Remarks on St. Evremont.-Particulars of Dryden's Funeral. 291 Remark. An abominable piece of villainy indeed with the patrons of humanity (to fay nothing of the pofitive injunc tions of Revelation-for Brutus knew them not, though fome of his advocates do); and we muft put a violent force on the common feelings and fentiments of human nature, not to recoil at the outrage that was cloked with fuch ingratitude and perfidy;-we must have reafoned ourfelves out of all the amiable affections of the heart, and all the obligations that refult from them, if we can read of this confpiracy and affaffination in the Roman Hiftory, and not feel our bofoms fwell with indignation against the man who could hear και συ τέκνον ; and not transfer the dagger from Cæfar's breaft to his own. St. Evremont. "I have read all that hath been written on the immortality of the foul; and, after I have done it with all attention poffible, the cleareft proof that I find of the immortality of my foul is my own perpetual defire that it may be fo." Remark. No proof at all: and it is ftrange, that a man that was so much diffatisfied with the other proofs could be content with this. The faculties of the mind must have an Infinitude (if Imay ufe fuch a word), to render those adequate to the end of rational exiftence, even in the prefent fate, independent of the future; and this Infinitude of the mental powers would be neceffary to a rational existence, even fuppofing there were no future ftate at all. If the foul can defire, in the flighteft degree, it can encrease and extend that defire: :---- the principle that gives birth to it cannot be limited to any bounds. If I may defire to live beyond this day and to-morrow, I may defire to continue my existence ad infinitum. If defire may go beyond one given point (fuppofe a day, a week, a year), it may go on farther, and fill farther, and know no end. Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis ævum. Thefe infufficient arguments, in defence of a future ftate, teach me the importance of that Gofpel which hath brought life and immortality to light; and while I read them, and find no fatiffaction in them, I turn to the Holy Oracles of the ever-living God, and join the Apoftle in his ftrain of grateful exultation." Bleffed be the God and Father "of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who, accord"ing to his abundant mercy, hath be66 gotten us again to a living hope, by "the refurrection of Chrift from the "dead, of a substance incorruptible, un"defiled, and that fadeth not away." As MR. URBAN, Winchefter, April $. N turning over Ward's London Spy*, principally with a view to trace the progreffive change of manners in mankind; among many curious anecdotes I have found (what the title of the book would not have led me to expect) an account of the funeral of DRYDEN. this account very materially differs from the ftory Dr. JOHNSON has copied in his "Lives of the English Poets;" I confider it may be acceptable to many of your readers. The Doctor has told us, "This "ftory I once intended to omit, as it ap 66 pears with no great evidence; but hav66 ing been informed that there is in the "regifter of the College of Phyficians an "order relating to Dryden's funeral, I "can doubt its truth no longer." From the very fhort period between the death of Dryden in 1701, and the publication of the work whence the following is extracted, we may now venture to doubt part of the Doctor's account of the matter; for no author, it is prefumed, would dare to give (in such circumstances) fo particular an account, without it was Yours, Z. ftrictly true. A deeper concern hath fearce been known to affect in general the minds of grateful and ingenious men, than the melancholy furprize of the worthy Mr. Dryden's death hath occafioned through the whole town, as well as in all other parts of the kingdom where any perfons either of wit or learning have taken up their refidence. Wherefoever his incomparable writings have been fcattered by the hands of travellers into foreign nations, the loss of fo great a man must needs be lamented amonft their Bards and Rabbies; and 'tis reasonable to believe the commendable industry of translators has been fuch, to render feveral of his most accurate performances into their own languages, that their native country might receive the benefit, and themselves the reputation, of fo laudable an undertaking: and how far the wings of merit have conveyed the pleafing fruits of his exuberant fancy, is a difficult conjecture, confidering what a continual correfpondence our nation has with moft parts of the univerfe; for it is reafonable to be lieve all Chriftian kingdoms and colonies at least have been as much the better for his labours, as the world is the Published by J. How, 1706. 