1801.] AND IMPERIAL REGISTER. JOHN WOLCOTT, M.D. WITH A PORTRAIT. THE works of the subject of this biographical sketch, generally known by the name of Peter Pindar, have been productive of as much attraction, both in the higher and lower classes of life, among the lettered and unlettered, as almost those of any occasional writer who has preceded him for centuries, either in this country or on the Continent. From the palace down to the cottage his whimsical productions have been the object of general merriment; and his sportive muse has introduced laughter, holding both He seems to have her sides," into society of the gravest cast. been convinced, that satire could have no effect without a personal application; and to speak with impartiality of his labours in that department of literature, he has acted upon his conviction to the utmost extent. De Personis, not de Vitiis, was his motto, and he has exemplified it with uncommon success. He has however, been more playful than severe, and has directed his shafts against the foibles, not the vices of mankind. To mention his name in the same page with those of Juvenal, Persius, Dryden, Boileau, Pope, or even Churchill, would be an association to which his happiest efforts do not entitle him; but who is there, however prejudiced against the man, or held up to ridicule by his satire, that can refuse to him the praise of originality, of a true poetical vein, of occasional wit, and of genuine humour! His sonnets and sentimental pieces, though sometimes debased by weak attempts at epigrammatic point, are in general harmonious, tender, and affecting. With all his defects, he may say, with at least the most popular poets of the day, "Non tenues ignavo pollice chordes Pulso." It is to be regretted, that he has wasted talents, capable of high atchievement, on subjects of a trivial or fleeting nature; and that, like " a poor player who has strutted his hour upon the stage," he will, at no great distance of time, be heard no more.' hour was, however, a merry one, and the recollection of it is perhaps his most pleasant consolation. رو That Dr. John Wolcott was born at Dodbrook, near Kingsbridge, in the county of Devon, in the year 1740, and was educated at the grammar-school of the latter place, of which Mr. Morris, a quaker, distinguished for many valuable acquirements, was master. He was afterwards placed under the tuition of Mr. Heyden, of Lisheard, in Cornwall, and completed his education in Mr. Fisher's academy at Bodmin. On leaving Bodmin, he was sent by his uncle, a respectable apothecary of Fowey, in the same county, to France, where he acquired a perfect knowledge of the language of that country. He applied himself to medical pursuits upon his return from France, and his studies were directed by the knowledge and experience of his uncle, with whom he resided. The country country not affording sufficient means of improvement, he repaired to the metropolis, where he qualified himself for, and obtained the diploma of M. D. Dr. Wolcott soon after accompanied Sir William Trelawney, governor of Jamaica, to that island, of which he was appointed physician-general. During his residence there, the incumbent of a very valuable living, in the gift of the governor, being expected pay the last debt to nature, the reversion was promised to him by his patron. It therefore became necessary for him to enter into holy orders, and for that purpose he returned to England. On his arrival in Jamaica, duly qualified at least by outward forms and ceremonies, for the performance of the sacred office to which he aspired, his hopes of a rich ecclesiastical establishment for life were for ever frustrated, at finding that the health of the incumbent was not only improved; but that he had lived to bury the governor. The Doctor continued for four years in Jamaica after the death of his patron, and having accompanied Sir William's widow to England, he settled among his family connections at Truro, in Cornwall, and resumed his practice there as a physician for nearly four years. From Truro he removed to Helston, where he exercised the duties of his profession with considerable success and reputation, The life of a physician, in a small country borough, was not, however, suitable to the Doctor's propensity to social enjoyment, and his fondness for the busy haunts of men, and resigning for ever his patients, and his fees, he settled in London in the year 1780. It has been generally imagined, but without any foundation, that Dr. Wolcott's poetical talents were either unknown to himself, or were allowed to slumber in indolence and obscurity, until elicited by the views of men and manners, which were impressed upon his mind in consequence of his residence in the metropolis. This is a misconception which we cannot better correct than by inserting his translation of the well known latin epigram on sleep: "Somne lives, quanquam certissima mortes imago, "Alma quies, optata veni; nam, sic, sine vitâ "Vivere, quam suave est; sic, sine morte mori." Of this epigram, being requested, four years before he set out from Cornwall for London, to give an adequate translation, he produced in the course of a few minutes the following lines: "Come, gentle sleep, attend thy votr'y's prayer, His first production, a Supplicating Epistle to the Reviewers, appeared in 1782; three years afterwards came out his Lyric Odes to the Royal Academicians; and in 1786 he wrote the mock-heroie poem of the Lousiad, which, in point of originality of allusion, 3 novelty novelty of imagery, boldness of expression, felicity of point, wit, humour, and nerve, is unquestionably his master-piece. His poetical name was now the theme of almost every tongue; and even those who were offended at the subject of this eccentric effusion, could not but smile at the ludicrous manner in which it was illustrated. The reputation of Peter Pindar now gave a general currency to all his writings, and in fourteen years he finished no less than forty original pieces,* without including many small productions of a nature directly opposite to satire. Having attacked so many with success, he could not expect to remain unmolested. He had a host of foes to encounter, and some of their sallies and invectives were not without effect. The most formidable of his assailants have been the author of the celebrated satire, The Pursuits of Literature; and Mr. Gifford, the author of the Baviad and Mæviad. The former is undoubtedly in the right, when he says