THE European Magazine, For APRIL 1794. [Embellished with, 1. A PORTRAIT of HERBERT CROFT. 2. A VIEW of the CASTLE And 3. The ALDOBRANDIN PALACE at FRESCATI. of ST. ANGELO at Rome. haps not generally known [continued], including, Sir Joshua Reynolds-Michael Angelo. Matilda, a Fragment, Page 286 288 Journal of the Proceedings of the Fourth 289 30a 304 Account of the Trial of Warren Haf- Ambition, an Ode, by Mr. Thomas 285 Adele de Senange, ou Lettres de Lord 318 86 Foreign Intelligence from the London 316 ibid. Domestic Intelligence Droffiana, No. LV. Anecdotes of Illuftrious and Extraordinary Perfons, per Promotions, Marriages, Monthly Obituary LONDON: Printed for J. SEWELL, Cornhill; and J. DE BRETT, Piccadilly. Mr. Mozer's Poem on Somerset House in our next. G. Hs Original Letter of Lord Shaftesbury is received. objection. The length, we fear, will be an infurmountable The View of the manner of finking a Cone at Cherbourg will appear in our next, as will allo The Account of the Cafile of St. Angelo, at Rome, and The Adobrandin Palace, at Frefcati, AVERAGE PRICES of CORN, from April 5, to April 12, 1794. Wheat Rye | Barl. | Oats Beans. COUNTIES upon the COAST. Wheat Rye Barl. Oats Beans. 48 2/32 032 1025 636-6 032 223.934 9 o Effex Kent Suffex of Suffolk 4 Cambrid. 43 47 45 1000 200 47 034 325 344 4 Norfolk 45 033 725 840 Lincoln 49 6 37 031 1025 Hunting. 47 7:00 Salop 53 348 Wilts 44 40 031 1025 442 6 Cornwall 52 2,00 N. Wales 56 0144 S. Wales 56 oloo 8:38 10 York 45 7.35 4 Durham 42 1138 642 828 019 600 a 241 129 11 20 1,00 € 038 525 342 0 600 00:0 021 1000 ⚫ 649 5 Somerset 50 10 00 032 4,20 845 11 Monmou.56 200-037 120 249 Devon 53 400 029 318 900 0 0 26 10 17 030 0,21 640 0 032 925 1038 0 WALES. 8.40 € 1000 0 600 0 EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, For APRIL 1794. HERBERT CROFT. THIS Gentleman, to whom the Pub lic has already been indebted for feveral ufeful and entertaining works, and to whom (fhould the prefent times continue in their unaccountable neglect) poterity alone will have to return thanks for a moft claborate and important difplay of the English language in an improved edition of Johnfon's Dictionary, is, we believe, defcended from, or at leaft related to, a Bishop of Hereford bearing both his names, who lived in the last century. Mr. Croft was born about the year 1752. His father, if we mistake not, held an office in the Court of Chancery, and he himfelf was brought up to the Law, was regularly called to the Bar, and practiled fome time in Weftminster Hail with a degree of fuccefs which might warrant him to look forwards both to the honours and emoluments of the profeffion. As most of Mr. Croft's literary performances have been anonymous, we do not profefs to give a compleat account of them. The first, if we are not miftaken, was published in 1775, and was entitled, "A Brother's Advice to his Sifters." In 1780 he published "Love and Madness," containing many curious anccdotes of the unfortunate Chatterton. He alfo was the author of "The Literary Fly," and in the fame year, 1780, published a pamphlet on the riots entitled, "Fanaticifin and Treason, or a Difpaffionate Hiftory of the Rife, Progrefs, and Suppreffion of the rebellious Infurrcétions in June 1780." In 1781 he furnished Dr. Johnfon with the Life of Dr. Edward Young, which was published in that author's edition of the Lives of the English Poets; and in 1782 he printed a pamphlet entitled "Some Account of an intended Publication of the Statutes on a Plan en tirely new." The execution of this work, which from the nature of it would have been a very laborious one, was probably laid afide on Mr. Croft's abandoning the profeffion of the Law and devoting himfelf to the Church. On this occafion he removed with his family to Oxford, and entered himself of Univerfity College. During his refidence there he purfued with unabated vigour, "unpatronized and unfupported," his improvement of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary, which in the year 1792 he propofed to publish by fubfcription., That thefe Proposals have not been received with the encouragement that might have been expected, we believe to be certain. We do not, however, pretend to account for the neglect of fo valuable a work, and we cannot forbear expreffing our regret at it. While Mr. Croft continued at the Bar, he enjoyed an intimacy with one whofe patronage was expected by many of his friends to enfure him preferment. Whether he had any expectations himfelf we know not. It is lefs doubtful that he has had no obligations from that quarter. When Mr. Croft's great work the English Dictionary was fo far completed as to be ready for the prefs, he quitted Oxford, and foon afterwards loft his wife, ་་ not only the mother of his children, but the laborious affiftant in his exten five work, and in lefs than two months afterwards two of his children;" events which he notices very pathetically in his Propofals. Since that period he is become poffeffed of fome preferment at Quebec, which we understand does not require his attendance. What he has refolved upon in relation to his Dictionary has not tranfpired, but we hope it will yet meet with that encouragement which fo ufeful, fo accurate, and, according to the character we have heard of it, fo perfect a performance of its kind has a right to claim from a juft, a liberal, and an opulent nation. Kk 2 AN |