3d edit. worfe 2 292 Particular Narrative of the Ceremony of Dryden's Funeral. worfe for the lofs of him. Those who were his enemies while he was living (for no man lives without), his death has now made fuch friends to his memory, that they acknowledge they cannot but in juftice give him this character-that he was one of the greatest scholars, the most correct dramatic poet, and the best writer of heroic verfe, that any age has produced in England: And yet, to verify the old proverb, "That poets like prophets have little honour in their own countries," notwithstanding his merit had justly intitled his corpfe to the most magnificent and folemn interment the beneficence of the greateft fpirits could have beftowed on him; yet, 'tis credibly reported, the ingratitude of the age is fuch, that they had like to have let him pafs in private to his grave, without thofe funeral obfequies fuitable to his great nefs, had it not been for that true British Worthy, who, meeting with the venerable remains of the neglected bard paffing filently in a coach unregarded to his laft home, ordered the corpfe, by the confent of his few friends that attended him, to be refpited from fo obfcure an interment, and oft generously undertook at his own expence to revive his worth in the minds of a forgetful people, by beftowing on his peaceful duft a folemn funeral anfwerable to his merit; which memorable action alone will eternalize his fame with the greatest heroes, and add that luftre to his nobility which time can never tarnish, but will shine with equal glory in all ages, and in the teeth of Envy bid defiance to oblivion. The management of the funeral was left to Mr. Ruffel, pursuant to the directions of that honourable great man, the Lord Jefferies, concerned chiefly in the pious undertaking. The firft honour done to his deferving reliques was lodging them in Phyficians College, from whence they were appointed to take their last remove. The conftituted day for the celebration of that office which living heroes perform in refpect to a worthy dead, was Monday the 13th of May in the afternoon; at which time, according to the notice given, moft of the nobility and gentry no in town affembled themfelves together at the noble edifice aforefaid, in order to honour the corpfe with their perfonal attendance. When the company was met, a performance of grave mufic adapted to the folemn occafion was communicated to the ears of the company by the hands of the beft mafters in England, whofe artful touches on their foft inftru ments diffufed fuch harmonious influence among the attentive auditory, that the moft heroic fpirits in the whole affembly were unable to refift the paffionate force of each diffolving ftrain, but melted into tears for the lofs of fo elegant and sweet a ravifher of human minds; and notwithstanding their undaunted bravery, which has oft fcorned death in the field, yet now by mufic's enchantment at the funeral of fo great a poet, were foftened beneath their own natures into a serious reflection on mortality. "When this part of the folemnity was ended, the famous Dr. Garth afcended the pulpit where the physicians make their lectures, and delivered, according to the Roman cuftom, a funeral ora ion in Latin to his deceafed friend, which he performed with great approbation and applaufe to all fuch gentlemen that heard him, and were true judges of the matter, moft rhetorically fetting forth those eulogies and encomiums which no poet hitherto but the great DRYDEN could ever truly deserve. When these rites were over in the College, the corpfe, by bearers for that purpofe, was 'handed into the hearfe, being adorned with black feathers, and the fides hung round with the efcutcheon of his ancestors mixed with that of his lady's, the hearfe drawn by fix ftately Fanders hortes; every thing being fet off with the most ufeful ornaments to move regard and affect the memories of the numberless fpectators, as a means to encourage every fprightly genius to attempt fomething in their lives that may once render their duft worthy of fo public a veneration. All things being put in due order for their movement, they began their folemn proceffion towards Weftminster- Abbey after the following manner : "The two Beadles of the College marched firft in mourning cloaks and hatbands, with the heads of their ftaffs wrapt in black crape fcarfs, being fullowed by feveral other fervile mourners, whofe bufinefs was to prepare the way, that the hearfe might pafs lefs liable to interruption. Next to thefe moved a concert of hautboys and trumpets, playing and founding together a melancholy funeral march, undoubtedly compofed upon that particular occafion. (After these the undertaker, with his hat off, dancing through the dirt like a bear after a bagpipe. I beg the reader's pardon for foifting in a jeft in fo improper, a place, but as he walked by himself within a parenthefis, fo have I here placed Family Picture of the Untons enquired for.