nance of our civil and religious rights, were honoured with the express thanks (as they justly merited) of his sovereign." All that I find to have been transmitted of his lordship's poetical accomplishments, is the following song, which has been copied from Mr. Nichols's Select Collection of Poems 3. "The Persians stretch their votive arms To Phœbus in his rising state; I gaze on dear Myrtilla's charms, And meet those eyes that dart my "So the fond moth round tapers plays, fate: Nor dreams of death in such bright fires; With joy he hastes into the blaze, He courts his doom, and there expires."] 3 Vol. iv. p. 318. HENRY ST. JOHN, VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE, WITH the most agreeable talents in the world, and with great parts, was neither happy nor successful. He wrote against the late king, who had forgiven him; against sir Robert Walpole, who did forgive him; against the Pretender and the clergy, who never will forgive him. He is one of our best writers; though his attacks on all governments and all religions (neither of which views he cared directly to own) have necessarily involved his style in a want of perspicuity 3. One must know the man 2 [That Bolingbroke wrote against the king, who had forgiven him, is certain; but that he wrote against sir Robert Walpole, who did forgive him, we cannot admit. He wrote against sir Robert because he did not forgive him; and because he prevented his being restored to those honours which he wished to recover. That sir Robert was implacable against him, appears from a speech which he made in the house, and which he concluded with the following imprecation-" May his attainder never be reversed, and may his crimes never be forgotten!" Monthly Rev. vol. xix. p. 567.] [The earl of Orrery says, "Lord Bolingbroke had early made himself master of men and books: but in his first career of life, being immersed at once in business and pleasure, he ran through a variety of scenes in a surprising manner. When |