he wrote (in prose) a book called, An Enquiry into
the Merit of Assassination, with a View to the Character of Caesar; and
his Designs on the Roman Republic.

About this time, he in a manner left the world, (though living near so
populous a part of it as London) and settled at Plaistow in Essex; where
he entirely devoted himself to his study, family, and garden; and the
accomplishment of many profitable views; particularly one, in which for
years he had laboured through experiments in vain; and when he brought
it to perfection, did not live to reap the benefit of it: The discovery
of the art of making pot-ash like the Russian, which cost this nation,
yearly, an immense sum of money.

In the year 1743 he published The Fanciad, an Heroic Poem; inscribed to
his grace the duke of Marlborough: Who as no name was then prefixed to
it, perhaps, knew not the author by whom he was distinguished in it.

Soon after he wrote another, intitled the Impartial; which he inscribed,
in the same manner, to the lord Carteret (now earl of Granville). In the
beginning of it are the following lines,

Burn, sooty slander, burn thy blotted scroll;
Greatness is greatness, spite of faction's soul.

Deep let my soul detest th'adhesive pride,
That changing sentiment, unchanges side.

It would be tedious to enumerate the variety of smaller pieces he at
different times was author of.

His notions of the deity were boundlessly extensive; and the few lines
here quoted from his Poem upon faith, published in 1746, must give the
best idea of his sentiments upon that most elevated of all subjects.

What then must be believ'd?--Believe God kind,
To fear were to offend him. Fill thy heart
With his felt laws; and act the good he loves.
Rev'rence his power. Judge him but by his works:
Know him but in his mercies. Rev'rence too
The most mistaken schemes that mean his praise.
Rev'rence his priests.--for ev'ry priest is his,--
Who finds him in his conscience.--

This year he published his Art of Acting, a Poem, deriving Rules from a
new Principle, for touching the Passions in a natural Manner, &c. Which
was dedicated to the Earl of Chesterfield.

Having for many years been in a manner forgetful of the eight Books he
had finished of his Epic Poem called Gideon,--in 1749 he re-perused that
work, and published three of the Books; to which he gave the name of
Gideon, or the Patriot.--They were inscribed to the late lord
Bolingbrok