ENGLISH POETS BY SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D. EDITED BY GEORGE BIRKBECK HILL, D.C.L. SOMETIME HONORARY FELLOW OF PEMBROKE COLLEGE, oxford WITH BRIEF MEMOIR OF DR. BIRKBECK HILL, BY HIS NEPHEW IN THREE VOLUMES VOL. II OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS MDCCCCV EDMUND SMITH DMUND SMITH is one of those lucky writers who have 1 Ethout much labour attained high reputation, and who are mentioned with reverence rather for the possession than the exertion of uncommon abilities'. Of his life little is known; and that little claims no praise but 2 what can be given to intellectual excellence, seldom employed to any virtuous purpose. His character, as given by Mr. Oldisworth' with all the partiality of friendship, which is said by Dr. Burton to show 'what fine things one man of parts can say of another 3,' and which, however, comprises great part of what can be known of Mr. Smith, it is better to transcribe at once, than to take by pieces. I shall subjoin such little memorials as accident has enabled me to collect. 'Mr. EDMUND SMITH was the only son of an eminent 3 merchant, one Mr. Neale, by a daughter of the famous baron Lechmere. Some misfortunes of his father, which were soon after followed by his death, were the occasion of the son's being left very young in the hands of a near relation (one who married Mr. Neale's sister) whose name was Smith. 'This gentleman and his lady treated him as their own child, 4 and put him to Westminster-school under the care of Dr. Busby5; whence after the loss of his faithful and generous guardian (whose name he assumed and retained) he was removed to Christ-church, in Oxford, and there by his aunt handsomely maintained till her death; after which he continued a member of that learned and ingenious society till within five years of his own; though, some time before his leaving Christ-church, he was sent for by his |