nea, and reduced Carolus Secundus, from a whole number, to decimal
fractions) I dispatched a letter into the country, full of excuse, and
penitence, baited with all the submissive eloquence imaginable. In the
mean time, I was no less sedulous to find out some employment, that
might suit with my genius, and with my dependencies at home, render my
life easy.'

Whether his father was touched by the epistle which our author in
consequence of this resolution wrote to him, we cannot ascertain, as
there is no mention made of it. Soon after this, we find him school
master of Kingston upon Thames, and happy for him, had he continued in
that more certain employment, and not have so soon exchanged it for
beggary and reputation. Mr. Brown, impatient of a recluse life, quitted
the school, and came again to London; and as he found his old companions
more delighted with his wit, than ready to relieve his necessities, he
had recourse to scribbling for bread, which he performed with various
success. Dr. Drake, who has written a defence of our author's character,
prefixed to his works, informs us, that the first piece which brought
him into reputation, was an account of the conversion of Mr. Bays, in a
Dialogue, which met with a reception suitable to the wit, spirit, and
learning of it. But though this raised his fame, yet it added very
little to his profit: For, though it made his company exceedingly
coveted, and might have recommended him to the great, as well as to
the ingenious, yet he was of a temper not to chuse his acquaintance by
interest, and slighted such an opportunity of recommending himself to
the powerful and opulent, as, if wisely improved, might have procured
him dignities and preferments. The stile of this dialogue, was like that
of his ordinary conversation, lively and facetious. It discovered no
small erudition, but managed with a great deal of humour, in a burlesque
way; which make both the reasoning and the extensive reading, which are
abundantly shewn in it, extremely surprizing and agreeable. The same
manner and humour runs through all his writings, whether Dialogues,
Letters, or Poems.

The only considerable objection, which the critics have made to his
works is, that they want delicacy. But in answer to this, it may be
affirmed, that there is as much refinement in his works, as the nature
of humorous satire, which is the chief beauty of his compositions, will
admit; for, as satire requires strong ideas, the lang