IS 



Account of Mr. John Iluddlesione JVo/nnef [Aug. 1 f 



eight years of a<ie, written a poem, which 

 he aftenvarrls declared would not have 

 difgraccd liis riper years. During his 

 apprcnicefhip he fent many of his effu- 

 fions to dift'erent periodical publications, 

 wJierc they obtained a ready iiii'ertion, 

 and were generally approved by thofe 

 Tvho read them. Shortly after complet- 

 ing his term, notchuling to follow the bu- 

 fincls of a printer, he obtained a lieu- 

 tenancy in the Eatl-lndia fervice, 

 whither he went ; but, on account of 

 fome unhappy controverfy with a fuperior 

 otficer, and from a difguft he had taken 

 to fome unfair proceedings in that hemi- 

 fphere, he in lef, than two years from his 

 depaiture returned to England, and be- 

 ing received coldly by his relations, who 

 were not plealied at his quick return, he 

 refoived on the expedient of trying his 

 fuccefs as an author. He got according- 

 ly introduced to feveral bookfellers of 

 that day, among whom were Kearlley, 

 Riley, Bell, Evans, and VVilkie, who 

 gladly availed themfclves of his literary 

 talents. Mr. Whe!)le engaged liiin to 

 condu6t his Lady's jVIagazine, for wliicli 

 he received a regular monthly fiipend ; 

 nor had he any realbn to complain of 

 their liberality for his labours, as it is cer- 

 tain feveral of tliefe gentlemen were great 

 friends to him in future life. Many of 

 Mr. Wynne's poetical produ(^tif)ns arc to 

 be found in a publication intitled The 

 Britifli Magazine and Review. Some of 

 thefe appeared in his own name, others 

 under the fictitious fignature of " George 

 Olhornc, efq." Mr. \V. alfo wrote The 

 Hiftory of Englanrl in Vcrfe, which has 

 not yet appeared in print. 



Though Mr. Wynne excelled as a poet, 

 his profe produ('tions are likewife nume- 

 rous. It was by the advice of Dr. Gold- 

 fmith, who v\as his contcmpornry, that he 

 firft begun the Hillory of Ireland, which 

 he afterwards dedicated to the Duke of 

 Northumberland. The Doctor jocofcly 

 obferved, " That it would be better to 

 relinquilh the draggle-tail Mufes ; as for 

 his part, he found productions in profe 

 ■were more fought after and better paid 

 for." Blr. W.'s reputation as a writer 

 foon became eflabliilied ; and had his 

 economy kept pace with his fuccefs, it is 

 certain he might have paflfed through life, 

 if not in afiluence, at lead above indi- 

 gence. But want of economy was his 

 prevailing fault, rpffelfing a ianguine 

 imagination, a^d having the higlicil fenfe 

 of honour and rectitude himfeltj be was 

 eafily impofed uqon ; and while he had 



money he confidered but little the value 

 of it; yet wanting it, perhaps none fuffer- 

 ed mrjre from the poignancy of poverty 

 than he did. His acquaintances, know- 

 ing his failings, took advantage of his un- 

 fufpetting benevolent difpolition, by foli- 

 citing him to become fiirety for a perfon 

 of the name of Stevenfon, whicji he did, 

 for goods to a confiderable amount, wliich 

 were to be difpofcd of in India, whence 

 Stevenfon was to remit the value at ii 

 ftated period ; but through change of cli- 

 mate, and inebriety, Stevenfon died, no 

 remittances came from India, and his fe- 

 curity, unable to pay the demand, was 

 forced to prifon, where he remained in 

 great dilh-els for a confiderable time, un- 

 til, by the afiilhmce of his uncle Edward, 

 the debt was paid, and he obtained his 

 difcharge. 



In the beginning of the year 1770 he 

 married the daughter of an eminent ma- 

 fon of Lambeth, who had at his death 

 bequeathed a thonfand pounds to each 

 of his daughters ; but the brother, being 

 principal executor to the will of his fa- 

 ther, applietl his fiftcrs' fortune to his own 

 ufc in trade, and, through his ill fuccefs, 

 not a guinea of Mrs. W.'s portion was 

 ever paid. This lady, however, had re- 

 ceived a good education, poiVeflcd an 

 agreeable perfon, and was not more than 

 fevenloen when ihe was married. She 

 was accomplilhed, and had an excellent 

 undcrllanding, which became afterwards 

 materially unproved by her connc;\ion. 

 Before ilic was eighteen the fruit of 

 their union was the writer of this me- 

 moir. 



From the great number of acquain- 

 tances Mr. W. at this time had, fome of 

 whom were perfons of wit and erudition, 

 it was almofl impoffible for a man of his 

 firdent imagination to avoid on every oc- 

 cafion facriticing too freely at the Ihrine 

 of Bacchus ; and it frequently happened 

 that it was one or two o'clock in the 

 morning when he returned home. This 

 occafioned an unquiet houie ; and his 

 bride being very abiicmious herfelf, often 

 admonifhcd him in ftrong terms on the 

 impropriety of his conduct ; but, not- 

 withlUmding liich remonllranccs, he was 

 too frequently led to err in the fame way ; 

 and though gentle means would probably 

 have brought him to reform, harlh treat- 

 ment had a coritrary elFett. Had his 

 wife's good fenfe led her to adopt thofe 

 endearing methods of perfualion which 

 fome few women of diicernment know 

 how to employ with fuch great effect, flie 

 would 



