O piety! fo to weigh the poor's estates, But his majesty's munificence did not ftop here; he augmented the laureat's salary of an hundred marks, to an hundred pounds a year, together with the addition of a tierce of Canary wine; which penfion has been continued to his fucceffors in that office ever fince. Our poet drew up a petition for this favour, in the following form: The humble petition of poor Ben, Doth most humbly fhew it, Or difpenfed in books or bread, King Charles the Firft's perfonal character makes it no improbable fuppofiti on, that these acts of favour might be in fome measure the effects of his compaffion for this fervant, who began now to Bak into a visible decay both of body and mind. It is true, we have two comedies wrote by him afterwards; but they are fuch as hath not been unfitly called his dotage; and he found himself under a neceffity of abfolutely laying down his pen foon after the year 1634. His diforder was the palfey, which put a period to his life in 1637, in the Axty-third year of his age. He was 4 interred three days afterwards in Weft minfter Abbey, at the north-weft end near the belfrey. Over his grave was laid a common pavement-ftone, with this laconic inscription, "O rare Ben. Johnfon! It was done at the expence of Mr. (afterwards Sir) John Young, of Great-Milton in Oxfordshire. But a much better monument was raised to his memory fix months afterwards, when there came out a collection of elegies and poems, entitled Johnfonicus Virbius: or, the memory of Ben. Johnson revived by the friends of the mufes. And prefently after, there was a design fet on foot to erect a marble monument with his ftatue, and a confiderable fum of money was collected for the purpose; but the breaking out of the rebellion prevented the carrying it into execution, and the money was returned. The buft, in bas-relieve, with the former infcription under it, that is now fixed to the wall in the Poets Corner, near to the fouth-eaft entrance into the abbey, was fet up by that great patron of learning, the fecond earl of Oxford, of the Harley family. As to our poet's family, it became extinét in him, for he furvived all his children. As to his perfon and character, if we may depend on his own defcription, his body was large, corpulent, and bulky, and his countenance hard and rocky; fo that his figure resembled that of Sir John Falltaff, and confequently could not be much lefs apt to raise laughter. Nor was the cast of his temper and natural difpofition at all more refpectable, as reprefented by his friend Mr. Drummond, who obferves him to be "A great lover and praiser of himfelf; a contemner and fcorner of others; chufing rather to lofe his friend than his jeft; jealous of every word and action of those about him, especially after drink, which was one of the elements in which he lived; a diffembler of the parts which reigned in him; a bragger of fome good that he wanted; he thought nothing right, but what either himself or fome of his friends had faid or done. He was paffionately kind and angry; carelefs either to gain or keep; vindictive, but if he was well an. fwered, greatly chagrined; interpreting the belt fayings and deeds often to the worft. He was for any religion, being verfed in bo h; opprefied with fancy which over-mattered his reafon; a general difeafe among the poets." He had a very ftrong memory; for he tells us himfelf in his Difcoveries, that in his Eeee 2 you h 578 Account of the Royal Oak. youth he could have repeated whole As to his genius, the character of it, Ben. Johnson appears to have had no nice ear for poetry; however, Mr. Drummond declares that his inventions were smooth and eafy. He does not appear to have had much conception of thofe breaks and refts, or of adapting the found of his verfe to the fenfe, which are the chier beauties of our beft modern poets. It is univerfally agreed, with his laft-mentioned friend, that tranflation or imitation was his mofi difiinguished talent, wherein he excelled all his cotemporaries; and befides his new-forming our drama after the ancient models, he gave us the firft Pindaric ode in the English language, that has a just claim to that title. After the edition of his works already mentioned, they were re-printed in 17.6, ip fix volumes octavo; and another edition was printed in 1756, feven volumes octavo, with fome notes and additions by P. Whalley, late fel low of St. John's college in Oxford; who hath likewife inferted Johnton's comedy, entitled, The Cafe is Alter'd, not in any former edition. And fince this laft editor declares he fhould not have omitted our author's verfes prefixed to May's tranflation of Lucan, had they come to his hands in time, we have thought proper not to conclude this memoir without inferting a copy of thofe verfes. To my chofen friend, [ltair When, Rome, I read thee in thy mighty And the world in it I began to