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divided by most exquisite art, and fitted with telescopical sights. Whence we are to rely more upon the observations he has made, than on those that went before him, who had made their observations with the naked eye without the assistance of telescopes. The said Mr. Flamsteed has likewise composed the British Catalogue of the Fixed Stars, containing about three thousand (twice the number contained in the catalogue of Hevelius); to each of which he has annexed it's longitude, latitude, right ascension, and distance from the pole, together with the variation of right ascension and declination while the longitude increases a degree. This catalogue, together with most of his observations, is printed on a fine paper and character."

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JOSEPH ADDISON.*

[1672-1719.]

JOSEPH, son of Lancelot Addison Dean of Lichfield, was born at Milston near Ambresbury, in the county of Wilts, of which place his father was then Rector, May 1, 1672; and received the first rudiments of his education under the care of the Rev. Mr. Naish. He was, subsequently, removed to a school at Salisbury, and thence to the Charter House; where, under the tuition of the learned Dr. Ellis, he contracted an intimacy with Mr. (afterward Sir Richard) Steele, which lasted to the end of his life.

At fifteen, being entered of Queen's College, Oxford, in which his father had studied, he applied himself with such diligence to classical learning, that he speedily acquired an elegant Latin stile: and a paper of his verses in that tongue, upon the inauguration of William III. in 1689, accidentally falling into the hands of Dr. Lancaster, he was immediately elected a demy of Magdalen College, where he took his degrees of B. A. and M. A.†

* AUTHORITIES. Tickell's Life, prefixed to Addison's Works, quarto 1721; Johnson's and Cibber's Lives of the Poets; General Biographical Dictionary, and Young's Conjectures on Original Composition.

+ His rooms are still pointed out to strangers, and a part of the Magdalen-walks still bears his name.

His Latin compositions, indeed,* in the course of a few years justly gained him in both Universities the character of a poet, before his name was even known in London.

At twenty two appeared his first English publication, a copy of verses addressed to Dryden; which immediately procured him, from the best judges in that nice age, a high reputation. Not long afterward, by a version of the fourth Georgic of Virgil (with the exception of the story of Aristaus) he won the praise of his accomplished contemporary. He wrote, also, the discourse upon the Georgics, which forms the Preface of Dryden's translation, and is allowed to be one of the most correct pieces of criticism in our own or in any other language.

Finding his reputation now established, he obliged the world frequently with poems upon different subjects: among others, he addressed one in 1694 to Mr. H. S., subsequently the famous Dr. Sacheverell; with whom his friendship commenced in college continued,

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* It is not exactly known, at what age he composed some of his Latin poems; but they were, certainly, written very early. They were published in the second volume of Musarum Anglicanarum Analecta,' and are as follows: 1. Pax Gulielmi Auspiciis Europæ reddita, 1697; 2. Barometri Descriptio;' 3. ' Prælium inter Pygmæos et Grues commissum;' 4. Resurrectio delineata ad Altare Coll. Magd. Oxon' (being a Description of the Painting over the Altar in Magdalen College, Oxford); 5. Sphæristerium;' 6. Ad D. D. Hannes insignissimum Medicum et Poetam, Ode;' 7. Machine Gesticulantes ;' and 8. ' Ad insignissimum Virum D. T. Burnettum, Sacræ Theoria Telluris Authorem, Ode;' see the Extracts. These poems have been translated into English by Dr. Sewel, of Peterhouse, Cambridge; and by Newcomb and Amhurst, both of Oxford.

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till it was dissolved by their disagreement in political principles.*

The following year, Addison discovered his rising views in a poem upon one of his Sovereign's campaigns, addressed to the Lord Keeper Sir John Somers: a mark of attachment, which that judicious statesman remunerated by giving him thenceforward, upon all occasions, proofs of his esteem.

He had been importuned, while at the University, to enter into holy orders; and, probably from respect to his father, he was at one period disposed to comply: but his singular modesty inclining him to doubt his own abilities, he retracted the concession; and having shown an inclination to travel, obtained from the crown, through the patronage of Somers, an annual pension of 300%. at the latter end of 1699.

In 1701, he transmitted from Italy an epistolary poem to Montagu, Lord Halifax.† This was justly admired, as a finished piece of it's kind; and has, indeed, by some critics been pronounced the greatest of his performances.

Halifax had recently been impeached by the Commons, for having procured exorbitant grants from the crown to his own use; and was farther charged with cutting down and wasting the timber in his Majesty's forests, and with holding several offices in the Exchequer, which had originally been designed

* Their first poetical productions were inserted in the Examen Poeticum' for 1693.

+ See the Extracts. A Translation of this poem into Italian verse by the Abbot Antonio Mario Salvini, Greek Professor at Florence, is printed with the original, in Tickell's quarto edition of Mr. Addison's works. ·

as checks upon each other. The poet's address therefore, at such a moment, furnishes a noble proof of his gratitude.

He returned to England, in 1703. His stay abroad was protracted by the circumstance of his being regarded as a proper person to attend Prince Eugene, then commanding for the Emperor in Italy; an employment, which he would have highly valued: but the death of King William at once put an end to his project, his pension, and his hopes of preferment.

Some time elapsed after his return, his friends being then out of the ministry, before any occasion offered itself to him, either of exertion or of recompence. To accident he was indebted for both.

In 1704, the Lord Treasurer Godolphin complained to Halifax, that the victory of Blenheim had not been celebrated in verse as it deserved; and requested his Lordship, as the known patron of poets, to point out some gentleman capable of writing upon so elevated a subject. Halifax replied, that he was, indeed, well acquainted with such a person, but that having long seen with indignation men of no merit maintained in pomp and luxury at the public expense, he did not choose to mention his name.' The Treasurer answered, that he was sorry his Lordship had occasion to make such an observation, and for the future would take care to render it's justice more disputable; but that, in the mean time, he would pawn his honour that he, whom he should recommend, might venture upon the theme without fear of losing his time.' Upon this, Halifax named Mr. Addison, but insisted that the Treasurer himself should send to him, which he promised. Accordingly he prevailed upon Mr. Boyle (afterward Lord Carle

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