ave exerted his talents in favour of lord Bute, by whose recommendation the pension was grained, and who at this time wanted much abler support than the hired writers
But an end was now approaching to his pecuniary embarrassments. In 1762. while he was proceeding with his edition of Shakspeare, he was surprised by the information, that his present majesty had been pleased to grant him a pension of three hundred pounds a year, not, as has been invidiously asserted, in order to induce him to write for administration, but as the reward of his literary merit. Had it been otherwise, he had surely the strongest inducement to have exerted his talents in favour of lord Bute, by whose recommendation the pension was grained, and who at this time wanted much abler support than the hired writers of government could supply. But it is well known that he wrote no political tract for nearly eight years afterwards. He now took a house in Johnson’s court, Fleet-street, and allotted an apartment for Mrs. Williams. In 1765 he was introduced to the late Mr. Thrale and family, a circumstance which contributed much to alleviate the solicitudes of life, and furnished him with the enjoyment of an elegant table and elegant society. ' Here an apartment was fitted up for him, which he occupied when he pleased, and he accompanied the family in their various summer excursions, which tended to exhilarate his mind and render the return of his constitutional melancholy less frequent.
could induce him to relieve himself at their expence. His noble expression was, “If 1 dismiss them, who will receive them r” Abroad, his society was now very extensive,
In the same year he received a diploma from Trinity
college, Dublin, complimenting him with the title of doctor of laws; and after many delays, his edition of Shakspeare was published in eight volumes octavo. The preface is universally acknowledged to be one of the most
elegant and acute of all his compositions. But as an illustrator of the obscurities of Shakspeare, it must be allowed
he has not done much, nor was this a study for which he
was eminently qualified. He was never happy when obliged
to borrow from others, and he had none of that useful industry which indulges in research. Yet his criticisms have
rarely been surpassed, and it is no small praise that he was
the precursor of Steevens and Malone. The success of the
Shakspeare was not great, although upon the whole it increased the respect with which the literary world viewed
his talents. Kenrick made the principal attack on this
work, which was answered by an Oxford student named
Barclay. But neither the attack nor the answer attracted
much notice.
In 1766 he furnished the preface, and some of the pieces
which compose a volume of poetical “Miscellanies
” by
Mrs. Anna Williams. This lady was still an inmate in his
house, and was indeed absolute mistress. Although her
temper was far from pleasant, and she had now gained an
ascendancy over him which she often maintained in a fretful and peevish manner, he forgot every thing in her distresses, and was indeed in all his charities, which were
numerous, the most remote that can be conceived from the
hope of gratitude or reward. His house was filled by dependants whose perverse tempers frequently drove him out
of it, yet nothing of this kind could induce him to relieve
himself at their expence. His noble expression was, “If
1 dismiss them, who will receive them r
” Abroad, his
society was now very extensive, and included almost every
man of the age distinguished for learning, and many persons of considerable rank, who delighted in his company
and conversation.
Journals of the House of Commons; and what seemed yet more improbable, to be reconciled to Johnson, who, with unabated dislike of his moral character, could not help
In 1770, his first political pamphlet made its appearance, in order to justify the conduct of the ministry and
the House of Commons in expelling Mr. Wilkes, and afterwards declaring col. Luttrell to be duly elected representative for the county of Middlesex, notwithstanding
Mr. Wilkes had the majority of votes. The vivacity and
pointed sarcasm of this pamphlet formed its chief recommendation, and it continues to be read as an elegant political declamation; but it failed in its main object. It
made no converts to the right of incapacitating Mr. Wilkes
by the act of expulsion, and the ministry had not the courage to try the question of absolute incapacitation. Wilkes
Jived to see the offensive resolutions expunged from the
Journals of the House of Commons; and what seemed yet
more improbable, to be reconciled to Johnson, who, with
unabated dislike of his moral character, could not help admiring his classical learning and social talents* His pamphlet, which was entitled the “False Alarm,
” was answered
by two or three anonymous writers of no great note.
h he thought himself master, he by no means approved of many parts of the conduct of those ministers who carried on the American war; and he was ever decidedly against
About this time, an ineffectual attempt was made by his
steady friend Mr. Strahan, his majesty’s printer, to procure him a seat in parliament. His biographers have
amused their readers by conjectures on the probable figure
he would make in that assembly, and he owned frequently
that he should not have been sorry to try. Why the interference of his friends were ineffectual, the minister only
could tell, but he was probably not ill advised. It is not
improbable that Johnson would have proved an able assistant on some occasions, where a nervous and manly speech
was wanted to silence the inferiors in opposition, but it
may be doubted whether he would have given that uniform
and open consent which is expected from a party man.
Whatever aid he might be induced to give by his pen on
certain subjects, which accorded with his own sentiments,
and of which he thought himself master, he by no means
approved of many parts of the conduct of those ministers
who carried on the American war; and he was ever decidedly against the principle (if it may be so called), that
a man should go along with his party right or wrong,
“This,
” he once said, “is so remote from native virtue,
from scholastic virtue, that a good man must have undergone a great change before he can reconcile himself tosuch a doctrine. It is maintaining that you may lie to the
public, for you do lie when you call that right which you
think wrong, or the reverse.
”
s “Tour” continues to be read without any of the unpleasant emotions which it first excited in those who contended that he had not stated the truth, or were unwilling
In 1773, he carried into execution a design which he
had long meditated, of visiting the western isles of Scotland.
He arrived at Edinburgh on the 18th of August, and
finished his journey on the 22jd of November. During this
time be passed some days at Edinburgh, and then went by
St. Andrew’s, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort Augustus,
to the Hebrides, visiting the isles of Sky, Rasay, Col, Mull,
Inchkenneth, and Icolmkill. He then travelled through
Argyleshire by Inverary, and thence by Lochlomond and
Dumbarton to Glasgow and Edinburgh. The popularity
of his own account, which has perhaps been more generally read than any book of travels in modern times, and
the “Journal
” of his pleasant companion Mr. Boswell, render any farther notice of this journey unnecessary. The
censure he met with is now remembered with indifference,
and his “Tour
” continues to be read without any of the
unpleasant emotions which it first excited in those who
contended that he had not stated the truth, or were unwilling that the truth should be stated.
esentment of Macpherson, the editor, to such a degree that he wrote a threatening letter to Johnson, who answered it in a composition, which in the expression of firm
During his absence, his humble friend and admirer,
Thomas Davies, bookseller, ventured to publish two volumes, entitled “Miscellaneous and Fugitive Pieces,
”
which he advertised in the newspapers, as the productions
of the “Author of the Rambler.
” Johnson was inclined
to resent this liberty, until he recollected Davies’s narrow
circumstances, when he cordially forgave him, and continued his kindness to him as usual. A third volume appeared soon after, but all its contents are not from Dr. Johnson’s pen. On the dissolution of parliament in 1774, he
published a short political pamphlet entitled “The Patriot,
” the principal object of which appears to have been
to repress the spirit of faction which at that time was too
prevalent, especially in the metropolis. It was a hasty
composition, called for, as he informed Mr. Boswell, on
one day, and written the next. The success, since his
days, of those mock-patriots whom he has so ably delineated, is too decisive a proof that the reign of politic
delusion is not to be shortened by eloquence or argument.
During his tour in Scotland, he made frequent inquiries
respecting the authenticity of “Ossian’s Poems,
” and received answers so unsatisfactory that both in his book of
travels and in conversation, he did not hesitate to treat the
whole as an imposture. This excited the resentment of
Macpherson, the editor, to such a degree that he wrote a
threatening letter to Johnson, who answered it in a composition, which in the expression of firm and unalterable
contempt, is perhaps superior to that he wrote to lord
Chesterfield. In it he mixed somewhat of courtesy; but
Macpherson he despised both as a man and a writer, and
treated him as a ruffian.
rs, he recommended Blackmore, Watts, Pomfret, and Yalden. The selection was made by the booksellers, who appear to have been guided partly by the acknowledged merit
Of this edition it is yet necessary to say, that Dr. Johnson was not in all respects to be considered as the editor. He had not the choice of the poets to be admitted, although in addition to the list prepared by his employers, he recommended Blackmore, Watts, Pomfret, and Yalden. The selection was made by the booksellers, who appear to have been guided partly by the acknowledged merit of the poet, and partly by his popularity, a quality which, is sometimes independent of the former. Our author, however, felt himself under no restraint in accepting the list offered, nor did he in any instance consider himself bound to lean with partiality to any author merely that the admission of his works might be justified. This absurd species of prejudice which lias contaminated so many single lives and critical prefaces, was repugnant to his, as it must ever be to the opinion of every man who considers truth as essential to biography, and that the possession of talents, however brilliant, ought to be no excuse for the abuse of them. Every preliminary having been settled in the month of April, 1777, the new edition of the Poets was sent to press, and Johnson was informed that his lives might be written in the mean time, so as to be ready to accompany the publication.
contribute the aid of his aloquent pen in saving the forfeited life of Dr. William Dodd, a clergyman who was convicted of forgery. This unhappy man had long been a popular
Not long after he undertook this work, he was invited
to contribute the aid of his aloquent pen in saving the forfeited life of Dr. William Dodd, a clergyman who was convicted of forgery. This unhappy man had long been a
popular preacher in the metropolis; and the public sentiment was almost universal in deprecating so shameful a
sight as that of a clergyman of the church of England suffering by a public, execution. Whether there was much
in Dodd’s character to justify this sentiment, or to demand
the interference of the corporation of London, backed by
the petitions of thousands of the most distinguished and
wealthy citizens, may perhaps be doubted. Johnson,
however, could not resist what put every other consideration out of the question, “a call for mercy,
” and accordingly contributed every thing that the friends of Dodd
could suggest in his favour. He wrote his “Speech to
the Recorder of London,
” delivered at the Old Bailey
when sentence of death was about to be passed on him
“The Convict’s Address to his unhappy brethren,
” a sermon delivered by Dodd in the chapel of Newgate Two
Letters, one to the Lord Chancellor Bathurst, and one to
Lord Chief Justice Mansfield A petition from Dr. Dodd
to the King another from Mrs. Dodd to the Queen Observations inserted in the newspapers, on occasion of Earl
Percy’s having presented to his Majesty a petition for
mercy to Dodd, signed by twenty thousand persons; a petition from the city of London; and Dr. Dodd’s last solemn
declaration, which he left with the sheriff at the place of
execution. All these have been printed in Dr. Johnson’s
VVorks, with some additional correspondence which Mr.
Boswell inserted in his Life. Every thing is written in a
style of pathetic eloquence; but, as the author could not
be concealed, it was impossible to impress a stronger sense
of the value of Dodd’s talents than had already been entertained. The papers, however, contributed to heighten
the clamour, which was at that time raised against the execution of the sentence, and which was confounded with
what was then thought more censurable, the conduct of
those by whom the unhappy man might have been saved
before the process of law had been begun.
the name which public opinion had consecrated, was now reviled with the utmost malignity. Even some who during his life were glad to conceal their hostility, now took
Jn 1779 the first four volumes of his Lives of the Poets
were published, and the remainder in 1781, which he wrote
by uis own confession, “dilatorily and hastily, unwilling
to work, and working with vigour and haste.
” He had,
however, performed so much more than was expected,
that his employers presented him with an hundred pounds
in addition to the stipulated sum. As he never was insensible to the pleasure or value of fame, it is not improbable that he was yet more substantially gratified by the
eagerness with which his Lives of the Poets were read and
praised. He enjoyed likewise another satisfaction, which
it appears he thought not unnecessary to the reputation of
a great writer. He was attacked on all sides for his
contempt for Milton’s politics, and the sparing praise or direct censure he had bestowed on the poetry of Prior, Hammond, Collins, Gray, and a few others. The errors, indeed, which on any other subject might have passed for
errors of judgment, were by the irascible tempers of his
adversaries, magnified into high treason against the majesty of poetic genius. During his life, these attacks were
not few, nor very respectful, to a veteran whom common
consent had placed at the head of the literature of his
country; but the courage of his adversaries was observed
to rise very considerably after his death, and the name
which public opinion had consecrated, was now reviled
with the utmost malignity. Even some who during his life
were glad to conceal their hostility, now took an opportunity to retract the admiration in which they had joined
with apparent cordiality; and to discover faults in a body
of criticism which, after all reasonable exceptions are admitted, was never equalled, and perhaps never will be
equalled for justice, acuteness, and elegance. Where can
we hope to find discussions that can be compared with
those introduced in the lives of Cowley, Milton, Dryden,
and Pope? His abhorrence, indeed, of Milton’s political
conduct, Jed him to details and observations which can,
never be acceptable to a certain class of politicians; but
when he comes to analyze his poetry, and to fix his reputation on its proper basis, it must surely be confessed that
no man, since the first appearance of Paradise Lost, has
ever bestowed praise with a more munificent hand. He
appears to have collected his whole energy to immortalize
the genius of Milton; nor has any advocate for Milton’s
democracy appeared, who has not been glad to surrender
the guardianship of his poetical fame to Johnson.
quired sufficient strength to go for the last time into Derbyshire. During his absence, his friends, who were anxious for the preservation of so valuable a life, endeavoured
In Midsummer 1784, he acquired sufficient strength to go for the last time into Derbyshire. During his absence, his friends, who were anxious for the preservation of so valuable a life, endeavoured to procure some addition to his pension, that he might be enabled to try the efficacy of a tour to the southern part of the continent. Application was accordingly made to the lord chancellor, who seconded it in the proper quarter, but without success. He evinced, however, his high respect for Johnson, by offering to advance the sum of five hundred pounds; and Johnson, when the circumstance was communicated, thanked his lordship in a letter elevated beyond the common expressions of gratitude, by a dignity of sentiment congenial to the feelings of his noble and liberal correspondent. Dr. Brocklesby also made a similar offer, although of a lesser sum; and such indeed was the estimation in which Johnson was held, that nothing would have been wanting which money or affection could procure, either to protract his days, or to make them comfortable.
of life occasionally recurred, he adjusted his worldly concerns with composure and exactness, as one who was conscious that he was soon to give an account. On Monday
But these offers were not accepted. The scheme of a continental tour, which he once thought necessary, was never much encouraged by his physicians, and had it promised greater effects, was now beyond his strength. The dropsy and asthma were making hasty approaches, and although he longed for life, and was anxiously desirous that every means might be used to gain another day, he soon became convinced that no hopes were left. During this period, he was alternately resigned to die, and tenacious of life, tranquil in the views of eternity, and disturbed by gloomy apprehensions; but at last his mind was soothed with the consolatory hopes of religion, and although the love of life occasionally recurred, he adjusted his worldly concerns with composure and exactness, as one who was conscious that he was soon to give an account. On Monday the 13th of December, he tried to obtain a temporary relief by puncturing his legs, as had been before performed by the surgeon, but no discharge followed the operation, and about seven o'clock in the evening, he breathed his last, so gently that some time elapsed before his death was perceived.
ly received opinions as to the rank Johnson holds among men of genius and virtue, a rank which those who yet capriciously dwell on his tailings, will find it difficult
* His monument was reserved for sculpture was designed and finely exeSt. Paul’s church; and the expences cuted by Bacon. The epitaph is the having bee defrayed by a liberal and composition of Dr. Parr, and is coovoluntary contribution, it stands with cise, but strongly appropriated. The that of Howard, one of the first tributes monument was completed early in of national admiration and gratitude 1796, admitted into that cathedral. The from the generally received opinions as to the rank Johnson holds among men of genius and virtue, a rank which those who yet capriciously dwell on his tailings, will find it difficult to disturb. His errors have been brought forward with no sparing hand both by his friends and his enemies, yet when every fair deduction is made from the reputed excellence of his character as a man and a writer, enough in our opinion will remain to gratify the partiality of his admirers, and to perpetuate the public esteem.
n combined in one man. And it is not too much to say that whatever opinion was entertained by tftose who knew him only in his writings, it never could have risen to
It is unpleasant, however, to quit a subject, which, the more it is revolved, serves to gladden the mind with pleasing recollections. There are surely circumstances in the history of Johnson which compel admiration in defiance of prejudice or envy. That a man of obscure birth, of manners by no means prepossessing, whose person was forbidding, whose voice was rough, inharmonious, and terrifying, whose temper was frequently harsh and overbearing; that such a man should have forced his way into the.society of a greater number of eminent characters than perhaps ever gathered round an individual; that he should not only have gained but increased their respect to a degree of enthusiasm, and preserved it unabated for so long a series of years; that men of all ranks in life, and of the highest degrees of mental excellence, should have thought it a duty, and found it a pleasure, not only to tolerate his occasional roughness, but to study his humour, and submit to his controul, to listen to him with the submission of a scholar, and consult him with the hopes of a client All this surely affords the strongest presumption that such a man was remarkable beyond the usual standard of human excellence. Nor is this inference inconsistent with the truth, for it appears that whatever merit may be attributed to his works, he was perhaps yet more to be envied in conversation, where he exhibited an inexhaustible fertility of imagination, an elegance and acuteness of argument, and a ready wit, such as never appear to have been combined in one man. And it is not too much to say that whatever opinion was entertained by tftose who knew him only in his writings, it never could have risen to that pitch of admiration which has been excited by the labours of his industrious biographer.
be long considered as a standard book in every library. Less fortunately, however, sir John Hawkins, who was one of Johnson’s executors, and professed to be in possession
His death formed a very remarkable aera in the literary
world. For a considerable time the periodical journals, as
well as general conversation, were eagerly occupied on an
event which was the subject of universal regret; and every
man hastened with such contributions as memory supplied,
to illustrate a character in which all took a lively interest.
Numerous anecdotes were published, some authentic and
some imaginary, and the general wish to knew more of
Johnson was for some years insatiable. At length the proprietors of his printed works met to consider of a complete
and uniform edition, but as it was feared that the curiosity
which follows departed genius might soon abate, some
doubt was entertained of the policy of a collection of pieces,
the best of which were already in the hands of the public
in various forms; but this was fortunately overruled, and
these collected Works have very recently been printed for
the fifth time, and will probably be long considered as a
standard book in every library. Less fortunately, however,
sir John Hawkins, who was one of Johnson’s executors,
and professed to be in possession of materials for his Life,
was engaged to write that Life, as well as to collect his
Works. They accordingly appeared in 1787, in 11 vols.
8vo. Of the Life it is unnecessary to add any thing to
the censure so generally passed. Sir John spoke his
mind, perhaps honestly but his judgment must have
been as defective as his memory,when he decided with
so much prejudice and so little taste or candour, on
the merits of his author, and of other eminent persons,
whom, as a critic humorously said, “he brought to be
tried at the Middlesex quarter sessions.
” In collecting
the Works, he inserted some which no man could suspect
to be Johnson’s, while he omitted other pieces that had
been acknowledged. A more correct arrangement, however, has been since adopted.
nds willingly contributed every document they could collect from memory or writing; and Mr. Boswell, who meditated one volume only, was soon obliged to extend his work
Two years before this edition appeared, Mr. Boswell
published his Tour to the Hebrides, and exhibited such a
sample of Dr. Johnson’s conversation-talents as raised very
high expectations from the Life which he then announced
to be in a state of preparation. Mr. Boswell’s acquaintance
with Dr. Johnson commenced in 1763; and from that time
he appears to have meditated what he at length executed,
the most complete and striking portrait ever exhibited of
any human being. His “Tour
” having shown the manner
in which he was to proceed, Johnson’s friends willingly
contributed every document they could collect from memory or writing; and Mr. Boswell, who meditated one
volume only, was soon obliged to extend his work to two
bulky quartos. These were published in 1791, and bought
up with an avidity which their wonderful variety of entertainment, vivacity, anecdote, and sentiment, amply justified. Five or six very large editions have since appeared,
and it seems to be one of those very fortunate and fascinating books of which the public is not likely to tire.
important duties of life. It must be allowed that it created some enemies to Dr. Johnson among those who were not enemies before this disclosure of his sentiments. Vanity
Mr. Boswell, indeed, has proved, contrary to the common opinion, and by means which will not soon be repeated, that the life of a mere scholar may be rendered
more instructive, more entertaining, and more interesting,
than than that of any other human being. And although
the “confidence of private conversation
” has been thought
to be sometimes violated in this work, for which no apology
is here intended, yet the world seems agreed to forgive
this failing in consideration of the pleasure it has afforded;
that wonderful variety of subjects, of wit, sentiment, and
anecdote, with which it abounds; and above all, the valuable instruction it presents on many of the most important duties of life. It must be allowed that it created some
enemies to Dr. Johnson among those who were not enemies before this disclosure of his sentiments. Vanity has
been sometimes hurt, and vanity has taken its usual rerenge. It is generally agreed, however, that Mr. Boswell’s
account of his illustrious friend is impartial: he conceals
no failing that revenge or animosity has since been able to
discover; all his foibles of manner and conversation are
faithfully recorded, and recorded so frequently that it is
easier to form a just estimate of Dr. Johnson than of any
eminent character in the whole range of biography.
nd part of his excursion,” Pars altera," which extends to Wales. He was among the earliest botanists who visited Wales and Snowdon, with the sole intention of discovering
, an English botanist, of the
seventeenth century, was born at Selby, in Yorkshire, and
bred an apothecary in London. He afterwards kept a shop
on Snow- hill, where, says Wood, by his unwearied pains
and good natural parts, he attained to be the best herbalist
of his age in England. He was first known to the public
by a small piece under the title of “Iter in agrum Cantianum,
” Ericetum Hamstedianum,
” 16&2;
which were the first local catalogues of plants published in
England. He soon after acquired great credit by his new
edition and emendation of Gerard’s “Herbal.
” In the
rebellion, “his zeal for the royal cause led him into the
army, in which he greatly distinguished himself;- and the
university of Oxford, in consideration of his merit, learning,
and loyalty, conferred upon him the degree of M. D. May
9, 1643. In the army he had the rank of lieutenantcolonel to sir Marmaduke Rawdon, governor of Basinghouse. Near this place, in a skirmish with the enemy, in
Sept. 1644, he received a shot in the shoulder, of which
he died in a fortnight after, and, as there is reason to
think, in the meridian of life. Besides the works abovementioned, and his improved edition of Gerard’s
” Herbal,“which was twice printed in his life-time, in 1633 and in
1636, fol. he published in 1634,
” Mercurius Botanicus,
sive plantarum gratia suscepti Itineris, anno 1634, descriptio,“Lond. 8vo. This was the result of a journey,
with some associates of the company of apothecaries,
through Oxford, to Bath and Bristol, and back by Southampton, the Isle of Wight, and Guiklford, with the professed design to investigate rare plants. To this was
added his small tract,
” De Thermis Bathonicis,“with
plans of the baths, and one of the city, which, to antiquaries, are now interesting. This was followed by a second
part of his excursion,
” Pars altera," which extends to
Wales. He was among the earliest botanists who visited
Wales and Snowdon, with the sole intention of
discovering the rarities of that country in the vegetable kingdom,
He also translated the works of Ambrose Parey, the celebrated French surgeon, published at London in 1643, and
reprinted in 1678. Miller consecrated the name of Johnson by assigning it to a berry-bearing shrub of Carolina,
belonging to the tetrandrous class, but it has not been retained in the LinnaDan system, where the plant is called
callicarpa.
t London in the same year. In 1641, Dr. Johnston being at Oxford on a visit to one of his daughters, who was married to a divine of the church of England in that place,
, was born at Caskieben, near
Aberdeen, the seat of his ancestors, in 1587, and probably
was educated at Aberdeen, as he was afterwards advanced
to the highest dignity in that university. The study to
which he chiefly applied, was that of physic; and to improve himself in that science, he travelled into foreign
countries. He was twice at Rome, but the chief place of
his residence was at Padua, in which university the degree
of M. D. was conferred on him in 1610, as appears by a
ms copy of verses in the advocates’ library in Edinburgh.
After leaving Padua, he travelled through the rest of Italy,
and over Germany, Denmark, England, Holland, and
other countries, and at last settled in France, where he
met with great applause as a Latin poet. He lived there
twenty years, and by two wives had thirteen children. At
last, after twenty-four years absence, he returned into
Scotland, as some say in 1632, but probably much sooner,
as there is an edition of his “Epigrammata,
” printed at
Aberdeen in Psalmorum Davidis Paraphrasis
Poetica.
” We find, that in the same year the doctor
printed a specimen of his Psalms at London, and dedicated
them to his lordship, which is considered as a proof that
the bishop prevailed upon Johnston to remove to London
from Scotland, and then set him upon this work; neither
can it be doubted but, after he had seen this sample, he
also engaged him to perfect the whole, which took him up
four years; for the first etlition'of all the Psalms was published at Aberdeen in 1637, and at London in the same
year. In 1641, Dr. Johnston being at Oxford on a visit
to one of his daughters, who was married to a divine of
the church of England in that place, was seized with a
violent diarrhoea, of which he died in a few days, in the
fifty-fourth year of his age, not without having seen the
beginning of those troubles which proved so fatal to his
patron. He was buried in the place where he died,
which gave occasion to the following lines of his learned
friend Wedderburn in his “Suspiria,
” on the doctor’s
death:
at last on the plan of the Delphin classics, at London, 1741, 8vo, at the expence of auditor Benson, who dedicated them to his late majesty, and prefixed to this edition
In 1632, as already remarked, was published at Aberdeen
“Epigrammata Arturi Johnstoni;
” and in Deliciae
Poetarum Scoticorum,
” to which he was himself a large
contributor, and which, says Dr. Johnson, would have
done honour to any country. His Psalms were reprinted
at Middleburg, 1642; London, 1657; Cambridge,;
Amsterdam, 1706 Edinburgh, by William Lauder, 1739
and at last on the plan of the Delphin classics, at London,
1741, 8vo, at the expence of auditor Benson, who dedicated them to his late majesty, and prefixed to this edition
memoirs of Dr. Johnston, with the testimonies of various
learned persons. A laboured, but partial and injudicious
comparison between the two translations of Buchanan and
Johnston, was printed the same year by Benson, in English, in 8vo, entitled <* A Prefatory Discourse to Dr. Johnston’s Psalms,“&c. and
” A Conclusion to it.“This was
ably answered by the learned Ruddiman in
” A Vindication of Mr. George Buchanan’s Paraphrase of the Book of
Psalms,“1745, 8vo. Johnston’s translations of the
” Te
Deum, Creed, Decalogue,“&c. were subjoined to the
Psalms. His other poetical works are his
” Parerga,“and
his
” Musae Aulicse,“or commendatory verses upon persons of rank in church and state at that time. Johnston is
evidently entitled to very high praise as a Latin poet; and
the late lord Woodhouselee seems to admit that from his
days the Latin muses have deserted the northern part of
our island: Benson’s comparison between Buchanan and
Johnston was absurd enough, but it is not fair that Johnston should suffer by his editor’s want of taste. The abler
critic we have just mentioned, does not think Johnston’s
attempt to emulate Buchanan as a translator of the Psalms,
greatly beyond his powers; for, although taken as a whole,
his version is certainly inferior (as indeed what modern has, in Latin poetry, equalled Buchanan) yet there are a few
of his Psalms, such as the 24th, 30th, 74th, 81st, 82d,
102d, and above all, the 137th, which, on comparison,
lord Woodhouselee says, will be found to excel the corresponding paraphrase of his rival. And Dr. Beattie seems
to speak in one respect more decidedly. Johnston, he
says,
” is not so verbose as Buchanan, and has of course
more vigour;" but he very justly censures the radical evil
of Johnston’s Psalms, his choice of a couplet, which keeps
the reader always in rnind of the puerile epistles of Ovid.
ittle confusion among the guilty parties, by unfolding the secrets of a club of profligates of rank, who used to assemble at a nobleman’s villa in Buckinghamshire. In
, author of
<c Chrysal, or the Adventures 'of a Guinea,“and other works
of a similar kind, was a native of Ireland, and descended
from a branch of the Johnstons of Annandale. He was
born in the early part of the last century, but in what year
we have not been able to discover. After receiving a good
classical education, he was called to the bar, and came
over to England for practice in that profession, but being
unfortunately prevented by deafness from attending the
courts, he confined himself to the employment of a chamber counsel. It does not appear that his success was great,
and embarrassed circumstances rendered him glad to embrace any other employment, in which his talents might
have a chance to succeed. His
” Chrysal“is said to have
been his first literary attempt, two volumes of which he
wrote while on a visit to Mount Edgecumbe, the seat of the
late earl of Mount Edgecumbe. He appears to have had
recourse to some degree of art, in order to apprize the
public of what they were to expect from it. In the newspapers for April 1760, it is announced that
” there will be
speedily published, under the emblematical title of the
f Adventures of a Guinea/ a dispassionate, distinct account
of the most remarkable transactions of the present times all
over Europe, with curious and interesting anecdotes of
the public and private characters of the parties principally
concerned in these scenes, especially in England; the
whole interspersed with several most whimsical and entertaining instances of the intimate connection between high
and low life, and the power of little causes to produce great
events.“This, while it has the air of a puff, is not an unfaithful summary of the contents of these volumes, which
were published in May of the same year, and read with
such avidity, that the author was encouraged to add two
more volumes in 1765, not inferior to the former, in merit
or success; and the work has often been reprinted since.
The secret springs of some political intrigues on the continent, are perhaps unfolded in these volumes, but it was
the personal characters of many distinguished statesmen,
women of quality, and citizens, which rendered the work
palatable. A few of these were depicted in such striking
colours as not to be mistaken; and the rest, being supposed to be equally faithful, although less obvious, the
public were long amused in conjecturing the originals.
With some truth, however, there is so much fiction, and in
a few instances so much of what deserves a worse epithet,
that
” Chrysal“does not appear entitled to much higher
praise than that of the best
” scandalous chronicle of the
day." In one case, it may be remembered, the author
occasioned no little confusion among the guilty parties, by
unfolding the secrets of a club of profligates of rank, who
used to assemble at a nobleman’s villa in Buckinghamshire.
In this, as well as other instances, it must be allowed, that
although he describes his bad characters as worse than they
were, he everywhere expresses the noblest sentiments of
indignation against vice and meanness.
sphere of country practice, till the death of his eldest son, a physician fast rising into eminence, who fell a martyr to humanity in attending the prisoners at Worcester
At Kidderminster Dr. Johnstone continued to act in a wide sphere of country practice, till the death of his eldest son, a physician fast rising into eminence, who fell a martyr to humanity in attending the prisoners at Worcester infected with jail-fever; and the coincidence of the death of his dearest friend the rev. Job Orton, induced him to remove to Worcester. In this city, famous from the days of Dr. Cole, the friend of Sydenham, for its physicians, he continued, vigorous, active, and sprightly, useful to the community, and beloved by his friends, to practise till a few days previous to his death. He had been subject to pulmonary complaints in his youth, which had been averted by temperance and caution. In his later years they recurred, and during the last spring he had bied himself rather too profusely. In the last attack, which was aggravated by excessive fatigue and exertion, his weakness was such as to forbid the repetition of more than one bleeding; and his strength gradually decayed, leaving his intellect clear and unimpaired. His death was a perfect euthanasia: he expired April 28, 1802, after a short and in no wise painful struggle, having sat up and conversed with his family, till within a few hours of the awful change, cheerful, patient, and resigned. He survived his wife, with whom he lived fifty years, only two months.
bosom-friend of the virtuous Lyttelton and the pious Orton, and of many other wise and learned men, who still improve and adorn society the active and humane physician,
Dr. Johnstone was the correspondent and friend of Haller, Whytt, Cullen, and Fothergill; the bosom-friend of the virtuous Lyttelton and the pious Orton, and of many other wise and learned men, who still improve and adorn society the active and humane physician, the sagacious physiologist, the recondite antiquary and few men have occupied a larger space of professional utility and private regard, than Dr. Johnstone. Firm and undeviating in his own moral carriage, his vigorous and manly mind was perhaps, on some occasions, too little accommodating to characters and circumstances. In his temper he was cheerful, though sometimes hasty in his conversation lively and instructive in his affections warm and attached in his domestic relations, he was the best of fathers, his whole life was a sacrifice to the advantage of his children in fine, although the memory of his personal services cannot be soon forgotten, yet has he erected a still more durable monument to his fame, in those various practical improvements of the medical art, which rank his name among the benefactors of mankind.
, an eminent French statesman, who flourished about 1260, was descended from one of the noblest
, an eminent French statesman, who flourished about 1260, was descended from one
of the noblest and most ancient families at Champagne.
He was seneschal, or high-steward, of Champagne, and one
of the principal lords of the court of Louis IX. whom he
attended in all his military expeditions; and was greatly
beloved and esteemed for his valour, his wit, and the
frankness of his manners. That monarch placed so much
confidence in him, that all matters of justice, in the palace,
were referred to his decision; and his majesty undertook nothing of importance without consulting him. He
died about 1318, at not much less than ninety years of age.
Joinviile is known as an author by his “History of St.
Louis,
” in French, which he composed in
thither to claim these compositions, they fell into the hands of his patron, the duke of Wurtemburg, who preserved them as precious relics of this great master. Very
From 1758 to about 1768, he resided in Germany, being
engaged in the service of the duke of Wurtemburg, at
Stutgardt, or rather at Ludwigsburg, his new capital,
where Jomelli’s works were performed. Here he produced
a great number of operas and other compositions, by which
he acquired great reputation, and totally changed the taste
of vocal music in Germany. On his return to Italy, he
left all these productions behind him, upon a supposition
that he should again resume his station at Ludwigsburg,
after visiting his native country. But as he never returned
thither to claim these compositions, they fell into the hands
of his patron, the duke of Wurtemburg, who preserved
them as precious relics of this great master. Very few of
his entire operas were ever performed in England. The
first was “Attilio Regulo,
” in Andromaca.
” The operas of Jomelli will be always valuable to professors and curious collectors, for the
excellence of the composition, though it has been thought
necessary, in compliance with the general rage for novelty,
to lay them aside and to have the same dramas new set for
the stage, in order to display the talents, or hide the defects, of new singers.
that he should be glad to instruct any one so well recommended and, a few days after, Martini asking who and where was the disciple he had talked- of Jomelli answered
As Jomelli was a great harmonist, and naturally grave
and majestic in his style, he seems to have manifested
abilities in writing for the church superior even to those
for the stage. Dr. Burney speaks of three, the only ones
he had seen, all written by Metastasio, and all admirably
get. Dr. Burney had also a “Te Deum,
” and a “Requiem
” of his composition, which show him to have been
a great master of the church style, although he appears
not to have tried that species before 1751, when he, Perez, and Durante were employed to compose some music
at Rome for passion week. But though he acquired considerable fame on this occasion, yet he was so far from
being intoxicated by it, that in a visit to father Martini, at
Bologna soon after, he told this learned contrapuntist that
he had a scholar to introduce to him. Martini assured him
that he should be glad to instruct any one so well recommended and, a few days after, Martini asking who and
where was the disciple he had talked- of Jomelli answered
that it was himself and pulling a studio of paper out of
his pocket, on which he had been trying his strength in
modulation and fugue upon canto fermo, begged of him to
examine and point out his errors.
, a learned Icelander, who acquired a great reputation for astronomy and the sciences,
, a learned Icelander, who acquired a great reputation for astronomy and the sciences,
was coadjutor to Gundebrand of Thorbac, bishop of Holum in Iceland, who was also of that nation, a man of great
learning and probity, had been a disciple of Tycho Brahe,
and understood astronomy very well. After his death, the
see of Holum was offered by the king of Denmark to
Anagrimus, who begged to be excused; desiring to avoid the
envy that might attend him in that high office, and to be
at leisure to prosecute his studies. He chose therefore to
continue as he was, pastor of the church of Melstudt, and
intendant of the neighbouring churches of the last-mentioned diocese. He died in 1640, at the age of ninety-five.
He wrote several books in honour of his country, against
the calumnies of Blefkenius and others, which are well
esteemed; the titles whereof are, “Idea veri magistratus,
”
Copenhagen, Brevis commentarius de Islandia, ibid. 1593,
” 8vo. “Anatome Blefkeniana. Holi in
Iceland, 1612,
” 8vi, and at Hamburgh, 1618, 4to. “Epistola pro patria defensoria,
” ibid. 'ATrorpiGv calumniae,
” ibid. 1622, 4to. “Crymogeea, seu rerum Islandicarum libri tres, ibid. 1630,
” 4to. This was written in
Specimen
Islandi.i; historicum et magna ex parte chorographicum,
”
Amstelod. Vita Gundebrandi Thorlacii,
” Lugd.
Bat.
ffect of his superintendence of these schools, that he could enumerate 158,000 poor ignorant persons who had been taught to read; and equal care was taken to catechize
, a pious divine and great benefactor
to his country, Wales, was born in 1684, in the parish of
Kilredin in the county of Carmarthen, and educated at
Carmarthen school, where he made great proficiency in
Greek, Latin, and other studies, but does not appear to
have been at either university. Having, however, qualified himself for the ministry, he received deacon’s orders
from bishop Bull in Sept. 1708, and priest’s orders from
the same prelate in Sept. 1709. His learning and piety
having recommended him to sir John Phillips, of Picton
castle, bart. he was preferred by that gentleman to the
rectory of Llanddowror, in Carmarthenshire. He was soon
after fixed upon by the “Society for propagating the gospel
in foreign parts,
” as a person every way qualified to be
sent as a missionary amongst the Indians, and at first gave
his consent, but circumstances occurred which prevented
his country from being deprived of his services. In his
parish he soon became popular by his fervent and well
digested discourses, delivered with a voice and action
tranquil, easy, yet strongly impressive; and by his affectionate discharge of the other duties of his station in
risking, catechizing, &c. But he was principally distinguished for his zeal in procuring subscriptions for the support of what were called circulating Welsh schools, to
teach poor Welsh men, women, and children to read their
native language; and such was his diligence, and the
effect of his superintendence of these schools, that he could
enumerate 158,000 poor ignorant persons who had been
taught to read; and equal care was taken to catechize and
instruct young people in the principles of the Christian
religion. Having applied to the “Society for promoting
Christian knowledge,
” of which he was a corresponding
member, that body caused to be printed two large editions
of the Welsh Bible, of 15,000 copies each, which were sold
cheap for the benefit of the poor in Wales. He likewise
wrote and published several instructive treatises in the
Welsh as well as the English language; and was enabled
by the assistance of some charitable friends to print editions
of from 8000 to 12,000 of these useful manuals, which were
distributed throughout all Wales. His own charitable exertions were extensive, and having studied medicine in a
certain degree, he laid in a large stock of drugs, which he
made up and dispensed to the poor gratis, taking that opportunity also to give them spiritual advice. This truly
good man died April 8, 1761, lamented as a father to his
flock, and a general benefactor to the whole country.
, who deserves a place in the catalogue of English writers for having
, who deserves a place in the catalogue of English writers for having first introduced
the numerous and popular little books for the amusement
and instruction of children, which have been received with
universal approbation, was born in 1721, and served his
apprenticeship to Mr. Bowyer, the learned printer. His
education was probably not neglected, or at least it was very
much improved by his own efforts. He was many years
editor of the London Chronicle and Public Ledger. He
was also associated with Dr. Johnson in the “Literary
Magazine,
” and with Smollett and Goldsmith in “The
British Magazine,
” and published a great number of translations from the French, to none of which, however, was
his name prefixed. One little publication, entitled “Great
events from little causes,
” was his composition, and met
with a rapid and extensive sale. In conjunction with Mr.
John Newbery, and a brother of his own, Mr. Giles Jones,
he wrote many of those little books or Lilliputian histories
which were the delight of the youth of many yet living.
Mr. Jones, who was a very amiable man, died Sept. 12, 1786.
Mr. Giles Jones, his brother (who was more than five-andforty years secretary to the Vork Buildings Water company)
left a son,- Mr. Stephen Jones, who, among other literary
productions, was editor of the last edition of the “Biographia Dramatica,
” which was consigned to his care by the
late Mr. Isaac Reed.
d went over to Ireland as lord-lieutenant, Mr. Jones was recommended to the notice of that nobleman, who, delighted with the discovery of this mechanic muse, not only
, a dramatic writer, was a native of
Drogheda, in Ireland, and was bred a bricklayer; but,
having a natural inclination for the muses, pursued his devotions to them even during the labours of his mere mechanical avocations, and composing a line of brick and a line
of verse alternately, his walls and poems rose in growth
together, but not with equal degrees of durability. His
turn, as is most generally the case with mean poets, or
bards of humble origin, was panegyric. This procured
him some friends; and, in 1745, when the earl of Chesterfield went over to Ireland as lord-lieutenant, Mr. Jones was
recommended to the notice of that nobleman, who, delighted with the discovery of this mechanic muse, not only
favoured him with his own notice and generous munificence,
but also thought proper to transplant this opening flower
into a warmer and more thriving climate. He brought him
with him to England, recommended him to many of the
nobility there, and not only procured him a large subscription for the publishing a collection of his “Poems,
” but
it is said, even took on himself the alteration and correction,
of his tragedy, and also the care of prevailing on the managers of Covent-garden theatre to bring it on the stage.
This nobleman also recommended him in the warmest
manner to Colley Gibber, whose friendly and humane disposition induced him to shew him a thousand acts of friendship, and even made strong efforts by his interest at court
to have secured to him the succession of the laurel after
his death. With these favourable prospects it might have
been expected that Jones would have passed through life
with so much decency as to have ensured his own happiness, and done credit to the partiality of his friends; but
this was not the case. “His temper,
” says one, who
seems to have known him, “was, in consequence of the
dominion of his passions, uncertain and capricious; easily
engaged, and easily disgusted; and, as ceconomy was a
virtue which could never be taken into his catalogue, he
appeared to think himself born rather to be supported by
others than under a duty to secure to himself the profits
which his writings and the munificence of his patrons from
time to time afforded.
” After experiencing many reverses
of fortune, which an overbearing spirit, and an imprudence
in regard to pecuniary concerns, consequently drew on
him, he died in great want, in April 1770, in a garret
belonging to the master of the Bedford coffee-house, by
whose charity he had been some time supported, leaving
an example to those of superior capacities and attainments,
who, despising the common maxims of life, often feel the
want of not pursuing them when it is too late. His principal performance, “The Earl of Essex,
” appeared in The Cave
of Idra,
” which falling into the hands of Dr. Hiffernan, he
enlarged it to five acts, and brought it out under the title
of “The Heroine of the Cave.
” His last publications
were, “Merit
” “The Relief;
” and “Vectis, or the Isle
of Wight,
” poems but his poetical worth, though not
contemptible, was far from being of the first-rate kind.
circumstances. There was with him, at the above seminary, a younger brother, a youth of quick parts, who afterwards settled as a dissenting minister at Manchester. Mr.
