THE LIFE OF EDWARD LOVIBOND, BY MR. CHALMERS. THE life of Mr. Lovibond appears to have afforded no subject for biography. Those who knew him best have declined the opportunity which the publication of his works afforded them to say something of the author. All they have been pleased to communicate is, that "he was a gentleman of fortune, who passed the greater part of his years in the neighbourhood of Hampton in Middlesex, where he lived greatly beloved by those who best knew him. He was an admirable scholar, of very amiable manners, and of universal benevolence, of which all his writings bear strong testimony. The little pieces which compose this volume were chiefly written on such incidents as occasionally arose in those societies of intimate acquaintance which he most frequented. After his death, which happened in 1775, his poems being dispersed in the hands of different friends, to whom they had been given by himself, many people expressed to his only brother, Anthony Lovibond Collins, esq. a wish to have them collected together, and preserved. This gentleman, equally zealous for the reputation of a brother he affectionately loved, hath put into the editor's hands those pieces he hath selected for that purpose." Of a man of so many virtues, and so greatly beloved, the public might reasonably have expected a more detailed account. His father, I am told, was a director of the East India Company, and died in the year 1737, leaving him probably that fortune on which he was enabled to pass his days in the quiet enjoyment of the pleasures of rural life. He died September 27, 1775, at his house at Hampton, but the register of that parish is silent on his interment. I have been informed, also, that he was married, and not very happily. When the World was began by Edward Moore, and his many noble and learned contributors, Mr. Lovibond furnished five papers; Nos. 93 and 94 contain some 7 284 THE LIFE OF EDWARD LOVIBOND. just remarks on the danger of extremes, and the impediments to conversation. In Nos. 132 and 134 he opposes the common erroneous notions on the subject of Providence with considerable force of argument, and concludes with some ironical remarks not ill applied. In No. 82 he first published the Tears of Old May Day, the most favourite of all his poems. The thoughts are peculiarly ingenious and happy, yet it may be questioned whether, it is not exceeded by his Mulberry Tree, in which the distinguishing features of Johnson's and Garrick's characters are admirably hit off, the frivolous enthusiasm of the one, and the solid and steady veneration of the other for our immortal bard, are depicted with exquisite humour. Julia's printed letter appears to have been a favourite with the author. There are some bursts of genuine passion, and some tenderness displayed occasionally, but it wants simplicity. It was probably suggested by Pope's Eloisa, and must suffer in proportion as it reminds us of that inimitable effort. His lines on Rural Sports, are both poetical and moral, and contain some interesting pictures sweetly persuasive to a humane treatment of the brute creation. His love verses, some of which are demi-platonic, are tender and sprightly. The Miss K-P― was Miss Kitty Phillips, a relation of a family now ennobled by the title of Milford. The tale of the Hitchin Convent, the lines To a young Lady a very good Actress, the Verses to Mr. Wooddeson, and those on converting that gentleman's house into a poor-house, are all distinguished by original turns of thought. His pieces were generally circulated in private, as he had not the common ambition of an author, and was contented to please those whom he intended to please: yet he never at. tempted any subject which he did not illustrate by novelty of manner, and upon the whole may be considered as among the most successful of that class who are rather amateurs, than professional poets. POEMS OF EDWARD LOVIBOND. ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD BY MISS G AH! what avails-that once the Muses crown'd a constitution like ours. But though no lover of his country would desire to weaken this principle, which has more than once preserved the nation, yet he may lament the unfortunate application of it, when perverted to countenance party violence, and opposition to the most innocent measures of the legislature. The clamour against the alteration of the style seemed to be one of these instances. The alarm was given, and the most fatal consequences to our religion and government were immediately apprehended from it. This opinion gathered strength in its course, and received a tincture