probably published more than he owned. He left many compofitions behind him, of which Pope selected those which he thought beft, and dedicated them to the earl of Oxford. Of these Goldsmith has given an opinion, and his criticism it is seldom safe to contradict. He beftows juft praise upon the Rife of Woman, the Fairy Tale, and the Pervigilium Veneris; but has very properly remarked, that in the Battle of Mice and Frogs the Greek names have not in English their original effect.

He tells us, that the Bookworm is borrowed from Beza; but he fhould have added, with modern applications: and when he discovers that Gay Bacchus is tranflated from Augurellus, he ought to have remarked that the latter part is purely Parnell's, Another Another poem, When Spring comes on, is, he fays, taken from the French. I would add, that the description of Barrenness, in his verses to Pope, was borrowed from Secundus; but lately fearching for the paffage which I had formerly read, I could not find it. The Night-piece on Death is indirectly preferred by Goldsmith to Gray's Church-yard;

but,

but, in my opinion, Gray has the advantage in dignity, variety, and originality of fentiment. He obferves, that the story of the Hermit is in More's Dialogues and Howell's Letters, and fuppofes it to have been originally Arabian.

Goldfmith has not taken any notice of the Elegy to the old Beauty, which is perhaps the meaneft; nor of the Allegory on Man, the happiest of Parnell's performances. The hint of the Hymn to Contentment I fufpect to have been borrowed from Cleiveland.

The general character of Parnell is not great extent of comprehension, or fertility of mind. Of the little that appears, ftill less is his own. His praise must be derived from the easy sweetness of his diction: in his verses there is more happiness than pains; he is fpritely without effort, and always delights, though he never ravishes ; every thing is proper, yet every thing feems cafual. If there is fome appearance of elaboration in the Hermit, the narrative, as it is less airy, is less pleasing. Of his other compofitions it is impoffible to say whether they are the productions of Na

ture,

ture, fo excellent as not to want the help of Art, or of Art so refined as to resemble Nature.

This criticism relates only to the pieces published by Pope. Of the large appendages which I find in the last edition, I can only say, that I know not whence they came, nor have ever enquired whither they are going. They ftand upon the faith of the compilers.

GARTH.

GART H.

AMUEL GARTH was of a good fa

SAMU

mily in Yorkshire, and from fome school in his own country became a student at Peter-house in Cambridge, where he refided till he became doctor of phyfick on July the 7th, 1691. He was examined before the College at London on March the 12th, 1691-2, and admitted fellow June 26th, 1693. He was foon so much distinguished by his converfation and accomplishments, as to obtain very extenfive practice; and if a pamphlet of those times may be credited, had the favour and confidence of one party, as Radcliffe had of the other.

He is always mentioned as a man of benevolence; and it is just to suppose that his defire of helping the helpless disposed him to fo much zeal for the Dispensary; an undertaking, of which fome account, however short, is proper to be given.

Whether

Whether what Temple says be true, that physicians have had more learning than the other faculties, I will not stay to enquire; but, I believe, every man has found in phyficians great liberality and dignity of fentiment, very prompt effufion of beneficence, and willingness to exert a lucrative art where there is no hope of lucre. Agreeably to this character, the College of Physicians, in July 1687, published an edict, requiring all the fellows, candidates, and licentiates, to give gratuitous advice to the neighbouring poor.

This edict was sent to the Court of Aldermen; and a question being made to whom the appellation of the poor should be extended, the College answered, that it fhould be fufficient to bring a testimonial from the clergyman officiating in the parish where the patient resided.

After a year's experience, the physicians found their charity frustrated by some malignant oppofition, and made to a great degree vain by the high price of phyfick; they therefore voted, in August 1688, that the laboratory of the College should be accommodated to the preparation of medi