HAWKESWORTH, JOHN, LLD., was a successful writer of the'last century. The date of his birth (1715 or 1719) and the occupations of his early life are variously stated : in so short a notice, all that is essential to record is, that be was bred to some mechanical occupation, and therefore deserves the more credit for his talent and industry in supplying the defects of a rude and illiterate education. His first appearance was as a contributor to the Gentlemau's Magazine,' in which he succeeded Dr. Johnson as compiler of the parliamentary debates in 1744. In 1752, encouraged by the success of the Rambler,' he undertook, assisted by Johnson, Warton, and one or two others, a series of essays, called the Adventurer.' They extended to the number of 140 (70 of which are ascribed to Hawkesworth himself), were received with great approbation, and contributed much to the increase of his reputation and friends. Herring, archbishop of Canter bury, was so much pleased with tho work, that he procured a degree in civil law for the conductor. In 1761 he published an edition of Swift, with a life prefixed, to the merits of which Dr. Johnson has borne handsome testimony in his Lives of the Poets' On the return of Capt. Cook from his first voyage of discovery in the South Seas, it being thought desirable to entrust the task of compiling an account of the voyage to a literary man rather than to one of the travellers, Dr. Hawkesworth's reputation as an able writer obtained for him the
commission. He completed the task iu three vela...Ito., 1773 [Coox], illustrated with maps and plates at the expense of government, including the prior voyages of discovery of Byron, and of Wallis aud Carteret, and received for recompense the liberal sum of 6000/. Tho work however did not give satisfaction : tho warmth of his descriptions of manners, in some respects, was thought to verge upon immorality ; aud exceptions were taken to some religious speculations, which were at any rate very much out of place. The chagrin occasioned by these cousnres is said to have shortened the author's life, but as he died in November of the same year, the statement is probably incorrect ; the effect of criticism on a practised author is seldom so rapid and deadly. The accounts of Cook's subsequent voyages were written by Cook himself and gained more in simplicity and correct ness than they lost in literary elegance. Dr. Hawkesworth translated Telemachus,' and wrote ' Almoran and Hemet,' an eastern romance, which was much admired. He was a regular contributor to the 'Gentleman's Magazine.' He was a great imitator of the style of Johnson, but he wanted depth and range of thought to support his weighty words.