’Sir,

’They tell me, the busy part of the nation are not more busy about Whig and Tory; than these idle-fellows of the feather, about Mr. Tickell’s and my translation.  I (like the Tories) have the town in general, that is, the mob on my side; but it is usual with the smaller part to make up in industry, what they want in number; and that is the case with the little senate of Cato.  However, if our principles be well considered, I must appear a brave Whig, and Mr. Tickell a rank Tory.  I translated Homer, for the public in general, he to gratify the inordinate desires of one man only.  We have, it seems, a great Turk in poetry, who can never bear a brother on the throne; and has his Mutes too, a set of Medlers, Winkers, and Whisperers, whose business ’tis to strangle all other offsprings of wit in their birth.  The new translator of Homer, is the humblest slave he has, that is to say, his first minister; let him receive the honours he gives me, but receive them with fear and trembling; let him be proud of the approbation of his absolute lord, I appeal to the people, as my rightful judges, and masters; and if they are not inclined to condemn me, I fear no arbitrary high-flying proceeding, from the Court faction at Button’s.  But after all I have said of this great man, there is no rupture between us.  We are each of us so civil, and obliging, that neither thinks he’s obliged:  And I for my part, treat with him, as we do with the Grand Monarch; who has too many great qualities, not to be respected, though we know he watches any occasion to oppress us.’

Thus we have endeavoured to exhibit an Idea of the writings of Mr. Tickell, a man of a very elegant genius:  As there appears no great invention in his works, if he cannot be placed in the first rank of Poets; yet from the beauty of his numbers, and the real poetry which enriched his imagination, he has, at least, an unexceptionable claim to the second.

FOOTNOTE: 

[1] Jacob.

* * * * *

Mr. WILLIAM HINCHLIFFE,

was the son of a reputable tradesman of St. Olave’s in Southwark, and was born there May 12, 1692; was educated at a private grammar school with his intimate and ingenious friend Mr. Henry Needler.  He made a considerable progress in classical learning, and had a poetical genius.  He served an apprenticeship to Mr. Arthur Bettesworth, Bookseller in London, and afterwards followed that business himself near thirty years, under the Royal Exchange, with reputation and credit, having the esteem and friendship of many eminent merchants and gentlemen.  In 1718 he married Jane, one of the daughters of Mr. William Leigh, an eminent citizen.  Mrs. Hinchliffe was sister of William Leigh, esq; one of his Majesty’s justices of the peace for the county of Surry, and of the revd.  Thomas Leigh, late rector of Heyford in Oxfordshire, by whom he had two sons and three daughters, of which only one son and one daughter are now living.  He died September 20, 1742, and was buried in the parish church of St. Margaret’s Lothbury, London.