S. DUCK, From respect to social worth, mirthful qualities, and histrionic excellence, commemorated by poetic talent in humble life. The above inscription, which Time had nearly obliterated, has been preserved and transferred to this Stone, by order of MR. JARVIS BUCK, Churchwarden, A.D. 1816. [Illustration: JOE MILLER'S TOMBSTONE, ST. CLEMENT DANES CHURCHYARD, LONDON.] An interesting sketch of the life of JOE MILLER will be found in the "Book of Days," vol. II., page 216, and in the same informing and entertaining work, the following notes are given respecting the writer of the foregoing epitaph: "The 'S. DUCK,' whose name figures as author of the verses on MILLER'S tombstone, and who is alluded to on the same tablet, by Mr. Churchwarden Buck, as an instance of 'poetic talent in humble life,' deserves a short notice. He was a thresher in the service of a farmer near Kew, in Surrey. Imbued with an eager desire for learning, he, under most adverse circumstances, managed to obtain a few books, and educate himself to a limited degree. Becoming known as a rustic rhymer, he attracted the attention of Caroline, queen of George II., who, with her accustomed liberality, settled on him a pension of £30 per annum; she made him a Yeoman of the Guard, and installed him as keeper of a kind of museum she had in Richmond Park, called Merlin's Cave. Not content with these promotions, the generous, but perhaps inconsiderate queen, caused Duck to be admitted to holy orders, and preferred to the living of Byfleet, in Surrey, where he became a popular preacher among the lower classes, chiefly through the novelty of being the 'Thresher Parson.' This gave Swift occasion to write the following quibbling epigram:-- "The thresher Duck could o'er the queen prevail; The proverb says,--'No fence against a flail.' From threshing corn, he turns to thresh his brains, For which her Majesty allows him grains; Though 'tis confest, that those who ever saw His poems, think 'em all not worth a straw. Thrice happy Duck! employed in threshing stubble! Thy toil is lessened, and thy profits double.