CHARLES, an English dramatic writer, was the son of a linen-draper in London, and born in 1699. He was educated at that great nursery of learning Merchant-Taylor's school, under the learned Dr Smith, where he made a very great proficiency in all his studies, and gave the strongest testimonials of very extraordinary abilities. In poetry more particularly he very early discovered an uncommon genius, two dramatic pieces of his writing being represented on the stage before he had completed his 20th year: and those not such as required the least indulgence or allowance on account of his years; but such as bore evidence to a boldness of sentiment, and accuracy of diction, an ingenuity of conduct, and a maturity of judgement, which would have done honour to a much more ripened age. The titles of his plays, both of which are tragedies, are, 1. Henry IV. of France. 2. Scipio Africanus. At the representation of the last-mentioned piece, which indeed was the first he wrote, his schoolmaster Dr Smith, as a peculiar mark of distinction and regard to the merit of his pupil, gave all his boys a holiday on the afternoon of the author's benefit, in order to afford an opportunity to such of them as pleased to pay their compliments to their school-fellow on that occasion. Besides these dramatic pieces, he wrote several other poems: but his genius was not permitted any very long period to expand itself in; for he died on the 18th of February 1730, in the 32d year of his age.