Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, Hymn to the Supreme Being, On the Eternity of the Supreme Being, On the Goodnefs of the Supreme Being, The Hop Garden, PAGE. 35 53 63 71 81 93 103 119 Epigram-Martial, Book 1, ep. 26. On a Lady throwing Snow Balls at her Lover, ib. 230 THE L I F. E. O F CHRISTOPHER SMART. THOUGH HOUGH the life of an Author feldom abounds with very interefting events, yet of those who have undertaken to inftruct or to amufe mankind, fome ac count will be expected. Biography is generally confi dered as one of the most entertaining fubjects of Lite-rature: but its utility may perhaps be questioned. Concerning perfons of humble and common attainments we are not. wont to be folicitous; and the important actions of eminent characters few readers will be able to imitate. Of thefe however the Hiftorian is best informed, and treats them with the greatest satisfaction. Yet he is feldom the first of men, who most attracts the attention of the public. For, if great. talents be neceffarily rare, the opportunities are ftin rarer of difplaying them to the world; to this a multitude of events, whofe connection is impercepti ble to human eyes, muft neceffarily concur. The external diftinctions therefore between man and man are derived lefs from nature than from fortune; fo that moft, if not all, of thofe characters which are held up to public view, may be confidered as a picture of the human fpecies. To extract from Biography all its advantages, let the writer reftrain his fancy, and the reader his admiration; let not the first fuppofe that he describes a perfect model, nor the latter forget that he contemplates a man. Mr. Christopher Smart, the Author of the following Poems, was born at Shipbourne in Kent, the 11th of April, 1722. His Father was poffeffed of an eftate of about 300l. a year in that neighbourhood, and having been originally intended for Holy Orders, had a better tafte for literature than is commonly found in country gentlemen; a tafte which he tranfmitted to his Son. In the beginning of his life our Author was of a very delicate conftitution, having been born earlier than the natural period; and his body being too feeble to permit his indulging freely in childish amufements, his mind had leifure to exercife and expand its powers. He difcovered a very early tafte for Poetry; and proved when he was only four years old, by an extemporary effusion, that even then he had a relifh for Verfe and an ear for Numbers. He was educated at Maidstone, till he was eleven years old: on |