Hence swains attentive snatch a fearful joy, Thus all, like those, whose unambitious mind JOHN ELLIS. London, March 22, 1698.-1691. "It is wonderful,' Sir, said Dr. Johnson, what is to be found in London.-The most literary conversation that I ever enjoyed, was at the table of Jack Ellis, a moneyscrivener, behind the Royal-Exchange, with whom I at one period used to dine, generally once a week!' John Ellis, who is thus honourably mentioned, attained to civick as well as literary, honours; he was a commoncouncil-man, Deputy of Broad-Street Ward, and was four times Master of the Scrivener's Company. His mother was one of the fierce old Calvinists; she had him flogged at school, for looking at a top on a Sunday, which had been given to him the day before. The small pox had injured the sight of one of his eyes, in infancy very materially, so that when he was advanced in life, he could only use the other to draw, write, &c. with the help of a glass. But by some unaccountable 1 operation of nature, when he was four-score years of age, the sight of that eye became suddenly darkened, and the one which had been useless resumed its faculties, so that he saw far better than before. The change ocasioned no pain or sensation whatever; it occurred during a walk by moonlight, and its immediate effect was, that though he saw the path distinctly, he could not keep it, but deviated to the right, and so much that his companion was obliged to lead him home. All the seasons of relaxation from business, he employed in walking and when he was questioned on his omitting to go to church, his usual reply was-Nathan walked with the Lord. For more than twenty years he was in the habit of writing verses, some of which appeared in the collections of Dodsley, and of his friend and correspondent Moses Mendez; his only seperate publications were, 1 The Surprize, or the Gentleman turned Apothecary, 1739. versified from a Latin translation of a French original. The canto added by Maphæus To Virgil's twelve books of Æneas, Done into English Hudibrastic, With notes beneath, and Latin text 1758. Most of his works remain in manuscript; there is among them a translation of Ovid's Epistles ready for the press, which Johnson, it is said, advised him to publish. The very curious specimen of his taste and poetry, is copied from the European Magazine, which contains an account of this happy and remarkable man at some length, and a good portrait. SARAH HARTOP'S LOVE LETTER VERSIFIED Advertisement to the Reader. The following Epistle was written by a Girl at Deal, to her sweet-heart, a sailor on board of a man of war in the Downs. The simplicity which runs through the whole, may, perhaps, excite the reader's ridicule on the first perusal: but if he compares this girl's sentiments, with those of Ovid's Heroines, making allowance for her want of so polite a Secretary, he will find them much the same. Therefore a poetical translation is here added, as an Essay towards dressing up those naked sentiments of Sarah, in such a garb, as to tender them rather worthy of compassion, than ridicule. THE ORIGINAL. Lovin Der Charls, THIS with mi kind lov to yow, is and to tel yow, after all owr sport and fon, 1 am lik to pa fort, for i am with child, and wors for all, mi sister Nan nos it, and cals me a hore and bich, and is redy to ter mi sol owt, and Jack Peny lis with her every tim he cums ashor, the saci dog wuld hav lade with me to, but i wold not let him, for i will be always onest to you, therefor der Charls, cum ashor and let us be mared to saf mi vartu; and if yow hav no munni, i wil paun mi nu stas and sel mi to nu smoks you gav me, and that will pa the parson and find us a diner: and pra der Chails cum ashor, and dont be afraid for want of a ring, for I hav stol mi sister nans, and the nasti tod shal never hav it no mor, for she tels about that i am goin to hav a bastard, and, god bles yor der lovin sol, cum sune, for I longs to be mared |