£04 Memoir of WilUa^n Roscoe, Esq. 



A work which has received such marked public approbation, 

 which has gone through so many large editions in Britain, which 

 has been translated into the most polished tongues of the conti- 

 nent, it is not my intention now to criticise. I shall content my- 

 self with remarking, that the author's intimate acquaintance 

 with the literature of Italy has excited the surprise even of 

 Italians ; and I well recollect the incredulous stare with which 

 an Italian nobleman, of great literary taste and information, re- 

 ceived my assertion that Mr Roscoe had never been out of 

 England. 



The success of the Life of Lorenzo appears to have confirm- 

 ed the author's intention of relinquishing his practice as an at- 

 torney ; and, some time after that event, he entered his name 

 as a member of Grey's Inn, with a view of being called to the 

 bar. This determination, however, he also relinquished, upon 

 keeping a few terms. 



In the year 1797, while his name remained on the books of 

 Grey's Inn, he paid a visit of some length to London. In con- 

 sequence of his literary reputation, and his intimacy with Lord 

 Lansdowne, he was introduced into the first literary and various 

 political circles : in particular, he used to state, that he then had 

 the pleasure of becoming personally acquainted with Mr Fox 

 and Mr, now Lord, Grey ; and he formed besides many valued 

 private friendships, which were dissolved only by death. Among 

 those who then more particularly gained his esteem he often 

 mentioned Dr Moore, author of Zeluco, of the spiritetl " Viczv 

 of Manners in Italy,"^ and of a " Journal of a Residence in 

 France^ — the father of the gallant and unfortunate Sir John 

 Moore. 



Mr Roscoe's retirement from professional labours enabled him 

 to devote himself with increased assiduity to Italian iitcralure. 

 To relieve his mind from the fatigue of more intense researches, 

 he this year translated into English verse the BaVta of Tansillo, 

 in which the long neglected beauties of the Italian poet are 

 brought home to British ears and British feelings with admir- 

 able tact and spirit. His more arduous occupations were the 

 vast stores of Italian history about the period of the restoration 



