Seventy-fix widows of Ex-Nobles and others Four Abbés and Abbeffes Two Conftitutional Bishops Nine hundred and forty-one perfons of different trades and defcriptions; Making together two thoufand feven hundred and feventy four perfons. Fourteen Friars and Monks of the The oldeft perfon fentenced was Mon different Orders One Commodore One hundred and fifty-five Priefts, Curates, and Vicars Seventeen Conftitutional Priefts Twenty-three Nuns of the Different Orders Two Marthals of France Thirteen Marthals des Camps Forty-feven Generals, LieutenantGenerals, and Brigadiers Twenty two Colonels and Lieute nant Colonels Eight Majors Fifty Captains of Cavalry and Infantry Seventeen Aides des Camps and Adjutants Forty-one Lieutenants of the Army and Navy Seven Officers of the Artillery Eighty-four foldiers, National guards and failors Thirty-three Members of the National Convention Four Members of the Legislative Affembly Twenty-nine Members of the Conftituent Affembly Three Minifters of State Thirty Mayors of cities and towns Nineteen Juftices of the Peace. Twenty four Authors, literary men, and Editors of newspapers One hundred and fexenty eight Counfellors, Prefidents of Parliaments, Attornies, Lawyers and Notaries One hundred and nine Gentlemen Thirty-eight Merchants and Factors One hundred and five Commiffaries of War, Marine, National Agents and Contractors One hundred and fixty-fix Municipal Officers, Adminiftrators of Diftricts and Departments, Police, &c. Auditors of Accounts, Registers and Receivers fieur Dupin, a Counsellor of the Parliment of Thouloufe, whofe extreme age of ninety feven pleaded in vain for mercy. He and twentyy-five more Counsellors of the fame Parliament, and four of the Parliament of Paris, were executed at the fame time. From the 27th of July to the 15th of December 1794, the labours of the Tribunal became meritorious; as during that interval no perfons received its fentence but Robefpierre himself, and about one hundred of his accomplices; and it will be recollected with fatisfaction, that shortly after, the Judges and Jurymen of this never fparing Court hared the fate of their patron and protector. A Tribute to the Memory of the late Mr. Warton, in a fhort Account of his Character and Writings. "To build a vifionary fhrine, "Hung with unfading flow'rs from fairy regions brought, "There viewlefs mourners fhali delight "To touch the fhadowy fhell, "And Petrarch's harp "In many a folemn pause, shall seem to ring his knell.” ASI fee you admit into your valua ble mifcellany feveral characters of men eminent for learning and for merit, I addrefs myfelf to your indulgence, in hopes of procuring a place in your elegant repofitory of literature for a thort fketch of the life, learning, and amiable character of the late Mr. Warton; until (it is to be hoped) fome future Biographer, more adequate to the talk, fhall perpetuate the many excellent qualities he poffeffed, as well as the extent of his genius and his learnU 2 ing: "Who would not fing for Lycidas? He knew "Himself to fing, and build the lofty, rhyme. ing; and who for fo great a number perfection) will write his own panegyof years made fo confpicuous a figure ric; and it his hard they fhould go. both for literary merit, and for worth of without reputation, only becaufe (from character. The privilege of being re- their modefiy) they fhould more deferve corded after death, whatever be the va- it."" Not a learned man or a poet lue of it, is now become an appendage can die in France, but all Europe mult of authorship; infomuch that the most be made acquainted with the whole of infignificant men have had their lives their lives. They are very just to the written, and their characters perpetuat- merits of eminent men." I am coned. How ungrateful then is it to the vinced, that if they had among memory of fuch a man as Mr. Warton, them the amiable perfon I am writing to neglect fo fmall a tribute to his of, whofe memory must be ever dear to worth! all lovers of literature, and knew how to value his merit, his learning, and above all his goodness of heart, that he would have been a fubject of their panegyric. But I thall endeavour to do justice to his memory, however unequal to the undertaking. I am aware that biography is, however, often from the peculiar merit of the perfon who is the fubject of it, fo delightful to the writer, that he knows not often how to adapt his expreffions, fo as to fatisfy his own feelings, and at the fame time do juftice to the character he