תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors][merged small]

HE brevity with which I am to write the account of ELISHA FENTON is not the effect of indifference or negligence. I have fought irtelligence among his relations in his native county, but have not obtained it.

He was born near Newcastle in Staffordshire, of an ancient family, whose eftate was very confiderable; but he was the youngest of twelve children, and being therefore neceffarily deftined to fome lucrative employment, was fent first

[blocks in formation]

to school, and afterwards to Cambridge; but, with many other wife and virtuous men, who at that time of difcord and debate confulted conscience, whether well or ill informed, more than interest, he doubted the legality of the government, and, refufing to qualify himself for publick employment by the oaths required, left the univerfity without a degree; but I never heard that the enthufiafm of oppofition impelled him to feparation from the church.

By this perverfeness of integrity he was driven out a commoner of Nature, excluded from the regular modes of profit and profperity, and reduced to pick up a livelihood uncertain and fortuitous; but it must be remembered

that

that he kept his name unfullied, and never fuffered himself to be reduced, like too many of the fame fect, to mean arts and dishonourable shifts. Whoever mentioned Fenton, mentioned him with honour.

The life that paffes in penury, muft neceffarily pass in obfcurity. It is impoffible to trace Fenton from year to year, or to discover what means he used for his fupport. He was a while fecretary to Charles earl of Orrery in Flanders, and tutor to his young son, who afterwards mentioned him with great esteem and tenderness. He was at one time affiftant in the fchool of Mr. Bonwicke in Surry; and at another kept

a school for himself at Sevenoaks in

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors]

tion; but was perfuaded to leave it (1710) by Mr. St. John, with promises of a more honourable employment.

His opinions, as he was a Nonjuror, feem not to have been remarkably rigid. He wrote with great zeal and affection the praises of queen Anne, and very willingly and liberally extolled the duke of Marlborough, when he was (1707) at the height of his glory.

He expreffed ftill more attention to Marlborough and his family by an clegiac Pastoral on the marquis of Blandford, which could be prompted only by respect or kindnefs; for neither the duke

nor dutchefs defired the praife, or liked the cost of patronage.

The

The elegance of his poetry intitled him to the company of the wits of his time, and the amiableness of his manners made him loved wherever he was known. Of his friendship to Southerne and Pope there are lafting monuments. He published in 1707 a collection of poems..

By Pope he was once placed in a ftation that might have been of great advantage. Craggs, when he was advanced to be fecretary of state (about 1720), feeling his own want of literature, defired Pope to procure him an inftructor, by whofe help he might fupply the deficiencies of his education. Pope recommended Fenton, in whom Craggs found all that he was feeking. There

[blocks in formation]
« הקודםהמשך »