D Y E R. OHN DYER, of whom I have no other account to give than his own Letters, published with Hughes's correspondence, and the notes added by the editor, have afforded me, was born in 1700, the second son of Robert Dyer of Aberglasney, in Caermarthenshire, a folicitor of great capacity and note. He paffed through Westminster-school under the care of Dr. Freind, and was then called home to be inftructed in his father's profeffion. But his father died foon, and he took no delight in the study of the law, but, having always amused himself with drawing, drawing, refolved to turn painter, and became pupil to Mr. Richardfon, an artist then of high reputation, but now better known by his books than by his pictures. Having ftudied awhile under his master, he became, as he tells his friend, an itinerant painter, and wandered about South Wales and the parts adjacent; but he mingled poetry with painting, and about 1727 printed Grongar Hill in Lewis's Miscellany. Being, probably, unsatisfied with his own proficiency, he, like other painters, travelled to Italy; and coming back in 1740, published the Ruins of Rome. If his poem was written foon after his return, he did not make much ufe of his acquifitions, whatever they might be; for decline of health, and love of study, determined him to the church. He therefore entered into orders; and, it feems, married about the fame time a lady of the name of Enfor; "whofe grand-mother," fays he, “was a Shakspeare, defcended from a brother of every body's Shakspeare;" by her, in |