CANONS of CRITICISM, AND GLOSSARY; THE Trial of the Letter Y, alias Y, sex next top. AND SONNET S. By THOMAS EDWARDS, Esq; LONDON: Printed for C. BATHURST, oppofite St. Dunstan's M.DCC.LXV. ADVERTISEMENT. T HE Canons of Criticifm, and the Sonnets printed in Dodsley's Miscellanys were fo well received by the beft Judges, that it is prefumed the Republication of them, together with the other pieces, which the Author left behind him, and which he had prepared for the prefs before his laft illness, will be agreeable to the Public. The twenty-feven Sonnets, which now appear for the first time, are in the fame taste with thofe in Dodfley's volume, correct, fimple, not aiming at points or turns, in the phrase and structure rather ancient, for the most part of a grave, or even of a melancholy caft; formed in short upon the model of the Italians of the good age, and of their Imitators among us, Spenfer and Milton. The Trial of the letter Y is a very fenfible piece of English criticism; a study, of which the Author was particularly fond, and in which few have thewn fo exact a taste. Mr. Edwards was a Barrifter of Lincoln's-inn, Son and Grandfon of two, worthy Gentlemen of the fame profeffion; he had a liberal Education, and an independent Fortune." A 2 For For his Character we may with the strictest juftice refer to his Epitaph, in the Church-yard of Ellesborough in Buckinghamshire. Under this stone are depofited the Remains of He was fincere and constant in the profeffion and practise of Christianity, without Narrowness or Superftition; fteadily attached to the cause of Liberty, nor less an enemy to Licenciousness and Faction; in his Poetry fimple, elegant, pathetic; in his Criticism exact, acute, temperate; affectionate to his Relations, cordial to his Friends. in the general Commerce of life obliging and entertaining. He bore a tedious and painfull diftemper with a Patience, which could only arife from a habit of Virtue and Piety; and quitted this life with the decent unconcern of one, whose hopes are firmly fixed on a better. He dy'd on the IIId day of January MDCCLVII, aged LVIII. and this ftone is infcribed to his memory, with the trueft concern and gratitude, by his two Nephews and Heirs, Jofeph Paice and Nathanael Mafon. The Gentleman, whofe affiftance Mr. Edwards acknowledges in the Preface, was Mr. Roderick, Fellow of Magdalen-college in Cambridge, and of the Royal and Antiquarian Societys. He dy'd some little time before his friend, bequeathing to him fuch of his Papers, as related to the Canons of Criticism: And the Additions to that work from those papers are inferted in their proper places. |
