original Matter, by Mr. Gough, Mr. Astle, and Dr. Combe. Of this Edition, now become very rare,

"The Booksellers in London have given, and to my knowledge do give, very considerable annual sums to men of talents to write for them. I think I could write as well as most men who have written in prose within the century. One great advantage I have over almost all of them, not excepting Dean Swift or Dr. Johnson; I mean, a superior education. You may enquire among the Booksellers, and see if they would make it worth my while to labour for them. I write to you, Sir, as a gentleman in whom I have the greatest confidence; and beg you will believe me to be, dear Sir, yours very sincerely, MARTIN SHERLOCK."

From this period Mr. Sherlock was in a manner secluded from the world. In a letter dated March 17, 1783, he says, "I believe you are in my debt a letter. That is unkind of you: for you may have matter for an hundred letters for me, though it is almost impossible I can find matter here to fill a single page. Sterility is the characteristic of the world 1 now inhabit. It was a pity to send me to it the moment my brain was so very active and prolific. It has stopped its motions most effectually. If ever I emerge from this abyss, I hope I shall again be able to produce something worthy of my age and posterity. I should imagine the Peace would help off a number of my books; both by their being carried to the Continent by Travellers, to whom I know they might be useful; and by going to the Western world, which, I am told, is fond of reading. I wish their success most heartily and sincerely; and, I assure you with great truth, more on your account than my own. My eyes are very weak, and I scarce ever read a newspaper; so that I know no more of what is going on in your part of the world than if I was buried. If you have nothing else to tell me, tell me at least that you and Mrs. Nichols are well, which, I promise you, will always give me pleasure. Be so good as to give my best compliments to her, and tell her I still live in hopes of eating a shoulder of mutton and drinking a bottle of port with her before I die. I am, dear Sir, with very great esteem, &c. MARTIN SHERLOCK."

Mr. Sherlock was collated, by Dr. John Law (then Bishop of Killala, &c. and afterwards Bishop of Elphin), March 24, 1788, to the rectory and vicarage of Skreen, and soon afterward to the Archdeaconry of Killala; and died in or about 1797.

His character may very fairly be summed up in his own words: "It is impertinent either for me, or any body else, to trouble the publick with the private character of an obscure individual. If any man should have a reason to ask to be informed of my merits, he may learn them from the Earl of Bristol; from Mr. Perry, Speaker of the House of Commons in Ireland; and from his brother the Bishop of Killala. These are known to be as virtuous characters as any in the King's dominions. They all know me, and patronize me; not for any paltry talent I may possess, but for the qualities of my heart."

only 250 Copies were printed. The Plates, which were the joint property of Mr. Gough and Mr. Nichols, have been presented to the Bodleian Library.

"Account of the Russian Discoveries between Asia and America*; to which are added, the Conquest of Siberia, and the History of the Transactions and Commerce between Russia and China. By William Coxe, A. M. Fellow of King's College, Cambridge," 4to.

"Account of the Prisons and Hospitals in Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. With occasional Remarks on the different Modes of Punishment in those

In a Letter with which I was favoured some time after by a late venerable and most respectable Prelate, in answer to some enquiries respecting Mr. Sherlock's manuscripts, his Lordship says, "He very often told the late Bishop of Elphin, his last Patron, that he had drawers full of Letters, many of which he esteemed much better than any which he had published; and that he would select 100, or 150, which should be to him merum sal, and he would be the town-talk once more.' In these, there were to have been several anecdotes of Voltaire, and some sharp strictures on his infidelity; and they were to have been printed, with a new edition, at the same time, of all his former Works. His Letters, Sermons, and Papers of every kind, together with the main of his fortune, fell into the hands of a person with whom he had little acquaintance, and none at all before he went to Skreen. Commodore Trunnion's antipathy to an Attorney was not greater than Sherlock's; and, were he to come into the world again, he would die a second time with grief and rage, at knowing the fate of his papers."

*This is the earliest of the many publications which have placed their Author in the foremost rank of Historical Tourists. The time is not yet arrived when the merits of Mr. Coxe may faithfully be noticed. If I were to mention them with half the degree of respect I really entertain, it might be imputed to the partiality of private friendship; but they will be duly recorded by some future Biographer. Nor shall I attempt to enumerate his Works. He was admitted a Scholar at Eton in 1764, and was afterwards Fellow of King's College; B. A. 1769; M. A. 1772; F. S. A. 1788; travelled abroad with the Earl of Pembroke and Mr. Whitbread; was Chaplain to the Duke of Marlborough, and afterwards to Dr. Douglas, Bishop of Salisbury; vicar of Kingston on Thames, and of Willey, Wilts; which he exchanged for the rectory of Bemerton; was some time Prebendary, and is now Archdeacon of Salisbury. See vol. II. p. 719; vol. V. pp. 343, 699.

Countries. By William Coxe, M. A. Fellow of King's College, Cambridge*, &c." 8vo.

"The Candidate, a Poetical Epistle to the Authors of the Monthly Review;" 4to.

"A Widow and no Widow, a Dramatic Piece, by Richard Paul Joddrell, Esq. acted at the Haymarket in 1779," Svo.

"A complete Treatise on Perspective, in Theory and Practice; on the true Principles of Dr. Brook Taylor, made clear, in Theory, by various moveable Schemes and Diagrams; and reduced to Practice in the most familiar and intelligent manner. In Four Books. In Four Books. Embellished with

an elegant Frontispiece, and Forty-six Plates, containing Diagrams, Views, and original Designs in Architecture; by Thomas Malton." The second Edition, considerably enlarged, folio.

"The Messiah; being the Prophecies concerning him methodized, with their Accomplishment T." "Memoirs of Thomas Hollis**, Esq. F. R. and A. SS." 2 vols. 4to.

