Poetical Works

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Poetical Works, by Charles Churchill
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Title: Poetical Works
Author: Charles Churchill
Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8592]
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WORKS ***

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THE POETICAL WORKS OF CHARLES CHURCHILL.
With Memoir, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes,
By The REV. GEORGE GILFILLAN.

CHURCHILL--HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS.
In Churchill we find a signal specimen of a considerable class of
writers, concerning whom Goldsmith's words are true--
"Who, born for the universe, narrow'd their mind,
And to party gave
up what was meant for mankind."
Possessed of powers and natural endowments which might have made
him, under favourable circumstances, a poet, a hero, a man, and a saint,
he became, partly through his own fault, and partly through the force of
destiny, a satirist, an unfortunate politician, a profligate, died early; and
we must approach his corpse, as men do those of Burns and Byron,
with sorrow, wonder, admiration, and blame, blended into one strange,
complex, and yet not unnatural emotion. Like them, his life was short
and unhappy--his career triumphant, yet checquered--his powers

uncultivated--his passions unchecked--his poetry only a partial
discovery of his genius--his end sudden and melancholy--and his
reputation, and future place in the history of letters, hitherto somewhat
uncertain. And yet, like them, his very faults and errors, both as a man
and a poet, have acted, with many, as nails, fastening to a "sure place"
his reputation and the effect of his genius.
Charles Churchill was born in Vine Street, Westminster, in February
1731. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Charles Churchill, a rector in
Essex, as well as a curate, and lecturer of St John the Evangelist,
Westminster. As to the attainments of the poet's father, we know only

that he was qualified to superintend the studies of the son, during the
intervals of public tuition. At eight years of age, he was sent to
Westminster School, and placed under the care of Dr Nichols and Dr
Pierson Lloyd, where his proficiency in classical lore was by no means
remarkable; nor did he give any promise of the brilliance which
afterwards distinguished his genius. At fifteen, he stood as candidate
for admission to the foundation at Westminster, and carried it
triumphantly. Shortly after, having by some misdemeanour displeased
the masters, he was compelled to compose, and recite in the
school-room, a poetical declamation in Latin, by way of penance. This
he accomplished in a masterly manner--to the astonishment of his
masters, and the delight of his school-fellows--some of whom became
afterwards distinguished men. We can fancy the scene at the day of the
recitation--the grave and big-wigged schoolmasters looking grimly
on--their aspect, however, becoming softer and brighter, as one large
hexameter rolls out after another--the strong, awkward, ugly boy,
unblushingly pouring forth his energetic lines--cheered by the sight of
the relaxing gravity of his teachers' looks--while around, you see the
bashful tremulous figure of poor Cowper, the small thin shape and
bright eye of Warren Hastings, and the waggish countenance of
Colman--all eagerly watching the reciter--and all, at last, distended and
brightened with joy at his signal triumph.
At the age of eighteen, he stood for a fellowship in Merton College, but
without success--being defeated by older candidates. Shortly after, he
applied for matriculation at the University of Oxford, but is SAID to
have been rejected at his examination, in which, instead of answering
the questions proposed, he broke out into satirical reflections on the
abilities of his judges. From Oxford he repaired to Cambridge, where
he was admitted into Trinity College. Here, however, his stay was very
short,--he was probably repelled by the chevaux-de-frise of the
mathematics;--and in a few weeks he returned to London, disgusted at
both universities, shaking their