ders disputed by law, nor lawyers.” We have, however, already seen that lord Cork had other enemies, who took various opportunities of displaying their jealousy of his
It is much to be regretted that so faithful a servant of
the public should have lived at variance with the earl
of Strafford, himself a man of virtue, talents, and patriotism, and afterwards a sacrifice to the fury of the republican party in England; yet it cannot be denied that
the earl of Strafford behaved in a very arrogant and
haughty manner to the earl of Cork; and that the conduct
of the lord deputy was such, as it could not reasonably be expected any man of spirit would patiently submit to, and especially a man of so much worth and
merit as the noble subject of this article. His lordship
gave evidence at Strafford’s trial, that when he had commenced a suit at law, in a case in which he apprehended
himself to be aggrieved, the earl of Strafford, in the
most arbitrary manner, forbad his prosecuting his suit,
saying to him, “Call in your writs, or if you will not,
I will clap you in the castle; for I tell you, I will not have
my orders disputed by law, nor lawyers.
” We have,
however, already seen that lord Cork had other enemies,
who took various opportunities of displaying their jealousy
of his power and talents. One singular opportunity was
taken on the death of his second lady, which we shall detail, as including some traits of the taste and prejudices of
the times. This lady was privately interred on the 27th of
February 1629-30, but her funeral was publicly solemnized
on the llth of March following; soon after which$ the
earl of Cork purchased from the dean and chapter of St.
Patrick’s church, the inheritance of the upper part of the
chancel where the vault was, in which the bodies of her
grandfather by the mother’s side, the lord chancellor Weston, and of her father sir Geoffry Fenton, were laid, over
which the earl her husband caused a fine marble tomb to
be erected. This presently gave offence to some people,
who suggested that it stood where the altar ought to stand,
of which they complained to the king, who mentioned it
to Dr. Laud, then bishop of London; who after the lord
Wentworth was made lord deputy of Ireland, and himself
archbishop of Canterbury, moved him that it might be
inquired into, as it was, and this affair made afterwards a
very great noise. The earl of Cork procured a letter from
Dr. Usher, then lord primate of Ireland, and also from Dr.
Launcelot Bulkeiey, then archbishop of Dublin, justifying,
that the tomb did not stand in the place of the altaf, and
that instead of being an inconvenience, it was a great ornament to the church; which letters archbishop Laud
transmitted to the lord deputy, and at the same time acquainted^ him that they did not give himself any satisfaction. The postscript to this letter, dated Lambeth, March
11, 1634, is very remarkable, and shews both the rise and
the falsehood of the common opinion, that it was the lord
deputy, afterwards earl of Strafford, who set this matter on
foot out of prejudice to the earl of Cork. “I had almost
forgot to tell you, that all this business about demolishing
my lord of Cork’s tomb is charged upon you, as if it were
done only because he will not marry his son to my lord
Clifford’s daughter, and that I do it to join with you;
whereas the complaint came against it to me out of Ireland,
and was presented by me to the king before I knew that
your lordship was named for deputy there. But jealousies
know no end.
” The archbishop afterwards wrote in very
strong terms to the earl of Cork himself, in which he affirms the same thing, and deals very roundly with his lordship upon that and other subjects, advising him to leave
the whole to the lord deputy and the archbishops. As to
the issue of the affair, it appears clearly from a letter of
the lord deputy Wentworth’s, dated August 23, 1634, to
the archbishop, in which he delivers himself thus: “I
have issued a commission, according to my warrant, for
viewing the earl of Cork’s tomb: the two archbishops and
himself, with four bishops, and the two deans and chapters, were present when we met, and made them all so
ashamed, that the earl desires he may have leave to pull it
down without reporting further into England; so as I am
content if the miracle be done, though Mohammed do it,
and there is an end of the tomb before it come to be entombed indeed. And for me that my lord treasurer do
what he please; I shall ever wish his ways may be those of
honour to himself, and dispatch to my master’s affairs; but
go it as it shall please God with me, believe me, my lord,
I will be still tlwrow and thorowout one and the same, and
with comfort be it spoken by myself, and your grace’s
commendations.
” It may be added that though the tomb
has been taken away above a century, yet the inscription
that was upon it is still extant.
reland, in order to restore his majesty, and recover his own estate. He desired the earl of Warwick, who had an interest in the prevailing party, to procure a licence
, earl of Orrery, fifth son of Richard earl of Cork, was born April 25, 1621, and created baron Broghill in the kingdom of Ireland when but seven years old. He was educated at the college of Dublin, and about the year 1636, sent with his elder brother lord Kinalmeaky to make the tour of France and Italy. Afterhis return he married lady Margaret Howard, sister to the earl of Suffolk. During the rebellion in Ireland, he commanded a troop of horse in the forces raised by his father, and on many occasions gave proofs of conduct and courage. After the cessation of arms, which was concluded in 1643, he came over to England, and so represented to the king the Irish papists, that his majesty was convinced they never meant to keep the cessation, and therefore sent a commission to lord Inchiquin, president of Munster, to prosecute the rebels. Lord Broghill employed his interest in that county to assist him in this service; and when the government of Ireland was committed to the parliament, he continued to observe the same conduct till the king was put to death. That event shocked him so much, that he immediately quitted the service of the parliament; and, looking upon Ireland and his estate there as utterly lost, embarked for England, and returned to his seat at Marston in Somersetshire, where he lived privately till 1649. In this retirement, reflecting on the distress of his country, and the personal injury he suffered whilst his estate was held by the Irish rebels, he resolved, under pretence of going to the Spa for his health, to cross the seas, and apply to king Charles II. for a commission to raise forces in Ireland, in order to restore his majesty, and recover his own estate. He desired the earl of Warwick, who had an interest in the prevailing party, to procure a licence for him to go to the Spa. He pretended to the earl, that his sole view was the recovery of his health; but, to some of his friends of the royal party, in whom he thought he could confide, he discovered hi* real design; and having raised a considerable sum of money, came to London to prosecute his voyage. The committee of state, who spared no pains to get proper intelligence, being soon informed of his whole design, determined to proceed against him with the utmost severity. Cromwell, at that time general of the parliament’s forces, and a member of the committee, was no stranger to lord Broghill’s merit; and considering that this young nobleman might be of great use to him in reducing Ireland, he earnestly entreated the committee, that he might have leave to talk with him, and endeavour to gain him, before they proceeded to extremities. Having, with great difficulty, obtained this permission, he immediately dispatched a gentleman to lord Broghill, to let him know that he intended to wait upon him. Broghill was surprised at this message, having never had the least acquaintance with Cromwell, and therefore desired the gentleman to let the general know that he would wait upon his excellency. But while he was expecting the return of the messenger, Cromwell entered the room; and, after mutual civilities, told him in few words, that the committee of state were apprised of his design of going over, and applying to Charles Stuart for a commission to raise forces in Ireland; and that they had determined to make an example of him, if he had not diverted them from that resolution. The lord Broghill interrupted him, and assured him that the intelligence which the committee had received was false; that he was neither in a capacity, nor had any inclination, to raise disturbances in Ireland; and concluded with entreating his excellency to have a kinder opinion of him. Cromwell, instead of making any reply, drew some papers out of. his pocket, which were the copies of several letters sent by lord Broghill to those persons in whom he most confided, and put them into his hands. Broghill, finding it was to no purpose to dissemble any longer, asked his excellency’s pardon for what he had said, returned him, Vol. VI. y his humble thanks for his protection against the committee, and entreated his advice how he ought to behave in so delicate a conjuncture. Cromwell told him, that though till this time he had been a stranger to his person, he was not so to his merit and character; that he had heard how gallantly his lordship had already behaved in the Irish wars; and therefore, since he was named lord lieutenant of Ireland, and the reducing that kingdom was now become his province, that he had obtained leave of the committee to offer his lordship the command of a general officer, if he would serve in that war: that he should have no oaths or engagements imposed upon him, nor be obliged to draw his sword against any but the Irish rebels. Lord Broghill was infinitely surprised at so generous and unexpected an offer: he saw himself at liberty, by all the rules of honour, to serve against the Irish, whose rebellion and barbarities were equally detested by the royal party and the parliament: he desired, however, the general to give him some time to consider of what he had proposed to him. Cromwell briskly told him, that he must come to some resolution that very instant; that he himself was returning to the committee, who were still sitting; and if his lordship rejected their offer, they had determined to send him to the Tower. Broghill,' rinding that his life and liberty were in the utmost danger, and charmed with the frankness and generosity of Cromwell’s behaviour, gave him his word and honour, that he would faithfully serve him against the Irish rebels; upon which, Cromwell once more assured him, that the conditions which he had made with him should be punctually observed; and then ordered him to repair immediately to Bristol, to which place forces should be sent him, with a sufficient number of ships to transport him into Ireland.
either suspecting Monk’s attachment to his person, or desirous of relieving the people of Scotland, who complained of this man’s severity, proposed to lord Broghill
He soon raised in that kingdom a troop and a regiment of 1500 men, with which he joined Cromwell on his arrival; and, acting in the course of the war conjointly with Cromwell and Ireton, contributed greatly to the reduction of the Irish. Cromwell was so exceedingly struck with his conduct and courage, that after he was declared protector, he sent for lord Broghill, made him one of his privy council, and allowed him as great a share of his conh'dence as any man, except Thurloe . In 1656, the protector, either suspecting Monk’s attachment to his person, or desirous of relieving the people of Scotland, who complained of this man’s severity, proposed to lord Broghill to go to that kingdom with an absolute authority; to which his lordship consented, upon condition that he should have a discretionary power to act as he should see proper; that no credit should be given to any complaints, till he had an opportunity of vindicating himself; and that he should be recalled in a year. Cromwell kept his word to him; for though the complaints against Broghill were more numerous than those against Monk, upon giving, at his return to London when the year was expired, an account of the reasons of his conduct, Cromwell conceived a higher esteem for him than ever.
d say was not capable of making him alter it; and they found it to no purpose to keep a man in power who would do nothing for himself. Lord Broghill, therefore, finding
After the death of Cromwell, Broghill did his utmost to serve his son, to whom his lordship, in conjunction with lord Howard and some others, made an offer, that if he would not be wanting to himself, and give them a sufficient authority to act under him, they would either force his enemies to obey him, or cut them off. Richard, startled at this proposal, answered in a consternation, that he thanked them for their friendship, but that he neither had done, nor would do, any person any harm; and that rather than that a drop of blood should be spilt on his account, he would lay down that greatness which was a burden to him. He was so fixed in his resolution, that whatever the lords could say was not capable of making him alter it; and they found it to no purpose to keep a man in power who would do nothing for himself. Lord Broghill, therefore, finding the family of Cromwell thus laid aside, and not being obliged by any ties to serve those who assumed the government, whose schemes too he judged wild and ill-concerted, from this time shewed himself most active and zealous to restore the king, and for that purpose repaired forthwith to his command in Munster; where, finding himself at the head of a considerable force, he determined to get the army in Ireland to join with him in the design, to gain, if possible, sir Charles Coote, who had great power in the north, and then to send to Monk in Scotland. Whilst meditating this design, a summons came to him from the seven commissioners, sent over by the committee of safety to take care of the affairs of Ireland, requiring him to attend them immediately at the castle of Dublin. His friends advised him to be upon his guard, and not put himself in the power of his enemies; but, as he thought himself not strong enough yet to take such a step, he resolved to obey the summons. Taking, therefore, his own troop with him as a guard, he set out for Dublin. When he came to the city, leaving his troop in the suburbs, he acquainted the commissioners, that, in obedience to their commands, he was come to know their farther pleasure. Next day, on appearing before them, they told him, that the state was apprehensive he would practise against their government, and that therefore they had orders to confine him, unless he would give sufficient security for his peaceable behaviour. He desired to know what security they expected. They told him, that since he had a great interest in Munster, they only desired him to engage, on the forfeiture of his life and estate, that there should be no commotion in that province. He now plainly perceived the snare which was laid for him; and that, if he entered into such an engagement, his enemies themselves might raise some commotions in Munster. He saw himself, however, in their power, and made no manner of doubt but that if he refused to give them the security they demanded, they would immediately put him up in prison. He therefore desired some time to consider of their proposal; but was told, they could give him no time, and expected his immediate answer. Finding himself thus closely pressed, he humbly desired to be satisfied in one point, namely, whether they intended to put the whole power of Munster into his hands? if they did, he said, he was ready to enter into the engagement they demanded; but if they did not, he must appeal to all the world how cruel and unreasonable it was, to expect he should answer for the behaviour of people over whom he had no command. The commissioners found themselves so much embarrassed by this question, that they ordered him to withdraw; and fell into a warm debate in what manner to proceed with him. At last Steel, one of the commissioners, who was also lord chancellor of Ireland, declared himself afraid, that even the honest party in Ireland would think it rery hard to see a man thrown into prison, who had dons such signal services to the Protestants; but that, on the other hand, he could never consent to the increase of lord Broghill’s power, which the state was apprehensive might one day be employed against them. He therefore proposed that things should stand as they did at present; that his lordship should be sent back to his command in Munster in a good humour, and be suffered at least to continue there till they received further instructions from England. This proposal was agreed to by the majority of the board, and lord Broghill being called in, was told in the most obliging manner, that the board was so sensible of the gallant actions he had performed in the Irish wars, and had so high an opinion of his honour, that they would depend upon that alone for his peaceable behaviour.
de that gentleman to do in the north of Ireland, what he himself had done in the south. Sir Charles, who had taken disgust at the superiority of lieutenant-general Ludlow,
Upon his return to Munster, he applied himself as closely as ever to form a party for the king’s restoration. After making sure of his own officers, the first person of weight he engaged in the design was colonel Wilson, governor of Limerick, in which place there was a garrison of 2000 men; and having now secured all Munster, he sent a trusty agent to sir Charles Coote, to persuade that gentleman to do in the north of Ireland, what he himself had done in the south. Sir Charles, who had taken disgust at the superiority of lieutenant-general Ludlow, and the parliament’s commissioners, and thought his eminent services not sufficiently rewarded by the presidency of Connaught, came readily into the design. Lord Broghill being empowered by most of the chief officers in Ireland under their hands, dispatched his brother, the lord Shannon, to the king, then in Flanders, with a letter quilted in the neck of his doublet, to acquaint his majesty with the measures he had taken, and inviting him to come into his kingdom of Ireland; assuring him that if he pleased to land at Cork, he should be received with a sufficient force to protect him against all his enemies. At the same time he dispatched a messenger to general Monk, then on his march from Scotland, to let him know what they were doing in Ireland, and to persuade him to do the like. Shannon was scarce embarked for Flanders, when lord Broghill received a letter from sir Charles Coote, to acquaint him that their design of declaring for the king had taken air, and that he had therefore been obliged to declare somewhat sooner than they had agreed upon; and to conjure his lordship to declare himself likewise; which Broghill did immediately. that he might not desert his friend, though he was a little apprehensive that sir Charles’s precipitancy might ruin their design. By this means those who had assumed the government of Ireland, finding themselves in the midst of two powerful parties, made little or no resistance; and lord Broghill and sir Charles Coote secured that kingdom for his majesty.
dness. Upon inquiry, he learnt that sir Charles Coote had assured the king that he was the first man who stirred for him in Ireland; that lord Broghill opposed his majesty’s
Upon the king’s restoration, lord Broghill came to England; but, instead of being thanked for his service in
Ireland, he was received with the utmost coldness. Upon
inquiry, he learnt that sir Charles Coote had assured the king
that he was the first man who stirred for him in Ireland; that
lord Broghill opposed his majesty’s return, and was not at
last brought to consent to it without much difficulty. His
lordship, recollecting that he had still by him sir Charles’s
letter, in which were these words, “Remember, my lord,
that you first put rne on this design; and I beseech you,
forsake me not in that which you first put me upon, which
was, to declare for king and parliament,
” desired his
brother Shannon to put it into the hands of the king; who
being fully convinced by it how serviceable Broghill had
been to him, looked upon him with as gracious an eye as
he could himself desire or expect. His lordship was soon
after (Sept. 5, 1660 V) made earl of Orrery, sworn of the
king’s privy- council, appointed one of the lords justices,
and lord president of Munster.
he earl of Orrery boldly affirmed to the king that his Protestant subjects in Ireland were the first who formed an effectual party for restoring him; that the Irish
After the king’s return the Irish Roman catholics sent over sir Nicholas Plunket, and some other commissioners, with a petition to his majesty, praying to be restored to their estates. As this would in effect have ruined the Protestants, they therefore chose the earl of Orrery, Montrath, and six more, to oppose theif adversaries before the king and his council. The Irish commissioners were so apprehensive of the earl’s eloquence and address upon this occasion, that they offered him eight thousand pounds in money, and to settle estates of seven thousand pounds a year upon him, if he would not appear against them; which proposal the earl rejected with proper disdain. When the cause came to a hearing, after the Irish commissioners had offered all they thought proper, the earl of Orrery boldly affirmed to the king that his Protestant subjects in Ireland were the first who formed an effectual party for restoring him; that the Irish had broken all the treaties which had been made with them; that they had fought against the authority both of the late and present king; and had offered the kingdom of Ireland to the pope, to the king of Spain, and the king of France. Lastly, to the great surprise, not only of the Irish, but of his own brother-commissioners, he proved his assertions by producing several original papers signed by the Irish supreme council, of which sir Nicholas Plunket himself was one. This last unexpected blow decided the dispute in favour of the Protestants; and obliged his majesty to dismiss the Irish commissioners with some harsher expressions than he commonly made use of.
al court; as a compensation for which, his majesty made him a present of 8000l. Sir Thomas Clifford, who had been brought into the ministry in England, apprehensive
Soon after this affair, his lordship, with sir Charles
Coote, lately made earl of Montrath, and sir Maurice
Eustace, were constituted lords justices of Ireland, and
commissioned to call and hold a parliament. Some time
before the meeting of the parliament, he drew with his
own hand the famous act of settlement, by which he fixed
the property, and gave titles to their estates to a whole nation. When the duke of Ormond was declared lord lieutenant, the earl of Orrery went into Munster, of which
province he was president. By virtue of this office, he
heard and determined causes in a court called the residency-court; and acquired so great a reputation in his
judicial capacity, that he was offered the seals both by the
king and the duke of York after the fall of lord Clarendon;
but, being very much afflicted with the gout, he declined
a post that required constant attendance. During the first
Dutch war, in which France acted as a confederate with
Holland, he defeated the scheme formed by the duke de
Beaufort, admiral of France, to get possession of the harbour of Kinsale, and took advantage of the fright of the
people, and the alarm of the government, to get a fort
erected under his own directions, which was named Fort
Charles. He promoted a scheme for inquiring into, and
improving the king’s revenue in Ireland; but his majesty
having applied great sums out of the revenue of that kingdom which did not come plainly into account, the inquiry was never begun. Ormond, listening to some malicious insinuations, began to entertain a jealousy of
Orrery, and prevailed with the king to direct him to lay
down his residential court; as a compensation for which,
his majesty made him a present of 8000l. Sir Thomas
Clifford, who had been brought into the ministry in England, apprehensive that he cpuld not carry his ends in
Ireland whilst Orrery continued president of Munster,
procured articles of impeachment of high treason and misdemeanours to be exhibited against him in the English
house of commons; but his lordship being heard in his
place, gave an answer so clear, circumstantial, and ingenuous, that the affair was dropt. The king laboured in
vain to reconcile him to the French alliance, and the reducing of the Dutch. At the desire of the king and the
duke of York, he drew the plan of an act of limitation,
by which the successor would have been disabled from encroaching on civil and religious liberty; but the proposing
thereof being postponed till after the exclusion-bill was
set on foot, the season for making use of it was past. The
iing, to hinder his returning to Ireland, and to keep him
about his person, offered him the place of lord-treasurer;
but the earl of Orrery plainly told his majesty that he was
guided by unsteady counsellors, with whom he could not
act. He died in October 1679, aged fifty-eight; leaving
behind him the character of an able general, statesman,
and writer. He had issue by his lady, two sons and five
daughters. His writings are these: 1. “The Irish colours
displayed; in a reply of an English Protestant to a letter
of an Irish Roman catholic,
” London, An
answer to a scandalous letter lately printed, and subscribed
by Peter Walsh, procurator for the secular and regular
popish priests of Ireland, entitled A letter desiring a just
and merciful regard of the Roman catholics of Ireland,
given about the end of October 1660, to the then marquis,
now duke of Ormond, and the second time lord lieutenant of
that kingdom. By the right honourable the earl of Orrery, &c. being a full discovery of the treachery of the
Irish rebels since the beginning of the rebellion there, necessary to be considered by all adventurers, and other
persons estated in that kingdom,
” Dublin, A poem on his majesty’s happy restoration.
” 4. “A
poem on the death of the celebrated Mr. Abraham CowJey,
” London, The history of Henry V.
a tragedy,
” London, Mustapha, the son
of Soliman the Magnificent, a tragedy,
” London, Ifi67,
fol. and 1668. 7. “The Black Prince, a tragedy,
”
London, Triphon, a tragedy,
” London,
Parthenissa, a romance in three volumes,
” London,
A Dream.
” In this piece
he introduces the genius of France persuading Charles II.
to promote the interest of that kingdom, and act upon
French principles. He afterwards introduces the ghost of
his father, dissuading him from it, answering all the arguments the genius of France had urged, and proving to him
from his own misfortunes and tragical end, that a kind’s
lord viscount Boiingbroke, and an epilogue by the hon. Charles Boyle, esq. the late earl of Orrery, who also interspersed several songs in the work itself. 5.” State
chief treasure, and only real strength, is the affections of
his people. 11. “A treatise upon the Art of War.
” 12.
Poems on the Fasts and Festivals of the Church.“His
posthumous works are: 1.
” Mr. Anthony, a comedy,“1692. 2.
” Guzman, a comedy,“1693. 3.
” Herod the
great, a tragedy,“1694. 4.
” Altemira, a tragedy,“brought upon the stage by Mr. Francis Manning, in 1702,
with a prologue by Henry St. John, esq. afterwards lord
viscount Boiingbroke, and an epilogue by the hon. Charles
Boyle, esq. the late earl of Orrery, who also interspersed
several songs in the work itself. 5.
” State letters," published in 1742, fol. Mr. Morrice the editor, who was his
biographer and chaplain, says that his patron drew up a
very curious account of what was done in the court or
camp, in which he had any part, or could speak of with
certainty. But this has never been published. The duke
of Ormond having by his majesty’s command consulted
with the earl of Orrery upon the propositions to be laid
before the parliament of Ireland in 1677, his lordship delivered to him five sheets of paper containing the most effectual methods of protecting the nation from foreign and
domestic enemies, advancing the Protestant interest, increasing the revenue, and securing private property. But
these, with other papers, were destroyed when lord Orrery’s house was burnt to the ground in 1690, by a party of
king James’s soldiers, with the duke of Berwick at their
head; Lionel, then earl of Orrery, and grandson to our
author, being a minor, and abroad on his travels.
sfortunes which happened to him in his youth. When he was about three years old, he lost his mother, who was a most accomplished woman, and whom he regrets on that account,
, the most illustrious philosopher of
modern times, was the seventh son, and the fourteenth
child of Richard earl of Cork, and born at Lismore, in
the province of Munster, in Ireland, the 25th of Jan.
1626-7. He was committed to the care of a country nurse,
with instructions to bring him up as hardy as if he had
been her own son; for his father, he tells us, “had a perfect aversion for the fondness of those parents which made
them breed their children so nice and tenderly, that a hot
sun or a good shower of rain as much endangers them as
if they were made of butter or of sugar.
” By this he gained
a strong and vigorous constitution, which, however, he
afterwards lost, by its being treated too tenderly. He
acquaints us with several misfortunes which happened to
him in his youth. When he was about three years old,
he lost his mother, who was a most accomplished woman,
and whom he regrets on that account, because he did not
know her. A second misfortune was, that he learned to
stutter, by mocking some children of his own age; of
which, though no endeavours were spared, he could never
perfectly be cured. A third, that in a journey to Dublin,
he had like to have been drowned, if one of his father’s
gentlemen had not taken him out of a coach, which, in
passing a brook raised by some sudden showers, was overturned and carried away with the stream.
his father sent him over to England, in order to be educated at Eton school under sir Henry Wotton, who was the earl of Cork’s old friend and acquaintance. Here he
While he continued at home, he was taught to write a very fair hand, and to speak French and Latin by one of the earl’s chaplains, and a Frenchman that he kept in the house. In 1635, his father sent him over to England, in order to be educated at Eton school under sir Henry Wotton, who was the earl of Cork’s old friend and acquaintance. Here he soon discovered a force of understanding which promised great things, and a disposition to cultivate and improve it to the utmost. While he remained at Eton, there were several extraordinary accidents that befel him, of which he has given us an account; and three of which were very near proving fatal to him. The first was, the sudden fall of the chamber where he lodged, when himself was in bed; when, besides the hazard he ran of being crushed to pieces, he had certainly been choked with the dust during the time he lay under the rubbish, if he had not had presence of mind enough to have wrapped his head up in the sheet, which gave him an opportunity of breathing without hazard. A little after this, he had been crushed to pieces by a starting horse that rose up suddenly and threw himself backwards, if he had not happily disengaged his feet from the stirrups, and cast himself from his back before he fell. A third accident proceeded from the carelessness of an apothecary’s servant; who, mistaking the phials, brought him a strong emetic instead of a cooling julep.
etshire, where he remained some time under the care of the rev. William Douch, one of his chaplains, who was the rector of the place. In the autumn of 1638, he attended
He remained at Eton between three and four years; after which, his father carried him to his own seat at Stalbridge, in Dorsetshire, where he remained some time under the care of the rev. William Douch, one of his chaplains, who was the rector of the place. In the autumn of 1638, he attended his father to London, and remained with him at the Savoy, till his brother Mr. Francis Boyle espoused Mrs. Elizabeth Killegrew; and then, towards the end of October, within four days after the marriage, the two brothers, Francis and Robert, were sent abroad upon their travels, under the care of Mr. Marcombes. They embarked at Rye, in Sussex, and from thence proceeded to Dieppe, in Normandy; then they travelled by land to Ilouen, to Paris, and from thence to Lyons; from which city they continued their journey to Geneva, where his governor had a family; and there the two gentlemen pursued their studies quietly, and without interruption. Mr. Boyle, during his stay here, resumed his acquaintance with the mathematics, or at least with the elements of that science, of which he had before gained some knowledge. For he tells us in his own memoirs, that while he was at Eton, and afflicted with an ague, before he was ten years old, by way of diverting his melancholy, they made him read Amadis de Gaul, and other romantic books, which produced such restlessness in him, that he was obliged to apply himself to the extraction of the square and cube roots, and to the more laborious operations of algebra, in order to fix and settle the volatility of his fancy.
hours in reading the modern history in Italian, and the works of the celebrated astronomer Galileo, who died at a village near this city during Mr. Boyle’s residence
September 1641, he quitted Geneva, after having spent one-and-twenty months in that city; and, passing through Switzerland, and the country of the Grisons, entered Lombardy. Then, taking his route through Bergamo, Brescia, and Verona, he arrived at Venice; where having made a short stay, he returned to the continent, and spent the winter at Florence. Here he employed his spare hours in reading the modern history in Italian, and the works of the celebrated astronomer Galileo, who died at a village near this city during Mr. Boyle’s residence in it. It was at Florence that he acquired the Italian language; which he understood perfectly, though he never spoke it so fluently as the French. Of this indeed he was such a master, that, as occasion required, he passed for a native of that country in more places than one during his travels.
among which, he tells us, “he had the fortune to see pope Urban VIII. at chapel, with the cardinals; who, severally appearing mighty princes, in that assembly looked
March 1642, he began his journey from Florence to
Rome, which took up but five days. He surveyed the numerous curiosities of that city; among which, he tells us,
“he had the fortune to see pope Urban VIII. at chapel,
with the cardinals; who, severally appearing mighty
princes, in that assembly looked like a company of common friars.
” He visited the adjacent villages, which had
any thing curious or antique belonging to them; and had
probably made a longer stay, had of the heat of the
climate disagreed with his brother. He returned to Florence,
from thence to Leghorn, and so by sea to Genoa. Then
passing through the county of Nice, he crossed the sea at
Antibes, where he incurred some danger for refusing to
honour the crucifix: from whence he went to Marseilles
by land. He was in that city in May 1642, when he received his father’s letters, which informed him of the rebellion broke out in Ireland, and how difficultly he had
procured the 250l. then remitted to them, in order to help
them home. But they never received this money; and
were obliged to go to Geneva with their governor Marcombes, who supplied them with as much at least as carried them thither. They continued there a considerable
time, without either advices or supplies from England:
upon which Mr. Marcombes was obliged to take up some
jewels on his own credit, which were afterwards disposed
of with as little loss as possible; and with the money thus
raised, they continued their journey for England, whither
they arrived in 1644. On his arrival Mr. Boyle found his
father dead; and though the earl had made an ample provision for him, as well by leaving him his manor of Stalbridge in England, as other considerable estates in Ireland,
yet it was some time before he could receive any money.
However, he procured protections for his estates in both
kingdoms from the powers then in being; from whom also
he obtained leave to go over to France for a short space,
probably to settle accounts with his governor Mr. Marcombes: but he could not be long abroad, since we find
him at Cambridge the December following.
f learned friends, such as Wiikins, Wallis, Ward, Willis, Wren, &c. suited exactly to his taste, and who h;-d resorted thither for the same reasons that he had done;
In 1652, he went over to Ireland, in order to visit and settle his estates in that kingdom; and returned from thence in August 1653. He was soon after obliged to go over to Ireland again; where he had spent his time very unpleasantly, if it had not been for his intimate friend and acquaintance, sir William Petty, in whose conversation he was extremely happy. In the summer of 1654, he returned to England, and put in execution a design he had formed some time, of residing at Oxford; where he continued for the most part till April 1668, and then he settled at London in the house of his sister lady Ranelagh in Pall Mall. At Oxford he chose to live in the house of Mr. Crosse, an apothecary, rather than in a college; for the sake of his health, and because he had more room to make experiments. Oxford was indeed at that time the only place in England where Mr. Boyle could have lived with much satisfaction; for here he found himself surrounded with a number of learned friends, such as Wiikins, Wallis, Ward, Willis, Wren, &c. suited exactly to his taste, and who h;-d resorted thither for the same reasons that he had done; the philosophical society being novr removed from London to Oxford. It was during his residence here that he invented that admirable engine, the air-pump; which was perfected for him by the very ingenious Mr. Robert lioolce, in 1678 or 1679. By this he made several experiments, and was enabled to discover and demonstrate several qualities of the air, so as to lay a founelation for a complete theory. He was not, however, satis, fied with this, but laboured incessantly in collecting and digesting, chiefly from his own experiments, the materials requisite for this purpose. He declared against the philosophy of Aristotle, as having in it more of words than things, promising much and performing little; and as giving the inventions of men for indubitable proofs, instead of building upon observation and experiment. He was so zealous for, and so careful about, this true method of learning by experiment, that, though the Cartesian philosophy then made a great noise in the world, yet he would never be persuaded to read the works of Descartes; for fear he should be amused and led away by plausible accounts of things, founded on fancy, and merely hypothetical.
ng acquainted with the unhappy circumstances of the learned Sanderson, afterwards bishop of Lincoln, who had lost all his preferments for his attachment to the royal
But philosophy and inquiries into nature, though they
engaged his attention deeply, did not occupy it entirely;
since we find, that he still continued to pursue critical
and theological studies. Inthese he had the assistance of
some great men, particularly Dr. Edward Pocock, Mr,
Thomas Hyde, and Mr. Samuel Clarke, all of great eminence for their skill in the oriental languages. He had
also a strict intimacy with Dr. Thomas Barlow, at that time
head-keeper of the Bodleian library, and afterwards bishop
of Lincoln, a man of various and extensive learning. In
1659, Dr. Wallis, so distinguished for his mathematical
and philosophical learning, dedicated to him his excellent
treatise on the Cycloid. This year also Mr. Boyle, being
acquainted with the unhappy circumstances of the learned
Sanderson, afterwards bishop of Lincoln, who had lost all
his preferments for his attachment to the royal party, conferred upon him an honorary stipend of 50l. a year. This
stipend was given as an encouragement to that excellent
master of reasoning, to apply himself to the writing of cases
of conscience and accordingly he printed his lectures
“de obligatione conscientise,
” which he read at Oxford,
1647, and dedicated them to his friend and patron. The
dedication bears date Nov. 22, 1659.
racter, he needed no accessions; and indeed he never had any appetite for either. But bishop Burnet, who preached his funeral sermon, and to whom Mr. Boyle communicated
Upon the restoration of Charles II. he was treated with
great civility and respect by the king, as well as by the
two great ministers, Southampton and Clarendon. He
was solicited by the latter to enter into orders, for Mr.
Boyle’s distinguished learning and unblemished reputation induced lord Clarendon to think that so very
respectable a personage would do great honour to the clergy.
Mr. Boyle considered all this with due attention; but reflected, that in his present situation, whatever he wrote
upon religion, would have so much the greater weight, as
coming from a layman; since he well knew, that the irreligious fortified themselves against all that the clergy could
offer, by supposing and saying that it was their trade, and
that they were paid for it. He considered likewise that$
in point of fortune and character, he needed no accessions;
and indeed he never had any appetite for either. But
bishop Burnet, who preached his funeral sermon, and to
whom Mr. Boyle communicated memorandums concerning
his own life, tells us, that what had the greatest weight in
determining his judgment was, “the not feeling within
himself any motion or tendency of mirjd which he could
safely esteem a call from the Holy Ghost, and so not venturing to take holy orders, lest he should be found to have
lied unto it.
” He chose therefore to pursue his philosophical studies in such a manner as might be most effectual
for the support of religion; and began to communicate to
the world the fruits of those studies. The first of them
was printed at Oxford, 1660, in 8vo, under the title of
1. “New experiments, physico-mechanical, touching the
spring of the Air and its effects, made for the most part
in a new pneumatical engine: addressed to his nephew
the lord Dungarvan.
” This work was attacked by Franciscus Linus and Mr. Hobbes, which occasioned Mr. Boyle
to subjoin to a second edition of it, printed at London,
1662, in 4to, “A Defence,
” &c. in which he refuted the
objections of those philosophers with equal candour, clearness, and civility. A third edition was printed in 1682,
4to. 2. “Seraphic Love; or, some motives and incentives to the Love of God, pathetically discoursed of in a
letter to a friend,
” Certain physiological Essays
and other Tracts,
” A Discourse about the absolute rest of bodies
” and were translated into Latin. 4. “Sceptical Chemist,
”
that corporation an estate which had been injuriously repossessed by one col. Bedingfield, a papist, who had sold it to them for a valuable consideration. His activity
In 1662, a grant of the forfeited impropriations in the kingdom of Ireland was obtained from the king in Mr. Boyle’s name, though without his knowledge; which nevertheless did not hinder him from interesting himself very warmly for procuring the application of those impropriations to the promoting religion and learning. He interposed likewise in favour of the corporation for propagating the gospel in New England; and was very instrumental in obtaining a decree in the court of chancery, for restoring to that corporation an estate which had been injuriously repossessed by one col. Bedingfield, a papist, who had sold it to them for a valuable consideration. His activity in matters of this nature was so much the more honourable, as his inclination led him generally to be private and retjred. But whenever the cause of virtue, learning, or religion, required it, his interest and endeavours were never wanting; and what is very remarkable, were seldom employed but with success. In 1663, the royal society being incorporated by king Charles II. Mr. Boyle was appointed one of the council; and, as he might be justly reckoned among the founders of that learned body, so he continued one of its most useful and industrious members during the whole course of his life.
penetration, and may be said to have led the way to that mighty genius, the great sir Isaac Newton, who has since set that important point in the clearest and most
In June 1663 he published, 5. “Considerations touching
the usefulness of experimental Natural Philosophy,
” 4to,
reprinted the year following. 6. “Experiments and considerations upon Colours; to which was added a letter,
containing observations on a diamond that shines in the
dark,
” Considerations
upon the style of the Holy Scriptures,
” An Essay on Scripture;
”
which was afterwards published by sir Peter Pett, a friend
of Mr. Boyle.
nsure that ever was passed upon him, and that too from no less a man than the celebrated dean Swift; who, to ridicule these discourses, wrote “A pious meditation upon
In 1664 he was elected into the company of the royal
mines; and was all this year taken up in the prosecution
of various good designs, which probably was the reason
why he did not send abroad any treatises either of religion
or philosophy. The year following, however, appeared,
8. “Occasional Reflections upon several subjects; whereto
is prefixed a discourse about such kind of thoughts,
”
A pious meditation upon a Broomstick, in the style of the honourable Mr. Boyle.
” A certain
writer, by way of making reprisals upon Swift for his treatment of Mr. Boyle, which he affirms to be as cruel and
unjust as it is trivial and indecent, has observed, that, from
this very treatise, which he has thus turned into ridicule,
he borrowed the first hint of his Gulliver’s Travels. He
grounds his conjecture upon the following passage, to be
found in the Occasional Reflections: “You put me in
mind of a fancy of your friend Mr. Boyle, who was saying,
that he had thoughts of making a short romantic story,
where the scene should be laid in some island of the
southern ocean, governed by some such rational laws and
customs as those of the Utopia or the New Atalantis. And
in this country he would introduce an observing native,
that, upon his return home from his travels made in Europe, should give an account of our countries and manners
under feigned names; and frequently intimate in his relations, or in his answers to questions that should be made
him, the reasons of his wondering to fi-nd our customs so
extravagant, and differing from those of his own country.
For your friend imagined that, by such a way of exposing
many of our practices, we should ourselves be brought
unawares to condemn, or perhaps to laugh at them; aikl
should at least cease to wonder, to find other nations think
them as extravagant as we think the manners of the Dutch
and Spaniards, as they are represented in our travellers’
books.
” The same year Mr. Boyle published an important
work, entitled, 9. “INew experiments and observations
upon Cold; or, an experimental history of cold begun:
with several pieces thereunto annexed,
”
get to observe, that, both in this and the former year, he communicated to his friend Mr. Oldenburg, who w,is secretary to the royal soqiety, several curious and excellent
His excellent character in all respects had procured him
so much esteem and affection with the king, as well as
with every body else, that his majesty, unsolicited, nominated him to the provostship of Eton college in August
1665. This was thought the fittest employment for him
in the kingdom; yet, after mature deliberation, though
contrary to the advice of all his friends, he absolutely declined it, for which he had several reasons. He thought
the duties of that employment might interfere with his
studies: he was unwilling to quit that course of life, which,
by experience, he found so suitable to his temper and
constitution: and, above all, he was unwilling to enter
into orders: which he was persuaded was necessary to qualify himself for it. In this year and the next, he was much
interested in an affair that made a very great noise in the
world; and the decision of which, from the high reputation he had gained, was in a manner universally expected
from him. The case was this: one Mr. Valentine Greatracks, an Irish gentleman, persuaded himself that he had
a peculiar gift of curing diseases by stroking; in which
though he certainly succeeded often, yet he sometimes
failed; and this occasioned a great controversy, in which
most of the parties concerned addressed themselves to Mr.
Boyle. Among the rest, the famous Mr. Henry Stubbe
wrote a treatise upon this subject, entitled “The miraculous Conformist; or, an account of several marvellous
cures, performed by the stroking of the hands of Mr. Valentine Greatracks; with a physical discourse thereupon,
in a letter to the honourable Robert Boyle, esq.
” Mr.
Boyle received this book upon the 8th of March 1666;
and wrote a letter to Mr. Stubbe the next morning, which
shews how extremely tender Mr. Boyle was of religion; and
how jealous of admitting and countenancing any principle
or opinions that he thought might have a tendency to hurt
or discredit it But what is most incumbent on us to
observe at present is, that this letter is certainly one of the
clearest testimonies of Mr. Boyle’s vast abilities and extensive knowledge, that is any where extant. It is a very
long- letter, upwards of twenty pages in 8vo very learned
and very judicious wonderfully correct in the diction and
style, remarkably clear in the method and form, highly
exact in the observations and remarks, and abounding in
pertinent and curious facts to illustrate his reasoning. Yet
it appears from the letter itself, that it was written within
the compass of a single morning <i fact we should have
imagined next to impossible, if it had not been attested
by one whose veracity was never questioned, that is, by
Mr. Boyle himself. In 1666, Dr. Wallis addressed to Mr.
Boyle his piece upon the Tides; as did the famous physician, Dr. Sydenham, his method of curing fevers, grounded upon his own observations. Mr. Boyle likewise published that year, 10. “Hydrostatical paradoxes made out
by new experiments, for the most part physical and easy,
”
8vo, which he printed at the request of the royal society,
those experiments having been made at their desire about
two years before. 11.“The Origin of Forms and Qualities,
according to the Corpuscular philosophy, illustrated by
considerations and experiments,
”
rly received notion of Nature;” apiece, which was then, and will always be, greatly admired by those who have a true zeal and relish for pure religion and sound philosophy.
In 1685, he obliged the world with, 31. “Short memoirs for the natural experimental history of mineral waters, with directions as to the several methods of trying
them, including abundance of new and useful remarks, as
well as several curious experiments.
” 32. “An essay on
the great effects of even, languid, and unheeded motion;
whereunto is annexed an experimental discourse of some
hitherto little regarded causes of the salubrity and insalubrity of the air, and its effects;
” reprinted in Of the
reconcileableness of specific medicines to the corpuscular
philosophy; to which is annexed, a Discourse about the
advantages of the use of simple medicines,
” 8vo. Besides
these philosophical tracts, he gave the world likewise,
same year, an excellent theological one, 34. “Ofthehi^h
veneration man’s intellect owes to God, peculiarly for his
wijclom and power,
” 8vo. This was part of a much larger
work, which he mentioned in an advertisement, to prevent
any exception from being taken at the abrupt manner of its
beginning. At the entrance of the succeeding year, canie
abroad his, 35. “Free inquiry into the vulgarly received
notion of Nature;
” apiece, which was then, and will always be, greatly admired by those who have a true zeal and
relish for pure religion and sound philosophy. It was translated into Latin, and reprinted in 12 mo the year after.
cript account of his travels, which he had dra.vn up in the form of letters, addressed to Mr. Boyle: who, in his answer to the doctor, dated the 14th of that month,
In June 1686, his friend Dr. Gilbert Burnet, afterwards
bishop of Salisbury, transmitted to him from the Hague the
manuscript account of his travels, which he had dra.vn up
in the form of letters, addressed to Mr. Boyle: who, in
his answer to the doctor, dated the 14th of that month, expresses his satisfaction in “finding, that all men do not
travel, as most do, to observe buildings and gardens, and
modes, and other amusements of a superficial and almost
insignificant curiosity; for your judicious remarks and reflections, says he, may not a little improve both a statesman, a critic, and a divine, as well as they will make the
writer pass for all three.
” In 1687, Mr. Boyle published,
36. “The martyrdom of Theodora and Dydimia,
” 8vo; a
work he had drawn up in his youth. 37. “A disquisition
about the final causes of natural things; wherein it is enquired, whether, and, if at all, with what caution, a naturalist should admit them.
” With an appendix, about vitiated light,
parts of his writings, and was avowed by himself to the great Dr. Halley, the lateroyal astronomer, who related to me his conversation with him upon that subject. And
Among the other great works, which by this means he
gained time to finish, there is reason to believe, that one
was a collection of elaborate processes in chemistry; concerning which he wrote a letter to a friend, which is still
extant; but the piece itself was never published, though
we read in the letter, “that he left it as a kind of hermetic
legacy to the studious disciples of that art.
” Besides these
papers, committed to the care of one whom he esteemed
his friend, he left also very many behind him at the time
of his death, relating to chemistry; which, as appears by a
Jetter directed to one of his executors, he desired might
be inspected by three physicians whom he named, and that
gome of the most valuable might be preserved. “Indeed,
”
says the writer of his life, “it is highly reasonable to suppose, that many important discoveries were contained in
them; chemistry being his favourite study, and opening
to him perpetually such a new scene of wonders, as easily
persuaded him of the possibility of transmuting metals into
gold. This persuasion of his is evident from several parts
of his writings, and was avowed by himself to the great Dr.
Halley, the lateroyal astronomer, who related to me his
conversation with him upon that subject. And it was probably in consequence of this opinion, that he took so much
pains to procure, as he did in August 1689, an act for the
repeal of a statute made in the fifth year of king Henry IV.
against the multiplying of gold and silver.
”
settling it; but not from ordering by his last will, that a liberal provision should be made for one who should, in a very few well-digested sermons, every year set
He was buried in St. Martin’s church in the Fields, Westminster, on the 7th of January following: and his funeral
sermon was preached by his friend Dr. Gilbert Burnet, bishop of Salisbury. The bishop made choice upon this occasion of a text very apposite to his subject, namely,
“For God giveth to a man, that is good in his sight, wisdom, knowledge, and joy.
