He was twice married, first to a daughter of Mr. auditor Parsons; and afterwards to a daughter of Mr. Devenish of a good family in Dorsetshire.  By his first wife, he had a son, and by his second a daughter.

Mr. Rowe died the 6th of December 1718, in the 45th year of his age, like a christian and a philosopher, and with an unfeigned resignation to the will of God:  He preferred an evenness of temper to the last, and took leave of his wife, and friends, immediately before his last agony, with the same tranquility of mind, as if he had been taking but a short journey.

He was interred in Westminster-Abbey, over against Chaucer; his body being attended with a vast number of friends, and the dean and chapter officiating at the funeral.  A tomb was afterwards erected to his memory, by his wife, for which Mr. Pope wrote an epitaph, which we shall here insert; not one word of which is hyperbolical, or more than he deserves.  Epitaph on Rowe, by Mr. Pope.

  Thy reliques, Rowe! to this sad shrine we trust,
  And near thy Shakespear place thy honour’d bust,
  Oh next him skill’d, to draw the tender tear,
  For never heart felt passion more sincere: 
  To nobler sentiment to fire the brave. 
  For never Briton more disdain’d a slave! 
  Peace to thy gentle shade, and endless rest,
  Blest in thy genius, in thy love too blest! 
  And blest, that timely from our scene remov’d
  Thy soul enjoys the liberty it lov’d.

  To these, so mourn’d in death, so lov’d in life! 
  The childless parent and the widow’d wife
  With tears inscribes this monumental stone,
  That holds their ashes and expects her own

Mr. Rowe, as to his person, was graceful and well made, his face regular and of a manly beauty; he had a quick, and fruitful invention, a deep penetration, and a large compass of thought, with a singular dexterity, and easiness in communicating his opinions.  He was master of most parts of polite learning, especially the Classic Authors, both Greek and Latin; he understood the French, Italian and Spanish languages.  He had likewise read most of the Greek and Roman histories in their original languages; and most that are written in English, French, Italian and Spanish:  He had a good taste in philosophy, and having a firm impression of religion upon his mind, he took delight in divinity, and ecclesiastical history, in both which he made great advances in the times he retired to the country, which were frequent.  He expressed upon all occasions, his full perswasion of the truth of revealed religion; and being a sincere member of the established church himself, he pitied, but condemned not, those who departed from him; he abhorred the principle of persecuting men on account of religious opinions, and being strict in his own, he took it not upon him to censure those of another persuasion.  His conversation was pleasant, witty, and learned, without the least tincture of