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AND

LONDON

REVIEW;

FOR JANUARY, 1786.

TH

For the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE.
ACCOUNT of the late RICHARD GLOVER, Esq.

HIS excellent writer was the fon of Richard Glover, a Hamburgh merchant, in London, and was born in St. Martin's lace, Cannon-ftreet, in the year 1712. He received the whole of his education under the Rev. Mr. Daniel Sanxay, at CheamLhool, a place which he afterwards delighted to vifit; and fometimes attended at the anniversary, held of late years in London, where he seemed happy in relating his juvenile alventures. At this feminary he early diftingunhed himself, particularly in the poetical lice; and amongst other pieces, wrote a poem to the memory of Sir Ifaac Newton, prefixed to the view of that incomparable author's philofophy, published in 4to. in 1728, by his intimate friend Dr. Pemberton *. Confidering this as the work of a fchool-boy, it will excite no fmall degree of furprize, as it poffeffes more claims to applaufe, and re

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quires fewer allowances for faults than pro ductions of fuch an age are always allowed. Indeed, from this fpecimen, we may apply to Mr. lover what Mr. Walpole faid of his friend Gray, that he never was a boy.

Though poffeffed of talents which were calculated to excel in the literary world, he was content to devote his attention to commerce, and at a proper period commenced a' Hamburgh merchant ; but though he acknowledged trade to be entitled to the principal, yet he did not admit it to be the fole object of his attention. He ftill cultivated literature, and affociated with those who were eminent in fcience. One of his earliest friends was Matthew Green, the ingenious but obfcure author of fome admirable poems, which, in 1737, after his death, were collected and published by Mr. Glover. This

In the preface to this work, Dr. Pemberton fpeaks of the poem in these terms: "I ❝ have prefented my readers with a copy of verses on Sir Ifaac Newton, which I have just ❝ received from a young gentleman, whom I am proud to reckon among the number of my dearest friends. If I had any apprehenfion that this piece of poetry flood in need of an apology, I should be defirous the reader might know that the author is but sixteen years * old, and was obliged to finish the compofition in a very short space of time; but I fhail "only take the liberty to obferve, that the boldness of the digreffions will be beft judged of "by those who are acquainted with Pindar."

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†This appears from the following lines, with which he begins his poem called "London:" "Ye northern blafts, and Eurus, wont to fweep

With rudest pinions o'er the furrow'd waves,
Awhile fufpend your violence, and waft
From fandy Wefer and the broad-mouth'd Elbe
My freighted veffels to the deftin'd shore,
Safe o'er th' unruffled main; let every thought,
Which may difquiet and alarm my breast,
Be abfent now; that, difpoffefs'd of care,
And free from every tumult of the mind,
With each disturbing paffion hufh'd to peace,
1 may pour all my spirit on the theme
Which opens now before me, and demands
The loftieft ftrain."

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original writer in the Spleen complimented
our author in the following manner :
But there's a youth that you can name,
Who needs no leading-strings to fame,
Whofe quick maturity of brain
The birth of Pallas may explain;
Dreaming of whofe depending fate,
I heard Melpomene debate,
This, this is he, that was foretold
Should emulate our Greeks of old,
Infpir'd by me with facred art,
He fings, and rules the varied heart.
If Jove's dread anger he rehearse,
We hear the thunder in his verse;
If he defcribe love turn'd to rage,
The Furies riot on his page;
If he fair liberty and law
By ruffian power expiring draw,
The keener pallions then engage
Aright and fanctify their rage;
If he attempt difaftrous love,

We hear thofe plaints that wound the grove:
With him the kinder paffions glow,
And tears diftill'd from pity flow.

ed with great violence, and more especially in the metropolis. In the year 1739, Sir George Champion, who was next in rotation for the chief magiftracy, had offended a majority of his conflituents, by voting with the Court party in the bufinefs of the Spanish Convention. This determined them to fet him afide, and chufe the next to him in feniority; accordingly Sir John Salter was chofen on Michaelmas-day, and on this occafion Mr. Glover took a very active part On the fucceeding year the fame resolution of the majority continuing, Mr. Glover prefided at Vintners-Hall, Sept. 25, at a meeting of the Livery, to confider of two proper perfons to be recommended to the Court of Aldermen, when it was refolved to support the nomination of Sir Robert Godfchall and George Heathcote, Efq. who being returned to the Court of Aldermer, the latter gentleman was chofen; but he declining the of fice, another meeting of the Livery was held at Vintners-Hall, Oct. 13, when Mr. Glover again was called to the chair, and the affembly came to a refolution to return Humphrey Parfons, Efq. and Sir Robert Godfchall to the Court of Aldermen, who made choice of the former to fill the office. On the 19th of November, another meeting was held at Vintners-Hall, when Mr. Glover pronounced an eulogium on Sir John Barnard, and advifed the Livery to chufe him one of their reprefentatives, notwithstanding his intention to refign. On all these occafions he acquitted himself in a very able manner. § His fpeeches at all thefe meetings were elegant, fpirited, and adapted.

