1860

THE

POETICAL WORKS

OF

THOMAS GRAY.

WITH

THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

O'er bis green grave, in Contemplation's guife,
Oft' let the pilgrim drop a filent tear,
Oft' let the fhepherd's tender accents rife,
Big ruith the feets of each revolving year,
Till profirate Time adore his deathless name,
Fix'd on the folid base of adamantine fame.

ODE TO GRAY'S MEMORY.

GLASGOW:
Printed by R. Chapman, for
Richard Scott, Bookfeller,

AND SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN

GREAT BRITAIN.

THE LIFE OF

THOMAS GRAY.

THOMAS GRAY was born in Cornhill, in the city of London, on the 26th of December, 1716. His father, Philip Gray, was a money-scrivener, but being of an indolent and profufe difpofition, he rather diminished than improved his paternal fortune. Our Author received his claffical education at Eton school, under Mr. Antrobus, his mother's brother, a man of found learning and refined taste, who directed his nephew to thofe pursuits which laid the foundation of his future literary fame.

During his continuance at Eton, he contracted a friendship with Mr. Horace Walpole, well known for his knowledge in the fine arts; and Mr. Richard Weft, fon of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, a youth, of very promising talents.

When he left Eton fchool in 1734, he went to Cambridge, and entered a pensioner at Peterhouse, at the recommendation of his uncle Antrobus, who had been a fellow of that college. It is faid that, from his effeminacy and fair complexion, he acquired, among his fellow students, the appellation of Mifs Gray, to which the delicacy of his manners seems not a little to have contributed. Mr. Walpole was at that time a fellow-commoner of King's College, in the fame University; a fortunate circumftance, which afforded Gray frequent opportunities of intercourfe with his Honourable Friend.

Mr. Weft went from Eton to Chrift Church, Oxford; and in this ftate of feparation, these two votaries of the Mufes, whofe difpofitions were congenial, commenced an epiftolary correfpondence, part of which is published by Mr. Mafon, a gentleman whofe character ftands high in the republic of letters.

Gray, having imbibed a taste for poetry, did not relifh thofe abftrufe ftudies which generally occupy the minds of ftudents at college; and therefore, as he found very little gratification from academical pursuits, he left Cambridge in 1738, and returned to London, intending to apply himself to the ftudy of the law: but this intention was foon laid afide, upon an invitation given him by Mr. Walpole, to accom pany him in his travels abroad; à fituation highly preferable, in Gray's opinion, to the dry study of the Jaw.

They fet out together for France, and vifited most of the places worthy of notice in that country: from thence they proceeded to Italy, where an unfortunate dispute taking place between them, a fepa❤ ration enfued upon their arrival at Florence. Mr. Walpole, afterwards, with great candour and liberality, took upon himself the blame of the quarrel; though, if we confider the matter coolly and impar"tially, we may be induced to conclude that Gray, * from a conscious fuperiority of ability, might have claimed a deference to his opinion and judgment, which his Honourable Friend was not at that time difpofed to admit: the rupture, however, was very unpleasant to both parties.