the ancients by the moderns, and not the moderns by the ancients: he takes those passages of their own authors to be really sublime which come the nearest to it; he often calls that a noble and a great thought which is only a pretty and fine one, and has more instances of the sublime out of Ovid's de Tristibus than he has out of all Virgil. I shall allow, therefore, only those to be judges of Philips who make the ancients, and particularly Virgil, their standard. But before I enter on this subject I shall consider what is particular in the style of Philips, and examine what ought to be the style of heroic poetry, and next inquire how far he is come up to that style. His style is particular, because he lays aside rhyme and writes in blank verse, and uses old words, and frequently postpones the adjective to the substantive, and the substantive to the verb, and leaves out little particels, a and the, her and his, and uses frequent appositions. Now, let us examine whether these alterations of style be conformable to the true sublime." * * * * 11 Philips wrote a copy of verses against Blackmore. See Fenton's Letter of 24th January, 1706-7, in Wool's 'Warton' p. 208. WALS H. 1663-1707-8. Born at Abberley, in Worcestershire-Educated at Oxford-Dryden's high Character of him— His early Encouragement-Buried at Abberley-Works and Character. WILLIAM WALSH, the son of Joseph Walsh, Esq., of Abberley, in Worcestershire,' was born in 1663, as appears from the account of Wood, who relates that at the age of fifteen he became, in 1678, a gentleman commoner of Wadham College. He left the university without a degree, and pursued his studies at London and at home. That he studied, in whatever place, is apparent from the effect; for he became, in Mr. Dryden's opinion, the best critic in the nation." He was not, however, merely a critic or a scholar, but a man of fashion, and, as Dennis remarks, ostentatiously splendid in his dress. He was likewise a member of Parliament and a courtier, knight of the shire for his native county in several parliaments; in another the representative of Richmond in Yorkshire; and gentleman of the horse to Queen Anne, under the Duke of Somerset. Some of his verses show him to have been a zealous friend to the Revolution; but his political ardour did not abate his reverence or kindness for Dryden, to whom he gave a Dissertation on Virgil's Pastorals, in which, however studied, he discovers some ignorance of the laws of French versification." 4 In 1705 he began to correspond with Mr. Pope, in whom he dis By Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Brian Palmes, of Linley, in the county of York. 2 William Walsh, of Abberley, Esq., who has so long honoured me with his friendship, and who, without flattery, is the best critic of our nation.-DRYDEN: Proscript to Virgil. 3 The 'Dissertation' was written, not by Walsh, but by Dr. Knightly Chetwood. See Malone's 'Dryden,' iv. 547. 4 Walsh was the grandson of Elizabeth Blount, daughter of Sir George Blount, Bart., of Sodington, in Worcestershire. Edward Blount, the correspondent of Pope, was of this family, but in no way related to Martha and Theresa Blount. "Another of my earliest acquaintance was Walsh. I was with him at his seat in Worcester |