” Eccles. xi. 26. After explaining the meaning of the words, he applies the doctrine
to the honourable person deceased; of whom, he tells us,
he was the better able to give a character, from the many
happy hours he had spent in conversation with him, in the
course of nine-and-twenty years. He gives a large account of Mr. Boyle’s sincere and unaffected piety, and
more especially of his zeal for the Christian religion, without having any narrow notions concerning it, or mistaking,
as so many do, a bigoted heat in favour of a particular sect,
for that zeal which is the ornament of a true Christian. He
mentions, as a proof of this, his noble foundation for lectures in defence of the gospel against infidels of all sorts;
the effects of which have been so conspicuous in the many
volumes of excellent discourses which have been published
hi consequence of that noble and pious foundation . He
had, says our prelate, designed it in his life-time, though
some accidents did, upon great considerations, divert him
from settling it; but not from ordering by his last will, that
a liberal provision should be made for one who should, in a
very few well-digested sermons, every year set forth the
truth of the Christian religion in general, without descending to the subdivisions among Christians. He was at the
charge of the translation and impression of the New Testament into the Malayan tongue, which he sent over all the
East Indies. He gave a noble reward to him that translated
Grotius’s incomparable book of the truth of the Christian
religion into Arabic: and was at the charge of a whole impression, which he took care should be dispersed in all the
countries where that language is understood. He was resolved to have carried on the impression of the New Testa-,
meut in the Turkish language; but the company thought
it became them to be the doers of it, and so suffered him
only to give a large share towards it. He was at 700l.
charge in the edition of the Irish Bible, which he ordered
to be distributed in Ireland: and he contributed liberally,
both to the impression of the Welsh Bible, and of the Irish
Bible for Scotland. He gave, during his life, 300l. to advance the design of propagating the Christian religion in America; and, as soon as he heard that the East India company were entertaining propositions for the like design in
the East, he presently sent a hundred pounds for a beginning, as an example; but intended to carry it much farther
when it should be set on foot to purpose. When he understood how large a share he had in impropriations, he ordered considerable sums to be given to the incumbents in
those parishes, and even to the widows of those who were
dead before this distribution of his bounty. He did this
twice in his life-time, to the amount of above 600l. and ordered another distribution, as far as his estate would bear,
by his will. In other respects his charities were so bountiful and extensive, that they amounted, as this prelate tells
us, from hfs own knowledge, to upwards of 1000l. per
annum.
iscoveries, so he used so nice a strictness, and delivered them with so scrupulous a truth, that all who have examined them have found how safely the world may depend
But that part of his discourse which concerns us most,
is, the copious and eloquent account he has given of this
great man’s abilities. “His knowledge,
” says he, “was
of so vast an extent, that if it were not for the variety of
vouchers in their several sorts, I should be afraid to say
all I know. He carried the study of the Hebrew very far
into the rabbinical writings, and the other oriental tongues,
He had read so much of the fathers, that he had formed a
clear judgment of all the eminent ones. He had read a
vast deal on the scriptures, had gone very nicely through
the various controversies in religion, tind was a true master
of the whole body of divinity. He read the whole compass of the mathematical sciences; and, though he did not
set himself to spring any new game, yet he knew the abstrusest parts of geometry. Geography, in the several
parts of it that related to navigation or travelling; history
and books of novels, were his diversions. He went very
nicely through all the parts of physic; only the tenderness
of his nature made him less able to endure the exactness
of anatomical dissections, especially of living animals,
though he knew these to be most instructing. But for the
history of nature, ancient and modern, of the productions
of allcountries, of the virtues and improvements of plants,
of ores, and minerals, and all the varieties that are in them
jn different climates, he was by much, by very much, the
readiest and' the perfectest I ever knew, in the greatest
compass, and with the nicest exactness. This put him in
the way of making all that vast variety of experiments beyond any man, as far as we know, that ever lived. And
in these, as he made a great progress in new discoveries,
so he used so nice a strictness, and delivered them with so
scrupulous a truth, that all who have examined them have
found how safely the world may depend upon them. But
his peculiar and favourite study was chemistry, in which he
was engaged with none of those ravenous and ambitious
designs that drew many into it. His design was only to
find out nature, to see into what principles things might
be resolved, and of what they were compounded, and to
prepare good medicaments for the bodies of men. He
spent neither his time nor fortune upon the vain pursuits
of high promises and pretensions. He always kept himself
within the compass that his estate might well bear and,
as he made chemistry much the better for his dealing in it,
so he never made himself either worse or the poorer for it.
It was a charity to others, as well as an entertainment to
himself; for the produce of it was distributed by his sister
and others, into whose hands he put it.
” To thiseulogium
of the bishop, we will only add that of the celebrated physician, philosopher, and chemist, Dr. Herman Boerhaave;
who, after having declared lord Bacon to be the father of
experimental philosophy, asserts, that “Mr. Boyle, the
ornament of his age and country, succeeded to the genius
and enquiries of the great chancellor Verulam. Which,
”
says he, “of all Mr. Boyle’s writings shall I recommend?
All of them. To him we owe the secrets of fire, air, water,
animals, vegetables, fossils: so that from his works may be
deduced the whole system of natural knowledge.
” The
reader perhaps recollects, that Mr. Boyle was born the
same year in which lord Bacon died. “Sol occubuitj
nox nulla secuta est.
”
that kind; nay, there is a letter of his, written when he was young to the lady Barrymore his niece, who had informed him of a report that he was actually married, which
Mr. Boyle was never married: but Mr. Evelyn was assured, that he once courted the beautiful and ingenious daughter of Gary, earl of Monmouth; and that to this passion was owing his Seraphick Love. In the memorandum of Mr. Boyle’s life, set down by bishop Burnet, it is remarked, that he abstained from marriage, at first out of policy, afterwards more philosophically; and we find, by a letter of Dr. John Wallis to him, dated at Oxford, July 17, 1669, that he had an overture made him with respect to the lady Mary Hastings, sister to the earl of Hunting, don. But it does not appear from any of his papers, that he had ever entertained the least thoughts of that kind; nay, there is a letter of his, written when he was young to the lady Barrymore his niece, who had informed him of a report that he was actually married, which almost shews that he never did. The letter is written with great politeness, and in the true spirit of gallantry; and is a clear proof, that though Mr. Boyle did not choose to marry, yet it was no misanthropic cynical humour which restrained him from it. It is impossible to entertain the reader better, than by presenting him with that part of it which concerns the point in question. " It is high time for me to hasten the payment of the thanks I owe your ladyship for the joy you are pleased to wish me, and of which that wish possibly gives me more than the occasion of it would. You have certainly reason, madam, to suspend your belief of a marriage, celebrated by no priest but fame, and made unknown to the supposed bridegroom. I may possibly ere long give you a fit of the spleen upon this theme; but at present it were incongruous to blend such pure raillery, as I ever prate of matrimony and amours with, among things I am so serious in, as those this scribble presents you. I' shall therefore only tell you, that the little gentleman and I are still at the old defiance. You have carried away too many of the perfections of your sex, to leave enough in this country for the reducing so stubborn a heart as mine; whose conquest were a task of so much difficulty, and is so little worth it, that the latter property is always likely to deter any, that hath beauty and merit enough to overcome the former. But though this untamed heart be thus insensible to the thing itself called love, it is yet very accessible to things very near of kin to that passion; and esteem, friendship, respect, and even admiration, are things that their proper objects fail not proportionably to exact of me, and consequently are qualities, which, in their highest degrees, are really and constantly paid my lady Barrymore by her most obliged humble servant, and affectionate uncle,
think,” says he, “the very design of it will please you; and it is cast into a method, that any one who pleases may Add to it under any of the several titles, as his
Mr. Boyle’s posthumous works are as follow: 1. “The
general history of the Air designed and begun,
” yet
I think,
” says he, “the very design of it will please you;
and it is cast into a method, that any one who pleases may
Add to it under any of the several titles, as his reason and
observation shall furnish him with matter of fact. If such
men as you are, curious and knowing, would join to what
Mr. Boyle had collected and prepared, what comes in
their way, we might hope in some time to have a considerable history of the air, than which I scarce know any part
Of natural philosophy would yield more variety and use.
But it is a subject too large for the attempts of any one
man, and will require the assistance of many hands, to
make it an history very short of complete.
” To which Mr.
Molineux answered: “I am extremely obliged to you for
Mr. Boyle’s book of the air, which lately came to my hands.
It is a vast design, and not to be finished but by the united
labours of many heads, and indefatigably prosecuted for
many years; so that I despair of seeing any thing complete therein. However, if many will lend the same helping hands that you have done, I should be in hopes; and
certainly there is not a chapter in all natural philosophy of
greater use to mankind than what is here proposed.
”
2. “General heads for the natural history of a conntryy
great or sinall; drawn out for the use of travellers and navigators. To which are added, other directions ior navigators, &c. with particular observations on the most noted
countries in the world. By another hand.
” A free discourse against customary swearing, and a dissuasive from cursing,
” Medicinal experiments: or, a collection of choice remedies,
chiefly simple, and easily prepared, useful in families, and
fit for the service of the country people. The third and
last volume, published from the author’s original manuscript; whereunto are added several useful notes, explicatory of the same,
”
with the queen, shewed less respect to her minister than they had formerly done: upon which, Orrery, who considered their behaviour as an indignity to the crown of Great
, earl of Orrery, second son of
Roger second earl of Orrery, by lady Mary Sackville,
daughter to Richard earl of Dorset and Middlesex, was
born in August 1676, at his father’s house in Chelsea;
and at fifteen entered a nobleman of Christ-church, in
Oxford, under the care of Dr. Francis Atterbury, afterwards bishop of Rochester, and Dr. Freind. Dr. Aldrich,
the head of that society, observing his uncommon application, drew up for his use that compendium of logic
which is now read at Christ-church, wherein he styles him
“the great ornament of our college.
” Having quitted the
university, he was in
of his own instruments, he copied it, and made the first for the earl of Orrery; sir Richard Steele, who knew nothing of Mr. Graham’s machine, thinking to do justice
The instrument called the Orrery obtained his name from the following circumstance: Rowley, a mathematical instrument-maker, having got one from Mr. George Graham, the original inventor, to he sent abroad with some of his own instruments, he copied it, and made the first for the earl of Orrery; sir Richard Steele, who knew nothing of Mr. Graham’s machine, thinking to do justice to the first encourager, as well as to the inventor of such a curious instrument, called it an Orrery, and gave Rowley the praise due to Mr. Graham.
, earl of Cork and Orrery, a nobleman who added fresh lustre to his name and family, was the only son
, earl of Cork and Orrery, a nobleman
who added fresh lustre to his name and family, was the
only son and heir of Charles, the fourth earl of Orrery (the subject of the preceding article), by the lady Elizabeth
Cecil, daughter of John earl of Exeter. He was born on
the 2d of January, 1706-7, and put early under the tuition
of Mr. Fenton, the author of Mariamne, and one of the
coadjutors of Mr. Pope in the translation of the Odyssey,
by whom he was instructed in English; and carried through
the Latin tongue from the age of seven to thirteen. Between this amiable poet and his noble pupil a constant
friendship subsisted; and his lordship always spoke of him
after his decease, and often with tears, as “one of the
worthiest and modestest men that ever adorned the court
of Apollo.
” After passing through Westminster school,
lord Boyle was admitted as a nobleman at Christ-church,
Oxford, of which college, as we have already seen, his
father had been a distinguished ornament. One of his
first poetical essays was an answer to some verses by Mrs.
Howe, on an unsuccessful attempt to draw his picture.
Cork. Whilst he was in this city, he met with a most severe affliction, in the loss of his countess, who died on the 22d of August, 1732. The character of this amiable
In the summer of 1732 the earl of Orrery went over to
Ireland to re-establish his affairs, which were much embarrassed by the villainy of his father’s agent. As the
family seat at Charleville had been burnt to the ground by
a party of king James’s army in 1690, his lordship resided
sometimes with a friend at that place, and sometimes at
Cork. Whilst he was in this city, he met with a most severe affliction, in the loss of his countess, who died on the
22d of August, 1732. The character of this amiable lady
has been drawn by lord Orrery himself, in his Observations on Pliny. The countess was interred with her
ancestors, at Taplow, in Bucks; and Mr. S. Wesley, in a
poem on her death, fully displayed her excellent qualities
and virtues. Mr. Theobald did the same, in his dedication
of Shakspeare’s Works to the earl. The dedication, it
seems, was originally intended for her ladyship; and
therefore lord Orrery is represented as succeeding to it by
the melancholy right of executorship. Mr. Theobald professes to have borrowed many hints from hearing his patron
converse on Shakspeare; and adds, “Your lordship may
reasonably deny the loss of the jewels which I have disparaged in the unartful setting.
” Such language, however, must be considered as partly complimentary; for
if the earl of Orrery had contributed any material criticisms upon our great dramatic poet, they would undoubtedly have been distinctly specified. Some pathetic verses
on the death of the countess, dated Marston, Dec. 17,
1734, were addressed by his lordship to Mrs. Rowe, who
lived in his neighbourhood, and with whom he had an
intimate friendship during the latter part of her life. How
much this ingenious and excellent lady valued his esteem
and regard, is evident from her observing, that “his approbation would be her vanity and boast, if she could but
persuade herself she deserved it.
” The house where she
was born belonged to him; and he always passed by it,
after her decease, with the utmost veneration. It appears
from Mrs. Rowe’s posthumous letter to his lordship, that
he had charged her with “a message to his Henrietta
(Harriet), when she met her gentle spirit in the blissful
regions.
”
done him by so excellent a performance on so barren a subject.” “In spite,” says the dean, “of those who love me not, it will be said in future ages, that one of lord
Whilst our noble lord resided in Ireland, he commenced
a friendship with dean Swift, which produced also that of
Mr. Pope. The earl having sent a copy of verses to the
dean on his birth-day, they were so pleasing to that celebrated genius, that he begged the author “to accept his
most humble thanks for the honour done him by so excellent a performance on so barren a subject.
” “In spite,
”
says the dean, “of those who love me not, it will be said
in future ages, that one of lord Orrery’s first essays in
poetry was these verses on Dr. Swift.
” There are, indeed, several evidences in Pope’s and Swift’s letters, of
the sincere esteem they entertained for his lordship.
neighbourhood of Cork, and that more than three years rent was unpaid. In April 1737, his lordship, who was then at Cork, earnestly pressed Dr. Swift to accompany him
In October 1733, lord Orrery returned to England, and
having now no attachment to London, he disposed of his
house in Downing-street, Westminster, as likewise of his
seat at Britwell, near Windsor, and retired to his seat at
Marston, in Somersetshire. As this place had been much
neglected by his ancestors, and was little more than a shell
of a large old house, he amused himself in building offices,
in fitting out and furnishing apartments, and laying out
gardens and other plantations. Study and retirement
being his principal pleasures, he took care to supply the
loss he had sustained from his father’s will, by furnishing
his library anew with the best authors. In the summer of
1734, probably in his way to France, where he sometimes
went, he visited the tomb of his ancestors, Roger Boyle,
esq, and Joan his wife, in Preston church, near Feversham.
This monument, when the title of earl of Cork devolved
upon him, he intended to have repaired, if his life had been
prolonged. In the middle of the year 1735, we find him
again in Ireland. On the 31st of October, in the same
year, an amiable relation, and a most promising youth,
Edmund duke of Buckingham, died at Rome, upon which
melancholy event, lord Orrery paid a just tribute to the
memory of the young nobleman, in an elegiac poem. It
was printed in 1736, and is one of the most pleasing specimens which our author has afforded of his poetical abilities. In the winter of 1735-6, the duke of Dorset being
then lord lieutenant of Ireland, the eail of Orrery neglected no opportunity of endeavouring to render his administration easy. If Dr. Swift is to be credited, Ireland
was about that time in a wretched condition. As a proof
of it, the dean asserted in a letter to Mr. Pope, that lord
Orrery had 3000l. a year in the neighbourhood of Cork,
and that more than three years rent was unpaid. In
April 1737, his lordship, who was then at Cork, earnestly
pressed Dr. Swift to accompany him to England; but the
doctor, who never saw Marston, did not accept the invitation. Lord Orrery took over with him to Mr. Pope all
the letters of that great poet to Swift, which the dean had
preserved or could find, which were not more in number
than twenty-five. About this time, our noble author,
that his sons might be educated under his own eye, and
also have the benefit of attending Westminster-school,
took a small house in Duke-street, Westminster. On the
30th of June, 1738, the earl of Orrery, after having been
six years a widower, married, in Ireland, Mrs. Margaret
Hamilton, only daughter and heiress of John Hamilton,
esq. of Caledon, in the county of Tyrone, grand-daughter
of Dr. Dopping, bishop of Meath, and niece of Dr. Dopping, bishop of Ossory. Swift, in a letter to Miss Hamilton, on her intended nuptials, after pretending a prior
claim, as she had made so many advances to him, and
confessed “herself to be nobody’s goddess but his,
” archly
waves it, and politely “permits lord Orrery to make himself the happiest man in the world; as I know not,
”
he adds, “any lady in this kingdom of so good sense or
so many accomplishments.
” He gives a great character
of her, likewise, in his last printed letter to Mr. Pope.
In this lady, the earl of Orrery, with gratitude to Heaven,
acknowledged that the loss of his former countess was repaired. In 1739 he published a new edition, 2 vols. 8vo,
of the dramatic works of his great-grandfather. Though
these volumes cannot be particularly valuable, they are
now become exceedingly scarce. In 1741 he published
separately, in folio, “The first Ode of the first book of
Horace imitated, and inscribed to the earl of Chesterfield;
”
and “Pyrrha, an imitation of the fifth Ode of the first
book of Horace.
” In the preface to the last, lord Orrery
characterises Dacier’s and Sanadon’s translations, and
makes some observations on Horace, which shew that he
entered with taste and spirit into the peculiar excellencies
of that poet. In 1742 he published in one volume, folio,
the “State Letters
” of his great-grandfather, the first
earl; to which were prefixed Morrice’s memoirs of that
eminent statesman. On the 25th of August, 1743, his lordship was presented by the university of Oxford to the
honorary degree of D. C. L.; and he was, likewise, F.R. S.
Lord Boyle, in 1746, being settled at Oxford, and Mr.
Boyle in the college at Westminster, their father quitted
London, and fixed his residence at Caledon, in Ireland.
During one of his occasional visits to England, after the
publication of the second volume of the Biographia Britannica, he thanked Dr. Campbell, “in the name of all the
Boyles, for the honour he had done to them, and to his
own judgment, by placing the family in such a light as to
give a spirit of emulation to those who were hereafter to
inherit the title.
” Lord Orrery resided in Ireland, with
very little intermission, from 1746 to 1750; happy in that
domestic tranquillity, that studious retirement and inactivity, from which, as he himself expressed it, he was
scarcely ever drawn, but with the utmost reluctance.
“Whenever,
” as he observed in a private letter, “we step
out of domestic life in search of felicity, we come back
again disappointed, tired, and chagrined. One day passed
under our own roof, with our friends and our family, is
worth a thousand in any other place. The noise and
bustle, or, as they are foolishly called, the diversions of
life, are despicable and tasteless, when once we have experienced the real delight of a fire-side.
” These sentiments, which do so much honour to the rectitude of his
lordship’s understanding, and the goodness of his heart,
reflect, at the same time, a just reproach on the absurd and
criminal dissipation that prevails for the most part among
persons of rank and fortune. During the earl of Orrery’s
residence in Ireland, he employed his leisure in laying out
gardens and plantations at Caledon, and in improving and
adorning its fine situation. On his return to Marston, he
continued his alterations and improvements in the house
and gardens at that place, many of the plans for which
were designed by lord Boyle, who had a taste for architecture. In the mean while, the amusement of our noble
author’s winter evenings was his translation of “The Letters of Pliny the Younger, with observations on each letter,
and an Essay on Pliny’s life, addressed to Charles lord
Boyle.
” The essay is dated Leicester-fields, January 27,
1750-1; and, together with the translation, was published
at London, in the following April, in 2 vols. 4to. This
work met with so good a reception from the public, that
three editions of it in octavo have since been printed. In
the summer of the same year, lord Orrery addressed
to his second son Hamilton a series of letters, containing
“Remarks on the Life and Writings of Dr. Swift, dean of
St. Patrick’s, Dublin.
” This work gave rise to many strictures and censures on his lordship for having professed
himself Swift’s friend while he was exposing his weaknesses. Subsequent inquiries into Swift’s character have
proved that the portrait he drew was not unfaithful. To
this, however, we shall have occasion to recur in our account of Swift.
n in 1754 and 1755, to William Duucombe, esq. and published, in 1774, by the rev. Mr. John Buncombe, who well knew and highly esteemed lord Cork’s talents and virtues.
His last work was posthumous, “Letters from Italy,
”
written in The
character of John earl of Cork, as a writer and as a man,
may partly be collected from his own works, and partly
from the testimonies which have been given of him by some
of the most distinguished among his contemporaries. I
shall only beg leave to add, that, in every domestic and
social relation, in alltthe endearing connections of life, as
a husband, a father, a friend, a master, he had few equals.
The lustre which he received from rank and title, and from
the personal merit of his family, he reflected back, unimpaired and undhninished; and though ‘the post of honour’
which he chose and preferred was ‘a private station,’
though he was neither a statesman nor a soldier, like the
first lord Cork, the first lord Orrery, and his own father;
the rival of Palladio, like the late lord Burlington; or the
rival of Bacon, like Mr. Robert Boyle; yet in a general
taste for literature, or, as they are commonly called, polite studies, he was by no means inferior to his ancestors.
Being much in the great world at the beginning of his life,
he despised and detested it when he arrived at years of reflection. His constitution was never strong, and he was
very thankful that it was not so; as his health was a true
and no very irksome excuse to avoid those scenes, by
which his body would have been hurt, and his mind offended. He loved truth even to a degree of adoration. He
was a real Christian; and. as such, constantly hoped for a
better life, there trusting to know the real causes of those
effects, which here struck him with wonder, but not with
doubt.
”
protection and great wealth more generously and more judiciously diffused than by this great person, who had every quality of a genius and artist, except envy. Though
, third earl of Burlington and fourth earl of Cork, another branch of the illustrious family of Boyle, was born on the 25th of April, 1695; and was married on the 21st of March, 1720-1, to the lady Dorothy Savile, the eldest of the two daughters and co-heirs of William Savile, marquis of Halifax. By this lady he had three daughters, the youngest of whom, Charlotte, alone survived him. She was married to the duke of Devonshire, and was mother to the late duke, and grandmother to the present. On the 18th of June, 1730, the earl of Burlington was installed one of the knights’ companions of the most noble order of the garter; and in June 1731, he was constituted captain of the band of gentlemen pensioners. In 1732, being at the city of York, the lord mayor, aldermen, and corporation, sent a deputation to return their thanks to him for the favour he had done them in building their assembly-room, and for his other benefactions to the city, and to beg his acceptance of the freedom of it; which was, accordingly, presented to him in a gold box. In 1733, he resigned his place of captain of the band of pensioners. After this he lived retired, employing himself in adorning his gardens at Chiswick, and in constructing several pieces of architecture. Never, says lord Orford, were protection and great wealth more generously and more judiciously diffused than by this great person, who had every quality of a genius and artist, except envy. Though his own designs were more chaste and classic than Kent’s, he entertained him in his house till his death, and was more studious to extend his friend’s fame than his own. Nor was his munificence confined to himself, and his own houses and gardens. He spent great sums in contributing to public works, and was known to choose that the expence should fall on himself, rather than that his country should be deprived of some beautiful edifices. His enthusiasm for the works of Inigo Jones was so active, that he repaired the church of Covent-garden, because it was the production of that great master, and purchased a gate-way of his at Beaufort-garden in Chelsea, and transported the identical stones to Chiswick with religious attachment. With the same zeal for pure architecture, he assisted Kent in publishing the designs for Whitehall, and gave a beautiful edition of the antique baths from the drawings of Palladio, whose papers he procured with great cost. Besides his works on his own estate at Lanesborough in Yorkshire, he new fronted his house in Piccadilly, built by his father^ and added the grand colonnade within the court. It is recorded that his father being asked, why he built his house so far out of town? replied, because he was determined to have no building beyond him. This is now in the heart of that part of the town. Our nobility formerly wished for town-houses, and not for town-neighbourhoods, but the latter being now obtruded upon them is probably the cause of their paying so little attention to the keep of their London-palaces. Bedford-house has been levelled to the ground some years, and Burlington-house is likewise said to be doomed to destruction.
rite some piece, which might transmit the memory of that glorious victory to posterity. Mr. Addison, who was at that time but indifferently lodged, was surprised with
, Lord Carleton, and lord president of
the council in the reign of king George I. was descended
from Richard Boyle, first earl of Cork in Ireland, and was
third son of Charles lord Clifford of Lanesborough in the
county of York, by Jane, youngest daughter of William
Seymour, duke of Somerset. Being elected a member of
the house of commons, he scon distinguished himself to
such advantage, that in March 1700-1, he was appointed
chancellor and nnder-treasurer of the exchequer by king
William, and was admitted into a high degree of favour and
confidence with that prince. He continued in that post
till the 11th of February, 1707-8, when he was made one
of the principal secretaries of state, in the room of Robert
Harley, esq. and was consequently one of the ministry
when the reputation of England was carried to so great
an height, and when the queen obtained so many successes
in defence of the common cause of Europe. In this station he took all occasions of shewing his regard for men of
genius and learning; and soon after the battle of Blenheim, was employed by the lord treasurer Godolphin, at
the solicitation of the lord Halifax, to go to Mr. Addison,
and desire him to write some piece, which might transmit
the memory of that glorious victory to posterity. Mr. Addison, who was at that time but indifferently lodged, was
surprised with this visit from a person of Mr. Boyle’s rank
and station; who, after having acquainted him with his
business, added, that the lord treasurer, to encourage him
to enter upon this subject, had already made him one of
the commissioners of the appeals; but entreated him to
look upon that post only as an earnest of something more
considerable. In short, Mr. Boyle said so many obliging
things, and in so graceful a manner, as gave Mr. Addison
the utmost spirit and encouragement to begin that poem,
which he entitled “The Campaign;
” soon after the publication of which, he was, according to Mr. Boyle’s promise, preferred to a considerable post. In 1710, Mr.
Boyle was one of the managers at the trial of Dr. Sacheverell; but upon the general change of the ministry, not
long after, was dismissed from the post of secretary of state;
in which he was succeeded by Henry St. John, esq. afterwards lord viscount Bolingbroke. “I never,
” says Swift,
“remember such bold steps taken by a court; I am almost shocked at it, though I did not care if they were all
hanged.
” Upon the accession of his late majesty king
George I. in 1714, he was created a baron of this kingdom,
by the title of baron Carleton of Carleton, in the county
of York, and was soon after made lord president of the
council, in which post he continued till his death, which
happened on Sunday the 14th of March, 1724-5, at his
house in Pall-mall, now the residence of his royal highness the Prince Regent.
Mr. Budgell tells us, that he was endowed with great
prudence and a winning address; and that his long experience in public affairs had given him a thorough knowledge in business. He spoke frequently while he was a
member of the house of commons; and it was allowed by
very good judges, that he was never once known to say
an imprudent thing in a public debate, or to hurt the
cause which he engaged in; a circumstance peculiar to
himself above most other speakers in so public an assembly.
The author of the “Spectator,
” in the dedication to him
of the third volume of that work, observes likewise, that
there was no person, whose merit was more universally
acknowledged by all parties, and who had made himself
more friends and fewer enemies: that his great abilities
and unquestioned integrity in those high employments
which he had passed through, would not have been able
to have raised this general approbation, had they not been
accompanied with that moderation in a high fortune, and
that affability of manners, which were so conspicuous
through all parts of his life: that his aversion to any ostentatious arts of setting to show those great services which
he had done the public, contributed likewise not a little to
that universal acknowledgment which was paid him by his
country: and that he was equally remarkable for the great
figure which he made in the senate, as for that elegance
and politeness, which appeared in his more retired conversation. Davis, in his characters published under the
name of Mackay, says of him, “He is a good companion
in conversation; agreeable among the ladies; serves the
queen very assiduously in council; makes a considerable
figure in the house of commons; by his prudent administration obliges every body in the exchequer; and in time
may prove a great man.
” To this Swift added in his copy
of the book, “had some very scurvy qualities, particularly
avarice.
”
,” Lond. 1672, 4to, was dedicated sometime after his decease, by his friend the editor, Roger Flynt, who had likewise been of Bene r t college. He died either in 1665
, a learned clergyman of the seventeenth century, and nephew to the dean of Canterbury,
hereafter mentioned, was of a good family in Kent, and
was educated at Eton school, from which he was admitted
a scholar of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, in May
1620. Here he took the degree of A. B. in 1623, of A. M.
1627, and was elected fellow in 1651. He proceeded
B. D. and was appointed one of the university preachers in
1634; and in 1640, was presented to the rectory of Mautboy in Norfolk, upon the death of Mr. Thomas D'Engayne;
but before he left college, he gave to its library a fine set
of Binnius’s Councils. His patron was William Paston,
esq. his friend and contemporary at college, to whose sou
sir Robert Paston, bart. of Oxnead in that county, a volume
of his “Sermons,
” Lond. Sermons,
” informs us that it
was with difficulty he obtained leave of the dying author to
make them public, and obtained it only upon condition that
he should say nothing of him. He has, however, given a
short, but excellent character of him.
t living, 1596. On quitting the university, the college gave him one hundred pounds. His young wife, who was bequeathed to him with the living, which was an advowson,
, one of the translators of the Bible
in the reign of James I. was son of William Bois, rector of
West-Stowe, near St. Edmundsbury, in Suffolk, and born
at Nettlestead in that county, Jan. 3, 1560. He was taught
the first rudiments of learning by his father; and his capacity was such, that at the age of five years he read the
Bible in Hebrew, and before he was six could write it in
an elegant hand. He went afterwards to Hadley school,
and at fourteen was admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge, where he distinguished himself by his skill in the
Greek; and such was his diligence that we are told he
would go to the university library in summer, at four in
the morning, and remain till eight in the evening without
any intermission. Happening to have the small-pox when,
he was elected fellow, to preserve his seniority, he caused
himself to be carried, wrapped up in blankets, to be admitted. He applied himself for some time to the study of
medicine, but fancying himself affected with every disease
he read of, he quitted that science. June 21, 1583, he
was ordained deacon, and next day, by virtue of a dispensation, priest. He was ten years chief Greek lecturer in
his college, and read every day. He voluntarily read a
Greek lecture for some years, at four in the morning, in
liis own chamber, which was frequented by many of the
fellows. On the death of his father, he succeeded him in
the rectory of West Stowe; but his mother going to live
with her brother, he resigned that preferment, though he
might have kept it with his fellowship. At the age of
thirty-six, he married the daughter of Mr. Holt, rector of
Boxworth, in Cambridgeshire, whom he succeeded in that
living, 1596. On quitting the university, the college gave
him one hundred pounds. His young wife, who was bequeathed to him with the living, which was an advowson,
proving a bad economist, and himself being wholly immersed in his studies, he soon became so much in debt,
that he was forced to sell his choice collection of books to
a prodigious disadvantage. The loss of his library afflicted
him so much, that he thought of quitting his native country. He was, however, soon reconciled to his wife, and
he even continued to leave all domestic affairs to her management. He entered into an agreement with twelve of
the neighbouring clergy, to meet every “Friday at one of
their houses by turns, to give an account of their studies.
He usually kept some young scholar in his house, to instruct his own children, and the poorer sort of the town,
as well as several gentlemen’s children, who were boarded
with him. When a new translation of the Bible was, by
James I. directed to be made, Mr. Bois was elected one of
the Cambridge translators. He performed not only his
own, but also the part assigned to another (part of the Apocrypha), with great reputation, though with little profit:
for he had no allowance but his commons. The king indeed nominated him one of the fellows of his new college
at Chelsea, but he never derived any benefit, as the
scheme was not executed. He was also one of the six who
met at Stationers-hall to revise the whole translation of the
Bible, which task they went through in nine months, having each from the company of stationers during that time
thirty shillings a week. He afterwards assisted sir Henry
Saville in publishing the works of St. Chrysostom, and received a present of one copy of the book, for many years
labour spent upon it: which however was owing to the
death of sir Henry Saville, who intended to have made
him fellow of Eton. In 1615, Dr. Lancelot Andrews, bishop of Ely, bestowed on him, unasked, a prebend in his
church. He died 1643, in the 84th year af his age; leaving a great many manuscripts behind him, particularly a
collation of the text of the Gospels and Acts. When he
was a young student at Cambridge, he received from the
learned Dr. Whitaker these three rules, for avoiding those
distempers which usually attend a sedentary life, to which
he constantly adhered: the first was, to study always standing; the second, never to study in a window; the third,
never to go to bed with his feet cold . The work mentioned above, which Wolfius says is
” Liber infrequentissimus etrarissime occurrens,“owing to very few copies having been printed, was entitled
” Veteris interpretis cum
Beza aliisque recentioribus Collatio in Quatuor Evangeliis et Apostolorum Actis, autore Johanne Boisio, Eccl.
Eliensis Canonico, opus auspiciis rev. Praesulis Lancelot!,
Winton. Episc. caeptum et perfectum," Lond. 1655,
12mo.
, dean of Canterbury, descended from John de Bosco, who entered England with theConqueror, and allied to a family so
, dean of Canterbury, descended from John de Bosco, who entered England with theConqueror, and allied to a family so opulent and extensive as to be divided into eight branches, each residing in their respective seats in the county of Kent, was born in 1571. He was the fourth son of Thomas Boys of Eythorne in that county, esq. hy Christian, daughter and co-heiress of John Seajles, of Wye, esq. Having most probably received the earlier part of his education at the king’s school in Canterbury, he went to Cambridge in 1586, where he became a scholar of Corpus Christi college, and proceeded to the degree of M. A. in 1593> He was about this time elected to a fellowship of Clare-hall, which is appropriated to a native of Kent.
osition of the Festival Epistles and Gospels. In 1597, he was preferred by his uncle, sir John Boys, who had been the patron of his studies at the university, to the
He entered on the duties of a parish priest first at Hollingbourne in his native county, of which place, however,
he was not the vicar, as Mr. Masters conjectures; and to
the inhabitants of it he dedicated his Exposition of the
Festival Epistles and Gospels. In 1597, he was preferred
by his uncle, sir John Boys, who had been the patron of
his studies at the university, to the rectory of Bettishanger
near Deal. In the same year he was also collated by archbishop Whitgift to the mastership of East-bridge hospital
in Canterbury. In 1599, the same patron presented him
to the vicarage of Tilmanstone, adjoining to Bettishanger.
He had now acquired the character of a distinguished theologist, and proceeded soon afterwards to the degree of
D. D. He was likewise what then was termed “a painful
preacher,
” one who in preaching was frequent and laborious, as his works testify, which were all delivered originally in the pulpit.
“I have another prayer, and forasmuch as it is in Latin, &c.” It occurs in a ms. of sir Henry Fynes, who says he found it in an old book. Sir Henry Fynes was born in
If we examine his “Postils,
” or the Defence of our
Liturgy, we shall have reason to admire his unwearied diligence, and his profound knowledge; to respect him as a
scholar and a divine. His style, indeed, partakes of the
quaintness of the age, but upon the whole we think him
less blameable on this score than some of his contemporaries. His main object was opposition to popery. He accordingly attacks the pope both with unsparing ridicule.
and with elaborate argument. In a sermon preached on
the Gunpowder treason, he introduced a parody on the
Lord’s Prayer in Latin, “Papa noster qui es llomae, maledicetur nomen tuum, intereat regnum tuum, impediatur
voluntas tua, sicut in coelo sic et in terra. Potum nostrum
in ccena dominica da nobis hodie, et remitte nummos
nustros quos tibi dedimus ob indulgentias, et ne nos indticas in haeresin, sed libera nos a miseria, quoniam tuum
est infernum, pix et sulphur in saecula sseculorurn.
” Granger gives this prayer in English, as if Dr. Boys had used
it in that language, and adds, what he certainly could not
know, that “he gained great applause by turning the
Lord’s Prayer into an execration.
” The truth is, he only
quoted it, saying “I have another prayer, and forasmuch
as it is in Latin, &c.
” It occurs in a ms. of sir Henry
Fynes, who says he found it in an old book. Sir Henry
Fynes was born in 1587, and Dr. Boys’s works could not
be deemed an old book in his time.
wife Elizabeth Pearson of Deal; and was descended, paternally, from an ancient and knightly family, who were seated at Bonnington, in the parish of Goodnestone, in
, esq. F. A. and L. S. S. was born at Deal in Kent, Sept. 7, 1735; and was for many years an eminent surgeon at Sandwich, in the same county. He was the eldest of two sons of the late William Boys, esq. commodore by commission in the royal navy, and lieutenant-governor of Greenwich hospital, by his wife Elizabeth Pearson of Deal; and was descended, paternally, from an ancient and knightly family, who were seated at Bonnington, in the parish of Goodnestone, in Kent, at the beginning of the fourteenth century.
sham. Plancus, in a treatise “De Conchis minus notis,” printed at Venice in 1739, is the only writer who had before described shells so minute as those which are the
This was his principal literary production; but being of
a most liberal and communicative disposition, he was at
all times ready to assist his friends with hints and observations on any subject which had engaged his attention.
Thus, in 1783, we find him communicating to the late rev.
John Duncombe some “Observations on the Antiquities
of Reculver;
” which are inserted by that writer in his History of Reculver and Herne: and, in 1784, appeared a
small work of 25 pages in quarto, with three plates, entitled “A Collection of the minute and rare Shells lately
discovered in the sand of the sea-shore near Sandwich, by
William Boys, esq. F. S. A. considerably augmented, and
a11 their figures accurately drawn, as magnified with the
microscope, by George Walker, bookseller at Faversham;
”
which in the preface is candidly acknowledged, by the
editor, to be the joint production of Mr. Boys and himself,
assisted by their common friend, the late Edward Jacob,
esq. of Faversham. Plancus, in a treatise “De Conchis
minus notis,
” printed at Venice in
ion of the office of surgeon of the hospital, and appointed to it his fourth son, Edward Boys, M. D. who now holds it. At this period he returned to Sandwich, but with
In 1792, Mr. Boys communicated to the society of antiquaries “Observations on Kits-Goity house in Kent,
” which
have been inserted in the Archaeologia, vol. XL; and Mr.
Pennant, Dr. Latham, and many other antiquaries and naturalists in their respective works acknowledge their obligations for assistance contributed by him. Dr. Latham, in
his Index Ornithologicus, has given his name to a new species of Fern communicated by Mr. Boys. In 1787 Mr.
Boys was appointed surgeon to the sick and wounded seamen at Deal; but this appointment, during the progress of
the late war, was found to require so much of his time
and attention that in 1796 he was induced to relinquish entirely his medical practice at Sandwich, and to
reside near the naval hospital at Walmer till 1799, when
the commissioners of the sick and hurt office accepted his
resignation of the office of surgeon of the hospital, and appointed to it his fourth son, Edward Boys, M. D. who now
holds it. At this period he returned to Sandwich, but with
very impaired health. In the month of February of that
year, he had a slight attack of apoplexy, and in December
following, another and more alarming paroxysm occurred,
from the effects of which he did not recover for nine or ten.
months. On the 2d of March 1803, his servant, on coming
into the parlour where he was sitting after breakfast, found
him fallen back in his chair in a state of apoplexy. He
remained in this state, but with symptoms which, for some
days, at intervals, encouraged his friends to hope that he
might still recover, till the 15th of the same month in the
afternoon, when he placidly breathed his last.
He was twice married, first in 1759, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Henry Wise, jurat of Sandwich, who died in 1761, by whom he had a son and daughter: and secondly,
He was twice married, first in 1759, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Henry Wise, jurat of Sandwich, who died in 1761, by whom he had a son and daughter: and secondly, in 1762, to Jane, daughter of Thomas Fuller, esq. and coheiress of her uncle John Paramor, esq. of Statenborough, who died in 1783, and by whom he had eight children. An elegant mural monument has been erected in the parish church of St. Clement at Sandwich, by his family, with a Latin inscription.
kland, near Kendal, in Westmoreland, and completed it under the tuition of the rev. Mr. Edward Veal, who kept a private academy at Stepney, near London. Having continued
a protestant dissenting minister, was
born at Leeds in Yorkshire, in January, 1659-60. After
early instruction under the care of his parents, he received
the first part of his education for the ministry at the private
academy of the rev. Mr. Frankland, near Kendal, in Westmoreland, and completed it under the tuition of the rev.
Mr. Edward Veal, who kept a private academy at Stepney,
near London. Having continued in these seminaries five
years, and availed himself of the opportunities which he
enjoyed in the latter situation of attending on the preaching
of many able divines, both conformists and non-conformists,
he entered on the exercise of his ministry about the year
1680. In 1683, finding that he could not discharge the
duties of his function in England without molestation, he
accepted an invitation to be joint pastor with Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Daniel Williams, in Dublin; and had afterwards
for his coadjutor the rev. Mr. Thomas Emlyn, so well known
for his writings and his sufferings. This connection subsisted for more than ten years with mutual friendship and
uninterrupted harmony; but it was at length dissolved in
consequence of Mr. Emlyn’s sentiments concerning the
doctrine of the Trinity. On this occasion the zeal of Mr.
Boyse for the orthodox led him to take some steps that were
thought injurious to his former colleague, and inconsistent
with the friendship that had subsisted between them;
though he disapproved the prosecution which Mr. Emlyn
suffered, and behaved towards him with a greater degree of
kindness than any of the other dissenting ministers of Dublin. The latter years of Mr. Boyse^s life were embittered
by bodily disorders and straitened circumstances. His
funeral sermon was preached in December, 1728; but the
precise time of his death is not known. He was considered
as a pious, learned, and useful divine; assiduous in the exercise of his ministry, and in his conduct generally esteemed. He had a principal concern in promoting the act
of toleration in Ireland. His works were published in 1728,
in 2 vols. fol. The first contains 71 sermons, 6 dissertations on the doctrine of justification, and a paraphrase on
those passages of the New Testament which chiefly relate to
that doctrine. One of his sermons, originally printed separately, on “the Office of a Christian Bishop,
” was ordered to be burnt by the Irish parliament in Nov. 1711.
The second volume contains several pieces, of which the
principal is a“Vindication of the true Deity of our blessed
Saviour,
” in answer to Mr. Emlyn’s “Humble inquiry into
the Scripture account of Jesus Christ, &c.
” As Mr.
Boyse’s answer was published at the time when Mr. Emlyn
was under prosecution for his sentiments, his conduct did
not escape censure from the friends of Emlyn, who did not
think it candid, liberal, or ingenuous.
wever, which only to mention is to excite gratitude, produced no corresponding effects on t>ur poet, who abandoned his mind and time" to dissipation and idleness, without
, the only son of the preceding, and whose life affords an excellent moral, was born in the year 1708, and after receiving the rudiments of education in a private school in Dublin, was sent at the age of eighteen to the university of Glasgow. His father’s int?ntion was, that he might cultivate the studies that are preparatory to entering into the ministry, but before he had resided many months at Glasgow, he contracted an attachment for a Miss Atchenson, the daughter of a tradesman in that city, and married her about a year after, probably without the consent of the parents on either side. By this imprudent match his studies were in some measure interrupted, and his expenses increased. The family of his wife were either unwilling or unable to support their new relation, and he soon found it necessary to repair to Dublin in hopes of receiving assistance from his father. On this expedition he was accompanied by his wife and her sister; but notwithstanding this additional incumbrance, and tue general levity of his conduct, his father received him with kindness, and out of the scanty and precarious income which he derived from his congregation by voluntary subscriptions, and from a small estate of eighty pounds a year in Yorkshire, endeavoured to maintain his son, and to reclaim him to the prosecution of his studies. Tenderness like this, however, which only to mention is to excite gratitude, produced no corresponding effects on t>ur poet, who abandoned his mind and time" to dissipation and idleness, without a thought of what he owed to his father or to himself. In this course too he was unhappily encouraged by the girl he married, who, while she imposed upon the good old man by a show of decency, and even sanctity, became in fact devoid of all shame, and at length shared her favours with other men, and that not without the knowledge of her husband, who is said to have either wanted resolution to resent her infidelity, or was reconciled by a share of the profits of his dishonour. Such a connection and such a mind, at an age when the manly and ingenuous feelings are usually strongest, may easily account for the miseries of his subsequent life.
upon him. By means of lady Eglinton and lord Stormont, Boyse became known to the duchess of Gordon, who likewise was a person of literary taste, and cultivated the
His father died in the year 1728, and his whole property
having been exhausted in the support of his son, the latter
repaired in 1730 to Edinburgh, where his poetical genius
raised him many friends and some patrons of considerable
eminence, particularly the lords Stair, Tweedale, and
Stormont; and there is some reason to think that he was
occasionally entertained at their houses. In 1731, he published a volume of poems, to which was subjoined a
translation of the Tablature of Cebes, and a Letter upon Liberty
which had been before published in the Dublin Journal.
This volume, which was addressed to the countess of Eglinton, a lady of great accomplishments, procured him
much reputation. He also wrote an elegy on the viscountess
Stormont, entitled, “The Tears of the Muses/‘ in compliment to her ladyship’s taste as a patroness of poets.
Lord Stormont was so much pleased with this mark of respect to the memory of his lady, that he ordered a handsome present to be made to the author, whom, however, it
was not easy to find. Such was Boyse’s unsocial turn and
aversion to decent company, that his person was known
only among the lower orders, and Lord Stormont’ s generous intention would have been frustrated, if his agent had
not put an advertisement into the papers desiring the author
of
” The Tears of the Muses“to call upon him. By means
of lady Eglinton and lord Stormont, Boyse became known
to the duchess of Gordon, who likewise was a person of literary taste, and cultivated the correspondence of some of
the most eminent poets of her time. She was so desirous
to raise Boyse above necessity, that she employed her interest in procuring the promise of a place for him; and
accordingly gave him a letter, which he was next day to
deliver to one of the commissioners of the customs at Edinburgh.
” But it unluckily happened that he was then some
miles distant from the city, and the morning on which he
was to have ridden to town with her grace’s letter, proved
to be rainy. This trivial circumstance was sufficient to discourage Boyse, who was never accustomed to look beyond
the present moment: he declined going to town on account
of the rainy weather; and while he let slip the opportunity, the place was bestowed upon another, which the commissioner declared he kept for some time vacant, in expectation of seeing a person recommended by the duchess of
Gordon."
ile any prospect, however, remained of a more advantageous lot, he could still depend on the friends who first noticed him, and he had no sooner communicated his design
While any prospect, however, remained of a more advantageous lot, he could still depend on the friends who first noticed him, and he had no sooner communicated his design of going to England, than the duchess of Gordon gave him a recommendatory letter to Mr. Pope, and obtained another for him to sir Peter King, then lord chancellor. Lord Stormont also recommended him to his brother, the solicitor general, afterwards the celebrated lord Mansfield. On his arrival in London, in 1737, he waited on Pope, but, as he happened to be from home, he never repeated the visit. By the lord chancellor he is said to have been received with kindness, and to have occasionally been admitted to his lordship’s table; so sordid were his habits, however, and such his aversion to polite company, that this latter part of his historv, which he used to relate himself, has been doubted by those who lived near enough to the time to have known the fact. But whatever advantage he derived from the recommendations he brought from Scotland, it does not appear that it made any alteration in his habits. In London he was soon reduced to indigence, from which he attempted no means of extricating himself, but by writing complimentary poems, or mendicant letters, except that he frequently applied for assistance to some of the more eminent dissenters, from whom he received many benefactions, in consequence of the respect which they paid to the memory of his father. But such supplies were soon dissipated in the lowest gratifications, and his friends were at length tired of exerting their bounty that was so useless to the object of it. The author of his life in Gibber’s work informs us, that often, when he had received half a guinea, in consequence of a supplicating letter, he would go into a tavern, order a supper to be prepared, drink of the richest wines, and spend all the money that had been just given him in charity, without having any one to participate and regale with him, and while his wife and child were starving at home.
l poems for the magazines. Of the disposition of his apparel, Mr. Nichols received from Dr. Johnson, who knew him well, the following account. He used to pawn what he
About the year 1738 he published a second volume of
poems, but with what success is not known and, as he did
not put his name to this volume, his biographer has not
been able to find any mention of it. In the year J 740 he
was reduced to the lowest state of poverty, having no clothes
left in which he could appear abroad; and what bare subsistence he procured was by writing occasional poems for
the magazines. Of the disposition of his apparel, Mr. Nichols received from Dr. Johnson, who knew him well, the
following account. He used to pawn what he had of this
sort, and it was no sooner redeemed by his friends, than,
pawned again. On one occasion Dr. Johnson collected a
sum of money for this purpose, and in two days the clothes
were pawned again. In this state he remained in bed, with
no other covering than a blanket, with two holes, through
which he passed his arms when he sat up to write. The author of his life in Gibber, adds, that when his distresses
were so pressing as to induce him to dispose of his shirt, he
used to cut some white paper in slips, which he tied round
his wrists, and in the same manner supplied his neck. In
this plight he frequently appeared abroad, while his other
apparel was scarcely sufficient for the purposes of decency.
