The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring;
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O grave! where is thy victory?
O death! where is thy sting?
She repeated the above, with an air of intense pleasure. She felt all
the elevated sentiments of pious extasy and triumph, which breath in
that exquisite piece of sacred poetry. After this threatening illness
she recovered her usual good state of health; and though at the time
of her decease she was pretty far advanced in years, yet her exact
temperance, and the calmness of her mind, undisturbed with uneasy
cares, and turbulent passions, encouraged her friends to hope a much
longer enjoyment of so valuable a life, than it pleased heaven to
allow them. On the day when she was seized with that distemper, which
in a few hours proved mortal, she seemed to those about her to be
in perfect health and vigour. In the evening about eight o'clock
she converted with a friend, with her usual vivacity, mixed with an
extraordinary chearfulness, and then retired to her chamber. About 10
her servant hearing some noise in her mistress's room, ran instantly
into it, and found her fallen off the chair on the floor, speechless,
and in the agonies of death. She had the immediate assistance of a
physician and surgeon, but all the means used were without success,
and having given one groan she expired a few minutes before two
o'clock, on Sunday morning, February the 20th, 1736-7: Her disease was
judged to be an apoplexy. A pious book was found lying open by her, as
also some loose papers, on which she had written the following devout
ejaculations,
O guide, and council, and protect my soul from sin!
O speak! and let me know thy heav'nly will.
Speak evidently to my list'ning soul!
O fill my soul with love, and light of peace,
And whisper heav'nly comfort to my soul!
O speak celestial spirit in the strain
Of love, and heav'nly pleasure to my soul.
In her cabinet were found letters to several of her friends, which she
had ordered to be delivered to the persons to whom they were directed
immediately after her decease.
* * * * *
Mrs. Rowe lived in friendship with people of the first fashion and
distinction in life, by whom she was esteemed and respected. To
enumerate them would be needless; let it suffice to remark, that her
life was honoured with the intimacy, and her death lamented with the
tears, of the countess of Hertford. Many verses were published to
celebrate her memory, amongst which a copy written by Mrs. Elizabeth
Carter are the best.
* * * * *
Thus lived honoured, and died lamented, this excellent poetess, whose
beauty, though not her highest excellence, yet greatly contributed to
set off her other more important graces to advantage; and whose piety
will ever shine as a bright example to posterity, and teach them how
to heighten the natural gifts of understanding, by true and unaffected
devotion.----The conduct and behaviour of Mrs. Rowe might put some
of the present race of females to the blush, who rake the town for
infamous adventures to amuse the public. Their works will soon be
forgotten, and their memories when dead, will not be deemed exceeding
precious; but the works of Mrs. Rowe can never perish, while exalted
piety and genuine goodness have any existence in the world. Her memory
will be ever honoured, and her name dear to latest posterity.
* * * * *
Mrs. Rowe's Miscellaneous Works were published a few years ago at
London, in octavo, and her Devotions were revised and published by the
reverend Dr. Watts, under the title of Devout Exercises, to which
that worthy man wrote a preface; and while he removes some cavils that
wantonness and sensuality might make to the stile and manner of these
Devotions, he shews that they contain the most sublime sentiments,
the most refined breathings of the soul, and the most elevated and
coelestial piety.
* * * * *
Mrs. Rowe's acquaintance with persons of fashion had taught her all
the accomplishments of good-breeding, and elegance of behaviour, and
without formality or affectation she practised in the most distant
solitude, all the address and politeness of a court.
She had the happiest command over her passions, and maintained a
constant calmness of temper, and sweetness of disposition, that could
not be ruffled by adverse accidents. She was in the utmost degree
an enemy to ill-natured satire and detraction; she was as much
unacquainted with envy, as if it had been impossible for so base
a passion to enter into the human mind. She had few equals in
conversation; her wit was lively, and she expressed her thoughts in
the most beautiful and flowing eloquence.
When she entered into the married state, the highest esteem and most
tender affection appeared in her conduct to Mr. Rowe, and by the most
gentle and obliging manner, and the exercise of every social and
good natured virtue, she confirmed the empire she had gained over
his heart. In short, if the most cultivated understanding, if an
imagination lively and extensive, a character perfectly moral, and a
soul formed for the most exalted exercises of devotion, can render a
person amiable, Mrs. Rowe has a just claim to that epithet, as well as
to the admiration of the lovers of poetry and elegant composition.
* * * * *
The Revd. Dr. THOMAS YALDEN.
