ncing defences of religion, in our own or any other language. In 1664, John Sargrant (see Sargeant), who had deserted from the church of England to that of Rome, published
The year after, 1664, he was chosen Tuesday lecturer at
St. Lawrence Jewry: and being now settled in town, and
having established the character of an excellent preacher,
he contributed his share to oppose the two growing evils
of Charles the Second’s reign, atheism and popery. He
preached a sermonbefore the lord mayor and court of aldermen at St. Paul’s, in 1663, “On the wisdom of being religious;
” which was published in This being highly praised by the abettors of popery, Tillotson answered it, in a piece entitled
” The rule of Faith,“which was printed in 1666, and inscribed to Dr. Stillingfleet, with whom he was intimately acquainted. Sargeant
replied to this, and also in another piece attacked a passage
in Tillotson’s sermon
” On the Wisdom of being religious;“which sermon, as well as his
” Rule of Faith," Tillotson
defended in the preface to the first volume of his sermons,
printed in 1671, 8vo.
. He was related to Wiikins, by having, Feb. 23, 1664, married his daughterin-law, Elizabeth French, who was niece to Oliver Cromwell; for she was the daughter of Dr.
The same year, 1666, he took a doctor of divinity’s degree; and in 1668 preached the sermon at the consecration
of Wilkins to the bishopric of Chester. He was related to
Wiikins, by having, Feb. 23, 1664, married his daughterin-law, Elizabeth French, who was niece to Oliver Cromwell; for she was the daughter of Dr. Peter French, canon
of Christ church in Oxford, by Robina, sister to Cromwell,
which Robina was re- married, about 1656, to Dr. Wilkins,
then warden of Wad bam college. In 1670, he was made
a prebendary of Canterbury; and, in 1672, advanced to
the deanery of that church: he had some ti ue before been
preferred to a prebend in the church of St. Paul. He had
now been some years chaplain to the king, who is yet supposed, by Burnet and others, to have had no kindness for
him; his zeal against popery was too great for him to be
much of a favourite at court. When a declaration for
liberty of conscience was published in 1672, with a view to
indulge the papists, the bishops were alarmed, and directed
Uieir clergy to preach against popery; the king complained
to archbishop Sheldon of this, as done on purpose to inflame the people, and alienate them from himstU and hit
government; on which that prelate called together some of
the clergy, to consider what he should say to his majesty,
if he pressed him any farther on that head. Dr. Tillotson
suggested this answer, that, “since his majesty professed
the protestant religion, it would be a thing without precedent, that he should forbid his clergy to preach in clefence
of it.' 1 In the mean time, he observed great moderation
towards the protestant dissenters, and, early in 1668, had
joined in a treaty for a comprehension of such as could be
brought into the communion of the church; but this attempt proved abortive, as did another made in 1674. In
1675, he published
” The Principles of Natural Religion,
by bishop Wilkins,“who had died at his house in 1672,
and committed all his papers to him, to dispose of as he
pleased. The first twelve chapters only having been transcribed by Wilkins for the press, he finished the remainder
out of the bishop’s papers, and wrote a preface. In 1630,
he published
” The Treatise of the Pope’s Supremacy, by
Dr. Barrow," who dying in 1677, left all his manuscripts to
the care of Dr. Tillotson. He had the year before converted
Charles earl of Shrewsbury, afterwards created a duke by
king William, to whom he was secretary of state, from
popery to the protestant religion.
purpose, or the providence of God makes way for it by the permission of the magistrate.” Dr. Hickes, who wrote a virulent libel against Tillotson after his death, styles
On the 2d of April, 1680, he preached before the king
at Whitehall, a sermon on Josh. xxiv. 15, which was soon
after published by his majesty’s special command, under
the title of “The Protestant Religion vindicated from the
charge of singularity and novelty.
” But this discourse
happened to contain some incidental assertions, which offended all parties, particularly the following passage: “I
cannot think, till I be better informed, which I arn always
ready to be, that any pretence of conscience warrants any
man, that is not extraordinarily commissioned, as the apostles and first publishers of the Gospel were, and cannot
justify that commission by miracles as they did, to affront
the established religion of a nation, though it be false; and
openly to draw men off from the profession of it, in contempt of the magistrate and the law. All that persons of a
different religion can in such a case reasonably pretend to,
is to enjoy the private liberty and exercise of their own
conscience and religion; for which they ought to be very
thankful, and to forbear the open making of proselytes to
their own religion, though they be never so sure that they
are in the right, till they have either an extraordinary commission from God to that purpose, or the providence of
God makes way for it by the permission of the magistrate.
”
Dr. Hickes, who wrote a virulent libel against Tillotson after
his death, styles this downright Hobbism; and tells us,
that a witty lord, standing at the king’s elbow when it was
delivered, said, “Sir, do you hear Mr. Hobbes in the pulpit?
” Dr. Calamy’s account is, that the king having slept
the most part of the time while the sermon was delivered,
a certain nobleman stepped up to him, as soon as it was
over, and said, “It is pity your majesty slept, for we have
had the rarest piece of Hobbism that ever you heard in
your life.
” To which the km^ answered, ll Odds fish, he
shall print it then;" and immediately gave orders to that
purpose. Some animadversions were made upon it, and
printed; but it does not appear that the dean took any
further notice, except only to apologize privately among
his friends, for having advanced an assertion which he savr
could not be maintained. He excused himself by the hurry
he was in, being called unexpectedly, and out of turn, to
preach. It is indeed surprising that a man of Tillotson’s
good sense should be hurried, by his zeal against popery,
to advance against the papists what equally struck at our
first reformers.
tiquitates universitatis Oxoniensis.” Thi* was printed in 1674, under the inspection of bishop Fell; who is supposed to have made the alterations and additions, which
In 1682, the dean gave the public, from the manuscript!
of bishop Wilkins, a volume in 8vo, of fifteen sermons;
which he introduced with a preface, in defence of that prelate’s character, against the reflections cast upon it in the
“Historia & antiquitates universitatis Oxoniensis.
” Thi*
was printed in Dr. Barrow’s Sermons
” for the
press, which had employed the dean for several years, -and
cost him as much pains as would have produced many more
of his own, was now finished; and the edition published at
London in 1633, folio. The laborious office of an editor
of such voluminous writings as those of Barrow, undertaken by one who had many years before appeared to so
much advantage as an original writer, was as clear an
evidence of modesty, as it was of sincere friendship, in Dr.
Tillotson. The discovery of the R\e house plot the same
year opened a melancholy scene, in which he had a large
share of distress, on account of his friendship for lord Russel. He and Dr. Burnet were sent for by that lord, and
both attended him till his death: and it i* remarkable, that
they both urged him to disown the principle of resisting
the powers above, for which they were severely censured,
an<l doubtless afterwards felt reason to censure themselves.
He published a discourse against “eransuh-tantiation,
” in
the Utter end of king Charles’s reign, and another against
“purgatory
” in the beginning of king James’s. The former debate upon that doctrine gave occasion to several
tracts on both sides of the question, pubii>hecl during the
controversy with the papists, which subsisted through king
James’s reign; and which produced so many pieces, that
the vast collection, in three volumes, folio, published many
years ago, under the direction of Gibson, bishop of London, is only a part of those written by protestants.
wn on king William for life, the dean was consulted upon that point by the princess Anne of Denmark; who was pressed by the Jacobites to form an opposition; and who,
During the cUbate in parliament concerning the settlement of the crown on king William for life, the dean was
consulted upon that point by the princess Anne of Denmark; who was pressed by the Jacobites to form an opposition; and who, till lady Russel and Dr. Tillotson had discoursed with her, had refused to give her consent to it, as
prejudicial to her own right. He was, afterwards admitted
into an high degree of confidence with king William and
queen Mary; and their majesties had the greatest reason to
confide in him, for he was a true friend to their establishment on the throne of England. The vacancies of some
bishoprics soon turned the thoughts of his majesty and his
ministers upon the dean; but a bishopric was so far from
being agreeable to him, that he used all possible solicitations to avoid it. He had been appointed clerk of the closet
to the king, the 27th of March, 1689; in August he was
appointed by the chapter of his cathedral, to exercise the
archiepiscopal jurisdiction of the province of Canterbury,
devolved to himself and that body, on the 1st of that month,
by the suspension of Sancroft, for refusing the new oaths;
and the king soon fixed upon him to succeed him. Til lotson’s desires and ambition had never extended further than
to the exchange of his deanery of Canterbury for that of
St. Paul’s, which was granted him in September, upon the
promotion of Stillingtieet to the bishopric of Worcester:
but, at the very time that he kissed the king’s hand for this,
his majesty named the archbishopric to him. There is a
letter of his to lady Ilussel, dated April 19, 1689, which
shews how he stood affected to this proposal, and also clears
bishop Burnet from many a grievous censure, as if he himself had had a view to the archbishopric. After acquainting
her ladyship with the disposal of several church preferments, he proceeds: “but now begins my trouble. After
I had kissed the king’s hand for the deanery of St. Paul’s, I
gave his majesty my most humble thanks, and told him,
that now he had set me at ease for the remainder of my life.
He replied, No such matter, I assure you, and spoke plainly
about a great place, which I dread to think of; and said, it
was necessary for his service, and he must charge it upon
my conscience. Just as he had said this, he was called to
supper, and I had only time to say, that when his majesty
was at leisure, I did believe I could satisfy him, that it would
be most for his service that I should continue in the station
in which he had now placed me. This hath brought me into
a real difficulty; for, on the one hand, it is hard to decline
his majesty’s commands, and much harder yet to stand out
against so much goodness as his majesty is pleased to use
towards me: on the other, I can neither bring my inclination nor my judgment to it. This I owe to the bishop of
Salisbury, one or the best and worst friends I know; best
for his singular good opinion of me, and the worst for directing the king to this method, which I know he did; as if
his lordship and I had concerted the matter, how to finish
this foolish piece of dissimulation, in running away from a
bishopric to catch an archbishopric. This fine device hath
thrown me so far into the briars, that, without his majesty’s
great goodness, I shall never get off without a scratched
face. And now I will tell your ladyship the bottom of my
heart. I have of a long time, I thank God for it, devoted
myself to the public service, without any regard for myself,
and to that end have done the best I could, in the best
manner I was able; of late God hath been pleased, by very
severe ways, but in great goodness to me, to wean me perfectly from the love of this world;
” (he alludes here, not only to the death of his friend lord Russel, but to the loss of two daughters, which were all his children;) “so that
worldly greatness is now not only undesirable, but distasteful to me. And I do verily believe, that I shall be able to
do as much or more good in my present station, than in a
higher, and shall not have one jot less interest or influence
upon any others to any good purpose: for the people na r
turally love a man that will take great pains and little preferment. But, on the other hand, if I could force my inclination to take this great place, I foresee that I should
sink under it, grow melancholy and good for nothing, and,
after a little while, die as a fool dies.
”
of an archbishop would now be an odd figure in England,” was founded upon this fact, that only two, who had fiiied the see of Canterbury, had hitherto been married,
A man of Dr. Tillotson’s disposition and temper, which
was mild, gentle, and humane, had certainly the greatest
reason to dread the archbishopric; since whoever should
succeed Sancroft must be exposed to the attacks of the
Nonjurors. Accordingly, he made all the struggle, and all
the opposition to it, which a subject could make against his
king; and, when all would not do, he accepted it with the
greatest reluctance. Of this we have the following account, in another letter to lady Russel, dated October the
25th, 1690; for there was ever a strict intimacy and correspondence between this lady and Dr. Tillotson, after the
death of lord Russel, and there passed several letters between them upon this occasion. “I waited upon the king
at Kensington, and he took me into his closet, where 1 told
him, that 1 could not but have a deep sense of his majesty’s
great grace and favour to me, not only to offer me the best
thing he had to give, but to press it so earnestly upon me.
I said, I would not presume to argue the matter any further,
but I hoped he would give me leave to be still his humble
and earnest petitioner to spare me in that thing. He answered, he would do so if he could, but he knew not what
to do if I refused him. Upon that I told him, that I tendered my life to him, and did humbly devote it to be disposed of as he thought fit: he was graciously pleased to
say, it was the best news had come to him this great while.
I did not kneel down to kiss his hand, for, without that, I
doubt I am too sure of it, but requested of him, that he
would defer the declaration of it, and let it be a secret for
some time. He said, he thought it might not be amiss to
defer it till the parliament was up. I begged further of
him, that he would not make me a wedge to drive out the
present archbishop; that some time before 1 was nominated, his majesty would be pleased to declare in council,
that, since his lenity had not had any better effect, he would
wait no more, but would dispose of their places. This I
told him I humbly desired, that I might not be thought to
do any thing harsh, or which might reflect upon me: for
now that his majesty had thought fit to advance me to this
station, my reputation was become his interest. He said
he was sensible of it, and thought it reasonable to do as I
desired. I craved leave of him to mention one thing more,
which in justice to my family, especially my wife, I ought
to do, that I should be more than undone by the great and
necessary charge of coming into this place, and must therefore be an humble petitioner to his majesty, that, if it should
please God to take me out of the world, that I must unavoidably leave my wife a beggar, he would not suffer her to
be so; and that he would graciously be pleased to consider,
that the widow of an archbishop of Canterbury, which would
now be an odd figure in England, could not decently be
supported by so little as would have contented her very
well if I had died a dean. To this he gave a very gracious
answer, I promise you to take care of her.
” His remark to
the king, that “the widow of an archbishop would now be
an odd figure in England,
” was founded upon this fact, that
only two, who had fiiied the see of Canterbury, had hitherto
been married, Cranmer and Parker.
going. He arrived at Whitehall the 13th of April, and nominated Tiilotson to the council on the 23d, who was consecrated the 31st of May, being Whitsunday, in Bow-church,
The king’s nomination of him to the archbishopric was
agreed between them, as it appears, to be postponed till
after the breaking up of the session of parliament, which
was prorogued the 5th of January 1691; and then it was
thought proper to defer it stiil longer, till the king should
return from Holland, whither he was then going. He arrived at Whitehall the 13th of April, and nominated Tiilotson to the council on the 23d, who was consecrated the
31st of May, being Whitsunday, in Bow-church, by Mews,
bishop of Winchester, Lioyd, bishop of St. Asaph. Burnet,
bishop of Sarurn, Stillingrleet, bishop of Worcester, Iron*
side, bishop of Bristol, and Hough, bishop of Oxford, in
the presence of the duke of Norfolk, the marquis of Carmarthen, lord-president of the council, the earl of Devonshire, the earl of Dorset, the earl of Macclesfield, the
carl of Fauconberg, and other persons of rank; and
four days after his consecration was sworn of the privycouncil. His promotion was attended with the usual compliments of congratulation, out of respect either to himself or his station, which, however, were soon followed by
a very opposite treatment froai the nonjuring party; the
greatest part of whom, from the moment of his acceptance
of the archbishopric, pursued him with an unrelenting
rage, which lasted during his life, and was by no means
appeased after his death. Before his consecration, the
learned Mr. Dndwell, who was afterwards deprived of Camden’s historical lecture at Oxford, wrote him a letter, dated
the 12th of May, to dissuade him from being, says he, “the
aggressor in the new-designed schism, in erecting another
altar against the hitherto acknowledged altar of your deprived fathers and brethren. If their places be not vacant,
the new consecration must, by the nature of the spiritual
monarchy, he null and invalid, and schisnuitical.
” This
letter of Mr. Dodwell was written with much greater mildness and moderation than another which was sent to the
archbishop’s lady for him, and a copy of it to the countess
of Derby, for the queen; and printed soon after. It called
upon him to reconcile his acting since the Revolution with
the principles either of natural or revealed religion, or with
those of his own letter to lord iiussel, which was reprinted
upon this occasion. The writer of it is said, by Dr. Hickes,
to be a person of great candour and judgment, and once a
great admirer of the archbishop, though he became so much
prejudiced against him as to declare after his death to Dr.
Hickes, that he thought him “an atheist, as much as a
man could be, though the gravest certainly,
” said he, “that
ever was.
” But these and other libels were so far from
exasperating the archbishop against those who wt re concerned in dispersing them, that wht n some were seized on
that account, he used all his interest with the government
to screen them from punishment.
o be inserted, as they did not result from spleen and disappointment, but from the experience ofonfe who at the time actually possessed the highest honours of his country,
After he had been settled about a year in his see, he
found himself confirmed in the notion he had always entertained, that the circumstances attending grandeur make it
not near So eligible, with regard to the possessor’s own
ease and happiness, as persons at a distance from it are apt
to imagine. To this purpose he entered reflections in
short-hand in his common-place book, under the title of
“Some scattered thoughts of my own upon several subjects,
and occasions, begun this 15th of March, 1(191-2, to be transcribed:
” and his remarks concerning a public and splendid way of living, compared with a private and retired life, deserve to be inserted, as they did not result from spleen and disappointment, but from the experience ofonfe who at the time actually possessed the highest honours of his country, in his own profession. “One would be apt to wonder,
” says he, “that
” Nehemiah should reckon a
huge bill of fare, and a vast number of promiscuous guests,
among his virtues and good deeds, for which he desires
God to remember him; but, upon better consideration,
besides the bounty, and someiimes charity of a great table,
provided there be nothing of vanity or ostentation in it,
there may be exercised two very considerable virtues; one
in temperance, and the other self denial, in a man’s being
contented, for the sake of the public, to deny himself so
much, as to sit down every day to a feast, and to eat continually in a crowd, and almost never to be alone, especially when, as it often happens, a great part of the company that a man must have is the company that a man would
not have. I doubt it will prove but a melancholy business
when a man comes to die, to have made a great noise and
bustle in the world, and to have been known far and near,
but all this while to have been hid and concealed from himself. It is a very odd and fantastical sort of life, for a maa
to. be continually from home, and most of all a stranger at
his own ho use. It is surely an uneasy thing to sit always
in a frame, and to be perpetually upon a man’s guard, not
to be able to speak a careless word, or to use a negligent
posture, without observation and censure. Men are apt to
think that they who are in the highest places, and have the
most power, have most liberty to say and do what they
please; but it is quite otherwise, for they have the least
liberty, because they are must observed. It is not mine
own observation: a much wiser man, I mean Tully, says,
* In maxima quaque fortuna minimum licere;' that is, they
that are in the highest and greatest condition have, of all
others, the least liberty." All these, and many more, are
the evils which attend on greatness; and the envy that
pursues it is generally -the result of ignorance and vanity.
imputation of Socinianism, which had long been, and was then more than ever, fixed upon him by those who did not love his principles, and thought that his defending
Dr. Tiilotsun, from his first advancement to the archiepiscopal see, had begun to form several designs for the
good of the church and religion in general; and in these
he was encouraged by their majesties. With this view he
joined with the queen it) engaging the bishop of Salisbury
to draw ii:> his “Discourse of the Pastoral Care,
” in order
to prepare the way for perfecting some parts of our ecclesiastical constitution. This was bishop Burnet’s favourite
tract, anJ it was published in 1692. In the lew moments
ofh s i.-i“;?'<*, Tiliotson revised his own sermons; and, in
1693, published four of them, concerning the divinity and
incarnation of our blessed Saviour His chief design in
this was to remove the imputation of Socinianism, which
had long been, and was then more than ever, fixed upon
him by those who did not love his principles, and thought
that his defending religion upon what were called rational
grounds, and his holding friendship and correspondence
with Locke, Limborch, Le Clerc, and others who did the
same, were circumstances liable to suspicion. Of this he
indirectly complains in one of his sermons:
” 1 know not
how it comes to pass, but so it is, that every one that offers
to give a reasonable account of his faith, and to establish
religion upon rational principles, is presently branded for
a Socinian; of which we have a sad instance in that
incomparable person, Mr. Chillingworth, the glory of this
age and nation, who for no other cause that 1 know of, but
his worthy and successful attempts to make Christian religion reasonable, and to discover those firm and solid foundations upon which our faith is built, hath been requited
with this black and odious character. But if this be Socinianism, for a man to inquire into the grounds and reasons of the Christian religion, and to endeavour to give a
satisfactory account why he believes it, I know no way but
that all considerate inquisitive men, that are above fancy
and enthusiasm, must be either Socinians or Atheists.
ke out, after his advancement, in all forms of open insult. One day, while a gentleman was with him, who came to pay his jlompiiments, a packet was brought in, sealed
The good of the church, and the reformation of all
abuses among the clergy, were the constant object of the
archbishop’s thoughts, and, among other resolutions and
projects for this purpose, one was, to oblige the clergy to
a more strict residence upon their cures: but there was
such an evil and active spirit at work against him, that
fault was found with every thing he said or did, and all
opportunities were taken to blast and defame him; which
tu*de a considerable impression on his spirits, so that he
frew very uneasy in his high post. The malice and party
rage, which he had felt in some measure before, broke out,
after his advancement, in all forms of open insult. One
day, while a gentleman was with him, who came to pay his
jlompiiments, a packet was brought in, sealed and directed
to him, upon opening which there appeared a mask, but
nothing written. The archbishop, without any signs of
moiion, threw it carelessly among his papers on the table;
but on the gentleman’s expressing great surprise at the
iHront, he only smiled, and said, that “this was a gentlci
rebuke, compared with some others, that lay there in black
and white,
” pointing to the papers upon the table. Yet
all this injurious treatment, and all the calumnies spread
against him, could never provoke him to the least temper
of revenge; noc did he ever indulge himself in any of
those liberties of speaking about others, which were to so
immeasurable a degree made use of against himself: and
upon a bundle of libels found among his papers after his
death, he put no other inscription than this, “These are
libels, I pray God forgive them, I do *.
”
n less than a year, though it was not published till 169y. He sent the manuscript to the archbishop, who, having revised and altered it in several pi-aces, returned
He concurred again with the queen, in engaging the
bishop of Salisbury to undertake his “Exposition of the
thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England 5
” which that
indefatigable prelate performed in less than a year, though it
was not published till 169y. He sent the manuscript to the
archbishop, who, having revised and altered it in several pi-aces,
returned it, with his judgment, in the following letter:
l his funeral was attended by a numerous train of coaches, filled with persons of the first quality, who went voluntarily to assist at the solemnity. His funeral-sermon
authors they were so remarkably dis- I have rewarded them accordingly.‘ 3
tinguished by his grace.- * Those,’ said
He did not long survive the writing of this letter; for,
Nov. I 8th following, he was suddenly seized with an illness,
which, turning to a dead palsy, put an end to his life on the
24th, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He was attended
the two last nights of his illness by his dear friend Mr.
Nelson, in whose arms he expired. The sorrow for his
death was more universal than ever was known for a subject: anil his funeral was attended by a numerous train of
coaches, filled with persons of the first quality, who went
voluntarily to assist at the solemnity. His funeral-sermon
was preached by th^ bishop of Salisbury; and, being soon
after published, was remarked on by Dr. Hickes, in a piece
entitled, “Some Discourses upon Dr. Burnet and Dr. Tillotson, &c.
” The acrimony of this piece is scarce to be
matched among the invectives of any age or language: bishop Burnet, however, gave a strong and clear answer to
these discourses, in some Reflections on them; and shewed
them to be, what they really are, a malicious and scurrilous
libel. But whatever attempts were made against archbishop Tillotson, his character may safely be trusted to
posterity; for his life was not only free from blemishes,
but exemplary in all parts of it, as appears from facts
founded on indisputable authority. In his domestic relations, friendships, and the whole commerce of business,
he was easy and humble, frank and open, tender-hearted
and bountiful to such an extent, that, while he was in a private station, he laid aside two tenths of his income for charitable uses. He despised money too much, insomuch that
if the king had not forgiven his first-fruits, his debts could
not have been paid; and he left nothing to his family but
the copy of his posthumous sermons, which were sold for
2500 guineas; a poor maintenance for the widow of an
archbishop, if the king had not increased it by an annuity
of 400l. in 16‘jo, and the addition of ’200l. more in 1C98.
several languages; and the reputation of them in foreign countries was partly owing to M. Le Clerc, who, in his” Bibliotheque Choisse for 1705,“gave an account of the
The death of the archbishop was lamented by Mr. Locke,
in a letter to Limborch, not only as a considerable loss to
himself of a zealous and candid inquirer after truth, whom
he consulted freely upon all doubts in theological subjects,
and of a friend, whose sincerity he had experienced for
many years, but likewise as a very important one to the
English nation, and the whole body of the reformed churches.
He had published in his life-time as many sermons as, with
his ' Rnle of faith,“amounted to one volume in folio: am
a* many wore published after his death, by his chaplain,
Dr. Barker, as amounted to* two more. They have been
often printed, and translated into several languages; and
the reputation of them in foreign countries was partly owing
to M. Le Clerc, who, in his
” Bibliotheque Choisse for
1705,“gave an account of the second edition, in 1699,
folio, of those that were published in his life-time. Ha
declares there, that
” the archbishop’s merit was above any
commendation which he could give; that it was formed
from the union of an extraordinary clearness of head, a
great penetration, an exquisite talent of reasoning, a profound knowledge of true divinity, a solid piety, a most singular perspicuity and unaffected elegance of style, with every
other quality that could be desired in a man of his order; and
that, whereas compositions of this kind are commonly merely
rhetorical and popular declamation, and much better to be
heard from the pulpit, than to be read in print, his are for
the most part exact dissertations, and capable of bearing
the tesjt of the most rigorous examination.' 7
oratory, than this celebrated preacher. One cannot indeed but regret,” says he, “that Dr. Tillotson, who abounds with such noble and generous sentiments, should want
As good sense, sound reasoning, and profound knowledge,
justly entitled archbishop Tillotson to the character of a
great and excellent divine, so copiousness of style, and ease
of composition, have made him also esteemed and admired
as an orator. Yet a polite writer of our own country, Melmoth, in “Fitzosborne’s Letters,
” cannot allow this to him,
but, on the contrary, “thinks that no man had ever less
pretensions to genuine oratory, than this celebrated preacher.
One cannot indeed but regret,
” says he, “that Dr. Tillotson, who abounds with such noble and generous sentiments,
should want the art of setting them off with all the advantage they deserve; that the sublime in morals should not
be attended with a suitable elevation of language. The
truth, however, is, his words are frequently ill chosen, and
almost always ill placed; his periods are both tedious and
unharmonious; as his metaphors are generally mean, and
often ridiculous.
” He imputes this chiefly to his “having
had no sort of notion of rhetorical numbers,
” which seems,
indeed, to have been in some measure the case and, as far
as this can detract from the character of a complete orator,
it is necessary to make some abatement: yet there is certainly great copiousness, and, as this gentleman allows, “a
noble simplicity,
” in his discourses. As for his language,
notwithstanding some exceptionable passages with regard
to the use of metaphors, incident to the best authors, Dryden frequently owned with pleasure, that, if he had any
talent for English prose (as certainly he had a very great one), it was owing to his having often read the writings of
archbishop Tillotson. Addison likewise considered Tiltotson’s writings as the chief standard of our language and
accordingly marked the particular pbrases in the sermons
published during his life-time, as the ground-work of an
English dictionary, which he had projected. But there are
some very just sentiments of Tillotson in one of Warbiirton’s letters, which deserve more attention. Tillotson, Warburton says, “was certainly a virtuous, pious, humane, and
moderate man, which last quality was a kind of rarity in
those times. His notions of civil society were but confused
and imperfect, as appears in the affair of lord Russel. As
to religion, he was among the class of latitudinarian divines.
I think the sermons published in Iris life-time are fine
moral discourses. They bear indeed the character of their
author, simple, elegant, candid, clear, and rational. No
orator in the Greek and Roman sense of the word, like
Taylor; nor a discourser in their sense, like Barrow: free
from their irregularities, but not able to reach their heights.
On which account I prefer them infinitely to him. You
cannot sleep with Taylor; you cannot forbear thinking with
Barrow. But you may be much at your ease in the mi^lst
of a long lecture from Tillotson: clear, and rational, and
equable as he is. Perhaps the last quality may account
for it.
”
, the Locrian, was a philosopher of the Italic school, during the time of Plato, who was indebted to him, among other Pythagoreans, for his acquaintance
, the Locrian, was a philosopher of the Italic
school, during the time of Plato, who was indebted to him,
among other Pythagoreans, for his acquaintance with the
doctrine of Pythagoras, and who wrote his dialogue, entitled “Timaeus,
” on the ground of his book, “On the Nature of Things.
” A small piece, which he wrote concerning the “Soul of the World,
” is preserved by Proclus, and
is in some editions prefixed to Plato’s “Timseus.
” In this
treatise, though generally following Pythagoras, he departs
from him in two particulars; the first, that instead of one
whole, or monad, he supposes two independent causes of
nature, God, or mind, the fountain of intelligent nature,
and necessity, or matter, the source of bodies; the second,
that he explains the cause of the formation of the world,
from the external action of God upon matter, after the
pattern or ideas existing in his own mind. From comparing this piece with Plato’s dialogue, it will be found that
the Athenian philosopher has obscured the simple doctrine
of the Locrian with fancies drawn from his own imagination, or from the Ægyptian schools.
this title, “The Rights of the Christian Church asserted, against the Romish and all other priests, who claim an independent power over it; with a preface concerning
, an English deistical writer,
was the son of a clergyman of Beer-ferres, in Devonshire,
and born about 1657. He became a commoner of Lincoln
college, m Oxford, in 1672, where he had the famous Dr.
Hickes for his tutor, and thence removed to Exeter college.
In 1676 he took the degree of bachelor of arts, and was
afterwards elected fellow of All Souls college In 1679 he
took a bachelor of laws degree; and in July 1685, became
a doctor in that faculty. In the reign of James II. he declared himself a Roman catholic, but afterwards renounced
that religion. Wood says that he did not return to the
protestant religion till after that king had left the nation;
but, according to his own account, he returned to it before
that memorable epocha. In 1694 he published, at London, in 4to, “An Esay concerning obedience to the supreme powers, and the duty of subjects iti all revolutions;
with some considerations touching the present juncture of
affairs;
” and “An Essay concerning the Laws of Nations
and the right of sovereigns,
” &c. He published also some
other pamphlets on the same subjects, particularly one concerning the doctrine of the Trinity and the Athanasian.
creed; but was first particularly noticed for a publication
which came out in 1706, v\itn this title, “The Rights of the
Christian Church asserted, against the Romish and all other
priests, who claim an independent power over it; with a
preface concerning the government of the Church of
England, as by law established,
” 8vo. Tindal was aware of
the. offence this work would give, and even took some pleasure in it; for, as Dr. Hickes relates, he told a gentleman
who found him at it with pen in hand, that “he was writing a book which would make the clergy mad.
