Hall, Anthony

, a learned, but not very accurate editor, was the son of the rev. Henry Hall, of Kirkbridge in Cumberland, where he was born in 1679. He received the rudiments of learning at Carlisle, whence he was removed to Queen’s college, Oxford, and admitted battiler July 7, 1696, but for some reason was not matriculated till Nov. 18, 1698. He took his bachelor’s degree in 1701, and that of master in 1704, having just entered into holy orders; and was elected fellow of his college, April 18, 1706. In 1719, upon the death of Dr. Hudson, keeper of the Bodleian library, he became a candidate for that office, and it appears that Dr. Hudson, a little time before his death, expressed a wish that Mr. Hall should be his successor; but his endeavours failed. Dr. Hudson, at the time of his death, had nearly finished his edition of Josephus; and by Mr. Hall’s exertions it was soon published. Shortly after, he married Dr. Hudson’s widow. On April 8, 1720, he was instituted to the rectory of Hampton Poyle, in Oxfordshire, at the presentation of his college; and in the following year took his degrees in divinity. He died at Garford, in Berkshire, and was buried at Kingston, in that county, April 6, 1723.

Dr. Hall, by his literary labours, deserved far more attention than he acquired. He had a quick apprehension, and his judgment was clear and penetrating; but it was his misfortune never to compare or revise the manuscripts he had once transcribed. His edition of “Leland de Scriptoribus” is very erroneously printed, and in some parts are great omissions, from his negligence. This was his first publication, and appeared in 2 vols. 8vo, Oxford, 1709. From a letter of bishop Tanner, we learn that he originally designed to publish Leland’s work only, and not what he | afterwards completed in his “Bibliotheca;” and that he was at first somewhat concerned to find himself anticipated, although he allows Mr. Hall’s fitness for the task. Mr. Hail published also “N. Triveti Annales,1718, 3vo, the “Continuatio” of the same, 1722, 8vo; and drew up the account of Berkshire for the “Magna Britannia,” but was not, as reported, the author of the account of Cumberland in that work. 1

1

Gent. Mag. vol. LXX. written hv a gentleman, on whose accuracy we can implicitly rely.— Hutchinson’s Cumberland, vol. II. p. 485.