where his parents had settled themselves; and, after two years’ stay, returned to Paris, and married a lady who died soon after. Having embraced the reformed religion,
, a famous engraver, was son of
Stephen Picart, a good engraver also, and born at Paris in
1673. * He learned the principles of design, and the elements of his art, from his father, and studied architecture
and perspective under Sebastian le Clerc. His uncommon
talents in this way soon began to shew themselves and,
at ten years of age, he engraved the hermaphrodite of
Poussin, which was soon followed by two pieces of cardinal
de Richelieu’s tomb. These works laid the foundation of
that great reputation which this celebrated artist afterwards acquired. When he was grown up, he went into
Holland, where his parents had settled themselves; and,
after two years’ stay, returned to Paris, and married a lady
who died soon after. Having embraced the reformed religion, he returned to Holland in 1710, for the sake of that
freedom in the exercise of it, which he could not have at
Paris; but connoisseurs are of opinion, that in attempting
to please the taste of the Dutch, he lost much of the spirited manner in which he executed his works while in
France, and on which they tell us his reputation was more
firmly founded. Others inform us, that he was not so fond
of engraving as of drawing, that he took up the graver
with reluctance, and consequently many of his prints are
better drawn than engraved. The greater part of his life
was certainly spent in making compositions and drawings,
which are said to have been very highly finished; and they
are sufficient testimonies of the fertility of his genius, and
the excellency of his judgment. He understood the human
figure extremely well, and drew it with a tolerable degree
of correctness, especially in small subjects. He worked
much for the booksellers, and book-plates are by far the
best part of his works. The multitude of these which he
engraved, chiefly from his own compositions, is astonishing. One estimate makes them amount to 1300 pieces.
The most capital of his separate plates is the “Massacre
of the Innocents,
” a small plate lengthways. After his
death, which happened April 27, 1733, his friends published a small folio volume, called the “Innocent Impostures;
” a set of prints from the designs of the great masters, in which he has attempted to imitate the styles of the
old engravers. Strutt, who has, with apparent justice,
censured this production, in the essay prefixed to his second volume, laments that Picart’s friends shouldhave
been so injudicious as to publish what must diminish our
respect for this artist.
rank, was the daughter of Dr. Van Lewen, a gentleman of Dutch extraction, who settled in Dublin, by a lady of good family; and born there in 1712. She had early a
, an English wit and poetess,
of no very eminent rank, was the daughter of Dr. Van
Lewen, a gentleman of Dutch extraction, who settled in
Dublin, by a lady of good family; and born there in 1712.
She had early a strong inclination and taste for letters,
especially for poetry; and her performances were considered as extraordinary for her years. This, with a lively
manner, drew many admirers; and at length she became
the wife of the rev. Matthew Pilkington, a gentleman once
known in the poetical world by his volume of Miscellanies,
revised by dean Swift, who had reason afterwards to be
ashamed of the connection. In a short time Mr. Pilkington grew jealous, as she relates, not of her person, but of
her understanding; and her poetry, which when a lover
he admired with raptures, was changed now he was become
her husband, into an object of envy. During these jealousies, Mr. Pilkington, in 1732, went into England, in
order to serve as chaplain to Mr. Barber, lord mayor of
London; and absence having brought him into better humour with his wife, he wrote her a very kind letter, in
which he informed her that her verses were full of elegance
and beauty; that Pope, to whom he had shewn them,
longed to see the writer; and that he himself wished her
heartily in London. She accepted the invitation, went,
and returned with her husband to Ireland, where they were
soon after separated, in consequence of a gentleman being
found in her bed-chamber at two o'clock in the morning.
Her apology is rather curious: “Lovers of learning, I am
sure, will pardon me, as I solemnly declare it was the attractive charms of a new book, which the gentleman would
not lend me, but consented to stay till I read it through,
that was the sole motive of my detaining him.
” Of her
guilt, however, no doubts were entertained. “Dr. Delany,
” says dean Swift, in a letter to alderman Barber, “is
a very unlucky recommender, for he forced me to countenance Pilkington; introduced him to me, and praised
the wit, virtue, and humour of him and his wife; whereas
he proved the falsest rogue, and she the most profligate
w e in either kingdom. She was taken in the fact by her
own husband; he is now suing for a divorce, and will not
compass it; she is suing for a maintenance, and he has
none to give her.
”
t, twice to Constance, and as often to Savoy, and thrice to Strasburg, where he had an intrigue with a lady, by whom he had a son: he has given an account of this
, whose name was Æneas Sylvius Piccolomini,
was born in 1405, at Corsignano in Sienna,
where his father lived in exile. He was educated at the
grammar-school of that place; but his parents being in low
circumstances, he was obliged, in his early years, to submit to many servile employments. In 1423, by the assistance of his friends, he was enabled to go to the university
of Sienna, where he applied himself to his studies with
great success, and in a short time published several pieces
in the Latin and Tuscan languages. In 1431 he attended
cardinal Dominic Capranica to the council of Basil as his
secretary. He was likewise in the same capacity with cardinal Albergoti, who sent him to Scotland to mediate a
peace betwixt the English and Scots; and he was in that
country when king James I. was murdered. Upon his return from Scotland, he was made secretary to the council
of Basil, which he defended against the authority of the
popes, both by his speeches and writings, particularly in
a dialogue and epistles which he wrote to the rector and
university of Cologn. He was likewise made by that
council clerk of the ceremonies, abbreviator, and one of
the duodecemviri, or twelve men, an office of great importance. He was employed in several embassies; once
to Trent, another time to Frankfort, twice to Constance,
and as often to Savoy, and thrice to Strasburg, where he
had an intrigue with a lady, by whom he had a son: he
has given an account of this affair in a letter to his father,
in which he endeavours to vindicate himself with much indecent buffoonery. In 1439 he was employed in the service of pope Felix; and being soon after sent ambassador
to the emperor Frederic, he was crowned by him with the
poetic laurel, and ranked amongst his friends. In 1442
he was sent for from Basil by the emperor, who appointed
him secretary to the empire, and raised him to the senatorial order. He could not at first be prevailed on to condemn the council of Basil, nor to go over absolutely to
Eugenius’s party, but remained neuter. However, when
the emperor Frederic began to favour Eugenius, Æneas
likewise changed his opinion gradually. He afterwards
represented the emperor in the diet of Nuremberg, when
they were consulting about methods to put an end to the
schism, and was sent ambassador to Eugenius: at the persuasion of Thomas Sarzanus, the apostolical legate in
Germany, he submitted to Eugenius entirely, and made
the following speech to his holiness, as related by John Gobelin, in his Commentaries of the life of Pius II. “Most
holy father (said he), before I declare the emperor’s commission, give me leave to say one word concerning myself.
I do not question but you have heard a great many things
which are not to my advantage. They ought not to have
been mentioned to you; but I must confess, that my accusers have reported nothing but what is true. I own I
have said, and done, and written, at Basil, many things
against your interests; it is impossible to deny it: yet all
this has been done not with a design to injure you, but to
serve the church. I have been in an error, without question; but I have been in just the same circumstances with
many great men, as particularly with Julian cardinal of St.
Angelo, with Nicholas archbishop of Palermo, with Lewis
du Pont (Pontanus) the secretary of the holy see; men
who are esteemed the greatest luminaries in the law, and
doctors of the truth; to omit mentioning the universities
and colleges which are generally against you. Who would
not have erred with persons of their character and merit?
It is true, that when I discovered the error of those at
Basil, I did not at first go over to you, as the greatest
part did; but being afraid of falling from one error to
another, and by avoiding Charybdis, as the proverb expresses it, to run upon Scylla, I joined myself, after a
long deliberation and conflict within myself, to those who
thought proper to continue in a state of neutrality. I lived
three years in the emperor’s court in this situation of mind,
where having an opportunity of hearing constantly the
disputes between those of Basil and your legates, I was
convinced that the truth was on your side: it was upon this
motive that, when the emperor thought fit to send me to
your clemency, I accepted the opportunity with the utmost
satisfaction, in hopes that I should be so happy as to gain
your favour again: I throw myself therefore at your feet;
and since I sinned out of ignorance, I entreat you to grant
me your pardon. After which I shall open to you the emperor’s intentions.
” This was the prelude to the famous
retraction which Æneas Sylvius made afterwards. The
pope pardoned every thing that was past; and in a short
time made him his secretary, without obliging him to quit
the post which he had with the emperor.
to fortune, by marrying, in spite of opposition from her relations, Donna Teresa de Noronha Almada, a lady of one of the first families in Spain. He lost her in 1739,
, marquis of,
a famous Portuguese minister of state, whom the Jesuits,
whose banishment he pronounced, have defamed by all
possible means, and others have extolled as a most able
statesman, was born in 1699, in the territory of Coimbra a robust and distinguished figure seemed to mark
him for the profession of arms, for which, after a short
trial, he quitted the studies of his native university. He
found, however, a still readier path to fortune, by marrying, in spite of opposition from her relations, Donna
Teresa de Noronha Almada, a lady of one of the first families in Spain. He lost her in 1739, and being sent on a
secret expedition in 1745 to Vienna, he again was fortunate in marriage, by obtaining the countess of Daun, a relation of the marshal of that name. This wife became a
favourite with the queen of Portugal, who interested herself to obtain an appointment for Carvalho, in which, however, she did not succeed, till after the death of her husband, John V. in 1750. Her son Joseph gave Carvalho the
appointment of secretary for foreign affairs, in which situation he completely obtained the confidence of the king.
His haughtiness, as well as some of his measures, created
many enemies; and in 1758, a conspiracy headed by the
duke d'Aveiro, who had been the favourite of John V.
broke out in an attempt to murder the king as he returned
from his castle of Belem. The plot being completely discovered, the conspirators were punished, not only severely
but cruelly; and the Jesuits who had been involved in it,
were banished from the kingdom. At the death of Joseph,
in 1777, Pombal fell into disgrace, and many of the persons
connected with the conspirators, who had been imprisoned
from the time of the discovery, were released. The enemies of Pombal did not, however, succeed in exculpating
the principal agents, though a decree was passed in 1781,
to declare the innocence of those who had been released
from prison. Carvalho was banished to one of his estate?,
where he died in May 1782, in his eighty-fifth year. His
character, as was mentioned above, was variously represented, but it was generally allowed that he possessed great
abilities. A book entitled “Memoirs of the Marquis of
Pombal,
” was published at Paris in
it, and the pope ordered it to be deposited in the Vatican library. In 1679 he returned, and married a lady of fortune; from whom, after some years’ cohabitation,
, an eminent lawyer and judge, was the
son of Thomas Price, esq of Geeler in Denbighshire, and
born in the parish of Kerigy Druidion, Jan. 14, 1653. After
an education at the grammar-school of Wrexham, he was
admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge; but, as usual
with gentlemen destined for his profession, left the university without taking a degree, and entered himself a
student of Lincoln’s Inn about 1673. In 1677 he made
what was called the grand tour, in company with the earl
of Lexington, and lady and sir John Meers. When at
Florence, we are told that he was apprehended, and some
law-books taken from him; and his copy of “Coke upon
Littleton
” being supposed, by some ignorant officer, to be
an English heretical Bible, Mr. Price was carried before
the pope where he not only satisfied his holiness as to this
work, but made "him a present of it, and the pope ordered
it to be deposited in the Vatican library. In 1679 he returned, and married a lady of fortune; from whom, after
some years’ cohabitation, he found it necessary to be separated, on account of the violence of her temper. In
1682 he was chosen member of parliament for Weobly in
Herefordshire, and gave nis hote against the bill of
exclusion. The same year he was made attorney-general for
South Wales, elected an alderman for the city of Hereford, and the year following was chosen recorder of Radnor. His high reputation for knowledge and integrity
procured him the office of steward to the queen dowager
(relict of Charles II.) in 1684; he was also chosen townclerk of the city of Gloucester; and, in 1686, king’s
counsel at Ludlow. Being supposed to have a leaning
towards the exiled family, he was, after the revolution,
removed from tn*e offices of attorney-general for South
Wales and town-clerk of Gloucester. In resentment for
this affront, as his biographer insinuates, or from a more
patriotic motive, he opposed king William’s grant of certain
lands in Wales to his favourite, earl of Portland, and made
a memorable speech on this occasion in the House of Commons; the consequence of which was, that the grant was
rejected.
d but have been clerk of Ugborow, I had never been bishop of Worcester.“Disappointed in this office, a lady of the parish, mother of sir Edmund Towel, maintained him
, a learned English bishop, was born
at Stowford, in the parish of Harford, near Ivy-bridge in
Devonshire, Sept. 17, 1578, and was the fourth of seven
sons of his father, who being in mean circumstances, with
so large a family, our author, after he had learned to write
and read, having a good voice, stood candidate for the place
of parish-clerk of the church of Ugborow near Harford.