doubt, As neither Pompey's popularity, What mufe, or rather god of harmony, The felf-fame genius, fo the work wi BEN. JOHNSON. Short Account of the Royal Oak. lodged at an inn called Ivefey Bank, on wood, ftands Bofcobel-house, where the William Pendril ftill lives in that house. placed behind fome wainscot, that hut up very close. At a bow-fhot from the houfe, juft by a horfe-track paffing through the wood, flood the oak into which the king and his companion, colonel Carlos, climbed, by means of the henrooft-ladder, when they judged it no longer fafe to ftay in the houfe; the family reaching them victuals with a nuthook, during their continuance in that fituation. It happened (as they related it to Dr. Stukely) that whilft the king and the colonel were in the tree, a party of the enemy's horfe, fent to fearch the houfe, came whittling and talking along this road. When they were juft under the oak, an owl flew out of a neighbouring tree, and hovered along the ground as if her wings were broken, and the foldiers merrily pursued it without making any circumfpection. The tree is now enclosed within a brick wall, the infide whereof is covered with laurel. That oak is almost cut away in the middle by travellers, whofe curiofity leads them to fee it. Clofe by the fide grows a young thriving plant from one of its acorns, The king, after the restoration, reviewing that place, carried fome of the acorns and fet them in St. James's park, or garden, and used to water them himfelf. He alfo gave Pendril an estate of about two hundred pounds a year, which ftill remains in the family. Over the door of the inclosure, the following infcription is to be feen cut in marble: Feliciffimam arborem, quam in afylum potentiffimi regis Caroli II. Deus 0. M. per quem reges regnant, hic crefcere voLuit, tam in perpetuam rei tantæ memoriam, quam fpecimen firma in reges fidei, muro cinétam pofteris commendant Bafilius et Jana Fitzherbert. QUERCUS AMICA JOVI. Hiftories of the Tete-a-Tete annexed; or, Memoirs of the Young Marquis of Granby, and Mifs South. A now character is now brought forth upon our canvass. A young nobleman, who poffeffes all his late father's many virtues and accomplishments, and who will probably be one of the greatest ornaments to the prefent age, and the rifing geueration. No one can forget the hero of Minden, who at once difplayed his courage and his conduct in that glorious and ever memorable action; but he did not derive all his fame from his bravery and his judgment; his generofity, his beneficence, his charity, were extended to all in want of them; but none fhared his favour fo much as the foldiery in Germany: he was at once their father and their friend: it was only neceffary that diftrefs fhould be pointed out to him to be relieved-even at a time that his finances were very circumfcribed, and his own affairs rather deranged; but as he was heir to an ample fortune, nothing but death could prevent his feeing acquitted every poffible demand (which has been nobly done by his venerable and honourable father) he could not therefore be accused of injustice. A tranfaction that occurred a few years before his death, will fet the rectitude of his conduct in the cleareft light: having loft at one fitting a confiderable fum at White's, he was obliged for the prefent to pafs his word for the debt. Among the number of the winners (most of whom were noblemen of very confiderable fortune) were two needy fenators. The marquis was not unacquainted with their diftrefs, and he accordingly fent for them the next day, when he told them feparately, "I know, gentlemen, your fituation, and though I have not cash fufficient to defray all I loft last night, you fhall fhare my purfe; as to my lord and my lord they can wait; it will be of no fervice to them: to pay them now would only increase their follies or debaucheries, or fecure a fettlement to fome harlot, who would laugh with her paramour at their stupidity." He nevertheless, very honourably acquitted this debt, which though confi→ derable, proved a useful leffon to him, as from that time he never played for any fum that could throw him into the fmalleft embarraffinent; and even our young hero feems to have derived a very advantageous refolution from this flip in the former part of his father's conduct, as he has an utter averfion to all deep ly for his amusement. Probably alfo, play, and never touches a card but merethe late marquis's too great attachment to the fair fex of a certain line, may culiarly attentive in forming any connexions of this kind that might prove injurious to him. It is well known that the Minden hero lavished away very confiderable fums upon women of eafy virtue, and that Mrs. Rudd, whose name makes fuch a confpicuous appearance in the Newgate Chronicle, participated, in no fmall degree, of his generofity. His lordthip was early placed at Etonfchool, where