Being, probably, unfatisfied with his own proficiency, he, like other painters, travelled to Italy; and coming back in 1740, published the "Ruins of "Rome." If his poem was written foon after his return, he did not make ufe of his acquifitions in painting, whatever they might be; for decline of health and love of ftudy determined him to the Church. He therefore entered into orders; and, it feems, married about the fame time a lady of the name of Enfor; "whose grand-mother," fays he, "was a Shakspeare "defcended from a brother of every body's Shakfpeare;" by her, in 1756, he had a fon and three daughters living. His ecclefiaftical provifion was for a long time but flender. His firft patron, Mr. Harper, gave him, in 1741, Calthorp in Leicestershire, of eighty pounds a year, on which he lived ten years, and then exchanged it for Belchford in Lincolnshire, of feventyfive. His condition now began to mend. In 1751, Sir John Heathcote gave him Coningsby, of one hun dred and forty pounds a year; and in 1755 the Chancellor added Kirkby, of one hundred and ten. He complains that the repair of the house at Coningsby, and other expences, took away the profit. In 1757 he published "The Fleece," his greateft poetical work; of which I will not fupprefs a ludicrous ftory. Dodfley the bookfeller was one day mentioning it to a critical vifitor, with more expectation of fuccefs than the other could eafily admit. In the converfation the author's age was asked; and being reprefented as adVOL. III. vanced T vanced in life, "He will," faid the critick, “ "buried in woollen." Be He did not indeed long furvive that publication, nor long enjoy the increase of his preferments; for in 1758 he died. Dyer is not a poet of bulk or dignity fufficient to require an elaborate criticifm. "Grongar Hill" is the happieft of his productions: it is not indeed very accurately written; but the fcenes which it displays are fo pleafing, the images which they raise are fo welcome to the mind, and the reflections of the writer fo confonant to the general fenfe or experience of mankind, that when it is once read, it will be read again. The idea of the Ruins of Rome" ftrikes more, but pleases lefs, and the title raifes greater expectation than the performance gratifies. Some paffages, however, are conceived with the mind of a poet; as when, in the neighbourhood of dilapidating edifices, he fays, The Pilgrim oft At dead of night, mid his orifon hears Aghaft the voice of time, difparting tow'rs, Rattling around, loud thund'ring to the Moon. Of The Fleece," which never became popular, and is now univerfally neglected, I can fay little that is likely to recall it to attention. The woolcomber and the poet appear to me fuch difcordant natures, that an attempt to bring them together is to couple the ferpent with the fowl. When Dyer, whofe mind, was not unpoetical, has done his utmost, by interest ing his reader in our native commodity, by interfperfing rural imagery, and incidental digreffions, by cloathing small images in great words, and by all the writer's arts of delufion, the meannefs naturally adhering, and the irreverence habitually annexed to trade and manufacture, fink him under infuperable oppreffion; and the difguft which blank verfe, encumbering and encumbered, fuperadds to an unpleafing fubject, foon repels the reader, however willing to be pleased. Let me however honeftly report whatever may counterbalance this weight of cenfure. I have been told, that Akenfide, who, upon a poetical question, has a right to be heard, faid, "That he would regulate his opinion of the reigning tafte by the fate "of Dyer's Fleece;' for, if that were ill-received, he fhould not think it any longer reasonable to ex"pect fame from excellence." 66 SHENSTONE. WILLIAM SHENSTONE, the fon of Thomas Shenftone and Anne Pen, was born in November 1714, at the Leafowes in Hales-Owen, one of those infulated diftricts which, in the divifion of the kingdom, was appended, for fome reafon not now discoverable, to a distant county; and which, though furrounded by Warwickshire and Worcestershire, belongs to Shropshire, though perhaps thirty miles diftant from any other part of it. He learned to read of an old dame, whom his poem of the "School-mistress" has delivered to pofterity; and foon received fuch delight from books, that he was always calling for fresh entertainment, and expected that, when any of the family went to market, a new book should be brought him, which, when it came, was in fondness carried to bed and laid by him. It is faid, that, when his request had been neglected, his mother wrapped up a piece of wood of the fame form, and pacified him for the night. As As he grew older, he went for a while to the Grammar-school in Hales-Owen, and was placed afterwards: with Mr. Crumpton, an eminent school-mafter at Solihul, where he diftinguished himself by the quickness of his progrefs. When he was young (June 1724) he was deprived of his father, and foon after (Auguft 1726) of his grandfather; and was, with his brother, who died afterwards unmarried, left to the care of his grandmother, who managed the eftate. From school he was fent in 1732 to Pembroke College in Oxford, a fociety which for half a century has been eminent for English poetry and elegant literature. Here it appears that he found delight and advantage; for he continued his name in the book ten years, though he took no degree. After the first four years he put on the Civilian's gown, but without fhewing any intention to engage in the profeffion. About the time when he went to Oxford, the death of his grandmother devolved his affairs to the care of the reverend Mr. Dolman, of Brome in Staffordfhire, whofe attention he always mentioned with gratitude. At Oxford he employed himself upon English poetry; and in 1737 published a fmall Mifcellany, without his name. He then for a time wandered about, to acquaint himself with life, and was fometimes at London, fometimes at Bath, or any other place of publick refort; but he did not forget his poetry. He published in 1741 his "Judgement of Hercules," addreffed to |