WILLIAM MASON.

THIS classical poet, the son of a respectable clergyman, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, was born in 1725. He received his first grammatical instructions under his paternal roof. His studies, preparatory to his going to college, were rather favourable to classical than philosophical pursuits; and he had an early passion for poetry and painting. He was entered at St. John's college, Cambridge, when Dr. Newcombe was master. Though Mr. Mason did not devote himself much to mathematics, the favorite study at Cambridge, yet his merit procured him the esteem of his tutor, Mr. Powell, to whose advice it was owing, that Musæus was published first in the order of Mason's poems. While an under graduate, our poet was distinguished by a studious cast of thought, though by no means destitute of social manners, or reckoned an indefatigable student. While at St. John's college, he took his bachelor's and master of arts' degrees, but never advanced further. He left St. John's in 1746, and returned to his father.

In the year 1747, principally through the influence of Gray, he was nominated to a vacant fellowship in Pembroke-hall; but, owing to a dispute between the masters and fellows, he was not elected till 1749. His poetical taste had first introduced him to Gray, and his monody on the death of Pope, written in 1744, but not published till 1747, was submitted to Mr. Gray's correcting hand. His acquaintance with Gray soon grew into a warm friendship, which only terminated with the life of the latter.

Mason was not more distinguished for his other amiable qualities than by his attachment to the cause of liberty. He soon obtained considerable reputation as a poet; and when the Duke of Newcastle was installed chancellor of the university in 1749, he was requested to compose an ode on the occasion, which was set to music by Dr. Boyce, and performed in the senate-house. The year after the death of his father in 1753, he went into orders, and found a patron in the Earl of Holderness, through whose influence he was advanced to the chaplainship of the living of Aston, which was of considerable value. This retreat was peculiarly agreeable to our poet. It brought him to reside in his native country, and placed him in a genteel independence. As a preacher he was generally admired, and, among his parishioners, much esteemed. When appointed precentor of York, he composed a book on church music, which was of use to his parishioners, to whom he presented an organ. It was, perhaps, to the picturesque scenery of this agreeable spot, that we are indebted for his "English Garden," as it called into action that poetic imagination which he was accustomed to indulge from his early youth.

In his matrimonial connection he was unfortunate, being deprived of a young and amiable wife two years after his marriage. Her health was but indifferent from the first; but, falling into a rapid consumption, Mason went with her to Bristol Hot Wells, where she died in 1767. Besides various odes, he published several dramatic works; in his Elfrida and Caractacus, it was his ambition to steer between the irregularity of Shakespeare and the classical severity of Milton: the success of these two pieces was beyond his most sanguine expectations; nor was the fame of his various elegies much less gratifying. Towards the close of his life, his language was changed; and, vindicating the measures of Mr. Pitt, Lord Orford observes, he became a kind of courtier. He produced his annual sonnet till the last year of his life, when his foot slipped as he was getting into his carriage, and a contusion being received that terminated in a mortification, he expired in April 1797, in the seventy-second year of his age.

MELANCTHON.

PHILIP MELAN CTHON was born at Bretten, in Saxony, in February 1497. His father, George Schwartzerd, for this was the German family name, was a native of Heidelberg: his mother was the daughter of John Reuter, a respectable man, and for some years mayor of Bretten. Melancthon was at first placed with his brother George at a public school in his native place, but was soon after put under private tuition: his Latin preceptor was John Hungarus, a faithful preacher, who had reason to be charmed with the rapid proficiency of his pupil. At Pfortzheim, Melancthon was introduced into the study of Greek, and here he became the favourite of the celebrated Reuchlin, or Capnio. Dissatisfied with his ordinary exercises, Melancthon wrote several epigrams, epitaphs, prologues, and occasional poetical epistles to his friends, some of which were commended even by Julius Scaliger. After remaining two years at Pfortzheim, Melancthon was sent to the university of Heidelberg, where he was soon looked up to as a first-rate youth; and, besides assisting his fellow students, is said to have written some things even for the professors. He was also entrusted with the education of the two sons of Count Leonstein; yet, being refused a higher degree on account of his youth, he removed to Tubingen, on the Neckar, in September 1512. Here, in medicine, he studied Galen so thoroughly as to repeat the greater part of his treatises; he also began to be much devoted to the sober part of theology, and first became acquainted with Oecolampadius, his senior by several years; and he was not seventeen when he was created doctor in philosophy, or master of arts.

