not, when he came to London, instead of being dazzled and confounded by the various new objects that surrounded him, become in a short time, by that almost intuitive faculty which accompanies genius, so well acquainted with all the reigning topicks of discourse, with the manners and different pursuits of various classes of men, with the state of parties, &c. as to pour out from the press a multitude of compositions on almost every subject that could exercise the pen of the oldest and most experienced writer[1]? He who could do this, could compose
- ↑ The following notices, which Mr. Walpole has preserved, are too curious to be omitted. They will give the reader a full idea of the professed authorship of Chatterton. In a list of pieces written by him, but never published, are the following:
5. “To Lord North. A Letter signed the Moderator, and dated May 26, 1770, beginning thus: “My Lord—It gives me a painful pleasure, &c.—This (says Mr. W.) is an encomium on administration for rejecting the Lord Mayor Beckford's Remonstrance.
6. A Letter to Lord Mayor Beckford, signed Probus, dated May 26, 1770.—This is a violent abuse of Government for rejecting the Remonstrance, and begins thus: “When the endeavours of a spirited people to free themselves from an insupportable slavery”—. On the back of this essay, which is directed to Chatterton's friend, Cary, is this indorsement:
“Accepted by Bingley—set for and thrown out of The North Briton, 21 June, on account of the Lord Mayor's death.
Lost by his death on this Essay....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I II 6 Gained in Elegies....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2 2 0 in Essays....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 3 0 Am glad he is dead by....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 13 6”
