h her master of the horse. On what
account this place, in particular, was allotted him, we know not; but,
with regard to his literary abilities, Mr. Dryden in his postscript to
his translation of Virgil, has asserted, that Mr. Walsh was the best
critic then living; and Mr. Pope, speaking of our author, thus concludes
his Essay on Criticism, viz.

To him, the wit of Greece, and Rome was known,
And ev'ry author's merit, but his own.
Such late was Walsh: the muses judge and friend,
Who justly knew to blame, or to commend;
To failings mild, but zealous for desert,
The clearest head, and the sincerest heart.

In the year 1714 the public were obliged with a small posthumous piece
of Mr. Walsh's, entitled AEsculapius, or the Hospital of Fools, in
imitation of Lucian. There is printed amongst. Mr. Walsh's other
performances, in a volume of the Minor Poets, an Essay on Pastoral
Poetry, with a Short Defence of Virgil, against some of the reflexions
of M. Fontenelle. That critic had censured Virgil for writing his
pastorals in a too courtly stile, which, he says, is not proper for the
Doric Muse; but Mr. Walsh has very judiciously shewn, that the Shepherds
in Virgil's time, were held in greater estimation, and were persons of a
much superior figure to what they are now. We are too apt to figure the
ancient countrymen like our own, leading a painful life in poverty,
and contempt, without wit, or courage, or education; but men had quite
different notions of these things for the first four thousand years
of the world. Health and strength were then more in esteem, than the
refinements of pleasure, and it was accounted, more honourable to till
the ground, and keep a flock of sheep, than to dissolve in wantonness,
and effeminating sloth.

Mr. Walsh's other pieces consist chiefly of Elegies, Epitaphs, Odes, and
Songs; they are elegant, tho' not great, and he seems to have had a well
cultivated, tho' not a very extensive, understanding. Dryden and Pope
have given their sanction in his favour, to whom he was personally
known, a circumstance greatly to his advantage, for had there been no
personal friendship, we have reason to believe, their encomiums would
have been less lavish; at least his works do not carry so high an idea
of him, as they have done. Mr. Walsh died about the year 1710.

* * * * *

THOMAS BETTERTON.

(Written by R.S.[1])

Almost every circumstance relating to the life