dull, were almost three days before they were perfect: but, in general, they were mafters of the alphabet in twenty-four hours, and in a few days could read a chapter in the Bible.

At an early age, John was removed to the Charter-houfe; and from thence to Chrift-church; whence, having taken his first degree in arts, he was elected fellow of Lincoln in 1724, and proceeded to the degree of A. M. in 1726. His election to Lincoln feems to have been greatly promoted by his brother's intereft in that fociety at least this appears the most natural conftruction of fome expreffions in a letter, in which he fays, "I fhould certainly have wrote you word of my fuccefs on Friday; (all Thursday I was detained at Lincoln;) but that I thought it more advifeable, fince I had promifed to fend

fome verfes in a few days, to do both in the fame letter. I am at the fame time to afk pardon for letting any thing prevent my doing the firft fooner, and to return you my fincere and hearty thanks, as well for the fresh inftance of affection you now give me, in the pains you take to qualify me for the enjoyment of that fuccefs, which I owe chiefly, not to fay wholly to your intereft. I am the more ready to profefs my gratitude now, because I may do it with lefs appearance of defign than formerly; of any other defign I hope, than of fhewing myself fenfible of the obligation, and that in this refpect at leaft, I am not unworthy of it."

Mr Wesley was foon regarded at Oxford as a man of talents, and his compofitions were always diftinguifhed by peculiar excellence. He was a critic in the learned languages, and his logical

kill was eminently confpicuous. It is faid, that at a very early period he puzzled every opponent by the fallacies of an art, of which he was greatly enamoured; and that with the gaiety, and perhaps a fmall mixture of the vanity of youth, he laughed at them for being so easily vanquished.

His whole time however was by no means taken up with the feverer ftudies. He did not difdain to pay his court to the mufes; and feveral juvenile compofitions, which are as animated and fprightly, as they are claffical and elegant, fhow that it was not altogether without fuccefs. Moft of his pieces that we have seen are tranflations from the Latin. The fubjects indeed are fuch as, in his latter years, he would certainly have disapproved but though they fhow that he was not infenfible to the fervour of youthful

paffion, they will not difcredit his memo ry. Thofe that follow are felected, because they appear in fome original letters to his brother Samuel.

FROM THE LATIN.

As o'er fair Cloe's rofy cheek
Careless a little vagrant paft;
With artful hand around his waist,

A flender chain the virgin caft..

As Juno near her throne above

Her fpangled birds delights to fee;.
As Venus has her favʼrite dove, ・

Cloe fhall have her fav'rite flea.

Pleas'd with his chains, with nimble fteps
He o'er her fnowy bosom stray'd;
Now on her panting breast he leaps,
Now hides between, his little head.

Leaving at length his old abode,

He found, by thirft or fortune led,

#

Her fwelling lips, that brighter glow'

Than rofes in their native bed.

Cloe, your artful bands undo,
Nor for your captive's fafety fear;
No artful bands are needful now,
To keep the willing vagrant here.

While on that heaven 'tis given to stay
(Who would not wish to be so bleft)
No force can drive him once away,

Till death fhall feize his deftin'd breast!

IN IMITATION OF QUIS DESIDERIO SIT PUDOR, &C. SENT TO A GENTLEMAN ON THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER.

What fhame fhall ftop our flowing tears?
What end shall our juft forrows know?
Since heaven, relentlefs to our prayers,
Has given the long destructive blow.

Ye mufes, ftrike the founding ftring,
In plaintive ftrains his lofs deplore