The Sun.
London, England, 1823-06-19 00:00:00

WILLIAM COOMBE, ESQ.

This Gentleman, who has long tieen .knowit
to the Literary world by his Various produe...
Lions, but who has never affixed his nattte‘.
to his works, died this morning at his apart
ments,. Lambeth-read, in the eighty-second..
year of his age. He originally excited great
attention in the fashionable world by a Poeiii
entitled The Diaboliad, the hero of which :was
generally understood to be a Nobleman lately
deceased. Many other Poems issued from his patiti-
but none ever bore the stamp of his,name.. Within
the last few years, under the liberal patronage of
Mr. ACKERMANN, who continued to be a getii.:%,
rous friend to him till his lust moments, he brought
forth a work which became very popular and at-
tractive, under the title of The Tour of Doctor
Syntax in search of the Picturesque. This work,
which he extended to a 46 Second and Third.
Tour," with nearly the same spirit and humour
which characterised the first, will for ever rank;
among the most humorous productions of British
Literature. He afterwards produced poems en-
titled The English Dance of Death and The Dance
of Lye, which were written with the same spirit,
humour and knowledge of mankind that mark-
ed the other works. His last poem was The
History of Johnny Qum Genus, The Little
Foundling of the late Dr. S:yntax. All these
works were illustrated by some admirable prints
from the designs of Mr. ROWLANDSON. Among
the other works of this gentleman was The
Devil upon Two Sticks in England, in which
many very distinguished characters at that pe-
riod were introduced) and the
.whole fairly
entitles him to the name of the English LE SAGE:
He was the author also of several political
pamphlets, which made a considerable itnpres.:
sion on the public, among which were The Royal
Interview, A Letter from a Country Gentleman
to his Friend in Town, A IV rd in Season, •
and many others. He also wrote those Let-
ters, which appear under the title of Let,
ters of the late Lord Littleton. Mr. Coomne
began life under the most favourable auspices.
He was educated at Eton and Oxford. lie pop,
seised great talents, and a very fine person, as
well as a good fortune, which, unhappily, he
soon dissipated among the high connections to
which his talents and attainments introduced
him, and he subsequently passed through many
vicissitudes of life, which at length come
pelted him to resort to Literature for sup-
port. Innumerable are the works of taste and
science which were submitted to his revision, and
of which others had the reputation. A love of
shew and dress, but. neither gaming or drinking,
was the source of his embarrassments. He was
indeed remarkably abstemious, drinking nothing
but water till the last few weeks of his life, whet,
wine was recommended to hith as a me,
dicine. But, though a mere water drinker,
his spirit at the social board kept pace
with that of the company. He possessed, rnu..
sical knowledge and taste, and formerly sung in
a very agreeable manner. His conversation was
always entertaining and instructive, and he posses-
sed a calm temper with very agreeable manners. lie
was twice married. His second wife, who is now
alive, is the sister of Mrs. COSWAY, and possessed
of congenial taste and talents. The Life •of Mr. .
COOMIIE,if impartially written, would be pregnant
with amusement and instruction ; but those whose .
literary contributions might have provided interest-
ing materials, are probably most of them With him
in the grave; and he will hereafter be chiefly
remembered as the Author of Doctor S yx.r4sx. We
ought not to conclude this article without bearing
testimony to the firm reliance which Mr. CooMnE
placed in the DIVINE ORIGIN of the CHRISTIAN
RELIGION, and a future existence; and to the for-
titude and resignation with which he supported
his full conviction_ of the near approach ,of his
final release from all sublinary troubles. •