tion of his first ecclesiastical preferment; for in 1726, being then in priest's orders, he obtained, by the recommendation of his patron, the small vicarage of Gryesly in Nottinghamshire.

About Christmas 1726 he came to London; and, while there, with that ardent thirst of knowledge which was his characteristic quality, became intimately acquainted with several literary characters; and, amongst others, with Mr. Theobald, to whom he communicated some notes on Shakspeare, which afterwards appeared in that Critic's edition of our great Dramatic Poet. At this period also he wrote the much-talked of letter to Mr. Concanen *.

In 1727, his next work, intituled, "A Critical and Philosophical Enquiry into the Causes of Pro

tanniæ et Europæ stabilitatis æquilibris, Fautori tenaci; SENATU, commodi Provinciæ et Libertatis patriæ, Vindici egregio; DoMI, Virtutum Humanitatis, Religionisque Moderationum, Exemplari perillustri; has Nugas in summi honoris, animique dictatissimi testimonium, D. D. D. Q. W. WARBURTON. CIO CCXXIII.”

Dr. Akenside, in a note on his "Ode to Mr. Edwards," says, "During Mr. Pope's war with Theobald, Concanen, and the rest of their tribe, Mr. Warburton, the present lord bishop of Gloucester, did with great zeal cultivate their friendship; having been introduced, forsooth, at the meetings of that respectable confederacy: a favour which he afterwards spoke of in very high terms of complacency and thankfulness. At the same time, in his intercourse with them he treated Mr. Pope in a most contemptuous manner, and as a writer without genius. Of the truth of these assertions his Lordship can have no doubt, if he recollects his own correspondence with Concanen; a part of which is still in being, and will probably be remembered as long as any of this Prelate's writings.-The Letter was found about the year 1750, by Dr. Gawin Knight, first librarian to the British Museum, in fitting up a house which he had taken in Crane-court, Fleetstreet. The house had, for a long time before, been let in lodgings, and in all probability Concanen had lodged there. The original letter has been many years in my possession, and is here most exactly copied, with its several little peculiarities in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. April 30, 1766." M. A.The Letter itself, dated Jan. 2, 1726-7, was given to the publick, by Mr. Malone, in his "Supplement to Shakspeare, 1780," vol. 1. p. 222, with the following introduction: "If the letter here alluded to contained any thing that affected the moral character of the writer, tenderness for the dead would forbid its publication. But that not being the case, and the learned Prelate being now beyond the reach of criticism, there is no reason why this literary curiosity should be longer with-held from the publick."

digies and Miracles *, as related by Historians. With an Essay towards restoring a Method and Pu

* In answer to a letter from Mr. Hurd (noticed in a future page), Mr. Warburton says, Jan. 3, 1757, "Your little History is very dear to me, though it calls the sins of my youth to remembrance. I was very much a boy when I wrote that thing about Prodigies, and I had never the courage to look into it since; so I have quite forgot all the nonsense that it contains. But, since you mention it, I will tell you how it came to see the light. I met many years ago with an ingenious Irishman at a coffee-house near Gray's-inn, where I lodged. He studied the Law, and was very poor. I had given him money for many a dinner; and at last I gave him those papers, which he sold to the booksellers for more money than you would think, much more than they were worth. But I must finish the history both of the Irishman and the papers. Soon after, he got acquainted with Sir William Yonge, wrote for Sir Robert ‡, and was made Attorney-general of Jamaica. He married there an opulent widow, and died very rich a few years ago here in England; but of so scoundrel a temper, that he avoided ever coming into my sight: so that the memory of all this intercourse between us has been buried in silence till this moment. And who should this man be but one of the heroes of the Dunciad, Concunen by name! The papers had a similar fortune. A few years before Curll's death, he wrote me a letter to acquaint me he had bought the property of my excellent Discourse; and that, as it had been long out of print, he was going to re-print it; only he desired to know if I had any additions or alterations to make, he should be glad of the honour of receiving them. The writer, and the contents of his letter, very much alarmed me; so I wrote to Mr. Knapton, to go to the fellow, and buy my own book of him again, which he did §; and so ended this ridiculous affair, which may be a warning to young scribblers."-" Let your revilers,” replies Mr. Hurd, Jan. 9, "make their best of your acquaintance with Matthew Concanen, esq.-But I have more to say to your quondam authorship. You have a right to undervalue your first attempts in literature as much as you please. The so much

