Mr. Gay. They were in the house before any one else was admitted.- The Daily Courant, Feb. 12, 1732-3. It is well known that you have passed many a social evening with Steele and Addison; you have joined in the rich humour of Arbuthnot; you have read the comedies of Congreve (my brother-student of the law) in manuscript; you have corresponded with Pope and Swift; and Gay lived and wrote in your house.-COLMAN: Dedication to Pulteney, Earl of Bath, of The Jealous Wife,' 1761. The best edition of Gay's Works' is that in six vols. 12mo., 1772-5. ( 301 ) GRANVILLE. 1665-1734-5. Birth Educated at Cambridge - His Is commended by Waller Encourages Pope - Death and Burial in St. Clement's Danes Works and Character. OF GEORGE GRANVILLE, or, as others write, Greenville, or Grenville, afterwards Lord Lansdown, of Bideford, in the county of Devon, less is known than his name and rank might give reason to expect. He was born about 1665, the son of Bernard Greenville, who was entrusted by Monk with the most. private transactions of the Restoration, and the grandson of Sir Bevil Greenville, who died in the King's cause at the battle of Lansdown.1 2 His early education was superintended by Sir William Ellis ; and his progress was such that before the age of twelve he was sent to Cambridge, where he pronounced a copy of his own verses to the Princess Mary d'Estè of Modena, then Duchess of York, when she visited the university. At the accession of King James, being now at eighteen, he again exerted his poetical powers, and addressed the new monarch in three short pieces, of which the first is profane, and the two others such as a boy might be expected to produce; but he was commended by old Waller, who perhaps was pleased to find himself imitated in six lines, which, though they begin with The poet's mother was Anne, sole daughter and heir of Cuthbert Morley, of Hawnby in Cleveland, in the county of York. The poet was the second son. 2 To Trinity College. He was admitted to his Master's degree in 1679. nonsense and end with dulness, excited in the young author a rapture of acknowledgment: "In numbers such as Waller's self might use." * It was probably about this time that he wrote the poem to the Earl of Peterborough, upon his accomplishment of the Duke of York's marriage with the Princess of Modena, whose charms appear to have gained a strong prevalence over his imagination, and upon whom nothing ever has been charged but imprudent piety, an intemperate and misguided zeal for the propagation of popery. However faithful Granville might have been to the King, or however enamoured of the Queen, he has left no reason for supposing that he approved either the artifices or the violence with which the King's religion was insinuated or obtruded. He endeavoured to be true at once to the King and to the Church. Of this regulated loyalty he has transmitted to posterity a sufficient proof in the letter which he wrote to his father about a month before the Prince of Orange landed. "TO THE HON. MR. BERNARD GRANVILLE, AT THE EARL OF BATHE'S, ST. JAMES'S. "Mar, near Doncaster, Oct. 6, 1688. "SIR,-Your having no prospect of obtaining a commission for me can no way alter or cool my desire at this important juncture to venture my life, in some manner or other, for my King and my country. "I cannot bear living under the reproach of lying obscure and idle in a country retirement, when every man who has the least sense of honour should be preparing for the field. "You may remember, Sir, with what reluctance I submitted to your commands upon Monmouth's rebellion, when no importunity could prevail with you to permit me to leave the Academy: I was too young to be hazarded; but, give me leave to say, it is glorious at any age to die for one's country, and the sooner the nobler the sacrifice. "I am now older by three years. My uncle Bathe was not so old when he was left among the slain at the battle of Newbury; nor you 3 In numbers such as Dorset's self might use. ADDISON to Sacheverell. |
