WAL S H. W ILLIAM WALSH, the son of Jofeph Walsh, Efq. of Abberley in Worcestershire, was born in 1663, as appears from the account of Wood: who relates, that at the age of fifteen he became, in 1678, a gentleman commoner of Wadham College. He left the univerfity without a degree, and pursued his ftudies at London and at home; that he studied, in whatever place, is apparent from the effect; for he became, in Mr. Dryden's opinion, the beft critick in the nation. He was not, however, merely a critick or a fcholar, but a man of fashion, and, as Dennis remarks, oftentatioufly fplendid in His frais. He was likewife a member of parlament and a courtier, knight of the shire for his native county in feveral parliaments; in mother the reprefentative of Richmond in Trinkire; and gentleman of the horse to Sven Ance, under the duke of Somerset. Some of his vertes fhew him to have been a zaious fiend to the Revolution; but his political ardeer di not abate his reverence or Hindments for Dryden, to whom he gave a Diferation on Virgil's Paftorals, in which, however fodied, he difcovers fome ignorance of the lows of French verfification. In 1705, he began to correfpond with Mr. Poge, in whom he discovered very early the power of poetry. Their letters are written upon the pastoral comedy of the Italians, and there paftorals which Pope was then preparing to publish. The kindnesses which are first experienced are fidem forgotten. Pope always retained a grateful memory of Walth's notice, and mentioned him in one of his latter pieces among thofe that had encouraged his juvenile fedies. Granville --Granville the polite, And knowing Walsh, would tell me I could write. In his Effay on Criticism he had given him more fplendid praise and, in the opinion of his learned commentator, facrificed a little of his judgement to his gratitude. The time of his death I have not learned. It must have happened between 1707, when he wrote to Pope, and 1711, when Pope praised him in his Effay. The epitaph makes him forty-fix years old: if Wood's account be right, he died in 1709. He is known more by his familiarity with greater men, than by any thing done or written by himself. His works are not numerous. In profe he wrote Eugenia, a Defence of Women; which Dryden honoured with a Preface. Efculapius, or the Hofpital of Fools, pub lifhed after his death. A collection of Letters and Poems, amorous and gallant, was published in the volumes. 3 called called Dryden's Mifcellany, and fome other occafional pieces. To his Poems and Letters is prefixed a very judicious preface upon Epiftolary Compofition and Amorous Poetry. In his Golden Age reftored, there was fomething of humour, while the facts were recent; but it now ftrikes no longer. In his imitation of Horace, the first stanzas are happily turned, and in all his writings there are pleafing paffages. He has however more elegance than vigour, and seldom rifes higher than to be pretty. END OF VOL. I. OTH 4 |