While in this wretched state, he published “The Deity,
”
a poem , which was highly praised by some of the best
critics of the age. Among those whose praise was of considerable value, Hervey introduced the mention of it in his
Meditations, “as a beautiful and instructive poem;
” and
Fielding, in his Tom Jones, after extracting a few lines,
adds that they are taken from “a very noble poem called
the Deity, published about nine years ago (1749), and long
since buried in oblivion; a proof that good books no more
than good men, do always survive the bad.
” These encomiums tended to revive the poem, of which a third edition
was published in 1752; and it has since been reprinted in
various collections . An account of the Deity was sent to
the Gentleman’s Magazine, and, although not inserted,
was probably the means of Boyse’s introduction to Mr.
Cave, from whom he obtained some supplies for writing
and translating in that jourual between the years 1741 and
1743. Cave’s practice was to pay by the hundred lines,
which after a while he wanted poor Boyse to make what is
called the long hundred. His usual signature for his poems
was Y. or Alcæus. When in a spunging-house in Grocer’salley, in the Poultry, he wrote the following letter to Cave,
which was communicated by the late Mr. Astle to the editor of the Biographia Britannica.
. Nichols’s correspondents produces a letter from Mr. Stewart, the son of a bookseller at Edinburgh, who had long been intimately acquainted with Mr. Bpyse, in which
Another of Mr. Nichols’s correspondents produces a
letter from Mr. Stewart, the son of a bookseller at Edinburgh, who had long been intimately acquainted with Mr.
Bpyse, in which the particulars of his death are related in
a different manner.
“Poor Mr, Boyse was one evening last winter attacked
in Westminster by two or three soldiers, who not only
robbed him, but used him so barbarously, that he never
recovered the bruises he received, which might very probably induce the consumption of which he died. About
nine months before his death he married a cutler’s widow,
a native of Dublin, with whom he had no money; but she
proved a very careful nurse to him during his lingering
indisposition. She told me, that Mr. Boyse never imagined he was dying, as he always was talking of his recovery; but, perhaps, his design in this might be to comfort
her, for one incident makes me think otherwise. About
four or five weeks before he breathed his last, his wife
went out in the morning, and was surprised to find a great
deal of burnt papers upon the hearth, which he told her
were old bills and accompts; but I suppose were his manuscripts, which he had resolved to destroy, for nothing
of that kind could be found after his death. Though from
this circumstance it may be inferred that he was apprehensive of death, yet, I must own, that he never intimated
it to me, nor did he seem in the least desirous of any
spiritual advice. For some months before his end, he had
left off drinking all fermented liquors, except now and
then a glass of wine to support his spirits, and that he
took very moderately. After his death I endeavoured all
I could to get him decently buried, by soliciting those
dissenters who were the friends of him and his father, but
to no purpose; for only Dr. Grosvenor, in Hoxton-square,
a dissenting teacher, offered to join towards it. He had
quite tired out those friends in his life-time; and the general answer that I received was, ‘That such a contribution was of no service to him, for it was a matter of no importance how or where he was buried.’ As I found nothing could be done, our last resource was an application
to the parish; nor was it without some difficulty, occasioned by the malice of his landlady, that we at last got
him interred on the Saturday after he died. Three more of
Mr. Johnson’s amanuenses, and myself, attended the corpse
to the grave. Such was the miserable end of poor Sam,
who was obliged to be buried in the same charitable manner with his first wife; a burial, of which he had often
mentioned his abhorrence.
”
. These last accounts are in some degree confirmed by the writer of his life in Gibber’s collection, who says that while Boyse was in his last illness he had no notion
Although there is too much reason to believe that no
part of Boyse’s character has been misrepresented in the
preceding narrative, he must not be deprived of the evidence which Mr. Nichols’s correspondent has advanced in
his favour. He assures us that he knew him from the year
1732 to the time of his death; and that he never saw any
thing in his wife’s conduct that deserved censure; that he
was a man of learning; and when in company with those
by whom he was not awed, an entertaining companion;
but so irregular and inconsistent in his conduct, that it
appeared as if he had been actuated by two different souls
on different occasions. These last accounts are in some
degree confirmed by the writer of his life in Gibber’s collection, who says that while Boyse was in his last illness
he had no notion of his approaching end, nor “did he
expect it until it was almost past the thinking of.
” His
mind, indeed, was often religiously disposed; he frequently thought upon that subject; and probably suffered
a great deal from the remorse of his conscience. The early
impressions of his good education were never entirely
obliterated; and his whole life was a continual struggle
between his will and reason, as he was always violating his
duty to the one, while he fell under the subjection of the
other. It was, adds the same author, in consequence of
this war in his mind, that he wrote a beautiful poem called
“Recantation.
”
he inconsistency between the man and his writings, if not impossible, must at least be left to those who have no scruple to tell us that genius is an apology for all
Such was the life of a man whose writings, as far as we have been able to discover them, are uniformly in favour of virtue, remarkable for justness of sentiment on every subject in which the moral character is concerned, and not unfrequently for the loftiness and dignity which mark the effusions of a pure and independent mind. To reconcile such a train of thought with his life, with actions utterly devoid of shame or delicacy, or to apologize for the latter with a view to remove the inconsistency between the man and his writings, if not impossible, must at least be left to those who have no scruple to tell us that genius is an apology for all moral defects, and that none but the plodding prudent sons of dulness would reveal or censure the vices of a favourite poet. Such is already the influence of this perversion of the powers of reasoning, that if it is much longer indulged, no men will be thought worthy of compassion or apology, but those who err against knowledge and principle, who act wrong and know better. The life of Boyse, however, as it has been handed down to us, without any affected palliation, will not be wholly useless if it in any degree contribute to convince the dissipated and thoughtless of what dissipation and thoughtlessness must inevitably produce. It is much to be regretted, that they who mourn over the misfortunes of genius have been too frequently induced by the artifice of partial biographers, to suppose that misery is the inseparable lot of men of distinguished talents, and that the world has no rewards for those by whom it has been instructed or delighted, except poverty and neglect. Such is the propensity of some to murmur without reason, and of others to sympathize without discrimination, that this unfair opinion of mankind might be received as unanswerable, if we had no means of looking more closely into the lives of those who are said to have been denied that extraordinary indulgence to which they laid claim. Where the truth has been honestly divulged, however, we shall find that of the complaints which lenity or affectation have encouraged and exaggerated in narrative, some will appear to have very little foundation, and others to be trifling and capricious. Men of genius have no right to expect more favourable consequences from imprudence and vice than what are common to the meanest of mankind. Whatever estimate they may have formed of their superiority, if they pass the limits allotted to character, happiness, or health, they must not hope that the accustomed rules of society are to be broken, or the common process of nature is to be suspended, in order that they may be idle without poverty, or intemperate without sickness. Yet the lives of men celebrated for literary and especially for poetical talents, afford many melancholy examples of these delusions", which, if perpetuated by mistaken kindness, cannot add any thing to genius but a fictitious privilege, which it is impossible to vindicate with seriousness, or exert with impunity.
and ingratitude, that we are not to wonder at his living the precarious life of an outcast, of a man who belongs to no society, and whom no society is bound to maintain.
If the life of Boyse be considered with a reference to these remarks, it will be found that he was scarcely ever in a situation of distress, of which he could justly complain. He exhausted the patience of one set of friends after another, with such unfeeling contempt and ingratitude, that we are not to wonder at his living the precarious life of an outcast, of a man who belongs to no society, and whom no society is bound to maintain. Among his patrons were many persons of high rank and opulence, whom he rendered ashamed of their patronage, and perhaps prevented from the exercise of general kindness, lest it might be disgraced by the encouragement of those who dissipate every favour in low and wanton excesses.
beyond all human power. His other pieces may be regarded as curiosities, as the productions of a man who never enjoyed the undisturbed exercise of his powers, who wrote
As a poet, his reputation has been chiefly fixed on the
production entitled “Deity,
” which, although irregular
and monotonous, contains many striking proofs of poetical
genius. The effort indicates no small elevation of mind,
even while we must allow that success is beyond all human
power. His other pieces may be regarded as curiosities,
as the productions of a man who never enjoyed the undisturbed exercise of his powers, who wrote in circumstances
of peculiar distress, heightened by the consciousness that
he could obtain only temporary relief, that he had forfeited
the respect due to genius, and could expect to be rewarded only by those to whom he was least known. We
are told that he wrote all his poems with ease and even
rapidity. That many of his lines are incorrect will not,
therefore, excite surprize, especially when we consider
that he wrote for immediate relief, and not for fame, and
that when one piece had produced him a benefaction, he
generally dismissed it from his mind, and began another,
about which he had no other care than that it might answer
the same purpose.
, a French antiquary, was born at Lyons, Jan. 28, 1680, of parents who gave him an excellent education. He attached himself at first
, a French antiquary, was
born at Lyons, Jan. 28, 1680, of parents who gave him
an excellent education. He attached himself at first to
jurisprudence, but antiquities and medals soon occupied
him entirely. The chancellor de Pontchartrain, the abbe
Bignon, Vaillant, Haruouin, admired him for the amiableness of his manners, and the depth of his learning. In
1705 he published some ingenious dissertations upon
medals and other monuments, which procured him to be
admitted into the academy of inscriptions and belles-lettres,
under the title of pupil; and the year following he became
perpetual secretary. The French academy too admitted
him of their society in 1715, as successor to M. Fenelon.
He was made keeper of the royal cabinet of medals in
1719; and the year after he set out for Holland, with the
view of augmenting that grand collection. On returning
to Paris he devoted the whole of his time to the academy
of belles-lettres, to which he contributed a great many
memoirs, and the cabinet of medals. He had the inspection of the library in 1745, during the illness of M. Maboul, before which time he resigned the place of secretary
to the academy. He died the 10th of September, 1753,
aged seventy-four. He was as estimable for the sweetness
of his temper as for the depth of his knowledge. Among
his works, are: 1. The edition of the first 15 vols. of the
“Memoires de l'academie des inscriptions et belleslettres.
” The historical panegyrics which embellish
these memoirs were printed separately in 2 vols. 12mo.
They are ingenious and agreeable; they may contain
fewer of those delicate strokes with which the éloges
of Fontenelle abound, but perhaps they exceed them
in elegance and taste! They are, however, unequal.
2. The second edition of the “Medallic history of Louis
XIV.
” brought down to his death, 1723, folio. He gives
the drawings and impresses of many of them. 3. “The
history of the emperor Tetricus illustrated by medals.
”
4. Several dissertations on the ancient medals, dispersed
for the most part throughout the “Memoires de l'academie
des belles-lettres.
” 5. He published the “Catalogue of
his library,
” Yellow
Book,
” “Livre jaune, contenant quelques conversations
sur les logomachies, disputes de mots, abus de termes,
”
&c. Bale,
ed nuncio in France, under the pontificate of Clement VIII. he engaged Bracciolini as his secretary, who accepted the office in hopes that his patron might become a
, an Italian poet of some celebrity, known by the name of Bracciolini Dell’ Api, a
surname given him by the pope, was born at Pistoia, in
Tuscany, 1566, and was fellow-student with Maffei Barberini, whose love of poetry and polite literature resembled
his own, and increased their friendship. When Barberini
was afterwards appointed nuncio in France, under the
pontificate of Clement VIII. he engaged Bracciolini as his
secretary, who accepted the office in hopes that his patron
might become a cardinal, and serve his interest more essentially, for Bracciolini was not free from the unpoetical
failing of avarice; but this event not taking place so soon
as he expected, he retired to Pistoia, where he composed
a part of his works. Barberini, however, being not only
made cardinal, but also pope in 1622, under the title of
Urban VIII. Bracciolini waited upon him with a poem of
congratulation, amounting to twenty-three books, which
the pope liked so well, that he ordered him to adopt the
surname Dell' Api, and to add to his arms three bees,
which are the arms of the Barberini family. He gave him
at the same time more substantial rewards, and placed him
as secretary under his brother, cardinal Antonio Barberini.
After the death of Urban VIII. in 1644, Bracciolini again
retired to Pistoia, where he died the following year. He
wrote a great number of poems of every species, epics, tragedies, comedies, pastorals, lyrics, satires, and burlesque
verses. Of these, the only ones worthy of notice, seem to
be: 1. “La Croce Racquistata,
” a heroic poem in fifteen
cantos, Paris, Lo Scherno degli
Dei,
” a mock-heroic, in ridicule of the heathen mythology, Florence, 1618, 4to, a better edition in 1625, 4to.
This poem has given him some title to the invention of the
mock-heroic, because in the preface it is asserted that the
“Lo Scherno
” although printed some years after Tassoni’s
“La Secchia Rapita,
” was written many years sooner. It
is, however, a poem of considerable merit in that style.
o the republic of Genoa, but refused the honour of that appointment when offered by pope Nicholas V. who was his countryman. He died in 1460. He wrote in elegant Latin
, an Italian historian and antiquary,
was a native of Sarzano, in Tuscany, in the fifteenth century. He was secretary to the republic of Genoa, but refused the honour of that appointment when offered by pope
Nicholas V. who was his countryman. He died in 1460.
He wrote in elegant Latin five books, “De Bello inter
Hispanos et Genuenses,
” from De Claris Genuensibus,
” and “Orae Ligusticae descriptio,
” Rome,
Jter Italicum,
” has printed
a small work by Bracelli, “De praecipuis Genuensis urbis
familiis.
” His letters, “Epistoloe,
” were printed at Pc.ris,
on such a subject is likely to have many to retail it, and few to examine its justness. Among others who have most decidedly declared against Bracton, we find M. Houard,
, a celebrated English lawyer
in the thirteenth century, was, according to Mr. Prince,
born in Devonshire; and studied at Oxford, where he took
the degree of LL. D. Applying himself afterwards to the
study of the laws of England, he rose to great eminence at
the bar; and, in 1244, was by king Henry III. made one
of the judges itinerant. At present he is chiefly known by
his learned work, “Delegibus et consuetudinibus Angliae,
”
the first printed edition of it was in Anciennes Loix des Francois.
” After this,
the admirers of Bracton will not apprehend much from this
determined enemy to his reputation as an English lawyer.
edly looked up to as the first source of legal knowledge, even so low down as the days of lord Coke, who seems to have made this author his guide in all his inquiries
The value set on this work soon after its publication is evinced by the treatises of Britton, and Fleta, which are nothing more than appendages to Bracton. The latter was intended as an epitome of that author; and the merit of the former is confined to the single office of supplying some few articles that had been touched lightly by him, with the addition of the statutes made since he wrote. In after-times he continued the great treasure of our ancient jurisprudence. Thus was Bracton deservedly looked up to as the first source of legal knowledge, even so low down as the days of lord Coke, who seems to have made this author his guide in all his inquiries into the foundation of our law.
own the fear of man.” He soon after left the academy, and was taken into the family of Mr. Whitaker, who, according to his biographer, checked his ardour, at least so
, a facetious preacher among
the dissenters, whose oddities are still traditionary, was
born in 1677, at Wakefield, in Yorkshire. His father
belonged to a dissenting meeting at Alverthorp, near that
town, of which Mr. Peter Naylor, an ejected minister, was
pastor. Under his care, and at the free-school at Leeds,
he received the first rudiments of learning. He was afterwards sent to an academy kept by Mr. Jollie, at Attercliffe. He began to preach at the early age of eighteen,
about the year 1696, when his juvenile figure procured
him some rebuffs, which he soon disregarded, and convinced his hearers that he was a boy only in appearance.
His conquest over these remarks at this time seems to have
formed an aera in his history, as he used to “bless God
that from that hour he had never known the fear of man.
”
He soon after left the academy, and was taken into the
family of Mr. Whitaker, who, according to his biographer,
checked his ardour, at least so far that he preached but
seldom. In 1697 he went to Beverley, where he continued
two years, and then became assistant to Dr. Gilpin, at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and remained there three years,
with almost unbounded popularity. He then removed to
Stepney, near London, and in 1707 was chosen pastor of
a meeting in Fetter-lane, vacant by the death of Mr. Benoni Rowe. After preaching here to a crowded congregation for twenty years, a quarrel took place; about what, his
biographer does not inform us; but Mr. Bradbury was immediately invited to succeed the noted Daniel Burgess, in
the meeting at New-court, Carey-street, and in less than
a fortnight exchanged his former for his latter pulpit,
carrying with him such of his Fetter-lane hearers as adhered to him in the late contest. Here he succeeded
Daniel Burgess as a wit as well as a divine, and his biographer gravely informs us, that “this pulpit a se*cond
time presented a phenomenon as rare as it is beneficial,
wit consecrated to the service of serious and eternal truth.
”
Of this wit, however, Mr. N. Neal, in a letter to Dr.
Doddridge, (1749,) gives a different opinion. “I have
seen Mr. Bradbury’s sermons, just published, the nonsense and buffoonery of which would make one laugh, if
his impious insults over the pious dead did not make one
tremble.
” After entertaining the public by this species
of comic preaching for thirty-two years, he died at Warwick-court, Gray’s-inn, Sept. 9, 1759, aged eighty-two.
Of his character it is said, that “had he possessed as much
judgment as quickness of wit, and as much temper as zeal,
he would have been a man of much greater consideration.
His usefulness was much abated after the Sailers’ -hall
synod, for though he was warm on the orthodox side, his
ill-conducted zeal did much mischief.
” Among his other
differences of opinion from his brethren, he made it his
business in the pulpit to lampoon and satirize the hymns
and psalms of Dr. Watts. It is said, indeed, that whentever he gave out one of the former, it was prefaced with
“Let us sing one of Watts’s whims.
” Among the numerous anecdotes of Tom Bradbury, as he was familiarly
called, we shall give only the following, which contains
some characteristic features. “Tom generally gave audience at supper-time, and the ceremony was thus conducted. On a little table lay two pocket bibles, one of
which was taken up by Bradbury, and the other by his
daughter, and each having read a portion, one of the visiting ministers was desired to pray: they then adjourned
to supper; after which, Tom entertained the company
with ‘ The roast beef of old England,’ which, it is said,
he sung better than any man in England.
” His printed
works amply justify the character usually given of him,
that with much zeal he was totally destitute of judgment,
and regardless of the dignity of his sacred calling, dwelling
perpetually on political topics, and enforcing them in a
strain of ridicule totally unfit for the place in which he
stood. These works consist of “Fifty-four Sermons,
”
, one of the most eminent of the protestant divines who suffered martyrdom in the reign of queen Mary, was born in the
, one of the most eminent of the protestant divines who suffered martyrdom in the reign of queen Mary, was born in the former part of Henry Vjii.'s reign in Manchester, where he was educated in grammar, Latin, and accounts, in which last he was reckoned so expert that he was employed as clerk or secretary to sir John Harrington, treasurer and paymaster of the English forces in France; and in this employment he lived many years in great credit. His exchanging so profitable a situation for the clerical profession is rather obscurely accounted for by his biographers, some attributing it to his having imbibed the principles of the reformers, and being encouraged to join their number; others to certain abuses in sir John Harrington’s office, in which he either participated, or at which he connived, and the iniquity of which first struck him on hearing a sermon of bishop Latimer upon the subject of restitution as constituting the only basis of repentance. There is much reason, however, to doubt whether this sermon was not subsequent to the restitution he made of about 500l. which he apprehended the king had lost by some error in his and sir John Harrington’s accounts. The author of his life in the Biog. Brit, dwells with tiresome prolixity on this affair, as a new discorery of greater importance than, upon a perusal of the whole, we have beeri able to attach to it. The fact seems to have been, that Bradford was a man of great tenderness of conscience, and where he imagined he had done an injury, was restless until he had made restitution; and lamented his crime on this occasion with more bitterness than will be thought necessary by many persons who have been, intrusted with, much larger public accounts.
which when he had finished, the tumultuous people, for the most part, dispersed; but, among the rest who persisted, there was a certain gentleman, with his two servants,
For some time after the death of Edward VI. Bradford
continued his public services; but a man of such zeal
against popery could not be long safe, and the method
that was taken to bring him to the stake is one of the most
tyrannical measures of Mary’s reign. It is thus related by
his biographers: On the 13th of August, in the first year
of queen’s Mary’s reign, Gilbert Bourne, then preacher at
Paul’s Cross, but not then bishop of Bath as Fox mistakes,
he not being elected to that see before the beginning of
the next year, made a seditious sermon at the said cross;
wherein he so much traduced the late king, and harangued
so intolerably in favour of popery, that the auditory were
ready to pull him out of the pulpit. Neither could the
reverence of the place, nor the presence of the bishop of
London, nor the authority of the lord mayor, restrain their
rage. Bourne, seeing himself in this peril, and his life
particularly aimed at by a drawn dagger that was hurled at
him in the pulpit, which narrowly missed him, turned
about, and perceiving Bradford behind him, he earnestly
begged him to come forwards and pacify the people.
Bradford was no sooner in his room, and recommended
peace and concord to them, than with a joyful shout at the
sight of him, they cried out, ‘ Bradford, Bradford, God
save thy life, Bradford!’ and then, with profound attention to his discourse, heard him enlarge upon peaceful and
Christian obedience; which when he had finished, the
tumultuous people, for the most part, dispersed; but,
among the rest who persisted, there was a certain gentleman, with his two servants, who, coming up the pulpitstairs, rushed against the door, demanding entrance upon
Bourne; Bradford resisted him, till he had secretly given
Bourne warning, by his servant, to escape; who, flying to
the mayor, once again escaped death. Yet conceiving the
danger not fully over, Bourne beseeched Bradford not to
leave him till he was got to some place of security; in
which Bradford again obliged him, and went at his back,
shadowing him from the people with his gown, while the
mayor and sheriffs, on each side, led him into the nearest
house, which was Paul’s school; and so was he a third
time delivered from the fury of the populace. It is added
that one of the mob, most inveterate against Bourne, exclaimed, ‘ Ah! Bradford, Bradford, dost thou save his
life who will not spare thine? Go, I give thee his life;
but were it not for thy sake, I would thrust him through
with my sword.’ The same Sunday, in the afternoon,
Bradford preached at Bow church in Cheapside, and
sharply rebuked the people for their outrageous behaviour.
Three days after this humane interposition, Aug. 16, he
was summoned by the council and bishops to the Tower of
London, where the queen then was, and charged with sedition, and preaching heresy; and notwithstanding the defence he made, was committed to prison in the Tower,
where he lay for a year and a half. This forbearance is
the more remarkable, because, when in the Tower, or
other prisons, by his discourses, exhortations, and especially by his letters, he did nearly, if not quite as much
service to the protestant cause, as when he was at large.
In his letters, he evinced a spirit of inflexible constancy in
his principles, a primitive and apostolic zeal for the propagation of truth, and a sincere abhorrence of the delusions
of the church of Rome; and strengthened the minds of the
adherents of the reformation to such a degree that his enemies at last determined to cut him off. In 1554, he was
removed to the court of king’s bench, Southvvark, and on
Jan. 22, examined before Gardiner, bishop of Winchester
and chancellor, Bonner bishop of London, and others. For
this and his other examinations we refer to Fox. After
it was over, he was sent back to the same prison under
stricter restraint than before, especially as to the exercise
of his pen: but the sweetness of his comportment towards
his keepers so won upon them, that it defeated the severity
of his enemies’ commands in that particular; and his arguments, thus discharged out of prison, did their cause more
hurt, than all the terror of their tyrannical treatment did
it good. A week after, on the 29th, he was brought before
them in the church of St. Mary Overies to his second examination, and next day to a third, in all which he acknowledged and adhered to his principles with undaunted constancy, and answered every thing offered in the shape of
argument with authority from the scriptures, and every reproach with meekness. He was now condemned to die,
but he lay after this in the Poultry counter for five months,
visited constantly by some of the popish bishops, their
chaplains or priests, so desirous were they to gain over a
champion of his consequence. We are told that both
while he lay in the king’s bench, and in the counter, he
preached twice a-day, unless sickness hindered him. The
Sacrament was often‘ ministered; and, through his keeper’s
indulgence, there was such a resort of pious people to
him, that his chamber was usually almost filled with them.
He made but one short meal a-day, and allowed himself
but four hours rest at night. His gentle nature was ever
relenting at the thoughts of his infirmities, and fears of
being betrayed into inconstancy; and his behaviour was
so affecting to all about him, that it won even many papists
to wish for the preservation of his life. His very mien and
aspect begat veneration; being tall and spare, or somewhat macerated in his body; of a faint sanguine complexion, with an auburn beard; and his eyes, through the
intenseness of his pious contemplations, were often so solemnly settled, that the tears would silently gather in them,
till he could not restrain them from overflowing their banks,
and creating a sympathy in the eyes of his beholders. The
portions of his time he did not spend in prayer or preaching, he allotted to the visitation of his fellow-prisoners;
exhorting the sick to patience, and distributing his money
to the poor, and to some who had been the most violent
opposers of his doctrines; nor did he leave the felons
themselves without the best relief they were capable of
receiving, under the distresses they had brought upon
themselves, which excited them to the most hearty and
sincere repentance. On the last day of June 1555, he
was carried to Newgate, attended by a vast multitude of
people, who, because they had heard he was to suffer by
break of day, that the fewer spectators might be witnesses
of his death, either stayed in Smithfield all night, or
returned in greater numbers thither by four o’clock the
next morning, the 1st of July; but Bradford was not
brought thither till nine o'clock, and then came under a
stronger guard of halberdeers than was ever known on the
like occasion. As he came out of Newgate, he gave his
velvet cap and his handkerchief to an old friend, with
whom he had a little private talk. Such was the inveteracy
of his enemies, that his brother-in-law, Roger Beswick,
for only taking leave of him, had his head broke, till the
blood ran down his shoulders, by the sheriff Woodrofe.
When he came to Smithfield, and in his company a Yorkshire youth, who was an apprentice in London, named
John Lyefe, and to be burnt at the same stake with him,
for maintaining the like faith in the sacrament, and denying that priests had any authority to exact auricular confession, Bradford went boldly up to the stake, laid him
down flat on his face on one side of it, and the said young
man, John Lyefe, went and laid himself on the other;
where they had not prayed-to themselves above the space
of a minute, before the sheriff bid Bradford arise, and
make an end; for the press of the people was very great.
When they were on their feet, Bradford took up a faggot
and kissed it, and did the like to the stake. When he
pulled off his clothes, he desired they might be given to
his servant; which was granted. Then, at the stake,
holding up his hands and his face to Heaven, he said
aloud, “O England, England, repent thee of thy sins!
Beware of idolatry, beware of antichrists, lest they deceive
you.
” Here the sheriff ordered his hands to be tied; and
one of the fire-rakers told him, if he had no better learning than that, he had best hold his peace. Then Bradford
forgiving, and asking forgiveness of, all the world, turned
his head about, comforted the stripling at the same stake
behind him, and embracing the flaming reeds that were
near him, was heard among his last words to say, “Strait
is the way, and narrow is the gate,
” &c.
hat of Allhallows, in Bread-street. In 1698, he preached on the 30th of January before king William, who was so well pleased with the sermon, as to command it to be
He was soon aften chosen lecturer of St. Mary-le-Bow,
and engaged by archbishop Tillotson to educate his grandsons, which occasioned him to reside at Carlisle-house in
Lambeth. While here, the rector of St. Mary-le-Bow
died, and the parishioners were so pleased with Mr.
Bradford, as to solicit the archbishop to give him the living,
with which his grace complied, but not without acquainting them with the informality of such applications. On
this Mr. Bradford resigned St. Thomas’s, and the lectureship of Bow;‘ but soon after accepted that of Allhallows,
in Bread-street. In 1698, he preached on the 30th of
January before king William, who was so well pleased with
the sermon, as to command it to be published; and also,
in March following, appointed him one of his chaplains in
ordinary, in which office he was retained by queen Anne.
In 1705, when she visited Cambridge, he was made D. D.
and in 1707, her majesty gave him a prebend of Westminster. He now was exemplary in a diligent and conscientious discharge of his parochial duties, and enjoyed the
esteem of his superiors, the good opinion and friendship
of his brethren the clergy, and the affection of his parishioners. In 1710, he refused the bishoprick of St. David’s,
as the then ministry would not suffer him to hold his prebend in commendam, nor the rectory of Bow, either of
which was necessary to enable him to keep up his rank as
a bishop. In 1716, he was unanimously elected master of
Bene’t college, and in 1718 was consecrated bishop of
Carlisle, whence in 1723 he was translated to Rochester,
which he held with the deanry of Westminster. About a
year afterwards he resigned the mastership of the college.
He died May 17, 1731, and was buried in Westminsterabbey. His character appears to have been excellent, according to every account. His Boylean lectures were
published in 4to, 1699, under the title of “The Credibility
of the Christian Religion from its intrinsic evidence, being
eight sermons, &c. with a ninth as an appendix, in reply
to an objection from the imperfect promulgation of the
gospel,
” 4to. He published also separately twenty-three
sermons preached on public occasions, and assisted in the
publication of Tillotson’s works. He left two daughters,
one married to Dr. Reuben Clarke, archdeacon of Essex,
and the other to Dr. John Denne, archdeacon of Rochester.
t the bishop of Hereford, to whom he was chaplain, was his patron to the vicarage; and Mr. Molyneux, who was then secretary to the prince of Wales, procfcred him the
, D. D. Savilian professor of astronomy in Oxford, F. R. S. and member of the academies of sciences and belles-lettres of Paris, Berlin, Petersburgh, and Bologna, was born at Shireborn in Gloucestershire in 1692, and educated at Northleach in the same county. Thence he was admitted a commoner of Balliol-college in Oxford, March 15, 1710: where he took the degree of B. A. Oct. 14, 1714, and of M. A. Jan. 21, 1716. He was ordained deacon and priest in 1719, and instituted the same year to the vicarage of Bridstow in Herefordshire. He never had any other preferment in the church, except the small rectory or sinecure of Landewy Welfry, in the county of Pembroke, and diocese of St. David: and his institution to this bears date the Jst of March 1719. It is presumed that the bishop of Hereford, to whom he was chaplain, was his patron to the vicarage; and Mr. Molyneux, who was then secretary to the prince of Wales, procfcred him the sinecure.
so conspicuously. He received his first rudiments of the mathematics from his uncle Dr. James Pound, who resided at his living of Wanstead in Essex, where our astronomer
It appears that thus early in life he had many friends; and it is probable that by some of them he might have risen to eminence in the church, had not his natural inclination led him to pursue other studies, in which he afterwards shone so conspicuously. He received his first rudiments of the mathematics from his uncle Dr. James Pound, who resided at his living of Wanstead in Essex, where our astronomer was some time curate: this gentleman was his mother’s brother, a man of singular capacity and genius, and eminent as a divine, a physician, and a mathematician. In the two former capacities he went to the East-Indies in the company’s service; and was one of those who had the good fortune to escape from the massacre of the factory, on the island of Pulo Condore, in Cochin China. An account of this shocking scene remains amongst Dr. Bradley’s papers, written by Dr. Pound, together with a journal kept by him on board the Rose sloop, until, after many difficulties* and distresses, they arrived at Batavia the 18th of April 1705. The public suffered much in this catastrophe, by the loss of Dr. Pound’s papers, and other valuable curiosities collected by him, which all perished in the conflagration; as he had no time to save any thing but his own life. With this relation, to whom he was dear even more than by the ties of blood, he spent all his vacations from other duties: it was whilst with him at Wanstead, that he first began the observations with the sector, which led to his future important discoveries.
this useful work, those eminent artists, Mr. George Graham and Mr. Bird, deserve honourable mention, who contributed much towards the perfection of those instruments,
In 1747, he published his Letter to the earl of Macclesfield, concerning an apparent motion observed in some of
the fixed stars; on account of which he obtained the annual gold prize-medal from the royal society. It was in
consequence of the royal society’s annual visit to the observatory at Greenwich, during which he represented to
them the necessity of repairing the old instruments, &c.
that in 1748 George II. by his sign manual, directed to
the commissioners and principal officers of his navy, ordered the payment of 1000 to James Bradley, D. D. his
astronomer, and keeper of the royal observatory, in order
to repair the old instruments in the said observatory, and
to provide new ones. This enabled him to furnish it with
the noblest and most accurate apparatus in the known
world, suited to the 'dignity of the nation and the royal
donor: in the executive part of this useful work, those
eminent artists, Mr. George Graham and Mr. Bird, deserve
honourable mention, who contributed much towards the
perfection of those instruments, which enabled Dr. Bradley to leave behind him the greatest number of the most
accurate observations that were perhaps ever made by any
one man. Nor was this the last instance by which his late
majesty distinguished his royal astronomer; for, upon his
refusing to accept the living of Greenwich from a conscientious scruple, “that the duty of a pastor was incompatible with his other studies and necessary engagements,
”
his majesty granted him an annuity or yearly pension of
250l. during pleasure in consideration (as the sign manual, dated Feb. 15, 1752, expresses it) of his great skill and
knowledge in the several branches of astronomy, and other
parts of the mathematics, which have proved so useful to
the trade and navigation of this kingdom. This pension
was continued to the demise of the late, and renewed by
the present king. The same year he was chosen one of
the council of the royal society.
In 1744, he had married a daughter of Samuel Peach, of Chalford, esq. by whom he left one daughter, who in 1769, gave her father’s portrait, by Hudson, to the picture
By too close application to his observations and studies, as is probable, he was afflicted for near two years before his death, with a grievous oppression on his spirits, which quite put an end to his labours: his chief distress arose from an apprehension, that he should survive his rational faculties; but this so much dreaded evil never came upon him. In June 1762, he was taken with a suppression of urine, occasioned (as it afterwards appeared) by an inflammation in his kidnies, which proved fatal the 13th of July following. He died at Chalford in Gloucestershire, in the 70th year of his age, and lies interred at Minchinhampton in the same county, near to the remains of his wife and mother. In 1744, he had married a daughter of Samuel Peach, of Chalford, esq. by whom he left one daughter, who in 1769, gave her father’s portrait, by Hudson, to the picture gallery, Oxford.
articularly professed, whenever he thought there was. a proper opportunity. He also encouraged those who attended his lectures to propose questions to him, by the exactness
Dr. Bradley was extremely amiable in his private character, as well as illustrious for his scientific knowledge.
His temper was gentle and placid, and he was eminently
characterised by his modesty. He appears to have taken,
little pains to attract the notice of mankind, and it was his
singular merit alone which procured him the general esteem
and regard of the friends of learning and science. Among
his acquaintance and friends were many of the first persons in this kingdom, both for rank and abilities; and it is
said, that there was not an astronomer of any eminence in
the world, with whom he had not a literary correspondence.
He spoke well, and expressed his ideas with great precision and perspicuity; but in general was silent, and seldom
spoke, except when he conceived it absolutely necessary.
He was, however, very ready to communicate useful
knowledge to others, and especially in that science which
he more particularly professed, whenever he thought there
was. a proper opportunity. He also encouraged those who
attended his lectures to propose questions to him, by the
exactness with which he answered them, and his obvious
solicitude to accommodate himself to every capacity. He
was censured by some, for having withheld his observations
from the public use; but this charge appears not to have
been well founded: and it has been alleged, on the contrary, that an improper use was made of the facility with
which he made his communications; that his observations
were very ungenerously transmitted abroad; and that, by
such practices, foreigners have been enabled to gain reputation, and to adopt the fruits of his labour as their own.
He was extremely temperate, even to abstinence; and he
enjoyed a great share of health, and was active and robust,
till towards the close of his life. Eminently remarkable for
the equanimity of his temper, he was yet in a very great
degree compassionate and liberal; and was extremely generous to such of his relations as needed his assistance.
Though he was unquestionably one of the greatest astronomers of the age, - he has published very little which seems
to have arisen from his natural diffidence, and from that solicitous accuracy, which made him always apprehensive
that his works were imperfect. His papers which have been
inserted in the Philosophical Transactions are, 1. Observations on the comet of 1703; vol. 33, p. 41. 2. The longitude of Lisbon and of the fort of New York from Wansted and London, determined by the eclipse of the first satellite of Jupiter; vol. 34, p. 85. 3. An account of a new
discovered motion of the fixed stars; vol. 35, p. 637. 4.
On the going of clocks with isochronal pendulums; vol.
38, p. 302. 5. Observations on the comet of 1736-7; vol.
40, p. 111. 6. On the apparent motion of the fixed stars;
vol. 45, p. 1. 7. On the occultation of Venus by the
moon, the 15th of April 1751; vol. 46, p. 201. 8. On
the comet of 1757; vol. 50, p. 408. 9. Directions for
using the common micrometer; vol. 62, p. 46. His observations made at the royal observatory during 20 years,
comprized in 13 folio and two quarto volumes, unfortunately
for the interests of science, were taken away at his death
by his representatives , who, upon preparations being
made by government for recovering them by process of law,
(and an actual commencement of a suit for that purpose,)
presented them to lord North, by whom they were transferred, in 1776, to the university of- Oxford, of which he
was chancellor, on condition of their printing and publishing them. Accordingly the first volume was published in,
1798, by the late Dr. Hornsby, in a splendid form, entitled “Astronomical Observations made at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, from the year 1750 to the year
1762,
” fol. The remainder are in the possession of Dr.
Hornsby’s very learned successor in the astronomical chair,
Dr. Abraham Rpbertson.
ar and very voluminous writer on gardening and agriculture in the last century, was one of the first who treated these subjects in a philosophical manner, and certainly
, a popular and very voluminous
writer on gardening and agriculture in the last century, was
one of the first who treated these subjects in a philosophical
manner, and certainly possessed considerable botanical
knowledge, although his general conduct was little entitled
to respect. He first made himself known to the public by
two papers printed in the Philosophical Transactions: one
on the motion of the sap in vegetables, the other on the
quick growth of mouldiness in melons. He became a
fellow of the royal society, and was chosen, Nov. 10, 1724,
professor of botany at Cambridge, but in a manner which
reflects little credit on him. His election was procured by
a pretended verbal recommendation from Dr. Sherrard to
Dr. Bentley, and pompous assurances that he would procure the university a public botanic garden by his own private purse and personal interest. The vanity of his promises was soon discovered, as well as his almost total ignorance of the learned languages; and as he neglected to
read lectures, the university made no difficulty in permitting Dr. Martyn to do it. Mr. Bradley, however, read a
course of lectures on the Materia Medica in 1729 at the
Bull inn, which he published next year at London, 8vo,
and of which the reader may see a humorous criticism in the
Grub-street Journal, No. 11* In 1731, his conduct became so scandalous, that it was in agitation to dismiss him.
from his professorship, but he died soon after, Nov. 5,
1732. He was the author of several publications, chiefly
on gardening and agriculture, consisting of two folio volumes, four quarto, and nearly twenty in octavo, which are
enumerated in Mr. Nichols’s Life of Bowyer. His “New
Improvement of Planting and Gardening, both philosophical and practical,
” Gentleman’s and Gardener’s Kalendar.
” His “Philosophical Account of the Works of Nature,
” General Treatise of Husbandry
and Gardening,
” 1726, 2 vols. 8vo; and of his “Practical
Discourses concerning the four elements, as they relate to
the growth of plants,
” Dictiona-ium Botanicum,
” Historia plantarum Suceuientarum,
”
of great rarity^ but amply analysed by Mr. Dibdin in his second volume of Typographical Antiquities, who thinks that he may stand foremost in the list of those of the
, an early English poet, was a
native of Chester, where he was born about the middle of
the fifteenth century. Discovering an early propensity to
religion and literature, he was received, while a boy, into
the monastery of St. Werbergh, in that city; and having
there imbibed the rudiments of his education, he was sent
afterwards to Gloucester college (now Worcester) in the
suburbs of Oxford, where, for a time, he studied theology,
with the novices of his order, and then returned to his
convent at Chester: here in the latter part of his life, he
applied himself chiefly to the study of history, and wrote
several books. He died either in 1508, or in 1513. Before the year 1500, he wrote the “Life of St. Werburgh,
”
in English verse, declaring that he does not mean to rival
Chaucer, Lydgate, Barklay, or Skelton, which two last
were his contemporaries, and his versification is certainly
inferior to Lydgate’s worst manner. This piece was first
printed by Pinson in 1521, 4to. a volume of great rarity^
but amply analysed by Mr. Dibdin in his second volume of
Typographical Antiquities, who thinks that he may stand
foremost in the list of those of the period wherein he wrote.
His descriptions are often happy as well as minute: and
there is a tone of moral purity and rational piety in his
thoughts, enriched by the legendary lore of romance, that
renders many passages of his poem exceedingly interesting.
It comprehends a variety of other subjects, as a description
of the kingdom of the Mercians, the lives of St. Ethelred
and St. Sexburgh, the foundation of the city of Chester,
and a chronicle of our kings.
t Oct. 12, 1648. When the death of the king was determined upon, Bradshaw was one of die few lawyers who could be preraile4 upon to act, and was appointed President,
, president of what was called the
“high court of justice
” in which Charles I. was condemned
to be beheaded, was oue of an antient family in the county
of Lancaster, but of a branch seated, some say, at
Bradshaw, or Bradshaigh, in Derbyshire, others at Marple, in Cheshire: where he was educated is not recorded;
the first notice we have of him is that he studied law in
Gray’s-inn, and after being admitted to the bar, had much
chamber practice among the partizans of the parliament,
to which he was zealously devoted. Lord Clarendon says
he was not without parts, but insolent and ambitious. In
1644, he was appointed by the parliament to prosecute lord
Macquire and Macmahon, the Irish rebels. In Oct. 1646,
he was a joint commissioner of the great seal for six
months, by a vote of the house of commons, and in Feb.
following, both houses voted him chief justice of Chester.
In June of the same year (1647) he was named by parliament one of the counsel to prosecute the loyal judge Jen
kins; and was called to the rank of Serjeant Oct. 12, 1648.
When the death of the king was determined upon, Bradshaw was one of die few lawyers who could be preraile4
upon to act, and was appointed President, an office which,
had he declined, there is some reason to think it would hav$
been difficult to find a substitute. When called upon, Jan,
12, 1648, by the court to take his seat as President^ he affected
to make an earnest apology and excuse. Lord Clarendon,
says that he seemed much surprized and very resolute tp
refuse it, and even required time to consider of it, but
next day accepted the office, and soon demonstrated tba.t
he was exactly fitted for it, by his contemptuous treatment
of his unnappy sovereign, The court then bestowed on
him the title of Lord President, without as well as within
the court, during the commission and sitting of the court.
A retinue of officers was appointed to attend him, going
and returning from Westminster-hall; lodgings were provided for him in New Palace-yard; he was to be preceded
by a sword and a mace, carried by two gentlemen, and in
court he had a guard of two hundred soldiers; he had a
chair of crimson velvet in the middle of the court; he wore
his hat when his majesty appeared, and was highly offended
that his sovereign should not be uncovered in his presence,
which was, however, after the first day of the trial, duly
enjoined. Besides these pompous honours, he was rewarded for his coarse and brutal behaviour on his majesty’s
trial, with the deanery house in Westminster, as his residence; the sum of 3000l. was given him to procure an
equipage suitable to his new rank: he received also the
seat of the duke of St. Alban’s called Summer-hill, and
lord Cottington’s estate in Wiltshire, valued at 1500l. -per
annum, with other landed property, amounting in all to
about 4000l. per annum, to him and his heirs. He was
also made chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. Those
writers, therefore, who represent him as no more accessary
to the murder of Charles I. than any other members of the
council, or court, must see from these circumstances,
which would not otherwise be worth repeating, that the republicans attached the greatest importance to the part he
had to perform, and considered it as worthy, not only to
be honoured with the most splendid accompaniments, but
to be rewarded with the richest gifts and -grants. Bradshaw
was in truth a more thorough republican than most of the
party, and became obnoxious to Cromwell for disapproving
of the latter placing himself at the head of the government.
This occasioned frequent disputes between them, ajid
Cromwell at length prevailed in depriving him of the office
of chief justice of Chester. On the death of Cromwell,
when the long parliament was restored, Bradshaw obtained a seat in the council, was elected president, and
would have been appointed commissioner of the great seal,
but his infirm state of health obliged him to decline the
latter. He died Nov. 22, 16.59, declaring, consistently
enough with his former principles, that if the king were to
be tried and condemned again, he would be the first man
that should do it. He was pompously interred in Westminster abbey, from whence his body was taken up, at the
restoration) and exposed on the gibbet with those of
Cromwell and Ireton. Doubts have been entertained as to this
fact, and some have supposed he went abroad and died at
Jamaica, because a cannon was found therewith an inscription signifying that his dust was deposited near it. Nothing, however, can be better ascertained than his death in.
England.
turn to Bosworth, but afterwards found a friend in Mr. Ainsworth, schoolmaster at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, who continued his education in that school. In 1589, he was admitted
, an eminent puritan divine,
was born in 1571 at Market-Bosworth, in Leicestershire, of
an ancient but reduced family, and was first educated at
Worcester free school, at the expense of an uncle, ou
whose death he was obliged to return to Bosworth, but afterwards found a friend in Mr. Ainsworth, schoolmaster at
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, who continued his education in that
school. In 1589, he was admitted along with Joseph Hall,
afterwards the celebrated bishop of Exeter, into Emmanuel college, Cambridge, and took in course his degree of
B. A. and M. A. but could not obtain a fellowship, according to the statutes, which allow but of one of a county at
time, and that for Leicestershire was gained by Mr.
Hall. The master of the college, however, Dr. Chaderton, who had a high respect for him, first procured him
to be tutor to the children of sir Thomas Leighton, governor of Guernsey, and afterwards to be fellow of Sidney
Sussex college, then newly founded. He then entered
into holy orders, and preached first as a lecturer at Abington, near Cambridge, and at Steeple Morton. Afterwards,
by the recommendation of Dr. Chaderton, he was in 101i
settled at Chatham, in Kent; but before he had been there
a year, he was sent for by the archbishop of Canterbury
(Whitgift) and commanded to subscribe, which he refusing,
was suspended. He therefore was obliged to remove, but
was afterwards licensed by the bishop of Litchfield and Coventry (Dr. Overton) to preach any where in his diocese,
and at length coming to London, was chosen lecturer of
Christ Church, Newgate-street. Here, however, he published a treatise against the Ceremonies, which obliged him,
to leave the city and retire to the house of his friend and
patron, Mr. Redriche, at Newhall, in Leicestershire, and he
remained here until near his death, which happened when,
on a visit at Chelsea in 1618. Bishop Hall says of him$
that he was “of a strong brain and of a free spirit, not
suffering himself for small differences of judgment to be
alienated from his friends, to whom, notwithstanding his
seeming austerity, he was very pleasing in conversation,
being full of witty and harmless urbanity. He was very
strong and eager in arguing, hearty in friendship, regardless
of the world, a despiser of compliments, a lover of reality,
full of digested and excellent notions, and a painful labourer
in God’s vineyard.
” The rev. Thomas Gataker, of Ilotherhiihe, wrote his life, a long and not uninteresting account.
