228] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



of classical taste, have lavished their encomiums on what they did 

 not understand. 



ISAAC HAWKINS BROWNE, the son of the Rev. William Browne, 

 minister of the parish of Burton-upon-Trent, was born in that 

 town, January 21, 1706. His father was possessed of a small in- 

 heritance, but his fortune was increased by his marriage with Anne, 

 daughter and heiress of Isaac Hawkins, Esq. and thus, happily for 

 our author, he was from his earliest infancy blest with all the aid 

 which opulence could give to facilitate his studies. He received 

 the rudiments of a classical education at the grammar-school in 

 Lichfield, and was afterwards sent to Westminster-school, where 

 he made a commendable proficiency in scholastic attainments. 



In the seventeenth year of his age, Mr. Browne was sent to 

 Trinity College, Cambridge, where he applied with success to the 

 various branches of mathematical science and the principles of the 

 Newtonian philosophy. He also cherished his bias for classical 

 literature, and obtained the degree of Master of Arts. 



In May 1724 George I. established a foundation at both the 

 Universities for the study of modern languages and history, to 

 qualify the students for employments at Court and on Foreign 

 Embassies. Mr. Browne was one of the young gentlemen selected 

 to be scholars upon this foundation ; and on the death of the King, 

 he testified his gratitude by a copy of elegiac verses, for which he 

 was complimented by the Professor of Poetry at the University. 



In 1727 Mr. Browne went to London, and commenced the study 

 of the law at Lincoln's Inn. In the course of several years he 

 acquired considerable professional knowledge ; but he never arriv- 

 ed at any eminence as a practitioner, and in consequence of the 

 possession of a competent income, he relinquished the profession 

 many years before his death. 



During his residence at Lincoln's Inn, he wrote his Poem on 

 Design and Beauty, which he inscribed to Mr. Highmore the 

 painter, who was his particular friend. His ideas of Beauty and 

 Order are borrowed from the principles of the Platonic Philosophy ; 

 but though a poem has been called " a speaking picture," the 

 -practical artist will derive little instruction from the futile illus- 

 trations of Mr. Browne on a subject which admits of such diver- 

 sity. In thejeu des esprit, which he entitled "The Pipe of To- 

 bacco," he imitated the manner of no less than five authors then 

 living, with considerable humour and effect. That he might suc- 

 cessfully imitate the peculiarities in the style of Gibber, Thomson, 



