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The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753),Vol. V. by Theophilus Cibber

T >> Theophilus Cibber >> The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753),Vol. V.



THE

LIVES

OF THE

POETS

OF

_Great-Britain_ and _Ireland._

By Mr. CIBBER, and other Hands.

VOL. V.


M DCC LIII


CONTENTS

A Vol.

_Aaron Hill_ V
_Addison_ III
_Amhurst_ V
_Anne_, Countess of _Winchelsea_ III

B

_Bancks_ III
_Banks_ V
_Barclay_ I
_Barton Booth_ IV
_Beaumont_ I
_Behn, Aphra_ III
_Betterton_ III
_Birkenhead_ II
_Blackmore_ V
_Booth_, Vid. _Barton Boyce_ V
_Boyle_, E. _Orrery_ II
_Brady_ IV
_Brewer_ II
_Brooke_, Sir _Fulk Greville_ I
_Brown, Tom_ III
_Buckingham_, Duke of II
_Budgell_ V
_Butler_ II

C

_Carew_ I
_Cartwright_ I
_Centlivre_, Mrs. IV
_Chandler_, Mrs. V
_Chapman_ I
_Chaucer_ I
_Chudleigh_, Lady III
_Churchyard_ I
_Cleveland_ II
_Cockaine_ II
_Cockburne_, Mrs. V
_Codrington_ IV
_Concanen_ V
_Congreve_ IV
_Corbet_ I
_Cotton_ III
_Cowley_ II
_Crashaw_ I
_Creech_ III
_Crowne_ III
_Croxal_ V

D

_Daniel_ I
_Davenant_ II
_Davies_ I
_Dawes_, Arch. of _York_ IV
_Day_ I
_Decker_ I
_De Foe_ IV
_Denham_ IV
_Dennis_ IV
_Donne_ I
_Dorset_, Earl of I
_Dorset_, Earl of III
_Drayton_ I
_Drummond_ I
_Dryden_ III
_D'Urfey_ III

E

_Eachard_ IV
_Etheredge_ III
_Eusden_ V
_Eustace Budgel_ V

F

_Fairfax_ I
_Fanshaw_ II
_Farquhar_ I
_Faulkland_ I
_Fenton_ IV
_Ferrars_ I
_Flecknoe_ III
_Fletcher_ I
_Ford_ I
_Frowde_ V

G

_Garth_ III
_Gay_ IV
_Gildon_ III
_Goff_ I
_Goldsmith_ II
_Gower_ I
_Granville_, Lord _Landsdown_ IV
_Green_ I
_Greville_, Lord _Brooke_ I
_Grierson_ V

H

_Harrington_ II
_Hall_, Bishop I
_Hammond_ V
_Hammond_, Esq; IV
_Harding_ I
_Harrington_ I
_Hausted_ I
_Head_ II
_Haywood, John_ I
_Haywood, Jasper_ I
_Haywood, Thomas_ I
_Hill_ V
_Hinchliffe_ V
_Hobbs_ II
_Holliday_ II
_Howard, Esq_; III
_Howard_, Sir _Robert_ III
_Howel_ II
_Hughes_ IV

I

_Johnson, Ben_ I
_Johnson, Charles_ V

K

_Killegrew, Anne_ II
_Killegrew, Thomas_ III
_Killegrew, William_ III
_King_, Bishop of _Chichester_ II
_King_, Dr. _William_ III

L

_Lauderdale_, Earl of V
_Langland_ I
_Lansdown_, Lord _Granville_ IV
_Lee_ II
_L'Estrange_ IV
_Lillo_ V
_Lilly_ I
_Lodge_ I
_Lydgate_ III

M

_Main_ II
_Manley_, Mrs. IV
_Markham_ I
_Marloe_ I
_Marston_ I
_Marvel_ IV
_Massinger_ II
_May_ II
_Maynwaring_ III
_Miller_ V
_Middleton_ I
_Milton_ II
_Mitchel_ IV
_Monk_, the Hon. Mrs. III
_Montague_, Earl of _Hallifax_ III
_More_, Sir _Thomas_ I
_More, Smyth_ IV
_Motteaux_ IV
_Mountford_ III

N

_Nabbes_ II
_Nash_ I
_Needler_ IV
_Newcastle_, Duchess of II
_Newcastle_, Duke of II

O

_Ogilby_ II
_Oldham_ II
_Oldmixon_ IV
_Orrery, Boyle_, Earl of II
_Otway_ II
_Overbury_ I
_Ozell_ IV