from the remains of superstition still prevailing in the counties most remote from town. I knew several worthy gentlemen in the west, who lived many months under the daily apprehension of some dreadful visitation from pestilence or famine. The vulgar were almost every where persuaded that Nature gave evident tokens of her disapproving these innovations. I do not indeed recollect that any blazing stars were seen to appear upon this ocAs the first poem in this collection was thirty-casion; or that armies were observed to be en one years ago introduced to the public in a countering in the skies: people probably conpaper of The World, and written on a very troul the Sun in his course, would assume equa! cluding that the great men who pretend to conremarkable event in our history, viz. the reforming our style or calendar to the general authority over the inferior constellations, and usage of the rest of Europe; the paper expla- not suffer any aerial militia to assemble themnatory of the subject being also written by Mr. selves in opposition to ministerial proceedings. Lovibond, it was judged proper to let it still precede it in this collection. SIR, ADVERTISEMENT. The objection to this regulation, as favouring a custom established among papists, was not heard indeed with the same regard as formerly, when it actually prevented the legislature from passing a bill of the same nature: yet many a president of a corporation club very eloquently harangued upon it, as introductory to the doctrine July 25th, 1754. of transubstantiation, making no doubt that THE WORLD. TO MR. FITZ-ADAM. Ir is a received opinion amongst politicians, that the spirit of liberty can never be too active under fires would be kindled again in Smithfield before the conclusion of the year. This popular clamour has at last happily subsided, and shared the general fate of those opinions which derive their support from imagination, not reason. May. "Space in her empty regions heard the sound, In the present happy disposition of the nation | "Then, when at Heav'n's prolific mandate sprung the author of the following verses may venture The radiant beam of new created day, to introduce the complaints of an ideal person-Celestial harps, to airs of triumph strung, age, without seeming to strengthen the faction Hail'd the glad dawn, and angel's call'd me of real parties; without forfeiting his reputation as a good citizen; or bringing a scandal on the political character of Mr. Fitz-Adam, by making him the publisher of a libel against the state. This ideal personage is no other than Old Mayday, the only apparent sufferer from the present regulation. Her situation is indeed a little mortifying, as every elderly lady will readily allow; since the train of her admirers is withdrawn from her at once, and their adoration transferred to a rival, younger than herself by at least eleven days. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, E. L. THE TEARS OF OLD MAY-DAY. LED by the jocund train of vernal hours And vernal airs, uprose the gentle May; Blushing she rose, and blushing rose the flow'rs That sprung spontaneous in her genial ray. Her locks with Heav'n's ambrosial dews were bright, And am'rous Zephyrs flutter'd on her breast: With ev'ry shifting gleam of morning light The colours shifted of her rainbow vest. A golden key, and golden wand she bore; The grateful honours of mankind to taste; past. Vain hope! no more in choral bands unite To her no more Augusta's wealthy pride No more the May-pole's verdant height around vance; No merry bells and tabers' sprightlier sound Faint on her cheeks the blushing crimson dy'd- Alluding to the country custom of gathering May-dew. a The plate garlands of London. "For ever then I led the constant year; [wiles ; Saw Youth, and Joy, and Love's enchanting Saw the mild Graces in my train appear, And infant Beauty brighten in my smiles. "No Winter frown'd. In sweet embrace ally'd, Three sister Seasons danc'd th' eternal green; And Spring's retiring softness gently vy'd With Autumn's blush, and Summer's lofty mien. "Too soon, when man prophan'd the blessings giv'n, And vengeance arm'd to blot a guilty age, With bitter waves polluting all my streams, gold. "Then vanish'd many a sea-girt isle and grove, "No longer bloom'd primeval Eden's bow'rs, "No more to dwell in sylvan scenes I deign'd And wak'd her slumb'ring atoms into birth. "And ev'ry echo caught my raptur'd name, And ev'ry virgin breath'd her am'rous vows, And precious wreaths of rich immortal fame, Show'r'd by the Muses, crown'd my lofty brows. "But chief in Europe, and in Europe's pride, * See Plato. |