” Perhaps
few books were ever published which they more resented;
and, accordingly, numbers among them immediately wrote
against it. 'Among the most distinguished of his answerers
were, I. “The Rights of the Clergy in the Christian Church
asserted in a sermon preached at Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire, Sept. 2, 1706, at the primary visitation of the
right reverend father in God, William lord bishop of Lincoln; by W. Wotton, B. D.
” II. “The second pa/t of the
Wolf stripped of Shepherd’s cloa thing, in answer to a late
book entitled The Rights of the Christian Church asserted,
published at London in March,
” Two treatises,
one of the Christian Priesthood, the other of the dignity
of the Episcopal Order, formerly written, and npw published to obviate the erroneous opinions, fallacious reasonings, and bold and false assertions, in a late book entitled
The Rights of the Christian Church; with a large prefatory
discourse, wherein is contained an Answer to the said book;
all written by George Hickes, D. D.
” London, A thorough examination of the false principles and fallacious arguments advanced against the Christian Church,
Priesthood, and Religion, in a late pernicious book, ironically entitled The Rights of the Christian Church asserted,
&c. in a dialogue between Demas and Hierarcha: humbly
offered to the consideration of the nobility and gentry of
England; by Samuel Hill, rector of Kilmington, and archdeacon of Wells.
” London, Three short
treatises, viz. 1. A modest plea for the Clergy, &c. 2. A
Sermon of the Sacerdotal Benediction, &c. 3. A Discourse
published to undeceive the people in point of Tithes, &c.
formerly printed, and now again published, by Dr. George
Hickes, in defence of the priesthood and true rights of the
church against the slanderous and reproachful treatment of
The Rights of the Christian Church,
” London, Adversaria; or truths opposed to some of the falsehoods contained in a book called The Rights of the Christian Church asserted,
” c.; by Conyers Place, M. A. London, A Dialogue between Timothy and
Philatheus in which the principles and projects of a late
whimsical book entitled The Rights of the Christian Church,
&c. are fairly stated, and answered in their kinds, &c.
written by a layman,
” London, 3 vols. 8vo. Mr. Oldisworth was the author. Swift also wrote “Remarks
” on
Tindal’s book, which are in his works, but were left unfinished by the author. But, whatever disturbance this
work might create at home, and whatever prejudices it
might raise against its author, among the clergy of the
church of England, some of the protestants abroad judged
very differently, and even spoke of it in terms of approbation and applause. Le Clerc gave an account of it in his
“Bibliotheque choisie,
” which begins in these words: “We
hear that this book has made a great noise in England,
and it is not at all surprising, since the author attacks, with
all his might, the pretensions of those who are called highchurchmen; that is, of those who carry the rights of bishops so far as to make them independent in ecclesiastical affairs of prince and people, and who consider everything that has been done to prevent the dependence of
the laity on bishops, as an usurpation of the laics against
divine right. I am far from taking part in any particular
disputes, which the learned of England may have with one
another, concerning the independent power and authority
of their bishops, and farther still from desiring to hurt in
any way the church of England, which I respect and honour as the most illustrious of all protestant churches; but
I am persuaded that the wise and moderate members of
this church can never be alarmed at such a book as this,
as if the church was actually in danger. I believe the
author, as himself says, had no design against the present
establishment, which he approves^ but only against some
excessive pretensions, which are even contrary to the laws
of the land, ana* to the authority of the king and parlialiament. As I do not know, nor have any connection with
him, I have no particular interest to serve by defending
him, and I do not undertake it. His book is too full of
matter for me to give an exact abridgment of it, and they
who understand English will do well to read the original:
they have never read a book so strong and so supported in
favour of the principles which protestants on this side the
water hold in common.
”
of the high and independent powers of the clergy; and meeting with none, during his long stay there, who questioned the truth of them, they by degrees became so fixed
The lower house of convocation, in queen Anne’s reign,
thought that such a character of “The Rights of the Christian Church,
” &c. from a man of Le Clerc’s reputation for
parts and learning, must have no small influence in
recommending the book, and in suggesting favourable notions of
the principles advanced in it; and therefore, in their representation of the present state of religion, they judged
it expedient to give it this turn, namely, “that those infidels
” (meaning Tindal and others) “have procured abstracts and commendations of their own profane writings,
and probably drawn up by themselves, to be inserted in
foreign journals, and that they have translated them into
the English tongue, and published them here at home, in
order to add the greater weight to their wicked opinions.
”
Hence a notion prevailed in England, that Le Clerc had
been paid for the favourable account he gave of Tindal’s
book; upon which he took occasion to declare, in a subsequent journal, that there never was a greater falsehood, and
protests as an honest man before God, “that, for making
mention of that or any other hook, he had never had either
promise or reward.*' It will easily be imagined that, in
the course of this controversy, Dr. Tindal’s antagonists
would object to him his variableness and mutability in matters of religion, and insult him not a little upon his Hrst
apostatizing to the chjirch of Rome, upon the prospect of
a national conversion to Popery, and then, at the revolution, reverting to Protestantism. To <his he replied, that
” Coming, as most boys do, a rasa tabula to the university,
and believing (his country education teaching him no better) that all human and divine knowledge was to be had
there, he quickly fell into the then prevailing notions of
the high and independent powers of the clergy; and meeting with none, during his long stay there, who questioned
the truth of them, they by degrees became so fixed and
riveted in him, that he no more doubted of them than of
his own being: and he perceived not the consequence of
them, till the Roman emissaries (who were busy in making proselytes in the university in king James*s time, and knew how to turn the weapons of high church against them)
caused him to see, that, upon these notions, a separation
from the church of Rome could not be justified; and that
they who pretended to answer them as to those points, did
only shuffle, or talk backward and forward. This made
him, fur some small time, go to the Popish mass-house;
till meeting, upon his going into the world, with people
who treated that notion of the independent power as it deserved, and finding the absurdities of Popery to be much
greater at hand than they appeared at a distance, he began
to examine the whole matter with all the attention he was
capable of; and then he quickly found, and was surprised
at the discovery, that all his till then undoubted maxims
were so far from having any solid foundation, that they
were built on as great a contradiction as can be, that of
two independent powers in the same society. Upon this
he returned, as he had good reason, to the church of England, which he found, by examining into her constitution,
disclaimed all that independent power he had been bred
up in the belief of; Candlemas 1687-8 being the last time
he saw any of the Popish tricks, the very next opportunity
(namely, Easter) he publicly received the sacrament (the warden giving it him first) in his college chapel, &c. And
thus having made his escape from errors which prejudice
of education had drawn him into, he resolved to take nothing on trust for the future; and, consequently, his notions concerning our civil, as well as religious liberties,
became very different from those in which he was educated.“What Dr. Tindal says here may be true; yet it is observable, that his conversion to Popery, and re-conversion to
Protestantism, lay between February 1685, and February
1688, that is, between the twenty-seventh and thirtieth,
year of his age; and many will be ready to suspect, that a
man of his reasoning and inquiring turn must, before then,
have been too much fixed and settled in his principles,
either to be a dupe of Popish missionaries, or then to discover first the absurdity and falsehood of fundamental principles. In the mean time he endeavoured to defend his
work, in a
” Defence of the Rights of the Christian Church
against a late visitation sermon, entitled The Rights of the
Clergy in the Christian Church asserted, preached at Newport- Pagnell in the county of Bucks by W. Wotton, B. D.
and made public at the command and desire of the bishop
of Lincoln, and the clergy of the deaneries of Buckingham
and Newport,“London, 1707, in 8vo, and in his
” Second
Defence of the Rights of the Christian Church, occasioned
by two late indictments against a bookseller and his servant
for selling one of thf said books. In a Letter from a- gentleman in London to a clergyman in the country. To which
are added two tracts of Hugo Grotius on these questions;
I. Whether the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper may be
administered where there are no pastors? II. Whether it
be necessary at all times to communicate with the Symbols?
As also some tracts of Mr. John Hales of Eaton, viz. Of
the Lord’s Supper, the Power of the Keys, of Schism,
&c.“London, 1707, in 8vo. In 1709 he published at
London in 8vo, a pamphlet entitled,
” New High Church
turned old Presbyterian“and in 1710 several pamphlets,
viz.
” An High Church Catechism;“” The jacobitism,
perjury, and popery of High Church Priests;“”The
merciful judgments of 'High Church-triumphant on offending clergymen and others in the reign of Charles I.“In
1711 and 1712 he published at London in 8vo,
” The Nation vindicated from the aspersions cast on it in a late
pamphlet entitled, A representation of the present State of
Religion, with regard to the late excessive growth of infidelity, heresy, and profaneness, as it passed the Lower
House of convocation,“in two parts. In 1713, and some
following years he published several other pamphlets,
mostly political, which attracted more or less attention,
but are now forgotten. He had hitherto passed for an
enemy to the church of England, but was soon determined
to show himself equally hostile to revealed religion, and in
1730, published in 4to, his
” Christianity as old as the
Creation, or the Gospel a Republication of the Religion of
Nature.“It might have been expected from the title of
this book, that his purpose was to prove the Gospel perfectly agreeable to the law of nature; to prove, that it has
set the principles of natural religion in the clearest light, and
was intended to publish and confirm it anew, after it had been
very much obscured and defaced through the corruption ct
mankind. We should be further confirmed in this supposition from his acknowledging, that
” Christianity itself,
stripped of the additions which policy, mistake, and the
circumstances of time, have made to it, is a most holy religion, and that all its doctrines plainly speak themselves
to be the will of an infinitely wise and good God:“for
this, and several declarations of a similar nature, he makes
in his work; and accordingly distinguishes himself and his
friends with the title of
” Christian Deists.“Yet whoever
examines his book attentively will find, that this is only
plausible appearance, intended to cover his real design;
which was to set aside all revealed religion, by showing,
that there neither is, nor can be, any external revelation
at all, distinct from what he calls
” the external revelation
of the law of nature in the hearts of all mankind;“and
accordingly his refuters, the most considerable of whom
was Dr. Conybeare, afterwards bishop of Bristol, Foster,
and Leland, have very justly treated him as a Deist. It
appears from a letter written by the rev. Mr. Jonas Proast
to Dr. Hickes, and printed in Hickes’s
” Preliminary Discourse“cited above, that Tindal espoused this principle
very early in life; and that he was known to espouse it
long before even his
” Rights of the Christian Church" was
published. The letter bears date the 2d of July, 1708,
and is in the following terms:
but upon my oath likewise, if required; which yet I should not so forwardly offer against a person, who, for aught I know, never did any personal injury, were I not
"It is now, as I guess, between eleven and twelve years since Dr. Tindal expressed himself to me at All-souls-college in such a manner as I related to Mr. F concerning religion. At which I was the less surprised, because I knew at that time both his own inclination, and what sort of company he frequented when at London, which was usually a great part of the year: but not foreseeing then any occasion there might be for my remembering all that 1 was then said about that matter, I took no care to charge my memory with it. However, it could not be much, having passed in our walking but a very few turns in the college quadrangle just before dinner, where I then unexpectedly met with the doctor, newly returned after a pretty long absence from the college. What occasion the doctor took for so declaring himself, whether the mention of some book or pamphlet then newly come forth, or somewhat else, I am not able at this distance to recollect: but the substance and effect of what he said I do very clearly and distinctly remember to have bee$, that there neither is nor can be any revealed religion; that God has given man reason for his guide; that this guide is sufficient for man’s directions without revelation; and that therefore, since God does nothing in vain, there can be no such thing as revelation: to which he added, that he made no doubt but that within such a number of years as he then mentioned, and I do not now distinctly remember, all men of sense would settle in natural religion. Thus much I do so perfectly remember, that I can attest it, riot with my hand only, as I now do, but upon my oath likewise, if required; which yet I should not so forwardly offer against a person, who, for aught I know, never did any personal injury, were I not convinced of the need there is of it, in respect to some weak persons, who, having entertained too favourable an opinion of the doctor and his principles, are upon that account the more apt to be misled by him.
He was interred in Clerkenwell church, and was followed, among others, by Eustace Budgell, who is thought to have forged his will, and thus defrauded his nephew,
He was interred in Clerkenwell church, and was followed, among others, by Eustace Budgell, who is thought to have forged his will, and thus defrauded his nephew, the subject of our next article.
vols. folio; the first of which was inscribed, in a manly dedication, to Frederick prince of Wales, who rewarded Mr. Tindal with a gold medal worth forty guineas. The
In 1724, he published in monthly numbers, “Antiquities sacred and profane, being a Dissertation on the excellency of the history of the Hebrews above that of any other
nation,
” &c. a translation from Calmet. He also began a
history of Essex, of which he published a small part, in
two quarto numbers, proposing to complete it in three
quarto volumes, at one guinea each; but left this undertaking, in 1726, for the translation of Rapin’s “History of
England,
” which has served to perpetuate his name, and
was indeed a work of great utility, and success. This
translation, originally published in 1726, 8vo, and dedicated
to Thomas lord Howard baron of Effingham, was reprinted
in weekly numbers, in 1732 and 1733, 2 vols. folio; the
first of which was inscribed, in a manly dedication, to Frederick prince of Wales, who rewarded Mr. Tindal with a
gold medal worth forty guineas. The second volume of
the 8vo edition had been inscribed to sir Charles Wager,
when the translator was chaplain on board the Torbay in
the Bay of Revel in the Gulph of Finland. Vol. IV. is dedicated to the same, from the same place, 1727. Vol. VI.
from Great Waltham, 1728, to the English factors at Lisbon, where the translator officiated as chaplain five months
in the absence of Mr. Sims. The “Continuation
” was likewise published in weekly numbers, which began in 1744,
and was completed March 25, 1747, which is the date of
the dedication to the late duke of Cumberland. When the
“History
” was published, Mr. Tindal was “Vicar of Great
Waltham.
” In the “Continuation
” he is called “Rector
of Alverstoke, and chaplain to the royal hospital at Greenwich.
” This last was printed in two volumes, but is accompanied with a recommendation to bind it in three;
vol. III. to contain the reign and medals of king William;
vol. IV. the reign of queen Anne; and vol. V the i\ ign of
king George I. with the medals of queen Anne and king
George; a summary of the History of England, and the
index. A second edition of the “Continuation
” appeared
in A Copy
of the Will of Dr. Matthew Tindal, with an account of
what passed concerning the same between Mrs. Lucy Price,
Eustace Budgell, esq. and Mr. Nicholas Tindal,
” Christianity as old as the Creation,
” were bequeathed to Mr. Budgell; and only a small residue to his
nephew, whom, by a regular will, he had riot long before
appointed his sole heir. The transaction is alluded to in
the well-known lines of Pope:
dyer’s son, for his real name was Robusti, was born at Venice in 1512. He was a disciple of Titian, who, having observed something extraordinary in his genius, dismissed
, a celebrated Italian painter, called Tintoretto, because he was a dyer’s son, for his real name was Robusti, was born at Venice in 1512. He was a disciple of Titian, who, having observed something extraordinary in his genius, dismissed him from his family, lest he should become his rival. He still, however, pursued Titian’s manner of colouring, as the most natural, and studied Michael Angelo’s style of design, as the most correct. Venice was the place of his constant abode, where he was made a citizen, and wonderfully beloved. He was called the Furious Tintorer, for his bold manner of painting with strong lights and deep shades, and for the rapidity of his genius. Our information respecting his personal history, detached from his public character, is but scanty; we are told that he was extremely pleasant and affable, and delighted so much in painting and music, his beloved studies, that he would hardly suffer himself to taste any other pleasures. He died in 1594, aged eighty-two.
The genius of Tintoretto was not to be circumscribed by the walls of his master’s study; and to one who, under his eye, had the hardiness to think, and to choose for
It might be wished, says Mr. Fuseli, whose elaborate opinion of Tintoretto, we shall now transcribe, that the mean
jealousy of Titian, and its meaner consequence, the expulsion of Tintoretto from his school, had been less authenticated. What has been said of Milton, that at certain periods he was but one of the people, might be true of Titian
whenever he was not before his canvas. Folly, always a
principal, if not the chief, ingredient in the character of
jealousy and ambition, generally runs into the extremes it
wishes to avoid, and accelerates the effects it labours to
repress. The genius of Tintoretto was not to be circumscribed by the walls of his master’s study; and to one who,
under his eye, had the hardiness to think, and to choose
for himself what he should adopt or not of his method, dismission was in fact emancipation. He now boldly aimed at
erecting himself into the head of a new school, which should
improve the principles of that established by Titian, and
supply its defects: he wrote over the door of his apartment,
“the design of Michael Angelo and the colour of Titian;
”
and this vast idea, the conception of an ardent and intrepid
mind, he strove to substantiate by a course of studies
equally marked by discretion and obstinate perseverance.
The day was given to Titian, the night to Michael Angelo.
The artificial light of the lamp taught him those decided
masses, that energy of chiaroscuro, which generally stamps
each group and single figure in his works. Whether he
enjoyed the personal friendship of Michael Angelo (as Dot* tari thinks) may be doubted; that he procured casts from
his statues, and copies from his frescoes, is evident from
the incredible number of his designs after the former, and
the various imitations and hints with which his works
abound, from the latter. He modelled in wax and clay,
and studied anatomy and the life to make himself master
of the body, its proportions, its springs of motion, its foreshortenings, and those appearances which the 1 Italians distinguish by the phrase of “di sotto in su.
” Add to this,
exuberant fertility of ideas, glowing fancy, and the most
picturesque eye; and what results might not have been
expected from their union with such methods of study, had
uniformity of pursuit, and equal diligence in execution,
attended his practice?
ixion” mentioned before, by Tintoretto himself. The immediate impression which it makes on every one who for the first time casts a glance on its immense scenery, is
That it did for some time, the “Miracle of the Slave,
”
formerly in the Scuola di S. Marco, and lately at Paris,
which he painted at the age of thirty-six, and the “Crucifixion
” in the Albergo of the Scuola di S. Rocco, are signal instances. The former unites, with equal ardour and
justness of conception, unexampled fierceness and rapidity
of execution, correctness and even dignity of forms, powerful masses of light and shade, and a more than Titianesque
colour with all the fury of a sketch it has all the roundness
and decision of finish; the canvas trembles this is the
vivid abstract of that mossa which Agostino Caracci exclusively ascribes to the Venetian school; and here Tintoretto
has, as far perhaps as can be shewn, demonstrated what he
meant by wishing to embody with the forms and breadth
of Michael Angelo the glow and juice of Titian. If this
stupendous picture have any flaw, it is perhaps that, in
beholding it, the master appears to swim upon his work,
and that S. Marc, and the miracle he descends to perform,
are eclipsed by the ostentatious power of the artist. This
is not what we feel when we contemplate the Capello Sistina, the “Pietro Martire
” of Titian, or the “Crucifixion
”
mentioned before, by Tintoretto himself. The immediate
impression which it makes on every one who for the first
time casts a glance on its immense scenery, is that of a
whole whose numberless parts are connected and subdued
by a louring, mournful, minacious tone. All seems to be
hushed in silence round the central figure of the Saviour
suspended on the cross, with his fainting mother, and a
group of male and female mourners at his feet; an assemblage of colours that less imitate than rival nature, a scale
of hues for which Titian himself seldom offers a parallel,
yet all tinged by grief, all equally overcast by the lut id tone
that stains the whole, and like a meteor hangs in the sickly
air: whatever inequalities or derelictions of feeling, whatever improprieties of common-place, of modern and antique
costume, the master’s rapidity admitted to fill his space
(and they are great), all vanish in the power which compresses them into a single point, and we do not detect
them till we recover from our terror. With these the
“Resurrection
” too in the Scuola di S. Rocco may be
placed, of which the magic chiaroscuro, the powerful blaze
of the vision contrasted with the dewy distant light of dawn,
and the transparence of the dark massy foreground, are
but secondary beauties. If the “Resurrection
” preserved
among the arrazzi of Raphael be superior in extent of
thought, in the choice of the characters admitted, the
figure of Christ himself is greatly surpassed by the ideal
forms and the serene dignity united to that resistless velocity which characterise Christ in the work of Tintoretto;
whilst the celestial airs and graces of the angels balance by
sublimity the dramatic variety displayed by Raphael.
Tintoretto had a son and a daughter, who both excelled in the art of painting; Marietta, the daughter,
Tintoretto had a son and a daughter, who both excelled in the art of painting; Marietta, the daughter, particularly. She was so well instructed by her father in his own profession, as well as in music, that in both arts she acquired great reputation; and was especially eminent for an admirable style in portraits. She married a German, and died in 1590, aged thirty, equally lamented by her husband and father; and so much beloved by the latter, that he never would consent she should leave him, though she had been invited by the emperor Maximilian, by Philip II. king of Spain, and several other princes, to their courts.
Caxton, who was his printer, says that he “in his tyme flowred in vertue
Caxton, who was his printer, says that he “in his tyme
flowred in vertue and cunnyng, and to whom he knew none
lyke emong the lordes of the temporalite in science and
moral vertue.
” He translated “Cicero de Amicitia,
” and
“Two Declarations made by Publius Cornelius Scipio, and
Gayus Flamyneus, competitors for the love of Lucrece,
”
which he dedicated to Edward IV. He also wrote some
other orations and epistles, and Englished “Ceaser’s Commentaries, as touching British affairs,
” published without
the name of printer, place, or date, but supposed to be
printed by Rastell, from its type. The margin contains
the original Latin in Roman character. In the reign of
Edward IV. he drew up “Orders for placing the nobility
in all proceedings,
” and “Orders and Statutes for justs
and triumphs,
” both Mss. in the Cotton library. In the
Ashmolean collection are “Ordinances, statutes, and rules,
made by John Tiptoft, earle of Worcester, and constable
of England, by the king’s commandment, at Windsor, to
be observed in all manner of justes of peirs within the
realm of England, &c.
” These ordinances were again revived in the 4th of> Elizabeth, and are printed in Mr. Park’s
edition of Harrington’s “Nugge Antique.
” He is also said
to have written “A petition against the Lollards,
” and an
“Oration to the citizens of Padua
” In the Mss. belonging to the cathedral of Lincoln, lord Orford mentions a volume of some twenty epistles, of which four are written by
our earl, and the rest addressed to him; but the late MrGough, after a careful search, could not find them in that
collection.
the patriotic zeal of some of the Spanish ex- Jesuits settled in Italy, and especially of Lampillas, who wrote an “Apologetic Essay on Spanish Literature,” which Tiraboschi
Tiraboschi’s work encountered some criticisms during the
progress of publication; and it would not be surprizing to
find many blemishes in such a vast undertaking. Of these
criticisms, where just, he availed himself in his second edition, but entered into no controversy, unless with the Spanish ex-Jesuit Lampillas. Tiraboschi was of opinion, that
the Spaniards had been greatly instrumental in the corruption of taste in Italy; and on this principle he had, in his
work, severely criticised Martial, Seneca, and Lucan, all
Spaniards by birth. This excited the patriotic zeal of some
of the Spanish ex- Jesuits settled in Italy, and especially of
Lampillas, who wrote an “Apologetic Essay on Spanish
Literature,
” which Tiraboschi answered.
Here lies a man who, drinking only water,
ry of reflexes, by which he detached, rounded, connected, or enriched, his objects. He was the first who changed stuffs to drapery, gave it local value, and a place,
To no coiourist, before or after him, did Nature unveil herself with that dignified familiarity in which she appeared to Titian. His organ, universal, and equally fit for all her exhibitions, rendered her simplest to her most compound appearances with equal purity and truth. He penetrated the essence and the general principle of the substances before him, and on these established his theory of colour. He invented that breadth of local tint which no imitation has attained; by taking the predominant quality of colour in an object, for the whole, painting flesh which abounded in demitints, entirely in demitints; and depriving of all demitints, what had but few. He first expressed the negative nature of shade. Perfect master of contrast, of warm and cold tints, he knew by their balance, diffusion, and recall, to tone the whole. His are the charms of glazing, and the mystery of reflexes, by which he detached, rounded, connected, or enriched, his objects. He was the first who changed stuffs to drapery, gave it local value, and a place, subordination, and effect. His harmony is less indebted to the force of light and shade, than to true gradation of tone. His tone springs out of his subject, grave, solemn, gay, minacious, or soothing. His eye tinged Nature with gold, without impairing her freshness. She dictated his scenery. Landscape, whether it be considered as the transcript of a spot, or the rich combination of congenial objects, or as the scene of a phenomenon, as subject and as back-ground, dates, if not its origin, its real value, from him. He is the father of portrait-painting; of resemblance with form, character with dignity, grace with simplicity, and costume with taste.
was abundantly honoured in his life-time. He made three several portraits of the emperor Charles V. who honoured him with knighthood, created him count palatine, made
In design Titian had a style, and in composition and
expression occasionally excelled, though on the whole
they were little more for him than vehicles of colour. That
he possessed the theory of the human frame, needs not to
be proved from the doubtful designs which he is said to
hare furnished for the anatomical work of Vesalio; that he
had familiarised himself with the line of Michael Angelo,
and burned with ambition to emulate it, is less evident
from adopting some of his attitudes in the pictures of
“Pietro Martire,
” and the battle of Ghiaradadda, than
from the elemental conceptions, the colossal style, and
daring foreshortenings, which astonish on the cieling of the
Salute. In general, however, his male forms have less selection than sanguine health; often too fleshy for character,
Jess elastic than muscular, and vigorous without grandeur.
His females are the fair, dimpled, Venetian race, soft
without delicacy, too full for elegance, for action too plump.
Titian was abundantly honoured in his life-time. He
made three several portraits of the emperor Charles V.
who honoured him with knighthood, created him count
palatine, made all his descendants gentlemen, and assigned
him a considerable pension out of the chamber at Naples.
The respect of Charles V. for Titian was as great as that
of Francis I. for Leonardo da Vinci; and many particulars
of it are recorded. It is said, that the emperor one day
took up a pencil, which fell from the hand of this artist,
who was then drawing his picture; and that, upon the
compliment which Titian made him on this occasion, he
replied, “Titian has merited to be served by Caesar.
” And
when some lords of the emperor’s court, not being able to
conceal their jealousy of the preference he gave of Titian’s
person and conversation to that of all his other courtiers,
the emperor freely told them, “that he could never want
courtiers, but could not have Titian always with him.
”
Accordingly, he heaped riches on him; and whenever he
sent him money, which was usually a large sum, it was
with the compliment, that “his design was not to pay him
the value of his pictures, because they were above any
price.
” He painted also his son Philip II. Soliman emperor of the Turks, two popes, three kings, two empresses,
several queens, and almost all the princes of Italy, together with the famous Ariosto and Peter Aretine, who were,
his intimate friends. Nay, so great was the name and reputation of Titian, that there was hardly a person of any
eminence then living in Europe, from whom he did not receive some particular mark of esteem: and his house at
Venice was the constant rendezvous of all the virtuosi and
people of the best quality. That he had his weaknesses,
we have already noticed in our account of Tintoretto. He
was so happy in the constitution of his body, that he had
never been sick till 1576 and then he died of the plague,
at the extraordinary age of ninety-nine. It has been remarked that we have many instances of the longevity of
painters. Ninety is an extraordinary age for any man, but
Spinello lived beyond it. Carlo Cignani died at ninetyone; Titian at the same age; M. Ang. Buonarotti at
ninety; Leonardo da Vinci at seventy-five; Calabrese at
eighty-six; Claude Lorraine at eighty-two; Carlo Maratti
at eighty-eight, and prodigious numbers of eminent painters from sixty upwards.
and received his education at Westminster- school, where he was much befriended by bishop Atterbury, who chose him for his son’s tutor, in which capacity he resided
, a polite scholar, was born in 1700,
and received his education at Westminster- school, where
he was much befriended by bishop Atterbury, who chose
him for his son’s tutor, in which capacity he resided in the
bishop’s family about the time of the supposed plot in
1722. From Westminster Mr. Titley went off to Trinitycollege, Cambridge, in 1719, in which he for many years
held the lay-fellowship founded for a civilian. He was
early in life sent envoy extraordinary to the court of Copenhagen, where he died Feb. 1768, after a long residence,
very highly esteemed on account of his many amiable
qualilies. Of his productions as an author, which were rather
little elegant trifles than elaborate performances, a good
specimen may be seen in his celebrated “Imitation of
Horace,*' book IV. Ode 2. And some of his Latin \erses
are in the
” Reliquiae. Galeanae.“He bequeathed iOOo/.
to Westminster-school, Iooo/. to Trinity-college, Cambridge, and Iooo/. to the university of Cambridge, part of
which was to be applied to the public buildings. This sum
in 1768, when sir James Marriot, master of Trinity-hall,
was vice-chancellor, was voted to erect a music-room, of
which a plan was engraved to solicit a further aid from contributions, but failed of success. It would have given us
pleasure to have given more particular memoirs of this ingenious gentleman, of whom so little has yet been said.
Bishop Newton characterises him, among his contemporaries at Westminster, as
” a very ingenious young man,
at first secretary to the embassy at Turin, afterwards for
many years his majesty’s envoy to the court of Denmark.
During the time that he was a king’s scholar, he lived with
bishop Atterbury as tutor to his son, and his taste and learning were much improved by the bishop’s conversation.
His plan of life, as laid down by himself, was, to prosecute his studies at Cambridge till he should be thirty,
from thirty to sixty to be employed in public business, at
sixty to retire and return to college, for which purpose he
would keep his fellowship. This plan he nearly pursued;
he kept his fellowship; he resigned his public employment; but, instead of returning to college, where in a
great measure there was a new society, and few or none
were left of* his own age and standing, he remained at
Copenhagen, where, by his long residence, he was in a
manner naturalized, and there lived and died, greatly respected and lamented by all ranks of people."
ining the lives of the poets down to the last date; but the grand scheme remained unexecuted. Titon, who is represented as a generous patron of literary merit, died
, the projector of a
French Parnassus, was the son of one of the king’s secretaries, and born at Paris in 1677. He studied at the Jesuits’ college in Paris, where he acquired a taste for the
belles lettres that predominated during the whole of his
life. Being destined for the military profession, he had
in his fifteenth year a company of 100 fuzileers, which bore
his name; and was afterwards a captain of dragoons. After
the peace of Ryswick, he purchased the place of maitre
d‘hotel to the dauphiness, the mother of Louis XV. Losing
this situation at her death, he took a trip to Italy, and there
improved his taste in painting, of which he was esteemed
a connoisseur. On his return he was appointed provincial
commissary at war, an office in which he conducted himself with uncommon generosity. His attachment to Louis
XIV. and his admiration of the men of genius of that monarch’s time, induced him, in 1708, to project a Parnassus,
in bronze, to commemorate the glories of his sovereign,
and the genius of the most celebrated poets and musicians.
