LIFE OF LANGHORNE. 



" Fortune that with malicioui joy, 

 Does man, her slave, oppress ; 

 Proud of her offiie to destroy, 

 Is seldom pleased to bless;" 



and though it might be expected that the doctor's fortitude would 

 have been proof against such adventitious reverses, yet he never 

 wholly recovered this disappointment, but sunk into a decline, 

 ■which lasted three years, and terminated his existence on the 1st of 

 April, 1779, in the forty-fifth year of his age. 



During his illness, however, he wrote " Owen of Carron," which 

 is considered as one of his most finished poetical pieces. It is ex- 

 tremely pathetic, and, from its distressing catastrophe, proves un- 

 commonly interesting. 



The different productions of Dr. Larfghorne have been critical- 

 ly examined by Dr. Anderson, whose liberal and candid remarks 

 do honour to his erudition and discernment, v In short, the rank of 

 the doctor, as a writer, may be accurately estimated from the fol- 

 lowing paragraph. 



"As a poet, his compositions are distinguished by undoubted 

 marks of genius; a fine imagination, and a sensible heart. Imagery 

 and enthusiasm, the great essentials of poetry, inspirit all his works, 

 and place them far above the strain of vulgar compositions. The 

 tenderness of love and the soft language of complaint were 

 adapted to his genius, as well as elevation of thought, opulence of 

 imagery, and the highest beauties of poetry. But the qualities for 

 which he is chiefly distinguished, are imagination, pathos, and sim- 

 plicity, animated sentiment, pertinence of allusion, warmth and 

 vivacity of expression, and a melodious versification. His senti- 

 mental productions are exquisitely tender and beautiful; his de- 

 scriptive compositions show a feeling heart and a warm imagination; 

 and his lyric pieces are pregnant with the genuine spirit of poetical 

 enthusiasm: but his style, in the midst of much splendor and 

 strength, is sometimes harsh and obscure, and may be censured as 