. When the see of Canterbury became vacant, the monks of that city chose him archbishop, but Edward, who was fond of his company, refused to part with him. Another vacancy
, archbishop of Canterbury,
is supposed to have been born at Hortfield, in Cheshire,
about the middle of the reign of king Edward I. in the fourteenth century. He was of Merton colle'ge, Oxford, and
was one of the proctors of that university in 1325. He
excelled in mathematical knowledge, and was in general
distinguished for his accurate and solid investigations in divinity, which procured him the title of the “profound Doctor.
” He was confessor to Edward III. and attended that
monarch in his French wars, often preaching before the
army. Sir Henry Savile informs us that some writers of
that time attributed the signal victories of Edward, rather
to the virtues and holy character of his chaplain, than to>
the bravery or prudence of the monarch or of any other
person. He made it his business to calm and mitigate the
fierceness of his master’s temper when he saw him eitherimmoderately fired with warlike rage, or improperly flushed
with the advantages of victory. He also often addressed
the army, and with so much meekness and persuasive discretion, as to restrain them from those insolent excesses
which are too frequently the attendants of military success.
When the see of Canterbury became vacant, the monks
of that city chose him archbishop, but Edward, who was
fond of his company, refused to part with him. Another vacancy happen ing soon after, the monks again elected him^
and Edward yielded to their desires. The modesty and innocence of his manners, and his unquestionable piety and
integrity, seem to have been the principal causes of his advancement. He was, however, by no means adapted to
'a court, where his personal manners and character became
an object of derision, the best proof history can afford us
of their excellence. Even when he was consecrated at
Avignon, cardinal Hugh, a nephew of the pope, ridiculed
the prelate by introducing into the hall a person in a peasant’s habit, ridiog on an ass, petitioning the pope to make
him archbishop of Canterbury, but the jest was so ill relished that the pope and cardinals resented the indignity,
and frowned on the insolent contriver. Bradwardine was
consecrated in 1349; but not many weeks after his consecration, and only seven days after his return into England,
he died at Lambeth. His principal work “De Causa Dei,
”
against the Pelagian heresy, was edited from the ms. in
Merton college library by sir Henry Savile, 1618, fol. with
a biographical preface, in which he informs us that Bradwardine devoted his principal application to theology and
mathematics; and that particularly in the latter he distanced, perhaps, the most skilful of his contemporaries.
These mathematical works are, 1. “Astronomical tables,
”
in ms. in the possession of Sir Henry. 2. “Geometria
Speculativa, cum Arithmetica specuiativa,
” Paris, De proportionibus,
” Paris, De quadratura circuli,
” Paris,
umes of which were published by himself in 1704, 1706, and 1713, and three others by his eldest son, who was a clergyman at Tooting, in Surry, London, 1730, 8vo.
, an English divine of good
parts and learning, the son of Nicholas Brady, an officer
in the king’s army in the civil wars of 1641, was born at
Bandon, in the county of Cork, Oct. the 28th, 1659; and
continued in Ireland till he was 12 years of age. Then he
was sent over to England to Westminster-school; and from
thence elected stuJent to Christ-church in Oxford. After
continuing there about four years, he went to Dublin,
where his father resided; at which university he immediately commenced B. A. When he was of due stanuing,
his diploma for the degree of D. D. was, on account of his
uncommon merit, presented to him by that university while
he was in England; and brought over by Dr Pratt, then
senior travelling fellow, afterwards provost of that college.
His first ecclesiastical preferment was to a prebend in the
cathedral of St. Barry, at Cork; to which he was collated
by bishop Wettenhal, whose domestic chaplain he was.
He was a zealous promoter of the revolution, and in consequence of his zeal suffered for it. In 1690, when the
troubles broke out in Ireland, by his interest with king
Tatnes as general, M'Carty, he thrice prevented the burning of the town of Bandon, after three several orders given
by that prince to destroy it. The same year, having been
deputed by the people of Bandon, he went over to England, to petition the parliament for a redress of some grievances they had suffered while king James was in Ireland;
and afterwards quitting his preferments in Ireland, he settled in London; where, being celebrated for his abilities in
the pulpit, he was elected minister of St. Catherine Cree
church, and lecturer of St. Michael’s Wood-street. He
afterwards became minister of Richmond in Surry. and
Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire, and at length rector
of Clapham in Surry; which last, together with Richmond, he held till his death. His preferments amounted
to 600l. a year, but he was so little of an Œconomist as to
be obliged to keep a school at Richmond. He was also
chaplain to the duke of Ormond’s troop of horse-guards, as
he was to their majesties king William and queen Mary.
He died May 20, 1726, aged 66, leaving behind him the
character of being a person of an agreeable temper, a polite gentleman, an excellent preacher, and a good poet.
He has no high rank, however, among poets, and would
have long ere now been forgotten in that character, if his
name was not so familiar as a translator of the new version
of the “Psalms,
” in conjunction with Mr. Tate, which version was licensed 1696. He translated also the Æneids of
Virgil,“published by subscription in 1726, 4 vols. 8vo,and a tragedy, called
” The Rape, or the Innocent Impos-tors,“neither performances of much character. His prose
works consist of
” Sermons," three volumes of which were
published by himself in 1704, 1706, and 1713, and three
others by his eldest son, who was a clergyman at Tooting,
in Surry, London, 1730, 8vo.
cian in ordinary to this king; and, on the twenty -second of October, 1688, was one of those persons who gave in their depositions concerning the birth of the pretended
, a noted historian and physician of
the seventeenth century, was born in the county of Norfolk,
and admitted in Caius college in Cambridge, February 20,
1643. He took his degree of bachelor of physic in 1653,
and was created doctor in that faculty September 5, 1660,
by virtue of the king’s mandatory letters. On the first of
December the same year, he was, in pursuance of king
Charles’s mandate, elected master of his college, upon the
resignation of Dr. Bachcroft. About the year 1670, or as
some think not until 1685, he was appointed keeper of the
records in the Tower of London; in which office he employed himself in perusing those most valuable monuments
in his possession, with a view to his historical works. Some
time after, he was chosen regius professor of physic in the
university of Cambridge. In 1679, he wrote a letter to
Dr. Sydenham, on the influence of the air, &c. which is
published among that learned person’s works. But his
largest and most considerable performance was, “An Introduction to the old English History,
” in which he maintains these three propositions: 1. That the representatives
of the commons in parliament, viz. knights, citizens, and
burgesses, were not introduced till the forty-ninth of
Henry III.; 2. That William, duke of Normandy, made
an absolute conquest of the nation; 3. That the succession
to the crown of England is hereditary (descending to the nearest of blood), and not elective: And “A complete
History of England, from the first entrance of the Romans,
unto the end of the reign of king Richard II.
” in three vols.
fol. about which he was employed several years, and which
was printed 1685 and 1700, usually bound in two volumes.
In the year 1681 he was chosen one of the representatives
for the university of Cambridge, in that parliament which
met at Oxford; and again in 1685, in the parliament of
king James II. He was likewise physician in ordinary to
this king; and, on the twenty -second of October, 1688,
was one of those persons who gave in their depositions concerning the birth of the pretended prince of Wales. He
died on the nineteenth of August, 1700. He was an accurate writer, and a curious and diligent searcher into our
ancient records; but his impartiality has been called in
question, particularly by those who contend for the higher
antiquity of parliaments, and a larger proportion of popular influence in the constitution. Tyrell wrote his “General History of England,
” in opposition to that of Brady.
Dr. Gilbert Stuart, who hated all Scotch historians except himself, maintains that Hume executed his History
on Brady’s principles; allowing Brady to pdssess an excellent understanding and admirable quickness, Dr. Stuart asserts also, that he was the slave of a faction. Dr.
Brady’s other publications were, “An Answer to Mr. Petyt’s Book on Parliaments,
” London, An Historical Treatise of Cities and Burghs or Boroughs,
”
ibid.
ving a large family, Tycho was educated under the care and at the expence of his uncle George Brahe, who, having no children, adopted him as his heir. Finding his nephew
, a very celebrated astronomer, descended from a noble and illustrious Danish family, was born in 1546 at Knudstorp, a small lordship near Helsingborg, in Scania. His father, Otto Brahe, having a large family, Tycho was educated under the care and at the expence of his uncle George Brahe, who, having no children, adopted him as his heir. Finding his nephew a boy of lively capacity, and though only seven years of age, strongly inclined to study, he had him instructed in the Latin tongue unknown to his father, who considered literature as inglorious, and was desirous that all his sons should follow the profession of arms. In the twelfth year of his age, Tycho was removed to the academy of Copenhagen; and his mind, which, had not yet taken any direction, was casually incited to the study of astronomy by fin eclipse of the sun, which happened on. Aug. 21? 1560. He had for some time examined the astrological diaries or almanacks, which pretended to predict future events from the inspection of the stars; but when he observed that the eclipse happened at the precise time at which it was foretold, he considered that science 'as divine, which could thus so thoroughly understand the motions of the heavenly bodies as to foretel their places and relative positions: and from that moment he devoted himself to astronomy.
y his relations and and acquaintance for following a science which they considered as degrading, and who reproached him for not pursuing the study of the law. Disgusted
Having passed three years at Leipsic, he was preparing to pursue his travels though Germany ', but the death of his uncle obliged him to return to his native country, in order to superintend and settle his estates, which he largely inherited. Instead of finding himself encouraged and esteemed for the wonderful progress which at his early age he had made in the science of astronomy and its concomitant studies, he was mortified at being treated with contempt by his relations and and acquaintance for following a science which they considered as degrading, and who reproached him for not pursuing the study of the law. Disgusted at their behaviour, he settled his affairs, and before a year had elapsed set out upon his travels. He proceeded to Wittenberg, and afterwards to Rostoc, where an accident happened which had nearly occasioned his death. Being invited to a wedding feast, he had a dispute with a Danish nobleman relative to some subject in mathematics; nd as they were both of choleric dispositions, the dispute ended in a duel. In the conflict part of Tycho’s nose was cut off. Jn order to remedy this defect, Tycho contrived a nose made of gold and silver, which he fastened by means of a glue, so artfully formed, it is said, as to bear the appearance of the real membe and to deceive many who were not acquainted with his loss.
and formed a series of astronomical observations and discoveries, which astonished and surpassed all who had hitherto been considered as the greasest proficients in
From Rostoc Tycho continued his travels, and prosecuted his studies in the principal towns of Germany and Italy, and particularly at Ausburgh, where he formed an acquaintance with the celebrated Peter Ramus; invented and improved various mathematical instruments, superintended the building of an observatory at the expence of the burgomaster Paul Hainzell, after a plan communicated by himself, and formed a series of astronomical observations and discoveries, which astonished and surpassed all who had hitherto been considered as the greasest proficients in that science. On his return to Copenhagen, in 1570, he was soon disgusted with the necessity of going to court; and meeting with innumerable interruptions of his studies, he removed to Herritzvold, near Knudstorp, the seat of his maternal uncle, Steno Bille, who alone of all his relations encouraged him to persevere in his astronomical labours. Steno consigned to his nephew a commodious apartment, and a convenient place for the construction of his observatory and laboratory. Here Tycho, besides his astronomical researches, seems to have followed with no less zeal the study of chemistry, or rather of alchemy, from the chimerical view of obtaining the philosopher’s stone, that he might amass sufficient riches to settle in some foreign country, but neither his philosophy, or the unwearied zeal with which he prosecuted his studies, could exempt him from the passion of love. Being a great admirer of the fair sex, he conceived a violent inclination for Christina, a beautiful country girl, the daughter of a neighbouring peasant, and alienated his family, who conceived themselves disgraced by the alliance, and refused to hold any intercourse with him, until Frederick II. commanded them to be reconciled. Tycho, who chose her because she might be more grateful and subservient than a lady of higher birth, never seems to have repented, but ever found his Christina an agreeable companion and an obedient wife. About this period, he first appeared as a public teacher, and read lectures on astronomy at the express desire of the king. He explained the theory of the planets, and preceded his explanation by a very learned oration concerning the history and excellency of astronomy and its sister sciences, with some remarks in favour of judicial astrology, a study as congenial to the time as to the inclinations of our philosopher.
most secrecy to transport his library, &c. but was prevented by an unexpected summons from the king, who, in order to retain him, offered him his protection and encouragement,
Offended with his relations, and disgusted with his countrymen, he had long determined to quit Denmark, and to settle abroad; and after travelling through Germany and Italy, he at length fixed upon Basil: which he preferred, for the wholesomeness of the air, the cheapness of the living, and the celebrity of the university; and irom whence he might hold a correspondence with the astronomers of France, Germany, and Italy. On his return to Denmark he was preparing with the utmost secrecy to transport his library, &c. but was prevented by an unexpected summons from the king, who, in order to retain him, offered him his protection and encouragement, presented him with the island of Huen as a proper retirement, and promised to erect, at his own expence, whatever buildings and apparatus should be found necessary for his astronomical pursuits. He settled upon him likewise a pension of a thousand crowns a year, and gave him a canonry of Roschild, worth two thousand more. Tycho, delighted with this liberality, did not hesitate to accept the king’s offer, but immediately repaired to Huen, Aug. 8, 1576, and was present at the foundation of a magnificent house, which he afterwards called Uranienburgh, or the Castle of the Heavens, and which contained a large suite of apartments, an observatory, and a subterraneous laboratory; and although the king supplied 190,000 rix-dollars, Tycho Brahe did not expend less than the same sum. He afterwards constructed a detached building, which he culled Stiernberg, or the, Mountain of the Stars.
m in geometry and astronomy, some of whom were sent and their expences defrayed by the king; others, who voluntarily offered themselves, he received and supported at
In this retreat Tycho Brahe passed twenty years, and
greatly improved the science of astronomy by the diligence
and exactness of his observations. He maintained several
scholars in his house for the purpose of instructing them
in geometry and astronomy, some of whom were sent and
their expences defrayed by the king; others, who voluntarily offered themselves, he received and supported at
his own expence. He lived at the same time in a most
sumptuous manner, kept an open house with unbounded
hospitality, and was always happy to entertain and receive
all persons, who flocked in crowds to pay their respects
to a person of his renown.
During his residence in the island of Huen, he received
numerous visits from persons of the highest rank. Among
these must be particularly mentioned Ulric duke of Mecklenburgh, in company with his daughter Sophia, queen of
Denmark; William, landgrave of Hesse Cassel, whose correspondence with Brahe on astronomical subjects has been
given to the public, and who had shewn himself a constant
patron to the Danish astronomer. In 1590 Tycho was
honoured with a visit from James the First, then king of
Scotland, when that monarch repaired to the court of Copenhagen, to conclude his marriage with the princess Anne,
and was so delighted with Brahe’s apparatus and conversation, that he remained eight days at Uranienburgh. On
retiring he presented Tycho with a magnificent present,
and afterwards accompanied his royal licence for the publication of Tycho Brahe’s works with the following flattering testimony of his abilities and learning: “Nor am I
acquainted with these things from the relation of others,
or from a mere perusal of your works; but I have seen them
with my own eyes, and heard them with my own ears, in
your residence at Uranienburgh, during the various learned
and agreeable conversations which I there held with you,
which even now affect my mind to such a degree, that it
is difficult to decide, whether I recollect them with greater
pleasure or admiration; which I now willingly testify by
this licence to present and future generations, &c.
” His
majesty also, at his particular request, composed, in honour of the Danish astronomer, some Latin verses, more
expressive indeed of his esteem and admiration than remarkable for classic elegance.
ed with a visit from his own sovereign, Christian the Fourth, then in the fifteenth year of his age, who continued some days at Uranienburgh. That promising young prince
In 1592 he was honoured with a visit from his own sovereign, Christian the Fourth, then in the fifteenth year of his age, who continued some days at Uranienburgh. That promising young prince shewed great curiosity in examining the astronomical and chemical apparatus,- expressed the highest satisfaction in receiving explanations and instructions, proposed various questions on several points of mathematics and mechanics, to which his majesty was attached, and particularly on the principles of fortification, and the construction of ships. He was also highly delighted with a gilt tin globe, which represented the face of the heavens, and so contrived, that, being turned on its own axis, it shewed the rising and setting of the sun, the motions of ths planets and heavenly bodies; a wooclerful contrivance for that age. Tycbo, observing the delight which the young king shewed in observing these phenomena, presented it to him, who in return gave him a gold chain, and assured him of his unalterable protection, and attachment.
Notwithstanding, however, these assurances, the king’s youth was worked upon by those courtiers who were envious of Brahe’s merit, or who had been offended by the
Notwithstanding, however, these assurances, the king’s youth was worked upon by those courtiers who were envious of Brahe’s merit, or who had been offended by the violence of his temper, and the severity of his satire, and under various pretences, prevailed upon Christian to deprive him of his pension, and the canonry of Roschild, Being thus deprived of the means of supporting his establishment at Uranienburgh, he repaired to his house at Copenhagen, and having afterwards transported from Uranienburgh all such instruments as could be removed, he left Copenhagen, landed at Rostock, and remained a year at Wansbeck with his learned friend Henry Rantzau. Having dedicated a treatise on astronomy to the emperor Rhodolph II. who was extremely addicted to astronomy, chemistry, and judicial astrology, he at length received a very flattering invitation from that monarch, which he accepted without hesitation, and repaired to Prague in 1599. The emperor received him in the kindest and most honourable manner, built for him an observatory and elaboratory, settled on him an ample pension, and treated him with the highest marks of deference and respect.
literary conversation, he expired so peaceably, that he was neither heard nor seen, by any of those who were present, to breathe his last. He died in October 1601,
In the service of Rhodolph he passed the remainder of
his days, but did not live long to enjoy his protection.
He had had a good state of health till the year previous to
his death, when his constitution, somewhat weakened by
the intenseness of his application, was still farther shattered
by the chagrin occasioned by his removal from Uranienburgh. At that period he began to experience symptoms
of complaints which announced his approaching dissolution, but which he concealed as much as possible from his
friends. He was reduced, however, to so low a state as to
be affected with the most trifling circumstances, which he
considered as prodigies, and would frequently interrupt
his sallies of wit with sudden reflections on death. The
immediate cause of his death was a strangury, occasioned
by an imprudent retention, from delicacy, while in company, which being attended with the most excruciating
torments, brought on a violent fever, and a temporary
delirium, in the midst of which he was heard repeatedly
to cry out, “Ne frustra vixisse videar.
” His delirium at
length subsiding, he became calm and composed, and
perfectly sensible. Being extremely debilitated by the
violence of his disorder, he perceived that he had not
many hours to live. Accordingly he gave orders with the
utmost coolness and resignation; even amused himself
with composing an extempore copy of verses, sung various
hymns; offered up prayers and supplications to the Supreme Being; recommended to his family and friends
piety and resignation to the divine will; exhorted his
pupils to persevere in their studies; and conversed with
Kepler on the most abstruse parts of astronomy. Thus,
amidst prayers, exhortations, and literary conversation,
he expired so peaceably, that he was neither heard nor
seen, by any of those who were present, to breathe his
last. He died in October 1601, in the fifty-fifth year of
his age.
e theories of their motions were afterwards corrected and improved. He was also the first astronomer who composed a table of refractions, and shewed the use to be made
If we were to estimate the merits of Tycho Brahe as an astronomer, we should compare the science as he left it with the state in which he found it. His great merit consisted in his inventions and improvements of mathematical instruments, and in the diligence and exactness with which he made astronomical observations for a long series of years. And as his instruments were remarkably good, he composed a catalogue of 777 fixed stars, all observed by himself, with an accuracy unknown to former astronomers. He likewise discovered the refraction of the air; demonstrated, against the prevailing opinion of those times, that the comets were higher than the moon; and from his observations on the moon and the other planets, the theories of their motions were afterwards corrected and improved. He was also the first astronomer who composed a table of refractions, and shewed the use to be made of them in astronomy. Such is the reputation of Tycho Brahe, for his great proficiency in that science, that Costard, in his History of Astronomy, has fixed upon his name as marking the beginning of a new period.
in physic. He was fond of being consulted, and readily gave his advice and medicines gratis to those who consulted him. He invented an elixir, which he calls an infallible
He seems to have embraced a large circle of the arts and sciences. He cultivated poetry, and wrote Latin verses, not without some degree of classic elegance. He drew the plan for building the castle of Cronberg, and sketched the design for the noble mausoleum of Frederic the Second, which was executed in Italy, and is erected in the cathedral of Roschild. He dabbled also in physic. He was fond of being consulted, and readily gave his advice and medicines gratis to those who consulted him. He invented an elixir, which he calls an infallible cure for epidemic disorders, of which he has published the recipe in a letter to the emperor Rhodolph. He was a good mechanic. He possessed several automates, and took great delight in showing them to the peasants, and was always pleased if they took them for spirits. He was no less fond of being consulted as a fortune-teller, and willingly encouraged an opinion, that his knowledge of the heavenly bodies enabled him to observe horoscopes, and foretel events. Many traditional fables of his predictions have been handed down to posterity, which shew his proneness to judicial astrology, and the weakness of those who beheved his predictions. In many instances astrological predictions, by alarming, occasion the event which they foretel, and have thus gained a false credit from the weak or the unwary. Thus Tycho Brahe’s astrological predictions proved fatal to the emperor Rhodolph II. for, being informed by Tycho, that a star Which presided at his nativity threatened him with some sinister designs to his prejudice, from his relations, he was thrown into such a panic, that he did not venture to quit his palace, or appear before any person; and, as the conduct of his brother Matthias conlirmed the astrologer’s informations, he fell at last a prey to his grief, and died 18th of January 1612, aged fiftynine years.
At Uranienburgh Tycho Brahe had several contrivances calculated to deceive and astonish those who came to visit and consult him. Among others, several bells,
At Uranienburgh Tycho Brahe had several contrivances
calculated to deceive and astonish those who came to visit
and consult him. Among others, several bells, communicating with the rooms in the “upper story, inhabited by
his scholars, the handles of which were concealed in his
own apartments. Frequently, when company was with
him, he would pretend to want something, and having
secretly pulled the bell, would cry out,
” Come hither
Peter, come hither Christian,“and was pleased to observe
the astonishment of the company, who not hearing the bells,
were surprized at the appearance of the person who was
thus summoned. He was no less devoted to the study of
chemistry than to astronomy, and expended as much on the
terrestrial astronomy, as he styles it, as on the celestial.
He left, indeed, no writings upon that science, although
it seems to have been his intention to have given to the
public a selection of his experiments, which he had made
with so much labour and expence; yet, he adds, in the
true cant of alchymy,
” On consideration, and by the advice of the most illustrious as well as the most learned
men, he thought it improper to unfold the secrets of the
art to the vulgar, as few people were capable of using its
mysteries to advantage, and without detriment."
considered an hare as an ill omen. While he lived at Uranienburgh he had a fool, whose name was Sep, who was accustomed during dinner to sit at his feet, and whom he
His foibles were as prominent as his virtue and capacity.
He was of a morose and unbending disposition, indulged
himself in too great freedom of speech, but while he rallied
others was not pleased to be rallied himself. He was
greatly addicted to judicial astrology, and prone to a credulity and superstition below his learning and judgment.
If he met an old woman in going out of his house, he
would instantly return home; and considered an hare as
an ill omen. While he lived at Uranienburgh he had a
fool, whose name was Sep, who was accustomed during
dinner to sit at his feet, and whom he used to feed with
his own hand, This man was continually uttering
incoherent expressions, which Tycho observed and noted
down, from a persuasion that the mind, in a state of emotion, was capable of predicting future events, and he even
believed, if any inhabitant of the island was taken ill, that
this madman could predict whether he should live or die.
He maintained, that the cabala and magic, if they did
not act to the offence of God or man, could lay open
many abstruse things by figures, images, and marks. But
upon the whole, with all these weaknesses, we may assent
to the truth of the eulogium given in his “Oratio funebris,
” that to him his studies were life; meditation his
delight; science riches; virtue nobility; and religion his
constant direction.
f his works remain at Milan and its district, and are repeatedly mentioned by Cesariani and Lomazzo, who observe that his style on the whole resembled that of Andrea
, or Donato Lazzari, but celebrated under the former name, a painter and architect, was born at Castel Durante, in the territory of Urbino, irv 1444, and at Urbino studied the works of Fra Carnevale, er Corradini. His fame as an architect has nearly obliterated his memory as a painter, though many of his works remain at Milan and its district, and are repeatedly mentioned by Cesariani and Lomazzo, who observe that his style on the whole resembled that of Andrea Mantegna. He painted portraits, sacred and profane history, in distemper and in fresco. He too, like Mantegna, studied much after casts, thence perhaps the too salient lights of his flesh. Like him, he draped models in paper or glued linen, to avoid stiffness. Lomazzo, who cleaned one of his pictures in distemper, found that, like Mantegna, he made use of a viscous liquid. The public frescoes of Bramante at Milan, mentioned by Lomazzo and Scaramuccia, are either no more, or spoiled; but a considerable number of private ones still remain in certain apartments of the palaces Borri and CastiglionL In the Certosa of Pavia there is likewise a chapel said to have been painted by him: the proportions are square, and rather heavy; the faces full, the aged heads grand; the colour vivid and salient, not without some crudity. The same style prevails in a picture of his belonging to the Melzi family, representing several saints and a beautiful perspective; it recurs again in an altar-piece of the Incoronata at Lodi, a charming temple built from the design of Bramante, by Gio. Bataggio, a native of the place; but his master-piece at Milan is at the church of S. Sebastian, the patron saint, in whose style no trace of Quattrocento appears.
arches for the support of the dome were erected. The original design was abandoned by the architects who succeeded him, not without injury to the structure; but the
His talents, however, being more strongly 'turned for architecture, he devoted himself to it with great success. His first patron, after his arrival at Rome, was cardinal Oliver Carafta, for whom he designed and completed the choir in the convent of the Frati della pace. This specimen of his talents recommended him to the notice of Alexander VI. in whose service he executed many designs. Under Julius II. he was employed as superintendant of his buildings, in accomplishing the grand project of joining the Belvidere with the Vatican, by means of two galleries extended across a valley. In 1504 he accompanied pope Julius to Bologna, and was engaged in fortifying the town; and during the war of Mirandola, he had several opportunities of exercising his talents in the military art. After his return to Rome, he adorned the city with many fine buildings; and at length undertook to demolish the cathedral of St. Peter’s, and to supply its place with another edifice suited to the capital of the Christian world. His plan for this purpose was adopted; and before the death of the pope, in 1513, the new structure was advanced as far as the entablature; and at the time of his own death, in 1514, the four great arches for the support of the dome were erected. The original design was abandoned by the architects who succeeded him, not without injury to the structure; but the prosecution of the work was entrusted with Michael Angelo, who praised his plan, and conformed as much as possible to his ideas. Bramante was no less estimable for his general character than for his extraordinary talents as an artist. Obliging in his disposition, he took pleasure in encouraging young persons of the profession; and he invited the celebrated Raphael, who was his cousin, to Rome, instructed him in architecture, and procured for him employment in the Vatican. He was also skilled in poetry and music, and composed extemporaneously for his harp. To him is ascribed the invention of constructing arches by casting in wooden moulds a mixture of lime, marble dust, and water, supposed to be a revival of the stucco of the antients. His poetical works were printed at Milan, in 1756. The knowledge and practice of the art of engraving may also be added to his other accomplishments. This art he probably acquired at Milan, and his execution of it exactly resembles the style of Andrea Mantegna, that is, with the strokes running from one corner of the plate to the other, without any crossing. He died in 1514.
iament. In this distress he wrote to the primate Usher, then in England, for his advice and comfort; who mediated so effectually in his behalf with the king, that his
In 1637, he took a journey into England, and was there
surprised with the news of an information exhibited against
him in the star-chamber, “for being present at Rippon
when one Mr. Palmes had made some reflecting discourse
upon his majesty, and neither reproving nor informing
against him.
” The words deserved no very great punishment if they had been true, being no more than, that
“he feared a Scottish mist was come over their town,
” because the king had altered his lodgings from Rippon,
where he had designed them, to sir Richard Graham’s
house, not far from that place. But the bishop easily
cleared himself and the whole company. After having received much honour from Charles 1. and many civilities
from archbishop Laud and other persons, he returned to
Ireland, and, with 6000l. for which he sold his estate in
England, purchased another at Omagh, in the county of
Tyrone, and began a plantation, which the distractions
of that kingdom hindered him from perfecting. In March
1641 articles of high treason were exhibited against him
in Ireland, wherein he was charged with having conspired
with others to subvert the fundamental laws of that kingdom, to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical government,
&c. The bishop was at Londonderry, when he received
intelligence of this accusation. All his friends wrote to
him to decline the trial; but, thinking it dishonourable to
fly, he went directly to Dublin, and was made a close
prisoner by the parliament. In this distress he wrote to
the primate Usher, then in England, for his advice and
comfort; who mediated so effectually in his behalf with
the king, that his majesty sent a letter to Ireland, to stop
proceedings against him. This letter was very slowly
obeyed; however, the bishop was at length restored to
liberty, but without any public acquittal, the charge lying
still dormant against him, to be awakened when his enemies pleased. Shortly after his return to Londonderry,
sir Phelim O'Neil laid a plot to affect his life, in the following manner. He directed a letter to him, wherein he
desired, “that, according to their articles, such a gate of
the city should be delivered to him;
” expecting that the
Scotch in the place would, upon the discovery, become
his executioners: but the person who was to manage the
matter, ran away with the letter. But, though this design faded, the bishop did not find any safety there: the
city daily being crowded with discontented persons out of
Scotland, he began to be afraid lest they should deliver
him up. One night they turned a cannon against his house
to affront him; and, being persuaded by his friends to
consider that as a warning, he took their advice, and privately embarked for England. Here he continued active
in the king’s service, till his majesty’s affairs were grown
desperate; and then, embarking with several persons of
distinction, he landed at Hamburgh on July 8, 1644.
Shortly after, at the treaty of Uxbridge, the parliaments
of England and Scotland made this one of their preliminary demands, that bishop Bramhall, together with archbishop Laud, &c. should be excepted out of the general
pardon.
, abbe d'Aulnay, who was born in the comtat Venaissin, and died April 11, 1758, is
, abbe
d'Aulnay, who was born in the comtat Venaissin, and died
April 11, 1758, is known by several works in physics and
astronomy. The abundance of words, the frequent
repetitions, the great number of insignificant ideas perceived
in his writings, have disgusted many readers; though they
contain much excellent matter. The principal are, 1.
“Letters on cosmography,
” Modern
system of cosmography and general physics,
” Explication of the flux and reflux of the sea,
” Cosmographical ephemerides,
” History or police of the kingdom of Gala,
”
ences; and his skill both in the mathematics and chemistry procured him the favour of lord Brereton, who gave him the rectory of Tilston. He was afterward chosen master
, an eminent mathematician of the seventeenth century, son of Thomas Brancker, some time bachelor of artsj,in Exeter college, Oxford, was born in Devonshire in 1636, and was admitted batler (and not butler, as some late biographical compilations blunderingly assert), of the said college, Nov. 8, 1652, in the seventeenth year of his age. In 1655, June 15, he took the degree of bachelor of arts, and was elected probationary fellow the 30th of the same month. In 1658, April 22, he took the degree of master of arts, and became a preacher; but after the restoration, refusing to conform to the ceremonies of the church of England, he quitted his fellowship in 1662, and retired to Chester: but not long after, he became reconciled to the service of the church, took orders from a bishop, and was made a minister of Whitegate. He had, however, for some time, enjoyed great opportunity and leisure for pursuing the bent of his genius in the mathematical sciences; and his skill both in the mathematics and chemistry procured him the favour of lord Brereton, who gave him the rectory of Tilston. He was afterward chosen master of the well-endowed school at Macclesfield, in that county, where he spent the remaining years of his life, which was terminated by a short illness in 1676, at 40 years of age; and he was interred in the church at Macclesfield.
ted a member of the society of Antiquaries, and in 1784 was presented by the duke of Northumberland, who, if we mistake not, had been his earliest friend and patron,
, secretary to the society of antiquaries,
and rector of the united parishes of St. Mary-hill and St.
Andrew Hubbard, in the city of London, was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, about 1743, and educated at Lincoln
college, Oxford, where he took his bachelor’s degree, but
left college in 1774, on being presented by Matthew Ridley, esq. to the curacy of Cramlington, a chapel of ease
to St. Nicholas at Newcastle, from which it is distant about
eight miles. While at the university, he published a poem
“On Illicit Love; written among the Ruins of Godstow
Nunnery,
” Observations on Popular Antiquities, including the whole of Mr. Bourne’s Antiquitates Vulgares,
with Addenda to every chapter of that work; as also an
Appendix, containing such articles on the subject as have
been omitted by that author,
” 8vo. This work is dated
from Westgate-street, Tyne, where the author then resided. He afterwards continued to augment his materials
by subsequent and more extensive researches, and left a
much enlarged edition in ms. which is now in the hands of
an eminent antiquary, and is intended for publication.
About the time of the publication of his “Popular Antiquities,
” he was admitted a member of the society of Antiquaries, and in 1784 was presented by the duke of Northumberland, who, if we mistake not, had been his earliest
friend and patron, to the rectory of St. Mary-hill. In the
same year he was elected resident secretary to the Society
of Antiquaries, on the death of Dr. Morell, the duties of
which office he performed with uncommon ability, and to
the entire satisfaction of the society, who continued to
re-elect him annually until his death.
, M. A. rector of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, and vicar of Wickham-Skeith, a political writer, who has been sometimes mistaken for the subject of our last article,
, M. A. rector of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, and vicar of Wickham-Skeith, a political
writer, who has been sometimes mistaken for the subject
of our last article, was, however, probably of the same age,
although we have no account of his early life. He was of
Caius college, Cambridge, where he proceeded B. A. 1766,
and M. A. 1769. When he had obtained the latter degree, he wrote an ethical essay, entitled “Conscience,
”
intended for one of the Seatonian prizes; but an accidental delay which it met with on the road, occasioned its
being presented to the vice-chancellor two days after the
appointed time, and on that account it could not be admitted to the competition. Mr. Brand, however, published his poem in a quarto pamphlet in 1772, and it was
allowed to possess considerable merit, but not enough to
procure it a place among the favourite poems of the day.
From this time we find him devoting his attention to political subjects, which produced in succession; 1. “Observations on some of the probable effects of Mr. Gilbert’s bill,
with remarks deduced from Dr. Price’s account of the national debt,
” The Alteration of the Constitution of the House of Commons, and the inequality
of the Land-Tax, considered conjointly,
” A
Defence of the pamphlet ascribed to John Reeves, esq. and
entitled ‘ Thoughts on the English government,’ addressed
to the members of the loyal associations against republicans
and levellers,
” An historical essay
on the principles of Political Associations in a state; chiefly
deduced from the French, English, and Jewish Histories;
with an application of those principles, in a comparative
view of the associations of the year 1792, and that recently
instituted by the Whig Club,
” A determination of the average depression of the price of wheat
in war, below that of the preceding peace; and of its readvance in the following; according to its yearly rules,
from the Revolution to the end of the last peace; with
remarks on their greater variations in that entire period/*
1800, 8vo. 6.
” A Letter to **** ******, esq. on Bonaparte’s proposals for opening a negociation for peace; in
which the British guarantee of the crown of France to the
house of Bourbon, contained in the triple and quadruple
alliances, and renewed by the treaty of 1783, is considered;
together with the conduct of our national parties relating
to it,“1800, 8vo, an argument more ingenious than satisfactory, and unfortunately leading to an impracticable
conclusion. 7.
” A Refutation of the Charge brought
against the marquis Wellesley, on account of his conduct
to the nabob of Oude. From authentic documents,“1807,
8vo. This was the last of Mr. Brand’s political works. As
a divine, we know only of a
” Fast Sermon,“published
by him in 1794, and a
” Visitation Sermon," 1800. In
1797, he was presented by the lord chancellor (Loughborough) to the rectory of St. George’s in Southwark, vacant by the death of the rev. Joseph Pote, the value of
which Mr. Brand procured to be increased by act of parliament, in 1807, but did not live long enough to profit
by it, as he died Dec. 23, 1808, leaving a numerous
family.
art of the year in the society of his friends and neighbours of the adjacent counties, and of others who visited him from London. In the winter of 1786, he had just
, esq. F. R. S. and F. S. A. and a trustee of the British Museum, was a Swede by family, born about the year 172u, and brought up to trade, which he carried on so successfully as to fill the honourable office of Director of the Bank for many years; and having inherited the accumulated fortune of his uncle, Mr. Spicker, he indulged his favourite pursuits in literature and the fine arts. He had a mind strongly tinctured with the love of literature, and a heart which was always most gratified in employing his great fortune in acts of beneficence, and in forming those collections which administer to the researches of literary men. Atnong his principal curiosities was the magnificent chair in which the first emperors of Germany used to be crowned; which being taken by Gustavus Adolphus in his wars, and carried into Sweden, was brought over from thence, and purchased by Mr. Brander; and afterwards sold to lord Folkestone, on his going to Christchurch. It contained all the Roman history, from its beginning to the emperors, wrought in polished iron. In 1766 he removed from London to Westminster, and afterwards into Hampshire, where he purchased the site of the old priory at Christ- church, in removing the ruins of which several curious discoveries were made, some of which are inserted in the Archaeologia, vol. IV. Having completed his villa and gardens in this beautiful spot, commanding an extensive view of the British channel, and the Isle of Wight, he married Jan. 1780, Elizabeth, widow of John, Lloyd, vice-admiral of the blue, daughter of Gulston of Widdial, Hertfordshire and spent the greatest part of the year in the society of his friends and neighbours of the adjacent counties, and of others who visited him from London. In the winter of 1786, he had just completed the purchase of a capital house in St. Alban’s street, when he was unexpectedly seized with a strangury, which carried him off, Jan. 21, 1787.
stopped he jumped off, and procured the assistance of some persons from a neighbouring public house, who, after disengaging the horses, pulled the carriage on shore.
A singular accident happened to him in 1768, which
had so strong an effect upon his mind, that it infused into
his character an ardent sense of piety, and a peculiar reliance upon the superintendance of Providence, both which
he preserved to the last. As his carriage was passing down,
Temple-lane, the horses suddenly took fright, and ran
with the most violent rapidity down three flights of steps
into the Thames, and would have proceeded into the middle of it, if the wheels had not been so clogged by the
mud, that the horses could not drag them any further.
The servant behind was so absorbed in terror, that he was
unable to throw himself from the carriage; but as soon as
it stopped he jumped off, and procured the assistance of
some persons from a neighbouring public house, who, after
disengaging the horses, pulled the carriage on shore. In
consequence of the above circumstance, the present gateway at the Temple-stairs was erected to prevent any future
accident of the same kind. Mr. Brander from a sense of
this singular preservation, made the following bequest
“Two guineas to the vicar, ten shillings to the clerk, and
five to the sexton of the parish of Christ-church, for a
commemoration sermon on the third Sunday in August, as
an everlasting memorial, and us expressive of my gratitude
to the Supreme Being for my signal preservation in 1768,
when my horses ran violently down the Temple-lane, in
London, and down three flights of steps into the Thames
in a dark night; and yet neither horses nor carriage, myself, or servants, received the least injury; it was fortunately low water.
”
ing portraits in an historical style, and was generally commended for the resemblance of the persons who were his mpdels, and the agreeable taste in his compositions.
, considered in the Helvetic school as an artist of the first rank, was born at Basil, in 1661. He acquired the knowledge of design by studying and copying some good punis which were in the possession of his father; and from the appearapce of his having a strong natural talent, he was placed as a disciple with Caspar Meyer. When he quitted Basil, he went to Paris, and had the good fortune to be received into the school of Le Brun and the variety of works in which that eminent master was employed, proved an excellent means of instruction to the young artist. He so pleased Le Brun by the progress he made, that he was intrusted with several designs, under the immediate inspection of that great painter; but the particular respect and preference shewn by the master to the disciple, excited the envy and jealousy of others to such a degree, as might have been attended with unhappy consequences, if Brandmulier had not retired to his own country; though not before he had obtained the prize in the royal academy at Paris. He excelled in history and portrait, and his genius resembled that of Le Brun; his subjects being full of fire, and treated with elevation and grandeur. His design is correct, and his expression animated and just. He had a good method of colouring, laying on each mass in so proper a manner as to avoid breaking or torturing his tints; which made his colours retain their original beauty and strength without fading. He was fond of painting portraits in an historical style, and was generally commended for the resemblance of the persons who were his mpdels, and the agreeable taste in his compositions. He died in 1691, aged only thirty.
, the eldest of a family who have made some figure in Swisserland, was a native of Biberach,
, the
eldest of a family who have made some figure in Swisserland, was a native of Biberach, in Suabia, where he was
born in 1533. He imbibed the principles of the reformation from CEcolampadius, and became himself a preacher
in various reformed churches. In 1576 the magistracy of
Basil bestowed the rank of citizenship on him and his
posterity, and in 1581 he was appointed professor of Hebrew in that city. He had studied medicine and law, as
well as divinity, but confined himself chiefly to the latter,
which he taught for many years at Basil, where he died in
1596. He wrote many funeral discourses, or “consciones
funebres,
” as they were called, taken from the Old and New
Testament, which were printed at Basle, in 1752, and
some dialogues in the German language. We have seen
only a part of the former, entitled “Consciones Funebres,
”
Hanov.
, and he is classed among the first of the improvisator!. As to his preaching, Bosso says that those who heard him might fancy they listened to a Plato, an Aristotle,
, of a noble family of Florence, in the fifteenth century, was surnamed Lippus, on
account of the loss of his sight, which did not, however,
prevent his becoming a scholar of much reputation, and
an orator, musician, and poet. His fame procured him
an invitation from Matthias Corvinus, king of Hungary,
to teach oratory, which he accepted, and taught at the
university of fiada. After returning to Florence, he took
the habit of the friars of St. Augustin, was made priest
some time after, and preached to numerous auditories.
He died of the plague at Rome, in 1497. Wonders are
told of his powers of extempore versification, and he is
classed among the first of the improvisator!. As to his
preaching, Bosso says that those who heard him might
fancy they listened to a Plato, an Aristotle, and a Theopfcrastus; he is yet more extravagant in noticing his extempore effusions. The circumstance, says he, which
placed him above all other poets, is, that the verses they
compose with so much labour, he composed and sang impromptu, displaying all the perfections of memory, style,
and genius. At Verona, on one occasion, before a numerous assemblage of persons of rank, he took up his lyre,
and handled every subject proposed in verse of every measure, and being asked to exert his improvisitation on the
illustrious men of Verona, without a moment’s consideration
or hesitation, he sang the praises, in beautiful poetry, of
Catullus, Cornelius Nepos, and Pliny the elder; nay, he
delivered in the same extempore manner all the subjects
in Pliny’s thirty-seven books of natural historj r without
omitting any one circumstance worthy of notice. Whatever credit may be given to these prodigies, his works
prove him to have been a man of real learning. The principal of these are: 1. “Libri duo paradoxorum Chris tianorum,
” Basil, Dialogus de humanae vitae conditione
et toleranda corporis aegritudine,
” Basil, De ratione scribendi Epistolas,
”
Basil, de laudibus musicae.
” Julius Niger mentions also some
works of his on the laws commentaries on St. Paul’s
epistles, and the Bible histories, in heroic verse, but,
whether printed, does not appear.
Chaptal, in his “Elements of Chemistry,” vol. III. p. 350, mentions Brandt as a chemist of Hamburg, who, during a course of experiments upon urine, with a view of extracting
, or, as some call him, Sebastian,
a German chemist, much addicted to the fanciful researches of the period in which he lived, was born in 1458,
and died in May 1521. Leibnitz, in the Melanges de
Berlin for 1710, cited by Chaptal, in his “Elements of
Chemistry,
” vol. III. p. 350, mentions Brandt as a chemist
of Hamburg, who, during a course of experiments upon
urine, with a view of extracting a fluid proper for converting silver into gold, discovered phosphorus in 1667,
or, as others say, in 1669. He communicated his discovery to Kraft, who imparted it to Leibnitz, and, as it is
pretended, to Boyle. Leibnitz, says Chaptal, introduced
Brandt to the duke of Hanover, before whom he performed
the whole operation; and a specimen of it was sent to
Huygens, who shewed it to the academy of sciences at
Paris. It is said that Kunckel had associated himself with
Kraft to purchase the process from Brandt; but Kunckel
having been deceived by Kraft, who kept the secret to
himself, knowing that urine was made use of, set to work,
and discovered a process for making the substance and
hence it has been called Kunckel’s phosphorus.
“de omni scibile,” the surname of Musa was given him by Francis I. He was physician to that prince, who made him chevalier of the order of St. Michael; to the emperor
, a famous physician,
was born at Ferrara, in 1500, of a noble family. His
knowledge was not confined to medicine. In consequence
of his having maintained at Paris, for three days successively, theses “de omni scibile,
” the surname of Musa
was given him by Francis I. He was physician to that
prince, who made him chevalier of the order of St. Michael; to the emperor Charles V. who bestowed on him
the title of count palatine; and to Henry VIII. of England. He was not of less consequence in his own country.
Successively first physician to the popes Paul III. Leo X.
Clement VII. and Julius III. cherished and favoured by
all the other princes of Italy, and particularly the dukes
of Ferrara, he was proceeding in this brilliant career,
when he died at Ferrara in 1555, at the age of 55, after
having long been a professor of medicine there with universal applause; leaving a great number of works, principally on medicine, and among others, 1. “Commentaries
on the aphorisms of Hippocrates and Galen,
” printed at
Basle, in Index refertissimus in Galeni
libros,
” Venice, opus indefessse elucubrationis & utilitatis
inexplicabilis.
