ADDISON.

JOSEPH ADDISON was born on the 1st of May, 1672, at Milston, of which his father, Lancelot Addison, was then Rector, near Ambresbury in Wiltshire

In 1683, in his twelfth year, his father being made Dean of Litchfield, carried his family to his new residence, and his son a short time after contracted that intimacy with Sir Richard Steele, which their joint labours have so effectually recorded.

In 1687 he was entered of Queen's College in Oxford, where, in 1689, the accidental perusal of some Latin verses gained him the patronage of Dr. Lancaster, afterwards Provost of Queen's College, by whose recommendation he was elected into Magdalen College as a Demy, a term by which that society denominates those which are elsewhere called Scholars; young men who partake of the founder's benefaction, and succeed in their order to vacant fellowships. He took the degree of M. A. February 14, 1693. Here he continued to cultivate poetry and criticism, and grew first eminent by his Latin compositions. He collected a second volume of the "Musa Anglicanæ, in which all his Latin pieces are inserted, and where his poem on the Peace has the first place. He afterwards presented the collection to Boileau, who from that time conceived, says Tickell, an opinion of the English genius for poetry. In his 22d year he first shewed his power of

English poetry by some verses addressed to Dryden; and soon afterwards published a translation of the greater part of the fourth Georgic upon Bees; after which, says Dryden, my latter swarm is hardly worth the hiving. About the same time he composed the arguments prefixed to the several books of" Dryden's Virgil;" and produced "an Essay on the Georgics. His next paper of Verses contained a character of the principal English poets.

About this period he was introduced by Congreye to Montague, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, by whose influence he was diverted from his original design of entering into holy 'orders.

Soon after (1695) he wrote a poem to King William, addressed to Lord Somers. In 1697 he wrote his poem "On the Peace of Ryswick, which he dedicated to Montague, and which was afterwards called by Smith the best Latin poem since the Æneid.

Having yet no public employment, he obtained (in 1699) a pension of three hundred pounds a year that he might be enabled to travel. He staid a year at Blois, probably to learn the French language, and then proceeded in his journey to Italy. While he was travelling, he not only collected his observations on the country, but found time to write his "Dialogues on Medals," and four acts of "Cato." Such is the relation of Tickell. also wrote in Italy the Letter to Lord Halifax, which is justly considered as the most elegant, if

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not the most sublíme, of his poetical productions. But in about two years he found it necessary to hasten home, being, as Swift informs us, distressed by Indigence, and compelled to become the Tutor of a travelling Squire.

At his return he published his Travels, with a dedication to Lord Somers-This book, though a while neglected, became in time so much the favourite of the public that before it was reprinted it rose to five times its price. When he came back to England (in 1702), the meanness of his appearance gave testimony of the difficulties to which he had been reduced abroad. His old patrons being out of power, he remained neglected untill the victory at Blenheim (1704) gave him an oppor tunity to exercise his poetical genius, which he did at the request of Lord Godolphin, and having advanced in the poem no further than the simile of the Angel, he was immediately rewarded by succeeding Mr. Locke in the place of Commissioner of Appeals.

In the following year he was at Hanover with Lord Halifax; and the year after was made Under Secretary of State, first to Sir Charles Hedges, and in a few months more to the Earl of Sunderland. more About this time the prevalent taste for Italian Operas inclined him to try what would be the effect of a Musical Drama in our own language. He therefore wrote the "Opera of Rosamond," which, when exhibited on the stage, was either hissed or neglected-Steele confessed that he owed to him. several of the most successful scenes in his comedy

of the "Tender Husband." To this play Addison supplied a prologue.

When the Marquis of Wharton was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Addison attended him as his Secretary; and was made Keeper of the Records in Birmingham's Tower with a salary of three hundred pounds a year. The office was little more than nominal, and the salary was augmented for his accommodation.

When he was in office, he made a law to himself, as Swift has recorded, never to remit his regular fees in civility to his friends. "For (said he) I may have a hundred friends, and if my fee be two guineas, I shall, by relinquishing my right, lose -two hundred guineas, and no friend gain more than two there is therefore no proportion between the good imparted, and the evil suffered.

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He was in Ireland when Steele, without any communication of his design, began the publication of the" Tatler;" but he was not long concealed: by inserting a remark on Virgil which Addison had given him, he discovered himself. His first Tatler was published April 22 (1709), and Addison's contribution appeared May 26. To the "Tatler" in about two months succeeded the "Spectator," a series of Essays of the same kind, but written with less levity upon a more regular plan, and published daily. It is said by Addison, in a subsequent performance, that these two works had a perceptible influence upon the conversation of that time, and taught the frolicsome and the gay to unite merriment with decency; an effect which

they can never wholly lose while they continue to be among the first books by which both sexes are initiated in the elegancies of knowledge.

The next year (1713) in which "Cato" came upon the stage, was the grand climacteric of Addison's reputation. The whole nation was at that time on fire with faction. The Whigs applauded every line in which liberty was mentioned as a satire on the Tories, and the Tories echoed every clap to shew that the satire was unfelt. The play, supported thus by the emulation of factious praise, was acted night after night for a longer time than it is thought the public had allowed to any drama before; and the Author, as Mrs. Porter related, wandered through the whole exhibition behind the scenes with restless and unappeasable solicitude.

While "Cato" was upon the stage, another daily paper, called the "Guardian," was published by Steele. To this Addison gave great assistance, whether occasionally, or by previous engagement, is not known. The papers of Addison are marked in the "Spectator" by one of the letters in the name of Clio, and in the "Guardian" by a hand. It was not supposed that he had tried a Comedy on the stage till Steele, after his death, declared him the Author of the "Drummer. "This however he did not know to be true by any cogent testi- ‚“ mony; for, when Addison put the play into his hands, he only told him it was the work of a Gentleman in the Company-The total silence of any other claimant has determined the public to