The name of John Dennis (1657-1733) has attained too much notoriety, as the aim for the bitterest sarcasms of those whom he made it his object to attack, to permit the quotation even of samples of his treatment by the chief writers of the day. He was educated at Harrow and Cambridge, and seems to have had a fair start in life, which was marred by his own boisterousness of manner and unruliness of temper. A certain facility of writing, considerable information, and some acuteness of argumentative power, made him aspire to the function of critic. His pronounced Whig opinions gained him some opponents, and his own increasing arrogance, which approached the borders of insanity, added to the number. Those whom he attacked belonged to all parties, and comprised Addison and Steele as well as Pope. One story which is told of him gives an index to his character. In consequence of some pamphlet which he had written against France, he believed himself to be the chief object of that nation's hatred; and when a peace seemed imminent, he sought an interview with the Duke of Marlborough, to beg that he should not be delivered over to the foe. Marlborough was at pains to quiet the author's anxiety, by telling him that he had not found it necessary to claim any special exemption for himself, although he believed he had been the means of doing almost as much harm to the French as Mr. Dennis. Dennis became, amongst the coterie led by Swift and Pope, almost the type of the Critic as a name of opprobrium and contempt; and he seems, indeed, to have gloried in the name. His later years were clouded by poverty, which Pope, without any very severe tax upon his charity, did something to alleviate.