This was no hasty performance, however, for he did not
complete his plan before 1713. This Parnassus was nothing else than a mountain, with a good elevation, on which
appeared Louis XIV. in the character of Apollo, crowned
with laurels, and holding a lyre in his hand. Beneath him
were the three French graces, madame de la Suze, madame
des Houlieres, and mademoiselle de Scuderi. Round this
Parnassus was a grand terras, on which were eight poets
and a musician; namely, Peter Corneille, Moliere, Racan,
Segrais, La Fontaine, Chapelle, Racine, Boileau, and Lully.
Inferior poets were commemorated by medallions. Boileau
is said to have been Tillet’s adviser in some part of this
scheme, and, his biographer says, it were to be wished
that celebrated poet had likewise advised him as to the
selection of those on whom he was conferring immortality.
His next object was to get this Parnassus erected in some
public place or garden. He proposed the scheme therefore to Desforts, the minister then at the head of the ’finances, and asked only, by way of bonus, the place of farmer-general; but Desforts contented himself with praising
his disinterestedness. Disappointed in this, he published,
in 1727, a description of his work under the title of “Le
Parnasse Francois,
” Essai sur les honneurs accordés aux Savaiis,
” 12mo.
d, to perfect his studies.” There he was generously supported by some eminent Dissenters in England, who had conceived great hopes from his uncommon parts, and might
From the school at Redcastle near Londonderry, he went
in 1687 to the college of Glasgow in Scotland; and, after
three years stay there, visited the university of Edinburgh,
where he was created master of arts in June 1690, and received the usual diploma or certificate from the professors.
He then went back to Glasgow, where he made but a short
ttay, and intended to have returned to Ireland; but he
altered his mind, and came into England, “where, he tells
us, he lived in as good Protestant families as any in the
kingdom, till he went to the famous university of Leyden in
Holland, to perfect his studies.
” There he was generously
supported by some eminent Dissenters in England, who had
conceived great hopes from his uncommon parts, and might
flatter themselves that in time he would be serviceable to
them in the quality of a minister; for he had lived in their
communion ever since he forsook Popery, as he himself
owns in effect in his “Apology.
” In Gospel truth
stated and vindicated,
” Mr. Toland sent it to the author of
the “Bibliotheque universelle,
” and desired him to give an
abstract of it in that journal: at the same time he related
to him the history of that book, and of the controversy it
referred to. The journalist complied with his request
(vol. XXIII); and to the abstract of Mr. Williams’ s book
he prefixed the letter he received from Mr. Toland, whom
he styles “student in divinity.
”
tragical death of Regulus, a fable; the substance, however, of which he owns he took from Palmerius, who had examined the subject in his “Observationes in optimos fere
After having remained about two years at Leyden, he
came back to England, and soon after went to Oxford,
where, besides the conversation of learned men, he had the
advantage of the public library. He collected materials
upon various subjects, and composed some pieces; among
others, a Dissertation to prove the received history of the
tragical death of Regulus, a fable; the substance, however,
of which he owns he took from Palmerius, who had examined the subject in his “Observationes in optimos fere
Authores Graecos.
” Toland began likewise a work of
greater consequence, in which he undertook to show, that
there are no mysteries in the Christian religion; but he
left Oxford in 1695, before it was finished, and went to
London, where he published it the next year in 12mo
with this title, “Christianity not mysterious: or, a
treatise shewing, that there is nothing in the Gospel
contrary to reason, nor above it, and that no Christian doctrine can be properly called a mystery.
” For the foundation of this proposition, Mr. Toland defines mystery, as ha
says it is always used in the New Testament, to be a thing
intelligible in itself, but which could not be known without a special revelation; contending, as those do who have
since called themselves rational Christians, that there is
nothing in the New Testament either against or above reason. His treatise was no sooner abroad, than the public
were very much alarmed, and several books came out against
it. It was even presented by the grand-jury of
Middlesex; but, as usual, without any effect in preventing the
sale.
ke and Mr. Molyneux, which will serve also to illustrate the temper and character of Toland himself, who was certainly a very extraordinary man. In a letter, dated Dublin,
This book being sent by the London booksellers into
Ireland, made no less noise there than it had made in
England; and the clamour wa much increased when he
went thither himself in 1697. Many particulars concerning
this affair are related in the correspondence hetween Mr.
Locke and Mr. Molyneux, which will serve also to illustrate
the temper and character of Toland himself, who was certainly a very extraordinary man. In a letter, dated Dublin,
April the 6th, 1697, Mr. Molyneux writes thus to Mr.
Locke: “In my last to you, there was a passage relating
to the author of * Christianity not mysterious.' I did not
then think that he was so near me as within the bounds of
this city; but I find since that he is corne over hither, and
have bad the favour of a visit from him. I now understand, as I intimated to you, that he was born in this country; but that he hath been a great while abroad, and his
education was for some time under the great Le Clerc.
But that for which I can never honour him too much, is his
acquaintance and friendship to you, and the respect which
on all occasions he expresses for you. I propose a great
deal of satisfaction in his conversation: I take him to be a
candid free thinker, and a good scholar. But there is a
violent sort of spirit that reigns here, which begins already
to shew itself against him; and, I believe, will increase
daily; for I 6nd the clergy alarmed to a mighty degree
against him; and last Sunday he had his welcome to this
city, by hearing himself harangued against out of the
pulpit, by a prelate of this country.
” In a letter, dated
May the 3d, Mr. Locke replies to Mr. Molyneux: “I am
glad to hear that the gentleman does me the favour to
speak well of me on that side the water; I never deserved
*tfoer of him, but that he should always have done so on
this. If his exceeding great value of himself do not deprive the world of that usefulness that his parts, if rightly
conducted, might be of, I shall be very glad. I always
value men of parts and learning, and I think I cannot do too
much in procuring them friends and assistance: but there
may happen occasions that may make one stop one’s
hand; and it is the hopes young men give, of what use they
will make of their parts, which is to me the encouragement
of being concerned for them: but if vanity increases with
age, I always fear, whither it will lead a man. I say this to
you, because you are my friend, for whom I have no reserves, and think 1 ought to talk freely, where you inquire,
and possibly may be concerned; but I say it to you alone,
and desire it may go no farther. For the man I wish very
well, and could give you, if it needed, proofs that I do so,
and therefore I desire you to be kind to him; but I must
leave it to your prudence in what way, and how far. If his
carriage with you gives you the promises of a steady useful
man, I know you will be forward enough of yourself, and
I shall be very glad of it; for it will be his fault alone, if he
prove not a very valuable man, and have not you for his
friend.
” Mr. Molyneux thanks Mr. Locke for these hints
concerning Mr. Toland, in a letter -dated May the 27th,
and says, that “they perfectly agree with the apprehensions he had conceived of him. Truly,
” says he, “to be
free, I do not think his management, since he came into
this city, has been so prudent. He has raised against him
the clamours of all parties; and this not so much by his
difference of opinion, as by his unseasonable way of discoursing, propagating, and maintaining it. Coffee-houses
and public tables are not proper places for serious discourses, relating to the most important truths: but when
also a tincture of vanity appears in the whole cours.e of a
man’s conversation, it disgusts many that may otherwise
have a due value for his parts and learning.-. Mr. ToJand also takes here a great liberty on all occasions, to
vouch your patronage and friendship, which makes many,
that rail at him, rail also at you. I believe you will not approve of this, as far as I am able to judge, by your shaking
him off, in your letter to the bishop of Worcester.
” The
reader is requested to keep in mind these early discoveries
of Toland’s vanity. They unfold his whole character.
Vanity was predominant with him from first to last; and if
the lives of other infidels are examined with Care, from
Toland to the last garbler of Toland in our own days, it will
be found that vanity was the ruling passion, and the inspirer
of those paradoxical opinions which they maintained with
obstinacy even when, it is to be feared, they did not believe
them themselves. It is with good reason, and certainly
with shrewdness and ability, that in a late ingenious work,
the life of Toland is sketched as an instance of one of the
“victims of immoderate vanity .
”
that he continued to write and publish his thoughts on all subjects, without regarding in the least who might, or who might not, be offended at him. He had published,
Stillingfleet, bishop of Worcester, in his “Vindication of
the doctine of the Trinity,
” had taken occasion to animadvert on Mr. Toland' s “Christianity not mysterious;
” and,
as he supposed that Toland had borrowed some principles
from Locke’s “Essay on human understanding,
” in support of his heretical doctrines, he bestowed some animadversions also on that work. This, and Mr. Toland’s persisting to represent him as his patron and friend, together
with his very exceptionable conduct, made Locke renounce
all regard for him, and almost disclaim the little countenance he had given him. To this purpose he expresses
himself, in a letter dated the 15th of June: “As to the
gentleman to whom you think my friendly admonishments
may be of advantage for his conduct hereafter, I must tell
you, that he is a man to whom 1 never writ in my life;
and, I think, I shall not now begin: and as to his conduct,
it is what I never so much as spoke to him of; that is a
liberty to be taken only with friends and intimates, for
whose conduct one is mightily concerned, and in whose
affairs one interests himself. I cannot but wish well to all
men of parts and learning, and be ready to afford them all
the civilities and good offices in my power: but there
must be other qualities to bring me to a friendship, and
unite me in those stricter ties of concern; for I put a great
deal of difference between those whom I thus receive into
my heart and affection, and those whom I receive into my
chamber, and do not treat there with a perfect strangeness.
I perceive you think yourself under some obligation of peculiar respect lo that person, upon the account of my recommendation to you; but certainly this comes from nothing but your over-great tenderness to oblige me. For if
I did recommend him, you will find it was only as a man
of parts and learning for his age; but without any
intention that they should be of any other consequence, or lead
you any farther, than the other qualities you shall find in
him shall recommend him to you; and therefore whatsoever you shall, or shall not do, for him, I shall no way interest myself in.
” At that time Mr. Peter Brown, senior
fellow of Trinity college near Dublin, afterwards bishop of
Cork, having published a piece against Mr. “Poland’s book,
Mr. Molyneux serit it to Mr. Locke, with a letter dated the
20th of July:
” The author, says he, “is my acquaintance
but two things I shall never forgive in his book one is the
foul language and opprobrious names he gives Mr. Toland;
the other is upon several occasions calling in the aid of the
civil magistrate, and delivering Mr. Toland up to secular
punishment. This indeed is a killing argument; but some
will be apt to say, that where the strength of his reasoning
failed him^ there he flies to the strength of the sword.
” At
length the storm rose to such a height that Toland was
forced to retire from Ireland; and the account which Mr.
Molyneux gives of the manner of it, in a letter dated the
llth of September, would excite pity, were it not considered as representing the natural consequences of his vanity. “Mr. Toland is at last driven out of our kingdom:
the poor gentleman, by his imprudent management, had
raised such an universal outcry, that it was even dangerous
for a man to have been known once to converse with him.
This made all wary men of reputation decline seeing him,
insomuch that at last he wanted a meal’s meat, as I am told,
and none would admit him to their tables. The little stock
of money which he brought into this country being exhausted, he fell to borrowing from any one that would lend
him half a crown; and ran in debt for his wigs, cloatbs,
and lodging, as I am informed. And last of all, to complete his hardships, the parliament fell on his book; voted
it to be burnt by the common hangman, and ordered the
author to be taken into custody of the sergeant at arms,
and to be prosecuted by the attorney-general at law. Hereupon he is fled out of this kingdom, and none here knows
where he has directed his course.
” Many in Englan-o approved this conduct in the Irish parliament; and Dr. Gonth
in particular was so highly pleased with it, that he complimented the archbishop of Dublin upon it, in the dedication of his third volume of “Sermons,
” printed in but, on the contrary, among you, when a certain Mahometan Christian
(no new thing of late) notorious for his blasphemous denial
of the mysteries of our religion, and his insufferable virulence against the whole Christian priesthood, thought to
have found shelter among you, the parliament to their immortal honour presently sent him packing, and, without the
help of a faggot, soon made the kingdom too hot for him.
”
As soon as Poland was in London, he published an apologeticai account of the treatment he had received in Ire-<
land, entitled “An Apology for Mr Toland, &c. 1697
”
and was so little discouraged with what had happened to
him there, that he continued to write and publish his
thoughts on all subjects, without regarding in the least
who might, or who might not, be offended at him. He
had published, in 1696, “A discourse upon Coins,
” translated from the Italian of signior Bernardo Davanzati, a
gentleman of Florence: he thought this seasonable, when
clipping of money was become a national grievance, and
several methods were proposed to remedy it. In 1698,
after the peace of Hyswick, during a great dispute among
politicians, concerning the forces to be kept on foot for
the quiet and security of the nation, many pamphlets appeared on that subject, some for, others against, a standing
army; and Toland, who took up his pen among others,
proposed to reform the militia, in a pamphlet entitled
“The Militia Keformed, &c.
” The same year, The Life of Milton,
” which was prefixed to
Milton’s prose works, then collected in three volumes folio.
In this he asserted that the “Icon Basilike
” was a spurious production. This being represented by Dr. Blackall,
afterwards bishop of Exeter, as affecting the writings of
the New Testament, Toland vindicated himself in a piece
called, “Amyntor; or, a Defence of Milton’s Life, 1699,
”
9vo. This Amyntor however did not give su< h satisfaction, but that even Dr. Samuel Clarke and others thought
it necessary to animadvert on it, as being an attack on the
canon of the scriptures. Yet Toland had the confidence
afterwards (in the preface to his “Nazarenus
”) to pretend
that his intention in his “Amyntor
” was not to invalidate-, but to illustrate and confirm the canon of the New
Testanunt; which, as Leland justly observes, may serve as
one instance, among the many that might be produced, of
the vfriter’s sincerity. The same year, 1699, he published
“The Memoirs of Denzil lord Holies, baron of IfieJd in
Sussex, from 1641 to 1648,
” from a manuscript communicateJ to him by the late duke of Newcastle, who was ono
of his patrons and benefactors.
Toland attended him. He presented his “Anglia libera' 7 to her electoral highness, and was the first who had the honour of kissing her hand upon the act of succession.
Upon the passing of an act of parliament, in June 1701,
for settling the crown, after the decease of king William
and the princess Anne, and in default of their issue, upon
the princess Sophia, electress dowager of Hanover, and
the heirs of her body, being Protestants, Toland published
his “Anglia libera, or, the limitation and succession of
the crown of England explained and asserted, c.
” 8vo;
and when the earl of Macclesfield was sent to Haribver with
this act, Toland attended him. He presented his “Anglia
libera' 7 to her electoral highness, and was the first who had
the honour of kissing her hand upon the act of succession.
The earl recommended him particularly to her highness,
and he stayed there five or six weeks; and on his departure he was presented with gold medals and pictures of the
electress dowager, the elector, the young prince, and the
queen of Prussia. He then made an excursion to the court
of Berlin, where he had a remarkable conversation with M.
Beausobre, upon the subject of religion, in the presence
of the queen of Prussia. Beausobre communicated an account of it to the authors of the
” Bibliotheque Germanique,“who printed it in that journal; and from thence
we learn, that it was concerning the authority of the books
of the New Testament, which Mr. Toland, with his usual
self-sufficiency, undertook to question and invalidate. On
the llth of November, 1701, a proclamation was issued
out, for dissolving the parliament, and calling another to
meet in December. While the candidates were making
interest in their respective countries, Toland published the
following advertisement in the Post-man:
” There having
been a public report, as if Mr. Toland stood for Blechingly
in Surrey, it is thought fit to advertise, that sir Robert
Clayton has given his interest in that borough to an eminent citizen, and that Mr. Toland hath no thoughts of
standing there or any where else.“This advertisement
afforded matter of pleasantry to an anonymous writer, who
published a little pamphlet, entitled
” Modesty mistaken:
or, a Letter to Mr. Toland, upon his declining to appear
in the ensuing parliament."
ere he was received very graciously by the princess Sophia, and by the queen of Prussia, both ladies who delighted in conversing with men of learning and penetration,
In 1702 he published three pieces: “Paradoxes of state,
&c.
” in 4to; “Reasons for addressing his majesty to
invite into England the electress dowager and elector of
Hanover; 7 ' and his
” Vindicius liberius,“already mentioned. After the publication of this book, he went to the
courts of Hanover and Berlin, where he was received very
graciously by the princess Sophia, and by the queen of
Prussia, both ladies who delighted in conversing with men
of learning and penetration, whose notions were new or
uncommon. He had the honour to be often aumitted to
their conversation; and, as he made a longer stay at Berlin
than at Hanover, so he had frequent opportunities of waiting upon the queen, who took a pleasure in asking him
questions, and hearing his paradoxical opinions. After his
return therefore into England, he published in 1704? some
philosophical letters; three of which were inscribed td
Serena, meaning the queen of Prussia, who, he assures us>
was pleased to ask his opinion concerning the subject of
them. The title rr.ns thus:
” Letters to Serena, containing, 1. The origin and force of prejudices. 2. The history
of the soul’s immortality among the heathens. 3. The origin
of idolatry, and reasons of heathenism; as also, 4. A letter to
a gentleman in Holland, shewing Spinoza’s system of philosophy to be without any principle or foundation. 5. Motion essential to matter, in answer to some remarks by a
noble friendon the confutation of Spinoza. To which is
prefixed a preface, declaring the several occasions of writing them,“8vo. About the same time he published an
” English translation of the Life of Æsop, by M. de Meziriac,“and dedicated it to Anthony Collins, esq. It was
prefixed to
” The fables of;sop," with the moral reflections of M. Baudoin.
cripts, a Latin oration, to excite the English to war against the French, communicated it to Toland, who published it in 1707, with notes and a preface, under this title,
In 1705 he published several pamphlets’. “Socinianism
truly stated, &c.
” to which is prefixed, “Indifference in
disputes recommended by a Pantheist to an orthodox
friend,
” in 4to; “An account of the courts of Prussia and
Hanover,
” in 8vo; “The ordinances, statutes, and privileges of the* academy erected by the king of Prussia in the
city of Berlin,
” translated from the original, in 8vo; “The
memorial of the state of England, in vindication of the
queen, the church, and the administration, &c.
” This
last was published, without the name of the author, by the
direction of Mr. Harley, secretary of state; and afterwards
a defence of it was written, by order of the same person,
but for some reasons suppressed, after six or seven sheets
Of it were printed. Mr. Harley was one of Toland’s chief
patrons and benefactors, and used to employ him as a spy,
Harley having accidentally found, among other manuscripts, a Latin oration, to excite the English to war
against the French, communicated it to Toland, who published it in 1707, with notes and a preface, under this
title, “Oratio Philippica ad excitandos contra Galliam.
Britannos; maxime vero, ne de pace cum victis pra; matur&
agatur: sanctiori Anglorum concilio exhibita, anno Christi
1514.
” Soon after he published, at the request of the
elector’s minister, “The elector Palatine’s declaration in
favour of his Protestant subjects.
”
uring prince. He proceeded to Dusseldorp, 'and was very graciously received by the elector Palatine; who, in consideration of the English pamphlet he had published,
He set out for Germany in the spring of 1707, and went
first to Berlin; but an incident too ludicrous to be mentioned, says Mr. Des Maizeaux, obliged him to leave that
place sooner than he expected. What that incident was
cannot now be gathered from his correspondence. From
thence he went to Hanover, on the territories of a neighbouring prince. He proceeded to Dusseldorp, 'and was
very graciously received by the elector Palatine; who, in
consideration of the English pamphlet he had published,
presented him with a gold chain and medal, and a purse
of an hundred ducats. He went afterwards to Vienna,
being commissioned by a famous French banker, then in
Holland, who wanted a powerful protection, to engage the
Imperial ministers to procure him the title of count of the
empire, for which he was ready to pay a good sum of
money; but they did not think fit to meddle with that
affair, and all his attempts proved unsuccessful. From
Vienna he visited Prague in Bohemia; and now, his money
being all spent, he was forced to make many shifts to get
back to Holland. Being at the Hague, he published, in
1709, a small volume, containing two Latin dissertations:
the first he called “Adeisidaemon sive, Titus Livius a
superstitione vindicatus
” the second, “Origines Judaicse;
sive, Strabonis de Moyse & religione Judaica historia breviter illustrata.
” In the first of these pieces, he endeavours to vindicate Livy from the imputation of superstition
and credulity, although his history abounds with relation*
of prodigies and portents; in the second, he seems inclined
to prefer Strabo’s account of Moses and the Jewish religion
to the testimony of the Jews themselves. In this dissertation, also, he ridicules Huetius for affirming, in his “Demonstratio evangelica,
” that many eminent persons in the
“Old Testament
” are allegorized in the heathen
mythology, and that Moses, for instance, is understood by the
name of Bacchus, Typho, Silenus, Priapus, Adonis, &c.
and, if he had never done any thing worse than this, it is
probable that the convocation would not have thought him
an object of their censure. Huetius, however, was greatly
provoked with this attack; and expressed his resentment
in a French letter, published in the “Journal of Trevoux,
”
and afterwards printed with some dissertations of Huetius,
collected by the abbé Tilladet.
lland till 1710; and, while he was there, had the good fortune to get acquainted with prince Eugene, who gave him several marks of his generosity. Upon his return to
He continued in Holland till 1710; and, while he was
there, had the good fortune to get acquainted with prince
Eugene, who gave him several marks of his generosity.
Upon his return to England, he was for some time sup*
ported by the liberality of Mr. Harley, and by his means
was enabled to keep a country-house at Epsom in Surrey.
He published, in 1711, “A Description of Epsom, with
the Humours and Politics of that Place.
” He afterwards
lost the favour of this minister, and then wrote pamphlets
against him. He published in 1710, without his name, a
French piece relating to Dr. Sacheverell, “Lettre d'urt
Anglois a un Hollandois an sujet du docteur Sacheverell:
”
and the three following in A Letter against Popery,
particularly against admitting the authority of fathers or
councils in controversies of religion, by Sophia Charlotte,
the late queen of Prussia;
” “Queen Anne’s reasons for
creating the electoral prince of Hanover a peer of this
realm, by the title of duke of Cambridge;
” and, “The
grand Mystery laid open, viz. by dividing the Protestants
to weaken the Hanover succession, and, by defeating the
succession, to extirpate the Protestant religion.
” At that
time he also undertook to publish a new edition of Cicero’s
works by subscription, and gave an account of his plan in
a “Latin dissertation,
” which has been printed among his
posthumous pieces.
ut the last restoration, evidenced from his own authentic letters; with a just account of sir Roger, who runs the parallel as far as he can.” This sir Roger was intended
In 1713 he published “An Appeal to honest People,
against wicked Priests,
” relating to Sachevereirs affair; aixi
another pamphlet called “Dunkirk or Dover, or, the
queen’s honour, the nation’s safety, the liberties of Europe,
and the peace of the world, all at stake, till that fort and
port be totally demolished by the French.
” In The art of Restoring, or,
the piety and probity of general Monk in bringing about
the last restoration, evidenced from his own authentic letters; with a just account of sir Roger, who runs the parallel as far as he can.
” This sir Roger was intended for
the earl of Oxford, who was supposed to be then projecting schemes for the restoration of the Pretender. The
same year, 1714, he produced “A collection of Letters by
general Monk, relating to the restoration of the royal family;
” “The Funeral Elegy of the princess Sophia,
” translated from the Latin; and “Reasons for naturalizing the
Jews in Great Britain and Ireland, on the same foot with
all other nations; with a defence of the Jews against all
vulgar prejudices in all countries. He prefixed to this an
ingenious, but ironical dedication to the superior clergy.
In 1717 he published
” The State Anatomy of Great Britain," &c. which being answered by Dr. Fiddes, chaplain
to the earl of Oxford, and by )aniel De Foe, he produced
9 second part, by way of vindication of the former.
his lordship has some resemblance to that great man, just such a one as Mr. Toland has to Mr. Locke, who, in 4 Christianity not mysterious,' is often quoted to support
In 1720 Dr. Hare, then dean of Worcester, published a
fourth edition of his visitation sermon, entitled “Church
authority vindicated,
” &c, and subjoined a postscript, in
which, speaking of bishop Hoadly’s writings, he has the
following stroke at Mr. Toland: “It must be allowed his
lordship judges very truly, when he says they are faint
resemblances of Mr. Chillingworth for envy itself must own
his lordship has some resemblance to that great man, just
such a one as Mr. Toland has to Mr. Locke, who, in 4 Christianity not mysterious,' is often quoted to support notions he never dreamed of.
” Toland, upon this, advertised against Dr. Hare, that he never named Locke in any
edition of that book, and was so far from often quoting him,
that he had not so much as brought one quotation out of
him. This was true, and Hare immediately corrected himself by another advertisement, in which he directs, “makes
great use of Mr. Locke’s principles,
” to be read, instead of,
“is often quoted to support notions he never dreamed of.
”
Dr. Hare’s advertisement occasioned the publishing of a
pamphlet with this title, “A short essay upon Lying, or,
a defence of a reverend dignitary, who suffers under the
persecution of Mr. Toland, for a lapsus calami.
”
the subject admits it. The title of the third is,” Hypatia; or, the history of the Philosophic Lady, who was murdered at Alexandria, as was supposed at the instigation
Some time after, but in the same year, 1720, he published another learned work, of about 250 pages in 8vo,
including the preface, entitled “Tetradymus.
” This is
divided into four parts, each of which has a distinct title.
The first is called “Hodegus; or, the pillar of cloud and
fire that guided the Israelites in the Wilderness, not miraculous, but, as faithfully related in Exodus, a thing equally
practised by other nations, and in those places not only
useful, but necessary/' The second is called
” Clydophoras; or, of the exoteric and esoteric philosophy;“that
is, of the external and internal doctrine of the ancients;
the one open and public, accommodated to popular prejudices and the established religions; the other private and
secret, wherein, to the few capable and discreet, was taught
the real truth, stripped of all disguises. There is more display
of learning in this dissertation than in any work produced
by Toland; though they all of them display learning where
the subject admits it. The title of the third is,
” Hypatia;
or, the history of the Philosophic Lady, who was murdered
at Alexandria, as was supposed at the instigation of the
clergy. “The fourth is called
” Mangoneutes;" or, A defence of Nazarenus against Dr. Mangey, who had attacked
it. In the last of these tracts he inserted his advertisement
against Dr. Hare, with the doctor’s answer.
at per pocula poculorum. Amen.” Des Maizeaux, however, affirms, that it was not composed by To)and, who knew nothing of it; but by a persoo whose name he forbears,
In 1721, Dr. Hare published a book, entitled“Scripture vindicated from the Misrepresentations of the lord
bishop of Bangor;
” in the preface of which, speaking of
the Constitutions of Carolina, he observes, that, by one of
the articles, none are excluded from settling in that country upon account of their opinions, “but downright atheists,
”
says he, “such as the impious author of the Pantheisticon;
”
and, at the bottom of the page, he refers us to a profane
prayer, composed by T6!and, a more perfect copy of which
he afterwards, upon farther intelligence, inserted in the
errata. The prayer runs in these terms: “Omnipotens
& sempiterne Bacche, qui humanam societatem max u me
in bibendo cotisiiumii; concede propitius, ut istorum
capita, qui hestern& compotatione gravantur, hodierna leventur; idque fiat per pocula poculorum. Amen.
” Des Maizeaux, however, affirms, that it was not composed by To)and, who knew nothing of it; but by a persoo whose name
he forbears, on account of his profession; though he believes he only designed it as a ridicule on Mr. Toland' s club
of Pantheistic philosophers, whom he injuriously imagined
to be all drunkards, whereas they are grave, sober, and
temperate men. This year, 1721, Toland published, and
it was the last thing he published, “Letters of lord Shaftesbury to Robert Moles worth, esq.
” afterwards lord Molesworth, with a large introduction by himself, 8vo.
aving been out of order for some time before: his appetite and strength failed him; and a physician, who was called to him, made him worse, by bringing a continual vomiting
He had, for above four years past, lived at Putney, from
whence he could conveniently go to London, and come
back the same day; but he used to spend most part of the
winter in London. Being in town about the middle of
December, he found himself very ill, having been out of
order for some time before: his appetite and strength
failed him; and a physician, who was called to him, made
him worse, by bringing a continual vomiting and looseness
upon him. He made a shift, however, to return to Putney, where he grew better, and had some hopes of recovery. In this interval, he wrote “a dissertation to prove
the uncertainty of physic, and the danger of trusting our
lives to those who practise it.
” He was preparing some
other things, but death put an end to all his purposes, the
llth of March, 1722, in his fifty-second year. We are
told that he behaved himself, throughout the whole course
of his sickness, with a true philosophical patience, and
looked upon death without the least perturbation of mind,
bidding farewell to those about him, and telling them, “he
was going to sleep.
” Some few days before he died, he
wrote his own epitaph.
ity of Salamanca at the early age of fifteen, which is not remarkable if, according to Dominic Soto, who was his master, he was a “monster of genius.” Having afterwards
, a learned cardinal, was born in 1532,
at Cordova, and appointed professor of philosophy in the
university of Salamanca at the early age of fifteen, which
is not remarkable if, according to Dominic Soto, who was
his master, he was a “monster of genius.
” Having afterwards entered the Jesuits’ order, he was sent to Rome,
where he taught theology and philosophy with reputation,
and philosophised after the genuine manner of the Peripatetic school. Paul V. chose father Tolet for his preacher,
and he held the same office under the succeeding pontiffs,
with that of theologian in ordinary, besides being entrusted with several important commissions. Pope Gregory XIII. appointed him judge and censor of his own
works, and Clement VIIL raised him to the cardinalate in
1594, being the first Jesuit who held that dignity. He is
said to have been a lover of justice and equity, and laboured with great zeal and success to reconcile Henry IV.
with the court of Rome. He died in that city in 1596,
aged sixty-four. Henry IV. out of gratitude, ordered a
solemn service to be performed for him at Paris and at
Rouen. This learned cardinal left several works, the principal are “Commentaries on St. John,
” Lyons, On St. Luke,
” Rome, On St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans,
” Rome, A Summary of
cases of conscience, or instruction for priests,
” Paris,
She was honoured with the friendship of sir Isaac Newton, who was much pleased with some of her first essays. It has been
She was honoured with the friendship of sir Isaac Newton, who was much pleased with some of her first essays. It has been observed, that a few of her poems have such a philosophical cast, and so great a depth of thought, that they will scarce be understood by common readers. Her Latin poems are also written in a truly classical taste. She would not suffer her works to appear till she herself was beyond the reach of envy or applause. They abound with sentiment and simplicity, and yet are far from being destitute of spirit and poetical ornament.
ephew. Her eldest nephew, Gkorge Toilet, of Betley, in Staffordshire, but formerly of Lincoln’s-inn, who was well known for his valuable notes on Shakspeare, died Oct.
