Oct. 24, 1761. “MR. GLOVER has pub- | Wakefield. As

my

business then lay lished his long-hoarded Medea, as an intro- there,” said he,“ that was my reason for duction to the House of Commons; it had fixing on Wakefield as the field of action." been more proper to usher him from school CRADOCK's Mem. vol. 4, p. 286. to the University. There are a few good lines, not much conduct, and a quantity of GOLDSMITH makes Miss Richland argue iambics and trochaics, that scarce speak " that severity in criticisms is necessary,' English, and yet have no rhyme to keep and says, “ It was our first adopting the one another in countenance. If his chariot severity of French taste, that has brought is stopt at Temple Bar, I suppose

he will them in turn to taste us."- Good-natured take it for the Straits of Thermopylæ, and

Man. be delivered of his first speech before its time."—H. WALPOLE, vol. 2, p. 311.

DEDICATION of “She Stoops to Conquer," to Johnson.

“I have particularly reason to thank you Akenside.

for your partiality to this performance. Upon the publication of his “Ode to timental, was very dangerous, and Mr. Col

The undertaking a comedy not merely senthe Country Gentlemen of England,” the “ Monthly Review” said he “ well deser

man, who saw this piece in its various stages, ved to be stiled the Poet of the Com always thought it so." munity."

Gray.
Goldsmith

On the publication of his “Fatal SisIn reviewing his “ Beauties of English | ters,” “ Descent of Odin,” and “ Triumph Poetry,” (2 vols. 6s.), Monthly Review,"

of Odin,” the “Monthly Review, (1768), vol. 36, p. 491, his preface is called unac- vol. 38, p. 408, says—“ These turn chiefly countable and uncouth, and his introduc- on the dark diableries of the Gothic times; tory observations on the several poems, “still and if to be mysterious and to be sublime more wrong-headed, more singular, more

be the same thing, these deep-wrought peraffected, and more absurd.” Thomson, in formances must undoubtedly be deemed so. the opinion of this mighty critic, is a verbose For our parts we shall for ever regret the and affected poet, and Shenstone's “ Pas- departure of Mr. Grays muse from that toral Ballads," have neither learning nor elegantly moral simplicity she assumed in simplicity; but his “ Schoolmistress" is the "Country Churchyard." one of those happinesses in which a poet ercels himself! Gay's burlesque pastorals are

Mason's edition. “ The whole collection in the manner of Theocritus. Who that is, for a writer of Mr. Gray's poetical powreads criticisms can forbear crying out with

ers and propensities, singularly small. His the Shepherd in Virgil,

muse, though certainly the most enthusiastic

admirer of Nature, has gathered a mere “ Quid facient Domini, audent cum talia

nosegay

from her breast, -an assemblage, fures?"

indeed, of uncommon and highly-flavoured Cradock used to offer Goldsmith every flowers ; but it is in a wilderness of this aid in his power as to his works, i.e. in sugo kind that we wish to range at large." — gesting amendments.

Monthly Review, vol. 52, p. 377 " As to my 'Hermit,'

?" said Goldsmith, " that

poem, Cradock, cannot be amended." Ibid. vol. 53, p. 102. His Elegy said here He had occasion “ to pay a journey to to be imitated from one by Gay. Here is a former dictum contradicted then. “ It “The next best thing, after instructing is observable, that sublimity of genius has the world profitably, is to amuse it innobeen generally attended with a strong af- cently. England has lost that man (Gray) fection for the demonry of the ancient who of all others in it was best qualified for northern fable. Milton was particularly both these purposes ; but who from early fond of it. It was the study of his youth, chagrin and disappointment had imbibed a and the dream of his age. This passion disinclination to employ his talents beyond seems natural.

There is something su- the sphere of self-satisfaction and improveblime in the Celtic mythology,–in the idea ment."— Mason to Beattie.- Ibid. vol. 1, of ancient hardyhood, and the feats of for- p. 206. mer times, that is peculiarly adapted to a natural grandeur of imagination. In the “MR. Dillon writes me word, that Mason mythology of the Greeks every thing seems says he is tempted to throw his Life of Mr. little, seems puerile in comparison. Hence Gray (which is now finished, or nearly so), Mr. Gray's strong attachment to every into the fire, so much is he dissatisfied with thing that breathed of the former. The the late decision on literary property.”— hall of Odin was heaven itself to him (!!), BEATTIE, vol. 1, p. 346. and Ossian ‘the very dæmon of poetry.'' 1775.

“ Times," Wednesday, 23d Dec. 1835.

Ar a sale of autographs, Gray's assign“Not long since," says CRADOCK, (vol. 1, ment of his two Odes, the Progress of p. 184), “ I received a very kind message Poetry,' and the ‘Bard,' for forty guineas. from the Rev. Mr. Bright of Skeffington 29 June, 1757. Mr. Wilks, M.P., purchased Hall, in Leicestershire, to inform me that this for eight guineas. (Mason relates that he had wished to deposit with me all the Gray was too high-minded to receive reremaining papers and documents of Mr. muneration for his productions.)" Gray, as bequeathed to him by Mr. Stonhewer; but that he found they had all Gray and Walpole wrote from Italy a been carried to Rome inadvertently by a little in the style of Erskine and Boswell. learned editor!"

