Page:Lives of Poets-Laureate.djvu/357

Rh Fields that uncultur'd, harvests rich produce, Spontaneous fruits that yield ambrosial juice; And rivers that their sea-broad currents roll'd Through groves of perfume, and o'er sands of gold."

Two years after his succession to the Laurel, he was made one of the Magistrates of Westminster. He industriously devoted himself to his judicial studies, although there is an anecdote in the autobiography of Mr. Leigh Hunt to the effect that Pye was one day found absorbed in his books when an impatient Court was awaiting his arrival on the bench at Westminster.

He published in 1827 "A Summary of the Duties of a Justice of the Peace."

As we do not belong to that class of writers who, according to Mason, in his "Memoirs of W. Whitehead," "gain what they think an honest livelihood by publishing the lives of the living," so also we do not attempt to chronicle any of the minute circumstances of the private life of our Laureate.

He died at Pinner, in Herts, in a house which he had purchased there, on August 13th, 1813.

Though after his appointment to the Laureateship, his works became a target for wit and sarcasm, though his name was facetiously punned on in squibs political and literary, and "Pye et Parvus Pybus" was in every one's mouth, yet he enjoyed a good literary, if not a high poetical reputation.

We find that in 1807 he was called upon to write an address for the Anniversary of the Literary Fund Dinner. He was the friend of Mitford, Hayley, and other men of note.

His works are very voluminous, and form a goodly list,