DIRECTIONS for placing the PORTRAITS. Lord MULGRAVE's Character of AUGUSTUS Earl of BRISTOL written in 1780 (see p. 63). "Haud dubiè illá ætate nemo unus erat vir quo magis innixa res nostra staret." Liv. "The active zeal and diligent assiduity with which the Earl of Bristol served [in the Navy], had for some years impaired a constitution, naturally strong, by exposing it to the unwholesomeness of variety of climates, and the infirmities incident to constant fatigue of body and anxiety of mind. His Family, his Friends, his Profession, and his Country, lost him in the 56th year of his age. "The Detail of the Merits of such a man cannot be uninteresting, either to the Profession he adorned, or the Country which he served; and the remembrance of his virtues must be pleasing to those who were honoured with his esteem; as every hour and every situation of his Life afforded fresh opportunities for the exercise of such Virtues; they were best known to those who saw him most; but, however strong and perfect their impression, they can be but inadequately described, by one who long enjoyed the happiness of his Friendship, and advantages of his Example, and must ever lament the privation of his Society. "He engaged in the Sea service before he was ten years old. The quickness of his Parts, the decision of his Temper, the excellency of his Understanding, the activity of his Mind, the eagerness of his Ambition, his indefatigable Industry, his unremitting Diligence, his correct and extensive Memory, his ready and accurate Judgment; the promptitude, clearness, and arrangement with which his Ideas were formed, and the happy Perspicuity with which they were expressed, were Advantages peculiar to himself. His early Education under Captain William Hervey and Admiral Byng (two of the best Officers of their time), with his constant employment in active Service, from his first going to Sea, till the close of the last War, had furnished ample means for Experience, from which his penetrating Genius, and just Observation, had deduced that extensive and systematic knowledge of minute circumstances and important Principles, which is necessary to form an expert Seaman and a shining Officer. With the most consummate professional skill, he possessed the most perfect courage that ever fortified a heart, or brightened a character; he loved enterprize, he was cool in danger, collected in distress, decided in difficulties, ready and judicious in his expedients, and persevering in his determinations; his orders, in the most critical situations, and for the most various objects, were delivered with a firmness and precision which spake a confidence in their propriety, and facility in their execution; that , ensured a prompt and successful obedience in those to whom they were addressed. "Such was his character as an Officer, which made him deservedly conspicuous in a profession, as honourable to the individual, as important to the publick. Nor was he without those qualifications and abilities which could give full weight to the situation in which his rank and connexions had placed him in civil life. His early entrance into his profession had indeed deprived him of the advantages of a classical education. This defect was, however, more than balanced by the less ornamental, but more solid instruction, of the School he studied in. As a Member of Parliament, he was an eloquent, though not a correct speaker; those who differed from him in politicks confessed the extent of his knowledge, the variety of his information, and the force of his reasoning, at the same time that they admired the ingenuity with which he applied them to the support of his opinions. He was not more eminent for those talents by which a Country is served, than distinguished by those qualities which render a man useful, respected, esteemed, and beloved in society. In the general intercourse of the world, he was an accomplished gentleman and an agreeable companion; his manners were noble as his birth, and engaging as his disposition; he was humane, benevolent, compassionate, and generous: his humanity was conspicuous in his profession; when exercised towards the seamen, the sensibility and attention of a Commander they adored, was the most flattering relief that could be afforded to the sufferings or distresses of those who served with him; when exerted towards her Enemies, it did honour to his Country, by exemplifying, in the most striking manner, that generosity which is the peculiar characteristic, and most distinguished virtue, of a brave, free, and enlightened people. In other situations, his liberality was extensive without ostentation, and generally bestowed where it would be most felt and least seen, upon modest merit and silent distress. His friendships were warm and permanent beyond the grave, extending their influence to those who shared the affections, or enjoyed the patronage of their objects. His resent'ment was open, and his forgiveness sincere. It was the effect, perhaps the weakness, of an exalted mind, that with him an injury which he had forgiven was as strong a claim to his protection as a favour received could be to his gratitude.