Mr. Price informs us, that “he had a competitor for the
office, who had made great interest in the parish for him*
self, and was likely to carry the place from him. The
parishioners being divided in thematter, did at length
agree in this, being unwilling to disoblige either party, that
the Lord’s-day following should be the day of trial; the
one should tune the Psalm in the forenoon, the other in
the afternoon; and he that did best please the people,
should have the place. Which accordingly was done, and
Prideaux lost it, to his very great grief and trouble. Upon,
which, after he became advanced to one of the first dignities of the church, he would frequently make this reflection, saying,
” If I could but have been clerk of Ugborow,
I had never been bishop of Worcester.“Disappointed in
this office, a lady of the parish, mother of sir Edmund
Towel, maintained him at school till he had gained some
knowledge of the Latin tongue, when he travelled to Oxford, and at first lived in a very mean station in Exetercollege, doing servile offices in the kitchen, and prosecuting his studies at his leisure hours, till at last he was taken
notice of in the college, and admitted a member of it in
act-term 1596, under the tuition of Mr. William Helme,
B. D. On January the 31st, 1599, he took the degree of
Bachelor of Arts, and in 1602 was chosen probationer fellow of his college. On May the 11th, 1603, he proceeded
Master of Arts, and soon after entered into holy orders.
On May the 6th, 1611, he took the degree of Bachelor of
Divinity; and the year following was elected rector of his
college in the room of Dr. Holland; and June the 10th,
the same year, proceeded Doctor of Divinity. In 1615,
upon the advancement of Dr. Robert Abbot to the bishopric of Sarum, he was made regius professor of divinity,
and consequently became canon of Christ-church, and
rector of Ewelme in Oxfordshire; and afterwards discharged the office of vice-chancellor of the university for
several years. In the rectorship of his college he behaved
himself in such a manner, that it flourished more than any
other in the university; more foreigners coming thither for
the benefit of his instruction than ever was known; and in his
professorship, says Wood,
” he behaved himself very plausible to the generality, especially for this reason, that in
his lectures, disputes, and moderatings (which were always frequented by many auditors), he shewed himself a
stout champion against Socinus and Arminius. Which
being disrelished by some who were then rising, and in
authority at court, a faction thereupon grew up in the
university between those called Puritans, or Calvinists, on
the one side, and the Remonstrants, commonly called Arminians, on the other: which, with other matters of the
like nature, being not only fomented in the university, but
throughout the nation, all things thereupon were brought
into confusion.“In 1641, after he had been twenty- six
years professor, he was one of those persons of unblemished reputation, whom his majesty made bishops, on the
application of the marquis of Hamilton, who had been one
of his pupils. Accordingly, in November of that year, he
was elected to the bishopric of Worcester, to which he
was consecrated December the 19th following; but the rebellion was at that time so far advanced, that he received
little or no profit from it, to his great impoverishment.
For adhering stedfastly to his majesty’s cause, and pronouncing all those of his diocese, who took up arms against
him, excommunicate, he was plundered, and reduced to
such straits, that he was obliged to sell his excellent library. Dr. Gauden said of him, that he now became literally a helluo librorum, being obliged to turn his books
>nto bread for his children. He seems to have borne this
barbarous usage with patience, and even good humour.
On -one occasion, when a friend came to see bim, and asked
him how he did? he answered,
” Never better in my life,
only I have too great a stomach, for 1 have eaten the little
plate which the sequestrators left me; I have eaten a great
library of excellent books; I have eaten a great deal of
linen, much of my brass, some of my pewter, and now am
come to eat my iron, and what will come next I know
not." So great was his poverty about this time that he
would have attended the conferences with the king at the
Isle of Wight, but could not afford the means of travelling.
Such was the treatment of this great and good man, one
of the best scholars and ablest promoters of learning in the
kingdom, at the hands of men who professed to contend for
liberty and toleration.
is fate would be after this duke’s death, he retired to Geneva, having married, three months before, a lady of a very noble family. The duke de Longueville drew him
, in Latin Priolus, author of an
History of France from the death of Louis XIII. in 1643 to
1664, was born in 1602. He was descended from the
Prioli, an illustrious family, some of whom had been doges
of Venice. He underwent some difficulties from losing
his father and mother, when young; but these did not
abate his passion for learning, which he indulged day and
night. He studied first at Orthez, next at Montauban,
and afterwards at Leyden in which last city he profited by
the lectures of Heinsius and Vossius. He went to Paris,
for the sake of seeing and consulting Grotius and afterwards to Padua, where he learned the opinions of Aristotle
and other ancient philosophers, under Cremoninus and
Licetus. After returning to France, he went again into
Italy, in order to be recognized by the house of Prioli, as
one of their relations. He devoted himself to the duke
of Rohan, then in the Venetian service, and became one
of his most intimate confidents; but, uncertain what his
fate would be after this duke’s death, he retired to Geneva,
having married, three months before, a lady of a very
noble family. The duke de Longueville drew him from
this retirement, upon his being appointed plenipotentiary
from the court of France for the treaty of Munster, as a
person whose talents might be of service to him and
Priolo resided with him a year at Munster, where he
contracted a very intimate friendship with Chigi the nuncio, %
who was afterwards pope Alexander VII. From Munster
he returned to Geneva; whence he went to France, in
order to settle at Paris. He stayed six months in Lyons,
and there had frequent conferences with cardinal Francis
Barberini the effect of which was, that himself and his
whole family abjured the Protestant religion, and immediately received the communion from the hands of the
cardinal. He was not, however, long easy at Paris for, the
civil war breaking out soon after, he joined with the malecontents, which proved the ruin of his fortune. He was
obliged to retire to Flanders, his estate was confiscated,
and his family banished. Being afterwards restored to the
favour of his sovereign, he resolved to lead a private life,
and to devote himself to study. It was at this time, and
to divert his melancholy, that he wrote, without the least
flattery or partiality, his “History of France,
” in Latin.
It has gone through several impressions but the best edition is that of Leipsic, 1686, 8vo. He was again employed in negociations; and set out, in 1667, upon a
secret affair to Venice; but did not arrive at the end of his
journey, being seized with an apoplectic fit, of which he
died in the archbishop’s palace at Lyons. He left seven
children; who, by virtue of his name, and their own accomplishments and merit, rose to very flourishing circumstances.
Dr. Pulteney married, in 1779, Miss Elizabeth Galton, of Blandford, a lady who bore him no children, but whose society and attainments
Dr. Pulteney married, in 1779, Miss Elizabeth Galton, of Blandford, a lady who bore him no children, but whose society and attainments contributed very essentially to his happiness, and who has in every respect proved herself worthy of her amiable and distinguished husband. His remains were interred at Langton, near Blandford', a tablet to his memory having been placed, by his widow, in the church of the last-mentioned town. This monument is decorated with a sprig of the Pultenaea stipularis, so called in honour of him by the president of the Linnaean society but in obedience to the strict commands of the deceased, the inscription is of the simplest kind.
teen years greater antiquity than his own additions to it. For it had been ushered into the world by a lady Wardlaw, who produced it, by two or three stanzas at a
To those who look upon poetry as an affair of labour and
difficulty, it must appear very strange that any man should
compose so much of it, with so little view either to fame
or profit. But the fact is, that writing verse cost Ramsay
no trouble at all, and as it lightly came it lightly went.
In the “Ever Green,
” already mentioned, there is what
is called a “Fragment of Hardiknnte,
” of which almost
one half made its first appearance in that publication.
But this was a forgery which could not be supposed to lie
very heavy upon his conscience, as he knew that the original “Fragment
” so justly admired, was not of above ten
or fifteen years greater antiquity than his own additions to
it. For it had been ushered into the world by a lady Wardlaw, who produced it, by two or three stanzas at a time,
saying she had taken them down in writing from an old
woman, who sung them while she was spinning at her distaff. But as lady Wardlaw had given sufficient proofs of
her poetical genius, by several smaller compositions, and
as this spectre of an old woman had never appeared to any
body but herself, none of her acquaintance ever doubted
of her being the true author. What parts of this pretended fragment, as printed in the “Ever Green,
” were lady
Wardlaw’s, and what were Ramsay’s, his son, from whom we
likewise hud this anecdote, could not precisely remember,
and said, that they were all too much of the same texture
for his critical skill alone to make the distinction: but that
it was a point which might be easily ascertained by comparing what is in the “Ever Green
” with the copies of
“Hardiknute,
” printed before Ever
Green,
” the whole of this poem is printed in the spelling
of the 15th century, which, though the flimsiest of all disguises, has a wonderful effect in imposing upon the bulk
of readers.
ement, one of the physicians sent by Henry VIII. to Cardinal Wolsey during his last illness. She was a lady of considerable learning, and well acquainted with Greek
John Rastail died at London in 1536, leaving two sons, William and John. William was born in London in 1508, and about 1525 was sent to Oxford, which he left without taking a degree, and entered of Lincoln’s Inn for the study of law. In the first of Edward VI. he became autumn or summer reader of that house; but on the change of religion he retired with his wife to Louvain, whence he returned on the accession of queen Mary. In 1554 he was made a serjeant at law, one of the commissioners for the prosecution of heretics, and a little before Mary’s death, one of the justices of the common pleas. Queen Elizabeth renewed his patent as justice, but he preferred retiring to Louvain, where he died Aug. 27, 1565, and was buried in the church of St. Peter, on the north side of the altar of the Virgin Mary. His wife, who died in 1553, on their first going to Louvain, at the age of twenty-six, was the daughter of Dr. John Clement, one of the physicians sent by Henry VIII. to Cardinal Wolsey during his last illness. She was a lady of considerable learning, and well acquainted with Greek and Latin.
, a lady of considerable literary talents, whose maiden name was
, a lady of considerable literary
talents, whose maiden name was Darby, was born at Bristol, Nov. 27, 1758. Her life having been published, in
part written by herself, and completed by a friend, it may
be thought we cannot be deficient in materials for the present article. But these documents partake too much of
the nature of a novel for our purpose. Mrs. Robinson was
a frail lady of much note in her day, and for such it has
been the fashion of late years to encourage the publication
of “Apologies,
” the object of all which, for they are very
uniform, is to relax the obligations of virtue, and to prove
that vice, with its attendants, vanity and extravagance,
has nothing to dread but from poverty. It is then only,
when all is spent, and indigence stares in the face, that we
are to begin to think that something has been amiss, and to
pour out our exculpatory sympathies in sentimental strains.
From such narratives, it becomes us to borrow with caution.
n some cases at least, would accept of no pecuniary compensation. In the same year (1774) he married a lady, whose name his biographer does not mention, by whom he
Soon after receiving his first degree, Mr. Robinson was
ordained by bishop Keene, and entered upon the curacy
of Witcham, in the Isle of Ely. To this was added that of
Wichford; and his performance of the duties of both was
equally conscientious and successful. About two years
after, he quitted this situation and accepted the curacy of
St. Martin’s Leicester, under the rev. Mr. Haines: here he
had considerable opposition to encounter; but at length
acquired a great degree of general popularity, and the
respect of many of the upper classes, who were at first prejudiced against his youth and his doctrines. He was also
chosen afternoon lecturer of All Saints, and in 1774, chaplain to the Infirmary. To these labours tie added, during
4 considerable part of his life, the care of instructing s
young gentlemen in classical learning, who were preparing
for the university, but in some cases at least, would accept
of no pecuniary compensation. In the same year (1774)
he married a lady, whose name his biographer does not
mention, by whom he had a family, and who died in 1791.
In 1778 a weekly lecture being founded at St. Mary’s
church by Mr. Joseph Wheatley, an opulent manufacturer
of Leicester, with the consent of the incumbent, and of
the bishop of the diocese, Mr. Robinson was appointed
first lecturer. Soon after, in the same year, on the death
of the incumbent, Mr. Robinson was instituted to the living of this church, by the lord-chancellor. It was here
that he preached a course of sermons on “Scripture Characters,
” which has since been printed, and forms the
most popular of his works, having gone through several
editions, in 4 vols. 8vo.