Her estate, which was a considerable one, she left to
her youngest nephew. Her eldest nephew, Gkorge Toilet,
of Betley, in Staffordshire, but formerly of Lincoln’s-inn,
who was well known for his valuable notes on Shakspeare,
died Oct. 21, 1779. “He was,
” says Mr. Cole, " a fellow-commoner of King’s college, and my contemporary
about 1745; ashy, reserved man, and of no genteel appearance or behaviour.
He had a brother, named Cornelius Tollius, who was also a very learned man. He was born at Utrecht, and in
He had a brother, named Cornelius Tollius, who was
also a very learned man. He was born at Utrecht, and in
the beginning of his life was an amanuensis to Isaac Vossius: he was afterwards professor of eloquence and the
Greek tongue at Harderwic, and secretary to the curators
of the academy. He published an “Appendix to Pierius
Valerian us’s treatise De Infelicitate Literatorum,
” Amst.
Palaephatus,
” which last
is a scarce and valuable work. Alexander Tollius was
also brother to the two persons above mentioned, and is
known in the literary world by an edition of “Appian,
”
it. A proposition for that purpose had indeed been made two years before to the earl of Nottingham; who, among other things, charged admiral Russel with having neglected
, a brave English officer, was descended of a family said to be more ancient than the Norman conquest. He was the son of sir
Lionel Tolmach of Helmingnam in the county of Suffolk,
bart. by Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William Murray,
earl of Dysart, afterwards married to John, duke of Lauderdale. His talents and education were improved by his
travels, in which he spent several years, and after he entered into the army, distinguished himself so much by skill
and bravery, as very soon to acquire promotion. But L|
the reign of James If. whose measures he thought hostile
to the true interests of the kingdom, he resigned his commission, and went again abroad. The same political principles inclining him to favour the revolution, he was, on
the accession of William III. appointed colonel of the
Coldstream regiment, which had been resigned by William,
carl of Craven, on account of his great age and infirmities;
and was soon advanced to the rank of lieutenant-general.
In 1691, he exerted himself with uncommon bravery in
the passage over the river Shannon, at the taking of Athlone in Ireland, and in the battle of Aghrim. In 1693, he
attended king William to Flanders, and at the battle of
Landen against the French, commanded by marshal Luxemburg, when his majesty himself was obliged to retire,
the lieutenant-general brought off the English foot with
great prudence, resolution, and success.
But, in June the year following, he fell in the unfortunate attempt for destroying the harbour of Brest in France.
He had formed this desigrt, and taken care to be well instructed in every circumstance relating to it. Six thousand
men seemed to be more than necessary for taking and keeping Cameret, a small neck of land, which lies in the mouth
of and commands the river of Brest. The project and the
preparations were kept so secret, that there was not the
least suspicion till the hiring of transport-ships discovered
it. A proposition for that purpose had indeed been made
two years before to the earl of Nottingham; who, among
other things, charged admiral Russel with having neglected
that scheme, when it was laid before him by some persons
who came from Brest. Whether the French apprehended
the design from that motion, or whether it was now betrayed to them by some who were in the secret; it is certain, that they had such timely knowledge of it, as put
them upon their guard. The preparations were not quite
ready by the day that had been fixed; and when all was
ready, they were stopt by a westerly wind for some time;
so that they arrived a month later than was intended. They
found the place well fortified with many batteries, which,
were raised in different lines upon, the rocks, that lay over
the place of descent; and great numbers were posted there
to dispute their landing. When the English fleet came so
near as to see all this, the council of officers declared
against making the attempt; but the lieutenant-general
was so possessed with the scheme, that he could not be
diverted from it. He imagined, that the men they saw
were only a rabble brought together to make a shew;
though it proved, that there were regular bodies among
them, and that their numbers were double to his own. He
began with landing of six hundred men, and put himself
at the head of them, who followed him with great courage;
but they were so exposed to the enemies’ fire, and could
do them so little harm, that the attempt was found absolutely impracticable. The greatest part of those, who
landed, were killed or taken prisoners; and not above an
hundred of them came back. The lieutenant-general himself was shot in the thigh, of which he died in a few days,
extremely lamented. Thus failed a design, which, if it
had been undertaken before the French were so well prepared to receive it, might have been attended with success,
and followed with very important effects. In this manner
bishop Burnet represents the affair, who styles the lieutenant-general a brave and generous man, and a good officer,
very fit to animate and encourage inferior officers and soldiers. Another of our historians speaks of this affair in
somewhat a different strain, declaring, that the lieutenantgeneral “fell a sacrifice in this desperate attempt, being
destined, as some affirmed, to that fall by the envy of some
of his pretended friends.
” His body was brought to England, and interred on the 30th of June, 1694, at Helmingham in Suffolk.
tor, he was very favourably received by many persons of eminence, and especially by pope Urban VIII. who would have appointed him to a bishopric in the island of Candy,
, an Italian prelate and biographer, was born at Padua, Nov. 17, 1597, of a noble family, originally of Lucca. He was instructed in Greek, Latin, and logic, by the learned divine and lawyer, Benedetti, of Legnano, and afterwards entered the congregation of the regular canons of St. George, in Alga, where he studied philosophy and theology, and received the degree of doctor in the latter faculty at Padua, in 1619. He would then have made profession, but the rules of the congregation not permitting it, he employed himself in the composition of his various works. At length his merit advanced him to the first situations in his order; and when he went to Rome, as visitor, he was very favourably received by many persons of eminence, and especially by pope Urban VIII. who would have appointed him to a bishopric in the island of Candy, but at his own request this was exchanged for the see of Citta Nuova, in Istria, to which he was consecrated in 1642. Study and the care of his diocese occupied the whole of his time until his death in 1654, in the fifty-seventh year of his age.
e some addition to it. Tombes was, says his biographer, among the first of the clergy of those times who endeavoured a reformation in the church, that is, was an enemy
, one of the most learned Baptist divines of the seventeenth century, was born at Bewdley in Worcestershire in 1603 and, being intended for the church, was educated at the grammar-school, where he made such proficiency as to be thought fit for the university at the age of fifteen. He was accordingly sent to Magdalen-hall, Oxford, at that time, and William Pcmble was his tutor. Here he acquired such distinction for talents and learning, that on his tutor’s death in 1624, he was chosen to succeed him in the catechetical lecture in Magdalen-hall. This he held with great approbation for about seven years, during which he was, amongst other pupils, tutor to Mr. Wilkins, afterwards bishop of Chester. He then, we may presume, took orders, and went to Worcester, and after that to Leominster in Herefordshire, of which he had the living, and became a very popular preacher, and when the living was found insufficient for a maintenance, lord Scudamore. made some addition to it. Tombes was, says his biographer, among the first of the clergy of those times who endeavoured a reformation in the church, that is, was an enemy to the discipline or ceremonies, for which he suffered afterwards, when the king’s forces came into that country; and being in 1641 obliged to leave it, he went to Bristol, where the parliamentary general Fiennes gave him the living of All Saints. When Bristol was besieged by prince Rupert, the year following, he removed again to London with his feu mily, and there first communicated to some of the West* minster divines, his scruples as to infant-baptism, and held conferences with them on the subject, the result of which was, that he made no converts, but was more confirmed in his own opinions, and a sufferer too, for, being appointed preac-her at Fenchurch, his congregation not only refused to hear him, but to allow him any stipend. From this dilemma he was relieved for a time by a call to be preacher at the Temple-church, provided he would abstain, in the pulpit, from the controversy about infant-baptism. To this he consented on these terms: first, that no one else should preach for the baptising of infants in his pulpit; and, secondly, that no laws should be enacted to make the denial of infant-baptism penal. All this being agreed upon, he continued to preach at the Temple for four years, and was then dismissed for publishing a treatise against infant-baptism. This was construed into a breach of his engagement, but he endeavoured to defend it as necessary to his character, he being often attacked in the pulpit for those opinions. on the subject which he had communicated to the Westminster assembly, although they had neither been published, or answered, by that learned body.
ples in public disputations, which were then much the fashion, and it is said that Baxter and others who differed most from him, paid due respect to his learning and
In the mean time he was often called to defend his prin-%
ciples in public disputations, which were then much the
fashion, and it is said that Baxter and others who differed
most from him, paid due respect to his learning and argumentative powers. At the restoration, he gladly hailed the
monarchical government, and wrote a treatise to justify
the taking the oath of supremacy; but being disappointed
in his expectations from the new government, he resigned
his livings, and the exercise of his ministry altogether,
which he could do without personal inconvenience, as he
had married an opulent widow at Salisbury, by whom he
enjoyed a good estate. Offers were made to him, if he
would conform, but his sentiments on the subject of baptism were insuperable. In all other fespects, he not only
conformed to the church as a lay communicant, but wrote
a treatise to prove the lawfulness of so doing. He appears
to have had the good opinion of eminent men of his time, of
all ranks and persuasions, of lord Clarendon, and the
bishops Barlow, Sanderson, and Ward, and of Baxter and
Calamy. Wood says “that there were few better disputants in his age than he was;
” and Nelson, in his Life of
bishop Bull, says, *' It cannot be denied but that he was
esteemed a person of incomparable parts.“In 1702 a singular compliment was paid to him by the House of Lords,
in their conference with the Commons relative to the bill
for preventing occasional conformity. In proving that receiving the sacrament in the church does not necessarily
import an entire conformity, they bring him as an instance,
” There was a very learned and famous man that lived at
Salisbury, Mr. Tombes, who was a very zealous
conformist in all points but one, infant -baptism" He died at Salisbury, May 22, 1676, and was buried in St. Edmund’s
church-yard. Aubrey has several anecdotes creditable to
his learning and liberality. His works are numerous, but
chiefly in defence of his opinions on infant baptism. He
wrote also some tracts against the quakers, the papists, and
the Socinians.
the eldest son of an illustrious house, he chose to follow the example of an uncle and four sisters, who had renounced the world and all its honours. He entered the
, a learned cardinal, son of Julius Tommasio, or Tomrnasi, duke of Palma, was born at Alicata in Sicily, Sept. 14, 1649. Having from his infancy placed himself under the protection of the holy virgin, he assumed in the greater part of his works the name of Joseph Mariacarus . The same veneration led him to imitate the virtues of his protectress by taking the vow of chastity, and although the eldest son of an illustrious house, he chose to follow the example of an uncle and four sisters, who had renounced the world and all its honours. He entered the society of the Theatins, and became distinguished by his austere piety and mortifications. He did not neglect human learning however, but applied with great diligence to the Greek, Hebrew, and Chaldaic languages, as well as to philosophy and ancient literature, but his favourite study was theology, church history, and especially the history of the offices and liturgies, valuable editions and collections of which he published from time to time. Cardinal Albani, who had a great regard for him, when he became pope appointed him first, qualificator of the holy office, then consultor of the congregation of the rites, and lastly cardinal in May 18, 1712; but this last honour he did not long enjoy, dying Jan. 1, 17 13, in the sixty-fourth year of his age.
This book was first written in Latin by Francis Pomey, a Jesuit, and translated into English by one who conceals his name under initial letters. This translation was
He published some things for the benefit and assistance
of youth: as, “Synopsis Grsecas linguae;
” “Ovid’s Fasti,
”
from the Delphin edition, with an English interpretation
and notes; and, “The Pantheon, or history of the heathen gods.
” This book was first written in Latin by Francis
Pomey, a Jesuit, and translated into English by one who
conceals his name under initial letters. This translation
was afterwards revised and corrected, with the addition of
a new index, cuts of the deities, and other improvements,
by Mr. Tooke; and the tenth edition, printed in 1726,
was adorned with new cuts, copied from the sixth Latin,
edition, published at Utrecht by Samuel Pitiscus, in 1701.
Mr. Tooke translated PuffendorPs “Whole Duty of Man
according to the law of nature,
” with the notes of Barbeyrac, into English; and bishop GastrelP* “Institutes of the
Christian Religion,
” into Latin. The supplement to the
account of Gresham college, inserted in the second appendix of “Stow’s Survey of London,
” was written by him,
and given to the editor Mr. Strype.
d marshal of the land-forces. On Sept. 3, they joined the fleet at Plymouth, where sir Samuel Argol, who had been employed with 28 sail against the Dunkirkers, came
, of Popes, in the county of Hertford, esq. born about 1595, was sent in the unfortunate
expedition against Cadiz in 1625, as captain of a band of
volunteers, sir Edward Cecil being both admiral of the
fleet, and also lieutenant-general and lord marshal of the
land-forces. On Sept. 3, they joined the fleet at Plymouth,
where sir Samuel Argol, who had been employed with 28
sail against the Dunkirkers, came up with the admiral, and
brought nine of their ships as prizes. Here they waited so
long for the arrival of the king (who knighted several of the officers), that they did not weather the Lizard till
Oct. 9; and were 13 days reaching Cadiz, occasioned by
a tempest, which Mr. Tooke, who appears to have been a
considerable actor in the expedition, has well described in
a poem, of which it may be observed, en passant, that the
versification is perfectly in the vitiated taste of the times in
which it was written; but the thoughts are just and manly,
the poetry strong and nervous, and the imagery every
where correspondent and true. In a mixture of prose and
verse, Mr. Tooke proceeds to describe the various distresses
of the fleet, both in their fruitless attack and unsuccessful
search of the plate-fleet. “Loud complaints,
” says Hume,
“were made against the court, for entrusting so important
a command to a man like Cecil, whom, though he possessed great experience, the people, judging by the event,
esteemed of very slender capacity.
” Nor did their misfortunes cease with their voyage. A severe mortality attended the ships after their arrival at Plymouth. “For my
own peculiar,
” says Mr. Tooke, “though outwardly I held
up, and fair awhile after, yet this forbearance wrought so
little quittance, that several diseases (hence contracted)
laid at length such peremptory fetters of a warm bed and a
cautious diet over me, that I was compelled to retire, and
verse myself out of that profession which I had formerly
been versed in for several years together.
”
ottorden, of Eltham in Kent, esq. He sold it to col. Thomas Taylor; and Taylor to sir David Mitchel, who gave it to his lady for life, and afterwards to his nephew John
The manor of Popes had been in this family from 1483.
Mr. Thomas Tooke sold it in 1664 to Stephen Ewre and
Joshua Lomax; and they the next year to Daniel Siiottorden, of Eltham in Kent, esq. He sold it to col. Thomas
Taylor; and Taylor to sir David Mitchel, who gave it to
his lady for life, and afterwards to his nephew John Mitchel, esq. who was not many years ago the possessor. They
were likewise lords of the manor of Wormley in Hertfordshire, and patrons of the rectory. For, we find by the
records, that Henry VIII. at the dissolution of the monastery of Ecclesia Sanctse Crucis de Waltham, or Waltham
Holy Cross, granted the manor of Wormley, and the advowson of the rectory, to Edward North and his heirs, at
the rent of 1l. 13s. per ann. He sold it to Elizabeth Woodcliffe, from whom it came to William Woodcliffe of London. This William, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of
Fisher of Longworth, left a daughter Angelot, married to
Walter Tooke, of Popes, in Hatfield, esq. This Angelot,
as appears by her epitaph on the north side of the chancel of Wormley church, was a second daughter, in right of
whom her husband presented to the living alternis vicibus.
It appears by Mr. Purvey’s epitaph, who married lord
Denny’s sister, that he also was patron alternis vicibus.
Hence it has been conjectured, that Mr. Purvey’s father,
John, married the elder sister; and they were sharers, in
right of their wives, both of the manor and advowson, till
it fell entirely to Tooke, upon the elder sister’s death.
The Purveys presented twice, and the Tookes four times;
and the first presentation was Purvey’s, as probably marrying the elder sister. Ralph Tooke succeeded his father
Walter, and, dying without issue, was buried at Essingdon, and divided the estate between his brothers George
and John. George sold his part to Richard Woollaston,
esq. who was gun-founder to Oliver Cromwell. He left a
jon John; and John, a son Richard, who conveyed it to
“William Fellows, esq. whose eldest son Coulston Fellows,
csq. succeeded to it. This- Ralph Tooke died December 22, 1635, aged seventy-seven years. He married Jane,
the daughter of Edward Byth, of Smallfield in the county
of Surrey, esq. She died Dec. 8, 1641. George Tooke,
our author, who had the other moiety, called Wormleybury, died possessed of it in 1675, aged eighty years. His
device was a hedge-hog; and under it his family motto,
” Militia mea multiplex.“On which in his old age he
wrote,
” A key to the Hedge-hog combatant and my
motto."
l was built by contributions of the gentlemen of Hertfordshire and Essex, and of the young gentlemen who had been educated at Bishop- Stortford. The school was thus
, S. T. P. was born in East-Kent, the son of Mr. Thomas Tooke, of the family of the Tookes of Beere. His father and grandfather were hearty sufferers in the royal cause. Their enterprising zeal was severely punished by the prevailing party, and acknowledged at the restoration by such rewards as royal hands, tied down by promise and compositions, could afford. His education was first at St. Paul’s school, chiefly under the care of Mr. Fox, to whom he owed many obligations, and to whose family he was a constant and generous benefactor. Thence he went to Corpus-Christi-college, Cambridge; and while bachelor of arts was chosen fellow; the learned Dr. Spencer, and the body, having a just regard to his talents and improvement. It was about this period that he engaged in the school of Bishop-Stortford, whose reputation was then in ruins, and had nothing to recommend it but the name of Leigh, not yet out of mind. At the request of Dr. Tooke, a new school was built by contributions of the gentlemen of Hertfordshire and Essex, and of the young gentlemen who had been educated at Bishop- Stortford. The school was thus raised to a great degree of fame, as the numbers of gentlemen, sent by Dr. Tooke to his own and other colleges, attested; and considerably increased the trade of the town, by such a beneficial concourse. He revived the annual school-feast here, and charged his estate with a yearly present to the preacher on that occasion. Dr. Tooke gave also to this school-library a tegacy of ten pounds for books, which are added to it and procured a great number of valuable authors from gentlemen that were his scholars. By his interest and care the gallery in the church, for the use of the school, was erected. He gave by will to this church a chalice of 20l. value; and died May 4, 1721, after more than thirty years intent and successful labours here. He was buried in the parishchurch of Lamborn in Essex, of which he had been rector from 1707.
nformation as to his proceedings when he left college, dates, evidently wrong, being assigned by all who have professed to give any account of him. We can only, therefore,
, a man of very considerable
literary abilities, but more famous as a political adventurer,
was the son of John Home, a poulterer in Newport-market,
and was born in Newport street in June 1736. He was
educated both at Westminster and Eton schools, and after
remaining at these seminaries about five or six years, was
sent to St. John’s college, Cambridge, in 1755, which he
quitted in 1758, after taking his bachelor’s degree. Little
seems to be known of his conduct or proficiency in his
studies, but his future works showed that the latter could
not have been neglected; nor have we much accurate information as to his proceedings when he left college, dates,
evidently wrong, being assigned by all who have professed
to give any account of him. We can only, therefore, say
generally that he was for some time an usher at Mr. Jennings’s school at Blackheath, that he took deacon’s orders
at the request of his father, who had probably given him a
learned education with that view, and that he first served a
curacy in Kent. His own choice is said to have been the
law, for which he was well qualified, but he was unable to
resist the importunities of his family, and therefore entered
into the church, for which he undoubtedly was the most
unfit man that ever disgraced the profession. This was a
radical error in his outset, and eventually the cause of
much of the obloquy which attended his life. It is, as a
very acute writer has observed, very necessary to keep
steadily in view, in order to form a correct and candid
estimate of his character, “that he was from beginning to
end, a man labouring under great, perpetual, irremoveable civil disabilities.
” It was a real misfortune to a man
of an enterprizing disposition, and one regardless, as
Home Tooke was, of the means by which such a disposition
may be indulged, to become a member of an order, in
which propriety and duty enjoin a sparing and partial interference with the concerns of the world, and in which,
if propriety and duty are found too feeble restraints, the
law interposes with a strong arm, to curb profane activity
and unprofessional exertions.
is was his rendering a service to a Mr. Tooke of Purley in Surrey, in the case of an inclosure-bill, who, in gratitude, made him his heir; but he did not reap the full
In 1771, he went to Cambridge for the purpose of taking the degree of M. A. which was granted to him, although opposed by some of the members, and particularly by the afterwards celebrated Dr. Paley. He now returned, and mixed, as much as he could, in the temporary politicks of the day. It would be as tedious as useless to revive the memory of all his newspaper effusions. The most finished specimen of his composition is probably to be found in two or three letters written in answer to the attacks of Junins: and he had the honour, which in those days was deemed no inconsiderable one, of being the only knight that returned with his lance unbroken from a combat with that unknown but terrible champion. If he wants the exquisite polish and the brilliant invective of his adversary, that dexterous malignity which comes in with such effect to blacken a character by insinuation, after invective has exhausted its powers; and above all, that well-sustained tone of austere dignity which gives to Junins the air and authority of a great personage in disguise; he is superior to him in facility, vivacity, and that appearance of plainness and sincerity which is of such importance in controversial writings. Soon after these controversies he resigned his living at Brentford, and, as far as he could, the clerical character. That he could not do so altogether, evidently soured his temper for the rest of his life, and prompted him to those sallies of profaneness, and that general conduct, which showed his contempt for the profession and every thing that belonged to it. He now studied the law, with an intent to practise; and while thus employed, an incident occurred which was important to his future fortune. This was his rendering a service to a Mr. Tooke of Purley in Surrey, in the case of an inclosure-bill, who, in gratitude, made him his heir; but he did not reap the full benefit of this intention, and it is said that first and last all he received from Mr. Tooke amounted to no more than 8000l. It was on this account, however, that some time afterwards, he assumed the name of Tooke. The particulars of this cause are related with so little attention to facts by most of his biographers, that we have not thought it necessary to attempt reconciling the different accounts of a matter now of comparative insignificance.
ate his antipathies. “He could not be a lawyer, and therefore he resisted the law, and reviled those who administered it.” A habit of hatred, if we may so speak, had
When released from imprisonment, he attempted to be
called to the bar, but was rejected. His friends are willing to impute his rejection to jealousy, but for this there
seems no foundation. His general character, and his clerical orders, of which he could not divest himself, afford a
more reasonable excuse for the conduct of the benchers.
It may be supposed, however, that this event would exasperate his antipathies. “He could not be a lawyer, and
therefore he resisted the law, and reviled those who administered it.
” A habit of hatred, if we may so speak, had
grown up with Mr. Tooke, and was undoubtedly strengthened by his numerous disappointments, and that mediocrity
of rank, to which with all his talents and all his bustle, he
was confined in the political world. The same temper
rendered him unjust to almost every species of excellence
in his contemporaries. “He hated Dr. Johnson, he hated
Mr. Burke, he hated lord Mansfield, he hated Mr. Pitt, he
hated Mr. Fox, and he spoke of them without any of that
respect or forbearance which great talents and high station,
and the esteem of the greatest part of the world, generally
extort from less resolute or less acrimonious adventurers.
The Ishmael of literature and politics, his hand was against
every man, and every man’s hand against his.
”
ician, was in the case of a Mr. Paull, a man without birth, property, education, or public services, who offered himself as a candidate for Westminster. This man he
In 1796 he appeared again as a candidate for Westminster, in opposition to sir Alan Gardner, but not in conjunction with Mr. Fox, and although not successful, polled 2819 votes, without expence, or any other solicitation than the speeches he delivered from the hustings. At length, however, in 1801 he obtained what appeared to have been his fond aim, a seat in the House of Commons, an antipathy against which assembly, it has been said, was one of his earliest, strongest, and most enduring feelings. The errors of representation had been long a standing topic with him, and rotten boroughs and corruption his never-failing accusations. But, like others, he seemed at last to think that there was no harm in taking advantage of the present system as long as it lasted. The borough of Old Sarum, offered to him by a young and almost insane nobleman, and which had been a bye-word among parliamentary reformers, had the singular honour of returning him to parliament, and he took his seat, apparently, without any scruple as to the number or quality of his constituents; nor did his dislike to the present order of things reach its utmost height, till all the doors of the House had been finally barred against him by an act of the legislature. In the mean time the expectations excited by his election were completely disappointed. He made no figure in parliament that answered either the hopes or wishes of his friends; and he bad not sat long before his incapacity, as being a priest, was called in question, and it was proposed to expel him. The then minister, Mr. Addington, now lord Sidmouth, was of opinion that a milder course would be more proper, and therefore brought in a declaratory act, effectually preventing a repetition of the abuse; and Mr. Tooke was permitted to sit till the dissolution of parliament in 1802, and then to retire without the renown of martyrdom. His last appearance as the busy, meddling politician, was in the case of a Mr. Paull, a man without birth, property, education, or public services, who offered himself as a candidate for Westminster. This man he first supported, and afterwards deserted. The consequences to this unhappy candidate are well known, but as they involve the characters of persons yet living and perhaps reclaimable, we shall pass them over in silence.
character shall be given nearly in the words of a writer to whom we have already been indebted, and who appears, of all who have written on the subject, to have appreciated
In spite of labour and dissipation his life was protracted to a period which indicated an originally sound and vigorous frame. For the last twenty years, however, he was subject to severe, distressing, and incurable infirmities. These he bore with a patience and firmness which it was impossible not to admire. What remains untouched of his character shall be given nearly in the words of a writer to whom we have already been indebted, and who appears, of all who have written on the subject, to have appreciated his character with most candour and impartiality.
test mark of that irritability which often accompanies talent, and which gains so rapidly upon those who know not how to guard against its approaches. Indeed the aspect
"In the ordinary intercourse of life he was kind, friendly, and hospitable. We doubt whether his temper was naturally good; but if it was not, he had a merit the more; for he had so completely subdued it by care and self-controul, as never to betray, under any provocation, the slightest mark of that irritability which often accompanies talent, and which gains so rapidly upon those who know not how to guard against its approaches. Indeed the aspect under which he appeared in private was by no means such as the stern cynicism and ferocious turbulence of his public conduct would have led one to expect; and those, whose opinion of him has been formed exclusively upon his political character and his writings, will have some difficulty in believing that the curate of Brentford was one of the best-bred gentlemen of the age. In this respect he was a sort of phenomenon. He was born in a low station: at no period did he appear to have possessed any remarkable advantages for the study of good breeding; on the contrary, the greater part of his life was spent in constant intercourse with coarse, vulgar, and uneducated men. Yet his natural taste was so
Mr. Tooke’s talents in conversation have been always praised by those who knew him, and never praised too highly. He possessed an inexhaustible
Mr. Tooke’s talents in conversation have been always
praised by those who knew him, and never praised too
highly. He possessed an inexhaustible fund of anecdotes,
which he introduced with great skill, and related with neatness, rapidity, and pleasantry. His principal fault as a companion was “a love of paradox, and a tendency to disputation which led him continually to argue for the mere
sake of victory, and in evident contradiction to his own
real opinion a practice quite insufferable when adopted,
as it often is, by persons of ordinary understanding, and
who only flatter themselves that they possess the acuteness
with which Mr. Tooke was really endowed, and to which
we must own, that even his liveliness, native ingenuity,
and felicity of illustration, could never wholly reconcile us.
” He possessed a rich vein of humour, sometimes coarse,
but always striking, comic, and original. His speeches
afforded some good specimens of it to the public, and he
indulged in it still more freely in private. Perhaps, indeed, it may be fairly objected to him, that his conversation was hardly ever quite serious; and that, what with
paradox, and what with irony, it was not easy to get at his
true meaning. The truth seems to be, that he comforted
himself for not having a larger share in the business of the
world, by laughing at every body and every thing it contained^ His sceptical disposition probably kept his mind
unsettled upon many important facts as to which the generality of men entertain more fixed opinions, and he was
therefore ready to espouse either side with equal zeal and
equal insincerity, just as accident or caprice inclined him
at the moment. There were other subjects on which he
was accustomed to speak more positively, but on which
we are apt to suspect that his esoteric doctrines were very
different from those which he taught to aldermen, shoemakers, and other patriotic persons. On such occasions
he could not have been in earnest. He must have seen
through the designs of those with whom he was acting
he must have loathed their vulgarity he must have despised their folly. We are aware how severe a censure
upon his honesty this opinion implies, but we really think
that a fair estimate of the strength of his understanding
can lead to no other conclusion." These remarks applied
very forcibly to many whom he admitted to his table, when
company became necessary to him, sciolists and pretenders
in philosophy and politics, some of whom he delighted to
ridicule even to their faces, and this with an art, a force,
and a pleasantry, which were absolutely irresistible. On
such occasions, had they been present, Mr. Tooke would
have suspended the prejudices, and caught the admiration
of his most inveterate enemies.
a place in the state-paper office, with his friends and patrons, the late sir Joseph AyiofFe, bart. who died in his arms, and Thomas Astle, esq. He was also one of
, a learned antiquary, was a native of
Malton, in Yorkshire and, in an humble situation under
the late Philip Carteret Webb, esq. solicitor to the treasury, acquired such a knowledge of ancient hands and muniments as raised him to a place in the state-paper office,
with his friends and patrons, the late sir Joseph AyiofFe,
bart. who died in his arms, and Thomas Astle, esq. He
was also one of the gentlemen engaged in preparing for
the press the six volumes of the Rolls of Parliament; an
office in which he succeeded his friend Richard Blyke, esq,
with whom, in 1775, he was joint editor of Gianville’s “Reports of cases of controverted Elections determined and
adjudged in parliament, 21 and 22 Jac. I.
” 8vo. To this
is prefixed an historical account of the ancient rights
of determining cases upon controverted elections. He
was also editor, if not translator, of an English edition of
sir John Fortescue’s “De laudibus Legum Anglise,
” A collection of Ordinances and Regulations for the government of the Royal
Household, in divers reigns, from Edward III. to William
and Mary,
” 1790, 4to. Mr. Topham was elected F. S. A.
in 1767, and treasurer (on the death of Mr. Bartlet) in
rd,by whom they were married, at the said church, on Dec. 31, 1737. They had issue one son, Francis, who died in his infancy, and afterwards the subject of our memoir.
