the patron to his friends—but with the fittest men he could find for the duties.
The regard and companionship of one so characterized conferred honour on any man. To lose such a friend when ourselves advanced into the vale of years, leaves a miserable blank in the breast. So Malone felt it. And when the first emotions of grief were subdued, he set about doing honour to the departed by embodying a few of the leading points of character in a memoir. A short statement was first printed in the Gentleman’s Magazine to correct erroneous rumours regarding the manner of an event so little expected by the world. This, with additions, was reprinted as a pamphlet, and sent to many mutual friends and various members of both Houses of Parliament, all of whom, however opposed in party attachments, paid the honour due to one who stood in the foremost rank in public esteem as in worth and independence. He left a journal which rumour said was not to be published.
The correspondence of our author during this year appears to have been less active than usual. Mr. J. Taylor, of the Sun newspaper (author of Monsieur Tonson), refers to a passage in Cynthia’s Revels so closely resembling what Anthony says of Brutus that it seems plain the one poet borrowed from the other.[1] Interested, as he says, in the researches of the critic, he would not fail to point out any things bearing upon Shakspeare. Ritson is taken to task soundly for his abuse; and the writer, who had given
- ↑ Critcs, a creature of the most perfect and divine temper—one in whom the elements are peaceably met, &c. &c.
