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WILLIAM PITT, EARL OF CHATHAM.

scene of mortal existence was about to close for ever, This was the last public effort of this immortal senator, patriot, and minister; and he might be said to breathe his last in the service of his country. He died in about a month after; and the enthusiastic respect which was paid to his memory, shewed how deservedly dear he was to the public, and how sensible every true Briton was of his loss. A public funeral was voted him by parliament, and a monument in Westminster-abbey, with a liberal pension to his heirs to whom the title should descend.

All ranks were zealous to testify their sincere regret and admiration; and he is still universally allowed to have been as profound a politician, as able a senator, and as upright a minister, as this country ever produced.

His

Sagacity, promptitude, and energy, were the predo minating features of lord Chatham's character. ruling passion was a love of glory, but it was of an honourable and virtuous kind; he practised no meanness to obtain it, and his private life was unsullied by any vice. He was conscious of his virtues and talents, and therefore appeared impatient of contradiction in public affairs: but in society he could unbend to all companies; and possessed such a fund of intelligence, and versatility of wit, that he could adapt himself to all circumstances and occasions.

In the higher parts of oratory he had no competitor, and stood alone the rival of antiquity. His eloquence was of every kind, and he excelled in argument as well as declamation. But his inyectives were terrible; and uttered with such energy of diction, and such dignity of action and countenance, that he intimidated those who were the most willing and the best able to encounter him. Their arms fell from their hands, and they shrunk under the ascendant which his genius had gained over theirs. The fluent Murray (afterwards lord Mansfield)

has faltered, and Fox (the first lord Holland) shrunk back appalled, from an adversary fraught with fire unquenchable.

He could adapt himself to every topic; but dignity was the character of his oratory, and his personal greatness gave weight to the style he assumed. His assertions rose into proof, his foresight became prophecy. No clue was necessary to the labyrinth illumined by his genius. Truth came forth at his bidding, and realized the wish of the philosopher; she was seen and beloved.

Such are the panegyrics paid to this great man's intel lectual and expressive powers, by some who were wit nesses of their effects, and judges of their merits.

On a character so highly respected, and endeared to Englishmen, it would be pleasing to enlarge; but nothing new can be here added to what has been advanced in his commendation by the ablest writers; and silent admiration on such a favourite subject is perhaps the most eloquent praise.

DAVID GARRICK.

Born 1719.-Died 1779.

From 5th George I., to 19th George III.

The grace of action, the adapted mien,
Faithful as nature to the varied scene,

Th' expressive glance, whose subtle comment draws
Entranc'd attention, and a mute applause;
Gesture that marks, with force and feeling fraught,
A sense in silence, and a will in thought;
Harmonious speech, whose pure and liquid tone
Gives verse a music scarce confess'd its own

(As light from gems assumes a brighter ray,
And, cloth'd with orient hues, transcends the day ;)
Passion's wild break, and frown that awes the sense,
And every charm of gentler eloquence;

All perishable, like th' electric fire,

But strike the frame, and as they strike expire :
Incense too choice a bodied flame to bear;

Its fragrance charms the sense, and blends with air.
MONODY to the Memory of GARRICK.

THE poet lives in his days, and the painter on his canvas.
All the imitative arts, except the scenic, leave some me-
morials to illustrate the fame of proficients: but the tran-
sient beauties of dramatic acting have no permanent “local
habitation ;" thy blaze and expire in an instant. The
spectator can scarcely fix them in his memory; and
posterity can form no idea of them, except from the
effects which they are recorded to have produced. The
candidates for theatric fame are nevertheless numerous:
as it frequently happens that specious talents are more
encouraged than real; and because the clap of applause
is more gratifying to many minds than the lasting plaudits
of the world, which perhaps are not paid on this side the
grave. Yet surely this consideration ought to have much
weight with the young and inexperienced, to prove
a mediocrity of scenic excellence will never gain either
praise or reward; and that the highest attainments in
that art are as perishable as the frame that produces
them. Even Garrick, who reached the summit of his
profession, could not embody his excellences; and no
description of the voice or pen can do them justice.

that

This great actor was descended from a French family, which the revocation of the edict of Nantz had forced to take refuge here. His father obtained a captain's commission in the British army, and generally resided David, however, was born at Hereford, and seems to have received the early part of his education there; but at ten years of grammar-school of Lichfield.

at Lichfield.

was not.

age was removed to the His proficiency in learn. ing was not great, because his application He possessed a vivacity of temper which disqualified him for attention to books, and the love of theatric representation seems to have been a part of his very con

stitution. In his eleventh year, he formed the project of getting up the Recruiting Officer; and having previously trained his youthful associates, they performed in a barn with general applause. The young hero of the stage particularly distinguished himself in the character of Serjeant Kite, and the plaudits which he received on this occasion served to fan the predominant passion of his breast; which however was not suffered to burst into a flame, till it had acquired strength to support a steady blaze. Soon after, on the invitation of an uncle who was engaged in the wine-trade at Lišbon, young Garrick visited that city; but his taste was totally incompatible with the pursuits of commerce, and his frolicsome vivacity did not comport with the grave formality of the old gentleman. In consequence they

soon parted, yet not before Garrick had made himself agreeable to the gay part of the English factory by his turn for sportiveness and mimicry; which are pleasing in the boy, though often dangerous to the future man.

Returning to Lichfield, he was placed for a short time under his illustrious townsman Samuel (afterwards Dr.) Johnson: but the master, however well qualified to instruct, had no great partiality for his profession; and Garrick was as little disposed to learn. Both being soon weary of their situation, in 1737 they set out together to try their fortunes in the metropolis; Garrick being then about eighteen years of age.

Soon after his arrival in London, he entered himself of the Temple, with a design apparently to study the law as a profession; but being now sensible of his little improvement in learning, and feeling the necessity of bestowing a more attentive application, he put himself under the instruction of Mr. Colson, an eminent mathematician at Rochester, and for some time pursued his studies with diligence and success. It was not long, however, before his uncle died, and left him a legacy of

a thousand pounds. Being unsettled in his mind, and desultory in his pursuits, because his filial affection kept him from indulging his fixed and unconquerable propensity to the stage, he entered soon after into partnership with his brother Peter, a wine-merchant in London. This union was also of short duration. The tempers and habits of the two brothers were entirely opposite; and to avoid the unpleasantness of daily altercation, they parted by mutual consent.

In this interval his mother had died; and being now freed from a restraint which his duty had imposed on him, he gave a loose to his darling passion for the stage, and associated chiefly with those from whom he could derive dramatic improvement or pleasure. In the company the most celebrated actors he tried his powers, and fre quented the theatre as a school where he was to learn the principles of his art.

and

of

Garrick however, though enthusiastic in his pursuit, was not one of those inconsiderate votaries for dramatic fame, who risk success by crude and untimely attempts. He formed a proper estimate of his native powers, did not expose them before they gained maturity. He considered it too hazardous to make his beginning on a London stage; and therefore passed his noviciate at Ipswich, in the summer of 1741. The first character in which he appeared was that of Aboan, in the tragedy of Oroonoko, under the assumed name of Lyddal; and the applause which he gained did credit to the taste of his provincial judges. In quick succession he performed several capital parts, both in tragedy and comedy; and even to excel in the feats of Harlequin was not below his ambition. In every character, and in every attempt, he met with the loudest applause; and having now gained confidence by success, he appeared the next winter on the stage at Goodman's-fields. The first character which he represented to a London audience, was that of Richard

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