tioned) Aug. 24, 1778. The two sons are now liv ing; but the daughter died young.

Restor'd tranquillity!Now, I feel
Thy loss indeed, my ANNA-Now, no ear
Listens, like thine, obsequious to my plaints;
No tongue, like thine, with soft condolence soothes
The bitter anguish boiling in my breast!

To gentle souls will I direct my song,-
To breasts where tender Pity rears her throne;
For, they will listen, they will sympathize;
Whilst hearts more rugged may reject my lays,
And scorn the plaintive language of distress!
But ye, whose eyes disdain not to declare
The inward feelings of a generous mind,
Drop, for compassion's sake, one tear with me:
For, in a dark and fatal hour, I lost

My life's Companion; truest, dearest Friend!
As when the rose, first opening to the sun,
Is cropp'd by rustic hand, and fades ere noon:
So, in the bloom of youthful innocence,,
My charming ANNA bow'd her lovely head
To death untimely, and an early grave!

Pathetic tears, which stream'd from every eye
At her decease, bore witness of her worth :--
And she deserv'd them all! Pure unaffected love
She thought my due; meekness and chastity
Adorn'd her guiltless mind. A pleasing smile
Of affability met all her friends,

And bade them welcome. From the voice of want
She turned not, but minister'd relief

With sweet benevolence. Her pious prayers
Ascended daily, and before the Throne
Of EVERLASTING MAJESTY appear'd
To witness for her, and prepare her way
From this dull region of incessant woe
To endless life and happiness supreme!
She was

but wherefore make I these complaints!-Or can a private loss like mine affect

The busy world? Ah, no! the scene's the same,
And Nature still assumes her usual garb:

The rosy Morn dispels the shades of Night,
And lucid dew-drops sparkle o'er the lawn:
Arising early from her humble bed,

The lark soars high, and hails with cheerful song
Returning day; the village-cock erects
His head majestic, and proclaims aloud
The rustic's usual summons ;-he, refresh'd
With care-dispelling sleep, forsakes his cot,
And whistles rudely, as across the glebe

He

April 5, 1780, died Mrs. Elizabeth Strutt; and her son John (as before noticed) on the 24th of May 1784.-The loss of this affectionate parent occasioned another severe shock to the already wounded feel

He stalks along, his labour to resume:
Whilst from each spray, in woodland gloom or dale,
Or on the banks of cool translucent springs,
The feather'd choristers responsive join
In warbling harmony: the dews disperse,
And fragrant breezes, breath of opening morn,
Sport o'er the meads, and wanton through the groves
Yet this fair tranquil scene delights no more;
My tears flow still: my soul is sick with grief!
All Nature smiles refresh'd; the world seems gay;
And Mirth and Innocence make glad the hearts
Of yonder rustic troop; where cheerful songs
Forbid the rude approach of wrinkled Care.
Ah, happy souls! pursue your pleasures still;
Whilst I, the child of Woe, with willow'd brow,
Will wander here alone, and here complain;
Or count the tedious minutes as they pass,
'Till gentle sleep shall steal upon mine eyes,
Fatigu'd with watching :-when some pleasing dream
May for a moment give me back my Love!
In such sweet visions, oh, that life would pass
Serenely onward! like the gentle stream

Which glides incessant through yon fertile mead,
Unruffled by the sportive breeze of morn!

And thou, O World, inconstant World! farewell!

For, by severe experience, now I find

Thou hast no comfort for the grief-sick heart;

But all thy pleasures and thy boasted gifts

Are various vanities; they follow not
The fond possessor to the gloomy grave,
But on the brink desert him; while, alone,
And naked, he descends the doleful cave,
Where ghastly Death his wide dominion holds,
In horrid silence, and o'erwhelm'd with night!
The busy scene of life disgusts my soul:
For Sorrow has unplum'd Ambition's wings,
And chill'd the warm expanding ray of hope:
The World has now no pleasures left for me!

The interchange of maternal and filial affection is happily expressed in the following passages, which are extracted from two letters; the one from Mrs. Elizabeth Strutt to her son Joseph; and the other from Mr. Joseph Strutt to his mother: and with these this long note shall be concluded.

My

ings of her son Joseph: and indeed she well deserved the warmest filial respect: she was a good mother, a steady friend, and a firm Christian. She was born September 23, 1727.

September 30, 1778.

"MY DEAR SON, Permit your afflicted Mother to send you a few lines by way of advice and consolation: look over the defects you meet with in it; but doubt not of the sincerity. Happy shall I be, if I can administer any comfort, or pour some healing balm into the wound you have so lately received. But what am I, poor dust and ashes, to think of alleviating another's sorrows, and never could have borne my own, had I not put my trust in that ALMIGHTY BEING'S promise, which says, "Leave thy fatherless children; I will preserve them alive and let thy widows trust in me." On this as on a sure foundation I built my hope: and have I been disappointed? No; it is that which has enabled me to weather all the storms of a merciless world, the frowns of fortune, and the temptations of the wicked-one. I was young like you, when first I tasted the bitter cup of affliction. May THE ALMIGHTY comfort your dejected soul, and give you fortitude to bear your lot with Christian-like resignation. Nature is weak, indeed, and bids us weep: but Religion says, "Weep not: for she's at peace. She was taken away speedily, lest deceit should alter her understanding, or sin beguile her soul;" that precious soul, which now is clothed in white robes, the presents bestowed upon her by her dear REDEEMER, in whom she trusted. The thoughts of this have calmed my griefs to rest: my cares are now for those dear innocent babes that are left behind: a double portion of tenderness is due to them from you now: my sincere prayer to God is, that, He will be pleased to give you health and abilities to bring them up and, if I can render you any service, I shall be most happy in so doing, &c. Your affectionate Mother, E. STRUTT." "HONOURED MADAM, Duke-street, May 26, 1779.

