In 1763, Churchill seduced the daughter of a trades man in Westminster, but after a fortnight's cohabitation, they were seized either with satiety or repentance, and her father was persuaded to take her back. Her home, however, being made intolerable to her by the ill nature of a sister, Churchill thought himself bound in honour to renew the connexion. While the subject was public, he wrote the Conference, a piece full of penitence and ex pressions of grief. In the same year, the duel between Wilkes and \lartin gave occasion to his poem entitled the Duellist. Ills Author, an inconsiderable effusion, appeared during the same yea'. llis Gothham, publish ed in 1764, has a few strong lines, but is heavy, and with out a distinct object or plan. The Candidate was writ ten against Lord Sandwich, when he competed for the stewardship of the university of Cambridge. Churchill, with great impartiality, attacks his Lordship for the same vices which distinguished himself. The two last pieces published in his lifetime, viz. the 'Fillies, and Indepen dence, added little to his reputation. Towards the cud of October, he accompanied Mr. Cotes, one of \Vilkes's partizans, on a visit to the exiled demagogue in France. The party met at Boulogne, where Churchill was attack ed with a fever, that terminated his life in his 34th year. If his will is to be credited, he left money at his death.
On his tomb was written, " Life to the last enjoyed, here Churchill lies." Churchill died at that early age, when most men are only beginning to distinguish themselves, and his genius cer tainly- contained the seeds of greater excellence than it ever brought to maturity. The poetical character which he did attain, is that of a bold, courageous, but slo venly artist. Ile has more of the vehemence of Dry den than any other English satirist, but none of that ma jesty of thought, that pomp of diction, or harmony of numbers, which give the hostility of Dryden in satire the dignity of moral 'warfare. Cowper gives his character with considerable indulgence, but with some truth, in a passage to his memory. The reader will perhaps need but little criticism to perceive, that there is a confusion of metaphors in Cowper's lines that we allude to, when the poet is first compared to a rider, and, in the next line, placed at his lyre.
Surly and slovenly, and bold and coarse, Too proud for art, and trusting in mere force ; Spendthrift alike of money and of wit, Always at speed, and never drawing bit. Ile struck his lyre in such a careless mood, And so disdained the rules he understood— The laurel seemed to wait on his command Ile snatched it rudely from the muse's hand.