Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/199

 188 BOYSE. is reason to believe, sent in manuscript to such persons as were likely to make him a pecuniary return. By a letter to Dr. Birch*, dated October 29, 1742, it appears that he had, among many similar projects, an intention of publishing a translation of Voltaire's poetical works, and sent to the Doctor a specimen of three of his Ethic epistles. On the next day, he sent another letter supplicating assistance, and assuring Dr. Birch that his distress was not in any way the effect of his own miscon- duct! In a letter dated November 5, after acknowledging Dr. Birch's kindness to him, and urging him to make his case known to others, he gives the following account of himself:- ได้ "I am, Sir, the only son of Mr. Boyse of Dublin, a man whose character and writings are well known. My father died in 1728 in very involved circumstances, so that I had nothing left to trust to, but a liberal education. In 1730 I removed to Edinburgh, where I published a Collection of Poems, with a translation of the Tablature of Cebes. After some years stay there, and many disappointments, I came in 1737 to London, where I have done several essays in the literary way (chiefly poetry) but with slender encouragement. Mr. Cave, for whose magazine I have done many things, and at whose desire I removed to this neighbourhood (St. Jobn's Court, Clerkenwell,) has not used me so kindly as the sense he expressed of my services gave me reason to expect. Learning, however it may be a consolation under affliction, is no security against the common calamities of life. I think myself capable of business in the literary way, but by my late necessities am unhappily reduced to an incapacity of going abroad to seek it. I have reason to believe, could I wait on Lord Halifax, (which a small matter would enable me to do) I should receive some gratuity for my dedication, so as to make me easy. This is all the hope I have left to save me MSS. Birch, 4301, in Brit. Mus