Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century;: Comprising Biographical Memoirs of William Bowyer, Printer, F.S.A. and Many of His Learned Friends; an Incidental View of the Progress and Advancement of Literature in this Kingdom During the Last Century; and Biographical Anecdotes of a Considerable Number of Eminent Writers and Ingenious Artists; with a Very Copious Index

Front Cover
author, 1812
 

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 462 - you shall be my confessor: when I first set out in the world, I had friends who endeavoured to shake my belief in the Christian religion. I saw difficulties which staggered me; but I kept my mind open to conviction. The evidences and doctrines of Christianity, studied with attention, made me a most firm and persuaded believer of the Christiau religion. I have made it the rule of my life, and it is the ground of my future hopes.
Page 290 - ... not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonour : for then I could have borne it.
Page 462 - He said, it is a folly, a keeping me in misery now to attempt to prolong life ; yet he was easily persuaded for the satisfaction of others, to do or take any thing thought proper for him. On Saturday he had been remarkably better, and we were not without some hopes of his recovery. " On Sunday, about eleven in the forenoon, his Lordship sent for me, and said he felt a great hurry, and wished to have a little conversation with me in order to divert it.
Page 462 - I have made public good the rule of my conduct. I never gave counsels which I did not at the time think the best. I have seen that I was sometimes in the wrong; but I did not err designedly. I have endeavoured, in private life, to do all the good in my power, and never for amoment could indulge malicious or unjust designs upon any person whatsoever.
Page 457 - I have read your religious treatise with infinite pleasure and satisfaction. The style is fine and clear, the arguments close, cogent, and irresistible. May the King of kings, whose glorious cause you have so wel,!
Page 457 - Her speech was the melodious voice of Love, Her song the warbling of the vernal grove ; Her eloquence was sweeter than her song, Soft as her heart, and as her reason strong; Her form each beauty of her mind express'd, Her mind was Virtue by the Graces dress'd.
Page 493 - I will freely trust it to my life to confute them) may I find a friend as careful of my honest fame as I have been of his ! Together with his works, he hath bequeathed me his dunces.
Page 457 - He had, in the pride of juvenile confidence, with the help of corrupt conversation, entertained doubts of the truth of Christianity ; but hei thought the time now come when it was no longer fit to doubt or believe by chance, and applied himself seriously to the great question. His studies, being honest, ended in conviction. He found that religion was true...
Page 421 - How, said I, would Pope have raved, had he been served so? "We should never (replied he) have heard the last on't, to be sure; but then Pope was a narrow man: I will however (added he) storm and bluster myself a little this time;" — so went to London in all the wrath he could muster up. At his return I asked how the affair ended: "Why...
Page 502 - England, was so extraordinary a person, and made so great a figure in the world, that his name must go down to posterity, with distinguished honour, in the public records of the Nation.

Bibliographic information