, a learned dissenting divine, was born in 1693, and received his academical learning under his uncle, the rev. Samuel Jones, first of Gloucester, then of Tewksbury, the tutor of Chandler, Butler, and Seeker. He was fellow-student with the latter in 1711, and was a distinguished scholar, when he entered upon academical studies. It is apprehended, that he was a native of the North of England, and that his father was a gentleman in affluent circumstances. There was with him, at the above seminary, a younger brother, a youth of quick parts, who afterwards settled as a dissenting minister at Manchester. Mr. Jones, soon after he had finished his course of preparatory studies, became the minister of the congregation of Protestant dissenters, who assembled for worship in Forest Green, Avening, Gloucestershire, and resided at Nailsworth, where he also kept an academy. He had the character of being an eminent linguist. He was popular as a preacher; for the place of worship was considerably enlarged in his time. His discourses met with the approbation of the more judicious, for his salary amounted to one hundred pounds per annum, and the whole subscription came from persons of superior rank in life. Though a deep scholar and hard student, he was not a man of severe manners; but of an open and social disposition, and one of a bowling party at a place still called the Lodge, on Hampton common, at which healthy exercise he relaxed from his studies, and by his presence and influence preserved decorum in the company. His character secured him the marked respect of a neighbouring clergyman. His anxiety to fulfil an engagement, which he had made, to perform some ministerial service at a place on the other side of the Severn, hastened his death. It escaped his recollection, till the time drew near; to prevent disappointment, he made so much speed, that his tender constitution was injured by it, and a complaint contracted, from which he never recovered. He died in 1724, aged 31.
In respect to his character, we are assured, by one who knew him well, that his scientific abilities surpassed most
In respect to his character, we are assured, by one who
knew him well, that his scientific abilities surpassed most
of his age. He was a perfect master of the mathematics,
and was not unacquainted with the two learned languages,
Greek and Latin, especially the latter; neither was he
without some turn for poetry . A copy of verses composed by him is published in the “Odcombian Banquet,
”
prefixed to Tom Coryate’s “Crudities,
” in Vindication of
Stone-henge restored ;
” and dying at Butleigh, his seat
in Somersetshire, Oct. 24, 1672, was buried in that church.
Walpole enumerates among his works which are still in
part extant, the new quadrangle of St. John’s college,
Oxfqrd the queen’s chapel at St. James’s the arcade of
Oovent-garden and the church Gunnersbury, near Brentford Lincoln’s Inn Chapel, and one or two of the houses
in Lincoln’s-inn-fields Coleshill in Berkshire, and Cobham
hall in Kent; the Grange, in Hampshire; the queen’s
house at Greeirwich, &c. Several other of his buildings
may be seen in Campbell’s “Vitruvius Britannicus.
” The
principal of his designs were published by Mr. Kent in
1727, fol. as also some of his less designs in 1744, foL
Others were published by Mr. Isaac Ware. Our artist left
in ms. some curious notes upon Palladio’s “Architecture,
”
now in Worcester college, Oxford, some of which are inserted in an edition of Palladio, published at London,
1714, fol. by Mr. Leoni; which notes, he says, raise the
value of the edition above all the preceding ones. His
original drawings for Whitehall-palace are also in Worcester library.
we have not been able to discover, although such a circumstance must have been known to his friends, who, however, have neglected to record it. After his death, many,
, an English divine of some note for
exciting a controversy respecting the Liturgy, was born in
1700, and is supposed to have been a native of Carmarthen.
He was admitted of Worcester college, Oxford, where he
took the degree of B. A. about 1721, and quitted the university in or before 1726, in which year he received
priest’s orders at Buckden, from Dr. Reynolds, bishop of
Lincoln. He had a curacy in that diocese, but in what
partis not known. In 1741 he was resident at
AbbotsRipton in Huntingdonshire, and soon after was presented
to the vicarage of Alconbury, which he resigned in 1751
for the rectory of Boulne-Hurst in Bedfordshire. In 1755
he was vicar of Hitchin, and in 1759 accepted the curacy
of Welwyn from Dr. Young, and continued there until
1765, when that celebrated poet died, and Mr. Jones was
appointed one of his executors. He afterwards returned
to Boulne-Hurst, and probably obtained no other preferment. He was killed by a fall from his horse in going to
Abbots-Ripton, but in what year we have not been able
to discover, although such a circumstance must have been
known to his friends, who, however, have neglected to
record it. After his death, many, if not all his manucripts, passed into the hands of the Rev. Thomas Dawson,
M. D. a dissenting minister of Hackney, whence they
passed to the dissenters’ library in Redcross-street. Some
biographical notices which have appeared in the Gentleman’s Magazine were extracted from them. Mr. Nichols
has given an extensive series of extracts from his literary
correspondence with Dr. Birch, from which many particulars of his talents and character may be gleaned. His
chief work was entitled “Free and Candid Disquisitions,
”
published in Catholic Faith
and Practice,
” and “A Letter to a Friend in the Country;
” but with the subjects of these we are unacquainted.
tutor to the second wrangler, now the learned Dr. Herbert Marsh, professor of divinity at Cambridge, who acknowledged that for the honour which he then obtained, he
, an eminent and learned tutor of the
university of Cambridge, was born at Beriew in Montgomeryshire, June 23, 1756. His education, till he entered
on his twelfth year, was confined to the instruction of a
common country school, first at Beriew, and afterwards in
the neighbouring parish of Kerry. During the time that
he frequented the latter school, the vicar of the parish,
discovering in him those talents which he afterwards so
eminently displayed, advised his mother (for he lost his father at an early age) to send him to the grammar-school
at Shrewsbury, where he continued nearly seven years,
and was inferior to none of his schoolfellows, either in
attention to study or in regularity of conduct. In May
1774, he was admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge,
and came to reside there in October following. From that
time the excellence of his genius became more particularly
conspicuous. He had acquired, indeed, at school, a competent share of classical learning; but his mind was less
adapted to Greek and Latin composition than to the investigation of philosophical truths. At the public examinations of St. John’s college he not only was always in the
first class, but was without comparison the best mathematician of his year. His first summer vacation was devoted
entirely to his favourite pursuit; and at that early period
he became acquainted with mathematical works, which are
seldom attempted before the third year of academical
study. He remained at St. John’s college till after the
public examination in June 1776, when, having no prospect
of obtaining a fellowship, there being already a fellow of
the diocese of St. Asaph in that college, and the statutes
limiting the fellowships to one from each diocese, he removed to Trinity college. Here he took his bachelor’s
degree in 1779, and his superiority was so decided, that
no one ventured to contend with him. The honour of
senior wrangler, as it is called in academical phrase, was
conceded before the examination began, and the second
place became the highest object of competition. If any
thing was wanting to shew his superiority, it would be
rendered sufficiently conspicuous by the circumstance, that
he was tutor to the second wrangler, now the learned Dr.
Herbert Marsh, professor of divinity at Cambridge, who
acknowledged that for the honour which he then obtained,
he was indebted to the instruction of his friend.
In the same year in which Mr. Jones took his bachelor’s
degree he was appointed assistant tutor at Trinity college.
In Oct. 1781 he was elected fellow, and in Oct. 1787, on
the resignation of Mr. Cranke, he was appointed to the
office of head tutor, which he held to the day of his death.
In 1786 and 1787 he presided as moderator in the philosophical schools, where his acuteness and impartiality were
equally conspicuous. It was about this time that he introduced a grace, by which fellow-commoners, who used to
obtain the degree of bachelor of arts with little or no examination, were subjected to the same academical exercises
as other under-graduates. During many years he continued to take an active part in the senate-house examinations; but for some years before his death confined himself
to the duties of college- tutor. These, indeed, were sufficiently numerous to engage his whole attention and he
displayed in them an ability which was rarely equalled,
with an integrity which never was surpassed. Being perfect master of his subjects, he always placed them in the
clearest point of view; and by his manner of treating
them he made them interesting even to those who had
otherwise no relish for mathematical inquiries. His lectures
on astronomy attracted more than usual attention, since
that branch of philosophy afforded the most ample scope
for inculcating (what, indeed, he never neglected in other branches) his favourite doctrine of final causes; for arguing from the contrivance to the contriver, from the
structure of the universe to the being and attributes of
God. And this doctrine he enforced, not merely by explaining the harmony which results from the established
Jaws of nature, but by shewing the confusion which would
have arisen from the adoption of other laws. His lectures
on the principles of fluxions were delivered with unusual
clearness; and there was so much originality in them, that
his pupils often expressed a wish that they might be printed.
But such was his modesty, that though frequently urged, he
never would consent; and when he signed his will a short
time before his death, he made the most earnest request
to Dr. Marsh, that none of his manuscripts should be
printed. But it is a consolation to know, that his lectures
in philosophy will not be buried in oblivion: all his writings
on those subjects were delivered to his successor in the
tuition, and, though less amply than by publication, will
continue to benefit mankind. The only things he ever
published were “A Sermon on Duelling,
” and “An Address to the Volunteers of Montgomeryshire.
” The former
was published as a warning to the young men of the university, soon after a fatal duel had taken place there. The
latter, which he wrote with great animation (for he was a zealous advocate of the volunteer system) was calculated to
rouse the volunteers to a vigorous defence of their country.
in exerting himself for others. The benefits he conferred were frequently so great, and the persons who subsisted by his bounty were so numerous, that he was often
His academical character has been already described. As a companion he was highly convivial; he possessed a vein of humour peculiar to himself; and no one told a story with more effect. His manners were mild and unassuming, and his gentleness was equalled only by his firmness. As a friend he had no other limit to his kindness than his ability to serve. Indeed his whole life was a life of benevolence, and he wasted his strength in exerting himself for others. The benefits he conferred were frequently so great, and the persons who subsisted by his bounty were so numerous, that he was often distressed in the midst of affluence. And though he was head tutor of Trinity-college almost twenty years, with more pupils than any of his predecessors, he never acquired a sufficient capital to enable him to retire from office, and still continue his accustomed benevolence.
economy; but the loss was in a great measure repaired to him by the kind attention of his lordship, who procured for him a sinecure place of considerable emolument.
, an eminent mathematician, was born
in 1680, in the island of Anglesey, North Wales. His
parents were yeomen, or little farmers, in that island, and
gave to their son the best education which their circumstances would allow; but he owed his future fame and fortune to the diligent cultivation of the intellectual powers
by which he was eminently distinguished. Addicted from
early life to the study of mathematics, he commenced his
career of advancement in the humble office of a teacher of
these sciences on board a man of war. In this situation he
attracted the notice, and obtained the friendship of lord
Anson. He appeared as an author in his 22d year; when
his treatise on the art of navigation was much approved.
We may judge of his predominant taste for literature and
science by a trivial circumstance which occurred at the
capture of Vigo, in 1702. Having joined his comrades in
pillaging the town, he selected a bookseller’s shop, in hope
of obtaining some valuable plunder; but, disappointed in
his expectations, he took up a pair of scissars, which was
his only booty, and which he afterwards exhibited' to his
friends as a trophy of his military success. On his return
to England, he established himself as a teacher of mathematics in London; and here, in 1706, he published his
“Synopsis Palmariorum Matheseos; or, a new Introduction to the Mathematics,
” a work which has ever since
been held in the highest estimation as a compendious but
comprehensive summary of mathematical science. Mr.
Jones was no less esteemed and respected on account of
his private character and pleasing manners, than for his
natural talents and scientific attainments; so that he reckoned among his friends the most eminent persons of the
period in which he lived. Lord Hardwicke selected him
as a companion on the circuit, when he was chief justice;
and when he afterwards held the great seal, conferred upon
him the office of secretary for the peace, as a testimony of
his friendship and regard. He was also in habits of intimate acquaintance with lord Parker, president of the royal
society, sir Isaac Newton, Halley, Mead, and Samuel Johnson. So highly was his merit appreciated by sir Isaac
Newton, that he prepared, with his permission, and very
much to his satisfaction, a very elegant edition of small
tracts in the higher mathematics. Upon the retirement of
lord Mace lesfi eld to Sherborne castle, Mr. Jones resided
in his family, and instructed his lordship in the sciences.
Whilst he occupied this situation he had the misfortune, by
the failure of a banker, to lose the greatest part of that
property which he had accumulated Uy the most laudable
industry and economy; but the loss was in a great measure
repaired to him by the kind attention of his lordship, who
procured for him a sinecure place of considerable emolument. He was afterwards offered, by the same nobleman, a
more lucrative situation; which, however, he declined, that
he might be more at leisure to devote himself to his favourite
scientific pursuits. In this retreat he formed an acquaintance with miss Mary Nix, the daughter of a cabinet-maker,
who had become eminent in his profession, and whose talents and manners had recommended him to an intimacy
with lord Macclesfield. This acquaintance terminated in
marriage; and the connection proved a source of personal
satisfaction to Mr. Jones himself, and of permanent honour
to his name and family. By this lady Mr. Jones had three
children two sons and a daughter. One son died in infancy the other will be the subject of the next article
and the daughter, who was married to Mr. Rainsford, an
opulent merchant retired from business, perished miserably, in 1802, in consequence of her clothes accidentally
taking fire. The death of Mr. Jones was occasioned by n
polypus in the heart, which, notwithstanding the medical
attention and assistance of Dr. Mead, proved incurable.
He died in July 1749.
Mr. Jones’s papers in the Philosophical Transactions are:
“A compendious disposition of Equations for exhibiting,
the relations of Goniometrical Lines,
” vol. XLIV. “A
Tract on Logarithms,
” vol. LXI. “Account of the person killed by lightning in Tottenham-court-chapel, and its
effects on the building,
” vol. LXII. “Properties of the
Conic Sections, deduced by a compendious method,
” vol.
LXIII. In all these works of Mr. Jones, a remarkable
neatness, brevity, and accuracy, everywhere prevails. He
seemed to delight in a very^ short and comprehensive mode
of expression and arrangement; insomuch that sometimes
what he has contrived to express in two or three pages,
would occupy a little volume in the ordinary style of writing. Mr. Jones, it is said, possessed the best mathematical
library in England; which by will he left to lord Macclesfield. He had collected also a great quantity of manuscript papers and letters of former mathematicians, which
have often proved useful to writers of their lives, &c. After
his death, these were dispersed, and fell into different persons hands many of them, as well as of Mr. Jones’s own
papers, were possessed by the late Mr. John Robertson,
librarian and clerk to the royal society at whose death
Dr. Hutton purchased a considerable quantity of them.
From such collections as these it was that Mr. Jones was
enabled to give that first and elegant edition, 1711, in 4to,
of several of Newton’s papers, that might otherwise have
been lost, entitled “Analysis per quantitatum Series, Fluxiones, ac Differentias: cum Enumeratione Linearum Tertii Ordinis.
”
s death, he intrusted the ms. fairly transcribed by an amanuensis, to the care of lord Macclesfield, who promised to publish it, as well for the honour of the author
We learn from the “Anecdotes of Bowyer,
” that the
plan of another work was formed by this eminent mathematician, intended to be of the same nature with the “Synopsis,
” but far more copious and diffusive, and to serve
as a general introduction to the sciences, or, which is the
same thing, to the mathematical and philosophical works
of Newton. A work of this kind had long been a desideratum in literature, and it required a geometrician of the
first class to sustain the weight of so important an undertaking; for which, as M. d'Alembert justly observes, “the
combined force of the greatest mathematicians would not
have been more than sufficient.
” The ingenious author
was conscious how arduous a task he had begun; but his
very numerous acquaintance, and particularly his friend
the earl of Macclesfield, never ceased importuning and
urging him to persist, till he had finished the whole work,
the result of all his knowledge and experience through a
life of near 7O years, and a standing monument, as he had
reason to hope, of his talents and industry. He had
scarcely sent the first sheet to the press, when a fatal illness obliged him to discontinue the impression; and a few
days before his death, he intrusted the ms. fairly transcribed by an amanuensis, to the care of lord Macclesfield, who promised to publish it, as well for the honour
of the author as for the benefit of his family, to whom the
property of the book belonged. The earl survived his
friend many years but the “Introduction to the Mathetics
” was forgotten or neglected and, after his death, the
ms. was not to be found whether it was accidentally destroyed, which is hardly credible, or whether, as hath been
suggested, it had been lent to some geometrician, unworthy
to bear the name either of a philosopher or a man, who has
since concealed it, or possibly burned the original for fear
of detection. Lord Teignmouth, however, informs us, in
his life of Mr. Jones’s illustrious Son, that there is no evidence in his memoranda to confirm or disprove this account.
ently qualified her for the task. Her husband, with affectionate precision, characterized her as one who “was virtuous without blemish, generous without extravagance,
, one of the most accomplished
scholars in Europe, the son of the preceding, was born
Sept. 28, 1746. As his father died when he had scarcely
reached his third year, the care of his education devolved
on his mother, whose talents and virtues eminently qualified her for the task. Her husband, with affectionate precision, characterized her as one who “was virtuous without blemish, generous without extravagance, frugal but
not niggard, cheerful but not giddy, close but not sullen,
ingenious but wot conceited, of spirit but not passionate,
of her company cautious, in her friendship trusty, to her
parents dutiful, and to her husband ever faithful, loving,
and obedient.
” She must have been yet a more extraordinary woman than all this imports; for we are told that
under her husband’s tuition she became a considerable proficient in Algebra, and with a view to act as preceptor to
her sister’s son, who was destined for the sea, she made
herself perfect in trigonometry, and the theory of navigation, sciences of which it is probable she knew nothing
before marriage, and which she now pursued amidst the
anxious, and, usually, monopolizing cares of a family.
In educating her son, she appears to have preferred a
method at once affectionate and judicious. Discovering in
him a natural curiosity and thirst for knowledge, beyond
what children generally display, she made the gratification
of these passions to depend on his own industry, and constantly pointed to a book as the source of information. So
successful was this method, that in his fourth year he was
able distinctly and rapidly to read any English book, while
his memory was agreeably exercised in getting by heart
such popular pieces of poetry as were likely to engage the
fancy of a child. His taste for reading gradually became
a habit; and having in his fifth year, while looking over a
Bible, fallen upon the sublime description of the Angel
in the tenth chapter of the Apocalypse, the impression
which his imagination received from it was never effaced.
minions, and assumed an ancient name. Some of their schoolfellows consented to be styled barbarians, who were to invade their territories, and attack their hillocks,
Although he did not yet cease to be the boy, he frequently gave indications of the man, and perhaps in nothing more than the useful turn of his amusements, which generally had some reference to his studies, and proved that learning was uppermost in his mind. Of this disposition, the following anecdote, related by lord Teignmouth, is pleasingly characteristic. " He invented a political play, in which Dr. William Bennet, bishop of Cloyne, and the celebrated Dr. Parr, were his principal associates. They divided the fields in the neighbourhood of Harrow, according to a map of Greece, into states and kingdoms; each fixed upon one as his dominions, and assumed an ancient name. Some of their schoolfellows consented to be styled barbarians, who were to invade their territories, and attack their hillocks, which were denominated fortresses. The chiefs vigorously defended their respective domains against the incursions of the enemy; and in these imitative wars, the young statesmen held councils, made vehement harangues, and composed memorials; all doubtless very boyish, but calculated to fill their minds with ideas of legislation and civil government. In these unusual amusements, Jones was ever the leader; and he might justly have appropriated to himself the words of Catullus: ‘ Ego gymnasii flos, ego decus oleiY’
his mother now took up her residence. This latter circumstance was peculiarly grateful to Mr. Jones, who was as much distinguished above the mass of mankind for filial
When he had attained the age of seventeen, his friends determined to remove him to one of the universities, but his mother had been advised to place him in the office of some special pleader. He had, in the course of his desultory reading, perused a few law books, and frequently amused his mother’s visitors by discussing topics of legal subtlety. But the law had not taken a complete hold on his inclination at this time, and his prereptor Dr. Sumner easily prevailed in recommending an academical course. He was, accordingly, in the spring of 1764, entered of University college, Oxford, in which city his mother now took up her residence. This latter circumstance was peculiarly grateful to Mr. Jones, who was as much distinguished above the mass of mankind for filial affection, as for his literary accomplishments.
or to lord Althorpe, now earl Spencer. He had been recommended to the Spencer family by Dr. Shipley, who had seen and approved some of his performances at Harrow, and
During his residence at Oxford, his time was regularly divided into portions, each of which was filled up with the study of the ancients or moderns, and there have been few examples of such extensive accumulation of knowledge by one so young; yet, amidst this severe course of application, he regularly apportioned some time for the practice of those manly exercises which promote health. As all this necessarily became expensive, he anxiously wished for a fellowship, that he might be enabled to relieve his mother from a burthen which she could ill support. He had obtained a scholarship a few months after his matriculation, but a fellowship appeared more remote, and he was beginning to despair of achieving this object, when he received an offer to be private tutor to lord Althorpe, now earl Spencer. He had been recommended to the Spencer family by Dr. Shipley, who had seen and approved some of his performances at Harrow, and particularly a Greek oration in praise of Lyon, who founded the school at that place in the reign of Elizabeth.
of 1765, he went for the first time to Wimbledon Park, to take upon him the education of his pupil, who was just seven years old, and with whose manners he was delighted.
This proposal was cheerfully accepted by Mr. Jones, and, in the summer of 1765, he went for the first time to Wimbledon Park, to take upon him the education of his pupil, who was just seven years old, and with whose manners he was delighted. It would be needless to point out the advantages of such a situation as this to a young man of Jones’s accomplishments and expectations. It presented every thing he could wish, liberal patronage to promote his views, elegant society to form his manners, and opportunities for study, which were inferior only to what he enjoyed at Oxford. In the course of the following summer, he obtained a fellowship, which, although not exceeding one hundred pounds, appeared to him a sufficient provision, and a solid independency. His time was now divided between Oxford, London, Wimbledon, and Althorpe; and in 1767, he visited the Continent with the Spencer family, and during this trip, which was but short, acquired some knowledge of the German language. Before setting out, and in the twenty-first year of his age, he began his Commentaries on Asiatic Poetry, in imitation of Dr. Lowth’s Prelections at Oxford on the sacred poetry of the Hebrews; and soon after his return, in the winter of 1767, he nearly completed his Commentaries, transcribed an Asiatic manuscript on Egypt and the Nile, and copied the keys of the Chinese language, which he wished to add to his other acquisitions.
uitless and laborious. He mentioned, however, a gentleman, with whom he was not then acquainted, but who had distinguished himself by the translation of a Persian history,
“The king of Denmark, then upon a visit to this country (1768), had brought with him an eastern manuscript,
containing the life of Nadir Shah, which he was desirous
of having translated in England. The secretary of state,
with whom the Danish minister had conversed upon the
subject, sent the volume to Mr. Jones, requesting him to
give a literal translation of it in the French language: but
he wholly declined the task, alleging for his excuse, the
dryness of the subject, the difficulty of the style, and
chiefly his want both of leisure and ability, to enter upon
an undertaking so fruitless and laborious. He mentioned,
however, a gentleman, with whom he was not then acquainted, but who had distinguished himself by the translation of a Persian history, and some popular tales froi
the Persic, as capable of gratifying the wishes of his Danish Majesty. Major Dow, the wriu-r alluded to, excuse
himself on account of his numerous engagements; and tl
application to Mr.lono, uus renewed. It was hinted, th
his compliance would be of no small advantage to him, at
his entrance into life; that it would procure him some mark
of distinction, which would be pleasing to him; and above
all, that it would be a reflection upon this country, if the
king should be obliged to carry the manuscript to France.
Incited by these motives, and principally the last, unwilling to be thought churlish or morose, and eager for reputation, he undertook the work, and sent the specimen of
it to his Danish majesty, who returned his approbation of
the style and method, but desired that the whole translation might be perfectly literal, and the oriental images accurately preserved. The task would have been far easier
to him, if he had been directed to finish it in Latin; for
the acquisition of a French style was infinitely more tedious,
and it was necessary to have every chapter corrected by a
native of France, before it could be offered to the discerning eye of the public, since in every language there are
certain peculiarities of idiom, and nice shades of meaning,
which a foreigner can never attain to perfection. The
work, however arduous and unpleasant, was completed in
a year, not without repeated hints from the secretary’s
office, that it was expected with great impatience by the
court of Denmark. The translation was not, however,
published until 1770. Forty copies upon large paper were
sent to Copenhagen; one of them, bound with uncommon
elegance, for the king himself: and the others as presents
to his courtiers.
”
upil being removed to Harrow, Mr* Jones had an opportunity of renewing his intimacy with Dr. Sumner, who had always estimated his talents and learning at their full
What reward he received for this undertaking is but obscurely related. His Danish majesty, we are told, sent him a diploma, constituting him a member of the royal society of Copenhagen, and recommended him in the strongest terms, to the favour and benevolence of his own sovereign. In all this there seems but an inadequate recompense for a work which at that time perhaps no person could have executed but himself. His noble pupil being removed to Harrow, Mr* Jones had an opportunity of renewing his intimacy with Dr. Sumner, who had always estimated his talents and learning at their full value. While here, he transcribed a Persian grammar, which he had three years before composed for the use of a schoolfellow destined for India, and also began a Dictionary of the Persian language, in which the principal words were illustrated from the most celebrated authors of the East; but he appears to have been aware of the expence attending this work, and was unwilling to continue it, unless the East India company would purchase it. In 1770 he issued proposals for a new edition of Meninski’s Dictionary, which was to have been published in 1773, but the scheme was dropt for want of encouragement.
n English a tract on “Education in the analytic manner;” a tragedy founded on the story of Mustapha, who was put to death by his father Soliman; and made various translations
In 1770, he passed the winter on the Continent with the
Spencer family, during which, he informs one of his correspondents, his occupations were “music, with all its
sweetness and feeling difficult and abstruse problems in
mathematics and the beautiful and sublime in poetry and
painting.
” He wrote also in English a tract on “Education in the analytic manner;
” a tragedy founded on the
story of Mustapha, who was put to death by his father Soliman; and made various translations from the oriental
poets. He appears on this tour to have been less intent on
those objects of curiosity which usually interest travellers,
than on adding to his knowledge of languages, and habituating himself to composition in all its modes, from the
gay and familiar letter of friendship, to the serious and
philosophical disquisition. Of the “Tract on Education,
”
just mentioned, a fragment only remains, which his biographer has published. It appears to include the pla
winr-h he pursued in his own case. The tragedy has bee
totally lost, except part of a preface in which he profess
to have taken Shakspeare for his model, not by adopting
his sentiments, or borrowing his expressions, but by aiming at his manner, and by striving to write as he supposes
he would have written himself, if he had lived in the eighteenth century. The loss of such a curiosity cannot be
too much regretted, unless our regret should be lessened
by reflecting on the hazard of any attempt to bring Shakspeare on the modern stage. It is surely not less difficult
than that of Mason, who unsuccessfully strove to write as
the Greek tragedians “would have written, had they lived
in the eighteenth century.
”
dmitted into the Temple on the 19th of September, 1770, in the twenty -fourth year of his age. Those who consider the study of the law as incompatible with a mind devoted
On his return from this tour, he appears to have contemplated his situation as not altogether corresponding with the feelings of an independent mind, and with the views he entertained of aiming at the dignity and usefulness of a public character. The advice given by some of his friends, when he left Harrow school, probably now recurred to his memory, and was strengthened by additional and more urgent. motives, for he finally determined on the law as a profession; and, having resigned his charge in lord Spencer’s family, was admitted into the Temple on the 19th of September, 1770, in the twenty -fourth year of his age. Those who consider the study of the law as incompatible with a mind devoted to the acquisition of polite literature, and with a taste delighting in frequent excursions to the regions of fancy, will be ready to conclude that Mr. Jones would soon discover an invincible repugnance to his new pursuit. But the reverse was in a great measure the fact. He found nothing in the study of the law so 'dry or laborious as not to be overcome by the same industry which had enabled him to overcome, almost in childhood, the difficulties which frequently deter men of mature years; and he was stimulated by what appears to have predominated through life, an honest ambition to rise to eminence in a profession which, although sometimes successfully followed by men of dull capacity, does not exclude the most brilliant acquirements. Still, however, while labouring to qualify himself for the bar, he regarded his progress in literature as too important or too delightful to be altogether interrupted; and from the correspondence published by lord Teignmouth, it appears that he snatched many an hour from his legal inquiries, to meditate plans connected with his oriental studies. What he executed, indeed, did not always correspond with what he projected, but we find that within the first two years of his residence in the Temple, he sketched the plan of an epic poem, and of a Turkish history, and published a French letter to Anquetil du Perron, who, in his Travels in India, had treated the university of Oxford, and some of its learned members and friends of Mr. Jones, with disrespect In this letter he corrected the petulance of the French writer with more asperity than perhaps his maturer judgment would have approved, but yet without injustice, for Perron stood convicted not only of loose invective, but of absolute falsehood. Besides these Mr. Jones published, in 1772, a small volume of poems, consisting chiefly of translations from the Asiatic languages, with two elegant prose dissertations on Eastern poetry, and on the arts commonly called imitative. Most of these poems had been written long before this period, but were kept back until they had received all the improvements of frequent revisal, and the criticisms of his friends.
discourse, notes historical and critical, and a commentary. This work he dedicated to earl Bathurst, who among all his illustrious friends, was as yet his only benefactor,
In 1778, he published his translation of the “Orations
of Iseeus,
” in causes concerning the succession to property
at Athens; with a prefatory discourse, notes historical and
critical, and a commentary. This work he dedicated to
earl Bathurst, who among all his illustrious friends, was as
yet his only benefactor, by conferring on him the place of
commissioner of bankrupts. The elegant style, profound
research, and acute criticism, displayed in this translation,
attracted the applause of every judge of classical learning.
His next publication was a Latin ode to liberty, under the
title of “Julii Mdesigoni ad Libertatem
” a name formed
by the transposition of the letters of* 6 Gulielmus Jonesius"
In this ode, the author of which was soon known, he made
a more ample acknowledgment of his political principles;
and this, it is feared, had an unfavourable influence on the
hopes which he was encouraged to entertain of promotion
by the then administration. In 1780, there was a vacant
seat on the bench of Fort William in Bengal, to svhicli the
kindness of lord North Jed him to aspire; but, for some
time, he had very little prospect of success. While this
matter was in suspense, on the resignation of sir Roger
Newdigate, he was advised to come forward as a candidate
for the representation of the university of Oxford in parliament; but, finding that there was no chance of success,
he declined the contest before the day of election. His
principles on the great question of the American war were
so avowedly hostile, not only to the measures pursued by
administration, but to the sentiments entertained by the
majority of the members of the university, that, although
he might be disappointed, he could not be surprised at his
failure, and accordingly appears to have resigned himself
to his former pursuits with tranquil satisfaction.
He arrived at Calcutta in September, and was eagerly welcomed by all who were interested in the acquisition of a magistrate of probity
He arrived at Calcutta in September, and was eagerly
welcomed by all who were interested in the acquisition of
a magistrate of probity and independence, of a scholar who
was confessedly at the head of oriental literature, and one
in the prime and vigour of life, who bade fair to be long
the ornament of the British dominions in India. His own
satisfaction was not less lively and complete. He had left
behind him the inconstancy and the turbulence of party,
and felt no longer the anxieties of dependence and delay.
New scenes were inviting his enthusiastic research, scenes
which he had delighted to contemplate at a distance, and
which promised to enlarge his knowledge as a scholar, and
his usefulness as a public character. He was now brought
into those regions, whose origin, manners, language, and
religion, had been the subject of his profound inquiries;
and while his curiosity was heightened, he drew nearer to
the means of gratification.
He had not been long in his new situation before he
began, with his usual judgment, to divide his time into
such regular portions, that no objects connected with duty
or science should interfere. One of his first endeavours
was to institute a society in Calcutta, the members of
which might assist him in those scientific pursuits which he
foresaw would be too numerous and extended for his individual labour; and he had no sooner suggested the scheme
than it was adopted with avidity. The new association assembled for the first time in January 1784. The government
of Bengal readily granted its patronage, and Mr.Hastings,then
governor general, who had ever been a zealous encourager
of Persian and Sanscrit literature, was offered the honorary
title of president; but, as his numerous engagements prevented his acquiescence, sir William Jones was immediately and unanimously placed in the chair. The importance of
this society has been long acknowledged, and their-“Transactions
” are a sufficient testimony of their learning, acuteness, and perseverance, qualities the more remarkable that
they have been found in men most of whom embarked for
India with views of a very different kind, and which might
have occupied their whole attention without their incurring
the imputation of neglect or remissness. To detail the.
whole of sir William Jones’s proceedings and labours, as
president of this society, would be to abridge their Transactions, of which he lived to see three volumes published;
but the following passage from lord Teignmouth’s narrative
appears necessary to complete this sketch of his life.
st erroneous and discordant opinions on these subjects had been circulated by the ignorance of those who had collected their information from oral communications only,
Soon after his arrival “he determined to commence the
study of the Sanscrit. His reflection had before suggested
that a knowledge of this ancient tongue would be of the
greatest utility, in enabling him to discharge with confidence and satisfaction to himself, the duties of a judge;
and he soon discovered, what subsequent experience fully
confirmed, that no reliance could be placed on the opinions
or interpretations of the professors of the Hindoo law, unless he were qualified to examine their authorities and
quotations, and detect their errors and misrepresentations.
On the other hand, he knew that all attempts to explore
the religion or literature of India through any other medium than a knowledge of the Sanscrit, must be imperfect
and unsatisfactory; it was evident that the most erroneous
and discordant opinions on these subjects had been circulated by the ignorance of those who had collected their
information from oral communications only, and that the
pictures exhibited in Europe, of the religion and literature
of India, could only be compared to the maps constructed
by the natives, in which every position is distorted, and
all proportion violated. As a lawyer, he knew the value
and importance of original documents and records, and as
a scholar and man of science, he disdained the idea ofamusing the learned world with secondary information on
subjects which had greatly interested their curiosity, when
he had the means of access to the original sources. He
was also aware, that much was expected by the literati of
Europe, from his superior abilities and learning, and he
felt the strongest inclination to gratify their expectations
in the fullest possible extent.
”
c spirit. That his plan met with acceptance from lord Cornwallis will not appear surprizing to those who knew that excellent nobleman, who, while contemplating the honour
The plan to be promoted by his knowledge of the “Sanscrit was at this time very distant as to probability of execution, but he had carefully weighed it in his mind, and
was gradually preparing the way for its accomplishment.
It was, indeed, worthy of his great and liberal mind, to
provide for the due administration of justice among the
Indians, by compiling a digest of Hindu and Mahomoiedan
Jaws, similar to that which Justinian gave to his Greek and
Roman subjects. When he had made such progress in the
language as might enable him to take a principal part in
this important design, he imparted his views to lord Cornwallis, then (1788) governor general, in a long letter, which
will ever remain a monument of his extensive understanding, benevolence, and public spirit. That his plan met with
acceptance from lord Cornwallis will not appear surprizing
to those who knew that excellent nobleman, who, while
contemplating the honour which such an undertaking would
confer on his own administration, conceived the highest
hopes from sir William Jones’s offer to co-operate, or
rather to superintend the execution of it.
” At the period,“says his biographer,
” when this work was undertaken by
sir William Jones, he had not resided in India more than
four years and a half; during which time he had not only
acquired a thorough knowledge of the Sanscrit language,
but had extended his reading in it so tar as to be qualified
to form a judgment upon the merit and authority of the
authors to be used in the compilation of his work; and although his labour was only applied to the disposition of
materials already formed, he was enabled by his previous
stuuies to give them an arrangement superior to any
existing, and which the learned natives themselves approved
and admired. In the dispensations of Providence, it may
be remarked, as an occurrence of no ordinary nature, that
the professors of the Braminical faith should so far renounce their reserve and distrust as to submit to the direction of a native of Europe, for compiling a digest of theii'
own laws."
e published, as an institute, prefatory to his larger work, a translation of the ordinances of Menu, who is esteemed by the Hindus the first of created beings, and not
In 1789 the first volume of the “Asiatic Researches
”
was published, and the same year sir William Jones finished
his translation of “Sacontala, or the Fatal Ring,
” an ancient Indian drama, and one of the greatest curiosities that
the literature of Asia had yet brought to light. In 1794 he
published, as an institute, prefatory to his larger work, a
translation of the ordinances of Menu, who is esteemed by
the Hindus the first of created beings, and not only the
oldest, but the holiest of legislators. The judgment and
candour of the translator, however, led him to appreciate
this work no higher than it deserved, as not being calculated for general reading, but exhibiting the manners of a
remarkable people in a remote age, as including a system
of despotism and priestcraft, limited by law, yet artfully
conspiring to give mutual support, and as filled with conceits in metaphysics and natural philosophy, which might
be liable to misconstruction. Amidst these employments,
he still carried on his extensive correspondence with his
learned friends in Europe, unfolding with candour his various pursuits and sentiments, and expressing such anxiety
about every branch of science, as proved that even what he
called relaxation, was but the diversion of his researches
from one channel into another. In addition to the various
studies already noticed, botany appears to have occupied
a considerable share of his attention; and in this, as in
every new acquisition, he disdained to stop at a moderate
progress, or be content with a superficial knowledge.
mation in the liver. The disorder was, however, soon discovered by the penetration of the physician, who, after two or three clays, was called in to his assistance;
The indisposition of lady Jones in 1793, rendered it absolutely necessary thatsiie should return to England; and her affectionate husband proposed to follow her in 1795, but still wished to complete a system of Indian laws before he left the situation in which he could promote this great work with most advantage. But he had not proceeded long in this undertaking before symptoms appeared of that disorder which deprived the world of one of its brightest ornaments. The following account of his dissolution is given in the words of his biographer. "On the evening of the twentieth of April, or nearly about that date, after prolonging his walk to a late hour, during which he had imprudently remained in conversation, in an unwholesome situation, he called upon the writer of these sheets, and complained of aguish symptoms, mentioning his intention to take some medicine, and repeating jocularly an old proverb, that * an ague in the spring is medicine for a king. 7 He had no suspicion at the time of the real nature of his indisposition, which proved, in fact, to be a complaint common in Bengal, an inflammation in the liver. The disorder was, however, soon discovered by the penetration of the physician, who, after two or three clays, was called in to his assistance; but it had then advanced too far to yield to the efficacy of the medicines usually prescribed, and they were administered in vain. The progress of the complaint was uncommonly rapid, and terminated fatally on the twenty-seventh of April 1794. On the morning of that day his attendants, alarmed at the evident symptoms of approaching dissolution, came precipitately to call the friend who has now the melancholy task of recording the mournful event. Not a moment was lost in repairing to his house. He was lying on his bed in a posture of meditation; and the only symptom of remaining life was a small degree of motion in the heart, which after a few seconds ceased, and he expired without a pang or groan. His bodily suffering, from the complacency of his features and the ease of his attitude, could not have been severe; and his mind must have derived consolation from those sources where he l?ad been in the habit of seeking it, and where alone, in our last moments, it can ever be found.' 1
Thus ended the life of a man who was the brightest example of rational ambition, and of extensive
Thus ended the life of a man who was the brightest example of rational ambition, and of extensive learning, virtue, and excellence, that modern times have produced; a man who must ever be the subject of admiration, although it can happen to the lot of few to equal, and, perhaps, of none to excel him. When we compare the shortness of his life with the extent of his labours, the mind is overpowered; yet his example, however disgraceful to the indolent, and even apparently discouraging to the humble scholar, will not be without the most salutary effects, if it be allowed to prove that no difficulties in science are insurmountable by regular industry, that the human faculties can be exalted by exercise beyond the common degrees with which we are apt to be satisfied, and that the finest taste is not incompatible with the profoundest studies. It was the peculiar felicity of this extraordinary man, that the whole plan of his life appears to have been the best that could have been contrived to forward his views and to accomplish his character. In tracing its progress we see very little that could have been more happily arranged: few adverse occurrences, and scarcely an object of serious regret, especially when we consider how gently his ambition was chastened, and his integrity purified, by the few delays which at one time seemed to cloud his prospects. In 1799 his Works were published in six volumes quarto, and have been since reprinted in thirteen volumes octavo, with the addition of his life by lord Teignmouth, which first appeared in 1804. Among the public tributes to his memory are, a monument by Flaxman in University college, at the expence of lady Jones; a monument in St. Paul’s, and a statue at Bengal, both voted by the hon. East India company. A society of gentlemen at Bengal who were educated at Oxford, subscribed a sum for a private dissertation on his character and merits, which was adjudged to Mr. Henry Philpots, M. A. of Magdalen college. Among the many poetical tributes paid to his memory, that by the rev. Mr. Maurice, of the British Museum, seems entitled to the preference, from his accurate knowledge of sir William Jones’s character and studies.
ver enlisted under the banners of any party, he always concurred in judgment and exertion with those who wished to render pure and permanent the constitution of his
“A mere catalogue of the writings of sir William Jones,
”
says his biogragher, “would shew the extent and variety
of his erudition; a perusal of them will prove that it was
no less deep than miscellaneous. Whatever topic he discusses, his ideas flow with ease and perspicuity, his style
is always clear and polished; animated and forcible, when
his subject requires it. His philological, botanical, philosophical, and chronological disquisitions, his historical researches, and even his Persian grammar, whilst they fix
the curiosity and attention of the reader, by the novelty,
depth, or importance of the knowledge displayed in them,
always delight by elegance of diction. His compositions
are never dry, tedious, nor disgusting; and literature and
science -come from his hands adorned with all their grace
and beauty. No writer, perhaps, ever displayed so much
learning, with so little affectation of it.
” With regard to
his law publications, it is said that his “Essay on Bailments
” was sanctioned by the approbation of lord
Mansfield and all his writings in this department shew that he
had thoroughly studied the principles of law as a science.
As to his opinion of the British constitution, it appears
from repeated declarations that occur in his letters, and
particularly in his 10th discourse, delivered to the Asiatic
society in 1793, that he considered it as the noblest and
most perfect that ever was formed. With regard to his
political principles, he was an enlightened and decided
friend to civil and religious liberty. Like many others of
the same principles, he entertained a favourable opinion of
the French revolution at its commencement, and wished
success to the exertions of that nation for the establishment
of a free constitution; but subsequent events must have
given him new views, not so much of the principles on
which the revolution was founded, as of the measures which
have been adopted by some of its zealous partizans. To
liberty, indeed, his attachment was enthusiastic, and he
never speaks of tyranny or oppression but in the language of detestation. He dreaded, and wished to restrain,
every encroachment on liberty; and though he never
enlisted under the banners of any party, he always concurred in judgment and exertion with those who wished to
render pure and permanent the constitution of his country.
s probity and humanity, and also his universal philanthropy and benevolence, are acknowledged by all who knew him. In every domestic relation, as a son, a brother, and
It is needless to add any thing in commendation of his
private and social virtues. The independence of his integrity, his probity and humanity, and also his universal
philanthropy and benevolence, are acknowledged by all
who knew him. In every domestic relation, as a son, a
brother, and a husband, he was attentive to every dictate
of love, and to every obligation of duty. In his intercourse
with the Indian natives he was condescending and conciliatory; liberally rewarding those who assisted him, and
treating his dependents as friends. His biographer records the following anecdote of a circumstance that occurred after his demise: “The pundits who were in the
habit of attending him, when I saw them at a public durbar
a few days after that melancholy event, could neither restrain their tears for his loss, nor find terms to express
their admiration at the wonderful progress which he had
made in the sciences which they professed.
” Upon the
whole, we may join with Dr. Parr, who knew his talents
and character, in applying to sir William Jones his own
words, “It is happy for us that this man was born.
