Page images
PDF
EPUB

A fhort AccoUNT of the late Mr.
ROBERT ROBINSON, of CHES-
TERTON, near CAMBRIDGE.

THE

THE life of the late celebrated Mr. Robinson, who was one of the few extraordinary inftances of the force of native genius triumphing over all impediments, deferves particular notice. The circumftances that form fuch a character merit close attention, and have been well depicted in Mr. Dyer's interefting account, from which we borrow our materials *.

never obtruded on his habitua" cheerfulness. Singular, however, as was his application, benevolence ever character,-difplaying itfelf not only appeared the leading feature in his in great exertions, but in the tenour of his general intercourfe with mankind. By a cheerful urbanity he adapted himself to all claffes of men: with the poor, in particular, who revered him as their father, he converfed freely in their own ftyle. He inftructed and catechifed their children, and would frequently even indulge himfelf in a ftrain of ruftic His origin, though low, did not jocularity. His chief fatisfaction, it entirely deprive him of the advan-is true, confifted in relieving their tages of a liberal education, though diftreffes as far as his circumftances he was principally indebted to his admitted; yet he would patiently own induftry for his quick advance-liften to all they had to impart, howment in knowledge; for the ardour and perfeverance with which he cultivated talents that procured him at length an eminent rank amongst men of literature, were astonishing, Very early in life he connect d himfelf with the diffenters, and by his honeft zeal attracted their attention; for, being naturally eloquent, hedifplayed his powers with facility; and the fafcinating fimplicity of his manners excited universal esteem.

He commenced his career as a preacher, at Norwich, where he married; and removed from thence to Hauxton, in Cambridgeshire, at the request of the congregation of a baptift meeting. He lived there for many years in a small cottage, on a flender income, purfuing literature. with great fuccefs, and became the father of a numerous family. Yet, while he was thus cultivating his extraordinary abilities, he found time fully to difcharge his domestic and pastoral duties. Though he was uncom monly fervent in his purfuits, his learning was untinctured with pedantry, and his moft abftract ftudies

*Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Robert Robinfon, by G. Dyer, late of Emanuel College, Cambridge.

ever tedious and uninterefting; for it was a conftant maxim with him,"that nothing humanifes the heart fo much as bearing with the infirmities of others."

He was the author of feveral learned works, which, by degrees, made him known, and procured him admirers of the moft refpectable cha racter in the established church, as well as amongst the diffenters; for, though fome of his writings were of a controverfial caft, they are all ingenuous, breathe all the ardour of liberty, and have extended his reputation beyond the limits of the diffenters.

Thus was he employed as a fcholar; but his love of agriculture and commerce was equal to his ardour for literature, he having removed from Hauxton to Chesterton, where he purchafed a fmall farm, and cultivated it with unremitting diligence. During his refidence there, he vifited London, by the defire of an affocia-tion of diffenters, to collect materia's for compofing an elaborate ecclefiaftical hiftory which they had folicited him to undertake. But find

ing his time too much engroffed by other engagements, which his prefent popularity as a preacher rendered Nn 2

[ocr errors]

unavoidable, he returned to Chefter- he was feized with a fhortness of ton, and there completed that excel-breathing; yet, on the Tuesday evenlent work, which exhibits fo forcibly ing, he amufed the company with his powers as an hiftorian. The his ufual hilarity, ate a good fupper, univerfity allowed him free access to and went to bed without any com the public library (though a diffent- plaint. The next morning he was er), and even permitted him to take found dead in his bed:-the cloaths to his own houfe whatever books he were not disturbed, nor his features wifhed to peruse. distorted. It is, therefore, probable that this great and amiable man died exactly as he had wifhed, for he always faid, "He did not fear death; but the act of parting with his friends and family appeared to him extremely afflicting.'

It is impoffible to give more than a faint idea of this fingular man in fo fhort an account, and we must refer the reader to his life, written by Mr. Dyer,-which, in the moft ftriking manner, difplays the originality and fimplicity of this character, and is interfperfed with letters of Mr. Robinson to his private friends, which contain matter equally curious and characteristic.

Mr. Robinson was naturally of a ftrong and robuft habit; but intenfe application gradually enfeebled his conftitution, and produced an internal complaint, which, together with fome fecret troubles, and the acuteness of His fenfations, haftened his diffolution. His mind, emancipated by its own energy from a flavish acquiefcence in the opinions of others, abhorred the petty contentions that exafperate fectaries; whilft his extreme benevolence made him an enemy to every fpecies of religious perfecution. The liberality of his fentiments nevertheless drew on him the refentment of the rigid, even of his own party, and placed him in a ftate of warfare which jarred with the be- An nignity of his mind, and interrupted the peace of his latter days. But though his health was thus infenfibly declining, he still continued his ufual application, and gave new proofs of his abilities.

His family, alarmed by the ftate of his health, recommended to him a journey to Birmingham, hoping to relieve his fpirits by a relaxation from ftudy. He accordingly went by eafy stages, and was introduced to Dr. Priestley, who was charmed with the facetioufnefs of his converfation, and the communicativeness of

his difpofition. But, though his vi. vacity was not extinguished, he fenfibly felt an alteration in himself, and faid to one who was introduced to him, "You only come to fee the fhadow of Robinfon." He, notwithftanding, preached twice on the Sun

I.

ENIGMATICAL LIST of BRI-
TISH WORTHIES.

