VII.

  Thrice happy greatness, true philosophy,
    That does so well the use of riches know,
  And can by charity transpire the sky,
    Encompass’d round with splendour here below.

  VIII.

  O may posterity from such a pair,
    Enjoy a progeny almost divine,
  Great as their fire, and as their mother fair,
    And good as both, till last extent of time.

[Footnote A:  See the Memoirs of Mrs. Thomas’s Life, prefixed to a volume of Letters between her and Mr. Gwynnet; the only account that is preserved concerning her.]

* * * * *

ELIJAH FENTON,

This worthy gentleman was born at Shelton, near Newcastle under the Line, in Staffordshire[A].  In this county, though there are several families of the name of Fenton, yet they are all branches from one flock, which is a very antient and opulent family:  Our author’s mother being immediately descended from one Mare, an officer in William the Conqueror’s army.

Our poet was the youngest of twelve children, and was intended by his parents for the ministry:  He was sent to the university of Cambridge, where he embraced the principles very opposite to the government, by which he became disqualified for entering into holy orders.  We find him soon after his quitting the university, secretary to the earl of Orrery, but how long he remained in that station we cannot ascertain.  After he quitted the service of this noble peer, it was his custom to perform a visit annually to his eldest brother’s house in the country, who possessed an estate of 1000 l. per annum.  He was caressed in the country, by all his relations, to whom he endeared himself, by his affable and genteel behaviour.  Mr. Fenton was a man of the most tender humanity, and discovered it upon every proper occasion:  A gentleman resident in that county, who has transmitted to us some account of Mr. Fenton, has given us the following instance of his humane disposition.

He had a great number of sisters, some of whom were less happy in their marriages than others; one in particular was exposed to many misfortunes, by the indiscretion and extravagance of her husband.  It is the custom of some people to make very great distinctions between their rich and poor relations; Mr. Fenton’s brother was of this stamp, and it seems treated his unfortunate sister with less ceremony than the rest.  One day, while Mr. Fenton, was at his brother’s house, he observed the family going to dinner without this sister, who was in town, and had as good a right to an invitation, as any of the rest who dined there as a compliment to him.  He could not help discovering his displeasure at so unnatural a distinction, and would not sit down to table till she was sent for, and in consequence of this slight shewn her by the rest of the family, Mr. Fenton treated her with more tenderness and complaisance than any of his sisters.