—Their Epitaphs. 293 him, and hope none will be offended.) Then came the hearfe as before described, moft honourably attended with abundance of quality in their coaches and fix horfes, that it may be juftly reported to, pofterity, no ambaffador from the greateft Emperor in all the universe, sent over with the welcome embassy to the Throne of England, ever made his public entry to the Court with half that honour as the corpfe of the great Dryden did its laft exit to the grave. In this order the nobility and gentry attended the hearfe to Westminster Abbey, where the choir, affifted with the best master in England, fung an Epicedium ; and the last funeral rites being performed by one of the Prebendaries, he was honourably interred between Chaucer and Cowley; where, according to report, will be erected a very stately monument at the expence of fome of the Nobility, in order to recommend his worth and preferve his memory to all fucceeding ages." MR. URBAN, IN April 6. Na Catalogue of a Collection of paintings belonging to a gentleman deceafed, to be fold Dec. 15, 1743 or 1744, at St. Paul's, in St. Paul's church-yard, mention is made of "an old original hiftorical picture of the late Sir JOHN UNTON, who married Anne Seymour of the Somerfet family, and had the honour to be fecretary of state, ambassador to France and Spain, and to hold many other great places under King Edw. II. In this picture is reprefented the whole history from his cradle to his grave." If any of your correfpondents can give information of this picture, where it may now be feen, they will make a valuable addition to your Picture-gallery. The king under whom Sir John Unton lived, is mifcalled Ed. III. as it was in fact Edw. VI. He was of Wadley, co. Oxon, and married Anne, eldest daughter of the Protector Somerfet, by his faid wife Anne Stanhope. She was first married to John Dudley (commonly called Earl of Warwick) eldest fon to John Duke of Northumberland, mafter of the horfe to Ed. VI. a. r. 6. and foon after died in prifon, (Dugd, Bar. II. 367. 220.) That this Sir John Unton, as Dugdale calls him, is really Sir Edward, appears from his epitaph in Farringdon church : * St. Paul's coffee-houfe was at that period the grand emporium for sales. EpsT. Here lyeth Sir Edward Unton, Knight of the noble order of the Bath, who married Anne countess of War wick, daughter to Edward Sey- Virtuti & Honori facrum. Fliâ Edvardi de Sancto Mauro Et muit plicem rerum ufum,. MR. URBAN. Dublin, April 10. "The ploughman homeward plods his weary way." fact; and that the induftrious English Is it certain, however, that this is the farmer goes on with ploughing in the evening? We hope fome obliging corcitly; numbers, both English inhabirefpondent will ftate this matter expli tants and others, declare on the contrary 294 Irish Intelligence fet right.-Particulars of Orátor Henley. they have always feen the plough going in the evening, as well as at other times; and are astonished at the above affertion perhaps it may be only a local cuftom in the place which is the refidence of the critic who makes the remark. Query, Where are the criticifms on Sparman's Voyage to be found; thofe alluded to by a correfpondent in January D. laft, p. 23? Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, Dublin, Apr. 12. IN your Magazine for January laft, p. 71. col. 2. the account of the postboy, employed between Dublin `and Drogheda, is one of the numerous inftances of exaggerated mifreprefentation, He is a boy of twelve years of age, and fmall fize, he frequently folicited to carry the mail, for the pleafure, of riding, and then, with the ficklenefs of a child, or fome temptation coming in his way, neglected to go; he stuffed the mails in holes in the table and manger, and fome he threw into ditches; the fur prize and confufion at the poft-office was the more, as no bills or notes had appeared when the matter was traced to him, he made up a very plaufible ftory to excuse himself, and charged two in nocent perfons: conftables and foldiers were fent from Dublin, in the night, and the two perfons would have been laid in gaol, but that they contrived to hide themfelves. By the meereft accident, this boy was not fent with a reprieve for a man condemned at the Dundalk affizes, or the poor wretch would have been hanged; in this whole tranfaction, of a thoughtless child, there is nothing extraordinary, but it should be a warning to poft-matters to be cautious whom they employ. What fhall we fay of the wife-acres that committed this child to Trim gaol, where he has remained ever fince! and though the affizes were just over, and that no bills were found against him, and they could not tell what to do, there he remains ftill. It may be eafily judged, after lodging in fuch an academy, how accomplished he Yours, &c. D. will turn out. Mr. URBAN, April 13- fire to have fome account of Orator Mr. Henley was, doubtlefs, a fenfible man, and a scholar; but, probably, difappointment warped him, and he fantaf. Curious-Particulars of Orator Henley.