on, author of the Independent Whig, and translator of Tacitus,
has very freely censured L'Estrange. He bestows very freely upon him
the epithet of a buffoon, an ignorant droll, &c.----He charges him
with having no knowledge of the Latin tongue; and says, he is unfit
to be read by any person of taste. That his stile is full of technical
terms, and of phrases picked up in the streets, from apprentices and
porters.

* * * * *

Sir Roger L'Estrange translated the third Book of Tacitus, an author
of whom Mr. Gordon made an entire translation. To raise the reputation
of his own performance, he has abused that of L'Estrange, in terms
very unfit for a gentleman to use, supposing the censure had been
true. Sir Roger's works indeed are often calculated for the meanest
capacities, and the phrase is consequently low; but a man must be
greatly under the influence of prejudice, who can discover no genius
in his writings; not an intimate acquaintance with the state of
parties, human life, and manners.

* * * * *

Sir Roger was but ill-rewarded by the Tories, for having been their
champion; the latter part of his life was clouded with poverty,
and though he descended in peace to the grave, free from political
turmoils, yet as he was bowed down with age and distress, he cannot be
said to have died in comfort. He had seen much of the world, examined
many characters, experienced the vicissitudes of fortune, and was as
well instructed as any man that ever lived, in the important lesson of
human life, viz. That all things are vanity.

[Footnote A: See Gen. Dict. Art. L'Estrange.]

[Footnote B: Truth and Loyalty, ubi supra.]

[Footnote C: Sir Roger L'Estrange was called, by way of derision,
Cromwell's Fidler.]

[Footnote D: General Dictionary.]

* * * * *

Mr. EDMUND SMITH,

This distinguished poet was son of an eminent merchant, one Mr. Neal,
by a daughter of baron Lechemere[A]. Some misfortunes of his father,
which were soon followed by his death, occasioned our author's being
left very young in the care of a near relation (one who married Mr.
Neal's mother, whose name was Smith).

This gentleman treated him with as much tenderness as if he had been
his own child, and placed him at Westminster-school, under the care
of Dr. Busby. After the death of his generous guardian (whose name
in gratitude he thought proper to assume)