HOWARD.

1726-1790.

"And here can I forget the generous band,

Who touch'd with human woe, redressive search'd

Into the horrors of the gloomy jail?"-THOMSON.

How noble those brave few, who, taught by thee,
O'er the foul dens of crime and misery,

Where pin'd the prisoner in his dungeon lone,
Angelic beams of mercy now have thrown;
Rescuing from dire disease, despair's dark fears.
Divine philanthropy like this appears.

GARRICK.

1716-1799.

"Here lies David Garrick, describe him who can,

An abridgement of all that is pleasant in man."-GOLDSMITH.

G RAVE or gay alike to thee,

As Tragedy or Comedy.

Reynolds paints thee by both won,

Rival to thyself alone.

In Shakspeare thou didst all excel :

Comic with Tragic art in thee did dwell,

Kindred to mighty Will's, whom thou didst love so well

REYNOLDS.

1723-1792.

"There touch'd by Reynolds, a dull blank becomes

A lucid mirror, in which Nature views

Her fairest forms reflected."-CowPER.

RARE Painter! whose unequall'd skill could trace
Each light and shadow of the changeful face;
Young 'Samuel's,' now, beaming with piety,
Now the proud 'Banish'd Lord's' dark misery,
Or 'Ugolino's' ghastly visage, wild,

Looking stern horror on each starving child:
Delights not less of social sort were thine,
Such as with Burke, or e'en with Johnson shine.

PHILIDOR.

1726-1795.

"Full craftyer to play he was

Than Athalus, that made the game

First of the Chesse; so was his name."-Chaucer.

PRINCELIEST of heroes of the chequer'd field,—
Highest in name and fame, born ne'er to yield!
In genius foremost in Caissa's realm;
Like thee, O could we all our foes o'erwhelm !
Intent on conquering in the bloodless fight,
Dar'd many an envious rival, test thy might,
O fttimes, and yet as oft in the calm strife,

Right royally thou reign'dst through all thy chequer'd

life!

BURKE.

1730-1797.

"His imperial fancy has laid all Nature under tribute, and has collected riches from every scene of the creation, and every walk of Art."

ROBERT HALL.

BRILLIANT thy genius 'mongst a brilliant throng;
Unique thy eloquence of pen and tongue;
Rome's Tully loftier flights could scarce command,
Kindling thy soul to thoughts that matchless stand,
Ever sublime and beautiful and grand.

BURNS.

1759-1796.

"The Bard who walk'd in glory and in joy,

Following his plough, along the mountain side."-WORDSWORTH.

BRIGHTEST thy genius, Scotia's bards among,
Uttering pure Nature's voice in untaught song,
Rare ploughman-by the bonnie Doon of Ayr,
No strains so sweet have been as thou pour'dst there;
Simple, pathetic, humourous; aye, beyond compare.

COWPER.

(No. 1.)

1731-1800.

"Whom Nature charms, and whom the Muse inspires, Whom humbler joys of home-felt quiet please, Successive study, exercise, and ease."-POPE.

CHARMING Poet, who could ask
Of bard a more delightful Task'?
Who so rich a treat provide,-
Picture so rare as Gilpin's ride?
E ver charming was thy life,
Retir'd from all the world's hot strife.

COWPER.

(No. 2.)

1731-1800.

"I crown thee king of intimate delights,
Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness."-The Task.

CAST down mysteriously by chastening Heaven,
Oft pleasant, peaceful days to thee were given,
When mid those quiet scenes by reedy Ouse,
Poetic flights or sportings of thy Muse
Enliven'd all; whilst in this task we see

Rear'd a bright lasting monument to thee.

This is not solitude, 'tis but to hold

Converse with Nature's charms' and see her stores unroll'd."-BYRON.

6

BARD of the meditative Minstrel' boy,

Edwin, who found in Nature his sole love,
A mid her wildest scenes his highest joy,
There, lost in pensive mood, alone to rove:
To paint his artless life was thy employ,
In sweetest strains of melody,—to prove
Each deep emotion that his soul did move.

Dr. Beattie's 'Essay on Truth' reminds us of the following excellent anagram on Pilate's question, 'Quid est Veritas'—est ver qui adest.

HUBER.

1750-1801.

"So work the honey bees;

Creatures, that, by a rule in nature, teach

The act of order to a peopled kingdom."-SHAKSPEARE.

How keen thy vision, e'en though reft of sight!
U sing with double power the mind's clear light:
Bees, and their hives, thy curious ken has scann'd,
E ach cell, with geometric wisdom plann'd.

Rich stores of honey'd knowledge thus at thy command.