may be of service to your Memoirs, I shall be happy that I could in any degree contribute to a scheme of so much merit, or in any sort shew a disposition of approving myself, Sir, Your obedient humble servant, LEW. THEOBALD. 3. What authority there is, besides Wood's, that he was Tutor to, and travelled abroad with Sir Walter Raleigh? I confess Wood's authority seems to me very slippery, precarious, and ill-founded, in this point; and my reasons shall be supported by incontestable chronological facts, which I submit to you. Soon after Sir Walter Raleigh was taken notice of at Queen Elizabeth's Court, he was sent to sea by her, and discovered Virginia in 1584, when our Author was but 10 years old. At his return he continued a Courtier, and debauched a Maid of Honour, whom he afterwards married. Now, supposing he married her in 1585, and allowing that their son might begin his travels at 15 years old, a period early enough in all con science, too early in reason, this brings us to the year 1601, which was the fourth year in which Ben had devoted himself to the stage-writing, and every year produced a Play; it appearing (from the Induction to his Magnetick Lady), that in 1598 of 1589 he produced his first fruits in the Dramatic way, Every Man in his Humour, and Every Man out of his Humour: from which period, for above 40 successive years, we find him engaged at home both for the stage, and in his service as Laureate. And as he obtained the Laureacy in 1603, when Sir Walter Raleigh's son was but 17 years old, there was no room or possibility of his afterwards becoming a travelling Tutor. 4. When he became a Player? How long he continued so? and in what house? 5. What Plays his name appears before as an Actor? One solution serves for these two Queries. From what search I have been able to make, I do not find his name before any Play as an Actor: yet an Actor he was; but I believe barely a strolling one. Decker, in his Histrio-Mastix (a Play published in 1602, and designed a Reply to Ben Jonson's Poctaster), reproaches our Poet with having left his occupation of being a Mortar-treader, to turn Player; and with having put up a supplication to be a poor Journeyman Player; in which he had continued, but that he could not sec a good face on it, and so was cashiered." Nay, if we may adinit that satire to be built on facts, we may glean yet some further intelligence, "that Ben performed the part of Zuliman (in what Play I cannot at presenţ tell) at the Paris Garden in Southwark; and that he ambled by a Play-waggon, in the highway; and took mad Jeronymo's part to get service among the mimicks." But as to the precise time of these things, we are left a little at large. There seem about six years (viz. from his quitting the University to 1598, when his LETTER LXXIX. To the Rev. THOMAS BIRch. DEAR SIR, Bloomsbury-square, Saturday Morning, Sept. 28, 1754. I return you thanks for the pleasure which I have had in reading these two books. I see this instant, in the Public Advertiser, that Dr. Warburton is made King's Chaplain, and enters into waiting immediately. Can you tell me whether this be true? If there be any hazard of finding him at Kensington, I shall not chuse to go thither today. I am, your affectionate humble servant, M. AKENSIDE. first Play was acted), in which his history lies somewhat open; but within this period he was a Bricklayer, a Player, a Soldier, and forming himself for a Poet. That he was a Soldier, we have authority from his own words. He had disobliged the officers in his character of Captain Tucca, and finding himself obliged to make an apology for it, he did it in an Epigram at the end of his Poetaster, directed to true Soldiers, in which he says, "I swear by your true Friend, my Muse, I love Your great Profession, which I once did prove; And did not shame it with my actions then, Decker, likewise, hints in his Histrio-mastix at our Ben's valour; and his being a Man of the Sword. To say the truth, I am in doubt whether this is levelled at his profession of Soldiership; or at a fatal accident which I am afraid befel Ben; and which perhaps had better been slipped over in silence. 6. What was the salary of the Poet Laureate at that time? Wood says 100l. per annum? I am doubtful of Mr. Wood's authority in this point; but dare not be positive upon the question. Perhaps he might mean thus: An hundred marks in salary, which at 13s. 4d, makes 661, 13s. 4d. and a butt of sack, which has always been com-muted at 307. In the whole, 96l. 13s. 4d.--It is certain, till after James the First's demise, Ben had but a pension of 100 marks annually; for, in his Petition to Charles I. he set it out so, and entreats the King, to make Of your Grace, for goodness' sake, Those your Father's Marks, your Pounds. JOHN JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM, M. & LL.D. &c. Born in 1744: died in 1815. Published by J.Nichols & C. Jan11817. JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM, M. D. This excellent man was an Israelite without guile, and may truly be said to have carried his heart in his hand. From "his undeviating friendship," I have, for nearly half a century, derived many of the most grateful and rational enjoyments of my life;" and I can truly assert, that, during this long period, Dr. Lettsom was "an ornament to society; the liberal friend to merit; and an example of beneficence to every avenue of human distress!" His benevolence was unbounded. To thousands, as well as to myself, he was the happy instrument both of "gladdening, and of lengthening life." He was invariably a friend to the indigent, and a comfort to all who were so happy as to possess his friendship, or had occasion for his medical skill. He was equally distinguished for public and private benevolence, and for every species of useful exertion, both in the medical profession, and as a member of society at large. Dr. Lettsom was born, in December 1744, in a small Island in the Atlantic, near Tortola, called Little Van Dyke*; and was one of a twin. His ancestors on the father's side originated from Letsom (in Domesday called Ledsom), a small village in Cheshire. On the mother's side they were lineally descended from Sir Cæsar Coakley, an Irish baronet, whose family uniformly possessed a seat in the Parliament of Ireland; the last of whom was Sir Vesey Coakley. Different branches of these families, during the government of Ireton in Ireland, went to Barbados, in favour of the Commonwealth; and settled afterwards in different Islands among that * A view of the House which gave him birth, and its surrounding scenery, is given in Gent. Mag. vol. LXXXV. ii. p. 577. large VOL. II. UU |