ote his life, from
papers which were to be sent him of the Czar's: But the death of the
Czarina, quickly after, prevented it.--In an advertisement to the
reader, in the fifth edition of that poem, published in 1739, the author
says of it.

'Though the design was profess'd panegyric, I may with modesty venture
to say it was not a very politic, perhaps, but an honest example of
praise without flattery.--In the verse, I am afraid there was much to be
blamed, as too low; but, I am sure there was none of that fault in the
purpose: The poem having never been hinted, either before or after the
publication, to any person (native or foreigner) who could be supposed
to have interest in, or concern for, its subject.

'In effect, it had for six years or more been forgot by myself--and my
country,--when upon the death of the prince it referred to, I was
surprized by the condescension of a compliment from the empress his
relict, and immediate successor; and thereby first became sensible that
the poem had, by means of some foreign translation, reach'd the eye and
regard of that emphatically great monarch, in justice to whom it was
written.'

Soon after he finished six books more of Gideon; which made eight, of
the twelve he purpos'd writing; but did not live to finish it.

In 1723 he brought his Tragedy called King Henry the Vth, upon the stage
in Drury-Lane; which is (as he declares in the preface) a new fabric,
yet built on Shakespear's foundation.

In 1724, for the advantage of an unhappy gentleman (an old officer in
the army) he wrote a paper in the manner of the Spectators, in
conjunction with Mr. William Bond, &c. intitled the Plain Dealer; which
were some time after published in two volumes octavo. And many of his
former writings were appropriated to such humane uses; both those to
which he has prefixed his name, and several others which he wrote and
gave away intirely. But, though the many imagined authors are not
living, their names, and those performances will be omitted here; yet,
in mere justice to the character of Mr. Hill, we mention this
particular.

In 1728, he made a journey into the North of Scotland, where he had been
about two years before, having contracted with the York-Buildings
Company, concerning many woods of great extent in that kingdom, for
timber for the uses of the navy; and many and various were the
assertions upon this occasion: Some thought, and thence reported, that
there was not a stick in Sc