Cleonice, Princess of Bithynia; but the introduction of this piece to the stage was attended with many difficulties; objections were made to it, and the matter was finally referred to Dr. Johnson, who having perused the play, gave an opinion in its favour.* The play was then put in rehearsal, but Mrs. Barry (afterwards Crawford) refusing to perform the part of Cleonice, it was given to Mrs. Hartley. Mr, Barry rejecting the part of Lycomedes, intended for him, took a subordinate character, and even that he relinquished on the second night. The play thus left to itself, without either of these popular actors, languished out the nine nights, and from that time Mr. Hoole bade adieu to the stage. He conducted himself very liberally with regard to this play, by returning a considerable part of the money which he had received for the copy-right, alledging, that as the piece was not successful on the stage, it could not be very profitable to the bookseller, and ought not to be a loss. In the year 1777 he again turned his thoughts to the completion of his version of Orlando, to which he had been formerly urged by many friends, particularly by the late Mr. Glover, a great admirer of the works of imagination, and by Dr. Hawkesworth, who lived only to see the first two books of Orlando in manuscript, with which he professed himself to be more struck than with the more classical performance of Tasso. Dr. Hawkesworth died in 1773. In 1783 Mr. Hoole published his complete translation of the Orlando Furioso, in five volumes; and at the end of the year 1784 he lost his great and respected friend Dr. Johnson, who died in the month of December, from whom, during an intimacy of twenty-three years, he had experienced every mark of kindness and affection. He constantly attended the doctor during the last three weeks of his life, and daily contemplated, with feelings not easy to be expressed, his nearer approaches to dissolution. In the year 1785 Mr. Hoole became the biographer of his friend Mr. Scott, of Amwell, a work intended to have been executed by * Dr. Johnson wrote the following very complimentary letter to Mr. Hoole on returning the MS. Dear Sir, I have returned your play, which you will find underscored with red, where there was a word which I did not like. The red will be washed off with a little water. The plot is so well framed, the intricacy so artful, and the disentanglement so easy, the suspense so affecting, and the passionate parts so properly interposed, that I have no doubt of its success. Dec. 19, 1774. I am, Sir, Your most humble servant, Dr. Johnson; and at the end of that year he resigned his employment in the East India House, after a service of near forty-two years; and in April 1786 he retired, with his wife and son, to the parsonage-house of Abingor, near Dorking; his son, who was in orders, having taken the curacy of that place. While he resided there, he considered the objections that some readers had made to the length and perplexity of Ariosto's poem, and employed his leisure in reviewing the work, retrenching some parts, and giving the whole more connection; and in 1791 he published this new edition or refaccimento of Ariosto, under the title of The Orlando of Ariosto, reduced to XXIV. Books, the Narrative connected, and the Stories disposed in a regular series. In the year 1790 he was the editor of a little elegant tale entitled Dinarbas, being a continuation of Dr. Johnson's Rasselas. This performance came from the pen of a lady of very uncommon genius and acquirements, who then resided with her mother in Italy. She was well known to Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Williams, and the MS. was sent over to Mr. Hoole, in order to be put to the press. The last work which Mr. Hoole gave to the world, was a translation of the juvenile poem of Tasso, entitled Rinaldo, which must be considered as a literary curiosity, being, independent of the poetical merit of the original, an extraordinary specimen of early genius. The Rey, Samuel Hoole, the son of Mr. Hoole, has likewise given to the world some productions of his pen ; as one volume of sermons, published in 1786; and two volumes of poetical pieces, published at different times, containing, "Modern Manners," ""Aurelia," "Edward, or the Curate," and other poems. This gentleman read the church service to Dr. Johnson in his last illness. WILLIAM WOODFALL, ESQ. WE feel much concern in stating that this respectable veteran of public literature died on Monday morning, Aug. 1, in his fiftyeighth year, at his house in Queen-Street, Westminster. He was a very worthy man, and a truly loyal subject. His sense of public duty, indeed, in all points, was a paramount consideration in his mind. He was early placed by his father under Mr. Baldwin, of Paternoster-Row, to learn the art of printing, from whose house he went back to his father's office, and assisted in the printing and editing of the Public Advertiser. He became so warm an amateur of the drama, that, to gratify his penchant for the stage, he made an excursion into Scotland, and performed several times, for his amusement, in the company of Mr. Fisher. He was used to relate many pleasant anecdotes of this jaunt, the most fortunate event of which, however, because it constituted the future happiness of his life, was his marriage with a most amiable woman, with whom he returned to the metropolis about 1772,' and engaged himself as editor of the London Packet. He was also the chief founder of the Morning Chronicle, which he conducted with great zeal and assiduity till 1789, when he commenced a paper called the Diary, on his own account. To his efforts the people of this country are in a great degree indebted for that open communication of parliamentary proceedings which has at length obtained the sanction of the legislature, except in points on which the situation of national affairs may require a discussion confined to the representative body. Mr. Woodfall's powers of recollection, in recording the debates, were very extraordinary; for he was able to do more, by the unassisted efforts of his memory, than other reporters of acknowledged talents could effect with the aid of short-hand notes. He was always attached to the stage, and was a sound judge of dramatic composition, and theatrical ability. He always gave a firm support to the proper authority of the managers of our theatres; but when any performers thought themselves aggrieved, he was at all times ready to assist them with his counsel, or to support them with his talents, if they had right on their side. Indeed, his good-natured zeal, in this respect, has often induced him to put aside matters of importance to himself and his family. A more steady and persevering friend never existed, and there never was a more affectionate husband and father. There were as few errors in his character as are to be found in most men, with more virtues than the generality possess. He abounded in anecdote, and was well acquainted with most public characters who have made any figure in this country for the last forty years. Few men will drop into the grave more beloved by their familes, and more regretted by their friends. Mr. Woodfall adapted Savage's Sir Thomas Overbury to the stage. It was acted at Covent Garden in the year 1776. Mr. Woodfall also favoured this work with two or three of the Biographical Sketches. ORIGINAL POETRY. SONETTO DI PETRARCA. CCLXXII. Ne per sereno Ciel ir vaghe stelle; Ne dir d' Amore in stili alt' ornati ; II. Ne altro sara mai che al cor m' aggiunge: Che sola a gli occhi miei fu lume e speglio. Noia m' è il viver si gravosa e lunge TRANSLATION. Nor splendid Stars journeying in Heaven serene; Of loveliest Mead: nor Fountains; nor the Shade; With Song most sweet of chaste and beauteous Maid; Nor Poesy, the Heart's enchanting Queen; II. Nor aught henceforth this Bosom may delight, Her, the sole Mirror to my constant view, LINES ADDRESSED TO MRS. LOFFT. BY NATHANIEL BLOOMFIELD. I. 'Tis gratitude inspires my song; Sincere my prayer, O may you long Wear the green wreath that never fades ; In blessing still supremely blest, Embower'd in Troston's tranquil shades. The radiance of thy rising day Embower'd in Troston's tranquil shades. Thy name shall in thy deathless page Ensample to each fair who reads SONNET. YES!"there's another and a better world," Or else this sinking heart would break indeed! For happiness in this, is seldom Virtue's meed; Or why are Pity's eyes so oft with tears impearl❜d? Yes! we must still do right, and suffer wrong, And bear the bitter taunt, the keen reproof, And yet, 'tis joy to think each moment's lapse, Brighton, August 14th, 1803. UNA. |