P

_Pack_ IV
_Phillips_, Mrs. _Katherine_ II
_Phillips, John_ III
_Phillips, Ambrose_ V
_Pilkington_ V
_Pit_ V
_Pomfret_ III
_Pope_ V
_Prior_ IV

R

_Raleigh_ I
_Randolph_ I
_Ravenscroft_ III
_Rochester_ II
_Roscommon_, Earl of III
_Rowe, Nicholas_ III
_Rowe_, Mrs. IV
_Rowley_ I

S

_Sackville_, E. of _Dorset_ I
_Sandys_ I
_Savage_ V
_Sedley_ III
_Settle_ III
_Sewel_ IV
_Shadwell_ III
_Shakespear_ I
_Sheffield_, Duke of Buckingham III
_Sheridan_ V
_Shirley_ II
_Sidney_ I
_Skelton_ I
_Smith, Matthew_ II
_Smith, Edmund_ IV
_Smyth, More_ IV
_Southern_ V
_Spenser_ I
_Sprat_ III
_Stapleton_ II
_Steele_ IV
_Stepney_ IV
_Stirling_, Earl of I
_Suckling_ I
_Surry_, Earl of I
_Swift_ V
_Sylvester_ I

T
_Tate_ III
_Taylor_ II
_Theobald_ V
_Thomas_, Mrs. IV
_Thompson_ V
_Tickell_ V
_Trap_ V

V

_Vanbrugh_ IV

W

_Waller_ II
_Walsh_ III
_Ward_ IV
_Welsted_ IV
_Wharton_ II
_Wharton, Philip_ Duke of IV
_Wycherley_ III
_Winchelsea, Anne_, Countess of III
_Wotton_ I
_Wyatt_ I

Y

_Yalden_ IV



THE

LIVES

OF THE

POETS


* * * * *


EUSTACE BUDGELL, Esq;

was the eldest son of Gilbert Budgell, D.D. of St. Thomas near Exeter,
by his first wife Mary, the only daughter of Dr. William Gulston, bishop
of Bristol; whose sister Jane married dean Addison, and was mother to
the famous Mr. Addison the secretary of state. This family of Budgell is
very old, and has been settled, and known in Devonshire above 200
years[1].

Eustace was born about the year 1685, and distinguished himself very
soon at school, from whence he was removed early to Christ's Church
College in Oxford, where he was entered a gentleman commoner. He staid
some years in that university, and afterwards went to London, where, by
his father's directions, he was entered of the Inner-Temple, in order to
be bred to the Bar, for which his father had always intended him: but
instead of the Law, he followed his own inclinations, which carried him
to the study of polite literature, and to the company of the genteelest
people in town. This proved unlucky; for the father, by degrees, grew
uneasy at his son's not getting himself called to the Bar, nor properly
applying to the Law, according to his reiterated directions and request;
and the son complained of the strictness and insufficiency of his
father's allowance, and constantly urged the necessity of his living
like a gentleman, and of his spending a great deal of money. During this
slay, however, at the Temple, Mr. Budgell made a strict intimacy and
friendship with Mr. Addison, who was first cousin to his mother; and
this last gentleman being appointed, in the year 1710, secretary to lord
Wharton, the lord lieutenant of Ireland, he made an offer to his friend
Eustace of going with him as one of the clerks in his office. The
proposal being advantageous, and Mr. Budgell being then on bad terms
with his father, and absolutely unqualified for the practice of the Law,
it was readily accepted. Nevertheless, for fear of his father's
disapprobation of it, he never communicated his design to him 'till the
very night of his setting out for Ireland, when he wrote him a letter
to inform him at once of his resolution and journey. This was in the
beginning of April 1710, when he was about twenty five years of age. He
had by this time read the classics, the most reputed historians, and all
the best French, English, or Italian writers. His apprehension was
quick, his imagination fine, and his memory remarkably strong; though
his greatest commendations were a very genteel address, a ready wit and
an excellent elocution, which shewed him to advantage wherever he went.
There was, notwithstanding, one principal defect in his disposition, and
this was an infinite vanity, which gave him so insufferable a
presumption, as led him to think that nothing was too much for his
capacity, nor any preferment, or favour, beyond his deserts. Mr.
Addison's fondness for him perhaps increased this disposition, as he
naturally introduced him into all the company he kept, which at that
time was the best, and most ingenious in the two kingdoms. In short,
they lived and lodged together, and constantly followed the lord
lieutenant into England at the same time.

