S: L. Mahler. _ the Gift of the Fatigueals

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26 July 1826.
July1826.

PRINTED FOR C. BATHURST, J. BUCKLAND, W. STRAHAN, J.RIVING.
TON AND SONS, T.DAVIES, T.PAYNE, L. DAVIS, W.OWEN, B.WHITE,
S. CROWDER, T CASLON, T. LONGMAN, B. LAW, C. DILLY,
J. DODSLEY, J. WILKIE, J. ROBSON, J. JOHNSON, T. LOWNDES,
G. ROBINSON, T. CADELL, J. NICHOLS, E. NEWBERY,
T. EVANS, P. ELMSLY, R. BALDWIN, G. NICOL, LEIGH
AND SOTHEBY, J. BEW, N. CONANT, W. NICOLL2
J. MURRAY, S. HAYES, W. FOX, AND J. BOWEN.
MDCCLXXX 11,

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ATTHEW PRIOR is one of those that have burft out from an obscure

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original to great eminence. He was born July 21, 1664, according to fome, at Winburne in Dorsetshire, of I know not what parents; others fay that he was the fon of a Joiner of London: he was perhaps willing enough to leave his birth unsettled *, in hope, like Don Quixote, that the historian of his

* The difficulty of fettling Prior's birth-place is great. In the register of his College he is called, at his admiffion by the Prefident, Matthew Prior of Winburn in Middlefex; by himself next day, Matthew Prior of Dorsetshire, in which county, not in Middlefex, Winborn, or Wimborne, as it ftands in the Villare, is found. When he stood candidate for his fellowship, five years afterwards, he was registered again by himself as of Middlefex. The laft record ought to be preferred, because it was made upon oath. It is observable, that, as a native of Winborne, he is ftiled Filius Georgii Prior, generofi; not confiftently with the common account of the meannefs of his birth.

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