This Gentleman was born in the city of Exeter, and the youngest of
six sons of Mr. John Yalden of Sussex. He received his education at
a Grammar-school, belonging to Magdalen-College in Oxford. [A]In the
year 1690 he was admitted a commoner of Magdalen-Hall, under Mr. John
Fallen, who was esteemed an excellent tutor, and a very great
master of logic, and the following year he was chosen scholar of
Magdalen-College. Here he became a fellow-pupil with the celebrated
Mr. Addison and Dr. Henry Sacheverel, and early contracted a
particular friendship with those two gentlemen. This academical
affection Mr. Addison preserved not only abroad in his travels, but
also on his advancement to considerable employments at home, and kept
the same easy and free correspondence to the very last, as when their
fortunes were more on a level. This preservation of affection is
rendered more singular, by Mr. Yalden's having espoused a very
opposite interest to that of Mr. Addison, for he adhered to the
High-Church party, and was suspected of an attachment to an exiled
family, for which he afterwards was brought into very great trouble.
In the year 1700 he was admitted actual and perpetual fellow of
Magdalen-College, and qualified himself the next year, by taking
orders, as the founder's statutes require. After his admission he
received two public marks of favour from that society: The first was
a presentation to a living in Warwickshire, consistent with his
fellowship; and the other, his being elected moral philosophy-reader,
an office for life, endowed with a handsome stipend and peculiar
privileges.
* * * * *
In 1706 he was received into the family of his noble and kind patron
the duke of Beaufort; with whom he was in very great favour, having in
many instances experienced his bounty and generosity. In the following
year he compleated his academical degrees, by commencing doctor in
divinity: He presented to the society their founder's picture in
full length, which now hangs up in the public-hall; and afterwards
he delivered in to the president a voluntary resignation of his
fellowship, and moral philosophy-lecture. He was afterwards preferred
to be rector of Chalten in Cleanville, two adjoining towns and
rectories in Hampshire. He was elected by the president and governors
of Bridewell, preacher of that hospital, upon the resignation of Dr.
Atterbury, afterwards lord bishop of Rochester.
* * * * *
Having mentioned this prelate, it will be proper here to observe, that
upon a suspicion of Dr. Yalden's being concerned with him in a plot
to restore the exiled family; and for which the bishop was afterwards
banished, he was seized upon by authority, and committed to prison.
When he was examined before the council, concerning his correspondence
and intimacy with Mr. Kelley the bishop's secretary; he did not deny
his knowledge of, and correspondence with, him, but still persisted
in averting, that no measures contrary to the constitution were ever
canvassed between them. There was found in his pocket book, a copy of
verses reflecting on the reigning family, and which might well bear
the construction of a libel; but when he was charged with them, he
denied that he ever composed such verses, or that the hand-writing was
his own, and asserted his innocence in every circumstance relating to
the plot. The verses in all probability were put into his pocket-book,
by the same person, who with so much dexterity placed a treasonable
paper in bishop Atterbury's close-stool, and then pretending to be the
discoverer of it, preferred it against his lordship, as an evidence of
his disaffection. The particulars of that memorable tryal are recorded
in the Life of Atterbury, written by the authors of Biographia
Britannica.--The heats raised by Atterbury's tryal subsiding, those
who were suspected of being concerned with him, as no evidence
appeared strong enough to convict them, were released.
Dr. Yalden was still favoured with the patronage of the generous duke
of Beaufort, and his residence in that noble family recommended him
to the acquaintance of many of the first quality and character in the
kingdom, and as he was of a chearful temper, and of a pleasing and
instructive conversation, he retained their friendship and esteem till
his death, which happened the 16th of July, 1736, in the 66th year of
his age.
His poetical works are chiefly these.
On the Conquest of Namure; A Pindaric Ode, inscribed to his most
sacred and victorious majesty, folio 1695.
The Temple of Fame; a Poem to the memory of the most illustrious
Prince, William Duke of Gloucester, folio 1700. On the late Queen's
Accession to the Throne, a Poem.
Æsop at Court, or State Fables.
An Essay on the Character on Sir Willoughby Ashton, a Poem. Fol. 1704.
On the Mines of Sir Carbery Price, a Poem; occasioned by the
Mine-adventure Company.
On the Death of Mr. John Partridge, Professor in Leather, and
Astrologer.
Advice to a Lover.
To Mr. Watson, on his Ephemeris on the Cælestial Motions, presented to
Queen Anne.
Against Immoderate Grief.
The Force of Jealousy.
An Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, 1693, set to music by Dr. Purcel.
A Hymn to the Morning in Praise of Light.
* * * * *
We shall extract the following stanza from this Hymn, as a specimen of
his poetry.
Parent of day! whose beauteous beams of light
Spring from the darksome womb of night,
And midst their native horrors mow
Like gems adorning of the negro's brow.
