1 accuracy is known to have cost him at least a thousand pounds. He began to print in 1755. Three volumes appeared in 764, a second edition of them in 1767, a third edition in 1768, and the conclusion in 1771. Andrew Reid, a man not without considerable abilities, and not unacquainted with letters or with life, undertook to persuade Lyttleton, as he had persuaded himself, that he was master of the secret of punctuation; and, as fear begets credulity, he was employed, I know not at what price, to point the pages of " Henry the Second." The book was at last pointed and printed, and sent into the world. Lyttleton took money for his copy, of which, when he had paid the pointer, he probably gave the rest away; for he was very liberal to the indigent. When time brought the History to a third edition, Reid was either dead or discarded; and the superintendence of typography and punctuation was committed to a man originally a comb-maker, but then known by the style of Doctor. Something uncommon was probably expected, and something uncommon was at last done; for to the Doctor's edition is appended, what the world had hardly seen before, a list of errors in 19 pages. But to politicks and literature there must be end. Lord Lyttleton had never the appearance of a strong or of a healthy man he had a slender uncompacted frame, and a meagre face: he lasted however sixty years, and was then seized with his last iliness. Of his death a very affecting and instructive account has been given by his physician, which will spare me the task of his moral character. "On Sunday evening the symptoms of his lordship's disorder, which for a "week past had alarmed us, put on a fatal appearance, and his lordship be"lieved himself to be a dying man. From this time he suffered by restless"ness rather than pain; though his nerves were apparently much fluttered, "his mental faculties never seemed stronger, when he was thoroughly awake. "His lordship's bilious and hepatic complaints seemed alone not equal to "the expected mournful event; his long want of sleep, whether the consequence of the irritation in the bowels, or, which is more probable, of causes of a different kind, accounts for his loss of strength, and for his "death, very sufficiently. 66 "Though his lordship wished his approaching dissolution not to be lin "gering, he waited for it with resignation. He said, "It is a folly, a keeping me in misery, now to attempt to prolong life; yet he was easily per"suaded, for the satisfaction of others, to do or take any thing thought 66 proper for him. On Saturday he had been remarkably better, and we "were not without some hopes of his recovery. "On Sunday, about eleven in the forencon, his lordship sent for me, and "said he felt a great hurry, and wished to have a little conversation with me " in order to divert it. He then proceeded to open the fountain of that « heart, from whence goodness had so long flowed as from a copious spring "Doctor,' said he, you shall be my confessor: when I first set out in VOL. I. 4 S ❝ the "the world, I had friends who endeavoured to shake my belief in the "Christian religion. I saw difficulties which staggered me; but I kept my "mind open to conviction. The evidences and doctrines of Christianity, "studied with attention, made me a moft firm and persuaded believer of the "Christian religion. I have made it the rule of my life, and it is the ground "of my future hopes. I have erred and sinned; but have repented, and "never indulged any vicious habit. In politicks, and public life, I have "made public good the rule of my conduct. I never gave counsels which "I did not at the time think the best. I have seen that I was sometimes in the wrong, but I did not err designedly. I have endeavoured, in private «life, to do all the good in my power, and never for a moment could in"dulge malicious or unjust designs upon any person whatsoever. "At another time he said, 'I must leave my soul in the same state it was in "before this illness; I find this a very inconvenient time for solicitude about "any thing.' "On the evening, when the symptoms of death came on, he said, I shall die; but it will not be your fault.' When lord and lady Valentia came to "see his lordship, he gave them his solemn benediction, and said, 'Be "good, be virtuous, my lord; you must come to this.' Thus he continued "giving his dying benediction to all around him. On Monday morning a lucid interval gave some small hopes, but these vanished in the even"ing; and he continued dying, but with very little uneasiness, till Tuesday morning, August 22, when between seven and eight o'clock he expired, "almost without a groan." His lordship was buried at Hagley; and the following inscription is cut on the side of his lady's monument: "This unadorned stone was placed here By the particular desire and express "Directions of the Right Honourable "GEORGE Lord LYTTLETON, "Who died August 22, 1773, aged 64.”