time he commonly chose for such studies; so that he would often be heard walking in his library, till near morning, humming over, in his way, what he was to correct and write out next day.

The amusements of his leisure hours were civil and natural history, voyages, and the relations of travellers, the most authentic he could procure: and, had his situation favoured it, he would certainly have excelled in gardening, agriculture and every rural improvement and exercise. Although he performed on no instrument, he was passionately fond of music, and would sometimes listen a full hour at his window to the nightingales in Richmond Gardens. While abroad he had been greatly delighted with the regular Italian drama, such as Metastasio writes; as it is there heigthened by the charms of the best voices and instruments; and looked upon our theatrical entertainments, as in one respect, naked and imperfect when compared with the ancient, or with those of Italy; wishing sometimes that a chorus, at least, and a better recitative, could be introduced.

Nor was his taste less exquisite in the arts of paint ing, sculpture, and architecture. In his travels he had seen all the most celebrated monuments of antiquity, and the best productions of modern art; and studied them so minutely, and with so true a judgment, that in some of his descriptions, in the poem of Liberty, we have the master-pieces there mentioned placed in a stronger light perhaps than if we saw them with our eyes; at least more justly delineated than in any other account extant: so superior is a

natural taste of the grand and beautiful, to the tra ditional lessons of a common virtuoso. His collection of prints, and some drawings from the antique are now in the possession of his friend Mr. Gray, of Richmond Hill.

As for his more distinguishing qualities of mind and heart, they are better represented in his writings than they can be by the pen of any biographer There, his love of mankind, of his country and friends, his devotion to the Supreme Being, founded on the most elevated and just conceptions of his ope rations and providence, shine out in every page. So unbounded was his tenderness of heart, that it took in even the brute creation. Judge what it must have been towards his own species. He is not indeed known, through his whole life, to have given any person one moment's pain, by his writings or otherwise. He took no part in the poetical squabbles which happened in his time; and was respected and left undisturbed by both sides. He would even refuse to take offence when he justly might; by interrupting any personal story that was brought him, with some jest, or some humorous apology for the offender. Nor was he ever seen ruffled or discom posed, but when he read or heard of some flagrant instance of injustice, oppression, or cruelty: then indeed the strongest marks of horror and indignation were visible in his countenance.

These amiable virtues, this divine temper of mind, did not fail of their due reward. His friends loved him with an enthusiastic ardour, and lamented his

untimely fate in the manner that is still fresh in every one's memory; the best and greatest men of his time honoured him with their friendship and protection; the applause of the public attended every appearance he made; the actors, of whom the more eminent were his friends and admirers, grudging no pains to do justice to his tragedies. At present, indeed, if we except Tancred, they are seldom called for; the simplicity of his plots, and the models he worked after, not suiting the reigning taste, nor the impatience of an English theatre. They may hereafter come to be in vogue; but we hazard no con jecture upon them, or upon any part of Mr. Thom son's works; neither need they any defence or apology, after the reception they have had at home, and the foreign languages into which they have been translated. We shall only say, that, to judge from the imitations of his manner, which have been following him close from the very first publication of Winter, he seems to have fixed no inconsiderable era of the English poetry.

ODE

ON THE

DEATH OF MR. THOMSON,

BY MR. COLLINS.

[The scene of the following stanzas is supposed to lie on the Thames, near Richmond.]

In yonder grave a druid lies,

Where slowly winds the stealing wave:
The year's best sweets shall duteous rise
To deck its poet's sylvan grave.

In yon deep bed of whispering reeds
His airy harp* shall now be laid,

That he whose heart in sorrow bleeds,

May love through life the soothing shade.

Then maids and youths shall linger here,
And while its sounds at distance s wel!,
Shall sadly seem, in Pity's ear,

To hear the woodland pilgrim's knell.

* The harp of Æolus, of which see a description in the Castle of Indolence.

ON THE DEATH OF MR. THOMSON. 25

Remembrance oft shall haunt the shore

When Thames in summer-wreaths is drest, And oft suspend the dashing oar, To bid his gentle spirit rest :

And oft as Ease and Health retire
To breezy lawn, or forest deep,
The friend shall view yon whitening spire*,
And 'mid the varied landscape weep.

But thou, who ownest that earthy bed,
Ah! what will every dirge avail;
Or tears, which love and pity shed,
That mourn beneath the gliding sail?

Yet lives there one, whose heedless eye
Shall scorn thy pale shrine glimmering near?
With him, sweet bard, may fancy die,
And joy desert the blooming year.

But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tide
No sedge-crowned sisters now attend,
Now waft me from the green hill's side
Whose cold turf hides the buried friend

And see! the fairy valleys fade;

Dun night has veiled the solemn view:
Yet once again, dear parted shade,
Meek Nature's child, again adieu!

* Richmond Church

C