A

CHARACTER

OF

Mr. WILLIAM COLLINS.

M

R. Collins was a Man of extensive Literature, and of vigorous Faculties. Не was acquainted not only with the learned Tongues, but with the Italian, French, and Spanish Languages. He had employed his Mind chiefly upon Works of Fiction, and Subjects of Fancy; and by indulging some peculiar Habits of Thought, was eminently delighted with those Flights of Imagination which pass the Bounds of Nature, and to which the Mind is reconciled only by a paffive Acquiefcence in popular Traditions. He loved Fairies, Genii, Giants, and Monsters; he delighted to rove through the Meanders of Inchantment, to gaze on the Magnificence of gol en Palaces, to repose by the Waterfalls of Elysian Gardens.

This was however the Character rather of his Inclination than his Genius; the Grandeur of Wildness, and the Novelty of Extravagance, were always defired by him, but were not always attained. But Diligence is never wholly loft; if his Efforts fometimes caused Harshness and Obscurity, they likewife produced in happier Moments Sublimity and Splendour. This Idea which he had formed of Excellence, led him to oriental Fictions and allegorical Imagery; and perhaps, while he was intent upon

De

Description, he did not fufficiently cultivate Sentiment. His Poems are the Productions of a Mind not deficient in Fire, nor unfurnished with Knowledge either of Books or Life, but fomewhat obstructed in its Progress, by Deviation in Quest of mistaken Beauties.

His Morals were pure, and his Opinions pious: In a long Continuance of Poverty, and long Habits of Diffipation, it cannot be expected that any Character should be exactly uniform. There is a Degree of Want by which the Freedom of Agency is almost destroyed; and long Association with fortuitous Companions will at last relax the Strictness of Truth, and abate the Fervour of Sincerity. That this Man, wife and virtuous as he was, pafsed always unentangled through the Snares of Life, it would be Prejudice and Temerity to affirm; but it may be faid that at least he preferved the Source of Action unpolluted, that his Principles were never fhaken, that his Distinctions of Right and Wrong were never confounded, and that his Faults had nothing of malignity or Design, but proceeded from fome unexpected Preffure, or cafual Temptation.

The latter Part of his Life cannot be remembered, but with Pity and Sadness. He languished fome Years under that Depression of Mind which enchains the Faculties without destroying them, and leaves Reafon the Knowledge of Right without the Power of pursuing it. These Clouds which he found gathering on in his Intellects, he endeavour. ed to disperse by Travel, and passed into France; but found himself conftrained to yield to his Malady, and returned. He was for fome Time confined in a House of Lunatics, and afterwards retired to the Care of his Sifter in Colchester, where Death at last came to his Relief.

After his Return from France, the Writer of this Character paid him a Visit at Islington, where he

was

r Book than an English Testament, such as in carry to the School; when his Friend into his Hand, out of Curiofity to fee what mion a Man of Letters had chosen; 'I have one Book,' fays Collins, but that is the

ALET

I

MY LORD,

Would not thus have address'd your Lordship in public, but that in these our Days the Press is the only Method by which I could gain Admifsion to you, or have the Opportunity, to use our old College Phrafe, of a little CONFAB: Bishops and Curates are, I believe, at present seldom seen together, except in the Prayer for the Clergy. Fortune, my Lord, who brought us so close together at the University, where, you may remember, we were Chums, has at Length

Sævo læta negotio,

as the old Bard sings, in one of her strange Freaks, thrown us from the most intimate Connection into Stations of Life at the utmost Distance from each other, by making your Lordthip a Bishop, and me an-Affiftant Curate. I think, my Lord, I have somewhere read, that in the Roman Triumphs a Person was always appointed to attend the Conqueror, and as he passed along to repeat to him-

Thou art a Man, The following Pages may be confidered as a falutary Hint of the fame Nature, and were only meant to lay on your Lordship's Table, and as you flip on your Lawn, to whisper to you--- Thou art a Clergyman.'

Though I do not (to use the Phrase of a certain Right Reverend) bask in the Sunshine of the Gospel, you will perceive, notwithstanding, in the Course of this Letter, I am not so much hurt by Disappointments, but that I can laugh at a proper Opportunity; at present, however, I am perfectly serious, and do from my Heart think and declare, that the leaft grateful Acknowledgement which our dignified Clergy can make, for the Honours and Rewards conferred on them, is to assist their distressed Brethren; to make use of their best Endeavours to fupport the Dignity of the ministerial Office; and to gain them fome Deference and Respect, if they can, or will, procure them nothing else: and yet this, my Lord, I will not say wherefore, or by whom, is of late Years, most shamefully neglect

ed.

Your Lordship, I am convinced by Experience, is not without Humanity; I have known fome Bishops, (formerly I mean) who had not a Grain of it in their whole Composition; but that is not your Cafe; I have therefore taken the Liberty to appeal to you, in Behalf of the inferior Clergy of these Kingdoms, who, I believe, are the most distressed, deferted, and despised Body of Men, at present, on the Face of the Earth: into the Causes of this, I propose cooly and candidly to examine, and to confult with your Lordship concerning the most probable Method of removing them.

VOL, II.