, a strenuous champion for the Calvinism of the church of England, was born at Farnham, in Surrey, Nov. 4, 1740. His father was Richard Toplady, esq. a captain in the army, and his mother, Catharine Bate, sister to the late Rev. Julius Bate, and to the rev. Mr. Bate, rector of St. Paul’s, Deptford,by whom they were married, at the said church, on Dec. 31, 1737. They had issue one son, Francis, who died in his infancy, and afterwards the subject of our memoir. His godfathers were Augustus Middleton, and Adolphus Montague, esqrs.; in respect to whom, he bore the Christian name of the one, and the surname of the other. His father died at the siege of Carthagena, soon after his birth. He received the rudidiments of his education at Westminster school; but, it becoming necessary for his mother to take a journey to Ireland to pursue some claims to an estate in that kingdom, he accompanied her thither, and was entered at Trinity college, in Dublin, at which seminary he took his degree of bachelor of arts. He received orders on Trinity Sunday, the 6tli of June, 1762; and, after some time, was inducted into the living of Broad Hembury in Devonshire. Here he pursued his labours with increasing assiduity, and composed most of his writings. He had for some years occasionally visited and spent some time in London; but, in 1775, finding his constitution much impaired by the moist atmosphere of Devonshire, with which it never agreed, he, removed to London entirely, after some unsuccessful attempts to exchange his living for another, of equivalent value, in some of the middle counties. In London, by the solicitation of his numerous friends, he engaged the chapel, belonging to the French reformed, near Leicester-fields; where he preached twice in the week, while his health permitted, and afterwards occasionally, as much as, or rather more than, he was well able to do. He died Aug. 11, 1778. His body was buried, agreeable to his own desire, communicated to some friends, in Tottenham-court chapel. It is supposed that his intense application to study, which he frequently pursued through the night to three and four o'clock in the morning, was the means of inducing his disorder, and of accelerating his end. From this severe pursuit, so long as his body was able to bear it, he could not be dissuaded.
These memoirs, says the author of the Age of Louis XIV. consist of particulars interesting to those who are desirous of gaining a thorough knowledge of this business.
, son of the
celebrated French minister, Colbert, was born Sept. 19, 1665.
Being sent early in life to several foreign courts, he was
deservedly appointed secretary of state for the foreign department in 1686, director-general of the posts in 1699,
and counsellor to the regency during the minority of Louis
XV.; all which offices he filled with great distinction. His
embassies to Portugal, to Denmark, and to England, put
him upon a level with the most able negociators. He died
at Paris the 2d of September, 1746, at the age of eightyone, an honorary member of the academy of sciences. He
had married a daughter of the minister of state Arnauld de
Pomponne, by whom he had several children. Ten years
after his death, in 1756, were published his “Memoirs of
the Negotiations from the treaty of Ryswic to the peace of
Utrecht,
” 3 vols. 12mo, divided into four parts. The first
is assigned to the negociations for the Spanish succession;
the second to the negociations with Holland; the third to
those carried on with England; and the fourth to the affairs
concerning the treaty of Utrecht. These memoirs, says
the author of the Age of Louis XIV. consist of particulars
interesting to those who are desirous of gaining a thorough
knowledge of this business. They are written with greater
purity than any of the memoirs of his predecessors: they
are strongly marked with the taste that prevailed in the
court of Louis XIV. But their greatest value arises from
the sincerity of the author; whose pen is always guided by
truth and moderation. Torcy has been justly characterised
as profoundly wise in all great affairs, fertile in resources
in times of difficulty, always master of himself amid the
allurements of good fortune, and under the pressures of
bad. Though of a serious disposition, yet in company he
could be agreeably gay, especially whenever he chose to
give way to a vein of delicate pleasantry which was peculiar
to him. His temper, always even, was neither ruffled nor
clouded by the most arduous circumstances. To this rare
quality he added that of a good husband, a tender father,
and a humane and gentle master.
h the antiquities of his own country he was so intimately acquainted, that every person of eminence, who visited Verona, took care to have him in their company when
, an Italian mathematician, was born at Verona, Nov. 4, 1721, and was educated at Padua, principally in jurisprudence, in which faculty he took his doctor’s degree, but he did not confine himself to that science. The knowledge which he acquired was so general, that upon whatever subject the conversation happened to turn, he delivered his sentiments upon it as if it had formed the only object of his study. On his return from the university, he entered on the possession of a considerable fortune, and determined to devote himself entirely to literary pursuits. The Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Italian languages occupied much of his time, his object being to understand accurately the two first, and to be able to write and speak the two last with -propriety and elegance. He also learned French, Spanish, and English, the last particularly, for he was eager to peruse the best English writers, and was enabled to enter into their spirit. Ethics, metaphysics, divinity, and history, also shared much of his attention, and he displayed considerable taste in the fine arts, music, painting, and architecture. Nor did he neglect the study of antiquities, but made himself familiarly acquainted with coins, gems, medals, engravings, &c. Scarce any monumental inscriptions were engraved at Verona which he had not either composed or corrected. With the antiquities of his own country he was so intimately acquainted, that every person of eminence, who visited Verona, took care to have him in their company when they examined the curiosities of the city.
s serious studies. These studies are in general thought incompatible; but Torelli was one of the few who could combine the gravity of the mathematician with the amenity
But these pursuits he considered merely as amusements;
mathematics and the belles lettres were his serious studies.
These studies are in general thought incompatible; but
Torelli was one of the few who could combine the gravity
of the mathematician with the amenity of the muses and
graces. Of his progress in mathematics we have a sufficient proof in his edition of the collected works of Archimedes, printed at Oxford in 1792, folio, Greek and Latin.
The preparation of this work had been the labour of most
part of his life. Having been completely ready for publication, and even the diagrams cut which were to accompany the demonstration, the manuscript was disposed of
after his death to the curators of the Clarendon press, by
whose order it was printed under the immediate care of
Dr. Robertson, the present very learned professor of astronomy. It seems to be the general opinion that there have
been few persons in any country, or in any period of time,
who were better qualified, than Torelli, for preparing a correct edition of Archimedes. As a Greek scholar he was
capable of correcting the mistakes, supplying the defects,
and illustrating the obscure passages that occurred in treatises originally written in the Greek tongue; his knowledge
of Latin, and a facility, acquired by habit, of writing in
this language, rendered him a fit person to translate the
Greek into pure and correct Latin, and his comprehensive
acquaintance with mathematics and philosophy qualified
him for conducting the whole with judgment and accuracy.
Torelli wrote the Italian language with the classic elegance of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, as appears
by his different works in that language, both in prose and
verse. He translated the whole of jtsop’s fables into Latin, and Theocritus, the epithalamium of Catullus, and the
comedy of Plautus, called “Pseudolus,
” into Italian verse.
The first two books of the Æneid were also translated by
him with great exactness, and much in the style of the
original. Among his other Italian tanslations was Gray’s
Elegy.
use at Lyons, in the rue Raisin, where his printing-office stood. He was succeeded by his son, John, who was also king’s printer, and carried on the business until 1585.
, the first of a family of eminent
printers and booksellers, called in French Detournes, was
born at Lyons in 1504, and learned printing first in the
house of Sebastian Gryphius. He appears to have established another house about 1540, and printed many books
in the name and on account of Gryphius; but from 1544
we find his own name to a number of very correct editions.
Among others may be mentioned, an edition of “Petrarch,
”
in Italian, Dante,
” Les Marguerites des Marguerites de la reine de Navarre,
”
Vitruviu$,
” with Philander' s commentary
and woodcuts finely executed, 1552, 8vo and “Froissart’s Chronicles,
” Quod tibi
fieri non vis, alteri ne faceris.
” This device is still to be
seen on the front of a house at Lyons, in the rue Raisin,
where his printing-office stood. He was succeeded by his
son, John, who was also king’s printer, and carried on the
business until 1585. His editions did not yield in elegance
or correctness to those of his father, but being obliged at
the date above-mentioned to quit his country, upon account of his religion, for he was a protestant, he settled at
Geneva, where he had every encouragement, and in 1604
became a member of the council of two hundred. Like
the Geneva printers, however, he deteriorated what he
printed here by employing bad paper. He died in 1615.
His descendants continued the printing and bookselling
business at Geneva, and had established a very extensive
trade, when in 1726, John James, and James Detournes
purchased the stock of Anisson and Posnel, famous booksellers of Lyons, and obtained permission, notwithstanding
their religion, to settle there; and as they also continued
their house at Geneva, they greatly extended their trade,
particularly to Spain and Italy. In 1740 the learned John
Christian Wolff dedicated to them his “Monumenta Typographica,
” as to the oldest printing and bookselling family in Europe. Their trade, which consisted chiefly in
theological works, having begun to fall off when the Jesuits
were suppressed, their sons, who had a plentiful fortune,
sold off the whole of their stock in 1730, and retired from
a business which had been carried on in their family with
great reputation for nearly two hundred and forty years.
, in his native language called Vander Beken, a very learned man, who flourished not long after the restoration of letters, was born
, in his native language called
Vander Beken, a very learned man, who flourished not
long after the restoration of letters, was born at Ghent, in
Flanders, in 1525, and educated at Louvain, Thence he
went to Bologna, in order to study the civil law and antiquities; where he so distinguished himself by his skill in
polite literature, and particularly in poetry, that he became
known all over Italy, and acquainted with all the learned of
Rome, Venice, and Padua. He was not only a man of
learning, but of business also; and hence, after returning
to his own country, was thought a fit person to be employed
in several embassies. He took holy orders, and at length
was raised to the bishopric of Antwerp. Hence he was
translated to the metropolitical church of Mechlin, where
he died in 15;<5, at seventy years of age. He* founded a
college of Jesuits at Louvain, the place of his education, to
which he left his library, coins, &c. Besides an octavo
volume of “Latin poems,
” printed by Plantin, at Antwerp,
in Commentaries upon Suetonius and
Horace;
” the former printed in Commentaries.
” Fabricius, speaking of explications and emendations of Horace, says, that he and Lambinus were men of great learning and critical talents, and had carefully consulted the
best manuscripts, but it is thought that Torrentius had intrusted the collation to some person who had not his own
accuracy
her of Italy, was born at Faenza, in 1608, and was trained in Greek and Latin literature by an uncle who was a monk, Natural inclination led him to cultivate mathematical
an illustrious mathematician and philosopher of Italy, was born at Faenza, in 1608,
and was trained in Greek and Latin literature by an uncle
who was a monk, Natural inclination led him to cultivate
mathematical knowledge, which he pursued some time
without a master; but, at about twenty years of age, he
went to Rome, where he continued the pursuit of it under
father Benedict Castelli. Castelli had been a scholar of
the great Galilei, and had been called by pope Urban VIII.
to be a professor of mathematics at Rome. Torricelli
made so extraordinary a progress under this master, that,
having read Galilei’s “Dialogues,
” he composed a “Treatise concerning Motion
” upon his principles. Castelli,
astonished at the performance, carried it and read it to
Galilei, who heard it with much pleasure, and conceived
a high esteem and friendship for the author. Upon this
Castelli proposed to Galilei, that Torricelli should come
and live with him; recommending him as the most proper
person he could have, since he was the most capable of
comprehending those sublime speculations which his own
great age, infirmities, and, above all, want of sight, prevented him from giving to the world. Galilei accepted the
proposal, and Torricelli the employment, as things of all
others the most advantageous to each. Galilei was at Florence, whither Torricelli arrived in 1641, and began to
take down what Galilei dictated, to regulate his papers,
and to act in every respect according to his directions. But
he did not enjoy the advantages of this situation long, for
at the end of three months Galilei died. Torricelli was
then about returning to Rome. But the grand duke Ferdinand II. engaged him to continue at Florence, making
him his own mathematician for the present, and promising
him the chair as soon as it should be vacant. Here he applied himself intensely to the study of mathematics, physics, and astronomy, making many improvements and some
discoveries. Among others, he greatly improved the art
of making microscopes and telescopes; and it is generally
acknowledged that he first found out the method of ascertaining the weight of the atmosphere by a proportionate
column of quicksilver, the barometer being called from him
the Torricellian tube, and Torricellian experiment. In
short, great things were expected from him, and great
things would probably have been farther performed by him
if he had lived; but he died, after a few days illness, in
1647, when he was but just entered the fortieth year of his
age.
ch of the Carmelites, in the chapel of Masaccio; and it was customary with Buonarroti to rally those who were learning to draw there. One day, amongst others, a sarcasm
, an eminent Florentine sculptor, was born about 1472, and was the contemporary of
Michael Angelo, in competition with whom he executed
some works in the town-hall of Florence. He was an artist
of very superior merit, but a proud, inconsiderate, and ungovernable character. It was in one of his passionate fits
that he struck Michael Angelo with such force as to flatten
his nose. Benvenuto Cellini, in his own life, has recorded
this affair, as related to him by Torrigiano himself: “His
conversation one day happening to turn upon Michael
Angelo Buonarroti, on seeing a drawing of mine made
from the celebrated cartoon of the battle of Pisa: ‘ This
Buonarroti and I (said Torrigiano), when we were young
men, went to study in the church of the Carmelites, in
the chapel of Masaccio; and it was customary with Buonarroti to rally those who were learning to draw there.
One day, amongst others, a sarcasm of his having stung
me to the quick, I was extremely irritated, and, doubling
my fist, gave him such a violent blow upon his nose, that
I felt the bone and cartilage yield as if they had been
made of paste, and the mark I then gave him he will carry
to his grave’.
”
range gestures and sonorous voice, with a manner of knitting his brows, enough to frighten every man who saw him, gave him a most tremendous appearance, and he was continually
Cellini’s account of Torrigiano is, that “he was a hand*some man; but of consummate assurance, having rather
the air of a bravo than a sculptor: above all, his strange
gestures and sonorous voice, with a manner of knitting his
brows, enough to frighten every man who saw him, gave
him a most tremendous appearance, and he was continually
talking of his great feats among those bears of Englishmen
whose country he had but recently left.
” At what time he
came into England is not known, but in 1519, according
to Stow, he executed the superb tomb of Henry VII. in
Westminster-abbey, for which he received 1000l. for the
whole stuff and workmanship. It is also said by Vasari
that he executed variety of works in marble, brass, and
wood, in concurrence with other masters of this country,
over all whom he was allowed the superiority. Vertue
ascribes to him the tomb of Margaret countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII.; and that of Dr. Young
master of the Rolls in the chapel at the Rolls in Chancerylane; and lord Orford is inclined to attribute to him ahead
of Henry VIII. in plaister in a round at Hampton-court.
His lordship adds, that at Strawberry-hill is a model in
stone of the head of Henry VII. in the agony of death.
It is in the great style of Raphael and Michael Angelo,
and worthy of either, though undoubtedly by Torrigiano.
only to the small sum of thirty ducats, vexation and disappointment roused Torrigiano’s resentment, who considered this present rather as an insult than as a reward
The ungovernable and restless habits of this artist precipitated him into great difficulties, and the circumstances of his death furnish a melancholy instance of the vicissitude of life, and the baneful effects of inquisitorial jurisprudence. Upon leaving England, he visited Spain, and after distinguishing himself by many excellent works, was employed by a Spanish grandee to sculpture in marble a Madonna and Infant Christ, of the size of nature, with high promises to be rewarded in proportion to its merit; and as the grandee was of the first rank, Torrigiano flattered himself with proportionate expectation. After much study and application he completed his work to his own satisfaction, and the grandee saw the performance with delight and reverence, bestowing on him the highest praise. Impatient to possess his treasure, he immediately sent for it, and that his generosity might be displayed to the greatest advantage he loaded two lacqueys with the money to defray the purchase. The bulk was promising; but when the bags were found to contain nothin^but brass maravedi, which amounted only to the small sum of thirty ducats, vexation and disappointment roused Torrigiano’s resentment, who considered this present rather as an insult than as a reward for his merit, and, on a sudden, snatched up his mallet, and without regard to the perfection of his workmanship, or the sacred character of the image, he broke it in pieces, and dismissed the lacqueys, with their load of farthings, to tell the tale. The grandee, with every passion alive to this merited disgrace, and perhaps impressed with superstitious horror for the sacrilegious nature of the act, presented him before the court of inquisition; and impeach* d him for his conduct as an infidel and heretic. Torrigiano urged the right of an author over his own creation reason pleaded on his side, but all in vain he was condemned to lose his life with torture. The holy office, however, lost its victim, for Torrigiano starved himself to death in prison, in 1522.
Montbeillard, then belonging to the dukes of Wirtemberg, July 15, 1541. His father, Peter Toussain, who was minister of that place, had formerly been a canon of Metz,
, a learned protestant divine, was born at Montbeillard, then belonging to the dukes of Wirtemberg, July 15, 1541. His father, Peter Toussain, who was minister of that place, had formerly been a canon of Metz, but afterwards embraced the reformed religion, and was employed by George duke of Wirtemberg to introduce it at Montbeillard, which he did with great effect until his death in 1573, in his seventy-fourth year. His latter days were embittered by the loss of two of his sons, one of whom was assassinated at Montbeillard, and the other perished in the massacre at Paris in 1572.
tudies for two more years, under the patronage and at the expence of Christopher duke of Wirtemberg, who thus wished to reward his father’s services to the infant-church
Daniel, the subject of this article, after some education in his native place, was sent to Basil in 1555, where he studied for two years, and was admitted to the first academic degree, probably that of bachelor of arts. He then went to Tubingen, where he continued his studies for two more years, under the patronage and at the expence of Christopher duke of Wirtemberg, who thus wished to reward his father’s services to the infant-church of Montbeillard. Here he applied himself to belles lettres and philosophy, and took the degree of master of arts. He had also gone through a course of divinity; for we find that when his father recalled him to his native place, he preached there, both in French and German; but finding himself indifferently acquainted with the former of those languages, he went in 1559 to Paris, where he might acquire a greater facility in speaking and writing, and at the same time carry on his other studies. The following year he left Paris for Orleans, where he taught Hebrew for some time, and being admitted into the ministry, officiated in the church there, which was one of the most numerous and flourishing of the protestant congregations in France. There in 1565 he married the daughter of an advocate of parliament, who had been counsellor to queen Catherine de Medici before the troubles.
in 1576, he experienced a reverse, his son Louis being a Lutheran, and unwilling to retain Toussain, who was a Calvinist, in his service. His brother prince Casimir,
While Tossanus was here, he was frequently exposed to the greatest dangers during the war which broke out between the catholics and protestants, Orleans being besieged, and being full of adherents to the duke of Guise and his party. But by various means, although much persecuted, he escaped all, and finally reached Heidelberg, whither he had been invited by the pious Frederick III. elector palatine; and was so well received by that prince and by all descriptions of people, as soon to be able to forget his many dangers and sufferings. The prince afterwards employed him in visiting the reformed churches in his dominions, and in composing some differences of opinion among them, which he is said to have performed with equal ability and zeal. On the death of that prince, however, in 1576, he experienced a reverse, his son Louis being a Lutheran, and unwilling to retain Toussain, who was a Calvinist, in his service. His brother prince Casimir, who was of his father’s persuasion, then invited Toussain to Newstadt, made him superintendant of the churches there, and on the death of Ursinus, professor of divinity. He also officiated in the church of St. Lambert, composed of refugees; and preached to them in French, and by the prince’s desire, joined Zanchius and Ursinus in the publication of various works in support of the reformation. In 1578 he presided at a synod which prince Casimir had assembled for the purpose of establishing conformity in doctrine and discipline, and of assisting the exiles of the palatinate. With this prince Toussain became so great a favourite, that his highness took no steps in ecclesiastical matters without consulting him, and such was the general report of his character, that foreign princes or ambassadors who visited the court at Newstadt, made it a point to pay their respects to Toussain. On the death of the elector Louis IV. in 1583, prince Casimir, his brother, had the charge of his infant son and successor Frederick IV. On this he removed to Heidelberg, in order to take the regency into his own hands, and employed Toussain in promoting the reformed religion. In this, however, he was much obstructed by the violence of the Lutheran party; and the prince, after in vain endeavouring by conferences to allay the fervour of their zeal, was under the necessity of dismissing the most turbulent from their situations in the church or university. This was no more than had been done by the late elector without any ceremony: but the prince regent in the present case took every pains to show that it was a matter of necessity with him, all other means of pacification having failed.
egree. In 1587 his wife died, and about a year and a half after he married the widow of M. Chapelle, who had been chaplain to the prince of Conde. In 1592 he lost his
In the mean time Grynaeus, first professor of divinity at Heidelberg, having been removed to Basil in 1586, Toussain was appointed to succeed him, and after entering on the office, complied with the statutes of the university by taking his doctor’s degree. In 1587 his wife died, and about a year and a half after he married the widow of M. Chapelle, who had been chaplain to the prince of Conde. In 1592 he lost his illustrious patron prince Casimir, but as the young elector adhered to the same sentiments in religion, no change took place in ecclesiastical matters. In 1594, Toussain was chosen rector of the university, an office which he filled with great credit. In 1596 when the plague had driven not only the court, but most of the professors and students from Heidelberg, Toussain remained at his post, preaching, and administering what support and consolation he could to the sufferers. Beginning now to feel the infirmities of age, he would have resigned his professorship, but this was not accepted, although he was permitted to relax in every way suitable to his health. He died Jan. 10, 1602, in the sixty-first year of his age, and was buried in the chapel belonging to the university.
ays before his death: but there were so many suspicious circumstances attending it, that the persons who would have been benefited by it never ventured to prove it.
Mr. Toup had lost his father whilst he was a child: and his mother sometime after marrying Mr. Keigwin, vicar of Landrake in Cornwall, his uncle Busvargus (the last male of that family) took him under his care: considered him as his own child; and bore the whole charge of his education both at school and college. By the death of this excellent man, without issue, in 1751, Mrs. Keigwin succeeded, as heir at law, to his estate and effects. A will was indeed found, supposed to have been signed by old Mr. Busvargus two days before his death: but there were so many suspicious circumstances attending it, that the persons who would have been benefited by it never ventured to prove it. Mrs. Keigwin died in 1773, and left a will, bequeathing the whole of her estates to her son Jonathan, which accounts for the property of which he died possessed, and which could not have accumulated from his preferments or his publications.
ntur,” 8vo. The second part appeared in 1764. This work procured him the notice of bishop Warburton, who, from the time of its publication, honoured him with his co
In 1760, Mr. Toup published the first work which made
him known to the world as a critic. This was the first part
of his “Emendationes in Suidam, in quibus plurima loca
veterum Grsecorum, Sophoclis et Aristophanis imprimis,
cum explicantur turn emenclantur,
” 8vo. The second part
appeared in had it been otherwise, he should have been too selfish to invite any of his
brethren to share with him in the honour of properly distinguishing such merit as Mr. Toup’s.
” All, however, that
the bishop could do, he did with the warmth and earnestness of sincere friendship. He repeatedly recommended
Mr. Toup to archbishop Seeker, to the trustees for disposing of his options, to lord Shelburne, and to bishop
Keppel; and the favours that prelate conferred on Mr.
Toup were owing to the solicitations of bishop Warburton.
assistance towards a new edition of Polybius, which was then in contemplation; and bishop Warburton, who seconded this wish, advised him to lay aside for a while the
In 1766 the third part of the “Emendationes in Suidam
” was published, and in the following year archbishop
Seeker expressed a desire that Mr. Toup would lend his
assistance towards a new edition of Polybius, which was
then in contemplation; and bishop Warburton, who seconded this wish, advised him to lay aside for a while the
notes he was preparing for Warton’s edition of Theocritus,
but it does not appear what progress was made in this
edition. In 1767, he published his “Epistola critica ad
virum celeberrimum Guhelmum episcopum Glocestriensern,
” 8vo. In this letter to his friend Warburton, he takes
occasion to correct and illustrate many passages in ancient
and especially Greek authors, with his usual acuteness and
judgment. In 1770, Mr. Warton’s edition of Theocritus
was printed at the university press at Oxford. Mr. Toup
had been a large contributor towards the corrections and
annotations of this edition, in the title page of which is
noticed, “Epistola Jo. Toupii de S^racusis, ejusdemque
Addenda in Theocritum, necnon collationes quindecim
codicum.
” But a note of his on idyll. XIV. written, we
should have said, in an unguarded moment, had he not repealed and attempted to defend it afterwards, gave such
offence (to Dr. Lowth particularly) that the vice-chancellor of Oxford had it cancelled and another substituted in
its room. Mr. Warton, according to Mr. Cole, pleaded
that Toup had inserted it without his knowledge. On the
other hand, our principal authority vindicates Mr. Toup,
by saying that Mr. Warton had not stopped this note from
going to the press, and that “a respectable friend, in a letter on this subject, declares his persuasion of Mr. Toup’s
sincere veneration for religion.
” Mr. Nichols very candidly adds, “The matter is before the public, who may
form their own judgment on it.*' One thing is very certain, that the note is grossly indecent, and such a one as
ne should not have suspected from a man who had
” a
sincere veneration for religion;“and that it was a deliberate act on the part of Mr. Toup, appeared from his
publication in 1772 of his
” Curae posteriores, sive Appendicula notarum atque emendationum in Theocritum,
Oxonii nuperrime pubhcatum,“4to, in which the cancelled note is repeated, with a reflection (in the preface)
on the persons who had found fault with it, as
” homunculi eruditione mediocri, ingenio nullo,“and perhaps the
following may allude 10 Lowth,
” qui in Hebraicis per
omnem fere vitam turpiter volntati, in litteris elegantioribus plane hospites sum.“By the same spirit of captious
criticism and contempt for his brethren, in which, it must
be allowed, Toup too frequently indulged, he gave great
offence to Reiske, who in complimenting Warton for his urbanity, calls Toup
” ferocious and foul-mouthed," although
few critics have deserved this character more than Reiske
himself.
uhose right to judge cannot easily be disputed, place* him as one of the seven pre-eminent scholars who were the critical luminaries of the eighteenth century. As his
Mr. Toup’s next work was the “Appendiculum notarum
in Suidam,
” Emendationes.
” He closed his labours in
Longinus,
” which places his fame
as a critic, on an imperishable basis. Indeed as a writer
of profound learning, and singular critical sagacity, Mr.
Toup must be acknowledged to rank wirli the most eminent
men, in those departments. Dr. Buruey, uhose right to
judge cannot easily be disputed, place* him as one of the
seven pre-eminent scholars who were the critical luminaries
of the eighteenth century.
As his life was passed in literary retirement, his personal
character was known to few. Hrefailings seem principally
confined to his works, in which we are often led to lament
an excess of conceit, and a petulant manner of noticing his
contemporaries. He censured too freely, and praised too
sparingly. In private life he was a kind neighbour, an indulgent master, and an affectionate and tender relation.
He was a man, too, of great humanity, which he delighted
to extend to the brute creation. We may suppose he also
carefully attended to his duties as a parish priest, for, of all
things, he expressed the greatest aversion to non-residence,
and rejected every proposal to quit his situation upon such
terms. Mr. Toup died Jan. 19, 1785, in the seventy-second year of his age, and was buried under the communion
table in his church of St. Martin. He bequeathed his property to a half-sister, a widow, and her daughters, who
lived with him. It was one of his whims, in his latter writings to call himself Joannes, instead of Jonathan Toup.
Many additional particulars respecting this excellent scholar may be found in our authority.
after he began to study philosophy and divinity; and, though all endeavours were used by his father, who designed him for the church, to cure him of it, his favourite
, a famous botanist of France, was born of a good family, at Aix in Provence, June 5, 1656. He had a taste for observing and collecting plants from his childhood; and, when he was at school, used frequently to play truant, though he was frequently punished for it, in order to traverse the fields in quest of new discoveries. The same passion continued when he was more grown up, and after he began to study philosophy and divinity; and, though all endeavours were used by his father, who designed him for the church, to cure him of it, his favourite study prevailed, and plants continued his object. In pursuit of them he was ready to traverse the globe, as he did a great part of it afterwards; but, for the present, was obliged to content himself with what the neighbourhood of Aix and the gardens of the curious afforded. Becoming his own master by the death, of his father in 1677, he quitted theology, which indeed he had never relished, and gave himself up entirely to physic, natural philosophy, and botany, at the instigation of an uncle, who was a very ingenious and reputable physician. In 1678, he ran over the mountains of Dauphine and Savoy, and thence enriched his collection with a great number of curious specimens. In 1679 he went to Montpelier, to study medicine and anatomy. In this town was a garden of plants, which had been established by Henry IV. but this did not satisfy his curiosity: he travelled over the country round about Montpelier, and brought back with him plants which were before unknown to the botanists of that place. His curiosity becoming more ardent, he formed a scheme of passing over into Spain, and set out for Barcelona in April 1681. He spent some time in the mountains of Catalonia, whither he was accompanied by the young physicians of the country, and the students in physic, to whom he pointed out and explained the various sorts of plants; but was often exposed to dangers, and was once stripped naked by the miquelets, a kind of banditti, who, however, so far took pity on him as to return him his waistcoat, in the lining of which, by good luck, he happened to have some silver tied up in a handkerchief. After other risks, he arrived safe at Montpelier in 1681, and continued his studies in medicine, and his operations in chymistry and anatomy. He was afterwards received doctor of physic at Orange, and thence went to Aix, where his passion for plants, which was as high as ever, did not suffer him to continue long. He now visited the Alps, and he brought back with him new treasures, which he had acquired with great fatigue and danger.
own at Paris, whither he went in 1683, and was introduced to M. Fagon, first physician to the queen, who was so struck with the ingenuity and vast knowledge of Tournefort,
His merit as a botanist now began to be known at Paris, whither he went in 1683, and was introduced to M. Fagon, first physician to the queen, who was so struck with the ingenuity and vast knowledge of Tournefort, that he procured him to be made botanic professor in the king’s garden. Tournefort immediately set himself to furnish it wi.th every thing that was curious and valuable; and, by order of the king, travelled into Spain and Portugal, and afterwards into Holland and England, where he made a prodigious collection of plants. His name was become celebrated abroad as well as at home; and he had the botanic professorship at Leyden offered him, which he did not think proper to accept, though his present salary was but small. He had, however, the profits of his profession, and of a great number of pupils in botany, which, with his own private fortune, supported him very handsomely. In 1692 he was admitted a member of the academy of sciences: he was afterwards made doctor in physic of the faculty of Paris, and maintained a thesis for it, which he dedicated to his friend and patron M. Fagon.
lsheimer, a native of Anspach, and physician to the king of Prussia, to attend him as a draughtsman, who might draw plants, animals, orany thing curious, that fell in
In 1700 he received an order from the king to travel to Greece, Asia, and Africa, not only to take cognizance of the plants which the ancients have mentioned, or even of those which escaped their observation, but to make also observations upon natural history at large, upon ancient and modern geography, and upon the religion, manners, and commerce, of different nations and people. The king ordered farther A. Gundelsheimer, a native of Anspach, and physician to the king of Prussia, to attend him as a draughtsman, who might draw plants, animals, orany thing curious, that fell in his way. Almost three years were employed in this learned voyage; and, as botany was M. Tournefort’s favourite object, he herborized over all the isles of the Archipelago, upon the coasts of the Black Sea, in Bithynia, Pontus, Cappadocia, Armenia, and Georgia. At his return he took a different route, in hopes of new subjects of observation, and came tbrough Galatia, Mysia, Lyiiia, and Ionia. The plague being then in Egypt hindered him from proceeding to Africa; yet he brought home 1356 species of plants, entirely new.
