e seems to have caught from Madame de (though it must be said he was somewhat he was eminently happy. It may be added, eserves the comparatively trifling praise of een the most learned poet* since Milton."+ short, and I am afraid, imperfect account have now given of the life and character , I may be permitted, before I close the , to express my own sincere admiration plendid genius, that exquisite taste, that I and extensive erudition, those numerous ishments, and those real and unassuming which will preserve for him a very eminent on, exclusively of that, which he so justly 1 his rank among the English poets. His eed, did not abound with change of incivariety of situation; it was not blessed happiness of domestic endearments, nor the bosom of social intercourse; but it

and Mason first detected the imposition of Chate Archæological Epistle to Dean Milles, Stanza xi. that Gray did not admire Hudibras. "Mr. Gray," burton, "has certainly a true taste. I should have libras with as much indifference as perhaps he e it not for a fondness of the transactions of es, against which it is a satire."-Warburton's xxxi. p. 290. He appears highly to have praised W. Whitehead's poems. See Mason's Life of White40, &c., and he approved H. Walpole's Tragedy of erious Mother. See Lett. to G. Montagu, p. 406, Life of Sir J. Mackintosh, vol. ii. p. 172.

was constantly and contentedly employed in the improvement of the various talents with which he was so highly gifted; in a sedulous cultivation both of the moral and intellectual powers; in the study of wisdom, and in the practice of virtue.

To present his poetry to the public, more correctly than it has yet appeared, has been the design of this edition. And I am willing to hope, that I have made no unacceptable present to the literary world, in enabling them for the first time to read the genuine correspondence of Gray, in an enlarged as well as authentic form. Assuredly, to some, his letters will not be less interesting than his poetry; and they will be read by all who are desirous of estimating, not only the variety of his learning, and the richness and playfulness of his fancy, but the excellence of his private character, the genuine goodness of his heart, his sound and serious views of life, and his warm and zealous affection towards his friends.

* I have been reading Gray's Works,' says Cowper, ' and think him sublime.......I once thought Swift's Letters the best that could be written, but I like Gray's better. His humour, or his wit, or whatever it is to be called, is never illnatured or offensive, and yet I think equally poignant with the Dean's.' Hayley's Ed. 4to. vol. ii. p. 231.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX A.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF
THOMAS GRAY.

ted from the Registry of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

Name of God. Amen. I Thomas Gray of Pemll in the University of Cambridge, being of sound d in good health of body, yet ignorant how long essings may be indulged me, do make this my Il and Testament in manner and form following. do desire that my body may be deposited in the ade by my late dear mother in the churchyard of ogeis, near Slough in Buckinghamshire, by her reà a coffin of seasoned oak, neither lined nor covered, ess it be very inconvenient) I could wish that one ecutors may see me laid in the grave, and distriong such honest and industrious poor persons in parish as he thinks fit, the sum of ten pounds in -Next, I give to George Williamson, esq. my seusin by the father's side, now of Calcutta in Bengal, of five hundred pounds reduced Bank annuities, nding in my name. I give to Anna Lady Goring, second cousin by the father's side, of the county of five hundred pounds reduced Bank annuities, and f large blue and white old Japan china jars. Item, o Mary Antrobus of Cambridge, spinster, my second by the mother's side, all that my freehold estate and the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill, London, now e yearly rent of sixty-five pounds, and in the occuof Mr. Nortgeth perfumer, provided that she pay,

out of the said rent, by half-yearly payments, Mrs. Jane Olliffe, my aunt, of Cambridge, widow, the sum of twenty pounds per annum during her natural life; and after the decease of the said Jane Olliffe I give the said estate to the said Mary Antrobus, to have and to hold to her heirs and assigns for ever. Further; I bequeath to the said Mary Antrobus the sum of six hundred pounds new South-sea annuities, now standing in the joint names of Jane Olliffe and Thomas Gray, but charged with the payment of five pounds per annum to Graves Stokely of Stoke-Pogeis, in the county of Bucks, which sum of six hundred pounds, after the decease of the said annuitant, does (by the will of Anna Rogers my late aunt) belong solely and entirely to me, together with all overplus of interest in the mean-time accruing. Further, if at the time of my decease there shall be any arrear of salary due to me from his Majesty's Treasury, I give all such arrears to the said Mary Antrobus. Item, I give to Mrs. Dorothy Comyns of Cambridge, my other second cousin by the mother's side, the sums of six hundred pounds old South-sea annuities, of three hundred pounds four per cent. Bank annuities consolidated, and of two hundred pounds three per cent. Bank annuities consolidated, all now standing in my name. I give to Richard Stonehewer, esq. one of his Majesty's Commissioners of Excise, the sum of five hundred pounds reduced Bank annuities, and beg his acceptance of one of my diamond rings. I give to Dr. Thomas Wharton, of Old Park in the Bishoprick of Durham, five hundred pounds reduced Bank annuities, and desire him also to accept of one of my diamond rings. I give to my servant, Stephen Hempstead, the sum of fifty pounds reduced Bank annuities, and if he continues in my service to the time of my death I also give him all my wearing-apparel and linen. I give to my two cousins above-mentioned, Mary Antrobus and Dorothy Comyns, all my plate, watches, rings, china-ware, bed-linen and tablelinen, and the furniture of my chambers, at Cambridge, not otherwise bequeathed, to be equally and amicably shared between them. I give to the Reverend William Mason, precentor of York, all my books, manuscripts, coins, music printed or written, and papers of all kinds, to preserve or destroy at his own discretion. And after my just debts and the expenses of my funeral are discharged, all the residue of my personal estate, whatsoever, I do hereby give and bequeath to the said Reverend William Mason, and to the Reverend Mr. James Browne, President of Pembroke

T

mbridge, to be equally divided between them, deem to apply the sum of two hundred pounds to an harity concerning which I have already informed And I do hereby constitute and appoint them, the liam Mason and James Browne, to be joint execuhis my Last Will and Testament. And if any remine, or other legatee, shall go about to molest or e any suit against my said executors in the execuheir office, I do, as far as the law will permit me, evoke and make void all such bequests or legacies given to that person or persons, and give it to be between my said executors and residuary legatees, tegrity and kindness I have so long experienced, can best judge of my true intention and meaning. ss whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal lay of July, 1770. THO. GRAY.