Poems upon Various Subjects, Latin and English. Published by his Son.
London. Printed for J. Nourse & C. Marsh. 1768. F. Hardcover. 8vo., 21cm, first edition, [viii],160p., engraved frontispiece portrait of the author, in full contemporary calf, raised bands, new crimson leather label, gilt titles, re-hinged, very good to fine copy (N14). Browne was a favorite of Dr. Johnson, whose several estimates of him are preserved by Boswell. A private fortune meant that he did not have to practice his profession when called to the bar; elected an M.P., although 'one of the first wits of this country [he] never opened his mouth' (Johnson). This collection includes, among other pieces, A Pipe of Tobacco: in Imitation of six several Authors [Pope, Swift, & Others]; On Design and Beauty, addressed to the painter Joseph Highmore; and his much-commended Latin poem De Animi Immortalitate, present here in the original and in an English translation by Soame Jenyns. Like Johnson he was first educated at Lichfield, but died young, in 1760, possibly from drink. Allibone p262. Lowndes p289. Foxon, p89. Item #15327
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