* « This is an useful appendage to the Account of Foreign Prisons by the benevolent Mr. Howard, to whose hints and suggestions this owes its rise, and to whom it is inscribed."

Gent. Mag. vol. L. p. 577.

†This is not, as might be expected from the title, an Appeal to the Publick from any decision of the Reviewer; but an unaffected and modest Epistle from an aspirant after that fair fame which the Writer has since most deservedly acquired. It is, in fact, the earliest production of a celebrated Poet, whom I shall have occasion to notice, under the year 1781, as Author of "The Library."

"The late Mr. Foote was unrivalled in the art of introducing known characters, and applying temporary allusions, in his dramas. Mr. Joddrell has taken the same road; and the present specimen of his art affords expectations of future entertainment." Biographia Dramatica, ed. Jones, vol. III. p. 404. § Of whom see vol. I. p. 172.

The First Edition was published in 1776.

By Thomas Barker, Esq.; of whom see vol. III. p. 112. ** "A noble monument this to the memory of one of the most liberal-minded, public-spirited men, this age has produced. Honour is here given where honour is due; and honour is also acquired by the writers and artists who have compiled and em

bellished

"An Inquiry into the legal Mode of suppressing Riots, with a constitutional Plan of future Defence*; by Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Jones."

"A Speech intended to have been delivered at Hackney, at a Meeting of the Freeholders of Middlesex, Sept. 9, 1780, by Mr. Jones," 12mo.

"Ad Libertatem Carmen;" a celebrated Ode by Mr. Jones, 4to..

bellished this work. Of the writers all that we learn from the preface is, that the materials were furnished chiefly from Mr. Hollis's own papers; but by certain accidents, for which it is not necessary to account in this place, were put together by different hands, at a considerable distance from each other.' Of the artists we need only say, that for most of the prints, part of Mr. Hollis's collection, we are indebted to the pencil of Cipriani, and the burin of Bartolozzi. A miniature of this "citizen of the world" is all that we can give, and this we will attempt by exhibiting some of his most striking features, and inserting oćcasionally a few extracts from the work." Gent. Mag. vol. L. 425.

This miniature, somewhat enlarged, may be seen in the Third Volume of these "Anecdotes," p. 61.-Of the excellent "Index" to those Memoirs, by Dr. Disney, see vol. III. p. 21; and to the same very worthy and benevolent Divine the publick have since been indebted for a Memoir of his more immediate Friend and Benefactor, Thomas Brand Hollis, Esq. of the Hyde; who bequeathed the principal part of his valuable property to his grateful Biographer.

"The subject was suggested by the unfortunate necessity of calling in military assistance to suppress the riots which, in 1780, desolated the Capital. The principle proposed in this pamphlet, has been since advantageously adopted." Life of Sir W. Jones.

"On the 9th of September Mr. Jones met the Freeholders of Middlesex, assembled to nominate two Representatives. Circumstances did not require the exercise of his eloquence: but he amused himself with sketching an Address on the State of the Nation, which he would have delivered viva voce had an opportunity occurred. In this Speech he condemned the American war, and the Parliament which had supported it. On the State of the Nation he expresses his opinion, without reserve, in the strong language of the County Petitions and Parliamentary Debates of 1780. He glances at the Slave Trade, to pass upon it a decided censure." Ibid.

With respect to the American War, Sir William Jones early adopted sentiments unfavourable to the justice of the British cause: the protracted contest he lamented with the feelings of a patriot and philanthropist; and under these impressions he composed, in Latin, his classical Ode to Liberty." Ibid.

1781.

"Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth*; and a Catalogue of his Works, chronologically arranged; with occasional Remarks, by Mr. Nichols and Mr. Steevens ;" 8vo.

"Political Conferences between several Great Men in the last and present Century; with Notes by the Editor, Thomas Tyers, Esq. of the Inner

*" When a man hath distinguished himself by any extraordinary efforts of genius, and gained the summit of popular fame, we naturally wish to be acquainted with the most interesting circumstances of his life and character: and even those circumstances which may be trifling in themselves, and which by no means would bear to be recorded did they refer to persons of little fame, yet, when connected with a character that hath excited our admiration, or with works that we have contemplated with delight, they derive a kind of adventitious consequence from their relation, and are sought after with infinitely more avidity than greater matters of lesser men. No writer seems more desirous (and we know few more capable) of gratifying the curiosity of the Publick in this line of enquiry, than the ingenious and industrious Author of these Biographical Ancedotes.' Mr. Nichols accommodates himself to various classes of readers; and there are many who are entertained with what affords no amusement to others; and who would think the Author deficient in his plan, by omitting what those who consult nothing but their own particular taste would pronounce tedious and redundant.-We have thus given the curious Reader a taste, and only a taste, of what he may expect from the perusal of the narrative itself, which, notwithstanding a few mistakes wherein the Writer must have been misled by wrong information, may be regarded as a proof of the united diligence, good sense, and ingenuity of the Author." Monthly Review, vol. LXV. p. 452. + This gentleman was one of the two sons of the famous Jonathan Tyers, Esq. the original embellisher of Vauxhall Gardens ‡ ; and was a joint-proprietor of that delightful spot till the end of the season of 1785, when he sold his share to his brother's family. Many of the poetical trifles which were exhibited in these Gardens (several of which were printed in the Gentleman's Magazine) were the production of his pen; and the satisfactory description of Vauxhall, in the "History of Lambeth Parish," was originally drawn up by Mr. Tyers. Bred to the profession of the Law, he resided for a considerable time in the Tem

↑ Mr. Tyers, after having rented these unrivalled Gardens about 20 years, purchased one moiety of them, in 1752, of George Doddington, Esq. for 38001; and a few years afterwards bought the remainder. Lysons, p. 324.

ple;