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THE LIFE OF

JOSEPH ADDISON.

[À. D. 1672, to 1719.]

JOSEPH ADDISON, the son of Lancelot Addison, dean of Litchfield, was born at Milston near Ambresbury, in the county of Wilts, of which place his father was then rector, on the first of May, 1672; and being not thought likely to live, was baptized on the same day, as appears from the church register.

The first rudiments of education he received under the care of the reverend Mr. Naish, at Ambresbury. He was afterwards removed to a school at Salisbury, and from thence to the charterhouse, where he was under the tuition of the learned Dr. Ellis, and where he contracted an intimacy with Mr. Steele, afterwards sir Richard, which lasted as long as Mr. Addison lived.

He was not above fifteen when he went to the university of Ox ford, where he was entered of Queen's-college, in which his father had studied. He applied himself at this time with such diligence to classical learning, that he had acquired an elegant Latin style before he arrived at that age, in which lads usually begin to write good English.

A paper of his verses in that tongue, fell by accident in the year 1687, into the hands of Dr. Lancaster, dean of Magdalen-college, who was so well pleased with them, that he immediately procured their author's election into that house, where he took his degrees of bachelor and master of arts.

His Latin poetry, in the course of a few years, was exceedingly admired in both the universities, and justly gained him the repu tation of a good poet, before his name was so much as known in

town.

It is not exactly known at what age our author. wrote some of his Latin poems; however, they were certainly written very early, and they still retain that high esteem which was first conceived of them. They were published in the second volume of " Musarum Angli canarum Analecta," and are as follow. 1." Pax Gulielmi Auspiciis Europe reddita, 1697; Peace under the Auspices of William re

stored to Europe." 2." Barometri Descriptio; A Description of the Barometer." 3. " Praalium inter Pigmæos & Grues commissum A Battle between the Pigmies and the Cranes." 4. "Resurrectio delineata ad altare Coll. Magd. Oxon; A Poem upon the Resurrection, being a Description of the Painting over the Altar in Magdalen-college in Oxford." 5. « Spheristerium; The BowlingGreen." 6. "Ad D. D. Hannes insignissimum Medicum & Poetam; To Dr. Hannes, an excellent Physician and Poet, an Ode." 7. "Machine gesticulantes, Anglice; A puppet-shew." 8. Ad insignissimum Verum D.T. Burnettum, Sacræ Theoria Tellunis Authorem; To the celebrated Dr. Thomas Burnet, Author of the Theory of the Earth, an Ode." These poems have been translated into English by Dr. George Sewel, of Peter-house, Cambridge; and by Mr. Newcomb, and Nicholas Amherst, esqrs. both of Oxford.

He was twenty-two years of age before he published any thing in English; and then appeared a copy of verses addressed to Mr. Dryden; which procured him immediately, and that very deservedly, from the best judges in that nice age, a great repu

tation.

Not long after, he published a translation of the fourth Georgic of Virgil (omitting the story of Aristaus) exceedingly commended by Mr. Dryden. He wrote also that discourse on the Georgics which is prefixed to them by way of preface, in Mr. Dryden's translation, and which is allowed to be one of the justest pieces of criticism in our own, or in any other language.

Mr. Addison now finding his reputation established as a poet, obliged the world frequently with poems upon different subjects; amongst the rest, one dated the third of April, 1624, directed to Mr. H. S. that is, Henry Sacheverell, who was afterwards the famous Dr. Sacheverell: with whom Mr. Addison lived in per. fect friendship, till it was dissolved by their disagreement in political principles.

The following year, Mr. Addison began to have higher views, which discovered themselves in a poem to king William, on one of his campaigns, addressed to the lord keeper, sir John Somers.

That judicious statesman received this mark of a young authors attachment, with great politeness; took him thenceforward into the

number of his friends; and gave him, upon all occasions, signal proofs of a sincere esteem.

He had been very pressingly solicited, while at the university, to enter into holy orders; which he seemed once resolved on, probably from respect to his father; but his great modesty inclining him to doubt his own abilities, he receded from his choice; and having shewn an inclination to travel, he was encouraged to it by his patron, who, considering that his country might be benefitted by the travels of a man of Mr. Addison's fine genius, procured him from the crown an annual pension of £300, which enabled him to make a tour to Italy, at the latter end of 1799.

In 1731, Mr. Addison wrote from Italy an epistolary poem to Montague, lord Halifax, This was most justly admired as a finished piece of its kind; and indeed some have pronounced it the very best of Mr. Addison's performances.