On the 21st of May, 1737, Mr. Glover married Mifs Nunn, with whom he received an handsome fortune; and in the fame month published "Leonidas," a poem, in 4to. which in this and the dext year patled thro' three editions. This poem was infcribed to Lord Cobham †, and on its first appearance was received by the world with great approbation, though it has fince been unaccountably neglected. Lord Lyttelton, in a popular publication, called "Common Senfe," and in a poem addreffed to the author, praifed it in the warmeft terms; and Dr. Pem- His talents for public fpeaking, his knowberton publifhed "Obfervations on Poetry, ledge of political affairs, and his information especially epic, occafioned by the late poem concerning trade and commerce foon afterupon Leonidas," 1738, 12mo. merely with wards pointed him out to the merchants of a view to point out its beauties. In 1739, London as a proper perton to conduct their Mr. Glover published "London: or, The application to Parliament on the subject of Progrefs of Commerce," 4to. and a ballad the neglect of their trade, He accepted the entitled "Hofer's Ghoft." Both thefe pieces office, and in fumming up the evidence gave feem to have been written with a view to very ftriking proofs of his oratorical powers. incite the public to refent the misbehaviour This fpeech was pronounced Jan. 27, 1742, of the Spaniards, and the latter had a very and was afterwards published under the title confiderable effect. of "A fhort Account of the late ApplicaThe political diffentions at this period rag- tion to Parliament made by the Merchants of

The only anecdotes of this author are to be found in our Magazine for July laft, and they were communicated by a gentleman who received them immediately from Mr. Glover

himfelf.

+ Mr. Glover is fuppofed to have written feveral, if not all the infcriptions at Stowe.

See A Narrative of what paffed in the Common-Hall of the Citizens of London, af"fembled for the Election of a Lord-Mayor, on Saturday the 29th of September, on Mon"day the firft, and Tuesday the fecond of October: together with a Defence of thefe Pro"ceedings, both as reafonable and agreeable to the Practice of former Times." 8vo. 1739This was written by Benjamin Robins, author of Lord Anfon's Voyage.

Thefe fpeeches are in the London Magazine, 1740, and in Annals of Europe, 1740, page 283.

London

London upon the Neglect of their Trade; with the Subftance of the Evidence thereupon, as fummed up by Mr. Glover." 8vo.

1742.

In the year 1744 died the Dutchess of Marlborough, and by her will left to Mr. Glover and Mr. Mallet, 500l. each, to write the Hiftory of the Duke of Marlborough's Life. Of Mr. Glover her Grace fays, that the believes him to be a very honeft man, who wifhed as the did, all the good that could happen to preserve the liberties and laws of England. This bequeft never took place. It is fuppofed that Mr. Glover very early renounced his share of it; and Mallet, though he continued to talk of performing the tak, almost as long as he lived, is now known never to have made the leaft progrefs in it.

About this period Mr. Glover withdrew a good deal from public notice, and lived a life of retirement He had been unfuccefsful in has business, and with a very laudable delicory had preferred an obfcure retreat to popular obfervation, until his affairs fhould put en a more profperous appearance. He had been honoured with the attention of Frederick Prince of Wales, who once presented lam with a complete fet of the Clafficks, elegantly bound; and on his abfenting himself for fome time on account of the embarrass. ment in his circumstances, fent him, it is fa, sool. The Prince died in March 1751, and in May following Mr. Glover was once more drawn from his retreat by the importunity of his friends, and ftood candidate for the place of Chamberlain of London. It

fortunately happened that he did not dedare himself ung most of the Livery had engaged their votes. After a few days, find#g that his antagonist gained ground upon the pell, he gave up the conteft, on the 7th of May 1751, and on this occafion made the following fpeech, which exhibiting the feel

5 of a manly refigned philofophical mind, in unprofperous circumítances, deferves to be rendered more public. It was as follows; "Gentlemen,

"AFTER the trouble which I have had fo large a fhare in giving you, by my applicaLon for your favour to fucceed Sir John Bofworth in the office of Chamberlain, this day fɔ worthily fupplied, I should deem myself excufable in quitting this place, before I rendered my thanks to thofe in particular who have fo generously espoused my interest; to your new-elected Chamberlain himself, and numbers of his friends, whose expreffions and actions have done me peculiar honour, amidit the warmth of their attachment to him; to the two deferving Magiftrates, who have prefided among us with impartiality,

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humanity, and justice; and lastly, to all in general, for their candour, decency, and indulgence.

"Gentlemen,

"Heretofore I have frequently had occafion of addreffing the Livery of London in public; but at this time I find myself at an unusual lofs, being under all the difficulties which a want of matter, deferving your notice, can create. Had I now your rights and privileges to vindicate; had I the caufe of your fuffering trade to defend; or were I now called forth to recommend and enforce the parliamentary service of the most virtuous and illuftrious citizen, my tongue would be free from conftraint, and expatiating at large, would endeavour to merit your attention, which now must be folely confined to fo narrow a fubject as myfelf. On those occafions, the importance of the matter, and 'my known zeal to ferve you, however ineflectual my attempts might prove, were always fufficient to fecure me the honour of a kind reception and unmerited regard. Your countenance, Gentlemen, firft drew me from the retirement of a ftudious life; your repeated marks of distinction first pointed me out to that great body the merchants of London, who, purfuing your example, condefcended to intruft me, unequal and unworthy as I was, with the most important caufe, a caufe where your intereft was as nearly concerned as theirs. In confequence of that deference which has been paid to the fentiments and choice of the citizens and traders of London, it was impoffible but fome faint Juftre must have glanced on one, whom, weak as he was, they were pleased to appoint the inftrument on their behalf: and if from thefe tranfactions I accidentally acquired the fmalled fhare of reputation, it was to you, Gentlemen of the Livery, that my gratitude afcribes it; and I joyfully embrace this pubhic opportunity of declaring, that whatever part of a public character I may presume to claim, I owe primarily to you, To this I might add the favour, the twenty years countenance and patronage of one, whom a fupreme degree of respect thall prevent me from naming; and though under the temptation of using that name, as a certain means of obviating fome misconstructions, I fhall, however, avoid to dwell on the memory of ą lofs fo recent, fo juftly and fo univerfally lamented.

"Permit me now to remind you, that when placed by thefe means in a light not altogether unfavourable, no lucrative reward was then the object of my purfuit; nor ever did the promises or offers of private emolument induce me to quit my independence, or vary from the leaft of my former profelCons

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