twenty-four constantly on the watch in a tower raised above the Castle, to observe what passes in the city, and to give immediate notice of a fire. If they fail in their duty, through want of attention to this part of it, they involve their master in disgrace and punithment. The rules and orders in cates of fire are, that if the Grand Signor arrives at the place where the fire breaks out before the Prime Vizir and the Agha of the Janislaries, who ought to use their utmost expedition to prevent its spreading, the Vizir is obliged to pay him a fine of 10,000 gold ducats, and the Agha, 5000 to the Sultan, and 5000 to the Vizir, if he gets there before him. For this reason, the guard in the tower, before they cry out Fire! give notice of it to the Agha, who has always three excellent horfes in readiness: both the Sultan and the Vizir are in like manner prepared; so that it is often a complete horse race, to aniwer a very benevolent purpose. The refident Agha of the Janissaries at Constantinople is obliged to be ready at the door of the Mosque, when the Sultan goes to public prayers, to take off his boots, upon his alighting from his horse, before he enters the Mosque; and, upon his return, he must draw them on, and affift him in mounting; after which he is permitted to ride by the side of his Royal Master.

Of all the Turkish military forces, the corps of Janissaries, on account of its former reputation, and the very great aumber of foldiers of which it consists,

was the most respectable. But at pre. sent, these troops are a reproach to the Ottoman Empire. They are contami nated with every vice, and consequently are pufillanimous; and they are composed of the lowest dregs of the people. Badly clothed, and subject to little or no discipline, they only ferve at Conftantinople to strike terror into the breasts of all Christians, Greeks, and Armenians, whose business obliges them to país through the streets where they are quartered, whom they infult with impunity, because no Christian is allowed to make any reply to them. So cowardly were these troops in the last war between the Russian and Ottoman Empires, that of 60,000, who marched from Conftantinople to the Crimea, only 6000 arrived there, the major part deferting at Trebizone; and fo great was the dread of those who encamped in the Crimea, where the Ruffian army firmly supported the interest of Sabib Guerai, a pretender to the throne of that country, that they never once attempted to diflodge them. In fact, the very name of a Muscovite is fufficient to strike a panic throughout the whole of this once tremendous Ottoman phalanx: so that we may confider the present alliance and co-operation of these two formidable powers, should it be permanent, as one of the greatest revolutions in military affairs, that has happened in the course of the last century; and as leading to very great alterations in the political state of Europe.

Bafingstoke about the year 1722, and received the early part of his education from his father, who was matter of a school there in high repute. From his father's tuition he was removed to Win. chefter, where he continued until about the year 1740, when he went off from that feminary to the University of Oxford fecond on the roll, William Collins, the afterwards celebrated poet, being the firft; and Mr. Multo, afterwards Prebendary of Winchester, the third. He was entered of Oriel College, where he continued but little longer than he had taken the degree of Bachelor of Arts. late period, 23d 23d June 1759, he was created M. A. by diploma.

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In 1740 he wrote "The Enthusiast, or Lover of Nature," a Poem, after wards published in folio about 1745. This piece is preferved in Dodfley's Collection of Poems, Vol. III. as is Fashion, a Satire, which made its appearance about the same time. In 1746 he printed "Odes on various Subjects," 4to. confifting of fourteen, viz. 1. To Fancy. 2. To Liberty. 3. To Health. 4. To Superftition. 5. To a Gentleman upon his Travels through Italy. 6. Against Despair. 7. To Evening. 8. To a Fountain t. 9. To the Nightingale. 10. On the Spring. 11. Toa Lady who hates the Country. 12. On the Death of his Father. 13. On Shooting. 14. To Solitude. To this publication he prefixed the following advertifement: The public has been so much accuf.

tomed of late to didactic poetry alone, and essays on moral subjects, that any work where the imagination is much indulged will perhaps not be relished or regarded. The Author, therefore, of these pieces is in fome pain lest certain auitere critics should think them too fanciful and descriptive. But as he is convinced that the fashion of moralizing in verse has been carried too far, and as he looks upon invention and imagination to be the chief faculties of a poet, fo he will be happy if the following Odes may be looked upon as an attempt to bring back poetry into its right channel." The next year he printed a fecond edition. Of these Odes, that to Fa Fancy is pre-eminently the best. The others, in the latter part of his life, had but little of their author's regard.

