For the power of communicating these minute memorials, I am indebted to my converfation with Gilbert Walmsley, late regifter 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 Walmsley, 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 least my gratitude made me worthy of his notice. He was of an advanced age, and I was only not 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 but had never neglected the cultivation of his mind; his belief of Revelation was unfhaken; his learning preferved his principles; he grew first 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 copiousness of communication, that it may be doubted whether a day now paffes in which I have not fome advantage from his friendship. At this man's table I enjoyed many chearful and instructive hours, with companions fuch as are not often found; with one who has lengthened, and one who has gladdened life; with Dr. James, whose skill 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 eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the publick stock of harmless pleasure. In the Library at Oxford is the following ludicrous Analysis of Pocockius: Ex AUTOGRAPH O. [Sent by the Author to Mr. Urry.] mus I verfus de OPUSCULUM hoc, Halberdarie ampliffime, in lucem proferre hactenus distuli, judicii tui acumen fubveritus magis quam bipennis. Tandem aliquando Oden hanc ad te mitto fublimem, teneram, flebilem, fuavem, qualem demum divinus (fi Mufis vacaret) fcripfiffet Gaftrellus: adeo fcilicet fublimem ut inter legendum dormire, adeo flebilem ut ridere velis. Cujus elegantiam ut melius infpicias, versuum ordinem & materiam breviter referam. duobus præliis decantatis. tharingio, cuniculis fubterraneis, faxis, ponto, hoftibus, & Afia. 4 & 5 de catenis, fudibus, uncis, draconibus, tigribus & crocodilis. 6, 78, 6", 7", 8", 9", de Gomorrha, de Babylone, Babele, & quodam domi fuæ peregrino. 10", aliquid de quodam Pocockio. 11", 12", de Syriâ, Solymâ. 13", 14", de Hofeâ, & quercu, & de juvene quodam valde fene. 15", 16", de Ætnâ & quomodo Ætna Pocockio us tus 2 us dis & 3 de Lo us Pocockio fit valde fimilis. 17, 18", de tubâ, aftro, umbrâ, flammis, rotis, Pocockio non neglecto. Cætera de Chriftianis, Ottomanis, Babyloniis, Arabibus, & graviffimâ agrorum melancholiâ; de Cæfare Flacco*, Neftore, & miferando juvenis cujufdam florentiffimi fato, anno ætatis fuæ centefimo præmaturè abrepti. Quæ omnia cum accuratè expenderis, neceffe eft ut Oden hanc meam admirandâ planè varietate 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. DUKE. DUKE. C F Mr. RICHARD DUKE I can find few memorials. He was bred at Westminster and Cambridge; and Jacob relates, that he was fome time tutor to the duke of Richmond. He appears from his writings to have been not ill qualified for poetical compofitions ; and being conscious of his powers, when he left the university he enlifted himself among the wits. He was the familiar friend of Otway; and was engaged, among other popular names, in the tranflations of Ovid and Juvenal, In his Review, though un finished, |