CHIIR'OHILL, CHARLES, an English poet, now remembered almost as much for his profligacy as his poetry, was b. at Westminster, where his father was a curate, in 1731. Ile was educated at Westminster school, and in hi§17th year made a clandestine mar riage. In 1756, he was ordained, and, two years afterwards, succeeded his father as curate of St. John's, Westminster. Soon after his transference here, he fell into habits very ill-becoming his clerical character. In 1761, he published (at his own risk, the booksellers having refused him five guineas for it) The Rosciad, a satire on theatrical managers and performers, which displayed much critical acumen, clever sarcasm, and no little humor, and enjoyed such an immense success that C., who on its publication had withheld his name, was soon delighted to avow himself author. In the same year appeared The Apology, a bitter satire on some of his critics, which added alike to his purse and his notoriety. He now totally neglected the duties of his office, was a constant attender at theaters, and altogether led a most dissolute life. His parish ioners were scandalized, and his dean remonstrated, whereupon C., to show his utter contempt for the ministerial profession, appeared in a blue coat, gold-laced hat and waistcoat, and large ruffles. He was obliged, however, to resign his prefernient, which
pecuniary sacrifice was little, as his works brought him considerable sums. Ile further displayed the complete licentiousness of his nature by separating from his wife, and seducing the daughter of a tradesman in Westminster, and by endeavoring to excuse his vices in a poem called _Night, on the ground that avowed profligacy was more harm less than profligacy practiced in concealment. The boon-companion of as great a dehauchee as himself—Wilkes—he contributed to the pages of the North Briton, among other things, The Prophecy of Famine—A Scots Pastoral, one of the best of his satires. Among his other works, all more or less satirical, are the Epistle to Ilogarth; ne Author; The Candidate; The Ghost; Gotham; The Duellist, etc., of which The Author is the best. lie died Nov. 4, 1764, while on a visit to Wilkes at Boulogne. C.'s thorough reprobacy has naturally led to an unjust depreciation of his poetical abilities. See Poetical Works by Took (1867), with Life by Hannay.