In 1711, competence, if not plenty, was again put into his power. He was, without the trouble of attendance, or the mortification of a requeft, made gazetteer. Swift, Freind, Prior, and other men of the fame party, brought him the key of the gazetteer's office. He was now again placed in a profitable employment, and again threw the benefit away. An Act of Infolvency made his business at that time particularly troublesome; and he would not wait till hurry fhould be at an end, but impatiently refigned it, and returned to his wonted indigence and amufements.

One of his amufements at Lambeth, where he refided, was to mortify Dr. Tennison, the archbishop, by a publick

feftivity, on the furrender of Dunkirk to Hill; an event with which Tennifon's political bigotry did not fuffer him to be delighted. King was refolved to counteract his fullennefs, and at the expence of a few barrels of ale filled the neighbourhood with honeft merriment.

In the Autumn of 1712 his health declined; he grew weaker by degrees, and died on Christmas-day. Though

his life had not been without irregula rity, his principles were pure and orthodox, and his death was pious.

After this relation, it will be naturally fuppofed that his poems were rather the amusements of idlenefs than efforts of ftudy; that he endeavoured rather to divert than aftonish; that his

thoughts

thoughts feldom afpired to fublimity; and that, if his verfe was easy and his images familiar, he attained what he

6

defired. His purpofe is to be merry'; though perhaps, to enjoy his mirth, it may be fometimes neceffary to think well of his opinions.da boyfred gr

1

PHILIP S.

HN PHILIPS was born on

JOH

the 30th of December, 1676, at Bampton in Oxfordfhire; of which place his father Dr. Stephen Philips, archdeacon of Salop, was minifter.

The

firft part of his education was domeftick, after which he was fent to Winchester, where, as we are told by Dr. Sewel, his biographer, he was foon diftinguished by the fuperiority of his exercifes; and, what is lefs eafily to be credited, fo much endeared himself to his fchoolfellows,

b