”
, was second son of sir Richard Bray, one of the privy council to king Henry VI. who lies buried in the north aile of Worcester cathedral, in which
, was second son of sir Richard
Bray, one of the privy council to king Henry VI. who lies
buried in the north aile of Worcester cathedral, in which
county sir Reginald was born. One of this family (which were lords of Braie, or Bray, in Normandy) came with
William the Conqueror into England, where they flourished
in the counties of Northampton and Warwick; but Edmond, the father of sir Richard, is styled of Eton Bray, in
the county of Bedford, which county they had represented
in parliament in 18 Ed. I. and 6 Ed. II. In 1 Rich. III.
this Reginald had a general pardon granted to him, probably on account of his having taken part with Henry VI.
to whose cause he had a personal as well as hereditary
attachment being receiver- general to sir Henry Stafford,
who married Margaret, countess of Richmond, mother to
the earl of Richmond, afterward king Henry VII. and
continued in her service after the death of sir Henry, and
was put in trust for her dowry, on her marriage to Thomas,
earl of Derby. When the duke of Buckingham had concerted with Morton, bishop of Ely (then his prisoner at Brecknock in Wales), the marriage of the earl of Richmond with the princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edward I V. and the earl’s advancement to the throne, the
bishop recommended sir Reginald for the transaction of
the affair with the countess, telling the duke he had an old
friend with her, a man sober, secret, and well-witted,
called Reginald Bray, whose prudent policy he had known
to have compassed matters of great importance; and accordingly wrote to him in Lancashire, where he then was
with the countess, to come to Brecknock with all speed. He
readily obeyed the summons, entered heartily into the
design, and was very active in carrying it on; and soon
engaged sir Giles Daubeney (afterwards lord Daubeney),
sir John Ciieney, Richard GuiUbrd, esq. and many other
gentlemen of note, to take part with Henry. After the
success at Bosworth, he gradually rose into great favour
with the king, who eminently distinguished and liberally
rewarded his services. His attachment to that prince was
sincere and uriremitted; and such were his ptudence and
abilities, that he never forfeited the confidence he had
acquired, during an attendance of seventeen years on the
most suspicious monarch of his time. He was made a
knight banneret, probably at the battle of Bosworth; a
knight of the bath at the king’s coronation, and afterwards
a kni“ht of the garter. In the first year of the kind’s reign
he had a grant of the constableship of the castle of Oakham in Rutlandshire, and was appointed joint chie‘ justice,
with the lord Fitzwalter, of all the forests south of Trent,
and chosen of the privy council. After this he was appointed high-treasurer, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and nigh steward of the university of Oxford. At
the queen’s coronation, the ducliess of Norfolk, &c. sat at
one side-table at the other, lady Ferrars, v>f Chartley,
lady Bray, &c. At the christening of prince Arthur, sir
Reginald bore a rich salt of gold which was given by the
earl of Derby. He was amongst the knights bannerets
when Henry, the king’s second son, was created duke of
York in 1494. In the 7th year of the king, he by indenture covenanted to serve him in his wars beyond sea a
whole year, with twelve men, himself accompted, each
having his custrell and page, twenty-four demy lances,
seventy-seven archers on horseback, two hundred and
thirty-one archers, and bil’.es on foot twenty-four. In the
10th year he had a grant for life of the Isle of Wight,
castle of Carisbrook, and the manors of Swainston, Brixton,
Thorley, and Welow, in that isle, at th^ rent of 308l. 6s. 8rf.
Camden mentions the grant of the Isle of Wight at the
rent of 300 marks. In June 1497 he was at the battle of
Blackheath, when the lord Audley, having joined the
Cornish rebels, was taken prisoner; on whose execution
and attainder, his manor of Shire Vachery and Crap ley in
Surry, with a large estate there, was given to sir Reginald.
He received many other marks of the king’s bounty and
favour, and died 5th August 1503, possessed of a very
great estate; notwithstanding which, and his activity as
a minister, under a monarch whose love of, money was the
cause of great and just complaints amongst the people,
historians call him the father of his country, a sage and
grave person, a fervent lover of jusuce, and one who
would often admonish the king when he did any thing contrary to justice or equity. That he should do this, and
the king still continue his favour, is an ample proof of the
sense which his sovereign entertained of his services and
abilities. He appears to have taken great delight in architecture, and to have had no small skill in it, as he had
a principal concern and direction in building Henry Vllth’s
chapel in Westminster-abbey, and in the finishing and
bringing to perfection the chapel of St. George at Windsor, to which he was a liberal benefactor in his life-time,
and for the completion of which he made farther provision
by his will. His arms, crest, and device (R. B.) are exhibited on the cieling of the chapel at Windsor in many
places; and in the middle of the south aile is a spacious
chapel erected by him, and still called by his name, in
which also, by his own particular direction, he was interred, though his executors neglected to erect a tomb for
him, as he desired. Perhaps they thought his merit would
be the most lasting monument. It is supposed that he
is buried under the stone which covers Dr. Waterland;
for, on opening the vault for that gentleman, who died in
1740, a leaden coffin, of ancient form and make, was
found, which by other appearances also was judged to be
that of sir Reginald, and was, by order of the dean, immediately arcned over with great decency. He was of
great devotion, according to the piety of the times, and a
bountiful friend, in his life-time, to many churches. In
one of the letters of the dean and chapter of Westminster, John, abbot of Newminster in Northumberland, addresses him as founder of the monastery of Pipwell (in Northamptonshire); but this must be on account of some
donations, as that house was founded by William Boutevileyr in 1143. In 1494, being then high steward of Oxford, he gave 40 marks to repair the church of St. Mary’s,
in a window of which were the figures of him and his wife
kneeling, their coats of arms on their backs, remaining in
1584. The dean and chapter of Lincoln, in recompence
for his services to them, receive him and my lady his wife
to be brother and sister of their chapter, and to be partakers of all suffrages, prayers, masses, fastings, almsdeeds, and other good deeds, whatever they be, done in
the said church, both in their lives and after their deceases. The prior of the cathedral church of Durham
receives him in like manner. In a south window of the
priory church of Great Malvern in Worcestershire, were
the portraits of Henry VII. Elizabeth his queen, prince
Arthur, sir Reginald Bray, John Savage, and Thomas
LoveJ), esquires, with their coats of arms on their armour,
and the following words underneath:
” Orate pro bono
statu nobilissimi et excellentissimi Regis Henrici Septimi
et Elizabeths Reginse, ac Domini Arthuri Principis filii
eorundem, nee not) praedilectissimae consortis suoe, ac suorum trium militum." The portraits of the king and sir
Reginald remained in 1774, and are engraved in Mr.
Strutt’s View of the Arms and Habits of the English, vol. II,
plate 60. The others have been broken and destroyed.
He had no issue, and his elder brother John having only
one daughter, married to sir William Sandes, afterwards
lord Sandes of the Vine, he left the bulk of his fortune to
Edmund, eldest son of his younger brother John (for he had two brothers of that name). This Edmund was summoned to parliament in 1530, as baron of Eaton Bray;
but his son John lord Bray dying without issue in 1557,
the estate was divided amongst six daughters of Edmund.
Sir Reginald left very considerable estates to Edward and
Reginald, younger brothers of Edmund. From Edward
the manor of Shire Vachery and Cranley, above mentioned,
has descended to the rev. George Bray, who was owner in
1778. Reginald settled at Barrington in Gloucestershire,
where the male line of that branch became extinct about
sixty years ago.
but young, acquitted himself to the satisfaction of the whole audience, particularly the lord Digby, who was afterwards pleased to honour him with many proofs of his
, D.D. an eminent learned and pious divine
of the seventeenth century, was born at Marton in Shropshire, in 1656, where his parents were persons of good reputation. His infancy discovering promising parts, he was
early sent to the school at Oswestry, in the same county,
and his close application to school-learning, determining
his parents to dedicate him to religion and learning, he
was entered of Hart-hall, Oxford. Here he soon made a
considerable proficiency in divinity, as well as other studies
necessary for the profession for which he was intended:
but, labouring under the common disadvantages of a narrow fortune, his circumstances not permitting a longer
residence at Oxford, he left the university soon after he
had commenced bachelor of arts. Much about this time
he entered into holy orders; and the first duty he had
was that of a parish near Bridgenorth in Shropshire, his
native county, from which curacy he soon removed into
Warwickshire, officiating as chaplain in sir Thomas Price’s
family, of Park-hall, and had the donative of Lac Marsin
given him by sir Thomas, which proved very advantageous; for living now in the neighbourhood of Coieshill, his
exemplary behaviour, and distinguished diligence in his
calling, introduced him into the acquaintance of Mr.
Kettlewell, sir Charles Holt, and the lord Simon Digby.
One incident which contributed to establish his character
at this juncture, was his preaching the assize sermon at
Warwick, on which occasion Mr. Bray, though but young,
acquitted himself to the satisfaction of the whole audience,
particularly the lord Digby, who was afterwards pleased to
honour him with many proofs of his friendship and esteem,
recommending him to the worthy and honourable patronage
of his brother, the fifth lord Digby, who some time after
gave him the vicarage of Over-Whitacre in the same
county, since augmented, by his patron’s uncommon generosity, with the great tithes. In 1690, the rectory of
Sheldon being vacant, by Mr. Digby Bull’s refusing to take
the oaths at the revolution, his lordship presented Mr. Bray
to it; which preferment he held till about a quarter of a
year before his death, when he resigned it by reason of his
advanced age, and the known worth and abilities of his
appointed successor, the Rev. Mr. Carpenter. Dec. 12,
1693, he took his master of arts degree in Hart-hall, Oxford. In this parish of Sheldon he composed his “Catechetical Lectures,
” a work which met with general approbation and encouragement, and produced to him the sum of
700l. This publication, which drew him out of his rural privacy to London, determined Dr. Compton, bishop of London, to pitch upon him as a proper person to model the
infant church of Maryland, and establish it upon a solid
foundation. Accordingly, in April 1696, he proposed
to Mr. Bray to go, on the terms of having the judicial office
of commissary, valued, as was represented to him, at four
hundred pounds per annum, conferred upon him, for his
support in that service. Mr. Bray, disregarding his own
interest, and the great profit which would have arisen from
finishing his course of lectures on the plan he had formed,
soon determined, in his own mind, that there might be a
greater field for doing good in the Plantations, than by his
labours here, and no longer demurred to the proposal, than
to inquire into the state of the country, and inform himself
what was most wanting to excite good ministers to embark
in that design, as well as enable them most effectually to
promote it. With this view he laid before the bishops the
following considerations: That none but the poorer sort
of clergy could be persuaded to leave their friends, and
change their native country for one so remote; that such
persons could not be able sufficiently to supply themselveswith books; that without such a competent provision of
books, they could not answer the design of their mission;
that a library would be the best encouragement to studious and sober men to undertake the service; and that, as
the great inducement to himself to go, would be to do the
most good of which he could be capable, he therefore
purposed, that if they thought fit to encourage and assist
htm in providing parochial libraries for the ministers, he
would then accept of the commissary’s office in Maryland.
This proposal for parochial libraries being well approved
of by the bishops, and due encouragement being promised
in the prosecution of the design, both by their lordships
and others, he set himself with all possible application to
provide missionaries, and to furnish them with libraries,
intending, as soon as he should have sent both, to follow
after himself. But, upon his accepting of this employment
of commissary of Maryland, it fell to his share to solicit at
home whatever other matters related to that church, more
particularly to the settlement and establishment thereof,
which he laboured to promote with unwearied diligence,
and spared neither expence or trouble. But, above all,
it was his greatest care, to endeavour to send over to Maryland, and the other colonies, pious men, of exemplary
lives and conversations, and to furnish those whom he had
a hand in sending, with good libraries of necessary and
useful bdbks, to render them capable of answering the ends
of their mission, and instructing the people in all things
ecessary to their salvation. The sense of the clergy and
inhabitants, with respect to these'important services, was
testified by the solemn letters of thanks, returned him
from the assemblies of Maryland, from the vestries of Boston and Baintrie in New England, from Newfoundland,
Rhode Island, New York, Philadelphia, North Carolina,
Bermudas, and by the acknowledgments of the royal
African company, on account of those procured for their
factories. About the same time it was, that the secretary
of Maryland, sir Thomas Lawrence, with Mr. Bray, waited on the then princess of Denmark, in behalf of that province, humbly to request her gracious acceptance of the
governor’s and country’s dutiful respects, in having denominated the metropolis of the province, then but lately
built, from her royal highness’s name, Annapolis: and Mr.
Bray being soon after favoured with a noble benefaction
from the same royal hand, towards his libraries in America,
he dedicated the first library in those parts, fixed at Annapolis, and which had books of the choicest kind belonging to it, to the value of four hundred pounds, to her memory, by the title of the Annapolitan Library, which words
were inscribed on the several books. Another design was
also set on foot, much about the same time, by Dr. Bray,
to raise lending libraries in every deanery throughout England and Wales, out of which the neighbouring clergy
might borrow the books they had occasion for, and where
they might consult upon matters relating to their function,
and to learning. Upon this, many lending libraries were
founded in several parts of the kingdom, besides above a
hundred and fifty parochial ones in Great Britain and the
plantations, from ten to fifty pounds value, those in South
Britain being afterwards secured to posterity, by an act of
parliament passed for that purpose in 1708. Soon after,
upon the repeated instances of the governor and some of
the country, Mr. Bray was at the charge of taking the degree of doctor of divinity, which, though it might be of
some use, as procuring a certain degree of respect,
did then but ill comport with his circumstances. He
took his degrees of bachelor of divinity, and doctor, together, by accumulation, not of Hart hall where he was
entered, but of Magdalen college, Dec. 17, 1696. Soon
after, the better to promote his main design of libraries,
and to give the missionaries directions in prosecuting their
theological studies, he published two books, one entitled,
“Bibiiothee* Paroctnalis or, a Scheme of such
Theological and other heads, as seem requisite to be perused, or
occasionally consulted by the reverend Clergy, together
with a catalogue of books, which may be profitably read on
each of those points,
” &c. The other, “Apostolic Charity, its nature and excellency considered, in a discourse
upon Daniel xii. 3. preached at St. Paul’s, at the ordination of some Protestant Missionaries to be sent into the
plantations. To which is prefixed, a general view of the
English colonies in America, in order to show what provision is wanting for the propagation of Christianity in those
parts, together with proposals for the promoting the same r
to induce such of the clergy of this kingdom, as are persons of sobriety and abilities, to accept of a mission.
”
During this interval, viz. in the year The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
in foreign parts,
” was laid before the society, and read
the ninth of June following. He received no advantage all
this time from his commissary’s place in Maryland; neither
was any allowance made him at home, or preferment give
him, to support the charge of living altogether in town, to
solicit the establishment and endowment of the church of
Maryland, and to provide missionaries for that and all the
colonies on the Continent; which, excepting Virginia, lay
upon him; all the benefactions that were received being to
be laid out to raise them libraries, which also he did faster
than money came in to answer the charge. This being observed by some of his friends, they endeavoured to persuade
him to lay his design of going abroad aside, and take two
good preferments that were then offered him at home, of
as good or better value than what was proposed to him in
Maryland, viz. that of sub-almoner, and the donative of
Aldgate, in the city of London. But he declined all offers
that were inconsistent with his going to Maryland, as soon
as it should become proper for him to take that voyage.
By the year 1699, having waited upwards of two years for
the return of the act of religion from Maryland, with such
amendments as would render it without exception at the
court of England; and it being presumed by his superiors,
that it would be requisite the doctor should now hasten
over, as well to encourage the passing of that act in their
assemblies, as to promote other matters for the service of
religion there, it was signified to him from them that
they would have him take the opportunity of the first
ship; and indeed, the doctor having, by this time, tried
all ways he could think of, and done all he was able
to do here, to serve those parts, and according to
proposal having provided Maryland, as also many other
colonies, with a competent number of missionaries, and
furnished them with good libraries, to be fixed in the
places where they were sent, to remain there for ever, he
was himself eager to follow, and did so accordingly, even,
in the winter, though he had no allowance made him towards his charge of the voyage, and the service he was to
do; but was forced to dispose of his own small effects, and
raise money on credit to support him. With this poor encouragement, and thus, on his own provision, he took the
voyage, December 16, 1699, and set sail from the Downs
the twentieth of the same month; but was driven back into
Plymouth-sound on Christmas-eve, and remained in harbour almost all the holydays, where his time was not unusefully spent, in the recovery of a tolerable library there
out of dust and rubbish, which was also indebted to him for
a benefaction of books and where he left a proposal for
taking in subscriptions to make it a sea- port library, for the
use of missionaries and sea-chaplains, as well as others.
After an extremely tedious and dangerous passage, the
doctor arrived at Maryland the twelfth of March, where he
applied himself immediately to repair the breach made in
the settlement of the parochial clergy; in order to which
he consulted, in the first place, the governor, whom he
found ready to concur in all proper methods for the re-establishment of their maintenance. Before the next assembly, which was to be in May following, he sent to all
the clergy on the western shore, who only could come together in that season, to learn from them the disposition of
the people, and to advise with them what was proper to be
done, in order to dispose the members of the assembly to
re-enact their law next meeting. Soon after he had dismissed their clergy, he made his parochial visitation, as
far as it was possible for him at that season; in which, he
met with very singular respect from persons of the best
condition in the country, which the doctor turned to the
advantage of that poor church. During the sessions of the
assembly, and whilst the re-establishment of the church
was depending, he preachod very proper and seasonable
sermons, with a tendency to incline the country to the establishment of the church and clergy; all which were so
well received, that he had the thanks of the assembly, by
messages from the house. The doctor was providentially
on such good term* with the assembly, that they ordered
the attorney-general to advise with him in drawing up the
bill; and that he himself might be the better advised in
that case, he sent for the most experienced clergy within
reach, to suggest to him, what they found would be of
advantage to them and the church, to be inserted in, or
left out of it; by which means the constitution of that
church had much the advantage of any in America. It may
not be amiss to observe in this place, that as well during the
general court or assize, which preceded the assembly, and
lasted thirteen days, as during the sessions of the assembly
itself, he was under a necessity of entertaining the gentlemen of the province, who universally visited him; a charge,
however, which he thought requisite as circumstances then
were, that he might strengthen his interest in them, the
better to promote the establishment of the clergy’s maintenance. The bill being prepared, passed with a nemiilt
contradicente; but it was on all hands declared and confessed, that it was very providential that Dr. Bray came
into the country at that juncture. Soon after the assembly
was up, the commissary cited the whole clergy of the province to a general visitation at Annapolis, to be held May
22, 1700. At the close of this visitation, the clergy taking
into consideration, that the opposition of the Quakers
against the establishment of that church would in all probability continue, so as to get the law for its establishment
so lately re-enacted, annulled again at home, they entered
into debates, whether it would not be of consequence to
the preservation and final settlement of that church, that
the doctor should be requested to go home with the law,
and to solicit the royal assent. It had been before voted,
at the passing the bill in the house of burgesses, that he
should be desired to request his grace of Canterbury, and
the bishop of London, to favour that good law, by obtaining his majesty’s royal assent to it with all convenient
speed; and the members who gave him an account of passing their vote, told him withal, that it was the general opinion of the house, that he could be most serviceable by
waiting personally on their lordships, rather, than by letters, in which he conld not crowd all that might be
necessary to be represented concerning the then state of the
church, and the necessity, at that time, of their utmost patronage: and it was in debate, whether this should not be
the desire of the assembly; but it was thought too unreasonable a request from them, who were sensible of the
great danger and fatigue he had already been at in the service of that province, as they had a few days before acknowledged by a message of thanks from that house. Such
were the sentiments of the members of the assembly, as to
the necessity of his coming home to solicit the establishment of that church; and the clergy meeting at their visitation, some weeks after, represented to him, as the earnest desire of the more sensible persons throughout the
country, as well as of the assembly-men, that he should go
over with the law for England; being aware that its opponents would make the utmost efforts against the establishment of that church, by false representations at home of
the numbers and riches of their party, and by insinuating,
that to impose upon them an established maintenance for
the clergy, would be prejudicial to the interest of the province, by obliging so many wealthy traders to remove from
thence, the falsity of which, or any other suggestions, they
thought him best able to make appear, by the information
he had gained from this visitation, There were also many
other advantages to the church in those parts, which they
proposed by his coming home at that time, upon the consideration of all which he took his voyage soon after. He
was no sooner arrived in England, but he found their apprehensions in Maryland'not ill grounded; but the objections raised against the plan, Dr. Bray refuted, by a printed
memorial, representing truly the state of the church of Maryland, to the full satisfaction of all to whom it was communicated. The quakers’ opposition to the establishment
now depending, was carried by united councils and contributions; but the doctor refuted their specious objections
by unanswerable reasons, and placed the affair in such an
advantageous light, that his majesty decided, without any
appearance of hesitation, in the church’s favour, and gave
the royal assent in these remarkable words: “Have the
Quakers the benefit of a toleration? let the established
church have an established maintenance.
” This chargeable and laborious undertaking having swallowed up the doctor’s own small fortune, lord Weymouth generously presented him with a bill of 300l. for his own private use, a,
large portion of which the doctor devoted to the advancement of his farther designs. Though he was vested with
the character of commissary, yet no share of the revenue
proposed was annexed to it; and his generosity even induced him to throw in two sums of fifty pounds each, that
were presented to himself in Maryland, towards defraying
the charges of their libraries and law. After the return of
Dr. Bray from thence in 1701, he published his “Circular
Letters to the Clergy of Maryland,
” a memorial, representing the present state of religion on the continent of
North America, and the acts of his visitation held at Annapolis; for which he had the thanks of the society above
mentioned. Not only the bishop of London approved entirely of all these transactions, but also the archbishop of
Canterbury declared, that he was well satisfied with the
reasons of Dr. Bray’s return from the West Indies, and
added, that his mission thither would be of the greatest
consequence imaginable to the establishment of religion in
those parts. In 1706, he had the donative of St. Botolph
without Aldgate offered him again, which he then accepted
of, worth about 150l. per annum. In the year 1712, the
doctor printed his “Martyrology; or, Papal Usurpation,
”
in folio. That nothing might be wanting to enrich and
adorn the work, he established a correspondence with
learned foreigners of the first distinction, and called in the
assistance of the most eminent hands. This work consists
of some choice and learned treatises of celebrated authors,
which were grown very scarce, ranged and digested into as
regular an history as the nature of the subject would admit.
He proposed to compile a second volume, and had, at no
small expence and pains, furnished himself with materials
for it; but he was afterwards obliged to lay the prosecution,
of his design aside, and bequeathed by will his valuable
collection of Martyrological Memoirs, both printed and
manuscript, to Sion college. He was, indeed, so great a
master of the history of popery, that few authors could be
presumed able, with equal accuracy and learning, to trace
the origin and growth of those exorbitant claims which are
made by the see of Rome. He was happily formed by nature both for the active and for the retired life. Charity
to the souls of other men, was wrought up to the highest
pitch in his own: every reflection on the dark and forlorn
condition of the Indians and negroes, excited in his bosoin the most generous emotions of pity and concern. His
voyage to Holland, to solicit king William’s protection and
encouragement to his good designs, and the proofs he gave
of a public spirit and disinterested zeal, in such a series of
generous undertakings, obtained him the esteem of M.
d‘Allone of the Hague, a gentleman not more celebrated
for his penetration and address in state affairs, than for a
pious disposition of mind. An epistolary correspondence
commenced very early between him and the doctor upon
this subject; the result of which was, that M. d’Allone
gave in his life-time a sum to be applied to the conversion
of negroes, desiring the doctor to accept the management
and disposal of it. But that a standing provision might be
inade for this purpose, M. d'Allone bequeathed by will a
certain sum, viz. 900 pounds, out of his English estate, to
Dr. Bray and his associates, towards erecting a capital fund
or stock, for converting the negroes in the British plantations. This was in the year 1723, much about which
time Dr. Bray had an extremely dangerous fit of illness,
so that his life and recovery were despaired of. In the year
1726, he was employed in composing and printing his
“Directorium Missionarium,
” his “Primordia Bibliothecaria,
” and some other tracts of the like kind. About this
time he also wrote a short account of Mr. Rawlet, the author of “The Christian Monitor;
” and reprinted the Life of
Mr. Gilpin. Some of these were calculated for the use of
the mission; and in one he has endeavoured to shew, that
civilizing the Indians must be the first step in any successful attempt for their conversion. In his “Primordia Bibliothecaria,
” we have several schemes of parochial libraries, and a method laid down to proceed by a gradual progression, from a collection not much exceeding one pound
in value, to one of a hundred. His attention to other good
works occasioned no discontinuance of this design, the success of which was so much the object of his desires; and
accordingly benefactions came in so fast, that he had business enough upon his hands to form the libraries, desired.
As trie furnishing the parochial clergy with the means of instruction, would be an effectual method to promote Christian knowledge, so another expedient, manifestly subservient to the same end, would be, he thought, to imprint on
the minds of those who are designed for the ministry, previously to their admission, a just sense of its various duties,
and their great importance. With a view to this, he reprinted the “Ecclesiastes of Erasmus.
” In the year
, of Nizza, an artist who flourished from 1483 to 1513, may be considered as the founder
, of Nizza, an artist who flourished
from 1483 to 1513, may be considered as the founder of
the primitive Ligurian school Genoa and its states still
possess many of his works. Though inferior in taste to the
best contemporaries of other schools, meagre in design,
and attached to gilding, he yields to none in characteristic
beauty of heads, and a vivacity of colour, which has defied
time. The folds of his draperies are natural, his composition has propriety, his attitudes spirit, his plans are uncommon. He possesses an originality which clears him from
all suspicion of imitation, or deference to another school;
all this is to be understood of small proportions, for on
large dimensions it does not appear that he ever ventured. The most praised of his relics are a “Murder of
the Innocents
” at St. Agostino; and a “St. John,
” in the
oratory of the Madonna di Savona.
ost popular of his works is, the first book of Lucan travestied, an ingenious satire upon the great, who are described as never losing a moment’s sight of their greatness
, a French poet, was born at Torigniin Lower Normandy, 1618. He was distinguished chiefly by a translation of Lucan; which, notwithstanding its inflated style, its numerous antitheses, and its various false brilliancies, continued to be long admired. It engaged attention and applause so powerfully at first, that cardinal Mazarine made great promises of advancement to the translator; but died without fulfilling them. But the l>est and the most popular of his works is, the first book of Lucan travestied, an ingenious satire upon the great, who are described as never losing a moment’s sight of their greatness and titles; and upon the meanness and servility of those who, with a view of making their fortunes, submit to flatter them as gods. It is said of Brebeuf,. that he bad a fever upon him for more twenty years. He died in 1661, aged 4S; and, if the last anecdote of him be true, it is somewhat marvellous that he lived so long.
il des oeuvres diverses,” 1664, 2 vols. 12mo, in which collection are one hundred epigrams on a lady who painted, written for a wager, decided, we presume, as to numbers
Besides his Lucan, he published some sacred poetry, entitled, 1. “Les entretiens solitaires,
” 12mo. 2. “Recueil
des oeuvres diverses,
” Des eclogues poetiques,
” 12mo. 4.
“Defense de l'église Romaine,
” 12mo.
e, and conversations, was born at Antwerp in 1683, and instructed by his father Alexander Van Breda, who was much esteemed as an artist, with whom he continued, profiting
, a painter of history, landscape,
and conversations, was born at Antwerp in 1683, and instructed by his father Alexander Van Breda, who was much
esteemed as an artist, with whom he continued, profiting
by good example and advice, till he was 18 years of age.
Having established his reputation in Holland, he accompanied Rysbrack the sculptor to London, where he was
highly esteemed and obtained considerable patronage, and
particularly that of the earl of Derwentwater, who was beheaded for rebellion in 1715. In London he was much employed by the court and nobility, and was hardly able to
supply the demands for his performances. From London,
after a residence of five years, he returned to Antwerp,
much enriched; and in 1746, when Louis XIV. visited that
city, he honoured this master by purchasing four of his pictures; viz. “Christ at the sea of Tiberias,
” “Christ performing miracles,
” and “two landscapes.
” He certainly approached nearer to those great masters whose manner he imitated, Brueghel and Wouwermans, than any other artist of
his time. His landscapes are in the style and taste of the
former; and his conversations, historical figures, fairs, and
battles, are in the manner of the latter. He died in 1750.
e language and taste of their country. Breitinguer found a liberal patron in the burgomaster Escher, who himself proved that the study of the Greek language is a powerful
, whom Meister calls the
greatest reformer of the Swiss schools which the last century produced, was born at Zurich March 1, 1701, and
after going through a course of academical instruction, was
admitted into orders in 1720. The space which usually
intervenes between the ordination of young ministers and
their establishment in a church, he employed principally
in the study of the ancient authors, familiarizing himself
with their language and sentiments, an employment which,
like Zuinglius, he did not think unworthy of the attention
of an ecclesiastic. Persius was his favourite poet, whom,
he studied so critically as to furnish the president Bouhier
with some happy elucidations, which the latter adopted,
Breitinguer, however, was not merely a verbal critic, and
considered such criticism as useful only in administering
to higher pursuits in philosophy and the belles-lettres.
The “Bibliotheque Helvetique
” which he and Bodmer
wrote, shews how criticism and philosophy may mutually
assist each other. He formed an intimacy with Bodmer
in early life, (see Bodmer), and both began their career
as reformers of the language and taste of their country.
Breitinguer found a liberal patron in the burgomaster
Escher, who himself proved that the study of the Greek
language is a powerful counterpoise to a bad taste, and
was the person who encouraged Breitinguer principally to
produce a new edition of the Septuagint translation. In
1731 he was chosen professor of Hebrew, and in ordeir to
facilitate the study of that language to his pupils, he wrote
his treatise on the Hebrew idioms. Some time after he
was appointed vice-professor of logic and rhetoric, and
from that time began the reformation which he thought
much wanted in the schools, with a treatise “De eo quod
nimium est in studio grammatico,
” and a system of logic
in Latin and German, which soon took the place of that
ofWendelin. He contributed also various papers to the
“Tempe Helvetica,
” and the “Musaeum Helveticum,
”
and at the request of the cardinal Quirini drew up an account of a ms. of the Greek psalms which was found in
the canons’ library. He published also the “Critical art
of Poetry.
” His biographer bestows great praise on all
those works, and different as the subjects are, assures us
that he treated each as if it had been the exclusive object
of his attention. His literary acquaintance was also very
extensive, and he numbered among his correspondents the
cardinals Passionei and Quirini, the president Bouhier,
the abbe“Gerbert de St. Blaise, with Iselin, Burmann,
Crusius, le Maitre, Vernet, Semler, Ernesti, &c. But he
chiefly excelled as a teacher of youth, and especially of
those intended for the church, having introduced two regulations, the benefit of which his country amply acknowledges. The one was that young divines should preach,
in turn, twice a week, on which occasion the sermon was
criticised by the whole body of students, aided also by
Breitinguer’s remarks. The other respects an institution
or society of Ascetics, as they were called. This was composed of the clergy, who assembled at stated hours, to
discuss subjects relative to their profession, and compose
sermons, prayers, hymns, &c. Some of them also were
employed in visiting the hospitals, others qualified for
schoolmasters, and all were to assist the poor with advice
or pecuniary aid. Breitinguer also prepared a catechism
for the young, on an improved plan, and a little before
his death, published
” Orationes Carolina? d'Hottinguer,“dedicated to Semlin. He continued his active exertions
almost to the last hour of his life, being present at an ecclesiastical council, on Dec. 13, 1776, but on his return
was seized with an apoplexy, of which he died the following day. Breitinguer had as much learning as Bodmer,
though not as much natural fire; and was an excellent
critic. To the works already noticed, we may add his
” Diatribe historico-Jiteraria in versus obscurissimos a
Persio Satir. I citatos," 1740, 8vo. His edition of the
Septuagint, in 4 vols. 4to, wa.t published at Zurich, (TigUnim,) 1730. The text is accurately compiled from the
Oxford edition of Grabe: to which are added at the bottom of each page the various readings of the Codex Vaticanus. Nothing is altered except a few typographical
errors, and some emendations of Grabe, which did not
coincide with the editor’s opinion. The clearness of the
type and beauty of the paper recommend it to the reader’s
attention; and the care, accuracy, and erudition displayed
throughout the work, may entitle it to bear, away the palm
even from Grabe’s edition. Such at least is the opinion of
Masch.
f casting types, which gave his printing-office and foundery great reputation. He was also the first who cast musical types, now so common, although they possess so
, an ingenious printer, letter-founder, and bookseller of Leipsic, was
born in that city, Nov. 23, 17 It. An accidental perusal
of a work by Albert Durer, in which the shape of the letters is deduced from mathematical principles, appears to
have suggested to him some valuable improvements in the
art of casting types, which gave his printing-office and
foundery great reputation. He was also the first who cast
musical types, now so common, although they possess so
little of the beauty or -accuracy of copper-plates as to be
seldom used. He also contrived to print maps with moveable types, and even to cQpy portraits by the same means,
but neither of these were found of much utility. He was
better employed in 1793, in endeavouring to print the
Chinese characters on moveable types, and succeeded so
far as to exhibit specimens, which were much admired.
He is said also to have discovered some improvements in
the composition of type-metal, and the process of melting
and casting, but what these were he concealed. He died
Jan. 28, 1794. In 1774, he published a small treatise,
containing a refutation of the opinion of those who pretend
that printing was first employed at Florence, Wirtzburg,
or Antwerp. In 1784, he published the first part of a
work, entitled “An Attempt to illustrate the origin of
Playing-cards, the introduction of paper made from linen,
and the invention of engraving on wood in Europe.
” The
latter part of this work was finished, but not published,
before his death. His last publication was a small “
Treatise on Bibliography, &c.
” published in 1793, and containing extracts from his larger works, with his reasons for
retaining the present German characters, and a refutation
of some assertions respecting typography.
these languages, and to fill a professor’s chair; but this he declined out of respect to his father, who wished him to appear at the bar. Neither this, however, nor
, a member of the French academy of sciences, was born at Paris, Sept. 14, 1713, of a good family, and after having studied humanities in the Mazarin college, and a course of philosophy in the college of Beauvais, applied himself more particularly to medicine and law, and the oriental languages in the royal college. The great progress which he made in the latter, occasioned his being invited to Rheims to teach these languages, and to fill a professor’s chair; but this he declined out of respect to his father, who wished him to appear at the bar. Neither this, however, nor languages, were to his own liking, and his parents, after some consideration, allowed him to pursue his inclination for medicine, and natural history, to which he added a taste for general literature and criticism. In 1737, he began to give extracts from the London Philosophical Transactions, and this with so much judgment and ability as to excite the attention of the literati of France, who after revolving the plan, conceived that a translation of the Transactions with notes would be more useful than these extracts, and agreed that M. de Bremond should be requested to undertake it. He accordingly began the work, and published four vols. 4to. including the years 1731—1736, withacomplete index, and notes pointing out where the subjects are treated in the memoirs of other learned bodies, or in separate publications: some of these notes are complete dissertations. The royal society, on this, honoured him with the title of secretary; and on March 18, 1739, he was admitted into the French royal academy of sciences. The same year he read a learned paper on respiration. He joined afterwards with M. Morand, a celebrated surgeon, in collecting and translating all the English publications respecting Mrs. Stephens’s remedy for the stone, which once was thought infallible. He translated likewise Dr. Halley’s experiments on sea water, and Hauksbee’s experiments, 2 vols. 12mo; and Murdoch’s new loxodromic tables, for the construction of marine charts. This industrious writer died March 21, 1742, aged only twenty-nine. His eloge was composed by M. cle Mairan, then secretary to the academy.
dangers. In 1621, he Was elected warden of Merton-college, through the archbishop’s recommendation; who also made him his vicar-general, commissary of the diocese of
, a learned lawyer in the seventeenth century, was born at Little Wool ford, in Warwickshire, in 1573, being the son of Anchor Brent of that place, gent. In 1589, he became pordonist, or post-master, of Merton-college, in Oxford; and, on the 20th of June 1593, took the degree of bachelor of arts. The year following he was admitted probationer-fellow of the college. On the 3 1st of October 1598; he took the degree of master of arts and then entered upon law studies. In 1607, he was one of the proctors of the university. Some years after, in 1613, &c. he travelled into foreign parts, and became acquainted with several of the most learned men abroad. After his return, he married Martha daughter and heir of Dr. Robert Abbot, bishop of Salisbury, and niece to Dr. George Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury, which was the cause of his succeeding great preferments. About the year 1618, he was sent to Venice by archbishop Abbot, on purpose to get a copy of the History of the Council of Trent, then newly composed by the most renowned Padre Paolo Sarpi; in procuring of which he exposed himself to very great dangers. In 1621, he Was elected warden of Merton-college, through the archbishop’s recommendation; who also made him his vicar-general, commissary of the diocese of Canterbury, master of the faculties, and at length judge of the prerogative. On the llth of October, 1623, he accumulated the degrees of bachelor and doctor of law. The 23d of August, 1629, he received the honour of knighthood from king Charles I. at Woodstock, being then supposed well-affected to the church and hierarchy. But in the great disputes that arose between archbishop Abbot and bishop Laud, he entirely sided with the first, and his adherents, the puritan party; and grew so inveterate against Laud, that he was a frequent witness against him at his trial. He likewise deserted Oxford when king Charles I. garrisoned that place, and took the covenant: for which reason he was deprived of his wardenship of Merton-college, by his majesty’s command; but restored again when Oxford garrison was surrendered for the parliament’s use, in 1646. In 1647 and 1648, he was appointed chief visitor of that university, and countenanced all the violent and arbitrary proceedings there used, not sparing his own college. When an order was made against pluralities, he was forced to leave Mertoncollege, on the 27th of November, 1651; at which time he refused also the oath called the Engagement. Upon this, retiring to his house in Little Britain, in London, he died there November 6, 1652, aged 79; and was buried, the seventeenth of the same month, with great solemnity, in the church of St. Bartholomew the Less.
Paul and father Fulgentio, the two joint authors, composed it, they privately gave a copy to Brent, who sent it over weekly to the archbishop Abbot in the original
The only service to the public which sir N. Brent did,
appears to have been in procuring the history of the council of Trent. As father Paul and father Fulgentio, the
two joint authors, composed it, they privately gave a copy
to Brent, who sent it over weekly to the archbishop Abbot
in the original Italian; and it came to his hands under five
or six covers to other persons, for the greater security.
When Mr. Brent had sent it all over, he came back himself, and translated it out of Italian into English and Latin. The original Italian was printed first at London in
1619, and dedicated to king James I. by D. Antonio de
Dominis, archbishop of Spalatro, who had been instrumental in procuring that history. The English translation
was published in 1619, folio. A new edition was printed
in 1640; and another in 1676, with other pieces of father
Paul at the end. His other publication would have done
him equal credit, had he adhered to his principles. He
reviewed Mr. Francis Mason’s “Vindication of the Church
of England, concerning the Consecration and Ordination
of the Bishops, &c.
” examined the quotations, compared
them with the originals, and printed that book from the
author’s manuscript, in 1625, fol. in Latin. It is a complete refutation of the old story of the Nag’s head ordination.
to them from the gospel of St. Matthew, and his auditors increasing, it was objected to him by those who were jealous of his talents, that he was not fit for such a
, one of the supporters of the reformation, was born at Wile in Suabia, in 1499, a city of which his father had been mayor for many years. He was educated at Heidelberg school and university, and when only fifteen years old commenced bachelor. Such was his thirst for learning, that he usually rose at midnight to his studies, which became afterwards so much a habit, that he never slept longer than midnight. At eighteen he took his master’s degree in arts, and about the same time the perusal of some of Luther’s writings induced him to change his mind in many important points, which he endeavoured to communicate to his fellow-students by lecturing to them from the gospel of St. Matthew, and his auditors increasing, it was objected to him by those who were jealous of his talents, that he was not fit for such a work, not being in orders. To remove that, he entered into orders, and became a very popular preacher. He was then called to be pastor at Hall in Suabia, where he gave such satisfaction that the senate confirmed him in the office, although he was only twenty-three years old. When Muncer and his adherents rose in arms in Germany, and threatened to besiege Hall, he not only wrote against these enthusiasts, but encouraged the citizens to defend the place, which they did with great bravery. We find him aftersvards attending a conference of the reformed clergy for the purpose of reconciling the contention between Luther and Zuinglius, respecting the real presence; and in 1530 he was at the diet of Augsburgh, where the celebrated confession of faith was drawn up. When Ulric, prince of Wirtemberg, meditated the introduction of the reformed religion in his dominions, and particularly in the university of Tubingen, he employed Brentius in that seat of learning, who accomplished the purpose to his entire satisfaction. In 1547, when the emperor Charles V. and his army came to Hall, Brentius found it necessary to make his escape; and some letters of his being found, in which he justified the protestant princes for taking arms against the emperor, he became still in more danger; but on the emperor’s removing his army, he returned to Hall again. In 1548, however, when the emperor had published the Interim, Brentius declared himself so strongly against it, that the emperor sent a commissary to Hall, charging him to bring Brentius to him, alive or dead. The magistrates and citizens would have still protected him, but, as the emperor threatened to destroy their city if he were not given up, they connived at his escape, and presently after Ulric prince of Wirtemberg afforded him an asylum, until he got to Basil. He remained^ in this kind of banishment until 1550, when Christopher duke of Wirtemberg, in room of his father Ulric deceased, resolved to restore the ministers who were driven away by the Interim, and to complete the reformation; and therefore sent for Brentius to his castle at Stutg&rd, where he might have his advice and assistance. Here at his request, Brentius drew up a confession of faith, including the controverted points, which the duke intended to send to the council of Trent; and the year after the pastor of Stutgard dying, Brentius was chosen in his room, and held the situation for life. In 1557 he went to the conferences at Worms, which ended unsatisfactorily, as the popish representatives would not admit the authority of scripture in deciding their controversies. A more important service he performed in his old age. As there were many monasteries in Wirtemberg, from which the friars had been expelled, he persuaded his prince to convert them into schools, which was accordingly done, and Brentius visited them once in two years, directing and encouraging their studies. He died in 1570, and was buried with every mark of public respect. His works were printed together in 8 vols. fol. at Tubingen, 1576 i)0: most of them had been printed separately at various periods of his life. His opinions coincided in general with those of Luther, except on the subject of the real presence, in which he held some sentiments peculiar to himself, although perhaps essentially not very different from those of the Lutheran church.
re, as the assumed name of one James Anderton, of Lostock in Lancashire, in the seventeenth century, who published under it, 1. “The Protestant’s Apology for the Roman
, perhaps worth mentioning here,
as the assumed name of one James Anderton, of Lostock
in Lancashire, in the seventeenth century, who published
under it, 1. “The Protestant’s Apology for the Roman
Church, 4to, 1604, 1608, 1615. 2.
” The Liturgy of the
Mass, &c.“in Latin, Cologn, 1620, 4to. 3.
” St. Augustin’s Religion; giving an account of his opinion in matters
of controversy between Catholics and Protestants,“1620,
8vo. Dr. Thomas Morton, the learned bishop of Durham,
answered the
” Protestant’s Apology“in a work entitle4
” A Catholic Appeal for Protestants," 1606, 4to. Some
farther particulars of Anderton’s works, although none of
his life, may be seen in our authority.
o be endowed by nature with a great capacity, her talents were assiduously cultivated by her father, who was himself a man of excellent parts. Mr. Hughes, however, dying
, an English poetess, was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Hughes, of Bryn- Griffith near Mould in
Flintshire, by Anne Jones, his wife, and was born in 1685.
Being observed to be endowed by nature with a great capacity, her talents were assiduously cultivated by her father, who was himself a man of excellent parts. Mr.
Hughes, however, dying when she was only sixteen, she
soon lost these advantages; but early discovered a turn
for poetry, which her acquaintance encouraged. In Jan,
1711 she married Mr. Thomas Brereton, at that time a
commoner of Brazen-nose college, Oxford, only son of
major Brereton, son and heir of William Brereton, esq.
of Cheshire. Her husband soon spent his fortune, and
went over to Paris; and some time after this, a separation,
having taken place, she retired, 1721, to her native country, Wales, where she led a solitary life, seeing little company, except some intimate friends. About this time Mr.
Brereton obtained from lord Sunderland a post Belonging
to the customs at Park-gate near Chester; but in Feb.
1722, was unfortunately drowned in crossing the water of
Saltney, when the tide was coming in. Mrs. Brereton
then retired to Wrexham in Denbighshire, for the benefit
of her children’s education, where she died Aug. 7, 1740,
aged fifty -five, leaving two daughters, Lucy and Charlotte,
the latter probably the author of <c The Rattle,“a song,
in Fawkes and Woty’s
” Poetical Calendar," vol. XI. p. 14.
orrespondent to the Gentleman’s Magazine, under the signature of Melissa, where she had a competitor who signed himself Fido, and who is supposed to have been Thomas
Mrs. Brereton was amiable in every relation of life and
possessed talents for versification, if not for poetry, which
she displayed some years as a correspondent to the Gentleman’s Magazine, under the signature of Melissa, where
she had a competitor who signed himself Fido, and who is
supposed to have been Thomas Beach (See his article, vol. IV). After her death a volume was published of “Poems
on several occasions; with letters to her friends; and an
account of her life,
” London,
mas Whitmore, K. B. and with her he lived happily for more tnan fifty years. They had five children, who all died young: he bequeathed the rents of his estates to her
Mr. Breretort' became a member of the society of arts
in 1762; and,by his assiduity, zeal, and order, filled the
distinguished office of vice-president with great credit to
himself and advantage to the society, from March 1765
till his last illness in 1798. He was also an early member
of the royal society and the society of antiquaries. The
Archaeologia of the latter contain his “Observations on
Peter Collinson’s Account of the Round Towers in Ireland;
” his “Tour through South Wales;
” his “Extracts
from the Household Book of Henry VIII;
” his “Account
of a painted Window in Brereton Church, Cheshire;
” and
that of “A non-descript Coin,
” supposed to be Philip VI.
of France. Mr. Pennant has also, in his Welch Tour,
described and given an engraving of several Roman antiquities found at a Roman station on his estate in Flintshire.
Mr. Brereton was a bencher of the hon. society of Lincol n’s-Inn; filled the office of treasurer, and was keeper
of the Black Book. He also represented the borough of
Ilchester in parliament. He took the name of Salusbury
with an estate, and became constable of the castle of
Flint, a valuable privilege to his adjacent possessions. His
domestic happiness was manifest to his numerous and respectable acquaintance, among whom were some of the
most learned men of the age. He died Sept. 8, 1798, in
the eighty-fourth year of his age, and was interred in St.
George’s chapel, Windsor. His wife was sister of sir
Thomas Whitmore, K. B. and with her he lived happily
for more tnan fifty years. They had five children, who all
died young: he bequeathed the rents of his estates to her
during her life, and after her decease, which happened in
1799, to his relations, the only son of the late general
Trelawney, of Soho-square, and the second son of the rev.
sir Henry Trelawney, bart. of Cornwall.
, a learned mathematician and antiquary, was the son of Robert Brerewood, a reputable tradesman, who was three times mayor of Chester. Our author was born in that
, a learned mathematician
and antiquary, was the son of Robert Brerewood, a reputable tradesman, who was three times mayor of Chester.
Our author was born in that city in 1565, where he was
educated in grammar learning at the free school; and was
afterwards admitted, in 1581, of Brazen-nose college, Oxford, where he soon acquired the character of a hard
student; as he has shewn by the commentaries he wrote
upon Aristotle’s Ethics, when no more than twenty-one
years of age. In 1596 he was chosen the first professor of
astronomy in Gresham college, being one of the two who,
at the desire of the electors, were recommended to them
by the university of Oxford. He loved retirement, and
wholly devoted himself to the pursuit of knowledge. And
though he never published any thing himself, yet he was
very communicative, and ready to impart what he knew to
others, either in conversation or in writing. His retired
situation at Gresham college being agreeable, it did not
appear that he had any other views, but continued there
the remainder of his life, which was terminated by a fever
the 4th of November 1613, at forty-eight years of age, in
the midst of his pursuits, and before he had taken proper
care to collect and digest his learned labours; which,
however, were not lost; being reduced to order, and published after his death, in the following order: 1. “De ponderibus et pretiis veterum nummorum, eorumque cum recentioribus collatione,
” Enquiries touching the
diversity of Languages and Religion, through the chief
parts of the world,
” Elementa Logicae in gratiam studiosae juventutis
in acad. Oxon.