8vo.” De optima methodo in instituenda re herbaria,“in 1697, 8vo. This is an epistle to our Mr. Ray, who had dissented from Tournefort’s method of classing plants, and
His writings are as follow “Elemens de Botanique: ou,
Methode pour connoitre les plantes, avec figures, Paris,
1G94,
” 3 tomes in 8vo. He afterwards enlarged this work
considerably, and translated it into Latin for the benefit of
foreigners, with this title, “Institutiones rei herbarise: sive,
Elementa botanices,
” Paris, Histoire des Plantes qui naissent aux environs de Paris,
avec leur usage dans la me'decine,
” l 725. This was translated by Dr. Marty n in 1732,
2 vols. 8vo.
” De optima methodo in instituenda re herbaria,“in 1697, 8vo. This is an epistle to our Mr. Ray,
who had dissented from Tournefort’s method of classing
plants, and ranging them into their several genuses.
” Corollarium institutionum rei herbarire, in quo plantse 1356
munificentia Ludovici magni in Orientalibus regionibus observatae recensentur, et ad genera sua revocantur, Paris,
1603,“in 4to. This work is printed in the third volume
of Ray’s
” Historia Plantarum, 1740,“in folio.
” Relation
d‘un voyage du Levant, contenant l’histoire ancienne et
moderne de plusieurs isles d'Archipel, de Constantinople,"
&c. Paris, 1717, 2 vols. in 4to, and 3 in 8vo, with figures;
reprinted at Amsterdam, 1718, in 2 vols. 4to. This work
comprises not only discoveries in botany, but other curious
particulars relating to history, geography, and natural philosophy. Besides these larger works, there are several
pieces of Tournefort printed in the History of the Academy
of Sciences.
lers-sur-Fere, in Tardenois, in the dio* cese of Soissons. M. le Maitre de Sacy, and M. de.Santeuil, who were his friends, placed great confidence in him, and frequently
, a pious French divine,
was born April 30, 1640, at Rouen, of poor parents, but
the inclination for learning which he discovered from his
childhood, induced M. du Fosse, maitre des comptes at
Rouen, to encourage him in that pursuit, and to send him
to the Jesuits’ college at Paris. He completed his philosophical studies at the college de Grassins, under M. Hervent, and was afterwards vicar of $t. Etienne des Tonneliera, at Rouen, where he distinguished himself by his public services. During a visit to Paris in 1675, he gained the
prize given by the French academy. Reflecting afterwards
on the inconsiderate manner in which he had engaged in
the sacred office, he went again to Paris, and renounced
all the duties of the priesthood, that had done him so much
honour, till M. de Sacy, to whom he applied for directions
in his penitence, drew him from this state of dejection, and
persuaded him to resume the sacred functions. His talents
procured him a benefice in the holy chapel, and the priory
of Villers, which the archbishop of Rouen gave him. M.
Tourneux would gladly have resigned his benefice in favour
of some pious ecclesiastic; but only simple resignations
were at that time accepted. A change of this rule was
hoped for, but did not take place during his life. The
king gave him a pension of 300 crowns. He preached one
Lent in the church of St. Benoit, at Paris, to a prodigious
number of auditors. M. le Tourneux spent his last years
at his priory of Villers-sur-Fere, in Tardenois, in the dio*
cese of Soissons. M. le Maitre de Sacy, and M. de.Santeuil, who were his friends, placed great confidence in him,
and frequently consulted him, in consequence of which he
was involved in some difficulties. He died suddenly at
Parts, Nov. 28, 1686, aged forty -seven, and his remains
were interred at Port Royal. The principal among his
numerous works are, “La Vie.de Jesu Christ;
” “La
meiliure maniere d'entendre la Messe;
” “L‘Anne’e Chretienne,
” Paris, Translation of the Roman breviary,
” 4 vols. 8vo; with other
works suited to persons of his communion. His translation
of the breviary was censured by a sentence from M. Cheron, official of Paris, 1688; but M. Arnauld undertook its
defence. An “Abridgment of the principal Theological
Treatises,
” 4to, is also ascribed to M. le Tourneux. L'Avocat says that he had a peculiar talent for homilies and instructions, and it is said that while he preached the Lent
sermons at St. Benoft, in Paris, instead of father Quesnel,
who had been obliged to abscond, Louis XIV. inquired of
Boileau concerning a preacher named le Tourneux, whom
every body was running after. “Sire,
” replied the poet,
“your majesty knows that people always run after novelties this man preaches the gospel.
” The king then
pressing him to give his opinion seriously, Boileau added,
*' When M. le Tourneux first Ascends the pulpit, his ugliness so disgusts the congregation, that they wish he would
go down again but when he begins to speak, they dread
the time of his descending."
re performed. (See Paris). An enthusiasm of a very opposite kind connected him with the philosophers who were exerting their powers against revealed religion, and in
, a French writer, and
one of the Encyclopedists, was born at Paris in 1715, and
was bred an advocate, but forsook the bar to cultivate general literature. In his youth he is thought to have been
somewhat fanatical, as he wrote Latin hymns in praise of
the abb Paris, at whose tomb extraordinary miracles were
performed. (See Paris). An enthusiasm of a very opposite kind connected him with the philosophers who were
exerting their powers against revealed religion, and in
1748 he contributed his first share by his book called
“Moeurs,
” or “Manners,
” in which, although tolerably
disguised, are some of those bold attacks, both on Christianity and morals, which afterwards appeared more plainly
in the writings of his associates D'Alembert, Diderot, &c.
This work procured him, however, a name in the world,
although some have endeavoured to deprive him of it, by
asserting that the work was written by an impious priest,
and that Toussaint consented to bear the praise or blame.
For this, however, there seems little foundation, if, according to the abbe Barruel, he afterwards publicly recanted
his errors. In the mean time he published “Eciaircissemens sur les Mceurs,
” highwayman of the North,
” and the philosopherking was not ignorant of this, but had been so much pleased
with his book on “Manners,' 7 that he bestowed on him the
professorship of logic and rhetoric at Berlin, where Tous*
saint died in 1772. While there he published an excellent translation of Gellert’s Fables; and while in France
had contributed some articles on jurisprudence to the Encyclopaedia, and assisted in a Dictionary of Medicine, published in 6 vols. folio. His
” Mceurs" were translated into
English about 1750.
d must necessarily be expected to form a large, if not the largest share, should be entrusted to one who had no sympathy with the constitution or doctrines of that church,
About this time he acquired some property by marriage,
and laid it out partly in furnishing a bookseller’s shop in
Fore-street. Here he carried on trade for about nine
years, but with no great success. During this time he
published various pamphlets on the political topics of the
day, and always in opposition to the measures and supporters of administration. In 1774 he resigned his business, and was ordained a preacher among the dissenters,
and soon after chosen pastor of a congregation at Highgate. In 1778 he exchanged this situation for the office
of forenoon preacher at Newington Green, where Dr. Price
preached in the afternoon. When Dr. Kippis was employed by the London booksellers on a new edition of the
“Biographia Britannica,
” he recommended Mr. Towers
as his assistant; and he wrote several lives, but, as already
noticed, under the influence of prejudices which did no
credit to the work. It seems indeed rather surprising that
a work in which the lives of the eminent men of the church
of England must necessarily be expected to form a large,
if not the largest share, should be entrusted to one who had
no sympathy with the constitution or doctrines of that
church, and who, while he probably exerted as much impartiality as he was capable of, could not, in the nature of
things, divest himself of a degree of prejudice which must
damp his praise, if it did not dispose him to censure.
s party, is “The Dissenting Gentleman’s answer to Mr. White,” a clergyman of the diocese of Norwich, who had written against the principles of the dissenters with -so
, a protestant dissenting divine
of considerable eminence, was born at Axminster, in Devonshire, Dec. 6, 1700. His father was a physician of the
same place, and the son of Mr. Matthew Towgood, one of
the ministers ejected by the act of uniformity in 1662.
He had his grammar learning under the rev. Mr. Chadwick of Taunton: and in 1717 entered upon a course of
academical studies in the same place, under the direction
of Mr. Stephen James and Mr. Grove. Soon after he had
commenced a preacher, he settled with a congregation of
dissenters at Moreton-Hampsted in Devonshire, and was
ordained there in August 1722, and the following year
married the daughter of James Hawker, esq. of Luppit.
He removed to Creditor], in the same county, in 1735, and
soon after published, without his name, a pious tract entitled “Recovery from Sickness.
” He likewise published
without his name, a pamphlet entitled “High flown episcopal and priestly claims freely examined, in a dialogue
between a country gentleman and a country vicar,
” The
Dissenters Apology,
” Spanish cruelty and
injustice, a justifiable plea for a vigorous war with Spain.
” 1
In this pamphlet, he encourages Britons to hope for success from the justice of the war on our part: the cruelty
of our enemies towards Pagans, Jews, Mahometans, and
Christians: and from their trusting in false protectors.
He published afterwards several occasional sermons; and
during the rebellion in 1754, a pamphlet against the legitimate birth of the Pretender. The work, however, by
which he is held in highest esteem among his party, is
“The Dissenting Gentleman’s answer to Mr. White,
” a
clergyman of the diocese of Norwich, who had written
against the principles of the dissenters with -so much ability as to demand the exertions of their best writers. Mr.
Towgood’s letters to him appeared separately from 174
to 1748, and have passed through six editions; the last,
in 1787, is accompanied by a portrait of the author, from
a painting by Opie. In 1748 he published a pamphlet
intended to diminish the respect paid to the memory of
king Charles I. It consists principally of extracts from
historians, but is deficient in impartial investigation. He
was more successful in 1750, when settled at Exeter, in
some pamphlets in defence of infant baptism. In 1761 he
became a teacher in an academy at Exeter for the education of dissenting ministers. His office was to lecture on
the New Testament, which he continued till 1769. In
1784 the infirmities of age obliged him to resign his public ministry; he enjoyed, however, a moderate share of
health and spirits until Jan. 31, 179-2, when he died at
Exeter, in the ninety-second year of his age. His private
character is represented as highly amiable, and his learning had a very extensive range. His public character
may be collected from the contents of his publications.
“His religious sentiments,
” we are told, “were such as
were deemed highly heretical when he first entered upon
public life; on which account he found some difficulty
in procuring ordination, and experienced the resentment
of bigots long after: but they would be esteemed what is
termed orthodox, by many in the present day, as he attributed to Christ a high degree of pre-existent dignity,
and considered him as a proper object of religious worship.
” It appears by this account that, in departing from
the creed of his forefathers, Mr. Towgood went farther
than his contemporaries, and not so far as his successors.
Mr. Townley was a zealous advocate for the mythological system of D'Ancarvilef; who compiled the greater part of his curious work in Park-street,
Mr. Townley was a zealous advocate for the mythological system of D'Ancarvilef; who compiled the greater part of his curious work in Park-street, and derived some of his best illustrations from specimens in that collection. Of this system, which has not been generally received in England, it must be allowed that, amidst the silence of the earlier writers of antiquity, it is powerfully supported by the later Platonists, and the remains of ancient art. The symbols employed by sculptors and engravers to adumbrate the creative, destroying, and restoring powers of the universe, appear to have been connected with the mysteries. By the vulgar they were considered as the attributes of common Polytheism by the initiated they were referred to the Απορητα of their own system.
To young connoisseurs, and in general to his inferiors in taste and science, who sought his assistance, he was an active and zealous patron,
To young connoisseurs, and in general to his inferiors in taste and science, who sought his assistance, he was an active and zealous patron, sparing neither his interest nor his exertions to promote their views.
Mr. Townley was interred, Jan. 17, 1805, in the family chapel at Burnley in Lancashire, where those who love his memory would rejoice to see the best judge of sculpture
Mr. Townley was interred, Jan. 17, 1805, in the family chapel at Burnley in Lancashire, where those who love his memory would rejoice to see the best judge of sculpture in Europe commemorated by a bust at least. Added to that memorial his name would be enough: for, till this generation shall have passed away, the truest sepulchral panegyric would be useless in another it would be suspected.
rd” contains three characters of lord Lavender, Mr. Suds, an enriched soap-boiler, and a pert valet, who are not only the exact lord Ogleby, Mr. Sterling, and Brush,
, a learned master of Merchant
Taylors’ school, was the second son of a merchant, and
born in London in 1715. He was educated at that school
over which he afterwards presided, whence he was elected
to St. John’s college, Oxford. Soon after taking orders,
he was chosen morning preacher at Lincoln’s-inn chapel,
and lecturer of St. Dunstan’s in the East. He married, in
1740, Miss Jane Bonnin of Windsor, descended from the
Poyntz family, and related to the late dowager lady Spencer, through whose patronage Mr. Townley obtained the
living of St. Bennett, Gracechurch-street, London. He
afterwards became grammar-master to Christ’s hospital;
and in 1759 was chosen high master of the Merchant Taylors’ school, in which office he died July 15, 1778, having
been presented in 1777 to a living in Wales, by bishop
Shipley, to whom he was chaplain. He was the close intimate of Garrick, from whom he held for some years the
valuable vicarage of Hendon, in Middlesex; and it has
been supposed that many of Garrick’s best productions and
revisals partook of Mr. Townley’s assisting hand. He was
the long- concealed author of the celebrated farce of “High
Life below Stairs,
” anno False Concord,
” a farce, for his friend Woodward’s
benefit; and, in 1765, the “Tutor,
” a farce, under Mr.
Column’s protection, at Drury-lane, but which, from the
juvenile characters, did not succeed. It is to be remarked,
that “False Concord
” contains three characters of lord
Lavender, Mr. Suds, an enriched soap-boiler, and a pert
valet, who are not only the exact lord Ogleby, Mr. Sterling, and Brush, of the “Clandestine Marriage,
” brought
out in
o him by the death of the rev. William Barcroft, rector of Fairsted and vicar of Kelvedon, in Essex, who bequeathed him his library and the principal part of his fortune,
On his return to college he resumed the employment of tutor. Mr. Lovibond, the poet, and lord Bagot, were two of his pupils. In 1746 he was presented to the living of Hatfield Peverel, in Essex. In 1749 he was senior proctor of the university; and, resigning Hatfield, was presented to the rectory of Blithfield, in Staffordshire, by sir Walter Wagstaffe Bagot, bart. Soon after he quitted the proctorship he was admitted (June 15) to the degree of B. D. and the same summer Mr. Drake offered him the lower rnediety of Malpas, in the county of Chester. After some reluctance, principally arising from his unwillingness to leave Oxford, he accepted this offer, and was instituted Jan. 2, 1751. At the close of the year (Dec. 19) he quitted Oxford, and resigned his fellowship the month following. He now divided his time between Malpas and Blithfield, which he held for a few years with his new preferment; and then, having resigned it, he inducted (Feb. 23, 1759) his worthy successor, the rev. Walter Bagot, M. A. son of his esteemed friend and patron. In 1758, a very considerable accession of fortune came to him by the death of the rev. William Barcroft, rector of Fairsted and vicar of Kelvedon, in Essex, who bequeathed him his library and the principal part of his fortune, amounting in the whole to more than eight thousand pounds. According to the testimony of his biographer, his conduct as a Christian' pastor seems to have been in all respects most exemplary.
, a learned divine who deserves to be recorded as a rare specimen of a doctrinal puritan,
, a learned divine who deserves to be
recorded as a rare specimen of a doctrinal puritan, who
retained his loyalty to the king and attachment to the
church with equal firmness, was born at North-Tawton in
Devonshire, in 1602. He was educated at Exeter- college,
Oxford, where he took his degrees, and was chosen fellow
in 1623. Having afterwards taken orders, he was, according to Wood, useful in moderating, reading to novices,
and lecturing in the chapel. He was alsp an able and
laborious preacher, had much, Wood says, of the -primitive religion in his sermons, and “seemed to be a most
precise puritan in his looks and life, on which account his
sermons and expositions in the churches of St. Giles’s and
St. Martin at Oxford, were much frequented by the
puritanical party.
” He appears however to have been decidedly averse to the proceedings of those who were intent
on overturning the establishment of the church; and although, in 1643, he was, from his general character, nominated one of the assembly of divines, he declined attending them, and preferred remaining at Oxford, where
he preached at Christ Church before the king, and at St.
Mary’s before the parliament. In both instances he was
so much approved that he was appointed by the chancellor
of the university, in 1646, to take his doctor’s degree, but
this he declined. Adhering to his loyalty, and to the use of
the Common Prayer, after it had been abolished, he was soon
denounced by the usurping party. Dr. Hakewell, the rector, having left the college, the government devolved on
Mr. Tozer, as sub-rector, who manfully opposed the illegality of the parliamentary visitation, and maintained the
rights and privileges of the college, although the university was at that time in complete possession of the parliamentary forces, and every man was to be expelled who did
not obey their orders as given from the mouth of the visitors. In March 1647-8, he was cited before these visitors,
who kept their judgment-hall in Merton-college, and was
accused of “continuing the Common Prayer in the college,
after the ordinance for the Directory (the new form) came in
force: also of having sent for and admonished one of the house,
for refusing to attend the chapel-prayers on that account.
”
It was among his crimes, likewise, that he had constantly
shown the utmost dislike to the parliamentary faction, and
always countenanced and patronized the loyalists of his
college. And although the visitors had thought proper to
put off the term, yet as Dr. Fell, the vice-chancellor, had
proceeded to open it at the usual time in the university,
without any regard to the visitors’ pleasure, Mr. Tozer did
the same in Exeter college. In answer to all this, Mr.
Tozer did what at the close of the same century conferred
immortal honour on the fellows of Magdalen college, he
disowned their authority; and told them, that “the things
about which he was questioned, concerned the discipline
of the college; and that he had some time before answered
in the name of the whole college, that they could not, withr
out perjury, submit to any other visitors than those to whom
their statutes directed them,
” meaning the bishop of Exeter, a title sufficiently obnoxious.
This answer being, as may be expected, unsatisfactory
to the visitors, they ordered him to be ejected, aad committed the execution of the sentence to the soldiers of the
garrison. Mr. Tozer however contrived to keep possession of the college for some time; in consequence of
which, in June 1648, the visitors again sent for him, and
with equal contempt for the statutes of the house, peremptorily forbade him to proceed to an election the day
following; and as it is probable he refused to comply, they
expelled him both from the college and the university.
But he was not to be terrified from what he thought his
duty even by this sentence, and refused to deliver up the
keys of the college, there being no rector to whom he
could legally give them, and then they imprisoned him.
Even when he was, in the same month, preaching at St.
Martin’s church, he was dragged out of it by the soldiers,
and forbidden to officiate there any more, because he seduced the people. By what means the visitors were afterwards induced to show any degree of lenity to Mr. Tozer,
we are not told; but it is certain that after all their harsh
treatment of him, and his spirited opposition to their authority, he was allowed to remain in his rooms in the college, and they even gave him the profits of a travelling
fellowship for three years. On the strength of this, he
went to Holland, and became minister to the English merchants at Rotterdam, where he died Sept. 11, 1650, in
the forty-eighth year of his age, and was interred in the
English church in that place. Mr. Tozer published a few
occasional sermons; “Directions for a godly life, especially for communicating at the Lord’s Tahle,
” Dicta
et facta Christi ex quatuor evangelistis collecta,
”
returned to Rome to pay his respects to the new pope Clement XI. by whom he was highly esteemed, and who made him great offers if he would remain at Rome. His former
, an eminent physician, was born in
1640, at Aversa, in the kingdom of Naples, and after
studying medicine at Naples, took his doctor’s degree
in 1661. Although at this time only in his twenty-first
year, he was thought capable of instructing others, and
first gave lectures on physiology; he afterwards for several years taught for Thomas Cornelio of Cosenza, whose
advanced age prevented him from lecturing as professor
of medicine and mathematics. He was also employed to
supply the place of Andrew Lamez, another of the professors, and often gave four lectures in a day. At length
be succeeded to Cornelio’s professorship of the theory of
medicine, which he tilled with increasing reputation. In
1679 he had attained such high fame, that the university
of Padua solicited him to accept, a chair there; hut this
and many otuer most liberal offers he declined from his
attachment to Naples, where he was deservedly appointed
p!u >?cian to ti t hospital or' the Annunciata, and first physician to the state. On the death, however, of Malpighi,
in 1694, he was induced to change his resolution. Pope
Innocent XII. appointed him, in the year following, to
succeed Malpighi as his first physician, and having accepted this honourable situation, the pope gave him the
principal professorship in the college of Sapienza. After
the death of this pontiff in 1700, Tozzi was chosen physician to the conclave, but could not accept it, as he was
invited to Spain to attend the king, Charles II. then in a
bad state of health. But hearing, when on the road to Madrid, of this king’s death, he returned to Rome to pay his
respects to the new pope Clement XI. by whom he was
highly esteemed, and who made him great offers if he
would remain at Rome. His former attachment however
to his native country returning, he proceeded again to
Naples, whence the duke of Medina Celi, the viceroy,
would not allow him any more to depart, a constraint
which was perfectly agreeable to his inclination. He died
at Naples, March 11, 1717, in his seventy-seventh year.
He published several professional works separately, which,
with many additions, were republished in 5 vols. 4to,
under the title of “Opera omnia Medica,
” Venice,
gioni’s death. Many of the plates are from drawings by Ottaviano Targioni, the son of John Targioni, who succeeded his father as reader of botany in the hospital of
, an
eminent botanist, the son of Leonard Targioni, born at
Florence Sept. 11, 1722, was sent to the university of
Pisa, where he very soon distinguished himself by a thesis
on the use of medicine. At the age of nineteen he became
acquainted with the famous botanist Micheli, by whom he
was protected, with whom he kept up an uninterrupted
friendship till 1737, when Micheli died, and whom he succeeded in the care of the famous botanic garden. Of the
plants in this garden Micheli had already made a catalogue,
which Targioni published after his death, with very considerable additions by himself. In the year 1737, he was
made professor of botany in the Studio Fiorentino, a kind
of university at Florence, and at the same time member of
the academy ofApatisti. In 1738, he became a member
of the Collegio Medico, or faculty of Medicine. Much
about the same time he was named by government consulting physician in pestilential disorders, aud had the place of
fiscal physician (physician to the courts of justice). This
last place obliged him to write a great deal, being often
consulted on the accidents that became discussions for a
court of justice, such as deaths by poison, sudden deaths,
unheard-of distempers, and (when, as it sometimes happened, foolish accusations of the kind were brought into court) witchcraft. Some time after, he was named, together with the celebrated Antonio Cocchi, to make a catalogue of the library, begun by P</lagliabecchi and increased
by Marni, duke Leopold, and others, which consisted of
40,000 volumes of printed books, and about 1100 volumes
of manuscripts. It is to this nomination we are indebted for
the five volumes of letters of famous men, as, during his
employment in this capacity, he used to make extracts of
the curious books which fell into his hands. On Micheli’s
death in 1737, Mr. Targioni had inherited his Hortus Siccus, Mss. and collection of natural history, which last,
however, he purchased, but at a very cheap rate, with his
own money. This seemed to lay him under the necessity
of publishing what his master had left behind him, and accordingly he had prepared the second part of the “Nova
Plantarum Genera,
” but not exactly in the manner in
which Micheli himself would have published them; for,
though the drawings were too good to be lost, as they
have all the accuracy which distinguish the other works
of the great naturalist, Targioni could not suffer the work
to come forth with the Zoophytes and Keratophytes classed
among the plants, asMicheli had intended. Targioni therefore meant to have given the work another form. It was
to be divided into two parts, the first of which would have
contained the “Fucus’s, Algae, and Confervae;
” and the
second the “Zoophytes:
” the first part was finished a week
before Targioni’s death. Many of the plates are from
drawings by Ottaviano Targioni, the son of John Targioni,
who succeeded his father as reader of botany in the hospital
of Sancta Maria Maggiore, a new establishment formed by
the grand duke upon a liberal and extensive plan, in which
ducal professors of medicine, anatomy, chemistry, physiology, surgery, &c. read gratis on the very spot where
examples are at hand to confirm their doctrine. In 1739,
Targioni was chosen member of the academy Naturae Curiosorum; and, in 1745, the Crusca gave him a public
testimony of the value they set upon his style, by chusing
him one of their members. In 1749, he was chosen member of the academy of Etruscans at Cortona, as he was of that
of the Sepolti at Volterra in-4749. The academy of Botanophiles made him one of their body in 1757; as did that
of practical agriculture at Udino in 1758. In 1771, he was
chosen honorary member of the royal academy of sciences
and belles lettres at Naples; and, finally, was named corresponding member of the royal society of medicine at
Paris in 1780. It is much to be regretted that we cannot
give an account of his manuscript works, several of which
are known to be very important, as he was one of the most
celebrated physicians of this time, and is known to have
written a great deal on inoculation (of which he was one of the first promoters in Tuscany), putrid fevers, &c. &c.
His printed works are extremely numerous; among the
first of them was his “Thesis de prsestantia et usu Plantarum in medicina.
” Pisis, folio; and the latest,
* Notizie degli Aggrandimenti delle Scienze Fisiche accaduti in Toscana nel corso di anni 60, nel secolo 17, Firenze,
” 1780, 4 vols. 4to. He had just published the
fourth volume of this last great work, on the improvement
made in natural knowledge and natural philosophy in Tuscany in sixty years only of the 17th century, when he
died of an atrophy in 1780. Mr. Targioni had a large cabinet of natural history, the foundation of which, as has
been said, had been laid by Micheli. It consists of the
minerals and fossils which are found in Tuscany, and the
Zoophytes and Hortus Siccus of Micheli. There is a drawer
made at Amboyna, by order of Rumphius, containing all
the sorts of wood of that island. Besides this, there is a
great suite of animals and shells and petrified animal substances, particularly of the bones of elephants which are
found in the environs of Florence.
ardener to Charles I. Tradescant was a man of extraordinary curiosity, and the first in this country who made any considerable collection of the subjects of natural
He appears, however, to have been established in England, and his garden founded at Lambeth; and about 1629
he obtained the title of gardener to Charles I. Tradescant
was a man of extraordinary curiosity, and the first in this
country who made any considerable collection of the subjects of natural history. He had a son of the same name,
who took a voyage to Virginia, whence he returned with
many new plants, They were the means of introducing a
variety of curious species into this kingdom, several of
which bore their name. Tradescant’s spiderwort, Tradescant’s aster, are well known to this day; and Linnæus has
immortalized them among the botanists by making a new
genus, under their name, of the spidcrworfa which had
been before called ephemeron. His museum, called “Tradescant’s Ark,
” attracted the curiosity of the age, and was
much frequented by the great, by whose means it was also
considerably enlarged, as appears by the list of his benefactors, printed at the end of his “Museum Tradescantianum;
” among whom, after the names of the king and
queen, are found those of many of the first nobility, the
duke and duchess of Buckingham, archbishop Laud, the
earls of Salisbury and Carlisle, &c. &c.
probably in 1652. The son inherited the museum, and bequeathed it by a deed of gift to Mr. Ashmole, who lodged in Tradescant’s house. (See Ashmole.) It afterwards becoming
In what year the elder Tradescant died is uncertain,
though it seems to have happened most probably in 1652.
The son inherited the museum, and bequeathed it by a
deed of gift to Mr. Ashmole, who lodged in Tradescant’s
house. (See Ashmole.) It afterwards becoming part of
the Ashmolean museum, the name of Tradescant was sunk.
John, the son, died in 1662, and was buried April 25 of
that year. Besides the prints prefixed to the “Museum
Tradescantianum,
” there are several portraits of the Tradescant family in the Ashmolean Museum, both male and
female, esteemed good; but there are no dates to the pictures, nor any painter’s name or mark. John’s widow
erected a monument to the family in Lambeth church-yard,
in 1662, which was much injured by time; but two fine
drawings of it, happily preserved in the Pepysian library,
came in aid of the mutilated parts, and in 1773 it was repaired by a public subscription.
family of his name in that county. This supposition seems to have been suggested to Wood by Fuller, who in his “Worthies” of Cornwall says, “The first syllable of his
, a learned divine at the
period of the reformation, was supposed by Wood to have
been born in Cornwall, or originally descended from an
ancient family of his name in that county. This supposition seems to have been suggested to Wood by Fuller, who
in his “Worthies
” of Cornwall says, “The first syllable
of his name, and what is added thereto by my author (Bale)
parentum stemmatc clarus, and the sameness of his name
with an ancient family in this country, are a three-fold
cable to draw my belief that he was this countryman.
” He
was educated at Oxford, either in Exeter college, or Hart
hall, where he attained some eminence in the Latin and
Greek tongues. He afterwards, as was usual with scholars
desirous of extensive improvement, travelled into Germany
and Italy, and heard the lectures of the eminent men of
that time. On his return to England he entered into holy
orders, and was made keeper of the king’s library, which
Leland’s researches had greatly enriched in the time of
Henry VIII. King Edward VI. who gave Traheron this
appointment with a salary of twenty marks, finding him
otherwise a man of great merit, conferred on him the
deanery of Chichester in 1551, as Wood says, but according to Le Neve, in 1553. This, on the accession of queen
Mary in the same year, he lost, as well as his other preferments, and joined the other English exiles in Germany,
where, at Francfort, he became their divinity-reader, particularly on the beginning of the Gospel of St. John, against
the Arians, or, as Strype says, “against the wicked enterprises of the new start-up Arians in England.
” While here
he appears to have written all his works; 1. “Paraeresis,
lib. 1.
” addressed to his brother Thomas, persuading him
to embrace the reformed religion. 2. “Carmina in mortem Henrici Dudlaei.
” 3. “Analysis Scoparum Johannis
Cochlaei.
