ber of years practised as a physician in Lichfield. Here he began the formation of a botanic garden, and between 1781 and 1792 his principal work-a poem called The Botanic Garden-appeared, in three parts. For a time it had great popularity; but it is now seldom read. He died in 1802. Fox, Charles James, the celebrated orator and statesman (1749-1806), wrote A History of the Early Part of the Reign of James the Second. His Speeches, in six volumes, were published in 1815. Gilpin, William, a clergyman of the Church of England (1724-1804), published Life of Bernard Gilpin; Lives of Latimer, Huss, Wickliffe, and Cranmer; Remarks on Forest Scenery; and Sermons to a Country Congregation. Holcroft, Thomas, novelist and dramatic writer, was born in great poverty in London, 1745. In early life he was an actor. In 1780 appeared his novel called Alwyn, or The Gentleman Comedian. this he wrote about thirty dramatic pieces,-Duplicity, The Deserted Daughter, etc. But the play by which he is best known is The Road to Ruin, which is yet occasionally acted. He is also known as the author of the old song of Gaffer Gray, which is somewhat severe upon the inhumanity of the rich. He died in 1808. After Home, John, Presbyterian minister, was born at Leith, Scotland, 1722, and settled at Athelstaneford. When he published the tragedy of Douglas he had to resign his place. By the influence of Lord Bute, on the accession of George III., 1760, he received a pension of £300 per annum. With this, added to what he received from his other tragedies, he lived comfortably, enjoying the best literary society of Edinburgh, till his death in 1808. Of all his works, Douglas alone has lived. Horsley, Samuel, Bishop of St. Asaph's (1733-1806), was one of the most eminent prelates of his time. He was a strenuous high-churchman, fond of controversy, and as a scholar and critic had few superiors. He published disquisitions on the prophets Isaiah and Hosea, a Translation of the Psalms, Biblical Criticisms, in four volumes, and Sermons, in three volumes. Hurd, Richard (1720-1808), whose talents and learning raised him to the bench of bishops, was the author of An Introduction to the Study of the Prophecies, two volumes; Moral and Political Dialogues, three volumes; Sermons, five volumes, 1788. His whole works, in eight volumes, were published in 1808. Warburton calls him "one of the best scholars in the kingdom, and of parts and genius equal to his learning, and a moral character that adorns both.” Lennox, Charlotte, novelist (1720-1804), is the author of several novels, -Harriet Stuart, The Female Quixote, etc.; but they are now little read. Macartney, George (Earl), diplomatist, was born in Ireland in 1737. He was sent ambassador to China in 1792. His Authentic Ac 1 "It has been well said that the poetry of Darwin was as bright and transient as the plants and flowers that formed the subject of his verse. He had fancy, command of language, varied metaphor, and magniloquent versification; but the want of nature marred all. He had the power to astonish and to dazzle, but lacked the tenderness necessary to create sympathetic interest, and without which the other is but a tinkling cymbal."-D. M MOIR. The first verse of this song is, "Ho! why dost thou shiver and shake, And why does thy coat look so blue? count of the Embassy, in two volumes quarto, was popular at the time, but is now superseded by better and fuller accounts of the Chinese empire. He died in 1806. Montagu, Elizabeth, essayist and critic (1720-1800), was the daughter of Matthew Robinson, Esq., of York. In 1742 she was married to Edward Montagu, Esq., M.P. for Huntingdon. In three years he died, leaving her the whole of his estate. About 1770 she opened her house in Putnam Square, London, to what was called "The Blue Stocking Club," which was composed of the most eminent literary men of the time. Though in the latter part of her life she lost the use of her eyes, she retained her mental faculties to the last, and died August 23, 1800. Her works were, Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakspeare, and Epistolary Correspondence, in four volumes: the former Warton calls "the most elegant and judicious piece of criticism which the present age has produced." Moore, John, physician, novelist, and descriptive writer, was born in Sterling, 1729. He practiced medicine for many years with great success in Glasgow, and died in 1802. His works are,-A View of Society and Manners in France, Switzerland, and Germany, 2 vols., 1789; View of Society and Manners in Italy, 1781; Medical Sketches, 1785; Zeluco, a novel, 1786; Edward, another novel, 1796. Of all his writings, Zeluco was the most popular. The distinguished Sir John Moore, who fell at Corunna, was the eldest son of this author." Moss, Thomas, an "Independent" clergyman, published a volume of Miscellaneous Poems, among which was the once celebrated Beggar's Petition.3 He died in 1808. Murphy, Arthur, a dramatic and miscellaneous writer (1727-1805), wrote numerous plays, and a Life of David Garrick. His comedies and tragedies, in six volumes, are now but little regarded. Newton, Rev. John (1725-1807), of Olney, was in early life engaged in the infamous slave-trade. Becoming converted, he settled in Olney, where, in conjunction with Cowper, he wrote the celebrated Olney Hymns, many of which will live as long as the language. Some of Newton's are Porson, Richard. This eminent classical scholar was the son of a parish clerk in Norfolk, where he was born in 1759. He ultimately 18o called from the "blue stockings" worn | ly a Mr. Stillingfleet, a member of this literary club. Such were the charms of his conversation that when he was absent it used to be said, "We can do nothing without the blue Brkings;" and thus by degrees the name was Even to the society.