Of Gilbert Walmsley, thus prefented to my mind, let me indulge myself in the remembrance. I knew him very early; he was one of the first friends that literature procured me, and I hope that at least my gratitude made me worthy of his notice.

He was, of an advanced age, and I was only yet a boy; yet he never received my notions with contempt. He was a Whig, with all the virulence and malevolence of his party yet difference of opinion did not keep us apart. I honoured him, and he endured me.

He had mingled with the gay world without exemption from its vices or its follies, but had never neglected the cultivation of his mind; his belief of Revela, tion was unfhaken; his learning preserved his principles; he grew first regular, and then pious.

His ftudies had been fo various, that I am not able to name a man of equal knowledge. His acquaintance with books was great; and what he did not immediately know he could at least tell where to find. Such was his amplitude of learning, and

fuch

fuch His copioufnefs of communication, that it may be doubted whether a day now paffes in which I have not fome advantage from his friendship.

At this man's table I enjoyed many chearful and inftructive hours, with companions fuch as are not often found; with one who has lengthened, and one who has gladdened life; with Dr. James, whofe skill in phyfick will be long remembered; and with David Garrick, whom I hoped to have gratified with this character of our common friend: but what are the hopes of man! I am disappointed by that stroke of death, which has eclipfed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure.

In the Library at Oxford is the following ludicrous Analysis of Pocockius:

EX AUTOGRAPHO.

[Sent by the Author to Mr. Urry.] OPUSCULUM hoc, Halberdarie amplif fime, in lucem proferre hactenus distuli, judicii tui acumen fubveritus magis quam bipennis. Tandem aliquando Oden hanc

ad te mitto fublimem, teneram, febilem, fuavem, qualem demum divinus (fi Mufis vacaret) fcripfiffit Gaftrellus: adeo fcilicet fublimem ut inter legendum dormire, adeo flebilem ut ridere velis. Cujus elegantiam ut melius infpicias, verfuum ordinem & materiam breviter referam. Imus verfus de duobus præliis decantatis. 2dus & 3us de Lotharingio, cuniculis fubterraneis, faxis, ponto, hoftibus, & Afia. 4tus & 5tus de catenis, fubdibus, uncis, draconibus, tigribus & crocodilis. 6us, 7us, gus, 9us, de Gomorrha, de Babylone, Babele, & quodam domi fuæ peregrino. 10" aliquid de quodam Pocockio. 11", 12", de Syriâ, Solyma. 13us, 14", de Hofeâ, & quercu, & de juvene quodam valde fene. 15, 16, de Etna, & quomodo Etnâ Pocockio fit valde fimilis. 17us, .18", de tubâ, aftro, umbrâ, flammis, rotis, Pocockio non neglecto. Cætera de Chriftianis, Ottomanis, Babyloniis, Arabibus, & graviffimâ agrorum melancholia; de Cæfare Flacco*, Neftore, & miferando juvenis cujufdam florentiffimi fato, anno ætatis fuæ centefimo præmaturè abrepto. Quæ omnia cum ac

*Pro Flacco, animo paulo attentiore, fcripfiffem Marone.

6

curate

curatè expenderis, neceffe eft ut oden hanc meam admirandâ planè varietati conftare fatearis. Subito ad Batavos proficifcor, lauro ab illis donandus. Prius vero Pembrochienfes voco ad certamen Poeticum. Vale.

Illuftriffima tua deofculor crura.

E. SMITH.

DUKE.

1

DUKE.

Ο

F Mr. RICHARD DUKE I can find

OF Mr. bred at

few memorials. He was

Westminster* and Cambridge *; and Jacob relates, that he was fome time tutor to the Duke of Richmond.

He appears from his writings to have been not ill-qualified for poetical compofitions; and being confcious of his powers, when he left the university, he enlisted himself among the wits. He was the familiar friend of Otway; and was engaged, among other popular names, in the tranflations of Ovid and Juvenal. In his Review, though unfinished, are fome vigorous lines. His poems are not below me

* He was admitted there in 1670; was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1675 and took his Master's degree in 1682. N.

diocrity;