” 4. “Exposition of a part of St. John’s Gospel
made in sundry readings in the English congregation against
the Arians,
” Exposition on
the fourth chapter of St. John’s Revelations, which treateth
of the providence of God, made before his countrymen in
Germany,
” 1557, 8vo, reprinted 1577 and 1583. 6. “An
answer made by Bar. Traheron to a private Papist,
” &c.
Treatise of Repentance,
” &c. Wood
says he also published a translation of Vigo’s “Surgery,
”
and Vigo’s “Little practice.
” When he died is uncertain.
Wood, in his first edition, says he returned after queen
Mary’s death, and was restored to all he had lost, and was
living in 1662; but in his second edition he omits this, and
quotes Holinshed, who gives it as a report that he died
abroad in the latter end of Mary’s reign.
e of Blebo, in the county of Fife, from the time of Walter Traill, archbishop of St. Andrew’s, 1385, who, as some say, purchased it; but Keith calls him “a son of the
, an eminent divine of the church of
Scotland, was descended of an ancient family that had
been in possession of the estate of Blebo, in the county of
Fife, from the time of Walter Traill, archbishop of St. Andrew’s, 1385, who, as some say, purchased it; but Keith
calls him “a son of the laird of Blebo,
” by which it would
appear that the estate had been in the family before the
archbishop’s time. This prelate had been a canon of St.
Andrew’s, and pursued his studies on the continent, where
he was honoured with the degree of doctor both of civil and
canon law, and when at Rome became referendary to pope
Clement VIL This pontiff had a very high opinion of
him, and when the see of St. Andrew’s became vacant, preferred him to it by his authority, without any election.
So excellent indeed was his character in that comparatively
dark age, that even Buchanan speaks in his praise. He
built the castle of St. Andrew’s, the scene afterwards of
many remarkable transactions in the history of the church
of Scotland, and died in 14-01. He was buried in the cathedral, near to the high altar, with an inscription characteristic of the encomiastic genius of the times:
rive at the sixteenth century, when we meet with Andrew Traill, the great grandfather of our author, who was a younger brother of the family of Blebo. Following the
He is said to have given the estate of Blebo to a nephew, but we are unable to trace his descendants until we arrive at the sixteenth century, when we meet with Andrew Traill, the great grandfather of our author, who was a younger brother of the family of Blebo. Following the profession of a soldier, he rose to the rank of a colonel, and was for some time in the service of the city of Bruges, and other towns in Flanders, in the wars which they carried on in defence of their liberties, against Philip II. of Spain. When he left this service his arrears amounted to 2,700l. for which he received a bond secured upon the property of the States. He then served under the king of Navarre, afterwards Henry IV. of France, in the civil wars of that kingdom, and had occasion to do that prince considerable service in taking a town by stratagem. Upon his return to Britain he was made a gentleman of prince Henry’s privychamber. When he died is not known; but he had a son, James Traill, who endeavoured to recover the sum due to him by the cities of Flanders; and, upon a petition to king James, which was referred to sir Harry Martin, judge of the admiralty, he obtained a warrant to arrest a ship belonging to the city of Bruges, which was done accordingly. But the duke of Buckingham being gained by the adverse party, the ship was soon released; nor could he ever afterwards recover any part of the debt. This circumstance, together with the expence of the prosecution, obliged him to dispose of a small estate in the parish of Deninno, in the county of Fife.
eturned afterwards, and died in Scotland, but at what time is uncertain. He was one of the ministers who attended the marquis of Montrose on the scaffold. While in Holland,
The son of this James Traill, Robert, the father of the
immediate subject of this article, was minister, first of Ely,
in the county of Fife, and afterwards of the Grey Friars
church, in Edinburgh, and was much distinguished for his
fidelity and zeal in discharging the duties of his function,
until after the restoration, when being prosecuted for nonconformity before the Scotch council, he was imprisoned
seven months in Edinburgh, and banished from the kingdom. He then went to Holland, whence he wrote a letter
of advice to his wife and children, the only piece of his
which has been published. He returned afterwards, and
died in Scotland, but at what time is uncertain. He
was one of the ministers who attended the marquis of Montrose on the scaffold. While in Holland, a very characteristic portrait of him was painted there, which is now in the
possession of the earl of Buchan, and from which there is
an engraving in Mr. Pinkerton’s “Scotish Gallery.
”
esbyterian church, he became a sufferer in its cause, unusual severity being exercised against those who would not accede to the introduction of episcopacy. In 1666
His son, Robert, the subject of this memoir, was born
at Ely in May 1642. After the usual course of education
at home, he was sent to the university of Edinburgh, where
he recommended himself to the several professors by his
capacity and diligent application to his studies. Having
determined to devote himself to the church, he pursued
the study of divinity with great ardour for several years.
Partaking with his father in zeal for the principles and
discipline of the presbyterian church, he became a sufferer
in its cause, unusual severity being exercised against those
who would not accede to the introduction of episcopacy.
In 1666 he was obliged to secrete himself, together with
his mother and elder brother, because some copies of a
book entitled “An apologetic Relation,
” &c. which the
privy council had ordered to be publicly burnt, were found
in Mrs. Traill’s house; and in the following year, being
suspected as having been one of those who took up arms
and resisted the king’s forces, or of being a favourer of
their cause, a proclamation was issued for apprehending
him. This obliged him to join his father in Holland, where
he resumed his divinity studies, and assisted Nethenus,
professor of divinity at Utrecht, in the republication of
Rutherford’s “Examination of Arminianism.
” In the preface to his edition of that book, Nethenus speaks of Mr.
Robert Traill as a pious, prudent, learned, and industrious
young man.
this he discovers great zeal against Arminianism, and is not a little displeased with those divines who were for adopting what they called a middle way, and who wrote
As he was warmly attached to the doctrines usually called
Calvinistic, he took a zealous concern in the controversy
that followed the publication of Dr. Crisp’s works. In 1692
he published his “Vindication of the Protestant doctrine
of Justification, and of its first preachers and professors,
from the unjust charge of Antinomianisrn.
” In this he discovers great zeal against Arminianism, and is not a little
displeased with those divines who were for adopting what
they called a middle way, and who wrote against Dr. Crisp.
n, Robert, was minister of Panbride, in the county of Angus, and was the father of Dr. James Traill, who, conforming to the English church, was presented to the living
Mr. Traill lived to see the revolution established, and to rejoice in the settlement of the protestant succession in the illustrious house of Hanover. He died in May 1716, aged seventy-four. His works, principally sermons, which have long been popular, particularly in Scotland, were printed for many years separately, but in 1776 were published together at Glasgow in 3 vols. 8vo. In 1810a more complete edition appeared at Edinburgh in 4 vols. 8vo, with a life prefixed, of which we have partly availed ourselves. It is not mentioned in any account we have seen, where Mr. Traill died, but it is probable that he had returned to Scotland before that event, as all his descendants were settled there. His son, Robert, was minister of Panbride, in the county of Angus, and was the father of Dr. James Traill, who, conforming to the English church, was presented to the living of West Ham, Essex, in 1762. He accompanied the earl of Hertford as chaplain to that nobleman when ambassador in France, and was afterwards his chaplain when he became lord lieutenant of Ireland. In 1765 he was appointed bishop of Down and Connor, and died in Dublin in 1783.
use his family were originally of that city. In his youth he wenj; to Venice, where Francis Barbaro, who had invited him, became his patron. Having been instructed in
, a learned modern Greek,
was born in 1395, in the island of Crete, but took the
name of Trapezuntius, or “of Trebisond,
” because his
family were originally of that city. In his youth he wenj;
to Venice, where Francis Barbaro, who had invited him,
became his patron. Having been instructed in the Latin
language he went to Padua, and afterwards to Vicenza,
where in 1420 his patron obtained for him the professorship of the Greek, but he did not remain long in this situation. Finding himself harassed by the intrigues of Guarino, of Verona, who regarded him with sentiments of determined hostility, he gave up his professorship, on which
Barbaro recalled him to Venice, where by the interest of
this steady friend he was appointed to teach rhetoric, and
was enrolled among the citizens of Venice. Barbaro afterwards recommended him to the court of Rome, where
we find Trapezuntius in 1442, in the pontificate of
Eugenius, teaching the belles lettres and the Aristotelian philosophy. During the same time he was employed in translating several Greek authors into Latin, which induced
Nicholas V. the successor of Eugenius, to make him apostolic secretary. These translations he was thought to have
executed well, but his reputation declined so far on one
occasion as to end in his disgrace. He had received orders
from the pope to translate the Almagest of Ptolemy, and
to add a commentary, or notes. This he performed in
1451, and the following year was banished from Rome on
account of this work. What there was so offensive as to
bring upon him this punishment is not known, or at least
not clearly expressed by his biographers; but it seems
not improbable, that his general temper, which was irritable, had disgusted some of his contemporaries, and that
the pope had listened to the insinuations of his enemies.
Many errors had been detected in his translations by some
of those able scholars whom Nicholas V. had assembled at
his court, and this probably rendered Trapezuntius more
apt to take offence. It was probably while in this temper,
that a disgraceful quarrel took place between him and the
celebrated Poggio, in Pompey’s theatre, where the pontifical secretaries were assembled, for the purpose of correcting certain official papers. It was occasioned by some
satiric remarks of Poggio, which provoked Trapezuntius to
give him a blow on the face. Poggio returned it, and
continued the battle until, as we may suppose, the combatants were parted.
on of the rev. John Trapp, vicar of Weston-upon-Avon, and schoolmaster at Stratford in Warwickshire, who wrote large commentaries upon almost all the books of the Old
, an English divine, and voluminous translator, was the grandson of the rev. John Trapp, vicar of Weston-upon-Avon, and schoolmaster at Stratford in Warwickshire, who wrote large commentaries upon almost all the books of the Old and New Testament, published in several quarto volumes, 1646, &c. and other tracts on subjects of divinity. He never had, nor wished to have, any preferment besides his vicarage, which lay at the convenient distance of two miles from his school. His character, as a man and as a preacher, would have recommended him to higher promotion; but he always refused to accept it, as his condition was equal to his wishes. He died Oct. 17, 1669, aged sixty-eight.
ch of his parishioners in Christ-church and St. Leonard’s Foster-lane, and in Harlington, Middlesex, who were housekeepers, might, from the highest to the lowest, “have
In 1720, Mr. Trapp was, by the favour of the earl of
Peterborough, presented to the rectory of Dauntzey, in
Wiltshire, which he resigned in 1721 for the vicarage of
the united parishes of Christ-ohurch, Newgate-street, and
St. Leonard’s, Foster-lane. In February 1727, in consequence of the merit and usefulness of his two books, entitled “Popery truly stated,
” and “Answer to England’s
Conversion,
” both printed in that year, he was presented
by the university of Oxford with a doctor of divinity’s degree by diploma. In 1733, he was, on the demise of Robert Cooper, M. A. and archdeacon of Dorset, preferred
to the rectory of Harlington, Middlesex, on the presentation of the celebrated lord Bolingbroke, to whom he had
been appointed chaplain by the recommendation of dean
Swift, and in defence of whose administration he had written a number of papers in the “Examiner,
” during have a copy of his little book, entitled ‘ The Four last
Things,’ beseeching them, for the sake of their immortal
souls, to read it, and practise it, and recommend it to
their children and servants, and all others committed to
their charge.
” His parishioners of Christ-church had so
grateful a sense of his memory, as to erect a monument
by subscription in their church, with an inscription apparently taken from some lines in the poem which he bequeathed them.
reatest honours and respect from persons of the first order and character. The university of Oxford, who confers her honours only by the test of merit, and the rules
He was so much addicted to books, that it was the late
bishop Pearce’s opinion that he studied harder than any
man in England. In consequence of this he was liable to
absence of mind, as it is called, and frequently ordinary
matters and occurrences passed unheeded before him.
When at college, according to the imperfect account of
him in the Supplement to the “Biographia Britannica,
” he
was somewhat dissipated, and was led to pursuits not becoming his intended profession. When he applied to Dr,
Robinson, bishop of London, for orders, that prelate censured him, with much warmth, for having written a play
(“Abramule
”); but, after taking on him the sacred profession, he was uniform in a conduct which did credit to
it. And his consistency in this respect for a series of years,
during the most turbulent times, both in church and state,
procured him the greatest honours and respect from persons of the first order and character. The university of
Oxford, who confers her honours only by the test of merit,
and the rules of propriety, could not express her opinion
of his merit more significantly than by presenting him with
a doctor of divinity’s degree, by diploma, in full convocation. When he preached his assize sermon at Oxford,
1739, it was observed, that the late rev. Dr. Theophilus
Leigh, master of Baliol-college, and then vice-chancellor
of Oxford, stood up all the time of his preaching, to manifest his high sense of so respectable a character. Nor
was he regarded only by those of his own church and country, for he was much esteemed by foreigners, and even by
those of the Romish communion, against whom he stood
foremost in controversy, and that with some acrimony.
When, in 1742, his son was at Rome, he was asked by
one of the cardinals, whether he was related to the great
Dr. Trapp, and the cardinal being informed that he was
his son, he immediately requested, that on his return to
England, he would not fail to make his particular respects
to the doctor.
ving at Harlington, together with his manuscript papers, devolved, in course, to his son, Mr. Trapp, who dying, the books, now much increased by Mr. Trapp’s elegant
Dr. Trapp’s library, consisting of his own original collection and Dr. Sacheverell’s added, at his town house in Warwick-lane, and his country living at Harlington, together with his manuscript papers, devolved, in course, to his son, Mr. Trapp, who dying, the books, now much increased by Mr. Trapp’s elegant collection of classic authors, valuable prints, and medals, were sold altogether to Lowndes of London, and from him the library passed to Gov. Palk. The manuscripts were excepied for Mr. Awbery, at whose death they passed into the possession of some friend, common to Messrs. Trapp and Awbery.
n White of Oxford, by whom he had two sons, Henry, so baptised after his godfather lord Bolingbroke, who died in infancy, and Joseph, who became in 1734 fellow of New
Dr. Trapp married, in 1712, Miss White, daughter of Mr. Alderman White of Oxford, by whom he had two sons, Henry, so baptised after his godfather lord Bolingbroke, who died in infancy, and Joseph, who became in 1734 fellow of New college Oxford, and in 1751 was presented by George Pitt, esq. afterwards lord Rivers, to the living of Stratfield, near Hertford Bridge, Hampshire. He died in 1769.
and he had the honour of addressing his majesty, in the absence of the lord mayor, sir John Chapman, who was confined by sickness. His very able speech on this occasion
, a learned judge, was born, as Wood
thinks, at or near Plympton in Devonshire in 1644, and was
admitted a commoner of Exeter college, Oxford, in 1660.
After studying some time here, he left college without
taking a degree, as, we have repeatedly had occasion te
observe, was usual with young gentlemen intended for the
law; and went to the Inner Temple. After being admitted
to the bar, he had much practice, and was accounted a
good common lawyer. In 1678 and 1679, he sat in parliament as representative for Plympton, and in the lastmentioned year was appointed chairman of the committee
of secrecy for the investigation of the popish plot, and was
in 1680 one of the managers in the impeachment of lord
Stafford. In December of the same year, when sir George
Jeffries was dismissed from the recordership of London, Mr.
Treby was elected in his room, and in January 1681 the
king conferred on him the honour of knighthood: but when
the quo warranto issued, and the city charter, for which he
pleaded along with Pollexfen, was withheld, he was deprived of the recordership in Oct. 1685. On the revolution, king William restored him to this office, and he had
the honour of addressing his majesty, in the absence of the
lord mayor, sir John Chapman, who was confined by sickness. His very able speech on this occasion was published
in the “Fourth collection of papers relating to the present
juncture of affairs in England,
” History of the Desertion,
”
by his discoveries on the nature of the polypes. These animals were first discovered by Leeuwenhoek, who gave some account of them in the Philosophical Transactions
, an eminent naturalist, was
born at Gen-eva in 1710, and was intended by his father
for the church, for which reason he sent him to pursue his
studies in Holland. There he became tutor to the children
of M. Bentinck, and coming afterwards to London, had
the young duke of Richmond for his pupil. On his return to Geneva in 1757, he settled there, and became most
esteemed for learning and private character. He had early
devoted his leisure to some branches of natural history, and
when appointed one of the commissioners for providing
Geneva with a granary of corn, he was enabled by his
knowledge of the insects which infest grain, to prevent
their ravages in a great measure. But his reputation as a
naturalist was first promoted throughout Europe by his
discoveries on the nature of the polypes. These animals
were first discovered by Leeuwenhoek, who gave some
account of them in the Philosophical Transactions for
1703; but their wonderful properties were not thoroughly
known until 1740, when Mr. Trembley began to investigate them; and when he published the result of his experiments in his “Memoires sur les Polypes,
” Leyden, Instructions d'un pare a ses enfans
sur la nature et la religion,
” Instructions sur la religion naturelle,
” Recherches sur le principe de la vertu et du bonheur,
” 8vo, works in which philosophy and piety are united.
Mr. Trembley died in 1734.
ng to the public. These were continued for almost three years with very great reputation among those who were not very closely attached to the government or the church;
, an English political writer, of
the democratic cast, was descended of an ancient family,
the son of sir John Trenchard, secretary of state to king
William III. and was born in 1669. “”He had a liberal education, and was bred to the law, in which he was well
skilled; but politics, and his place of commissioner of the
forfeited estates in Ireland, which he had enjoyed in the
reign of king William, took him from the bar, whither he
had never any inclination to return. He was also rendered
independent by the death of an uncle, and by his marriage,
and determined to employ his time in political discussions.
His first publication of this kind, in conjunction with Mr.
Moyle, appeared in 1698, entitled “An Argument, shewing that a standing army is inconsistent with a free government, and absolutely destructive to the constitution of the
English monarchy;
” and, in A short history of
Standing Armies in England;
” which two pamphlets produced several answers. In November 1720, in conjunction
with Mr. Thomas Gordon, he began to publish, in the
“London,' 7 and afterwards in the
” British Journal,“a
series of letters, under the name of
” Cato,“upon various
and important subjects relating to the public. These were
continued for almost three years with very great reputation among those who were not very closely attached to
the government or the church; but there were some papers
among them, written by Mr. Trenchard, under the name
of
” Diogenes,“upon several points of religion, which
were thought exceptionable, and animadverted upon, particularly by Mr. John Jackson, in a
” Defence of human
Liberty.“Dr. Clarke also wrote some animadversions upon
Trenchard’s principles, but which were never published.
They are inserted in the General Dictionary. Mr. Gordon afterwards collected the papers written by Mr. Trenchard and himself, and published them in four volumes,
12mo, under the title of
” Cato’s Letters, or Essays on
Liberty, civil or religions, and other important subjects;“the fourth edition of which, corrected, was printed in
1737. It was imagined at the time, that lord Molesworth
had a chief, at least a considerable, hand in those letters;
but Mr. Gordon assures us, in the dedication of them to
John Milner, esq. that this noble person never wrote a line
in them, nor contributed a thought towards them. As to
the purport and design of them, Mr. Gordon says, that
” as
they were the work of no faction or cabal, nor calculated
for any lucrative or ambitious ends, or to serve the purposes of any party whatsoever, but attacked falsehood and
dishonesty in all shapes and parties, without temporising
with any, doing justice to all, even to the weakest and most
unfashionable, and maintaining the principles of liberty
against the practices of boih parties; so they were dropped
without any sordid composition, and without any consideration, save that it was judged that the public, after all its
terrible convulsions, was become calm and safe. They had
treated of most of the subjects important to the world, and
meddled with public measures and public men only in great
instances.“He wrote also in
” The Independent Whig,"
another paper hostile to 'the hierarchy.
.” 1719. “Thoughts on the Peerage-bill,” 1719. Arid “Reflections on the Old Whig,” 1719. Mr. Gordon, who has drawn his character at large in the preface above cited,
Mr. Trenchard was member of parliament for Taunton
in Somersetshire, and died Dec. 17, 1723, of an ulcer in
his kidneys. He is said to have thought too much, and
with too much solicitude, to have done what he did too
intensely and with too much vigour and activity of the
head, which caused him many bodily disorders, and is supposed at last to have worn out the springs of life. He left
no writings at all behind him, but two or three loose papers, once intended for Cato’s Letters. Mr. Anthony
Collins, in the manuscript catalogue of his library, ascribes
to him the following pieces: “The natural history of Superstition,
” Considerations on the public debts,
”
Comparison of the proposals of the Bank and
South-Sea Company,
” Letter of thanks, &c.
”
Thoughts on the Peerage-bill,
” Reflections on the Old Whig,
”
avings from the works of the ancient masters, in the collections of the British nobility, and others who have distinguished themselves by their patronage of the fine
, an excellent artist of the English school, and a member of the Royal Academy of London, and of the academies of Rome and Bologna, was a native of Ireland, which country he left at an early age; and having devoted himself to the arts, repaired to Italy, at a time when an acquaintance with the master-pieces of the arts which that country possessed, was considered as an essential requisite for completing the education of a gentleman. The friendships and acquaintance formed by Mr. Tresham while abroad, were not a little conducive to the promotion of his interests on his return to this country; and their advantages were experienced by him to the last moment of his life. As an artist, Mr. Tresham possessed very considerable talents; and, while his health permitted him to exert them, they were honourably directed to the higher departments of his art. A long residence in Italy, together with a diligent study of the antique, had given him a lasting predilection for the Roman school; and his works display many of the powers and peculiarities which distinguish the productions of those great masters whose taste he had adopted. He had much facility of composition, and his fancy was well stored with materials; but his oil pictures are deficient in that richness of colouring and spirit of execution which characterize the Venetian pencil, and which have been displayed, in many instances, with rival excellence in this country. His drawings with pen and ink, and in black chalk, evince uncommon ability; the latter, in particular, are executed with a spirit, boldness, and breadth which are not often to be found in su; a productions. In that which may be termed the erudition of taste, Mr. Tresham was deeply skilled: a long acquaintance with the most eminent masters of the Italian schools made him familiar with their merits and defects; he could discriminate between all their varieties of style and manner; and as to every estimable quality of a picture, he was considered one of the ablest criticks of his day: in the just appreciation, also, of those various remains of antiquity which come under the different classifications of virtu, his opinion was sought, with eagerness, by the connoisseur as well as the artist, and held as an authority, from which few would venture lightly to dissent. This kind of knowledge proved not a little beneficial to him. Some years since, Mr. Thomas Hope, whose choice collections of every kind are well known, had given to one of his servants a number of Etruscan vases, as the refuse of a quantity which he had purchased. Accident made Mr. Tresham acquainted with the circumstance; and the whole lot was bought by him of the new owner for \00l. It was not long before he recefved 800l. from Mr. Samuel Rogers, for one moiety; and the other, increased by subsequent acquisitions, he transferred a few years ago to the earl of Carlisle. That nobleman, with a munificence and liberality which have invariably marked all his transactions, settled on the artist an annuity of 300l. for life, as the price of this collection. With such honour was this engagement fulfilled, that the amount of the last quarter, though due only a few days before Mr. Tresham’s death, was found to have been punctually paid. When Messrs. Longman and Co. commenced their splendid publication of engravings from the works of the ancient masters, in the collections of the British nobility, and others who have distinguished themselves by their patronage of the fine arts, they, with a discernment which does them credit, deputed Mr. Tresham to superintend the undertaking. To the honour of the owners of those master-pieces it must be recorded, that every facility was afforded to this artist, not only in the loan of pictures, but in the communication of such facts relating to the respective works as they were able to furnish. The salary paid him by these spirited publishers, contributed materially to the comfort of his declining years. We should not omit to mention, to the credit of Mr. Tresham, that, regardless as he had been in early life of providing those resourses for old age which prudence would suggest, yet so high were his principles, that the most celebrated dealers in virtu, auctioneers, and others, never hesitated to deliver lots to any amount purchased by him; and we may venture to assert, that he never abused their confidence. But the talents of Tresham were not confined to objects immediately connected with his profession; he had considerable taste for poetry, and his published performances in that art display a lively fancy, and powers of versification, of no ordinary kind. In society, which he loved and enjoyed to the last, he was always considered as an acquisition by his friends; and amongst those friends were included many of the most elevated and estimable characters of the time. In conversation, he was fluent, humourous, and animated, abounding in anecdote, and ready of reply. During the latter years of his life, the contrast exhibited between the playful vivacity of his manners and the occasional exclamations of agony, produced by the spasmodic affections with which he was so long afflicted, gave an interest to his appearance that enhanced the entertainment which his colloquial powers afforded. His existence seemed to hang upon so slight a thread that those who enjoyed his society were commonly under an impression that the pleasure derived from it might not be again renewed, and that a frame so feeble could scarcely survive the exertion which the vigour of his spirit for a moment sustained. The principle of life, however, was in him so strong, as to contradict all ordinary indications; and he lived on, through many years of infirmity, as much to the surprise as the gratification of his friends: his spirits unsubdued by pain, and his mind uninfluenced by the decay of his body. Though partaking, in some degree, of the proverbial irritability of the poet and the painter, no man was more free from envious and malignant feelings, or could be more ready to do justice to the claims of his competitors. So true a relish had he for the sallies of wit -and humour, that he could enjoy them even at his own expense: and he has been frequently known to repeat, with unaffected glee, the jest that has been pointed against himself. By his death, which took place June 17, 1814, the Royal Academy was deprived of one of its most enlightened members, and his profession of a liberal and accomplished artist.
oman law induced Justinian the emperor to place him at the head of a committee of seventeen lawyers, who were to exercise an absolute jurisdiction over the works of
, an eminent Roman lawyer, and the object of equal praise and censure, was a native of Side in Pamphylia, and esteemed a man of extensive learning. He is said to have written, both in prose and verse, on many subjects of philosophy, politics, astronomy, &c. but none of his writings nave descended to us. From the bar of the praetorian praefects, he raised himself to the honours of questor, consul, and master of the offices. His knowledge of the Roman law induced Justinian the emperor to place him at the head of a committee of seventeen lawyers, who were to exercise an absolute jurisdiction over the works of their predecessors, from which they compiled the Digest or Pandects, which go by that emperor’s name. Tribonianus has been represented by some writers as an infidel, and by others as extremely avaricious, and tampering with the laws to gratify this propensity. The former of these charges Mr. Gibbon very naturally wishes to impute to bigotry, but the latter is generally admitted. His oppressions were at one time so much the subject of complaint as to procure a sentence of banishment, but he was soon recalled, and remained in favour with Justinian for above twenty years. Tribonianus is supposed to have died about the year 546.
Joshua Reynolds, respecting a passage in the “Paradise Lost,” which could not be decided. Mr. Kirby, who, as well as his daughter, was present, inquired if she had not
Miss Kirby, being removed from the companions of her
childhood, passed her time during her residence in London in the society of people more advanced in life, and
some of thtfm persons of eminence in the literary world.
Among these may be numbered, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Gregory Sharpe, Mr. Gainsborough, Mr. Hogarth, &c. By
Dr. Johnson she was favoured with particular notice. The
circumstance which first attracted his attention, was a literary dispute at the house of sir Joshua Reynolds, respecting a passage in the “Paradise Lost,
” which could not be
decided. Mr. Kirby, who, as well as his daughter, was
present, inquired if she had not the book in her pocket, it
being a great fatourite of hers, and he probably knowing
that it then made a part of her daily studies. The book
was accordingly produced, and opened at the disputed
part. Dr. Johnson was so struck with a girl of that age
making this work her pocket companion, and likewise with
the modesty of her behaviour upon the occasion, that he
invited her the next day to his house, presented her with a
copy of his “Rambler,
” and afterwards treated her with
great consideration.
cations, some of the higher order, which met with the cordial approbation of that part of the public who considered religion as the only basis of morality. Into the
About 1759, Mr. Kirby removed to Kew, upon being
appointed clerk of the works in that palace, and there his
daughter became acquainted with Mr. Trimmer, and at the
age of twenty-one, she was united to him, with the approbation of the friends on both sides. Mr. Trimmer was a
man of an agreeable person, pleasing manners, and exemplary virtues; and was about two years older than herself.
In the course of their union, she had twelve children, six
sons and six daughters. From the time of her marriage
t?ll she became an author, she was almost constantly occupied with domestic duties; devoting herself to the nursing
and educating of her children. She used to say, that as
soon as she became a mother, her thoughts were turned so
entirely to the subject of education, that she scarcely read
a book upon any other topic, and believed she almost wearied
her friends by making it so frequently the subject of conversation. Having experienced the greatest success in her
plan of educating her own family, she naturally wished to
extend that blessing to others, and this probably first induced her to become an author. Soon after the publication of Mrs. Barbauld’s “Easy Lessons for Children,
”
about Easy
Introduction to the knowledge of Nature,
” which was soon
completed, printed, became very popular, and still keeps
its place in schools and private families. The design of it
was to open the minds of children to a variety of information, to induce them to make observations on the works of
nature, and to lead them up to the universal parent, the
creator of this world and of all things in it. This was followed by a very valuable series of publications, some of
the higher order, which met with the cordial approbation
of that part of the public who considered religion as the
only basis of morality. Into the notions of a lax education, independent of the history and truths of revelation,
whether imported from the French or German writers, or
the production of some of our own authors, misled by
the vanity of being thought philosophers, Mrs. Trimmer
could not for a moment enter; and therefore in some of
her later publications, endeavoured with great zeal to stop
that torrent of infidelity which at one time threatened to
sweep away every vestige of Christianity. She was also an
early supporter and promoter of Sunday-schools, and at
one time had a long conference with her majesty, who
wished to be made acquainted with the history, nature, and
probable utility of those schools. But the fame she derived from her meritorious writings was not confined to
schools. She had the happiness of hearing that her books
were approved by many of our ablest divines, and that
some of them were admitted on the list of publications dispersed by the Society for promoting Christian knowledge.
One of her best performances was rendered very necessary
by the circumstances of the times. It was a periodical
work, which she continued for some years, under the title
of “The Guardian of Education.