Mr. Rose married in 1791, a. daughter of Dr. Farr, physician to the Royal-hospital, near Plymouth, a lady, who with a moderate portion, brought him the more valuable
Mr. Rose married in 1791, a. daughter of Dr. Farr, physician to the Royal-hospital, near Plymouth, a lady, who
with a moderate portion, brought him the more valuable
dower of an elevated understanding. By this lady he had
four sons. An ardent love of literature had ever been a
characteristic of Mr. Rose, and he gave a signal proof of
it in the closing scene of his life. He had been requested to
revise the collected works and life of Goldsmith, published
in 1801. In the course of his three weeks confinement to
the bed of death, he corrected some inaccuracies in that
interesting publication, and sent his corrections with the
expressive farewell of a dying man to the publishers. In
1792 he produced an improved edition of lord chief baron
Corny n’s “Reports,
” and in
In Jan. 1776, he married miss Julia Stockton, daughter of the hon. judge Stockton, of New Jersey, a lady of an excellent understanding, and whose amiable disposition
In Jan. 1776, he married miss Julia Stockton, daughter of the hon. judge Stockton, of New Jersey, a lady of an excellent understanding, and whose amiable disposition and cultivated mind eminently qualified her as the companion of Dr. Rush. Thirteen children were the fruits of their marriage, nine of whom still survive. Two of these are chosen to offices of high respectability in the general government of the United States.
ied in 1781. La Harpe has published some spirited verses which he addressed in his eightieth year to a lady who had embroidered a waistcoat for him; but he is chiefly
, an ingenious French writer, was born at Auxerre in 1697. The
only information we have of his earlv life is restricted to a
notice of the affection which subsisted between him and his
twin-brother M. de la Curne. It appears that he devoted
himself to researches into the language and antiquities of
his country, and was admitted a member of the French
academy, and that of inscriptions. In all his labours he
was assisted by his brother, who lived with him, and was
his inseparable associate in his studies, and even in his
amusements. St. Palaye died in 1781. La Harpe has
published some spirited verses which he addressed in his
eightieth year to a lady who had embroidered a waistcoat
for him; but he is chiefly known as an author by “Memoires sur PAncienne Chevalerie,
” 3 vols. 12mo, in which
he paints in very lively colours the manners and customs
of that institution. Mrs. Dobson published an English
translation of this in 1784. After his decease the abbe
Millot drew up, from his papers, “L'Histoire des Troubadours,
” in 3 vols. 12mo. St. Palaye had meditated on an
“Universal French Glossary,
” which was to be more copious than that of Du Cange, and left two works in manuscript, one a history of the variations that have taken place
in the French language, the other a Dictionary of French
antiquities.
e second stall at Carlisle. Without the last of these preferments he was enabled to marry, and chose a lady of his own name, the daughter of a branch unnoticed by
During this interval Sandys, who, from the independence of his fortune, or some other cause, had never been scholar or fellow of his college, though he had served the office of proctor for the university, was in 1547 elected master of Catherine-hall. He was probably at this time vicar of Haversham, in Bucks> his first considerable preferment, to which, in 1548, was added a prebend of Peterborough, and in 1552, the second stall at Carlisle. Without the last of these preferments he was enabled to marry, and chose a lady of his own name, the daughter of a branch unnoticed by the genealogists, a beautiful and pious wo^ man. The next year, which was that of his vice-chancellorship, rendered him unhappily conspicuous by his yielding to the command or request of Dudley, duke of Northumberland, and preaching a sermon in support of lady Jane Gray’s pretensions to the crown, after the death of Edward VI. The designs of Dudley’s party having been almost immediately defeated, Sandys was marked out for vengeance; and the popish party in the university, as the first step towards regaining an ascendant, resolved to depose the vice-chancellor, which was performed in a manner very characteristic of the tumultuous spirit of the times. From this time, in July 1553, he ceased to reside in college, or to take any part in the administration of its concerns.
, he drew his own picture in the same situation. Delicacy was no part of his character: having drawn a lady who was marked with the small-pox, but had handsome hands,
, an ingenious painter, was
born at Dort, in 1643. His father placed him first with
Solomon Van Hoogstraten, and afterwards with Gerard
Dow, from whom he caught a great delicacy of finishing;
but his chief practice was to paint candle-lights. He
placed the object and a candle in a dark room; and looking through a small hole, painted by day-light what he saw
in the dark chamber. Sometimes he drew portraits, and
came with that view to England, but found the business
too much engrossed by Kneller, Closterman, and others.
Yet he once drew king William; but, as the piece was to
be by candle-light, he gave his majesty the candle to hold,
till the tallow ran down upon his fingers. As if to justify
this ill-breeding, he drew his own picture in the same situation. Delicacy was no part of his character: having
drawn a lady who was marked with the small-pox, but had
handsome hands, she asked him, when the face was finished,
if she must not sit for her hands “No,
” replied Schalken,
“1 always draw them from my house-maid.
” After carrying on his business for some time in England, he settled at
the Hague, where he died in 1706. Some additional anecdotes of him may be found in our authority.
In November 1770, he married his second wife, Mary de Home, daughter of the late Abraham de Home: “ a lady whose amiable qualities promised him many years of uninterrupted
In November 1770, he married his second wife, Mary de
Home, daughter of the late Abraham de Home: “a lady
whose amiable qualities promised him many years of uninterrupted happiness.
” During his visit in London, he
increased his literary circle of friends by an introduction
to Mrs. Montagu’s parties. Among those who principally
noticed him with respect, were lord Lyttelton, sir William
Jones, Mr. Potter, Mr. Mickle, and Dr. Beattie, who paid
him a cordial visit at Amwell in 1773, and again in 1781,
and became one of his correspondents.
iscopal authority, taken notice of a criminal amour carried on between a nobleman high in office and a lady of some fashion who lived within his diocese. This interference
Sharp had a servant, one Carmichael, who by his cruelties had rendered himself particularly odious to the presbyterians. Nine men formed the resolution, in 1679, of waylaying him in Magus-moor, about three miles from St. Andrew’s. While they were waiting for this man, the primate himself appeared in a coach with his daughter, and the assassins immediately considered this as a fit opportunity to rid the world of such a monster of perfidy and cruelty, and accordingly dispatched him with their swords, with every aggravation of barbarity, regardless of the tears and intreaties of his daughter. Such is the account given by all historians of the murder of Sharp; and that he fell by the hands of fanatics whom he persecuted, is certain. A tradition, however, has been preserved in different families descended from him, which may here be mentioned. The primate had, in the plenitude of his archiepiscopal authority, taken notice of a criminal amour carried on between a nobleman high in office and a lady of some fashion who lived within his diocese. This interference was in that licentious age deemed very impertinent; and the archbishop’s descendants believe that the proud peer instigated the deluded rabble to murder their ancestor. Such a tradition, however, is contrary to all historical testimony, and all historians have been particularly desirous to prove that the meeting with the assassins was purely accidental.
ored to health. Mr. Sharp now clothed him, and procured him comfortable employment in the service of a lady. Two years had elapsed, and the circumstance almost, and
, eminent as a Christian, a scholar,
and a gentleman, one of the sons of Dr. Thomas Sharp,
and grandson to the archbishop, was born in 1734. He
was educated for the bar, but did not practise at it. When
he quitted the legal profession, he obtained a place in the
ordnance office, which he resigned at the commencement
of the American war; of the principles of which he did
not approve. He now took chambers in the Temple, and
devoted himself to a life of study; at the same time, laying
himself out for public utility. He first became known to
the public in the case of a poor and friendless negro, of
the name of Somerset. This person had been brought
from the West Indies to England, and falling into bad
health, was abandoned by his master, and turned into the
streets, either to die, or to gain a miserable support by
precarious charity. In this destitute state, almost, it is
said, on the point of expiring on the pavement of one of
the public streets of London, Mr. Sharp chanced to see
him. He instantly had him removed to St. Bartholomew’s
hospital, attended personally to his wants, and in a short
time had the happiness to see him restored to health. Mr.
Sharp now clothed him, and procured him comfortable employment in the service of a lady. Two years had elapsed,
and the circumstance almost, and the name of the poor
negro, had escaped the memory of his benefactor, when
Mr. Sharp received a letter from a person, signing himself
Somerset, confined in the Poultry Compter, stating no
cause for his commitment, but intreating his interference to
save him from a greater calamity even than the death from
which he had before rescued him. Mr. Sharp instantly
went to the prison, and found the negro, who in sickness
and misery had been discarded by his master, sent to
prison as a runaway slave. Mr. Siiarp went immediately to
the lord major, William Nash, esq. who caused the parties
to be brought before him; when, after a long hearing, the
upright magistrate decided that the master had no property
in the person of the negro, in this country, and gave the
negro his liberty. The master instantly collared him, in
the presence of Mr. Sharp and the lord mayor, and insisted
on his right to keep him as his property. Mr. Sharp now
claimed the protection of the English law, caused the master to be taken into custody, and exhibited articles of peace
against him for an assault and battery. After various legal
proceedings, supported by him with most undaunted spirit,
the twelve judges unanimously concurred in an opinion that
the master had acted criminally. Thus did Mr. Sharp
emancipate for ever the race of blacks from a state of
slavery, while on British ground, and in fact banished slavery
from Great Britain. Such an incident could not fail deeply
to impress a benevolent mind; and slavery, in every shape
and country, became the object of his unceasing hostility.
In 17G9, he published a work, entitled “A Representation
of the injustice and dangerous tendency of toleratinaSlavery, or of admitting the least claim of private property
in the persons of men in England. 7 ' Having succeeded in
the case of an individual negro, he interested himself in the
condition of the many others who were seen wandering
about the streets of London, and at his own expence collected a number of them, whom he sent back to Africa,
where they termed a colony on the river Sierra Leone. He
performed a still more essential service to humanity, by becoming the institutor of the
” Society for the abolition of
the Slave trade;“which, after contending against a vast
mass of opposition, at length succeeded, as far as this
country was concerned, and it is hoped will soon be universal. Similar principles led Mr. Sharp to use his endeavours
to restrain the practice of marine impressment; and a
citizen of London having been carried off by a press-warrant, Mr. Sharp obtained a habeas corpus from the court of
king’s bench, to bring him back from a vessel at the Nore;
and by his arguments obliged the court to liberate him.
His political principles led him to become the warm advocate of
” parliamentary reform,“and he published
” A
Declaration of the people’s natural right to a share in the
legislature, which is the fundamental principle of the British
constitution of state." In this he proposed to restore the
ancient tithing$, hundreds, &c. and the whole body of the
people were to form a national militia, each thousand to
constitute a regiment, the alderman or magistrate to be the
colonel; and each hundred to constitute a company, the
constable of each fo.r the time being to be their captain.
So many of the thousands to be summoned once in every
year, by their magistrate, as would have a right to vote in
their respective hundreds, before the constable, in the
choice of their part of the representative legislature.
After stating that the division of this kingdom into tithings
and hundreds was instituted by the immortal Alfred, he
endeavours to prove that such a division is consistent with
the most perfect state of liberty that man is capable of enioying, and yet fully competent to answer all the purposes of mutual defence, to secure the due execution of
the laws, and maintain public peace. Mr. Sharp was
educated in the principles of the established church, and
through life shewed a warm attachment to them. This led
him to recommend an episcopal church in America; and
he introduced the first bishops from that country to the
archbishop of Canterbury for consecration.
he mother of Philip Sidney, was Mary, the eldest daughter of the unfortunate duke of Northumberland, a lady no less illustrious and amiable than her husband.
, a very accomplished English gentleman, and one of the greatest ornaments of the court of queen Elizabeth, was born Nov. 29, 1554, at Penshurst in Kent. He was the grandson of sir William Sidney, knight banneret, and chamberlain and steward of the household to Henry VIII. His father, Henry Sidney, was from his infancy the companion and bosom friend of Edward VI., who conferred upon him the honour of knighthood, constituted him ambassador to France, and afterwards promoted him to several appointments near his person. He was at this time universally beloved and admired, as the most ac^ complished gentleman in the court of the youthful monarch, who expired in his arms. Sir Henry, after this melancholy event, retired to his seat at Penshurst. He afterwards enjoye'd the favour of queen Mary, and gave his son the name of Philip, in compliment to her husband the king of Spain. In Elizabeth’s reign his abilities were more immediately called forth, and proved him a brave soldier, a consummate general, an able counsellor, and a wise legislator, while in private life he was no less estimable as a husband, father, and a friend; firmly attached to the church of England, and adorning his Christian profession by his temperance and exemplary piety. He was lord president of Wales, and for the space of eleven years discharged the administration of lord deputy of Ireland, with extraordinary justice and probity, and left to provincial governors an example of integrity, moderation, and wisdom, which was never surpassed. The mother of Philip Sidney, was Mary, the eldest daughter of the unfortunate duke of Northumberland, a lady no less illustrious and amiable than her husband.
considerable pension besides, with apartments in the Louvre. Silvestre married Henrietta Selincart, a lady celebrated both for her wit and beauty, who dying in September
, a celebrated French engraver, was born August 15, 1621, at Nanci, of a good family, originally Scotch. After his father’s decease, he went to Paris, where Israel Henriet, his mother’s brother, a skilful engraver, gladly received him, and educated him as his own son. He drew ajl the views of Paris and its environs, engraved them with great success, and went twice afterwards to Rome, whence he brought the great number of fine Italian views which he has left us. Louis XIV. being at length informed of this artist’s great genius, employed him to engrave all the royal palaces, conquered places, &c, and appointed him drawing master to the dauphin, allowing him a considerable pension besides, with apartments in the Louvre. Silvestre married Henrietta Selincart, a lady celebrated both for her wit and beauty, who dying in September 1680, he erected a superb monument to her memory in the church of St. Germain l'Auxerrois. He died October 11, 1691, aged seventy.
