Saint Leonards Church, Streatham, Surrey, England

Article

BESIDES the pleasure which arises from several fine moral turns in the following epitaph, written by Dr. Johnson, on his friend Mr. Thrale; we have thought our readers would be glad to see if, as an instance of the readiness with which the heart of a friend finds topics of praise, and the possibility of giving an honest worthy man a sufficiency of it to endear his memory to his fellow-citizens, without a word of falsehood or adulation. Mr. Thrale's acquaintance say, he was all the epitaph bespeaks him--the vulgi obftrepentis contemptor animofus, when we confider the times in which Mr. Thrale lived, and that he was Member for the borough of Southwark, is the mark of no ordinary mind. And how fine is the conclusion--the companions of his grave are Ralph Thrale MP, his father, a brave and worthy man, and an only son, who was snatched away suddenly, at the age of ten years. Thus did an house, happy and opulent, raised first by the grandfather, and firmly to all appearance established by the father, fall forever with the grandson. Go, traveller, and reflecting on the mutations to which the things of this world are subject, think of eternity.-- This, if we may be allowed the expression, is the Go, and he goeth; it is the only language for epitaphs to hold--but is the Latin all good? execrable critic, give us six lines of your own, and we will answer you. A good poetical Translation of this Epitaph would be highly acceptable.

See the mourning tablet.