Lives of the English Poets: From Johnson to Kirke White, Designed as a Continuation of Johnson's LivesCary, Henry Francis
General
Lives of the English Poets: From Johnson to Kirke White, Designed as a Continuation of Johnson's Lives
Cary, Henry Francis
Poets, English -- Biography
"In your life of Jago, I am afraid you have fallen into a mistake, by
confounding the two Beaudeserts. That one of which Jago's father was
Rector, and near which Somerville resided, is, as you have stated in
the beginning of the life, near Henley, and to that the words, "Old
Montfort's seat" must refer, because Dugdale, treating of Beldesert,
near Henley, says, 'on the east side of the last mentioned brook
runneth a hilly tract, bordered with deep vallies on each part; the
point whereof maketh a kind of promontory, whose ascent being
somewhat steep, gave occasion of the fortifying thereat first,
considering its situation in these woodland parts, where, through the
opportunity of so much shelter, advantage was most like to be taken
by the disherited English and their offspring, to make head for their
redemption from the Norman yoke. Tis not unlike, but this
_mountainous_ ground, &c. Thurslem de Montfort, near kinsman of the
first Norman Earl of Warwick, erected that strong castle, whereunto,
by reason of its pleasant situation, the French name Beldesert, was
given, and which continued the chief seat of his descendants for
divers ages.'"--ED.
* * * * *
RICHARD OWEN CAMBRIDGE.
Richard Cambridge, the son of a Turkey merchant, descended from a family
long settled in Gloucestershire, was born in London, on the fourteenth
of February, 1717. His father dying soon after his birth, the care of
his education devolved on his mother and his maternal uncle, Thomas
Owen, Esq. a lawyer who had retired from practice to his seat in
Buckinghamshire, and who, having no children of his own, adopted his
nephew. At an early age he was sent to Eton, where, among his
schoolfellows and associates, were Gray, West, Jacob Bryant, the Earl
of Orford, and others eminent for wit or learning. Here he contracted
not only a literary taste and habits of study, but that preference for
the quiet amusements of a country life, which afterwards formed a part
of his character. In 1734 he was removed from Eton to Oxford, and
admitted a gentleman commoner of St. John's College. On the marriage of
the Prince of Wales, two years after, he contributed some verses to the
Congratulatory Poems from that University. A ludicrous picture, which he
draws of academical festivity, betrays the future author of the
Scribleriad:--
In flowing robes and squared caps advance,
Pallas their guide, her ever-favour'd band;
As they approach they join in mystic dance,
Large scrolls of paper waving in their hand;
Nearer they come, I heard them sweetly sing.
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