employed in some uegociations both to France and England; and, in one of these journeys, he met with a lady whom he married in 1546. About the same time the princes
, an excellent German historian, was born in 1506, at Sleiden, a small town upon the confines of the duchy of Juliers, whence he derived his name. His origin, according to Varillas, was so obscure, that not knowing the name of his father, he adopted that of his birth-place; but this is the report of an enemy, as his father’s name was Philip, and his family not of the lower order. He went through his first studies in his own country, together with the learned John Sturmius, who was born in the same town with himself; and afterwards removed, first to Paris, and then to Orleans, where he studied the law for three years. He took the degree of licentiate in this faculty, but, having always an aversion to the bar, he continued his pursuits chiefly in polite literature. Uporf his return to Paris, he was recommended by his friend Sturmius, in 1535, to John Du Bellay, archbishop and cardinal; who conceived such an affection for him, that he settled on him a pension, and communicated to him affairs of the greatest importance; for Sleidan had a turn for business, as well as letters. He accompanied the ambassador of France to the diet of Haguenan, but returned to Paris, and remained there till it was not safe for him to stay any longer, as he was inclined to the sentiments of the reformers. In 1542 he retired to Strasburg, where he acquired the esteem and friendship of the most considerable persons, and especially of James Sturmius; by whose counsel he undertook, and by whose assistance he was enabled, to write the history of his own time. He was employed in some uegociations both to France and England; and, in one of these journeys, he met with a lady whom he married in 1546. About the same time the princes of the league of Smalcald honoured him with the title of their historiographer, and granted him a pension, and when he lost this by the dissolution of the league in 1547, the republic of Strasburgh gave him another. In 1551, he went, on the part of the republic, to the council of Trent; but, the troops of Maurice, elector of Saxony, obliging that council to break up, he returned to Strasburgh without having transacted any business. He was employed in other affairs of state, when the death of his wife, in 1555, plunged him into a deep melancholy, with such a total loss of memory, as that he did not know his own children. Some imputed this to poison; and others to natural causes. It ended, however, in his death, at Strasburg, Oct. 31, 1556, in the fiftieth year of his age.
under the Jesuits at Reggio de Modena, whence he removed to Bologna, where his relation Laura Bassi, a lady deservedly celebrated for her genius, eloquence, and knowledge
, a celebrated modern naturalist, was born at Scandiano, in Italy, Jan. 10, 1729, and
studied polite literature under the Jesuits at Reggio de
Modena, whence he removed to Bologna, where his relation Laura Bassi, a lady deservedly celebrated for her genius, eloquence, and knowledge of natural philosophy and
mathematics, was at that time one of the most illustrious
professors of Italy. Under this instructor, he improved his
taste for philosophy, but bestowed at the same time much
attention in the cultivation of his native language, and became a very accomplished Latin, Greek, and French scholar. His father had destined him for the law as a profession, but Vallisneri, the professor of natural history at Padua, was the means of diverting him from this pursuit, and
he soon acquired such reputation, that in 1754, the university of Keggio chose him professor of logic, metaphysics, and Greek. This, however, was not his final
destination, for, during the six years that he held this office, he
devoted all his leisure hours to those physical researches
which constituted the basis of his fame. Some new discoveries excited his passion for natural history, which was
continually augmented by the success of his early efforts;
and his observations upon the animalculae in infusions attracted the attention of Haller and Bonnet, and various
universities, Coimbra, Parma, and Cesena, tempted him
with flattering offers, but he preferred an invitation to be
professor at Modena, in 1760, where about five years afterwards he published a pamphlet, in which he proved by
many ingenious experiments the anirnality of microscopical
animalcuia; and in the same year a truly original dissertation “De lapidibus ab aqua resilientibus.
” Here he demonstrates, by the most strking experiments, contrary to
the received opinion, that the phenomenon which is called
by children “ducks and drakes,
” is not produced by the
elasticity of the water, but by the change of direction which
the stone undergoes in its motion after having struck upon
the water when it ascends the inflection of the cavity indented by the shock.
ted at Geneva for a professorship of philosophy, and was successful; and about the same time married a lady, originally of Poitou, who reckoned among her ancestors
, professor of divinity at Leyden, was born at Amberg in the Upper Palatinate, Jan. 1,
1600, of a good family. His father Wigand Spanheim,
doctor of divinity, was a very learned man, and ecclesiastical counsellor to the elector-palatine; he died in 1620,
holding in his hand a letter from his son, which had made
him weep for joy. Frederic was educated with great care
under the inspection of this affectionate parent; and, having studied in the college of Amberg till 1613, was sent
the next year to the university of Heidelberg, which was
then in a very flourishing condition. He there made such
progress both in languages and philosophy, as to justify
the most sanguine hopes of his future success. After paying a visit to his father in 1619, he went to Geneva to study
divinity. In 1621, after his father’s death, he went into
Dauphine, and lived three years with the governor of Ambrun, as tutor in his family. He then returned to Geneva,
and went afterwards to Paris, where he met with a kind
relation, Samuel Durant, who was minister of Charenton,
and dissuaded Spanheim from accepting the professorship
of philosophy at Lausanne, which the magistrates of Berne
then offered him.
In April 1625, he paid a visit of four months to England, and was at Oxford; but the plague having broke out
there, he returned to Paris, and was present at the death
of his relation Durant, who, having a great kindness for
him, left him his whole library. He had learned Latin and
Greek in his own country, French at Geneva, English at
Oxford; and the time which he now spent at Paris, was
employed in acquiring the oriental tongues. In 1627, he
disputed at Geneva for a professorship of philosophy, and
was successful; and about the same time married a lady,
originally of Poitou, who reckoned among her ancestors the
f;unous Budtrus. He was admitted a minister some time
after; and, in 1631, succeeded to the chair of divinity,
which Turretin had left vacant. He acquitted himself of
liis functions with such ability, as to receive the most liberal offers from several universities: but that of Leyden prevailed, after the utmost endeavours had been used to keep
him at Geneva. He left Geneva in 1642; and taking a
doctor of divinity’s degree at Basil, that he might conform
to the custom of the country to which he was going, he arrived at Leyden in October that year. He not only supported, but even increased the reputation he had brought
with him but he lived to enjoy it only a short time, dying
April 30, 1649. His great labours shortened his days.
His academical lectures and disputations, his preaching (for he was minister of the Walloon church at Leyden), the
books he wrote, and many domestic cares, did not hinder
him from keeping up a great literary correspondence. Besides this, he was obliged to pay many visits he visited
the queen of Bohemia, and the prince of Orange and was
in great esteem at those two courts. Queen Christina did
him the honour to write to him, assuring him of her esteem,
and of the pleasure she took in reading his works. It was
at her request that he wrote some memoirs of Louisa Juliana, electress palatine. He was also the author of some
other historical as well as theological works the principal
of which are his “Dubia evangelica discussa et vindicata,
”
Genev. Exercitationes de Grafla universali,
” Leyden, Epistolae ad Davidem Bu
chananum super controversies quibusdam, quse in ecclesiis
Anglicanis agitantur,
” ibid. Vitas selectorupi aliquot virorum.
” He was a correspondent of, and highly
esteemed by archbishop Usher.
nd was privately interred according to his own desire. He had been twice married: his first wife was a lady of Barbadoes, with whom he had a valuable plantation upon
Some years before his death, he retired to his seat at
Llangunnor, near Caermarthen, in Wales, with a view to
(economise for the benefit of his creditors. Here he was seized with a paralytic disorder, of which he died Sept. I, 1729, and was privately interred according to his own desire. He had been twice married: his first wife was a lady of Barbadoes, with whom he had a valuable plantation upon the death of her brother; his second was the daughter of Jonathan Scurlock, of Llangunnor, esq. by whom he had one daughter and two sons; the latter both died young, but the daughter, Elizabeth, was in 1732 married to the
hon. John Trevor, afterwards baron Trevor of Bromham.
Steele was a man of quick and excellent parts, accomplished in all branches of polite literature; -and would have
passed for a better writer than he does, though he is allowed to be a very good one, if he had not been so connected
in literary productions, as well as in friendship, with Addison. He speaks himself of their friendship in the following terms: “There never was a more strict friendship than
between these gentlemen; nor had they ever any difference, but what proceeded from their different way of pursuing the same thing. The one with patience, foresight,
and temperate address, always waited and stemmed the torrent f while the other often plunged himself into it, and
was as often taken out by the temper of him who stood
weeping on the bank for his safety, whom he could not
dissuade from leaping into it. Thus these two men lived
for some years last past, shunning each other, but still preserving the most passionate concern for their mutual welfare. But when they met, they were as unreserved as boys,
and talked of the greatest affairs; upon which they saw
where they differed, without pressing (what they knew impossible) to convert each other.
”
Robert Stephens married Petronilla, the daughter of the celebrated printer Jodocus Badius, a lady of learned accomplishments. She herself taught Latin to
Robert Stephens married Petronilla, the daughter of the
celebrated printer Jodocus Badius, a lady of learned accomplishments. She herself taught Latin to her children
and servants, and with such success that there was not a
person in Robert’s house who did not understand and speak
that language. In 1526, Robert dissolved partnership
with de Colines, and set up a printing- establishment of
his own in the same part of the city where his father had
lived. The first work which issued from his press was Cicero “De Partitionibus Oratoriis,
” in Thesaurus Linguae
Latinae,
” on which he had been employed many years, aided
by various learned men; but although he had great success,
he never ceased to improve each edition until he made it
the first and most correct work of the kind. In 1539 he
was appointed king’s printer of Latin and Hebrew; and
it was at his suggestion that Francis I. caused those beautiful types to be cast by Garamond, which are still in the
royal printing-office of Paris.
n their power to dissipate, and among other schemes recommended him to marry. He accordingly married a lady of the family of Schrimger, whom he often praises for the
In 1559 his father died, which appears to have thrown him into melancholy, which his friends did every thing in their power to dissipate, and among other schemes recommended him to marry. He accordingly married a lady of the family of Schrimger, whom he often praises for the sweetness of her disposition. His health and tranquillity being now restored, he applied himself to business with his usual activity. His father had appointed him his executor, and recommended the care of his brothers, which appears to have been attended with some trouble and vexation. Another source of trouble arose from his having made a public profession of his adherence to the reformed religion. This made him in continual fear of being obliged to quit his business at Paris, and for such fear he had an additional reason, having written a French translation of Herodotus, to which he added a collection of anecdotes, satirical remarks, and epigrams against priests and monks, and he well knew his danger, if he should be known as the author.
ave proved a judicious and valuable performance. He married Mary the daughter of sir Hugh Cholmeley, a lady of great worth, and died at Gravesend, near Thornbury,
, an eminent antiquary, was the fourth sou of Richard Stephens, esq. of the elder house of that name atEastington in Gloucestershire, by Anne the eldest daughter of sir Hugh Cholmeley, of Whitby, in Yorkshire, baronet. His first education was at Wotton school, whence he removed to Lincoln-college, Oxford, May 19, 681. He was entered very young in the Middle Temple, applied himself to the study of the common law, and was called to the bar. As he was master of a sufficient fortune, it may be presumed that the temper of his mind, which was naturally modest, detained him from the public exercise of his profession, and led him to the politer studies, and an acquaintance with the best authors, ancient and modern: yet he was thought by all who knew him to have made a great proficience in the law, though history and antiquities seem to have been his favourite study. When he was about twenty years old, being at a relation’s house, he accidentally met with some original letters of the lord chancellor Bacon; and finding that they would greatly contribute to our knowledge of matters relating to king James’s reign, he immediately set himself to search for whatever might elucidate the obscure passages, and published a complete edition of them in 1702, with useful notes, and an excellent historical introduction. He intended to have presented his work to king William but that monarch dying before it was published, the dedication was omitted. In the preface, he requested the communication of unpublished pieces of his noble author, to make his collection more complete; and obtained in consequence as many letters as formed the second collection, published in 1734, two years after his death. Being a relation of Robert Harley earl of Oxford (whose mother Abigail, was daughter of Nathaniel Stephens of Eastington), he was preferred by him to be chief solicitor of the customs, in which employment he continued with unblemished reputation till 172C, when he declined that troublesome office, and was appointed to succeed Mr. Madox in the place of historiographer royal. He then formed a design of writing a history of king James the first, a reign which he thought to be more misrepresented than almost any other since the conquest: and, if we may judge by the good impression which he seems to have had of these times, his exactness and care never to advance any thing but from unquestionable authorities, besides his great candour and integrity, it could not but have proved a judicious and valuable performance. He married Mary the daughter of sir Hugh Cholmeley, a lady of great worth, and died at Gravesend, near Thornbury, in Gloucestershire, Nov. 12, 1732; and was buried at Eastington, the seat of his ancestors, where is an inscription to his memory.
