Solihul, where he diftinguished himself by the quickness of his progrefs.

When he was young (June 1724) he was deprived of his father, and foon after (Auguft 1726) of his grandfather; and was, with his brother, who died afterwards unmarried, left to the care of his grandmother, who managed the eftate.

From fchool he was fent in 1732 to Pembroke-College in Oxford, a fociety which for half a century has been eminent for English poetry and elegant liteHere it appears that he found delight and advantage; for he continued his name there ten years, though he took no degree. After the firft four years he put on the Civilian's gown, but with

rature.

out fhewing any intention to engage in

the profeffion.

About the time when he went to Oxford, the death of his grandmother devolved his affairs to the care of the reverend Mr. Dolman of Brome in Staffordshire, whofe attention he always mentioned with gratitude.

At Oxford he employed himself upon English poetry; and in 1737 published a small Miscellany, without his name.

He then for a time wandered about, to acquaint himself with life; and was fometimes at London, fometimes at Bath, or any other place of publick refort; but he did not forget his poetry. He published in 1740 his Judgement of Hercules, addreffed to Mr. Lyttelton, whose

intereft he fupported with great warmth at an election: this was two years afterwards followed by the School-mistress.

Mr. Dolman, to whofe care he was indebted for his eafe and leisure, died in 1745, and the care of his own fortune now fell upon him. He tried to efcape it a while, and lived at his houfe with his tenants, who were diftantly related; but finding that imperfect poffeffion inconvenient, he took the whole eftate into his own hands, more to the im provement of its beauty than the increafe of its produce.

Now began his delight in rural pleafures, and his ambition of rural ele gance: he began from this time to point his profpects, to diverfify his furface, to A 3

en

entangle his walks, and to wind his wa ters; which he did with fuch judgement and fuch fancy, as made his little domain the envy of the great, and the admiration of the fkilful; a place to be vifited by travellers, and copied by defigners. Whether to plant a walk in undulating curves, and to place a bench at every turn where there is an object to catch the view; to make water run where it will be heard, or to ftagnate where it will be feen; to leave intervals where the eye will be pleafed, and to thicken the plantation where there is fomething to be hidden, demands any great powers of mind, I will not enquire; perhaps a fullen and furly fpeculator may think fuch performances rather the fport than

the bufinefs of human reason. But it must be at least confeffed, that to embellifh the form of Nature is an inno cent amusement; and fome praise must* be allowed by the moft fupercilious obferver to him, who does beft what fuch multitudes are contending to do well.

This praife was the praife of Shenftone; but, like all other modes of felicity, it was not enjoyed without its abatements. Lyttelton was his neighbour and his rival, whofe empire, fpacious and opulent, looked with difdain on the petty State that appeared behind it. For a while the inhabitants of Hagley affected to tell their acquaintance of the little fellow that was trying to make himfelf admired; but when by degrees