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He continued to officiate in his congregation, until disabled by increasing infirmity: he then wished to resign his appointment, but was not permitted to do so; his flock insisted upon his continuing to receive the accustomed salary, and at the same time paid another minister to act in his stead. Dr. Watts died on the 25th of November, 1748, aged 74.

The virtues and piety of Dr. Watts are strongly reflected in his writings, and spread over them an imperishable lustre. As a Theologian and a Philosopher, he is inferior to none; as a Poet, he is spirited and elegant; but all distinctions, perhaps, ought to give way before that to which he has a primeval claim, and which is so freely awarded him by Dr. Johnson :

"For children, he condescended to lay aside the Scholar, the Philosopher, and the Wit, to write little poems of devotion, and systems of instruction, adapted to their wants and capacities, from the dawn of reason, through its gradations of advance in the morning of life. Every man acquainted with the common principles of human action will look with veneration on the writer who is at one time combating Locke, and at another making a catechism for children in their fourth year. A voluntary descent from the dignity of Science is, perhaps, the hardest lesson that humility can teach."

JOHN WEAVER was a Dancing-master, and author of "An Essay towards a History of Dancing; in which the whole Art, and its various excellencies, are in some measure explained. Containing the several sorts of Dancing, antique and modern, serious, scenical, grotesque, &c With the use of it as an exercise, qualification, diversion, &c.," 12mo. In a Letter printed in the "Spectator," No. 334, he advertises his intention of publishing this Work, which appeared before the close of the year. Steele spoke approvingly of the Book in the "Spectator," No. 466, and certainly not undeservedly, if it be written with the same ease and spirit as his Letter.

RICHARD PARKER was the friend and fellow-collegian of Steele, at Merton College. He took his degree of M.A. in 1697, and was esteemed a very accomplished scholar. It is said that Edmund Smith submitted his Translation of Longinus, to his judgment, from his exact critical knowledge of the Greek Tongue. Mr. Parker was presented by his College to the Vicarage of Embleton, in Northumberland, which he held to a very advanced age: it would appear, however, from his Letter in "Spectator," No. 474, that his tastes were very dissimilar to those of the country gentlemen around him.

PETER ANTHONY MOTTEUX was born at Rouen in 1660. On the revocation of the Edict of Nantz he came to England, and lived for some time with his relative, Paul Dominique, Esq. Unlike the generality of his countrymen, he attained so perfect a knowledge of the English Language, both in its idiom and its colloquial expression, that his Translations of "Don Quixote," and "The Works of Rabelais," have been esteemed, the former, equal to any before or since; and the latter, "one of the most perfect specimens of the art of Translation." He also translated several plays, which were acted with success; wrote Prologues and Epilogues; and a Poem "On Tea," dedicated to the Spectator. At length, deeming Trade a more lucrative pursuit than Literature, he opened an East India Warehouse in Leadenhall-street; and obtained an appointment in the Post-office. His Letter to the Spectator (in No. 288) relates to this change in his avocations, and is an advertisement of the articles in which he dealt. He soon was placed in easy circumstances, married an amiable woman, and became the father of a family; but these blessings were insufficient to deter him from vicious habits. He was found dead on the morning of the 9th of February, 1717-18, at a brothel near Temple Bar, not without suspicions that he had been murdered by the wretches who surrounded him.

BROME, D.D., was the author of Spectator, No. 302. It is supposed that the Emilia who is there described, was "the mother of Mrs. Ascham, of Connington, Cambridgeshire," and the wife of Dr. Brome. This latter supposition is founded upon, and, in some measure, borne out by, her husband being termed "Bromius." If such be the fact, we learn that

Brome had been originally a man, gay, thoughtless, and extravagant; and that he owed to the virtues and discreet conduct of his wife, the preservation of his paternal estate, as well as of his moral character.

FRANCHAM was a resident at Norwich, and wrote "Spectator," No. 520, upon his wife's death. We have no further particulars regarding him; and it is a pity, for the paper in question is of extreme beauty, simplicity, and tenderness.

MR. DUNLOP was Greek Professor in the University of Glasgow, and joined with Mr. Montgomery, in writing No. 524. Mr. Dunlop published a Greek Grammar of some repute.

MR. MONTGOMERY was a Merchant of high respectability, and, we are told, “traded to Sweden, and his business carrying him there, it is said that in consequence of something between him and Queen Christina, he was obliged to leave the kingdom abruptly. This event was supposed to have affected his intellects, much in the same manner as Sir Roger de Coverley is represented to have been injured by his passion for the beautiful widow."

MISS SHEPHEARD, and her sister, MRS. PERRY, were descended from Sir Fleetwood Shepheard. The former wrote two Letters in the "Spectator," one signed Parthenia, in No. 140, the other Leonora, in No. 163: and the latter, one in No. 92, reminding Addison of a promise he had made, to recommend a select library for the improvement of the fair sex.

ROBERT HARPER was a Conveyancer of Lincoln's Inn: he wrote the Letter in No. 480, signed M.D. The original draught, communicated by the Rev. Mr. Harper, of the British Museum, shews that Steele made many alterations in this Letter before printing it.

GOLDING. We have no particulars relative to the life and character of Mr. Golding; but to him is attributed the first Letter in No. 250 of the "Spectator."

GILBERT BUDGELL, the second brother of Eustace Budgell, was the author of the verses at the close of No. 591: it is probable that the paper itself is the production of his brother Eustace.

HENRY BLAND was head master of Eton School, then Provost of the College, and afterwards Dean of Durham. He was author of the Latin Translation of Cato's Soliloquy, in No. 628, originally attributed to Atterbury. The late Horace Walpole assured Mr. Nicholls that he had heard his father, Sir Robert, say that it was the work of Bland, and that he had himself given it to Addison.

RICHARD INCE was educated at Westminster, and after became a student of Christ-church, Oxford. Steele testifies to his having been a contributor to the "Spectator," in No. 555. In 1740, he obtained, through Lord Granville's interest, the office of Secretary to the Comptroller of Army Accounts, the duties of which he performed with great credit for twelve years; when, by the death of his brother, he inherited an affluent fortune. He died in 1758.

CAREY, of New College, Oxford, was, by Steele's acknowledgement (No. 555), a contributor to the "Spectator;" his productions, however, have not been identified.

Besides the Papers ascribed, by ascertained fact, and by internal evidence, to the foregoing, a considerable number marked T. (meaning, it is judged, Transcribed), as well as fifty-three others, remain unappropriated. Many of them, it is probable, are the compositions of Budgell and Tickell; but research seems to have done its utmost, and it is not now likely that further information will be elicited respecting them.

H. D.

A LIST OF THE

WRITERS OF THE SPECTATOR,

AS FAR AS IS KNOWN.

Those marked with an Asterisk are unknown. Those marked with more than one Initial Letter are the work of those Writers whose names are indicated by the Initial Letters.

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