Newark. In 1728 he married Frances daughter of Robert Williamson, esq. of Allington, near Grantham, a lady of good family and fortune. He was greatly afflicted with
, an antiquary of much celebrity,
descended from an antient family in Lincolnshire, was born
at Holbech in that county, November 7, 1687. After having had the first part of his education at the free-school of
that place, under the care of Mr. Edward Kelsal, he was
admitted into Bene't-college in Cambridge, Nov. 7, 1703,
under the tuition of Mr. Thomas Favvcett, and chosen a
scholar there in April following. While an under-graduate,
he often indulged a strong propensity for drawing and designing; and began to form a collection of antiquarian
books. He made physic, however, his principal study, and
with that view took frequent perambulations through the
neighbouring country, with the famous Dr. Hales, Dr. John
Gray of Canterbury, and others, in search of plants; and
made great additions to Ray’s “Catalogus Plantarum circa
Cantabrigiam;
” which, with a map of the county, he was
solicited to print; but his father’s death, and various domestic avocations, prevented it. He studied anatomy under
Mr. Rolfe the surgeon attended the chemical lectures of
signor Vigani and taking the degree of M. B. in 1709,
made himself acquainted with the practical part of medicine
under the great Dr. Mead at St. Thomas’s hospital. He
first began to practise at Boston in his native county, where
he strongly recommended the chalybeate waters of Stanfield
near Folkingham. In 1717 he removed to London, where,
on the recommendation of his friend Dr. Mead, he was soon
after elected F. R. S. and was one of the first who revived
that of the Antiquaries in 1718, to which last he was secretary for many years during his residence in town. He was
also one of the earliest members of the Spalding society.
He took the degree of M. D. at Cambridge in 1719, and
was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians in the
year following, about which time (1720) he published an
account of “Arthur’s Oon
” in Scotland, and of “Graham’s
dyke,
” with plates, 4to. In the year Itinerarium Curiosum; or, an Account of the Antiquities and Curiosities in his Travels
through Great Britain, Centuria I.
” adorned with one hundred copper-plates, and published in folio, London, 1724.
This was reprinted after his death, in 1776, with two additional plates; as was also published the second volume,
(consisting of his description of the Brill, or Caesar’s camp at Pancras,“IterBoreale,
” A Treatise on the Cause
and Cure of the Gout, from a new Rationale;
” which, with
an abstract of it, has passed through several editions. He
collected some remarkable particulars at Stamford in relation
to his predecessor bishop Cumberland; and, in 1736, printed
an explanation, with an engraving, of a curious silver plate
of Roman workmanship in basso relievo, found underground
at Risley Park in Derbyshire; wherein he traces its journey thither, from the church of Bourges, to which it had
been given by Exsuperius, called St. Swithin, bishop of
Toulouse, about the year 205. He published also the
same yea.- his “Palæographia Sacra, No. I. or, Discourses
on the Monuments of Antiquity that relate to Sacred History,
” in 4to, which he dedicated to sir Richard Kllys, bart.
“from whom he had received many favours.
” In this
work (uhich was to have been continued in succeeding numbers) he undertakes to shew, how Heathen Mythology
is derived from Sacred History, and that the Bacchus in the
Poets is no other than the Jehovah in the Scripture, the
conductor of the Israelites through the wilderness. In his
country retirement he disposed his collection of Greek and
Roman coins according to the order of the Scripture History; and cut out a machine in wood (on the plan of an Orrery), which shews the motion of the heavenly bodies,
the course of the tide, &c. In 1737 he lost his wife and
in 1738, married Elizabeth, the only daughter of Dr. Gale,
dean of York, and sister to his intimate friends Roger
and Samuel Gale, esquires; and from this time he often
spent his winters in London. In 1740, he published an
account of Stonehenge, dedicated to the duke of Ancaster,
who had made him one of his chaplains, and given him the
living of Somerby near Grantham the year before. In
1741, he preached the Thirtieth of January Sermon before
the House of Commons; and in that year became one of
the founders of the Egyptian society, composed of gentlemen who had visited Egypt. In 1743 he printed an account
of lady Roisia’s sepulchral cell, lately discovered at Royston, in a tract, entitled “Palseographia Britannica, No. I.
”
to which an answer was published by Mr. Charles Parkin,
in 1744. The doctor replied in “Palasographia Britannica,
No. II.
” 1746, giving an account of the origin of the universities of Cambridge and Stamford, both from Croylandabbey; of the Roman city Granta, on the north-side of
the river, of the beginning of Cardike near Waterbeach,
&c. To this Mr. Parkin again replied in 1748; but it
does not appear that the doctor took any further notice of
him. In 1747, the benevolent duke of Montagu (with whom he had become acquainted at the Egyptian society)
prevailed on him to vacate his preferments in the country,
by giving him the rectory of St. George, Queen-square,
whence he frequently retired to Kentish-town, where the
following inscription was placed over his door:
hom he had made love without success, to be one of her ladies of honour; saying, that “since she was a lady of real honour, she should be in that post with the queen
This change of religion in Henry IV. though it seemed
to create a present satisfaction, did not secure him from
continual plots and troubles and being made upon
political motives, it was natural to suppose it not sincere.
Thus, Dec. 26, 1594, a scholar, named John Chastel, attempted to assassinate the king, but only wounded him in
the mouth; and when he was interrogated concerning the
crime, readily answered, “That he came from the college
of the Jesuits,
” and then accused those fathers of having
instigated him to it. The king, who was present at his
examination, said with much gaiety, that “he had heard,
from the mouths of many persons, that the society never
loved him, and he was now convinced of it by his own.
”
Some writers have related, that this assassination was at*
tempted when he was with the fair Gabrieile, his mistress,
at the hotel d'Estrees; but Sully, who was with him, says
that it was at Paris, in his apartments in the Louvre. This
Gabriel le was the favourite mistress of Henry IV. and it is
said that the king intended to marry her; but she died in
1599, the year that his marriage with Margaret of Valois,
sister of Charles IX. was declared null and void by the
pope’s commissioners, with consent of both parties. He
married Mary of Medicis, at Lyons, the year after, and
appointed madame de Guercheville, to whom he had made
love without success, to be one of her ladies of honour;
saying, that “since she was a lady of real honour, she
should be in that post with the queen his wife.
” Henry,
though he was a great monarch, was not always successful
in his addresses to the fair; and a noble saying is recorded
by many writers of Catharine, sister to the viscount de
Rohan, who replied to a declaration of gallantry from this
prince, that “she was too poor to be his wife, and of too
good a fau.ily to be his mistress.
”
ft, which continued till his death; and sir William, who inherited his title and estate, had married a lady to whom Mrs. Swift was related: she therefore advised her
At about six years of age, he was sent to the school of
Kilkenny, and having continued there eight years, he was
admitted a student of Trinity college in Dublin*. Here
applying himself to books of history and poetry, to the
neglect of academic learning, he was, at the end of four
years, refused his degree of bachelor of arts for insufficiency; and was at last admitted speciali gratia, which is
there considered as the highest degree of reproach and
dishonour. Stung with the disgrace, he studied eight hours
a day, for seven years following. He commenced these
studies at the university of Dublin, where he continued
them three years; and during this time he drew up the
first sketch of his “Tale of a Tub;
” for Wassendon Warren,
esq. a gentleman of fortune near Belfast in Ireland, wha
was chamber- fellow with Swift, declared that he then saw
a copy of it in Swift’s own hand-writing.
In 1688, his uncle Godwin was seized with a lethargy,
and soon after was deprived both of his speech and memory: by which accident Swift being left without support,
took a journey to Leicester, that he might consult with his
mother what course of life to pursue. At this time sir
William Temple was in high reputation, and honoured
with the confidence and familiarity of king William. His
father sir John Temple, had been master of the Rolls in
Ireland, and contracted an intimate friendship with Godwin Swift, which continued till his death; and sir William,
who inherited his title and estate, had married a lady to
whom Mrs. Swift was related: she therefore advised her
son to communicate his situation to sir William, and solicit
his direction what to do. Sir William received him with
great kindness, and Swift’s first visit continued two years.
Sir William had been ambassador and mediator of a general peace at Nimeguen before the Revolution; in which
character he became known to the prince of Orange, who
frequently visited him at Sheen, after his arrival in England, and took his advice in affairs of the utmost importance. Sir William being then lame with the gout, Swift
used to attend his majesty in the walks about the garden,
who admitted him to such a familiarity, that he shewed
him how to cut asparagus after the Dutch manner, and
once offered to make him a captain of horse; but Swift had
fixed his mind upon an ecclesiastical life.
k, began the service in an audible voice, During Swift’s residence at Laracor, he invited to Ireland a lady whom he has celebrated by the name of Stella. With this
Upon the death of sir William Temple, Swift applied,
by petition to king William, for the- first vacant prebend
of Canterbury or Westminster, for which the royal
promise had been obtained by his late patron, whose posthumous works he dedicated to his majesty, to facilitate the
success of that application. But it does not appear, that,
after the death of sir William, the king took the least notice of Swift. After this he accepted an invitation from
the earl of Berkeley, appointed one of the lords justices of
Ireland, to attend him as chaplain and private secretary;
but he was soon removed from this post, upon a pretence
that it svas not fit for a clergyman. This disappointment
was presently followed by another; for when the deanery
of Derry became vacant, and it was the earl of Berkeley’s
turn to dispose of it, Swift, instead of receiving it as an
atonement for his late usage, was put off with the livings
of Laracor and Rathbeggin, in the diocese of Meath,
which together did not amount to half its value. He went
to reside at Laracor, and performed the duties of a parish
priest with the utmost punctuality and devotion. He was,
indeed, always very devout, not only in his public and
solemn addresses to God, but in his domestic and private
exercises i and yet, with all this piety in his heart, he
could not forbear indulging the peculiarity of his humour,
when an opportunity offered, whatever might be the impropriety of the time and place. Upon his coming to Laracor, he gave public notice, that he would read prayers
on Wednesdays and Fridays, which had not been the cus->
torn; and accordingly the bell was rung, and he ascended
the desk. But, having remained some time with no other
auditor than his clerk Roger, he began, “Dearly beloved
Roger, the Scripture moveth you and me in sundry
places;
” and so proceeded to the end of the service. Of
the same kind was his race with Dr. Raymond, vicar of
Trim, soon after he was made dean of St. Patrick’s.
Swift had dined one Sunday with Raymond, and when the
bells had done ringing for evening prayers, “Raymond,
”
says Swift, “I will lay you a crown, that I begin prayers
before you this afternoon.
” Dr. Raymond accepted the
wager, and immediately both ran as fast as they could to
the church. Raymond, the nimbler of the two, arrived
first at the door, and when he entered the church, walked
decently towards the reading-desk: Swift never slackened
his pace, but running up the aite, left Raymond behind
him, and stepping into the desk, without putting on the
surplice, or opening the book, began the service in an
audible voice,
During Swift’s residence at Laracor, he invited to Ireland a lady whom he has celebrated by the name of Stella.
With this lady he became acquainted while he lived with
sir William Temple: she was the daughter of his steward,
whose name was Johnson; and sir William, when he died,
left her 1000l. in consideration of her father’s faithful services. At the death of sir William, which happened in
1699, she was in the sixteenth year of her age; and it was
about two years afterwards, that at Swift’s invitation she
Jeft England, accompanied by Mrs. Dingley, a lady who
was fifteen years older, and whose whole fortune, though
she was related to sir William, was no more than an annuity of 27l. Whether Swift at this time desired the company of Stella as a wife, or a friend, it is not certain: but
the reason which she and her companion then gave for
their leaving England was, that in Ireland the interest of
money was higher, and provisions were cheap. But, whatever was Swift’s attachment to Miss Johnson, every possible precaution was taken to prevent scandal: they never
lived in the same house; when Swift was absent, Miss
Johnson and her friend resided at the parsonage; when he
returned, they removed either to his friend Dr. Raymond’s,
or to a lodging; neither were they ever known to meet
but in the presence of a third person. Swift made frequent excursions to Dublin, and some to London: but
Miss Johnson was buried in solitude and obscurity; she
was known only to a few of Swift’s most intimate acquaintance, and had no female companion except Mrs.