” Tractatus quidam logici
de praedicabilibus et proedicamentis,
” Treatise of the Sabbath,
” 6.
” A second treatise
of the Sabbath,“1632, 4to. 7,
” Tractatus duo, quorum
primus est de meteoris, secundus de oculo,“1631. 8.
” Commentarii in Ethica Aristotelis,“1640,. 4to. Mr.
Wood tells us, that the original manuscript of this, written
with his own hand, is in the smallest and neatest character that his eyes ever beheld; and that it was finished by
him Oct. 27, 1586. 9.
” The patriarchal government of
the ancient Church," 1641, 4to.
auses; and by this means procured himself very considerable interest af the court of king Henry III. who raised him on account of his merit to the bishopric of Hereford.
, bishop of Hereford in the thirteenth century, was born in England, and educated there, and after he had made himself master of the Latin tongue, he applied himself to the study of the law, in which he made so great a progress, that he was created doctor of civil and canon law. He distinguished himself in this profession by his admirable talents in the decision of the most difficult causes; and by this means procured himself very considerable interest af the court of king Henry III. who raised him on account of his merit to the bishopric of Hereford. Bale acknowledges his eminent abilities in the law, but expresses himself in very severe terms against him on that account, as neglecting his episcopal duties. He made a large collection of the laws of England from various authors, digested into one volume, which Leland tells us was of great advantage to king Edward I. the son and successor of Henry III. and to the whole nation. He died in 1275, and was succeeded in his see by Thomas Cantilupe.
rdered ta Louisburgh, with some other ships of war, for the purpose of reinforcing commodore Warren, who was then engaged in the attack of that important place. Capt.
, a naval officer, of whose family we have
no account, was, soon after the rupture had taken place
with Spain, appointed commander of the Grampus sloop
of war. From this vessel he was, March 25, 1741, promoted to be captain of the Roebuck, a fifth rate of 40
guns, and immediately afterwards ordered to the Mediterranean from which he returned in May 1742, and in.
November following was removed into the Anglesea, of
the same rate as the former. In April 1744 he received
the command of the Sunderland of 60 guns, and next year
was on a cruise off the French coast, and in February captured a small French frigate richly laden, and with 24,000
pieces of eight in specie. Soon after his return into port he
was ordered ta Louisburgh, with some other ships of war, for
the purpose of reinforcing commodore Warren, who was
then engaged in the attack of that important place. Capt.
Brett arrived early enough before it surrendered to distinguish himself by his spirit and activity in the service.
He afterwards commanded the St. George of 90 guns for a
short time, but having been unwarrantably omitted in the
promotion of flag-officers, which took place in 1756, he
very spiritedly resolved to quit the service for ever, though
on his remonstrance, previous to his actual declaration of
this resolution, the admiralty-board, ashamed of having,
even for a moment, set aside a brave and deserving man,
offered him the rank of rear-admiral of the white, the same
which he would have been entitled to in the ordinary course
of service, if the partiality in favour of others had not
been exerted. His answer to this palliating proposal was,
“No rank or station can be, with honour, received by a
person who has been once thought undeserving or unentitled to it.
” From this time he retired into private life,
and survived two long wars, in neither of which he waa
engaged. He died in London in 1785. He translated
two volumes of father Feyjoo’s Discourses, the one published in 1777, and the other in 1779; and in 1730, “Essays, or Discourses, selected from the works of Feyjoo.
”
The late Charles Brett, esq. one of the lords of the admiralty, who died in 1799, and Timothy Brett, clerk of
the cheque at Portsmouth, who died in 1790, were brothers of capt. Brett.
ordered into the South Sea under Mr. (afterwards lord) Anson. He was afterwards appointed by Anson, who had a high opinion of him, to be second lieutenant in, his own
, admiral of the blue, an elder brother of the Trinity-house, and one of the directors of Greenwich hospital, born in 1709, was the son of Piercy Brett, many years a master in the royal navy, and afterwards master attendant of his majesty’s yards at Sheerness and Chatham, at which last place he died June 4$ 1752. Of Piercy’s early years we have no exact account; but he served either as midshipman, or as some say, as lieutenant in the Gloucester, of 50 guns, one of the small squadron ordered into the South Sea under Mr. (afterwards lord) Anson. He was afterwards appointed by Anson, who had a high opinion of him, to be second lieutenant in, his own ship, the Centurion, and he confided to him the attack on the town of Paita, a service which he executed with the greatest skill, promptitude, and exactness. After the capture of the Manilla galleon, and the arrival of the Centurion at Macao, Mr. Brett was promoted by commodore Anson to the command of that ship, under him, as captain, he being, as he supposed, authorised by his instructions, to issue such a commission. The lords of the admiralty, however, having refused to confirm it, Mr. Anson retired from the service, and would not return until Mr. Brett’s rank was allowed, with which another board of admiralty thought proper to comply, and Mr. Brett ranked as captain from Sept. 30, 1743.
rd the Norfolk, and was in the same year appointed first captain to lord Anson, in the Royal George, who commanded in the channel, the covering-fleet to the squadron
In 1747 he commanded the Yarmouth, of 64 guns, one
of the squadron under Mr. Anson, which, in the month of
May, defeated and captured that of France, commanded
by De la Jonquiere. He was one of the captains sent
after the conclusion of the action in pursuit of the convoy,
of which, Dr. Campbell and other historians assert, two
only were captured, but we find it peremptorily asserted
in the periodical publications of the time, that five more
French ships were brought into Portsmouth, and three
into Plymouth. On Jan. 3, 1753, he received the honour
of knighthood from his majesty, in consequence of his
having carried him to Holland; and towards the end of the
year he was appointed captain of the Caroline yacht, as
successor to Sir C. Molloy. In 1758, he was commodore
in the Downs, having his pendant on board the Norfolk,
and was in the same year appointed first captain to lord
Anson, in the Royal George, who commanded in the channel, the covering-fleet to the squadron employed under
lord Howe on the coast of France. On the conclusion of
this expedition he returned to his command in the Downs.
In March 1760 he was appointed colonel of the Portsmouth division of marines. In 1761, still continuing to
hold the Downs command, we find him frequently and
actively employed in reconnoitering the opposite coast
and ports of France. In December, having hoisted his
pendant on board the Newark, he was ordered for the
Mediterranean with seven ships of war, as second in command to sir Charles Saunders, and shared, as a flag, in the
rich Spanish prize, the Hermione. In the course of the
same year he was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral of
the red. From this time he appears never to have accepted
any command, but Dec. 13, 1766, was appointed one of
the lords of the admiralty, an office which he held until
Feb. 24, 1770. In October of that year he was promoted to be vice-admiral of the blue, and on the 28th
of the same month, to be vice-admiral of the white; March
1775, was admiral of the red, and finally, in Jan. 1778,
admiral of the blue. He died Oct. 12, 1781, and was
buried at Beckenham church, in Kent. His biographer
adds, that “whether living or dead, the vice of slander
and malevolence was abashed at his manifold virtues, ever
silent, not only at his approach, but even at the bare mention of his name.
” In the last parliament of George II.
and the first of George III. he sat as member for Queenborough, in Kent. In 1745, after his return from the
South Seas with Anson, he married Henrietta, daughter
of Thomas Colby, esq. clerk of the cheque at Chatham;
by whom he had two sons, who died young, and a daughter
who survived him.
Aylesbury, and was admitted B. D. in 1597. In 1604 he was appointed one of the seven Oxford divines who were to translate the Bible by king James’s order; and was afterwards
, a learned English divine, the son
of Robert Brett, of Whitstanton, in Somersetshire, was
born in London, in 1561, and entered a commoner of
Hart-hall, Oxford, in 1582, where he took one degree in
arts, and was then elected fellow of Lincoln-college, and
was distinguished for his progress in the learned languages.
About 1595 he was made rector of Quainton, near Aylesbury, and was admitted B. D. in 1597. In 1604 he was
appointed one of the seven Oxford divines who were to
translate the Bible by king James’s order; and was afterwards made one of the first fellows of Chelsea college, a
foundation which, we have already had occasion to remark^
was never completed. Wood represents him as a pious
and learned man, and critically skilled in Latin, Greek,
Hebrew, and the Oriental languages, a vigilant pastor,
a liberal benefactor, and a faithful friend. He died April
la, 1637, and was buried in the chancel of his church at
Quainton, under a monument with his effigies, and those
of his widow and four children kneeling. He published,
1. “Vitae Sanctorum Evangelist. Johannis et Lucae a Simeone Metaphraste concinnatae,
” Oxon, Agatharchidis et Memnonis Historicorum quae supersunt
omuia,
” ibid. Iconum sacraruni decas,
in qua e subjectis Typis compluscula sanae doctrinse capita
eruuntur,
” ibid.
f A. B. Upon his return to Cambridge some time after, finding his books embezzled by an idle scholar who had been put into his chamber, he determined to leave that college,
His father was for some time undetermined whether he should send him to the university, but at length placed him in Queen’s-college, Cambridge, where he was admitted March 1684. Here he continued till he became soph, when some irregularities in money-matters, and improper company, induced his father to recal him, and he remained at home until he had missed the time of taking the degree of A. B. Upon his return to Cambridge some time after, finding his books embezzled by an idle scholar who had been put into his chamber, he determined to leave that college, and was admitted into Corpus Christ! Jan. 17, 1689, where he proceeded LL. B. on St. Barnabas day following, and made no scruple of taking the oaths of allegiance and supremacy to king William and queen Mary; his father, and other relations, who were accounted whigs, having taught him whig principles. He saw also that the tories of his acquaintance took these oaths without any scruple, although they had formerly sworn allegiance to king James, which he had never done: even his schoolmaster, Mr. Pratt, complied, who had early instilled such principles into his mind as he could never thoroughly reconcile with the revolution. The bishop of Winchester ordained him deacon at Chelsea, Dec. 21, 1690, when he undertook the service of the cure of Folkstone> for a twelvemonth; after which he came up to London, entered into priests’ orders, and was chosen lecturer of Islington, Oct. 4, 1691; where, from his frequent conversation with Mr. Gery , the vicar, who was a tory, he became entirely of the same principles.
y frequent discourse on the subject of parties, with his near relation the lord chief baron Gilbert, who endeavoured to bring him over to the whigs, that he might have
At each of these institutions he took the oath of abjuration, and without scruple, until by frequent discourse on the subject of parties, with his near relation the lord chief baron Gilbert, who endeavoured to bring him over to the whigs, that he might have the better opportunity of recommending him to higher preferment, he unwittingly opened his eyes, as he terms it, and rivetted him the firmer in his former opinions; and, upon reading the trial of Dr. Sacheverel, published soon after, he began in earnest to believe he had taken oaths which he ought not to have taken, and resolved never to repeat them. In this dilemma, however, he had no scruple about the schism in the church, nor about continuing to pray for a prince in possession of the throne, until upon the accession of a new one, an act of parliament was made obliging all persons to take the oaths afresh. But this, in the present state of his conscience, he could not comply with, and wrote to his patron the archbishop, in April 1715, desiring he would give him leave to resign his livings, to which his grace answered very kindly, that he would advise him to consider farther of it, and not to do that rashly of which he might afterwards repent. Dr. Brett accordingly took his advice, and made no resignation, considering that his non-compliance with the act of parliament would' in a short time vacate them of course. He left off, however, to officiate in either of them, but still went to his own parish church as a lay communicant, until Mr. Campbell wrote to him, by order of bishop Hickes, (who had got some information of his resolution) pressing him earnestly to refrain entirely from all communion with the parish churches, urging the point of schism. On this he had recourse to ?.lr. Dodwell’s tracts on that subject, whose arguments not satisfying his mind, he resolved to surrender himself up to bishop Hickes, and upon a penitential confession, was received into his communion July 1, 1715, who from this time appears to have had a great influence over him.
visiting a sick person of his communion, this minister complained of him to the archbishop in 1718, who sent him word that if he heard any more such complaints, he
He now usually officiated in his own house every Sunday, where a few of the same persuasion assembled with his family, until he was presented at the assizes the year following, for keeping a conventicle, but the act of indemnity soon after cleared him from this. To avoid, however, any prosecution of the like sort for the future, it was thought adviseable to vary the place of their meeting, and he went accordingly, sometimes to Canterbury, and sometimes to Feversham, where part of his congregation lived, without any interruption, until upon intruding into the duties of the parochial minister of Feversham, by visiting a sick person of his communion, this minister complained of him to the archbishop in 1718, who sent him word that if he heard any more such complaints, he should be obliged to lay them before the king and council. He continued to officiate on Sundays, as usual, and no farther notice was taken of it, until in 1729 he obtained leave of Mr. Simpson, the minister of Norton, to perform the burial office in his church. Lord Townsend hearing of this, and communicating it to the archbishop, he ordered his archdeacon to reprove the vicar for granting him permission. So that it appears from his own confession (for most of the foregoing particulars are extracted from the account he gives of/ himself in a letter to a friend) both the archbishops Tenison and Wake, shewed great wisdom and charity, candour and generosity, in their conduct towards him, although they could not influence him so far as to be even ^a lay-communicant with them; and that he lived under a mild government, having no other disturbance given him, than a reproof, upon a complaint.
of C. C. college we have taken this account of Dr. Brett, represents him, upon the authority of one who knew him well, as a “learned, pious, and indefatigable author,
He appears now to have lived in obscurity and with
caution, until his death, which happened at his house at
Spring-grove, March 5, 1743, when his remains were
placed among those of his ancestors in the family vault at
Wye. Mr. Masters, from whose history of C. C. college
we have taken this account of Dr. Brett, represents him,
upon the authority of one who knew him well, as a “learned,
pious, and indefatigable author, a worthy, orthodox member of the church of England, and no small honour to her;
whose works are a clear indication of his writing in the
search of truth, which, if at any time he found himself
deviating from, he always took the first opportunity of f<?tracting it in, the most public manner. In private life he
was a dutiful son, an affectionate husband, a kind parent,
and a true friend. His conversation was ever facetious,
good-natured, and easy, tempered with a becoming gravity, without moroseness, and so well adapted to those he
happened to be in company with, that it rendered him
agreeable to, as well as esteemed by persons of all ranks,
who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
” His widow
survived him some time, and one son, Nicholas, who was
chaplain to sir Robert Cotton, of Steeple-Gedding, in
Huntingdonshire, bart. and afterwards settled in Kent.
f England is most agreeable to that of the primitive church; for the instruction of a near relation, who had been brought up among the Dissenters,” Lond. 1707, 8vo.
His works were: 1. “An account of Church-government and governors, wherein is shewed that the government of the church of England is most agreeable to that
of the primitive church; for the instruction of a near relation, who had been brought up among the Dissenters,
”
Lond. The beautiful Pattern,
” written by Mr. Nokes, pastor
of an independent congregation, who afterwards conformed
to the church of England. A second edition of this tract
was published in 1710, with large additions and amendments, and a chapter on “Provincial Synods,
” which was
animadverted upon in a pamphlet entitled “Presbytery
not always an authoritative part of Provincial Synods,
”
written by Mr. Lewis, of Margate, The Authority of Presbyters vindicated, in answer thereto.
” In
a letter to a friend, however, he afterwards acknowledges
he was convinced of being mistaken, for although Presbyters were often connected with, yet they had no authoritative votes in the ancient church. 3. “Two letters on
the times wherein Marriage is said to be prohibited,
”
Lond. A letter to the author of LayBaptism invalid, wherein the doctrine of Lay-Baptism,
taught in a sermon said to have been preached by the
B of S 7 Nov. 1710, is censured and condemned
by all reformed churches,
” Lond. A sermon
on Remission of Sins, Joh. xx. 21—23,
” Lond. The doctrine of Remission, &c. explained and vindicated.
”
He afterwards owned he went too far, and that Dr. Marshall, in his “Doctrine of the primitive church,
” had set
this matter right. With this sermon he also published in
1715, five others, on “The honour of the Christian priesthood. The extent of Christ’s commission to baptise.
The Christian Altar and Sacrifice. The Dangers of a Relapse. And, True Moderation.
” The “Extent of Christ’s
commission to baptise,
” with “the Letter to the author of
Lay-Baptism invalid,
” was answered by Mr. Bingham in
his “Scholastic History of Lay-Baptism,
” and being reflected upon by the bishop of Oxford in a charge, he wrote
7. an “Enquiry into the judgment and practice of the
primitive church, &c. in answer thereto,
” Lond. A farther Enquiry, &c.
” A review of the Lutheran
principles,
” shewing how they differ from the church of
England, &c.“In the same year, Mr. Lewis, in answer
to this, undertook to show their agreement, with which
Dr. Brett was very angry, and threatened him with a reply,
from which his friends dissuaded him. In a second edition, however, he nvule some transient remarks upon,
two letters to the lord viscount Townsend, by Robert
Watts, in answer thereto. 10.
” A vindication of himself
from the calumnies cast upon him in some news-papers,
falsely charging him with turning papist; in a letter to
the hon. Arch. Campbell, esq.“Lond. 1715. 11.
” Dr.
Bennet’s concessions to the Non-jurors proved destructive
to the cause he endeavours to defend,“1717. 12.
” The
Independency of the Church upon the State, as to its pure
spiritual powers, &c.“1717. 13.
” The Divine right of
Episcopacy, &c.“1718; and in the same year, 14.
” Tradition necessary to explain and interpret the Holy Scriptures,“with a postscript in answer to
” No sufficient
reason, &c.“and a preface, with remarks on
” Toland’s
Nazarenus,“and
” a further proof of the necessity of Tradition, &c.“15.
” A Vindication of the postscript in
answer to No just grounds, &c.“1720. 16.
” A discourse
concerning the necessity of discerning Christ’s body in the
Holy Communion,“Lond. 1720. 17.
” A dissertation on
the principal liturgies used by the Christian church in the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist,“1720. He is also
supposed to have written, 18.
” Some discourses on
the ever-blessed Trinity,“in the same year. 19.
” Of
degrees in the university,“a dissertation in the Biblioth.
Liter. N
”. 1. “An essay on the various English translations
of the Bible,
” N. 4. “An historical essay concerning
arithmetical figures,
” N. 8, with an appendix to it,
N. 10, 1722, 3, 4, in 4to. 20. “An instruction to a
person newly confirmed, &c.
” A Chronological essay on the Sacred History, &c.
” in defence of the
computation of the Septuagint, with an “Essay on the
confusion of languages,
” A general history of the World, &c.
” An answer to
the plain account of the Sacrament,
” in Some remarks on Dr. Waterland’s Review of the
doctrine of the Eucharist,
” &c. with an Appendix in answer to his charges,“1741. 25.
” A letter to a clergyman, shewing why the Hebrew Bibles differ from the Septuagint,“1743. 26.
” Four letters between a Gentleman
and a Clergyman, concerning the necessity of Episcopal
communion for the valid administration of Gospel ordinances,“1743. 27.
” The life of Mr. John Johnson,
A.M.“ prefixed to his posthumous tracts in 1748, with
several prefaces to the works of others, particularly a very
long one to Hart’s
” Bulwark stormed,“&c. In 1760
was published
” A dissertation on the antient versions of
the Bible,“a second edition prepared for the press by the
author, and
” now first published," 8vo.
nowledge, his exquisite pencil, and genteel behaviour, were soon noticed by the duke of Marlborough; who promoted him to the rank of captain, and also employed him in
, son of Francis Durant de Breval, D. D. prebendary
of Westminster, was educated at Westminster-school, to which he was admitted
1693, and removed thence to Trinity-college, Cambridge,
in 1697. He was elected fellow of it about the year 1702;
but, upon some disagreement between him and Dr. Bentley, the master, he quitted his fellowship, and went into
the army, then in Flanders, as an ensign. The ease with
which he acquired the Flemish and German languages,
his great knowledge, his exquisite pencil, and genteel behaviour, were soon noticed by the duke of Marlborough;
who promoted him to the rank of captain, and also employed him in jdivers negotiations with several German
princes. He began his travels about 1720, published the
two first volumes of them in 1723 and 1725, and the third
and fourth in 1738, all in folio. It may be matter of surprise to see Mr. Breval’s name among the gentlemen of
the Dunciad; but, soon after the unsuccessful exhibition
of the “Three hours after marriage,
” which, though with
only Gay’s name to it, was certainly the joint production
of Gay, Pope, and Arbuthnot, Breval, under the assumed name of Joseph Gay, produced a farce called “The
Confederates,
” and this exposed him to Pope’s resentment.
He published also in 1734: 1. “The History of the house
of Nassau,
” 8vo. 2. “The Hoop-petticoat, a poem,
”
The Art of Dress, an heroi-eomical poem,
”
Mac Dermot, or the Irish Fortune-hunter,
”
Calpe, or Gibraltar,
” apoem, The Play
is the Plot,
” which not succeeding in that shape, he reduced it to a farce called “The Strollers,
” which met
with more favour. In The Rape of Helen.
”
As to what is said above, of his quitting his fellowship, the
fact is, that he and a Mr. Miller were expelled. Breval,
speaking of the conduct of Dr. Bentley on this occasion,
used the remarkable expression of “Tantum non jugulavit.
”
by the promotion of Dr. J. Cosin to that see, and was installed March 15, 1660-61. By bishop Cosiu, who had been his fellow-sufferer, he was also collated to a living
, a learned divine of the seventeenth century, was born in the Isle of Jersey, in the reign
of king James I. and probably educated in grammar-learning in that place. From thence he went and studied logic
and philosophy in the Protestant university of Saumur,
where he took the degree of master of arts, on September
12, 1634. Coming to Oxford, he was, October 12, 1638,
incorporated M. A. as he stood at Saumur. About this
time king Charles I. having through archbishop Laud’s
persuasion founded three fellowships in the colleges of
Pembroke, Exeter, and Jesus, for the islands of Jersey
and Guernsey, alternately, Mr. Brevint was nominated
the first fellow at Jesus-college upon this foundation, in
1638. Here he continued till he was ejected from his fellowship by the parliament- visitors, for refusing to take the
solemn league and covenant, and withdrew to his native
country, but upon the reduction of that place by the parliament’s forces, he fled into France, and became minister
of a Protestant congregation in Normandy. Not long
after, he had the honour of being made chaplain to the
viscount de Turenne, afterwards marshal of France, whose
lady was one of the most pious women of her time. Whilst
he was in that station, he was one of the persons “employed about the great design then in hand, of reconciling
the Protestant and Popish religions; which gave him an access into, and made him acquainted with every corner of that
church,
” as he says himself. At the restoration of king
Charles II. he returned to England, and was presented by
that prince (wjio had known him abroad) to the tenth prebend in the church of Durham, vacant by the promotion of
Dr. J. Cosin to that see, and was installed March 15, 1660-61.
By bishop Cosiu, who had been his fellow-sufferer, he was
also collated to a living in the diocese of Durham. On the
27th of February, 1661-62, he took his degree of D. D. at
Oxford. Having during his exile seen Popery in its native
deformity, and observed all the mean and dishonest arts
that are used to support it, he in 1672 published “Missale Romanum; or, the depth and mystery of the Roman
Mass laid open and explained, for the use of both reformed
and unreformed Christians,
” and the next year, “The
Christian Sacramenc and Sacrifice, by way of discourse,
meditation, and prayer, upon the nature, parts, and blessings of the holy communipn,
” reprinted on the recommendation of Dr. Waterland, in 1739. And in 1674,
“Saul and Samuel at Endor, or the new waies of salvation
and service, which usually tempt men to Rome, and detain them there, truly represented and refuted,
” reprinted
A brief account of R. F.
his Missale Vindicaturo, or vindication of the Roman mass,
”
being an answer to “The depth and mystery of the Roman
Mass,
” above-mentioned. The learning and other eminent
qualifications of the author having recommended him to the
esteem of the world, and to the favour of his sovereign, he
was promoted to the deanery of Lincoln, and was installed
January 3, 1681-82, and had the prebend of WeltonPayns-hall annexed thereto, January 7th following. He
died May 5, 1695, and was buried in the cathedral church
of Lincoln, behind the high altar; where, on a gravestone, is an inscription to his memory. He was a person
of extensive reading, especially in the controversy between
the Protestants and Papists; zealous for the church of
England; and for his life and learning, truly praise-worthy.
Besides the above works, he published in Latin: 1. “Ecclesiae primitives Sacramentum & Sacrificium, a pontificiis
corruptelis, & exinde natis controversiis liberum,
” written at the desire of the princesses of Turenne and Bouillon.
2. “Eucharistiae Christianse prsesentia realis, & pontificia
ficta, luculentissimis non testimoniis modo, sed etiam fundamentis, quibus fere tota S. S. Patrum Theologia nititur,
hsec explosa, ilia suffulta & asserta.
” 3. “Pro Serenissima Principe Weimariensi ad Theses Jenenses accurata
Responsio.
” 4. “Ducentue plus minus Praelectiones in
Matthaei xxv capita, et aliorum Evangelistarum locos
passim parallelos.
” He also translated into Frenck
“The judgment of the university of Oxford concerning
the solemn League and Covenant.
”
His Jady, a woman of cunning and intrigue, was too apt to interfere in chancery suits; and his sons, who practised under him, did not bear the fairest characters. He
, a lawyer of considerable eminence, was the son of Dr. John Bridgeman, bishop
of Chester, and educated to the profession of the law, in
which, as he disapproved of the usurpation, he made no
figure until the restoration, when on May 13, 1660, he was
called to be a serjeant by the king’s special writ, and on
June 1, was advanced to be lord chief baron of the exchequer, from which, Oct. 22, he was removed to be lord chief
justice of the common pleas. While he presided in this’
court, his reputation was at its height for equity and moderation. In 1667, when the great seal was taken from
lord Clarendon, the king delivered it, August 13, to sir
Orlando, with the title of Keeper. After this, his good
name began to decline: he was timid and irresolute, and
his timidity still increased with his years: nor was his
judgment equal to all the difficulties of his office. His
Jady, a woman of cunning and intrigue, was too apt to interfere in chancery suits; and his sons, who practised under him, did not bear the fairest characters. He was desirous of an union with Scotland, and a comprehepsion
with the dissenters: but was against tolerating the papists.
He is said to have been removed from his office for refusing
to affix the seal to the king’s declaration for liberty of conscience, Nov. 17, 1672. The time of his death we have
not been able to ascertain, but a singular account of his
son sir Orlando, may be seen in the Biog. Brit. vol. VI.
p. 3740. The lord-keeper is known as a law writer, by his
“Conveyances, being select precedents of deeds and instruments concerning the most considerable estates in
England,
”
in Northamptonshire, a celebrated antiquary and topographer, was son and heir of John Bridges, esq. who purchased that estate, by Elizabeth, sister of sir William Trumbull,
, esq. of Barton- Seagrave, in Northamptonshire, a celebrated antiquary and topographer, was son and heir of John Bridges, esq. who purchased that estate, by Elizabeth, sister of sir William Trumbull, secretary of state, and was born at Binfield in Berkshire, about 1666. His grandfather was col. John Bridges of Alcester in Warwickshire; not related to the Chandos family, nor bearing arms of any similitude to them, but said to be descended from Ireland. He was bred to the law, and a member of Lincoln’s-inn, of which he at last became bencher. His practical attention to his profession was probably prevented by his prospect of a private fortune, and the lucrative places which he enjoyed. In 1695 he was appointed solicitor of the customs; in 1711, commissioner of the same; and iii 1715, cashier of excise. He was also one of the governors of Bethlehem hospital, and a fellow of the royal society.
ive. As an investigator of antiquities, his skill and diligence procured him great respect from many who were most eminent in that study; some of whom, and particularly
In the latter end of his life, about 1719, he began to
form collections towards a history of Northamptonshire;
and employed several persons of abilities and skill to make
drawings, collect information, and transcribe such monuments and records as were essential to his purpose. In this
manner, it is said, he expended several thousand pounds.
The transcripts thus collected extend to upwards of thirty
volumes in folio; besides five volumes, quarto, containing
accounts of churches, &c. and four smaller volumes, in his
own hand-writing. But Mr. Bridges never proceeded to
compose any part of the work himself. He was a man in
the highest degree qualified to direct such an xmdertaking.
His judgment was sound, and his learning various and
extensive. As an investigator of antiquities, his skill and
diligence procured him great respect from many who were
most eminent in that study; some of whom, and particularly Hearne, the celebrated Oxford antiquary, have borne
very honourable testimony to his knowledge, and professed
themselves indebted to his friendly communications. His
collection of books was so judicious, that the catalogues of
his library, printed after his decease, were long, and are
still, retained as valuable by every curious collector. He
died July 30, 1724, at his chambers in Lincolu’s-inn. His
Mss. came into the hands of his brother and heir, William
Bridges, esq. secretary to the stamp office and after many
attempts and delays (of which an interesting, but, to county-historians, not a very encouraging account, may be seen in Mr. Nichols’s Life of Bowyer), formed the basis of
the “History of Northamptonshire,
” published in 2 vols.
fol. by the late Rev. Peter Whalley, grammar-school master of Christ’s hospital; the first vol. in 1762, and the second in 1791. It is a very valuable book, but might have
been greatly improved, if a parochial visitation had previously taken place.
, rector of Lincoln college, Oxford, and who in his writings called himself Aqua Pontanus, was born in Yorkshire,
, rector of Lincoln college,
Oxford, and who in his writings called himself Aqua Pontanus, was born in Yorkshire, but of a Somersetshire family. He was entered a student at Hart-hall, Oxford, and
thence removed to Brazen-nose college, where he was M. A*
1556, and about the same time took orders. Although he
outwardly complied with the reformed religion in queen
Elizabeth’s days, he lay under the suspicions, which he
afterwards confirmed, of being more seriously attached to
popery. While he preserved the disguise, however, he
was, May 1, 1562, made rector of Wooton-Courtney in the
diocese of Wells; and April 14, 1563, was chosen rector of
Lincoln college. On Nov. 28, 1570, he was made master
of Catherine’s hospital, near Bedminster, canon of Wells,
and archdeacon of Rochester. In 1574, however, being
no longer able to conceal his zeal for popery, he quitted
the rectorship of Lincoln, which Wood thinks he could no
longer have retained, without the danger of expulsion, and
after resigning his other preferments, went to the English
college at Doway, along with several students whom he had
instructed in the principles of popery. Afterwards he travelled to Rome, and thence to Germany. He was at Triers
in 1594, but no farther traces can be discovered of his progress, nor when he died. It is supposed that in his latter
days he became a Jesuit, but neither Pits or Alegambe
notice this circumstance. He published, 1. “Concertatio
Ecclesiae Catholicse in Anglia,
” first published by Fenn,
and Gibbons, at Triers, Confutatio virulentae disputationis Theologies, in qua Georgius Sohn, Prof. Acad. Heidelberg, conatus est docere,
Pontificem Romanum esse Antichristum, &c.
” ibid. An account of the Six Articles, usually proposed to the Missionaries that suffered in England.
”
ing a studious retirement to all the splendid circumstances of life. The learned Mr. Thomas Gataker, who attended his lectures when he was reader of mathematics at Cambridge,
ning from the ninth proposition of the there. Wood’s Oxford,
first of the Elements of Euclid,
same to ten places; with the construction of the whole.
These tables were printed at Gouda in 1631, under th
care of Adrian Vlacq, and published in 1633, with the
title of “Trioonometria Britannica.
” In the construction
of these two works, on the logarithms of numbers, and of
sine’s and tangents, our author, beside extreme labour and
application, manifests the highest powers of genius and
invention; as we here for the first time meet with several
of the most important discoveries in the mathematics, and
what have hitherto been considered as of much later invention; such as the binomial theorem; the differential method
and construction of tables by differences; the interpolation by differences; with angular sections, and several
other ingenious compositions: a particular account of
which may be seen in the Introduction to Dr. Mutton’s
Mathematical Tables. This truly great man terminated
his useful life the 26th of January, 1630, and was buried
in the choir of the chapel of Merton college, near to the
high altar, and under the monument of sir Henry Savile,
on which occasion, a sermon, by Mr. William Sellar, and
an oration by Mr. Hugh Cressy, fellows of that college,
were delivered before the principal members of the university. As to his character, he was not less esteemed for
his great probity and other eminent virtues, than for his
excellent skill in mathematics. Dr. Smith gives him the
character of a man of great probity; easy of access to all;
free from arrogance, moroseness, envy, ambition, and avarice; a contemner of riches, and contented in his own
situation; preferring a studious retirement to all the splendid circumstances of life. The learned Mr. Thomas Gataker, who attended his lectures when he was reader of
mathematics at Cambridge, represents him as highly esteemed by all persons skilled in mathematics, both at home
and abroad; and says, that desiring him once to give his
judgment concerning judicial astrology, his answer was,
“that he conceived it to be a mere system of groundless
conceits.
” Oughtred calls him the mirror of the age, for
his excellent skill in geometry. And one of his successors
at Gresham college, the learned Dr. Isaac Barrow, in his oration there upon his admission, has drawn his character more
fully; celebrating his great abilities, skill, and industry,
particularly in perfecting the invention of logarithms,
which, without his care and pains, might have continued
an imperfect and useless design. His writings were more
important than numerous some of them were published
by other persons the list of the principal part of them as
follows. 1. “A Table tft find the Height of the Pole the
magnetical declination being given.
” This was published
in Mr. Thomas Blundevile’s Theoriques of the Seven
Planets, London, 1602, 4to. 2. “Tables for the improvement of Navigation.
” These consist of a table of declination of every minute of the ecliptic, in degrees, minutes,
and seconds; a table of the sun’s prosthaphaereses; a
table of equations of the sun’s ephemerides; a table of the
sun’s declination; tables to find the height of the pole in
any latitude, from the height of the pole star. These tables are printed in the second edition of Edward Wright’s
treatise, entitled Certain Errors in Navigation detected and
corrected, London^ 1610, 4to. 3. “A description of an
Instrumental Table to find the part proportional, devised
by Mr. Edward Wright.
” This is subjoined to Napier’s
table of logarithms, translated into English by Mr. Wright,
and after his death published by Briggs, with a preface of
his own, London, 1616 and 1618, 12mo. 4. “Logarithmorum chilias prima,
” London, Lucubrationes & Annotationes in opera posthuma J. Neperi,
”
Edinb. Euclidis Elementorum VI libri
priores, &c.
” London, 1620, folio. This was printed without his name to it. 7. “A treatise of the North-west passage to the South Sea, &c.
” By H. B. Lond.
, an eminent physician, was son of Augustine Briggs, esq. who was descended of an ancient family in Norfolk, and had been
, an eminent physician, was son of
Augustine Briggs, esq. who was descended of an ancient
family in Norfolk, and had been four times member of
parliament for the city of Norwich, where this son was
born about the year 1650, although his biographers differ
very widely on this point. At thirteen years of age he
was sent to Bene't-college in Cambridge, and placed under
the care of Dr. Thomas Tenison, afterwards archbishop of
Canterbury, whom he succeeded in his fellowship. He
took both his degrees in arts, and was chosen fellow of his
college, Nov. 1668. His genius leading him to the study
of physic, he travelled into France, where he attended the
lectures of the famous anatomist Mons. Vieussens at Montpelier; and, after his return, published his “Ophthalmographia
” in Theory
of Vision
” was published by Hooke. In Theory of Vision,
” at the
desire of Mr. (afterwards sir) Isaac Newton, with a recommendatory epistle from him prefixed to it. And for completing this curious and useful subject relating to the eye,
he promised, in the preface, two other treatises, one “De
usu partium oculi;
” and the other “De ejusdem affectibus;
” neither of which', however, appears to have been
ever published: but, in 1687, came out a second edition
of his “Ophthalmographia.
” He was afterwards made
physician in ordinary to king William, and continued in
great esteem for his skill in his profession till he died at
Town-Malling in Kent, Sept. 4, 1704, and was there
buried, although a cenotaph is erected to his memory in
the church of Holt in Norfolk. He married Hannah, sole
daughter and heiress of Edmund Hobart, grandson to sir
Henry Hobart, lord chief justice of the common pleas in
the reign of James I. by whom he left three children,
Mary, Henry, and Hannah. Henry died in 1748, rector
of Hoit.
mmons. He made presents, likewise, of books to the library. Dr. Briggs had a brother, Robert Briggs, who was educated in the same college, and succeeded him in his fellowship.
Dr. Briggs’s chief patron, during his foreign travels, was the right hon. Ralph Montagu, esq. ambassador of France, and afterwards duke of Montagu. It was through this gentleman’s protection that Dr. Briggs went and studied at Montpelier, under Vieussens, to whom he acknowledged himself chiefly indebted for what skill he had in that science. The doctor was a benefactor to the college in which he had been educated. In order to render the kitchen of it more cleanly and wholesome, he caused it ta be paved with square stones; and gave besides, twenty pounds, for the augmentation of the stock for commons. He made presents, likewise, of books to the library. Dr. Briggs had a brother, Robert Briggs, who was educated in the same college, and succeeded him in his fellowship. He became successively A. B. A. M. and LL. D. was made a fellow of the royal society; and was chosen, on the 7th of February, 1686, professor of law in Gresham college, which office he held to his death, on the 22d of December, 1718.
, who appears to have had a taste for poetry and biography in the
, who appears to have had a
taste for poetry and biography in the infancy of those
studies, was born at or near to Caversham in Oxfordshire,
but descended from the Brighams of Yorkshire. He was
educated at Hart-hall, Oxford, as Wood conjectures, and
afterwards studied at one of the inns of court. Having a
turn for poetry, he passed his hours in the perusal of the
best poets, and his admiration of Chaucer led him to be
at the expence of beautifying the monument of that
eminent poet in 1556, removing it to a more conspicuous
place in Westminster abbey, where we now find it. He
died in his prime, Dec. 1559, leaving, l.“De venationibus rerum rnemorabilium,
” a collection of notices of
characters and events, of which Bale has made much use.
2. “Memoirs,
” by way of Diary, in 12 bocks. 3. Miscellaneous Poems. But none of these are probably now m
existence.
oman calendar we find another Bridgit, a widow, the foundress of the monasteries of the Brigittines, who died July 23, 1373.
, or Bridget, and by contraction Bride, (St.) a saint of the Romish church, and the patroness of Ireland, flourished in the beginning of the sixth century, and is named in the martyrology of Bede, and in all others since that age. She was born at Fochard in Ulster, soon after Ireland was converted, and took the veil in her youth from the hands of St. Mel, nephew and disciple of St. Patrick. She built herself a cell under a large oak, thence called Kill-dare, or the cell of the oak, and being joined soon after by several of her own sex, they formed themselves into a religious community, which branched out into several other nunneries throughout Ireland, all which acknowledge her for their mother and foundress. Her biographers give no particulars of her life, but what are too much of the miraculous kind for modern readers. Several churches in England and Scotland are dedicated to her, and some in Germany and France, by which we may guess at her past reputation. According to Giraltfus Cambrensis, her body was found, with those of St. Patrick and St. Columba, in a triple vault at Down-Patrick in 1185, and were all three translated to the cathedral of the same city, but their monument was destroyed in the reign of Henry VIII. She is commemorated in the Roman martyrology on the first of February. This Brigit was a virgin; but in the Roman calendar we find another Bridgit, a widow, the foundress of the monasteries of the Brigittines, who died July 23, 1373.
, a man of a most uncommon genius for mechanical inventions, and who particularly excelled in planning and conducting inland navigations,
, a man of a most uncommon genius for mechanical inventions, and who particularly excelled in planning and conducting inland navigations, was born at Tunsted, in the parish of Wormhill, and county of Derby, in 1716. His parents were possessed of a little freehold, the small income of which his father dissipated by a fondness for shooting and other field-diversions, and by keeping company with people above his rank. The consequence of this was, that his son was so totally neglected, that he did not receive the ordinary rudiments of education. The necessities of the family were so pressing, that young Brindley was obliged, as early as possible, to contribute towards its support; and, till he was nearly seventeen years of age, he was employed in those kinds of light labour which are usually assigned, in country places, to the children of the poor. At this period of his life, he bound himself apprentice to one Bennet, a mill-wright, near Macclesfield, in Cheshire, and soon became expert in the business; besides which, he quickly discovered a strong attachment to the mechanic arts in general, and a genius for extending them much farther than they had hitherto been carried. In the early part of his apprenticeship, he was frequently left by himself, for whole weeks together, to execute works concerning which his master had given him n previous instructions. These works, therefore, he finished in his own way; and Mr. Bennet was often astonished at the improvements his apprentice, from time to time, introduced into the mill-wright business, and earnestly questioned him from whence he had gained his knowledge. He had not been long at the trade, before the millers, wherever he had been employed, always chose him again, in preference to the master, or any other workman; and, before the expiration of his servitude, at which time Mr. Bennet, who was advanced in years, grew unable to work, Mr. Brindley, by his ingenuity and application, kept up the business with credit, and supported the old man and his family in a comfortable manner.
ld the mill, and prepare the wheels, the people of the neighbourhood were informed by a mill-wright, who happened to travel that road, that Mr. Bennet was throwing his
It may not be amiss to mention a singular instance of our young mechanic’s active and earnest attention to the improvement of mill-work. His master having been employed to build an engine paper-mill, which was the first of the kind that had been attempted in those parts, went to see one of them at work, as a model to copy after. But, notwithstanding this, when he had begun to build the mill, and prepare the wheels, the people of the neighbourhood were informed by a mill-wright, who happened to travel that road, that Mr. Bennet was throwing his employers’ money away, and would never be able to complete, to any effectual purpose, the work he had undertaken. Mr. Brindley, hearing of the report, and being sensible that he could not depend upon his master for proper instructions, determined to see, with his own eyes, the mill intended to be copied. Accordingly, without mentioning his design to a single person, he set out, on a Saturday evening, after he had finished the business of the day; travelled fifty miles on foot; took a view of the mill; returned back, in time for his work, on Monday morning; informed Mr. Bennet wherein he had been deficient; and completed the engine, to the entire satisfaction of the proprietors. Besides this, he made a considerable improvement in the press-paper.
; but still left the general management of the construction of the silk-mill to the former engineer, who refused to let him see the whole model, and, by giving him his
Mr. Brindley afterwards engaged in the mill-wright business on his own account, and, by many useful inventions and contrivances, advanced it to a higher degree of perfection than it had formerly attained; so that he rendered himself greatly valued in his neighbourhood, as a most ingenious mechanic. By degrees, his fame began to spread itself wider in the country, and his genius was no longer confined to the particular branch in which he had hitherto been employed. In 1752, he erected a very extraordinary water-engine at Clifton, in Lancashire, for the purpose of draining some coal-mines, which before were worked at an enormous expence. The water for the use of this engine was brought out of the river Irwell, by a subterraneous tunnel, nearly six hundred yards in length, carried through a rock; and the wheel was fixed thirty feet below the surface of the ground. Mr. Brindley’s superiority to the mechanics in that part of the kingdom where he resided, being now well ascertained, and his reputation having reached the metropolis, he was employed by N. Pattison, esq. of London, and some other gentlemen, in 1755, to execute the larger wheels for a new silk-mill, at Congleton, in Cheshire. The execution of the smaller wheels, and of the more complex part of the machinery, was committed to another person, and that person had the superintendancy of the whole. He was not, however, equal to the undertaking; for he was obliged, after various efforts, to confess his inability to complete it. The proprietors, upon this, being greatly alarmed, thought fit to call in the assistance of Mr. Brindley; but still left the general management of the construction of the silk-mill to the former engineer, who refused to let him see the whole model, and, by giving him his work to perform in detached pieces, without acquainting him with the result which was wanted, affected to treat him as a common mechanic. Mr. Brindley, who, in the consciousness of genius, felt his own superiority to the man who thus assumed an ascendancy over him, would not submit to such unworthy treatment. He told the proprietors, that if they would let him know what was the effect they wished to have produced, and would permit him to perform the business in his own way, he would finish the mill to their satisfaction. This assurance, joined with the knowledge they had of his ability and integrity, induced them to trust the completion of the mill solely to his care; and he accomplished that very curious and complex piece of machinery in a manner far superior to the expectations of his employers. They had not solely the pleasure of seeing it established, with a most masterly skill, according to the plan originally proposed, but of having it constructed with the addition of many new and useful improvements. There was one contrivance in particular, for winding the silk upon the bobbins equally, and not in wreaths; and another for stopping, in an instant, not only the whole of this extensive system throughout its various and ^numerous apartments, but any part of it individually. He invented, likewise, machines for making all the tooth and pinion wheels of the different engines. These wheels had hitherto been cut by hand, with, great labour, but by means of Mr. Brindley 's machines, as much work could be performed in one day as had heretofore required fourteen. The potteries of Staffordshire were also, about this time, indebted to him for several valuable additions in the mills used by them for grinding flint stones, by which that process was greatly facilitated.
of perfection, if a number of obstacles had not been thrown in his way by some interested engineers, who strenuously opposed any improvements which they could not call
In the year 1756, Mr. Brindley undertook to erect a steam-engine, near Newcastle-under-Line, upon a newplan. The boiler of it was made with brick and stone, instead of iron plates; and the water was heated by fire-flues of a peculiar construction; by which contrivances the consumption of fuel, necessary for working a steam-engine, was reduced one half. He introduced, likewise, in this engine, cylinders of wood, made in the manner of coopers ware, instead of iron ones; the former being not only cheaper, but more easily managed in the shafts; and he substituted wood too for iron in the chains which worked at the end of the beam. His inventive genius displayed itself in various other useful contrivances, which would probably have brought the steam-engine to a great degree of perfection, if a number of obstacles had not been thrown in his way by some interested engineers, who strenuously opposed any improvements which they could not call their own.
which was equal to the most arduous undertakings. This he did under the protection of a noble duke, who had the discernment to single him out, and the steadiness and
The disappointment of Mr. Brindley’s good designs in this respect must have made the less impression upon him, as his attention was soon after called off to another object, which, in its consequences, hath proved to be of the highest national importance; namely, the projecting and executing of Inland Navigations, from whence the greatest benefits arise to trade and commerce. By these navigations the expence of carriage is lessened; a communication is opened from one part of the kingdom to another, and from each of those parts to the sea; and hence the products and manufactures of the country are afforded at a moderate price. In this period of our great mechanic’s life, we shall see the powers given him by the God of Nature, displayed in the production of events, which, in any age less pregnant with admirable works of ingenuity than the present, would have constituted a national aera. We shall see him triumphing over all the suggestions of envy or prejudice, though aided by the weight of established customs; and giving full scope to the operations of a strong and comprehensive mind, which was equal to the most arduous undertakings. This he did under the protection of a noble duke, who had the discernment to single him out, and the steadiness and generosity to "support him, against the opinions of those who treated Mr. Brindley’s plans as chimeras, and laughed at his patron as an idle projector.
s, perceived the necessity of a canal from Worsley to Manchester; upon which occasion, Mr. Brindley, who was now become famous in the country, was consulted. Having
His grace the late duke of Bridgevvater had, at Worsley, about seven miles from Manchester, a large estate, rich with mines of coal, which had hitherto lain useless in the bowels of the earth, because the expence of carriage by ]and was too great to find a market for consumption. The duke, wishing. to work these mines, perceived the necessity of a canal from Worsley to Manchester; upon which occasion, Mr. Brindley, who was now become famous in the country, was consulted. Having surveyed the ground, he declared the scheme to be practicable. In consequence of this, an act was obtained, in 1758 and 1759, for enabling his grace to cut a canal from Worsley to Salford, near Manchester, and to carry the same to or near Hollin Ferry, in the county of Lancaster. It being, however, afterwards discovered, that the navigation would be more beneficial, b*th to the duke of Bridgewater and the public, if carried over the river Irwell, near Barton bridge, to Manchester, his grace applied again to parliament, and procured an act, which enabled him to vary the course of his canal agreeably to this new plan, and likewise to extend a side branch to Longford bridge in Stretford. Mr. Brindley, in the mean time, had begun these great undertakings, being the first of the kind ever attempted, in England, with navigable subterraneous tunnels aird elevated aqueducts. The principle laid down at the commencement of this business reflects much honour on the noble undertaker, as well as upon his engineer. It was resolved that the canal should be perfect in its kind, and that, in order to preserve the level of the water, it should be free from the usual obstructions of locks. But, in accomplishing this end, many difficulties occurred, which were deemed unsurmountable. It was necessary that the canal should be carried over rivers, and many large and deep vallies, where it was evident that such stupendous mounds of earth must be raised, as could scarcely, it was thought, be completed by the labour of ages: and, above all, it was not known from what source so large a supply of water could be drawn, as, even upon this improved plan, would be requisite for the navigation. But Mr. Brindley, with a strength of mind peculiar to himself, and being possessed of the confidence of his great patron, who spared no expence to accomplish his favourite design, conquered all the embarrassments thrown in his way, not only from the nature of the undertaking itself, but by the passions and prejudices of interested individuals: and the admirable machines he contrived, and the methods he took, to facilitate the progress of the work, brought on such a rapid execution of it, that the world began to wonder how it could have been esteemed so difficult. Thus ready are men to find out pretences for lessening the merit of others, and for hiding, if possible, from themselves, the unpleasant idea of their own inferiority.
igent person of the practicability of his design. A gentleman of eminence was accordingly called in; who, being conducted to the place where it was intended that the
When the canal was completed as far as Barton, where
the Irwell is navigable for large vessels, Mr. Brindley
proposed to carry it over that river, by an aqueduct of
thirty -nine feet above the surface of the water. This,
however, being generally considered as a wild and extravagant project, he desired, in order to justify his conduct
towards his noble employer, that the opinion of another
engineer might be taken; believing that he* could easily
convince an intelligent person of the practicability of his
design. A gentleman of eminence was accordingly called
in; who, being conducted to the place where it was intended that the aqueduct should be made, ridiculed the attempt; and when the height and dimensions were communicated to him, he exclaimed, “I have often heard of
castles in the air, but never before was shewn where any
of them were to be erected.
