GRANVILLE. OF F GEORGE GRANVILLE, or as others write Greenville, or Grenville, afterwards lord Landfdown of Biddeford in the county of Devon, lefs is known than his name and rank might give reason to expect. ́ He was born about 1667, the son of Bernard Greenville, who was entrusted by Monk with the most private transactions of the Restoration, and the grandfon of Sir Bevil • Greenville, who died in the King's caufe, at the battle of Landfdowne. His early education was fuperintended by Sir William Ellis; and his progrefs was fuch, that before the age of twelve he was fent to Cambridge, where he pronounced a copy of his own verses to the princess Mary d'Esté of Modena, then dutchefs of York, when she vifited the university. At At thea cceffion of king James, being now at eighteen, he again exerted his poetical powers, and addreffed the new monarch in three short pieces, of which the first is profane, and the two others such as a boy might be expected to produce; but he was commended by old Waller, who perhaps was pleased to find himself imitated, in fix lines, which, though they begin with nonfenfe and end with dulnefs, excited in the young author a rapture of acknowledgement, in numbers fuch as Waller's felf might use. It was probably about this time that he wrote the poem to the earl of Peterborough, upon his accomplishment of the duke of York's marriage with the princess of Modena, whofe charms appear to have gained a strong prevalence over his imagination, and upon whom nothing ever has been charged but imprudent piety, an intemperate and mifguided zeal for the propagation of popery. However faithful Granville might have been to the King, or however enamoured of the Queen, he has left no reason for fuppofing that he approved either the artifices or |