is defcribing, without rendering himself liable to the fufpicion of partiality or intereft. In the prefent cafe, however, there is no fear the character will be exaggerated. We cannot go beyond what the public voice has already declared to be the opinion of all who knew Mr. Warton; and I am happy to pay this small tribute to the memory of fo good a man and departed genius. grave; "He must not fleep in his lone With the public character of the worthy man who is the fubje&t of this fmall tribute to his memory, the world is well acquainted: but his private virtues (fuch was his modeft, unaffuming merit) were only known to the circle of his friends: I would wish to place his character in that juft light it deserved; and that it may be as valuable as his writings, in which pure tafte and elegance breathe throughout. Moft certainly the memory of fuch a man fhould not pass unnoticed and undiftinguifhed from the common herd; nor thould his name expire with his breath; but it will ever live in the remembrance of thofe who knew fo much worth and merit. It has indeed been a matter of furprize as well as of regret, that no one has yet done that juftice to the amiable character of this good man, who furely deferved fomewhat more notice than the mere common place accounts exhibited in the journals of a newfpaper. The late excellent Dr. Johnfon, fpeaking of a celebrated author, fays. "It is altogether as equitable fome account fhould be given of those who have diftinguished themselves by their writings, as of thofe who are renowned for great actions; and fince their genius is difcovered by their works, it is but just that their virtues fhould be recorded by their friends. For no modeft man (as the perfon I write of was in The reader is not to expect in this fhort sketch of my worthy friend any, wonderful adventures, wild fchemes of ambition, "hair-breadth 'fcapes," or ftrange turns of fortune; his life was private and blameless; the mild virtues of benevolence, gentleness, and kindnefs, in the moft extenfive fenfe of the word, were the prevailing traits in his character. Mr. Warton was defcended from an ancient and honourable family in the North of England, from Sir Michael Warton, Bart. of Warton-hall, Lancafhire, and of the wealthy and refpectable family of the fame name at Beverley, in Yorkshire. The parents of both his father and mother lived in affluence, and were eminently good. The father of Mr. Warton, indeed, deferves fepa rately Mr. Warton proceeded M. A. 1750, B. D, 1767; was elected poetry prófeffor on the death of Mr. Hawkins, 1756, which he refigned in 1771, about which time he was elected F. A.S. In the year 1771 the earl of Litchfield prefented him with the living of Kiddington, in Oxfordshire, and he had alfo the donative of Hill Farance, in Somerfetshire. In 1787 his Majefty prefented him with the laureatfhip; and in the f me year he was chofen Camden profeffor in the univerfity of Oxford, on the refignation of Dr. Scot. rately an eulogium, for merit, learning, of his early genius I fhall more expaand for genius: he was highly refpect- tiate, when I enter on the fubject of› ed, not only for his literary talents his great mental endowments. (which were great), but for his worth and virtues. He was fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and profeffor of poetry in that univerfity, univerfally efteemed for learning and for genius. He had two fons and one daughter, but did not live to have the happiness to fee thofe fons, "the learned brothers," (as Dr. Johnfon calls them. with whom they were intimately acquainted) arrive at their future literary fame. Dr. Jofeph Warton, the eldeft fon, whofe public and private character is above all praife, and Mr. Warton, the fubject of this memoir, equally eftimable, were both very young men when they had the misfortune of lofing their excellent father. Mr. Warton was then a mere youth of fifteen or fixteen years. His mother furvived her worthy hufband for fome years; he was daughter to the rev. Mr. Richardfon, of Dunsfold, Sur rey; a man of exemplary character, and the inherited all his virtues. My then young friend, before the age of fixteen, was chofen for his literary merit scholar of Trinity College, Oxford. He went through his academical ftudies with great applause; and, young as he was, a generous and noble emulation grew up with him, which pufhed him upon ftriving to excel, and which, in fact, foon made him an ornament to his college, in one of the moft learned and polite