“ I agree with you (George Montagu), GRAY made a little book (of his own most absolutely in your opinion about Gray. travels, I suppose), with delineations of He is the worst company in the world. woods, rivers, and remarkable buildings on From a melancholy turn, from living reeach side of the road.”—CRADOCK, vol. 2, clusively, and from a little too much dig.

nity, he never converses easily. All his

words are measured and chosen, and formed BEATTIE gives a very amiable account of into sentences. His writings are admirable; him.-Life of Beattie, vol. 1, p. 65. he himself is not agreeable."--H. WALPOLE.

Letters, vol. 1, p. 194. The notes to the two Pindarics, first printed in the Glasgow edition, Beattie “ GRAY says very justly, that learning thought more copious than were necessary. never should be encouraged; it only draws “But I understand," he says,

“ he is not a out fools from their obscurity." — Ibid. little chagrined at the complaints which vol. 1, p. 407. have been made of their obscurity, and he tells me that he wrote these notes out of “ And you know I have always thought spite.”—Ibid. vol. 1, p. 104.

a running footman as meritorious a being as a learned man. Why is there more

p. 13).

p. 14.

was

merit in having travelled one's eyes over so “GRAY never wrote any thing easily but many reams of paper, than in having car- | things of humour. Humour was his naturied one's legs over so many acres of ral and original turn; and though from his ground ?"-Ibid.

childhood he was grave and reserved, his

genius led him to see things ludicrously and “My Lady Ailesbury has been much di- satirically; and though his health and disverted, and so will you too. Gray is in satisfaction gave him low spirits, his melantheir neighbourhood. My Lady Carlisle choly turn was much more affected than says, he is extremely like me in his manner. his pleasantry in writing."-Ibid. vol. 4, They went a party to dine on a cold loaf (?), and passed the day. Lady Ailesbury protests he never opened his lips but once, and

“ It may so happen, that a writer, from then only said, “Yes, my lady, I believe so."" a happy circumstance, may acquire a repu-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 159.

tation as just as it is instantaneous. This

he case with the late Mr. Gray, who, “ GRAY has translated two noble incantations from the Lord knows who, a Danish by his happening to be conversant in fa

shionable Gray, who lived the Lord knows when.

company, gained a complete cenThey are to be enchased in a history of tury, in point of reputation. For though

fashionable writers are most justly set in English bards, which Mason and he are writing; but of which the former has not opposition to good, the very epithet implywritten a word yet, and of which the lat- ing that their works will not last, yet fa

shion is now and then in the right, as well ter, if he rides Pegasus at his usual footpace, will finish the first page two years

as other fools.”—PINKERTON. Letters of Lihence.”—Ibid. vol. 2, p. 239.

terature, p. 103. “Gray has added to his Poems three

“I EVEN admire Mr. Gray's plan of wearancient Odes from Norway and Wales. ing mustachios for a considerable time, to The subjects of the two first are grand and show that he despised every possibility of picturesque, and there is his genuine vein ridicule.”—PINKERTON, Lett. of Lit. p. 264. in them; but they are not interesting, and do not, like his other poems, touch any pas

Lionel and Clarissa. sion. Our human feelings, which he mas- “ Lady Mary. I have been telling him of ters at will in his former pieces, are here the poem my late brother, Lord Jessamy, not affected. Who can care through what made on the mouse that was drowned. horrors a Runic savage arrived at all the Col. Oldboy. Ay, a fine subject for a joys and glories they could conceive, the poem; a mouse that was drowned in a – supreme felicity of boozing ale out of the Lady M. Hush, my dear Colonel, don't skull of an enemy in Odin's Hall ? Oh, mention it! To be sure the circumstance yes! just now, perhaps, these Odes would was vastly indelicate ; but for the number be toasted at many a contested election."— of lines the poem was as charming a morIbid. vol. 3, p. 234.

sel ;-I heard the Earl of Punley say, who

understands Latin, that it was equal to any Aug. 13, 1771. “ I HAVE, I own, been thing in Catullus.” much shocked at reading Gray's death in the papers.

In an hour that makes one forget any subject of complaint, especially

Young. towards one with whom I lived in friendship from thirteen years old.”—Ibid. vol. 3, What Mrs. Carter (to Mrs. M. vol. 1, p.

72), says of Rousseau is more applicable to Young, “ He seems to have strong principles of virtue, but in him it seems such an

Strange Conceit. uncomfortable and ever dismal virtue, as SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE (Essays, 79) strikes one in some such manner as if one has as odd a conceit as that of Quarles and was to enter into a noble apartment hung Hugo. " It is strange,” he says, " that the with black."

