instead of scattering bounty indiscriminately, directed it to us; and those performances which gratitude forbids us to blame, affection will eafily difpofe us to exalt.

To these prejudices, hardly culpable, intereft adds a power always operating, though not always, because not willingly, perceived. The modefty of praise wears gradually away; and perhaps the pride of patronage may be in time fo increased, that modeft praife will no longer please.

Many a blandifhment was practifed upon Halifax, which he would never have known, had he had no other attractions than those of his poetry, of which a fhort time has withered the beauties. It would

c 3

would now be efteemed no honour, by a contributor to the monthly bundles of verfes, to be told, that, in ftrains ei ther familiar or folemn, he fings like Montague...

こ

G

EORGE STEPNEY, defcended from the Stepneys of Pendegraft in Pembrokeshire, was born at Westminster in 1663. Of his father's condition or fortune I have no account. Having received the first part of his education at Westminster, he went to Cambridge, where he continued a friendship begun at school with Mr. Montague, afterwards earl of Halifax. They came to London together, and are faid to have

been

been invited into publick life by the

duke of Dorfet.

His qualifications recommended him to many foreign employments, fo that his time seems to have been spent in negotiations. In 1692 he was fent envoy to the elector of Brandenburgh; in 1693 to the Imperial Court; in 1694 to the elector of Saxony; in 1696 to the electors of Mentz and Cologne, and the congrefs at Francfort; in 1698 a fecond time to Brandenburgh; in 1699 to the king of Poland; in 1701 again to the Emperor; and in 1706 to the States General. In 1697 he was

made one of the commiffioners of trade. His life was bufy, and not long. He died in 1707; and is buried in Weft

minfter

minster-abbey with this epitaph, which Jacob tranfcribed.

H. S. E.

GEORGIUS STEPNEIUS, Armiger,
Vir

Ob Ingenii acumen,

Literarum Scientiam,

Morum Suavitatem,

Rerum Ufum,

Virorum Ampliffimorum Confuetudinem,

Linguæ Styli ac Vitæ Elegantiam, Præclara Officia cum Britanniæ tum Europæ

præftita,

Suæ ætate multum celebratus,

Apud pofteros femper celebrandus;

Plurimas Legationes obiit

Ea Fide, Diligentia, ac Felicitate,

Ut. Auguftiffimorum Principum

Gulielmi & Annæ

Spem