”
ng ideas in the view of returning, at a fixed period, to his native country, and to beloved friends, who would anxiously wish for his arrival. Few persons seemed to
Having attained, by the assiduous exertion of his abilities, and in a course of useful service to his country and mankind, a high degree of reputation, and by economy that did not encroach upon his beneficence, a liberal competence, he was prepared, one would have thought, at the age of forty-seven years, to enjoy dignity with independence. His plans, and the objects of his pursuit, in the prospect of future life, were various and extensive and he would naturally indulge many pleasing ideas in the view of returning, at a fixed period, to his native country, and to beloved friends, who would anxiously wish for his arrival. Few persons seemed to be more capable of improving and enjoying prolonged life than sir William Jones; and few persons seemed to be better prepared for a more exalted state of progressive improvement, and of permanent felicity, than that to which the most distinguished and prosperous can attain within the regions of mortality. Since his death lady Jones has presented to the royal society a collection of Mss. Sanscrit and Arabic, which he reckoned inestimable, and also another large collection of Eastern Mss. of which a catalogue, compiled by Mr. Wilkins, is inserted in the 13th volume of sir William Jones’s Works, 8vo edition.
as Morgan Jones, a Welsh gentleman, a descendant of Colonel Jones (but of very different principles) who married a sister of Oliver Cromwell. His mother was Sarah, the
, a late venerable and pious divine of
the church of England, was born at Lowick in Northumberland, July 30, 1726. His father was Morgan Jones, a
Welsh gentleman, a descendant of Colonel Jones (but of very different principles) who married a sister of Oliver Cromwell. His mother was Sarah, the daughter of the Rev. Mr.
Lettin, of Lowick. He was remarkable from his childhood
for unwearied industry and ingmium versatile. As soon as
he was of the proper age, he was admitted, on the nomination of the duke of Dorset, a scholar at the Charterhouse, where he made a rapid progress in Greek and Latin,
and laid the foundation of that knowledge which has since
given him a distinguished name in the Christian world.
His turn for philosophical studies soon began to shew itself;
for meeting, when at the Charter- house, with Zachary
Williams, author of a magnetical theory, which is now lost,
he copied some of his tables and calculations, was shewn
the internal construction of his instrument for finding the
variation of the compass in all parts of the world; and saw
all the diagrams by which his whole theory was demonstrated and explained. At this school, too, he commenced
an acquaintance with the late earl of Liverpool, which was
farther cultivated at the university, where they were of the
same college, and continued to the last, notwithstanding
the great difference in their future destination, to entertain
a respect for each other.
When about eighteen years of age, he left the school,
and went to University college, Oxford, on a Charterhouse exhibition. Among the several companions of his
studies whom he loved and respected, there was no one
dearer to him than Mr. George Home, afterwards bishop
of Norwich. Between them “there was a sacred friendship a friendship made up of religious principles, which
increased daily, by a similitude of inclinations, to the same
recreations and studies.
” Having taken the degree of B. A.
in A full
Answer to bishop Clayton’s Essay on Spirit,
” published in
e Hutchinsonian controversy, were submitted to his grace’s inspection previous to their publication, who corrected and improved them throughout; from whence we are to
It is mentioned in bishop Porteus’s Life of archbishop
Seeker, that all the tracts, written by Dr. Sharp in the
Hutchinsonian controversy, were submitted to his grace’s
inspection previous to their publication, who corrected
and improved them throughout; from whence we are to
conclude he approved them. But whatever his prejudices
were originally against what is called Hutchinsonianism,
and they were supposed at one time to be pretty strong,
they must have been greatly done away before he became
the patron of Mr. Jones. When the “Essay on the first
principles of Natural Philosophy
” was published, his grace
observed to a gentleman who saw it lying on his table,
“this work of Mr. Jones’s is not to be treated with neglect;
it is sensibly and candidly written, and if it is not answered, we little folks shall conclude it is, because it cannot be answered:
” and he told Mr. Jones himself by way
of consolation (knowing probably how difficult it was to get rid of old prejudices) that he must be contented to beaccounted, for a time, an heretic in philosophy. In 1773
Mr. Jones collected together into a volume, Disquisitions
on some select subjects of Scripture, which had been before
printed in separate tracts; and, in 1776, in the character
of a “Presbyter of the church of England,
” he published,
in a Letter to a friend at Oxford, “Reflections on the
growth of Heathenism among modern Christians.
”
t up the heavens for God, but to believe and confess, with all true worshippers, ”that it is Jehovah who made the heavens." And td maintain that the operations in nature
When he was induced to remove from Pluckley, and
accept the perpetual curacy of Nayland in Suffolk, he
went thither to reside with his family. Soon after, he
effected an exchange of Pluckley for Paston in Northamptonshire, which he visited annually, but he determined to
settle at Nayland for the remainder of his days, nor was he
(as his biographer notices with some regret for neglected merit) ever tempted to quit that post by any offer of higher
preferment. The “Physiological Disquisitions
” before
alluded to, having received their last revise, were published
in 1771, and the impression was soon sold off. A notion,
says his biographer, is entertained by some persons, that
the elementary philosophy naturally leads to Atheism,' and
sir Isaac Newton himself is charged with giving countenance to materialism by his aether; but nothing can be
farther from the truth. “It is,
” adds Mr. Stevens, “the
aim and study of the elementary, called the Hutcliinsoniau, philosophy, not to confound God and nature, but
to distinguish between the Creator and the creature;
not with the heathens to set up the heavens for God,
but to believe and confess, with all true worshippers,
”that it is Jehovah who made the heavens." And td
maintain that the operations in nature are carried on by
the agency of the elements, which, experiment demonstrates, is no more excluding God from being the Creator
of the world, than to maintain that motion once given to a
watch will continue without the immediate application of
the artist’s hand every moment to it, is asserting that the
watch made itself. Let any one read the Physiological
Disquisitions, and he will soon be convinced that North and
South are not more opposite than Hutchinsonianism and
materialism.
e continued sensible after this just long enough to take leave of his children (a son and daughter), who, being both settled at no great distance, had been very much
In the autumn of 1798 he was presented by the archbishop of Canterbury to the sinecure rectory of Hollingbourn in Kent, benevolently intended as a convenient
addition to his income, after the discontinuance of pupils;
but in the following year he lost his wife, which was soon
followed by another affliction, probably occasioned by the
shock her death gave him, a paralytic attack which deprived
him of the use of one side. In this infirm state of body,
but with full exercise of his faculties, he lived several
months. At length, he suddenly quitted his study, and
retired to his chamber, from whence he came out no more,
breaking off in the middle of a letter to a friend, which,
after abrupt transition from the original subject, he left
unfinished, with these remarkable words, the last of which
are written particularly strong and steady. “I begin to
feel as well as understand, that there was no possible way
of taking my poor broken heart from the fatal subject of
the grief that was daily preying upon it to its destruction,
but that which Providence hath been pleased to take, of
turning my thoughts from my mind, to most alarming
symptoms of approaching death.
” Like many other good
and pious men before him, he had long very much dreaded
the pains of death; but, to his own great comfort, this
dread he completely overcame. The sacrament had been
frequently administered to him during his confinement;
and he received it, for the last time, about a week prior to
his death. A little while previous to his dissolution, as
his curate was standing by his bed-side, he requested him
to read the 71st psalm, which was no sooner done than he
took him by the hand, and said with great mildness and
composure, “If this be dying, Mr. Sims, I had no idea
what dying was before;
” and then added, in a somewhat
stronger tone of voice, “thank God, thank God, that it is n,o
worse.
” He continued sensible after this just long enough
to take leave of his children (a son and daughter), who,
being both settled at no great distance, had been very
much with him, and had done every thing in their power
to alleviate his sorrows; and, on the morning of Feb. 6,
1800, be expired without a groan or a sigh.
whom he owed all he knew. He was making very extraordinary progress at this school, when his mother, who, soon after her husband’s death, had married a bricklayer, took
Our poet was first sent to a private school in the church
of St. Martin’s in the Fields, and was afterwards removed
to Westminster-school. Here he had for his preceptor the
illustrious Camden, for whom he ever preserved the highest
respect, and, besides dedicating one of his best plays to
him, commemorates him in one of his epigrams, as the
person to whom he owed all he knew. He was making
very extraordinary progress at this school, when his mother,
who, soon after her husband’s death, had married a bricklayer, took him home to learn his step-father’s business.
How long he continued in this degrading occupation is
uncertain: according to Fuller he soon left it, and went to
Cambridge, but necessity obliged him to return to his
father, who, among other works, employed him on the new
building at Lincoln’s-inn, and here he was to be seen with
a trowel in one hand and a book in the other. This, Mr.
Malone thinks, must have been either in 1588 or 1593,
in each of which years, Dugdale informs us, some new
buildings were erected by the society. Wood varies the
story, by stating that he was taken from the trowel to attend
Sir Walter Raleigh’s son abroad, and afterwards went to
Cambridge; but young Raleigh was not born till 1594,
nor ever went abroad, except with his father in 1617 to
Guiana, where he lost his life. So many of Jonson’s contemporaries, however, have mentioned his connection with
the Raleigh family, that it is probable he was in some
shape befriended by them, although not while he worked
at his father’s business, for from that he ran away, enlisted
as a common soldier, and served in the English army then
engaged against the Spaniards in the Netherlands. “Here,
”
says the author of his life in the Biographia Britannica,
“he acquired a degree of military glory which rarely falls
to the lot of a common man in that profession. In an
encounter with a single man of the enemy, he slew his
opponent, and stripping him, carried off the spoils in the
view of both armies.
” As our author’s fame does not rest
on his military exploits, it can be no detraction to hint,
that one man killing and stripping another is a degree of
military prowess of no very extraordinary kind. His biographer, however, is unwilling to quit the subject until he
has informed us, that “the glory of this action receives a
particular heightening from the reflection, that he thereby
stands singularly distinguished above the rest of his brethren of the poetical race, very few of whom have ever
acquired any reputation in arms.
”
question why his name does not appear in any of the lists, it is answered that he was only a sizar, who made a short stay, and his name could riot appear among the
On his return he is said to have resumed his studies, and to have gone to St. John’s college, Cambridge. This fact rests chiefly upon a tradition in that college, supported by the gift of several books now in the library with his name in them. As to the question why his name does not appear in any of the lists, it is answered that he was only a sizar, who made a short stay, and his name could riot appear among the admissions, where no notice was usually taken of any young men that had not scholarships and as to matriculation, there was at that time no register. If he went to St. John’s, it seems probable enough that the shortness of his stay was occasioned by his necessities and this would be the case whether he went to Cambridge in 1588, as Mr. Malone conjectures, or after his return from the army, perhaps in 1594. In either case he was poor, and received no encouragement from his family in his education. His persevering love of literature, however, amidst so many difficulties, ought to be mentioned to his honour.
was released, which appears to have been about 1595, he married, to use his own expression, “a wife who was a shrew, yet honest to him,” and endeavoured to provide
During his early engagements on the stage, he had the
misfortune to kill one of the players in a due), for which
he was thrown into prison, “brought near the gallows,
”
but afterwards pardoned. While in confinement, a popish
priest prevailed on him to embrace the Roman catholic
faith, in which he continued about twelve years. As soon
as he was released, which appears to have been about
1595, he married, to use his own expression, “a wife
who was a shrew, yet honest to him,
” and endeavoured to
provide for his family by his pen. Having produced a
play which was accidentally seen by Shakspeare, he resolved to bring it on the stage, of which he was a manager
and acted a part in it himself. What play this was, we
are not told, but its success encouraged him to produce
his excellent comedy of “Every Man in his Humour,
”
which was performed on the same stage in
to think wit, because they were afraid of it; and which only serves to show the arrogance of the man who presumed to satirize Jones and rival Shakspeare. With the latter,
In 1613 he went to Paris, where he was admitted to an
interview with cardinal Perron, and with his usual frankness told the cardinal that his translation of Virgil was
“nought.
” About this time he commenced a quarrel with
Inigo Jones, and made him the subject of his ridicule in a
comedy called “Bartholomew- Fair,
” acted in Whoever,
” says lord Orford, “was the aggressor, the turbulent temper of Jonson took care to be most in the wrong.
Nothing exceeds the grossness of the language that he
poured out, except the badness of the verses that were the
vehicle. There he fully exerted all that brutal abuse
which his contemporaries were willing to think wit, because they were afraid of it; and which only serves to
show the arrogance of the man who presumed to satirize
Jones and rival Shakspeare. With the latter, indeed, he
had not the smallest pretensions to be compared, except
in having sometimes written absolute nonsense. Jonsort
translated the ancients, Shakspeare transfused their very
soul into his writings.
” If Jonson was the rival of Shakspeare, he deserves all this; but with no other claims than
his (t Cataline,“and
” Sejanus,“how could he for a moment fancy himself the rival of Shakspeare?
” Bartholomew Fair“was succeeded by the
” Devil’s an Ass,“in 1616, and by an edition of his Works in folio, in which his
” Epigrams" were first printed, although they appear to have been written at various times, and some long before this period. He was now in the zenith of his fame and prosperity. Among other marks of respect, he was presented with the honorary degree of M. A. by the university of Oxford. He had been invited to this place by
Dr. Corbet, senior student, and afterwards dean of Christchurch and bishop of Norwich. According to the account
he gave of himself to Drummond, he was M. A. of both
universities.
e. Threats of this kind are generally impotent, and Jonson gained nothing but the character of a man who was so far spoiled by public favour as to overrate his talents.
Although it is not our purpose to notice all his dramatic
pieces, it is necessary to mention, that in 1629 he produced a comedy called the “New Inn, or the light heart,
”
which was so roughly handled by the audience, that he was
provoked to write an “Ode to Himself,
” in which he
threatened to abandon the stage. Threats of this kind are
generally impotent, and Jonson gained nothing but the
character of a man who was so far spoiled by public favour
as to overrate his talents. Feltham and Suckling reflected
on him with some asperity on this occasion, while Randolph
endeavoured to reconcile him to his profession. His temper, usually rough, might perhaps at this time have been
exasperated by disease, for we find that his health was declining from 1625 to 1629 , when his play was condemned.
He was also suffering about this time the usual vexations
which attend a want of ceconomy; in one case of pecuniary
embarrassment, king Charles relieved him by the handsome present of an hundred pounds. This contradicts a
story related by Gibber and Smollett, that when the king
heard of his illness, he sent him ten pounds, and that Jonson said to the messenger, “His Majesty has sent me ten
pounds, because I am old and poor, and live in an alley;
go and tell him that his soul lives in an alley.
” Jonson’s
blunt manners and ready wit make the reply sufficiently
credible, had the former part of the story been true, but
the lines of gratitude which he addressed to his majesty
are a satisfactory refutation. Jonson, however, continued
to be thoughtlessly lavish and poor, although in addition
to the royal bounty he is said to have enjoyed a pension
from the city, and received occasional assistance from his
friends. The pension from the city appears to have been
withdrawn in 1631, if it be to it he alludes in the postscript of a letter in the British Museum, dated that year,
“Yesterday the barbarous court of aldermen have withdrawn their chandler-ly pension for verjuice and mustard
33l. 6s. 8rf.
” Sutton, the founder of the Charter-house,
is said to have been one of his benefactors, which renders
it improbable that Jonson could have intended to ridicule
so excellent a character on the stage: yet, according to
Mr. Oldys, “Volpone
” was intended for him. But although it is supposed that Jonson sometimes laid the rich
under contributions by the dread of his satire, it is not
very likely that he would attack such a man as Sutton.
, it may not be unnecessary in this place to exhibit the evidence of his contemporaries, or of those who lived at no great distance of time. The following particulars
As many points of his character are obscure or disputed, it may not be unnecessary in this place to exhibit the evidence of his contemporaries, or of those who lived at no great distance of time. The following particulars Aubrey collected from Dr. Bathurst, sir Bennet Hoskyns, Lacy the player, and others .
eant Jo. Hoskins of Herefordshire was his Father. I remember his sonne (sir Bennet Hoskins, baronet, who was something poetical in his youth) told me, that when he desired
“I remember when I was a scholar at Trin. Coll. Oxon.
1646, I heard Mr. Ralph Bathurst (now dean of Welles)
say, that Ben: Johnson was a Warwyckshire man. ‘Tis
agreed that his father was a minister; and by his epistle
D. D. of Every Man to Mr. W. Camden, that he was
a Westminster scholar, and that Mr. W. Camden was his
schoolmaster. His mother, after his father’s death, married a bricklayer, and ’tis generally said that he wrought
for some time with his father-in-lawe, and particularly on
the garden wall of Lincoln’s inne next to Chancery lane;
and that a knight, a bencher, walking thro‘, and hearing
him repeat some Greeke verses out of Homer, discoursing
with him and finding him to have a witt extraordinary,
gave him some exhibition to maintain him at Trinity
college in Cambridge, where he was: then he went
into the Lowe Countryes, and spent some time, not very
long, in the armie; not to the disgrace of [it], as you
may find in his Epigrames. Then he came into England,
and acted and wrote at the Greene Curtaine, but both ill;
a kind of nursery or obscure playhouse somewhere in the
suburbs (I think towards Shoreditch or Clerkenwell). Then
he undertook again to write a play, and did hitt it admirably well, viz. Evtry Man which was his first good one.
Sergeant Jo. Hoskins of Herefordshire was his Father. I
remember his sonne (sir Bennet Hoskins, baronet, who was something poetical in his youth) told me, that when
he desired to be adopted his sonne, No, sayd he, ’tis
honour enough for me to be your brother I am your father’s
sonne 'twas he that polished me I do acknowledge it.
He was (or rather had been) of a clear and faire skin. His
habit was very plain. I have heard Mr. Lacy the player
say, that he was wont to weare a coate like a coachman’s
coate, with slitts under the arm-pitts. He would many
times exceede in drinke: Canarie was his beloved liquour:
then he would tumble home to bed; and when he had
thoroughly perspired, then to studie. I have seen his
studyeing chaire, which was of strawe, such as old women
used: and as Aulus Gellius is drawn in. When I was in
Oxon: Bishop Skinner (Bp. of Oxford) who lay at our
college was wont to say, that he understood an author as
well as any man in England. He mentions in his Epigrames, a son that he had, and his epitaph. Long since
in king James time, I have heard my uncle Davers (Danvers) say, who knew him, that he lived without Temple
Barre at a combe- maker’s shop about the Elephant’s castle.
In his later time he lived in Westminster, in the house
under which you passe as you go out of the church-yard
into the old palace; where he dyed. He lyes buried in
the north-aisle, the path square of stones, the rest is lozenge, opposite to the scutcheon of Robert de Ros, with
this inscription only on him, in a pavement square of blue
marble, 14 inches square, O Rare Ben: Jonson: which
was done at the charge of Jack Young, afterwards knighted,
who walking there when the grave was covering, gave the
fellow eighteen pence to cutt it.
”
st fforme in Westminster scole, at which time his father dyed, and his mother married a brickelayer, who made him (much against his will) help him in his trade; but
"I only knew Ben Jonson But my Lord of Winton (Dr. Morley, bishop of Winchester) knew him very well and says, he was in the 6, that is, the upermost fforme in Westminster scole, at which time his father dyed, and his mother married a brickelayer, who made him (much against his will) help him in his trade; but in a short time, his scolemaister, Mr. Camden, got him a better employment, which was to atend or acompany a son of sir Walter Rauley’s in his travills. Within a short time after their return, they parted (I think not in cole bloud) and with a loue sutable to what they had in their travilles (not to be comended). And then Ben began to set up for himselfe in the trade by which he got his subsistance and fame, of which I need not give any account. He got in time to have 100l. a yeare from the king, also a pension from the cittie, and the like from many of the nobilitie and some of the gentry, which was well pay'd, for love or fere of his railing in verse, or prose, or boeth. My lord told me, he told him he was (in his long retyrement and sickness, when he saw him, which was often) much afflickted, that hee had profained the scripture in his playes, and lamented it with horror: yet that, at that time of his long retyrement, his pension (so much as came in) was^ giuen to a woman that gouern‘d him (with whome he liu’d & dyed nere the Abie in Westminster) and that nether he nor she tooke much care for next weike and wood be sure not to want wine of which he usually took too much before he went to bed, if not oftener and soner. My lord tells me, he knowes not, but thinks he was born in Westminster. The question may be put to Mr. Wood very easily upon what grounds he is positive as to his being born their; he is a friendly man, and will resolve it. So much for brave Ben.
“Mr. Camden recommended (Jonson) to sir Walter Raleigh, who trusted him with the care and instruction of his eldest son
“Mr. Camden recommended (Jonson) to sir Walter
Raleigh, who trusted him with the care and instruction of
his eldest son Walter, a gay spark, who could not brook
Ben’s rigorous treatment, but, perceiving one foible in his
disposition, made use of that to throw oft* the yoke of his
government. And this was an unlucky habit Ben had contracted, through his love of jovial company, of being overtaken with liquor, which sir Walter did of all vices most
abominate, and hath most exclaimed against. One day,
when Ben had taken a plentiful dose, and was fallen into a
sound sleep, young Raleigh got a great basket, and a
touple of men, who laid Ben in it, and then with a pole
carried him between their shoulders to sir Walter, telling
him their young master had sent home his tutor. This I
had from a ms memorandum-book written in the time of
the civil wars by Mr. Oldisworth, who was secretary, I
think, to Philip earl of Pembroke. Yet in 1614, when
sir Walter published his History of the World, there was a
good understanding between him and Ben Jonson; for the
verses, which explain the grave frontispiece before that
history, were written by Jonson, and are reprinted in his
” Underwoods,“where the poem is called
” The Mind
of the frontispiece to a book;“but he names not this
book.
”
ace.” We have already seen by bishop Morley’s account that he lived with a woman in his latter days, who assisted him in spending his money.
“About the year 1622 some lewd, perjured, woman
deceived and jilted him; and he writes a sharp poem on
the occasion. And in another poem, called his picture,
left in Scotland, he seems to think she slighted him for his
mountain belly and his rocky face.
” We have already
seen by bishop Morley’s account that he lived with a woman in his latter days, who assisted him in spending his
money.
. That he was not moved with what they had done against him, but was sorry, for some better natures, who were drawn in by the rest to concur in the exposure or derision
“Ben Jonson,
” says Oldys, “was charged in his
” Poetaster," 1601, with having libelled or ridiculed the lawyers,
soldiers, aud players so he afterwards joined an
anologetical dialogue at the end of it, wherein he says he had
been provoked for three years on every stage by slanderers,
as to his self-conceit, arrogance, insolence, railing, and
plagiarism by translations. As to law, he says he only
brought in Ovid chid by his father for preferring poetry to
it. As to the soldiers, he swears by his Muse they are
friends; he loved the profession, and once proved or exercised it, as I take it, and did not shame it more then
with his actions, than he dare now with his writings. And
as to the players, he had taxed some sparingly, but they
thought each man’s vice belonged to the whole tribe. That
he was not moved with what they had done against him,
but was sorry, for some better natures, who were drawn in
by the rest to concur in the exposure or derision of him.
And concludes, that since his comic muse had been so
ominous to him, he will try if tragedy has a kinder aspect.
ia from him; and since coming to England, being appealed to in. a duel, he had killed his adversary, who had hurt him in the arm, and whose sword was ten inches longer
The account Jonson gave of himself to Drummond is
jiot uninteresting. It was first published in the folia
editiort of Drummond’s Works, 1711. “He,
” Ben Jonson,
"said that his grandfather came from Carlisle, to which
he had come from Annandale in Scotland that he served
king Henry VIII. and was a gentleman. His father lost
his estate under queen Mary, having been cast in prison
and forfeited; and at last he turned minister. He was
posthumous, being born a month after his father’s death,
and was put to school by a friend. His master was Camden. Afterwards he was taken from it, and put to another
craft, viz. to be a bricklayer, which he could not endure,
but went into the Low Countries, and returning home he
again betook himself to his wonted studies. In his service
in the Low Countries, he had, in the view of both the
armies, killed an enemy, and taken the opima spolia from
him; and since coming to England, being appealed to in.
a duel, he had killed his adversary, who had hurt him in
the arm, and whose sword was ten inches longer than his.
For this crime he was imprisoned, and almost at the gallows. Then he took his religion on trust of a priest, who
visited him in prison. He was twelve years a papist; but
after this he was reconciled to the church of England, and
left off to be a recusant. At his first communion, in token
of his true reconciliation, he drank out the full cup of wine.
He was master of arts in both universities. In the time of
his close imprisonment under queen Elizabeth, there were
spies to catch him, but he was advertised of them by the
keeper. He had an epigram on the spies. He married a
wife, who was a shrew, yet honest to him. When the
king came to England, about the time that the plague was
in London, he (Ben Jonson) being in the country at sir
Robert Cotton’s house, with old Camden, saw in a vision
his eldest son, then a young child, and at London, appear
unto him with the mark of a bloody cross on his forehead,
as if it had been cut with a sword; at which, amazed, he
prayed unto God, and in the morning he came to Mr.
Camden’s chamber to tell him, who persuaded him it was
but an apprehension, at which he should not be dejected.
In the mean time came letters from his wife, of the death
of that boy in the plague. He appeared to him, he said,
of a manly shape, and of that growth he thinks he shall be
at the resurrection.
Scots in a play called” Eastward Hoe," and voluntarily imprisoned himself with Chapman and Marston, who had written it amongst them, and it was reported should have
“He was accused by sir James Murray to the king, for
writing something against the Scots in a play called
” Eastward Hoe," and voluntarily imprisoned himself with
Chapman and Marston, who had written it amongst them, and
it was reported should have their ears and noses cut. After
their delivery, he entertained all his friends; there were
present Camden, Selden, and others. In the middle of
the feast, his old mother drank to him, and showed him a
paper which she designed (if the sentence had past) to have
mixed among his drink, and it was strong and lusty poison;
and to show that she was no churl, she told that she designed first to have drank of it herself.
essions, so he was the best judge of, and fittest to prescribe rules to poetry and poets, of any man who had 'lived with, or before him, or since: if Mr. Cowley had
Lord Clarendon’s character of our author is more favourable, and from so accurate a judge of human nature, perhaps more valuable. “His name,
” lord Clarendon says,
<l can never be forgotten, having by his very good learning, and the severity of his nature and manners, very much
reformed the stage; and indeed the English poetry itself.
His natural advantages were, judgment to order and govern
fancy, rather than excess of fancy, his productions being
slow and upon deliberation, yet then abounding with great
wit and fancy, and will live accordingly; and surely as he
did exceedingly exalt the English language in eloquence,
propriety, and masculine expressions, so he was the best
judge of, and fittest to prescribe rules to poetry and poets,
of any man who had 'lived with, or before him, or since:
if Mr. Cowley had not made a flight beyond all men, with
that modesty yet, as to ascribe much of this to the example
and learning of Ben Jonson. His conversation was very
good, and with the men of most note; and he had for
many years an extraordinary kindness for Mr. Hyde (lord Clarendon), till he found he betook himself to business,
which he believed ought never to be preferred before his
company. He lived to be very old, and till the palsy made
a deep impression upon his body and his mind."
ch his high opinion of his talents led him to form, degenerating even to the resources of a libeller who extorts from fear what is denied to genius, he became arrogant,
From these accounts it may surely be inferred that Jonson in his life-time occupied a high station in the literary
world. So many memorials of character, and so many
eulogiums on his talents, have not fallen to the lot of many
writers of that age. His failings, however, appear to have
been so conspicuous as to obscure his virtues. Addicted to
intemperance, with the unequal temper which habitual
intemperance creates, and disappointed in the hopes of
wealth and independence, which his high opinion of his
talents led him to form, degenerating even to the resources
of a libeller who extorts from fear what is denied to genius,
he became arrogant, and careless of pleasing even those
with whom he associated. Of the coarseness of his manners
there can be no doubt, but it appears at the same time that
his talents were such as made his temper be tolerated for
the sake of his conversation. As to his high opinion of
himself, he did not probably differ from his contemporaries, who hailed him as the reformer of the stage, and
as the most learned of criticsand it is no great diminution of his merit, that an age of more refinement cannot
find enough to justify the superior light in which he was
contemplated. It is sufficient that he did what had not
been done before, that he displayed a judgment to which
the stage had been a stranger, and furnished it with examples of regular comedy which have not been surpassed.
His memory was uncommonly tenacious, and his learning
certainly superior to that of most of his contemporaries.
Pope gives him the praise of having “brought critical
learning into vogue,
” and having instructed both the actors
and spectators in what was the proper province of the dramatic muse. His “English Grammar,
” and his “Discoveries,
” both written in his advanced years, display a-n attachment to the interests of literature, and a habit of reflection, which place his character as a scholar in a very
favourable point of view. The editor of a recent edition:
of his Discoveries, justly attributes to them “a closeness
and precision of style, weight of sentiment, and accuracy
of classical learning.
”
For they who durst not censure, scarce could praise."
of Jesus-college, Cambridge; and, about two years after, recommended by his tutor Dr. Styan Thirlby, who was very fond of him, and always retained a friendship for him,
In May 1715, he was admitted of Jesus-college, Cambridge; and, about two years after, recommended by his
tutor Dr. Styan Thirlby, who was very fond of him, and
always retained a friendship for him, to make extracts from
Eustathius, for the use of Pope’s “Homer.
” He was not
employed directly by Pope, nor did it ever happen to him
to see the face of that poet: for, being of a shy modest
nature, he felt no impulse to force his way to him; nor
did the other make inquiry about him, though perfectly
satisfied with what he had done for him. He took the degree of B. A. in 1718-19, and M. A. in 1722: he had been
chosen fellow of his college soon after the taking of his
first degree. This year he distinguished himself by the
publication of a few Latin poems, entitled, “Lusus Poetici;
” which were well received, and were twice reprinted,
with additions. In Sept. 1723, he entered into deacon’s
orders, and into priest’s the June following. In Jan. 1726 -7,
he was presented by his college to Swavesey, near Cambridge; but, marrying in 1728, he resigned that living,
and spon after settled himself in London, where he was
engaged as a reader and preacher at a chapel in
street, near Russell-street, Bloomsbury.
ID this town he spent the next twenty-five years of his
life: for though, in 1737, the earl of Winchelsea gave him
the living of Eastvvell in Kent, where he resided a little
time, yet he very soon quitted it, and returned to London.
Here for many years he had employment as a preacher,
in the abovementioned and other chapels; with the emoluments of which occasional services, and a competency of
his own, he supported himself and family in a decent
though private manner, dividing his leisure hours between
his books and his friends, especially those of the literati,
with whom he always kept up a close and intimate connection. In 1730, he published “Four Sermons upon the
Truth of the Christian Religion:
” the substance of
which was afterwards incorporated in a work, entitled,
“Discourses concerning the Truth of the Christian Religion, 1746,
” 8vo.
Hayter, bishop of London, with whom he had been upon intimate terms, dying in 1762, and Osbaldiston, who was also his friend, succeeding to that see, he was made domestic
But whatever Dr. Jortin’s wishes mightbe as to retirement,
he was to live hereafter neither so studiously nor so obscurely
as his imagination had figured out to him: more public scenes
than any he had yet been engaged in still awaited him. For,
Hayter, bishop of London, with whom he had been upon intimate terms, dying in 1762, and Osbaldiston, who was also
his friend, succeeding to that see, he was made domestic
chaplain to this bishop in March, admitted into a prebend
of St. Paul’s the same month, and in October presented
to the living of Kensington, whither he went to reside soon
after, and there performed the office of a good parishpriest as long as he lived. In 1764, he was appointed
archdeacon of London, and soon after had the offer of
the rectory of St. James, Westminster; which, however,
he refused, from thinking his situation at Kensington more
to his honour, as well as better adapted to his now advanced age. Here he lived occupied (when his clerical functions permitted) amongst his books, and enjoying
himself with his usual serenity, till Aug. 27, 1770: when,
being seized with a disorder in the breast and lungs, he
grew continually worse in spite of all assistance; and,
without undergoing much pain in the course of his illness,
died Sept. 5, in his 72d year. He preserved his understanding to the last; and, in answer to a female attendant
who offered him something, “No,
” said he, with much
composure, “I have had enough of every thing.
” He was
buried in the new church-yard at Kensington, as he had
directed; and had a flat stone laid over him, with this inscription, dictated by himself:
This son died in July 1795. He had considerable practice in the court Exchequer. His wife, who survived him, was one of the daughters of Dr, Mat ried to the
This son died in July 1795. He had considerable practice in the court Exchequer. His wife, who survived him, was one of the daughters of Dr, Mat ried to the rev. Samuel Darby, fellow of Jesus-college, in Cambridge, and afterwards rector of Whatfield, in Sutfolk.
, the celebrated historian of the Jews, was born at Jerusalem, of parents who belonged to the illustrious Asmonean family, about the year
, the celebrated historian of the
Jews, was born at Jerusalem, of parents who belonged to
the illustrious Asmonean family, about the year 37. He
soon discovered great acuteness and penetration, and made
so quick a progress in the learning of the Jews, that he
was occasionally consulted by the chief priests and rulers
of the city, even at the age of sixteen. For the purpose
of studying the history and tenets of the several Jewish
sects, he became for three years a pupil of Banun, a hermit, who had acquired great fame for wisdom; and with
him lived a recluse and abstemious life. After this he became of the sect of the Pharisees, of which he was a very
great ornament. In the year 63, he went to Rome, where
a Jew comedian, who happened to be in favour with Nero,
served him much at court, by making him known to Poppaea, whose protection was very useful to him, and enabled
him to procure liberty for some of his countrymen. Upon
his return to his country, where he found all things in confusion, he had the command of some troops, and distinguished himself at the siege of Jotapata, which he defended
seven weeks against Vespasian and Titus, but was taken
prisoner. A short time after, Vespasian granted him his life,
at the intercession of Titus, who had conceived a great
esteem for him. He now visited Egypt, and took up his
residence at Alexandria, where he doubtless studied the
Grecian and Egyptian philosophy. His patron, Titus,
carried him with him to the siege of Jerusalem, after the
taking of which, he attended Titus to Rome, where Vespasian gave him the freedom of the city, and settled a pension upon him. At Rome he cultivated the Greek language, and began to write his History. He continued ta
experience favour under Titus and Domitian, and lived
beyond the 13th year of Domitian, when he was fifty-six
for his books of “Antiquities
” end there and after that
period he composed his books against Apion. In what year
he died is uncertain.
d fled to Milan, with an intent to engage Ambrose, bishop of that place, and the emperor Theodosius, who was then in that city, in his favour; but Syricius, then bishop
, a supposed heretic of the fourth century, was an Italian monk, and observed all the austerities of a monastic life for a time, and taught some points of doctrine directly opposite to the growing superstitions; for this he was expelled Rome, and fled to Milan, with an intent to engage Ambrose, bishop of that place, and the emperor Theodosius, who was then in that city, in his favour; but Syricius, then bishop of Rome, dispatched three presbyters to Milan, Crescentius, Leopardus, and Alexander, with letters to that church, which are still extant in Ambrose’s works, acquainting them with the proceedings of himself and his followers, in consequence of which he was rejected by Ambrose, and driven out of the town by the emperor. From Milan, Jovinian returned to the neighbourhood of Home, where his followers continued to assemble under his direction, till the year 398, when the emperor Honorius commanded him and his accomplices to be whipped and banished into different islands. Jovinian himself was confined to Boas, a small island on the coast of Dal matin, where he died about the year 406. Jovinian wrote several books, which were answered by Jerome in the year 392, but in such a manner as to render it difficult to know what were Jovinian’s errors, or what his general character, except that he was no friend to celibacy or fasting.
3. Being early deprived of his father, he was educated under the care of his elder brother Benedict, who was also a historical writer. After having studied at Padua,
, or Paullo Giovio, an Italian historian, was a native of Como, and was born in 1483. Being
early deprived of his father, he was educated under the
care of his elder brother Benedict, who was also a historical
writer. After having studied at Padua, Milan, and Pavia,
he took the degree of M. D. and practised for some time;
but an early propensity led him to the study and composition of history. Having completed a volume, he presented it to Leo X. at Rome, in 1516, who expressed a
very high opinion of him, and gave him a pension and the
rank of knighthood. Jovius now became intimate with
the literati of Rome, and wrote several Latin poems, which
appeared in the “Coryciana,
” and other collections.
After the death of Leo, Adrian VI. presented him to a
canonry in the cathedral of Como, and Clement VII. appointed him one of his attendant courtiers, provided him
with a handsome establishment in the Vatican, gave him
the precentorship of Como, and lastly the bishopric of
Nocera. During the sacking of the city of Rome, in 1527,
Jovius was robbed of a considerable sum of money and of
his manuscripts, but recovered the latter. Under the
pontificate of Paul III. he wished to exchange his bishopric of Nocera for that of Como, and even carried his
ambition to the place of cardinal, but was disappointed in
both. His favourite residence was at a beautiful villa on
the banks of the lake of Como, where he pursued his
studies, and in his museum made a collection of portraits
of eminent characters, to each of which he affixed an inscription, or brief memoir, some highly favourable, others
sarcastically severe. These memoirs have been frequently
printed under the title “Elogia doctorum Virorum,
” and
the portraits, engraved in wood, have been published
under the title of “Musaei Jovian i Imagines,
” Basil,
description of the island of Great Britain, of Muscovy, of the lake of Como; and the eulogies of men who have distinguished themselves in arms. Three of the last books
His other writings are a small tract, “De Piscibus Romanis,
” published in
ignity of chancellor, having followed Saporta in 1574. He was called to Paris by Henry III. in 1579, who entertained hopes that Joubert would be able to cure the barrenness
, a learned physician, and royal professor at Montpellier, was born at Valence, in the province of Dauphine, in France, on the 16th of December, 1529, of a good family. After he had finished his school education, he went to Mompellier, where he was matriculated in the faculty of medicine on the 1st of March, 1550, and took his degree of bachelor the following year. He afterwards studied at Padua, where he attended the lectures of the celebrated Fallopius, and at some other places; but, returning to Montpellier, he finished his exercises, and received the degree of doctor in 1558. The manner in which he had performed his acts procured for him so much of the confidence and esteem of Honore Castellan, that this professor, being summoned to court in the following year, to hold the office of first physician of Catharine de Medicis, queen of Henry II. he nominated Joubert to give the lectures in the schools during his absence; and Joubert acquitted himself in so distinguished a manner, that on the death of professor Rondelet in 1566, he was immediately named his successor, in the chair. He was likewise the second successor of Rondelet, in the dignity of chancellor, having followed Saporta in 1574. He was called to Paris by Henry III. in 1579, who entertained hopes that Joubert would be able to cure the barrenness of Louisa de Lorraine, his queen. But his attempts proved unsuccessful; and he returned to Montpellier with the title of physician in ordinary to the king, and continued to practise there to his death, October 21, 1583.
xcellence. His History of the Jesuits, in which he undertakes to justify his brother, Pere Guignard, who was hanged by sentence of parliament on account of Chatel’s
, or rather Jouvancey (Joseph de),
a celebrated Jesuit, was born September 14, 1643, at
Paris. He taught rhetoric with uncommon reputation at
Caen, la Fleche, and Paris. At length he was invited to
Rome, in 1669, that he might continue “The History of
the Jesuits,
” with more freedom than he could have done
in France, and died in that city May 29, 1719. His principal works are, two volumes of Latin Speeches, 12mo;
a small tract entitled “De ratione discendi et docendi,
”
much esteemed; Notes, in Latin, on P-ersius, Juvenal,
Terence, Horace, Martial, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, &c.
The fifth part of the “History of the Jesuits,
” in Latin,
from
for 1781, p 38, daleo, Oxford, on Edward Joyner, is a curious- Latin epitaph, taken from alias Lyde, who was probably the elthe parish church of St. Mary Mag- der brother
* In the Oen?. Mag. for 1781, p 38, daleo, Oxford, on Edward Joyner,
is a curious- Latin epitaph, taken from alias Lyde, who was probably the elthe parish church of St. Mary Mag- der brother of William.
piety, and great fidelity. At his return he lived very retired in London; till, on the breaking out of the popish
plot in 1678, he retired to Horspath, where some time
after he was seized for a Jesuit, or priest, and hound to
appear at the quarter-sessions at Oxford. Being found to
be a mere lay-papist, and discharged, he went to Ickford,
an obscure village in Buckinghamshire, near Thame, and
there spent many years in devout retirement. In 1687 he
was restored to his fellowship by James II. but expelled
from it after a year’s enjoyment, and retired to his former
recess, where, says Wood, his apparel, which was formerly gay, was then very rustical, little better than that of
a day-labourer, and his diet and lodging suitable. In one
of his letters to Wood, April 12, 1692, he told him that
“the present place of his residence is a poor thatcht-house,
where the roof is of the same stuff in the chamber where
he lodged, which he assured me was never guilty of paying chimney-tax. However, he hoped that all this would
not make a person neglected and despicable who had formerly slept in the royal palaces of France, under a roof
fretted and embossed with gold; whereas, this is doubly
and trebly interweaved only with venerable cobwebs, which
can plead nothing of rarity besides the antiquity.
” This
personage has written, 1. “The Roman Empress,
” a comedy, Lond. Some Observations on the
Life of Cardinal Pole,
” Horti Carolini Rosa altera,
” Life of Cardinal Pole,
” published in
r of the band of gentlemen marine guards, was chosen, with Ulloa, to attend the French academicians, who went to Peru', for the purpose of measuring a degree on the
, a learned Spanish mathematician, knight of Malta, and commander of the band of gentlemen marine guards, was chosen, with Ulloa, to attend the French academicians, who went to Peru', for the purpose of measuring a degree on the meridian, in order to determine the earth’s figure. They embarked May 26, 1735. Ulloa undertook the historical part of the voyage, which appeared translated into French, Amsterdam, 1752, 2 vols. 4to; and D. George Juan the astronomical part, who accordingly published a large work on the earth’s figure, printed in Spanish. On his return he went to Paris, 171 where the academy of sciences admitted him a member. He died at Madrid, 1773, leaving several works in Spanish on naval affairs, a translation of which would be useful.
ng these defects was undertaken by the rabbis Chiiam and Oschaiam, and others, disciples of Jehudah; who not only wrote explanations of the Mishna, but made material
, or Jehuda, Hakkadosh, or the Saint, a
rabbi celebrated for his learning and riches, according to
the Jewish historians, lived in the time of the emperor
Marcus Antoninus, whom he made a proselyte to Judaism,
and it was by his order that Jehuda compiled the Mishna,
the history of which is briefly this: The sect of the Pharisees, after the destruction of Jerusalem, prevailing over
the rest, the study of traditions became the chief object of
attention in all the Jewish schools. The number of these
traditions had, in a long course of time, so greatly increased, that the doctors, whose principal employment
it was to illustrate them by new explanations, and to confirm their authority, found it necessary to assist their recollection by committing them, under distinct heads, to
writing. At the same time, their disciples took minutes of
the explanations of their preceptors, many of which were
preserved, and grew up into voluminous commentaries.