greater things you have done since, are your warrant for so doing. But I should not be very patient of this language from any other. The truth is, and I am not afraid to say it roundly to any man: not one of all the wretches that have written or rail against you, and who affect to find great consolation in this

‡ Walpole at the head of affairs during great part of the Reign of George the Second.

§ It has been said that the Bishop bought up these two early publications to destroy them. This report took its rise, probably, from the circumstance here mentioned.

It has been asserted that he was turned out of his office at Jamaica by Governor Trelawny. He returned in 1748 to England; and died of a consumption, Jan. 22, 1749.-See Warburton's character of him in Pope's Works, ed. Bowles, vol. V. pp. 20. 43. 184. 187, 349. 350. 352; and a note by Dr. Warton, vol. VI. p. 228.

rity in History. In which the Characters of the most celebrated Writers of every Age, and of the several Stages and Species of History, are occasionally criticized and explained. In two Parts," was published in 12mo, and was also inscribed to Sir Robert Sutton *, in an English dedication of

first escape of your pen, was ever able in the acme of his parts and judgment to produce any thing half so good. Mr. Balguy and I read it together some years ago, and we agreed there was the same ingenuity of sentiment and vigour of expression as in your other works; in a word, that it was a fine effort of genius, not yet formed indeed and matured, but even in this juvenility portending plainly enough what you were one day to be capable of. I have read it again very lately, and I think of it just the same: so that I almost blame your anxiety about Curll's edition. It was not worth, perhaps, your owning in form. But your reputation was not concerned to suppress it. One sees in it your early warmth in the cause of virtue and public liberty, and your original way of striking out new hints on common subjects. There are many fine observations up and down; amongst which, that in the Dedication, on the characters of the three great Romans, which you have since adopted in the notes on Pope, is admirable. In running it over this last time, I find I have stolen a hint from you which I was not aware of. It is what I say of the Apes of Plato and Aristotle, in page 79 of the Commentary on the Epistle to Augustus, taken from what you say in page 9 on that subject. I should not have said so much on this matter (for I am as much above the thought of flattering you, as you are above the want of it) but that I think your shyness in acknowledging this little prolusion of your genius, gives a handle to your low malignant cavillers, which you need not have afforded them. I must further request it of you, as a favour, that, if Knapton has not destroyed the copies, you would oblige me with half a dozen, or so, which you may trust me to dispose of in a proper manner. I ask it the rather, because I could neyer get one into my own possession. I have tried several times, and now very lately this winter out of Baker's sale; but it was bought up before I could order it. Such a curiosity have both your friends and enemies to treasure up this proscribed volume.

*Of these juvenile compositions, his right reverend Biographer thus speaks: "The fruit of his industry during this interval (from 1723 to 27) appeared in some pieces, composed by him for the improvement of his taste and style, and afterwards printed (most of them without his name) to try the judgment of the publick. As he never thought fit to reprint or revise them, they are omitted in this edition." Among these blossoms of his youth (to use an expression from Cowley) were the notes inserted in Mr. Theobald's edition of Shakspeare.-The "Miscellaneous

Trans

twenty pages; in which both the public and private character of Sir Robert Sutton, and of his lady the Countess of Sunderland, are well pourtrayed; and "the Writer, happy in a generous Patron, and unable to discharge his obligations, by publishing them to the world, gives a kind of security for the debt, at the same time that he makes a boast of his credit." In 1727 he published a treatise under the title of "The Legal Judicature in Chancery stated," which he undertook at the particular request of Samuel Burroughs, esq. afterwards a master in Chancery, who put the materials into his hands, and spent some time in the country with him during the compilation of the work.

