may at last judge how much they are to be regarded. If we stay to examine this account, we shall see difficulties on both sides: here is the relation of a fact given by a man who had no interest to deceive, and who could not be deceived himself; and here is, on the other hand, a miracle which produces no effect; the order of nature is interrupted to discover, not a future but only a distant event, the knowledge of which is of no use to him to whom it is revealed. Between these difficulties, what way shall be found? Is reason or testimony to be rejected? I believe, what Osborne says of an appearance of sanctity, may be applied to such impulses or anticipations as this: Do not wholly slight them, because they may be true; but do not easily trust them, because they may be false.

The state both of England and Ireland was at this time such, that he who was absent from either country had very little temptation to return; and therefore Roscommon, when he left Caen, travelled into Italy, and amused himself with its antiquities, and particularly with medals, in which he acquired

uncommon skill.

At the restoration, with the other friends of monarchy, he came to England, was made captain of the band of pensioners, and learned so much of the dissoluteness of the court, that he addicted himself immoderately to gaming, by which he was engaged in frequent quarrels, and which undoubtedly brought upon him its usual concomitants, extravagance and distress.

After some time, a dispute about part of his estate forced him into Ireland, where he was made by the duke of Ormond captain of the guards, and met with an adventure thus related by Fenton:

" He was at Dublin as much as ever distempered " with the same fatal affection for play, which en"gaged him in one adventure that well deserves to " be related. As he returned to his lodgings from "a gaming-table, he was attacked in the dark by " three ruffians, who were employed to assassinate "him. The Earl defended himself with so much " resolution, that he dispatched one of the aggres

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sors; whilst a gentleman, accidentally passing " that way, interposed, and disarmed another : the " third secured himself by flight. This generous " assistant was a disbanded officer, of a good family " and fair reputation; who, by what we call the " partiality of fortune, to avoid censuring the ini" quities of the times, wanted even a plain suit of " clothes to make a decent appearance at the castle. " But his lordship, on this occasion, presenting him " to the duke of Ormond, with great importunity " prevailed with his grace, that he might resign his " post of captain of the guards to his friend; which " for about three years the gentleman enjoyed, and, " upon his death, the duke returned the commis" sion to his generous benefactor."

When he had finished his business, he returned to London; was made master of the horse to the Duchess of York; and married the lady Frances, daughter of the Earl of Burlington, and widow of colonel Courteney.

He now busied his mind with literary projects, and formed the plan of a society for refining our language and fixing its standard in imitation, says

Fenton, of those learned and polite societies with which he had been acquainted abroad. In this design his friend Dryden is said to have assisted him.

The same design, it is well known, was revived by Dr Swift in the ministry of Oxford; but it has never since been publicly mentioned, though at that time great expectations were formed by some, of its establishment and its effects. Such a society might, perhaps, without much difficulty, be collected; but that it would produce what is expected from it, may be doubted.

The Italian academy seems to have obtained its end. The language was refined, and so fixed that it has changed but little. The French academy thought they had refined their language, and doubtless thought rightly; but the event has not shewn that they fixed it; for the French of the present time is very different from that of the last century.

In this country an academy could be expected to do but little. If an academician's place were profitable, it would be given by interest; if attendance were gratuitous, it would be rarely paid, and no man would endure the least dsigust. Unanimity is impossible, and debate would separate the assembly.

But suppose the philological decree made and promulgated, what would be its authority? In absolute governments, there is sometimes a general reverence paid to all that has the sanction of power, and the countenance of greatness. How little this is the state of our country needs not to be told. We live in an age in which it is a kind of public sport to refuse all respect that cannot be enforced. The edicts of an English academy would probably be read by many, only that they might be sure to disobey them.

That our language is in perpetual danger of corruption cannot be denied; but what prevention can be found? The present manners of the nation would deride authority; and therefore nothing is left but that every writer should criticise himself.

All hopes of new literary institutions were quickly suppressed by the contentious turbulence of King James' reign; and Roscommon, foreseeing that some violent concussion of the state was at hand, purposed to retire to Rome, alleging, that it was best to sit near the chimney when the chamber smoked; a sentence of which the application seems not very clear.

His departure was delayed by the gout; and he was so impatient either of hindrance or of pain, that he submitted himself to a French empiric, who is said to have repelled the disease into his bowels.

At the moment in which he expired, he uttered, with an energy of voice that expressed the most fervent devotion, two lines of his own version of Dies Irœ;

My God, my Father, and my Friend
Do not forsake me in my end.

He died in 1684; and was buried with great pomp in Westminster-abbey.

His poetical character is given by Mr Fenton :" In his writings," says Fenton, " we view the " image of a mind which was naturally serious and " solid; richly furnished and adorned with all the " ornaments of learning, unaffectedly disposed in " the most regular and elegant order. His imagin"ation might have probably been more fruitful and " sprightly, if his judgment had been less severe. " But that severity (delivered in a masculine, clear, "succinct style) contributed to make him so emi"nent in the didactical manner, that no man, with "justice, can affirm he was ever equalled by any of " our nation, without confessing at the same time "that he is inferior to none. In some other kinds " of writing his genius seems to have wanted fire " to attain the point of perfection; but who can "attain it?"

From this account of the riches of his mind, who would not imagine that they had been displayed in large volumes and numerous performances? Who would not, after the perusal of this character, be surprised to find that all the proofs of this genius, and knowledge, and judgment, are not sufficient to form a single book, or to appear otherwise than in conjunction with the works of some other writer of the same petty size? But thus it is that characters are written: we know somewhat, and we imagine the rest. The observation, that his imagination would probably have been more fruitful and sprightly, if his judgment had been less severe, may be answered, by a remarker somewhat inclined to cavil, by a contrary supposition, that his judgment would probably have been less severe, if his imagination had been more fruitful. It is ridiculous to oppose judgment to imagination; for it does not appear that men have necessarily less of one as they have more of the other.