him, and Milton being informed of the rank of his guest, they conversed together for some time; but, in the course of their conversation, the Duke asked Milton, "Whether he did not think the loss of his sight was a judgment upon him for what he had written against the late King, his father?" Milton's reply was to this effect::-"If your Highness thinks that the calamities which befall us here are indications of the wrath of heaven, in what manner are we to account for the fate of the King, your father? The displeasure of heaven must, upon this supposition, have been much greater against him than against me; for I have only lost my eyes, but he lost his head." The Duke was exceedingly nettled at this answer, and went away, soon after, very angry. When he came back to the Court, the first thing he said to the King, was, "Brother, you are greatly to blame that you don't have that old rogue, Milton, hanged." 66 Why, what's the matter, James?" said the King; "you seem in a heat: what! have you seen Milton?"-"Yes," answered the Duke, “I have seen him." "Well," said the King, "in what condition did you find him?" - -"Condition!" replied the Duke; "why, he's old, and very poor."-"Old and poor !" said the King; "well, and he is blind, is he not?”. "Yes," said the Duke, "blind as a beetle.”"Why, then, you are a fool, James," replied the King, "to want to have him hanged as a punishment:-to hang him will be doing him. a service; it will be taking him out of his miseries. No, if he is old, poor, and blind, he is miserable enough, in all conscience :-let him live." DOCTOR WOLCOT, ALIAS PETER PINDAR. DR. WOLCOT, at an early period, discovered a strong attachment to theatrical entertainments. This, of course, was connected with a liking for actors and actresses, and he once had an opportunity both of evincing and illustrating this partiality; for when an itinerant company was driven, by legal violence, from Kingsbridge, in Devonshire, he kindly interposed, and afforded it an asylum within his own premises, in the neighbouring parish of Dodbrooke. This gave birth to an "Ode to my Barn," which appears to have been the receptacle in which the hapless children of Thespis took refuge from the joint persecution of the justices, churchwardens, and overseers. "Sweet haunt of solitude and rats, Mice, tuneful owls, and purring cats, Who, while we mortals sleep, the gloom pervade; And wish not for the Sun's all-seeing eye, Their mousing mysteries to espy; Blest, like philosophers, amidst the shade! When Persecution, with an iron hand, Dared drive the moral-menders from the land, Call'd Players-friendly to the wandering crew, Thine eye with tears survey'd the mighty wrong, Thine open arms receiv'd the mournful throng, Kings without shirts, and queens with half a shoe. Alas! what dangers gloom'd of late around! Monarchs and queens, with halters nearly bound; Duke, dukeling, princess, prince, consign'd to jail : And, what the very soul of pity shocks, The poor old Lear was threaten'd with the stocksCordelia, with the cart's unfeeling tail." DEATH OF DR. WOLCOT. DURING the excessive heat which occurred in August, 1818, the Doctor took to his bed, which he never expected to leave: he felt his strength decaying, and became resigned to the dispensations of Providence. Having determined on the disposal of his property, he dictated a short will, in which he directed his musical instruments, (excepting a piano forte,) pictures, prints, crayon drawings, and two folio copies of Shakspeare, to be sold. He bequeathed a few pecuniary legacies to friends, and his furniture, piano forte, and £110 to one servant, and £50 to the other. Such was the nicety of his honour with regard to the just settlement of his debts, that he desired a sum of five pounds, formerly borrowed, might be repaid, if, on inquiry, it should appear to be still owing. He also directed an old picture by Ruysdael, then in his possession, but not his property, to be returned to the owner; and left instructions for £50 to be paid to each of his executors. The residue he intended for his sister, whom, as the only surviving relative of near affinity, he considered the most equitable inheritor. During the months of October and November he considerably recovered, and at intervals his manuscripts were brought to his bed-side, and VOL. I. U cursorily examined, when he directed several to be destroyed. In December he grew much weaker, and became quite helpless. The day preceding his death he took, as he considered, a final farewell of some friends, and the next morning, Thursday, the 14th January, 1819, expired about ten o'clock, with such perfect ease, that his attendants knew not the exact moment. |