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LETTER VII. 
JOHN MILTON, the celebrated au- 
thor of Paradife Loft, was born in Lon- 
don in the year 1608, imbibed the rudi- 
ments of his education at St. Paul's fchool, 
thence was admitted of Chrift College, Cam- 
bridge, where, at the age of 24, he took his 
fecond degree in Arts. His father intended 
him for the church; but he was now be- 
come an enthufiaft in the religion which 
was afterwards the inftrument of Crom- 
well's ufurpation. Mufic and poetry were 
his favourite fludies. His Comus, r Allegro^ 
il Penferofo, and Lycidas, were written foon 
after he left the Univerfity. They are poems, 
with which, when you have leifure to read 
for amufement, you will be exceedingly de- 
lighted. 
About the year 1638, Milton made the 
tour of France and Italy. During his re- 
fidence at Florence, he wrote fome Latin 
verfes, in confequence of which, Salvaggi of 
Rome fent him this diftich, 
Gr<eria MeonidemjattatfiU Roma Maronems 
Anglia Miltonumjaftat utrique parem. 
Mr. 
