STERNIE. 577 shooting. Before he quitted Sutton, he published, in 1747, a charity sermon for the support of the charity school at York; and in 1756, an assize sermon, preached at the cathedral in York. In 1759, he published at York the first two volumes of his “Tristram Shandy;” and in 1760, he went to Lon don to republish the above volumes, and to print two volumes of his “Sermons;” and this year also, Lord Fal conbridge presented him to the curacy of Coxwold. In 1762, he visited France, and two years afterwards went to Italy. In 1767, he came up to London again to publish the “Sentimental Journey;” but his health was now fast declining, and after a short but severe struggle, he died at his lodgings in Bond-street, March 18th, 1768, and was buried in the new burying ground belonging to the parish of St. George, Hanover-square. Sterne's talents as an author were unquestionably great; and yet there are few possessed of any reflection, that would willingly exchange their names for his on the title pages of his most popular works. He had the power of pourtraying pictures equally masterly and affecting. He could raise his readers to the very tip-toe of expectation, and then defeat their ardent curiosity by dashes and aste risks. He prophanely and daringly trod the borders of im piety and lewdness, and that too in the most dangerous mode, without giving the alarm of disgusting language. By powers wonderfully and sublimely pathetic, he could reach at times, the inmost recesses of the heart, and by the exu berance and originality of his wit, he could dazzle and delight his readers for pages together. The charge of borrowing from his predecessors has been alleged against the subject of this article by a judi cious and candid writer, who produces evidence sufficient to startle, if not subdue the doubts of criticism: those who have been delighted with Sterne, will perhaps read the following observations, and the passages which follow them, with regret and surprise. Sterne.—“ ”Tis an inevitable chance—the first statute WOL. I.I. PP
