fame ftanza, how "towers are fed." But I will no longer look for particular faults; yet let it be obferved that the ode might have been concluded with an action of better example; but fuicide is always to be had, without expence of thought.

Thefe odes are marked by glittering accumulations of ungraceful ornaments; they strike, rather than pleafe; the images are magnified by affectation; the Janguage is laboured into harfhnefs. The mind of the writer feems to work with unnatural violence. "Double, double, toil and trouble." He has a kind of ftrutting dignity, and is tall by walking on tiptoe. His art and his fruggle are too vifible, and there is too little appearance of eafe and nature.

To fay that he has no beauties, would be unjust: a man like him, of great learning and great industry, could not but produce fomething valuable. When he pleases leaft, it can only be faid that a good defign was ill directed.

His tranflations of Northern and Welfh Poetry deferve praife; the imagery is preserved, perhaps often improved; but the language is unlike the language of other poets.

In the character of his Elegy I rejoice to concur with the common reader; for by the common fenfe of readers, uncorrupted with literary prejudices, after all the refinements of fubtilty and the dogmatifm of learning, must be finally decided all claim to poetical honours. The "Church-yard" abounds with images which find a mirrour in every mind, and with fentiments to which every bofom returns an echo. The

four

four ftanzas, beginning "Yet even these bones," are to me original: I have never feen the notions in any other place; yet he that reads them here perfuades himself that he has always felt them. Had Gray written often thus, it had been vain to blame, and ufclefs to praise him.

LYTTEL

LYTTELTON.

GEORGE LYTTELTON, the son of Sir Thomas Lyttelton, of Hagley in Worcestershire, was born in 1709. He was educated at Eton, where he was fo much diftinguished, that his exercifes were recommended as models to his fchoolfellows.

From Eton he went to Christ-church, where he retained the fame reputation of fuperiority, and difplayed his abilities to the publick in a poem on

Blenheim."

He was a very early writer, both in verfe and profe. His "Progrefs of Love," and his "Perfian Letters," were both written when he was very young; and indeed the character of a young man is very vifible in both. The verfes cant of fhepherds and flocks, and crooks dreffed with flowers; and the Letters have fomething of that indiftinct and headftrong ardour for liberty which a man of genius always catches when he enters the world, and always fuffers to cool as he paffes forward,

He

He ftaid not long in Oxford; for in 1728 he began his travels, and faw France and Italy. When he returned, he obtained a feat in Parliament, and foon diftinguished himself among the moft eager opponents of Sir Robert Walpole, though his father, who was a Commiffioner of the Admiralty, always voted with the Court.

For many years the name of George Lyttelton was seen in every account of every debate in the House of Commons. He opposed the standing army; he opposed the excife; he supported the motion for petitioning the King to remove Walpole. His zeal was confidered by the courtiers not only as violent, but as acrimonious and malignant; and, when Walpole was at last hunted from his places, every effort was made by his friends, and many friends he had, to exclude Lyttelton from the Secret Committee.

The Prince of Wales, being (1737) driven from St. James's, kept a separate court, and opened his arms to the opponents of the miniftry. Mr. Lyttelton became his fecretary, and was supposed to have great influence in the direction of his conduct. He perfuaded his master, whose business it was now to be popular, that he would advance his character by patronage. Mallet was made under-fecretary, with 200 l.; and Thomfon had a penfion of 100 l. a year. For Thomson Lyttelton always retained his kindness, and was able at laft to place him at ease.

Moore courted his favour by an apologetical poem, called "The Trial of Selim ;" for which he was paid with kind words, which, as is common, raifed great hopes, that were at last disappointed.

Lyttelton

Lyttelton now ftood in the first rank of oppofition; and Pope, who was incited, it is not easy to fay how, to increase the clamour against the ministry, commended him among the other patriots. This drew upon him the reproaches of Fox, who, in the house, imputed to him as a crime his intimacy with a lampooner fo unjust and licentious. Lyttelton fupported his friend; and replied, that he thought it an honour to be received into the familiarity of fo great a poet.

While he was thus confpicuous, he married (1741) Mifs Lucy Fortefcue of Devonshire, by whom he had a fon, the late Lord Lyttelton, and two daughters, and with whom he appears to have lived in the highest degree of connubial felicity: but human pleasures are fhort; fhe died in childbed about five years afterwards; and he folaced his grief by writing a long poem to her memory.

He did not, however, condemn himself to perpetual folitude and forrow; for, after a while, he was content to feek happiness again by a fecond marriage with the daughter of Sir Robert Rich; but the experiment was unsuccessful.

At length, after a long ftruggle, Walpole gave way, and honour and profit were diftributed among his conquerors. Lyttelton was made (1744) one of the Lords of the Treafury; and from that time was engaged in fupporting the fchemes of the miniftry.; Politicks did not, however, fo much engage him as to withhold his thoughts from things of more importance. He had, in the pride of juvenile confidence, with the help of corrupt converfation, enter