IV
Some Uncollected Poems
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.
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
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.]