Not Heaven's fair bow can equal thee,
In all its gawdy drapery:
Thou first essay of light, and pledge of day!
Rival of shade! eternal spring! still gay!
From thy bright unexhausted womb
The beauteous race of days and seasons come.
Thy beauty ages cannot wrong,
But 'spite of time, thou'rt ever young.
Thou art alone Heav'n's modest virgin light.
Whose face a veil of blushes hide from human sight.
At thy approach, nature erects her head;
The smiling universe is glad;
The drowsy earth and seas awake
And from thy beams new life and vigour take.
When thy more chearful rays appear,
Ev'n guilt and women cease to fear;
Horror, despair, and all the sons of night
Retire before thy beams, and take their hasty flight.
Thou risest in the fragrant east,
Like the fair Phoenix from her balmy nest;
But yet thy fading glories soon decay,
Thine's but a momentary stay;
Too soon thou'rt ravish'd from our fight,
Borne down the stream of day, and overwhelm'd with night.
Thy beams to thy own ruin haste,
They're fram'd too exquisite to last:
Thine is a glorious, but a short-liv'd state:
Pity so fair a birth should yield so soon to fate;
Besides these pieces, this reverend gentleman has translated the
second book of Ovid's Art of Love, with several other occasional poems
and translations published in the third and fourth volumes of Tonson's
Miscellanies.
The Medicine, a Tale in the second Volume of the Tatlers, and Mr.
Partridge's Appeal to the Learned World, or a Further Account of the
Manner of his Death, in Prose, are likewise written by him.
[Footnote A: Jacob.]
* * * * *
Mr. JOSEPH MITCHEL,
This gentleman was the son of a Stone-cutter in Scotland, and was
born about the year 1684. He received an university education while
he remained in that kingdom, and having some views of improving his
fortune, repaired to the metropolis. We are not able to recover many
particulars concerning this poet, who was never sufficiently eminent
to excite much curiosity concerning him. By a dissipated imprudent
behaviour he rendered those, who were more intimately acquainted with
him, less sollicitous to preserve the circumstances of his life, which
were so little to his advantage. We find him enjoying the favour of
the earl of Stair, and Sir Robert Walpole, to whom he addresses some
of his poems. He received so many obligations from the latter, and was
so warm in his interest, that he obtained the epithet of Sir Robert
Walpole's Poet, and for a great part of his life had an entire
dependence on the bounty of that munificent statesman. Mr. Mitchel,
who was a slave to his pleasures, and governed by every gust of
irregular appetite, had many opportunities of experiencing the
dangerous folly of extravagance, and the many uneasy moments which it
occasions. Notwithstanding this, his conduct was never corrected,
even when the means of doing it were in his power. At a time when Mr.
Mitchel laboured under severe necessities, by the death of his wife's
uncle several thousand pounds devolved to him, of which he had no
sooner got possession, than he planned schemes of spending it, in
place of discharging the many debts he had contracted. This behaviour,
as it conveyed to his creditors no high idea of his honesty, so it
obliged him to be perpetually skulking, and must consequently have
embittered even those hours which he falsly dedidicated to pleasure;
for they who live under a perpetual dread of losing their liberty, can
enjoy no great comfort even in their most careless moments.
Of the many poems which Mr. Mitchel wrote, but few succeeded to any
degree, nor indeed much deserved it. At a time when the politicians
were engaged in settling the Land-Tax, and various opinions were
offered concerning the ability of that branch of the commonwealth,
so that a proper medium or standard might be fixed; he versified
the Totness Address, much about the time of his present Majesty's
accession to the throne; in which it is humourously proposed, that the
landed interest should pay twenty shillings in the pound. This poem
having a reference to a fashionable topic of conversation, was better
received than most of his other pieces.
There was likewise a poem of Mr. Mitchel's, called The Shoe-heel,
which was much read on account of the low humour it contains. He has
addressed to Dr. Watts a poem on the subject of Jonah in the Whale's
Belly. In the dedication he observes, 'That it was written for the
advancement of true virtue and reformation of manners; to raise an
emulation amongst our young poets to attempt divine composures, and
help to wipe off the censures which the numerous labours of the muses
are justly charged with. If (says he) it shall serve any of these
purposes, I shall be satisfied, though I gain no reputation by it
among those who read a new poem with no other view, than to pass a
judgment on the abilities of the author.' When the antagonists of Pope
were threatened with the publication of the Dunciad, Mr. Mitchel had
some suspicion that he himself was to be stigmatized in it: conscious
that he had never offended Mr. Pope, he took an opportunity to write
to him upon that subject. He informed him, that he had been an admirer
of his writings; that he declined all connexion with those men, who
combined to reduce his reputation, and that when no offence was given,
no resentment should be discovered. Mr. Pope, upon receiving this
letter from Mitchel, protesting his innocence as to any calumny
published against him, was so equitable as to strike him out of his
Dunciad, in which, by misrepresentation he had assigned him a place.