” This unfavourable verdict
did not deter the duke of Bridgewater from following the
opinion of his own engineer. The aqueduct was immediately begun; and it was carried on with such rapidity and
success, as astonished all those who but a little before condemned it as a chimerical scheme. This work commenced
in September, 1760, and the first boat sailed over it on the
17th of July, 1761. From that time, it was not uncommon to see a boat loaded with forty tons drawn over the
aqueduct, with great ease, by one or two mules; while
below, against the stream of the Irwell, persons had the
pain of beholding ten or twelve men tugging at an equal
draught: a striking instance of the superiority of a canalnavigation over that of a river not in the tideway. The
works were then extended to Manchester, at which place
the curious machine for landing coals upon the top of the
bill, gives a pleasing idea of Mr, Brindley’s address in
diminishing labour by mechanical contrivances. It may here
be observed^ that the bason, in particular, for conveying
the superfluous water into the Irwell, below the canal, is
an instance of what an attentive survey of this ingenious
man’s works will abundantly evince, that, where occasion
offered, he well knew how to-unite elegance with utility.
is important and arduous undertaking, he left it to be finished by his brother-in-law, Mr. Henshall, who put the last hand to it, in May 1777, being somewhat less than
The success with which the duke of Bridgewater’s undertakings were crowned, encouraged a number of gentlemen
and manufacturers, in Staffordshire, to revive the idea of
a canal navigation through that county, for the advancement of the landed interest and the benefit of trade, in
conveying to market, at a cheaper rate, the products and
manufactures of the interior parts of the kingdom. This
plan was patronized, and generously supported, by lord
Gower and Mr. Anson; and it met with the concurrence
of many persons of rank, fortune, and influence in the
neighbouring counties. Mr. Brindley was, therefore, engaged to make a survey from the Trent to the Mersey; and,
upon his reporting that it was practicable to construct a
canal, from one of these rivers to the other, and thereby to
unite the ports of Liverpool and Hull, a subscription for
carrying it into execution was set on foot in 1765, and an
act of parliament was obtained in the same year. In 1766,
this canal, - called, by the proprietors, “The Canal from
the Trent to the Mersey,
” but more emphatically, by the
engineer, the Grand Trunk Navigation, on account of the
numerous branches which, he justly supposed, would be
extended every way from it, was begun; and, under his
direction, it was conducted, with great spirit and success, as long as he lived. Mr. Brindley’s life not being
continued to the completion of this important and arduous undertaking, he left it to be finished by his
brother-in-law, Mr. Henshall, who put the last hand
to it, in May 1777, being somewhat less than eleven
years after its commencement. We need riot say, that
the final execution of the Grand Trunk Navigation gave
the highest satisfaction to the proprietors, and excited a
general joy in a populous country, the inhabitants of which
already receive every advantage they could wish from so
truly noble an enterprize. This canal is ninety-three miles
in length; and, besides a large number of bridges over it,
has seventy-six locks and five tunnels. The most remarkable of the tunnels is the subterraneous passage of Harecastle, being 2880 yards in length, and more then seventy
yards below the surface of the earth. The scheme of this
inland navigation had employed the thoughts of the
Ingenious part of the kingdom for upwards of twenty years before, and some surveys had beeo made. But Harecastle
hill, through which the tunnel is constructed, could neither be avoided nor overcome by any expedient the ablest
engineers could devise. It was Mr. Brindley alone who
surmounted this and other difficulties, arising from the variety of measures, strata, and quick-sands, which none
but himself would have attempted.
who very soon gave indications of uncommon talents, and extensive
who very soon gave indications of uncommon talents, and extensive views, in the application of mechanical principles; and who, by a happy concurrence of circumstances, the chief of which was the patronage of his grace the duke of Bridgewater, was favoured with an opportunity of unfolding and displaying his wonderful powers, in the execution of works new to this country, and such as will ex*-. tend his fame, and endear his memory, to future times. The public could only recognize the merit of this extraordinary man in the stupendous undertakings which he carried to perfection, and exhibited to general view. But those who had the advantage of conversing with him familiarly, and of knowing him well in his private character, respected him still more for the uniform and unshaken integrity of his conduct; for his steady attachment to the interest of the community; for the vast compass of his understanding, which seemed to have a natural affinity with all grand objects; and, likewise, for many noble and beneficent designs, constantly generating in his mind, and which the multiplicity of his engagements, and the shortness of his life, prevented him from bringing to maturity.
is majesty, he remained there until the restoration, when he was ejected with his numerous brethren, who refused the terms of conformity. Although a man of moderate
, a non-conformist divine, was born at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire, in 1600. His father was also a divine of the puritan kind, and master of the school at Ashby. The noted astrologer William Lilly, was at his school in 1613. His mother was sister to bishop Hall. After being educated by his father, he was admitted of Emanuel college, Cambridge, at the age of thirteen and a half. Having resided there three or four years, he attended his uncle Hall, then dean of Worcester, as his amanuensis, to the synod of Dort, and after his return, resumed his studies at Cambridge, and being elected schoJar of the house, resided there until he took his degrees. When ordained he preached first at Preston, near Chelmsford, then at Somerieyton in Suffolk, and lastly was called to Yarmouth, on the election of the township, but his principles being objected to by Dr. Harsnet, bishop of Norwich, he could only preach on the week days at a country village adjoining, whither the people of Yarmouth followed him, until the township applied to the king for his licence for Mr. Brinsley to preach in Yarmouth. This being granted by his majesty, he remained there until the restoration, when he was ejected with his numerous brethren, who refused the terms of conformity. Although a man of moderate sentiments, he appears to have been inflexible in the points which divided so large a tody of clergymen from the church, and is said to have refused considerable preferment to induce him to remain in it. He is praised by his biographer for piety, and extensive learning in theology. He died Jan. 22, 1665. He wrote several treatises enumerated by Calamy, none of which, we believe, are now much known. He had a son, Robert, who was ejected from the university, and afterwards studied and took his degree of M. D. at Leyden, and practised at Yarmouth.
thanus relates, that Henry III. declared in his hearing, that there was not a prince in Christendom, who could boast of so learned a man as Barnaby Brisson. The king
, president of the parliament of
Paris, and an eminent lawyer, was born at Fontenay in
Poictou, about the middle of the sixteenth century. He
appeared at first with great eclat at the bar of the parliament; and, by his knowledge and skill in the law, recommended himself so powerfully to Henry III. of France,
that this prince first made him his advocate general, then
counsellor of state, and in 1580, honoured him with the
dignity of president of the parliament. Scsevola Sammarthanus relates, that Henry III. declared in his hearing,
that there was not a prince in Christendom, who could
boast of so learned a man as Barnaby Brisson. The king
employed him in several negociations, and sent him ambassador into England. At his return, he employed him to
make a collection of his own ordinances, and of those of
his predecessors; which he performed with wonderful expedition. He wrote some works in law: “De verbormxi,
qua) ad jus pertinent, significatione.
” “De formulis et
solemnibus populi Romani verbis,
” Paris, De
regip Persarum principatu,
” &c. 1580, 1590, 1599, 8voj
1606, 4to; but the best edition is that of Strasburgh, 1710,
8vo, with Sylburgius’ notes. H gave an expectation of
more considerable performances; but his life was shortened
by a very unfortunate accident. Living at Paris when
that rebellious city was besieged by Henry IV. he remonstrated against the treasonable practices of the leaguers,
who, under pretence of the holy union, contemned the
royal authority, which was much more sacred. These religious traitors, being dissatisfied with his loyalty, fell violently upon him, dragged him to prison, and cruelly
strangled him the 15th of Nov. 1591.
ations necessary to his doctor of physic’s degree, which he took in May 1514, Being one of those men who are not contented with custom and tradition, but choose to examine
, an eminent French physician, was
born at Fontenai-le-Comte, in Poitou, 147s, and about
1495 was sent to Paris, where he went through a course
of philosophy under Villemar, a famous professor of those
times. By his advice, Brissot resolved to be a physician,
and studied physic there for four years. Then he began
to teach philosophy in the university of Paris; and, after
he had done this for ten years, prepared himself for the
examinations necessary to his doctor of physic’s degree,
which he took in May 1514, Being one of those men
who are not contented with custom and tradition, but
choose to examine for themselves, he made an exact comparison between the practice of his own times and the
doctrine of Hippocrates and Galen and he found that the
Arabians had introduced many things into physic that were
contrary to the doctrine of those two great masters, and to
reason and experience. He set himself therefore to reform physic; and for this purpose undertook publicly to
explain Galen’s books, instead of those of Avicenna, Rhasis, and Mesu'i, which were commonly explained in the
schools of physic; but, finding himself obstructed in the
work of reformation by his ignorance of botany, he resolved
to travel, in order to acquire the knowledge of plants, and
put himself into a capacity of correcting pharmacy. Before, however, he left Paris, he undertook to convince the
public of what he deemed an inveterate error; but which
now is considered as a matter of little consequence. The
constant practice of physicians, in the pleurisy, Was to
bleed from the arm, not on the side where the distemper
was, but the opposite side. Brissot disputed about it in
the physic-schools, confuted that practice, and shewed,
chat it was falsely pretended to be agreeable to the doctrine of Hippocrates and Galen. He then left Paris in
1518, and went to Portugal, stopping there at Ebora,
where he practised physic; but his new way of bleeding
in the pleurisy, notwithstanding his great success, did not
please every body, He received a long and rude letter
about it from Denys, physician to the king of Portugal;
which he answered, and would have published if death had
not prevented him in 1522. It was printed, however, three
years after at Paris, and reprinted at Basil in 1529. Renatus Moreau published a new edition of it at Paris in
1622, with a treatise of his own, “De missione sanguinis
in pleuritide,
” and the life of Brissot; out of which this
account is taken. He never would marry, being of opinion
that matrimony did not well agree with study. One thing
is related of him, which his biographer, rather uncharitably, says, deserves to be taken notice of, because it is
singular in the men of his profession; and it is, that he
did not love gain. He cared so little for it, that when he
was called to a sick person, he looked into his purse; and,
if he found but two pieces of gold in it, refused to go.
This, however, it is acknowledged, was owing to his great
love of study, from which it was very difficult to take him.
The dispute between Denys and Brissot raised a kind of
civil war among the Portuguese physicians. The business
was brought before the tribunal of the university of Salamanca, Where it was thoroughly discussed by the faculty
of physic; but in the mean time, the partisans of Denys
had recourse to the authority of the secular power, and
obtained a decree, forbidding physicians to bleed on the
same side in which the pleurisy was. At last the university of Salamanca gave their judgment; importing, that
the opinion of Brissot was the true doctrine of Hippocrates
and Galen. The followers of Denys appealed to the emperor about 1529, thinking themselves superior both in
authority and number; and the matter was brought before
Charles V. They were not contented to call the doctrine
of their adversaries false; they added that it was impious,
mortal, and as pernicious to the body as Luther’s schism
to the souL They not only blackened the reputation of
their adversaries by private arts, but also openly accused
them of ignorance and rashness, of attempts on religion,
and of being downright Lutherans in physic. It fell out
Unluckily for them, that Charles III. duke of Savoy, happened to die of a pleurisy, after he had been bled according to the practice which Brissot opposed. Had it not
been for this, the emperor, it is thought, would have granted every thing that Erissot’s adversaries desired of him;
but this accident induced him to leave the cause undecided.
“Two things,
” says Bayle, in his usual prattling way,
“occur in this relation, which all wise men must needs
condemn; namely, the base, the disingenuous, the unphilosophic custom of interesting religion in disputes about
science, and the folly and absurdity of magistrates to be
concerned in such disputes. A magistrate is for the most
part a very incompetent judge of such matters; and, as he
Jiiiows nothing of them, so he ought to imitate Gallio in
this at least, that is, not to care for them; but to leave
those whose business it is, to fight it out among themselves.
Besides, authority has nothing to do with philosophy and
the sciences; it should be kept at a great distance from
them, for the same reason that armed forces are removed
from a borough at the time of a % general assize; namely,
that reason and equity may have their full play.
”
inquishing the law incurred his father’s displeasure, he was indebted to the bounty of some friends, who enabled him to prosecute his studies at Paris for two years;
, a very
active agent in the French revolution, and a victim to the
tyranny he had created, was the son of the master of an
eating-house, and boru in 1754 at Chartres in the Orleanuois. After receiving a good education, he was intended
for the bar, but having served a clerkship for five years,
he relinquished the further prosecution of the law, in order to study literature and the sciences; and an accidental
acquaintance with some Englishmen, and the perusal of
some English books, seem to have confirmed this determination. About this time he changed the appellation of
“de Otiarville
” to that of Warville, agreeable to the English pronunciation. Having by relinquishing the law incurred his father’s displeasure, he was indebted to the
bounty of some friends, who enabled him to prosecute his
studies at Paris for two years; after which he became editor of the “Courier de PEurope,
” a paper printed at Boulogne; but this being discontinued on account of some articles inimical to government, he returned to Paris, and in
imitation of Voltaire, Diderot, and D'Alembert, who, as
he imagined, had destroyed religious tyranny, began to
attempt the destruction of political tyranny, which he fancied was reserved for his irresistible pen. To develope the
whole of his plan, however, was not his aim at first: and
he began, therefore, with attacking such abuses as might
have been removed without any injury to an established constitution, but which, as they could not be wholly denied, he
endeavoured to trace from the very nature of monarchy.
With this view he published some works on criminal jurisprudence, as, in 1780, his “Theory of Criminal laws,
” 2
vols. 8vo, and two papers arising out of the subject, which
gained the prize in 1782, at the academy of Chalons-surMarne. He also began a work which was afterwards completed in 10 vols. 8vo, <c A philosophical library of the
criminal law,“and a volume concerning
” Truth“and
” Thoughts on the means of attaining Truth in all the
branches of human knowledge," which he intended merely as an introduction to a work on a more enlarged and
comprehensive plan. To all these he annexed ideas of singular importance and utility, although his notions are
crude, and his knowledge superficial.
Brissot, at the period of his residence at Boulogne, had been introduced to mademoiselle Dupont, who was employed under mad. de Genlis as reader to the daughter
Brissot, at the period of his residence at Boulogne, had
been introduced to mademoiselle Dupont, who was employed under mad. de Genlis as reader to the daughter of
the duke of Orleans, and whose mother kept a lodginghouse in that place: and having married this lady, he
found it necessary to exert his literary talents for gaining
a subsistence. But as France did not afford that liberty,
which he wished to indulge, he formed a design of printing,
in Swisserland or Germany, a series of works in a kind of
periodical publication, under the title of “An universal
Correspondence on points interesting to the welfare of
Man and of Society,
” which he proposed to smuggle into
France. With this view, he visited Geneva and Neuchatel, in order to establish correspondences; and he also
made a journey to London, which was to be the central
point of the establishment, and the fixed residence of the
writers. His intentions, however, were divulged by the
treachery of some of his confidential associates; and the
scheme totally failed. During his abode in London, he
concerted the plan of a periodical work or journal, on the
literature, arts, and politics of England, which, being published in London, was allowed to be reprinted at Paris, and
first appeared in 1784. The avowed object of this publication, as he himself declares, was “the universal
emancipation of men.
” In London, he was arrested for debt;
but, being liberated by the generosity of a friend, he returned to Paris, where he was committed to the Bastille
in July 1784, on the charge of being concerned in a very
obnoxious publication. But by the interest of the duke
of Orleans, he was released, on condition of never residing
in England, and discontinuing his political correspondence.
In 1785, he published two letters to the emperor Joseph
II. “Concerning the Right of Emigration, and the Right
of the People to revolt,
” which he applied particularly to
the case of the Waiachsans: and in the following year appeared his “Philosophical Letters on the History of England,
” in 2 vols. and “A critical Examination of the Travels of the marq is de Chatelleux in North America.
” With
a view of promoting a close, political, and commercial
union between France and the United States, he wrote in
1787, with the assistance of Claviere, a tract, entitled
“De la France et des Etats Unis, &c.
” “On France and
the United States or on the Importance of the American
Revolution to the kingdom of France, and the reciprocal
advantages which will accrue from a commercial Intercourse between the two nations.
” Of this work, an English translation was published, both in England and America. At this time he was in the service of the duke of
Orleans, as secretary to his chancery, with a handsome
salary, and apartments in the palais royal; and, without
doubt, employed in aiding that monster in his schemes of
ambition. In this situation, he wro:e a pamphlet against
the administration of the archbishop of Sens, entitled “No
Bankruptcy, &c.
” which occasioned the issuing of a lettre
de cachet against him. But to avoid its effect, he went
to Holland, England, and the Low Countries; and at
Mechlin, he edited a newspaper, called “Le Courier Beigique.
” For the purpose of promoting the views of a society at Paris, denominated “Les Amis des Noirs,
” and
established for the purpose of abolishing negro slavery, he
embarked for America in 1788; and, during his residence
in that country, he sought for a convenient situation, in
which a colony of Frenchmen might be organized into a
republic, according to his ideas of political liberty. But
his return was hastened in 1789 by the intelligence he
received of the progress of the French revolution. After
his arrival, he published his “Travels in America;
” (Nouveau Voyage dans les Etats Unis, &. Paris, 1791, 3 vols. 8vo), and as he found the attention of the public directed
to the approaching assembly of the states-general, he
wrote his “Plan of Conduct for the Deputies of the People.
” At this time, he had withdrawn from the partisans of
the duke of Orleans; and he took an active part in the
plans that were then projected for the organization of the
people, with a view to their union and energy in accomplishing the revolution. To the lodgings of Brissot, as a
person who was held in estimation at this period, the keys
of the Bastille, when it was taken, were conveyed; he also
became president of the Jacobin club; and he distinguished
himself in various ways as a zealous promoter of those
revolutionary principles, which afterwards gave occasion
to a great jiumber of atrocious excesses. After the king’s
flight to Varennes, Brissot openly supported the republican
cause; but, as some form of monarchy was still the object
of the national wish, he was obliged to restrain his impetuosity. The popularity acquired by his writings and
conduct was such, as to induce the Parisians to return him
as one of their members in the “Legislative national assembly,
” which succeeded the “Constituent assembly,
”
in October Girondists
” or “La Gironde,
” the name of the department
to which several of its members belonged, and also from
his own name “Brissotins.
” In his career of ambition, he
does not seem to have been influenced by pecuniary cc nsiderations; power, more than wealth, being the object of
his aim; for, at this time, he and his family lodged in an
apartment up four pair of stairs, and subsisted on his stipend as deputy, and the inconsiderable gains accruing
from a newspaper. As a determined enemy to monarchy,
he was unremitting in his efforts to engage the nation in a
war, with the avowed purpose of involving the king and
his ministers in difficulties which would terminate in their
ruin, and this part of his political conduct must ever be
lamented and execrated by the friends of freedom and of
mankind. In the impeachment of M. Delessart, the minister for foreign affairs, Brissot took a principal lead; and
alleged against him several articles of accusation, in consequence of which, he was apprehended, tried by the high
national court at Orleans, and condemned to die, without
being h'rst heard in his own defence, so that he became
the first victim to that desperate faction, which afterwards
deluged France with blood. His colleagues were so complex ly terrified by this event, that they requested leave to
resign, and the ministry was at once completely dissolved.
Their successors, appointed by the king, under the direction and inriuence of Brissot, were Dumourier, Roland, and
Ciaviere. This appointment was followed bya declaration
of war, decreed by the national assembly, against the king
of Hungary and Bohemia; and Brissot, during the existence of this administration, which terminated soon, was
considered as the most powerful person in France. About
this time, Brissot began to entertain secret jealousy and
suspicion of La Fayette, and concurred with other members of the assembly, in signing an accusation against him,
which, however, he was not able to substantiate. He and his
republican party were likewise industrious in their endeavours to throw an odium on the court, by alleging, that a
private correspondence was carried on between the king
and queen and the emperor; and they even averred, that
an “Austrian Committee,
” and a conspiracy in favour of
the enemies of the country, existed among the friends of
the court. The charge seemed to be unsupported by sufficient evidence; the king publicly contradicted these accusations as calumnies; nevertheless, they made no small
impression on the minds of the public. To the writings
and conduct of Brissot, the horrid massacres at the Tuiileries, on the 10th of August, 1792, have been principally
ascribed; and it is a poor excuse that he is said to have
preserved the lives of several of the Swiss guards on that
fatal day. He was employed to draw up the declaration to
the neutral powers concerning the suspension of the king’s
authority; but he is said to have regarded with horror the
sanguinary spirit that was now predominant among the
leaders of the jacobins. Whilst, indeed, he was ascending
to the pinnacle of power, he seems to have been the ardent
advocate of insurrection and the revolutionary power: but
as he found himself raised to that station, he began to inculcate “order and the constitution,
” the usual cant of all
demagogues who think they have attained their object.
In the shocking massacre of the prisoners at Paris in September, he had probably no other concern, than the inwhich his irritating speeches and writings had
created on the minds of the more active agents. When
the “National convention,
” the idea of which is said to
have been suggested by him, assumed the direction of the
state, and assembled on the 20th of September, 1792, he
was returned as member for the department of Eure and
Loire, his native country. In this assembly, he openly
avowed himself an advocate for a republican government,
in opposition both to the Jacobins and Orleanists; and was
expelled the Jacobin club. On this occasion, he wrote a
vindication of his public conduct, under the title of “An
Address to all the Republicans.
” He is said to have been
so far shocked by the prospect of the fatal issue of the
king’s trial, as to have attempted the preservation of his
life, by deferring his execution till the constitution should
be perfected; a proposition of which the absurdity and
cruelty are nearly equal. The war with England, which
soon followed the death of Louis, is ascribed to his ardour
find credulity; for he was led to imagine, that the consequence of it would be a civil war in this country; and it is
said, that this, as well as the war with Holland, was decreed
in the national convention, Feb. 1, 1793, at his motion.
This charge, however, he retorts on his accusers, and says,
that the anarchists, by voting the death of the king, were
themselves the authors of the war,
ion. In May and June decrees of arrest were issued against them; and against Brissot among the rest, who attempted to make his escape into Swisseriand, but was stopped
Brissot’s influence now gradually declined; and his party
was at length overpowered by a more violent and sanguinary faction, denominated the “Mountain,
” so called
from its members usually sitting in the convention, on the
upper seats of the hall, at the head of which was Robespierre, of execrable memory. The treachery and desertion of Dumourier likewise contributed to hasten the downfal of this party. To their imbecility or perfidy, the public
calamities that threatened the country, were generally ascribed; and, after the establishment of the “Revolutionary
tribunal,
” for the purpose of trying crimes committed
agains: the state, in March 1793, a petition was presented
in the following month by the communes of the 48 sections
of Paris, requiring that the chiefs of the Girondists, or Brissotins, denounced in it, should be impeached, and expelled
the convention. In May and June decrees of arrest were
issued against them; and against Brissot among the rest,
who attempted to make his escape into Swisseriand, but
was stopped and imprisoned; and in the following October,
be and 21 of his associates were brought before the
revolutionary tribunal. Brissot, who was elevated in the midst
of them, maintained a firm and tranquil mind; but, though
their accusers could support their charges by little more
than mere surmises, the whole party was immediately condemned to the scaffold; and next morning were led to
execution. There Brissot, after seeing the blood of 16
associates stream from the scaffold, submitted to the stroke
with the ut.nost composure. In the relations of private
life, Ins character stands without reproach; but these afford no counterpoise to his public conduct* and although
his sentence was unjust as coming from men as guilty as
himself, it was the natural consequence of a tyranny to the
establishment of which he had contributed more largely
than most of his countrymen.
was afterwards, in July 1567, made a fellow of Exeter college, by the interest of sir William Petre, who had founded some fellowships in that college, and who would
, an eminent Roman catholic
priest and writer in the reign of queen Elizabeth, was born
at Worcester, in 1538. In 1555 he was entered of Exeter
college, Oxford, according to Pits, which Wood doubts;
but he took his degree of B. A. in I 559, and M. A. in 1562,
at which last time he was a member of Christ church. He
and the celebrated Campian were so esteemed for their
talents, as to be selected to entertain queen Elizabeth with
a public disputation in 1566. Bristow was afterwards, in
July 1567, made a fellow of Exeter college, by the interest
of sir William Petre, who had founded some fellowships in
that college, and who would have promoted him further,
had he not laid himself open to the suspicion of holding
popish tenets; and this appeared more plainly by his quitting the university on carvlinal Alan’s invitation. He went
then to Doway, and after prosecuting his theological studies in that academy, was admitted to his doctor’s degree
in 1579, and, says his biographer, was Alan’s “right hand
upon all occasions.
” He was made prefect of studies,
lectured on the scriptures, and in the absence of Alan acted
as regent of the college. His intense studies, however,
injured a constitution originally very weak, and after a
journey to Spa, which had very little effect, he was recommended to try his native air. On his return to England,
he resided for a very short time with a Mr. Bellamy, a gentleman of fortune, at Harrow on the Hill, where he died
Oct. 18, 1581. The popish historians concur in expressing the loss their cause suffered by his death, he being
teemed “an Alan in prudence, a Stapleton in acuteness, a
Campian in eloquence, a Wright in theology, and a Martin in languages.
” He wrote, 1. “Dr. Bristow’s motives,
”
Antwerp, A Reply to William Fulk (his ablest antagonist), in defence of
Dr. Allen (Alan’s) articles, and book of purgatory,
” Louvain, Fifty-one demands, to be proposed
by catholics to heretics,
” London, Veritates Aurese S. R. Ecclesiae,
” Tabula in summam theologicam S. Thomse Aquinatis,
” An Apology in defence of Alan and himself,
” and
notes upon the Rheims Testament.
fairs of Portugal procured him the office of first historiographer of Portugal, and he was the first who endeavoured to give a regular form to its history, two folio
, a Portuguese historian, was born
at Almeida, Aug. 20, 1569, and entered young into the
order of the Cistercians, by whom he was sent to Italy to
be educated. During his studies he betrayed much more
fondness for history than for philosophy or divinity, yet
did not neglect the latter so far as to be unable to teach
both, which he did with reputation on his return home.
His abilities in investigating the affairs of Portugal procured him the office of first historiographer of Portugal,
and he was the first who endeavoured to give a regular
form to its history, two folio volumes of which he published in 1597, at Alcobasa, and 1609, at. Lisbon, under
the title of “Monarchia Lusitana.
” It is written with elegance; and was brought down to Alfonsus III. by Antony
and Francis Brandano, monks of the same order, making
in all 7 vols. He published also, 2. Panegyrics of the
kings of Portugal, with their portraits. 3. Ancient Geography of Portugal. 4. Chronicle of the Cistercian order.
The ' Guerra Brasilica," Lisbon, 1675, 2 vols. folio, is
by Francis de Brito, a different person from Bernard, who
died in 1617.
ettled in business here, he became acquainted with Dr. Garaniere, his neighbour, an eminent chemist, who, admitting him into his laboratory, Tom, with the doctor’s consent,
, a very singular personage, known
by the name of the Musical Small-coal Man, was born at
or near Hignam Ferrers, in Northamptonshire, about the
middle of the seventeenth century, and went from thence
to London, where he bound himself apprentice to a smallcoal man. He served seven years, and returned to Northamptonshire, his master giving him a sum of money not
to set up: but, after this money was spent, he returned again
to London, and set up the trade of small-coal, which he
continued to the end of his life. Some time after he had
been settled in business here, he became acquainted with
Dr. Garaniere, his neighbour, an eminent chemist, who,
admitting him into his laboratory, Tom, with the doctor’s
consent, and his own observation, soon became a notable
chemist; contrived and built himself a moving laboratory,
in which, according to Hearne, “he performed with little
expence and trouble such things as had never been done
before.
” Besides his great skill in chemistry, he became
a practical, and, as was thought, a theoretical musician.
Tradition only informs us that he was very fond of music,
and taat he was able to perform on the viol da gamba at
his own concerts, which he at first established gratis in his
miserable house, which was an old mean building, the
ground-floor of which was a repository for his small-coal;
over this was his concert-room, long, low, and narrow, to
which there was no other ascent than by a pair of stairs on
the outside, so perpendicular and narrow, as scarcely to
be mounted without crawling.
Mr. Walpole, in his Anecdotes, says, that “Woolaston the painter, who was a good performer on the violin and flute, had played at
Mr. Walpole, in his Anecdotes, says, that “Woolaston
the painter, who was a good performer on the violin and
flute, had played at the concert held at the house of that
extraordinary person, Thomas Britton the small-coal man,
whose picture he twice drew, one of which was purchased
]by sir Hans Sloane, and is now in the British museum:
there is a mezzotinto from it. T. Britton, who made much
noise in his time, considering his low station and trade,
was a collector of all sorts of curiosities, particularly
drawings, prints, books, manuscripts on uncommon subjects, as mystic divinity, the philosopher’s stone, judicial
astrology, and magic; and musical instruments, both in
and out of vogue. Various were the opinions concerning
him; some thought his musical assembly only a cover for
seditious meetings; others, for magical purposes. He
was taken for an atheist, a presbyterian, a Jesuit But
Woolaston the painter, and the son of a gentleman who
had likewise been a member of that club, averred it as
their opinions, that Britton was a plain, simple, honest
man, who only meant to amuse himself. The subscription was but ten shillings a year; Britton found the instruments, and they had coffee at a penny a dish. Sir Hans
Sloane bought many of his books and Mss. now in the
Museum, when they were sold by auction at Tom’s coffeehouse, near Ludgate.
”
Dr. Burney in early life conversed with members of this concert, who spoke of him in the same manner. So late as the middle of the
Dr. Burney in early life conversed with members of this concert, who spoke of him in the same manner. So late as the middle of the last century, mezzotinto prints of him were in all the print-shops, particularly an excellent one by Smith, under which, and almost all the prints of Britton, were the following verses, by Hughes, who frequently performed on the violin at the concerts of this ingenious small-coal man:
of original and odd characters, which our free government produces, says: “We have a small-coal man, who beginning with two plain notes, which made up his daily cry,
In most of the prints, he was represented with his sack
of small-coal on his shoulder, and his measure of retail in
his hand. In the Guardian, No, 144, Steele, speaking of the
variety of original and odd characters, which our free government produces, says: “We have a small-coal man, who
beginning with two plain notes, which made up his daily
cry, has made himself master of the whole compass of the
gammut, and has frequent concerts of music at his own
house, for the entertainment of himself and friends.
”
But the assertion of sir John Hawkins, that Britton was the first who had a meeting that corresponded with the idea of a concert,
But the assertion of sir John Hawkins, that Britton was the first who had a meeting that corresponded with the idea of a concert, is not correct: in the time of Charles I. and during the usurpation, at Oxford, meetings for the performance of Fancies in six and seven parts, which preceded sonatas and concerts, were very common. And in Charles the Second’s time, Banister, father and son, had concerts, first at taverns and public-houses, and afterwards at York-buildings. It is, perhaps, not a matter worthy of dispute; but we imagine that it would be difficult to prove that Handel ever played at the small-coal man’s concert. Handel was proud, and never had much respect for English composers. He had been caressed and patronised by princes and nobles so long, that he would as soon have gone into a coal-pit to play at a concert, as to the hovel of our vender of small-coal.
ir and the gay; and his fondness for music caused him to be known by many dilettanti and professors, who formed themselves into aciub at his house, where capital pieces
About the commencement of the last century, a passion prevailed among several persons of distinction, of collecting old books and Mss.; and it was their Saturday’s amusement during winter, to ramble through various quarters of the town in pursuit of these treasures. The earls of Oxford, Pembroke, Sunderland, and Winchelsea, and the duke of Devonshire, were of this party, and Mr. Bagford and other collectors assisted them in their researches. Britton appears to have been employed by them; and, as he was a very inodest, decent, and unpresuming man, he was a sharer in their conversation, when they met after their morning’s walk, at a bookseller’s shop in Ave-Maria lane, Britton used to pitch his coal-sack on 'a bulk at the door, and, dressed in his b ue frock, to step in and spend an hour with the company. But it was not only by a few literary lords that his acquaintance was cultivated; his humble roof was frequented by assemblies of the fair and the gay; and his fondness for music caused him to be known by many dilettanti and professors, who formed themselves into aciub at his house, where capital pieces were played by some of the first professional artists, and other practitioners; and here Duboprg, when a child, played, standing upon a joint-stool, the Hrst solo that he ever executed in public.
death were very extraordinary. A ventriloquist was introduced into his company by one justice Robe, who was fond of mischievous jests. This man, in a voice seemingly
The circumstances of his death were very extraordinary. A ventriloquist was introduced into his company by one justice Robe, who was fond of mischievous jests. This man, in a voice seemingly coming from a distance, announced to poor Britton his approaching end, and bid him prepare for it, by repealing the Lord’s prayer on his knees. The poor man did so, but the affair dwelt so much upon his imagination, that he died in a few days, leaving justice Robe to enjoy the fruits of his mirth. His death happened in September, 1714, when he was upwards of sixty years of age.
-page of the catalogue of his library: “The library of Mr. Thomas Britton, small-coal man, deceased; who, at his own charge, kept up a concert of music above forty years,
Britton' s wife survived her husband. He left little behind
him, except his books, his collection of manuscript and
printed music, and musical instruments; all which were
sold by auction, and catalogues of them are in the hands
of some collectors of curiosities. His instrumental music
consists of 160 articles; his vocal, of 42; 11 scores; instruments, 27. All these are specified in Hawkins’s History of music, but we shall add the title-page of the catalogue of his library: “The library of Mr. Thomas
Britton, small-coal man, deceased; who, at his own charge,
kept up a concert of music above forty years, in his little
cottge; being a curious collection of every ancient and
uncommon book in divinity, history, physic, chejnistry,
magick, &c. Also a collection of Mss. chiefly on vellum,
which will be sold by auction at Paul’s coffee-house, &c.
Jan. 1714-15,
” &c. It contained 102 articles in folio;
270 in 4to; 664 in 8vo; 50 pamphlets, and twenty-three
Mss. A few of the works in 8vo were sufficiently amatory. A copy of this now very rare catalogue is in Miv
Heber’s excellent library.
ed a battle fought that year by a French ship, la Cordeliere, and an English ship, the Regent. More, who was not then in the high station which he afterwards reached,
, a learned Frenchman, was born about the end of the fifteenth century, at
Auxerre, or in that diocese; and in his education made
great progress in the learned languages, particularly the
Greek, from which he translated into Latin, Chrysostom’s
treatise on the priesthood; his first eight homilies on the
epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, and some other works,
which contributed very much to his reputation. He used
frequently to compose Greek verses, with which he entertained the literati at his house, where they were sure of an
open table. From 1512 he was secretary to queen Anne,
and archdeacon of Albi. In 1515 he had a canonry conferred upon him in the church of Auxerre, which, in 1520,
he resigned, on being promoted to the same rank at Paris.
He calls himself almoner to the king in the title of his rare
book “Germani Brixii, gratulatoriae quatuor ad totidem
viros classissimos, &c.
” Paris, Christ. Longolii perduellionis rei detensiones duae,
” Chordigera,
”.
where in three hundred hexameter verses, he described a
battle fought that year by a French ship, la Cordeliere,
and an English ship, the Regent. More, who was not
then in the high station which he afterwards reached, composed several epigrams in derision of this poem. Brixius,
piqued at this affront, revenged himself by the “AntiMorus,
” an elegy of about Flores
Epigrammatum
” of Leodegarius a Quercu, or Leger du
Che'ne. The third is in the “Corpus Poetarum Latinorum
” collected by Janus Gruterus, under the anagrammatic name of Ranutius Gerus. Erasmus says that More
despised this poem so much as to have intended to print
it; Erasmus at the same time advised More to take no notice of it. The chancellor’s great-grandson and biographer,
More, seems to think that he had written something in
answer to Brixius, before he received this advice from
Erasmus, but called in the copies, “so that,
” says his
biographer, “it is now very hard to be found; though
some have seen it of late.
” Much correspondence on the
subject may be perused in our authorities.
ved what he taught. He retired to Nuremberg at the latter end of his life, where he met with persons who were very kind and charitable to him. “I hear,” -says Bongars
The catholic writers have abused Brocardus as an impostor, and a promoter of wars and insurrections; but
though he might have been the cause of disturbances, he
does not appear to have been a knavish impostor. He
seems to have been sincere, and to have believed what he
taught. He retired to Nuremberg at the latter end of his
life, where he met with persons who were very kind and
charitable to him. “I hear,
” -says Bongars in a letter to
Camerarius, dated Feb. 3, 1591, “that your republic has
kindly received the good old man J. Brocard, who in his
youth appeared among the most polite and learned men.
”
He expresses the same affection for Brocard in another,
dated July 24, 1593. “I am mightily pleased with the
great affection you express for Brocard. He certainly
deserves that some persons of such probity as yours should
take care of him. As for me, I am hardly in a capacity to
oblige him. I leave no stone unturned to procure him the
payment of 300 gold crowns, which Mr. Segur left him
by his will.
” In another, of Nov. 16, 1594: “I cannot
but even thank you for your kind and generous treatment
of the poor, but good, old Brocard.
” He died soon after,
but we do not find exactly when.
fter continuing the usual time, he went to Leyden, and took his degree under the celebrated Gaubius, who corresponded with him for several years afterwards. His diploma
, an eminent English physician, the son of Richard Brocklesby, est}. of the city of
Cork, by Mary Alloway, of Minehead, Somersetshire, was
born at Minehead, where his mother happened to be on a
visit to her parents, Aug. 11, 1722. There he remained
until he was three years old, at which time he was carried
to Ireland, and privately instructed for some years in his
father’s house at Cork. At a proper age he was sent to
Ballytore school in the north of Ireland, at which Edmund
Burke “was educated, and although they were not exactly
contemporaries^ Dr. Brocklesby being seven years older,
this circumstance led to a long and strict friendship. Having finished his classical education at Ballytore, with diligence and success, his father, intending him for a physician, sent him to Edinburgh, where after continuing the
usual time, he went to Leyden, and took his degree under
the celebrated Gaubius, who corresponded with him for
several years afterwards. His diploma is dated June 28,
1745, and the same year he published his thesis,
” De
Saliva sana et morbosa."
ractice, his advice as well as his purse was ever accessible to the poor, as well as to men of merit who stood in need of either. Besides giving his advice to the poor
On his return he settled in Norfolk-street, in the Strand,
where he was considered as a physician of very extensive
experience, particularly in all diseases incident to the
army. His practice spread in proportion to his reputation;
and, with his half-pay, and an estate of about six hundred
pounds per year, which devolved on him by the death of
his father, he was now enabled to live in a very handsome
manner, and his table was frequently filled with some
of the most distinguished persons for rank, learning, and
abilities in the kingdom. In the course of his practice,
his advice as well as his purse was ever accessible to the
poor, as well as to men of merit who stood in need of
either. Besides giving his advice to the poor of all descriptions, which he did with an active and unwearied benevolence, he had always upon his list two or three poor widows, to whom he granted small annuities; and who, on
the quarter day of receiving their stipends, always partook
of the hospitalities of his table. To his relations who
wanted his assistance in their business or professions, he
was not only liberal, but so judicious in his liberalities as
to supersede the necessity of a repetition of them. To his
friend Dr. Johnson (when it was in agitation amongst his friends to procure an enlargement of his pension, the better to enable him to travel for the benefit of his health), he
offered an establishment of one hundred pounds per year
during his life: and, upon doctor Johnson’s declining it
(which he did in the most affectionate terms of gratitude and friendship), he made him a second offer of apartments
in his own house, for the more immediate benefit of medical advice. To his old and intimate friend Edmund Burke,
he had many years back bequeathed by will the sum of
one thousand pounds; but recollecting that this event
might take place (which it afterwards did) when such a legacy could be of no service to him, he, with that judicious
liberality for which he was always distinguished, gave it to
him in advance, “ut pignus arnicitite;
” it was accepted as
such by Mr. Burke, accompanied with a letter, which none
but a man feeling the grandeur and purity of friendship
like him, could dictate.
Passing through a life thus honourably occupied in the
liberal pursuits of his profession, and in the confidence and
friendship of some of the first characters of the age for
rank or literary attainments, the doctor reached his 73d
year; and finding those infirmities, generally attached to
that time of life, increase upon him, he gave up a good
deal of the bustle of business, as well as his half-pay,
on being appointed, by his old friend and patron the duke
of Richmond, physician general to the royal regiment of
artillery and corps of engineers, March, 1794. This was
a situation exactly suited to his time of life and inclinations; hence he employed his time in occasional trips to
Woolwich, with visits to his friends and patients. In this
last list he never forgot either the poor or those few friends
whom he early attended as a medical man gratuitously.
Scarcely any distance, or any other inconvenience, could
repress this benevolent custom; and when he heard by accident that any of this latter description of his friends were
ill, and had through delicacy abstained from sending for
him, he used to say, somewhat peevishly, “Why am I
treated thus? Why was not I sent for?
”
the last, and in a degree partook of the pleasantries and convivialities of the table. The friends, who knew his habits, sometimes indulged him with a nap in his arm
Though debilitated beyond his years, particularly for a man of his constant exercise and abstemious and regular manner of living, he kept up his acquaintance and friendships to the last, and in a degree partook of the pleasantries and convivialities of the table. The friends, who knew his habits, sometimes indulged him with a nap in his arm chair after dinner, which greatly refreshed him: he then would turn about to the company, and pay his club of the conversation, either by anecdote or observation, entirely free from the laws or severities of old age.
cordially received by the amiable mistress of the mansion, as well as by doctors Lawrence and King, who happened to be there on a visit. He remained at Beaconsfield
In the beginning of December 1797, he set out on a
visit to Mrs. Burke, at Beaconsfield, the long frequented
seat of friendship and hospitality, where the master spirit
of the age he lived in, as well as the master of that mansion, had so often adorned, enlivened, and improved the
convivial hour. On proposing this journey, and under so
infirm a state as he was in, it was hinted by a friend, whether such a length of way, or the lying out of his own bed,
with other little circumstances, might not fatigue him too
much: he instantly caught the force of this suggestion,
and with his usual placidity replied, “My good friend, I
perfectly understand your hint, and am thankful to you
for it; but where’s the difference whether I die at a friend’s
house, at an inn, or in a post-chaise? I hope I'm every
way prepared for such an event, and perhaps it would be
as well to elude the expectation of it.
” He therefore began his journey the next day, and arrived there the same
evening, where he was cordially received by the amiable
mistress of the mansion, as well as by doctors Lawrence
and King, who happened to be there on a visit. He remained
at Beaconsfield ‘till the llth of December, but recollecting that his learned nephew, Dr. Young, now foreign secretary to the royal society, was to return from Cambridge
to London next day, he instantly set out for his house in
town, where he ate his last dinner with his nearest friends
and relations, About nine o’clock he desired to go to bed,
but going up stairs fatigued him so much, that he was
obliged to sit in his chair for some time before he felt himself sufficiently at ease to be undressed. In a little time,
however, he recovered himself; and, as they were unbuttoning his waistcoat, he said to his elder nephew, “What
an idle piece of ceremony this buttoning and unbuttoning
is to me now!
” When he got to bed he seemed perfectly
composed, but in about five minutes after, expired with
out a groan.
to the laws of Holland, his life was forfeited: but Gnevius wrote immediately to Nicholas Heinsius, who obtained his pardon from the stadtholder. Not long after, he
, or John Broeckhuizen, a distinguished scholar in Holland, was born Nov. 20, 1649, at Amsterdam, where his father was a clerk in the admiralty. He learned the Latin tongue under Hadrian Junius, and made a prodigious progress in polite literature, but his father dying when he was very young, he was taken from literary pursuits’, and placed with an apothecary at Amsterdam, with whom he lived some years. Not liking this, he went into the army, where his behaviour raised him to the rank of lieutenant-captain; and, in 1674, was sent with his regiment to America in the fleet under admiral de Ruyter, but returned to Holland the same year. In 1678 he was sent to the garrison at Utrecht, where he contracted a friendship with the celebrated Grsevius; and here, though a person of an excellent temper, he had the misfortune to be so deeply engaged in a duel, that, according to the laws of Holland, his life was forfeited: but Gnevius wrote immediately to Nicholas Heinsius, who obtained his pardon from the stadtholder. Not long after, he became a captain of one of the companies then at Amsterdam; which post placed him in an easy situation, and gave him leisure to pursue his studies. His company being disbanded in 1697, a pension was granted him; upon which he retired to a country-house near Amsterdam, where he saw but little company, and spent his time among his books. He died Dec. 15, 1707, and was interred at Amsterween, near Amsterdam; a monument was afterwards erected to his memory, with an inscription, the letters of which are arranged so as to form the date of the year, which we presume was considered as a great effort of genius:
blication, in 1715. Mr. Brokesby was intimately acquainted with the famous Oxford antiquary, Hearne, who printed a valuable letter of his in the first volume of Leland’s
, was born at Stoke Golding, in
Leicestershire, Sept. 29, 1637, and educated at Trinity
college, Cambridge, and was afterwards rector of Rowley,
in the East riding of Yorkshire. He wrote a “Life of
Jesus Christ;
” and was a principal assistant to Mr. Nelson
in compiling his “Feasts and Fasts of the Church of England.
