the diffolutenefs of the court, that he addicted himself immoderately to gaming, by which he was engaged in frequent quarrels, and which undoubtedly brought upon him its ufual concomitants, extravagance and diftrefs.

After fome time a difpute about part of his eftate forced him into Ireland, where he was made by the duke of Ormond captain of the guards, and met with an adventure thus related by Fen

ton:

"He was at Dublin as much as ever "diftempered with the fame fatal affec. "tion for play, which engaged him in one "adventure that well deferves to be re❝lated. As he returned to his lodgings from a gaming table, he was attacked " in:

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"in the dark by three ruffians, who "were employed to affaffinate him. "The earl defended himfelf with fo "much refolution, that he difpatched "one of the aggreffors; whilst a gen

tleman, accidentally paffing that way, "interpofed and difarmed another: the "third fecured himself by flight. This generous affiftant was a difbanded of"ficer, of a good family and fair re

putation; who, by what we call the

"partiality of fortune, to avoid cen

furing the iniquities of the times, ❝ wanted even a plain fuit of cloaths to "make a decent appearance at the "Caftle. But his lordship, on this oc

cafion, prefenting him to the duke of "Ormond, with great importunity pre"vailed

“vailed with his grace, that he might "refign his poft of captain of the guards

to his friend; which for about three

years the gentleman enjoyed, and, 66 upon his death, the duke returned "the commiffion to his generous bene"factor."

When he had finished his business, he returned to London; was made master of the horse to the dutchefs of York; and married the lady Frances, daughter of the earl of Burlington, and widow of colonel Courteney.

He now bufied his mind with literary projects, and formed the plan of a society for refining our language, and fixing its standard; in imitation, says Fenton, of thofe learned and polite, focie

ties with which he had been acquainted

abroad. In this defign his friend Dryden is faid to have affifted him.

The fame defign, it is well known, was revived by Dr. Swift in the miniftry of Oxford; but it has never fince been publickly mentioned, though at that time great expectations were formed by

fome at least of its eftablishment and its effects. Such a fociety might, perhaps, without much difficulty be collected; but that it would produce what is expected from it, may be doubted.

The Italian academy feems to have obtained its end. The language was refined, and fo fixed that it has changed but little. The French academy thought that they refined their language, and

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doubt

doubtless thought rightly; but the event has not fhewn that they fixed it; for the French of the prefent time is very different from that of the last century.

In this country an academy could be expected to do but little. If an acade mician's place were profitable, it would be given by intereft; if attendance were gratuitous, it would be rarely paid, and no man would endure the least disgust. Unanimity is impoffible, and debate would feparate the affembly..

But fuppofe the philological decree. made and promulgated, what would be its authority? In abfolute governments, there is fometimes a general reverence paid to all that has the fanction of power, and the countenance of great. nefs.