-This bright picture is not without its shades; he had faults; the impetuosity of his nature, and the eagerness with which he pursued his objects, carried him, sometimes, lengths not justifiable; and the high opinion he entertained of his own parts made him too easily a dupe and prey of interested and designing persons, whom his cooler judgment would have detested and despised, had they not had cunning enough to discover and flatter his vanity, and sufficient art to avail themselves of abilities which they did not possess. But let it be remembered, that his failings were those of a warm temper and unguarded disposition; his virtues those of a heart formed for every thing amiable in private, every thing great in public life." P. 351. The Translation of Homer's "Hymn to Venus" is erroneously ascribed to Mr. Joseph Ritson, who certainly was not a Greek Scholar. That Translation was by Isaac Ritson, originally a schoolmaster at Penrith in Cumberland, a lucrative and respectable situation; which he quitted, and then went to Edinburgh to study Physic under the late Dr. Brown. He died in 1788. LITERARY LITERARY ANECDOTES OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. ENCOURAGED by the chearing plaudits of numerous Friends, and by the most unequivocal testimony of the former Volumes having not proved unacceptable to the class of Readers for whom they were principally intended; I venture without hesitation on the task of continuing the Typographical Annals of the BOWYER PRESS (for such, I flatter myself, I may be allowed to call it) to a somewhat later period than the death of my Master, my Friend, and generous Benefactor. The plan will be the same as in the preceding Volumes. The principal Books of each year shall be given chronologically; and Memoirs of the several Authors, as before, either in Notes, or separate Essays. 1774. "Letter on the Linen Trade," and "Letter on the Russia Trade," by Edward Forster*, Esq. 8vo. Dr. Carr's Rules for Latin Grammar," Svo, This little volume was frequently reprinted. * This truly respectable Merchant (of whom see vol. VI. p. 616.), was at that time one of the Consuls of the Russia Company; of which, in 1781, he was chosen Governor. III. t Of Dr. John Carr, who has been imperfectly noticed in vol. p. 168, some particulars shall be given in a future page. VOL. VIII. B 1775 1775. "A Letter to Dr. Samuel Johnson; occasioned by his late Political Publications. With an Appendix, containing some Observations on a Pamphlet lately published by Dr. Shebbeare," Svo. Two Editions of a Poem intituled, "Verses addressed to the Queen, with a New Year's Gift of Irish Manufacture, by Robert-Craggs Nugent Lord Viscount Clare*" 4to. 1776. "A Description of the Library at Merly House, in Dorsetshire, the seat of Ralph Willett, Esq." Of this little pamphlet 200 copies were printed, for the use of Mr. Willett's friends, before he conceived the *. This Poem escaped the diligent researches of Mr. Park, in his edition of the "Royal and Noble Authors."-Lord Clare, descended from the Nugents of Carlanstown, in the county of Westmeath, was a younger son of Michael Nugent, by Mary daughter of Robert Lord Trimlestown. He was chosen Member of Parliament for St. Mawes, in Cornwall, 1741; appointed comptroller of the Prince of Wales's household, 1747; a lord of the treasury, 1754; one of the vice-treasurers of Ireland, 1759; alord of trade, 1766; created Baron Nugent and Viscount Clare, 1767; and Earl Nugent, 1776; with remainder to his son-in-law George Grenville Marquis of Buckingham. His Lordship was thrice married; his second wife was Anne, sister and heiress to SecretaryCraggs, the friend of Pope and Addison, by whom he acquired a large fortune. He died Oct. 13, 1788, leaving in real estates about 14,000l. per annum, and in personal fortune near 200,000l. He was a man of parts, a poet, and a facetious companion. Almon observes, that his Poems breathe the true Horatian fire, but are more than half unknown. A volume of those Poems was published anonymously by Dodsley, and entitled, " Odes and Epistles, 2d edit. Lond. 1739," Svo. Several other Poems by his Lordship are printed in "Dodsley's Collection of Poems," and in "The New Foundling Hospital for Wit."-See in Swift's Works, vol. XIV. p. 372, a Letter from Robert Nugent, Esq. to Mrs. Whiteway, in 1740, requesting her to return to Mr. Pope such letters of his as remained in the possession of Dean Swift; and that Mr. Bindon (then a celebrated painter in Dublin) might send him a picture of Swift," a head upon a three-quarter cloth, to match one which he had of Mr. Pope." See also vol. XVII. p. -302, an elegant Epistle addressed to Robert Nugent, Esq. by Dr. William Dunkin, "with a Picture of Dr. Swift." design, |