Johnson's ‘Life of Pope’ (Johnson, Works, 1810, xi. 205–6), accompanied by a severe criticism on ‘the absurdity of joining in the same inscription Latin and English, or verse and prose.’ The verses were not, however, originally written by Pope for this occasion, but were taken, with one or two necessary alterations, from the conclusion of his ‘Epistle to Mr. Addison occasioned by his Dialogues on Medals.’ Handsome in appearance, with charming manners and a ready tongue, Craggs was everywhere a popular favourite. While on his deathbed, Addison in a delightful letter, which was probably the last he ever wrote, dedicated his works to him and implored his patronage for Tickell, his literary executor. Pope, with whom he was very intimate, was never tired of singing his praises, and nearly twenty years after his death makes a graceful allusion to him in the epilogue to the ‘Satires’ (Dialogue, ii. lines 66–9). Gay also speaks of him as ‘Bold, generous Craggs, whose heart was ne'er disguised’ (Mr. Pope's Welcome from Greece, st. xiii.) Horace Walpole, it is true, sneers at him as ‘a showy vapouring man,’ but the young politician whom Sunderland had selected to oppose his father in the House of Commons was naturally a fit object for Walpole's depreciation. Craggs never married. His natural daughter, Harriot, married Richard Eliot on 4 March 1726. Their eldest son, who was created Baron Eliot in 1784, took the additional name of Craggs by royal license dated 15 April 1789. Her second husband, the Hon. John Hamilton, brother of James, first viscount Hamilton, was drowned off Portsmouth on 18 Dec. 1755. Her only child by her second marriage succeeded his uncle as the second viscount, and was afterwards created marquis of Abercorn. She died in 1769, and was buried at St. Germans. Three portraits of Craggs, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, are in the collection of the Earl of St. Germans at Port Eliot, one of which was exhibited in the second loan collection of national portraits in 1867 (Catalogue, No. 225). Among the Ashburnham manuscripts, reported on in the eighth report of the Historical MSS. Commission (app. ii.), are a number of letters addressed to Craggs by the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and many of the leading politicians of the day.
[In addition to the books referred to in the articles on the two Craggs, the following works, among others, have been consulted: Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, ii. 34–9, 43, 46; Hasted's Kent (1778), i. 42, 73–4; Lord Mahon's History of England (1839), i. 393, 448, ii. 29–30; Macaulay's History of England, iv. (1885), 547; Coxe's Memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole (1798); Horace Walpole's Letters (1857); Roscoe's Works of Alexander Pope (1824); Addison's Works (Bohn's edit.); The Letters and Works of Lady M. W. Montagu (1837), i. 38–40, 116–19, ii. 155; Private Correspondence of the Duchess of Marlborough (1838); The Marlborough Despatches, ed. Sir G. Murray (1845); Granger's Biographical History (Noble, 1806), iii. 176–80; Georgian Era (1832), i. 536; Parl. History, vols. v. and vii.; Historical Register for 1714 and 1721; Stanley's Westminster Abbey (1882), pp. 219–21; Haydn's Book of Dignities (1851); Eighth Report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission; Calendar of Treasury Papers, 1708–14, 1714–19; Official Return of Lists of Members of Parliament, pt. i. p. 600, pt. ii. pp. 1, 9, 19, 30, 38.]
CRAIG, ALEXANDER (1567?–1627), poet, born at Banff about 1567, was educated in the university of St. Andrews, where he took his degree of master of arts in 1586. At the accession of James he came to London in the hope of obtaining preferment, and in 1604 published ‘The Poetical Essayes of Alexander Craige, Scots-Britane,’ 4to, in which he pays many fulsome compliments to the king and queen. There is a sonnet by Sir Robert Aytoun, in the author's praise, at the end of the book. Craig's flattery was not applied in vain, for on 9 Dec. 1605 he received from James a pension of 600 merks, or 400l. Scots money. At the next meeting of the Scottish parliament an act of ratification of the pension was passed, on 11 Aug. 1607. Having been successful in his pilgrimage, he returned to Scotland and settled at a spot that he calls Rose-Craig, probably situated in the neighbourhood of Banff. In 1606 appeared ‘The Amorose Songes, Sonets, and Elegies of Mr. Alexander Craige, Scots Britane,’ 8vo, dedicated to Queen Anne. The best things in this dull collection are some verses in imitation of Marlowe's ‘Come live with me and be my love,’ and of Sir Walter Raleigh's ‘If all the world and love were young.’ It was followed in 1609 by ‘The Poetical Recreations of Mr. Alexander Craige of Rosecraig,’ Edinburgh, 4to, dedicated to the Earl of Dunbar. One of the pieces is a ‘Complaint to his Majestie,’ in which the poet deplores his poverty. In 1623 Craig published at Aberdeen another volume of ‘Poeticall Recreations,’ 4to, consisting chiefly of epigrams. From some copies of verses in this collection (addressed to the Earl of Mar) it appears that the poet had some difficulty in getting his pension regularly paid. Craig died in 1627. A posthumous poem entitled ‘The Pilgrime and Heremite, in forme of a Dialogue’ (of which a unique copy, wanting sig. B, four leaves, is preserved at Britwell), was published by William Skene in 1631 at Aberdeen, 4to. Some verses in Alexander
