be more clearly demonstrated, than by observing, that all his works now republished were produced between May 1761, and November 1764; that is, in three years and a half.

While he was thus negligent of his fame as a writer, he was not more attentive to his reputation as a man. He separated from his wife, threw off his clerical character, and dressed himself ridiculously in laced cloaths. Hey was often to be seen in disgraceful society, and indulged in intemperances which the sober part of his friends could not avoid observing, and at the same time lamenting. His race was but short. In the autumn of 1764, he went to Bologne with Mr. Humphrey Cotes, in order to pay a visit to Mr. Wilkes, then in exile.. There he was seized with a miliary fever, which baffled the medical art of two physicians of skill and reputation by whom he was attended. He died on the 4th of November, 1764, and was buried at Dover.

FALCONER.

W

VILLIAM FALCONER was a native of Scotland, bred to the sea service, in which he spent the greatest part of his life in a very low situation. He displayed his poetical talents at an early age, by the publication, at Edinburgh, of "A Poem, sacred to the memory of his Royal Highness "Frederick Prince of Wales," 8vo, 1751. In the course of his sea life he appears to have really experienced the dangers so feelingly described in his poem, intituled, "The Shipwreck," printed in 1762. The publication of this work drew him from the obscurity of his situation: he was patronized by the Duke of York, to whom he addressed an Ode on his second departure from England as rear-admiral, and soon after received the appointment of Purser to the Royal George. In 1769 he published a " Marine Dictionary," an acknowledged useful work, and soon afterwards embarked on board the Aurora to settle in the East Indies. In December 1769 he arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, from whence he sailed soon after. These were the last tidings of the ship, which was never heared of afterwards. It is generally supposed to have taken fire, and that all the crew perished.

LLOYD.

LLOY D.

ROBERT LLOYD was the son of Dr. Pearson Lloyd, second Master of

Westminster School, at which seminary he received his education. He was born in 1733; and had for his school-fellows, Churchill, Thornton, Colman, and some others who have distinguished themselves in the literary world. To the first of these he was through life particularly attached. In the year 1751 he stood first on the list of Westminster scholars, who were sent to Trinity College, Cambridge, at the same time that his friend Colman obtained the same rank amongst those who were sent to Oxford. In 1755 he took the degree of Bachelor; and in 1761 that of Master of Arts. Though he went to the university from school in a manner so honourable to his literature, he never became a fellow of his college. To the decency or propriety of his conduct at Cambridge, little commendation can be afforded; the report of his contemporaries is not in the least favourable to his behaviour there. On leaving the university, he returned to Westminster, and became an assistant to his father as one of the ushers of the school, an employment he undertook with reluctance, and retired from with disgust. So early as the year 1750, he had written "The Progress of Envy," and had continued to cultivate his poetical talents during his residence at Cambridge. In the year 1760 he published "The Actor," and soon after quitted his of fice of usher of the school, determining for the future to rely on his pen for support. In this plan of life he was unsuccessful; though he engaged in many undertakings, he added little to his reputation, and nothing to his independence. The short remainder of his life passed not with less ignominy than the preceding part of it; a habit of dissipation had taken possession of him; he contracted debts which he was unable to discharge, and in the end became a prisoner in the Fleet, where he was almost entirely supported by the benevolence of his friend Churchill. On the death of that gentleman VOL. I.

4 T

he

he fell into a fit of despondence, and survived him but a few weeks. He died on the 15th of December, 1764, at the age of 31; and was buried on the 19th, in the church-yard of St. Bride's parish.

"Mr. Lloyd," says Mr. Wilkes, "was mild and affable in private life, of "gentle manners, and very engaging in conversation. He was an excellent "scholar, an easy natural poet. His peculiar excellence was the dressing cc up an old thought in a new, neat, and trim manner. He was contented "to scamper round. the foot of Parnassus on his little Welch poney, which "seems never to have tired. He left the fury of the winged steed, and the "daring flights of the sacred mountain, to the sublime genius of his friend "Churchill."

