OF A. PHILIPS. F the birth or early part of the life of AMBrose PHILIPS I have not been able to find any account. His academical education he received at St. John's College in Cambridge,' where he first solicited the notice of the world by some English verses, in the Collection published by the University on the death of queen Mary. From this time how he was employed, or in what station he passed his life, is not yet discovered. He must have published his 'Pastorals" before the year 1708, because they are evidently prior to those of Pope.2 66 He afterwards (1709) addressed to the universal patron, the duke of Dorset," a "poetical Letter from Copenhagen," which was published in the "Tatler," and is by Pope in one of his first Letters mentioned with high praise, as the production of a man who could write very nobly. Philips was a zealous Whig, and therefore easily found access to Addison and Steele; but his ardour seems not to have procured him any thing more than kind words; since he was reduced to translate the “Persian Tales" for Tonson, for which he was afterwards reproached, with this addition of contempt, that he worked for half-a-crown. The book is divided into many sections, for each of which 1 Ambrose Philips matriculated Sizar of St. John's College, 8th July, 1693. He took his B.A. 1696-7, M.A., 1700. 2 Lucy appeared in the same volume (the 6th) of Tonson's Miscellanies with the Pastorals of Pope, published 1709. 3 Earl of Dorset. His son Lionel was the first Duke of Dorset. |