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SMITH.

ED

DMUND SMITH is one of thofe lucky writers who have, without much labour, attained high reputation, and who are mentioned with reverence rather for the poffeffion than the exertion of uncommon abilities.

Of his life little is known; and that little claims no praife but what can be given to intellectual excellence, seldom employed to any virtuous purpose. His character, as given by Mr. Oldifworth, with all the partiality of friendfhip, which is faid by Dr. Burton to fhew "what fine things one man of parts can fay to another," and which, however, comprises great part of what can be known of Mr. Smith, it is better to transcribe at once than to take by pieces. I fhall fubjoin fuch little memorials as accident has enabled me to collect.

Mr. EDMUND SMITH was the only fon of an éminent merchant, one Mr. Neale, by a daughter of the famous baron Lechmere. Some misfortunes of his father, which were foon followed by his death, were the occafion of the fon's being left very young VOL. X.

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in the hands of a near relation (one who married Mr. Neale's fifter), whose name was Smith.

This gentleman and his lady treated him as their own child, and put him to Weftminster-school under the care of Dr. Busby; whence, after the loss of his faithful and generous guardian (whose name he affumed and retained), he was removed to Chriftchurch in Oxford, and there by his aunt handfomely maintained till her death; after which he continued a member of that learned and ingenious fociety till within five years of his own; though, fome time before his leaving Chrift-church, he was fent for by his mother to Worcester, and owned and acknowledged as her legitimate fon; which had not been mentioned, but to wipe off the afperfions that were ignorantly caft by fome on his birth. It is to be remembered, for our author's honour, that, when at Westminster election he ftood a candidate for one of the univerfities, he fo fignally distinguished himself by his confpicuous performances, that there arofe no fmall contention, between the representative electors of Trinity-college in Cambridge and Chrift-church in Oxon, which of thofe two royal focieties fhould adopt him as their own. But the electors of Trinitycollege having the preference of choice that year, they refolutely elected him; who yet, being invited at the fame time to Chrift-church, chofe to accept of a studentship there. Mr. Smith's perfections, as well natural as acquired, feem to have been formed upon Horace's plan; who fays, in his Art of poetry,