Dingley.
with whom he was intimately acquainted during the gay part of his life, was Mrs. Vanhomrigh. She was a lady of good family in Ireland, and became the wife of Mr. Vanhomrigh,
Before we attend Swift to Ireland, it is necessary to
give a little history of his Vanessa, because his connections
with her were made in England. Among other persons
with whom he was intimately acquainted during the gay
part of his life, was Mrs. Vanhomrigh. She was a lady of
good family in Ireland, and became the wife of Mr. Vanhomrigh, first a merchant of Amsterdam, then of Dublin,
where he was raised by king William, upon his expedition
into Ireland, to very great places. Dying in 1703, he
left two sons and two daughters; but the sons soon after
dying, his whole fortune, which was considerable, fell to
the daughters. In 1709, the widow and the two young
ladies came to England, where they were visited by persons of the first quality; and Swift, lodging near them,
used to be much there, coming and going without any
ceremony, as if he had been one of the family. During
this familiarity, he became insensibly a kind of preceptor
to the young ladies, particularly the eldest, who was then
about twenty years old, was much addicted to reading,
and a great admirer of poetry. Hence admiring, as was
natural, such a character as that of Swift, she soon passed
from admiration to love; and, urged a little perhaps by
vanity, which would have been highly gratified by an
alliance with the first wit of the age, she ventured to make
the doctor a proposal of marriage. He affected at fust to
believe her 'in jest, then to rally her on so whimsical a
choice, and at last to put her off without absolute refusal;
and, while he was in this situation, he wrote the poem
called “Cadenus and Vanessa.
” It was written in
coursing with her, and that she had frequently been the subject of his verses. The third Leonora was a lady in the service of the princess Leonora of Este. This person
The second Leonora that was given him for a mistress was the countess of San Vitale, daughter of the count of Sala, who lived at that time at the court of Ferrara, and passed for one of the most accomplished persons in Italy. Those who imagined that Tasso would not presume to lift his eyes to his master’s sister, supposed that he loved this lady. It is certain that he had frequent opportunities of discoursing with her, and that she had frequently been the subject of his verses. The third Leonora was a lady in the service of the princess Leonora of Este. This person was thought by some to be the most proper object of the poet’s gallantry. Tasso, several times, employed his muse in her service: in one of his pieces he confesses that, considering the princess as too high for. his hope, he had fixed his affection upon her, as of a condition more suitable to his own. But if any thing can be justly drawn from this particular, it seems rather to strengthen the opinion, that his desires, at least at one time, had aspired to a greater height. It appears, however, difficult to determine with certainty in relation to Tasso' s passion; especially when we consider the privilege allowed to poets: though M. Mirabuud makes no scruple to mention it as a circumstance almost certain, and fixes it without hesitation on the princess Leonora. Tasso, himself, in several of his poems, seems to endeavour to throw an obscurity over his passion. In the mean while Tasso proceeded with his <c Jerusalem," which he completed in the thirtieth year of his age; but this poem was not published by his own authority; it was printed against his will, as soon as he had finished the last book, and before he had time to give the revisals and corrections that a work of such a nature required. The public had already seen several parts, which had been sent into the world by the authority of his patrons. The success of this work was prodigious: it was translated into the Latin, French, Spanish, and even the oriental languages, almost as soon as it appeared-, and it may be said, that no such performance ever before raised its reputation to such a height in so small a space of time. But the satisfaction which Tasso must have felt, in spite of all his philosophy, at the applause of the public, was soon disturbed by a melancholy event. Bernardo Tasso, who spent his old age in tranquillity at Ostia upon the P<>, the government of which place had been given him by the duke of Mantua, fell sick. As soon as this news reached his son, he immediately went to him, attended him with the most filial regard, and scarce ever stirred from his bedside during the whole time of his illness: but all these cares were ineffectual; Bernardo, oppressed with age, and overcome by the violence of his distemper, paid the unavoidable tribute to nature, to the great affliction of Torqua:o. The duke of Mantua, who had a sincere esteem lor Bernardo, caused him to be interred, with much pomp, in the church of St. Egidius at Mantua, with this simple inscription on his tomb:
ntil 1642. In May 1639 he was married in the church of that town to Phoebe Landisdale, or Langsdale, a lady of whose family little is known, unless that she had a
About this time also he was appointed chaplain 4n ordinary to the king, having already been made chaplain to archbishop Laud; and in March 1638, he was instituted to the rectory of Uppingham, in the county of Rutland, by Francis Dee, bishop of Peterborough, on the presentation of William Juxon, bishop of London. He had no sooner received institution into this preferment than he commenced his charge over it, and continued to reside at Uppingham until 1642. In May 1639 he was married in the church of that town to Phoebe Landisdale, or Langsdale, a lady of whose family little is known, unless that she had a brother of the medical profession, a Dr. Langsdale of Gainsborough. By her Mr. Taylor had four sons and three daughters. Of the exemplary manner in which he administered the spiritual concerns of his parish, a fair conclusion may be drawn, both from his ardent piety, and from the way in which he himself speaks of his experience in the conduct of souls. He was no less attentive and useful in managing the secular affairs of his parish, of which many proofs exist in its records.
, a lady of considerable talents, took the habit of a religious
, a
lady of considerable talents, took the habit of a religious
at the monastery of Montfleuri, near Grenoble. Becoming
tired of that mode of life, she went to Paris, where she
lived in the world, and solicited a bull from the pope to
authorize this unusual proceeding. With cardinal Lambertini, afterwards Benedict XIV. she was on good terms,
and he gave her no molestation. Her house at Paris was
the general meeting of all who had wit, or wished to have
the credit of it. The gaiety of her society was, however,
disturbed by some unfortunate adventures particularly by
the death of La Fresnaye, a counsellor of state, who was
killed in her apartment. Mademoiselle Tencin was prosecuted as concerned in the murder, and was confined first
in the Chatelet, and afterwards in the Bastille; but was at
length discharged as innocent. She died at Paris in 1749,
being then a good deal advanced in years. She appeared
as an author in several instances, and produced, 1. “Le
Siege de Calais,
” a romance of considerable delicacy and
genius, though not without faults. 2. “Memoires de Comminges,
” 12mo, another novel which has had its admirers.
A nephew of M. de Tencin, M. Pont-de-veste, had some
share in both these productions. 3. “Les Malheurs de
l'Amour,
” a novel, in which some have supposed that she
describes a part of her own history. 4. “Anecdotes of
Edward II.
” a posthumous work, published in 1776. All
her works were published at Paris in 1786, in seven small
volumes, 12 mo.
biographer, “that I was cured in time of that martial folly. 1 met, at the prince de Kaunitz’s, with a lady seventy years of age, and endowed with great sense and
Wben the American war terminated, Thompson solicited to be employed wih his regiment in the East Indies;
but the peace having occasioned the reduction of that corps,
together with that of several others, he obtained from the
king permission to travel on the continent, where, stimulated as he then still was by the military passion, he hoped
to find an opportunity of serving as a volunteer in the
Austrian army against the Turks. “I owe it to a beneficent Divinity,
” said he to his biographer, “that I was
cured in time of that martial folly. 1 met, at the prince
de Kaunitz’s, with a lady seventy years of age, and endowed with great sense and knowledge. She was the wife
of general de Burghausen; and the emperor Joseph II.
often came to spend the evening with her. That excellent person formed an attachment to me; she gave me
wise advices; and imparted a new turn to my ideas, by
presenting to me in perspective other species of glory than
that of conquering in battles.
”
re his free choice than it probably was: so that, having soon after received some encouragement from a lady of quality, a friend of his mother, then in London, he
The divinity-chair at Edinburgh was then filled by Mr. Hamilton, whose lectures Thomson attended for about a year, when there was prescribed to him, for the subject of an exercise, a psalm, in which the power and majesty of God are celebrated. Of this psalm he gave a paraphrase and illustration, as the nature of the exercise required, but in a style *o highly poetical, that it surprized the whole audience. Mr. Hamilton complimented him upon the performance; but at the same time told him, smiling, that if he thought of being useful in the ministry, he must keep a stricter rein upon his imagination, and express himself in language more intelligible to an ordinary congregation. Thomson concluded from this, that' his expectations from the study of theology mi^ht be very precarious, even though the church had been more his free choice than it probably was: so that, having soon after received some encouragement from a lady of quality, a friend of his mother, then in London, he quickly prepared himself for his journey, in 1725; and although this encauragement ended in nothing beneficial, it served then for a good pretext, to cover the imprudence of committing himself to the wide world, unfriended and unpatronized, and with the slender stock of money he possessed.
after her death, 1789, to whom he had been united forty-two years, be married in 1790 Mrs. Holland, a lady who lived with him as housekeeper, and was the widow of
Mr. Thorpe married the daughter of Lawrence Holker,
M. D. a physician at Milton near Gravesend; and after her
death, 1789, to whom he had been united forty-two years,
be married in 1790 Mrs. Holland, a lady who lived with
him as housekeeper, and was the widow of an old college
acquaintance. Soon after his first marriage, he purchased
High-street-house, in Bexley, which after his first wife’s
death he quitted fora house on Richmond-green, Surrey,
and at last removed to Chippenham in Wiltshire, where he
died Aug. 2, 1792, in the seventy-eighth year of his age.
He was buried, according to his own desire, in the churchyard of Harden Huish, Wiltshire. Mr. Thorpe, by the
report of one who knew him well, “was happy in a retentive memory, and could quote whole pages of hi*; favourite
Pope, with the utmost facility. He was courteous,
” but
not courtly, in his manners hospitable, but not extravagant at his table skilful and curious in his garden intelligent and communicative in his library; social, elegant, and
informing in his general conversation, and on antiquarian
topics almost an enthusiast."
s interred under the chapel there with an inscription over his grave. He was twice married, first to a lady of the name of Peyton, by whom he had two sons who died
In Feb. 1658 he was made chancellor of the university of Glasgow; and, in June following, concurred with Whitelocke in advising the protector to leave the persons who had been detected in a plot, to be proceeded against in the ordinary course of trials at the common law, and not by an high court of justice; it being always his opinion, that the forms and rules of the old constitution should, on every occasion, be inviolably preserved, especially in the administration of justice. Upon the death of Oliver, he was continued in the post of secretary and privy counsellor to his successor Richard; though he was very obnoxious to the principal persons of the army, to whose interests, whenever they interfered with those of the civil government, he was a declared enemy: and their resentment against him on that account was carried to so great a height, that they accused him as an evil counsellor, and one who was justly formidable by the ascendant he had gained over the new protector. For this reason, in Nov. 1658, he desired leave to retire from public business; in hopes that this might tend to quiet things, and facilitate the protector’s affairs with the army: but he was induced still to continue in his employment; and, in December, was chosen member of parliament for the university of Cambridge. He was returned likewise for the tpwn and borough of Wisbech, and for the borough of Huntingdon; but made his election for Cambridge, where he had a greater number of votes than had ever been known on a similar occasion. In April 1659, he used his utmost efforts to dissuade the protector from dissolving the parliament; a step which proved fatal to his authority, though, upon his quitting it, Thurloe still continued in his office of secretary till Jan. 14, 1660. It was then conferred on Thomas Scott, esq.; but on Feb. 27, upon a report of the council of state, the parliament resolved, that Thurloe should be again one of the secretaries of state, and John Thomson, esq. the other. In April 1660, he made an offer of his service for the restoration of Charles II. as appears from a letter of chancellor Hyde to sir John Grenville, in which his lordship observes, that Mr. Thurloe' s offers were very frank, and accompanied with many great professions of resolving to serve his majesty, not only in his own endeavours, but likewise by the services of his friends; but that these offers were mixed with somewhat of curiosity in Mr. Thurloe, who was very inquisitive to know whether his majesty had any confidence in general Monk, or had approached him in the right way: which he desired to know, only to finish what was left undone, or be able the better to advise his majesty. The king returned such answers as were proper, and desired to see some effects of his good affection; and that then he would find his services more acceptable. However, on May 15 following, he was committed by the House of Commons to the custody of their serjeant at arms, upon a charge of high treason; but was soon released, and retired to Great Milton in Oxfordshire, where he generally resided, except in term-time, when he came to his c;, bers at Lincoln’s-inn. He was of great use occasionally to the chancellor Clarendon, by the instructions he gave him with respect to the state of foreign affairs; of which there is a very remarkable instance among his state-papers, in the recapitulation he drew up of all the nei>ociations between England, France, and Spain, from the lime of Cromwell’s taking upon him the protectorship till the restoration. He was likewise often solicited by Charles II. to engage in the administration of public business, but thought proper to decline those offers. He died suddenly, at his chambers in Lincoln’s-inn, Feb. 21, 1668, aged fifty-one; and was interred under the chapel there with an inscription over his grave. He was twice married, first to a lady of the name of Peyton, by whom he had two sons who died before him; and secondly to Anne, third daughter of sir John Lytcote of East Moulsey in Surrey, by whom he had four sons and two daughters.
