wrangle, squabble, and scold about philosophical matters like young Sophisters, though either of them was eighty years of age; but Hobbes" adds he "was obstinate and not able to endure contradiction."

Hobbes was very vain; and nothing could be a more convincing proof of his excessive conceit than his arrogating to himself the title of "The Philosopher." He was much pleased with the following epitaph which was made for him a considerable time before his death:

THIS IS THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE.

* Athen. Oxon. vol. II. p. 665,

SAMUEL

SAMUEL BUTLER.

THIS admirable poet was born at Strensham in Worcestershire, according to some in 1612, and to others in 1600. His father was a farmer who rented an estate of about three hundred pounds a year. The son received a good education at the free school of Worcester, after which he resided for some time at Cambridge, but was never matriculated in that University. He next became clerk to an eminent justice of peace in his native county, and after residing with him about four years, he was recommended to the patronage of Elizabeth Countess of Kent, where he had the good fortune to become a kind of amanuensis to the learned Selden who greatly assisted him in his studies. His next removal was to the service of Sir Samuel Luke, a gentleman of good estate in Bedfordshire, but a rigid presbyterian, and the original from whence the poet drew his Hudibras. There Butler had abundant opportunities of making himself acquainted with the characters of the prevailing party. At the restoration of Charles the second he became secretary to the Earl of Carbury, who appointed him steward of Ludlow Castle, and about this time he married Mrs. Herbert, who had a good jointure, but it

was unfortunately lost by being put out on bad securities. The poem of Hudibras which has immortalized his name, was published at three different times. The first part came out in 1663, in octavo, the next year came out the second part, and both were printed together with several additions and annotations. At length the third On its and last part was published in 1678. first appearance it was read with avidity, and applauded as its great merits deserved: but it produced to the author hardly any thing more than universal praise. King Charles always carried Hudibras about with him, but he never gave Butler any mark of his favour except once, when it is said he made him a present of three hundred pounds.

At last, after having contributed to the entertainment of the nation more than any man in his time, this incomparable satirist died in poverty at his apartments in Rose Street, Covent Garden, in the Church-yard of which parish he was buried at the expense of a friend in 1680. No monument was erected to his memory till the year 1721, when Alderman Barber, the printer, set up one in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey.* The

The ingenious Mr. Samuel Wesley, elder brother of the celebrated founder of methodism, and at that time one of the ushers of Westminster-school, wrote the following Epigram on the setting up of this monument;