univerfities in the world. He very early diftinguished himself by the fuperiority of his exercifes. It is certain his excellent poem, "The progrefs of Difcontent" (fee Dodley's Collection, and Mr. Warton's Poems), owed its origin to fome Latin verfes fubjoined to a theme when he was a mere boy, with which the then prefident, Dr. Huddesford, was fo much pleafed, that he defired him to paraphrafe them in English. And I have heard from the belt authority, that his beautiful poem, "The pleasures of Melancholy," which it has been faid by the first critic of the age would not have difgraced the latter works of Pope, was written at the very early age of fixteen. But on the head Mr. Warton was the fenior fellow of his college, in which he had refided 45 years. So many years of almoft conftant refidence had peculiarly endeared, him to that fociety, of which he was fo great an honour; and the laft moments of his blameless life were there finished, furrounded by his friends. He had been fome little time before indifpofed with the gout (which by exercise he had many years efcaped), but was thought in a fair way of recovery:-the day which preceded his lamented death (May 20, 1790) he appeared remarkably cheerful, and fupped and paffed the evening in the Common Room, amongst his friends of the college. Between ten and eleven he funk into his chair; they thought him only dozing, but on approaching him, to their inexpreffible griet, found he was feized with a dire paralytic ftroke, and quite dead on one fide. He was immediately conveyed to his room, but continued infenfible till the next day, when it pleafed Heaven to take him to itfelf. Had he been called to the task of fortitude and refignation by a long ftate of fuffering in a painful illness, no doubt but that calmnefs and patience for which he was emipent, would not have forfaken him; but he was fpared this trial by the above fudden and (I humbly truft) eafy paffage from this life to that of a better ftate; which is perfectly congenial to the good nefs and philanthropy which fo particularly diftinguifhed him. Though he was called from this world on fo short Before I enter on the fubject of Mr. Warton's great literary abilities, I muft mention what is much more eftimable, the virtues and goodness of his heart. Truth, honour, and a generofity of difpofition, endeared him to all who knew him; and all who did, will teftify to his fimple, honeft character. From a purity of intention, and an unfufpecting honefty of heart, flowed a gentlenefs, a fimplicity of manners, which rendered him highly amiable to his acquaintance, and endearing to his friends. Faithful to his promifes, attentive to the delicacies of ftrict honour, he was above all the meannefs of difguife, and all the little evafions of cold and felfifh hearts; a benevolence extenfive and refined gave a luftre to every virtue. His liberality of mind, delicate honour, generofity, and fidelity in friendship, were highly eftimable. He never did a mean action:-always exalted, always excellent, noble, and elevated in his fentiments, his character was unfullied. He was eminent for all the mild and focial virtues. The goodness and fweetnefs of his difpofition were remarkable; his temper was always calm and unruffled. I have feen, frequently, inftances of his extreme mildnefs and forbearance, under much provocation, that might be held forth as an example to the world. Such was the elevation of his mind, that he appeared totally above what fo often difcompofes even men of fenfe and learning; fuch as the contradictions, fcoffs, flights, And fcorns, which patient merit "Of th' unworthy takes ;," and which are looked on as real grievances in life. But his indifference to thefe things I attribute to his noble way of thinking. I was intimately acquainted with him for above forty years; and never once faw him what is called being out of bumour, fuch was the excellence of his difpofition. BENEVOLENCE AND CHARITY. One of the chief traits in Mr. Warton's character, was his benevolence. How great must be the charitable temper he poffeffed, when his income, which folely arofe from his merit and literary labours, was great part of it (and the writer of this knows it to be a fact) spent in benevolent actions! As he was the leaft oftentatious of men, much of his generous goodness was concealed yet much was known to the world-the reft to only his Creator, to good angels, and to himself: his beneficence, like himself, was filent and fincere; it was various in kind, and in manner moft obliging. (To be continued.) Remarkable Events from Jan. 1795, to Jan. 1796. JAN 1795. ANUARY 2. The powder-mills of Meffrs. Pigou and Andrews, at Dartford, were blown up, and eleven men killed thereby. 