"The Queen of Hearts, She made some tarts, All on a summer's day: The Knave of Hearts He stole those tarts, And-took them quite-away!" Some have imagined that Addison's exposition of the ballad of Chevy Chace, in the Spectator, has been alluded to on this occasion. No. XXII. contains a happy vein of ridicule on the poets who attempt to assimilate the works of the Creator of the universe with those of the humble manufacturer; and in their " Odes to Spring," &c. "catch the fragrance of the damask rose; listen to the rustling of the silken foliage; or lie extended with a listless languor, pillowing the head upon the velveret mead." He recommends them to proceed in their brilliant carcer, and introduce "plains of plush, pastures of poplin, downs of dimity, vallies of velvet, and meadows of Manchester." He at the same time compares the poetry of Pope to flowered satin. The compositions of all the Poets Laureat, ancient and modern, are denominated prince's stuff; the works of Homer are designated everlasting; and those of Shakespeare are likened to shot silks, which vary the brightness of their hues into a multitude of different lights and shades." No. XXVI. is wholly occupied with novel-writing, styled by some the younger sister of Romance, but here proved to be exactly the same identical person; the merciless giants of former times being now now converted into austere guardians, while the dragons of old are modernized into maiden-aunts. In No. XXX. we find a dissertation on performances of a very different kind, such as the entertaining histories of Mr. Thomas Thumb, Mr. John Hickathrift, and sundry other celebrated worthies, sold at Mr. Newberry's, in St. Paul's Church-yard, and the bouncing B, Shoe-lane. The Nos. XXXII. and XXXIX. inferior to the former in every respect, are on miscellaneous subjects; and it appears from the latter, that Mr. Canning was the editor. Nor was this very industrious student, in the mean time, inattentive to Latin poetry; for in 1787 he wrote the verses commencing as follows: "Audin! tumultu quo strepuit polus? Bella parans Satanas Johovam. Haud Numini celata summo Ambitio rabiesque mentem Vexarat. Armis nunc opus est,' ait," &c. In 1780, he composed the lines inscribed “Sermoni demus operam," of which we shall here also give a specimen: "SERMONI, heu! nostro, multumque loquontibus ultro Hoc vitium est; dictis mordacibus, et sale nigro Ut sua respiciant hunquam mala; præterea quòd Quam Quam scire, egregium quisquis sapientis habere Nomen avet: Quænam audisti nova?' (Delia probris Læta rogat, charta mendacior ipsa diurnâ; Criminibus) Quænam audisti? de Phyllide nunquid?” Cui (pariter quam durus IIymen vota usque ferentem Luserat invidiaque etiam par Debora et annis) Num Phyllis peccavit?' ait: tum Delia palmas Ad cœlum tendens utrasque; O candida virtus, Quando iterum terras vises? O forma venusta! Vana boni species! nostras cœlum accipe grates, Quòd non pulchra nimis, primo nec flore juventæ, Ilic ego temporibus, nec tantùm ætate laberem. "Nec sum adeò informis tamen: at pulcherrima Phyllis (Fama volat, soli sed non ego credula fama) Phyllis habet natos, casta illa, pudica, gemellos.' Proh geminos! falsa ut veris quisque addit! ego autem * Credula dimidio tantùm, quodcunque per urbem, Fama serit: quin sunt fucata Amyrillidis ora, Crede mihi, falsaque coma: sed (prol dolor!) ipsa, The Rev. Dr. Davis, head-master of Eton, who presided over that institution during the whole time young Canning studied there,* was of course * Jonathan Davies, D. D. succeeded John Foster, M. A. in July 1773, and remained until December 1791, when he was himself succeeded by George Heath, D. D. proud proud of such a scholar; Mr. Canning in return dedicated "the Microcosm"* to him, and, we have reason to believe, always spoke of him with great respect. The time now approached, however, when it became necessary to repair to the university, and the subject of this memoir accordingly went to Oxford, and fixed at Christchurch, not with a reputation to seck, but with a certain degree of cele brity already acquired. This was rather augmented than diminished during his residence in that celebrated college, by some admirable orations; and we have heard several of his Latin productions while there spoken of with great respect. But as Mr. Canning was not possessed of an hereditary fortune, which would have enabled him, had he been so inclined, to indulge in academic repose, it now became necessary that he should mix with the world and fix upon a profession. That of the bar, as leading to the first honours of the state, has generally been the choice of ambitious young men, conscious of their own powers, and resolute in their intentions of displaying them to the best advantage. It was also that of the subject of this memoir, who, we believe, was entered a member either of the Society of Lincoln's Inn, the hall of which has * The "Miniature," a periodical paper, in imitation of the Microcosm, and edited by "Solomon Grildrig, of the College of Eton," has lately made its appearance. It is said to be written by Mr. Galley Knight, a son of Dr. Rennel, Master of the Temple, a son of the Marquis of Wellesley, and a nephew of Mr. Canning, of of late years become crowded; or that of the Middle Temple, where his father had been before him, and which possesses the noblest refectory in the metropolis. He repaired thither sufficiently stored with the ground-work of learning, and all that appeared now to be wanting was a habit of speaking with facility in public, and a steady application to study. The latter depended entirely on himself, but the former was not to be obtained without the concurrence of others. It was in the spacious hall of the Middle Temple that the late Lord Ashburton, whose arms emblazoned on glass are placed in one of the endwindows,first acquired a facility in debate among his fellow-students; but the ancient practice that led to a periodical display of oratory had long since been abandoned. Mr. Burke early in life distinguished himself at the Robin Hood long before he received the applauses of a British senate; and in our own times Messrs. Dallas and Garrow had been crowned with laurel at Coachmakers' Hall and the Westminster Forum, before they presumed to open their mouths in the court of King's Bench. But all these public institutions havingdisappeared by degrees, it became necessary to create a new one; and a few young men about this period accordingly met together in an apartment in the neighbourhood of Bond-street. In the old schools of cloquence the orators were few and the audience numerous; but all this was reversed upon the present occasion, the whole being composed of speakers, who, when not in the act of declamation, were accustomed to listen, although |