--See Croker's Boswell's Johnson, viii. 85, 86. Among the brilliant Constellation of talent and wit which illumined her mansion was, first, the great observed,” Ir. Johnson; Mrs. Thrale, afterwards Mrs. Pizzi; Dr. Percy, author of Reliques of English Petry; Dr. Shipley; Dr. Burney; Lord Erskine, just then commencing his subsequent brilliant career; Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr. Beattie, Lord Monboddo, Horace Walpole, Edmund Burke, Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, Hannah More, Miss Burney, afterwards Madame D'Arblay, Mrs. Chapone, and Mrs. Barbauld. See an article on Mrs. Montagu's Letters, in the Edinburgh Review, xv. 75, and in the Quarterly, x. 15; also, some letters in Sir Egerton Brydges's Censura Literaria, ix. 48. Read, also, an article on Mrs. Montagu and her Friends, in the first volume of Recollections of Literary Characters, by Mrs. Thompson. 2 See the lines of Rev. Charles Wolfe upon the burial of the gallant soldier, page 99. 3 The first verse of this, as many will remember, is "Pity the sorrows of a poor old man, Whose trembling limbs have borne him to your door; Whose days are dwindled to the shortest span, Oh! give relief, and Heaven will bless your store." became Professor of Greek in the University of Cambridge; and never was that professorship more ably filled; for as a Greek scholar and critic he has, probably, never been excelled. His critical pen was especially engaged on Euripides, Homer, Eschylus, Xenophon, and Aristophanes. After his death, in 1808, Adversaria, or, Notes upon the Greek Poets, was published. It is painful to be obliged to add that intemperate habits cut short his life at the early age of forty-nine. V Porteus, Rev. Beilby, D.D. (1731-1808), Bishop of London, deserves to be remembered for his admirable little treatise on the Evidences of the Truth of the Christian Religion, which should be studied by all young persons. Seward, Anna, called "The Swan of Lichfield," was born in that old town in 1747, and died in 1809. She wrote an Elegy to the Memory of Captain Cook, and a Monody on the Death of Major André. She also published a Collection of Original Sonnets, among which are some very pretty examples of that species of composition. The following may be given as a specimen : SONNET. December Morning, 1782. I love to rise ere gleams the tardy light, Winter's pale dawn; and, as warm fires illume By indistinctness given.-Then to decree The grateful thoughts to God, ere they unfold To Friendship or the Muse, or seek with glee Wisdom's rich page: 0 hours! more worth than gold, By whose blest use we lengthen life, and, free Wakefield, Gilbert, clergyman and critic (1756-1801), was celebrated as a writer on controversial divinity, and as a critic upon classical authors. He left the Established Church in consequence of his embracing Unitarian opinions. He published editions of Horace, Virgil, Lucretius, etc., which were highly creditable to him as a scholar. 1 "Anna Seward, yclept the 'Swan of Lichfield,' was the Sappho of that era of ribbons and gum flowers, and a fitting one for such a Juvenal as Hayley and such a Lucretius as Darwin. She wrote with fluency, and poured out a cataract of verse."-D. M. MoIR. Second Decade. MARY TIGHE, 1774-1810. MRS. MARY TIGHE was the daughter of the Rev. William Blackford, of the county of Wicklow, Ireland. Her history seems to be but little known to the public, as I have tried in vain to find some account of her life; but her early death, which took place at Woodstock, near Kilkenny, March 24, 1810, after six years of protracted suffering, has been commemorated by Moore, in a very beautiful lyric.1 Mrs. Tighe is chiefly known by her poem of Psyche, in six cantos, written in the Spenserian stanza, founded on the classic fable of Apuleius, of the loves of Cupid and Psyche, or the allegory of Love and the Soul (4x). Many of the pictures in this, the chief production of her muse, are conceived in the true spirit of poetry; while over the whole composition is spread the richest glow of purified passion. It is a poem, however, to be read as a whole, and cannot well be appreciated by any detached passages. A luxurious, dreamy sweetness pervades the descriptions, and gives them a peculiar charm; while the elegance of the easy-flowing language attests the complete power of the poet over her theme.3 Some of her minor pieces, also, are exceedingly beautiful; and the lines On Receiving a Branch of Mezereon are scarcely exceeded, for beauty and pathos, by any thing of the kind in the language. LOVE MUST BE FONDLY CHErished. To Love the tender heart hath ever fled, Oh, fondly cherish, then, the lovely plant Which lenient Heaven hath given thy pains to ease! Its lustre shall thy summer hours enchant, And load with fragrance every prosperous breeze; When naught through all thy bowers but thorns remain, 1 See this lyric in the Selections from Thomas Moore. 3" None of the accomplished ladies of her day evinced the powers of imagination which shone out in the Psyche of Mrs. Tighe,-an adventurous and elaborate effort, full of power and beauty, which wanted only a little more artistic skill and concentration to have entitled it to a place among the first-class pro This fable, it is said, is a representation of the soul here in its prison-house, subjected to er. Trials are set before it to purify it: two loves meet it,-the earthly, to draw it w to sensuous things; and the heavenly, who, directing its view above, gains the vic-ductions."-D. M. MOIR. tty and leads off the soul as his bride. Through the hard season, Love with plaintive note Guard thy best treasure from the venom'd sting Will not endure the frown of angry strife; He shuns contention, and the gloomy throng Who blast the joys of calm domestic life, And flies when Discord shakes her brand with quarrels rife. Oh! he will tell you that these quarrels bring The ruin, not renewal, of his flame: If oft repeated, lo! on rapid wing He flies to hide his fair but tender frame,From violence, reproach, or peevish blame Irrevocably flies. Lament in vain! Indifference comes the abandon'd heart to claim, Close follow'd by Disgust and all her chilling train. The good so cherish'd from thy grasping hand? Ah, never more to wake, or e'er expand His golden pinions to the breezy sky, Or open to the sun his dim and languid eye. Who can describe the hopeless, silent pang With which the gentle heart first marks her sway; Eyes the sure progress of her icy fang Resistless, slowly fastening on her prey; Anxious to watch the cold averted ray Nor watch and fan the expiring flame in vain; Psyche, Cauto VI. |