On the 25th of April, 1728, by the interest of Sir Robert Sutton, he had the honour to be put upon the King's List of Masters of Arts, created at Cambridge, on his Majesty's visit to that University †.

Translations" also have his name at full length subscribed to the Dedication. Nor did either of his early works reflect on him the least discredit; on the contrary, they shewed the vigour of his parts, and the more than common hopes which might be entertained of such a writer. A modern re-publication of them will be duly noticed hereafter.

* Mr. Burroughs had published, in 1726, "The History of the Chancery; relating to the Judicial Power of that Court, and the Rights of the Master;" and was rewarded for it, by Lord Chancellor King, with a Mastership in Chancery.-This "History" was answered (but anonymously) by Sir Philip Yorke, at that time Attorney General (and afterwards Lord Chancellor Hardwicke), in so able a manner, that Mr. Burroughs was advised, by one of his friends, to call in the assistance of Mr. Warburton, which produced the above "Reply."

He had, not long before, paid a handsome compliment to that learned Body, and to King George the First, in his Discourse on Prodigies and Miracles: "The Republick of Letters is already overstocked with the retailers of its commodities, as well as the Civil; which, under the best regulations, can never make any real increase of the stock. Their present use is, that our rulers may raise a tax from the itinerant pedlar; and the bookseller, like the receiver of stolen goods, knows how to improve his mystery, by the choice pack of the sharping Garreteer. But their great increase always predicts the certain decay of trade and learning.

But

In June, the same year, he was presented by Sir Robert Sutton to the valuable rectory of Burnt

But the late Royal Institution for the Study of History has given a new ara to the reign of the Muses. Under the auspices of another Augustus they shall regain their old honours, and be once again the favourites of Courts. Their ill habits shall be reformed, their manners polished, and a right taste lastingly established. For our invincible Monarch, after his accomplished toils of Empire, has now got time to respire, and to cast his eye upon the literary world; where the abject condition of British History (which we have described above) caught his first regard, and determined him to this most effectual method to raise and ennoble it. "Tis surely then the office of every one that bears a relation to letters, and is zealous, as he ought, in any capacity, to distinguish his duty to the Father of his Country, to second his gracious intentions. It is my utmost ambition to have it believed, that this engaged me in my present labour. I imagined a better foundation could not be laid for the advancement of modern History, than in a right intelligence of the antient. And it is honour enough for me to be employed as an under-labourer, in clearing the ground, and removing the rubbish. This noble Institution must produce the master-builders, to give us that finished body of English History so long wanted, and till now despaired of. At least I have reason to expect, that as the successes of the British arms, if we be provoked to employ them, will, without doubt, raise up amongst us a plentiful harvest of Journalists and Historians, the foregoing remarks may, perhaps, be of seasonable use to direct them in the most nice detours of the story; the true causes of things. That they no longer make such bungling work of it as was scarce excusable in their monkish ancestors, and ramble abroad to the very limits of the Universe for causes which are to be found much nearer home, in the wise and steady councils of our victorious Sovereign, the effects of which, now opening to the world, will be a better proof than any given in the preceding Discourse, of what great things the human mind alone is capable to perform; which, misunderstood by the admiring many, has made men fly to Prodigies for explanation, and give a guardian Deity to accompany the Hero. Such a work alone would be worthy a Royal Foundation; but this has already procured far more important advantages. The University, conquered by repeated acts of Sovereign Favour, is become ambitious of receiving them; and with unfeigned love and gratitude repeats her numerous obligations. Methinks I see her, like the mighty Eagle, renewing her immortal youth, and purging her opening sight, at the unobstructed beams of our benign meridian Sun; which some pretend to say had been dazzled and abused by an inglorious pestilential meteor; while the ill-affected Birds of Night would, with their envious hootings, prognosticate a length of darkness and decay,"

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