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duced to shew, it would not: but when to this "idle trade," is added some "callings," with superior claims upon his time and attention, his progress in the art of versification will probably be in proportion neither to the years he has lived, nor even to the attempts he has made.
While composing the first-published of these poems, the Author was honoured with the notice and assisted by the advice of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke: Part of it, was written in his presence, and the whole submitted to his judgement; receiving, in its progress, the benefit of his correction: I hope, therefore, to obtain pardon of the Reader, if I eagerly seize the occasion, and, after so long a silence, endeavour to express a grateful sense of the benefits I have received from this Gentleman, who was solicitous for my more essential interests, as well as benevolently anxious for my credit as a writer.
I will not enter upon the subject of his extraordinary abilities; it would be vanity, it would be weakness in me to believe that I could make them better known or more admired than they now are; but of his private worth, of his wishes to do good, of his affability and condescension; his readiness to lend assistance when he knew it was wanted, and his delight to give praise where he thought it was deserved; of these I may write with some propriety: all know that his powers were vast, his acquirements various, and I take leave to add, that he