It was now that Mr. Budgell commenced author, and was partly concerned
with Sir Richard Steele and Mr. Addison in writing the Tatler. The
Spectators being set on foot in 1710-11, Mr. Budgell had likewise a
share in them, as all the papers marked with an X may easily inform the
reader, and indeed the eighth volume was composed by Mr. Addison and
himself[2], without the assistance of Sir Richard Steele. The
speculations of our author were generally liked, and Mr. Addison was
frequently complimented upon the ingenuity of his kinsman. About the
same time he wrote an epilogue to the Distress'd Mother[3], which had a
greater run than any thing of that kind ever had before, and has had
this peculiar regard shewn to it since, that now, above thirty years
afterwards, it is generally spoke at the representation of that play.
Several little epigrams and songs, which have a good deal of wit in
them, were also written by Mr. Budgell near this period of time, all
which, together with the known affection of Mr. Addison for him, raised
his character so much, as to make him be very generally known and talked
of.

His father's death in 1711 threw into his hands all the estates of the
family, which were about 950 l. a year, although they were left
incumbered with some debts, as his father was a man of pride and spirit,
kept a coach and six, and always lived beyond his income,
notwithstanding his spiritual preferments, and the money he had received
with his wives. Dr. Budgell had been twice married, and by his first
lady left five children living after him, three of whom were sons,
Eustace, our author, Gilbert, a Clergyman, and William, the fellow of
New College in Oxford. By his last wife (who was Mrs. Fortescue, mother
to the late master of the rolls, and who survived him) he had no issue.
Notwithstanding this access of fortune, Mr. Budgell in no wise altered
his manner of living; he was at small expence about his person, stuck
very close to business, and gave general satisfaction in the discharge
of his office.

Upon the laying down of the Spectator, the Guardian was set up, and in
this work our author had a hand along with Mr. Addison and Sir Richard
Steele. In the preface it is said, those papers marked with an asterisk
are by Mr. Budgell.

In the year 1713 he published a very elegant translation of
Theophrastus's Characters, which Mr. Addison in the Lover says, 'is the
best version extant of any ancient author in the English language.' It
was dedicated to the lord Hallifax, who was the greatest patron our
author ever had, and with whom he always lived in the greatest intimacy.

Mr. Budgell having regularly made his progress in the secretary of
State's office in Ireland; upon the arrival of his late Majesty in
England, was appointed under secretary to Mr. Addison, and chief
secretary to the Lords Justices of Ireland. He was made likewise deputy
clerk of the council in that kingdom, and soon after chose member of the
Irish parliament, where he became a very good speaker. The post of under
secretary is reckoned worth 1500 l. a year, and that of deputy clerk to
the council 250 l. a year. Mr. Budgell set out for Ireland the 8th of
October, 1714, officiated in his place in the privy council the 14th,
took possession of the secretary's office, and was immediately admitted
secretary to the Lords Justices. In the same year at a public
entertainment at the Inns of Court in Dublin, he, with many people of
distinction, was made an honorary bencher. At his first entering upon
the secretary's place, after the removal of the tories on the accession
of his late Majesty, he lay under very great difficulties; all the
former clerks of his office refusing to serve, all the books with the
form of business being secreted, and every thing thrown into the utmost
confusion; yet he surmounted these difficulties with very uncommon
resolution, assiduity, and ability, to his great honour and applause.

Within a twelvemonth of his entering upon his employments, the rebellion
broke out, and as, for several years (during all the absences of the
lord lieutenant) he had discharged the office of secretary of state, and
as no transport office at that time subsisted, he was extraordinarily
charged with the care of the embarkation, and the providing of shipping
(which is generally the province of a field-officer) for all the troops
to be transported to Scotland. However, he went through this extensive
and unusual complication of business, with great exactness and ability,
and with very singular disinterestedness, for he took no extraordinary
service money on this account, nor any gratuity, or fees for any of the
commissions which passed through his office for the colonels and
officers of militia then raising in Ireland. The Lords Justices pressed
him to draw up a warrant for a very handsome present, on account of his
great zeal, and late extraordinary pains (for he had often sat up whole
nights in his office) but he very genteely and firmly refused it.

