Born at Bridekirk, in Cumberland-Educated at Oxford-Marries-Acquires the friendship of Addison-His first Poems-His Translation of the first Book of the Iliad-Made Under-Secretary-Addison leaves him the charge of Publishing his Works-His Elegy on AddisonMade Secretary to the Lords Justices-Death at Bath-Works and Character. THOMAS TICKELL, the son of the Reverend Richard Tickell, was born in 1686 at Bridekirk in Cumberland; and in April, 1701, became a member of Queen's College in Oxford; in 1708 he was made Master of Arts, and two years afterwards [9th Nov., 1710] was chosen Fellow; for which, as he did not comply with the statutes by taking orders, he obtained [25th Oct., 1717] a dispensation from the Crown. He held his Fellowship till 1726, and then vacated it, by marrying,' in that year, at Dublin. Tickell was not one of those scholars who wear away their lives in closets; he entered early into the world, and was long busy in public affairs; in which he was initiated under the patronage of Addison, whose notice he is said to have gained by his verses in praise of Rosamond.' To those verses it would not have been just to deny regard; for they contain some of the most elegant encomiastic strains; and, among the innumerable poems of the same kind, it will be hard to find one with which they need to fear a comparison. It may deserve observation, that when Pope wrote long afterwards in praise of Addison, he has copied, at least has resembled, Tickell. 3 1 A Miss Eustace, with a fortune of 8000l. or 10,000l. ('Daily Post' of 9 February, 1726.) He was married at Dublin, by the Primate of Ireland, on St. George's Day, 1726. (New College Register.) 2 An early acquaintance with the classics is what may be called the good-breeding of poetry, as it gives a certain gracefulness which never forsakes a mind that contracted it in youth, but is seldom or never hit by those who would learn it too late.-TICKELL: Preface to Addison's Works. 3 In 1721. 'To Mr. Addison, occasioned by his Dialogues on Medals,' but originally writ5 ten in 1715. VOL. II. 97 "Let joy transport fair Rosamonda's shade, Alike they mourn, alike they bless their fate, Since Love, which made them wretched, makes them great. "Then future ages with delight shall see TICKELL [1709].* POPE [1721]. He produced another piece of the same kind at the appearance of Cato,' with equal skill, but not equal happiness. When the ministers of Queen Anne were negotiating with France, Tickell published [1713] 'The Prospect of Peace,' a poem, of which the tendency was to reclaim the nation from the pride of conquest to the pleasures of tranquillity. How far Tickell, whom Swift afterwards mentioned as Whiggissimus, had then connected himself with any party, I know not; this poem certainly did not flatter the practices, or promote the opinions, of the men by whom he was afterwards befriended. 5 Mr. Addison, however he hated the men then in power, suffered his friendship to prevail over his public spirit, and gave in 'The Spectator' such praise of Tickell's poem, that when, after having long wished to peruse it, I laid hold on it at last, I thought it unequal to the honours which it had received, and found it a piece to be approved rather than admired. But the hope excited by a work of genius, being general and indefinite, is rarely gratified. It was read at that time with so much favour, that six editions wére sold. At the arrival of King George he sang 'The Royal Progress ;' 4 These verses were first published in Tonson's 'Sixth Miscellany' (1709). Pope, as well as Tickell, made his first appearance as a poet in this Miscellany. 5 Swift to Dr. Sheridan, Sept. 25, 1725. (Scott's Swift, xvi. 491, 2nd ed.) 6 The Spectator, No. 523, Oct. 30, 1712. 7 Fools admire, but men of sense approve. POPE. |