must be added that in advanced life, he contributed to the Mirror, the letter signed Adelus in No. 21, Eutrapelus in No. 46, Ed. Umphraville in No. 56, Eutrapelus in No. 62, and the whole of Nos. 75, 86, 97, and 98. In vivacity and point, these papers appear to me to excel what he wrote in the World.

Lord Hailes's answer to Gibbon was the last work he sent from the press, except a few biographical sketches of eminent Scotchmen, designed as specimens of a Biographia Scoticana, a work for which he was admirably qualified by the extent and accuracy of his literary and biographical knowledge; but the infirmities of age were now increasing upon him, and put an end to his useful and virtuous life, Nov. 29, 1792.

No. 36, on the folly of mis-spending the summer in cards and drinking, and the allegory of prosperity and adversity, in No. 84, are said, in Mr. Dodsley's list, to have been written by Mr. Duncombe; but the allegory was written by William Duncombe, the poetical and miscellaneous writer, and brother-in-law of Hughes, and the editor of his poems, who died in 1769. His son, the Rev. John Duncombe, of Canterbury, also a poetical and miscellaneous writer, was the author of No. 36. He died June 21, 1785. Very ample memoirs of the Duncombes, father and son, are given in the last edition of the Biographia, from materials furnished by Mr. Nichols. The Rev. John Duncombe was the author of some letters in the Connoisseur, which will be noticed hereafter.

No. 38, in ridicule of an expensive taste in furniture, and No. 74, on the manner of passing the night in the vulgar and fashionable world, with an ode to night, were written by a Mr. Parratt, the author of some poems in Dodsley's collection, where he is called Parrott.

An ingenious letter on female dress and painting, in No. 78, and another in No. 86, on the improvement to be derived from the study of flowers, were written by the Rev. Thomas Cole, who was same time curate or assistant preacher at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, and published, in 1761, Six Discourses on Luxury, Infidelity, and Enthusiasm. He wrote also some poems in Dodsley's collection, and in 1795, published The Life of Hubert, a narrative, descriptive, and didactic poem.' He died June 7, 1796.

The remaining writers in the World were single paper men, but some of them of considerable distinction in other departments of literary, or of public life.

6

6

No. 15, containing some strictures on the absurd novelties introduced in gardening, and a humorous description of Squire Mushroom's villa, was written by Mr. Francis Coventrye, minister of the donative or curacy of Edgeware, author of Pompey the Little,' Penshurst,' and other Poems in Dodsley's collection. Pompey is a slight composition, but contains some well-drawn characters, which once made part of a comedy which he showed to Gray, the celebrated poet. He died of the small-pox about the year 1759*.

* Nichols's Anecdotes of Bowyer.

His

No. 26 was the production of Mr., afterwards Dr. Joseph Warton. * He had already begun to write in the Adventurer, but his friendship for Moore led him to send this paper.

In the letter from Moore to Dr. Warton, already quoted, he says, "I need not tell you how the World goes. I suppose you have heard from Dodsley that he prints 2,500 weekly. When will you have leisure, and when will you have inclination to lend me a little assistance? Or, in the school-phrase, to lend me a little sense? I believe this is not the most elegant epistle that ever was written; but you will excuse it, I hope, when I tell you that I am writing in a corner of a room where there are two cardtables, and where there is as much noise as at the first night of a new play. But to my request. A critical paper or two will be of great service to me; for though I am in great reputation, I am rather more complimented for my manner than matter. With a little of your help I may be able to do great things.'

The paper sent in consequence of this application, contains many judicious observations on simplicity; but why a writer of his acknowledged taste should characterize gothic architecture by meanness of manner is wholly unaccountable.

In No. 32, criticism is treated with considerable humour as a species of disease, by the ingenious and worthy Mr. Robert Dodsley, a man who has deservedly obtained a niche in

* See Pref. Hist. and Biog, to the Adventurer.

the last edition of the Biographia. It was he who suggested the name World for these papers, and, what is yet more to his honour, he was the projector of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary, as well as of many other literary undertakings of considerable merit. Dodsley had a large acquaintance, and was so much respected, that all his friends, whatever their rank, were happy to promote his schemes, not by recommendation only, but by active services.

No. 37 is introduced by the editor as a letter of "so much nature and simplicity," that rather than curtail it, he thought proper to add another half sheet to the paper, and it certainly merited this distinction. It is not only the longest, but in many respects one of the best papers in the collection. It exposes a too common species of barbarity, with a mixture of gaiety and feeling which is irresistible. It was written by the celebrated Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, K.B., formerly the English minister at the courts of Berlin and St. Petersburgh, and is the only prose work that came from his pen. His poems, which are numerous, are more remarkable for ease and vivacity, than for delicacy or original genius; but a few only were published. Mr. Coxe has done ample justice to his political character in his late splendid "Tour through Monmouthshire."

A very humorous letter on posts was written by Mr. William Hayward Roberts, at that time a student of King's College, Cambridge, where he proceeded B.A.1757, M.A. 1760, and S.T.P. 1773. At this last period he was one of the

fellows of Eton College, and, on the death of Dr. Barnard, he was appointed provost of that seminary, Dec. 1781. He was also Chaplain to his Majesty, and Rector of Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire. He published a poetical Essay on the Existence of God, 1771, and, in 1775, reprinted it with other poems, in an octavo volume. The same year appeared his 'Judah Restored,' a poem in six books, 2 vols, 12mo. His poetry indicates considerable powers, yet is most admired for its pious and moral strain. Although using rhyme in his lesser pieces, in his larger works he affected to disdain

Forged by the hand of some rude Goth, which cramps
Reluctant genius, and with many a fold

Fast binds him to the ground *.

Dr. Roberts died at Eton, Dec. 5, 1791. In 1794, a posthumous work was published by his son, the Rev. W. Roberts, A.M. fellow of Eton College, entitled Corrections of various Passages in the English Version of the Old Testament, upon the Authority of Ancient Manuscripts and Ancient Versions.'

No. 83, on the manufactory of thunder and lightning, a paper which has more various and delicately concealed strokes of irony than almost any paper not of Addison's composition, was written by Mr. William Whitaker, a serjeant at law, and a Welch judge, who is still remembered by many as a man of a most facetious turn. He lived the latter part of his life

* His poetical epistle to Ansty, author of the Bath Guide.