Page:Dictionary of National Biography. Sup. Vol I (1901).djvu/143

  College, whence he moved to a similar post at Queen Elizabeth's school, Ipswich. He remained there nine years. After two years in Paris he finally settled in London in 1881. Here he was engaged in editing Coleridge's works. The poems appeared in the 'Aldine Series' of poets in 1885. Three volumes of prose were published in Bohn's 'Standard Library;' 'Lectures and Notes on Shakspere' in 1883, 'Table Talk and Omniana' in 1884, and 'Miscellanies, Æsthetic and Literary,' in 1885. Ashe died in London on 18 Dec. 1889, but was buried in St. James's churchyard, Sutton, Macclesfield; a portrait is given in the 'Illustrated London News' and in the 'Eagle' (xvi. 109).

Ashe was a poet of considerable charm. He wrote steadily from his college days to the end of his life; but, although his powers were recognised by some of the literary journals, his poems failed entirely to gain the ear of his generation. A lack of vigour and concentration impairs the permanent value of his larger poems; but the best of his shorter lyrics have a charm and grace of their own which should keep them alive. One or two are quoted in Mr. William Watson's anthology, 'Lyric Love' ('Golden Treasury Series'). His works are: 1. 'Poems,' 1859, 8vo. 2. 'Dryope and other Poems,' 1861, 8vo. 3. 'Pictures, and other Poems,' 1865, 8vo. 4. 'The Sorrows of Hypsipyle. A Poem,' 1867, 8vo. 5. 'Edith, or Love and Life in Cheshire. A Poem,' 1873, 8vo. 6. 'Songs of a Year,' 1888, 8vo. His work was collected in one volume in 'Poems' (complete edition), London, 1885, 8vo.

 ASKHAM, JOHN (1825–1894), poet, was born at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in a cottage just off the Market Street, adjoining White Horse Yard, on 25 July 1825. His father, John Askham, a native of Raunds in the same county, was a shoemaker, and his mother came from Kimbolton. The poet, who was the youngest of seven, received very little education, but was at Wellingborough Free School for about a year. Before he was ten he was put to work at his father's trade. He worked some time for Messrs. Singer, but ultimately set up for himself. Amid incessant toil he found means to educate himself, and his earliest publications give evidence of a cultivation much beyond that of his class. He composed his first verses at the age of twenty-five, and later contributed poems to local newspapers. He acted as librarian of the newly formed Literary Institute at Wellingborough before 1871, when he was elected a member of the first school board of the town. In 1874 he became school attendance officer and sanitary inspector of the local board of health.

Askham published four volumes by subscription, and through one of his subscribers, George Ward Hunt [q. v.], he received a grant of 50l. from the queen's bounty fund. His publications were entitled: 1. 'Sonnets on the Months and other Poems,' 1863. 2. 'Descriptive Poems, Miscellaneous Pieces and Miscellaneous Sonnets,' 1866. 3. 'Judith and other Poems, and a (Centenary of Sonnets,' 1868. 4. 'Poems and Sonnets,' 1875. 5. 'Sketches in Prose and Verse,' 1893.

Askham is a good example of the uneducated poet. He was especially fond of the sonnet. The fidelity of his nature poetry was remarkable when it is considered that, unlike his predecessor, John Clare (1793–1864) [q. v.], he had rare opportunities of enjoying country life. In his later years he was rendered helpless by paralysis. He died at Clare Cottage, Wellingborough, on 28 Oct. 1894, and was buried on 1 Nov. in Wellingborough cemetery. He was twice married. By the first wife (born Bonham) he had three daughters; the second (born Cox) survived him.

 ASTLEY, JOHN DUGDALE (1828–1894), the sporting baronet, a descendant of Thomas de Astley, who was slain at Evesham in 1265, and of Sir Jacob Astley, lord Astley [q. v.], was the eldest son of Sir Francis Dugdale Astley (1805–1873), second baronet (of the 1821 creation), of Everleigh, near Marlborough, by Emma Dorothea {d. 1872), daughter of Sir Thomas Buckler Lethbridge. Born at Rome in a house on the Pincian Hill, on 19 Feb. 1828, John was educated at Winchester and Eton, and matriculated as a gentleman commoner at Christ Church, Oxford, on 4 June 1846. About a year later, by the pressing advice