SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF MR. STERNE. L Irifh officer, and born in the barracks of Dublin: But, though nurtured among foldiers, he was a fon of the church; and, if we may take the opinion of a bishop on his fermons, not unworthy the title. His great-grandfather was an archbishop, and his uncle a prebendary of one of our cathedrals. AURENCE STERNE was the fon of an FROM fchool, he paffed in due courfe to the university, where he spent the 'ufual number of years; read a great deal, laughed more, and fometimes took the diverfion of puzzling his tutors. He left CamVOL. I. A 2 bridge with the character of an odd man, who had no harm in him, and who had parts, if he would ufe them. UPON leaving the univerfity, he feated himself quietly in the lap of the church, at Sutton, on the Foreft of Galtrees, a small vicarage in Yorkfhire. Here he waited patiently,till time and chance (which now guide where judgment once prefided) fhould. raise him to what they pleafed and here an occafion offered, which made him firft feel himself, and to which, perhaps, we owe the origin of the hiftory of Triftram. THERE happened a difpute among fome of the fuperiors of his order, in which Mr.. Sterne's friend, one of the best men in the world, was concerned: A perfon, who filled a lucrative benefice, was not fatisfied with enjoying it during his own lifetime, but exerted all his intereft to have it entailed upon his wife and fon after his deceafe. Mr. Sterne's friend, who expected the reverfion of this living, had not, however, fufficient influence to prevent the fuccefs of his adverfary. At this critical period, Mr. Sterne attacked the monopolizer in joke, and wrote "The hiftory of a good warm "watch-coat, with which the prefent pof"feffor is not content to cover his own fhoulders, unlefs he can alfo cut out of it 4.6 |