nd governed by every gust of
irregular appetite, had many opportunities of experiencing the
dangerous folly of extravagance, and the many uneasy moments which it
occasions. Notwithstanding this, his conduct was never corrected,
even when the means of doing it were in his power. At a time when Mr.
Mitchel laboured under severe necessities, by the death of his wife's
uncle several thousand pounds devolved to him, of which he had no
sooner got possession, than he planned schemes of spending it, in
place of discharging the many debts he had contracted. This behaviour,
as it conveyed to his creditors no high idea of his honesty, so it
obliged him to be perpetually skulking, and must consequently have
embittered even those hours which he falsly dedidicated to pleasure;
for they who live under a perpetual dread of losing their liberty, can
enjoy no great comfort even in their most careless moments.

Of the many poems which Mr. Mitchel wrote, but few succeeded to any
degree, nor indeed much deserved it. At a time when the politicians
were engaged in settling the Land-Tax, and various opinions were
offered concerning the ability of that branch of the commonwealth,
so that a proper medium or standard might be fixed; he versified
the Totness Address, much about the time of his present Majesty's
accession to the throne; in which it is humourously proposed, that the
landed interest should pay twenty shillings in the pound. This poem
having a reference to a fashionable topic of conversation, was better
received than most of his other pieces.

There was likewise a poem of Mr. Mitchel's, called The Shoe-heel,
which was much read on account of the low humour it contains. He has
addressed to Dr. Watts a poem on the subject of Jonah in the Whale's
Belly. In the dedication he observes, 'That it was written for the
advancement of true virtue and reformation of manners; to raise an
emulation amongst our young poets to attempt divine composures, and
help to wipe off the censures which the numerous labours of the muses
are justly charged with. If (says he) it shall serve any of these
purposes, I shall be satisfied, though I gain no reputation by it
among those who read a new poem with no other view, than to pass a
judgment on the abilities of the author.' When the antagonists of Pope
were threatened with the publication of the Dunciad, Mr. Mitchel had
some suspicion that he himself was to be stigmatized in it: conscious
that he had never