The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

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DEVREAUX, S. H.--An American scholar. Translator of "Yriarte's Fables,"
recently published in Boston.
ERSKINE, THOMAS--One of the most eminent of English lawyers. Born 1750;
died 1823.
FIELDING, HENRY--The great English Humorist; author of "Tom Jones;"
born, 1707; died, 1754.
GAY, JOHN--A poet and satirist of the days of Queen Anne. Born 1688;
died, 1732. His wit, gentleness, humor, and animal spirits appear to
have rendered him a general favorite. In worldly matters he was not
fortunate, losing 20,000 pounds by the South Sea bubble; nor did his
interest, which was by no means inconsiderable, succeed in procuring
him a place at court. He wrote fables, pastorals, the burlesque poem of
"Trivia," and plays, the most successful andcelebrated of which is
the "Beggar's Opera." Of this work there exists a sequel or second
part, as full of wit and satire as the original, but much less known.
Its performance was suppressed by Walpole, upon whom it was supposed to
reflect.
GRAY, THOMAS--Author of the "Elegy written in a Country Church-yard;"
Professor of Modern History in the University of Cambridge. Born in
London, 1716; died, 1771. Gray was learned in History, Architecture,
and Natural History. As a poet, he was remarkable for the labor
bestowed on his poems, for his reluctance to publish, and for the small
number of his compositions. Carlyle thinks he is the only English poet
who wrote less than he ought.
HALPIX.----- --A writer for the press, a resident of New York, author
of "Lyrics by the Letter H," published a year or two since by Derby.
HOLMES, OLIVER WENDELL--A physician of Boston, Professor of Anatomy in
Harvard University; born at Cambridge, Mass., in 1809. Dr. Holmes's
humorous verses are too well known to require comment in this place.
His burlesque, entitled "Evening, by a Tailor," is very excellent of
its kind.
HOOD, THOMAS--Author of the "Song of the Shirt," which Punch had the
honor of first publishing. Born in 1798; died in 1845. Hood was the son