4. Advice was received of the capture of Grave, &c. by the French. 5. The French croffed the Waal in. great numbers, over the ice, and poffeffed themselves of all the neighbouring country. They took two regiments of Dutch troops prifoners. 8. A fmart action between the Britifh and French troops, near the Waal, in which the latter were defeated. 13. Five feamen belonging to the Culloden executed at Portfmouth for mutiny. 18. The Exchange at Liverpool deftroyed by fire. 20. The Stadtholder and his fuite arrived in England. 19. News arrived that the French forces had taken poffeffion of all Hol. land, and that the Stadtholder and his family had fled to England. FEBRUARY 4. The Habeas Corpus Sufpenfion Act renewed. 8. The St. Jago Spanish regifter fhip prize-caufe finally decided in favour of the captors. 5. The Turkish ambaffador made his long-delayed public entry. 11. A defperate action between the Blanche frigate, of 32 guns, and a French frigate of 38; the Frenchman was taken, but the, brave commander of the Blanche, Captain Faulknor, kill ed. Twenty French merchantmen taken and deftroyed by Sir John Borlafe Warren's fquadron. In this month the Duke of York was appointed field marshal of the forces. MARCH 7.Sir Richard Pellew took and deftroyed fifteen fail of the French merchantmen. 14. An engagement took place in the Mediterranean, in which the French fleet was defeated by Admiral Hotham, with the lofs of two fhips of the line, and a great number of men. Various riots happened in the courfe of this month on account of the dearnefs of provifions. APRIL 8. The nuptials of his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales and the Princefs Caroline of Brunswick folemnized in the Chapel-Royal, St. James's. 20. Advice received of the King of Pruffia having concluded a peace with the French republic. 23. Warren Haftings, Efq. after a trial of feven years and three months, was, by the peers, acquitted of all the charges brought against him by the houfe of commons of Great Britain. 30. The Rev. Mr. Jackfon, who had been convicted in Dublin upon a charge of high treafon, died, as was fuppofed by poifon. MAY 1. The Boyne man of war, of 98 guns, took fire at Spithead, and was burnt to the water's edge. 5. Horrid maffacres committed at Lyons. 7. The whole of the British infantry arrived in England from the Contin ent. 9. The fquadron under thecommand of Sir Richard Strachan captured twelve fail of French merchantmen. 20. G. Errington, Efq. of Grays, in Effex, affaffinated by Ann Broderick. with whom he had cohabited previous to his marriage with another lady. A violent infurrection at Paris, on account of the scarcity of bread, and other provifions, in which many lives were loft. 25. Nineteen perfons beheaded for promoting the inturrection of the 20th. JUNE 3. A dreadful fire at Copenhagen, which deftroyed 1,363 houfes, feveral churches, and many public buildings. 6. Vice Admiral Cornwallis captured eight valuable French merchantmen. 8. Louis Capet, fon of the late unfortunate Louis XVI. died at Paris, aged eleven years. 23. Three line-of-battle fhips taken from the French by Lord Bridport's fleet off L'Orient. JULY 7. A fmart tion between the British and French fleets in the Mediterranean, in which the enemy loft one fhip of the line, the Alcide. She blew up foon after the ftruck, and four hundred of her crew perithed. 17. Mifs Broderick tried at Chelmsford for the murder of Mr. Errington, and acquitted, on proof of her infanity. 21. The whole body of French emigrants completely defeated at Quiberon. AUGUST 4. Intelligence received of the capture of fix British transports, with troops and ftores, by the French cruizers in the Weft Indies. 5. Count Sombreuil and one hundred and eighty-feven emigrant officers, taken at Quiberon, were thot at Vannes. 9. Peace between France and Spain proclaimed at Madrid. 12. The navigation of the Scheldt declared free. 14. A violent thunder-ftorm, which did great mifchief in many parts of the kingdom. 16. Advice received of a dreadful fire at Montego Bay, in Jamaica, which deftroyed one hundred and ten houses, and an immenfe quantity of property. 25. Trincomale taken by the English. SEPTEMBER 1. O'Connor found guilty of high treafon, at Naas, in Ireland, and afterwards hanged. |