HE wearied man's delight,—
and what faves ferriage or

bridge-toll.

2. Half of a famous faint who outwitted the devil,-and the wretch's laft remaining comfort.

3. Praife, to go aítray,—and a hill's near neighbour..

a

4. A fagacious quadruped. 5. Good wine, and an abbre viation of a fellow-lodger with lions. 6. A refpectable colour.

7. A jot, and the wish of many diftreffed Briton.

8. The emblem of the redeemer, and the wonder of Heidelberg. 9. A troublefome. quadruped,— and an Alpine deformity.

10. A fon of Valcan.

11. A fcene of intrigue and cor

day; but his manner evidently fhow-ruption,-and the lover's death

ed the decay of his mental and bo

dily ftrength. On Monday evening

warrant.

DIPODIONIDES

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

the ground,

And dews, foft dropping, gem the vale, Slow o'er the greenfward winds a found, And fweetnefs fills the night-figh'd gale.

Soft! 'tis lorn Sorrow's faddeft fong!

Sure fome foft fylph awakes her firains; On Zephyr's plume they float along, From fylvan dell in fairy plains. Or elfe 'tis tear-dew'd Pity fings

Her dirges o'er the turf-clos'd grave; Or foothes, with mufic's dulcet ftrings, Some tir'd reclufe in defert cave. No! 'tis the maid of pining care,

With her fad harp has fought the grove;

Erft chaunt the notes of wan despair,

And now the hallow'd tones of love. Genii, attend the trembling maid,

Send her white peace in ev'ry breeze; Attend her vigils in the fhade,

And lend the harp mild power to ease. But, hark! the music waftes to fighs!

Slow fink the folemn notes away! Each tone with plaintive fweetness dies, And Echo, pensive, drops the lay. LAVINIA.

EPITAPH On a favourite little Dog ALAS, poor Prin! whofe frolics gay Beguil'd full many a heavy hour, Thy body ftretch'd, as cold as clay,

Death made thee feel his tyrant pow'r.

EPITAPH

ON MARGARET SCOTT,

In the Church-yard of Dalkeith, near

Edinburgh.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

maid,

Fain would I feel thy magic pow'r; Sweet fairy, cheer my midnight shade, And aid me in this folemn hour: Oh! find me out a fovereign pillFor, fee, the fair Belinda's ill. When long a cruel cough had feiz'd her,

The fair one deign'd to afk a cure; With pill, broth, gruels, long I teas'd her; But, can a lady these endure? No: ftill the fair Belinda's ill, And vain are gruel, broth, and pill. "Daffy, (faid I) Oh! gentle madam, Daffy, dear Daffy, fure will do:

Or Dr. Gifford's t-if you had 'em-
Oh! patient fair, one pill or two."

But all in vain the doctor's fkill;
For ftill the fair Belinda's ill.

Perch'd on the chair, my fairy fat,
And, fimp'ring, cry'd, "Your skill is
vain;

Here I have hit upon it pat,

Take up your pen, and try a ftrain; A rhyme, beyond the doctor's skill, Will cure Belinda when she's ill.

"A rhyme well turn'd is fure to please, Cheers, warms, and aids the perfpiration. [leize, When coughs and colds the fair ones The beft phyfician in the nation Is a kind bard, for e'en though ill His rhyme, it proves a fovereign pill." A rhyme ill turn'd will wound the ear: Ill-turn'd would raife Belinda's ire; Ev'n now I hear the cruel fair

Cry," Betty, throw it in the fire." But, no, I wit! not call her cruel : Bad rhymes are found to make good fuel,

To warm Belinda's broth and gruel.

[ocr errors][merged small]

A

ARE BU S.
Poetefs with honour crown'd,
He who for mufic was renown'd,'
A man who was by Pyrrhus kill'd,
And one that even rocks could wield;
The brother of the last then find,
Alfo the mother of the wind,-
The dame whofe form once Juno took,
The Mufe that lovers fhould invoke,
A judge of hell, for juftice fam'd,
A dog that tuneful Orpheus tam'd,
A part of Jalon's famous fhip,
One banish'd heaven for a flip,
The place where Philomela dwelt,

He who the world's great city built,
The ifle which faw Apollo's birth,
A king expell'd both heav'n and earth.
Th' initials will make (if tog ether you
juin)

Her name, in whom grace, wit, and beauty combine.

[blocks in formation]

long,

[long: Live in defcription, and look green in Thefe, were my breaft infpir'd with equal flame,

Like them in beauty, fhould be like in fame." POPE.

LOVE ye the fcenes of rural life,

The lawn, the grove, the bufy mill, Free from the noife of care and frife? Then turn your eye to Champion Hil. Thrice happy, thrice enchanting spot; What tranfports thro' the bofom thrill, What joy to find fome humble cot,

And view the charms of Champion
Hill.

The verdant vale that flopes below, The woods where bleak winds whif per fhrill,

The breaks that diflant landscapes fhow,
Delight the mind on Champion Hill.
Of Hampstead now we fing no more:
A better tafte directs our will,
On every rural grace to pore,

That ftrikes the eye on Champion Hill. There lordly manfions foon fhall rife, Adorn'd with true Palladian skill; And tasteful villas ftrike the eyes, Scatter'd o'er beauteous Champion Hill.

Oh,

« PreviousContinue »