The confusion which arose from these causes was now become so troublesome, that, notwithstanding what Hillel
had before done in arranging the traditions, Jehuda found
it necessary to attempt a new digest of the oral law, and of
the commentaries of their most famous doctors. This arduous undertaking is said to have employed him forty
years. It was completed, according to the unanimous
testimony of the Jews, which in this case there is no sufficient reason to dispute, about the close of the second
century. This Mishna, or first Talmud, comprehends all
the laws, institutions, and rules of life, which, beside the ancient Hebrew scriptures, the Jews supposed themselves bound
to observe. Notwithstanding the obscurities, inconsistencies, and absurdities with which this collection abounds, it
soon obtained credit among the Jews as a sacred book. But
as the Mishna did not completely provide for many cases
which arose in the practice of ecclesiastical law, and many
of its prescriptions and decisions were found to require further comments and illustrations, the task of supplying these
defects was undertaken by the rabbis Chiiam and Oschaiam,
and others, disciples of Jehudah; who not only wrote explanations of the Mishna, but made material additions to
that voluminous compilation. These commentaries and
additions were collected by the rabbi Jochanan ben Eliezer, probably in the fifth century, under the name of the
“Gemara,
” because it completed the Mishna. This collection was afterwards called the Jerusalem Gemara, to distinguish it from another of the same kind made in Babylon,
at the beginning of the sixth century.
hat he neither was a Jew, nor of Jewish extraction, but the son of the above John Judah, or de Juda, who, according to the custom of those times, kept a concubine, by
, one of the reformers, son of John Judah, a German priest, was born in 1482, in Alsace. Some
authors have reported that he was a converted Jew, but
father Simon has proved that he neither was a Jew, nor of
Jewish extraction, but the son of the above John Judah, or
de Juda, who, according to the custom of those times, kept
a concubine, by whom he had this Leo. He was educated at Slestadt, and thence in 1502, was sent to Basil to
pursue his academical studies. Here he had for a fellowstudent, the afterwards much celebrated Zuinglius; and
from him, who had at a very early age been shocked at
the superstitious practices of the church of Rome, he received such impressions, as disposed him to embrace the
reformed religion. Having obtained his degree of M. A.
in 1512, he was appointed minister of a Swiss church, to
the duties of which he applied himself with indefatigable
zeal, preaching boldly in defence of the protestant religion. At length he was appointed by the magistrates and
ecclesiastical assembly of Zurich, pastor of the church of
St. Peter in that city, and became very celebrated as an
advocate, as well from the press as the pulpit, of the reformed religion, for about eighteen years. At the desire
of his brethren, he undertook a translation, from the Hebrew into Latin, of the whole Old Testament; but the magnitude of the work, and the closeness with which he applied to it, impaired his health; and before he had completed it, he fell a sacrifice to his labours, June 9, 1542,
when he was about sixty years of age. The translation was
finished by other hands, and was printed at Zurich in 1543,
and two years afterwards it was reprinted at Paris by Robert
Stephens, accompanying the Vulgate version, in adjoining
columns, but without the name of the author of the new
version. Judah was likewise the author of “Annotations
upon Genesis and Exodus,
” in which he was assisted by
Xuinglius, and upon the four gospels, and the greater part
of the epistles. He also composed a larger and smaller
catechism, and translated some of Zuinglius’s works into
Latin. The Spanish divines, notwithstanding the severity
of the Inquisition, did not hesitate to reprint the Latin
Bible of Leo Judah, with the notes ascribed to Vatabius,
though some of them were from the pen of Calvin. Some
particulars of Judah and of this translation, not generally
known, may be found in a book written by a divine of
Zurich, and printed in that city in 1616, entitled “Vindicise pro Bibliorum translatione Tigurina.
”
ven, by necessity, to Magdeburg. Here he supported himself by being tutor in the family of a lawyer, who sent him with his son to Wittenberg, in 1546. This gave him
, one of the principal writers of the Centuries of Magdeburg, was born Sept. 21, 1528, at Tippolswald, in Misnia. His inclination to literature induced his father to send him to study at Dresden: but the college of Wittenberg being more to his mind, he removed thither, and afterwards was driven, by necessity, to Magdeburg. Here he supported himself by being tutor in the family of a lawyer, who sent him with his son to Wittenberg, in 1546. This gave him an opportunity of completing his own studies; and he obtained the degree of M. A. in this university, 1548. He then returned to Magdeburg, and taught the second form there for some years; and in 1554, was chosen minister of St. Ulric’s church.
ntine, quietly seated on the imperial throne, he sent young Julian to Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia, who was related to him by his mother’s side, and who educated him
, a Roman emperor, commonly, although perfcaps not very justly, styled the Apostate, was the younger son of Constantius, brother of Constantine the Great. He was the first fruit of a second marriage of his father with Basilina, after the birth of Gallus, whom he had by Galla his first consort. He was born Nov. 6, in the year 331, at Constantinople; and, according to the medals of him, named Fiavius Claudius Julianus. During the life of Constantine, he received the first rudiments of his education at the court of Constantinople; but, upon the death of this emperor, all his relations being suspected of criminal actions, Julian’s father was obliged to seek his safety by flight; and his son Julian’s escape was entirely owing to Marc, bishop of Arethusa, without whose care he had inevitably perished in the persecution of his family. As soon as the storm was over, and Constantius, the son of Constantine, quietly seated on the imperial throne, he sent young Julian to Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia, who was related to him by his mother’s side, and who educated him in the Christian faith; but at the same time employed an eunuch called Mardonius, who was a pagan, to teach him grammar, while Eulolius, a Christian of doubtful character, was his master in rhetoric. Julian made a very quick progress in learning; and, being sent afterwards to Athens to complete his education, he became the darling of that nursery of polite literature, and particularly commenced an acquaintance with St. Basil and Gregory of Nazianzen. This last, however, observed something in him which rendered his sincerity in the Christian faith suspected: and it is certain, that, notwithstanding all the care of his preceptor Eusebius, this young prince was entirely perverted by Maximus, an Ephesian philosopher and magician. His cousin Constantius the emperor was advertised of his conduct; and Julian, to prevent the effects, and save his life, professed himself a monk, and took the habit, but, under this character in public, he secretly embraced paganism. Some time before, his brother Gallus and he had taken orders, and executed the office of reader in the church; but the religious sentiments of the two brothers were widely different.
In this battle he engaged no less than seven German kings, one of whom was the famous Chrodomairus; who had always beaten the Romans till this time, but was now Julian’s
As soon as Julian had attained the age of manhood, according to the Roman law, Constantius, at the solicitation of his consort, the empress Eusebia, raised him to the dignity of Caesar, on his birth-day, Nov. 6, in the year 355; and at the same time the emperor gave him his sister Helena in marriage, and made him general of the army in Gaul. Julian filled his command with surprizing abilities, and shewed himself every way equal to the trust; which was the more extraordinary, as he had never any instructions in the military art. The principal officers under him, from whom he was to expect assistance, were very backward in performing this service; restrained apparently by the danger of seeming too much attached to him, and thereby incurring the emperor’s displeasure, whose jealousy on this head was no secret. Under all these disadvantages, our young warrior performed wonders: he was not afraid to undertake the enterprize of driving the barbarians out of Gaul; and he completed the design in a very little time, having obtained one of the most signal victories of that age, near Strasbourg. In this battle he engaged no less than seven German kings, one of whom was the famous Chrodomairus; who had always beaten the Romans till this time, but was now Julian’s prisoner. The defeat of the Salii and Chamavi, French people, followed at the heels of this victory; and the Germans, being conquered again, were constrained to beg a peace. Our hero was crowned with these glorious laurels, when Constantius, who was hard pressed by the Persians, sent for a detachment of troops from the army in Gaul to augment his forces. This order was ill relished by the Gauls, who were reluctant to fight out of their own country. Julian took advantage of this ill humour, and got himself declared emperor by the army; but, not being able to prevail with Constantius to acknowledge him in that character, he went with these troops to Illyria, where he continued till the death of Constantius, which happened Nov. 2, 361.
ily, had prejudiced him against the Christian religion; and his attachment to some Platonic sophist, who had been employed in his education, gave him as violent a bias
Julian no sooner saw himself master of the world, than he threw off all the disguise of his religion, for it merely was a disguise. There appears very little reason to think that Julian had ever cordially embraced, or ever studied with attention, the principles of Christianity. Had this been the case, he might have seen that those principles led to a conduct very opposite to that which he beheld in the conduct of Constantius, whose cruelty to his relations perhaps first excited his hatred against Christianity. From his youth he had practised dissimulation with consummate artifice, and it was rather hypocrisy than Christianity which he had now to shake off. Accordingly he now expressly professed himself a pagan, ordered their temples to be set open, and re-established their worship: he also assumed the character and station of the sovereign pontiff, and was invested with the whole pagan ceremonial, resolving to efface the mark of his baptism by the blood of the heathen sacrifices. In short, he resolved to effect the utter ruin of Christianity, and in this attempt united solid judgment witli indefatigable assiduity. Neither address nor dexterity was wanting, nor all that the wit or prudence of man could do. We find, indeed, in this emperor all the great qualities which a projector could conceive, or an adversary would require, to secure success. He was eloquent and liberal, artful, insinuating, and indefatigable; which, joined to a severe temperance, a love of justice, and a courage superior to all trials, first gained him the affections, and soon after the peaceable possession, of the whole empire. He had been, as we have just remarked, compelled to profess the Christian religion to the time when he assumed the purple; but his aversion to his uncle Constantine and his cousin Constantius, on account of the cruelties exercised on his family, had prejudiced him against the Christian religion; and his attachment to some Platonic sophist, who had been employed in his education, gave him as violent a bias towards paganism. He was ambitious; and paganism, in some of its theurgic rites, had flattered and encouraged his views of the diadem. He was vain, which made him aspire to the glory of re-establishing the ancient rites. He was very learned, and fond of Grecian literature, the very soul of which, in his opinion, was the old theology: but, above all, notwithstanding a considerable mixture of enthusiasm, his superstition was excessive, and what nothing but the blood of hecatombs could appease.
liberty of conscience to the Christians. On this principle, he restored those to their civil rights who had been banished on account of their religion, and even affected
With these dispositions he came to the empire, and consequently with a determined purpose of subverting the Christian and restoring the pagan worship. His predecessors had left him the repeated experience of the inefficacy of downright force. The virtue of the past times then rendered this effort fruitless, the numbers of the present would have made it now dangerous: he found it necessary, therefore, to change his ground. His knowledge of human nature furnished him with arms; and his knowledge of the faith he had abandoned, enabled him to direct those arms to most advantage. He began with re-establishing paganism by law, and granting a full liberty of conscience to the Christians. On this principle, he restored those to their civil rights who had been banished on account of their religion, and even affected to reconcile to a mutual forbearance the various sects of Christianity. Yet he put on this mask of moderation for no other purpose than to inflame the dissensions in the church. He then fined and banished such of the more popular clergy as had abused their power, either in exciting the people to burn and destroy pagan temples, or to commit violence on an opposite sect: and it cannot be denied, but that in the turbulent and insolent manners of some of them, he found a plausible pretext for this severity. He proceeded to revoke and take away those immunities, honours, and revenues, which his uncle and cousin had granted to the clergy. Neither was his pretence for this altogether unreasonable. He judged the grants to be exorbitant; and, besides, as they were attendant on a national religion, when the establishment came to be transferred from Christianity to paganism, he concluded they must follow the religion of the state. But there was one immunity he took away, which no good policy, even under an establishment, should have granted them and this was an exemption from the civil tribunals. He went still farther he disqualified the Christian laity for bearing offices in the state and even this the security of the established religion may often require. But his most illiberal treatment of the Christians, was his forbidding, the professors of that religion to teach polite letters, and the sciences, in the public schools; and Amm. Marcellinus censures this part of his conduct as a breach in his general character of humanity, (lib. xx. c. 10.) His more immediate design, in this, was to hinder the youth from taking impressions to the disadvantage of paganism; his remoter view, to deprive Christianity of the support of human literature. Not content with this, he endeavoured even to destroy what was already written in defence of Christianity. With this view he wrote to the governor and treasurergeneral of Egypt, to send him the library of George bishop of Alexandria, who, for his cruelty and tyranny, had been ton) in pieces by the people: nay, to such a length did his aversion to the name of Christ carry him, as to decree, by a public edict, that his followers should be no longer called Christians, but Galileans; well knowing the efficacy of a nick-name to render a profession ridiculous. In the mean time, the animosities between the different sects of Christianity, furnished him with the means of carrying on these projects. Being, for example, well assured that the Arian church oi Edessa was very rich, he took advantage of their oppressing and persecuting the Valentinians to seize every tiling belonging to that church, and divided the plunder among his soldiers; scornfully telling the Edessians, he did this to ease them of their burthens, that they might proceed more lightly, and with less impediment, in their journey to heaven. He went farther still, if we may believe the historian Socrates, and, in order to raise money to defray the extraordinary expence of his Persian expedition, he imposed a tax or tribute on all who would not sacrifice to the pagan idols. The tax, it is true, was proportioned to every man’s circumstances, but was as truly an infringement upon his act of toleration. And though he forbore persecuting to death by law, which would have been a direct contradiction to that act, yet he connived at the fury of the people, and the brutality of the governors of provinces, who, during his short reign, brought many martyrs to the stake. He put such into governments, whose inhumanity and blind zeal for their country superstitions were most distinguished. And when the suffering churches presented their complaints to him, he dismissed them with cruel scoffs, telling them, their religion directed them to suffer without murmuring.
r void of offence, but that they reform their household on the same principle: he directs, that they who attend at the altar should abstain from the theatre, the tavern,
Such were Julian’s efforts to subvert Christianity; and it cannot be denied, that the behaviour of many of the Christians at that time furnished pretence enough for most of the proceedings against them in the view of state-policy. Besides that they branded the state religion, and made a merit of affronting the public worship, it is well known that they were continually guilty of seditions; and did not scruple to assert, that nothing hindered them from engaging in open rebellion, but the improbability of succeeding in it for want of numbers. During these measures, his projects to support and reform paganism went hand in hand with his attempts to destroy Christianity. He wrote, and he preached, in defence of the Gentile superstition, and has himself acquainted us with the ill-success of his ministry at Beroea. Of his controversial writings, his answerer, Cyril, hath given us a large specimen, by which we see he was equally intent to recommend paganism, and to discredit revelation. In his reformation of the Geatile superstition, he endeavoured to hide the absurdity of its traditions by moral and philosophical allegories. These he found provided for him principally by philosophers of his own sect, the Platonists. For they, not without the assistance of the other sects, had, ever since the appearance of Christianity, been refining the theology of paganism, to oppose it to that of revelation; under pretence, that their new-invented allegories were the ancient spirit of the letter, which the first poetical divines had thus conveyed to posterity. He then attempted to correct the morals of the pagan priesthood, and regulate them on the practice of the first Christians. In his epistle to Arsacius, the chief priest of Galacia, he not only requires of them a personal behaviour void of offence, but that they reform their household on the same principle: he directs, that they who attend at the altar should abstain from the theatre, the tavern, and the exercise of all ignoble professions that in their private character they be meek and humble but that, in the acts and offices of religion, they assume a character conformable to the majesty of the immortal gods, whose ministers they are. And, above all, he recommends to them the virtues of chanty and benevolence. With regard to discipline and religious policy, he established readers in divinity planned an establishment for the order, and parts of the divine offices designed a regular and formal service, with days and hours of worship. He had also decreed to found hospitals for the poor, monasteries for the devout, and to prescribe and enjoin initiatory and expiatory sacrifices; with instructions for converts, and a course of penance for offenders; and, in all things, to imitate the church discipline at that time. In this way he endeavoured to destroy Christian principles, and at the same time to establish Christian practice.
iculty, taken and destroyed by Titus. He committed the conduct of this affair to Alypius of Antioch, who formerly had been lieutenant in Britain, When, therefore, this
But as the indifference and corruptions of Paganism,
joined to the inflexibility and perseverance of the Christians, prevented his project from advancing with the speed
he desired, he grew chagrined, and even threatened, after
his return from the Persian expedition, effectually to ruin
the Christian religion. He had before, in pursuance of
his general scheme of opposing revelation to itself, by
setting one sect against another, written to the body or
community of the Jews; assuring them of his protection,
his concern for their former ill usage, and his fixed purpose to screen them from future oppression, that they
might be at liberty, and in a disposition to redouble their
vows for the prosperity of his reign; and concluded with a
promise, that, if he came back victorious from the Persian
war, he would rebuild Jerusalem, restore them to their
possessions, live with them in the holy city, and join with
them in their worship of the great God of the universe.
The rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem was thought a
sure means of destroying Christianity, since the final destruction of that temple had been foretold both by Christ
and his apostles; if therefore the lye could be given to
their predictions, their religion would be no more. This
scheme, therefore, he set about immediately. The completing of such an edifice would be a work of time, and he
pleased himself with the glory of atchieving so bold an enterprize. Accordingly, the attempt was made, and what
was the consequence will be seen by the following account
of it from Ammianus Marcellinus. “Julian, having been
already thrice consul, taking Sallust prsefect of the several
Gauls for his colleague, entered a fourth time on this high
magistracy. It appeared strange to see a private man associated with Augustus; a thing of which, since the consulate of Dioclesian and Aristobulus, history afforded no example. And although his sensibility of the many and great
events, which this year was likely to produce, made him
very anxious for the future, yet he pushed on the various
and complicated preparations for this expedition with the
utmost application: and, having an eye in every quarter,
and being desirous to eternize his reign by the greatness of
his achievements, he projected to rebuild, at an immense
expence, the proud and magnificent temple of Jerusalem,
which, after many combats, attended with much bloodshed
on both sides, during the siege by Vespasian, was, with
great difficulty, taken and destroyed by Titus. He committed the conduct of this affair to Alypius of Antioch, who
formerly had been lieutenant in Britain, When, therefore, this Alypius had set himself to the vigorous execution
of his charge, in which he had all the assistance that the
governor of the province could afford him, horrible bails of
fire breaking out near the foundations, with frequent and
reiterated attacks, rendered the place from time to time inaccessible to the scorched and blasted workmen; and the
victorious element continuing in this manner, obstinately
and resolutely bent, as it were, to drive them to a distance,
Alypius thought best to give over the enterprize. In the
mean time, though Julian was still at Antioch when this
happened, yet he was so wholly taken up by the Persian
expedition, that he had not leisure to attend to it. He set
out soon after upon that expedition, in which he succeeded
very well at first; and, taking several places from the Persians, he advanced as far as Ctesipho without meeting with
an) body to oppose him. However, there passed several
engagements in this place, in which it is said the Romans
had almost always the advantage; but the distressed condition of their army, for want of necessaries, obliged them
to come to a decisive battle. This was begun June 26,
in the year 363, and victory appeared to declare itself on
their side; when Julian, who was engaged personally irr
the fight without |iis helmet, received a mortal wound upon
his head, which put a period to his life the following night.
”
This fact of the interruption given to the rebuilding of the
temple of Jerusalem has been denied by some modern infidels, but nothing of the kind seems better attested; and
although it may be supposed that the eruption was not
without natural causes,' and that the seeds of it lay in the
bowels of the earth, yet, as Dr. Jortin observes, the fire’s
breaking out at the very instant when the Jews and Pagans
were attempting to rebuild the temple, its being renewed
upon their renewed attempt to go on, and ceasing when
they gave over, are circumstances which plainly shew a
providential interposition.
on from them in England by Mr. Buncombe, 1784, 2 vols. 8vo, translated principally from La Bleterie, who wrote an excellent Life of Julian.
We have, in the course of his memoir, had occasion to
exhibit some qualities to the disadvantage of Julian; yet
we must in justice add, that he was sober and vigilant, free
from the debaucheries of women; and, to sum up all, remarkably mild, merciful, good-natured, and, in general,
most amiable; except in his passions which arose from his
aversion to Christianity. He not only encouraged letters
by his patronage, but was himself a learned writer. As a
philosopher, he strictly adhered to the Alexandrian or
Eclectic school. He professes himself a warm admirer of
Pythagoras and Plato, and recommends an union of their
tenets with those of Aristotle. The later Platonists, of his
own period, he loads with encomiums, particularly Jamblichus, whom he calls “The Light of the World,
” and
“The Physician of the Mind.
” Amidst the numerous
traces of an enthusiastic and bigoted attachment to Pagan
theology and philosophy, and of an inveterate enmity to
Christianity, which are to be found in his writings, the
candid reader will discern many marks of genius and erudition. Concerning the manners of Julian, Libanius writes,
that no philosopher, in the lowest state of poverty, was
ever more temperate, or more ready to practise rigorous
abstinence from food, as the means of preparing his mind
for conversing with the gods. Like Plotinus, Porphyry,
Jambiichus, and others of this fanatical sect, he dealt in
visions and extasies, and pretended to a supernatural intercourse with divinities. Suidas relates, probably from
some writings of the credulous Eunapius now lost, an oracular prediction concerning his death. Besides his answer
to St. Cyril, and “Misopogon,
” he wrote some other discourses, epistles, &c. in which are many proofs of genius
and erudition, conveyed in an elegant style. And his rescripts in the Theodosian code shew, that he made more
good laws, in the short time of his reign, than any emperor either before or after him. His works were published
in Greek and Latin by Spanheim in 1696, 2 vols. fol.; and
a selection from them in England by Mr. Buncombe, 1784,
2 vols. 8vo, translated principally from La Bleterie, who
wrote an excellent Life of Julian.
, a native of Leipsic, was the first who published an ancient Greek translation of “Caesar’s Commentaries,”
, a native of Leipsic, was the
first who published an ancient Greek translation of “Caesar’s Commentaries,
” Francfort, Pastorals
” of Longus, with notes, Han. Hortus Eystettensis,
” “Catalogus plantarum
quae circa Altorfinuui nascuntur,
” Altorf, Cornucopias Floras Giessensis,
” Giessae,
many of his definitions are repeatedly made use of by our immortal countryman, Ray. He was the first who projected and raised a literary society in Germany, though this
Jungius seems to have eminently distinguished himself
in the several studies of theology, medicine, mathematics,
metaphysics, and botany, upon all which pursuits his opinions and observations are handed down to us in his writings,
though the most famous part of his work, entitled “Doxoscopiae Physicze Minores,
” is upon the last mentioned subject, botany. This book was first printed at Hamburgh, in
4to, A.D. 1662, and again, in 1679, under the care of
Martin Fogel, with this additional title, “Prsecipuarum
opinionum physicarum.
” A copy of the former edition of
this work is in the Linnoean library, having been presented
to Linnæus by his pupil, professor P. D. Giseke, of Hamburgh. The botanical part of it, included in the third
section of the second part, occupies about 100 pages, and
contains many judicious and acute rules for making distinct
species of plants, as well as some curious remarks upon
genera. He was a great critic in botanical nomenclature;
and constructed a variety of terms which agree with those
of Linnasus, and his remarks upon botanical discrimination
have been of considerable advantage to succeeding botanists, and many of his definitions are repeatedly made
use of by our immortal countryman, Ray. He was the first
who projected and raised a literary society in Germany,
though this institution did not share a better fate than the one
which had just before been founded in this country (and which appears to have served for its model) by Hugh Latimer, Thomas Linacre, and others, for the purpose of
discussing and illustrating Aristotle’s philosophy. They
both Bourished but for a short period, though the Heunetic
or Ereunetic society, as it was called, established by professor Jungius, was on a far more comprehensive plan than
the other, and may indeed be considered as having, in
some measure, embraced the same views with which the
royal society was afterwards instituted in Great Britain.
The fame of Jungius was originally diffused through this
country by his noble pupil, the honourable Charles Cavendish, who appears to have studied under him at Hamburgh.
This gentleman was brother to the earl of Newcastle, who
had the care of Charles I. when a youth.
s friend and pupil, Michael Kirsten. The following is a list of his works, as given by Martin Fogel, who edited the second edition of his “Doxoscopise.” 1. “Logica
After a long life, spent in the acquirement and diffusionof general philosophical knowledge, and having always
manifested a strong attachment to the Lutheran church,
professor Jungius departed this life September 23, 1657,
iind was buried in the church of St. John at Hamburgh,
where a handsome tablet was inscribed to his memory by
his friend and pupil, Michael Kirsten. The following is
a list of his works, as given by Martin Fogel, who edited
the second edition of his “Doxoscopise.
” 1. “Logica
Hamburgensis,
” Hamb. Geometria Empirica,
” Rostock and Hamb. 4to. 3. “Doxoscopiae Physicae Minores, sive Isagoge Physica Doxoscopica.
” Hamb.
Kurzer Bericht von der Didactica oder
Lehrkunst Wolfgangi Ratichii, durch Christoph. Helvicum
und Joach. Jungium,
” Giessen, Disputationes de naturali Dei cognitione de potentia activa de
loco Aristotelis, lib. 3. de ccelo, t. 66 de figuris locum
replentibus de relationibus de notionibus secundis de
demonstratione tritermina: de definitionibus,
” &c.
8, to Edward VI. with the title of king. Edward not being acknowledged such by the pope> our author, who was of that religion, fell under the displeasure of the court
, a learned Hollander, was born, in
1511 or 1512, at Hoorn, of which place his father had been
secretary, and five times burgomaster. Having passed
through his first studies at Haeriem and Louvain, he fixed
Upon physic for his profession, and, for his improvement,
resolved to travel abroad. Accordingly, going first to
France, he put himself under the care of James Houlier,
a celebrated physician at Paris. Thence he went to Bologna in Italy, where he was admitted M. D. and afterwards, passing through several parts of Germany, arrived
in England, and became physician to the duke of Norfolk
in 1543, and was afterwards retained in that quality by a
certain great lady. He continued in England several years,
and wrote many books there; among others, a Greek and
Latin lexicon, to which he added above 6500 words. He
dedicated this work, in 1548, to Edward VI. with the title
of king. Edward not being acknowledged such by the
pope> our author, who was of that religion, fell under the
displeasure of the court of Rome for his dedication, and
was prosecuted for it a long time after. His works were
put into the “Index Expurgatorius,
” where he was branded
as a Calvinist, and an author “damnatae memories,
” of
condemned memory; a disgrace which gave him great
uneasiness and concern; and, in order to be freed from it,
having laid his case before cardinal Granville, he applied,
by the advice of Arias Montanus, directly to the pope,
and prepared an apology, shewing the indispensable necessity he was under of giving Edward the title of king,
and at the same time protesting he had always been a good
catholic.
Spaniards in 1573, when he found means to escape, by obtaining leave to attend the prince of Orange, who desired his assistance as a physician; but lost his library,
Before the death of Edward, he returned to his own
country, and led a sedentary life, closely pursuing his
studies; but, upon the accession of queen Mary, he returned thither; and, being a very good poet, he published,
in 1554, an epithalamium on the marriage of Philip II.
with that queen, entitled “Philippis.
” This address could
not fail of introducing him in a favourable light to that
court, whence he would probably have made a considerable
fortune, had not the turbulent state of those times driven
him home again. He confined himself some time in Hoorn,
but, after a while, settled at Haeriem; and repaired the
disappointment he sustained respecting his finances in
England, by marrying a young woman of fortune, which
he knew how to improve by making the most of his
dedications to his books, of which he published three at Haarlem in 1556. Some years after, he accepted an offer from
the king of Denmark, to be his physician, with a considerable salary, and removed to Copenhagen; but neither
liking the climate nor genius of the inhabitants, he left the
country about 1564, very abruptly, without taking leave of
the king. Returning to Haerlem, he practised physic, and
was made principal of the college, or great school, in that
town. He continued there till the place was besieged by
the Spaniards in 1573, when he found means to escape, by
obtaining leave to attend the prince of Orange, who desired
his assistance as a physician; but lost his library, in which
he had left a great many works which had cost him much
pains and labour; and the loss was aggravated by this
circumstance, that they were almost fit for the press. In
this exigency he went to Middleburgh, where the prince
had procured him a public salary to practise physic; but
the air of the country did not agree with his constitution,
and he fell into some disorders, which, with the grief he
felt for the loss of his library, put an end to his life in 1575.
There was a design to have given him a professorship at
Leyden, which university was but just rising when he died.
He had a prodigious memory, which enabled him to treasure up a vast stock of learning. Besides his skill in physic,
which was his profession, he was an historian, poet, philosopher, and understood perfectly eight languages. His
works make up 24 articles, among which are, “Lexicon
Graeco-Latinum,
” Adagiorum ab Erasmo omissorum centuriae octo & dimidia,
”
, where the elector, Frederic III. received him very graciously. He then made a visit to his mother, who was still living at Bourges; after which, returning to the Palatinate,
, or Du Jon (Francis), professor of divinity at Leyden, was descended of a noble family, and born at Bourges in 1545. At the age of thirteen he began to study the law, and afterwards went to Geneva, to study the languages; but being restrained in his pursuits for want of a proper support from his family, he resolved to get his bread by teaching school, which he pursued till 1565, when he was made minister of the Walloon church at Antwerp. But as this was both a troublesome and dangerous post, on account of the tumultuous conflicts between the papists and protestants at that time, he was soon obliged to withdraw into Germany. He went first to Heidelberg, where the elector, Frederic III. received him very graciously. He then made a visit to his mother, who was still living at Bourges; after which, returning to the Palatinate, he was made minister of the church of Schoon there. This was hut a small congregation; and, while he held it, he was sent by the elector to the prince of Orange’s army, during the unsuccessful expedition of 1568. He continued chaplain to that prince till the troops returned into Germany; when he resumed his church in the Palatine, and resided upon it till 1579. This year his patron, the elector, appointed him to translate the Old Testament jointly with Tremellius, which employment brought him to Heidelberg. He afterwards read public lectures at Neustadt, till prince Casimir, administrator of the electorate, gave him the divinity-professor’s chair at Heidelberg. He returned into France with the duke de Bouillon; and paying his respects to Henry IV. that prince sent him upon some mission into Germany. Returning to give an account of his success, and passing through Holland, he was invited to be divinity-professor at Leyden; and, obtaining the permission of the French ambassador, he accepted the offer in 1592. He had passed through many scenes of life, and he wrote an account of them himself this year: after which, he filled the chair at Leyden with great reputation for the space of ten years, when he died of the plague in 1602.
He was married no less than four times, and by his third wife had a son, who is the subject of the next article. The titles of his works
He was married no less than four times, and by his third
wife had a son, who is the subject of the next article.
The titles of his works are sixty-four in number, among
which are, “Commentaries
” on the first three chapters of
Genesis, the prophecies of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Jonah
“Sacred Parallels
” and “Notes
” upon the book of Revelation “Hebrew Lexicon
” “Grammar of the Hebrew
Tongue
” “Notes on Cicero’s Epistles to Atticns.
” But
what he is chiefly, and almost only, known for now, is his
Latin version of the Hebrew text of the Bible, jointly "with
Tremellius. He was a man of great learning and pious
zeal, and his life by Melchior Adam affords many interesting particulars of him in both characters. In the account
of his life written by himself, he relates that in his youth
he was sed.uced into atheism, from which he represents
himself as almost miraculously redeemed, and this appears.
have made a lasting impression on him.
t he had lodgings opposite to Lincoln college, for the sake of Dr. Marshall, rector of that society, who had been his pupil in the study of the Northern languages, and
After a careful course of these studies and researches,
he announced his having discovered that the Gothic was
the mother of all the Teutonic tongues; whence sprang
the old Cimbrian, transmitted to posterity by the remains
of the Runic, as likewise the Swedish, Danish, Norwegian,
Icelandish, in which the inhabitants of the country expressed their thoughts at that time. From the AngloSaxon, which itself is either a branch of the Gothic or its
sister, and daughter of the same mother, sprang the
English, Scotch, Belgtc, and the old language of Friesland.
From the Gothic and Saxon languages sprang that of the
Francs, which is the mother-tongue of Upper-Germany.
He was so passionately fond of this study, that, after thirty
years chiefly spent upon it in England, being informed
there were some villages in Friesland where the ancient
language of the Saxons was preserved, he went thither and
lived two years among them. Then, returning into Holland, he met with the old Gothic ms. called the Silver
One, because the four gospels are written there in silver
Gothic letters. He devoted his whole study in the explication of it, which he completed in a little time, and published it, with notes of Dr. Marshall, in 1665, under the
title “Glossarium Gothicum in quatuor evangelia Gothica,
”
Dordrac,
t and social temper, even in his extreme old age. He was free from peevishness, and affable to those who visited him, though he did not like to be interrupted. Besides
In Aug. 1677, upon the invitation of his nephew, Dr.
Isaac Vossius, canon of Windsor, he went to his house,
and there died of a fever, Nov. 19 following. His corpse
was interred in St. George’s chapel, within the castle, and
the following year a table of white marble was fixed to the
wall, near his grave, with an inscription in Latin. He was
not only very learned, but a man of irreproachable character. As a laborious student, perhaps few have excelled
him. He used to rise at four in the morning, both winter
and summer, and study till dinner-time, which was at one;
after dinner he used some bodily exercise, walking or running, but returned to his studies at three, and did not
leave them till eight, when he went to supper, and then
to bed. He very seldom stirred abroad, and never but
when some business obliged him. Notwithstanding this,
he enjoyed a perfect state of health, and was never once
sick. Though he spent so long a series of years in this
solitary manner, he was a man of a pleasant and social
temper, even in his extreme old age. He was free from
peevishness, and affable to those who visited him, though
he did not like to be interrupted. Besides the “Glossarium
Gothicum,
” the chief of his printed works are, 1. that
intituled “De pictura veterum,
” The
Painting of the Ancients;
” in three books, with additions
and alterations, Lond. 1638. To the folio edition was prefixed his life, written by Groevius. 2. “Observationes in
Willerami Francicam paraphrasin Cantici canticorum,
”
Amst. Ger. Job. Vossii
& clarorum virorum ad eum epistolae,
” Lond. vir omnifaria doctrina &
generis splendore ornatissimus.
”
the catholic church by M. de Meaux, bishop of Condom. This treatise did great credit to the author, who endeavoured to prove that the prelate had disguised the doctrine
, a French protestant divine, sometimes
called by the catholics the Goliah of the protestants, was
born Dec. 24, 1637. His father, Daniel Jurieu, was minister of the reformed religion at Mer his mother, the
daughter of Peter du Moulin, minister and professor at
Sedan. He was sent, after the first rudiments of his education under Rivet in Holland, to his maternal uncle Peter
du Moulin, then in England where, having finished his
theological studies, he took orders in that church but,
upon the death of his father, being called home to succeed
him at Mer, and finding what he had done in England
disliked by the reformed in his own country, he submitted
to a re-ordination by presbyters, according to the form of the
foreign protestant churches. After some time, he officiated
in the French church of Vitri, where the people were so
much pleased with him, that they endeavoured to procure
his settlement among them; and here he composed his
“Treatise, of Devotion.
” Before this, in Preservative against Popery,
” which he opposed to the exposition of the doctrine of the catholic church by M. de
Meaux, bishop of Condom. This treatise did great credit
to the author, who endeavoured to prove that the prelate
had disguised the doctrine of his church. In 1675, Jurieu.
published the first part of his work (the whole of which appeared in 1685), entitled “La Justification de la Morale,
” &c. or, “A Vindication of the Morality of the Protestants against the Accusations of Mr. Arnauld,
” &c. la
La Politique du Clerge,
” which was a severe satire on
the Roman catholics, he was apprehensive of being prosecuted, and therefore retired hastily into Holland, where
be almost immediately received an offer of the divinitychair in the university of Groningen; but his friends having founded the same professorship for him at Rotterdam,
he preferred this residence to the other; and he was also
appointed minister of the Walloon church in the same
town. He had not been long in this happy situation,
when he produced to the public “Les derniers Efforts de
PInnocence afflige'e,
” or “The last Efforts of afflicted
Innocence.
”
at; and it was not a little heightened when he thought himself insulted by some of his best friends, who opposed his sen-, timents. This drew him into violent disputes,
At Rotterdam, having nothing to fear, he gave full scope
to his imagination, which was naturally too warm and sanguine. Jn this temper he applied himself to study the
book of “the Revelations,
” and thought he had certainly
discovered the true meaning of it by a kind of inspiration,
which shewed him, that France was the place of the great
city, where the witnesses mentioned in the apocalypse lay
dead, but not buried; and that they were to rise to life
again in three yeafs and a half, namely, in 1689. He was
unalterably fixed and confirmed in this persuasion by the
revolution which happened in England in 16SS; and even
addressed a letter upon the subject to king William, whom
he considered as the instrument intended by God to carry
his designs into execution. At home, however, all this
was charged upon him as an artifice, only to prepare the
people for a much greater revolution; and he was suspected to harbour no other design than that of exciting
people to take up arms, and setting all Europe in a flame.
The foundation of this belief was his not shewing any signs
of confusion after the event had given the lye to his prophecies: they built likewise on this, that, after the example of Comenius, he had attempted to re-unite the Lutherans and Calvinists, in hopes of increasing the number
of troops to attack Antichrist. But these accusations were
brought only by the Romanists, his constant enemies, while
his more indulgent friends attributed his prophecies to enthusiasm, and it is certain, that, under this period of mental delusion, he affected to believe a great number of prodigies, which he maintained were so many presages or
forerunners of the accomplishment of the prophecies. Nor
is it true that he was indifferent to the ill success of what he
had predicted in his “L'accomplissement des Propheties,
”
Rotterdam, History of Calvinism
” in
Histoire des dogmes et des
cultes,
” which he had composed in his youth, a work of
very considerable merit. In the two or three last years of
his life he wrote only some devotional pieces. At length
he sunk under a load of infirmities, at Rotterdam, Jan,
11, 1713. He was unquestionably a man of considerable
learning, but peculiar in some of his own notions, and intolerant to those of others. Among his works, not mentioned above, are “Histoire du Calvinisme et du Papisrne
mise en parallele,
” &c. Lettres Pastorales.
”
These letters are upon the subject of the accomplishment
of the prophecies. In one of them, for Jan. 1695, having
quoted, as proof of the favourable intentions of the allies, a
proposal for peace, drawn up by the diet of Ratisbon,
which had been forged by a speculative politician in Amsterdam, he was so ashamed of his having been imposed
upon by this fictitious piece, that he instantly printed
another edition of his letter, in which he omitted that article,
3. “Parallele de trois Lettres pastorales de Mr. Jurieu, c.
”
Dissertation concerning defamatory
Libels,
” at the end of Bayle’s Diet. 4. “Traite de TumlS
del'eglise,
” &c. Le vray systeme.de l'église
et la veritable analyse de la foi,
” &c. L'Esprit
de Mr. Arnauld,
” Abrege de i'Histoire du Concile de Trente,
” &c. Les prejugez legitimos
centre le papisme,
” Le Janseniste convaincu
de vaine sophistiquerie.
” 10. “Le Philosophe de Rotterdam accuse, atteint, et convaincu.
” 11. “Traite historique, contenant le jugement d'un Protestant sur la Theologie Mystique,
” &c. Jugement sur les me*thodes rigides et relache'es,
” &c. Traite* de
la Nature et la Grace.
” 14. “Apologie pour Paccomplissement de Propbe'ties,
” Quelque Sermons,
” &C.
er of physic, and eminent for his botanical skill and researches, and was one of the first botanists who aimed at a natural system of arrangement. He was member of various
, brother of the preceding, was
also a native of Lyons, and born in 1699. Like his brother he was a practitioner of physic, and eminent for his
botanical skill and researches, and was one of the first botanists who aimed at a natural system of arrangement.
He was member of various learned academies in Europe;
curator of the plants of the royal garden at Paris, and was
invited by the king himself to superintend the arrangement
of a botanical garden at Trianon. He was highly esteemed
by his royal master, and enjoyed, what was no less honourable, the friendship and confidence of Linnæus. He
had numerous pupils, by whom he was much beloved, and
died in possession of universal esteem in 1777, in the
seventy-ninth year of his age. His only publications were,
an edition of Tournefort on the plants which grow near
Paris, 1725, 2 vols. 12mo; and “L'ami de Fhumanite, ou,
Conseils cTun bon citoyen a sa nation,
” octavo, printed
after his death. Although a first-rate botanist, he was deterred by excess of modesty from giving his ideas to the
world. His nephew, the present A. L. de Jussieu, has
given us a plan of the method, according to which he arranged the garden of Trianon in 1759, and which, in fact,
laid the foundation of his own celebrated work, published
in 1789. The Jussixa, of Linnreus, was so named by that
eminent botanist in honour of these two brothers. There
was a third brother, however, the youngest, who was born
in 1704, and in 1735 went to Peru, in the capacity of a
botanist, with the academicians sent there to measure a
degree. After continuing in that country thirty-six years,
he returned to EVance in very bad health, and almost in a
state of childhood, and died in 1779. Some account of
his travels and discoveries may be seen in Memoirs of the
French Academy; and it was at one time thought that his
nephew was preparing an account for publication, but we
know not that it has yet appeared.
the edict of Nantz, several years before it happened, as we are informed by Dr. Hickes. This divine, who, upon his travels abroad, made a considerable stay at Paris,
, was horn at Paris in 1620, and succeeded his father as secretary and counsellor to the king.
He was a man of distinguished learning himself, and an
encourager of it in others, employing his interest at court
in their favour. His house was the usual resort of men of
letters, among whom we find Mr. Locke and Dr. Hickes;
which shews that it was open to men of all complexions
and principles. Mr. Justel had always professed a particular respect for the English nation, and cultivated are
acquaintance with many great men there. He foresaw the
revocation of the edict of Nantz, several years before it
happened, as we are informed by Dr. Hickes. This divine,
who, upon his travels abroad, made a considerable stay at
Paris, set apart one day in the week for visiting Mr. Justel.
In one of these visits, after some discourse about the protestant churches, observed by Dr. Hickes to be in many
places demolished, notwithstanding the edict of Nantz,
“Alas, sir,
” says Mr. Justel, “as I am wont to talk in
confidence with you, so I will tell you a secret, that almost
none of us knows besides myself our extirpation is decreed we must all be banished our country, or turn papists. I tell it you because I intend to come into England,
where I have many friends; and that, when I come to see
you among the rest, you may remember that I told it you.
”
“Upon this,
” says Dr. Hickes, “I asked him how long it
would be before this sad persecution would be put into
execution He answered, within four or five years at most;
and remember, says he again, that I foretold the time.
After he had been some time in London he made a visit to
the doctor at his house on Tower-hill; where, presentlyafter the common forms of congratulating one another (it was about the time that the bill of exclusion was thrown out of the House of Lords), he said, Sir, don't you remember what I told you of the persecution we have since suffered, and of the time when it would begin and you now
see all has accordingly come to pass.
”
he neglect of the original occasioned the abridgment, as commonly happens in the decline of letters. Who Justin was, and when he lived, is altogether uncertain; but
, an ancient Latin historian, is known by his
abridgment of the large work of Trogus Pompeius, which
some think has occasioned the loss of the original; but it
is much more probable that the neglect of the original occasioned the abridgment, as commonly happens in the
decline of letters. Who Justin was, and when he lived, is
altogether uncertain; but he is generally referred to the
year 150, in the reign of Antoninus Pius. The abridgment comprises a history of the world from Ninus to Augustus Caesar; and is written with great purity and elegance,
excepting here and there a word which savours of encroaching barbarism. It has long been employed as a school
book, and is held in great estimation by foreign critics.
La Mothe le Vayer thinks “his manner of writing so excellent as to be worthy the age of Augustus rather than that
of the Antonines.
” Justin has been illustrated by the best
annotators, particularly Graevius; and there are numerous
editions, of which the preference is given to those of Grsevius; of Hearne, 1705, 8vo of Gronovius, 1719, and
1760; of Fischer, 1757, &c.
“Dialogue with Trypho,” when there met him one day a grave and ancient person of a venerable aspect, who, falling into discourse upon the subject of his thoughts, turned
, one of the earliest
writers of the Christian church, was born at Neapolis, the
ancient Sichem of Palestine, in the province of Samaria.
