, a man of some original genius, but whose works will not entitle
, a man of some original
genius, but whose works will not entitle him to any very
Jjigh rank in literature, was descended from a very respectable
family in South Wales, where he was born in 1743. At
what time he arrived in London, is not known, but for
some time he gained his bread in the printing business,
with which he became disgusted, and had interest enough
to obtain an appointment in a regiment about to go abroad.
Such was the perverseness of his temper while on
shipboard vyith liis brother officers, that they refused to associate with him, and actually left him behind when the ship
arrived at its first place of destination. From thence he
contrived to return to England, where he married a young
woman of some property. This was probably soon spent,
as about this time he commenced author by profession, but
either his works or his employers were of the lowest order,
for it was with difficulty he could procure the necessaries
of life by his labours. In 1770, however, he began to
aim at higher fame, and published “A General History of
theJBritish Empire in America: including all the countries
in North America and the West-Indies ceded by the peace
of Paris, 2 vols. 8vo. This as a compilation did him no
discredit.In 1771 he published the
” Prostitute, a Poem,“4to; in 1772
” Choice Emblems, natural, historical, fabulous, moral, and divine, for the improvement of youth;
in verse and prose/* 12mo. The same year appeared his
principal work, “A general History of Ireland, from the
earliest accounts to the present time,
” 2 vols. 8vo., This
was more popular, from the nature of the subject, than his
History of America, but far enough removed from the merit
that would enrol him among historians. Next year he
published “tables of Flowers for the Female Sex,
” “Evelina, a poem;
” and “The Four Seasons, a poem.
” In
poetry he was ill -qualified to excel, although there are
passages in some of his pieces that indicate superior talents, had he cultivated them at leisure, and been possessed
of a mind better regulated. In 1787 he published a novel
called “The Child of Chance;
” and at different periods of
his life supplied the magazines and newspapers with essays,
poems, &c. generally with his name. All these were written to supply immediate wants, which they did but imperfectly. He died Dec. 2, 1788. It is mentioned to his
honour that through a long life of poverty, he abhorred and
avoided every mean and dishonest expedient to improve his
finances, and was even so extravagant in his notions of independence that to do him an act of kindness unsolicited,
was to incur his bitterest reproaches.