His regard for Gray did him infinite credit:  yet never were two men more dissimilar as they advanced in life.  Gray had no aristocratic birth to boast; and Horace dearly loved birth, refinement, position, all that comprises the cherished term ‘aristocracy.’  Thomas Gray, more illustrious for the little his fastidious judgment permitted him to give to the then critical world, than many have been in their productions of volumes, was born in Cornhill—­his father being a worthy citizen.  He was just one year older than Walpole, but an age his senior in gravity, precision, and in a stiff resolution to maintain his independence.  He made one fatal step, fatal to his friendship for Horace, when he forfeited—­by allowing Horace to take him and pay his expenses during a long continental tour—­his independence.  Gray had many points which made him vulnerable to Walpole’s shafts of ridicule; and Horace had a host of faults which excited the stern condemnation of Gray.  The author of the ’Elegy’—­which Johnson has pronounced to be the noblest ode in our language—­was one of the most learned men of his time, ’and was equally acquainted with the elegant and profound paths of science, and that not superficially, but thoroughly; knowing in every branch of history, both natural and civil, as having read all the original historians of England, France, and Italy; a great antiquarian, who made criticisms, metaphysics, morals, and politics a principal part of his plan of study—­who was uncommonly fond of voyages and travels of all sorts—­and who had a fine taste in painting, prints, architecture, and gardening’ What a companion for a young man of taste and sympathy! but the friends were far too clever long to agree.  Gray was haughty, impatient, intolerant of the peculiarities of others, according to the author of ‘Walpoliana:’  doubtless he detected the vanity, the actual selfishness, the want of earnest feeling in Horace, which had all been kept down at school, where boys are far more unsparing Mentors than their betters.  In vain did they travel en prince, and all at Walpole’s expense; in vain did they visit courts, and receive affability from princes:  in vain did he of Cornhill participate for a brief period in the attentions lavished on the son of a British Prime Minister:  they quarrelled—­and we almost reverence Gray for that result, more especially when we find the author of ‘Walpoliana’ expressing his conviction that ’had it not been for this idle indulgence of his hasty temper, Mr. Gray would immediately on his return home have received, as usual, a pension or office from Sir Robert Walpole.’  We are inclined to feel contempt for the anonymous writer of that amusing little book.

After a companionship of four years, Gray, nevertheless, returned to London.  He had been educated with the expectation of being a barrister; but finding that funds were wanting to pursue a legal education, he gave up a set of chambers in the Temple, which he had occupied previous to his travels, and retired to Cambridge.