His father Priscius, being a Gentile Greek, brought him
up in his own religion, and had him educated in all the
Grecian learning and philosophy. To complete his studies
he travelled to Egypt, the usual tour on this occasion, as
being the seat of the more mysterious and recondite literature at this time he was shewn, as he tells you, at
Alexandria, the remains of those cells where the seventy
translators of the Bible performed what is called the Septuagint version. He had, from his first application to philosophy, disliked the stoic and peripatetic; and chose the
sect of Plato, with whose ideas he was enamoured, and of
which he resolved to make himself master. He was prosecuting this design in contemplation and solitary walks
by the sea-side, as he informs us in his “Dialogue with
Trypho,
” when there met him one day a grave and ancient
person of a venerable aspect, who, falling into discourse
upon the subject of his thoughts, turned the conversation,
by degrees, from the fancied excellence of Platonism to
the superior perfection of Christianity; and performed his
part so well, as to raise an ardent curiosity in our Platonist
to inquire into the merits of that religion, the result of
which was his conversion, which happened about the 16th
year of Trajan’s reign, A. C. 132.
here he had frequent conferences with one Crescens, a philosopher of some repute in that city; a man who had endeavoured to traduce the Christians, and represent their
Not long afterwards, Justin made a visit into the East;
and, among other parts, went to Ephesus. Here he fell
into the company and acquaintance of Trypho, a Jew of
great note, with whom he engaged in a dispute that held
for two days: the substance of which he afterwards wrote
in a piece ^entitled his “Dialogue with Trypho.
” By the
conclusion we learn he was then ready to set sail to Ephesus.
He returned at last to Rome, where he had frequent conferences with one Crescens, a philosopher of some repute
in that city; a man who had endeavoured to traduce the
Christians, and represent their religion under the most infamous character. Justin now presented his second Apology to Marcus Antoninus Philosophus, the successor of
Pius, and a determined enemy to the Christians. The immediate occasion of this second Apology, as he himself
Infoniis the emperor, was this: A woman at Rome had,
together with her husband, lived in all manner of wantonness, and, from a vicious course of life, had been converted
to Christianity; and being reclaimed herself, very naturally
sought also to reclaim her husband, but at length, finding
him quite obstinate, she procured a bill of divorce. The
man, enraged at this, accused her to the emperor of being
a Christian. She, however, putting in a petition for leave
to answer it, he relinquished that prosecution; and, falling
upon her converter, one Ptolomeus, procured his imprisonment and condemnation. On that occasion, Lucius, a
Christian, being present, presumed to represent how hard
it was that an innocent and virtuous man, charged with no
crime, should be adjudged to die merely for bearing the
name of a Christian: a proceeding that must certainly be a
reflection upon the government. These words were no
sooner spoken than he, together with a third person, were
sentenced to the same fate. The severity of these proceedings awakened Justin’s solicitude and care for the rest
of his brethren; and he immediately drew up his second
apology, in which, among other things, he made heavy
complaints of the malice and envy of his antagonist Crcscens. The philosopher, irritated at this charge, procured
him to be apprehended, with six of his companions, and
brought before the praefect of the city. After their ex
amination, this sentence was pronounced, that “TheJ
who refuse to sacrifice to the gods, and to obey the imperial edicts, be first scourged, and then beheaded, according to the laws:
” which was put in execution upon
Justin and the rest. This happened, according to Baronius, A. C. 165, not long after Justin had presented his
second Apology; which is said, therefore, in the language
of those times, to have procured him the crown of martyrdom.
He was the first Christian, after the days of the apostles, who added to an unquestionable zeal and love of the gospel, the
He was the first Christian, after the days of the apostles, who added to an unquestionable zeal and love of the gospel, the character of a man of learning and philosophy, both which were employed in propagating and defending his principles. He stands at the head of the Christian Platonists, or those who endeavoured to reconcile the Platonic principles with the dictates of Christianity; and the consequence of this attempt was his holding some opinions not altogether agreeable to the genius of the gospel. There are several valuable editions of his works, the first of which was that of Rob. Stephens, Paris, 1551, fol. and the best are those of Maran, printed at Paris, 1742, fol. and of Oberthur, at Wurtzburg, 1777, 3 vols. 8vo. There is an edition of his second Apology by Hutchinson, Oxon. 1703, 8vo; of his Dialogue with Trypho, by Jebb, London, 1719, 8vo; of his Apologies, by Ashton, Cambridge, 1768, 8vo; of his ftrst Apology, by Grabe, Oxon, 1700; and of both Apologies, and his Dialogue, by Thirl by, London, 1722, fol.
stated it in its ancient glory. He was very happy in having the best general of the age, Belisarius, who conquered the Persians for him in 528, 542, and 543; and in
, the first Roman emperor of his name, and more celebrated for his code of laws, was nephew of Justin I. and succeeded his uncle in the Imperial throne Aug. 1, 527. He began his reign with the character of a most religious prince, publishing very severe laws against heretics, and repairing ruined churches; in this spirit,- he actually declared himself protector of the church. While he was thus re-establishing Christianity at home, he carried his arms against the enemies of the empire abroad, with so much success, that he reinstated it in its ancient glory. He was very happy in having the best general of the age, Belisarius, who conquered the Persians for him in 528, 542, and 543; and in 533 exterminated the Vandals, and took their king Gillimer prisoner. He also recovered Africa to the empire by a new conquest vanquished the Goths in Italy and, lastly, defeated the Moors and the Samaritans. But, in the midst of these glorious successes the emperor was endangered by a potent faction at home. Hypalius, Pompeius, and Probus, three nephews of the emperor Anastasius, the immediate predecessor of Justin, combining together, raised a powerful insurrection, in order to dethrone Justinian. The conspirators formed two parties, one called the Varti, and the other Veneti, and at length became so strong, that the emperor, in despair of being able to resist them, began to think of quitting the palace; and had certainly submitted to that disgrace had not the empress Theodosia, his consort, vexed at his betraying so much tameness, reproached him with his pusillanimity, and induced him to fortify himself against the rebels, while Belisarius and Mundus defended him so well, that the conspiracy was broken, and the ringleaders capitally punished.
f the Roman laws into one body. To this end, he selected ten of the most able lawyers in the empire; who, revising the Gregorian, Theodosian, and Hermogenian codes,
The empire being now in the full enjoyment of profound
peace and tranquillity, Justinian made the best use of it,
by collecting the immense variety and number of the Roman laws into one body. To this end, he selected ten of
the most able lawyers in the empire; who, revising the
Gregorian, Theodosian, and Hermogenian codes, compiled
out of them one body, called “The Code,
” to which the
emperorgave his own name. This may be called the statute law, as consisting of the rescripts of the emperors:
but the compilation of the other part was a much more
difficult task. It was made up of the decisions of the
judges and other magistrates, together with the authoritative opinions of the most eminent lawyers; all which lay
scattered, without any order, in above 2000 volumes.
These, however, after the labour of ten years, chiefly by
Tribonian, an eminent lawyer, were reduced to the number of 50; and the whole design was completed in the year
533, and the name of “Digests,
” or “Pandects,
” given to it.
Besides these, for the use chiefly of young students in the
law, Justinian ordered four books of “Institutes
” to be
drawn up, by Tribonian, Dorotheus, and Theophilus, containing an abstract or abridgement of the text of all the
laws: and, lastly, the laws of modern date, posterior to
that of the former, were thrown into one volume in the
year 541, called the “Noveilx,
” or “New Code.
”
This most important transaction in the state has rendered
Justinian’s name immortal. His conduct in ecclesiastical
affairs was rash and inconsiderate. On one occasion,
when Theodotus, king of Italy, had obliged pope Agapetus to go to Constantinople, in order to submit and make
peace with the emperor, Justinian received him very graciously, but enjoined him to communicate with Anthenius,
patriarch of Constantinople. That patriarch being deemed
a heretic at Rome, the pontiff refused to obey the command; and, when the emperor threatened to punish his
disobedience with banishment, he answered, without any
emotion, “I thought I was come before a Christian prince,
but I find a Diocletian.
” The result was, that the hardiness and resolution of the pope brought the emperor to a
submission. Accordingly Anthenius was deprived, and an
orthodox prelate put into his place.
o the natural infirmities of a human body. He carried it so far as to prepare an edict against those who maintained the contrary opinion, and intended to publish it;
After this, Justinian, resolving to take cognizance of
the difference between the three chapters, published a rescript for that purpose, in form of a constitution, which
created great disturbances in the empire. He also exerted
his authority against the attempts of the popes Sylverius
and Vigilius, both before and after the celebration of the
fifth general council held in the year 553. Towards the latter
end of his life, he fell into an erroneous opinion concerning Christ’s body; which he maintained had never been
corruptible, nor subject to the natural infirmities of a human body. He carried it so far as to prepare an edict
against those who maintained the contrary opinion, and intended to publish it; but was prevented by his death,
which happened suddenly, in 565, at the age of 83, and
after a reign of 39 years. It was this emperor who abolished the consulate. He built a great number of churches,
and particularly the famous Sancta Sophia, at Constantinople, esteemed a master-piece of architecture. But the
increasing jealousies, and the heavy burdens which Justinian imposed upon his subjects, had, some time before
his death, destroyed all attachment to his person; and he
who, in many respects, deserved the title of the last Roman emperor, left the stage unlamented and tinhonoured.
The editions of his “Code,
” “Institutions,
” &c. are too
many to be enumerated, but the best of them occur in almost every catalogue.
im in several commissions. Upon his return to Venice, he was sent ambassador to Lewis XI. of France, who made him a knight in 1461. He went afterwards several times
, nephew of the above, was born at Venice in 1408. He pursued his first studies under Guarini of Verona, and continued them at Padua, where he took his doctor’s degree. Notwithstanding he put on the senator’s robe at the age of nineteen, yet he still prosecuted his studies under Francis Philelphi and George de Trebisonde, whom he took into his house, and retained there, till pope Calixtus III. sent for him to Rome, and employed him in several commissions. Upon his return to Venice, he was sent ambassador to Lewis XI. of France, who made him a knight in 1461. He went afterwards several times ambassador to Rome from the republic; and, in 1467, was made commandant of Padua. He afterwards became a member of the council of ten, and bore the dignity of Sage Grand no hers than twenty times. In 1474, he was elected procurator of St. Mark, a post next to that of doge. He died in 1489.
e same famrly, which is still honourably distinguished in Italy, was the marquis Vincent Justiniani, who employed Blomuiaert, Alillan, and others, to engrave his gallery,
His speeches on different occasions have been printed,
with his letters, and “History of Venice,
” Venice, Vita B. Laurentii Justiniarii,
” Origin of the Military Orders,
”
Venice, History of the Military Orders,
” Amsterdam, The History of
the Religious Orders,
” Amsterdam,
of Rome. The revenue of his diocese being small, he petitioned the pope for a better; but Francis I. who was a patron of learned men, drew him to France, by making him
, bishop of Nebo or Nebbio, one of the most learned men of his time, was descended from a branch of the same noble family with the former; and born at Genoa, in 1470. After having resided some time at Valencia, in Spain, he entered into the order of St. Dominic, at Paris, in 1488; when he took the name of Augustin in the room of Pantaleon, which he received at his baptism. Soon after he distinguished himself by his learning, and knowledge in the languages, which he acquired in a very short time; so that Leo X. named him to the bishopric of Nebo, in the island of Corsica, in which capacity he assisted in the fifth council of Lateran, where he opposed some articles of the concordat between France and the court of Rome. The revenue of his diocese being small, he petitioned the pope for a better; but Francis I. who was a patron of learned men, drew him to France, by making him his almoner, with a good pension; and he was also regius professor of Hebrew for five years at Paris. Returning to Genoa in 1522, he found every thing in confusion, by the sedition of the Adornes; on which he went to visit his diocese, and discharged all the duties of a good prelate, till 1531. In a voyage from Genoa to Nebc, he perished, together with the vessel in which he was embarked, 1536. By his last will, he left his library to the republic of Genoa.
us for the birth-place of Thomas (thence styled) Aquinas. Juvenal’s father was probably a freed man, who, being rich, gave him a liberal education; and, agreeably to
, the Roman satirist, was
born about the beginning of the emperor Claudius’s reign,
at Aquinum, a town in Campania, since famous for the
birth-place of Thomas (thence styled) Aquinas. Juvenal’s
father was probably a freed man, who, being rich, gave
him a liberal education; and, agreeably to the taste of the
times, bred him up to eloquence. In this he made a
great progress, first under Fronto the grammarian, and
then, as is generally conjectured, under Quintilian; after
which he attended the bar, where he made a distinguished
figure for many years, as we learn from some of Martial’s
epigrams. In this profession he had improved his fortune
and interest at Rome, before he turned his thoughts to
poetry the very style of which, in his satires, speaks a
long habit of declamation “subactum redolent declamatorem,
” say the critics. He is supposed to have been
above forty years of age, when he recited his first essay to
a small audience of his friends; but, being encouraged by
their applause, he ventured a publication, in which Paris,
a player, and Domitian’s favourite, was satirized; this
minion complained to the emperor, who sent the poet into
banishment, under pretence of giving him the command
of a cohort, in the army quartered at Pentapolis, a city
upon the frontiers of Egypt and Lybia. After Domitian’s
death, he returned to Rome, cured of his propensity to
attack the characters of those in power under arbitrary
princes, and indulge in personal reflections upon living
characters. His 13th satire, addressed to Calvinus, was
written U. C. 8T1, in the 3d year of Adrian, when Juvenal
was above seventy years old; and as it is agreed that he
attained to his eightieth year, he must have died about
the 11th year of Adrian.
of Chichester. In all these promotions, he was chiefly indebted to Dr. Laud, then bishop of London, who had a high regard for him, and, as dean of the king’s chapel,
, a loyal and worthy English prelate,
the son of Richard Juxon of Chichester in Sussex, was born
in 1582, and educated, upon the foundation, at Merchant
Taylors’ school, whence he was elected a fellow of St.
John’s college, Oxford, in 1598. Here, as his intentions
were for the bar, he studied civil law, and took the degree
of bachelor in that faculty, July 5, 1603, having before entered himself a student in Gray’s-inn. But for some reasons
not assigned by his biographer, he entirely changed his
mind, and after having gone through a course of divinity
studies, took orders, and in the latter end of 1609 was presented by his college, which stands in that parish, to the
vicarage of St. Giles’s, Oxford. Here he was much admired for his plain, practical style of preaching. In 1614,
we are told, he left this living, probably on being presented
to the rectory of Somerton in Oxfordshire, in the east window of the chancel of which church are his arms; but it is
equally probable that he might hold both. It is certain
that his connexion with Oxford continued; and when, in
1621, Dr. Laud resigned the office of president of St. John’s
college, Mr. Juxon was chosen in his room, chiefly by his
influence. In December of the same year, he proceeded
doctor of laws, and in 1626 and 1627 served the office of
vice-chancellor of the university. About this time his majesty Charles I. appointed him one of his chaplains in ordinary, and collated him to the deanery of Worcester,
along with which he held a prebend of Chichester. In all
these promotions, he was chiefly indebted to Dr. Laud,
then bishop of London, who had a high regard for him,
and, as dean of the king’s chapel, recommended him to be
clerk of the closet, into which office Dr. Juxon was sworn
July 10, 1632. Laud’s object in this last promotion is
said to have been, that “he might have one that he might
trust near his majesty, if he himself grew weak or infirm.
”
By the same interest Dr. Juxon was elected bishop of
Hereford in 1633, and was made dean of the king’s chapel,
but before consecration was removed to the bishopric of
London, in room of Laud, now archbishop of Canterbury,
and was also sworn of the privy council. He entered on
his bishopric Nov. 5 of the above year, and although his
diocese was much displeased with the conduct of his predecessor, bishop Juxon, by his mild temper and urbanity,
obtained the respect of all parties.
by the greatest persons of the opposite party, although he remained firm in his loyalty to the king, who consulted him upon many occasions. Sir Philip Warwick, being
On his resignation, he retired to his palace at Fulham,
where he continued for some time, not only undisturbed,
but. sometimes visited by the greatest persons of the opposite party, although he remained firm in his loyalty to the
king, who consulted him upon many occasions. Sir Philip
Warwick, being employed on one of those occasions, desired he might bring the bishop himself to his majesty, for
fear of a mistake in the message, or lest the bishop should
not speak freely to him. To which the king replied, “Go
as I bid you if he will speak freely to any body, he will
speak freely to you. This I will say of him I never got
his opinion freely in my life, but, when I had it, I was ever
the better for it.
” Bishop Juxon also attended upon his
majesty at the treaty in the Isle of Wight in 1643, by the
consent of the parliament; and by the king’s particular
desire, waited upon him at Cotton-house in Westminster
on Jan. 21 following, the day after the commencement of
his trial. During the whole of this trial, he attended the
king, who declared that he was the greatest support and
comfort to him on that occasion. He followed his royal
master also to the scaffold, and when he was preparing
himself for the block, Juxon said to him, “There is, sir,
but one stage more, which, though turbulent and troublesome, is yet a very short one. Consider, it will soon carry
you a great way; it will carry you from earth to heaven;
and there you shall find, to your great joy, the prize to
which you hasten, a crown of glory.
” “I go,
” said the
king, “from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where
no disturbance can be.
” “, You are exchanged,
” replied
the bishop, “from a temporal to an eternal crown; a good
exchange.
”
It was remarked by the regicides, that the king, the
moment before he stretched out his neck to the executioner, said to J uxon, with a very earnest accent, the
single word Remember. Great mysteries were consequently supposed to be concealed under that expression;
and the generals vehemently insisted with the prelate, that
he should inform them of the king’s meaning. Juxon told
them, that the king having frequently charged him to inculcate on his son the forgiveness of his murderers, had
taken this opportunity, in the last moment of his life, when
his commands, he supposed, would be regarded, as sacred
and inviolable, to reiterate that desire; and that his mild
spirit thus terminated its present course, by an act of benevolence towards his greatest enemies. Dr. Uuxon was
also one of those who accompanied the king’s body to
"Windsor, but was not permitted to read the funeral service.
ety, ordained by St. John; and confirmed about the year 67, bishop of Antioch by these two apostles, who first planted Christianity in that city, where the disciples
, one of the apostolical fathers of the church, was born in Syria, educated under the apostle and evangelist St. John, intimately acquainted with some other of the apostles, especially St. Peter and St. Paul; and being fully instructed in the doctrines of Christianity, was, for his eminent parts and piety, ordained by St. John; and confirmed about the year 67, bishop of Antioch by these two apostles, who first planted Christianity in that city, where the disciples were first called Christians. In this important seat he continued to sit upwards of forty years, both an honour and safeguard to the Christian religion; in the midst of very stormy and tempestuous times, undaunted himself, and unmoved with the prospect of suffering a cruel death. So much seems to be certain in general, though we have no account of any particulars of his life till the year 107, when Trajan the emperor, elated with his victory over the Scythians and Daci, came to Antioch to prepare for a war against the Parthians and Armenians. He entered the city with the pomp and solemnities of a triumph; and, as he had already commenced a persecution against the Christians in other parts of the empire, he now resolved to carry it on here. However, as he was naturally mild and humane, though he ordered the laws to be put in force against them, if convicted, yet he forbad any extraordinary means to be used for discovering or informing against them.
aring that “the gods of the Gentiles were no better than daemons, there being but one supreme Deity, who made the world, and his only begotten son Jesus Christ, who,
In this state of affairs, Ignatius voluntarily presented
himself to the emperor; and it is said, there passed a long
conversation between them, in which the emperor expressing a surprise how he dared to transgress the laws, the
bishop took the opportunity to assert his own innocence,
and the power which God had given Christians over evil
spirits; declaring that “the gods of the Gentiles were no
better than daemons, there being but one supreme Deity,
who made the world, and his only begotten son Jesus
Christ, who, though crucified under Pilate, had yet destroyed him that had the power of sin, that is, tue devil,
and would ruin the whole power and empire of the daemons,
and tread it under the feet of those who carried God in
their hearts.
” For this bold avowal of his principles,
combined with a defiance of heathenism, he was cast into
prison, and sentence passed upon him, that he should be
carried bound by soldiers to Rome, and there thrown as a
prey to wild beasts. It may seem strange that they should
send an old man by land, at a great expence, attended
with soldiers, from Syria to Rome, instead of casting him
to the lions at Antioch; but it is said, that Trajan did this
on purpose to make an example of him, as of a ringleader
of the sect, and to deter the Christians from preaching
and spreading their religion; and for the same reason he
sent him to be executed at Rome, where there were many
Christians, and which, as it was the capital of the world,
so was it the head-quarters of all religious sects. After all,
this part of his sentence was a particular cruelty, and above
what the laws required, and consequently such as might
not be expected from Trajan. But, in our martyr’s case,
he might not improbably be persuaded to act contrary to his
natural disposition by those about him, who began to perceive that Christianity, if it prevailed, would prove the
ruin of their religion. Ignatius was so far from being dismayed, that he heartily rejoiced at the fatal decree. “I
thank thee, O Lord,
” says he, “that thou hast condescended to honour me with thy love, and hast thought me
worthy, with thy apostle St. Paul, to be bound in iron
chains.
” With these words he cheerfully embraced his
chains; and having frequently prayed for his church, and
recommended it to the divine care and providence, he delivered up himself into the hands of his keepers. These
were ten soldiers, by whom he was first conducted to Seleucia, a port of Syria, at about sixteen miles distance, the
place where Paul and Barnabas set sail for Cyprus. Arriving at Smyrna, in Ionia, Ignatius went to visit Polycarp, bishop of that place, and was himself visited by the
clergy of the Asiatic churches round the country. In return for that kindness, he wrote letters to several churches,
as the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, besides the Romans, for their instruction and establishment in the faith;
one of these was addressed to the Christians at Rome, to
acquaint them with his present state and passionate desire
not to be hindered in that course of martyrdom which he
was now hastening to accomplish.
land, I fight with beasts; night and day I am chained to 1 the leopards, which is my military guard, who, the kinder I am to them, are the more cruel and fierce to me.”
His guard, a little impatient at their stay, set sail with
him for Troas, a noted city of the lesser Phrygia, not far
from the ruins of old Troy; where, at his arrival, he was
much refreshed with the news he received of the persecution ceasing in the church of Antioch. Hither atlso several churches sent their messengers to pay their respects to
him, and hence too he dispatched two epistles, one to the
church of Philadelphia, and the other to that of Smyrna;
and together with this last, as Eusebitfs relates, he wrote
privately to Polycarp, recommending to him the care and
inspection of the church of Antioch. All this while his
keepers used him very cruelly and barbarously. He complains of it himself: “From Syria even to Rome,
” says he,
“both by sea and land, I fight with beasts; night and day
I am chained to 1 the leopards, which is my military guard,
who, the kinder I am to them, are the more cruel and
fierce to me.
” And yet it is evident, that they suffered
him to be visited by Christians, and to give them instructions; and write epistles in several cities through which he
passed. But his own account of the matter explains this
apparent difficulty; the words implying, that these ruffians
made money of him this way, being handsomely rewarded
for this permission by the Christians who resorted to him,
although their savage tempers induced them to use him the
worse for it. From Trcras they sailed to Neapolis, a maritime town in Macedonia, thence to Philippi, a Roman
colony, where they were entertained with all imaginable
kindness and courtesy, and conducted forwards on their
journey, passing on foot through Macedonia and Epirus,
till they came to Epidaurum, a city of Dalmatia, where
again taking shipping, they sailed through the Adriatic,
and arrived at Rhegium, a port town in Italy; directing
their course thence through the Tyrrhenian sea to Pu'teoli,
whence Ignatius desired to proceed by land, ambitious to
trace the same way by which St. Paul went to Rome; buC
this wish was not complied with. In about twenty-four
hours, however, a brisk wind conveyed them to Ostia at
the mouth of the Tiber, about sixteen miles from Rome.
leaving nothing but a few of the hardest of his bones. These remains were gathered up by two deacons who had been the companions of his journey, transported to Antioch,
The Christians at Rome, d'aiiy expecting his arrival, had come out to meet and entertain him, and accordingly received him with an equal mixture of joy and sorrow: but when some of them intimated, that possibly the populace might be dissuaded from desiring his death, he expressed a pious indignation, in treating them to Cast no obstacles in his way, nor do any thing that might hinder him, now he was hastening to his crown. The interval before his martyrdom was spent in prayers for the peace and prosperity of the church. That his punishment might be the more pompous and public, one of their solemn festivals, the Saturnalia, was chosen for his execution; when it was their custom to entertain the people with the conflicts of gladiators, and the hunting and fighting with wild beasts. Accordingly, Dec. 20, in the year 107, or as some think in 116, he was brought out into the amphitheatre; and the lions, being let loose upon lum, quickly dispatched their meal, leaving nothing but a few of the hardest of his bones. These remains were gathered up by two deacons who had been the companions of his journey, transported to Antioch, and interred in the cemetery, without the gate, but afterwards, by command of the emperor Theodosius, were removed to the Tycheon, a temple within the city, now consecrated to the memory of Ignatius. Thus far all historians concur; but the pretended translation of these relics to Rome, and other places, must be classed among the fables of the early Romanists.
ins of ecclesiastical antiquity on many accounts. He stands at the head of those Antenicene fathers, who have occasionally delivered their opinions in defence of the
His epistles are very interesting remains of ecclesiastical antiquity on many accounts. He stands at the head of those Antenicene fathers, who have occasionally delivered their opinions in defence of the true divinity of Christ, whom he calls the Son of God, and his eternal word. He is also reckoned the great champion of the episcopal order, as distinct and superior to that of priest and deacon. He is constantly produced as an instance of the continuation of supernatural gifts, after the time of the apostles, particularly that of divine revelation, but the miracles imputed to him are of very doubtful authority. The most important use of his writings respects the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, to which he frequently alludes, in the very expressions which are extant.
his was written in 1729, and spoken afterwards at Joiners- hall, pursuant to the will of his mother, who had held the same extraordinary opinions. In this strange performance
, was a printer, and a son of a printer;
but he applied himself to letter-cutting in 1730, and carried on a foundery and a printing-house together. He was
an expeditious compositor, and was said to know the letters
by the touch; but being not perfectly sound in mind, produced some strange works. In 1751 he published a pretended translation of “The Book of Jasher;
” said to have
been made by one Alcuin of Britain. The account given
of the translation is full of glaring absurdities; but the publication, in fact, was secretly written by him, and printed
off by night. He published, in 1733, an Oration, intended to prove the plurality of worlds, and asserting that
this earth is hell, that the souls of men are apostate angels,
and that the fire to punish those confined to this world at
the day of judgment will be immaterial. This was written
in 1729, and spoken afterwards at Joiners- hall, pursuant
to the will of his mother, who had held the same extraordinary opinions. In this strange performance the author
unveils his deistical principles, and takes no small liberty
with the sacred Scriptures, especially the character of
Moses. Emboldened by this first adventure, he determined to become the public teacher of infidelity, or, as he
calls it, “The religion of nature.
” For this purpose, he
hired the use of Carpenters’-hall, where, for some considerable time, he delivered his orations, which consisted
chiefly of scraps from Tindal, and other similar writers.
In the course of the same year, 1733, appeared a second
pamphlet called “A Dialogue between a Doctor of the
Church of England and Mr. Jacob Hive, upon the subject
of the oration.
” This strange oration is highly praised in
HolwelPs third part of “Interesting Events relating to
Bengal.
” For publishing “Modest Remarks on the late
bishop Sherlock’s Sermons,
” Hive was confined in Clerkenwell- bridewell from June 15, 1756, till June 10, 1758;
during which period he published “Reasons offered for
the Reformation of the House of Correction in Clerkenwell,
” &c. British Topography;
”
where is alsjo a memorandum, communicated by Mr. Bowyer, of Hive’s attempt to restore the company of Stationers
to their primitive constitution. He died in 1763,
, but who Latinized his name into Flaccus Illyricus, because a native
, but who Latinized his name into Flaccus Illyricus, because a native of Albona or Albana in Illyria, was born March 3, 1520. He was instructed in grammar and the classics b.y Egnatius at Venice, and gave the preference to divinity as a profession. Not being able, however, to maintain the cxpences of university education, he intended to throw himself into a monastery, but happening to consult with a relation of his mother’s, who was provincial of the Cordeiiers, and who had begun to see through the errors of popery, this person prevailed with Flacius to lay aside all thoughts of the monastic life, and go into Germany, where his knowledge of Greek and Hebrew would procure him a maintenance until he had completed his theological studies. Flacius accordingly took this advice, went to Basil in 1539, and, after a few months stay, went to Tubingen, where he remained until 1541, and theft removed to Wittenberg, to complete his studies under Luther and Melancthon, the latter of whom found him some employment in the university, and was the means of relieving his mind from anxious doubts respecting some of the fundamental principles of the reformed religion, respecting the nature of sin, the wrath of God, and predestination.
which embassy he obtained not only the approbation of the pope, but also the favour of the emperor, who soon after the return of Inghirami to Rome, transmitted to him
Soon after the accession of Alexander VI. he was nominated by that pontiff a canon of St. Peter’s, and dignified
with the rank of a prelate. In 1495 he was sent as papal
nuncio into the Milanese, to treat with the emperor-elect,
Maximilian, on which embassy he obtained not only the
approbation of the pope, but also the favour of the emperor, who soon after the return of Inghirami to Rome,
transmitted to him from Inspruck an imperial diploma, by
which, after enumerating his various accomplishments, and
particularly his excellence in poetry and Latin literature,
he created him count palatine and poet-laureat, and conceded to him the privilege of adding the Austrian eagle to
his family arms. Nor was he less favoured by Julius II.
who, besides appointing him librarian of the Vatican, conferred on him the important office of pontifical secretary,
which he afterwards quitted for that of secretary to the
college of cardinals. Leo X. also enriched him with many
ecclesiastical preferments, and continued him in his office
of librarian until his death, which was occasioned by an
accident in the streets of Rome, Sept. 6, 1516, when he had
not yet completed the forty- sixth year of his age. To
this unfortunate event it is probably owing, that so few of
his writings have reached the present times. From the
testimony of his contemporaries, it is well known that he
was the author of many books. Among these are enumerated a defence of Cicero a compendium of the history
of Rome a commentary on the poetics of Horace and
remarks on the comedies of Plautus; but these works were
left at his death in an unfinished state, and have since been
dispersed or lost. It has been supposed that he was the
author of the additions to the “Aulularia
” of Plautus,
printed at Paris,
became the wife of one Bartholomew Keilo, a native of Scotland, by whom she had a son, Samuel Kello, who was educated at Christ-church, Oxford, and was minister of Speckshall
, a lady celebrated for her skill in
calligraphy, in queen Elizabeth’s and king James’s time,
appears to have lived single until the age of forty, when
she became the wife of one Bartholomew Keilo, a native
of Scotland, by whom she had a son, Samuel Kello, who
was educated at Christ-church, Oxford, and was minister
of Speckshall in Suffolk. His son was sword-bearer of
Norwich, and died in 1709. All we know besides of her
is, that she was a correspondent of bishop Hall, when he
was dean of Worcester in 1617. Various specimens of her
delicate and beautiful writing are in our public repositories,
and some in Edinburgh-castle. In the library of Christchurch, Oxford, are the Psalrns of David, written in French
by Mrs. Inglis, who presented them in person to queen
Elizabeth, by whom they were given to the library. Two
manuscripts, written by her, were also preserved with care
in the Bodleian library: one of them is entitled “Le six
vingt et six Quatrains de Guy de Tour, sieur de Pybrac,
escrits par Esther Inglis, pour son dernier adieu, ce 21e
jour de Juin, 1617.
” The following address is, in the
second leaf, written in capital letters: “To the right
worshipful my very singular friende, Joseph Hall, doctor of
divinity, and dean of Winchester, Esther Inglis wisheth
all increase of true happiness. Junii xxi. 1617.
” In the
third leaf is pasted the head of the writer, painted upon a
card. The other manuscript is entitled “Les Proverbes de
Salomon; escrites en diverses sortes de lettres, par Esther
Anglois, en Francoise. A Lislehourge en Escosse,
” DC
l'Eternel Je biert, de moi le mal, ou rien.
” A music-book
lies open before her. Under the picture is a Latin epigram by Andrew Melvin, and on the following page a
second by the same author, in praise of Mrs. Inglis. In
the royal library, D. xvi. are “Esther Inglis’s fifty Emblems,
” finely drawn and written: “A Lislebourg en
Escosse, Panne 1624.
”
ony of his talents and unremitting attention to the improvement of his pupils was given by thektter, who caused his portrait to be placed in the schools of Naples with
, an eminent physician
and medical writer, a native of Sicily, was born in 1510.
He studied medicine at Padua, where he took the degree
of doctor in medicine in the year 1537, with singular reputation; insomuch that he soon received several invitations to professorships from different schools in Italy. He
accepted the chair of medicine and anatomy at Naples,
which he occupied for a number of years, lecturing to the
most crowded audiences drawn by his fame from all parts
of the country. He possessed peculiar qualifications for
the office, having united a consummate knowledge of the
writings of the ancient physicians with great practical skill
and a sound judgment, which led him to- estimate justly
the merits and defects of those fathers of the art. A singular testimony of his talents and unremitting attention to
the improvement of his pupils was given by thektter, who
caused his portrait to be placed in the schools of Naples
with the following inscription: “Philippo Jngrassias Siculo,
qui veram medicinae artem et anatomen, publiee etiarrando,
Neapoli restituit, Discipuli memorise causa P. P.
” At
length he quitted his situation at Naples, in order to return
to his native island, where he settled at Palermo. Here
also he received many marks of public distinction. The
rights of citizenship were conferred upon him; and, in
1563, Philip II. king of Spain, appointed him first physician for Sicily and the adjacent isles. By virtue of the
powers attached to this office he restored order in, the
medical constitution of the country, by preventing all
persons, unqualified by their education and abilities, from
practising there. His zeal for the credit of his profession
rendered him rigid and severe in his examination of candidates; and he exercised his art himself in the most
honourable manner. When the plague raged at Palermo
in 1575, he adopted such excellent regulations as to put a
stop to the calamity, and restore the city to health, and
was hailed by all the citizens, the Sicilian Hippocrates.
The magistrates were so grateful for his services, that they
voted him a reward of two hundred and fifty gold crowns
a month; but he disinterestedly declined to accept any more
than what served for the maintenance and decoration of the
chapel of St. Barbe, which he had built in the cloister of
the Dominican convent of Palermo. He died, greatly regretted, in 1580, at the age of 70 years.
ut 1030. He received the first part of his education at Westminster, and when he visited his father, who belonged to the court of Edward the Confessor, he was so fortunate
, abbot of Croyland, and author of the
history of that abbey, was born in London about 1030.
He received the first part of his education at Westminster,
and when he visited his father, who belonged to the court
of Edward the Confessor, he was so fortunate as to engage
the attention of queen Edgitha, who took a pleasure in the
progress of his education, and in disputing with him in
logic, and seldom dismissed him without some present as a
mark of her approbation. From Westminster he went to
Oxford, where he applied to the study of the Aristotelian
philosophy, in which he made greater proficiency than
many of his contemporaries, and, as be says, “clothed
himself down to the heel in the first and second rhetoric of
Tully.
” When he was about twenty-one years of age, ho
was iotroduced to> William duke of Normandy (who visited the court of England in 105 l) y and made himself so agreeable to that prince, that be appointed him his secretary,
and carried him with him into his. Owt dominions. In a
little time he became the prime favourite of his prince,
and the dispenser of all preferments; but he himself confesses that he did not behave in this station with sufficient
modesty and prudence, and that he incurred the envy and
hatred of the courtiers, to avoid which he obtained leave
from the duke to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In
the course of this journey, his attendant pilgrims at one
time amounted to seven thousand, but either from being
attacked and killed by the Arabs, or other disasters, twenty
only of this goodly company were able to return home, and
those half-starved, and almost naked. Ingulph now resolved to forsake the world, and became a monk in the
abbey of Fontanelle in Normandy, of which he was in a
few years made prior. When his old master William of
Normandy was preparing for his memorable expedition
into England, in 1066 r lagulphus was sent by hiw abbot
with one hundred: marks in money, and twelve young men,
nobly mounted and completely armed, as a present
their abbey. In consequence of this, William raised him
afterwards to the government of the rich abbey of Croyland in Lincolnshire, in 107S. Here Ingulphus spent the
last thirty-four years of his life, governing that society
with great prudence, and protecting their possessions from
the rapacity of the neighbouring barons by the favour of
his royal master; and here he died Dec. 1, 1109. He
wrote, but in a homely Latin style, a very curious and
valuable history of Croyland abbey from its foundation, in
the year 664 to 1091. It was printed by sir H. Saville,'
London, 1596, and is among Gale’s “Scriptores.
” There
is also an edition of Francfort in
much hurt as being mistaken for Samuel Ireland, the proprietor of the Shakspeare forged manuscripts, who had also published a volume of scraps and anecdotes relating
, author of the “Illustrations of Hogarth,
” was born at the Trench farm, near Wem, in Shropshire, in a house which had been rendered somewhat remarkable, by having been the birth-place and country residence of Wycherley the poet, and whose widow is said
to have adopted Mr. Ireland, when a child; but this lady
dying without a will, left him unprovided for. He was
descended by the mother’s side from two eminent dissenting clergymen; his mother being the daughter of the rev.
Thomas Holland, and great-grand-daughter of the rev.
Philip Henry. In his youth he discovered a strong predilection to the arts, and such literature as is immediately
connected with them, but as his parents were unable to
give him a regular education, and as he had a turn for
mechanics, h was brought up to the business of a watchmaker. Although he carried on this for some time with
good connexions, it was not upon the whole successful,
and during a considerable part of his life, he subsisted by
trafficking in pictures, prints, &c. for which he had a correct taste, and in which he was probably assisted by the
artists and print-sellers. He amassed a good collection of
^iortimer’s and Hogarth’s works, and lived on intimate
terms with many men of eminence in the literary world,
and particularly with the artists Mortimer and Gainsborough, and Henderson the actor, whose “Memoirs
” he published in Illustrations of
Hogarth,
” 3 vols. 8vo, a work in which he displays a correct knowledge of the arts, and a vein of humourous remark and anecdote not ill suited to the subjects he had to
illustrate. As Mr. Ireland was a man of integrity, he often
felt himself very much hurt as being mistaken for Samuel
Ireland, the proprietor of the Shakspeare forged manuscripts, who had also published a volume of scraps and
anecdotes relating to Hogarth. Our author, therefore,
thought proper to disclaim, in the preface to his third volume, all connexion and relationship with his namesake.
For several years Mr. Ireland had been afflicted with a complication of disorders, which had rendered society irksome
to him, and occasioned him to remove to the neighbourhood of Birmingham, where he died in November 1808.
He was a man of pleasant and inoffensive manners, and
full of literary anecdote, which he liberally dispensed
around, whether in a coffee-house among strangers, or at
the social table among his friends.
t to those in Asia, in order to compose the differences lately raised by Montanus and his followers, who pretended to the prophetic spirit. In the same letter, they
, bishop of Lyons in France, was
undoubtedly by birth a Greek, and, not improbably, born
at or near the city of Smyrna. He was trained in the
studies of philosophy and human learning: in the doctrines
of Christianity, two disciples of St. John the apostle, Papias and Polycarp, were his masters. The latter he is
said to have accompanied in his journey, about the Paschal
controversy, to Rome; where, by his and Anicetus’s persuasioiij he was prevailed upon to go to France; great
numbers of Greeks residing in some parts of that kingdom,
especially about Marseilles, and the church there beginning to be disturbed by several pernicious heresies. In his
journey, arriving at Lyons, he continued several years
there, in the station of a presbyter, under the care add
government of Pothinus, the bishop of that city; and,
by his behaviour, distinguished himself so much, that,
about the year 177, he was chosen to draw up the judgment and opinion of the churches of Lyons and Vienna,
which were sent to those in Asia, in order to compose the
differences lately raised by Montanus and his followers,
who pretended to the prophetic spirit. In the same letter,
they took occasion also to give an account of the persecution, which then raged peculiarly among them, under
Marcus Antoninus. The opinions of the confessors in.
those times were always received with esteem and veneration. The same churches therefore sent other letters
about these controversies to Eleutherius, bishop of Rome,
which were probably carried by Irenseus, who undertook
that journey at their request. Two years after, in the year
174, upon the martyrdom of Pothinus at Lyons, Irenaeus
succeeded to that chair, in a troublesome and tempestuous
time, when the church was assaulted by enemies from
without, and betrayed by heretics from within. These
circumstances required both courage and conduct in the
governors, and our new bishop gave conspicuous proofs of
his qualifications in both respects. He is said to have held
a provincial synod at Lyons, where, by the assistance and
suffrage of twelve other bishops, he condemned the heresies of Marcion, Valentinus, and Basilides. He had personally encountered some of these ringleaders among the
Gnostics, and read the books of others; when, at the request of many who importuned him, he set about the elaborate work “against Heresies,
” part of which is still extant under his name. It was composed in the time of
Eleutherius; upon whose decease, Victor, succeeding to
the see of Rome, headed afresh the dispute abput the time
of celebrating Easter, and endeavoured imperiously to oppose the Roman custom upon the Asiatics. To heal the
sclmrn, synods were called in several places; and, among
the rest, Irenaeus convened one of the churches of France
under his jurisdiction;. where, having determined the
matter, he wrote a synodical epistle to pope Victor, and
told him, that they agreed with him in the main of the
controversy, but withal advised him to take heed how he
excommunicated whole churches, for observing the custom
derived down to them from their ancestors. He observed,
that there was as little agreement in the manner of the
preparatory fast before Easter, as in the day itself, some
thinking they were to fast but one day, others two, others
more, and some measuring the time by a continued fast of
forty hours; and that this variety was of long standing,
and had crept into several places, while the governors of
the church took less care about these different customs than
about maintaining a sincere and mutual love and peace
towards one another; putting him in mind too of Anicetus
and Polycarp, who, though they could not agree about
their different usages, did yet mutually embrace, orderly
receive the communion together, and peaceably part
from one another. Irenaeus wrote also, to the same effect,
to several other bishops, for allaying this unhappy difr
fere nee.
t authority at the bar, and that the code and digest should be read in the schools, he was the first who exercised that profession in Italy: his method was to reconcile
, called also Wernerus, or Guarnerus, a celebrated German lawyer, was born at Bologna,
about the middle of the eleventh century. After studying
the law at Constantinople, he taught it at Ravenna, where a
dispute arising between him and his colleagues about the
word “al,
” he sought for the meaning of it in the Roman
law; and thence took a liking to it, applied to the study
of it, and at last taught it publicly at Bologna in 1128.
He had a great number of disciples, became the father of
the Glossators, and had the title of “Lucerna Juris.
” Thus
he was the restorer of the Roman law, which had been
destroyed by the invasion of the barbarians. He had great
credit in Italy with the princess Matilda; and, having engaged the emperor Lotharius to order, by an edict, that
Justinian’s law should resume its ancient authority at the
bar, and that the code and digest should be read in the
schools, he was the first who exercised that profession in
Italy: his method was to reconcile the “responsa jurisprudentum
” with the “leges,
” when they seemed to clash.
degrees, they were used for the first time, in the person of Peter Lombard, master of the sentences, who was created, in this form, D. D. Irnerius died some time before
It is also said, that he prevailed with Lotharius, whose chancellor he was, to introduce into the universities the creation of doctors, and that he drew up the form of that ceremony; which had its commencement at Bologna, and extended soon to all other universities, and passed from the faculty of law to that of divinity. The university of Paris having adopted these degrees, they were used for the first time, in the person of Peter Lombard, master of the sentences, who was created, in this form, D. D. Irnerius died some time before 1150, and was interred at Bologna, the law school of which was afterwards rendered very famous by his disciples, and the Roman law was thenceforth taught by Italian professors, not only in Italy, but in England and France. One Vacarius, a native of Lombardy, was invited to England for that purpose about the middle of the twelfth century.
