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/90

 54 A D D I S O N. tionary, and that he confidered Dr. Tillotfon as the writer of higheft authority. Addifon however did not conclude his life in peaceful ftudie 1 - ; but relapfed, when he was near his end, to a . political queftion. It fo happened that, 1718-19, a controverfy was agitated, wuh great vehemence, between tbofe friends of long continuance, Addifon and Steele. The fubj ect of their dif- pute was the earl of Sundi rland's memorable a&, called " the " Peerage Bill," hy which the number of peers fhould be fixed, and the kingreftrained from any new creation of nobiiity,unlefs when an old family fhould be extinct. The bill was laid afide during that leflion, and Addifon died before the next, in which its commitment was rejected. Every reader furely muft regret that thefe two illufirious friends, after fo many years part in confidence and endearment, in unity of intereft, conformity of opinion, and fellowfhip of fhidy, fhould finally part in acrimonious oppofition. The end of this ufeful life was now approaching. Addifon had for fome time been opprefTed by fhortnefs of breath, whuh was now aggravated by a dropfy ; and, finding his danger prefilng, he prepared to die conform- ably to his own precepis and profeflions. During this linger- ing decay, he fent as Pope relates, a mefTage by the earl of Warwick to Mr. Gay, defiring to fee him : Gay, who had not vifited him for iome time before, obeyed the fumrhoris, and found himfe^f received with great kindnefs. The pur- pofe for which the interview had been folicited was then dif- covercd : Addifon told him, that he had injured him ; but that, if he recovered, he would recompcnfe him. What the injury was he did not explain, nor did Gay ever know ; but fuppofed that fome preferment defigned for him had by Addi- fon's interven ion been withheld. Lord Warwick was a young man of very irregular life, and perhaps of loofe opinions. Addifon, for whom he did not want refpcct, had very diligently endeavoured to reclaim him; but his arguments and expoftu'ations had no effect; one ex- periment-, however, remained to be tried. When he found his life near itb end, he directed the young lord to be called ; and when he defined, with great tendernels, to hear his bft injunctions, told him, " 1 have fent for you that you may fee " how a Chriftian can die." What effect this awful fcene had on the earl's behaviour I know not: he died himfelfina ihort time Having given directions to Mr. Tickell for the publication of his wo.ks, and dedicated thsm on his death- btd to his friend Mr. Craggs, he died June 17, 1719, at HI! aid houfe, leaving no child but a daughter who is ftill living (178,5), Of