190 OUR HYMNS:
M.A., Precentor of York, and Rector of Aston," in four vols., 1811.
William Mason was a son of the vicar of St. Trinity Hall, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. He was born at Kingston-upon- Hull, in 1725. In 1742, he went to study at St. John s College, Cambridge, where he graduated ; he was afterwards a fellow of Pembroke Hall. In 1754, he took orders, received the living of Aston, and became one of the chaplains of George III. In 1705, he married a lady, Miss Sherman, who died of consumption two years after.
Mr. Mason had early displayed poetical talent, and during his life he produced many odes, tragedies, and other poems. He en joyed the friendship of the poet Gray, and published his memoirs and letters, in four vols., in 1775. His autobiographical style of memoir has had many imitators, from the time when Boswell successfully adopted his plan. Mr. Mason s tastes were not con fined to poetry. He made, in 1783, a translation into English verse of "C. A. Du Fresnoy s Art of Painting," with notes full of information ; and he published, in 1795, an " Essay, historical and critical, on English Church Music." The cause of his death was remarkable. In alighting from his carriage, he received a slight injury which was allowed to pass without notice, but at length mortification ensued, and he died, April 5th, 1797.
In addition to those named, he was the author of the following works. " Isis," a poem, 1748. Tragedies on the model of the ancients: " Elfrida," 1751, and " Caractacus," 1759, which was afterwards given at Covent Garden Theatre. Other pieces were " Odes on Memory, Independency, Melancholy, and the Tale of Tyranny," 1756. Some excesses of style in this work exposed the author to ridicule. " Three elegies," 1762 ; his book of the " English Garden," four vols., in 1772, 1777, 1778, and, 1782; his "Ode to the Naval Officers of Great Britain ;" his " Ode to Mr. Pitt," 1782 ; and his "Secular Ode in commemoration of the Glorious Revolution of 1688."
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