Becoming a public lecturer at Tubingen, the elegant taste he discovered in the Latin classics excited general admiration; he also taught rhetoric, logic, mathematics, and theology. So early as 1515, he attracted the notice of the sagacious and learned Erasmus to a very high degree. One of the earliest of Melancthon's works, now extant, is an Oration on the liberal Arts, delivered at Tubingen in 1517, at twenty years of age. From hence he removed to the university of Wittemberg, in Upper Saxony, where, as a professor, he commenced his character of a reformer, and became a coadjutor or assistant of Luther; his increasing influence now began to extend all through Germany. In 1520, he married Catharine Crappen, a respectable and excellent young lady of Wittemberg; and both of them were charitable beyond, rather than within, the bounds of prudence; and, besides, he was kind to a fault, and entirely without pride. Anne, his eldest daughter, seems to have been his favourite child; and is called by Luther, "the elegant daughter of Philip." The death of the Elector Frederic of Saxony caused Melancthon to say, that this prince "had plucked a flower from all the virtues."

The consequence of Melancthon's invitation to England, and the correspondence that followed, was highly honourable to the reformer, as was also his communication with Archbishop Cranmer; but not so his approbation of the burning of Servetus by Calvin. Melancthon survived his beloved wife only two years and some months. Having frequently intimated that he should not live beyond his sixty-third year, he was taken ill on the 6th of April, and died on the 19th, in the year 1560, aged sixty-three years, two months, and three days. "His character was privileged beyond the common walks of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven; and he expired like a wave scarcely curling to the evening zephyr of an unclouded summer sky, and gently rippling to the shore." His remains were placed in a leaden coffin, near to the body of Martin Luther; and a long Latin inscription was written on the coffin, containing a chronological notice of the principal circumstances of his life.

SIR HUGH MYDDELTON.

THIS public-spirited character was a native of Denbigh, in North Wales, and afterwards became a goldsmith of London. The early part of the life of this useful man is certainly involved in much obscurity. He was one among the many persons who, no doubt, had long been convinced how badly London had been supplied with water, notwithstanding its numerous wells and conduits, and its situation upon the Thames. In consequence of the deficiency of this most useful element, three acts of parliament were obtained, granting the citizens full liberty to bring a river from any part of Middlesex or Hertfordshire. But such was the want of public spirit, and probably the ignorance of hydraulics, that after much deliberation, the project was laid aside as impracticable, until Mr. Myddelton undertook it.

Having accurately surveyed the two counties, he fixed upon a spring in the parish of Amwell, and another near the town of Ware, both distant about twenty miles from London. This work, which he commenced on the 20th of September 1608, he completed on the 29th of September 1613. It was of course carried on through various soils, some ouzy and muddy, others calcareous and rocky; and, besides, it was found necessary to construct many bridges, and to make a number of drains to carry off land-springs and common sewers; and from the necessity of various detours, though Amwell is only twenty miles from London, the river was brought over an extent of ground measuring thirty-eight miles, three quarters, and sixteen poles. Throughout the whole of this arduous undertaking, Mr. Myddelton, in common with all men of enterprize, had to struggle with the envy and the prejudices of all the uninformed, and to contend with incessant objections and complaints, arising from animosity and the inconveniences occasioned to some persons through whose grounds the river was brought. Notwithstanding these, his perseverance enabled him to bring it to Enfield, when, his finances being quite exhausted, he was com pelled to solicit the assistance of the city. But the city of London, at that time of day, refused to have any concern in the business. James the First, however, being better advised, agreed to pay a moiety of the entire concern. This noble undertaking was thus happily completed, and on Michaelmas day 1613, the water was admitted into the reservoir at Islington, with much pomp and parade, the lord mayor and the principal citizens attending to witness this happy event.-Mr. Myddelton and his colleagues having been incorporated by the name of the governors and company of the new river brought from Chadwell and Amwell to London, dividends were payable, though none was made till 1633.-But though Sir Hugh was a loser in money, it has been observed he was a gainer in honour. King James made him a knight, and then a baronet.

In November 1636, Charles I. gave up the royal moiety, in consideration of a fee farm rent of 500%. a year. The exact time and place of the death of Sir Hugh are unknown; but he bequeathed, what has since proved a valuable share in the river, to the poor of the goldsmiths' company. So little was the benefit of this undertaking apprehended, that for above thirty years the seventy-two shares into which it was divided netted only five pounds a piece; each of these was sold originally for 100%; they have since fetched 10,000%. each.

"No one," says Mr. Pennant, "ought to be ignorant that this unspeakable benefit is owing to a Welshman." The name of Myddelton, however, ought to be transmitted with honour and gratitude to posterity, as much as those of the builders of the famous aqueducts in antient Rome. A portrait of Sir Hugh is preserved in goldsmiths'-hall.