lity, nothing can be found against him but want of judgement*. The justice of the latter part of these remarks will appear very obvious to those who have ever been engaged in periodical writing; and who, in addressing their inferiors, are sometimes apt to forget that they are their inferiors; and in chastising folly, do not always foresee the possibility that they may be read by the foolish. Yet the above apology, if it was so meant, for a periodical paper entirely ironical will not perhaps be thought sufficient, when we consider that it was a wide departure from the custom of its predecessors, which were models not only of excellence, but of success with the public. Variety, in this species of writing, had been found, by long experience, to be the chief claim on popular attention; and, perhaps, in the opinion of a very considerable and valuable part of mankind, it is not the most pleasing character we can give, when we say of an author that he is never serious. The progress of a paper like this, should resemble that of the human mind-it should have its times of reflection as well as of ridicule, since there are follies which ought to excite indignation as well as laughter. With respect to what is said of "the demand for moral essays falling off," the precise fact cannot now be ascertained. But the allusion, I conceive, was made to the publication of them in single sheets; for the Rambler, which was more remarkable than any other paper for uni No. 104. formity of serious discussion, was at least as successful in volumes as any of its contemporaries, except the Adventurer; and the greater popularity of the Adventurer may be fairly attributed to its variety, to the seria mixta jocis, which seems the natural order, but which is wanting in the World. The latter, indeed, contains a few serious papers; but they are of very inferior merit, and contribute nothing to the literary character of the work, which rests entirely on its fund of ridicule. This, although it renders it less useful to the young and illiterate, will yet recommend it to those who understand the full force of irony, which, it must be confessed, has seldom been employed with more taste, delicacy, or elegance. The double dissimulation, or dissembling of dissimulation, necessary in this species of ridicule, is admirably preserved, while the disguise is always of sufficient thinness to discover the real purpose. The World was projected by Mr. Edward Moore, in conjunction with Mr. Robert Dodsley, who fixed upon the name; and, by defraying the expence, and rewarding Mr. Moore, became, and for many years continued to be, the sole proprietor of the work. Mr. Edward Moore was born at Abingdon, in Berkshire, March 22, 1711-12. He was the third son of the Rev. Thomas Moore, a dissenting minister of that place. On his father's death, which happened when he was only ten years of age, his education was superintended by his uncle, the Rev. John Moore, who kept an academy at Bridgewater, and he was afterwards removed to the school of East Orchard, in Dorsetshire*. He was originally bred a linen-draper, with a Mr. Gibson of that trade in London; and when he left this master, he resided some years in Ireland, as factor to a Mr. Johnson, a merchant in London. On his return, he entered into partnership in the linen-trade with an Irish gentleman; but the connexion not being very successful, was soon dissolved, and about this time his attachment to study, and probably a consciousness that he had some claim to literary reputation, induced him to become an author by profession. Like the majority of his contemporaries, he began with poetical attempts which gained him considerable fame, as in verse he had a very happy and pleasing manner. His "Fables for the Female Sex," first published in 1744, seem, not only in the freedom and ease of the versification, but also in the forcibleness of the moral and poignancy of satire, to approach nearer to the manner of Gay, than any of the numerous imitations of that author, which have been attempted since the publication of his Fables. In his Trial of Selim, the Persian," which was a compliment to Lord Lyttleton, he showed himself a perfect master of the most elegant kind of panegyric, that which is couched under the appearance of accusation. He wrote likewise for the stage; and here his *These facts and dates were communicated by Mr. Toulmin to Dr. Anderson. success has been generally considered as inferior to his merit. His Foundling, a Comedy, appeared in 1748, but was decried from a fancied resemblance to the Conscious Lovers, to which however, the author of the Biographia Dramatica is inclined to prefer it, as the intricacy of the plot is much more natural, the characters of a more sprightly turn, and drawn in general from higher life. His Gil Blas, also a comedy, is considered, by the same author, as less deserving of critical approbation, yet it would be difficult to find more lively dialogue, or more of that bustle and life which keep up the attention of an audience in our times. But the Gamester, a tragedy, first acted in 1753, is entitled to the highest praise for its moral tendency, as well as its dramatic excellence. Its being written in prose, was, indeed, an innovation, to which some objected, and others thought the distress was too deep. Of late years, however, it has been revived with the greatest success, for which it is undoubtedly, in some measure, indebted to the unrivalled powers of Mrs. Siddons, who has deepened the distress, without, it is to be feared, removing the cause. In a letter now before me, to Dr. Warton, dated Feb. 17, 1753, the author gives the following account of the success of this play: "I wrote to you this day se'nnight, with an account of the Gamester to the fourth night. I think I may say the tables are turned, for the play from that night has had a new character: and it is at present as much the fashion to speak very highly of it in fashionable companies, as it was at first to condemn it. I am just come from the theatre, and though it is the tenth night, the house is as full as it can hold. But poor Garrick is ill, through too much fatigue; so that the play is to be interrupted till he is recovered. I wish I could tell you that the profits of it have answered my expectations; but I believe 400 pounds will be about the sum I shall clear by it." Mr. Moore, May 17, 1750, married a lady of the name of Hamilton, daughter of Mr. Charles Hamilton, table-decker to the princesses, who had herself a poetical turn, and has been said to have assisted him in part of his writings. This lady, sometime after her husband's death, obtained the place of necessary-woman in the Queen's private apartments, and died a few years ago. In 1756, he published his poetical and dramatic works, by subscription, in an elegant quarto volume, dedicated to the Duke of Newcastle, the brother of his early patron, Mr. Pelham. The Subscribers were numerous, and included many persons of the highest rank and most eminent talents, but he did not long enjoy the advantages of their liberality. He died of an inflammation on the lungs, the consequence * In 1749, she addressed some verses to a female friend, of which Mr. Moore's name, by a small change to More, was the burthen. The last stanza runs thus: You will wonder, my girl, who this dear one can be, The whole may be seen in the Magazines of the time. 8 |