With all his careleffnefs, and all his vices, he was one of the murmurers at Fortune; and wondered why he was fuffered to be poor, when Addison was careffed and preferred: nor would a very little have contented him; for he estimated his wants at fix hundred pounds a year.

In his course of reading, it was particular that he had diligently perufed, and accurately remembered, the old romances of knighterrantry.

He had a high opinion of his own merit, and was fomething contemptuous in his treatment of those whom he confidered as not qualified to oppose or contradict him. He had many frailties; yet it cannot but be suppofed that he had great merit, who could obtain to the fame play a prologue from Addison, and an epilogue from Prior; and who could have at once the patronage of Halifax, and the praise of Oldisworth.

For the power of communicating these minute memorials, I am indebted to my converfation

6

verfation with Gilbert Walmsley, late re giftrar of the ecclefiaftical court of Litchfield, who was acquainted both with Smith and Ducket; and declared, that, if the tale concerning Clarendon were forged, he should fufpect Ducket of the falsehood; "for Rag "was a man of great veracity."

Of Gilbert Walmfley, thus prefented to my mind, let me indulge myself in the remembrance. I knew him very early; he was one of the first friends that literature procured me, and I hope that at leaft my gratitude made me worthy of his notice.

He was of an advanced age, and I was only yet a boy; yet he never received my notions with contempt. He was a Whig, with all the virulence and malevolence of his party; yet difference of opinion did not keep us apart. I honoured him, and he endured

me.

He had mingled with the gay world without exemption from its vices or its follies, but had never neglected the cultivation of his mind; his belief of Revelation was unshaken ;

S 2

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unfhaken; his learning preferved his principles; he grew firft regular, and then pious.

His ftudies had been fo various, that I am not able to name a man of equal knowledge. His acquaintance with books was great; and what he did not immediately know he could at least tell where to find. Such was his amplitude of learning, and fuch his copioufnefs of communication, that it may be doubted whether a day now paffes in which I have not some advantage from his friendship.

At this man's table I enjoyed many chearful and inftructive hours, with companions fuch as are not often found; with one who has lengthened, and one who has gladdened. life; with Dr. James, whofe kill in phyfick will be long remembered; and with David Garrick, whom I hoped to have gratified with. this character of our common friend: but what are the hopes of man! I am difappointed by that ftroke of death, which has eclipfed the gaiety of nations, and impove rifhed the publick ftock of harmlefs pleasure.

1

In the Library at Oxford is the following Judicrous Analyfis of Pocockius:

EX AUTOGRAPHO.

[Sent by the Author to Mr. Urry.]

OPUSCULUM hoc, Halberdarie amplif fime, in lucem proferre hactenus diftuli, judicii tui acumen fubveritus magis quam bipennis. Tandem aliquando Oden hanc ad te mitto fublimem, teneram, flebilem, fuavem, qualem demum divinus (fi Mufis vacaret) fcripfiffit Gaftrellus: adeo fcilicet fub. limem ut inter legendum dormire, adeo flebilem ut ridere velis, Cujus elegantiam ut melius infpicias, verfuum ordinem & materiam breviter referam. 1 mus verfus de duobus præliis decantatis. 2dus & 3us de Lotharingio, cuniculis fubterraneis, faxis, ponto, hoftibus, & Afia, 4tus &tus de catenis, fubdibus, uncis, draconibus, tigribus & crocodilis. 6us, 7us gus, gus, de Gomorrha, de Babylone, Babele, & quodum domi fuæ peregrino. 1ons, aliquid de quodam Pocockio, 11, 12us, de Syriâ, Solymâ. 13us, 14us, de Hofeâ, & querca, & de juvene quodam valde fene, 15, 16,

de Etna, & quomodo Etna Pocockio fit valde fimilis. 17, 18us, de tubâ, aftro, umbrâ, flammis, rotis, Pocockio non neglecto. Cætera de Chriftianis, Ottomanis, Babyloniis, Arabibus, & graviffima agrorum melancholiâ; de Cæfare Flacco*, Neftore, & miferando juvenis cujufdam florentiffimi fato, anno ætatis fuæ centefimo præmaturè abrepto. Quæ omnia cum accuratè expenderis, neceffe eft ut oden hanc meam admiranda plane varietati conftare fatearis. Subito ad Batavos proficifcor, lauro ab illis donandus. Prius vero Pembrochienfes voco ad certamen Poeticum. Vale.

Illuftriffima tua deofculor crura.

E. SMITH.

* Pro Flacco, animo paulo attentiore, fcripfiffem

Marone

ITAN

DUKE.