and as his published works attest, of considerable talent for poetry,* by Elizabeth, the sister of John Hughes, Esq. author of the "Siege of Damascus," the friend and literary associate of Addison, Steele, and Pope; an elegant writer, and a worthy and amiable man. John Duncombe was born in London, and baptised by Dr. Herring, an intimate friend of his family, and at that time officiating clergyman of the parish in which his father resided. From school he was removed in 1745 at the recommendation of the same worthy divine, then Archbishop of York, to Benet College, Cambridge, where he took his degree, and under the patronage of Dr. Herring obtained a fellowship. He entered into holy orders in 1755, and appears to have officiated as curate of Sundrich in Kent, immediately afterwards. During his residence upon this cure, he addressed to his patron, now at the head of the church, the following imitation of the 31st ode of the 1st book of Horace. To his Grace THOMAS, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury What place, my Lord, in church or choir, Does your much-honour'd friend desire? On which he never can reside; No stall prebendal, every year By fines and rents three hundred clear; *He was the author of a tragedy on the subject of the elder Brutus, of which a late writer has availed himself to good purpose. A curious account of the reception of this play may be found in the third volume of "Letters by several eminent persons deceased," published by Mr. J.Duncombe, page 144. No high arch-deaconry, whose station Nor for those livings does he sigh Where his slow stream old Medway leads Tokay or Burgundy to taste, And see each day their costly board True friendship, health, and peace of mind; His worthy patron was not slow in gratifying the modest and well expressed wishes of the poet; within a few months of the date affixed to the above poem, he promoted him to the united rectories of St. Andrew and St. Mary Bredman, in the City of Canterbury. This preferment was confered upon him in the most flattering manner, as an earnest only of the future intentions of the friendly prelate, and in his own words Within three months, as "a good thing to begin with." however, from the time of his induction, it was his great misfortune to lose this excellent friend by death, * Duncombe's Horace, vol. 1, page 123. and with him, consequently, all hopes of rapid promotion in the church. * Such a calamity as this too frequently casts a gloom over all the future life of a young clergyman, damps his ardour in his profession, and reduces him to the condition of a melancholy hypochondriac.+ That it failed to produce such effects upon the newly instituted rector of Saint Andrew and Saint Mary Bredman, must be attributed to the goodness of his heart, and the * This excellent prelate obtained, and deserved, from the Earl of Cork, the following brief, but admirable eulogy: "He was what a Bishop ought to be, and is, I doubt not, where all Bishops ought to be. Honour and reverence will attend his name while this world lasts: happiness and glory will remain with his spirit for ever." + In the account of Mr. Duncombe inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1786, there is an unfounded assertion, which as it implies something like censure upon the conduct of Archbishop Herring, deserves to be put right. Mr. Duncombe it is remarked" was presented in 1757 by Archbishop Herring, to the united livings of St. Mary and St. Andrew, Canterbury. This benefice was bestowed in the most friendly manner by his patron, who called it only something to begin with: but the Archbishop lived not above two years afterwards; and with his life, the prospect of future advancement seemed to disappear. However no complaint against the slow preferment from his respected friend and patron, ever was suffered to escape in conversation." Mr. Duncombe was too just to the kindness of his patron, to suffer any complaint to escape him. He was presented to the Canterbury living in 1757, and his patron died March 13th following, consequently he did not live more than two months, instead of two years afterwards. At the time of his obtaining this living, Mr. Duncombe was only 28 years of age, and could not justly complain of slow preferment. The good prelate acted upon the best and purest motives: something was owing to friendship, more was demanded from the rank and station he so worthily filled. Had the Archbishop lived, Mr. Duncombe would have been prefered; as it was, considering his age, and that he had been ordained only two years when be obtained a living, this writer, whoever he might be, should not have mentioned the words "slow preferment.” cheerfulness of his disposition: he was moreover a poet and a lover. A friendship had long subsisted between Mr. Duncombe the elder, and Joseph Highmore Esq. who in addition to his well known acquirements in the delightful art he practised, indulged a taste for general literature, and enjoyed the intimacy of many of the learned men with whom he was a contemporary. Mr. Highmore had an only daughter who had been educated with the greatest care, and under every possible advantage: she possessed great personal beauty, considerable talent, and all the accomplishments that adorn her sex. She wrote verses when yet a child; and very early, shewed also great taste in her father's art; she was a perfect mistress of the French language, and acquired a considerable proficiency in the Italian, of which she was veryfond.* As a proof of her uncommon merit, it is only necessary to observe that she obtained at a very early period of her life, the intimate friendship of Young, Hawkesworth, and Richardson, t a triumvirate rarely to be matched in any age or country; and among her own sex, that of Mrs. Chapone, and Mrs. Carter, names equally dear to virtue and to learning. The friendship that existed between Mr. *She made drawings for the title pages of most of her husband's publications, but no opinion should be formed of the merit of her designs from the execution of these plates, which like all works of that kind in the early part of last century, is a disgrace to the arts. Of the miserable engraving of those designed to ornament the four volumes of Horace, she very justly complains in a manuscript now before the writer. + Of the estimation in which she was held by Dr. Hawkesworth some proofs have been given before in our account of that elegant writer. A very characteristic letter of Richardson's of the date of 1754, addressed to her, may be found in the third volume of "Letters by Eminent Persons deceased," page 6. Duncombe and Mr. Highmore, led to a more ardent attachment between their children. After a courtship which had subsisted during the greater part of their previous lives, John Duncombe and Susanna Highmore were married at Saint Ann's Church, Soho, April 20th, 1763. “A similarity of taste," says one who probably knew them well," and love of literature had long endeared their companionship; and a mutual affection, was the natural consequence, which ensured them twenty-three years of happiness, rather increased than diminished by the hand of time."* At once to exhibit the poetic talent of this accomplished lady, and her correct feeling at this period of her life, we select the following imitation of the fourteenth ode of the fifth book of Horace, written by her in the year following her happy marriage. I hear my friend you oft enquire As if, when Hymen wreath'd my brow, * Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 56, page 189. |