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His Dramas had their day, a fhort day,

and are forgotten: his blank verse seems to my ear the echo of Thomson. His Life of Bacon is known as it is appended to Bacon's volumes, but is no longer mentioned. His works are fuch as a writer, bustling in the world, fhewing himself in publick, and emerging occafionally from time to time into notice, might keep alive by his perfonal influence; but which, conveying little information, and giving no great pleasure, must soon give way, as the fucceffion of things produces new topicks of converfation, and other modes of amusement.

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WIL

LIAM SHENSTONE,

the fon of Thomas Shenftone

and Anne Pen, was born in November 1714, at the Leafowes in Hales-Owen, one of those infulated districts which, in the divifion of the kingdom, was appended, for fome reafon not now difcoverable, to a diftant county; and which, though furrounded by Warwickshire and Worcestershire, belongs to Shropshire, though perhaps thirty miles diftant from any other part of it. A

He

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He learned to read of an old dame, whom his poem of the School-mistress has delivered to pofterity; and foon received fuch delight from books, that he Iwas always calling for new entertainment, and expected that when any of the family went to market a new book fhould be brought him, which, when it came, was in fondness 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 distinguished himself by the quickness of his progrefs.

When he was young (June 1724) he was deprived of his father, and foon after (August 1726) of his grandfather; and was, with his brother, who died afterwards unmarried, left to the care of his grandmother, who managed the eftate.

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 there ten years, though he took no degree. After the first four years he put on the Civilian's gown, but with

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out fhewing any intention to engage in

the profeffion.

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 himself upon English poetry; and in 1737 published a small Miscellany, 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 1740 his Judgement of Hercules, addreffed to Mr. Lyttelton, whose

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