In 1785 he had a paralytic affection, from which he partially recovered, but lost his life by a second attack on the 18th of January, in the following year.

For a longer account of this very respectable clergyman, we must refer our readers to an article in the Biographia Britannica, written certainly with the partiality and warmth of a friend, and probably of a near relation, but amply confirmed, as far as the goodness of his private character is concerned, by the general report of those who knew him personally and yet survive him. Our business is more particularly with his literary life.

John Duncombe was the author and publisher of many works, a complete catalogue of which would occupy too much space; it may be found in the article in the Biographia Britannica, above alluded to, and in the 56th volume of the Gentleman's Magazine. The principal of these is perhaps the translation of Horace, in conjunction with his father, an edition of which was published in 1766, and a second in the following year. This work was not entirely original, but composed by adopting such translations of different parts as had already appeared, and which the editors "despaired to equal," and completing the whole by "attempting to trace the original as closely as was consistent with the genius and elegance of the English tongue." This translation, although upon the whole not equal to the recent attempt of Francis in the same line, has several spirited and successful versions both original and selected. The greater part of the literal translations are from the pen of the elder Duncombe, and are inferior to the parts selected for execution by his son; many of these are imitations, in which he has ingeniously, but

unfortunately for the permanent interest of his work, selected temporary subjects.-The following is a fair specimen.

THE SIXTEENTH ODE OF THE SECOND BOOK OF HORACE IMITATED.

To the Honourable James Yorke.

For quiet on Newmarket's plain,
The shivering Curate prays in vain,
When wintry show'rs are falling;
And stumbling steed and whistling wind,
Quite banish from his anxious mind,
The duties of his calling.

With thoughts engross'd by routs and plays

The gallant Soph for quiet prays,

Confuted and confuting;

And quiet is alike desir'd

Een by the king's professor, tir'd
With wrangling aud disputing.

In crowded senates, on the chair
Of our Vice-Chancellor sits Care,
Undaunted by the mace;

Care climbs the yacht when adve se gales
Detain or tear our patron's sails,

And ruffles ev'n his Grace.

How bless'd is he whose annual toil

With well-rang'd trees improves a soil,

For ages yet unborn!

Such as at humble Bailey, plann'd

By mitred Herring's youthful hand,
The cultur❜d glebe adorn.

From place to place we still pursue
Content, and hope in each to view
The visionary guest:

Vainly we shun intruding Care;
Not all, like you, the joys can share
Of Wimple and of Wrest.

Then let us snatch, while in our pow'r,
The present transitory hour,

And leave to heav'n the morrow; Youth has its griefs; a friend may die, Or nymph deceive; for none can fly The giant hand of sorrow.

His country's hope, and parent's pride In bloom of life young Blandford died; His godlike father's eyes

Were dimm'd in age by helpless tears;

And heav'n to me may grant the

Which it to you denies.

years,

They shine in embassy and war;
They grace the senate and the bar;

And emulate their sire.

Invested with the sacred gown,
You soon to rival their renown,

The glorious task shall join;
And while they guard Britannia's laws
You, steady in religion's cause,

Shall guard the laws divine.

Besides the letters of Lord Corke before mentioned, Mr. Duncombe published a volume of correspondence between Archbishop Herring and his father; and a more valuable selection of letters by various writers, including a considerable number by bis maternal uncle, John Hughes, Esq. His latest works were some topographical contributions to a periodical publication by Mr. Nichols, comprising a history of Reculver and Herne in Kent, and an account of three hospitals in Canterbury of which he was master. In the same year, 1784, he published select works of the Emperor Julian in 2 volumes 8vo. He printed at different times, three sermons: one preached in St. Ann's Church, Westminster, where he was for some time, in the early part of his life assistant preacher, and two delivered to his congregation at St. Andrew's Church in Canterbury. These were all printed at the request of the hearers, and are creditable to him as a careful and diligent student and expositor of holy writ. He was concerned in the publication of the Gentleman's Magazine for more than twenty years, having succeeded his friend Dr. Hawkesworth in the reviewer's department of that work; he also contributed a variety of papers in biography, poetry, and criticism; some of these have the signature of Crito, others are anonymous.

The poems written by Mr. Duncombe at different periods of his life, would form a volume of handsome dimensions, but they have never been collected. Some of them were printed in the form of pamphlets, but the greater number.were inserted in the various miscellanies of the day, and are to be found in the Gentleman's Magazine, the Poetical Calendar, Dodsley's and Pearch's Collections, Nichol's Selections, and the

Cambridge Repository. Most of these compositions were the amusement of his early life, and written during his residence at Cambridge. His distinguishing talent was chastened humour, and he was very happy in his attempts at parody, of which there are few better specimens than the "Evening Contemplation in a College;" his application of the old ballad of Chevy Chace, is also excellent of its kind. His more elaborate pieces are not his best; he was a disciple of the school of Pope, and though he wrote generally with elegance, and occasionally with the peculiar harmony and spițit of his great master, the labour of composition is too often apparent. Generally speaking, he was unfortunate in his selection of subjects; most of his poems, being on temporary topics, or addressed to persons eminent only during their lives, have now lost their interest, and cannot be read with the same pleasure at the present day, as at the period of their first appearance.

THE FEMINEAD;

Or Female Genius. 1754.

Shall lordly Man, the theme of every lay,
Usurp the muse's tributary bay;

In kingly state on Pindus' summit sit,
Tyrant of verse, and arbiter of wit?

By Salic law the female right deny,
And view their genius with regardless eye?
Justice forbid! and every muse inspire

To sing the glories of a sister-choir!

Rise, rise, bold swain; and to the list'ning grove
Resound the praises of the sex you love,