Jew should not from the triangular archi. tecture of his own heart conclude the Tri

nity of the Godhead, whose temple it was Thomson.

appointed to be." A BURLESQUE return from the fox chase originally in the Seasons, but omitted in later editions, and restored by Aikin in 1778,

Metre. and recommended for omission again by the Ovid wrote Getic verses in Latin meaMonthly Review, as not in keeping with the 2.-Pont. iv, xüi, 19.1 rest of the poem.

And from a like feeling the monks wrote Latin rhymes.

sure.

Fielding
HORACE WALPOLE's Letters, vol. 1, p.

Bishop Ken's Poems 204.

DEDICATION.—He seems to have regard

ed his successor's fate as judicial—which I Cumberland.

am sorry to see. In the Natural Son, Jack Hustings brings

“ The dolorous remnant of his days." a brace of trout, the first he had taken that

P. 3. Philhymno he calls himself.

State earthquakes. season, -and presently he asks whether birds are plenty, and says, “ I'll come and

5. “Before the pheasant cocks began their brush the stubbles for thee in a week or two's

crows." time."

30. The Virgin MaryDEDICATION of the Brothers to the Duke “Swadling him by the light of his own rays!" of Grafton.

32. In her soft arms the boundless babe

embraced."

All this is full of Catholic passion.
Steele.

59. The innocents An admirable description of flirting and " Vehicled in their own vital flame." cleaning windows.- Conscious Lovers, p.

The Milky Way their memorial. 54.

Lucifer and Satan are different devils in his

poems. Fairies.

86. The Abaddons. “ A VIRTUOUS well, about whose flowery

112. Belzebub fermenting hell—as thunbanks

der spoils barrels of wine. The nimble footed fairies dance their rounds

| The lines here alluded to are, By the pale moonshine, dipping oftentimes Their stolen children, so to make them free

" Ah pudet! et Getico scripsi sermone libellum,

Structaque sunt nostris barbara verba modis. From dying flesh, and dull mortality."

Et placui, gratare mihi, cæpique Poetæ BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Faithful Inter inhumanos nomen habere Getas!" Shepherdess, p. 112.

Epist. er Ponto.-J. W. W.

192. Poetry the language of man before God has the caput mortuum of his age.” the fall. 193. The Patriarchs made sacred pas.

Edmund, p. 339. torals and sonnets.

“ Soon as morn rising on its wings of light 197. How the Curetes overnoised his cry.

Takes o'er the world its instantaneous flight.” 200. Poets in heaven.

I think he had Chamberlain's lines in his 234.“ Unappeasable as hell." I

mind, 274. “ Oft with his tears he ballasted his

“ The sun on light's dilated wings had fled boat."

To wake the western villagers from bed." God who always tenders hearts contrite. 276. “Men fierce as fiends they wor

Edmund, 291. shipped.”

“ Hilda, who kept death always in her eye, He always writes massācre—the French In sickness nothing had to do but die. pronunciation.

With a sweet patience she endured her pain." Vol. 2.

293-4. Hilda's death passionate, and at P. 5. “ Where Beelzebub sits broiling

the same time most fantastic.? on his throne."

Maggi's verse may be applied to Ken's “ On Asafætida the whole was built."

devotional

poems.

“ Belle d'affetti più che di pensieri.” 14. “ Despair no disappointment ever

Tom. 2, p. 26. knows,

And these also,
No fear, surprize, or danger undergoes :
Despair feels no ambition, no disgrace.

“ Più che gl'ingegni alteri

Ama i cuori divoti, e nè suoi canti
What every saint of resignation boasts,
Despair is all that to infernal ghosts,

Val per esser Poeta essere Amanti."

Ibid. Jehovah conquers all things but pair.”

17. Mammon in a gold cage.
20. Dragon, and the remoras, and the sy-

Matthew Stevenson.

Author of Norfolk Drollery, or a Com23. Catching torpedoes.

pleat Collection of the newest Songs, JoThe storm.

vial Poems, and Catches, &c. 1673. So 69. The author's prophecy concerning

says

Nichols-but this title seems rather to himself by the name of Kennes. 76. Lines which Parnell has certainly

designate a collection. imitated in the Hermit.

90-1. Satan disguising himself. 98. “Satan riding a snake," and

Robert Wolseley. “ Turning the brute's own sting to spur its YOUNGER son of Sir Charles Wolseley of flight.”

Staffordshire. The father was one of CromLucifer's palace.

well's lords, and the son took an active and 129-30. Edmund released by natural honourable part in the Revolution. He magic.

went as envoy to Brussels in 1693. 138.

“ Man

He wrote the preface to Rochester's VaHis youthful heat and strength for sin en

lentinian, gage,

2 The edition here referred to is that of W. "No doubt the allusion is to Prov. xxvii. Hawkins, 2 vols. 8vo. 1721. The copy before

“ Hell and destruction are never full," and me is marked by Southey throughout. He gave Habbakuk, ii. 5.-J. W. W.

rens.