These performances are not very long, nor are the subjects upon which they are written very considerable. It seems probable that the eminence to which Stepney rose, must have been more owing to some personal kindness lord Hallifax had for him, than to his merit as a writer. In raising Stepney, his lordship might act as the friend of the man, but not as a patron of the poet. Friendship, in many respects, participates of the nature of love; it begins, we know not how, it strengthens by imperceptible degrees, and grows into an established firmness. Such might be the regard lord Hallifax had for Stepney, but we may venture to assert, from his lordship's exquisite taste in poetry, that he never could highly admire the pretty trifles which compose the works of this author; and which are printed amongst the works of the Minor Poets, published some years ago by Mr. Tonson in two volumes 12mo.[A] Our author died at Chelsea in the year 1707, and was buried in Westminster-Abbey, where a fine monument is erected over him, with the following inscription upon the pedestal; H.S.E. GEORGIUS STEPNEIUS, Armiger, viz. Ob Ingenii acumen, Literarum Scientiam, Morum Suavitatem, Rerum Usum, Virorum Amplissimorum Consuetudinem, Linguæ, Styli ac Vitæ Elegantiam, Praeclara Officia cum Britanniæ; tum Europæ Praestita, Suâ ætate multum celebratus, Apud Posteros semper celebrandus; Plurimas Legationes obiit Ea Fide, Diligentiâ, & Felicitate, Ut Augustissimorum Principum GULIELMI & ANNÆ Spem in illo repositam Nunquam sesellerit, Haud raro superavit. Post longum honorum Cursum Brevi Temporis spatio confectum, Cum Naturæ parvæ Fama satis vixerat, Animam ad altiora aspirantem placide efflavit. On the left hand. G.S. Ex Equestri Familia STEPNEIORUM, De PENDEGRAST, in Comitatu PEMBROCHIENSI ORIENDUS, WESTMONASTERII natus est, A.D. 1663. Electus in Collegium Sancti PETRI WESTMONAST. A, 1676. Sanctæ TRINITATIS CANTAB. 1682. Consiliariorum quibus Commercii Cura commissa est 1697. CHELSEIÆ mortuus, & Comitante Magna Procerum Frequentiâ huc elatus, 1707. On the right hand is a particular account of all his employments abroad. As a specimen of Mr. Stepney's poetry, we shall quote the following lines on the Nature of Dreams,