he foon diftinguished himfelf for his genius and difpofition for literature; and the rapid progrefs he made, gave great pleasure not only to his relations but to his matters, who acquired great honour and reputation by fuch a pupil. Though we may fuppofe his youth and natural vivacity hurried him frequently into little frolics of the juvenile kind, yet they were always innocent, and never tinctured with ill-nature or vice. He was, indeed, respected and beloved in the neighbourhood of Eton, and the face of forrow fpread itself not only over his fchool-fellows but over the inhabitants, when he took his leave of that feminary to repair to the university. He finished his fludies at Cambridge a fhort time before he came of age, when the feftivity and rejoicings upon the occafion teftified the joy of his relations and friends. Soon after he obtained a feat in parliament, and has acquitted himself in that capacity (in imitation of his noble father) like a virtuous fenator and a true patriot. Neither the blandifhments of power, the dignity or importance of office, or the emoluments of placemen, have been able to make him fwerve from the line of rectitude which he has chalked out to himself, and which will doubtlefs be the plan of all his future conduct. Such are the political notions of our young hero, who in the very spring of life, has the refolution and abilities to think for himself, and act accordingly. From fuch progenitors as he is defcended, we'may in fome degree account for his enjoying an excellent constitution, and a manly perfon, which, at two and twenty, may reafonably be fuppofed to be naturally actuated by the fair fex. But let it not be imagined from hence, that his lordship is in the leaft inclined to be a debauchee -it is a character he abhors. Yet there are critical intervals when the greatett fortitude and refolution muft give way to the irrefiftible impulfe of the fair. Our hero is no cynic; though he admires philofophy, he detefts hypocrify: he has avoided many foares of prostituted beauty, and the artifices of female panders; but where fincerity and the graces have united, he has acknowledged they are too powerful to oppose. Mifs South, the heroine of these memoirs, refided at Windfor when his lordfhip was at Eton. Her father was a fhopkeeper in that town, and our hero frequently became a cuftomer, even when he had no occafion to purchase any thing. The young lady's perfon was enchanting, and her converfation agreeable; the infpired him with fentiments of a very ten der nature, and the entertained for his Mifs lordship a very ftrong prediliction; but fortune having placed them at fo great a distance, the could only admire him whom he did not dare love. This innocent correfpondence continued for near the last twelvemonth that he remained at Eton; and at his departure Mifs South was the chief mourner at his lofs. Defpairing ever to fee his lordfhip again, the laboured under a great dejection of fpirits for fome time; but at length fhe recovered her ufual gaiety upon the arrival of a young officer who was quartered in the town. Mifs South being one of the most agreeable girls in the place, Capt. Kynafton of course paid his de voirs to her. This gentleman was more tutored in the arts of love than her late fwain, who breathed nothing but the pure effufions of innocence and truth; but the Captain thought that in love and war all firatagems were allowable. He accordingly laid fiege to her, under the mafked battery of matrimony. South liftened with pleasure, and caught the fweet infection of his tongue with rapture and delight. When he found he had gained fo much influence over her, he thought his operations were ripe for execution. He propofed a party to Hampton court, having previously prepared an old female acquaintance to accompany them. Mifs South faw no danger in the propofal, and confented. Mirth and feftivity reigned all day, and delight appeared in every countenance. The champaign circulated brifkly, and Mifs South was unacquainted with its powers. When it was judged to have fufficiently operated, the captain's female friend retired, and he preffed her with the most eager warmth to make him the happiest of mortals. She reminded him of his vows and promifes: he eluded them by saying mar-` riage was a mere ceremony, a trick of the clergy to inforce their importance, and increase their emoluments. Having gone thus far in his arguments, he now retired, and his female confidante entered. To her Mifs South revealed all that had paffed, when Mrs. Dalby laughed, and faid he was an ignorant girl. “Marriage! ha ha! ha! have not I lived thefe fix years with Mr. Dalby and pasfed for his wife, when we have never been at church together in our lives: it is true, he would marry me to-morrow, but I know better, I'll have no lord and mafter whofe fhackles I cannot throw off when I pleafe." This