I am quite miserable at the account I have received of your ill health. I take this instant opportunity of informing you of my uneasiness on this alarming occasion; and my sincere joy at hearing you are greatly better:-Pray God restore you speedily to perfect health, and GoD send that I may very soon know from your own hand, that you are out of all danger of a relapse! -Believe me, dear honoured Madam, I should not so long have delayed writing to you; - but my heavy misfortunes have made me dread being alone, even the time I could pen a letter: however I have now, blessed be my GOD! by His grace, in great measure, calmed the excess of my grief, and enjoy more tranquillity of mind than I could expect so soon after the grievous and soul-affecting separation from my lovely! meek! amiable Nancy!--One tear drops to her memory!-But stop! Is it thus I comfort my Parent?

Oh,

"

In 1785, Mr. Strutt published the first volume of his Dictionary of Engravers;" and the second volume appeared in 1786.

As to the merits of Mr. Strutt's literary productions in general, the writer of this sketch is entirely incompetent to decide either on their magnitude or deficiency. Justice, however, demands an explanation, where ill-natured personal invective abuses a person, whose whole life was devoted to convey instruction or afford gratification to his fellow-men. A snarling criticism on one of his Plates*, from the pen of the Commentator on Shakspeare (George Steevens), occurs in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LV. p. 606; and a severe attack on the whole Work in vol. LVI. p. 418.

Oh, my dearest Madam! nothing upon the earth can equal the comforts my mind has received from a participation in the blessed Sacrament: I really found all my troubles alleviated by it; and I sat down with such resignation to the will of my Maker, as I never before experienced. My dear Madam, above all things, pray endeavour to keep up your spirits; and as I know, the welldoing of your children will be greatly conducive to it, it is with double satisfaction that I inform you, that God has crowned my endeavours with success. Again 1 repeat the great obligations I am under to you (the best of parents), and more particularly for the care you took to instruct me in my duty to my Creator; and all those moral obligations, which a good Christian must not neglect: I hope, through God's grace, they may never be eradicated from my breast, but there take root, and flourish, and bring forth fruits, to life eternal! The little girl has not been very well, but she is better:-oh, how like its dear! dear Mother! and for her sake I love it ;-and because of the likeness, still more, &c. &c. I am, Madam, your most dutiful, obliged, and respectful Son, JOSEPH STRutt."

*This Plate is the fifth in the second volume of the Dictionary. Represents a Philosopher at study, &c.-The late Mr. Bacon, the Sculptor, was a great helper to Mr. Strutt in the compilation of his Dictionary of Engravers: to his opinion, to his experience, Mr. Strutt bowed with submission. The whole description of the plate in question, so ill-naturedly criticized, was from Mr. Bacon's pen: not one syllable did Mr. Strutt say on the subject. The fact is this, Mr. Steevens was piqued greatly because Mr. Strutt was rather urgent with him for the payment of a trifling sum of money.

See a vindication of it in vol. LVI. p. 465.

In 1790, Mr. Strutt, being severely afflicted with an asthmatic complaint, quitted London; and finding the country-air highly beneficial, settled at Baconsfarm in Hertfordshire, about three miles beyond the town of Hertford, situated in a small parish called Bramfield. Here he resided upwards of five years; and here he engraved the greater part of the plates for the Pilgrim's Progress*; which exhibit perhaps as fair a specimen of his talents as an artist, as any that can be produced.

At the village of Tewin, not far distant from Mr. Strutt's residence, much of his leisure-time was spent in performing the best offices to his fellow-creatures : here, at his own expence, he established a little Sun

* The incidents in this admired allegory which form the subjects of the plates are the following:

1. The Frontispiece to the Pilgrim's Progress-Faith, Hope, and Charity; with Bunyan's portrait.

2. Christian relating his fears concerning the destruction of the eity in which he dwelt, to his wife and family.

3. The three Shining-ones appearing to Christian at the foot of the Cross.

4. Christian welcomed by the women at the House Beautiful. 5. Apollyon flying from Christian, after he had been wounded by him.

6. The escape of Christian and Hopeful from the castle of Giant Despair.

7. The meeting of Christian and Hopefu! with the Shepherds on the Delectable Mountains.

8. Christian and Hopeful, having passed the River, are met by the Shining-ones; &c.

9. The arrival of Secret at the house of Christiana, from the Celestial City.

10. Christiana beginning her pilgrimage, and inviting Mercy to accompany her.

11. Mercy fainting at the Wicket-gate, and received by Good

will.

12. The Interpreter giving charge to Great-heart to take care of the women and children, at their departure.

13. Christiana, Mercy, and the Children, frightened by the lions; and Great-heart preparing to encounter the Giant Grim.

14. Christiana and her family, with Great-heart, going through the valley of the Shadow of Death.

15. Christiana and her family at supper, with Great-heart, &c. 16. Christiana taking her leave of her family and companions, and entering the river.

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