The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3) / or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac

by William Hone

February 5.

Browne Willis, Esq. LL.D.

Browne Willis, Esq. LL.D.

A Doctor in Antiquity was he,
And Tyson lined his head, as now you see.
Kind, good “collector!” why “collect” that storm?
No rude attempt is made to mar his form;
No alteration ’s aim’d at here—for, though
The artist’s touch has help’d to make it show,
The meagre contour only is supplied—
Is it improved?—compare, and then decide.
Had Tyson, “from the life,” Browne Willis sketch’d,
And left him, like old Jacob Butler,[53] etch’d,
This essay had not been, to better trace
The only likeness of an honour’d face.

*

The present [engraving], however unwinning its aspect as to drawing, is, in other respects, an improvement of the late Mr. Michael Tyson’s etching from a picture painted by Dahl. There is no other portrait of “the great original” published.

On the 5th of February, 1760, Dr. Browne Willis died at Whaddon hall, in the county of Bucks, aged 78; he was born at St. Mary Blandford, in the county of Dorset, on the 14th of September, 1682. He was unexcelled in eagerness of inquiry concerning our national antiquities, and his life was devoted to their study and arrangement. Some interesting particulars concerning the published labours and domestic habits of this distinguished individual, will be given in a subsequent sheet, with one of his letters, not before printed, accompanied by a fac-simile of his handwriting.

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