appeared originally in "The Lonne" for March 1772, and is said by to have been written by the Rev. rector of St. Gluvias in Cornwall*. padman, a well-bred nity. There is no perfection; and I th e was the most learned man in Euequally acquainted with the elegant parts of science, and that not superfioroughly. He knew every branch oth natural and civil; had read all historians of England, France, and as a great antiquarian. Criticism, norals, and politics, made a principal an of study; voyages and travels of was an affectation i acy, and a visible disdain of his infer Magazine for May 1775, and the Gentleman's Magahe is styled rector of Mamhead in Devonshire. 4some degree that are so much in M Be doclaimed any skill in t I think it deserves, de bolder features of unado Ts rightly put, it was y than the things them! ace chiefly before persons have often thought that M this head. It seldom s to the end of a man's d him; and if he has not upon than that of bei l at ease, if respected advanced in years wh ood man, a well-bred man, a man of virtue and umanity. There is no character without some nperfection; and I think the greatest defect in is was an affectation in delicacy, or rather effeminacy †, and a visible fastidiousness, or contempt nd disdain of his inferiors in science. He also ad in some degree that weakness which disgusted Voltaire so much in Mr. Congreve : though he * He disclaimed any skill in this art, and usually held it in less estination than I think it deserves, declaring himself to be only charmed ith the bolder features of unadorned nature.-Mason. + This is rightly put; it was rather an affectation in delicacy and feminacy than the things themselves; and he chose to put on this apcarance chiefly before persons whom he did not wish to please.lason. I have often thought that Mr. Congreve might very well be vindiated on this head. It seldom happens that the vanity of authorship ontinues to the end of a man's days; it usually soon leaves him where found him; and if he has not something better to build his self-aprobation upon than that of being a popular writer, he generally finds imself ill at ease, if respected only on that account. Mr. Congreve as much advanced in years when the young French poet paid him this rivate independent gentleman, who musement. Perhaps, it may be said, es so much knowledge, when it proe? Is it worth taking so much pains nemorial but a few poems? But let red, that Mr. Gray was to others, at itly employed; to himself, certainly His time passed agreeably; he was king some new acquisition in science; of a wise knowledge, and the e wherein God hath Dr. Johnson's general pressed in the follow curred to me is, th ; that his curiosi gment cultivated; th e much where he lo ious and hard to wever, is often empl approved, upon scep account of Shafte a man of the world, he might now feel that indiffeime which Mr. Gray, who always led a more retired ife, certainly felt much earlier. Both of them therebly, at times, express some disgust, if their quiet was persons who thought they flattered them by such in account of their knowledge that he valued mankind. deed all pretenders to literature, but he did not select the literary class merely because they were literate. t was always either necessary that a man should have than an improved understanding, or at least that Mr. ve he had.-Mason. E knowledge, and the practice of virtue, in that ate wherein God hath placed us." Dr. Johnson's general opinion of Mr. Gray is xpressed in the following terms: "What has ccurred to me is, that his mind had a large rasp; that his curiosity was unlimited, and his dgment cultivated; that he was a man likely to ove much where he loved at all, but that he was astidious and hard to please. His contempt, owever, is often employed, where I hope it will e approved, upon scepticism and infidelity. His hort account of Shaftesbury I will insert. 'You say you cannot conceive how Lord Shaftesbury came to be a philosopher in vogue; I will tell you: first, he was a lord; secondly, , even when that road leads nowhere; e was reckoned a fine writer, and ways to mean more than he said. ou have any more reasons? An interove forty years has pretty well destroyA dead lord ranks with comvanity is no longer interested in the or a new road is become an old one.' arm. GRAY, of Pembrok Cambridge, being of ath of body, yet ign may be indulged and testament in n I do desire that vriter he had this peculiarity, that he e his pieces first rudely, and then corbut laboured every line as it arose in composition; and he had a notion not ar, that he could not write but at ceror at happy moments; a fantastic fopich my kindness for a man of learning e wishes him to have been superior." the preceding Editions guishes it from the mos |