also left many explanatory and critical obfervations on the writings of Plato; and he had beftowed uncommon labour on the Anthologia. A project worthy of him, and more interefting than any of those, was, A Hiftory of English Poetry, on which he had long meditated, but thought proper to abandon, when he was informed that Mr. Warton, of Trinity College, Oxford, was engaged in a fimilar purfuit.

Among the branches of knowledge in which he excelled, it would be improper not to mention Architecture ; and his skill in Heraldry was exact and extensive. But what was most pecu

liarly to his tafte, and engaged his at

tention

MR.

GRAY.

xxiii

tention the most conftantly, was natu ral History. He left many notes on Linnæus, and on Hydfon's Flora Anglica; and while employed on Zoology, he studied Aristotle on that fubject, and explained many of the obfcure paffages of that distinguished Ancient. Mufic he knew most exquifitely; and, while abroad, he had acquired a fkill in Painting. In a word, if Mathematics are excepted, there was not a part of human learning which he had not cultivated with fuccefs.

A propensity to melancholy, the constant attendant of genius, was observable in Mr. Gray, from his earliest years; and an hereditary gout ferved

to

to encourage it. About the end of May 1771, he made a vifit to London; but being oppreffed with feverishness, and dejection of mind, he was advised to leave his lodgings in Jermyn-Street for Kenfington; where a freer air fo far operated to his recovery, as to enable him to return to Cambridge. On the 24th of July, however, a fudden ficknefs, while at dinner, made him retire to his chamber, from the College hall. His malady, which was found to be the gout in his ftomach, continued to increase, and baffled all the art of medicine. On the 29th, a ftrong convulfionfit feized him; it returned with additional violence on the 30th; and the evening after, this ingenious poet, and cultivated scholar, ceased to adorn Eng→ land and human nature.

THE

J2 the Name of God, Amen. I THOMAS GRAY, of Pembroke - hall, in the university of Cambridge, being of found mind and in good health of body, yet ignorant how long these bleffings may be indulged me, Do make this my laft will and teftament in manner and

form

form following: Firft, I do defire that my body may be depofited in the vault made by my late dear mother in the church - yard of Stoke - Pogeis, near Slough, in Buckinghamshire, near her remains, in a coffin of seasoned oak, neither lined or covered, and (unless it be very inconvenient) I could wish that one of my Executors may fee me laid in the grave, and distribute among fuch honest and induftrious poor persons in the faid parish as he thinks fit, the fum of ten pounds in charity. Next I give to George Williamfon, Efq; my second coufin by the father's fide, now of Calcutta in Bengal, the fum of five hundred pounds, Reduced Bank Annuities, now standing in my name. I give to Anna Lady Goring, alfo my fecond coufin by the father's fide, of the county of Suffex, five hundred pounds Reduced Bank Annuities, and a pair of large blue and

white