e laxity in which much of his time had been spent. He never was married, but left three daughters by a lady with whom he had long lived. He was, agreeably to the terms
As a scholar lord Thurlow possessed more knowledge than the world gave him credit for, and his profound acquaintance with the Greek language is testified in a dedication to him by his friend Dr. Horsley. In early life, he lived much with men of gaiety and wit, and always preserved a high respect for literary merit. In his latter years, he would not probably have defended the laxity in which much of his time had been spent. He never was married, but left three daughters by a lady with whom he had long lived. He was, agreeably to the terms of his second peerage, succeeded by his nephew Edward, eldest son of Thomas Thurlow, late bishop of Durham, who died in 179 1.
herited his good and amiable qualities; and though possessed of learning which is not often found in a lady, it was never obtruded in conversation. Friendly to her
Having before provided for his younger daughter, he left his estate at Betchworth to his eldest daughter, who was unmarried, and a more worthy successor could not have been found. With the strong understanding of her father, she inherited his good and amiable qualities; and though possessed of learning which is not often found in a lady, it was never obtruded in conversation. Friendly to her neighbours, kind to her tenants, benevolent to the poor, she died unmarried Nov. 26, 1794, respected and regretted by all who were acquainted with her, leaving sir Henry Paulet St. John Mildmay, her sister’s only son, heir to her estates, who, in 1798, sold the manor, mansion-house, &c. to Henry Peters, esq. banker in London, the present owner, who has made great improvements, and enlarged the estate by purchases.
r Richmond, Yorkshire, about 1474. He was a natural son of a gentleman named Tunstall or Tonstal, by a lady of the Conyers family. He became a student at Baliol college,
, a very learned, and in many respects a very excellent prelate of the church of Rome, was born at Hatchford, near Richmond, Yorkshire, about 1474. He was a natural son of a gentleman named Tunstall or Tonstal, by a lady of the Conyers family. He became a student at Baliol college, Oxford, about 1491, but, on the plague breaking out, went to Cambridge, where he became a fellow of King’s hall, now part of Trinity college. After having for some time prosecuted his studies there, he went to the university of Padua, which was then in high reputation, studied along with Latimer, and took the degree of doctor of laws. According to Godwin, he was by this time a man of extensive learning, a good Hebrew and Greek scholar, an able lawyer and divine, a good rhetorician, and skilled in various branches of the mathematics. These accomplishments, on his return, recommended him to the patronage of archbishop Warham, who constituted him vicar-general or chancellor, in August 1511. The archbishop also recommended him to Henry VIII. and in December of the same year, collated him to the rectory of Harrow-on-the hill, Middlesex; which he held till 1522.
reated by that monarch. He died the 2d of May, 1635, and was buried in Westminster-abbey. He married a lady who was then the widow of Mr. John Hoby: she was the youngest
Upon the accession of king Charles I. sir Horace Vere, as a reward for his services, was advanced to the peerage, by the title of lord Vere, baron of Tilbury; being the first peer created by that monarch. He died the 2d of May, 1635, and was buried in Westminster-abbey. He married a lady who was then the widow of Mr. John Hoby: she was the youngest daughter of sir John Tracy of Doddington, or Tuddington, in Gloucestershire. She died in 1671, at a great age. The parliament placed the younger children of Charles I. under the care of this lady, who was a person of great piety and worth, and in her punning epitaph, written by Dr. Simon Ford, is thus addressed,
ed. When he had lost all hopes of Sacharissa, he looked round him for an easier conquest, and gained a lady of the family of Bresse, or Breaux. The time of his marriage
From his twenty-eighth to. his thirty-fifth year, he wrote
his pieces on the reduction of Sallee on the reparation of
St. Paul’s; to the King on his navy the panegyric on the
Queen mother; the two poems to the earl of Northumberland; and perhaps others, of which the time cannot be discovered. When he had lost all hopes of Sacharissa, he
looked round him for an easier conquest, and gained a lady
of the family of Bresse, or Breaux. The time of his marriage is not exactly known. It has not been discovered
that his wife was won by his poetry; nor is any thing told
of her, but that she brought him many children, He doubtless, says Johnson, praised some whom he would have been
afraid to marry, and perhaps married one whom he would
have been ashamed to praise. Many qualities contribute
to domestic happiness, upon which poetry has no colours
to bestow; and many airs and sallies may delight imagination, “which he who flatters them never can approve. There
are charms made only for distant admiration. No spectacle
is nobler than a blaze. Of this wife, however, his biographers have recorded that she gave him five sons and eight
daughters, aud Aubrey says that she was beautiful and very
prudent.
During the long interval of parliament, he is represented
as living among those with whom it was most honourable
to converse, and enjoying an exuberant fortune with that
independence of liberty of speech and conduct which
wealth ought always to produce. Being considered as the
kinsman of Hampden, he was therefore supposed by the
courtiers not to favour them; and when the parliament was
called in 1640, it appeared that, his political character had
not been mistaken. The king’s demand of a supply produced from him a speech full
” of complaints of national
grievances, and very vehement; but while the great position, that grievances ought to be redressed before supplies
are 'granted, is agreeable enough to law and reason, Waller,
if his biographer may be credited, was not such an enemy
to the king, as not to wish his distresses lightened; for he
relates, “that the king sent particularly to Waller, to second his demand of some subsidies to pay off the army;
and sirHenry Vane objecting against first voting a supply,
because the king would not accept unless it came up to
his proportion, Mr. Waller spoke earnestly to sir Thomas
Jermyn, comptroller of the household, to save his master
from the effects of so bold a falsity: c for,‘ he said, ’ I am
but a country gentleman, and cannot pretend to know the
king’s mind:' but sir Thomas durst not contradict the secretary; and his son, the earl of St. Alban’s r afterwards
told Mr. Waller, that his father’s cowardice ruined the
king.
”
of duty so proper, that he passed through life without a murmur at his lot. Early in life he married a lady near Portsmouth, where he at that time resided on a curacy.
, a worthy English divine, and botanical writer, was born in 1714, in or near the parish of Ireby,
in Cumberland. He was of Queen’s college, Oxford,
where he took his degree of M. A. in 1740, and acquired
some reputation as a sound scholar. Though possessed of
good natural abilities, and no small share of acquired
knowledge, he lived and died in an humble station. His
disposition was so mild, and his sense of duty so proper,
that he passed through life without a murmur at his lot.
Early in life he married a lady near Portsmouth, where he
at that time resided on a curacy. For fifty-six years they
enjoyed the happiness of their'matrimonial connexion an
happiness that became almost proverbial in their neighbourhood. After spending a few years in the south of England, he became curate of Simonburn, in Northumberland; and while here, indulged his taste for the study of
botany, and filled his little garden with curious plants.
This amusement led him gradually into deeper researches
into natural history; and, in 1769, he published a “History of Northumberland,
” 2 vols. 4to, the first of which,
containing an account of minerals, fossils, &c. found in that
country, is reckoned the most valuable. In other respects,
as to antiquities, &c. it is rather imperfect, and unconnected. His fortune, however, did not improve with the
reputation which this work brought him, and a dispute with
his rector occasioned him to leave his situation, when he
and his wife were received into the family of a clergyman
who had formerly been his friend at college. He was curate for a short time at Haughton, near Darlington, in
1775, and soon afterwards removed to Billingham, near
Stockton, where he continued until increasing infirmities
obliged him to resign. He then removed to the village of
Norton, where he died July 23, 1793, in the seventyninth year of his age. About two years before his death a
small estate fell to him by the death of a brother; and to
the honour of the present bishop of Durham (but certainly not to the surprize of any one that knows that munificent prelate), when the circumstances and situation of Mr. Wallis were represented to him, he allowed him an annual pension from the time of his resigning his curacy. From a
sense of gratitude, Mr. Wallis, just at the close of life, was
employed in packing up an ancient statue of Apollo, found
at Carvoran, a Roman station on the wall, on the confines
of Northumberland, as a present to the learned Daines
Barrington, brother to the bishop. In the earlier part of
his life Mr. Wallis published a volume of letters to a pupil,
on entering into holy orders.
nd a lasting concern to the survivor. A reconciliation is said to have been effected between them by a lady who wished well to both parties; but the cordiality which
Finding himself disinclined to enter so early into the
business of parliament, he prevailed on his father to permit him to go abroad, and Mr. Gray consented to accompany him in his travels. They left England on the 29th
of March, 1739, and took their route by the way of France
to Italy, viewing whatever was remarkable in the several
places they visited, and at some of them, particularly Florence, residing several months. About July 1741 the two
friends came to a rupture, and parted at Reggio, each pursuing his journey homewards separately. Of this quarrel,
the circumstances, as we have remarked in Mr. Gray’s article, are not clearly known; but Mr. Walpole enjoined
Mr. Mason to charge him with the chief blarre, confessing,
that more attention, complaisance, and deference, to a
warm friendship, and superior judgment and prudence,
might have prevented a rupture which gave much uneasiness to them both, and a lasting concern to the survivor.
A reconciliation is said to have been effected between them
by a lady who wished well to both parties; but the cordiality which had subsisted between them never wholly returned, as Mr. Walpole was entirely unnoticed by Mr.
Gray in his last will. Mr. Walpole, however, was the
first person to whom, in 1750, Mr. Gray communicated
his celebrated “Elegy in a Country Church-yard,
” and by
him it was communicated to several persons of distinction.
In 1758, also, Walpole employed Mr. Bentley to ornament an edition of his friend’s poems with beautiful designs and engravings, and printed it at his own press at
Strawberry-hill.
an ancient practice in the Common- room of Trinity-college. The duty of this office was to celebrate a lady chosen by the same authority, as the lady-patroness; and
In 1750, our author contributed a few small pieces to
the “Student, or Oxford and Cambridge Miscellany,
”
then published by Newbery. Among these was the “Progress of Discontent,
” which had been written in
Dr. Water land married, about 1719, a lady of good family and fortune, who survived him; but he left
Dr. Water land married, about 1719, a lady of good family and fortune, who survived him; but he left no child. He was a man free from ambition; all his preferments were bestowed without any application on his part direct or indirect, and he might have reached to higher, had he desired them, by the recommendation of archbishop Potter. The bishopric of Llandaff was once offered to him, but he declined it.
ersation, asked him what people in general said of her. He replied, that they justly esteemed her as a lady of great abilities, a patron of learned men, and a kind
“He was much esteemed by the-late queen Caroline, who
generously made him a present of 50l. every year from the
time she became queen, which pension his late majesty
continued to him so long as he lived. The queen usually
sent for him once in the summer, whilst she was out of
town, to spend a day or two with her. At Richmond it
happened she who loved his free conversation, asked him
what people in general said of her. He replied, that they
justly esteemed her as a lady of great abilities, a patron of
learned men, and a kind friend to the poor. * But,‘ says
she, < no one is without faults, pray what are mine’
Mr. W. begged to be excused speaking on that subject;
but she insisting, he said, her majesty did not behave with
proper reverence at church. She replied, the king would
talk with her. He said a Greater than kings was there
only to be regarded. She acknowledged it, and confessed
her fault. < Pray,‘ says she, * tell me what is my next?’
He replied, < When I hear your majesty has amended of
that fault, I will tell you of your next;' and so it ended.
”
This last anecdote Whiston often repeated.
About this time his mother was induced, by the advice of several friends, to open a lady’s boarding and day-school at Nottingham, her eldest daughter
About this time his mother was induced, by the advice of several friends, to open a lady’s boarding and day-school at Nottingham, her eldest daughter having previously been a teacher in one for some time. In this she succeeded beyond her most sanguine expectations, and Henry’s home comforts were thus materially increased, though his family being still unable to give him an education suited to his talents, it was determined to breed him up to the hosiery trade. He was accordingly placed, at the age of fourteen, in a stocking-loom; but to this he had the greatest aversion, and his repeated remonstrances at length convinced his mother that he had a mind destined for nobler pursuits than the shining and folding up of stockings. He was consequently fixed in the office of Messrs. Coldham and Enfield, attornies and town-clerks of Nottingham. As no premium could be given with him he was engaged to serve two years before he was articled, so that though he entered this office when he was fifteen, he was not articled till the commencement of 1802. He now, at the suggestion of his employers, acquired at his leisure hours some kuowledge of Latin and. of Greek. He also made himself a. tolerable Italian scholar, and gained some acquaintance with both the Spanish and Portuguese. Among his occasional pursuits also were chemistry, astronomy, electricity, and music; but the law was his first object, to which his papers shew he had applied himself with such industry, as to make it wonderful that he could have found time, busied as his days were, for any thing else.
urst into a flood of tears Then, recovering himself, he said, “She has left a sister to succeed her, a lady of great worth also, whom we are now bound to obey, for
On the accession of queen Elizabeth, bishop W T hite was
deprived of his dignity, generally because he retained his
attachment to the popish religion, but more particularly for
his open contempt of the queen and the queen’s authority,
on two remarkable occasions. The first was, when appointed to preach queen Mary’s funeral sermon, or oration.
