Dr. Garth, who caused the body
to be brought to the College of Physicians, proposed and encouraged by
his generous example a subscription for defraying the expence of the
funeral, and after pronouncing over the corpse a suitable oration, he
attended the solemnity to Westminster-Abbey, where at last the remains
of that great man were interred in Chaucer's grave. For this memorable
act of tenderness and generosity, those who loved the person, or who
honoured the parts of that excellent poet, expressed much gratitude to
Dr. Garth. He was one of the most eminent members of a famous society
called the Kit-Kat Club, which consisted of above thirty noblemen and
gentlemen, distinguished by their zealous affection to the Protestant
succession in the House of Hanover[3]. October 3, 1702 he was elected
one of the Censors of the College of Physicians. In respect to his
political principles, he was open and warm, and which was still more to
be valued, he was steady and sincere. In the time of lord Godolphin's
administration, nobody was better received of his rank than Dr. Garth;
and nobody seemed to have a higher opinion of that minister's integrity,
and abilities in which he had, however, the satisfaction of thinking
with the public.

In 1710, when the Whig ministry was discarded, and his lordship had an
opportunity of distinguishing his own friends, from those which were
only the friends of his power, it could not fail of giving him sensible
pleasure to find Dr. Garth early declaring for him, and amongst the
first who bestowed upon him the tribute of his muse, at a time when
that nobleman's interest sunk: A situation which would have struck a
flatterer dumb. There were some to whom this testimony of gratitude
was by no means pleasing, and therefore the Dr's. lines were severely
criticised by the examiner, a paper engaged in the defence of the new
ministry; but instead of sinking the credit either of the author, or the
verses, they added to the honour of both, by exciting Mr. Addison to
draw his pen in their defence. In order to form a judgment both of the
Criticism, and the Defence, it will be necessary first of all to read
the poem to which they refer, more especially as it is very short, and
may be supposed to have been written suddenly, and, at least, as much
from the author's gratitude to his noble patron, as a desire of adding
to his reputation.

To the EARL of GODOLPHIN.

While weeping Europe bends beneath her ills,