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ENGLISH LITERATURE

OF THE

NINETEENTH CENTURY.

JOSEPH WARTON, 1722-1800.

IN entering upon the subject of English Literature of the present century, it is gratifying to begin with the name of one who, to the character of a pleasing poet, a profound scholar, a tasteful and judicious critic, and a successful and venerated school-master, unites that of a pure Christian, in so eminent a degree as Joseph Warton. He was the son of the Rev. Thomas Warton, Professor of Poetry in Oxford University, and was born at Dunsfold, in the county of Surrey, in April, 1722. He was educated by his father until he was fourteen, when he entered Winchester school; and while there, so distinguished himself for his poetical talents, that he became a contributor to the poetry of the "Gentleman's Magazine." In 1740, he removed to Oxford University. How he spent his time there may be learned from the following interesting and eloquent portion of a letter to his father:

"To help me in some parts of my last collections from Longinus, I have read a good part of Dionysius Halicarnassus: so that I think by this time I ought fully to understand the structure of words and sentences. I shall read Longinus as long as I live: it is impossible not to catch fire and raptures from his glowing style. The noble causes he gives at the conclusion for the decay of the sublime amongst men, to wit, the love of pleasure, riches, and idleness, would almost make one look down upon the world with contempt, and rejoice in, and wish for toils, poverty, and dangers to combat with."

His first contribution was in October, 1739, and may be found in vol. ix. p. 515. In the same month appeared, in this magazine, Akenside's "Hymn to Science;" in the next page, a juvenile sonnet by Collins, signed “ Delicatulus;" and in the next month, p. 599, is Mrs. Carter's beautiful " Ode to Melancholy." So much has this periodical done to usher the first productions of genius into the world!

In 1744, he took his degree of A. B., was immediately ordained, and officiated as his father's curate in the church of Basingstoke, in Hampshire, till February, 1746. In this year, he published a small volume of " Odes on Various Subjects." They are seventeen in number, and, though decidedly inferior to those of Collins, published the same year, they are characterized by a fine taste and fancy, and much ease of versification. The odeToFancy's much superior to any of the rest. "It abounds," says Dr.Drake,in a succession of strongly-contrasted and high-wrought imagery, clothed in a versification of the sweetest cadence and most brilliant polish."'

The year after the publication of this volume of odes, he obtained the rectory of Wynslade, and thereupon married a Miss Daman, to whom he had been long engaged. With her he enjoyed the highest domestic happiness, and devoted all his leisure hours to the translation of Virgil's Eclogues and Georgics, which were to be accompanied by Pitt's version of the Eneid, and the original Latin of the whole. In 1753, this elegant and valuable accession to classical literature was completed and published, accompanied by notes, dissertations, commentaries, and essays. This work was well received, and Warton's version of the Georgics and Eclogues was pronounced far superior to any that had preceded it. "To every classical reader, indeed," remarks Mr. Wooll, Warton's Virgil will afford the richest fund of instruction and amusement; and as a professional man I hesitate not to declare, that I scarcely know a work to the upper classes of schools so pregnant with the most valuable advantages; as it imparts information, without the encouragement of idleness, and crowns the exertions of necessary and laudable industry with the acquisition of a pure and unadulterated taste.'

112

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It was at this time that Dr. Johnson, in a letter dated March 8, 1753, applied to him, from Hawkesworth, to assist in the "Adventurer:" "Being desired," says he, "to look out for another hand, my thoughts necessarily fixed upon you, whose fund of literature will enable you to assist them, with very little interruption of your studies, &c.: the province of criticism and literature they are very desirous to assign to the commentator on Virgil." His first paper is No. 49, dated April 24, 1753, containing a "Parallel between Ancient and Modern Learning." His communications are among the very best of the whole work, and are written "with an extent of erudition, and a purity, elegance, and vigor of language, which demand very high praise."4

In the year 1755, Warton was chosen second master of Winchester

Read a well-written biographical sketch of Warton, in Drake's Essays, vol. iv. p. 112; and another in Sir Egerton Brydges' "Censura Literaria," vol. iv. p. 340, of the 2d edition.

2 Wooll's "Memoirs of Warton," p. 28.

4

See the whole letter in Croker's Boswell, 1 vol. 8vo. new ed. p. 81.

Sir Egerton Brydges. Of the 140 numbers of the "Adventurer," Hawkesworth wrote 73, Johnson 29, Warton 24, Bathurst 7, Mrs. Chapone 3, Coleman 1, and 3 are anonymous.

*For an account of Hawkesworth, see "Compendium of English Literature," p. 609.

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