The publication of Mr. West's Pindar in 1749 gave rise to our author's Ode occafioned by reading that tranflation. This performance was calculated to add little to the author's reputation, and we have been told that it never was mentioned in Dr. Johuson's prefence, without being subject to his ridicule. About this time Mr. Warton was Rector of Wynflade, Hampshire, and travelled abroad, as we find from his "Verses written at Montauban in France, 1750." "It is supposed this tour did not continue long. In 1753 he published his Edition of Virgil, in 4 Vols. 8vo. dedicated to Sir George Lyttelton, in which the Eclogues and Georgicks, with Notes on the whole,

* Gent. Mag. 1780, p. 11.

were by our author, and in the fame year he was folicited by Dr. Johnson to affift in The Adventurer, and accordingly we fee feveral papers by him on fubjects of Criticism in that excellent work. He was at this time settled at Winchester school, first as usher, and afterwards, in due time, on the 7th of May 1766, as head-mafter, in the stead of Dr. Burton. On the 15th of January 1768, he took his degree of Bachelor and Doctor of Divinity.

In 1756 he gave the world the first Volume of his Effay on the Genius and Writings of Pope; a work which ap. peared to be not intended to add to the celebrity of that poet, and which gave great offence to Bishop Warburton. It was, however, well received by the public, and the conclusion of it impatiently expected. After twenty-fix years of delay, the fecond Volume made its appearance in 1782. In this he spoke more favourably of Mr. Pope than he had done in the former Volume; and in the advértifement prefixed, fays, "he flatters himself that no oblervations in this work can be so perverfely misinterpreted and tortured as to make him infinuate, contrary to his opinion and inclination, that Pope was not a great poet; he only fays and thinks he was not the greatest." Both these Volumes have been several times reprinted.

His preferment in the Church was at no time very great. About 1787 he received the reward of his long service in Winchester fchool by a prebend in that Cathedral. He about the fame time relinquished his long and laborious employment as a schoolmaster.

In 1787 he caused to be republished "Sir Philip Sydney's Defence of Poetry, and Obiervations on Poetry and Eloquence from the Discoveries of Ben Jonfon," 8vo.; and having for many years expreffed his diffatisfaction at "the nany forced and far-fought interpreta. tions totally unsupported by the paffages

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they were brought to elucidate," in Warburton's edition of Pope, he determined to give the public a new edition of that author himself. This he accomplished in 1797. If Dr. Warburton's edition was liable to fome blame, this of our author was not free from imperfection. The introduction of several of the pieces, though they might be really the productions of the poet, cannot be passed over without cenfure. It has been reported that the chastisement he received in a late popular poem, on account of his treatment of Pope, made a great impression on his mind.

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Dr. Warton died 23d February 1800, at his living at Wickham in Hampshire, at the age of 78 years. He had been twice married, ed, and had feveral children; of them published, a few years ago, a volume of poems, which are entitled to praife.

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He was chearful and convivial; had an elegant taste, with tion. He poffeffed no small portion of lively imagina learning, and was well versed in the belles lettres of Europe. He alfo had a large fund of literary anecdotes, which made his company highly acceptable. He had not (what fome scholars are unhappily not without) any of the jealoufy. or haughtiness which accompany extraordinary acquirements. At different periods of his life he projected plans, which his employment as a schoolmaster, it may be prefumed, prevented the execution of. In the year 1753 he promifed a tranflation of part of Lucretius, and about twenty years ago put forth proposals for a Hittory of Greek, Latin, Italian, and French Poetry. He alfo confidently spoke of being employed in completing the last Volume of the History of Poetry left unfinished by his brother, as well as a Treatise of Gothic Architecture, by the fame hand; but what progress he had made in either of these works, we are not informed.

Bishop's Court, Νου. 3. 1757. Y dear friend and brother H's lalt favour, that reached me here 13th August, 'tis high time should be acknowledged. However, I shall not detain you with apologies or reasons for not writing fooner.

VOL. XXXVII. MARCH 1800.