” He was also author of “An History of the government of the primitive Church, for the three first centuries,
and the beginning of the fourth,
” printed by W. B. The following
treatise challenges you for its patron, and demands its
dedication to yourself, in that I wrote it under your roof>
was encouraged in my studies by that respectful treatment
I there found, and still meet with; and withal, as I was
assisted in my work by your readiness to supply me, out
of your well-replenished library, with such books as I
stood in need of in collecting this history. I esteem myself, therefore, in gratitude obliged to make this public
acknowledgement of your favours, and to tell the world,
that when I was by God’s good providence reduced to
straits (in part occasioned by my care lest I should make shipwreck of a good conscience), I then found a safe retreat and kind reception in your family, and there both
leisure and encouragement to write this following treatise.
”
As Mr. Brokesby’s straits arose from his principles as a
nonjuror, he was, of course, patronised by the most eminent persons of that persuasion. The house of the benevolent Mr. Cherry, however, was his asylum; and there
he formed an intimacy with Mr. Dodwell, whose “Life
”
he afterwards wrote, and with Mr. Nelson, to whom the
Life of Dodwell is dedicated. He died suddenly soon after
that publication, in 1715. Mr. Brokesby was intimately
acquainted with the famous Oxford antiquary, Hearne,
who printed a valuable letter of his in the first volume of
Leland’s Itinerary; and was said to be the author of a tract,
entitled “Of Education, with respect to grammar-schools
and universities,
”
me tenements in St. Mary’s parish, he gave them the advowson of St. Mary’s church, &c. Adam de Brom, who was deservedly appointed the first provost, drew up a body of
, almoner to king Edward II. is allowed to have shared the honour of founding Oriel college,
Oxford, with that monarch. The only accounts we have
of De Brom state, that he was rector of Hanworth in
Middlesex, in 1313; the year following, chancellor of the diocese of Durham; in 1319, archdeacon of Stow; and a
few months after was promoted to the living of St. Mary,
OxfordJ In 1324 he requested of his sovereign to be empowered to purchase a messuage in Oxford, where he
might found, to the honour of the Virgin Mary, a college
of scholars, governed by a rector of their own choosing,
“sub nomine Rectoris Domus Scholarium Beatae Marias.
”
With this the king readily complied, and De Brom immediately commenced his undertaking by purchasing a
tenement in St. Mary’s parish; and, by virtue of the charter granted by the king, dated 1324, founded a college of
scholars for the study of divinity and logic. He then
resigned the whole into the hands of the king, of whose
liberality he appears to have made a just estimate, and
from whose power he expected advantages to the society,
which he was himself incapable of conferring. Nor was he
disappointed in the issue of this well-timed policy. The
king took the college under his own care, and the next
year granted anew charter, appointing it to be a college
for divinity and the canon-law, to be governed by a provost, and for their better maintenance, besides some tenements in St. Mary’s parish, he gave them the advowson of
St. Mary’s church, &c. Adam de Brom, who was deservedly appointed the first provost, drew up a body of
statutes in 1326, and gave his college the church of Aberforth in Yorkshire; and in 1327, Edward III. bestowed
upon them a large messuage, situated partly in the parish
of St. John Baptist, called La Oriole, to which the scholars
soon removed, and from which the college took its name.
De Brom procured other advantages for the college, the
last of which was the advowson of Coleby in Lincolnshire.
He died June 16, 1332, and was buried in St. Mary’s
church, in a chapel still called after his name. It is said
to have been built by him, and his tomb, now decayed,
was visible in Antony Wood’s time. In this chapel the
heads of houses assemble on Sundays, &c. previous to
their taking their seats in the church.
acted in 1651 at the private house in Drury Lane. He was also editor of the plays of Richard Brome, who, however, is not mentioned as being related to him.
, an English poet, has the reputation of ably assisting the royal party in the time of
Charles I. and of even having no inconsiderable hand in
promoting the restoration. Of his personal history, we
have only a few notices in the Biographia Dramatica. He
was born in 1620, and died June 30, 1666. He was an
attorney in the lord mayor’s court, and through the whole
of the protectorship, maintained his loyalty, and cheered
his party by the songs and poems in his printed works,
most of which must have been sung, if not composed, at
much personal risk. How far they are calculated to excite
resentment, or to promote the cause which the author
espoused, the reader must judge. His songs are in^neasures, varied with considerable ease and harmony, and have
many sprightly turns, and satirical strokes, which the
Roundheads must have felt. Baker informs us that he
was the author of much the greater part of those songs and
epigrams which were published against the rump. Phillips
styles him the “English Anacreon.
” Walton has draxvn a
very favourable character of him in the eclogue prefixed to
his works, the only one of the commendatory poems which
seems worthy of a republication; Mr. Ellis enumerates
three editions of these poems, the first in 1660, the second
in 1664, and the third in 1668. That, however, used in
the late edition of the English Poets is dated 1661. In
1660 he published “A Congratulatory Poem on the miraculous and glorious Return of Charles II.
” which we have
not seen. Besides these poems he published a “Translation of Horace,
” by himself, Fanshaw, Holliday, Hawkins,
Cowley, Ben Jonson, &c. and had once an intention to
translate Lucretius, In 1654 he published a comedy entitled “The Cunning Lovers,
” which was acted in
the surgeons to St. George’s hospital. In 1761, he was appointed in the suite of the noble persons, who were sent to bring over the princess of Mecklenburgh, our present
, an eminent English surgeon, was born in London, in 1712, and studied surgery
under the celebrated Ranby, by whose instructions he was
soon enabled to practise on his own account. In 1741, he
began to give lectures on anatomy and surgery, and soon
found his theatre crowded with pupils. Some years after,
in conjunction with the rev. Mr. Madan, he formed the
plan of the Lock hospital, into which patients were first
received Jan. 3, 1747, and was made first surgeon to that
establishment, an office he filled with advantage to the
patients and credit to himself for many years. With a
view of contributing to its success, he altered an old
comedy, “The City Match,
” written in A Narrative of a Physical Transaction with Mr. Aylet, surgeon, at
Windsor.
” This is a controversial piece of no consequence now, but the author clears himself from the imputation of having treated his antagonist improperly. Ira
1767, he published “Thoughts concerning the present
peculiar method of treating persons ^inoculated for the
Small-pox.
” This relates to the Suttons, who were now
in the zenith of their reputation. He thinks their practice of exposing their patients to the open air in the midst
of winter, of repelling the eruption, and checking or preventing the suppurative process, too bold, and hazardous,
On the whole, however, he acknowledges, they were deserving of commendation, for the improvements they had
introduced, in the treatment, both of the inoculated and
natural small-pox. His next work, the most considerable
one written by him, was “Chirurgical Cases and Observations,
” published in Notes
on Chirurgical Cases and Observations, by a Professor of
Surgery.
” The strictures contained in these notes are
keen and ingenious, and, though evidently the produce of
ill-humour, yet seem to have had the effect of preventing
so general a diffusion of the cases, as the character of the
author would otherwise have procured them. They have
never been reprinted. About this time the author took a
spacious mansion in Chelsea park, which he enlarged,
altered, and furnished in an elegant style. Hither he retired, after doing his business, which he began gradually
to contract into a narrower circle. With that view, a few
years after, he gave up his situation as surgeon to the Lock
hospital. His other appointments he kept to the time of
his death, which happened on the 24th of November, 1792,
in the 80th year of his age.
ental on her side, as there are many persons of very distinguished rank and unquestionable veracity, who saw hers in manuscript before the others appeared, and will
, whose maiden name was Moore,
was the daughter of a clergyman, and the wife of the rev.
John Brooke, rector of Colney in Norfolk, of St. Augustine in the city of Norwich, and chaplain to the garrison of
Quebec. She was as remarkable for her gentleness and
suavity of manners as for her literary talents. Her husband died on the 21st of January 1789, and she herself
expired on the 26th of the same month, at Sleaford, where
she had retired to the house of her son, now rector of
Folkingham in Lincolnshire. Her disorder was a spasmodic complaint. The first literary performance we know
of her writing was the “Old Maid,
” a periodical work,
begun November 15, 1755, and continued every Saturday
until about the end of July 1756. These papers have
since been collected into one volume 12mo. In the same
year (1756) she published “Virginia,
” a tragedy, with
odes, pastorals, and translations, 8vo. In the preface to
this publication she assigns as a reason for its appearance,
“that she was precluded from all hopes of ever seeing the
tragedy brought upon the stage, by there having been two
so lately on the same subject.
” “If hers,
” she adds,
“should be found to have any greater resemblance to the
two represented, than the sameness of the story made unavoidable, of which she is not conscious, it must have been
accidental on her side, as there are many persons of very
distinguished rank and unquestionable veracity, who saw
hers in manuscript before the others appeared, and will
witness for her, that she has taken no advantage of having
seen them. She must here do Mr. Crisp the justice to
say, that any resemblance must have been equally accidental on his part, as he neither did, nor could see her
Virginia before his own was played; Mr. Garrick having
declined reading hers till Mr. Crisp’s was published.
” Prefixed to this publication were proposals for printing by
subscription a poetical translation, with notes, of il Pastor
Fido, a work which probably was never completed.
tta Campley,” translated from the French, 12mo. She soon afterwards went to Canada with her husband, who was chaplain to the garrison at Quebec; and there saw those
In 1763 she published a novel, entitled, “The History
of Lady Julia Mandeville,
” concerning the plan of which
there were various opinions, though of the execution there
seems to have been but one. It was read with much
avidity and general approbation. It has been often, however, wished that the catastrophe had been less melancholy; and of the propriety of this opinion the authoress
herself is said to have been satisfied, but did not choose to
make the alteration. In the same year she published
“Letters from Juliet lady Catesby to her friend lady Henrietta Campley,
” translated from the French, 12mo. She
soon afterwards went to Canada with her husband, who
was chaplain to the garrison at Quebec; and there saw
those romantic scenes so admirably painted in her next
work, entitled, “The History of Emily Montagu,
” Memoirs of
the Marquis of St. Forlaix,
” in 4 vols. 12mo. On her return to England accident brought her acquainted with Mrs.
Yates, and an intimacy was formed between them which
lasted as long as that lady lived; and when she died, Mrs.
Brooke did honour to her memory by a eulogium printed
in the Gentleman’s Magazine. If we are not mistaken,
Mrs. Brooke had with Mrs. Yates fora time some share in
the opera-house. She certainly had some share of the
libellous abuse which the management of that theatre during the above period gave birth to. We have already
seen that her first play had been refused by Mr. Garrick.
After the lapse of several years she was willing once -more
to try her fortune at the theatre, and probably relying on
the influence of Mrs. Yates to obtain its representation,
produced a tragedy which had not the good fortune to
please the manager. He therefore rejected it; and by
that means excited the resentment of the authoress so
much that she took a severe revenge on him in a novel
published in 1777, entitled the “Excursion,
” in 2 vols.
12mo. It is not certainly known whether this rejected
tragedy is or is not the same as was afterwards acted at
Covent-garden. If it was, it will furnish no impeachment
of Mr. Garrick’s judgment. It ought, however, <to be
added, that our authoress, as is said, thought her invective too severe; lamented and retracted it. In 1771 she
translated “Elements of the History of England, from
the invasion of the Romans to the reign of George II.
from the abbe Millot,
” in 4 vols. 12mo. In January 1781,
the “Siege of Sinope,
” a tragedy, was acted at Coventgarden. This piece added but little to her reputation,
though the principal characters were well supported by
Mr. Henderson and Mrs. Yates. It went nine nights, but
never became popular; it wanted energy, and had not
much originality; there was little to disapprove, but nothing to admire. Her next and most popular performance
was “Rosina,
” acted at Covent-garden in December Marian,
” acted
the Temple. Dr. Sheridan was probably the means of his being introduced in London to Swift and Pope, who regarded him as a young man of very promising talents. How long
, an amiable and ingenious writer,
was a native of Ireland, where he was born in the year 1706.
His father, the rev. William Brooke of Rantavan, rector
of the parishes of Killinkare, Mullough, Mybullough, and
Licowie, is said to have been a man of grent talents and
worth; his mother’s name was Digby. His education appears to have been precipitated in a manner not very usual:
after being for some time the pupil of Dr. Sheridan, he
was sent to Trinity college, Dublin, and from thence removed, when only seventeen years old, to study law in
the Temple. Dr. Sheridan was probably the means of
his being introduced in London to Swift and Pope, who
regarded him as a young man of very promising talents.
How long he remained in London we are not told*, but on
his return to Ireland he practised for some time as a chamber counsel, when an incident occurred which interrupted
his more regular pursuits, and prematurely involved him
in the cares of a family. An aunt, who died at Westmgath
about the time of his arrival in Ireland, committed to him
the guardianship of her daughter, a lively and beautiful
girl between eleven and twelve years old. Brooke, pleased
with the trust, conducted her to Dublin, and placed her
at a boarding-school, where, during his frequent visits, he
gradually changed the guardian for the lover, and at length
prevailed on her to consent to a private marriage. In the
life prefixed to his works, this is said to have taken place
before she had reached her fourteenth year: another account, which it is neither easy nor pleasant to believe,
informs us that she was a mother before she had completed
that year. When the marriage was discovered, the ceremony was again performed in the presence of his family.
For some time this happy pair had no cares but to please
each other, and it was not until after the birth of their
third child that Brooke could be induced to think seriously
how such a family was to be provided for. The law had
long been given up, and he had little inclination to resume a profession which excluded so many of the pleasures
of imagination, and appeared inconsistent with the feelings
of a mind tender, benevolent, and somewhat romantic.
Another journey to London, however, promised the advantages of literary society, and the execution of literary
schemes by which he might indulge his genius, and be
rewarded by fame and wealth. Accordingly, soon after
his arrival, he renewed his acquaintance with his former
friends, and published his philosophical poem, entitled
“Universal Beauty.
” This had been submitted to Pope,
who, probably, contributed his assistance, and whose manner at least is certainly followed. At what time this occurred is uncertain. The second part was published in
1735, and the remainder about a year after. What fame
or advantage he derived from it we know not, as no mention is made of him in the extensive correspondence of
Pope or Swift. He was, however, obliged to return to
Ireland, where for a short time he resumed his legal profession.
as introduced to Lyttelton and others, the political and literary adherents of the prince of Wales, “ who,” it is said, “caressed him with uncommon familiarity, and presented
In 1737 he went a third time to London, where he was
introduced to Lyttelton and others, the political and literary adherents of the prince of Wales, “who,
” it is said,
“caressed him with uncommon familiarity, and presented
him with many elegant and valuable tokens of his friendship.
” Amidst such society, he had every thing to point
his ambition to fame and independence, and readily caught
that fervour of patriotic enthusiasm which was the bond of
union and the ground of hope in the prince’s court.
erior to mine.” He was, however, diverted from completing his translation, by his political friends, who, among other plans of hostility against the minister of the
In 1738 he published a translation of the First Three
Books of Tasso, of which it is sufficient praise that Hoole
says: “It is at once so harmonious and so spirited, that I
think an entire translation of Tasso by him would not only
have rendered my task unnecessary, but have discouraged
those from the attempt whose poetical abilities are much
superior to mine.
” He was, however, diverted from completing his translation, by his political friends, who, among
other plans of hostility against the minister of the day, endeavoured to turn all the weapons of literature against
him, Their prose writers were numerous, but principally
essayists and pamphleteers: from their poets they had
greater expectations; Paul Whitehead wrote satires;
Fielding, comedies and farces; Glover, an epic poem;
and now Brooke was encouraged to introduce Walpole in
a tragedy. This was entitled “Gustavus Vasa, the deliverer of his country,
” and was accepted by Drury-lane
theatre, and almost quite ready for performance, when an
order came from the lord chamberlain to prohibit it. That
it contains a considerable portion of party-spirit cannot be
denied, and the character of Trollio, the Swedish minister,
however unjustly, was certainly intended for sir Robert
Walpole; but it may be doubted whether this minister
gained much by prohibiting the acting of a play which he
had not the courage to suppress when published, and when
the sentiments, considered deliberately in the closet, might
be nearly as injurious as when delivered by a mouthing
actor. The press, however, remained open, and the prohibition having excited an uncommon degree of curiosity,
the author was more richly rewarded than he could
been by the profits of the stage. Above a thousand copies
were subscribed for at five shillings each, and by the sale
of the subsequent editions, the author is said to have
cleared nearly a thousand pounds. The editor of the
Biographia Dramatica says that it was acted in 1742, with
some alterations, on the Irish stage, by the title of “The
Patriot.
” Dr, Johnson, who at this time ranked among
the discontented, wrote a very ingenious satirical pamphlet in favour of the author, entitled “A complete vindication of the Licensers of the Stage from the malicious
and scandalous aspersions of Mr. Brooke, author of GustavusVasa,
”
of some pieces which were not his. In 1792 another edition was published at Dublin, by his daughter, who procured some memoirs of her father prefixed to the first volume.
His poetical works were collected in 1778, in four volumes octavo, printed very incorrectly, and with the addition of some pieces which were not his. In 1792 another edition was published at Dublin, by his daughter, who procured some memoirs of her father prefixed to the first volume. In this she informs us she found many difficulties. He had lived to so advanced an age, that most of his contemporaries departed before him, and this young lady remembered nothing of him previous to his retirement from the world. Such an apology cannot be refused, while we must yet regret that miss Brooke was not able to collect information more to be depended on, and arranged with more attention to dates. The narrative, as we find it, is confused and contradictory.
t may be said that the necessities of his family made him listen to the importunity of those friends who considered the stage as a profitable resource; but by taking
From all, however, that can now be learned, Brooke
was a man of a most amiable character and ingenuous temper, and perhaps few men have produced writings of the
same variety, the tendency of all which is so uniformly in
favour of religious and moral principle. Yet even in this
there are inconsistencies which we know not how to explain, unless we attribute them to an extraordinary defect
in judgment. During a great part of his life, his religious opinions approached to what are now termed
methodistical, and one difficulty, in contemplating his character,
is to reconcile this with his support of the stage, and his
writing those trifling farces we find among his works. Perhaps it may be said that the necessities of his family made
him listen to the importunity of those friends who considered the stage as a profitable resource; but by taking
such advice he was certainly no great gainer. Except in
the case of his “Gustavus
” and “Earl of Essex,
” there is
no reason to think that he was successful, and the greater
part of his dramas were never performed at all, or printed
until 1778, when he could derive very little advantage
from them. Nor can we impute it to any cause, except a
total want of judgment and an ignorance of the public
taste, that he intermixed the most awful doctrines of religion, and the lighter incidents and humorous sketches of
vulgar or fashionable life, in his novels. He lived, however, we are told, more consistently than he wrote. No
day passed in which he did not collect his family to prayer,
and read and expounded the scriptures to them : Among
his tenants and humble friends he was the benevolent and
generous character which he had been accustomed to depict in his works, and while he had the means, he literally
went about doing good.
ll more, he wrote a “Second Discovery of Errors,” which he presented to James I. January 1, 1619-20, who, on the 4th following, prohibited its publication, but it was
, York herald, whose real name was
Brookesworth, until he changed it to Brooke, was bred to
the trade of a painter-stainer, of which company he became free, September 3, 1576, and leaving this, he became an officer at arms. He was so extremely worthless
and perverse, that his whole mind seems bent to malice
and wickedness: unawed by virtue or station, none were
secure from his unmerited attacks. He became a disgrace
to the college, a misfortune to his contemporaries, and a
misery to himself. With great sense and acquirements, he
sunk into disgrace and contempt. He was particularly
hostile to Camden, publishing “A Discovery of Errors
”
found in his Britannia. Camden returned his attack
partly by silence, and partly by rallying Brooke, as entirely
ignorant of his own profession, incapable of translating or
understanding the “Britannia,
” in which he had discovered faults, offering to submit the matter in dispute to the
earl Marshal, the college of heralds, the society of antir
quaries, or four persons learned in these studies. Irritated
still more, he wrote a “Second Discovery of Errors,
” which
he presented to James I. January 1, 1619-20, who, on the
4th following, prohibited its publication, but it was published by Anstis, in 1723, in 4to. In it are Camden’s
supposed errors, with his objections, Camden’s reply, and his
own answers. In the appendix, in two columns, are placed
the objectionable passages in the edition of 1594, and the
same as they stood in that of 1600. In 1622, he published
a valuable work, dedicated to James I. entitled “A Catalogue and Succession of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Marquises, Earls, and Viscounts of this Realm, since the Norman Conquest, until 1619, &c.
” small folio. In his address to his majesty, he says, “he had spent fifty years’
labour and experience, having served his majesty and the
late queen Elizabeth, of famous memory, forty years an
more.
” That no doubt might be entertained of his ability,
he said he had in his custody the collections of the principal heralds deceased, before and during his time, adding,
without ostentation be it spoken, he held his library better
furnished than the office of arms. He does not neglect to
intreat James to prohibit upstarts and mountebanks from
impoverishing his majesty’s poor servants, the officers of
arms, who labour daily, and spend both their bodies and
substance in doing their duty. He was twice suspended
and imprisoned for scandalous misbehaviour: the first
time, for his shameful conduct to Segar, Garter; and in
1620, a petition was exhibited against him and Creswell
as disturbers of the whole body of heralds. On Oct. 15,
llowed the example of Nicholas Statham, one of the barons of the exchequer in the time of Edward IV. who t abridged the larger arguments and tedious reports of the Year-books
, lord chief justice
of the common pleas in the reign of queen Mary, and
author of several books in the law, was son of Thomas
Brooke of Claverly in Shropshire, by Margaret his wife,
daughter of Hugh Grosvenor of Farmot in that county.
He was born at Claverly, and studied in the university of
Oxford, which was of great advantage to him when he
studied the law in the Middle Temple, according to Mr.
Wood, though Mr. Stow, in his Annals under the year
1552, says he was of Gray’s-inn. By his prodigous application and judgment he became the greatest lawyer of his
time. In 1542 he was elected autumn or summer reader
of the Middle Temple, and in Lent, 1550, he was chosen
double reader. In 1552 he was by 'writ called to be serj ear* at law; and in 1553, which was the first of queen
Mary’s reign, he was appointed lord chief justice of the
common pleas, and not of the king’s bench, as some have
affirmed; and about that time he received the honour of
knighthood from the queen, in whose reign he was highly
^valued for his profound skill in the law, and his integrity in
all points relating to the profession of it. Mr. Wood mentions a manuscript in the Ashmolean library at Oxford,
which informs us, that he had likewise been common serjeant and recorder of the city of London, and speaker of
the house of commons; and that he died as he was visiting
his friends in the country, September 5, 1558, and was interred in the chancel of Claverly church, with a monument erected to him. In his last will, proved October 12
the same year, he remembers the church and poor of Putney near London. He left his posterity a good estate at
Madeley in Shropshire, and at one or two places in Suffolk. He wrote “La Graunde Abridgement,
” which contains, according to Mr. Wood, an abstract of the Yearbooks to the reign of queen Mary; and Nicolson, in his
“English Historical Library,
” tells us, that in this work
he followed the example of Nicholas Statham, one of the
barons of the exchequer in the time of Edward IV. who
t abridged the larger arguments and tedious reports of
the Year-books into a short system under proper heads and
common places to the reign of king Henry VI.; and that
our author, sir Robert Brooke, made in his “Graunde
Abridgement,
” an alphabetical abstract of all the choice
matters in our law, as contained in such commentaries, records, readings, &c. and that this work is a general epitome
of all that could be had upon the several heads’ there treated
upon. It has had several editions, particularly in London
in a small folio, 1573, 1576, 1586, &c. amongst which editions, says Nicolson, (as it commonly fares with the authors of that professsion) the eldest are still reckoned the best.
He collected likewise the most remarkable cases adjudged
in.*the court of common pleas from the sixth year of king
Henry VIII. to the fourth of queen Mary, which book is
entitled “Ascuns novelCases, c.
” and frequently printed,
particularly at London, A Reading on the Statute of Limitations
32 Henry VIII. cap. 2,
” London, 1647, 8vo. Mr. Wood
supposes that it had been printed likewise before that
time.
it has long since vanished, and is now in no danger from the critics. He was introduced to Mr. Pope, who was then visiting sir John Cotton at Madingley, near Cambridge,
He appeared early in the world as a translator of the
Iliads into prose, in conjunction with Ozell and Oldisworth. How their several parts were distributed is not
known. This is the translation of which Ozell boasted as
superior, in Toland’s opinion, to that of Pope: it has long
since vanished, and is now in no danger from the critics.
He was introduced to Mr. Pope, who was then visiting sir
John Cotton at Madingley, near Cambridge, and gained
so much of his esteem, that he was employed to make extracts from Eustathius for the notes to the translation of
the Iliad; and in the volumes of poetry published by
Lintot, commonly called Pope’s Miscellanies, many of his
early pieces were inserted. Pope and Broome were to be
yet more closely connected. When the success of the
Iliad gave encouragement to a version of the Odyssey,
Pope, weary of the toil, called Fenton and Broome to his
assistance; and, taking only half the work upon himself,
divided the other half between his partners, giving four
books to Fenton, and eight to Broome. Fenton’s books
are enumerated in Dr. Johnson’s Life of him. To the lot
of Brooine fell the 2d, 6th, 8th, llth, 12th, 16th, 18th,
and 23d; together with the burthen of writing all the
notes. The price at which Pope purchased this assistance was three hundred pounds paid to Fenton, and five
hundred to Broome, with as many copies as he wanted for
his friends, which amounted to one hundred more. The
payment made to Fenton is known only by hearsay;
Broome’s is very distinctly told by Pope, in the notes to
the Dunciad. It is evident that, according to Pope’s own
estimate, Broome was unkindly treated. If four books
could merit three hundred pounds, eight, and all the
notes, equivalent at least to four, had certainly a right to
more than six. Broome probably considered himself as
injured, and there was for some time more than coldness
between him and his employer. He always spoke of Pope
as too much a lover of money, and Pope pursued him with
avowed hostility, for he not only named him disrespectfully
in the “Dunciad,
” but quoted him more than once in the
Bathos, as a proficient in the Art of Sinking; and in his
enumeration of the different kinds of poets distinguished
for the profound, he reckons Broome among “the parrots
who repeat another’s words in such a hoarse odd tone as
makes them seem their own.
” It has been said that they
were afterwards reconciled; but we are afraid their peace
was without friendship. He afterwards published a Miscellany of poems, and never rose to very high dignity in
the church. He was some time rector of Sturston in Suffolk, where he married a wealthy widow; and afterwards,
when the king visited Cambridge, 1728, became LL, D.
He was, 1733, presented by the crown to the rectory of
Pulham in Norfolk, which he held with Oakley Magna
in Suffolk, given him by the lord Cornwallis, to whom he
was chaplain, and who added the vicarage of Eye in Suffolk; he then resigned Pulham, and retained the other
two. Towards the close of his life he grew again poetical,
and amused himself with translating odes of Anacreon,
which he published in the Gentleman’s Magazine, under
the name of Chester. He died at Bath, Nov. 16, 1745,
and was buried in the abbey church.
we are told by Riccoboni, that all the audience were so astonished at hearing him, that the French, who otherwise detested the Italian music, began from that time to
In the year 1737, when he had reached the summit of
fame, he appeared for the last time on the stage at London;
from whence he departed for the court of Spain, whither
he was invited through the solicitations of queen Elizabeth,
vho had known his excellence at Parma. Her design was,
by the ravishing notes of this great master, to wean her
spouse king Philip V. from his passion for the chace, to
which his strength was no longer adequate. On his way
to Madrid, he had the honour to give a specimen of his
talents before the French king at Paris; and we are told
by Riccoboni, that all the audience were so astonished at
hearing him, that the French, who otherwise detested the
Italian music, began from that time to waver in their notions. He had scarcely set his foot in Madrid, but the
king hastened to hear him; and was so much taken with
the agreeableness of his song, that he immediately settled
on him, by a royal edict, a salary equal to what he had
received in England, together with an exemption from all
public taxes, as a person destined to his familiar converse;
and granted him, besides, the court equipages and livery,
free of all expence. He could not pass a day without him;
not only on account of his vocal abilities, but more on account of the agreeable talents he possessed for conversation. He spoke French and Italian elegantly, had some
knowledge of the English and German, and in a short time
learnt the Castilian. By his courtesy and discretion he
gained the affection of every one. In his converse he was
sincere to an uncommon degree, even towards the royal
personages who honoured him with their intimacy; and it
was jchiefly this that induced the monarch to set so high
a value on him. His first words, when he waked in the
morning, were regularly these: “Let Farinello be told
that I expect him this evening at the usual hour.
” Towards midnight Farinello appeared, and was -never dismissed till break of day, when he betook himself to rest,
in the apartments assigned him in the palace, though he
had likewise a house in the city. To the king he never
sung more than two or three pieces; and, what will seem
almost incredible, they were every evening the same.
Excepting when the king was to go to the holy sacrament
on the following day, Farinello was never at liberty to get
a whole night’s sleep.
ood ear for music, and knew how to judge properly of it; as he had studied under Domenico Scarlatti, who had likewise been tutor to queen Barbara, whose taste in music
Farinello had as great an affection for the king, as that prince had for him; and had nothing more at heart than to cheer and enliven his spirits: and indeed herein he had the happy talent of succeeding to admiration, though himself was inclined to melancholy. Under Ferdinand, Philip’s successor, he had an ampler field for the display of his genius and skill. This monarch had a good ear for music, and knew how to judge properly of it; as he had studied under Domenico Scarlatti, who had likewise been tutor to queen Barbara, whose taste in music was exquisite. As king Philip had given Farinello the charge of selecting recreations and amusements suitable to his calm and gentle disposition, a variety of new institutions were set on foot through his means at court. Operas were only used to be performed on very solemn and extraordinary occasions; the nation at large was contented with comedies. They now began to grow more common; and Farinello, though he played no part in them, had the management of the whole. He possessed all the qualities that were requisite for the direction of an opera. For, with a perfect knowledge of music, he had great skill in painting, and made drawings with a pen. He was fruitful in inventions, particularly of such machines as represent thunder, lightning, rain, hail, and the like. The celebrated machinist Jacob Bonavera formed himself under his direction. In regard to the morality of the theatre he was very conscientious. Under his direction all went on at the king’s expence; and none but persons in the service of the royal family, the ministers from foreign potentates, the nobility, with the principal officers of state, and a few others, by particular favour, had admittance. In his country-house near Bologna are to be seen, among other paintings, those from whence Francis Battagliuoli copied the scenes in the operas Niteti, Didone, and Armida.
The world were not a little surprised at the elevation of Farinello. But to those who looked narrowly into his moral character it was no wonder at
The world were not a little surprised at the elevation of Farinello. But to those who looked narrowly into his moral character it was no wonder at all; and they rejoiced at it. He had nothing in. him of what are called the airs of a courtier. He enjoyed the favour of the monarch more in being serviceable to others, than in turning it to his own emolument. When right and equity spoke in behalf of any one, that person might be sure of his interest with the king; but, if the case was reversed, he was immoveable as a rock. One of the great men applied to him once for his recommendation to be appointed viceroy of Peru, and offered him a present of 400,000 piastres by way of inducement. Another sent him a_ casket filled with gold, desiring no other return than his friendship. He generously spurned at the proposals of both. General Montemar had brought with him from Italy a great number of musicians and other artists, who, on the disgrace of that officer, were all left destitute of bread. Farinello took them into his protection, and furnished them with the means of gaining a livelihood. Among them was Jacob Campana Bonavera, whom he placed as assistant to the machinist Pavia, and afterwards promoted him to the inspectorship of the royal theatre. Theresa Castellini of Milan, the singer who had been called by queen Barbara to Madrid, and who at that time had a greater disposition than qualification for the art, he took under his instruction, and completed her for her employment In the dreadful distresses that ensued upon the earthquake at Lisbon, when the vocal performers and dancers implored his assistance, to the collection he made for them from the royal family and his friends, he added two thousand doubloons from his own private purse. Disposed as he was to be liberal in his bounty towards others, he found it no less difficult to ask for any thing that had reference to himself. It was not by his recommendation, but by his own deserts, that his brother Riccardo was promoted to the office of commissary at war for the marine department. This Riccardo died in 1756, in the flower of his age. He had been master of the band in the service of the duke of Wurtemberg; and a musical work printed at London is a proof of his force and skill in composition.
ping favours on some that shewed themselves envious and malignant towards him. To a Spanish nobleman who murmured that the king testified so much munificence to a castrato,
He was also grateful and generous towards every one that had shewn him any kindness. Never was he heard to speak ill of any man; and when he was injured, he magnanimously overlooked it. There are even examples of his heaping favours on some that shewed themselves envious and malignant towards him. To a Spanish nobleman who murmured that the king testified so much munificence to a castrato, he made no other return than by procuring for his son a place he applied for in the army, and delivering to him himself the king’s order for his appointment. He was in general extremely circumspect not to distinguish himself by any thing by which he might excite the envy and jealousy of the nation against him. Hence it was, that he constantly declined accepting the comthury of the order of Calatrava, which the king had so frequently offered him; beseeching him rather to bestow it on one of his deserving subjects. His generous way of thinking was not unnoticed by the Spaniards. Every one courted his friendship. The grandees of the kingdom, the foreign and domestic ministers, vouchsafed him their visits, and he was never wanting in due respect for their civilities. Towards persons of inferior stations he was always condescending and friendly .
while in England, he ate flesh on Fridays and Saturdays; but then he had a licence for it from Rome. Who would have thought that so brilliant a success would be brought
To put away all suspicion of self-interested views, he made it a condition in the disbursements for the entertainments of the king and queen, that all accounts should pass through the hands of a treasurer appointed for that purpose, which were always with the utmost exactitude en-.tered in a book. He was zealously devoted to the Roman catholic religion. He kept his domestic chaplain at London, as he had obtained a permission from Benedict XIV. to have a portable altar during his residence there, and to have mass celebrated at it in the chapel in his house. To this ecclesiastic he always gave precedence on all occasions. Indeed, while in England, he ate flesh on Fridays and Saturdays; but then he had a licence for it from Rome. Who would have thought that so brilliant a success would be brought to an end in the course of a very short period? King Ferdinand and queen Barbara were both of them in the flower of their age; both healthy and strong. Yet death carried them off in a short space, one after the other. The queen went first, and left Farinello her collection of music and her harpsichords, as a token of regard. The king, who loved her tenderly, fell into a deep dejection of spirits. To get away from the doleful sounds of the death-bells, he retired to the pleasure-house of villa Viciosa, where his excessive melancholy, after a space of fourteen days, laid him on the bed of sickness. Farinello was called to him the day after his departure from Madrid, and never quitted him till he was no more. He died the 10th of August, 1759, of a rapid decline, in. the 46th year of his age, after a sickness of eleven months from the death of the queen.
er him. In Italy his first care was to wait upon don Philippo duke of Parma, and the king of Naples, who gave him a very gracious reception. The joy which his old friends
The loss of such a friend, and the consequences of it, were extremely distressing to Farinello. The king had hardly closed his eyes, but the favourite’s apartments were as solitary as a desert. Friends and acquaintance, whom he had loaded with benefits, now turned their backs upon him, and a general revolution took place in his affairs. Two days after the king’s death he returned to Madrid, and there remained till the arrival of king Charles from Italy. He went as far as Saragossa to ineet him, to thank him for the assurance he had given him of continuing his appointment. The king received him very graciously, and confirmed the promise he had already made him the foregoing year, at the same time adding, that he was induced to this by his moderation and discretion, and that he was thoroughly convinced that he had never abused the king’s partiality for him. After a stay of three weeks at Saragossa, he bent his course towards Italy, without returning to Madrid, where he had commissioned a friend to send his baggage after him. In Italy his first care was to wait upon don Philippo duke of Parma, and the king of Naples, who gave him a very gracious reception. The joy which his old friends and patrons testified on his retarn to Naples is not to be described. After remaining here six months, he repaired to Naples by the way of Bologna, where he passed the rest of his days in tranquillity.
being told that he dwelt just without the city, he testified some displeasure; and added, that a man who possessed so great a force of genius, had never injured any
In the year 1769, when the emperor Joseph II. was travelling through Bologna, though his stay was to be but short in that place, one of the first questions he asked was, where Farinello had taken up his abode? and on being told that he dwelt just without the city, he testified some displeasure; and added, that a man who possessed so great a force of genius, had never injured any one, but had done all the good that lay in his power to mankind, was worthy of every token of respect that could be paid him. But the emperor on his return stopped longer at Bologna, and Farinello had the honour of conversing with him often for a length of time, and quite alone.
e last. He still sung frequently, and he alone perceived the depredations of time, while his friends who heard him observed no defect. During the three last weeks of
In the very lap of ease, rest was a stranger to Farinello’s bosom. As some veteran mariner, long accustomed to great and perilous voyages, cannot endure the tediousness of abiding in harbour, so it was with Farinello' s active mind. He fell the effects of that melancholy to which he was disposed by nature, growing on him from day to day, and which was nourished and augmented by the continual sight of the portraits of his distant and for the most part deceased friends, with which his apartments were adorned. His voice continued clear and melodious to the last. He still sung frequently, and he alone perceived the depredations of time, while his friends who heard him observed no defect. During the three last weeks of his life, like what is fabled of the dying swan, he sung almost every day. He died the 16th of September, 1782, of a fever, in the 78th year of his age, without the least abatement of his intellectual powers throughout his illness. He left no wealth behind him; as ivhile he was in Spain he had always lived up to his annual income, and what remained over to him while in Italy, he shared among his relations and friends and the necessitous, during his life-time. His land, his pleasure-house at Bologna, and all the rest of his property, among which were several harpsichords of great value, and the music he had inherited from the queen, he left to his eldest sister, who was married to Giovanni Domenicq Pisani, a Neapolitan. His corpse was interred in the church of the Capuchins, which stands on a hill before Bologna. He was of a very large stature, strong built, of a fair complexion, and a lively aspect. His picture, which is to be seen among the portraits and works of the famous vocal artists collected by father Martini, in the library of the minorites at Bologna, is a perfect likeness.
l. at the end of which is a catalogue of authors, ancient and modern, to the amount of nine hundred, who have written on music, divided into classes, with many curious
, an eminent French
musician, born in 1660, in the former part 'of his life
had been prebendary and chapel-master of the cathedral
church of Strasburgh, but afterwards became grand
chaplain and chapel-master in the cathedral of Meaux.
He published a work entitled “Prodromus Musicalis,
on elevations et motets a voix seule, avec une Basse
continue,
” 2 vols. fol. the second edition in 1702;
but his most useful book was his “Dictionnaire de Musique,
” Amst.
larly with Rousseau the poet, and Voltaire. The latter used to tell him, that he “resembled Atticus. who kept terms, and even cultivated friendship, at the same time
, of France, was born at Lyons
in 1671. He was at first a Jesuit, but afterwards an advocate, a member of the academy of Lyons, and librarian
of the public library there. In 1716, he published the
works of Boileau, in 2 vols. 4to, with historical illustrations: and, after that, the works of Regnier. He reformed the text of both these authors from the errors of
the preceding editions, and seasoned his notes with many
useful and curious anecdotes of men and things. His only
fault, the fault of almost all commentators, is, that he did
not use the collections he had made with sufficient sobriety
and judgment; and has inserted many things, no ways necessary to illustrate his authors, and some that are even
frivolous. He wrote also “L'Histoire abrege*e de la ville
de Lyon,
” with elegance and precision, resembled Atticus. who kept terms, and
even cultivated friendship, at the same time with Caesar
and Pompey.
” The enmity between Rousseau and Voltaire is well known.
us writers, distinguished for their learning, Petau, Sirmond, Labbu, Cossart, Hardouin, Souciet, &c. who have done so much honour to the college of Louis XIV. in which
, an eminent classical scholar and
editor, was born at Tanay, a small village of the Nivernois, in 1722, and died at Paris, Feb. 12, 1789, at the
age of 67. In his youth he made it his practice to write
notes in every book that he read; and the margins of severaHn his library were entirely filled with them. Until his
last moment he pursued the same 'method of study. All
these he arranged wonderfully in his memory; and if it
had been possible after his death to have put his papers in
that order which he alone knew, they would have furnished
materials for several curious volumes. With this method,
and continued labour for twelve hours a day, the abbé
Brotier acquired an immense stock of various knowledge.
Except the mathematics, to which it appears he gave little
application, he was acquainted with every thing; natural
history, chemistry, and even medicine. It was his rule
to read Hippocrates and Solomon once every year in their
original languages. These he said were the best books
for curing the diseases of the body and the mind. But the
belles lettres were his grand pursuit. He had a good
knowledge of all the dead languages, but particularly the
Latin, of which he was perfectly master: he was besides
acquainted with most, of the languages of Europe. This
knowledge, however extensive, was not the only part in
which he excelled. He was well versed in ancient and
modern history, in chronology, coins, medals, inscriptions,
and the customs of antiquity, which had always been objects of his study. He had collected, a considerable quantity of materials for writing a new history of France, and
it is much to be regretted that he was prevented from undertaking that work. The akl>6 Brotier recalls to our remembrance those laborious writers, distinguished for their
learning, Petau, Sirmond, Labbu, Cossart, Hardouin, Souciet, &c. who have done so much honour to the college
of Louis XIV. in which he himself was educated, and where
fre lived several years as librarian; and his countrymen
say he is the last link of that chain of illustrious men, who
have succeeded one another without interruption, for near
two centuries. On the dissolution of the order of Jesuits,
the abbe Brotier found an asylum equally peaceful and
agreeable in the house of Mr. de la Tour, a printer, eminent in his business, who has gained from all connoisseurs
a just tribute of praise for those works which have come
from his press. It was in this friendly retirement that the
abbe Brotier spent the last twenty-six years of his life, and
that he experienced a happiness, the value of which he
knew how to appreciate, which arose from the care, attention, and testimonies of respect, bestowed upon him both
by Mr. and Mrs. de la Tour. It was there also that he
published those works which will render his name immortal; an edition of Tacitus, enriched not only with notes
and learned dissertations, but also with supplements, which
sometimes leave the reader in a doubt, whether the modern writer is not a successful rival of the ancient: this
was first published in 1771, 4 vols. 4to, and reprinted in
1776, in 7 vols. fcvo. He published also in 1779, 6 vols.
12mo, an edition of Pliny the naturalist, which is only a'
short abridgment of what he had prepared to correct and
enlarge the edition of Hardouin, and to give an historical
series of all the new discoveries made since the beginning
of this century; an immense labour, which bespeaks the
most extensive erudition. To these two editions, which
procured the abbe Brotier the applauses of all the literati
in Europe, he added in 1778, 8vo, an edition of Rapin on
gardens, at the end of which he has subjoined a history of
gardens, written in Latin with admirable elegance, and
abounding in the most delightful imagery: for the abbe
was not one of those pedants, according to the expression
of the poet, “herisses de Grec & de Latin;
” he possessed a lively imagination, and a fine taste, with clearness
and perspicuity; and above all, a sound judgment, which
never suffered him to adopt in writing any thing that
was not solid, beautiful, and true. His other works are,
1. “Examen de PApologie de M. I 7 Abbe de Prades,
” Conclusiones ex universa Theologia,
” Traite des Monnoies Romanies, Grecques, et
Hebr. compares avec les Monnoies de France, pour l'intelligencederEcriture Sainte, et de tous les auteurs Grecs,
et Remains,
” Prospectus d'une edit. Lat.
de Tacite,
” Supplementa, lib. 7.
loAnnal. Taciti,
” 17 v 55, 8vo. 6.“Cl. viri de la Caille
vita
”7 1763, 4to. 7. “Phaedri Fabularum, lib. v. cum
notis et suppl. access. Parallela J. de la Fontaine Fabulse,
”
Memoire du Levant
” Brumoy’s Theatre,
” Parolles Memorables,
” a work
of which Mr. Seward has made great use in his “Anecdotes.
”
d upon subjects of literature or science. Widely differing in this respect from those men of letters who are misers, if we may say so, of their knowledge, and who seem
We shall conclude this account of the amiable abbe with
his character as drawn by his friend the abbe de Fontenay.
“That intimate and sincere friendship,
” says he, “which
united me to the abbe Brotier, gratitude, for the services
which he did me, his talents and his virtues, will always
endear his memory tome; and I may justly say, that his
death, though lamented by many good men, was lamented
by none more deeply than by me. However great may
have been the merit of this learned man, not less conspicuously eminent for the qualities of his heart than for those
of his head, one must have been intimate with him to form
a just and true idea of his character. As often as my avocations would permit, I indulged myself in the pleasure of
his company, and many delightful hours I have spent with
him. Humble and unassuming, modest, and even to a
degree of timidity that caused him to blush when the least
encomium was passed upon him; good-tempered, plain in
his manner, and giving himself up to society with the
smiles and simplicity of a child, his conversation was engaging, and always instructive when it turned upon subjects of literature or science. Widely differing in this
respect from those men of letters who are misers, if we
may say so, of their knowledge, and who seem to hoard it
only for themselves, or to make an ostentatious display of
it in some publication, the abbe* Brotier readily replied to
the questions of those who sought information from him,
and instructed those around him with the utmost affability
and condescension. I confess,
” continues the abbe Fontenay, “that need of consulting him induced me often to
visit him; and I can declare that whatever questions I put
to him, I never found him in one instance wrong. He
either satisfied me immediately respecting my queries, or
pointed out those books in which I found what I wanted to
know. He left a nephew of the same name, who is in the
church. He is pursuing his uncle’s steps in the same departments of erudition, and has already published works
which sufficiently evince the progress he has made.
”
s of Christ’s college, and there laid the first foundation of his Hebrew studies, under a Frenchman, who read upon that tongue in the university. His parts and learning
At Cambridge, Broughton became one of the fellows of Christ’s college, and there laid the first foundation of his Hebrew studies, under a Frenchman, who read upon that tongue in the university. His parts and learning soon rendered him very conspicuous at Cambridge, and also attracted the notice of the earl of Huntingdon, who became a liberal patron to him, and greatly encouraged him in his studies. From the university he repaired to London, where he distinguished himself as a preacher, and increased the number of his friends, some of whom were of high rank. He still, however, continued to prosecute his studies with the most unremitting assiduity; so that he is said frequently to have spent sixteen hours out of the fourand-twenty at his books .