, a rabbi, was one of those Jews who left Spain on an edict of Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1492, which
, a rabbi, was one of those Jews who
left Spain on an edict of Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1492,
which obliged the Jews to quit their dominions within four
months, or else embrace Christianity. Karo went first to
Portugal; and, travelling thence to Jerusalem, he lost his
children and his books on the road. He lived in great solitude and, to console himself, composed a book, entitled
“Toledot Jiskach, the Generations of Isaac.
” It is a commentary upon the Pentateuch, partly literal and partly
cabbalistical, in which he examines the sentiments of other
commentators. It has gone through several editions: the
first was printed at Constantinople in 1518; afterwards
at Mantua, and Amsterdam in 1708. Buxtorf ascribes to
our rabbi a ritual entitled “Eben Haheser, the Rock of
Support.
”
be easily confounded with the other but for the figures of speech, which Isaeus is the first orator who makes frequent use of. He was also the first who applied eloquence
, a celebrated Grecian orator, of Chalcis, in
Syria, the d isciple of Lysias, and master of Demosthenes,
was born probably about 418 B.C. He taught rhetoric
with reputation at Athens; and sixty-four orations are attributed to him, but he composed only fifty, and we have
but ten of them remaining in the “Greek Orators
” of
Stephens, Orat. Graec.
”
Leipsic,
triarchs. Every one ought to work, not only for his own maintenance, but for that of the poor. Those who are in health, and do not work, sin doubly, by idleness, and
of Seville, was born at Carthagena, in
Spain, the son of Severian, governor of that city, and was
educated by his brother Leander, bishop of Seville, whom
he succeeded in the year 601. St. Isidore was the oracle
of Spain during thirty-five years, and died April 4, 636,
leaving the following works: Twenty books of “Origines,
”
or Etymologies, Paris, Chronicle
” ending at the year Commentaries
”
on the historical books of the Old Testament a treatise
“on Ecclesiastical Writers
” “a Rule for the Monastery
of Honori;
” a “Treatise on Ecclesiastical Offices,
” containing many very important passages relating to Ecclesiastical Discipline, and in which he mentions seven
prayers of the sacrifice. These prayers may still be found
in the Mosarabic.mass, which is the ancient Spanish liturgy,
and of which this saint is known to have been the principal
author. The edition of the Missal, 1500, fol. and of the
Breviary, 1502, fol. printed by cardinal Ximenes’ order,
are very scarce; a Treatise on this Liturgy was printed at
Rome, 1740, fol. The “Collection of Canons
” attributed
to St. Isidore, was not made by him. In the Rule above mentioned, he speaks of the monks as follows: “The monks
shall every year at Pentecost make a declaration that they
keep nothing as their own. A monk ought to work with
his hands, according to the precept of St. Paul, and the
example of the patriarchs. Every one ought to work, not
only for his own maintenance, but for that of the poor.
Those who are in health, and do not work, sin doubly, by
idleness, and setting a bad example. Those who chuse
to read without working, show that they receive no benefit
from what they read, which commands them to work.
”
This Rule of St. Isidore prescribes about six hours work
every day, and three hours reading. This Isidore is frequently ranked among musical writers. In his treatise on
the divine offices, much curious information occurs concerning canto fermo, and music in general; but particularly
its introduction into the church, the institution of the four
tones by St. Ambrose, and the extension of that number
to eight by St. Gregory. In treating of secular music,
he has a short chapter on each of the following subjects
of music, and its name of its invention its definition
of its three constituent parts, harmonics, rhythm, and
metre; of musical numbers; of the three-fold divisions of
music; 1st, Of the harmonical division of music; 2dly,
Of the organic or instrumental division; 3dly, Of the
rhythmical division. These chapters are very short, and
contain little more than compressed definitions of musical
terms. In enumerating the seven liberal arts, cap. II. he
ranks them in the following manner: grammar, rhetoric,
logic, arithmetic, music, geometry, astronomy.
, was a Spanish Jesuit who on the suppression of his order, went to Italy, and settled
, was a Spanish Jesuit
who on the suppression of his order, went to Italy, and
settled at Bologna, where he died in 1783. He is known
chiefly as the author of “The History of the famous
preacher friar Gerund de Campazas; otherwise Gerund
Zotes.
” This work was written with a view to correct the
abuses of the Spanish pulpit, by turning bad preachers
into ridicule. The first volume of the original Spanish
was published at Madrid, in 1758, under the assumed
name of Francisco Lobon de Salazar, minister of the parish
of St. Peter in Villagarcia. It was not only highly applauded by many of the learned in Spain, to whom it had
been communicated in manuscript; but even the inquisitors encouraged the publication, and bore testimony in
writing to its laudable design, believing that it would in a
great measure produce a reformation. One of the revisers
for the inquisition says, “It is one of those lucky expedients which indignation and hard necessity suggest, when
the best means have proved ineffectual, and we are not to
find fault if the dose of caustic and corrosive salts be somewhat too strong, as cancers are not to be cured with rose
water.
” Notwithstanding this approbation of the inquisition, some orders, particularly the Dominican and Mendicant, represented to the king that such a piece of merciless criticism would too much diminish the respect due
to the clergy, and would render all religious orders ridiculous in the eyes of the common people, &c. These arguments, repeatedly urged by the friars, and supported by
several of the bishops, obliged the council of Castile to
take the book into their serious consideration, which produced a suppression of it. The author had a second volume ready; but, finding it impossible to print it in Spain,
presented the copy to Mr. Baretti, by whose means both
volumes were printed in English in 1771, with the omission of some tedious and irrelevant parts. In Spain this
work was so highly approved, that the author was hailed
as a second Cervantes, whom he certainly endeavours to
copy; but it would be too liberal to allow him the merit
of successful rivalship. Friar Gerund, however, is
certainly a work of great humour, and must have appeared to
much advantage in Spain, where the subjects of the satirQ
are more common and obvious than in this country. Here
it cannot be supposed to yield more than mere amusement,
unless where it presents us with the customs of the common
and middle ranks of Spain, and those are said to be faithfully depicted.
s, in 1035. He was raised to the see of Chartres in 1092 or 1093, under the pontificate of Urban XI. who had deposed Geofroy, our author’s predecessor in the see, for
, or Yves, in Latin Ivo, the celebrated bishop of
Chartres, was born in the territory of Beauvais, in 1035.
He was raised to the see of Chartres in 1092 or 1093,
under the pontificate of Urban XI. who had deposed Geofroy, our author’s predecessor in the see, for various crimes
of which he was accused. Ives particularly signalized his
zeal against Philip I. who had put away his wife Bertha,
of Holland, and taken Bertrade of Montford, the wife of
Fouques de Requin, count of Anjou. This divorce was
contrary to the ecclesiastical law; and the affair would
have been attended with bad consequences had not the
prince’s friends interposed. After this, the bishop employed himself wholly in the functions of his ministry,
made several religious foundations, and died 1115. His
corpse was interred in the church of St, John in the Vale,
which he had founded. Pope Pius V. by a bull, dated
Dec. l&, 1570, permitted the monks of the congregation
of Lateran to celebrate the festival of St. Ives. We have,
of his compiling, “A collection of Decrees;
” “Exceptiones ecclesiasticarum regularum;
” besides “22 Sermons,
”
and a “Chronicon;
” all which were collected in Decrees
” were printed in
Pannomia,
” or “Panormia,
”
and some other pieces printed in the “Bibliotheca patrum,
” are also ascribed to our bishop.
en’s “History and Antiquities of Great Yarmouth, in the county of Norfolk, 1772,” 4to. Mr. Svvinden, who was a schoolmaster in Great Yarmouth, was a most intimate friend
, was the only son of one of the most eminent merchants at Yarmouth, where he was born in 1751.
He was entered of Caius college, Cambridge, where he
did not long reside; but, returning to Yarmouth, became
acquainted -with that celebrated antiquary Thomas Martin
of Palgrave, and caught from him that taste for antiquities
which he pursued during the short period of his life. He
was elected F. S. A. 1771, and F. R. S. 1772; and, by favour of the earl of Suffolk, in him the honour of Suffolk
herald extraordinary was revived; an office attended with
no profit, but valuable to him by the access it gave to the
Mss. muniments, &c. of the heralds college, of which he
thereby became an honorary member. His first attempt
at antiquarian publication was by proposals (without his name) in 1771, for printing an account of Lothingland
hundred in Suffolk; for which he had engraved several
small plates of arms and monuments in the churches of
Friston, Gorleston, Loud, Lowestoffe, and Somerliton, from
his own drawings. His next essay was the short preface
to Mr. Swinden’s “History and Antiquities of Great Yarmouth, in the county of Norfolk, 1772,
” 4to. Mr. Svvinden, who was a schoolmaster in Great Yarmouth, was a
most intimate friend of Mr. Ives, who not only assisted
him with his purse, and warmly patronized him while
living, but superintended the book for the emolument of
the author’s widow, and delivered it to the subscribers .
In 1772 he caused to be cut nine wooden plates of old Norfolk
seals, entitled “Sigilla antiqua Norfolciensia. Impressit
Johannes Ives, S. A. S.
” and a copper-plate portrait of Mr.
Martin holding an urn, since prefixed to Martin’s “History
of Thetford.
” On Aug. 16, 1773, by a special licence
from the archbishop of Canterbury, he was married at Lambeth church to Miss Kett (of an ancient family in Norfolk),
and afterwards resided at Yarmouth.
print, but which is supposed to have furnished considerable matter for the work of a Swedish writer, who published a book of travels in that kingdom. Kalm was a member
, a very celebrated naturalist, was a native of Finland, and was born in 1715. Having imbibed
a taste for the study of natural history, it appears that he
pursued his inclination with much zeal and industry. His
first researches were rewarded by the discovery of many
new plants in Sweden, of which he gave some account to
the botanical world between the years 1742 and 1746. He
was particularly anxious to explore the virtues of plants,
both with respect to their uses in medicine, and in the
useful arts, so that planting and agriculture occupied some
portion of his attention. His reputation as a naturalist caused
him to be appointed professor at Abo; and in October 1747,
he set out upon his travels, sailing from Gottenburg for
America; but, on account of a violent hurricane, was obliged
to take shelter in a port of Norway, whence he could not
depart till the ensuing February, when he proceeded immediately for London. From hence he went to North
America; and having spent two or three years in exploring
whatever was worthy of observation in that country, he
returned to his professorship at Abo in 1751. The expences of this undertaking appear to have exceeded what
was allowed him by the Academy of Sciences, so that our
author was obliged to live rather penuriously upon his return; yet he found means to cultivate, in a small garden
of his own, several hundred plants, for the use of the university, as there was no public botanical garden at Abo His
discoveries in botany very materially enriched the “Species
Plantarum
” of his great master, and the LinntEan Herbarium abounds with specimens brought home by him, distinguished by the letter K. Haller enumerates a long list of
tracts published by Kalm; and his inaugural dissertation
appeared in the “Amcenitates Academicae
” of Linnæus.
He was originally intended for the ecclesiastical profession,
but was drawn aside from this pursuit by attending the
lectures of Linnæus on natural history, given in the university of Upsal. Indeed, it was through the recommendation of Linnæus that professor Kalm was fixed upon to
undertake the voyage to North America, and the account
of his voyage was published in English by Forster in 1771.
He afterwards made, at his own expence, a very extensive
tour into Russia, the history of which never appeared in
print, but which is supposed to have furnished considerable matter for the work of a Swedish writer, who published a book of travels in that kingdom. Kalm was a
member of the royal Swedish academy of sciences, and
died in 1779. His collection of dried plants, made in
his various journeys, and doubtless valuable for the purposes of botanical information, is said to remain in the
hands of his family in a state of neglect.
, a German writer, who has lately attained extraordinary fame in his own country as
, a German writer, who has lately
attained extraordinary fame in his own country as the inventor of a new system of philosophical opinions, which,
however, are not very likely to reach posterity, was born
April 22, 1724, in the suburbs of Konigsberg, in Prussia.
His father, John George Kant, was a sadler, born at
Memel, but originally descended from a Scotch family,
who spelt their name with a C; but the philosopher, the
subject of this article, in early life converted the C into a
K, as being more conformable to German orthography.
Immanuel, the second of six children, was indebted to his
father for an example of the strictest integrity and the
greatest industry; but he had neither time nor talent to be
his instructor. From his mother, a woman of sound sense
and ardent piety, he imbibed sentiments of warm and animated devotion, which left to the latest 'periods of his life
the strongest and most reverential impressions of her memory on his mind. He received his first instructions in
reading and writing at the charity-school in his parish;
but soon gave such indications of ability and inclination to
learn, as induced his uncle, a wealthy shoe- maker, to defray the expence of his farther education and studies.
From school he proceeded to the college of Fridericianum.
This was in 1740; and his first teacher was Martin Kautzen, to whom Kant was strongly attached, and who devoted himself with no less zeal to the instruction of his
pupil, and contributed very greatly to the unfolding of his
talents. His favourite study at the university was that of
mathematics, and the branches of natural philosophy connected with them. On the completion of his studies, he
accepted a situation as tutor in a clergyman’s family. In
this, and in two other similar situations, he was not able to
satisfy his mind that he did his duty so well as he ought;
he was, according to his own account, too much occupied
with acquiring knowledge to be able to communicate the
rudiments of it to others. Having, however, acted as a
tutor for nine years, he returned to Konigsberg, and maintained himself by private instruction. In 1746, when
twenty-two years of age, he began his literary career with
a small work, entitled “Thoughts on the estimation of
the animal powers, with strictures on the proofs advanced
by Leibnitz and other mathematicians on this point,
” &c.
In De mundi sensibilis atque intelligibilis forma
et principiis.
” Seated now in the chair of metaphysics,
his subsequent publications were almost entirely of this
nature. He pursued this study with unremitting ardour,
and entered into all the depths of metaphysical subtlety,
in order, as we are told, “to unfold the rational powers
of man, and deduce from thence his moral duties.
” It
was not till 178 J, that the full principles of his system appeared in his “Review of pure reason;
” and the system it
contains is commonly known under the name of the “Critical Philosophy.
” As this work had been variously misrepresented, he published a second part in 1783, entitled
“Prolegomena for future Metaphysics, which are to be
considered as a science.
” In
on nature, I cannot wish it with this condition, except by believing that nature depends on a Being who causes this connection between morality and happiness. This
Pure reason is the faculty of tracing our knowledge “a
priori,
” to subject it to principles, to trace it from its necessary conditions, till it be entirely without condition, and
in complete unity. The great work of Kant is divided into
several parts, under the titles, “Of Esthetic transcendental
” “Of transcendental Logic
” “Of the pure
Ideas of the Understanding
” “Of the transcendental
Judgment
” “Of the Paralogism of pure Reason,
” &c.
We cannot, from the nature of our work, discuss all the
parts of the system; but may observe, that the author contends that we know objects only by the manner in which
they affect us; and as the impressions which they make
upon us are only certain apparitions or phenomena, it is
impossible for us to know what an object is in itself. Hence
the system of Kant has been compared with that of Berkeley, which maintains that sensations are only appearances,
and that there is no truth, only in our reason. But Kant
does not go to this length. According to his theory, the understanding, when it considers the apparitions or phenomena, acknowledges the existence of the objects themselves,
inasmuch as they serve for the bases of those apparitions;
though we know nothing of their reality, and though we
can have no certainty but in experience.
Truth, according to our author, consists in the agreement
of our notions with the objects, in such a manner as that all
men are obliged to form the same judgment: belief consists in holding a thing to be true, in consequence of a
persuasion which is entirely personal, and has not its basis
in an object submitted to experience. There is a belief of
doctrine, as, that “there are inhabitants in the planets,
”
which is not the same as moral belief; because in moral
belief there is something necessary. The ordinary mode
of teaching the existence of God belongs to the belief of
doctrine and it is the same with regard to the immortality
of the soul nevertheless, the author was a firm believer
in the existence of God, and a future state because,
said he, “this persuasion renders immovable my moral
principles principles which I cannot reject, without
rendering myself contemptible in my own eyes. I wish
for happiness, but I do not wish for it without morality;
and as it depends on nature, I cannot wish it with this
condition, except by believing that nature depends on
a Being who causes this connection between morality
and happiness. This supposition is founded on the want
or necessity of my reason, and not on my duty. We
have, however,
” says Kant, “no certainty in our knowledge of God; because certainty cannot exist, except
when it is founded on an object of experience. The philosopher acknowledges that pure reason is too weak to prove
the existence of a being beyond the reach of our senses.
The necessity of believing in God is, therefore, only subjective, although necessary and general for all those beings who conform to their duty. The proofs of natural
theology, taken from the order and beauty of the universe,
are proofs only in appearance. They resolve themselves
into a bias of our reason to suppose an infinite Intelligence,
the author of all that is possible; but from this bias it does
not follow that there really is such an author. To say,
that whatever exists must have a cause, is a maxim
” a
priori;“but it is a maxim applicable only to experience:
for we know not how to subject to the laws of our perceptions that which is absolutely independent of them. It is
impossible to know that God exists; but we can comprehend how it is possible to act morally on the supposition of
the existence of an intelligent Creator, an existence
which practical reason forces theoretical reason to adopt.
This proof not only persuades, but even acts on the
conviction, in proportion as the motives of our actions are
conformable to the law of morality. Religion ought to be
the means of virtue, and not its object. Man has not in
himself the idea of religion, as he has that of virtue. The
latter has its principle in the mind it exists in itself, and
not as the means of happiness and it may be taught without the idea of God, for the pure law of morality is
” a
priori.“He who does good by inclination, does not act
morally. There are compassionate minds, which feel an
internal pleasure in communicating joy around them, and
who thus enjoy the satisfaction of others; but their actions,
however just, however good, have no moral merit, and
may be compared to other inclinations; to that of honour,
for example, which, while it meets with that which is just
and useful, is worthy of praise and encouragement, but
not of any high degree of esteem. According to Kant, we
ought not even to do good, either for the pleasure which
we feel in doing it, or in order to be happy, or to render
others happy; for any one of these motives would be empiric, and injure the purity of our morals. We ought to
act after the maxims derived
” a priori;" from the faculty
of knowledge, which carry with them the idea of necessity, and are independent of all experience; after the
maxims which, it is to be wished, could be erected into
general laws for all beings endowed with reason.
by himself in one of his letters. In the early part of his life he resided at Leipsic, among friends who were neither mathematicians nor acquainted with the sciences;
, an eminent mathematician, and professor of mathematics at Gottingen, was
born at Leipsic, Sept. 27, 1719. He had part of his
education at home, under his father and uncle, both of whom
were lecturers on jurisprudence, and men of general literature. In 1731 he attended the philosophical lectures of
the celebrated Winkler, and next year studied mathematics
under G. F. Richter, and afterwards under Hausen; but
practical astronomy being at that period very little encouraged at Leipsic, he laboured for some years under great
difficulties for want of instruments, and does not appear
to have made any great progress until, in 1742, he formed
an acquaintance with J. C. Baumann, and by degrees
acquired such helps as enabled him to make several observations. Heinsius was his first preceptor in algebra; and,
in 1756, he was invited to Gottingen, to be professor of
mathematics and moral philosophy, and afterwards became
secretary of the royal society, and had the care of the
observatory on the resignation of Lowitz in 1763; but,
notwithstanding his talents in astronomy and geography,
the services he rendered to the mathematical sciences in
general are more likely to convey his name to posterity.
He exerted himself with the most celebrated geometers of
Germany, Segner, and Karsten, to restore to geometry its
ancient rights, and to introduce more precision and accuracy of demonstration into the whole of mathematical
analysis. The doctrine of binomials that of the higher
equations the laws of the equilibrium of two forces on the
lever, and their composition are some of the most important points in the doctrine of mathematical analysis and
mathematics, which Kastner illustrated and explained in
such a manner as to excel all his predecessors. Germany
is in particular indebted to him for his classical works on
every part of the pure and practical mathematics. They
unite that solidity peculiar to the old Grecian geometry
with great brevity and clearness, and a fund of erudition,
by which Kastner has greatly contributed to promote the
study and knowledge of the mathematics. Kiistner’s talents,
however, were not confined to mathematics: his poetical
and humorous works, as well as his epigrams, are a proof
of the extent of his genius; especially as these talents
seldom fall to the lot of a mathematician. How Kastner
acquired a taste for these pursuits, we are told by himself
in one of his letters. In the early part of his life he
resided at Leipsic, among friends who were neither mathematicians nor acquainted with the sciences; he then, as he
tells us, contracted “the bad habit of laughing at others;
”'
but he used always to say, Hanc veniam damns petimusque
vicissim.
orn in 1740, at Coire, the capital of the Grisons, and received the elements of art from her father, who, on some surprising proofs of her early capacity, at the age
, a female artist, well known in this country, was born in 1740, at Coire, the capital of the Grisons, and received the elements of art from her father, who, on some surprising proofs of her early capacity, at the age of fourteen, conducted her to Milan, and, after some years’ practice there and elsewhere, to Rome, where her talents, charms, accomplishments, and graces, soon rendered her an object of general admiration: in 1764 she removed to Venice, and in the following year accompanied lady Wentworth, the wife of the British resident, to England. Here, enjoying royal favour, the arbitress of public taste, loved, esteemed, perhaps envied by artists, decorated with academic honours, opulent and happy, she sunk her own name in that of sir A. Zucchi, a Venetian artist, whom she married, and, after a residence of seventeen years, returned, through her native place, to Italy, and settled at Rome; where, after a new career of success, courted, employed, and rewarded, by rnonarchs, princes, and the most distinguished travellers, she died in 1807, of gradual decay, resigned, regretted, and honoured by splendid obsequies.
Mr. Fuseli, who was honoured by the friendship of Angelica, and cherishes her
Mr. Fuseli, who was honoured by the friendship of Angelica, and cherishes her memory, says, that he “has no
wish to contradict those who make success the standard of
genius, and as their heroine equalled the greatest names
in the first, suppose that she was on a level with them in
powers. Angelica pleased, and deserved to please, the age
in which she lived, and the race for which she wrought.
The Germans, with as much patriotism at least as judgment, have styled her the Paintress of Minds (Seelen Mahlerin): nor can this be wondered at from a nation, who,
in A. R. Mengs, flatter themselves to possess an artist equal
to Raffaello. The male and female characters of Angelica never vary in form, features, and expression, from
the favourite ideal she had composed in her mind. Her
heroes are all, the man to whom she thought she could have
submitted, though him perhaps she never found; and to
his fancied manner of acting and feeling, she, of course,
submitted the passions of the subject. Her heroines are
herself; and whilst suavity of countenance and alluring
graces shall be able to divert the general eye from the
sterner demands of character and expression, can never
fail to please.
”
r whose labours highly contributed to the growth and perpetuity of her fame. Bartolozzi was the man, who, enjoying at the same time, youth, health, and ingenuity, almost
Angelica painted the lighter scenes of poetry with a grace and taste entirely her own; and happily formed to meet that of an engraver whose labours highly contributed to the growth and perpetuity of her fame. Bartolozzi was the man, who, enjoying at the same time, youth, health, and ingenuity, almost entirely devoted his talents between Angelica and Cipriani. The three were endowed with congenial feelings in arts; which, if not of the highest class, were certainly entitled to rank among the most agreeable.
stria, and had even settled the plan of his work, when he acquainted M. Voltaire with his intention, who advised him rather to employ his time on subjects more likely
, a very agreeable English writer, was
descended from sir George Hungerford, his great
grandfather, by lady Frances Ducie, only daughter of Francis
lord Seymour, baron of Trowbridge. He was born, as
may be conjectured, about 1729 or 1730, and received his
education at Kingston school, under the rev. Mr. Woodeson. From thence he went to Geneva, where he resided
some years; and during his stay there, became acquainted
with Voltaire, with whom he continued to correspond many
years after he returned to England. After finishing the
tour of Europe, he settled as a student in the Inner Temple, was called to the bar, and sometimes attended Westminster-hall; though he did not meet with encouragement
enough to induce his perseverance in his profession, nor
indeed does it seem probable that he had sufficient application for it. His first performance was “Ancient and
Modern Rome,
” a poem, written at Rome in A short Account of the Ancient History, present
Government, and Laws of the Republic of Geneva.
” This
work he dedicated to his friend Voltaire. In 1762 he
produced an “Epistle from lady Jane Gray to lord Guildford Dudley;
” and in The Alps,
” a poem, which,
for truth of description, elegance of versification, and vigour of imagination, greatly surpasses all his other poetical productions. In 1764 he produced “Netley Abbey;
”
and in Temple Student, an Epistle to a Friend,
”
in which he agreeably rallies his own want of application in
the study of the law, and intimates his irresistible penchant
for the belles lettres. In 1769 he married miss Hudson,
of Wanlip, Leicestershire. Some months before which, he
had published “Ferney,
” an epistle to Mons. de Voltaire, in
which he introduced a fine eulogium on Shakspeare, which
procured him, soon after, the compliment, from the mayor
and burgesses of Stratford, of a standish, mounted with silver, made out of the mulberry-tree planted by that illustrious bard. In 1773 he published “The Monument -in
Arcadia,
” a dramatic poem, founded on a well-known picture of Poussin; and in 1779, “Sketches from Nature,
taken and coloured in a Journey to Margate,
” 2 vols.
12 mo, an imitation of Sterne’s “Sentimental Journey
” In The Helvetiad,
” a fragment, written at Geneva, in For,
” said be, “should you devote yourself to the completion of your present design, the Swiss would be much
obliged to you, without being able to read you, and the
rest of the world would care little about the matter.
”
Whatever justice there was in this remark, Mr. K. relinquished his plan, and never resumed it afterwards. In
1781, he published an “Epistle to Angelica Kauffman.
”
a long and vexatious lawsuit, in consequence of the neglect (to say the least of it) of an architect who professed himself to be his friend; the particulars of which
A few years after he became engaged in a long and vexatious lawsuit, in consequence of the neglect (to say the least of it) of an architect who professed himself to be his
friend; the particulars of which it is of no importance to
detail. At the conclusion of the business he shewed that
his good humour had not forsaken him: and in 1787 he
gave to the public the principal circumstances of his case
in a performance entitled “The Distressed Poet, a seriocomic Poem, in three cantos,
” 4to, with some pleasantry,
and without any acrimony.
ean; composed from the journals and communications of captain Henry Wilson and some of his officers, who in August 1783 were there shipwrecked, in the Antelope, a packet
In the next year, 1788, the last of his productions appeared; and the composition was very honourable to his
talents and his liberality. In 1782, the Antelope packet
was shipwrecked on the Pelew Islands, where the commander, captain Wilson, and his crew lived some time before they could get off. The circumstances attending this
extraordinary deliverance having been communicated 10 Mr.
Keate, he offered to draw up the narrative of them for the
advantage of his friend captain Wilson. This he executed
in “An Account of the Pelew Islands, situated in the
western part of the Pacific ocean; composed from the
journals and communications of captain Henry Wilson and
some of his officers, who in August 1783 were there shipwrecked, in the Antelope, a packet belonging to the honourable East India Company,
” 4to, a work written with great
elegance, compiled with much care, and which, if embellished (as it certainly appears to be) with facts better calculated to have found a place in a novel than a genuine
narrative, must be ascribed to the mis-information of
those who were actors in the scene, and must first have
deceived before they obtained credit. Mr. Keate
(whoundertook the task on the most disinterested principle, and derived no advantage whatever from the work) was too
sturdy a moralist to have had any hand in the imposition.
or of that town, whose eldest son was sir Benjamin Keene, many years ambassador at Madrid, and K. B. who died Dec. 15, 1757, leaving his fortune to the subject of this
, an English prelate, born in 1713,
was the younger son of Charles Keene, of Lynn, in Norfolk, esq. sometime mayor of that town, whose eldest son
was sir Benjamin Keene, many years ambassador at Madrid, and K. B. who died Dec. 15, 1757, leaving his fortune
to the subject of this article. Mr. Edmund Keene was
first educated at the Charter-house, and afterwards at Caius
college, Cambridge, where he was admitted in 1730. In
1738 he was appointed one of his majesty’s preachers at
Whitehall chapel, and made fellow of Peterhouse in 1739.
In 1740 he was made chaplain to a regiment of marines;
and, in the same year, by the interest of his brother with
$ir Robert Walpole, he succeeded bishop Butler in the
valuable rectory of Stanhope, in the bishopric of Durham.
In 1748, he preached and published a sermon at Newcastle,
at the anniversary meeting of the society for the relief of
the widows and orphans of clergymen; and, in December
following, on the death of Dr. Whalley, he was chosen
master of Peterhouse. In 1750, being vice-chancellor,
under the auspices of the late duke of Newcastle, he verified the concluding paragraph in his speech on being
elected, “Nee tardum nee timidum habebitis procancellarium,
” by promoting, with great zeal and success, the regulations for improving the discipline of the university.
This exposed him to much obloquy from the younger part
of it, particularly in the famous “Fragment,
” and “The
Key to the Fragment,
” by Dr. King, in which Dr. Keene
was ridiculed (in prose) under the name of Mun, and in
that of the “Capitade
” (in verse), under that of Acutus,
but at the same time his care and attention to the interests
and character of the university justly endeared him to his
great patron, so that in Jan. 1752, soon after the expirW
tion of his office, which he held for two years, he was nominated to the see of Chester, vacant by the death of bishop
Peploe, and was consecrated in Ely-house chapel on Palm
Sunday, March 22. With this he held in commendam his
rectory, and, for- two years, his headship, when he was
succeeded, much to his satisfaction, by Dr. Law. In May
following his lordship married the only daughter of Lancelot Andrews, esq. of Edmonton, formerly an eminent
linen-draper in Cheapside, a lady of considerable fortune,
and a descendant of the family of bishop Andrews. She
died March 24, 1776. In 1770, on the death of bishop
Mawson, he was translated to the valuable see of Ely.
Receiving large dilapidations, his lordship procured an act
of parliament for alienating the old palace in Holborn, and
building a new one, by which the see has been freed from
a great incumbrance, and obtained some increase also of
annual revenue. “The bishopric,
” it has been humorously
observed, “though stripped of the strawberries which
Shakspeare commemorates to have been so noted in Holborn, has, in lieu of -them, what may very well console a
man not over-scrupulous in his appetites, viz. a new mansion of Portland stone in Dover-street, and a revenue of
5000l. a year, to keep it warm and in good repute.
” Bishop
Keene soon followed his friend Dr. Caryl, “whom,
” he
said, “he had long known and regarded, and who, though
he had a few more years over him, he did not think would
have gone before him.
” He died July 6, 1781, in the
sixty-eighth year of his age, and was buried at his own
desire in bishop West’s chapel, Ely cathedral, where is a
short epitaph drawn up by himself. “Bishop Keene,
” it
is observed by bishop Newton, “succeeded to Ely, to his
heart’s desire, and happy it was that he did so; for, few
could have borne the expence, or have displayed the taste
and magnificence, which he has done, having a liberal fortune as well as a liberal mind, and really meriting the appellation of a builder of palaces. For, he built a new
palace at Chester; he built a new Fly-house in London
and, in a great measure, a new palace at Ely leaving
onjy the outer walls standing, he formed a new inside, and
thereby converted it into one of the best episcopal houses,
if not the very best, in the kingdom. He had indeed received the money which arose from the sale of old Elyhouse, and also what was paid by the executors of his predecessor for dilapidations, which, all together, amounted
to about 11,000l. but yet he expended some thousands
more of his own upon the buildings, and new houses
require new furniture.
” It is chiefly on account of this taste
and munificence that he deserves notice, as he is not
known in the literary world, unless by five occasional sermons of no distinguished merit.
the mathematics, he studied that science very successfully under David Gregory the professor there, who was one of the first that had embraced the Newtonian philosophy;
, an eminent mathematician and philosopher, was born Dec. 1, 1671, at Edinburgh, where he
received the first rudiments of learning; and, being educated in that university, continued there till he took the
degree of M. A. His genius leading him to the mathematics, he studied that science very successfully under David
Gregory the professor there, who was one of the first that
had embraced the Newtonian philosophy; and, in 1694,
he followed his tutor to Oxford, where, being admitted of
Baliol, he obtained one of the Scotch exhibitions in that
college. He is said to have been the first who taught
Newton’s principles by the experiments on which they are
grounded, -which he was enabled to do by an apparatus of
instruments of his own providing; and the lectures he delivered in his chambers upon natural and experimental
philosophy, procured him very great reputation. The first
public specimen he gave of his skill in mathematical and
philosophical knowledge, was his “Examination of Burnet’s Theory of the Earth,
” which appeared in Theory.
” To
this piece he subjoined “Remarks upon Whiston’s New
Theory of the Earth;
” and these theories, being defended
by their respective inventors, drew from Keill, in 1699,
another performance entitled “An Examination of the
Reflections of the Theory of the Earth, together with ‘ a
Defence of the Remarks on Mr. Whiston’s New Theory’.
”
Dr. Burnet was a man of grea.t humanity, moderation, and
candour; and it was therefore supposed that Keill had
treated him too roughly, considering the great disparity of
years between them. Keill, however, left the doctor in
possession of that which has since been thought the great
characteristic and excellence of his work: and, though he
disclaimed him as a philosopher, yet allowed him to be a
man of a fine imagination. “Perhaps,
” says he, “many
of his readers will be sorry to be undeceived about his
Theory; for, as I believe never any book was fuller of
mistakes and errors in philosophy, so none ever abounded
*vith more beautiful scenes and surprizing images of nature.
But I write only to those who might expect to find a true
philosophy in it: the*y who read it as an ingenious romance
will still be pleased with their entertainment.
”
The following year Dr. Millington, Sedleian professor of natural philosophy in Oxford, who had been appointed physician in ordinary to king William, substituted
The following year Dr. Millington, Sedleian professor
of natural philosophy in Oxford, who had been appointed
physician in ordinary to king William, substituted Keill as
his deputy, to read lectures in the public schools. This
office he discharged with great reputation; and the term
of enjoying the Scotch exhibition at Baliol-college, without taking orders, now expiring, he accepted an invitation
from Dr. Aldrich, dean of Christ-church, to reside there.
In 1701 he published his celebrated treatise, the substance
of several lectures on the new philosophy, entitled “Introductio ad veram physicam,
” which is supposed to be the
best and most useful of all his performances. In the preface he insinuates the little progress that Sir Isaac Newton’s
“Principia
” had made in the world and says, that
“though the mechanical philosophy was then in repute,
yet, in most of the writings upon this subject, scarce any
thing was to be found but the name.
” The first edition
of this book contained only fourteen lectures; but to the
second, in 1705, he added two more. About 50 years
ago, when the Newtonian philosophy began to be established in France, this piece was in great esteem there,
being considered as the best introduction to the “Principia;
” and a new edition in English was printed at London in 1736, at the instance of M. Maupertuis, who was
then in England, and subjoined to it a new hypothesis of
his own, concerning the ring of the planet Saturn.
ation of Sir Isaac, and other members of the society and a copy of his defence was sent to Leibnitz, who, in a second letter, remonstrated still more loudly against
In Feb. 1701 he was admitted a fellow of the royal
society; and, in 1708, published, in the “Philosophical
Transactions,
” a paper “Of the Laws of Attraction, and
its Physical Principles.
” At the same time, being offended
at a passage in the “Acta Eruditorum
” at Leipsic, in
which Sir Jsaac Newton’s claim to the first invention of the
method of fluxions was called in question, he communicated to the royal society another paper, in which he
asserted the justice of that claim. In 1709 he was appointed treasurer to the Palatines, and in that station
attended them in their passage to New England; and,
soon after his return in 1710, was chosen Savilian professor
of astronomy at Oxford. In 1711, being attacked by
Leibnitz, he entered the lists against that mathematician,
in the dispute about the invention of fluxions. Leibnitz
wrote a letter to Dr. Hans Sloane, then secretary to the
royal society, dated March 4, 1711, in which he required
Keill, in effect, to give him satisfaction for the injury he
had done him in his paper relating to the passage in the
“Acta Eruditorum
” at Leipsic. He protested, that he
was far from assuming to himself Sir Isaac Newton’s method of fluxions; and desired, therefore, that Keill might
be obliged to retract his false assertion. Keill desired, on
the other hand, that he might be permitted to justify what
he had asserted which he performed to the approbation
of Sir Isaac, and other members of the society and a
copy of his defence was sent to Leibnitz, who, in a second
letter, remonstrated still more loudly against Keill’s want
of candour and sincerity; adding, that it was not fit for one
of his age and experience to enter into a dispute with an
upstart, who acted without any authority from Sir Isaac
Newton and desiring that the royal society would enjoin
him silence. Upon this, a special committee was appointed
who, after examining the facts, concluded their report with
“reckoning Mr. Newton the inventor of fluxions; and that
Mr. Keill, in asserting the same, had been no ways injurious
to Mr. Leibnitz.
” In the mean time, Keill behaved himself with great firmness and spirit; which he also shewed
afterwards in a Latin epistle, written in 172O, to Bernoulli,
mathematical professor at Basil, on account of the same
usage shewn to Sir Isaac Newton; in the title-page of
which he put the arms of Scotland, viz. a thistle, with this
motto, “Nemo me impune lacessit.
” The particulars of
the contest are recorded in Collins’s “Commercium Epistolicum.
”
wn, of two tracts on Trigonometry and the nature of Logarithms. In 1717 he was married to some lady, who recommended herself to him, it is said, purely by her personal
About 1711, several objections were urged against Sir Isaac
Newton’s philosophy, in support of Des Cartes’s notions
of a plenum; which occasioned Keill to draw up a paper,
which was published in the “Philosophical Transactions,
”
“On the Rarity of Matter, and the Tenuity of its Compo
sition,
” in which he points out various phenomena, which
cannot be explained upon the supposition of a plenum.
But, while he was engaged in this controversy, queen Anne
was pleased to appoint him her decipherer; a post for
which he was, it seems, very fit. His sagacity was such,
that, though a decipherer is always supposed to be moderately skilled in the language in which the paper given him
to decipher is written; yet he is said once to have
deciphered a paper written in Swedish, without knowing a word
of the language. In 1713, the university conferred on
him the degree of M. D. at the public act; and, two years
after, he published an edition of Commandinus’s “Euclid,
”
with additions of his own, of two tracts on Trigonometry
and the nature of Logarithms. In 1717 he was married to
some lady, who recommended herself to him, it is said,
purely by her personal accomplishments. The facetious
Mr. Alsop wrote some lines on this occasion (Gent. Mag. vol. XXXVIII. 238), which intimate that Keill had been
a man of gallantry in his youth; and this appears, indeed,
to be confirmed by the writer of his life in the Biographia
Britannica. In 1718 he published his “Introductio ad
veram Astronomiam:
” which treatise was afterwards, at the
request of the duchess of Chandos, translated by himself
into English; and, with several emendations, published in
1721, under the title of “An Introduction to the true
Astronomy, or, Astronomical Lectures read in the Astronomical Schools of the University of Oxford.
” This was
his last gift to the public; for he was seized this summer
with a violent fever, which put an end to his life Sept. 1,
1721, when he was not quite fifty years old.
of the animal economy. His first publication was a compendium of anatomy, for the use of the pupils who attended his lectures, and was entitled “The Anatomy of the
, an eminent physician of the mathematical sect, and brother to the preceding, was born in
Scotland March 27, 1673. Having received the early part
of his education in his native country, he went abroad with
the view of completing it in the schools of celebrity on the
continent; and obtained such a degree of knowledge as
distinguished him soon after his return to England. He
had early applied to dissections, and pursued th study
of anatomy, under Duverney, at Paris; whence he was
enabled to give anatomical lectures, with great reputation,
in both the English universities. He was honoured with
the degree of M. D. by the university of Cambridge.
In 1703 he settled at Northampton, and began the practice of his profession, in which he attained considerable
fame and success. In 1706 he published a paper in the
Philosophical Transactions, No. 306, containing “an account of the death and dissection of John Bayles, of that
town, reputed to have been 130 years old.
” The circumstances which he detailed very much resembled those that
were observed by the celebrated Harvey in the dissection of
old Parr. Dr. Keill, like his brother John, was well skilled
in mathematical learning, which he applied to the explanation of die laws of the animal economy. His first publication was a compendium of anatomy, for the use of the
pupils who attended his lectures, and was entitled “The
Anatomy of the Human Body abridged,
” Lond. An Account of Animal
Secretion, the quantity of blood in the human body, and
muscular motion,
” London, 8vi. This work was reprinted
in 1717, with the addition of an essay, “concerning the
force of the heart in driving the blood through the whole
body,
” and under the title of “Essays on several parts of
the Animal Œconomy.
” He likewise published the same
treatise in Latin, with the addition of a “Medicina Statica
Britannica.
” The essay concerning the force of the heart
drew him into a controversy with Dr. Jurin, which was
carried on in several papers, printed in the Philosophical
Transactions of the royal society, of which Dr. Keill had
been elected a member; and was continued to the time of
the death of the latter, which took place at Northampton,
July 16, 1619, in the vigour of his age. He had for some
time laboured under a very painful disorder, viz. a cancer
in the roof of his mouth, to which he had applied the cautery with his own hands, in order, if possible, to procure
some relief, but in vain. He was buried at St. Giles’s
church at Northampton. An handsome monument and inscription were placed over him by his brother, John Keill,
to whom he left his estate, being never married; but who
survived him, as we have seen, little more than two years.
the rebellion of 1715. In this unhappy contest, through the instigation of the counless his mother, who was a Roman catholic, he joined the Pretender’s party, and was
, field-marshal in the king of Prussia’s
service, was born in 1696, and was the younger son of
William Keith, earl marshal of Scotland. He had his
grammar-learning under Thomas Ruddiman, author of the
“Rudiments;
” his academical, under bishop Keith and
William IMeston, in the college of Aberdeen. He was designed by his friends for the profession of the law; but the
bent of his genius inclined him to arms, with which they
wisely complied. His first military services were employed
while a youth of eighteen, in the rebellion of 1715. In
this unhappy contest, through the instigation of the
counless his mother, who was a Roman catholic, he joined the
Pretender’s party, and was at the battle of Sheriffmuir, in
which he was wounded, yet able to make his escape to
France. Here he applied to those branches of education,
which are necessary to accomplish a soldier. He studied
mathematics under M. de Maupertuis; and made such
proficiency, that he was, by his recommendation, admitted
a fellow of the royal academy of sciences at Paris. He
afterwards travelled through Italy, Switzerland, and Portugal; with uncommon curiosity examined the several productions in architecture, painting, and sculpture; and surveyed the different fields where famous battles had been
fought. In 1717, he had an opportunity of forming an acquaintance with Peter, czar of Muscovy, at Paris, who invited him to enter into the Russian service. This offer he
declined, because the emperor was at that time at war
with the king of Sweden, whose character Keith held in
great veneration. He then left Paris, and went to Madrid;
where, by the interest of the duke of Lyria, he obtained a
commission in the Irish brigades, then commanded by the
duke of Ormond. He afterwards accompanied the duke of
Lyria, when he was sent ambassador extraordinary to Russia, and was recommended by him to the service of the
czarina, who promoted him to the rank of lieutenant-general, and invested him with the order of the black eagle.
r may be given in the few but comprehensive words of his brother, the late lord marshal of Scotland, who on being applied to by M. Formey, who wished to write his eloge,
This brave and experienced general, after having greatly
distinguished himself in the later memorable wars of that
illustrious monarch, was killed in the unfortunate affair of
Hohkerchen, Oct. 14, 1758, and was buried in the church
of that place, the enemy joining in paying respect to his
virtues. His character may be given in the few but comprehensive words of his brother, the late lord marshal of
Scotland, who on being applied to by M. Formey, who
wished to write his eloge, answered, “Probus vixit, fortis
obiit.
