Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 63.djvu/131

 the good qualities of Sir Roger L'Estrange. 3. ‘Country Conversations: Being an Account of some Discourses that happen'd in a visit to the Country last Summer on divers Subjects; chiefly of the Modern Comedies, of Drinking, of Translated Verse, of Painting and Painters, of Poets and Poetry,’ London, 1694, 12mo. 4. ‘Three Poems of St. Paul's Cathedral: viz. The Ruins, The Rebuilding, The Choire,’ London, 1697, fol. (the poem on ‘The Ruins’ had been issued separately in 1668, 4to). 5. ‘Historia Histrionica: an Historical Account of the English Stage, shewing the Ancient Use, Improvement, and Perfection of Dramatick Representations in this Nation. In a Dialogue of Plays and Players,’ London, 1699, 4to (reprinted in facsimile among Ashbee's reprints, 1872). This interesting little sketch of the ‘transition’ stage was, by Warburton's advice, incorporated (as a preface to vol. xi.) in Dodsley's ‘Old English Plays,’ 1744 (it is also given in Collier's reissue of Dodsley, and in White's ‘Old English Dramas,’ and it is summarised in Oldys's ‘British Librarian’). It assumes the form of a dialogue between Lovewit and an old cavalier, who discourses amiably upon old plays and old actors such as Lowin and Pollard, Taylor, a notable Hamlet, and Swanston, who played Othello ‘before the wars.’ 6. ‘Phœnix Paulina: a Poem on the New Fabrick of St. Paul's Cathedral,’ London, 1709, 4to; published anonymously, but referred to by Wright in a manuscript note by Hearne in the Bodleian copy (cf., Collections, ii. 119). Wright is further credited with translations from the Latin and French: ‘Thyestes, a Tragedy translated out of Seneca; to which is added Mock-Thyestes in burlesque,’ 1674, 8vo, and ‘The New Description of Paris,’ in two parts, London, 1687, 8vo.

Besides these works, Wright prepared an accurate epitome in English of Dugdale's ‘Monasticon’ (London, 1693, fol.), in the dedication of which he remarks: ‘Warwickshire has produced two of the most famous and deserving writers in their several ways that England can boast of—a Dugdale and a Shakespeare.’ Wood cites a distich of an elegy written by Wright upon John Goad [q. v.] Hearne, who respected Wright, having corresponded with him upon the subject of Leland, informs us that he wrote strictures upon Wood's ‘Athenæ,’ but never published them. From a manuscript entry by Hearne, dated 1719, in Dr. Rawlinson's copy of Wright's ‘Ruins in St. Paul's Cathedral,’ it appears that Wright, a few years before his death, gave Hearne a complete catalogue of his works; and that upon a previous application he had at a former date refused this favour to Wood as being an injudicious and partial biographer’ (cf., Collections, iii. 372).

Hazlitt doubtfully attributes to Wright a volume of translations entitled ‘Sales Epigrammatum: Being the choycest Distichs of Martials Fourteen Books of Epigrams & of all the Chief Latin Poets that have writ in these two last Centuries. Together with Cato's Morality,’ London, 1663, and 1664, 4to; this volume is dedicated to Sir William Bromley in June 1663 by ‘James Wright M. Arts.’ The same signature is affixed to a version of Ovid's ‘Epistles,’ 1683.

 WRIGHT, JAMES (1716–1785), first baronet, governor of Georgia, born in Russell Street, Bloomsbury, on 8 May 1716, was the fourth son of Robert Wright of Sedgfield in the county of Durham, who removed from England to Charleston, and for many years was chief justice of South Carolina. Robert, son of Sir Robert Wright [q. v.], lord chief justice of England, married Mrs. Pitts, whose maiden name was Isabella Wright.

James entered Gray's Inn on 14 Aug. 1741, and was called to the bar. He practised in Charleston, and about 1739 was nominated attorney-general of South Carolina. He was afterwards appointed agent of the colony in England, and on 13 May 1760 he was nominated lieutenant-governor of Georgia. On 28 Jan. 1762 he received from England the commission of captain-general and governor-in-chief, with full executive powers, dated April 1761. In 1762 he defeated the attempts of Thomas Boon, governor of South Carolina, to extend his jurisdiction over some districts south of Georgia, on the borders of Florida, and on 7 Oct. 1763 procured the extension of the southern frontier of the province from the Alatamaha to the river St. Mary. In 1763 Wright also presided at Augusta at a 