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I have come upon a small number of poems by minor poets of the eighteenth century in the GM and have failed to find them included in the canon of their presumptive authors. "Presumptive," because I am not sure that I have exhausted every avenue of possible corroboration or refutation. Since the poets are minor luminaries, at least as poets, I intend simply to list the poems under their different authors, giving title, first line, and location in the GM, with some appended remarks.

296

John Langhorne (1735-1779)

A Pastoral on the Death of the Rev. Mr. H--rtl--y.* While Nature's hand that never works in vain. 1755. 374. [The footnote reads, "Late vicar of K--by--St--n, W--sm--nd." The signature is simply "Langhorn" from "Skelton." Langhorne was born in the parish of Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland. There was a Skelton in East Cumberland and one in the North Riding, NE Yorkshire, but I cannot locate Langhorne in either through available biographical sources. However, in 1756, a letter concerning "an earthquake at Black Hamilton in Yorkshire," which shows familiarity with that locale, is signed "J. Langhorne" from "Thirsk" (p. 159). Thirsk is also in the North Riding, but I cannot find Black Hamilton in modern atlases.]
Verses on a Hazel. Pride of all the sylvan train. 1756. 354. [With an epigraph "Nec Myrtus vincet Corylos, nec Laurea Phoebi," i.e. Virgil, Eclogue VIII., 1. 64. Signed "Langhorne."]
[Hymnus ad Hygeiam. Grata venis, rediviva salus, in corpore sano. 1757. 181. From "Langhorne" of "Folkstone," it is by John's elder brother William who, himself a poet, was presented the perpetual curacy of Folkestone, Kent in 1754.
Le Sociable. Partly in the manner of Milton. By Mr. Langhorne. Hence, gloomy spleen, and sullen care. 1758. 434.
Verses occasion'd by Lord Lyttleton's on the Countess of Egremont. By Mr. John Langhorne. Sweet Muse of Hagley, whose melodious lyre. 1761. 232.
An Epitaph and a poem on William Langhorne. In life belov'd, in death for ever dear. [and] Of Langhorne's life be this memorial given. 1802. ii, 1001. [These are in a letter by "S. E." and attributed by him to John Langhorne. S. E. claims to have copied these "from the original," i.e. from the stone in Folkestone church. Ten years later, in January 1815 another correspondent to the GM sent in both poems. There are three textual differences in the second, with the 1804 reading first: l. 2, race/face; l. 16 Pagan/Pagan's; l. 24, rest/test. The 1804 readings make better sense.]
In the Garden of John Scott, Esq. at Amwell. In an Alcove. To scenes where Taste and Genius dwell. 1815. i, 387. [Signed "John Langhorne, D.D." This, too, is in a letter by "J. C." who had sent the two poems on William Langhorne in January 1815. There is a story that John was granted an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Edinburgh, but there is no record of such a grant. For the Scott-Langhorne friendship, see Lawrence D. Stewart, John Scott of Amwell (1956), pp. 46-47 and passim. Langhorne had written a poem in Scott's garden at Amwell in 1769 (Stewart, p. 46).]
In the same Garden, in another Temple, under the words MIHI ET AMICIS. Thy friends have access to a nobler part. 1815. i, 387.

Thomas Warton, the Younger (1728-90)

Thoughts on New Year's Day. Of time, and months, and fleeting years. 1803. i, 498 [In a covering letter, "J. B." who was "resident in Oxford at the time
297

Mr. Warton was near the meridian of his fame," deplored the absence of this poem and any other "moral or religious poem" of Warton's in Mant's edition. J. B., when a young man and residing in the University, was given a copy of the verses by "a friend and contemporary of Mr. Warton's." J. B. believed the verses an authentic "Juvenile composition of the late poet-laureat."]

Joseph Warton (1722-1800)

An Elegy on the Death of Miss Sukey Lister daughter of Mathew Lister, Esq.; and Lady Boughton his wife, their 9th child, of Lawford in Warwickshire. Behind the hills when sunk the dewy sun. 1764. 242. [A Matthew Dymoke Lister, of Broughton, Lancs., son of Matthew, of Lawford, matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford in Dec. 1747, aged 17, M.A. 1752, d. 1772 (Alumni Oxonienses).]

Francis Coventry (d. 1759?)

Inscription for an Oak in Penhurst Park. By the late Mr. F. Coventry. Stranger kneel here! to age due homage pay. 1761. 184. [Coventry wrote a poem, Penshurst; both it and the inscription celebrate the birth of Sir Philip Sidney at which time the oak was planted.]

Thomas Edwards (1698-1757)

Ode Occasioned by a Lady's being burnt with the curling irons. By the late Mr. Edwards, author of the Canons of Criticism. Fair British ladies, whom with matchless charms. 1768. 486.

Arthur Murphy (1727-1805)

Epitaph on the Death of John Ayton Thompson. If in the morn of life each winning grace. 1792. ii, 1136. [Signed "A. Murphy." A "Jn. Thompson" of "Nettleden, Bucks." died on Aug. 23, 1792 (GM, 1792. ii, 770); no Thompson is mentioned in biographies of Murphy. However, an actor named Thompson who played minor roles at the Haymarket from Feb. 1778 to Feb. 6, 1792 (the last recorded appearance) may very well be the subject of the epitaph, given Murphy's association with the theatre. The epitaph is for a young man, and the actor Thompson's brief career on the stage lends further credence to my conjecture.[10]

Lyttleton, George, first Baron Lyttleton (1709-73)

To Mr. Hacket of Baliol-College, Oxford, on his playing the Part of Othello, at a private entertainment. Thanks, gentle youth! and thanks to fixed fate. 1755. 133. [John Hackett, Son of John of Westminster, gent. matriculated Balliol College 5 March 1752, aged 17.]