declaration flaggered Mfs South, and, as the poet fays, "She who once deliberates is loft." The The captain returned at this critical juncture, and Mrs. Dalby again retiredReader, guess the event! Whilft the captain remained at Windfor, a very agreeable correfpondence fubfited between him and MifsSouth; when he exchanged his quarters he alfo changed his affections. He thought it beneath the dignity of a foldier to have a woman dangling after him, as he refolved to have a temporary wife wherever he went. Grief and remorse by turns feized our unhappy heroine, and they were ftill farther heightened by a difcovery which the foon made, that she was pregnant. Her continuance at Windfor would have afforded too much scope for flander, which had already been busy with her fame on the captain's account, and fhe refolved to repair to the metropolis, which, though the largest, is the moft fecret fpot in England. She addreffed herself to a gentlewoman who advertised accommodations for ladies, that had occafion for a temporary retreat; and in a fhort time fhe became a mother. Whilft Mifs South was recovering from her late illness, the frequently walked in the Green Park, where one day the met with his lordship. He was aftonifhed at the change the had undergone, and inquired the caufe. She frankly related to him all her misfortunes-the perfidy of the captain-the treachery of his female friend-his defertion-and in a word her ruin. He was greatly affected at her ftory, though he found thofe delicate impediments which he formerly entertained had greatly fubfided; and, after a few vifits a more intimate correfpondence took place than ever had occurred before. Under fuch circumftances the reader must be poffeffed of ftoic rigour to condemn his conduct. A young gentleman juft of age, thus fituated, must be more or less than man to withstand the temptation. However, there is great reafon to believe that this will prove only a temporary alliance, as we entertain fo high an opinion of his lordthip's fentiments and morals, as to believe no fuch connexion will continue, in cafe that a match, which is much talked of between him and a very beautiful and accomplished young lady, of a very noble family, fhould take place. The following Incident happened on board Admiral Watfon's Ship at the Siege of Chandenagore, as related by Mr. Ives, Surgeon. ed by the fame fhot. The Captain, whofe leg was hanging by the fkin, faid to the Admiral, Indeed, Sir, this was a cruel fhot, to knock down both father and fon.' Mr. Watfon's heart was too full for a reply; he only ordered both to be carried down to the furgeon. The Captain, who was first brought down, told me how dangerously his Billy had been wounded. Presently after the brave youth himfelf appeared, with his eyes overflowing with tears, not for himself but for his father. Upon my affurance that his father's wound was not dangerous, he became calin; but refufed to be touched, till his father's wounds should be first dreffed. Then pointing to a fellow-fufferer, 'Pray, Sir, drefs alfo that poor man, who is groaning fo sadly beside me.' I told him that the man had already been taken care of; and begged, that I now might have liberty to examine his wound. He fubmitted; and calmly faid, Sir, I fear you must amputate above the joint.' I replied, My dear, I muft.' He clafped his hands together; and, lifting his eyes toward Heaven, he offered up the following short but earnest petition : Good God! do thou enable me to behave in my present circumftances worthy of my father.' He then told me he was all fubmiffion. I performed the operation above the joint of the knee; and during the whole time the intrepid youth never spoke a word, nor uttered a groan that could be heard at the diftance of a yard. It is easier to imagine than to exprefs the feelings of the father at this time; but, whatever he felt, tears were the only expreffion. Both of them were carried to Calcutta: The father was lodged in the house of his brother-in-law; and the fon was placed with me in the hofpital. For the arft week I gave comfort to both, carrying good tidings to them of one another. But alas! all the good fymptoms, that had attended the young man, began to disappear. The Captain perceived all in my countenance; and fo unwilling was he to add to my diftrefs, as feldom to speak about his fon. One time he faid, How long, my friend, do you think my Billy may remain in a state of uncertainty:' I replied, that, if he furvived the fifteenth day after the operation, there would be strong hopes of his recovery. On the thirteenth he died; and, on the fixteenth, the Captain, looking me ftedfatly in the face, Well, Ives, how fares from my filence, he cried bitterly, fqueeit with my boy?' Difcovering the truth ze i my hand, and begged me to leave him for one half hour. When I returned, he appeared, as he ever after did, perfectly calm |