”
his reporter of what passed between him and the spirits with whom the doctor held intelligence, and who wrote down the nonsense Kelley pretended to have heard. Of their
, alias Talbot (Edward), a famous English
alchymist, or, as some have called him, a necromancer, was
born at Worcester in 1555, and educated at Gloucesterhall, Oxford. Wood says, that when his nativity was
calculated, it appeared that he was to be a man of most
acute wit, and great propensity to philosophical studies
and mysteries of nature. He belied this prophecy, however, both in the progress and termination of his life; for,
leaving Oxford abruptly, and rambling about the kingdom,
he was guilty of some crime in Lancashire, for which his
ears were cut off at Lancaster; but what crime this was
we are not informed. He became afterwards an associate
with the famous Dr. Dee, travelled into foreign countries
with him, and was his reporter of what passed between
him and the spirits with whom the doctor held intelligence,
and who wrote down the nonsense Kelley pretended to
have heard. Of their journey with Laski, a Polish nobleman, we have already given an account in the life of
Dr. Dee. We farther learn from Ashmole, if such information can be called learning, that Kelley and Dee had
the good fortune to find a large quantity of the elixir, or
philosopher’s stone, in the ruins of Glastonbury abbey;
which elixir was so surprisingly rich, that they lost a great
deal in making projections, before they discovered the
force of its virtue. This author adds, that, -at Trebona in
Bohemia, Kelley tried a grain of this elixir upon an ounce
and a quarter of common mercury, which was presently
transmuted into almost an ounce of fine gold. At another
time he tried his art upon a piece of metal, cut out of a
warming-pan; which, without handling it, or melting the
metal, was turned into very good silver, only by warming it
at a fire. Cervantes has given us nothing more absurd in
the phrenzy of Don Quixote. This warming-pan, however, and the piece taken out of it, were sent to queen
Elizabeth by her ambassador, then residing at Prague.
Kelley, afterwards behaving indiscreetly, was imprisoned
by the emperor Rodolphus II. by whom he had been
knighted; and, endeavouring to make his escape out of
the window, fell down and bruised himself so severely that
he died soon after, in 1595. His works are, “A Poem of
Chemistry,
” and “A Poem of the Philosopher’s Stone;
”
both inserted in the “Theatrum Chymicum Britannicum,
”
De Lapide Philosophorurn,
” Hamb. A true
and faithful Relation of what passed for many Years between
Dr. John Dee and some Spirits,
” &c. Lond. Fragmentæ
aliquot, edita a Combacio,
” Geismar, Ed. Kelleii epistola ad Edvardum Dyer,
” and other little
things of Kelley, in ms. in Biblioth. Ashmol. Oxon.
vernment in national churches; and he particularly pointed at the state of the catholics in England, who were without such a government. Some imagined that the book
, an English Roman catholic
of considerable eminence as a controversial writer, was
born in Northamptonshire, about 1560, and brought up
in lord Vaux’s family, whence he was sent for education to
the English colleges at Doway and Rheims, and afterwards, in 1582, to Rome, where he remained about seven
years, and acquired the reputation of a very able divine.
In 1589, he was invited to Rheims to lecture on divinity,
and, proceeding in his academical degrees, was created
D. D. and, in 1606, had the dignity of rector magnificus,
or chancellor of the university, conferred upon him. After
being public professor at Rheims for twelve years, he returned to Doway in 1613, and a few months after was declared president of the college, by a patent from Rome.
In this office he conducted himself with great reputation,
and ably promoted the interests of the college. He died
Jan. 21, 1641. Among his works are, 1. “Survey of the
new religion/' Doway, 1603, 8vi. 2.
” A reply to Sutcliffe’s answer to the Survey of the new religion,“Rheims,
1608, 8vi. 3.
” Oratio coram Henrico IV. rege
Chris4. “The Gagg of the reformed gospel.
”
This, the catholics tell us, was the cause of the conversion
of many protestants. It was answered, however, by Montague, afterwards bishop of Chichester, in a tract called
“The new Gagger, or Gagger gagged/ 7 1624. Montague
and he happened to coincide in so many points that the
former was involved with some of his brethren in a controversy, they thinking him too favourable to the popish
cause. 5.
” Examen reformations, prajsertim Calvinisticae,“8vo, Doway, 1616. 6.
” The right and jurisdiction of the prince and prelate,“1617, 1621, 8vo. This
he is said to have written in his own defence, having been
represented at Rome as a favourer of the oath of allegiance. In the mean time the work was represented to
king James I. as allowing of the deposing power, and of
murdering excommunicated princes, and his majesty thought
proper to inquire more narrowly into the matter; the result of which was, that Dr. Kellison held no such opinions,
and had explained his ideas of the oath of allegiance with
as much caution as could have been expected. 7.
” A
treatise of the hierarchy of the church: against the anarchy of Calvin,“1629, 8vo. In this treatise, he had the
misfortune to differ from the opinion of his own church in
some respect. His object was, to prove the necessity of
episcopal government in national churches; and he particularly pointed at the state of the catholics in England,
who were without such a government. Some imagined that
the book would be censured at Rome, because it seemed
indirectly to reflect upon the pope, who had not provided
England with bishops to govern the papists there, although frequently applied to for that favour; and because
it seemed to represent the regulars as no part of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and consequently not over-zealous in
supporting the dignity of the episcopal order. The court
of Rome, however, took no cognizance of the matter; but
others attacked Dr. Kellison’s work with great fury. The
controversy increasing, the bishops and clergy of France
espoused his cause, and condemned several of the productions of his antagonists, in, which they had attacked the
hierarchy of the church. Dr. Kellison’s other works were,
8.
” A brief and necessary Instruction for the Catholics of
England, touching their pastor,“1631. 9.
” Comment,
in tertiam partem Summse Sancti Thomas,“1632, fol.
10.
” A Letter to king James I." in ms. Sutcliife and
Montague were his principal antagonists among the protestants.
aviour, he soon attracted the notice, not only of these minor wits, but of a set of honest tradesmen who frequented that house every evening, and who were much entertained
, a dramatic and miscellaneous writer, a native of Ireland, was born on the banks of the lake of Killarney, in 1739. His father was a gentleman of good family in that country, whose fortune being reduced by a series of misfortunes, he was obliged to repair to Dublin, in order to endeavour to support himself by his personal industry. He gave our author, however, some school education; but the narrowness of his finances would not permit him to indulge his son’s natural propensity to study, by placing him in the higher schools of Dublin. He was therefore bound apprentice to 3j stay-maker, an employment but ill suited to his inclination; yet continued with his master till the expiration of his apprenticeship, and then set out for London, in 1760, in order to procure a livelihood by his business. This, however, he found very difficult, and was soon reduced to the utmost distress for the means of subsistence. In this forlorn situation, a stranger, and friendless, he used sometimes to endeavour to forget his misfortunes, and passed some of his heavy hours at a public-house in Russel-street, Covent-garden, much resorted to by the younger players. Having an uncommon share of good-humour, and being lively, cheerful, and engaging in his behaviour, he soon attracted the notice, not only of these minor wits, but of a set of honest tradesmen who frequented that house every evening, and who were much entertained with his conversation. In a little time Mr. Kelly became so well acquainted with the characters of the club, that he was enabled to give a humorous description of them in one of the daily papers; and the likenesses were so well executed as to draw their attention, and excite their curiosity to discover the author. Their suspicions soon fixed on Mr. Kelly, and from that time he became distinguished among them as a man of parts and consideration.
e in defence of the measures of administration, met with a very illiberal reception; for, by a party who had previously determined on its fate, after an uncommon uproar,
The success of this play induced Mr. Kelly to continue
to write for the stage; and he soon produced another
comedy, entitled “A Word to the Wise,
” which, on a
report then current, that he was employed to write in defence of the measures of administration, met with a very
illiberal reception; for, by a party who had previously determined on its fate, after an uncommon uproar, it was
most undeservedly driven from the theatre. Of this treatment he severely complains in an “Address to the Public,
”
prefixed to an edition of that play, soon after published
by subscription, before which above a thousand names appear as his encouragers; and though the pride of the poet
was hurt, his fortune was improved, and his friends were
considerably increased.
oon after presented the public with “Clementina.” In 1774, uqder the patronage of justice Addington, who kindly helped to conceal the name of the real author, by lending
The ill fate of the “Word to the Wise
” cast no damp
on the ardour of our poet in the prosecution of theatric
fame; and as his friends were strongly of opinion, that his
genius excelled in the sentimental and pathetic, he was
persuaded to make a trial of it in tragedy, and soon after
presented the public with “Clementina.
” In School for Wives.
”
By this manoeuvre he completely deceived the critics, who
had not yet forgot their resentment; for the play was
prepared for the stage, and represented, without the least
discovery of his relation to it; though they pretended to
be perfectly well acquainted with Mr. Kelly’s style and
manner of writing. However, after the character of the
play was fully established, and any farther concealment
became unnecessary, Mr. Addington very genteelly, in a
public advertisement, resigned his borrowed plumes, and
the real author was invested with that share of reputation
to which he was entitled.
ergyman, was born Nov. 1, 1750, at Douglas, in the Isle of Man. Descended from a line of forefathers who had from time immemorial possessed a small freehold near that
, a learned English clergyman, was born
Nov. 1, 1750, at Douglas, in the Isle of Man. Descended
from a line of forefathers who had from time immemorial
possessed a small freehold near that town, called Aalcaer,
which devolved on the doctor, he was placed under the
tuiton of the rev. Philip Moore, master of the free grammar-school of Douglas, where he became speedily distinguished by quickness of intellect, and the rapidity of his
classical progress. From the pupil he became the favourite
and the companion of his instructor, whose regard he appears to have particularly conciliated by his skill in the
vernacular dialect of the Celtic tongue, spoken in that
island. When not seventeen, young Kelly attempted the
difficult task of reducing to writing the grammatical rules,
and proceeded to compile a dictionary of the tongue. The
obvious difficulties of such an undertaking to a school- boy
may be estimated by the reflection that this was the very
first attempt to embody, to arrange, or to grammaticize,
this language: that it was made without any aid whatever
from books, Mss or from oral communications; but
merely by dint of observation on the conversation of his
unlettered countrymen. It happened at this moment that
Dr. Hildesley, the then bishop of Sodor and Man, had
brought to maturity his benevolent plan of bestowing on
the natives of the island a translation of the Holy Scriptures, of the Common Prayer book, and of some religious
tracts, in their own idiom. His lordship most gladly availed
himself of the talents and attainments of this young man,
and prevailed on him to dedicate several years of his life
to his lordship’s favourite object. The Scriptures had been
distributed in portions amongst the insular clergy, for each,
to translate his part: on Mr. K. the serious charge was.
imposed of revising, correcting, and giving uniformity to
these several translations of the Old Testament; and also
that of conducting through the press the whole of these
publications. In June 1768 he entered on his duties: in
April 1770 he transmitted the first portion to Whitehaven,
where the work was printed; but when conveying the second, he was shipwrecked, and narrowly escaped perishing. The ms. with which he was charged was held five
hours above water; and was nearly the only article on
board preserved. In the course of “his labours in the
vineyard,
” he transcribed, with his own hand, all the
books of the Old Testament three several times. The
whole impression was completed, under his guidance, in
December 1772, speedily after the worthy bishop died.
ation a J. C. sur sa vie et ses mysteries,” 12mo. The learned Joducus Badius Ascensius was the first who attributed the celebrated book on the Imitation of Jesus Christ
, a pious and learned regular
canon, and one of the most eminent men in the fifteenth
century, was born 1380, at Kemp, a village in the diocese
oi Cologn, from whence he took his name. He studied at
Deventer, in the community of poor scholars established
by Gerard Groot, made great progress both in learning
and piety, and in 1399 entered the monastery of regular
canons of Mount St. Agnes, near Zwol, where his brother
was prior. Thomas a Kempis distinguished himself in
this situation by his eminent piety, his respect for his superiors, and his charity towards his brethren; and died in
great reputation for sanctity, July 25, 1471, aged ninetyone. He left a great number of religious works, which
breathe a spirit of tender, solid, and enlightened piety, of
which a collection was printed at Antwerp, 1615, 3 torn.
8vo. The abbe de Bellegarde translated part of his works
into French, under the title of “Suite du Livre de I'lmitation,
” 24mo, and Pere Valette, under that of “Elevation a J. C. sur sa vie et ses mysteries,
” 12mo. The
learned Joducus Badius Ascensius was the first who attributed the celebrated book on the Imitation of Jesus Christ
to Thomas a Kempis, in which he has been followed by
Francis de Tob, a regular canon, who in favour of this
opinion quotes the Mss. which may still be seen in Thomas
a Kempis’s own hand. On the other hand, Pere Possevin,
a Jesuit, was the first who attributed this work to the
abbot John Gersen or Gessen, in his “Apparatus sacer,
”
which opinion has been adopted by the Benedictines of
the congregations de St. Maur. M. Vallart, in his edition
of the “Imitation,
” supposes it to be more ancient than
Thomas a Kempis, and that it was written by Gersen.
Those who wish to be acquainted with the disputes which
arose on this subject between the Benedictines, who are
for Gersen, and the regular canons of the congregation of
St. Genevieve, who are for Thomas a Kempis, may consult the curious account of them which Dom. Vincent
Thuilier nas prefixed to torn. 1. of Mabillon’s and Ruinart’s Posthumous Works, or Dupin’s History, who has
also entered deeply into the controversy. The first Latin
edition is 1492, 12mo, Gothic. There was at that time
an old French translation under the title of ‘L’lnternelle
Consolation,“the language of which appears as old as
Thomas a Kempis, which has raised a doubt whether the
book was originally written in Latin or French. The abbe
”
Langlet has taken a chapter from this ancient translation,
which is not in the Latin versions. Dr. Stanhope translated it into English, and there are numerous editions of it
in every known language.
that society. Not long after this, he was appointed domestic chaplain to Morley, bishop of that see, who presented him first to the rectory of Brixton, in the Isle of
, the deprived bishop of Bath and Wells,
was descended from an ancient family seated at Kenplace, in Somersetshire, and born at Berkhamstead, in
Hertfordshire, July 1637. At the age of thirteen he was
sent to Winchester-school; and thence removed to Newcollege, in Oxford, of which he became a probationerfellow in 1657. He took his degrees regularly, and pursued his studies closely for many years; and in 1666 he
removed to Winchester-college, being chosen fellow of
that society. Not long after this, he was appointed domestic chaplain to Morley, bishop of that see, who presented him first to the rectory of Brixton, in the Isle of
Wight, and afterwards to a prebend in the church of Westminster, 1669. In 1674 he made a tour to Rome, with
his nephew Mr. Isaac Walton, then B. A. in Christchurch, in Oxford; and after his return, took his degrees in divinity, 1679. Not long after, being appointed
chaplain to the princess of Orange, he went to Holland. Here his prudence and piety gained him the esteem
and confidence of his mistress; but in the course of his
office, he happened to incur the displeasure of her consort, by obliging one of his favourites to perform a promise
of marriage with a young lady of the princess’s train, whom
he had seduced by that contract. This zeal in Ken so
offended the prince, afterwards king William, that he very
warmly threatened to turn him away from the service;
which Ken as warmly resenting, requested leave of the
princess to return home, and would* not consent to stay
till intreated by the prince in person. About a year after,
however, he returned to England, and was appointed in
quality of chaplain, to attend lord Dartmouth with the
royal commission to demolish the fortifications of Tangier.
The doctor returned with this nobleman April 1684; and
was immediately advanced to be chaplain to the king, by
an order from his majesty himself. Not only the nature
of the post, but the gracious manner of conferring it, evidently shewed that it was intended as a step to future favours; and this was so well understood, that, upon the
removal of the court to pass the summer at Winchester,
the doctor’s prebendal house was pitched upon for the use
of Mrs. Eleanor Gwyn. But Ken was too pious even to
countenance vice in his royal benefactor; and therefore
positively refused admittance to the royal mistress, which
the king, however, did not take amiss, as he knew the
sincerity of the man; and, previous to any application, nominated him soon after to the bishopric of Bath and Wells.
A few days after this, the king was seized with the illness
of which he died; during which, the doctor thought it his
duty to attend him very constantly, and did his utmost to
awaken his conscience. Bishop Burnet tells us that he
spoke on that occasion “with great elevation of thought
and expression, and like a man inspired.
” This pious
duty was the cause of delaying his admission to the temporalities of the see of Wells; so that when king James
came to the crown, new instruments were prepared for
that purpose.
ed to be read, by virtue of a dispensing power claimed by the king, this bishop was one of the seven who openly opposed the reading of it: for which he was sent, with
When he was settled in his see, he attended closely to
his episcopal function. He published “An Exposition of
the Church Catechism
” in Prayers for the Use of the Bath.
” Nor was he less
zealous as a guardian of the national church in general, in
opposing the attempts to introduce popery. He did not
indeed take part in the popish controversy, then agitated
so warmly for he had very little of a controversial turn
but from the pulpit, he frequently took occasion to mark
and confute the errors of popery; nor did he spare, when
his duty to the church of England more especially called
for it, to take the opportunity of the royal pulpit, to set
before the court their injurious and unmanly politics, in
projecting a coalition of the sectaries. For some time he
held, in appearance, the same place in the favour of king
James as he had holden in the former reign; and some attempts were made to gain him over to the interest of the
popish party at court, but these were in vain; for when
the declaration of indulgence was strictly commanded to
be read, by virtue of a dispensing power claimed by the
king, this bishop was one of the seven who openly opposed
the reading of it: for which he was sent, with his six
brethren, to the Tower. Yet though in this he ventured to
disobey his sovereign for the sake of his religion, yet he
would not violate his conscience by transferring his allegiance from him. When the prince of Orange therefore
came over, and the revolution took place, the bishop retired; and as soon as king William was seated on the
throne, and the new oath of allegiance was required, he,
by his refusal, suffered himself to be deprived. After his
deprivation, he resided at Longleate, a seat of the lord
viscount Weyrnouth, in Wiltshire; whence he sometimes
made a visit to his nephew, Mr. Isaac Walton, at Salisbury,
who was a prebendary of that church. In this retirement
he composed many pious works, some of the poetical kind;
for he had an inclination for poetry, and had many years
before written an epic poem of 13 books, entitled “Edmund,
” which was not published till after his death.
There is a prosaic flatness in this work; but some of his
Hymns and other compositions, have more of the spirit of
poetry, and give us an idea of that devotion which animated the author. It is said that when he was afflicted
with the colic, to which he was very subject, he frequently
amused himself with writing verses. Hence some of his
pious poems are entitled “Anodynes, or the Alleviation of
Pain.
”
cy at Winchester school, so deeply engaged in it. He never concurred in opinion with those nonjurors who were for continuing a separation from the established church
Bishop Ken did not mix in any of the disputes or
attempts of his party, though it is very probable he
was earnestly solicited to it; since we find the deprived
bishop of Ely, Dr. Turner, his particular friend, with whom
fee had begun an intimacy at Winchester school, so deeply
engaged in it. He never concurred in opinion with those
nonjurors who were for continuing a separation from the
established church by private consecrations among themselves, yet he looked on the spiritual relation to his diocese
to be still in full force, during the life of his first successor,
Dr. Kidder; but, after his decease in 1703, upon the
nomination of Dr. Hooper to the diocese, he requested
that gentleman to accept it, and afterwards subscribed
himself “late bishop of Bath and Wells.
” The queen,
who highly respected him, settled upon him a pension of
200l. per annum, which was punctually paid out of the
treasury as long as he lived. He had been afflicted from
1696 with severe cholicky pains, and at length symptoms
being apparent of an ulcer in his kidneys, he went to
Bristol in 1710 for the benefit of the hot wells, and there
continued till November, when he removed to Leweston,
near Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, a seat belonging to the
hon. Mrs. Thynne. There a paralytic attack, which deprived him of the use of one side, confined him to his
chamber till about the middle of March; when being,
as he thought, able to go to Bath, he set out, but died at
Longleate, in his way thither, March 19, 1710-11. It is
said that he had travelled for many years with his shroud in
his portmanteau; and that he put it on as soon as he came
to Longleate, giving notice of it the day before his death,
to prevent his body from being stripped.
, a native of Scotland, who resided some time in Smyrna, and died at an advanced age, Jan.
, a native of Scotland, who
resided some time in Smyrna, and died at an advanced age,
Jan. 26, 1760, is recorded as an antiquary of some abilities,
although we know very little of his history. He had a collection of about 200 pictures, amongst which were two
heads of himself by Keysing; he had also a very valuable
collection of Greek and Latin coins, which, with the pictures, were sold by auction in 1760. Amongst the Roman
coins were 256 of Carausius, 9 of them silver, and 89 of
Alectus; these coins of Carausius and Alectus were purchased by P. C. Webb, esq. the 256 for 70l. and thp 8$
for 16l. 10s. They were afterwards bought by Dr. Hunter,
who added to the number very considerably. Dr. Kennedy, in his “Dissertation on the Coins of Carausius,
” as-,
serted, that Oriuna was that emperor’s guardian goddess.
Dr. Stukeley, in his “Palæographia Britannica, No. III,
1752,
” 4to, affirmed she was his wife; to which Dr. Kennedy replied in “Farther Observations,
” &c. History of Carausius,
”
He was called White, from his mother’s father, one Mr. Thomas White, a wealthy magistrate at Dover, who had formerly been a master shipwright there. When he was a little
, an English writer, and bishop of
Peterborough, was the son of the rev. Basil Kennet, rector of Dunchurch, and vicar of Postling, near Hythe, in
Kent, and was born at Dover, Aug. 10, 1660. He was
called White, from his mother’s father, one Mr. Thomas
White, a wealthy magistrate at Dover, who had formerly
been a master shipwright there. When he was a little
grown up, he was sent to Westminster-school, with a view
of getting upon the foundation; but, being seized with
the srnall-pox at the time of the election, it was thought
advisable to take him away. In June 1678 he was entered
of St. Edmund-hall in Oxford, where he was pupil to Mr.
Allam, a very celebrated tutor, who took a particular pleasure in imposing exercises on him, which he would often
read in the common room with great approbation. It was
by Mr. Allam’s advice that he translated Erasmus on Folly,
and some other pieces for the Oxford booksellers. Under
this tutor he applied hard to study, and commenced an
author in politics, even while he was an under-graduate;
for, in 1680, he published “A Letter from a student at
Oxford to a friend in the country, concerning the approaching parliament, in vindication of his majesty, the
church of England, and tfye university:
” with which the
whig party, as it then began to be called, in the House of
Commons, were so much offended, that inquiries were made
after the author, in order to have him punished. In March
1681 he published, in the same spirit of party, “a Poem,
”
that is, “a Ballad,
” addressed “to Mr. E. L. on his majesty’s
dissolving the late parliament at Oxford,
” which was printed
on one side of a sheet of paper, and began, “An atheist
now must a monster be,
” &c. He took his bachelor’s degree in May Morise encomium,
” which he entitled “Wit
against Wisdom, or a Panegyric upon Folly,
” which, as
we have already noticed, his tutor had advised him to
undertake. He proceeded M. A. Jan. 22, 1684; and, the
same year, was presented by sir William Glynne, bart. to
the vicarage of Amersden, or Ambroseden, in Oxfordshire;
which favour was procured him by his patron’s eldest son,
who was his contemporary in the halh To this patron he
dedicated “Pliny’s Panegyric,
” which he translated in
An address of thanks
to a good prince, presented in the Panegyric of Pliny upon
Trajan, the best of the Roman emperors.
” It was reprinted in Postscript
” to the translation
of his “Convocation Sermon,
” in The remarker
says, the doctor dedicated Pliny’s Panegyric to the late
king James: and, what if he did? Only it appears he did
not. This is an idle tale among the party, who, perhaps,
have told it till they believe it: when the truth is, there
was no such dedication, and the translation itself of Pliny
was not designed for any court address. The young translator’s tutor, Mr. Allam, directed his pupil, by way of exercise, to turn some Latin tracts into English. The first
was a little book of Erasmus, entitled,
” Moriae Encomiumu;“which the tutor was pleased to give to a bookseller in Oxford, who put it in the press while the translator was but an
under-graduate. Another sort of task required by his tutor
was this ‘ Panegyric of Pliny upon Trajan,’ which he likewise gave to a bookseller in Oxford, before the translator
was M. A. designing to have it published in the reign, of
king Charles; and a small cut of that prince at full length
was prepared, and afterwards put before several of the
books, though the impression happened to be retarded till
the death of king Charles; and then the same tutor, not
long before his own death, advised a new preface, adapted
to the then received opinion of king James’s being a just
and good prince. However, there was no dedication to
king James, but to a private patron, a worthy baronet, who
came in heartily to the beginning of the late happy revolution. This is the whole truth of that story, that hath
been so often cast at the doctor not that he thinks himself
obliged to defend every thought and expression of his
juvenile studies, when he had possibly been trained up to
some notions, which he afterwards found reason to put
away as childish things.
”
ipal there; where he lived in friendship with the learned Dr. Mill, the editor of the New Testament, who was then principal of that house. In February 1692, he addressed
In 1689, as he was exercising himself in shooting, he
had the misfortune to be dangerously wounded in the forehead by the bursting of the gun. Both the tables of his
skull were broken, which occasioned him constantly to
wear a black velvet patch on that part. He lay a considerable time under this accident; and it is said, that while he
was in great disorder both of body and brain, just after he
had undergone the severe operation of trepanning, he made
a copy of Latin verses, and dictated them to a friend at
his bed-side. The copy was transmitted to his patron, sir
William Glynne, in whose study it was found, after the
author had forgot every thing but the sad occasion: and
the writer of his life tells us, that “it was then in his possession, and thought, by good judges, to be no reproach
to the author.
” He was too young a divine to engage in
the famous popish controversy; but he distinguished himself by preaching against popery. He likewise refused to
read the declaration for liberty of conscience in 1688, and
went with the body of the clergy in the diocese of Oxford,
when they rejected an address to king James, recommended by bishop Parker in the same year. While he continued at Amersden, he contracted an acquaintance with Dr.
George Hickes, whom he entertained in his house, and
was instructed by him in the Saxon and Northern tongues;
though their different principles in church and state afterwards dissolved the friendship between them. In September 1691, he was chosen lecturer of St. Martin’s in Oxford,
having some time before been invited back to Edmund-hall,
to be tutor and vice-principal there; where he lived in
friendship with the learned Dr. Mill, the editor of the New
Testament, who was then principal of that house. In
February 1692, he addressed a letter from Edmund-hall to
Brome, the editor of Somner’s “Treatise of the Roman
Ports and Forts in Kent,
” containing an account of the
life of that famous antiquary; which gave him an opportunity of displaying his knowledge in the history of the
Saxon language in England. In February 1693, he was
presented to the rectory of Shottesbrook, in Berkshire, by
William Cherry, esq. the father of one of his fellow-students at college, but he still resided at Oxford, where he
diligently pursued and encouraged the study of antiquities.
We have a strong attestation to this part of his character
from Gibson, afterwards bishop of London, who publishing, in 1694, a translation of Somner’s treatise, written in
answer to Chifflet, concerning the situation of the Portus
Iccius on the coast of France, opposite to Kent, where
Caesar embarked for the invasion of this island, introduced
it to the world with a dedication to Mr. Kennet.
as advanced the same year by Dr. Gardiner, bishop of Lincoln. He now grew into great esteem by those who were deemed the lowchurch party, and particularly with Tenison
On May 5, 1694, he took the degree of B. D. that of
D. D. July 19, 1699 and in 1700, was appointed minister
of St. Botolph Aldgate in London, without any solicitation
of his own. In 1701, he engaged against Dr. Atterbury,
in the disputes about the rights of convocation, of which
he became a member about this time, as archdeacon of
Huntingdon; to which dignity he was advanced the same
year by Dr. Gardiner, bishop of Lincoln. He now grew
into great esteem by those who were deemed the lowchurch party, and particularly with Tenison the archbishop
of Canterbury. He preached a sermon at Aldgate, January
30, 1703, which exposed him to great clamour, and occasioned many pamphlets to be written against it; and in
1705, when Dr. Wake was advanced to the see of Lincoln,
was appointed to preach his consecration sermon; which
was so much admired by lord chief-justice Holt, that he
declared, “it had more in it to the purpose of the legal and
Christian constitution of this church than any volume of
discourses.
” About the same time, some booksellers, having undertaken to print a collection of the best writers of
the English history, as far as to the reign of Charles I. in
two folio volumes, prevailed with Dr. Kennet to prepare a
third volume, which should carry the history down to the
then present reign of queen Anne. This, being finished
with a particular preface, was published with the other two,
tinder the title of “A complete History of England, &c.
”
in the preacher had built a bridge to heaven for men of wit
and parts, but excluded the duller part of mankind from
any chance of passing it.
” This charge was grounded on
the following passage; where, speaking of a late repentance, he says, that “this rarely happens but in men of
distinguished sense and judgment. Ordinary abilities may
Jt>e altogether sunk by a long vicious course of life: the
duller flame is easily extinguished. The meaner sinful
wretches are commonly given up to a reprobate mind, and
die as stupidly as they lived; while the nobler and brighter
parts have an advantage of understanding the worth of their
souls before they resign them. If they are allowed the
benefit of sickness, they commonly awake out of their
dream of sin, and reflect, and look upward. They acknowledge an infinite being they feel their own immortal part
they recollect and relish the holy Scriptures they call for
the elders of the church they think what to answer at a
judgment-seat. Not that God is a respecter of persons,
but the difference is in men; and, the more intelligent
nature is, the more susceptible of the divine grace.
” Of
this sermon a new edition, with “Memoirs of the Family
of Cavendish,
” and notes and illustrations, was published
in
might give to others, it did not offend the succeeding duke of Devonshire, to whom it was dedicated, who, on the contrary, recommended the doctor to the queen for the
Whatever offence this sermon might give to others, it
did not offend the succeeding duke of Devonshire, to whom
it was dedicated, who, on the contrary, recommended the
doctor to the queen for the deanery of Peterborough, which
he obtained in 1707. In 1709, he published “A Vindication of the Church and Clergy of England from some
]ate Reproaches rudely and unjustly cast upon them
” and,
“A true Answer to Dr. SacheverelPs Sermon before the
Lord-Mayor, November 5 of that year.
” In the dean the traitor.
” It was generally said, that the original sketch was designed for a
bishop under Dr. Welton’s displeasure, which occasioned
the elbow-chair, and that this bishop was Burnet: but the
painter being apprehensive of an action of Scandalum Magnatum, leave was given him to drop the bishop, and make
the dean. Multitudes of people came daily to the church
to admire the sight; but it was esteemed so insolent a contempt of all that is sacred, that, upon the complaint of
others, (for the dean never saw or seemed to regard it, the bishop of London obliged those who set the picture up to take it down again. But these arts and contrivances to expose him, instead of discouraging, served only to animate him; and he continued to write and act as usual in the defence of that cause which he had espoused and pushed so vigorously hitherto. In the mean time, he employed his leisure-hours in things of a different nature; but which, he thought, would be no
less serviceable to the public good. In 1713, he made a
large collection of books, charts, maps, and papers, at his
own expence, with a design of writing “A full History of
the Propagation of Christianity in the English American
Colonies;
” and published a catalogue of all the distinct
treatises and papers, in the order of time as they were first
printed or written, under this title, “Bibliothecae Americanae primordia.
” About the same time he founded “an
antiquarian and historical library
” at Peterborough; for
which purpose he had long been gathering up pieces, from
the very beginning of printing in England to the latter end
of queen Elizabeth’s reign. In the rebellion of 1715, he
published a sermon upon “the witchcraft of the present
Rebellion;
” and, the two following years, was very zealous
for repealing the acts against occasional conformity and
the growth of schism. He also warmly opposed the proceedings in the convocation against Hoadly, then bishop of
Bangor which was thought to hurt him so as to prove an
effectual bar to his farther advancement in the church
nevertheless, he was afterwards promoted to the see of
Peterborough, November 1718. He continued to print
several things after his last promotion, which he lived to
enjoy something above ten years; and then died in his
house in James’s-street, December 19, 1728. His numerous and valuable ms collections, which were once in the
collection of Mr. West, were purchased by the earl of
Shelburne, afterwards marquis of Lansdowne, and sold
with the rest of his lordship’s Mss. to the British Museum,
where they are now deposited. Among these are two volumes in a large Atlas folio, which were intended for publication under the following comprehensive title “Diptycha Ecclesise Anglicanae sive Tabulae Sacrse in quibus
facili ordine recensentur Archiepiscopi, Episcopi, eorumque Suffraganei, Vicarii Generales, et Cancellarii; Ecclesiarum insuper Cathedralium Priores, Decani, Thesaurarii,
Praecentores, Cancellarii, Archidiaconi, & melioris notae
Canonici, continua serie deducti a Gulielmi I. Conquestu,
ad auspicata Gul. III. tempora.
”
"Dr. Swift came into the coffee-house, and had a bow from every body but me, who, I confess, could not but despise him. When I came to the an
"Dr. Swift came into the coffee-house, and had a bow from every body but me, who, I confess, could not but despise him. When I came to the an ti- chamber to wait before prayers, Dr. Swift was the principal man of talk and business, and acted as a master of requests. He was soliciting the earl of Arran to speak to his brother the duke of Ormond, to get a chaplain’s place established in the garrison of Hull for Mr. Fiddes, a clergyman in that neighbourhood, who had lately been in gaol, and published sermons to pay fees. He was promising Mr. Thorold to undertake with my lord treasurer, that, according to his petition, he should obtain a salary of 200l. per annum, as minister of the English church at Rotterdam. Then he stopt F. Gwynne, esq. going in with his red bag to the queen, and told him aloud he had somewhat to say to him from my lord treasurer. He talked with the son of Dr. Davenant to be sent abroad, and took out his pocket-book and wrote down several things, as memoranda, to do for him. He turned to the fire, and took out his gold watch, and, telling the time of the day, complained it was very late. A gentleman said, ‘ he was too fast.’ * How can I help it,‘ says the doctor, ’ if the courtiers give me a watch that won‘t go right’ Then he instructed a young nobleman, that the best poet in England was Mr. Pope (a papist), who had begun a translation of Homer into English verse for which ‘ he must have ’em all subscribe' for, says he, the author shall not begin to print till I have a thousand guineas for him. Lord Treasurer, after leaving the queen, came through the room beckoning Dr. Swift to follow him: both went off just before prayers. 11 Nov. 3. I see and hear a great deal to confirm a doubt, that the pretender’s interest is much at the bottom of some
r brother of the preceding, was born Oct. 21, 1674, at Postling in Kent, the vicarage of his father, who bred this son also to the church. He was sent to Corpus Christ!
, younger brother of the preceding,
was born Oct. 21, 1674, at Postling in Kent, the vicarage
of his father, who bred this son also to the church. He
was sent to Corpus Christ! college, Oxford, in 1690, where
he soon distinguished himself by his uncommon abilities,
and extraordinary advances in classical literature. He took
the degree of M. A. in 1696, and commenced author the
same year, by the publication of his “Romas Antiquae
Notitia, or, The Antiquities of Rome; in two parts; 1. A
short History of the Rise, Progress, and Decay of the
Commonwealth. 2. A Description of the City an Account
of the Religion, Civil Government, and Art of War with
the remarkable Customs and Ceremonies, public and private with Copper Cuts of the principal Buildings, &c.
To which are prefixed, Two Essays, concerning the Roman
Learning, and the Roman Education,
” in 8vo. The dedication is addressed to his royal highness William duke of
Gloucester; and the work must have been written for his
use particularly, if any credit may be given to a report,
then at Oxford, that Mr. Ken net was to be appointed subpreceptor to that darling of the nation. This book being
very well received by the public, he was encouraged to go
on with his design of facilitating the study of classical
learning; and with this view published, in 1697, “The
Lives and Characters of the ancient Grecian Poets,
” in
8vo, which he also dedicated to the duke of Gloucester.
This, however, did not succeed so well as the “Roman
Antiquities,
” which is scarcely yet superseded in common
use. The same year he was admitted fellow of his college,
and became a tutor. About this time he entered into
orders; and, some years after, gave proofs of the progress
he had made in the study of divinity. In 1705 he published “An Exposition of the Apostles Creed, according
to bishop Pearson, in a new Method, by way of Paraphrase
and Annotations,
” in 8vo, which was followed by “An
Essay towards a Paraphrase on the Psalms, in Verse; with
a Paraphrase on the third Chapter of the Revelations,
”
envoy communicated this answer of the great duke to the earl of Sunderland, then secretary of state, who sent a menacing letter by her majesty’s order; and then the
The same year he was, by the interest of his brother,
appointed chaplain to the English factory at Leghorn;
where he no sooner arrived than he met with great opposition from the papists, and was in great danger of the
inquisition. This establishment of a church-of-England
chaplain was a new thing; and the Italians were so jealous
of the Northern heresy, that, to give as little offence as
possible, he performed the duties of his office with the
utmost privacy and caution. But, notwithstanding this,
great offence was taken at it; and complaints were immediately sent to Florence and Rome. Upon this, the pope,
and the court of inquisition at Home, declared their resolution to expel heresy, and the public teacher of it, from
the confines of the holy see; and therefore secret orders
were given to apprehend Mr. Kennet at Leghorn, and to
hurry him away to Pisa, and thence to some other religious
prison, to bury him alive, or otherwise dispose of him in
the severest manner. Upon notice of this design, Dr.
Newton, the English envoy at Florence, interposed his
offices at that court; where he could obtain no other
answer, but that “he might send for the English preacher,
and keep him in his own family as his domestic chaplain;
otherwise, if he presumed to continue at Leghorn, he must
take the consequences of it; for, in those matters of religion, the court of inquisition was superior to all civil
powers.
” The envoy communicated this answer of the
great duke to the earl of Sunderland, then secretary of
state, who sent a menacing letter by her majesty’s order;
and then the chaplain continued to officiate in safety,
though he was with much difficulty preserved from their
intended fury till that letter arrived.
by the following contrast: "But on the charitable towards those who are not
by the following contrast: "But on the charitable towards those who are not
ister to Mr. Chamberlayne, one of the solicitors of the treasury, a lady of learned accomplishments, who still survives him.
At length, in 1769, the important work was concluded
within the period of ten years, originally promised. On
this occasion he published the ten annual accounts of the
progress of this laborious undertaking, by which it appeared that the whole money received from the subscribers
amounted to the sum of 9117l. 7s. 6cl. on the recital of
which Dr. Kennicott exclaims, “Reader! What a sum is
here! Let foreign nations rea,d with astonishment this story
of Britons and their king, joined by one foreign prince
and one foreign academy, voluntarily contributing for ten
years their several bounties, with a degree of public spirit
beyond all example, for the accomplishment of a work
purely subservient to the honour of revelation; a work sacred to the glory of God, and the good of mankind! And,
under the powerful influence of this view of my work, it js
impossible for me to be sufficiently thankful, either to
those xvho have honoured with their patronage me, as the
humble instrument in beginning and completing it, or to
Divine Providence for granting me life to finish it, as well
as resolution to undertake it.
” He then states, that after
deducting his income to live on during these ten years,
the money spent in collations abroad, and assistants at
home, there remained only 500l. all which was likely to
be swallowed up in further expences, which he had engaged to pay. His industry had been unremitted; his
general rule being to devote to it ten or twelve hours in a
day, and frequently fourteen; at least, he says, “This
was my practice, till such severe application became no
longer possible, through the injuries done to my constitution.
” In this final statement, he also, with proper indignation, notices some insinuations which had been thrown on
him during the progress of the work. He had declared at the
outset of his undertaking, that he had no doubt of receiving
from the public the reward of his labours. Accordingly,
on the death of Dr. Ballard, in June 1770, he was appointed a prebendary of Westminster, which in October
he exchanged for a canonry of Christ-church Oxford.
His circumstances being thus rendered easy, he entered
into the marriage state Jan. 3, 1771, with Miss Ann Chamberlayne, sister to Mr. Chamberlayne, one of the solicitors
of the treasury, a lady of learned accomplishments, who
still survives him.
rdon, on a charge of high treason; on this interesting occasion his second was Mr. now lord Erskine, who on that day distinguished himself in such a manner as in a great
, lord chief justice of the
King’s Bench, was born at Gredington, in Flintshire,
1733 and was the eldest surviving son of Lloyd Kenyon,
esq. originally of Bryno in the same county, and one of
the younger sons of the ancient family of Kenyon of
Peele in Lancashire. He received the elementary part of
his education at Ruthen in Denbighshire, whence he was
taken, at an early age, and articled to Mr. W. J. Tomlinson, an eminent attorney at Nantwich, in Cheshire. On
the expiration of his articles, Mr. Kenyon determined to
enter into a line which afforded a more ample scope to his
industry and talents, and, accordingly, became a member
of the Society of Lincoln’s Inn, in Trinity Term 1754, and
after a sedulous application to the requisite studies, was
called to the bar in Hilary Term 1761. In the early part
of his professional career, his advancement was but slow;
he was unassisted by those means which powerful connexion and interest afford. The branch of his profession to
which he chiefly applied himself, that of conveyancing,
was not calculated to bring him forward into public notice;
but the sterling merit of genuine abilities and persevering
industry were not to be overlooked. He rose gradually
into practice; few opinions at the bar, at the time, carried
more weight and authority, and he was frequently recurred to as an advocate. In 1773, he formed a matrimonial
connexion with his relative, Mary, the third daughter of
George Kenyon, of Peele and, not long after, contracted
an intimacy with Mr. afterwards lord Thurlow and chancellor. About this period too, and for some years after,
his practice in the Courtof Chancery was very extensive
and of the most lucrative kind, by which, as well as in the
other branches of his profession, he acquired a very considerable property. In 1780, a circumstance occurred
which not a little contributed to establish his reputation as
an advocate and a public speaker, his being employed as
leading counsel for the defence of the late lord George
Gordon, on a charge of high treason; on this interesting
occasion his second was Mr. now lord Erskine, who on
that day distinguished himself in such a manner as in a great
degree laid the foundation of his future fame. In April
1782, soon after the accession of the Rockingham party to
ministerial power, Mr. Kenyon was, without serving the intermediate office of solfcitor, appointed to the important
situation of attorney-general, and, at the same time, chief
justice of Chester; in the former office he succeeded the
late James Wallis, esq. The circumstance of his direct
promotion to the office of attorney-general was regarded
as a singular instance; this however is erroneous, similar
promotions have before occurred, and the case of sir Edward Law (the late attorney-general, now lord Ellenborough, his successor as lord chief justice), is a recent
instance. In parliament Mr. Kenyon took a decided part
in politics, warmly attaching himself to the party of Mr.