* * * * *
Mr. Mitchel lived in good correspondence with many of the most eminent
wits of the time, and was particularly honoured with the friendship of
Aaron Hill, esq; a gentleman of so amiable a disposition, that whoever
cultivated an intimacy with him, was sure to be a gainer. Once,
when Mr. Mitchel was in distress, Mr. Hill, who could not perhaps
conveniently relieve him by pecuniary assistance, gave him a higher
instance of friendship, than could be shewn by money. He wrote a
beautiful dramatic piece in two acts, called The Fatal Extravagant, in
which he exposed the hideous vice of gaming. This little dramatic
work is planned with such exquisite art, wrought up with so much
tenderness, and the scenes are so natural, interesting and moving,
that I know not if Mr. Hill has any where touched the passions with
so great a mastery. This play met the success it deserved, and
contributed to relieve Mr. Mitchel's necessities, who had honour
enough, however, to undeceive the world, and acknowledge his
obligations to Mr. Hill, by making mankind acquainted with the real
author of The Fatal Extravagant. As this was a favour never to be
forgotten, so we find Mr. Mitchel taking every proper occasion to
express his gratitude, and celebrate his patron. Amongst the first of
his poems, is An Ode, addressed to Mr. Hill, which is one of the best
of his compositions. The two last stanza's are as follow,
Heedless of custom, and the vulgar breath,
I toil for glory in a path untrod,
Or where but few have dared to combat death,
And few unstaggering carry virtue's load.
Thy muse, O Hill, of living names,
My first respect, and chief attendance claims.
Sublimely fir'd, thou look'st disdainful down
On trifling subjects, and a vile renown.
In ev'ry verse, in ev'ry thought of thine,
There's heav'nly rapture and design.
Who can thy god-like Gideon view[A],
And not thy muse pursue,
Or wish, at least, such miracles to do?
Sure in thy breast the ancient Hebrew fire
Reviv'd, glows hot, and blazes forth,
How strong, how fierce the flames aspire!
Of thy interior worth,
When burning worlds thou sett'st before our eyes[B],
And draw'st tremendous judgment from the flues!
O bear me on thy seraph wing,
And teach my weak obsequious muse to sing.
To thee I owe the little art I boast;
Thy heat first melted my co-genial frost.
Preserve the sparks thy breath did fan,
And by thy likeness form me into true poetic man.
Mr. Mitchel died in the year 1738. He seems to have been a poet of the
third rate; he has seldom reached the sublime; his humour, in which he
more succeeded, is not strong enough to last; his verification holds a
state of mediocrity; he possessed but little invention, and if he was
not a bad rhimester, he cannot be denominated a fine poet, for there
are but few marks of genius in his writings. His poems were printed in
two vol. 8vo. in the year 1729.
He wrote also, The Union of the Clans; or the Highland-Fair. A Scot's
Opera. 'Twas acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, about the year
1730; but did not succeed.
[Footnote A: An epic poem by Aaron Hill, esq;]
[Footnote B: See The Judgment, a poem by Aaron Hill, esq;]
* * * * *
Mr. John Ozell,
This gentleman added considerably to the republic of letters by his
numerous translations. He received the rudiments of his education from
Mr. Shaw, an excellent grammarian, master of the free school at Ashby
De la Zouch in Leicestershire: he finished his grammatical learning
under the revd. Mr. Mountford of Christ's Hospital, where having
attained the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues, he was designed to be
sent to the university of Cambridge, to be trained up for holy Orders.
But Mr. Ozell, who was averse to that confinement which he must expect
in a college life, chose to be sooner settled in the world, and be
placed in a public office of accounts, having previously qualified
himself by attaining a knowledge of arithmetic, and writing the
necessary hands. This choice of an occupation in our author, could no
other reasons be adduced, are sufficient to denominate him a little
tinctured with dulness, for no man of genius ever yet made choice of
spending his life behind a desk in a compting-house.
He still retained, however, an inclination to erudition, contrary
to what might have been expected, and by much conversation with
travellers from abroad, made himself matter of most of the living
languages, especially the French, Italian, and Spanish, from all
which, as well as from the Latin and Greek, he has favoured the world
with a great[A] many translations, amongst which are the following
French plays;