、 Lord Lyttleton's Poems are the works of a man of literature and judgment, devoting part of his time to versification. They have nothing to be despised, and little to be admired. Of his " Progress of Love," it is sufficient blame to say that it is pastoral. His blank verse in "Blenheim" has neither much force nor much elegance. His little performances, whether Songs or Epigrams, are sometimes spritely, and sometimes insipid. His epistolary pieces have a smooth equability, which cannot much tire, because they are short, but which seldom elevates or surprizes. But from this cen sure ought to be excepted his " Advice to Belinda," which, though for the most part written when he was very young, contains much truth and much prudence, very elegantly and vigorously expressed, and shews a mind attentive to life, and a power of poetry which cultivation might have raised to excellence. MOORE. MOOR E EDWARD MOORE was the son of a clergyman of the English Com munion, at Abingdon in Berkshire. He was born about the year 1720, and received his education from his uncle, a reputable school-master in Somersetshire. His original destination appears to have been for trade'; and for some time he resided with one Mr. Jackson, an eminent merchant, who was a considerable dealer in linens. It does not appear that he ever was in business on his own account. Attached to the Muses, he early courted public attention; and in the year 1744 produced his first performance, entituled "Fables for the Female Sex," which was favourably received. In 1748 he undertook the defence of Mr. (afterwards Lord) Lyttleton, in an ironical poem called "The Trial of Selim the Persian, for high Crimes and Misdemeanors," 4to; and in the same year produced his first dramatic performance, "The Foundling," "The Foundling," a comedy, acted at Drury Lane; but, which though aided by the performance of Garrick, Barry, Yates, Macklin, Mrs. Woffington, and Mrs. Cibber, and highly applauded and recommended by Colley Cibber, had but a moderate degree of success. In 1749, he complimented Mr. Garrick in an Ode on his marriage with Madam Violetti; and about the same period he united himself in the same state with Miss Hamilton, daughter of Mr. Hamilton, table-decker to the princesses. This lady had expressed her partiality towards him in a poem addressed to Miss Duck, daughter of the celebrated Stephen Duck, which was printed in several of the miscellaneous collections of the times. He had relied hitherto on his pen for his support; and had some hopes, from the notice taken of him by Lord Lyttleton, of receiving from that nobleman's assistance some permanent support. In this he was disappointed. From Mr. Garrick's friendship, however, he obtained some advantages. In 1751 his comedy of " Gil Blas" was acted at Drury Lane, and, though violently opposed, was carried through nine nights. In 1752 the tragedy of "The Gamester" was performed at the same theatre with success. In each of these performances the manager exerted himself both as actor and author; 4 $ 2 thor; and on the publication of the latter had the author's thanks for the assistance he had received. In January, 1763, a periodical paper, called " The World, by Adam Fitz Adam," was begun by Mr. Moore, and was carried on until February 1757. In this he was assisted by Lord Chesterfield, Lord Corke, Mr Walpole, Soame Jenyns, Whitehead, Warton, and other writers of eminence; and it is but justice to observe, that the papers written by our author will suffer no injury by a comparison with those of his coadjutors. All his exertions were, however, barely sufficient to ward off the inconveniencies of poverty. In 1756 he published his works in a quarto volume; in the preface to which he says, "I have sent this, my offspring, into the world, in as "decent a dress as I was able: a legitimate one I am sure it is; and if it "should be thought defective in strength, vigour or spirit, let it be consi"dered, that its father's marriage with the Muses, like most other marriages "into that noble family, was more from necessity than inclination." He continued "The World" until near the close of his life, which happened at South Lambeth, the 28th of February, 1757. CAWTHORN CAWTHORN. JAME AMES CAWTHORN was born in the year 1720, at or near Sheffield, and received his education partly at Rotherham and partly at Kirkby Lonsdale. Whether he was indebted to either of the universities for any part of the literature he possessed is uncertain, as his name does not appear in either of the list of graduates. His first employment was that of usher at the school of one Mr. Clare, in the city of London, whose sister he married. His wife died before him. In 1743 he was chosen master of Tunbridge School by the Skinner's Company; and in conjunction with his patrons founded a library, which is annexed to that seminary. In 1746 he published his poem of "Abelard to Eloisa," which, with two sermons, was all that he printed in his life time.. He is said to have been in the general intercourse of life generous and friendly; but in the conduct of his school singularly harsh and severe. He had some extraordinary foibles. With little skill in horsemanship, he was fond of hunting; and with no acquaintance with musick, he was an admirer of concerts and operas. He has been known to ride to London from Tunbridge, in order to be present at a musical performance, though he was under the necessity of being back by seven o'clock the next morning. He was killed by a fall from his horse as he was going to bespeak the musick on some occasion from Tunbridge Wells, April 15, 1761, and was buried in Tunbridge Church. Over his remains is the following inscription: Hic situs est JACOBUS CAWTHORN, A. M. Schole Tunbrigiensis magister, Qui juventuti tum moribus tum literis instituenda Operam magno non sine honore dedit. Fruitur, & in æternum fruetur. Ætatis 40. Soror mæsta ex grato animo hoc posuit. CHURCHILL. |