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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 1827, Edition 1 of 1, Page 223, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      At this time he had not thought of poetry . His attention was drawn to it by a clumsy attempt of another youth to lampoon a village sign-painter , who , in endeavouring to delineate a lion , had drawn a dog . Gifford thought he could make more of the subject •„ wrote some verses , and was pronounced the superior bard . After this he composed some other short pieces , which he used to

      recite for the entertainment of his neighbours , who recompensed him by small collections of money . This was to him * a most valuable return , for it was the first money ever placed at his own disposal . He immediately applied it to furnish his wants of writing materials and books . But his literary pursuits interfering with his business , his master obtained possession of his little stock , and put an end to his studies .

      Whilst driven to despair by these severities , his poetical compositions attracted the notice of Mr . Cookesley , a respectable surgeon in the town , who from this time became his friend and patron . This gentleman having informed himself o € his affecting history , made his case known

      among his friends , raised a subscription to purchase his indentures , and to pay for his education for two years . At the end of this period he was pronounced qualified for admission to the University , and through the interest of Mr . Thomas Taylor , of Denbury , * he obtained the place of Bib . Lect . at Exeter College .

      His pecuniary means being scanty , itt was proposed that he should publish , by subscription , a translation of Juvenal „ aaxd his friends in the country warmly promoted the design . He proceeded , however , with the work but slowly , and at last abandoned it , and returned most of the subscriptions , postponing the publication till he was able to undertake ifc more to his own satisfaction , and under more favourable auspices .

      Accident obtained for him an introduction to the late Earl Grosvenor , who immediately became his warm and zealous patron . In corresponding with a College friend , who occasionally resided in London , he sent his letters under cover to Lord Grosvernor . Having forgotten to direct one of his letters , his

      Lordship , supposing it meant for himself , perused it ; the contents interested him . He inquired into the history and prospects of the writer ,, and then declared that fee " charged himself with his present support and future establishment . " And his Lordship generously acted up to his promise . Mr . Gifford after this travelled wkh

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      Lord Belgf ave , the present Earl Grosvenor , for several years on the Continent , and on his return , retired , as he writes , in competence and peace . He now prosecuted his long-abandoned project of a translation of Juvenal , which he published , with a dedication , just before his death , to ike late Earl Grosvenor , and a sketch , of his personal history , from

      which these facts are extracted . To the third edition of his Juvenal , which appeared in 1817 , he added a translation of Per&ius . He had before this published ki&Baviad and Mseviad > a severe and able satire on certain fashionable poetry of that day . This ,, perhaps ,, is the ablest of his works . He edited the plays of Massenger and Ben Jonson . At his death

      he had just amshed . printing an edition of Ford ' s Works , and nearly completely an edition of Shirley ' s Works . Oa » the establishment of the Quarterly Review he was entrusted with the Editorship , which he held till within two years of his death , when he was compelled to re-. Mnquish it by the growing infirmities of old age . It is understood that he re «

      ceived to the last a handsome pension from his steady friend , Earl Grosveuor . He held the office of Comptroller of the * Lottery , with a salary of £ 6 QQ ayear ^ he was also paymaster of the band of gentlemen pensioners , with a salary of . £ 300 a-year . He died in opulent circumstances , and left behiud him a select and valuable library .

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      Obituary . —Henry CKne Esq . 223

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      Jan . 2 , at his house in Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , aged 76 , Henry Cline , Esq ., F . R . S . His death was occasioned by a gradual bodily decay , consequent upon an intermitting fever under which he Iof some time laboured more than three

      years ago . { hiring his decline , which was attended with extraordinary emaciation and weakness , he retained his mental powers in a remarkable degree , and possessed a vigour of intellect and Uveli - ness of fancy , and a cheerfulness of disposition , which made life desirable .

      During the active part of his Ufe , ha was for a great number of years one of the surgeons of St . Thomas ' s Hospital , and gave lectures there upon Anatomy and Surgery ; and by his professional skill maintained the high character which former surgeons had given to the Hospital , and by his talents us a lectures increased the reputation of its school of Anatomy and Surgery . He was eminently successful its a pri-

      Untitled Article

      Henry Cline , Esq ., F . R . S .

  • Citation
    • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1827, page 223, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1794/page/63/