Gents Mag 1850 part 1 p.614
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Gentleman's Magazine 1850 part 1 p.614
to the present time, and making death the time where to stop," &c. The editor should have informed his readers that this work was executed, (not so well as it should have been,) and published in three volumes, in 1807. The selections were chiefly made by Mr. Grosvenor Bedford from Mr. Heber's library, then in Pimlico. Ellis's work alluded to is of a very superior kind, and the result of much research and care. Yet Ellis's knowledge of Anglo-Saxon was very imperfect, and the ode on Athelstan's Victory, p.14 of the Introduction, is imperfectly printed, and has numerous mistakes in the interpretation. In Lockhart's Life of Scott, vol.i. p.368, will be found a character of G. Ellis in verse, by Dr. Leyden. He died April 10, 1815, aged 70. P.267. "That ugly-nosed Godwin has led me to this. I dare say he deserved all you gave him. In fact, I have never forgiven him his abuse of William Taylor, and do now regret with some compunction that in my reviewal of his Chaucer I struck out certain passages of well-deserved severity. ... If he had not married again I would have still have had (sic) some bowels of compassion for him, but to take another wife with the picture of Mary Woolstonecraft in his house! Agh!"Mr. D'Israeli, in his Amenities of Literature, vol.i. p.253, says, "After Godwin had sent to the press his Biography of Chaucer, a deposition on the poet's age in the Heralds' College detected the whole erroneous arrangement;" and see Hippesleys' Chapter on Early English Literature, p.85. Yet we must add that Mr. Hallam says, "Another modern book may be named with some commendation - Godwin's Life of Chaucer." See Middle Ages, vol.iii. p.81. P.275. "Why have you not made Lamb declare war upon Mrs. Barebald? He should singe her flaxen wig with squibs, and tie crackers to her petticoats, till she leapt about like a parched pea for very torture. There is not a man in the world who could so well revenge himself."This denunciation of wrath was directed against Mrs. Narbauld for her review in the Annual Register of Lamb's play, some account of which the editor should have given. The reviewers paid her off when she published her poem "Eighteen Hundred and Eleven" and her editor and biographer complains that "its venerable and female author was exposed to contumely and insult, which could only have been anticipated by those throughly acqainted with the intents fo the hired assassin of reputation, shooting from his coward ambush." - See Life, p.71, by Miss Aikin. P.292. "I dined with Sotheby, and met there Henley, a man every way to my taste."The person here mentioned, concerning whom the editor has given no explanation whatever, was the Rev. Samuel Henley, rector of Rendlesham in Suffolk, for some years principal of the East India College at Hertford. He was a person of varied and curious learning. He translated Mr. Beckford's Vathek, and added the learned and interesting notes to it. We think also that he had been Mr. Beckford's tutor. He published "Observations on the Four Eclogues of Virgil" in 1788; also a specimen of a new translation of Tibullus; and at the period of his death had engaged to print at the University Press at Cambridge "A Dissertation on the Natural Rising of the Dog Star as connected with the 'Star in the East.' His learning has received its reward of praise from the hands of Professor Heyne of Gottingen, who calls him "Vir elegantis ingenii," and adds, "Ingenium et acumen viri docti facile probes." See Tibulli Carmina, ed. Heynii, p.xx. P.294. "Sharpe has announced his approach."Here again the editor leaves his readers to be their own commentators, - Richard Sharpe, esq. commonly called, for the fluency, elegance, and knowledg he possessed, "Conversation Sharpe," - of whom see the high eulogy given in a letter of Sir James Mackintosh (Life, vol.i. p.196): "I owe much to your society. Your conversation has not only pleased and instructed me, but it has most materially contributed to refine my taste, to multiply my innocent and independent pleasures, and to make my mind tranquil and reasoanble. I think you have produced more effect on my character than any man with whom I have lived," &c. We may here mention that Mr. |
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