are strongly contrafted. In an entertaining work lately published, which it is hoped will diffuse a relish for biography, we have a remarkable anecdote relating to this nobleman's speech in favour of the bishop of Rochefter. His Grace, then in oppofition to Court, went to Chelsea the day before the last debate on that prelate's affair, where acting contrition, he profeffed being determined to work out his pardon at Court by speaking against the bishop, in order to which he begged fome hints. The minister was deceived, and went through the whole cause with him, pointing out where the ftrength of the argument lay, and where it's weakness. The Duke was very thankful, returned to town, paffed the night in drinking, and without going to bed, went to the House of Lords, where he spoke FOR the bishop, recapitulating in the most masterly manner, and answering all that had been urged against him *. 10. When Cataline by rapine fwell'd his ftore; When Cæfar made a noble dame a whore; * Catalogue of the Royal and Noble Authors of Eng. land, vol. ii. p. 133. In this the luft, in that the avarice Were means, not ends; ambition was the vice *. THE fame paffion excited Richlieu to throw up the dyke at Rochelle, and to dispute the prize of poetry with Corneille; whom to traduce was the fureft method of gaining the affection of this ambitious minifter, who aspired equally to excel in all things; nay, who formed a design to be canonized as a faint. A perfect contrast to the character of Cardinal Fleury, who fhewed that it was poffible to govern a great state with moderate abilities, and a mild temper. His ministry is impartially represented by Voltaire in the age of Louis XIV. 11. Lucullus, when frugality could charm, Had roafted turnips in the Sabin farm t FEW writers of his country have difplayed a greater energy of fentiment than Crebillon; in his Cataline we have a noble * Ver. 214. Ver. 218. See Confiderations on Lucullus, in the fecond vol. of L'Abbé de St. Real, p. 1. The creditors of Crebillon would have ftopped the profits of this tragedy. but the spirited old bard appealed noble one that may illuftrate this doctrine. of POPE; " If, fays this fierce and inflexible confpirator, I had only Lentulus's of my party, and if it was filled only with men of virtue, I fhould eafily affume that character also, and be more virtuous than any of them." Et s'il n'étoit rempli que d' hommes vertueux, In this one paffion man can ftrength enjoy, THE ftrength and continuance of what our author calls the ruling paffion, is ftrongly exemplified in EIGHT characters; namely, the POLITICIAN, the DEBAUCHEE, the GLUTTON, the OECONOMIST, the CoQUET, the COURTIER, the MISER, and the PATRIOT. Of these characters, the most lively, because the most dramatic, to the king in council, and procured an honourable decree in his favour, fetting forth, that works of genius fhould not be deemed Effects that were capable of being feized. This writer's works were lately printed in a magnificent manner at the Louvre, in two volumes, quarto, at the expence of Madam Pompadour. * Ver. 22 are are the fifth and feventh. There is true humour alfo in the circumftance of the frugal crone who blows out one of the confecrated tapers in order to prevent it's wafting. Shall I venture to infert another example or two? An old ufurer lying in his last agonies was presented by the priest with the crucifix. He opened his eyes a moment before he expired, attentively gazed on it, and cried out, "These jewels are counterfeit, I cannot lend more than ten pistoles upon fo wretched a pledge." To reform the language of his country was the ruling paffion of Malherbe, The priest who attended him in his last moments, afked him if he was not affected with the description he gave him of the joys of heaven? By no means, answered the incorrigible bard, I defire to hear no more of them, if you cannot defcribe them in a purer style. Both thefe ftories would have fhone under the hands of POPE. THIS doctrine of our author may be farther illuftrated by the following paffage of of Bacon. "It is no lefs worthy to observe, how little alteration, in good spirits, the approaches of death make; for they appear to be the fame men, till the last instant. Auguftus Cæfar died in a compliment; Livia, conjugii noftri memor, vive et vale. Tiberius in diffimulation; as Tacitus faith of him: Jam Tiberium vires et corpus, non diffimulatio deferebant. Vefpafian, in a jeft, Ut puto Deus fio. Galba with a fentence; Feri, fi ex re fit populi Romani; holding forth his neck. Septimius Severus, in dispatch; Adeste, si quid mihi restat agendum *.” THIS epiftle concludes with a stroke of art worthy admiration. The poet fuddenly ftops the vein of ridicule with which he was flowing, and addreffes his friend in a most delicate compliment, concealed under the appearance of satire. And you! brave Cobham, to the latest breath * Bacon's Effays. Effay ii. which were much read by POPE. Such |