without any other purpose than of improving and amusing himself; when Mr. Mason, being elected fellow of Pembroke-hall, brought him a companion who was afterwards to be his editor, and whofe fondness and fidelity has kindled in him a zeal of admiration, which cannot be reasonably expected from the neutrality of a stranger and the coldness of a critick.

In this retirement he wrote (1747) an ode on the Death of Mr. Walpole's Cat; and the year afterwards attempted a poem of more importance, on Government and Education, of which the fragments which remain have many excellent lines.

His next production (1750) was his farfamed Elegy in the Church-yard, which, finding its way into a Magazine, firft, I believe, made him known to the publick.

An invitation from lady Cobham about this time gave occafion to an odd compofition called a Long Story, which, though perhaps it adds little to Gray's character, was inferted at the end of my preface to the late Collection.

Several of his pieces were published (1753), with defigns, by Mr. Bentley; and, that they might in fome form or other make a book, only one fide of each leaf was printed. I believe the poems and the plates recommended each other fo well, that the whole impreffion was foon bought. This year he loft his mother.

Some time afterwards (1756) fome young men of the college, whofe chambers were near his, diverted themselves with disturbing him by frequent and troublesome noises. This infolence, having endured it a while, he represented to the governors of the society, among whom perhaps he had no friends; and, finding his complaint little regarded, removed himself to Pembroke-hall.

In 1757 he published The Progress of Poetry and The Bard, two compofitions at which the readers of poetry were at firft content to gaze in mute amazement. Some that tried them confeffed their inability to understand them, though Warburton faid that they were understood as well as the

works

works of Milton and Shakspeare, which it is the fashion to praise. Garrick wrote a few lines in their praife. Some hardy champions undertook to rescue them from neglect, and in a fhort time many were content to be fhewn beauties which they could not see.

Gray's reputation was now fo high, that, after the death of Cibber, he had the honour of refusing the laurel, which was then beftowed on Mr. Whitehead.

His curiofity, not long after, drew him away from Cambridge to a lodging near the Museum, where he refided near three years, reading and transcribing; and, fo far as can be discovered, very little affected by two odes on Oblivion and Obscurity, in which his Lyrick performances were ridiculed with much contempt and much ingenuity.

When the Profeffor of Modern Languages at Cambridge died, he was, as he says, cockered and spirited up, till he asked it of lord Bute, who fent him a civil refufal; and the place was given to Mr. Brocket, the tutor of Sir James Lowther.

His conftitution was weak, and believing that his health was promoted by exercise and change of place, he undertook (1765) a journey into Scotland, of which his account, fo far as it extends, is very curious and elegant; for as his comprehenfion was ample, his curiofity extended to all the works of art, all the appearances of nature, and all the monuments of past events. He naturally contracted a friendship with Dr, Beattie, whom he found a poet, a philofopher, and a good man. The Marefchal College at Aberdeen offered him the degree of Doctor of Laws, which, having omitted to take it at Cambridge, he thought it decent to refuse,

What he had formerly folicited in vain, was at last given him without folicitation, The Profefforship of Languages became again vacant, and he received (1768) an offer of it from the duke of Grafton. He accepted, and retained it to his death; always defigning lectures, but never reading them; uneafy at his neglect of duty, and appeasing his uneafinefs with defigns of reformation, and with a resolution which he believed him

felf

felf to have made of refigning the office, if he found himself unable to discharge it.

Ill health made another journey necessary, and he vifited (1769) Weftmoreland and Cumberland. He that reads his epiftolary narration wishes, that to travel, and to tell his travels, had been more of his employ-. ment; but it is by ftudying at home that we must obtain the ability of travelling with intelligence and improvement.

His travels and his ftudies were now near their end. The gout, of which he had fuftained many weak attacks, fell upon his stomach, and, yielding to no medicines, produced strong convulfions, which (July 30, 1771) terminated in death.

His character I am willing to adopt, as Mr. Mafon has done, from a nameless writer; and am as willing as his warmest friend to believe it true.

Perhaps he was the most learned man <in Europe. He was equally acquainted "with the elegant and profound parts of