notice of some very distinguished contemporaries, of Dr. Powell, Balguy, Ogden, Stebbing, and Hurd, who not only admitted him to an occasional intercourse, but to an intimacy and respect which continued through the various scenes of their lives. In such society his morals and industry had every encouragement which the best example could give, and he soon surmounted the prejudices which vulgar minds might have indulged on the recollection of his birth and poverty.

When the marriage of the prince of Wales in 1736, and the birth of his son, the present king, called for the gratulatory praises of the universities, Whitehead wrote some verses on these subjects, which he inserted in the first collection of his poems, published in 1754, but omitted from the second in 1774. They are restored, however, to the present edition, as they have been reprinted in some subsequent collections; nor can there be much danger to the reputation of a poet in telling the world that his earliest efforts were not his best.

The production with which, in Mr. Mason's opinion, he commenced a poet, was his epistle On the Danger of Writing in Verse. This, we are told, obtained general admiration, and was highly approved by Pope, But that it is "one of the most happy imitations extant of Pope's preceptive manner," is a praise which seems to come from Mr. Mason's friendship, rather than his judgment. The subject is but slightly touched, and the sentiments are often obscure. It is not very easy to arrange the following words in any order that can make sense.

Will it avail, that, unmatur'd by years,

My easy numbers pleas'd your partial ears,

If now condemn'd, ev'n where he's valu'd most,

The man must suffer if the poet's lost.

Nor are the following much more intelligible:

Thus grateful France does Richlieu's worth proclaim,
Thus grateful Britain doats on Somers' name,

And spite of party rage, and human flaws,

And British liberty, and British laws,

Times yet to come shall sing of Anna's reign,

And bards, who blame the measures, love the man.

Why "times to come" should celebrate Anna's reign, “in spite of British liberty and laws" is not easily discovered, although they may be allowed to forget "party rage," and what is tamely called "human flaws." The finest passage and happiest imitation of Pope, is that in which he condemns the licentiousness of certain poets.

The tale of Atys and Adrastus, his next publication, is altogether superior to the former. It is elegant, pathetic, and enriched with some beautiful imagery.

The Epistle of Anne Boleyn to Henry VIII. which followed, will not be thought to rank very high among productions of this kind, "The truth is," says Mr. Mason, "Mr. Pope's Eloisa to Abelard is such a chef d'œuvre, that nothing of the kind can be relished after it." Our critic has, however, done no credit to Whitehead, by this insinuation of rivalship, and yet less to himself by following it with a petulant attack on Dr. Johnson. In his eagerness to injure the reputation of a man so much his superior, and with whom, it is said, he never exchanged an angry word, he would exclude sympathy from the charms which attract in the Eloisa, and at the expence of taste and feeling, passes a clumsy sarcasm on papistical machinery.

The Essay on Ridicule was published in 1743. It is by far the best of his didactic pieces, and one upon which, his biographer thinks, he bestowed great pains. "His own natural candour led him to admit the use of this excellent (though frequently misdirected) weapon of the mind with more restrictions than, perhaps, any person will submit to, who has the power of employing it successfully." The justice of this observation is proved by almost universal experience. Pope and Swift at this time were striking instances of the abuse of a talent which, moderated by candour, and by respect for what ought to be above all ridicule and all levity, might contribute more powerfully to sink vice into contempt than any other means that can be employed.

This poem is not now printed as it came from the pen of the author on its first publication. Some lines at the conclusion are omitted, in which he was afraid he had authorized too free a use of ridicule; and the names of Lucian and Cervantes, whom he held as legitimate models, are omitted, that honour being reserved for Addison only.

His next essay was the short epistle to the Earl of Ashburnham on Nobility. His biographer is silent concerning it, because it was not inserted in either of the editions of his works, nor can he assign the reason, although it does not appear to be very obscure. With much excellent advice, there is a mixture of democratic reflection on hereditary titles, and insinuations respecting

such seeming inconsistent things

As strength with ease, and liberty with kings,

which he might think somewhat uncourtly in the collected works of one who had become the companion of lords, and the poet laureat.

In the publication of the poems now enumerated, while at college, Mr. Mason informs us, that he was less eager for poetical fame than desirous of obtaining a maintenance by the labours of his pen, that he might be less burthensome to his mother. With this laudable view, he practised the strictest economy, and pursued his studies with exemplary diligence. Whether his inclination led him to any particular branch of science, we are not told. In 1739 he took his degree of bachelor of arts, and in 1742 was elected a fellow of his college. In 1743, he was admitted master of arts, and appears about this time to have had an intention to take orders. Some lines which he wrote to a friend, and which are reprinted among the additional fragments to his works in this edition, treat this intention with a levity unbecoming that, which, if not serious, is the worst of all hypocrisy. He was prevented, however, from indulging any thoughts of the church by an incident which determined the tenour of his future life.

William, third earl of Jersey, was at this time making inquiries after a proper person to be private tutor to his second son, the late earl, and Whitehead was recommended by Mr. commissioner Graves, as a person qualified for this important charge. Mr. Whitehead accepted the offer, as his fellowship would not necessarily be vacated by it, and in the summer of 1745 removed to the earl's house in town, where he was received upon most liberal footing. A young friend of the family, afterwards general Stephens, was also put under his care, as a companion to the young nobleman in his studies, and a spur to his emulation.

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Placed thus in a situation, where he could spare some hours from the instruction of his pupils, he became a frequenter of the theatre, which had been his favourite amusement long before he had an opportunity of witnessing the superiority of the London performers. Immediately on his coming to town, he had written a little ballad farce, entitled The