was referred to
arbitrators; but, when they decided against Mallet, he refused to yield
to the award; and, by the help of Millar the bookseller, published all
that he could find, but with success very much below his expectation.

In 1775[sic], his masque of Britannia was acted at Drury Lane, and his
tragedy of Elvira in 1763; in which year he was appointed keeper of the
book of entries for ships in the port of London. In the beginning of
the last war, when the nation was exasperated by ill success, he was
employed to turn the public vengeance upon Byng, and wrote a letter
of accusation under the character of a "Plain Man." The paper was with
great industry circulated and dispersed; and he, for his seasonable
intervention, had a considerable pension bestowed upon him, which he
retained to his death. Towards the end of his life he went with his wife
to France; but after a while, finding his health declining, he returned
alone to England, and died in April, 1765. He was twice married, and
by his first wife had several children. One daughter, who married an
Italian of rank named Cilesia, wrote a tragedy called Almida, which was
acted at Drury Lane. His second wife was the daughter of a nobleman's
steward, who had a considerable fortune, which she took care to retain
in her own hands. His stature was diminutive, but he was regularly
formed; his appearance, till he grew corpulent, was agreeable, and he
suffered it to want no recommendation that dress could give it. His
conversation was elegant and easy. The rest of his character may,
without injury to his memory, sink into silence. As a writer, he cannot
be placed in any high class. There is no species of composition in
which he was eminent. His dramas had their day, a short day, and are
forgotten: his blank verse seems to my ear the echo of Thomson. His
"Life of Bacon" is known, as it is appended to Bacon's volumes, but is
no longer mentioned. His works are such as a writer, bustling in the
world, showing himself in public, and emerging occasionally from time to
time into notice, might keep alive by his personal influence; but which,
conveying little information, and giving no great pleasure, must
soon give way, as the succession of things produces new topics of
conversation and other modes of amusement.

AKENSIDE.

Mark Akenside was born on the 9th of November, 1721, at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. His father Mark was a butcher, of the Presbyterian
sect; his mother's nam