FENTON. THE HE brevity with which I am to write the account of ELISHA FENTON is not the effect of indifference or negligence. I have fought intelligence among his relations in his native county, but have not obtained it. He was born near Newcastle in Staffordfhire, of an ancient family, whose estate was very confiderable; but he was the youngest of twelve children, and being therefore neceffarily destined to fome lucrative employment, was fent first to school, and afterwards to Cambridge; but, with many other wife and virtuous men, who at that time of difcord and debate confulted confcience, whether well or ill informed, more than intereft, 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; 4 gree; but I never heard that the enthusiasm of oppofition impelled him to feparation from the church, By this perverfenefs 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 he kept his name upfullied, and never fuffered himself to be reduced, like too many of the fame fect, to mean arts and difhonourable fhifts. Whoever mentioned Fenton, mentioned him with honour, The life that paffes in penury, muft neceffarily pafs 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 fon, who afterwards mentioned him with great efteem and tenderness. He was at one time affiftant in the fchool of Mr. Bonwicke in Surrey; and at another kept a fchool for himself at Sevenoaks in Kent, which he brought into reputation; but was perfuaded to 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 praifes 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 elegiac Paftoral on the marquis of Blandford, which could be prompted only by refpect or kindness; for neither the duke nor dutchefs defired the praife, or liked the coft of patronage. The elegance of his poetry entitled him to the company of the wits of his time, and the amiablenefs of his manners made him loved wherever he was known. Of his friendship to Southern 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, I |