may be compared to thofe of Pindar, as they have frequently the fame flights of imagination, and are compofed (I don't fay written, for he could not write) merely to flatter fome man of fortune upon fome excellence of the fame kind. In these one man is praised for the excellence of his ftable, as in Pindar, another for his hofpitality, a third for the beauty of his wife and children, and a fourth for the antiquity of his family. Whenever any of the original natives of diftinction were affembled at feafting or revelling, Carolan was generally there, where he was always ready with his harp to celebrate their praifes. He feemed by nature formed for his profeffion; for as he was born blind, fo alfo he was poffeffed of a moft aftonishing memory, and a facetious turn of thinking, which gave his entertainers infinite fatisfaction. Being once at the house of an Irish nobleman, where there was a musician prefent, who was eminent in the profeffion, Carolan immediately challenged him to a trial of skill. To carry the jeft forward, his Lordship perfuaded the mufician to accept the challenge, and he accordingly played over on his fiddle the fifth concerto of Vivaldi. Carolan, immediately taking his harp, played over the whole piece after him, without miffing a note, though he had never heard it before; which produced fome furprize: but their aftonifhment increafed, when he affured them he could make a concerto in the fame tafte himfelf, which he inftantly compofed, and that with fuch spirit and elegance, that it may compare (for we have it ftill) with the finest compofitions of Italy.

His death was not more remarkable than his life. Homer was never more fond of a glass than he; he would drink whole pints of Ufquebaugh, and, as he used to think, without any ill confequence. His intemperance however in this refpect at length

brought on an incurable diforder, and when just at the point of death, he called for a cup of his beloved liquor. Thofe, who were ftanding round him, furprised at the demand, endeavoured to perfuade him to the contrary; but he perfifted, and, when the bowl was brought him, attempted to drink, but could not; wherefore, giving away the bowl, he obferved with a smile, that it would be hard if two fuch friends as he and the cup fhould part at least without kiffing; and then expired.

ESSAY XXI.

OF all men, who form gay illufions of diftant happinefs, perhaps a Poet is the moft fanguine. Such is the ardour of his hopes, that they often are equal to actual enjoyment; and he feels more in expectance than actual fruition. I have often regarded a character of this kind with fome degree of envy. A man poffeffed of fuch warm imagination commands all nature, and arrogates poffeffions, of which the owner has a blunter relish. While life continues, the alluring profpect lies before him; he travels in the pursuit with confidence, and refigns it only with his laft breath.

It is this happy confidence, which gives life its true relish, and keeps up our fpirits amidst every distress and difappointment. How much lefs would be done, if a man knew how little he can do! How wretched a creature would he be, if he saw the end as well as the beginning of his projects! He would have nothing left but to fit down in torpid despair, and exchange employment for actual calamity.

I was led into this train of thinking upon lately vifiting the beautiful Gardens of the late Mr. Shenftone, who was himself a Poet, and poffeffed of that warm imagination, which made him ever foremost in the purfuit of flying happiness. Could he but have forfeen the end of all his fchemes, for whom he was improving, and what changes his defigns were to undergo, he would have fcarcely amufed his innocent life with what, for feveral years employed him in a moft harmlefs manner, and abridged his fcanty fortune. As the progress of this Improvement is a true picture of fublunary viciffitude, I could not help calling up my imagination, which, while I walked penfively along, fuggefted the following Reverie.

As I was turning my back upon a beautiful piece of water enlivened with cafcades and rock-work, and entering a dark walk by which ran a prattling brook, the Genius of the place appeared before me, but more refembling the God of Time, than him more peculiarly appointed to the care of Gardens. Inftead of sheers he bore a fcythe; and he appeared rather with the implements of husbandry, than those of a modern gardener. Having remembered this place in its priftine beauty, I could not help condoling with him on its prefent ruinous fituation. I spoke to him of the many alterations, which had been made, and all for the worfe; of the many fhades, which had been taken away, of the bowers, that were deftroyed by neglect, and the hedge-rows, that were spoiled by clipping. The Genius with a figh received my condolement, and affured me, that he was equally a martyr to ignorance and tafte, to refinement and rufticity. Seeing me defirous of knowing farther, he went on:

દ

"You fee, in the place before you, the paternal inheritance of a poet; and to a man content with little fully fufficient for his fubfiftence: but a "ftrong imagination and a long acquaintance with the rich are dangerous foes to contentment. Our "Poet, instead of fitting down to enjoy life, refolved to prepare for its future enjoyment; and set "about converting a place of profit into a scene of pleafure. This he at firft fuppofed could be accomplished at a small expence; and he was willing for a while to ftint his income, to have an oppor"tunity of difplaying his tafte. The Improvement "in this manner went forward; one beauty attained led him to wifh for fome other; but he ftill hoped "that every emendation would be the laft. It was now therefore found, that the Improvement exceeded the fubfidy, that the place was grown too large and too fine for the inhabitant. But that pride which was once exhibited could not retire; the Garden was made for the owner, and though "it was become unfit for him, he could not willingly "refign it to another. Thus the firft idea of its "beauties contributing to the happiness of his life "was found unfaithful; fo that, inftead of looking within for fatisfaction, he began to think of having recourse to the praises of thofe, who came 66 to vifit his Improvement.

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"In confequence of this hope, which now took "poffeffion of his mind, the Gardens were opened "to the vifits of every ftranger; and the country "flocked round to walk, to criticife, to admire, "and to do mifchief. He foon found, that the ad"mirers of his tafte left by no means fuch ftrong "marks of their applaufe, as the envious did of "their malignity. All the windows of his temples, "and the walls of his retreats, were impreffed with "the characters of prophanenefs, ignorance, and "obscenity;

obscenity; his hedges were broken, his ftatues "and urns defaced, and his lawns worn bare. It "was now therefore neceffary to fhut up the Gar"dens once more, and to deprive the Publick of "that happiness, which had before ceafed to be his

"In this fituation the Poet, continued for a time "in the character of a jealous lover, fond of the "Beauty he keeps, but unable to fupply the extra"vagance of every demand. The Garden by this "time was completely grown and finished; the marks of art were covered up by the luxuriance

of nature; the winding walks were grown dark; "the brook affumed a natural fylvage; and the "rocks were covered with mofs. Nothing now re“mained but to enjoy the beauties of the place, "when the poor Poet died, and his Garden was "obliged to be fold for the benefit of thofe, who "had contributed to its embellishment.

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"The beauties of the place had now for fome "time been celebrated as well in profe as in verfe ; "and all men of tafte wifhed for fo envied a fpot, "where every urn was marked with the Poet's pencil, and every walk awakened genius and medi"tation. The firft purchafer was one Mr. Truepenny, a button maker, who was poffeffed of "three thousand pounds, and was willing alfo to "be poffeffed of tafte and genius,

"As the Poet's ideas were for the natural wildness. "of the landscape, the button-maker's were for the "more regular production of art. He conceived

perhaps that as it is a beauty in a button to be "of a regular pattern, fo the fame regularity ought "to obtain in a landfcape. Be this as it will, he

employed the sheers to fome purpose; he clipped "up the hedges, cut down the gloomy walks, made GG 4

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