CUNNINGHAM,

JOHN CUNNINGHAM was born at Dublin in the year 1729. His father was a wine-cooper in moderate circumstances, who, having obtained a prize in the lottery, commenced wine-merchant, and in a short time became a bankrupt. The small education our author received was at the grarmar-school of Drogheda, under Mr. Clark. On the failure of his father he was recalled to Dublin, where, having no certain employment, he became attached to the theatre; and before he arrived at the age of seventeen years, produced a drama intituled, "Love in a Mist," performed several nights at the theatre in Smock Alley. By means of this performance having introduced himself to an acquaintance with the actors, he was pre. vailed on to engage with an itinerant manager, with whom he came to England; and in this profession he continued, with little variation, until his death.

As an actor he obtained little reputation. His figure was totally against him, either for tragedy or genteel comedy. His diffidence was too great to be ever overcome; and his voice was dissonant and offensive to the ear. He is said, however, to have shewn, in general, a good conception of his author, and as the representative of a mock French character, was not wholly undeserving of praise.

After

After he had published some of his best performances, he acquired reputation enough to receive an invitation from some booksellers in London, who proposed to employ him in some works of literature, by which he might obtain a livelihood, in a manner more easy and honourable than that in which he had been hitherto engaged. Convinced of the propriety of acceding to this proposal, he repaired from Edinburgh to London; but had hardly set foot in the capital before he was satisfied of the impracticability of the scheme. The bookseller by whom he was to have been employed had stopped payment; and the attention of the public was so entirely engrossed by scandal and political altercation, that he left the town with precipitation after a short and disagreeable stay in it, and once more rejoined his friends in the North.

This was the only effort he ever made to emerge from the abject situation in which youthful imprudence had originally placed him. But with this state he appeared by no means dissatisfed. Competence and obscurity were all he desired. He had no views of ambition; and indolence had possessed him so entirely, that he never made a second attempt. In a letter to a friend he describes himself in these terms: "You may remember my last expedi"tion to London. I think I may be convinced by it that I am not calcu"lated for the business you mention. Though I scribble (but a little nei"ther) to amuse myself, the moment I considered it as my duty it would "cease to be an amusement, and I should of consequence be weary on't. I "am not enterprizing; and tolerably happy in my present situation."

The remainder of his life passed in one uniform strain. A few months before his death, being incapable of any theatrical exertion, he was removed to the house of his friend Mr. Slack, of Newcastle, who with great kindness received him under his roof, and paid every attention to him which his state required. After lingering some time under a nervous disorder, during which he burnt all his papers, he died the 18th of September, 1773, and was buried in St. John's church-yard, Newcastle, where, on a tombstone erected to his memory, is the following inscription:

GRE E N.

MATTHEW GREEN was of a family of good repute amongst the Dis

senters, and had his education in that sect. He wa a man of approved probity, and sweetness of temper and manners. His wit abounded in conversation, and was never known to give the least offence. He had a post in the Custom-house, and discharged the duty there with the utmost diligence and ability. He died about 1737, at the age of 41 years, in Nag's-head-court, Grace-church-street.

To the above account, which was furnished by Mr. Glover, author of "Leonidas," it may be added, that Mr. Green had not much learning, but knew a little Latin. He was very subject to the hyp, had some free notions on religious subjects; and, though bred amongst the Dissenters, grew disgusted at the preciseness and formality of the sect. He was nephew to Mr. Tanner, clerk of Fishmonger's-Hall. His poem intituled "Spleen" was written by piece-meal; and would never have been compleated, had he not been pressed to it by his friend Mr. Glover. By this gentleman, (who pos sessed, as he informed a person just before his death, many manuscripts of Mr. Green) it was committed to the press..

Mr. Green published nothing in his life-time. In 1732 he printed and gave away a few copies of "The Grotto." It has been observed by Mr. Melmoth, that there are more original thoughts thrown together in the poem of "Spleen," than he had ever read in the same compass of lines.

In the "European Magazine" for July 1785, are some further anecdotes of our author.

GOLDSMITH.