) 
| B58 
X 
", dev. Kennicott was obfcure. 
be fufpected of knowing more of the 
matter. oe 
‘There are many reafons, Sir, why I 
cannot come into your idea of printing 
Greek *. In the firft place I have two 
or three engagements for my prefs; and 
my time of life does not allow me but to 
look alittle way farther. In the next, I 
cannot now go into new expences of pur- 
ehafe. My tortune ts very much reduced, 
_both by my brother’s death, and by the 
“date plan of reformation. The lJaft reafon 
woud weigh with me, had I none of the 
other, My admiration of the Greeks 
“was a little like that of the mob on other 
-points, not from found knowledge. I 
never was a good Greek {cholar ; have 
long forgotten what I knew of the Jan- 
guage; and as I never difguif my igno- 
‘fance of any thing, it would look like 

ae RENE ER Ge EP se 
Anecdctes of Eminent Chara&ers. 
[Nov. 
affetation to print Greek authors. I 
coud not bear to print them without 
owning that I do not underftand them ; 
and fuch a confeflon would perhaps be 
as mucn oftentation as unfounded pre- 
tentions. I muf therefore fick to my 
fimplicity, and not go out of my line. 
It is dificult to diveft one’s felf of vanity, 
becaule impoilible to diveft one’s felf of 
felf-love. If one runs from one glaring 
Vanity, one is catched by its oppoiite. 
Modefty can be as vain-glorious on the 
ground, as Pride on a triumphal car. 
Modefty however is preferable; for fhould 
fhe contradiét her profeffions, fhe ftill - 
keeps her own fecret, and does not hurt 
the pride of others. Adieu, Sir. 
Tam very fincerely, 
_ Your obedient humble fervant, 
Hor. WALPOLE. 
.. ANECDOTES OF EMINENT CHARACTERS. 
THE LATE Dr. KENNICOTT. 
WJ “HE authors of the Encyciopcedia Bri-.« 
tannica, under the article Kenni- 
cott, confefs themfelves ignorant of the 
. parentage and early life of that learned 
Oriental fcholar. It is of great impor 
tance that every thing relating to eminent 
perfons fhould be made public. As bio- 
‘praphy is to individuals, what hiftory is 
to a nation, uleful under various fitua- 
tions for the regulation of conduct, no- 
thing, that fhews the progrefs of men 
G 
_ from obfcurity to eminence; can be con- 
fidered as trivial. However eftimable in 
the eyes of the multitnde high birth and 
hereditary flation may appear, thofe in 
reality moft deferve the admiration and 
gratitude of mankind, who have proved 
in themfelves, that virtue and talent, ac- 
companied by affiduity, may climb to the 
fummits of fame or fuecefs. The bio- 
graphy therefore of men, oo toiied 
with perfeverine induftry, ®will be the 
greatelt ftimulus to the activity, and at 
- the fame time teach us how to regulate 
our attempts. It will infpire patience 
under obftacles, and correét the mregu- 
larities of fancuine hope.» The origin of 
: His parents 
were honeft characters: his father was 
the parith clerk of ~Totnefs in Devon, 
and once mafter of a charity ichool in 
that town, At an early age young Ken- 
nicott fucceeded to the fame employ in 
the {chool, being recommended to it by 

* An edition of Anacreon had been ree 
commended as a mere literary curlolity. 
= 
his remarkable fobriety and premature 
knowledge. It was in that fituation he 
wrote the verfes to the Hon. Mrs. Court- 
ney, which recommended him to her 
notice, and that of many neighbouring 
gentlemen. They, with a laudable ge- 
nerofity, opened a fubf{eription to fend 
him to Oxford. bie. . ia 
He foon there diftinguifhed himfelf as 
is weil known. As a teftimony of the 
‘truth of the above ftatement, the follow- 
ing is a copy of an infcription written by 
Dr. K. and engraved on the tomb of his 
father and mother. Thé writer of this 
article has tranfcribed it from the origisial 
in the church-yard of Totnefs, The 
temb is more elegant than perfons in their 
fituation are accuftomed to. have ereéted, 
and was thought, perhaps, by the envious; 
to be fomewhat oftentatious. A perfonal 
knowledge of the Doétor induces the wri- 
ter of this article to think that it was ra-- 
ther the tribute of a good and grateful 
mind, and of the pious-reverence apd love 
which he entertainéd for the authors of 
his being. — ips oP ei 
As Virtue fhould be of good report, , 
facred : : 
be this humble Monument : 
to thé Memory of ~ 
Kewsicott, Parith Clerk of Totnefs, 
ang Elizabeth his Wife:  ~ 
The latter, 
an Example of every Chriftian 
The former, 
animated with the warmeft Zeal, 
regulated by the beft good fenfe, 
and both conftantly exerted -— 
for the Salvation of himfelf and others, 
Hoe St Fe tae cies: a. ee Reader t 
Penjamin 
Duty ; 
i 
" 
a 
