The рорру and each numbing plant dispense SIR RICHARD BLACKMORE. OUR next name is that of one who, like the former, was a knight, a physician, and (in a manner) a poet. Blackmore was the son of Robert Blackmore of Corsham, in Wiltshire, who is styled by Wood gentleman, and is believed to have been an attorney. He took his degree of M.A. at Oxford, in June 1676. He afterwards travelled, was made Doctor of Physic at Padua, and, when he returned home, began to practise in London with great success. In 1695, he tried his hand at poetry, producing an epic entitled' King Arthur,' which was followed by a series on 'King Alfred,' 'Queen Elizabeth,' 'Redemption,' 'The Creation,' &c. Some of these productions were popular; one, 'The Creation,' has been highly praised by Dr Johnson; but most of them were heavy. Matthew Henry has preserved portions in his valuable Commentary. Blackmore, a man of excellent character and of extensive medical practice, was yet the laughingstock of the wits, perhaps as much for his piety as for his prosiness. Old, rich, and highly respected, he died on the 8th of October 1729, while some of his poetic persecutors came to a disgraceful or an early end. We quote the satire of John Gay, as one of the cleverest and best conditioned, although one of the coarsest of the attacks made on poor Sir Richard :— VERSES TO BE PLACED UNDER THE PICTURE OF SIR R. BLACKMORE, See who ne'er was, nor will be half read, Then took his Muse at once, and dipt her Full in the middle of the Scripture; What wonders there the man grown old did, All thought him just what thought King Achish; But judged Reboam his own son ; And Job himself curse God and die. What punishment all this must follow? Or dext'rous Deborah Sisera him? To treat him like her sister Scot? No, none of these; Heaven save his life, CREATION. No more of courts, of triumphs, or of arms, I meditate to soar above the skies, To heights unknown, through ways untried, to rise; I would the Eternal from his works assert, And sing the wonders of creating art. While I this unexampled task essay, Pass awful gulfs, and beat my painful way, That I may reach the Almighty's sacred throne, known. Thou dost the full extent of nature see, And the wide realms of vast immensity; The expanded spheres, amazing to the sight! The glorious orbs which heaven's bright host compose, With all the curious meteors hovering there, The Power Divine, that raised the mighty frame. That end by means, and have it still in view, Some other cause o'er nature must preside, Which gave her birth, and does her motions guide; ELIJAH FENTON. THIS author, who was very much respected by his contemporaries, and who translated a portion of the Odyssey in conjunction with Pope, was born May 20, 1683, at Newcastle, in Staffordshire; studied at Cambridge, which, owing to his nonjuring principles, he had to leave without a degree; and passed part of his life as a schoolmaster, and part of it as secretary to Charles, Earl of Orrery. By his tragedy of 'Mariamne' he secured a moderate competence; and during his latter years, spent his life comfortably as tutor in the house of Lady Trumbull. He died in 1730. His accomplishments were superior, and his character excellent. Pope, who was indebted to him for the first, fourth, nineteenth, and twentieth of the books of the Odyssey, mourns his loss in one of his most sincere-seeming letters. Fenton edited Waller and Milton, wrote a brief life of the latter poet,—with which most of our readers are acquainted,—and indited some respectable verse. AN ODE TO THE RIGHT HON. JOHN LORD GOWER. WRITTEN IN THE SPRING OF 1716. 1 O'er Winter's long inclement sway, Where Philomel laments forlorn. 2 By her awaked, the woodland choir Unblamed to approach your blest retreat: Whose notes the Aonian hills repeat. 3 Or if invoked, where Thames's fruitful tides, |