"he published Five Paftoral Eclogues, 4to. the "fcenes of which are fuppofed to lie among "the fhepherds oppreffed by the war in Ger65 many. Thefe Eclogues afterwards appeared in Pearch's Continuation of Dodiley's Collection. But I do not learn that they ever had the name of Warton affixed to them, and can affert on the authority of his fifter, that he absolutely difclaimed them.

In 1747 he published without his name "The Pleafures of Melancholy," which had been written in 1745, his feventeenth year, and fhows his early attachment to Milton. This poem was reprinted with material alterations in Dodfley's Collection.

This was the voluntary effufion of his genius; but he was foon called upon to exert himself on a more public occafion, of which the following account is given in the Biographical Dictionary. "Not long after, in the year 1748, "he had full scope afforded for the exertion of "his genius. It is well known that Jacobite principles were fufpected to prevail in the University of Oxford, about the time of the "rebellion in 1745. Soon after its fuppreffion "the drunkenness and folly of fome young "men gave offence to the court, in confe

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quence of which a profecution was instituted

"in the court of King's Bench, and a stigma

was fixed on the Vice-Chancellor, and fome "other heads of colleges in Oxford. Whilst "this affair was the general fubject of converfation, Mr. Mafon publifhed his Ifis, an

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Elegy,' in which he adverts to the abovemen"tioned circumftances. In anfwer to this poem,

Mr. Warton, encouraged by Dr. Huddesford, "the Prefident of his college, published, in 1749, The Triumph of Ifis,' which excelled "more in manly expoftulation and dignity, "than the poem that produced it did in neat"nefs and elegance."

A poem, written under fuch circumftances, would naturally be received with its merited approbation and applaufe. That part of it, in which the character of Dr. King is given, was especially commended and my friend, Mr. Richards, of Oriel College, has told me what he was informed of by Mr. Prince the bookfeller, that Dr. King came into his fhop foon after the publication, and having enquired whether five guineas would be of any fervice to the young man, who was the author of the poem, defired Prince to give him that fum. The two poems were afterwards published together in Pearch's Collection, and in the Union.

f The 109th and following verses.

"It is remarkable" (fays Dr. Anderson, the Editor of the British Poets at Edinburgh) "that though neither Mason nor Warton ever "excelled thefe performances, each of them, as

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by confent, when he first collected his poems “into a volume, omitted his own party produc"tion." Whence it may appear strange, that this forbearance was not practifed by Warton in the third edition of his poems, 1779; where the Triumph of Ifis was introduced with no notice of the circumstance, except that there was in that edition one piece more than in the firft. The occafion of the addition is connected with another anecdote, which is as follows.

On the anonymous publication of the “ He"roic Epiftle to Sir William Chambers" about the year 1776, it is known that various opinions were entertained, as to who was the author. Mr. Warton being present in a large company, where it was the fubject of conversation, afcribed it to Mafon. The declaration was at first made inadvertently. "Well," faid he, " if I had been Mason, I would not have written it." When his words were taken up, he was surprised at his having fo committed himself; but having once delivered, proceeded to substantiate, his opinion. It was founded on the internal evidence of the poem; verfification, ftyle, &c.

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"But, Mr. Warton, style is fo uncertain à cri"terion :-how can you pretend to say that "the poem was written by Mason from its ftyle?" Juft (he answered) as a hatter "would tell you who made that hat."

The opinion, thus delivered and supported, by fome means came to the knowledge of Mason; who, having occafion to write to Warton about the time, took notice of it in the following letter:

" SIR,

h

"YORK, April 24, 1777.

"Our good friend the " Bishop of Litchfield "had fent me your obliging letter to him the poft before I received yours on the same sub

ject. I think myself much honoured by your "attention to this application in behalf of Mr. "Plumer, and heartily hope he may be deferv

ing of the favours you mean to fhew him. I "muft own to you however, that the Gentle"man is a stranger to me, and that I was in"duced to apply to you, by means of the

8 Communicated to me by the Rev. John Warton, of Blandford, Dorfet.

h Dr. Hurd.

i I believe the Gentleman here mentioned is the celebrated barrifter, who afterwards became fellow of Univerfity College.

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Bishop, in order to oblige a third perfon, who gave him a high character.

"I have to thank you alfo for the very flattering fentiments which you exprefs of my late publication, and alfo for the most acceptable prefent of that elegant collection "of poems, with which you have obliged the public. I am however forry to find, that The Triumph of Ifis' has not found a place near the delicate Complaint of Cherwell,' "to which it was a proper companion; and I "fear that a punctilio of politeness to me was "the occafion of its exclufion. Had I known " of your intention of making this collection, "moft certainly I fhould have pleaded for the "infertion of that poem, which I affure you I "think greatly excels the Elegy which occa"fioned it, both in its poetical imagery, and the "correct flow of its verfification. And if I put 66 any value upon my own juvenile production, "it is becaufe it is written on those old Whig

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principles, which I am as proud of holding "now that they are out of fashion and I am "turned fifty, as I then was when they were in

fashion, and I was hardly turned twenty. I

trust, Sir, you are a Tory moderate enough to forgive me this wrong.

"But while I have the pleasure of writing

k Perhaps The English Garden.