Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
OBITUARY .
ON the 2 d of March , at Strawberry-Hill , the Right Honourable the Earl of Orford . This Nobleman , better known in the Republic of Letters by the name of Horace Walpole , was the youngest son of the famous Minister of this country , Sir Robert Walpole , afterwards Lord
Orford . Horace Walpole was born about the year 1715 . His mother , Catherine Shorter , was the first wife of Sir Robert Walpole . Horace was some time at Eton School , and afterwards some time at Cambridge . He was intimate with the celebrated Poet , Gray , and
they went together on the Tour of Europe , in the years 1739 , 1740 , and 1741 . Unhappily , they had a dispute in the course of their travels , which produced a separation . Mr . Walpole was able to make a splendid figure , during the remainder of his destined course ; but poor Gray , after the separation , was obliged to observe a very severe o ; conomy . A reconciliation took place
after their return to England ; but the u-ound in their friendship left a scar that never was totally effaced . Mr . Walpole was chosen Member for Callington . in Cornwall , in the Parliament which met on June 25 th , 1741 . He was a second time in Parliament , as Representative for Castle-Rising ,
in Norfolk , in 1147 , and for King's Lynn , in 1754 and 1761 ; and , at the expiration of that Parliament , he finally retired from the siage of politics , and confined himself wholly to literary pursuits . Upon the death of his nephew , the late Lord Orford , Horace Walpole succeeded to the titles and estates .
He published a work , entitled Noble Authors , in which he has shewn much industry ancl judicious criticism . His Historic Doubts respecting the Character , Conduct , and Person of Richard the Third , is a work of ingenuity , argument , and knowledge ; but it was , in a great measure , der . ved from Buck ' s History of that Monarch . The only dramatic work from his pen , was the Mysterious Mother , a tragedy , never
intended for performance or publication , which was printed at his own private press at Strawberry-Hill , and of which fifty copies only were circulated among his friends . The story is founded on a subject too horrid for the stage ; but it is well worthy of perusal in the closet , as it forcibly paints the horrors of guilt ,
and exhibits a considerable knowledge of the human heart , supported by much poetic vigour . The Castle of Otranto , a Romance , by this Author , may be considered as the archetype of all that miserable trash which now deluges the press , andwhich is calculated toexciteapprehension and surprise , without
throwing one new light upon life or nature . The Castle of Otranto , as the only work of the kind , was acceptable to the Public , and produced an agreeable exercise of the severer passions ; but , as the prolific parent of the compositions to which we allude , it is to be regretted that the author ever presented it to the world . Lord Orford also published Anecdotes of Painters ; and the world is much
indebted to him for many particulars le-Iative to the Genius , the Works , and the Life of the inimitable Hogarth . Lord Orford was one of the combination of wits who supported Moore , in his periodical Paper , entitled The World ; and his contributions were among the most numerous and
successful articles in that entertaining ^ miscellany . His-conduct , relative to the unfortunate Chatterton , was a source of so much regret to himself , that we forbear any animadversion on the subject . There are many pieces of Occasional Poetry , scattered through various publications , which mi ght be formed into
a volume , creditable to the taste and talents of this Author . Lord Orford never was married ; and , as far as we can learn , his chiefMistress , through life , was -the Muse . Towards the close of his life , he offered to marry either of the two Miss Berrys , whom he patronized , with no other view , than of placing either of those ladies in such a situation as might give , to the virtues and accomplishments which they both
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
OBITUARY .
ON the 2 d of March , at Strawberry-Hill , the Right Honourable the Earl of Orford . This Nobleman , better known in the Republic of Letters by the name of Horace Walpole , was the youngest son of the famous Minister of this country , Sir Robert Walpole , afterwards Lord
Orford . Horace Walpole was born about the year 1715 . His mother , Catherine Shorter , was the first wife of Sir Robert Walpole . Horace was some time at Eton School , and afterwards some time at Cambridge . He was intimate with the celebrated Poet , Gray , and
they went together on the Tour of Europe , in the years 1739 , 1740 , and 1741 . Unhappily , they had a dispute in the course of their travels , which produced a separation . Mr . Walpole was able to make a splendid figure , during the remainder of his destined course ; but poor Gray , after the separation , was obliged to observe a very severe o ; conomy . A reconciliation took place
after their return to England ; but the u-ound in their friendship left a scar that never was totally effaced . Mr . Walpole was chosen Member for Callington . in Cornwall , in the Parliament which met on June 25 th , 1741 . He was a second time in Parliament , as Representative for Castle-Rising ,
in Norfolk , in 1147 , and for King's Lynn , in 1754 and 1761 ; and , at the expiration of that Parliament , he finally retired from the siage of politics , and confined himself wholly to literary pursuits . Upon the death of his nephew , the late Lord Orford , Horace Walpole succeeded to the titles and estates .
He published a work , entitled Noble Authors , in which he has shewn much industry ancl judicious criticism . His Historic Doubts respecting the Character , Conduct , and Person of Richard the Third , is a work of ingenuity , argument , and knowledge ; but it was , in a great measure , der . ved from Buck ' s History of that Monarch . The only dramatic work from his pen , was the Mysterious Mother , a tragedy , never
intended for performance or publication , which was printed at his own private press at Strawberry-Hill , and of which fifty copies only were circulated among his friends . The story is founded on a subject too horrid for the stage ; but it is well worthy of perusal in the closet , as it forcibly paints the horrors of guilt ,
and exhibits a considerable knowledge of the human heart , supported by much poetic vigour . The Castle of Otranto , a Romance , by this Author , may be considered as the archetype of all that miserable trash which now deluges the press , andwhich is calculated toexciteapprehension and surprise , without
throwing one new light upon life or nature . The Castle of Otranto , as the only work of the kind , was acceptable to the Public , and produced an agreeable exercise of the severer passions ; but , as the prolific parent of the compositions to which we allude , it is to be regretted that the author ever presented it to the world . Lord Orford also published Anecdotes of Painters ; and the world is much
indebted to him for many particulars le-Iative to the Genius , the Works , and the Life of the inimitable Hogarth . Lord Orford was one of the combination of wits who supported Moore , in his periodical Paper , entitled The World ; and his contributions were among the most numerous and
successful articles in that entertaining ^ miscellany . His-conduct , relative to the unfortunate Chatterton , was a source of so much regret to himself , that we forbear any animadversion on the subject . There are many pieces of Occasional Poetry , scattered through various publications , which mi ght be formed into
a volume , creditable to the taste and talents of this Author . Lord Orford never was married ; and , as far as we can learn , his chiefMistress , through life , was -the Muse . Towards the close of his life , he offered to marry either of the two Miss Berrys , whom he patronized , with no other view , than of placing either of those ladies in such a situation as might give , to the virtues and accomplishments which they both