His text was, “Wherefore I praised the dead, which are
already dead, more than the living which are yet alive,
”
Eccles. iv. 2. In this sermon, after exhausting his powers
of oratory in celebrating his saint of a mistress, whose knees
he affirmed were hard with kneeling, he burst into a flood
of tears Then, recovering himself, he said, “She has left
a sister to succeed her, a lady of great worth also, whom
we are now bound to obey, for melior est canis vivus leone
mortuo (better is a live dog than a dead lion), and I hope
so shall reign well and prosperously over us, but I must
still say with my text, laudavi mortuos magis quam viventes
(I praised the dead more than the living), for certain it is
Maria optimam partem elegit (Mary hath chosen tfce better part).
” It is easy to suppose that queen Elizabeth would
not be much pleased with these complimentary innuendos.
The other offence was of a more serious nature, for at the
public disputation in Westminster Abbey, with some of the
reformers in 1558, he even threatened the queen with excommunication. He was therefore committed to the tower
in 1559, after he had appeared in public, though deprived,
in his pontifical vestments. His health afterwards declining, he was released, and permitted to retire to his sister’s
house at South Warnborough, where he died Jan. 11, 1560,
and was interred, agreeably to his will, in Winchester cathedral.
He was twice married; first to a lady whose name was Avisia or Avis, but whose family is unknown.
He was twice married; first to a lady whose name was Avisia or Avis, but whose family is unknown. She died in 1557 without issue, and was buried, with great pomp and ceremony, in the parish church of St. Mary Aldermanbury. His second wife was Joan, one of the daughters and coheiresses of John Lake of London, gent, the widow of sir Ralph Warren, knight, twice lord mayor of London, by whom she had children. She survived sir Thomas, and died in 1573, and was buried by her first husband in the church of St. Bennet Sherehog, London. There is a portrait of him in the town-hall of Leicester, habited as lord mayor of London, with a gold chain, and collar of S S. a black cap, pointed beard, his gloves in his right hand, and on the little finger of his left, a ring. There are similar portraits in the town-hall at Salisbury, at Reading, Merchant Taylors’, and St. John’s college.
ke, who gave him a pension; and counsellor of government to the elector of Mentz. In 1765 he married a lady at Augsburgh, of whom he speaks so highly that we may conclude
, a voluminous German writer who has been complimented with the title of
the Voltaire of Germany, was born in 1733, at Biberach.
Of his life no authentic account has, as far as we know,
reached this country, but the following few particulars,
gleaned from various sources, may perhaps be genuine,
His father was a clergyman, who gave him a good education, and his attachment to the Muses discovered itself very
early. At the age of fourteen, he wrote a poem on the destruction of Jerusalem, Two years after he was sent to
Erfurt to study the sciences, where he became enamoured
of Sophia de Gusterman, afterwards known by the name of
Madame de la Roche. The youthful lovers swore eternal
fidelity to each other, but Wieland’s father thought proper
to interrupt the connection, and sent his son to Tubingen
to study law. For this he probably had little inclination,
and employed most of his thoughts and time on poetry,
producing at the age of eighteen an “Art of Love
” in the
manner of Ovid, and a poem “On the nature of things,
”
in which we are told he combined the philosophy of Plato
and Leibnitz. After this he appears to have devoted himself entirely to study and writing, and acquired considerable
reputation as a poet of taste and fancy. For some time he
appears to have resided in Swisserland, and in 1760 he returned to his native place, where he was appointed to the
office of director of the chancery, and during his leisure
hours wrote some of those works which completely established him in the opinion of his countrymen, as one or the
greatest geniuses of the age, and honours were liberally
bestowed upon him. The elector of Mentz made him professor of philosophy and polite literature at Erfurt, and he
was soon after appointed tutor to the two young princes of
Saxe Weimar; he was also aulic counsellor to the duke,
who gave him a pension; and counsellor of government to
the elector of Mentz. In 1765 he married a lady at
Augsburgh, of whom he speaks so highly that we may conclude
ke had overcome or moderated his attachment to the object
of his first love. In 1808 Bonaparte sent him the cross of
the legion of honour, and after the battle of Jena, partook
of a repast with Wieland, and, we are gravely told, “conversed with him at great length on the folly and horrors of
war and on various projects for the establishment of a perpetual peace!
” Wieland’s latter days were employed in
translating Cicero’s Letters. A paralysis of the abdominal
viscera was the prelude to his death, which took place at
Weimar, in January 1813, in the eighty-first year of his
age.
time undertaken it as a justice, in the county of Berks. Having in early life paid his addresses to a lady whom his father deemed it imprudent for him to marry in
Mr. Joseph Wilcocks was born in Dean’s-yard, Westminster, Jan. 4, 1723, during the time his father was bishop of Gloucester, and a prebendary of Westminster. Jn 1736 he was admitted upon the foundation at Westminsterschool, whence he was elected to Christ-church, Oxford in 1740, and proceeded regularly to the degree of M. A. in 1747. He very early distinguished himself at college, and obtained the second of three prizes before the end of the year he entered, the first of them being gained by his friend and contemporary, Mr. Markham, afterwards archbishop of York.As his estate was considerable he chose no particular profession, but devoted his property to various acts of beneficence, and his time to study. He was particularly attentive to biblical learning, and to every thing that could promote the cause of piety. His humility and diffidence were carried rather to an extreme; and from the same excess in the sensibility of his conscientious feelings, he forebore to act as a magistrate, having for a short time undertaken it as a justice, in the county of Berks. Having in early life paid his addresses to a lady whom his father deemed it imprudent for him to marry in point of circumstances, he submitted to parental authority, but continued unmarried ever after.
year of his age. He married, Nov. 27, 1725, the eldest daughter of Thomas lard Fairfax of Scotland, a lady who survived him, and erected a monument to his memory
, a learned divine and editor, was born in 1685, but when, or where educated we are not told. His name does not appear among the graduates of either university, except that among those of Cambridge, we find he was honoured with the degree of D.D. in 1717. Two years before this, he was appointed by archbishop Wake te succeed Dr. Benjamin Abbot, as keeper of the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth and in three years drew up a very curious catalogue of all the Mss. and printed books in that valuable collection. As a reward for his industry and learning, archbishop Wake collated him to the rectory of Mongham-Parva, in Kent, in April 1716, to that of Great Chart in 1719, and to the rectory of Hadleigh in the same year. He was also constituted chaplain to the archbishop and collated to the rectories of Monks-Ely and Bocking; appointed commissary of the deanery of Bocking, jointly and severally with W. Beauvoir; collated to a prebend of Canterbury in 1720, and collated to his grace’s option of the archdeaconry of Suffolk in May 1724. In consequence of these last preferments, he resigned the former, and was only archdeacon of Suffolk and rector of Hadleigh and Monks-Ely at his death, which happened 8ept. 6, 1745, in the sixtieth year of his age. He married, Nov. 27, 1725, the eldest daughter of Thomas lard Fairfax of Scotland, a lady who survived him, and erected a monument to his memory at Hadleigh.
ntinued for nearly twenty years, and was highly approved and useful. Here he married Ins first wife, a lady of family and fortune, which last, while it gave him a
, an eminent divine among the
dissenters, aud a munificent benefactor to their and other
societies, both of the learned and charitable kind, was born
about 1644, at Wrexham, in the county of Denbigh, in
North Wales. No particulars are known of his parents,
or of his early years, but it appears that he laboured under
some disadvantages as to education, which, however, he
surmounted by spirit and perseverance. He says of himself, that “from five years old, he had no employment, but
his studies, and that by nineteen he was regularly admitted
a preacher.
” As this was among the nonconformists, it is
probable that his parents or early connections lay among
that society. As he entered on his ministry about 1663,
when the exercise of it was in clanger of incurring the penalties of the law, he was induced to go to Ireland, and was
there invited to be chaplain to the countess of Meath.
Some time after he was called to be pastor to a congregation f dissenters assembling in Wood-street, Dublin,
in which situation he continued for nearly twenty years,
and was highly approved and useful. Here he married
Ins first wife, a lady of family and fortune, which last,
while it gave him a superior rank and consequence to
many of his brethren, he contemplated only as the means
of doing good.
use that he made was to build a handsome mansion on his patrimonial inheritance. In 1761 he married a lady of great personal accomplishments, and universally loved
From Twyford he was removed to Winchester school, and afterwards to Brasennose college, Oxford. He inherited from his father, who died while he was at school, a large fortune, of which the first use that he made was to build a handsome mansion on his patrimonial inheritance. In 1761 he married a lady of great personal accomplishments, and universally loved and respected, Miss Catherine Milcah Ingram, of an ancient family situated at WoK ford, in Warwickshire, who left him a widower without family in 1808. In 1803 he took advantage of the short peace to gratify his curiosity in the libraries of Paris, and was one of the English detained by Bonaparte, but was afterward released on account of his age. He returned home an invalid and alone, and it was a source of great distress to him to be compelled to leave behind him in France his faithful servant. From that period his bodily infirmities gradually increased, his sight at length failed, and his voice became scarcely audible, but his senses and his memory, which was most singularly retentive, continued unimpaired to the last. He died without a struggle or groan, Nov. 10, 1816, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
morality, having regulated his conduct from the beginning to the end of his days. He was married to a lady of merit equal to his own, the daughter of Barrel, esq.
, a man of taste and learning, was born
Nov. 28, 1701, in the parish of St. Botolph, Aldersgate.
His father, sir Daniei Wray, was a London citizen, who
resided in Little Britain, made a considerable fortune in
trade (as a soap-boiler), and purchased an estate in Essex,
near Ingatestone, which his son possessed aftr r him. Sir
Daniel served the office of sheriff for that county, and was
knighted in 1708 on presenting a loyal address to queen
Anne. His son was educated at the Charter-house, and
was supposed in 1783 to have been the oldest survivor of
any person educated there. In 1718 he went to Queen’s
college, Cambridge, as a fellow commoner. He took his
degree of B. A. in 1722, after which he made the tour of
Italy, accompanied by John, earl of Morton, and Mr. King,
the son of lord chancellor King, who inherited his title.
How long he remained abroad between 1722 and 1728 is
not precisely ascertained, except by the fact that a cast in
bronze, by Pozzo, was taken of his profile, in 1726, at
Home. It had this inscription upon the reverse, “Nil actum reputans, si quid superesset agendum,
” which line is
said to have been a portrait of his character, as he was in
all his pursuits a man of uncommon diligence and perseverance. After his return from his travels, he became
M.A.-in 1728, and was already so distinguished in philosophical attainments, that he was chosen a fellow of the
Royal Society in March 1728-9. He resided however generally at Cambridge, though emigrating occasionally^ to
London, till 1739, or 1740, in which latter year, January
1740-41, he was elected F. S. A. and was more habitually a
resident in town. In 1737 commenced his acquaintance
and friendship with the noble family of Yorke; and in 1745,
Mr. Yorke, afterwards earl of Hardwicke, as teller of the
exchequer, appointed Mr.Wray his deputy teller, in which
office he continued until 1782, when his great punctuality
and exactness in any business he undertook made the constant attendance of the office troublesome to him. He was
an excellent critic in the English language; an accomplished judge of polite literature, of virtft, and the fine
arts; and deservedly a member of most of our learned societies; he was also an elected trustee of the British Museum. He was one of the writers of the “Athenian Letters
” published by the earl of Hardwicke; and in the first
volume of the Archaeologia, p. 128, are printed “Notes on
the walls of antient Rome,
” communicated by him in Extracts from different Letters from Rome, giving an
Account of the Discovery of a most beautiful Statue of Venus, dug up there 1761.
” He died Dec. 29, 1783, in his
eighty. second year, much regretted by his surviving friends,
to whose esteem he was entitled by the many worthy and
ingenious qualities. which he possessed. Those of his heart
were as distinguished as those of his mind; the rules of religion, of virtue, and morality, having regulated his conduct from the beginning to the end of his days. He was
married to a lady of merit equal to his own, the daughter
of Barrel, esq. of Richmond. This lady died at Richmond, where Mr.Wray had a house, in May 1803. Mr.
Wray left his library at her disposal and she, knowing his
attachment to the Charter-house, made the governors an
offer of it, which was thankfully accepted and a room was
fitted up for its reception, and it is placed under the care
of the master, preacher, head schoolmaster, and a librarian.
The public at large, and particularly the friends of Mr.
Wray, will soon be gratified by a memoir of him written by
the lare George Hardinge, esq. intended for insertion in
Mr. Nichols’s “Illustrations of Literature.
” This memoir,
of which fifty copies have already been printed for private
distribution, abounds with interesting anecdotes and traits
of character, and copious extracts from Mr. Wray’s correspondence, and two portraits, besides an engraving of the
cameo.