Pitt; and distinguishing himself not a little by his speeches
on the noted affair of the coalition, Mr. Fox’s India-bill,
&c. In March 1784 he was appointed master of the rolls,
an office of high judicial dignity, and generally leading to
still higher legal honours; yet its emoluments fell very
short of those which he necessarily relinquished by discontinuing his professional pursuits as a counsel. About this
time he was created a baronet. In this situation sir Lloyd
Kenyon continued till the latter end of May 1788, when,
on the resignation of the venerable earl of Mansfield, who,
for the long interval of thirty-two years, had held the honourable and very important office of chief justice of the
court of KingVbench, he was appointed to succeed him,
and at the same time was elevated to the peerage, by the
title of lord Kenyon, baron of Gredington in the county
of Flint. He was now fixed in a situation, which, though
not nominally the highest, is perhaps the most important
office in the administration of the law of this country; and
lord Kenyon furnished an instance nearly as striking as
that of the illustrious Hardwicke, that the profession of the
law is that which, of all others, affords the fairest opportunies for the exertion of genuine talents and persevering
industry; whether the object be the gratification of ambition in the attainment of the highest honours in the state,
or the possession of abundant wealth. His conduct in
those arduous and important situations attracted and
fixed the applauses and gratitude of his countrymen. He
was distinguished for his laudable, firm, and persevering
exertions to keep the channels of the law clear and unpolluted by low and sordid practices, which were particularly
exemplified in the vigilant and salutary exercise of his authority over the attorneys of his own court, the utility of
which has been experienced in a very considerable degree.
Nor was he less distinguished for his zeal in the cause of
morality and virtue, which most conspicuously appeared in
his conduct with respect to cases of adultery and seduction. On these occasions neither rank, wealth, nor station, could shield deliquency from the well-merited censure
and rebuke of offended justice and morality. Though
much, unhappily, remains to be done, yet his lordship’s
exertions, combined with those of some of the most virtuous and exalted characters of the upper House of Parliament, have contributed greatly, notwithstanding the acknowledged inadequacy and imperfection of the law in these
respects, to restrain the fashionable and prevailing vices
alluded to. What likewise redounded to the honour of his
lordship’s magisterial character, was the strictness, not to
say severity, with which he administered the justice of the
law against the pernicious tribe of gamblers of every description, who have for some years infested the metropolis.
On these occasions, as well as in those above mentioned,
the conduct of this truly virtuous judge was such as incontrovertibly shewed that “the law is no respecter of
persons;
” and his persevering exertions to restrain the destructive vice of gaming have been attended with no inconsiderable degree of success. Nor should we omit to mention the very laudable spirit and firmness, which on all occasions he evinced in maintaining due order and decorum
in his court. It was justly said of him, that though he
might not equal in talents or eloquence the pre-eminent
character whom he succeeded on the bench of justice; nevertheless, he possessed qualities mor*e appropriate to, and
knowledge more connected with, the important office which
he held. Profound in legal erudition, patient in judicial
discrimination, and of the most determined integrity, he
added no common lustre to his exalted station. He did
not sacrifice his official to his parliamentary character; the
sphere of his particular duty was the great scene of his
activity, as of his honour; and though, as a lord of parliament, he never lessened his character, it was as a judge
that he aggrandized it. In private life, the character of
lord Kenyon was amiable and praise- worthy in the highest
degree no man could excel him in the relations of husband and father in the former he may be considered as a
pattern of conjugal virtue. In his mode of living he was
remarkably temperate and regular; while the gratuitous
assistance in his professional capacity, which it was well
known he had often afforded to necessitous and injured individuals, is a proof that a fondness for money was not a
prevailing trait in his character. He died at Bath, April
2, 1802, supposed to be worth 300,000l. all acquired by
his own professional exertions, and a rigid spirit of economy. Lord Kenyon had issue by his lady, three sons;
Lloyd, born in 1775, whom his father appointed to the
office of filazer of the Court of King’s-bench; but who
died in 1800. The manner in which his lordship was affected by this melancholy event, is supposed, in some degree, to have accelerated his own dissolution. Secondly,
George, the present lord Kenyon, born in 1776. His lordship was appointed by his late father to the very lucrative
situation of joint chief clerk of the Court of King’s-bench,
on the demise of the late earl of Mansfield, better known
as lord viscount Stormont, and joined in the patent with
the late John Waye, esq. And, thirdly, the hon. Thomas
Kenyon, born in 1780,
astronomical chair, it was purely from deference to his authority, and the persuasions of Masstlinu, who had high expectations from his talents, that he reluctantly
, the greatest astronomer perhaps that
any age has produced, was born at Wiel in the dutchy of
Wirtemberg, Dec. 27, 1571. His father, Henry Kepler,
was descended from a family which had raised themselves
under the emperors by their military services, and was
himself an officer of rank in the army; but afterwards, experiencing ill fortune, was obliged to sell all he had, and
support himself and his family by keeping a public-house.
He died in 1590, and' left his son John without provision.
His education had be^n therefore neglected, but, by the
favour of his prince, he was enabled to enter upon his
studies in philosophy at Tubingen, immediately upon his
father’s death, and, two years after, pursued the mathematics in the same university, under the famous Michael
Maestlinus, an astronomer of eminence, and of the Copernican school, but at this time Kepler informs us he had. no
particular predilection for astronomy. His passion was rather for studies more fluttering to the ambition of a youthful mind; and when his prince selected him, in 1591, to
fill the vacant astronomical chair, it was purely from deference to his authority, and the persuasions of Masstlinu,
who had high expectations from his talents, that he reluctantly accepted of the office. He appears to have thought
it unsuitable to his pretensions; and the state of astronomy
was besides so low, uncertain, and in many respects visionary, that he had no hope of attaining to eminence in it.
But what he undertook with reluctance, and as a temporary provision conferred on a dependant by his prince,
soon engaged his ardour, and engrossed almost his whole
attention. The first fruit? of his application to astronomical studies appeared in his “Mysterium Cosmographicum,
”
published about two years after his settlement in Gratz;
and hasty and juvenile as this production was, it displayed
so many marks of genius, and such indefatigable patience
in the toil of calculation, that on presenting it to Tycho
Brahe, it procured him the esteem of that illustrious astronomer, and even excited his anxiety for the proper direction of talents go uncommon. Accordingly, not contented
with exhorting Kepler to prefer the road of observation to
the more uncertain one of theory, Tycho added an invitation to live with him at Uraniburg, where his whole observations should be open to Kepler’s perusal, and those advantages provided for making others, which his situation
at Gratz denied. This after some time was accepted.
In 1597, Kepler entered into the married state, which
at first created him great uneasiness, from a dispute which
arose about his wife’s fortune; and, the year after, he was
banished from Gratz on account of his religion, but afterwards recalled, and restored to his former dignity. However, the growing troubles and confusions of that place
inclined him to think of a residence elsewhere; and he
now determined to accept T. Brahe’s invitation, and accordingly left the university of Gratz, and removed into
Bohemia with his family in 1600. In his journey he was
seized with a quartan ague, which continued seven or eight
months; and prevented his profiting by Tycho’s kindness,
and, what was worse, some petty differences interrupted
their connection. Kepler was offended at Tycho, for refusing some services to his family, which he had occasion
for: he was also dissatisfied with his reserved ness; for,
Tycho did not communicate to him all that he knew; and,
as he died in 1601, he did not give Kepler time to be very
useful to him, or to receive any considerable advantages
from him. Before his death, however, he introduced him
to the emperor Rodolphus at Prague (for, it was upon this condition that Kepler had consented to leave Gratz),
who received him very kindly, and made him his mathematician, upon condition that he should serve Tycho as an
arithmetician. From that time Kepler enjoyed the title of
mathematician to the emperor all his life, and gained more
and more reputation every year by his works. Rodolphus
ordered him to finish the tables begun by Tycho, which
were to be called the “Rodolphine Tables
” and he applied himself very vigorously to this work but such difficulties arose in a short time, partly from the nature
of it, and partly from the delay of the treasurers, that
the tables were not finished and published till 1627.
He complained, that, from 1602 and 1603, he. was looked
upon by the treasurers with a very invidious eye; and
when, in 1609, he had published a noble specimen o/
the work, and the emperor had given orders that, besides
the expence of the edition, he should immediately be
paid the arrears of his pension, which, he said, amounted
to 2000 crowns, and likewise 2000 more; yet, that it was
not till two years after, that the generous orders of Rodolphus, in his favour, were put in execution. He met with
no less discouragement from the financiers under the emperoc Matthias, than under Rodolphus; and therefore,
after struggling with poverty for ten years at Prague, began to think of quitting his quarters again. He was then
fixed at Lints by the emperor Matthias, who appointed
him a salary from the states of Upper Austria, which was
paid for sixteen years. In 1613 he went to the assembly
at Ratisbon, to assist in the reformation of the calendar;
but returned to Lints, where he continued to 1626. In
November of that year, he went to Ulm, in order to publish the “Rodolphine Tables;
” and afterwards, in Ephemerides;
” fot
the first had been published at Lints in
to his prejudice. The lords of the admiralty instantly fixed a day for the trial of admiral Keppel, who was most honourfcbly acquitted, and received the thanks of both
, a celebrated English admiral,
the second son of William earl of Albemarle, was born
April 2, 1725. He entered the sea-service while he was
young, accompanied commodore Anson round the world,
and by the zeal which he manifested in his profession, was
raised to the first honours which it had to bestow. The
most important occurrence in his life took place in 1778,
when he had the command of the channel fleet, to which
he had been appointed at the personal and urgent solicitation of the king, and which he readily accepted, though he
could not help observing, that “his forty years’ services
were not marked by any favour from the crown, except
that of its confidence in the time of danger.
” On the 12th
of July he fell in with the French fleet, under count d'Orvilliers, off Ushant: an engagement ensued, which, though
partial, was very warm while it lasted. It was necessary
to take a short time to repair the damages: which being
done, the admiral made proper signals for the van and
rear division to take their respective stations. This order
was obeyed with great alacrity by sir Robert Harland of
the van, but admiral sir Hugh Palliser of the rear took no
notice of the signal, and refused to join his commander,
till night prevented a renewal of the battle. The French,
taking advantage of the darkness, escaped to their own.
coast. Admiral Keppel, willing to excuse sir Hugh Palliser, at least to screen him from public resentment, wrote
home such a letter as seemed even to imply great impropriety of behaviour in the commander himself. The conduct, however, of the rear-admiral was attacked in the
public papers: he demanded of his commander a formal
disavowal of the charges brought against him, which Keppel indignantly refused. He immediately exhibited articles of accusation against the commander-in-chief, for misconduct and neglect of duty, although he had a second
time sailed with him, and had never uttered a syllable to
his prejudice. The lords of the admiralty instantly fixed
a day for the trial of admiral Keppel, who was most
honourfcbly acquitted, and received the thanks of both houses of
parliament for his services. Palliser was next tried, and
escaped with a censure only, but the resentment of the
public was so great, that he was obliged to resign several
offices which he held under government, and to vacate his
seat in parliament. The acquittal of Keppel was celebrated with the most magnificent illuminations, and other
marks of rejoicing which had never been known at that
time in this country; and the houses of lord Sandwich,
first lord of the admiralty, and sir Hugh Palliser, were
with difficulty saved from destruction; the windows and
much of the furniture being demolished by the fury of the
populace. In 1782, admiral Keppel was raised to a peerage, with the titles of viscount Keppel baron Elden: he
was afterwards, at two different periods, appointed first
lord of the admiralty. He died Oct. 3, 1786, unmarried,
and of course his titles became extinct He was a thorough
seaman, and a man of great integrity and humanity.
ive years after, he was chosen fellow of Lincoln college, through the interest of Mr. George Hickes, who was fellow of the same, where he became eminent as a tutor.
, an English divine, remarkable
for piety and learning, was born at North-Allerton in Yorkshire, March 10, 1653. He was grounded in classical
learning in the free-school of that town, and sent to St.
Edmund Hall, Oxford, in 1670. Five years after, he
was chosen fellow of Lincoln college, through the interest
of Mr. George Hickes, who was fellow of the same, where
he became eminent as a tutor. He entered into orders as
soon as he was of sufficient age, and distinguished himself
early by an uncommon knowledge in divinity. He was
very young when he wrote his celebrated book, entitled
“Measures of Christian Obedience:
” he composed it in
Model of a fund of charity for the needy
suffering, that is, the nonjuring, clergy:
” but being naturally of a tender and delicate frame of body, and inclined
to a consumption, he fell into that distemper in his 42d
year, and died April 12, 1695, at his lodgings in Gray’s-inn
Jane. He was buried, three days after, in the same grave
where archbishop Laud was before interred, in the parish
church of Allhallows- Barking, where a neat marble monument is erected to his memory. Mr. Nelson, who must
needs have known him very well, has given this great and
noble character of him, in a preface to his “Five Discourses/' &c. a piece printed after his decease
” He was
learned without pride wise and judicious without cunning;
he served at the altar without either covetousness or ambition he was devout without affectation sincerely religious
without moroseness courteous and affable without flattery
or mean compliances just without rigour charitable
without vanity and heartily zealous for the interest of
religion without faction.“His works were collected and
printed in 1718, in two volumes, folio they are all upon
religious subjects, unless his
” Measures of Christian Obedience,“and some tracts upon
” New Oaths,“and the
” Duty of Allegiance," &c. should be rather considered as
of a political nature.
ciety in London, was born in 1689, at Thournau, a town belonging to the counts of Giech. His father, who was of the count’s council, took an extraordinary care of his
, a learned antiquary of Germany, and fellow of the royal society in London, was born in 1689, at Thournau, a town belonging to the counts of Giech. His father, who was of the count’s council, took an extraordinary care of his education; and, after a suitable preparation, sent him to the university of Halle, where he applied himself chiefly to the civil law; not neglecting, in the mean time, the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, history, antiquity, and the sciences. Soon after he left Halle, he was invited to be preceptor to Charles Maximilian and Christian Charles, counts of Giech-Buchau, with whom, in 1713, he returned thither, and afterwards attended them in their travels. The first place of note they visited was Utrecht, where he became acquainted with the learned Reland, who, discerning his uncommon capacity and particular turn, advised him to undertake an accurate history of the antiquities of his country. Keysler visited the chief cities of Germany, France, and the Netherlands, with his two young counts; and gained great reputation among the learned, by illustrating, as he went along, several monuments of antiquity, particularly some fragments of Celtic idols, then lately discovered in the cathedral of Paris.
his return, spent the remainder of his days under the patronage and protection of his noble pupils, who committed to his care their fine library and museum, and allowed
After the two young barons Bernstorf had been ten years
under his care, he went with them to Tubingen, at which
university they remained a year and a half. Then they
set out on a grand tour, visiting the upper part of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy; and then returned to Vienna, where they spent three months. Their next progress was in Upper Hungary, Bohemia, and other parts
of Germany. In 1731 they passed through Lorrain into
France, thence crossed the channel into England, and made
Holland the last stage of their travels. From this tour proceeded a large and entertaining work, which has been
translated into English, in 4 vols. 4to and 8vo, and published
under the following title, “Travels through Germany,
Bohemia, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, and Lorrain;
giving a true and just description of the present state of
those countries; their natural, literary, and political history, manners, laws, commerce, manufactures, painting,
sculpture, architecture, coins, antiquities, curiosities of
art and nature, &c. illustrated with copper- plates engraven
from drawings taken on the spot. By John George Keysler, F. R. S. Carefully translated from the second edition
of the German, Lend. 1756,
”
Keysler, after his return, spent the remainder of his
days under the patronage and protection of his noble pupils,
who committed to his care their fine library and museum,
and allowed him a very handsome income. He led a
happy tranquil life, declining all public employment,
keeping himself single that he might not be incumbered
with family affairs, and chiefly conversing with the illustrious dead, who were the companions of his retirement.
He died in his fifty-fourth year, June 20, 1743, of an
asthma, after viewing with intrepidity the gradual approach
of death.
g they agreed upon this worthy design, and took their several shares, and assigued some part to them who were absent. I was not present at that meeting; but I was soon
, a very learned English bishop,
was born, as Wood says, at Brighthelmstone in Sussex, but
as others say, in Suffolk. In June 1649, he was admitted
sizar in Emanuel -college, Cambridge, where he took his degree of A. B. 1652, was elected fellow in 1655, and took his
degree of A. M. in 1656. He was presented by his college to the vicarage of Stanground, in Huntingdonshire;
from which he was ejected for nonconformity, in 1662, by
virtue of the Bartholomew act; but conforming soon after,
he was presented by Arthur earl of Essex to the rectory 01
Raine, in Essex, 1664. Here he continued till 1674,
when he was presented to the rectory of St. Martin’s Outwicb, London, by the Merchant-tailors company. In
September 1681, he was installed into a prebend of Norwich; and in 1689 made dean of Peterborough, in the
room of Simon Patrick, promoted to the see of Chichester.
On this occasion he took the degree of D. D. Upon the
deprivation of Ken, bishop of Bath and Wells, for not
taking the oaths to king William and queen Mary, and
Beveridge’s refusal of that see, Kidder was nominated in
June 1691, and consecrated the August following. In
1693 he preached the lecture founded by the honourable
Robert Boyle, being the second that preached it. His
sermons on that occasion are inserted in his “Demonstration of the Messias,
” in three parts; the first of which
was published in 1694, the second in 1699, and the third
in 1700, 8vo. It is levelled against the Jews, whom the
author was the better enabled to combat from his great
knowledge of the Hebrew and oriental languages, for
which he had long been celebrated. He wrote also, “A
Commentary on the Five Books of Moses; with a Disser
tation concerning the author or writer of the said books,
and a general argument to each of them.
” This commentary was published in 1694, in two volumes, 8vo; and the
reader in the preface is thus acquainted with the occasion
of it: “Many years are now passed since a considerable
number of the London clergy met together, and agreed
to publish some short notes upon the whole Bible, for the
use of families, and of all those well-disposed persons
that desired to read the Holy Scriptures to their greatest
advantage. At that meeting they agreed upon this worthy
design, and took their several shares, and assigued some
part to them who were absent. I was not present at that
meeting; but I was soon informed that they had assigned
to me the Pentateuch. The work was begun with common
consent; we did frequently meet; and what was done
was communicated from time to time to those that met together and were concerned. The methods of proceeding
had been adjusted and agreed to; a specimen was printed,
and an agreement was made when it should be put to the
press. I finished my part in order thereto; but so it fell
out, that soon after all this, the clouds began to gather
apace, and there was great ground to fear that the popish
party were attempting to ruin the church of England.
Hence it came to pass that the thoughts of pursuing this
design were laid aside; and those that were concerned in
it were now obliged to turn their studies and pens against
that dangerous enemy. During this time, also, some of
the persons concerned in this work were taken away by
death; and thus the work was hindered, that might else
have been finished long since. I, having drawn up my
notes upon this occasion, do now think myself obliged to
make them public,
” &c. To the first volume is prefixed
a dissertation, in which he sets down, and answers all the
objections made against Moses being the author of the
Pentateuch; and having considered, among the rest, one
objection drawn by Le Clerc, from Gen. xxxvi. 31, and
spoken in pretty severe terms of him, some letters passed
between them, which were printed by Le Clerc in his
“Bibliotheque Choisie.
” Dr. Kidder had likewise borne
a part in the popish controversy, during which he published the following tracts: 1 “A Second Dialogue between a new Catholic Convert and a Protestant; shewing
why he cannot believe the doctrine of Transubstantiation,
though he do firmly believe the doctrine of the Trinity.
”
2. “An Examination of Bellarmine’s Thirtieth note of the
Church, of the Confession of Adversaries.
” 3. “The
Texts which Papists cite out of the Bible for the proof of
their Doctrine, `of the Sacrifice of the Mass,' examined.
”
4. “Reflections on a French Testament, printed at Bourdeaux, 1686, pretended to be translated out of the Latin
by the divines of Louvain.
” He published also several
sermons and tracts of the devotional kind.
and of the same family too. The first we meet with, is Catharine, the daughter of sir Anthony Cooke, who was born at Giddy-hall, in Essex, about 1530; and married to
, an English name for many ingenious
persons of both sexes, and of the same family too. The
first we meet with, is Catharine, the daughter of sir Anthony Cooke, who was born at Giddy-hall, in Essex, about
1530; and married to Henry Killigrew, esq. a Cornish
gentleman of good abilities, who, for the service he did
his country in the quality of an ambassador, was knighted.
This lady having the advantages of an excellent education,
joined to an elegant natural genius, became, like many
other ladies her contemporaries, very learned. She understood the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin tongues, and was
famous for her skill in poetry; a small specimen of which
is preserved by sir John Harrington, in his notes to the
translation of “Ariosto;
” and by Fuller, in his “Worthies.
”
ford, 1666, in folio, and have been applauded by men very eminent in poetry; particularly by Waller, who addresses a copy of verses to him upon his altering “Pandora”
, descended from this family,
was the eldest son of sir Robert Killigrew, knt. and born at
Han worth in Middlesex, 1605. He became a gentlemancommoner of St. John’s college, Oxford, in 1622; where
continuing about three years, he travelled abroad, and,
after his return, was made governor of Pendennis castle,
and of Falmouth haven, in Cornwall. After this he was
called to attend Charles I. as one of the gentlemen-ushers
of his privy-chamber; in which employment he continued
till the breaking out of the civil wnrs, and then had the
command given him of one of the two great troops of horse
that guarded the king’s person. He was in attendance
upon the king when the court resided at Oxford, and was
created doctor of civil law in 1642; and, when the king’s
affairs were ruined, he suffered as the other cavaliers did,
and compounded with the republicans for his estate. Upon
the restoration of Charles II. he was made gentleman- usher
of the privy chamber again and, on that king’s marriage,
was created his first vice-chamberlain, in which station he
continued twenty-two years. He died in 1693, and was
buried in Westminster-abbey. He was the author of four
plays, which were printed at Oxford, 1666, in folio, and
have been applauded by men very eminent in poetry; particularly by Waller, who addresses a copy of verses to him
upon his altering “Pandora
” from a tragedy into a comedy,
because not approved on the stage. There is another play
ascribed to him, called “The Imperial Tragedy,
” The artless midnight Thoughts of a gentleman at court,
who for many years built on sand, which every blast of
cross fortune has defaced, but now has laid new foundations
on the rock of his salvation,
” Midnight and daily Thoughts,
in prose and verse,
”
twice married. He was a man of an uncommon vein of humour, with which he used to divert Charles II.; who, on that account, was fonder of him than of his best ministers,
, brother of the former, was
born in 1611, and distinguished also by uncommon natural
parts. He was page of honour to Charles I, and groom of
the bed-chamber to Charles II, with whom he had suffered many years exile. During his abode beyond sea,
he took a view of France, Italy, and Spain; and was honoured by his majesty with the employment of resident at
the state of Venice, whither he was sent in Aug. 1651. In
this absence from his country he applied his leisure hours
to poetry, and the composition of several plays; of which
sir John Denham, in a jocular way, takes notice in his
poem on our author’s return from his embassy to Venice.
Though Deuham mentions but six, our author wrote nine
plays in his travels, and two at London; all which were
printed, with his picture before them, in one volume folio,
at London, 1664. There is, besides these plays of his,
“A Letter concerning the possessing and dispossessing of
several Nuns in the Nunnery at Tours, in France;
” dated
Orleans, Dec. the 7th, 1635, and printed in three sheets
folio. He died in 1682, and was buried in Westminsterabbey. He had been twice married. He was a man of an
uncommon vein of humour, with which he used to divert
Charles II.; who, on that account, was fonder of him than
of his best ministers, and would give him access to his
presence when he denied it to them. It was usually said
of him, that, when he attempted to write, he was nothing
compared to what he was in conversation; which was just
the reverse of Cowley, who shone but little in company,
though he excelled so much with his pen. Hence Denbam, who knew them both, has taken occasion thus to
characterize their respective excellencies and defects:
nspiracy,“which was admired by some wits of those times; particularly by Ben Jonson, then living, 4t who gave a testimony of it (says Langbaine) even to be envied,”
, brother of the former, was born
in 1612, educated in grammar learning under the celebrated Farnaby, and sent to Christ Church, Oxford, in
1628. In 1638, having taken his degrees in arts, he went
into orders, and became a chaplain in the king’s army. In
1642 he was created doctor of divinity; and the same year
made chaplain to James duke of York, and prebendary of
Westminster. Afterwards he suffered as an adherent in
the king’s cause; but, at the restoration, was made almoner to the duke of York, superintendant to the affairs
of his chapel, rector of Wheathamstead, in Hertfordshire,
and master of the Savoy hospital in Westminster. He
wrote, when only seventeen years of age, a tragedy called
41 The Conspiracy,“which was admired by some wits of
those times; particularly by Ben Jonson, then living,
4t who gave a testimony of it (says Langbaine) even to be
envied,
” and by lord Falkland. An imperfect copy of this
appearing in 1638, he afterwards caused it to be republished in 1652, with the new title of “Pallantus and Eudora.
” He published a volum of sermons, which had
been preached at court in 1685, 4to; and also "two or
three occasional sermons. The year of his death does not
appear.
as educated at a private grammar-school in Wantage, under the rev. Mr. Sloper, an excellent scholar, who was also tutor to bishop Butler. At this school, Mr. Kimber
, a dissenting divine, was born at
Wantage in Berkshire, Dec. 1, 1692, and was educated at
a private grammar-school in Wantage, under the rev. Mr.
Sloper, an excellent scholar, who was also tutor to bishop
Butler. At this school, Mr. Kimber made considerable
progress in Greek and Latin, after which, turning his
thoughts to the ministry, he went to London to complete
his knowledge of the languages under professor Ward of
Gresham-college, and also to attend the dissenting academy under the rev. John Eames. For some, time after he
was admitted into the ministry, he had little encouragement; and having married, he found it necessary to employ his pen for a subsistence. One of his first productions was “The Life of Oliver Cromwell/' 8vo, and soon
after he was concerned with Messrs. Bailey, Hodges, and
Ridpath, in compiling a
” History of England,“4 vols.
8vo, the third and fourth volumes of which were entirely
his. A few years afterwards he wrote
” The Life of bishop
Beveridge,“prefixed to the folio edition of his works, of
which he was the editor. In 1724 he was called, in
conjunction with Mr. Samuel Acton, to the pastoral charge of
Namptwich in Cheshire, but, owing to differences of opinion with his hearers, he was obliged to leave them at
the latter end of 1727. On his return to London, he
officiated, as morning preacher, or assistant, to Dr. John
Kinch, in Old Artillery-lane, and occasionally, at Pinner’s
hall, for Dr. Hunt; and was also engaged as a corrector of
the press for Mr. John Darby, and others. About the
same time he compiled a periodical pamphlet called
” The
Morning Chronicle,“which subsisted from Jan. 1728 to
May 17-32, and was then dropped. In part of this period,
he was likewise concerned with Mr. Drew of the Union
fire-office, as his assistant, and supported these various
labours with a quiet and even temper, and a cheerful mind,
though visited with a heavy affliction in his wife’s being
deprived of her reason. During the remainder of his life,
he was chiefly supported by his firm friend Mr. Charles
Akers, an eminent printer in London; In 1740 he wrote
an account of the reign of George II. which is added to
HowelTs
” Medulla Hist. Angl.“and soon afterwards an
abridgment of the History of England, in 1 vol. 8vo, 1745.
He died in 1758, about which time a volume of his ce Sermons
” was printed, with an account of his life, from which
the preceding particulars are taken. He had a son Edward, who was a compiler of various works for the booksellers, and died in 1769. Among his compilations, are
the Peerages of Scotland and Ireland, the Baronetage of
England, in conjunction with R.Johnson, 3 vols; 8vo, a
History of England, 10 vols. 8vo, &c.
His Hebrew works are numerous, and so much valued by the Jews, that they consider no one as learned who has not studied them. The principal are, an excellent Hebrew
, a celebrated Spanish rabbi in the
twelfth century, son of Joseph, and brother of Moses Kimchi. He lived at Narbonne 1190, was appointed, 1232,
arbiter of the dispute between the Spanish and French
synagogues respecting the books of Maimonides; acquired
great fame by his learning and writings, and died, in a
very advanced age, about 1240. His Hebrew works are
numerous, and so much valued by the Jews, that they
consider no one as learned who has not studied them. The
principal are, an excellent Hebrew grammar, entitled
“Michlol, i.e. Perfection,
” Venice, 1545, 8vo; Leyden,
1631, 12mo. This work has served as a model to all Hebrew grammarians. A book of “Hebrew Roots,
” Dictionarium Thalmudicum,
”
Venice, Commentaries
” on the Psalms, Prophets, and most of the other books in the Old Testament.
Kiuichi keeps chiefly to the literal and grammatical sense,
and not unfrequently cites Jewish traditions. He discovers
much less aversion to the Christians than the other rabbins,
and his Commentaries are generally considered as the best
which have been written by the Jews. His style is pure,
clear, and energetic. Father Janvier translated his Comment on the Psalms into Latin, 1669, 4to, and his arguments against the Christians have been translated by Genebrard, 1566, 8vo.
ng others, the author attempts to prove that John the Baptist was an angel from heaven, and the same who formerly appeared in the person of Elijah: that there will be
His first separate publication appeared in 1767, under
the title of “An Essay on the English Government;
” and
his second, after a long interval, in Hymns to the Supreme Being, in imitation of the
Eastern Songs.
” Of this pleasing publication two editions
were printed. In 1784 he circulated, also without his name,
“Proposals for establishing, at sea, a Marine School, or
seminary for seamen, as a means of improving the plan
of the Marine Society,
” &c. His object was to fit up a
man of war as a marine school. In 1788 he published a
large 4to volume, entitled “Morsels of Criticism, tending
to illustrate some few passages in the Holy Scriptures upon
philosophical principles and an enlarged view of things.
”
The fate of this work was somewhat singular. The author
received sixty copies for presents; and the greater part of the
remaining impression, being little called for, was converted
into waste paper. Some time after, however, the notice
taken of it in that popular poem, “The Pursuits of Literature,
” brought it again into notice; a second edition
appeared in 8vo, and a second volume of the 4to in 1801.
This works abounds in singular opinions: among others,
the author attempts to prove that John the Baptist was an
angel from heaven, and the same who formerly appeared
in the person of Elijah: that there will be a second appearance of Christ upon earth (something like this, however, is held by other writers): that this globe is a kind of comet,
which is continually tending towards the sun, and will at
length approach so near as to be ignited by the solar rays
upon the elementary fluid of fire: and that the place of
punishment allotted for wicked men is the centre of the
earth, which is the bottomless pit, &c, &c. It is unnecessary
to add, that these reveries did not procure Mr. King much
reputation as a philosophical commentator on the Scriptures.
His next publications indicated the variety of his meditations and pursuits. In 1793 he produced “An Imitation
of the Prayer of Abel,
” and “Considerations on the Utility of the National Debt.
” In Remarks concerning Stones said to
have fallen from the Clouds, both in these days and in
ancient times;
” the foundation of which was the surprizing
shower of stones said, on the testimony of several persons,
to have fallen in Tuscany, June 16, 1796, and investigated
in an extraordinary and full detail by the abbate Soldani,
professor of mathematics in the university of Sienna. This
subject has since employed other pens, but no decisive
conclusions have been agreed upon. Mr. King’s next
publication, however, belonged to the province in which
he was best able to put forth his powers of research
“Vestiges of Oxford Castle or, a small fragment of a
work intended to be published speedily, on the history of
ancient castles, and on the progress of architecture,
” Munimenta Antiqua,
” of which 3 vols. folio have appeared,
and part of a fourth. These volumes, although he maintains some theories which are not much approved, undoubtedly entitle him to the reputation of a learned, able, and
industrious antiquary. It was his misfortune, however, to
be perpetually deviating into speculations which he was less
qualified to establish, yet adhered to them with a pertinacity which involved him in angry controversies. In 1798
he published a pamphlet called “Remarks on the Signs of
the Times;
” about which other ingenious men were at
that time inquiring, and very desirous to trace the history
and progress of the French Revolution and war to the
records of sacred antiquity; but Mr. King ventured here
to assert the genuineness of the second book of Esdras in
the Apocrypha. Mr. Gough criticised this work with much
freedom and justice in the Gentleman’s Magazine, and
Mr. King thought himself insulted. On his adding “A
Supplement to his Remarks
” in Critical Disquisitions on Isaiah xviii, in a Letter to
Mr. King.
” While preparing a fourth volume of his
“Mummenta,
” Mr. King died, April 16, 1807, and wa
buried in the church -yard at Beckenham, where his country-seat was. Mr. King was a man of extensive reading,
and considerable learning, and prided himself particularly
on intense thinking, which, however, was not always
under the regulation of judgment.
ew. At that age he was recommended by Dr. Hunter, of Lichfield, to sir William Dugdale, then Norroy, who took him into his service, which was very acceptable to his
, a heraldic and commercial writer, the son of a father of both his names, was born at Lichfield, Dec. 15, 1648, and was educated at the grammarschool of that city, and at the age of fourteen had been taught Greek, Latin* and somewhat of Hebrew. At that age he was recommended by Dr. Hunter, of Lichfield, to sir William Dugdale, then Norroy, who took him into his service, which was very acceptable to his father, who had five other children to provide for; and Dr. Hacket, bishop of Lichfield, had intended to have sent him to the university, had not this opening taken place. He was at this time so small of his age, that when he became clerk to Dugdale, and for two years after, he was unable to mount a horse from the ground. Yet he accompanied that king of arms in his visitations, and tricked the arms of Staffordshire, which though not equal to what he afterwards did$ still remain in the college. He at that time applied himself to the French language, and painting of pedigrees > and within a year or two, painted several for Mr. Dugdale, particularly a large one of Claverin, of Northumberland, and some time after painting and engrossing the grants of arms filled up the greatest part of his time; but Dugdale gave him leave to take with him into the northern counties blank escocheons on vellum, upon which he depicted the arms of those who desired an attestation of them under Dugdale’s hand; and this he was enabled to do* instead of an arms painter, who had usually attended that officer of the college. He shewed uncommon attention to improvement during the time Dugdale visited his whole province, in 1662, and 1666, for he took prospects of the towns, castles, and other remarkable places in the counties through which he passed. In 1667 he passed into the service of lord Hatton, who was a great lover of antiquities, and the particular patron of Dugdale during the civil war; and now employed Mr. King until 1669, when he was dismissed with great promises of future kindness. He then went to Lichfield, where he found his father re-married; and here he supported himself for some time in the humble occupations of teaching writing and arithmetic, painting coaches, signs, and other kinds of work in oil colours, as hatchments, &c. and in instructing the registrar of the dean and chapter, and some other inquisitive persons, to read ancient records. At this time Mr. Chetwynd of Ingestry, invited him to peruse and transcribe his family muniments, which he did in a fair vellum book, tricking the most considerable seals.
wn to Hollar, the celebrated engraver. He recommended him to Mr. Ogilvy, to manage his undertakings, who having his majesty’s license to print whatever he composed or
At the end of this year, 1669, he became the steward,
auditor, and secretary of the lady dowager Gerard, of Gerard’s Bromley, relict of Charles, and mother of Digby,
lord Gerard. He resided with her ladyship’s father George
Digby of Sandon, in Staffordshire, esq. until August,
1672. This task was somewhat arduous, for his predecessor, Mr. Chaunce, kept all his accounts, and other matters of moment, in characters which he had to decipher;
and besides he drew and painted many things for lady Gerard, whilst inher service. From Staffordshire he went
to London, where he renewed his acquaintance at the
Heralds’ -college, paying a suitable attention to his old
master, Dugdale. Here he became known to Hollar, the
celebrated engraver. He recommended him to Mr. Ogilvy, to manage his undertakings, who having his majesty’s
license to print whatever he composed or translated,
kept a press in his house, and at that time was printing
sir Peter Leicester’s “Antiquities of Chester.
” Mr. King
made his first attempt in etching some ancient seals in
that work. Giving satisfaction he was employed in etching
lome sculpts in Mr. Dugdale’s Esop (not the antiquary),
fvhich was reduced from the folio to 8vo size, and several of Ogilvy’s “History of Asia,
” vol. I. translated from
De Meurs’ impression at Amsterdam. He also assisted in
his new “Britannia,
” travelling into Essex with the surveyor,
Mr. Falgate, a native of that county. They in the middle
of the winter, 1672, a very inclement one, took the ichnography of Ipswich, in Suffolk, and Maiden, in Essex,
which were afterwards very curiously finished, and sent to
those two places. He assisted and superintended the map
of London, which Hollar engraved. He contrived and
managed a lottery of books, to repay Mr. Ogilvy’s great
expences in these concerns, and a lesser one of books for
Bristol fair, which turned to good advantage, Mr. King
attending there. He then engaged in Ogilvy’s “Book of
” Roads," superintending the whole, digesting the notes,
directing the engravings, three or four of which he
executed with his own hand, which was the first time he attempted handling the graver. Mr. Ogilvy was so sensible
of his merit and fidelity, that he treated him with peculiar;
attention on all occasions, and allowed him a music-master
to teach him to play upon the violin, and offered to renew
his place of cosmographer to the king, and put his name
in jointly, or in reversion; this he declined, but accepted
the offer to undertake, on his own account, the map of
Westminster, which he completed in 1675, on the scale
of 100 feet to an inch. He employed himself also in engraving the letter-work of various maps. He laid out
some of the principal streets of the metropolis, particularly
those of Soho; and most of the first building articles, or
leases, were drawn up by him. At length his connexions
with the heralds procured him to be created Rouge-dragon
in 1677, but the fees of this office being small, he found
it expedient to continue his employment of engraving and
herald-painting. He designed a map of Staffordshire; yet
through sir Henry St. George, Norroy, and his old master,
Dugdale, Garter, the duties of the office took a good part
of his time. Being very useful to these kings at arms,
they pressed him to remove to the college, which he did at
Lady-day, 1680, Diigdale accommodating him with a chamber, and some other conveniences, and St. George with a
kitchen. He assisted St. George in his visitations, as one of
his deputies, in 1681 and 1682 and, upon the death of the
duke of Norfolk, his successor nominated him registrar in
the room of Mr. Devenish, York; although opposed by
the college as without a precedent. He was also trusted
and consulted about the burial of Charles II. the proclaiming
and the coronation of his successor, and took a part in the
magnificent publication of the latter ceremony with Mr.
Sandford, Lancaster herald. The Revolution soon following,
he became extremely useful in the ceremonial of William
and Mary’s coronation. Mr. Sandford resigning his tajbard
to him^ he became, for three or four months, Lancaster
and Rouge-dragon, the patent not passing until-the following July.
time, at least), when they could discover him.” He lived for the most part with sir Richard Hobart, who had married his sister, at Langley in Buckinghamshire, by whom
, bishop of Chichester in the seventeenth
century, was eldest son of the preceding, by Jane, daughter of Mr. Henry Freeman of Staffordshire, and was born
at Wornall in Buckinghamshire in January 1591, and educated in grammar learning partly in the free-school at
Thame in Oxfordshire, and partly at Westminster-school,
from which he was elected a student of Christ church in
1608. On June the 19th, 1611, he took the degree of
bachelor of arts and July the 7th, 1614, that of master.
He then entered into holy orders, and became an eminent
preacher, and chaplain to king James I. He was afterwards made archdeacon of Colchester; residentiary of St.
Paul’s, and canon of Christ church. On May the 19th,
1625, he took the degree of doctor of divinity. He was
afterwards chaplain to king Charles I. and February the
6th, 1638, was installed in the deanery of Rochester. In
1641 he was advanced to the see of Chichester, to which
he was consecrated December 19th of that year. But
though he was always esteemed a puritan, and had been
promoted to that see in order to please that party; yet
upon the breaking out of the civil wars, and the dissolution of episcopacy, he was treated by them with great severity; “nor was he suffered to live quietly at his friend’s
house (for some time, at least), when they could discover
him.
” He lived for the most part with sir Richard Hobart,
who had married his sister, at Langley in Buckinghamshire,
by whom he was supported. At the restoration he recovered his bishopric. Wood tells us, that “he was esteemed by many persons of his neighbourhood and diocese,
the epitome of all honours, virtues, and generous
nobleness, and a person never to be forgotten by his tenants and
by the poor.
” He died October the 1st, 1669, and was
interred on the south side of the choir belonging to his
cathedral of Chichester, where a monument was erected
to him, with an inscription, in which it is said, that he
was “antiqua, eaque regia Saxon urn apud Dan monies in
Agro Devoniensi prosapia oriundus,
” and that he was
“natalium splendore illustris, pietate, doctrina & virtutibus illustrior,
” &c. He married Anne, daughter of sir
William Russel of Strensham in Worcestershire, bart. who
after the bishop’s decease married sir Thomas Millington
the physician.
n ably discussed by Headley, Ellis, and Park, as appears by our authorities. He had a brother, John, who became a student of Christ church in 160$, and was afterwards
He published several works, viz. 1. “Sermons,
” printed
at different times. 2. “Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer,
”
The Psalms of David, from the
new translation of the Bible, turned into Metre, &c.
” A deep Groan fetched at the Funeral of the
incomparable and glorious monarch king Charles J.
” Poems, Elegies, Paradoxes, Sonnets,
”
Life of Hooker.
” The merit of his poems,
with extracts, has been ably discussed by Headley, Ellis,
and Park, as appears by our authorities. He had a brother,
John, who became a student of Christ church in 160$,
and was afterwards public orator of the university, canon
of Christ church in 1624, and the year following doctor of
divinity and canon of Windsor, and about that time prebendary of St. Paul’s, and rector of Remenham in Berkshire. He died January 2, 1638-9, and was interred at
Christ church in Oxford. He published a single sermon,
and one or two Latin orations.
churches of the Nonconformists of the English nation; endeavouring their satisfaction in that point, Who are the true church of England?” 2d edit. 1702, 4to. 2. “The
, rector of Chelsea, was born at St. Columb in Cornwall, May 1, 1652. He was educated at Exeter college, Oxford, but took the degree of D. D. at Catherine-hall, Cambridge, where his friend sir William
Dawes was master. When first in orders, he had the curacy of Bray, in Berkshire. By his second wife he acquired the patronage of Pertenhall, in Bedfordshire, and
was instituted to that rectory in June 1690; but in 1694,
exchanged it for Chelsea, the value of which he considerably advanced by letting out the glebe on lives for building.
In 1731 he was collated to the prebend of Wighton in
York cathedral^ by sir William Dawes, archbishop. He
died May 30, 1732, and was buried at Pertenhall. Besides
two occasional sermons, he published, 1 “Animadversions
on a pamphlet entitled A Letter of advice to the churches
of the Nonconformists of the English nation; endeavouring their satisfaction in that point, Who are the true church
of England?
” 2d edit. 1702, 4to. 2. “The case of John
Atherton, bishop of Waterford in Ireland, fairly represented against a partial edition of Dr. Barnard’s relation
and sermon at his funeral, &c.
” Tolando-Pseudologo-mastix, or a currycomb for a lying coxcomb. Being an answer to a late
piece of Mr. Toland’s called Hypatia,
” Lond.