will find the fpot that enclofes his hallowed remains, in the new * burying-ground, belonging to the parish of St. George. Hanover Square,At the head of his grave is the following EPITA PH. NEAR TO THIS PLACE LIES THE BODY OF THE REVEREND LAURENCE STERNE,A. M.. AGED 53 YEARS. If a found head, warm heart, and breaft humane,, *St. George's-Row, Hyde-Park. This date is erroneous This This monumental ftone was erected by two brother mafons; for although he did not live to be a member of their fociety, yet as his all-incomparable performances evidently prove him to have acted by rule and fquare, they rejoice in this opportunity of perpetuating his high and irreproachable character to after ages. EPITAPH, W. and S.. BY DAVID GARRICK, ESQ. Shall Pride a heap of sculptur'd marble raise, Some worthless, unmourn'd titled fool to praise; And shall we not by one poor grave-stone learn Where genius, wit, and humour,fleep with Sterne? I know it is, and has been a practice, fince the foundation of letters, to introduce an eulogium on a favourite author's writings, in his life; but Sterne is one of the few English writers who faves his biographer that trouble, for, however high his flight of panegyric might foar, he could only fay what is already written in the hearts of thoufands in the world of feeling and fenfibility. IN MEMORY OF MR. STERNE, Author of the Sentimental Journey. WITH wit, and genuine humour to dispel, From the defponding bofom gloomy care, From the full fympathifing heart were thine, mands (No plumage nodding o'er the emblazon'd hearfe A Character, A Character, and Eulogium of STERNE, and his Writings; in a familiar Epiftle from a Gentleman in Ireland to his Friend.-Written in the Year 1769. W HAT triffes comes next? cenfure, my friend,, -Spare the This Letter's no more from beginning to end; Yet, when you confider (your laughter, pray stifle) The advantage,the importance,the ufe of a trifle-When you think too befide-and there's nothing more clear That pence compofe millions, and moments the year, You furely will grant me, nor think that I jeft, That life's but a series of trifles at beft. How wildly digreffive! yet could I, O Sterne*, Digrefs with thy fkill, with thy freedom return! The *The late Reverend Laurence Sterne, A. M. &c. author of that truly original, humorous, heteroclite work, called The Life and Opinions of Triftram Shandy, of a Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, (which alas! he did not live to finish) and of fome volumes of Sermons. Ot his ill in delineating and fupporting his characters, thofe of the father of his hero, of his uncle Toby, and of Corporal Trim (out of numberless others), afford The vain with I reprefs--Poor YORICK! No more Shall thy mirth and thy jests, " fet the board on a roar ;" No more thy fad tale, with fimplicity told, afford ample proof: To his power in the pathetic, whoever shall read the ftories of Le Fever, Maria, the Monk, and the dead Afs, muft, if he has feelings, bear fufficient teftimony: And his Sermons throughout (though fometimes, perhaps, chargeable with a levity not entirely becoming the pulpit) breathe the kindeft fpirit of philanthropy, of good will towards man. For the few exceptional parts of his works, thofe f mall blemishes Quas aut incuria fudit, Aut humana parum cavit natura fuffer them, kind critic, to reft with his afhes! The above eulogium will, I doubt not, appear to you (and perhaps also to many others) much too high for the literary character of STERNE I have not at prefent either leifure or inclination to enter into argument upon the question; but in truth I confidered myfel f as largely his debtor for the tears and the laught er he fo frequently excited, and was defirous to leave behind me (for fo long at least as this trifle fhall remain) fome fmall memorial of my gratitude: I will even add, that although I regard the memory of Shakespeare |