of Dr. Wolcott, "This man possesses a mind by no means uninformed, and a species of humour. He has the power of rhyming ludicrously, and is sometimes even gifted with, poetry;" but who can subscribe to the opinion which he gives of the Doctor's heart, from the perusal of his works, that "he has a rooted depravity and malignity of heart?" Dr. Wolcott's quarrel with Mr. Gifford is too well known to require any further notice on our part; but although the cause of offence originated with the formet, nothing could justify Mr. * As some of our readers may be desirous of having an accurate list of his works, we subjoin the following catalogue : Gifford in charging his opponent with a crime at which mankind shudders. In private life Dr. Wolcott is a pleasing and instructive companion; and though accused of an unconquerable propensity to enjoy the good things of this world, his moral principles and conduct have triumphed over the accusations of malignity. His taste in the fine arts has been long acknowledged; and it is to his discrimination, instruction, and patronage, that we are indebted for the admirable talents of an Opie, which otherwise would, in all probability, have been lost in ignorance and obscurity. Dr. Wolcott's powers of mind, as a writer, have been gradually declining for some years. His last productions are very inferior to those which raised him into notice. There is a point at which the most brilliant will become dull, and we have once more to regret, that while he possessed his talents in their full vigour, he did not employ them on subjects which would have outlived our time, and rescued him from that oblivion to which his name, like those of other ingenious poets, who write upon occasional topics, must be consigned, KEW PALACE. HIS Majesty's house at Kew has shared the fate of many others in the vicinity of the metropolis. The building has been sold in lots, by public auction; and the purchasers are now pulling it down and carrying away the materials. Fortunately, however, the manner in which this edifice has been disposed of, cannot produce the same regret as that occasioned by the demolition of some other residences. Of the latter description few have been replaced; and the splendour of the original master, and skill of the designer, have been consigned to oblivion, or to the memory of a few. The old building at Kew, was, like some others, a disgrace to the British monarchy. For the gardens of Richmond and Kew, which communicate, nature has not done much. The lowness of the situation, and the tame flatness of the soil, are insuperable obstacles to the production of grand or striking effect. Some compensation, however, for these disadvantages, is to be found in the tranquil beauties of the Thames, and the opposite banks of Sion: but what person of true taste has been in Richmond Park, who is not astonished that so much money should have been laid out in the formation of Kew Gardens? Art has striven against nature, under peculiar disadvantages, when nature offered herself to the culture of art, in a neighbouring situation, eminently distinguished, and universally admired for its beauty and magnificence. But whatever may have been its original disadvantages, so much has been accomplished at Kew, in the disposition and ornamenting of the garden, that none can deem the erection of a new house, upon this spot, an improvident expenditure. Indeed, it would be difficult to imagine a more pleasing improvement of a dead monotonous level, in the way of landscape gardening. The number and variety of ornamental edifices, in all the different styles of architecture, are highly interesting. We have a perfect temple, or a ruined arch; a Grecian portico, a Turkish mosque, or a Chinese pagoda, peeping upon us at every other turn. The whole is very creditable to the talents of Chambers. But that part allotted to botany and horticulture, deserves particular attention. These branches have been carried here to the highest pitch of perfection; and delight the eye of the curious with the productions of almost every known region. Richmond garden too is not without its charms; especially the terrace walk on the bank of the river; not to mention the observatory erected by his present Majesty. Descriptions of the old house at Kew (as well as of the gardens) have been repeatedly given to the public in books which are in almost every body's hands. Kent was the chief artist employed in the decorations; but every thing was on so mean and petty a scale, as to stamp the whole with the character of insignificance. The dwelling, with all its offices and appendages, is about to disappear; and the space they have hitherto occupied will be thrown into the garden, which thus, with the addition of some lately purchased adjoining tenements, will be considerably enlarged, and brought down to the water-side. The old house, in which the Prince of Wales once resided, will be the last pulled down, as it forms at present a temporary residence of his Majesty, who em ploys much of his time in observing the progress of the new mansion. Within the wall which separates the two gardens of Richmond and Kew, at a short distance to the west of the old house, and at about an equal space from the river, the new residence is erecting with great alacrity. As it is now near being covered in, a tolerable judgment may already be formed of its effect when com pleated. The style of the building is the Gothic castellated. Its form is quadrangular, having large circular towers at each corner, with smaller ones intermediately placed. Each corner tower is crowned with a cupola; and the central part of the building rises above the rest of the roof and towers. The doors and windows are all fashioned after the Gothic model; the principal entrance being from the north, and facing the river. The whole of the exterior, when finished, will be covered with stucco. The interior is to preserve the same character as the outside, and will be finished in a style of neatness and moderate expence. In accommodating an ancient style of building to modern purposes of a domestic nature, many difficulties and inconveniences often occur. The habits and luxuries of polished life, with us, differ so widely from those of our ancestors, that the artist must often find himself in a dilemma; compelled to choose, between the sacrifice of style, or of accommodation, which are frequently incompatible. In our modern houses chearfulness is so much desired, 3 B2 that |