Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/84

 4 8 A D D I S O N. then never read. It is neceflary to inform the reader, that about this time he was introduced by Congreve to Montague) then Chancellor of the Exchequer : Addifon was then learn- ing the trade of a courtier, and fubjoined Montague as a po- etical name to thofe of Cowley and of Dryden. By the in- fluence of Mr. Montague, concurring, according to Tickell, with his natural modefty, he was diverted from his original defign of entering into holy orders. Montague alleged the corruption of men who engaged in civil employments without liberal education; and declared, that, though he was repre- femed as an enemy to the Church, he would never do it any injury but by withholding Addifon from it. Soon after, in 1695, he wrote a poem to king William, with a kind of rhym- ing introduction addrefled to lord Somers. King William had no~ regard to elegance'or literature; his ftudy was only war 5 yet by a choice of minifters whofe difpofition was "very dif- ferent from his own, he procured, without intention, a very liberal patronage to poetry. Addifon was carefled both by Somers and Montague, in 1697, he wrote his poem on the peace of Ryfwick, which he dedicated to Montague, and which was afterwards called by Smith " the beft Latin poem " iince the ^Eneid." Having yet no publick employment, he obtained in 1699 a penfion of 300!. a year, that he might be enabled to travel. He ftaid a year at Blois, probably to learn the French language j and then proceeded in hisjourney to Italy, which he furveyed with the eyes of a poet. While he was travelling at leifure, he was far from being idle ; for he not only collected his obfervations on the country, but found time to write his Dialogues on Medals, and four ac'ts of Cato. Such is the relation of Tickell. Perhaps he only col- lected his materials, and formed his plan. Whatever were his other employments in Italy, he there wrote the letter to lord Halifax, which is juftly confidered as the moft elegant, if not the moft fublime, of his poetical productions. But in about two years he found it neceflary to haftenhomej being, as Swift informs us, " diftreiled by indigence, and compelled " to become the tutor of a travelling Squire." At his return he publifhed his travels, with a dedication to lord Somers. This book, though a while neglected, is faid in time to have become fo much the favourite of the publick, that before it was reprinted it rofe to five times its price. When he re- turned to England in 1702, with a meannefs of appearance which gave teilimony of the difficulties to which he had been reduced, he found his old patrons out of power, but he remained