-Remarks on Bofwell. 295 tically calling himself a Rationalist, and offering to join in communion with the Independents, as your correfpondent Minimus afferts, argues his religious principles to be, at leaft, wavering; and I remember he once fell into company with a Roman Catholic gentleman, whom he gave a hearty fqueeze by the hand, and faid, emphatically, "God blefs you, I love you all, I love you all!" Whether this expreffion proceeded from univerfal philanthropy, or from a bias towards Popery, his own heart beft knew. But whatever were his religious principles, we may fuppofe, as Mr. Garrick once faid, on another occafion, His firft great ruling paffion, was to eat." To this end his bufinefs was to fill his house; to promote which, every Saturday's Journal produced a long advertisement, fetting forth the next day's entertainment *. Thefe advertisements were usually complex and obscure, often apparently nonfenfical, and beneath a man of fenfe to commit to writing; but his drift feemed to be to raise the expectations of the people, and allure them to hear him. One of his devices, in particular, deferves notice. The Sardinian ambaflador's houfe was, and ftill is, in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, within a few doors of Henley's oratory; the evening fervice vefpers) of the ambaffador's chapel was over foon after four, and Henley began at five: now, it fhould feem, that to draw this congregation towards himself, as far as he could, he, for fome years, called his oratory the little Catholic Chapel; and, no doubt, many of the younger and lefs ferious caught the bait, and went from their own chapel to his chapel. In one of his harangues, he faid, "Who is this monfter, this bugbear, fo much talked of, the Pope? Why a Man! Pope is derived from papa, and papa fignifies father; that is, the Pope is father and head of his church. Is there any thing fo mighty frightful in all this?" In the Rebellion of the year 1745, when that loyal prelate, Dr. Herring, then archbishop of York, exerted himfelf fo warmly, Henley, feemingly a lover of oppofition, held forth against him; and, alluding to a report, that a bishop defigned to put on regimentals, and alluding to his name, he coucluded his *Thefe advertisements were fo eccentric, that a collection of them were printed, which, at this time of day, would afford much entertainment, harangue by faying," there is no Fungar vice Cotis. Mr. URBAN, April 18. the fubject be not already rendered too trite, permit me to throw into your valuable pamphlet a few ideas, as they have juft occurred to me on reading Mr. Bofwell's Narrative of his Tour to the Hebrides. His book has been truly made the shuttlecock of various critieifm; and I am, for one, perfuaded that it has loft nothing of its merit or utility by the difcuffion. There are, certainly, many trivial remarks in the performance, which can neither add fame to the great lexicographer, or his hiftorian; but even prejudice must confefs they are, in comparifon, fo few, as to be abundantly preponderated by the weight and impor tance of the general feries. I cannot but think that fome vulgarities of phrafe, and fome afperities of farcafm, might have been omitted, as they redound neither to the value nor the credit of fe diftinguished a character as Johnson's. They undoubtedly fubtract from that ample idea of candour and charity, and benevolence, which Mr. Bofwell fo frequently, and very pardonably, affigns to his venerable companion :-They are macule of a very deep colour, and ac. quire a more lafting hue from the perfpicuity with which they are recorded. To the Scots at large, however, I am perfuaded, that both the vifit of fo fin gular a being to their land, and the ac counts of it given by Dr. Johnson, and his amiable friend, muft eventually prove beneficial. There are too many traits of inimicity to our brethren beyond the Tweed, in the Dr's publication, and Mr. B's, to leave a doubt that Johnfon, at his outfet at least, would rather have fuck |