called me up, placed me in the fbine, and I have felt it comfort. You have in that restored me to my nativ right: for a fleady faith, and loyalty to my Prince, was all the inheritance my father left me; and, however hardly my ill fortune deal with me, 'tis what I prize fo well, that I never pawn'd it yet, and hope I fhall never part with it. Nature and Fortune were certainly in league, when you were born; and as the first took car to give you beauty enough to enflave the hearts of all the world; fo the other refolv'd to do its merit justice, tha none but a monarch fit to rule the world should e'er posses it; and in it had an empire. The young prince you hav given him, by his blooming virtues, early declares th mighty ftock he came from: and as you have taken al the pious care of a dear mother, and a prudent guardian to give him a noble and generous education; may it fucceed according to his merits and your wifbes: may be grow u to be a bulwark to his illuftrious father, and a patron t his loyal fubjects; with wisdom and learning to affift him whenever called to his councils; to defend his right again the incroachment of republicans in his fenates; to cheri fuch men as fhall be able to vindicate the royal caufe ; tha good and fit fervants to the crown may never be loft, fo want of a protector. May he have courage and condu fit to fight his battles abroad, and terrify his rebels a home: and, that all these may be yet more fure, may A

never, during the spring time of his years, when those growing virtues ought with care to be cherished, in order to their ripening, may he never meet with vicious natures, or the tongues of faithless, fordid, infipid flatterers, to blaft 'em. To conclude, may he be as great as the hand of Fortune (with his honour) shall be able to make him; and may your Grace, who are fo good a mistress, and fo noble a patronefs, never meet with a less grateful Servant, than,

Madam,

Your Grace's

Entirely devoted Creature,

THO. OTWAY.

THOMAS OTWAY.

LITTLE is with any certainty known of the great Author of VENICE PRESERVED. In the licentious days of Charles II. it is believed neither the virtues nor the vices of Orway were fufficiently prominent to diftinguish him.

His father, Mr. HUMPHREY OTWAY, was the Rector of Wolbeding in Suffex-THOMAS the poet was born on the 3d of March, 1651. He was first fent to Wickeham School, and thence removed to Chrift-Church, Oxford, of which he became a Commoner in 1669.

On leaving the Univerfity, the hiftrionic frenzy poffeffed him--He found the bent of his mind led him to the Theatre, but he mistook the part he was to perform there: inftead of exciting emotions himself upon a ftage, he was to furnish others with a cue for paffion, as long as the language he spoke fhould exift. He made as an

Actor but one attempt, and in that he is faid to have failed.

The army and Otway had as little congenial between them-He ferved in Flanders, but, verfatile and facile, he foon became difgufted, and at length refolved to write for the Players-How well he fucceeded, is impreffed upon every heart.

Imprudence, however, is faid to have left him never above want, and fometimes, it is reported, had plunged him into all its feverities. We hear continually an idle reproach upon the ingratitude of an age which can fuffer the indigence of Genius. But it fhould be confidered that, for the most part, fuch dilemmas are voluntary inflictions, and that he has flender claims upon the fympathy of men, whom calamity cannot make wife, and whom pride prevents from foliciting relief.

OTWAY died in 1685; but, it is hoped, the wretched fate faid to have attended him is fictitious -Nothing, however, can with any certainty be advanced refpecting his end.

Few of the Profeffors of Literature offer fo ftriking an example as Otway of the fublime