have written a book upon that subject. I believe he has spent it all in one paper; and all the under hints are mine too: but I never see him or Addison." A paragraph, likewise, in N° 575, has been claimed for the Dean by the editor of his works, commencing with the line, "The following question is started by one of the," and terminating with the word "choice." To the Guardian it is not known that he afforded any assistance. 7. THOMAS PARNELL, D. D. was born in Dublin, in the year 1679. His ancestors, who were of great respectability, had been long fixed at Congleton, in Cheshire; but his father, in consequence of a strong attachment to the republican party, quitted this country at the Restoration, and purchased several large estates in Ireland; which, together with the family seat in England, became the property of the subject of our memoir. Young Parnell received his school education under the tuition of Dr. Jones, of Dublin, and was admitted a member of the college of that metropolis so early as at the age of thirteen. He acquired his degree of Master of Arts on July he 9th, 1700, and was ordained a deacon the same year by Dr. King, Bishop of Derry; but being under twenty years of age, it was necessary that he should apply for a dispensation from the primate. Three years after this event he entered into priest's orders; and, on the 9th of February, 1705, he was collated to the arch-deaconry of Clogher, by Dr. Ashe, Bishop of Clogher. He shortly afterwards married MISS ANNE MINCHIN, a lady of great beauty, and of most amiable temper; and on whom, during the period of his addresses, he wrote the beautiful little song, beginning, "My days have been so wondrous free." Hitherto Parnell had led a very retired academical life; but he now began to make yearly excursions to England, and soon became familiar with the first literary characters of his age. To great sweetness of disposition he added interesting manners, and powerful talents for conversation; and being possessed of an ample fortune, with a liberal and benevolent turn of mind, he wanted not, nor did he neglect, numerous opportunities of conferring favours and succouring distress. To Gay, to Swift, to Pope, and Arbuthnot he was endeared by daily intercourse and mutual kindness, by that reciprocation of talent and harmless gaiety which can alone render life a scene of rational enjoyment. They together formed the celebrated Scriblerus Club; and of the facetious Memoirs of Scriblerus our author wrote that part, termed, An Essay concerning the Origin of Sciences. His connection with Swift proved the occasion of a change in his political opinions: he had early imbibed from his family and friends an admiration of Whig principles; but the influence and arguments of the Dean, which were brought forward at a time when the Tories were in the full possession of power, shook the firmness of Parnell, and he finally arranged himself beneath the banners of Oxford and Bolingbroke. About this time an event occurred, from the shock of which our amiable poet never perfectly recovered, and which for a time overwhelmed him in the deepest affliction. In the year 1711 died Mrs. Parnell; she had brought him two sons, whom they lost while very young; and one daughter, who was living, I believe, in 1793; they were examples of conjugal felicity, and the stroke was irreparable. Swift, in his Journal to Stella, August the 24th, 1711, thus mentions this melancholy incident: "I am heartily sorry for poor Mrs. Parnell's death; she seemed to be an excellent good natured young woman, and I believe the poor lad is much afflicted: they appeared to live perfectly well together." Parnell had always been subject to much ine quality of spirits; he was either greatly elevated or greatly depressed; and the loss of his wife, which preyed unceasingly on his spirits, induced him to seek relief from a source to which no man has applied, without injury to fame or health. It is the only weakness of his life; and pity drops the tear when she records, that to the oblivion of sorrow, thus imprudently sought from the exhilaration or the stupor of wine, his premature death has been attributed. The habit, however, cannot have been flagrant or gross; for the succeeding year opens to us the busiest portion of his life. Swift had induced him to write a poem "On Queen Anne's Peace," and seized the opportunity of rendering this production subservient to his wish of introducing him to the ministers. "I gave Lord Bolingbroke," says he in his Journal, dated December 22, 1712, a poem of Parnell's. I made Parnell insert some compliments in it to his lordship. He is extremely pleased with it, and read some parts of it to-day to lord treasurer, who liked it as much: and indeed he outdoes all our poets here a bar's length. Lord Bolingbroke has ordered me to bring him to dinner on Christmas day, and I made lord treasurer promise to sec him; and it may one day do Parnell a kindness.” The interview between Lord Oxford and Parnell took place, though the intervention of Swift, on the 31st of the January following. The Doctor " and I con on that day carried Parnell to court; trived it so," he tells Stella," that lord treasurer came to me, and asked (I had Parnell by me) whether that was Dr. Parnell, and came up to him and spoke to him with great kindness, and invited him to his house. I value myself upon making the ministry desire to be acquainted with Parnell, and not Parnell with the ministry. His poem is almost fully corrected, and shall be soon out." The connection, thus begun, between Harley and our author, was soon ripened into a disinterested friendship; the minister found Parnell one of the most benevolent of men, and one of the most pleasing of companions; and the poet discovered many great and amiable qualities in his lordship. Pope, in his epistle to Lord Oxford, written after Parnell's decease, thus pathetically alludes to an intimacy so honourable to both parties: Oh just beheld, and lost! admir'd and mourn'd! |