the study of the law, but, having always amufed himfelf with drawing, refolved to turn painter, and became pupil to Mr. Richardfon, an artist then of high reputation, but now better known by his books than by his pictures. Having ftudied a while under his mafter, he became, as he tells his friend, an itinerant painter, and wandered about South Wales and the parts adjacent; but he mingled poetry with painting, and about 1727 printed "Grongar Hill" in Lewis's Mifcellany. Being, probably, unfatisfied with his own proficiency, he, like other painters, travelled to Italy; and coming back in 1740, published the "Ruins "of Rome." If his poem was written foon after his return, he did not make much ufe of his acquifitions in painting, whatever they might be; for decline of health and love of ftudy determined him to the church. He therefore entered into orders; and, it feems, married about the fame time a lady of the name of Enfor; "whofe grandmother," fays he, "was a Shakspeare, defcended from a brother "of every body's Shakspeare;" by her, in 1756, he had a fon and three daughters living. His ecclefiaftical provifion was a long time but flender. His firft patron, Mr. Harper, gave him, in 1741, Calthorp in Leicestershire, of eighty pounds a year, on which he lived ten years, and then exchanged it for Belchford in Lincolnshire, of feventy-five. His condition now began to mend. In 1751, Sir John Heathcote gave him Coningsby, of one hundred and forty pounds a year; and in 1755 the Chancellor added Kirkby, of one hundred and ten. He complains that the repair of the houfe at Coningsby, and other expences, took away the profit. In 1757 he pub lithed the Flecce," his greatest poetical work; of which I will not fupprefs a ludicrous ftory. Dodfley the bookfeller was one day mentioning it to a critical vifiter, with more expectation of fuccess than the other could easily admit. In the converfation the author's age was afked; and being reprefented as advanced in life, "He will," faid the critick be buried in woollen." He did not indeed long furvive that publication, nor long enjoy the increafe of his preferments for in 1758 he died. Dyer is not a poet of bulk or dignity fufficient to require an elaborate criticifm. "Grongar "Hill" is the happiest of his productions: it is not indeed very accurately written; but the fcenes which it difplays are so pleasing, the images which they raife fo welcome to the mind, and the reflections of the writer fo confonant to the general. fenfe or experience of mankind, that when it is once read, it will be read again. The idea of the "Ruins of Rome" ftrikes more, but pleafes lefs, and the title raifes greater expectation than the performance gratifies. Some paffages, however, are conceived with the mind of a poet, as when, in the neighbourhood of dilapidating Edifices, he says, The Pilgrim oft At dead of night, mid his orifon hears Rattling around, loud thund'ring to the Moon. Of The Fleece," which never became popular, and is now univerfally neglected, I can fay little little that is likely to recall it to attention. The woolcomber and the poet appear to me fuch difcordant natures, that an attempt to bring them together is to couple the ferpent with the fowl. When Dyer, whofe mind was not unpoetical, has done his utmoft, by interefting his reader in our native commodity, by interfperfing rural ima. gery, and incidental digreflions, by cloathing fmall images in great words, and by all the writer's arts of delufion, the meannefs naturally adhering, and the irreverence habitually annexed to trade and manufacture, fink him under infuperable oppreffion; and the difguft which blank verfe, encumbering and encumbered, fuperadds to an unpleafing fubject, foon repels the reader, however willing to be pleased. Let me however honeftly report whatever may counterbalance this weight of cenfure. I have been told, that Akenfide, who upon a poetical question, has a right to be heard, faid, "That he "would regulate his opinion of the reigning tafte "by the fate of Dyer's "Fleece," for, if that "were ill received, he should not think it any "longer reasonable to expect fame from excel"lence," SHENSTONE.' WILLIAM SHENSTONE, the fon of Thomas Shenstone and Anne Pen, was born in November 1714, at the Leafowes in Hales-Owen, one of thofe infulated districts which, in the divifion of the kingdom, was appended, for fome reafon not now discoverable, to a diftant county; and which, though furrounded by Warwickshire and Worcefterfhire, belongs to Shropshire, though perhaps thirty miles diftant from any other part of it. He learned to read of an old dame, whom his poem of the "School-miftrefs" has delivered to pofterity; and foon received fuch delight from books, that he was always calling for fresh entertainment, and expected that, when any of the family went to market, a new book thould be brought him, which when it came, was in fondnefs carried to bed and laid by him. It is faid, that when his request had been neglected, his mother wrapped up a piece of wood of the fame form, and pacified him for the night. As he grew older, he went for a while to the Grammar-fchool in Hales-Owen, and was placed afterwards with Mr. Crumpton, an eminent fchool-mafter at Solihul, where he diftinguished, himself by the quickness of his progrefs. When he was young (June 1724) he was deprived of his father, and foon after (Auguft 1726) of of his grandfather; and was with his brother, who died afterwards unmarried, left to the care of his grandmother, who managed the estate. From school he was fent in 1732 to Pembroke College in Oxford, a fociety which for half a century has been eminent for English poetry and elegant literature. Here it appears that he found delight and advantage; for he continued his name in the book ten years, though he took no degree. After the first four years he put on the civilian's gown, but without fhewing any intention to engage in the profeflion. About the time when he went to Oxford, the death of his grandmother devolved his affairs to the care of the reverend Mr. Dolman, of Brome in Staffordshire, whofe attention he always mentioned with gratitude. At Oxford he employed himfelf upon English poetry; and in 1737 publifhed a small mifcellany, without his name. He then for a time wandered about, to acquaint himself with life, and was fometimes at London, fometimes at Bath, or any other place of publick refort; but he did not forget his poetry. He published in 1741 his "Judgment of Hercules," addrefied to Mr. Littleton, whofe intereft he fupported with great warmth at an election: this was next year followed by the "School-miftrefs." Mr. Dolman, to whofe care he was indebted for his ease and leifure, died in 1745, and the care of his own fortune now fell upon him. He tried to escape it a while, and lived at his houfe with his tenants, who were distantly related; but, finding that imperfect poffeflion inconvenient, he took the whole eftate into his own hands, more to the improvement |