am often tempted to deny its being shown, if it would not be ill-natured to those that come, and to my housekeeper. I own I was one day too cross. I had been plagued all the week with staring crowds. At last it rained a deluge. Well, said I, at least nobody will come to-day. The words were scarce uttered, when the bell rang. A comdesired to see the house. pany I replied, tell them they cannot possibly see the house; but they are very welcome to walk in the garden."—Ibid. p. 286.

White's, what it still is.

25. Our army and navy officers sneered at, as deficient in courage. A very noticeable passage. Vol. 2, 198-9. Ignorance of sea officers.

41. The World.-Ill-chosen vignette for that paper.

Printers ornaments often misapplied.
Their use in filling up blanks.

43. When the present manager (?) of Drury Lane first came upon the stage, a new set of types, two inches long, were cast on purpose to do honour to his extraordinary merit.

44. Improved in the Spectator in appearance.

45. Decorations for books becoming necessary.

48. "Perhaps our fine gentlemen may imagine, that by convincing a lady that she has no soul, she will be less scrupulous about the disposal of her body."

51. "I have often observed with wonder the neglect of learning that prevails among the gentlemen of the army; who, notwith