There is a Latin ode written to his patron St. John, in return for a present of wine and tobacco, which cannot be paffed without notice. It is gay and elegant, and exhibits several artful accommodations of claffick expreffions to new purposes. It seems better turned than the odes of Hannes *. To the poem on Cider, written in imitation of the Georgicks, may be given this peculiar praife, that it is grounded in truth; that the precepts which it contains are exact and just; and that it is therefore, at once, a book of entertainment and of fcience. This I was told by Miller, the great gardener and botanist, whofe expreffion was, that there were many books written on the fame Jubject in profe, which do not contain fo much truth as that poem. * This ode I am willing to mention, because there feems to be an error in all the printed copies, which is, I find, retained in the laft. They all read; Quam Gratiarum cura decentium O! O labellis cui Venus infidet. The author probably wrote, Quam Gratiarum cura decentium Dr. J. In the difpofition of his matter, fo as to interfperfe precepts relating to the culture of trees, with fentiments more generally alluring, and in eafy and graceful tranfitions from one fubjet to another, he has very diligently imitated his master; but he unhappily pleased himself with blank verse, and supposed that the numbers of Milton, which imprefs the mind with veneration, combined as they are with subjects of inconceivable grandeur, could be fuftained by images which at most can rife only to elegance. Contending angels may shake the regions of heaven in blank verfe; but the flow of equal meafures, and the embellishment of rhyme, muft recommend to our attention the art of engrafting, and decide the merit of the redtreak and pearmain. What ftudy could confer, Philips had obtained; but natural deficience cannot be fupplied. He feems not born to greatness and elẹvation. He is never lofty, nor does he often furprife with unexpected excellence; but perhaps to his laft poem may be applied what Tully faid of the work of Lucretius, that it is written with much art, though with few blazes of genius. The The following fragment, written by Edmund Smith, upon the works of Philips, has been transcribed from the Bodleian manufcripts. "A prefatory Difcourfe to the poem on Mr. Philips, with a character of his writings. "It is altogether as equitable fome account should be given of those who have distinguished themselves by their writings, as of those who are renowned for great actions. It is but reafonable they, who contribute fo much to the immortality of others, should have some share in it themselves; and fince their genius only is difcovered by their works, it is just that their virtues should be recorded by their friends. For no modeft men (as the perfon I write of was in perfection) will write their own panegyricks; and it is very hard that they should go without reputation, only because they the more deferve it. The end of writing Lives is for the imitation of the readers. It will be in the power of very few to imitate the duke of Marlborough; we must be content with ad- miring his great qualities and actions, without hopes of following them. The private and d H 4 foc al focial virtues are more easily transcribed. The Life of Cowley is more inftructive, as well as more fine, than any we have in our language. And it is to be wifhed, fince Mr. Philips had fo many of the good qualities of that poet, that I had fome of the abilities of his hiftorian. The Grecian philofophers have had their Lives written, their morals commended, and their fayings recorded. Mr. Philips had all the virtues to which most of them only pretended, and all their integrity without any of their affectation. The French are very juft to eminent men in this point; not a learned man nor a poet can die, but all Europe must be acquainted with his accomplishments. They give praise and expect it in their turns: they commend their Patru's and Molieres as well as their Condés and Turennes; their Pellifons and Racines have their elogies, as well as the prince whom they celebrate; and their poems, their mercuries, and orations, nay their very gazettes, are filled with the praifes of the learned. I am fatisfied, had they a Philips among them, and known how to value him; had they one one of his learning, his temper, but above all of that particular turn of humour, that altogether new genius, he had been an example to their poets, and a fubject of their panegyricks, and perhaps fet in competition with the ancients, to whom only he ought to fubmit. I shall therefore endeavour to do justice to his memory, fince nobody elfe undertakes it. And indeed I can affign no caufe why fo many of his acquaintance (that are as willing and more able than myself to give an account of him) fhould forbear to celebrate the memory of one fo dear to them, but only that they look upon it as a work entirely belonging to me. I fhall content myself with giving only a character of the perfon and his writings, without meddling with the tranfactions of his life, which was altogether private: I fhall only make this known obfervation of his family, that there was fcarce fo many extraordinary men in any one. I have been acquainted with five of his brothers (of which three are still living), all men of fine parts, yet all of a very unlike temper and genius. So that their fruit ful |