Mr. Addison, upon becoming principal secretary of state in England in
1717, procured the place of accomptant and comptroller general of the
revenue in Ireland for Mr. Budgell, which is worth 400 l. a year, and
might have had him for his under secretary, but it was thought more
expedient for his Majesty's service, that Mr. Budgell should continue
where he was. Our author held these several places until the year 1718,
at which time the duke of Bolton was appointed lord lieutenant. His
grace carried one Mr. Edward Webster over with him (who had been an
under clerk in the Treasury) and made him a privy counsellor and his
secretary. This gentleman, 'twas said, insisted upon the quartering a
friend on the under secretary, which produced a misunderstanding between
them; for Mr. Budgell positively declared, he would never submit to any
such condition whilst he executed the office, and affected to treat Mr.
Webster himself, his education, abilities, and family, with the utmost
contempt. He was indiscreet enough, prior to this, to write a lampoon,
in which the lord lieutenant was not spared: he would publish it (so
fond was he of this brat of his brain) in opposition to Mr. Addison's
opinion, who strongly persuaded him to suppress it; as the publication,
Mr. Addison said, could neither serve his interest, or reputation. Hence
many discontents arose between them, 'till at length the lord
lieutenant, in support of his secretary, superseded Mr. Budgell, and
very soon after got him removed from the place of accomptant-general.
However, upon the first of these removals taking place, and upon some
hints being given by his private secretary, captain Guy Dickens (now our
minister at Stockholm) that it would not probably be safe for him to
remain any longer in Ireland, he immediately entrusted his papers and
private concerns to the hands of his brother William, then a clerk in
his office, and set out for England. Soon after his arrival he published
a pamphlet representing his case, intituled, A Letter to the Lord----
from Eustace Budgell, Esq; Accomptant General of Ireland, and late
Secretary to their Excellencies the Lords Justices of that Kingdom;
eleven hundred copies of which were sold off in one day, so great was
the curiosity of the public in that particular. Afterwards too in the
Post-Boy of January 17, 1718-19, he published an Advertisement to
justify his character against a report that had been spread to his
disadvantage: and he did not scruple to declare in all companies that
his life was attempted by his enemies, or otherwise he should have
attended his feat in the Irish Parliament. His behaviour, about this
time, made many of his friends judge he was become delirious; his
passions were certainly exceeding strong, nor were his vanity and
jealousy less. Upon his coming to England he had lost no time in waiting
upon Mr. Addison, who had resigned the seals, and was retired into the
country for the sake of his health; but Mr. Addison found it impossible
to stem the tide of opposition, which was every where running against
his kinsman, through the influence and power of the duke of Bolton. He
therefore disswaded him in the strongest manner from publishing his
case, but to no manner of purpose, which made him tell a friend in great
anxiety, 'Mr. Budgell was wiser than any man he ever knew, and yet he
supposed the world would hardly believe he acted contrary to his
advice.' Our author's great and noble friend the lord Hallifax was dead,
and my lord Orrery, who held him in the highest esteem, had it not in
his power to procure him any redress. However, Mr. Addison had got a
promise from lord Sunderland, that as soon as the present clamour was a
little abated, he would do something for him.

Mr. Budgell had held the considerable places of under secretary to the
Lord Lieutenant, and secretary to the Lords Justices for four years,
during which time he had never been absent four days from his office,
nor ten miles from Dublin. His application was indefatigable, and his
natural spirits capable of carrying him through any difficulty. He had
lived always genteelly, but frugally, and had saved a large sum of
money, which he now engaged in the South-Sea scheme. During his abode in
Ireland, he had collected materials for writing a History of that
kingdom, for which he had great advantages, by having an easy recourse
to all the public offices; but what is become of it, and whether he ever
finished it, we are not certainly informed. It is undoubtedly a
considerable loss, because there is no tolerable history of that nation,
and because we might have expected a satisfactory account from so
pleasing a writer.

He wrote a pamphlet, after he came to England, against the famous
Peerage Bill, which was very well received by the public, but highly
offended the earl of Sunderland. It was exceedingly cried up by the
opposition, and produced some overtures of friendship at the time, from
Mr. Robert Walpole, to our author. Mr. Addison's death, in the year
1719, put an end, however, to all his hopes of succeeding at court,
where he continued, nevertheless, to make several attempts, but was
constantly kept down by the weight of the duke of Bolton. In the
September of that year he went into France, through all the strong
places in Flanders and Brabant, and all the considerable towns in
Holland, and then went to Hanover, from whence he returned with his
Majesty's retinue the November following.