imitations are so apparent, that it is part of his reader's employment to recall the verses of some former poet. Sometimes he copies the most popular writers, for he seems scarcely to endeavour at concealment; and sometimes he picks up fragments in obscure corners. His lines to Fenton, Serene, the sting of pain thy thoughts beguile, And make affections objects of a smile," brought to my mind some lines on the death of Queen Mary, written by Barnes, of whom I should not have expected to find an imitator : "But thou, O Muse, whose sweet nepenthean tongue To detect his imitations were tedious and useless. What he takes he seldom makes worse; and he cannot be justly thought a mean man whom Pope chose for an associate, and whose co-operation was considered by Pope's enemies as so important, that he was attacked by Henley with this ludicrous distich : Pope came off clean with Homer; but they say Broome went before, and kindly swept the way." 1994 A couplet like this had been applied before to Richard Brome, the dramatic poet and servant of Ben Jonson : Sent by Ben Jonson, as some authors say, Broom went before, and kindly swept the way. Choyce Drollery: Songs and Sonnets, 12mo., London, 1858. APPENDIX. BROOME'S WILL. [From Barlow's Broome,' 12mo. 1854.] “In the name of the most High and Adorable God, Amen. I, William Broome, Rector of Pulham, in y° County of Norfolk, make my Will and Testament, in yo manner following: First, I give to Elizabeth Broome, my Wife, all my Lands and Tenements whatsoever lying in Mindlesham, Brockford, Thwaite, or any other Parish adjoining, as also ye Marshes in Sudborne, the House in Dickleburgh, and likewise all that Estate, now in ye occupation of Samuel Weavers, ye younger, rented at forty-four pounds yearly, whether ye premises ly in Sturston, Thrandiston, Brome, in Suffolk, or any Parish adjoining; and my Will is, that she hold and enjoy ye same during ye term of her natural life, upon this express condition, that she contracts no future marriage, but continues a Widow during life. Also I give unto ye said Elizabeth Broome, my Wife, all my Bills, Bonds, Notes, Plate, Household Goods, and all Furniture within doors and without, during ye term of her natural life, if she shall continue unmarried to ye day of her death; but if she shall marry again, then my Will is, that all ye aforesaid premises, personal or real. of what kind soever, immediately descend to my only Son, Charles John Broome, as if ye said Eliza beth were naturally extinct. Item I give to ye said Charles John Broome, all my Estates lying in Mindlesham, Brockford, Thwaite, or any Parish adjoining, as also y Marshes in Sudborne, all lying in Suffolk, to him and his heirs, lawfully begotten, for ever, as also all my Plate, Moneys, Furniture, Stock and Household Goods of all kinds, after ye decease of his Mother. Item I give to ye said Charles John Broome, all that Estate in ye occupation of Samuel Weavers, ye younger, rented of me at forty-four pounds yearly, during yo term of his natural life, whether ye premises ly in Sturston, Thrandiston, or any other Parish adjoining, but if ye said Charles John Broome shall have Heir or Heirs, lawfully begotten, then I give ye said premises to him and his Heirs for ever; but my Will and intent is, that if ye said Charles John Broome shall decease without Heirs or Heir, lawfully begotten, that then all ye said Estate, now occupied by Samuel Weavers, shall descend to ye Right Honourable Charles Lord Cornwallis, my patron and constant friend, and to his Heirs for ever, as a testimony of my gratitude to my great Benefactor, and to be possessed by him or them in full right of any of the Estates of theirs, in Brome or Culford And whereas, my Brother, Richard Broome, of Dagenham, in Essex, stands indebted to me, VOL. II. 18* in a note of twenty pounds, bearing date October y 5th, 1737, or thereabouts; as also in a Bond of £240, bearing date March y 25th, 1737, or thereabouts; as also in another Bond of four-score pounds, bearing date June ya 25th, or thereabouts. And Whereas all ye interest of both ye Bonds, remaining entirely unpaid. I give and bequeath to my four Sisters, Elizabeth Cook, of Bank Hall, Lancashire; and to my three other Sisters, Margaret, Anne, and Sarah, the sum of one hundred pounds, to be paid by y said Richard Broome, within y space of one year after my decease, to be equally divided amongst them, and if he, y said Richard Broome, shall fail of discharging this my Legacy, within y time mention'd, I give to my said four Sisters y above named note and bonds for their own proper use and property; but if ye said Richard Broome shall perform this my intent and will, I hereby discharge him of yo above debt and give it him as a Legacy. Lastly I nominate and appoint Elizabeth Broome my wife sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. And now, O my God, Thou Father of all comforts and fountain of all mercies, I recommend my soul to thy infinite goodness for pardon and forgiveness of all my sins, trusting entirely in thy infinite mercies and ye infinite merits of Christ Jesus my Saviour. Amen. Amen. ،، Signed, sealed, and delivered as my last Will and Testament in ye presence of us the underwritten, Octr. 22, 1745, the words 'personal or real' being first interlined. "Proved 31st December, 1745, by the Oath of the Sole Executrix within named." "JOHN COLLet. "BENJ. MARTIN. "MARY MARTIN. |