defended or excused by Mr. Addison that, for the sake of the
vindication, it ought to be preserved.

At the accession of the present family his merits were acknowledged
and rewarded. He was knighted with the sword of his hero,
Marlborough; and was made Physician-in-Ordinary to the King, and
Physician-General to the army. He then undertook an edition of
Ovid's "Metamorphoses," translated by several hands; which he
recommended by a preface, written with more ostentation than
ability; his notions are half-formed, and his materials
immethodically confused. This was his last work. He died January
18th, 1717-18, and was buried at Harrow-on-the-Hill.

His personal character seems to have been social and liberal. He
communicated himself through a very wide extent of acquaintance; and
though firm in a party, at a time when firmness included virulence,
yet he imparted his kindness to those who were not supposed to
favour his principles. He was an early encourager of Pope, and was
at once the friend of Addison and of Granville. He is accused of
voluptuousness and irreligion; and Pope, who says that "if ever
there was a good Christian, without knowing himself to be so, it was
Dr. Garth," seems not able to deny what he is angry to hear and loth
to confess.

Pope afterwards declared himself convinced that Garth died in the
communion of the Church of Rome, having been privately reconciled.
It is observed by Lowth that there is less distance than is thought
between scepticism and Popery; and that a mind wearied with
perpetual doubt, willingly seeks repose in the bosom of an
infallible Church.