our poet. He was born in 1632, at Maltesmeaburn, in the parish of _Corby
Ravensworth_, (what a name of ill-omen within ill-omen, or as Dr Johnson
would say, "inspissated gloom"!) in the county of Westmoreland. His
father was a minister of the gospel; but in such humble circumstances,
that Lancelot was received from the Grammar-school of Appleby into
Queen's College, Oxford, in the capacity of a "poor child." After passing
his curriculum there, being chiefly distinguished for his violent High
Church and Monarchical principles, for which he repeatedly smarted, he,
at the Restoration, was appointed chaplain to the garrison of Dunkirk,
and soon after he accepted a similar situation in Tangier, which had been
ceded by Portugal to Britain. In this latter post he felt rather lonely
and miserable, and was driven, in self-defence, to betake himself to the
study of the manners and the literature of the Moors, Jews, and other
Oriental nations. This led him afterwards to publish some works on
Barbary, on Hebrew customs, and Mohammedanism, which shew a profound
acquaintance with these subjects, and which, not without reason, are
supposed to have coloured the imagination of his son Joseph, who is
seldom more felicitous than when reproducing the gorgeous superstitions
and phantasies of the East.

For eight years, old Addison lingered in loathed Tangier; nor, when
he returned to England on a visit, had he any purpose of permanently
residing in his own country. But his appointment was hastily bestowed on
another; and it was fortunate for him that a private friend stepped in
and presented him with the living of Milston, near Ambrosebury, Wilts,
worth £120 a-year. This, which Miss Aiken calls a "pittance," was
probably equivalent to £250 now. At all events, on the strength of it,
he married Jane, daughter of Dr Gulstone, and sister to the Bishop of
Bristol, who, in due time, became the mother of our poet. Lancelot was
afterwards made Prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral, and King's Chaplain