could embitter the remembrance of this solitary blemish in his public life, it was, that, after all, the only hopes which could justify his compliance were very ungraciously disappointed. For some reason or other, he was obliged to leave his patron, and come to England before the dutchess died, and when that event took place, and he solicited permission to return to the duke, he had the mortification to learn that the ceremony had been performed by Mr. Devisme, chaplain to the embassy at Turin.

Soon after his return to England, he published his edition of Virgil in English and Latin, the Æneid translated by Pitt, and the Eclogues and Georgics by himself, who also contributed the notes on the whole. Into this publication, he introduced Warburten's Dissertation on the sixth Eneid: a commentary on the character of Iapis by Atterbury, and on the shield of Æneas by Whitehead, the laureat, originally published in Dodsley's Museum; and three Essays on Pastoral, Didactic and Epic Poetry written by himself. Much of this valuable work, begun in 1748-9, was printed when he was abroad, and the whole completed in 1753. It is unnecessary to add that his share in the translation, his notes, and especially his Essays, raised him to a very high reputation among the scholars and critics of his age. The second edition, which appeared a few years after, was much improved. In addition to the other honours which resulted from this display of classical taste, the university of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of master of arts, by diploma, dated June 23, 1759. Such is Mr. Wooll's account, but it is evident from the date that his Essay likewise preceded this just mark of esteem.

During the year 1753, he was invited to assist in the Adventurer, which was begun by Hawkesworth, in 1752. The invitation came from his friend Dr. Johnson, who informed him that the literary partners wished to assign to him the province of criti

cism.

His contributions to the Adventurer amount to twenty-four papers. Of these a few are of the humourous cast, but the greater part consist of elegant criticism, not that of cold sagacity, but warm from the heart, and powerfully addressed to the finer feelings as well as to the judgment. His critical papers on Lear have never been exceeded for just taste and discrimination. His disposition lay in selecting, and illustrating those beauties of ancient and modern poetry, which, like the beauties of nature, strike and please many who are yet incapable of describing or analysing them. No. 101, on the blemishes in the Paradise Lost, is an example of the delicacy and impartiality with which writings of established fame ought to be examined. His observations on the Odyssey, in Nos. 75, 80, and 83, are original and judicious, but it may be doubted whether they have detached many scholars from the accustomed preference given to the Iliad. If any objection may be made to Dr. Warton's critical papers, it is that his Greek occurs too frequently in a work intended for domestic instruction. His style is always pure and perspicuous, but sometimes it may be discovered, without any other information, that "he kept company with Dr. Johnson.” The first part of No, 139, if found detached, might have been attributed to that writer. It has all his manner, not merely "the contorsions of the sybil" but somewhat of the "inspiration 2.”

* I hope I shall be excused for transcribing this character of Dr. Warton's Adventurers, written when the subject was fresh in memory, for the British Essayist, vol. xxiii. pref. p. xxxix. C.

About this time he appears to have meditated a history of the revival of literature. His first intention was to publish Select Epistles of Politian, Erasmus, Grotius and others, with notes, but after some correspondence with his brother, who was to assist in the undertaking, it was laid aside, a circumstance much to be lamented, as few men were more extensively acquainted with literary history, or could have detailed it in a more pleasing form. At a subsequent period he again sketched a plan of nearly the same kind, which was likewise abandoned. Collins, some time before this, had published proposals for a History of the Revival of Learning, with a Life of Leo the Tenth, but probably no part was executed, or could indeed be reasonably expected from one of his unhappy state of mind.

In 1754, our author was instituted to the living of Tunworth, on the presentation of the Jervoise family; and in 1755, on the resignation of the rev. Samuel Speed, he was elected second master of Winchester-school, with the management and advantages of a boarding house. In the following year, sir George Lyttelton, then advanced to the peerage, commenced the patronage of his nobility by bestowing a scarf on Mr. Warton. He had for some time enjoyed the familiar acquaintance of sir George, and assisted him in the revisal of his history of Henry II.

Amidst all these honours and employments, he now found leisure to complete the first volume of his celebrated Essay on the Writings and Genius of Pope, which he dedicated to Dr. Young, but did not subscribe his name. Dodsley likewise, although the real publisher, thought proper to employ his deputy Mrs. Cooper on this occasion. The following passage from one of Dodsley's letters published by Mr. Wooll, will probably throw some light on his motive. "Your Essay is published, the price 5s. bound, I gave Mrs. Cooper directions about advertising, and have sent it to her this afternoon, to desire she will look after its being inserted in the evening papers. I have a pleasure in telling you that it is liked in general, and particularly by such as you would wish should like it. But you have surely not kept your secret: Johnson mentioned it to Mr. Hitch as yours.-Dr. Birch mentioned it to Garrick as yours.-And Dr. Akenside mentioned it as yours to me.-And many whom I cannot now think on have asked for it as yours or your brother's. I have sold many of them in my own shop, and have dispersed and pushed it as much as I can: and have said more than I could have said if my name had been to it." The objections made to this admirable piece of criticism will be considered hereafter. In the mean time, they were powerful enough to damp the ardour of the essayist, who left his work in an imperfect state for the long space of twenty-six years.

In May 1766, he was advanced to the head mastership of Winchester school, a situation for which he was eminently qualified, and in which his shining abilities, urbanity of manners, and eminent success in producing scholars of distinguished talents, will be long and affectionately remembered. In consequence of this promotion he once more visited Oxford, and proceeded to the degree of bachelor and doctor in divinity. In 1772, he lost the wife of his early affection, by whom he had six chil dren. The stroke was severe, but the necessity of providing a substitute for his children, and an intelligent and tender companion for himself, induced him in the

About this time he sent some of his juvenile pieces to Dodsley's Collection of Poems. C.