This poem was translated by the Abbot Antonio Mario Salvini, Greek professor at Florence, into Italian verse; which translation is printed with the original in Mr. Tickell's quarto edition of Mr. Addison's works,

Lord Halifax had that year been impeached by the commons in parliament, for procuring exorbitant grants from the crown to his own use; and farther charged, with cutting down and wasting the timber in his majesty's forests, and 'with holding several offices in the exchequer, that were inconsistent, and designed as checks upon each other. The commons had likewise addressed the king to remove him from his counsels and presence for ever.

This attack had occasioned his retiring; and Mr. Addison's aðdress at this time is a noble proof of his gratitude, as well as a lasting monument of his good sense. Mr. Addison returned home in 1703. He would have returned earlier accompanied by prince Eugene; but the death of king William put an to that plan, caused a cessation of his pension, and left him without hope of preferment.

He remained at home a very considerable space of time (his, friends being then out of the ministry) before any occasion offered either of his further displaying his great abilities, or of his meeting with any suitable reward for the honor his works had already done his country. He was indebted to an accident for

both.

In the year 1704, the lord treasurer Godolphin happened to

complain to the Lord Halifax, that the duke of Marlborough's victory at Blenheim had not been celebrated in verse in the manner it deserved; intimating, that he would take it kindly, if his lord. ship, who was the known patron of the poets, would name a gentleman capable of writing upon so elevated a subject.

Lord Halifax replied with some quickness, that he was well ac quainted with such a person, but that he would not name him; adding, that he had long seen with indignation, men of no merit maintained in pomp and luxury at the expence of the public, while persons of too much modesty, with great abilities, languished in obscurity. The treasurer said very coolly; that he was sorry his lordship had occasion to make such an observation; and that, for the future, he would take care to render it less just than it might be at present; but that in the mean time, he would pawn his honor, whoever his lordship should name, might venture upon this them without fear of losing his time. Lord Halifax thereupon named Mr. Addison, but insisted that the treasurer himself should be sent to him, which he promised.

According he prevailed upon Mr. Boyle, afterwards lord Carle ton, chancellor of the exchequer, to go, in his name, to Mr. Addison, and communicate to him the business; which he accord, ingly did in so obliging a manner, that he readily entered upon the task.

The lord treasurer Godolphin saw the poem before it was finished, when the author had written no farther than the famous simile of the angel; and was so well pleased with it, that he immediately made him a commissioner of appeals.

This celebrated poem is entitled "The Campaign," addressed to the duke of Marlborough, and contains a short view of the mili tary transactions in the year 1704, with a very particular, as well as poetical description of two great actions at Schellemberg and Blenheim.

Several other eminent writers employed their pens on the same subject; particularly Mr. J. Phillips, and Mr. Eusden, who was afterwards poet-laureat, However Mr. Addison's was by far the most admired; and some of his warmest friends have ventured to prefer this poem to the rest of his works. Perhaps this is a partiality to the subject, rather than to the piece itself, which however

fine, could not be the most excellent of Mr.Addison's performances, because of its natural irregularity.

In 1705, Mr. Addison' published an account of his travels, dedicated to lord Somers. From want of taste, this performance was at first but indifferently received; but being at length carefully examined, and highly commended by the most eminent men of letters, both at home and abroad, it rose to five times the original price before a second edition could be printed.

The two great points laboured in these travels are, the recom mending the classic writers, and promoting the cause of liberty.These points had been before pursued in the poetic epistle to lord Halifax, and therefore Mr. Tickell has very justly and judiciously observed, that this epistle may be considered as the text, upon which the book of travels is a large comment.

The same year, Mr. Addison attended lord Halifax to Hano yer and in the succeeding year, he was made choice of for under-secretary to sir Charles Hedges, then appointed secretary-ofstate; and soon after, the earl of Sunderland succeeding sir Char les in that office, he continued Mr, Addison in the post of undersecretary.

Operas being at this time much in vogue, many people of distinction and true taste importuned Mr. Addison to make a trial, whether sense and sound were really so incompatible, as some admirers of the Italian pieces would represent them. He was at last prevailed upon to comply with their requests, and composed his inimitable" Rosamond."

This piece was inscribed to the dutchess of Marlborough ; and though it did not succeed on the stage, it has been, and ever will be, applauded in the closet.

About the same time, Addison assisted the ingenious sir Richard Steele in his play called "The Tender Husband," to which he wrote a humorous prologue. Sir Richard, whose gratitude was full as warm as his wit, surprised him with a dedication; which may be considered as one of the few monuments of praise not unworthy of him to whose honor it was erected.

In 1709, the marquis of Wharton being appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland, carried over Mr. Addison into that kingdom, in the quality of his secretary. Her majesty was also pleased, as a mark