applauded cannot boaft, that they have an original air, which has no refemblance of any foregoing writer; that the verfification and fentiments have a caft peculiar to themselves, which no man can imitate with fuccefs, because what was nature in Savage, would in another be affectation. It must be confeffed that his defcriptions are ftriking, his images animated, his fictions juftly imagined, and his allegories artfully pursued; that his diction is elevated, though fometimes forced, and his numbers fonorous and majeftic, though frequently fluggish and encumbered. Of his ftyle the general fault is harfhnefs, and its general excellence is dignity; of his fentiments the prevailing beauty is fublimity, and uniformity the prevailing defect. For his life, or for his writings, none, who candidly confider his fortune, will think an apology either neceffary or difficult. If he was not always fufficiently inftructed in his fubject, his knowledge was at leaft greater than could have been attained by others in the fame state. If his works were fometimes unfinished, accuracy cannot reasonably be exacted from a man oppreffed with want, which he has no hope of relieving, but by a speedy publication. The infolence and refentment of which he is accufed, were not eafily to be avoided by a great mind, irritated by perpetual hardfhips, and confrained hourly to return the fpurns of contempt, and reprefs the infolence of profperity; and vanity may furely readily be pardoned in him, to whom life afforded no other comforts than barren praises, and the confcioufnefs of deferving them." 6 Thofe are no proper judges of his conduct, who have flumbered away their time on the down of affluence; nor will any wife man prefume to fay, Had I been in Savage's condition, I fhould have lived or written better than Savage.' This relation will not be wholly without its ufe, if thofe, who languifh under any part of his fufferings, fhall be enabled to fortify their patience, by reflecting reflecting that they feel only thofe afflictions from which the abilities of Savage did not exempt him; or thofe, who, in confidence of fuperior capacities or attainments, difregard the common maxims of life, shall be reminded that nothing will fupply the want of prudence; and that negligence and irregularity, long continued, will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible. END OF THE LIFE OF MR. SAVAGE. F5 LOVE THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORG LORD LANSDOW N. E, MY LORD, AN addrefs from a ftranger, and one that asks favours too, ought to have more recommendation than I am afraid you will find in this. It is my misfortune to stand in such a relation to the late Earl RIVERS, by the Countess of, as neither of us can be proud of owning; but that is the smallest part of my unhappiness, since I am one of those fons of forrow, to whom he left nothing to alleviate the fin of my birth. Under this fcene of affliction I have had leisure enough to divert my hours of melancholy with writing this COMEDY, |