LIFE OF TICKELL.

THOMAS TICKELL, was born at Bridekirk, in Cumberland, in 1686. He entered Queen's College, at Oxford, in 1701; received his master's degree in 1708; and, two years afterwards, was admitted to a fellowship; which he vacated by marriage, in 1726. His lines in praise of Rosamond secured him the friendship of Addison; who treated him, through life, with the affection of a father, and, at his death, made him his literary executor.

During the treaty between France and England, Tickell wrote his Prospect of Peace; and, when king George came over to rule the country, he celebrated the Royal Progress. The first was praised in the Spectator, and the latter inserted in it at full length.

But the most important literary enterprise of Tickell, was an attempt to divide the favour of the world with Pope, by a rival version of the Iliad. A translation of the first book had lain by him ever since his residence at Oxford; and, when Pope began to publish his, there was envy enough in Addison to bring that of Tickell to the light. Each version had its party of admirers; for what Addison had been the means of sending into the world, he would not let die for the want of support. He

bestowed great praise upon the translation of Pope; but, as he gave that of Tickell the preference, his praise of the former only served to enhance the merit of the latter. The wits were with Addison, and the town with Pope. I have the mob,' says the latter, on my side;' but, he adds, 'it is common for the smaller party to make up in diligence what they want in numbers. I appeal to the people as my proper judges: and, if they are not inclined to condemn me, I am in little care about the high-flyers at Button's.'

This was a wise and valiant speech; but his subsequent attempt to prove Addison the author of Tickell's translation, was too clear a proof, that Pope cared more about the high-flyers at Button's than he was willing to admit. The evidence of Addison's authorship is given by Spence; and Dr. Johnson has copied the facts with an apparent acquiescence in the conclusion. Pope tells his own story; and, according to him, as there had long been such a coldness between himself and Addison that they seldom met except at Button's, he was surprised one day to be taken aside, and invited to dine. After dinner, Addison told him, that his friend Tickell, while at Oxford, had made a version of Homer's first Book, which he now designed to publish; and, as the manuscript had been put into his hands for revision, he begged, that Pope would not desire him to look over the first book of his, because it would have the appearance of double dealing. When it became known, that Tickell's version was in the press, Pope met Dr. Young, who, it seems, had not yet heard of the fact, and was confounded with the intelligence. He said, that he and Tickell used to communicate to each other whatever verses they wrote, even to the least things; that the latter could hardly have been employed upon such a work without his privity; and that was unaccountable he should keep the translation

so long a secret. Steele, too, in his anger, says, that, if the reputed translator of the first book of Homer shall please to give us another book, there shall appear another good judge in poetry, besides Mr. Alexander Pope, who shall like it;"* and Spence tells us, that, when a third person introduced the subject in a conversation between Pope and Tickell, the latter did not deny, that Addison was the author.

It

The last statement is not sufficiently authenticated; nor would it be conclusive, if it were. is not said, that Pope charged Addison with the authorship; and we can hardly suppose, that Tickell would be forward to deny a fact, which had not yet been asserted. Addison's paternal friendship for him is sufficient to explain the interest he took in the fate of his translation; and we are not to conclude, without the most positive evidence, that he would thus impose upon the world, or that Tickell would submit to be the instrument of the trick. The remarks of Dr. Young might be very natural; but they are by no means decisive. Tickell might be free to communicate the trifles, which he occasionally produced, without thinking himself obliged to increase the chances of detection, by imparting even to a friend, that he had undertaken so important a task as that of translating Homer. That he might labour at such a task, without the knowledge of any other person, it is quite possible to imagine; and the circumstance of his keeping the translation so long unpublished, will not be a wonder, if we allow him prudence enough to abstain from giving the world the earnest of a performance, which he might not be able to complete. It has been said, that the translation is too good for Tickell. This is always a dangerous arguThe slightest fact will serve to refute it;

ment.

* Steele's Letters, vol. ii. p, 499.