” She was led to this by
observing the mischief that had crept into various publications for the use of children, which occasioned her much
alarm, and she feared, if something were not done to open
the eyes of the public to this growing evil, the minds of
youth would be poisoned, and irreparable injury be sustained. There was indeed just cause for alarm, when it
was known that the two principal marts for insidious publications of this kind, were under the management of men
who had only avarice to prompt them, and were notorious
for their avowed contempt for religion.
in which she was accustomed to write, she bowed her head upon her bosom, and expired. Her children, who were accustomed to see her occasionally take repose in this
This estimable woman died suddenly, in the sixty-ninth year of her age, Dec. 15, 1810. As she was sitting in her study, in the chair in which she was accustomed to write, she bowed her head upon her bosom, and expired. Her children, who were accustomed to see her occasionally take repose in this manner, could scarcely persuade themselves that she was not sunk in sleep: and it was not till after some time that they could be made to believe that it was the sleep of death. Her remains were deposited at the family vault at Ealing. She had survived her husband some years.
iting in young minds an early taste for divine subjects, and of furnishing persons of maturer years, who have not leisure for the works of more voluminous commentators,
The following, we believe, is a correct list of her various
publications, although we are not certain if in strict chronological order. 1. “A little Spelling-book for young
Children;
” 2. “Easy Lessons; a Sequel to the above;
”
3. “LXIV Prints taken from the Old Testament; with a
Description, in a Set of easy Lessons;
” 4. “LXIV Prints
from the New Testament, and Description;
” 5. “LXIV
Prints of Roman History, with Description;
” 6. “LXIV
Prints of English History, with Description;
” 7. “A Comment on Dr. Watts’s Divine Songs for Children;
” 8. “An
easy Introduction to the Knowledge of Nature, and Reading the Holy Scriptures;
” 9. “An Abridgment of Scripture History; consisting of Lessons from the Old Testament;
” 10. “An Abridgment of the New Testament consisting of Lessons composed chiefly from the Gospels;
” 11.
“A Scripture Catechism; containing an Explanation of
the above Lessons in the Style of Familiar Conversation,
”
in 2 vols. The four last articles were written originally for
children in the lower classes of life; but they have been
adopted into many schools and families, for the instruction
of those of superior condition. 12. “An Attempt to familiarise the Catechism of the Church of England;
” 13.
“An Explanation of the Office of Baptism, and of the
Order of Confirmation in the Common Prayer-book;
” 14.
The same, with “Questions for the Use of Teachers
” 15.
“A Companion to the Book of Common Prayer containing a Practical Comment on the Liturgy, Epistles, and
Gospels.
” This work, though principally intended for
young persons, has proved satisfactory to persons of maturer years. 16. The same in 2 vols. with “Questions for
the Use of Teachers;
” 17. “Sacred History, selected from
the Scriptures, with Annotations and Reflections.
” This
work is executed upon a peculiar plan, and was composed
with a view of exciting in young minds an early taste for
divine subjects, and of furnishing persons of maturer years,
who have not leisure for the works of more voluminous commentators, with assistance in the study of the Scriptures.
The historical events are collected from the various books
of which the Sacred Volume is composed, and arranged in
a regular series; many passages of the Prophetic writings,
and of the Psalms, are interwoven with the respective parts
of the history to which they relate; and the whole illustrated by annotations and reflections, founded on the best
authorities. 18. “Fabulous Histories; designed to teach
the proper Treatment of Animals;
” 19. “The Guardian
of Education;
” in 5 vols. 20. “Sermons for Familyreading, abridged from the works of eminent divines;
” 21.
“The Family Magazine,
” 3 vols. 12ino. Her character,
her train of study and occupations, and her sentiments on
many interesting topics, are amply illustrated in a work published since her death, and to Wi; we are indebted for
the above particulars, entitled “fe ie Account of the Life
and Writings of Mrs. Trimmer, with Original Letters, and
Meditations and Prayers, selected from her Journal,
” 2
vols. 1814.
exceed two hundred pounds per ann.) in favour of Mr. Downes (afterwards bishop of Derry in Ireland) who had married one of his sisters. On July the 4th, 1699, he was
Charles, the subject of this memoir, was born at RiptonAbbots, Dec. 27, 1663, and in 1675 was admitted on the
foundation at Winchester college, where his learning, morals, and respectful behaviour, recommended him to the
notice of his superiors. In 1681 he removed from Winchester to New college, Oxford, to which, as the preacher
of his funeral sermon says, he “brought more meekness
and patience in the study of philosophy, than the generality of philosophers carry from it.
” In Jan. 1688 he was
admitted master of arts, and in the same year appointed
preacher at the Rolls chapel by sir John Trevor, master of
the Rolls. In August 1689, he attended the earl of Sunderland and his lady in their journey to Holland; and,
after their return home, continued with them at Althorp,
as their domestic chaplain. In Dec. 1691 he was installed
prebendary of Norwich. In 1694, he was presented by
the earl of Sunderland to the rectory of Bodington in Northamptonshire, which he resigned two years after on being
instituted to Brington, in which parish Althorp stands, a
living of no greater value than Bodington, although he was
desired to keep both. In 1698 he was installed archdeacon
of Norfolk, and procured leave of his noble patron to resign
the rectory of Brington (at a time, when the remainder of his income did not exceed two hundred pounds per ann.)
in favour of Mr. Downes (afterwards bishop of Derry in Ireland) who had married one of his sisters. On July the
4th, 1699, he was admitted doctor in divinity. In 1701
and 1702, during the controversy that was carried on in
the Lower House of Convocation, he wrote some pieces in
defence of the rights of the crown, and the archbishop;
as, l. “A Vindication of the Proceedings of some Members of the Lower House of Convocation,
” The Pretence to enter the Parliament-Writ considered,
”
An Answer to a third Letter to a Clergyman in defence of the entry of the Parliament- Writ,
” Partiality detected,
” c. a large pamphlet.
appear as a candidate for the wardenship of New college in Oxford, by a great number of the fellows, who looked upon him as the fittest person to keep up that spirit
About this time he was made chaplain in ordinary to queen Anne. In 1703 he was invited to appear as a candidate for the wardenship of New college in Oxford, by a great number of the fellows, who looked upon him as the fittest person to keep up that spirit of discipline and learning, which had been exerted, with the greatest credit and advantage to the college, under their late excellent warden Dr. Traffics. But, contrary to the hopes and expectations of his friends, the election was determined in favour of Mr. Brathwait. On this occasion, thirty - one voted for Mr. Brathwait, and twenty - nine for Dr. Trimnell on which the scrutators declared Mr. Brathwait duly elected. But, according to the canon law, no mail can vote for himself in an election per scrutinium; and it being found, that Mr. Brathwait’s own vote had been given for himself, it was insisted upon, that Mr. Brathwait could not be duly elected, because he had but thirty good votes, which was not the major pars pr&sentium required by the statutes, thereb eing sixty electors- present. Upon this ground an appeal v>*as made to the visitor, Dr. Mews, bishop of Winchester, against the validity of the election. One of the bishop’s assessors gave no opinion; and the other, sir John Cooke (dean of the Arches), was clearly of opinion, that the election was void, and thereby a devolution made to the bishop, who, in consequence of such devolution, might nominate whom he pleased; but he chose rather to pronounce the election valid, and Mr. Brathwait duly elected.
rned in it, and could not but apprehend mischief coming to both from a pretension so new among those who call themselves members of the church of England: a church that
In 1705, having had no parochial duty for some years,
he undertook the charge of St. Giles’s parish, in the city
of Norwich; and in October 1706 was instituted to St.
James’s, Westminster, on the promotion of Dr. William
Wake to the bishopric of Lincoln. In January 1707, he
was elected bishop of Norwich in the room of Dr. John
Moore, translated to Ely, and was permitted to keep the
rectory of St. James’s with his bishopric for one year. In
1709 he published a charge to the clergy at his primary
visitation, in which he spoke with great freedom against
some prevailing opinions and practices, which he thought
prejudicial to the true interest of the church of England in
particular, and of religion in general. These opinions
were, the “independence of the church upon the state;
the
” power of offering sacrifice,“properly so called; and
the
” power of forgiving sins: “all of them,
” he says, “I
am persuaded, erroneous, in the manner they have been
urged, and no way agreeable to the doctrine of the church
of England about them. The making more things follow
our sacred function, than can fairly and plainly be grounded
upon it, will never advance our character with wise and
considering men, such as we should desire all men to be;
but must be a real prejudice to us. Our, pretending to an
independent power in things within the compass of human
authority; and a right to offer sacrifice properly speaking;
and a commission to forgive sins directly and immediately;
may, and will weaken the grounds and occasions of the reformation; and give our adversaries of the church of Rome,
as well as others, great advantage against us; but can
never, I am persuaded, advance the interest of the Christian religion in general, or of our church in particular.
”
He added an Appendix to the charge in answer to some
authorities that had been produced from ancient writers in
favour of the independence of the church upon the state;
which, he says, he did the rather, because he “thought
the peace both of church and state more immediately concerned in it, and could not but apprehend mischief coming
to both from a pretension so new among those who call
themselves members of the church of England: a church
that has hitherto been as much distinguished, as it has been
supported, by rejecting that claim.
” In a sermon preached
in 1707 before the sons of the clergy, he had expressed
himself in as strong a manner upon this subject, viz. “Let
us take care that, while we maintain the distinction and
dignity of our order, we do not suffer ourselves to be carried into a separate interest from that of those who are not
of our order, or from that of the state For we cannot pretend to be a separate body, without making the worst
kind of schism, and the nearest to that which is condemned
in scripture, that can be imagined: nor can any thing give
greater advantage to those other schisms that disturb the
peace of the church, than our dividing ourselves, in any
degree, from the true interest of that government to which
we belong.
” In his charge he censured a pa*sage in favour
of a proper sacrifice from Mr. Johnson’s second part of the
“Clergyman’s Vade Mecum
” (in the note upon the second apostolical canon), which Mr. Johnson defended in a postscript to a pamphlet called “The Propitiatory Oblation.
”
The bishop replied, in vindication of what he had said on
that subject; and afterwards inserted the substance of his
Reply in the body of the second edition of his charge.
gn of the 55th canon. And he observed from authority, that “the bishops (Dr. Uavis and Dr. Fletcher) who drew up the 55th canon, always used a form of their own;” and
Besides the opinions that have been mentioned, he declared himself against the modern practice of using the
bidding prayer before sermon, as not so agreeable to the
nature of the service, the long and general practice of the
church, or the design of the 55th canon. And he observed
from authority, that “the bishops (Dr. Uavis and Dr. Fletcher) who drew up the 55th canon, always used a form
of their own;
” and that among the bishop of Lincoln’s
articles of inquiry at his visitation in 1641, are these; "Do
a, daughter of Dr. William Talbot, then bishop of Oxford, and afterwards of Durham, he had two sons, who died in their infancy. This lady died in 1716 ti and in 1719
Soon after the accession of George I. he was made clerk of the closet to his majesty, in which office he continued until his death. In August 1721 he was translated to the bishopric of Winchester; and in the same year elected president of the corporation of the sons of the clergy. After suffering long by a weak constitution, he died at Farnham castle, Aug. 15, 1723, leaving no issue. By his first wife, Henrietta Maria, daughter of Dr. William Talbot, then bishop of Oxford, and afterwards of Durham, he had two sons, who died in their infancy. This lady died in 1716 ti and in 1719 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, widow of Joseph Taylor, of the Temple, esq. and sister of sir Rowland Wynne, of Nosteil, in Yorkshire, hart, who survived him. He was interred in Winchester cathedral, under a black marble stone, with a Latin inscription.
His known penetration and judgment recommended him so strongly to the favour and confidence of those who were at the head of affairs in the latter part of his life,
“He was not less qualified for his high station by his
abilities than his conduct; for he had an excellent turn
for business, and a quick apprehension. He was very well
versed in the divinity controversies, and immediately discerned the point on which the dispute turned, and pared
oil
” all the luxuriancies or writing. He had read the ancients with great exactness; and, without quoting, ofieu
mingled their finest notions with his own discourse, and
had a particular easiness and beauty in his manner of conversing, and expressing his sentiments upon every occasion. With his other excellencies he had acquired a
thorough knowledge of mankind; which, being adorned by
an affable and polite behaviour, gained him the general
esteem of the nobility and gentry. His known penetration and judgment recommended him so strongly to the favour and confidence of those who were at the head of affairs in the latter part of his life, that he was chiefly, if not
solely, advised with, and entrusted by them, in matters
which related to the filling up the principal offices in the
church. And, though he enjoyed as much of this power
as any clergyman has had since the reformation, he raised
no public odium or enmity against himself on that account;
because his silence, moderation, and prudence made it impossible for any one to discover the influence he had, from
his conversation, or conduct; a circumstance almost peculiar to him. He was too wise a man to increase the envy,
which naturally attends power, by an insolent and haughty
behaviour; and too good a man to encourage any one with
false hopes. For he was as cautious in making promises,
as he was just in performing them; and always endeavoured
to soften the disappointments of those he could not gratify,
by the good-nature and humanity, with which he treated
them. These separate characters (rarely blended together)
of an excellent scholar, and a polite, well-bred man; a
wise and honest statesman, and a devout, exemplary Christian, were all happily reconciled in this most amiable person; and placed him so high in the opinion of the world,
that no one ever passed through life with more esteem and
regard from men of all dispositions, parties, and denominations."
of 950 crowns, which the senate afterwards increased to 1600. While professor here, he was the first who lectured on Hippocrates in the original language. Finding the
, an eminent physician, but
principally deserving notice as the editor of some of the
first editions of the classics, was born at Venice in 1496.
He began his medical studies at Padua, and went afterwards to Bologna, where he became so distinguished for
his knowledge of the Greek language, that the professors
of the university would often consult him on difficult passages, and he was honoured by the name of the “Greek
scholar.
” After remaining seven years at Bologna, he returned to Padua to take his doctor’s degree, and then to
Venice, where, his character preceding him, he was appointed successor to Sebastian Fuscareni in the chair of
philosophy. His time was tehn divided between his lectures, his private studies, and his practice as a physician.
The latter was so extensive as to bring him annually about
three thousand crowns of gold. In 1551 he was appointed
successor to John Baptist Monti, in the medical professorship at Padua, and exchanged the profits of his practice for
a salary of 950 crowns, which the senate afterwards increased to 1600. While professor here, he was the first
who lectured on Hippocrates in the original language.
Finding the infirmities of age approach, he resigned his
office, and returned to Venice, where he died in 1568, in
the seventy-second year of his age.
, an Italian poet, who endeavoured to reform the style of his country, was born at
, an Italian poet, who endeavoured to reform the style of his country, was born at Vicenza, July 3, 1478, and was descended from one of the most ancient families of that place. It has been said that it was late in life before he began his studies, but as the same writer who gives us this information, adds that upon his father’s death, when he was only seven years old, he applied to them with spirit, it is evident he could not have lost much time. He was first educated at Vicenza, under a priest named Francis Gragnuola, and afterwards at Milan under the celebrated Demetrius Cbalcondylcs. To the memory of this last master, who died in 1511, Trissino erected a monument in the church of St. Mary at Milan, or us others say, in that of San Salvador, with an inscription. From the Greek and Latin language, he proceeded to the' study of mathematics, architecture, natural philosophy, and other branches which form a liberal education. In 1503 he married; and with a view to domestic happiness and literary retirement, went to reside on one of his estates, for he was left very opulent, at Criccoli on the Astego. Herv he built a magnificent house, from his own design, on which he employed one of his pupils in architecture, the afterwards justly celebrated Paliadio.
try, for which he had an early taste, until his tranquillity was disturbed by the death of his wife, who left him two sons, Francis and Julius. He now left Criccoli,
Trissino lived very happily in this retreat, cultivating the
arts and sciences, and especially poetry, for which he had
an early taste, until his tranquillity was disturbed by the
death of his wife, who left him two sons, Francis and Julius. He now left Criccoli, and to dissipate ins grief by
change of scene, went to Rome. It was perhaps with the
same view that he endeavoured to amuse himself by writing
his “Sophonisba,
” the first tragedy of modern times in
which appeared some traces of ancient style and manner.
Leo X. who had received Trissino with respect, and even
friendship, intended to have this tragedy represented with
great magnificence, but it does not sevm certain that it was
so acted In the mean time Leo perceived in the author
talents of a graver kind, which he might employ with advantage. He accordingly sent him on some important diplomatic business to the king of Denmark, the emperor
Maximilian, and the republic of Venice about 1516. In
these respective courts, Trissino gained great credit, and
during the intervals of his employments, formed connexions with the eminent men of all ranks who adorned
the court of Leo.
of the guards, was killed, and fled for some time to England. Returning to Poitou, he found friends who obtained his pardon from Louis XIII.; and Gaston of Orleans
, a French poet and
dramatic writer, was born in the castle of Souliers, in the
province of la Marche, in 1601. When attached to the
household of the marquis de Verncuil, natural son of
Henry IV. he fought a duel, in which his antagonist, one
of the guards, was killed, and fled for some time to England. Returning to Poitou, he found friends who obtained
his pardon from Louis XIII.; and Gaston of Orleans made
him one of his gentlemen in ordinary. His life became
then divided between poetry, gallantry, and gaming, and
he experienced all the reverses and vicissitudes to which
such a life is exposed, many of which he had alluded to
in his “Page disgracie,
” a romance published in 16-13,
4to. He wrote much for the stage, and was seldom unsuccessful. His tragedy of “Mariamne
” still keeps his
reputation alive, although it was fatal to the actor, Mondori, who performed the character of Herod, and died of
violent exertion. Tristan was admitted into the French
academy in 1649, but always lived poor. He died Sept. 7,
1655, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. His dramas and
other poems were primed in '') vols. 4to.
There were two others of this name: John Baptist
Tristan L'Hermite Souliers, who was gentleman of his
majesty’s bedchamber, and brother to the preceding. He
was author of the genealogies of several families; “L'Histoire geneologique cle la Noblesse de Touraine,
” La Toscane Francoise,
” Les Corses
Francoise,
” Naples Francoise,
” Historical Commentary on the Lives of the Emperors,
”
, a celebrated Dutch admiral, who is mentioned in our account of De Ruyter, was born at the Brille,
, a celebrated Dutch admiral, who is mentioned in our account of De Ruyter, was born at the Brille, in Holland. He rose in the naval service by his merit, after having distinguished himself on many occasions, especially at the famous engagement near Gibraltar in 1607. He was accounted one of the greatest seamen that had till that time appeared in the world; and was declared admiral of Holland, by the advice of the prince of Orange. He in that character defeated a large Spanish fleet in 1630, and gained upwards of thirty victories, of more or less importance, at sea; but was killed when under deck in an engagement with the English, in 1653. The States General caused medals to be struck to his honour, and lamented him as one or the greatest heroes of their republic. It is said that in the midst of his greatest glory, he was modest and unassuming, and never arrogated a higher character than that of a burgher, and that of being the father of the sailors. His second son, Cornelius, who died in 1691, was also a brave officer, and signalized himself in various naval engagements.
72. He was then at Troyes, in Champagne, and escaped by means of a priest, his friend and neighbour, who concealed him in his house. He intended to go into Germany,
, the first of a considerable family of learned men in Geneva and France, was born at Geneva, April 17, 1582, whither his father had fled on account of religion, and narrowly escaped from the massacre of the protestants in 1572. He was then at Troyes, in Champagne, and escaped by means of a priest, his friend and neighbour, who concealed him in his house. He intended to go into Germany, and only to pass through Geneva; but he remained there by the advice of an acquaintance, obtained the freedom of the city, and soon after was admitted into the council of two hundred in acknowledgment of 'some services which he had done the State during the war with the Duke of Savoy.
His son, Theodore, was educated, by the advice of Beza^ who was his godfather, and he made a vast progress in learning.
His son, Theodore, was educated, by the advice of Beza^ who was his godfather, and he made a vast progress in
learning. The testimony which was given him in 1600,
when he went to see foreign universities, represents him
as a person of very great hopes. He confirmed this character + all the learned men under whom he studied,
or with whom hee became acquainted during the course of
his travels, and these comprized most of the eminent men
on the contii w > in England. He returned to Geneva
in 1606, and gave such proofs of his learning that he was
the same year chosen professor of the Hebrew language.
In 1607 he married Theodora Rocca, a woman of great
merit in all respects, sister to the first syndic of the commonwealth, and grand-daughter to the wife of Theodore
Beza, at whose house she had been educated, and whose goddaughter she was. He was chosen minister in December
1605, and created rector of the university in 1610. In
1614 he was requested to read some lectures in divinity
besides those on the Hebrew language, on account of the
indisposition of one of the professors; and when the professorship of divinity became vacant in 1618, he was promoted to it, and resigned that of Hebrew. The same year
he was appointed by the assembly of pastors and professors
to answer the Jesuit Colon, who had attacked the French
version of the Bible in a book entitled “Geneve Plagiaire.'
”
This he did in his “Coton Plagiaire,
” which was extremely
well received by the public. At the same time he was sent
with Diodati from the church of Geneva to the synod of
Dorr.,' where he displayed his great knowledge in divinity,
and a moderation which was highly applauded. He had
permission to go to the duke of Rohan for some months in
1632, and fully answered the expectation of that nobleman,
who shewed him afterwards great esteem, which he returned
by honouring the duke’s memory with an oration, whicij
he pronounced some days after the funeral of that great
man in 1638. He carried on a very extensive correspondence in the reformed countries, where he gained the friendship of the most learned men, and of several princes and
great lords. He had much facility in composing oration:*
and Latin verses, and his conversation was highly instructive, for he had joined to the study of divinity and of several languages, the knowledge of the law, and of other
sciences, and of sacred and profane history, especially with
regard to the two last centuries, particulars of which he frequently introduced, and applied when in company. In 1655
he was appointed by the assembly of pastors to confer and
concur with John Dury in the affair of the rennion between
the Lutherans and the reformed, on which subject he wrote
several pieces. He died of a fever on the 19th. of November, 1657, having survived all the foreign divines who were
present at the synod of Don. He was an open and sincere
man, zealous for religion and the service of the churches,
a great enemy to vices, though very mild towards persons.
His advice was highly esteemed both for the civil government, and in the two ecclesiastical bodies, and by strangers,
a great number of whom consulted him. He left, among
other children, Lewis Tronchin, who was a minister of the
church of Lyons, and was chosen four years after to fill his
place in the church and professorship of divinity at Geneva.
He died in 1705. He was esteemed one of the ablest divines of his time, and a man of great liberality of senti
ment. He was well known to, and corresponded with our
archbishops Tillotson and Tenison, and the bishops Compton, Lloyd, and Burnet, who gives him a very high character in his Tour through Switzerland.
, a French abb of temporary fame, but who is upon the whole rather faintly praised by his countrymen,
, a French
abb of temporary fame, but who is upon the whole rather
faintly praised by his countrymen, was born at St. Malo in
Dec. 1697. He was related to the celebrated Maupertuis,
who dedicated the third volume of his works to him. His
first appearance as an author was in 1717, in his twentieth
year, when he published in the French “Mercure,
” his
“Reflections on Telemachus,
” which served to introduce
him to La Motte and Fontenelle, who became afterwards
not only the objects of his constant esteem, but of a species of idolatry which exposed him to the ridicule of the
wits of his day. There are no memoirs of his education
and early progress, but it appears that he was treasurer of
the church of Nantes, and afterwards archdeacon and canon of St. Malo. For some time he lived in intimacy with
cardinal Tencin, and visited Rome with him, but having
no inclination to a life of dependence, whatever advantages
it might bring, he returned to Paris, and employed his
time in literary pursuits. His irreproachable conduct and
agreeable manners procured him very general esteem as a
man, but as a writer he never ranked high in the public
opinion, and although very ambitious of a seat in the
French academy, he did not reach that honour until 1761.
About six years afterwards he retired to his native place,
where he died in March 1770. His principal works were,
I. “Essais de litterature et de morale,
” 4 vols. 12mo, which
have been often reprinted and translated into other languages. These essays, although the author was neither
gifted with the elegance of La Bruyere, nor with the penetration of La Rochefoucault, contain much good sense and
knowledge of books and men. 2. “Panegyriques ties
Saints,
” a work feebly written, but to which he prefixed
some valuable reflections on eloquence. It was in this work
he incurred the displeasure of Voltaire. He in general
disliked the poetry of his country, and had not only the
courage and imprudence to say that he thought it in general monotonous, but that he was unable to read even the
“Henriade
” of Voltaire without yawning. Voltaire resented this in a satire, entitled “Le Pauvre Diable,
” but
afterwards became reconciled to the abbe. 3. “Memoires
pour servir a l'histoire de Messieurs de la Motte et de Fontenelle,
” Amst. Journal des Savans,
” and to the “Journal Chretien,
”
which was established in defence of religion against the
infidel writers of that time.
of William Trumbull, esq. a justice of peace in Berkshire, and grandson of another William Trumbull, who was agent and envoy from James I. to the archduke Albert at
, an estimable and upright statesman, was born at Easthampsted in Berkshire in August 1638. He was the eldest son of William Trumbull, esq. a justice of peace in Berkshire, and grandson of another William Trumbull, who was agent and envoy from James I. to the archduke Albert at Brussels, from 1609 to the end of 1625. This great man, for such he appears to have been, made a large collection of letters, memoirs, minutes, and negociations, of all the men of note in iiis time, with whom he entertained a constant and familiar correspondence. These documents, which are, or were lately, in the gallery at Easthampsted park, sufficiently show his care, industry, vigilance, and sufficiency, in the employment he served; and he appears to have been the family pattern and model which sir William Trumbull, the subject of our memoir, had in his eye, and spurred him on to an imitation of those virtues which, if they appeared so bright in the grandfather, shone forth in much greater lustre and perfection in the grandson.
d in East Hampsted church. It was in this retirement that, in 1705, he became acquainted with Pope , who then lived at Binfield. Pope informed Mr. Spence, that he “loved
In 1697, he resigned all his employments, and retired
to East Hampsted, where he died December 14, 1716, and
was buried in East Hampsted church. It was in this retirement that, in 1705, he became acquainted with Pope ,
who then lived at Binfield. Pope informed Mr. Spence,
that he “loved very much to read and talk of the classics
in his retirement. We used to take a ride out together
three or four days in the week, and at last almost every
day.
” His letters to Pope breathe'an air of uncommon good
temper, good sense, candour, and tranquillity of mind.
They evince the scholar, the man of taste, and the gentleman, mixed with the clearest sense of propriety. It appears that sir William was the very first person that urged
Pope to undertake a translation of the Iliad. Besides these
letters in Pope’s Works, several written by him while he
was ambassador in France, are preserved in the paperoffice, and extracts from others have been printed by sir
John Dalrymple. His well-written character of air William Dolben, archbishop of York, we have already given in
our account of that prelate. We ought not to omit, that
he had been a friend and patron to Dryden, who, in the
postscript to his Virgil, pays him a very elegant compliment: "If the last Æneid shine among its fellows, it is.
owing to the commands of sir William Trumbull, one of
the principal secretaries of state, who recommended it as
his favourite to my care; and for his sake particularly I
have made it mine. For who would confess weariness when
he. enjoined a fresh labour? I could not but invoke the
assistance of a muse for this last office:
Judith, daughter of Henry Alexander, fourth earl of Sterling, by whom he had a son of his own names who died in 1760, and whose daughter and sole heir married the hon.
Sir William Trumbull’s first wife dying in 1704, he married Judith, daughter of Henry Alexander, fourth earl of Sterling, by whom he had a son of his own names who died in 1760, and whose daughter and sole heir married the hon. colonel Martin Sandys. Sir William had a brother, the rev. Dr. Charles Trumbull, who died Jan. 8, 1724. He was rector of Stystead in Essex, and Hadley in Suffolk, and chaplain to archbishop Sancroft, but quitted these livings at the Revolution.
probability. Others have made him a contemporary with Quintus Calaber, Nonnus, Coluthus, and Musæus, who wrote the poem on Hero and Leander, because they fancied a resemblance
, an ancient Greek poet, as we learn from Suidas, was an Egyptian; but nothing can be determined concerning his age. Some have fancied him older than Virgil, but without the least colour of probability. Others have made him a contemporary with Quintus Calaber, Nonnus, Coluthus, and Musæus, who wrote the poem on Hero and Leander, because they fancied a resemblance between his style and theirs; but this is a precarious argument, nor is it better known when these authors lived. All therefore that can be reasonably supposed concerning the age of Tryphiodorus is, that he lived between the reigns of Severus and Anastasius; the former of whom died at the beginning of the third century, and the latter at the beginning of the sixth.
n. It was afterwards reprinted at several places, particularly at Francfort in 1588, by Frischlinus, who not only restored many corrupted passages in the original, but
The first edition of Tryphiodorus’s “Destruction of
Troy
” was published at Venice by Aldus, together with
Quintus Calaber’s “Paralipomena,
” and Coluthus’s Poem
on the rape of Helen. It was afterwards reprinted at several places, particularly at Francfort in 1588, by Frischlinus, who not only restored many corrupted passages in
the original, but added two Latin versions, one in prose,
the other in verse. That in verse was reprinted with the
Greek at Oxford, 1742, in 8vo, with an English translation
in verse; and notes upon both the Greek and the English
by J. Merrick of Trinity-college. There is another good
edition more recently published by Mr. Northmore, Oxford, 1791, 8vo; and one was printed at Leipsic in 1809,
in fol. amounting only to twenty-five copies.
n it was published at Basle in 2 vols. fol. He died in 1572. Another of the family, Dominick Tscudi, who died in 1654, wrote in Latin, on the “Constitution of the Benedictine
, one of a family of Swiss writers,
and laudanum of the canton of Glarus, was born in 1505. He
devoted much of his time to historical researches, and produced, among other works of less note, a “Chronicle,
”
which, whatever its merits, remained in manuscript until
1734, when it was published at Basle in 2 vols. fol. He
died in 1572. Another of the family, Dominick Tscudi,
who died in 1654, wrote in Latin, on the “Constitution of
the Benedictine congregation in Switzerland,
” and an account of the founders of that abbey, which was printed in
1651, 8vo. A third, John Henry Tscudi, who died in
1729, and was a zealous protestant, his predecessors being
equally zealous catholics, was the author of an account of
the abbes of St. Gall, 1711, 4to; a “Chronicle
” of the
canton of Claris, History of Werdenberg,
” published in
ty and morality, of whose memory Mr. Tucker always spoke with the highest veneration and regard, and who took the utmost pains to give his nephew principles of integrity,
, an ingenious English writer, was
born in London Sept. 2, 1705, of a Somersetshire family;
his father was a merchant, his mother was Judith, daughter
of Abraham Tillard, esq. Both his parents died before he
was two years old, and left him under the care of his
grandmother Tillard and his maternal uncle sir Isaac Tillard, a man of strict piety and morality, of whose memory
Mr. Tucker always spoke with the highest veneration and
regard, and who took the utmost pains to give his nephew
principles of integrity, benevolence, and candour, with a
disposition to unwearied application and industry in his pursuits. He was educated at Bishop’s Stortford, and in 1721
was entered as a gentleman commoner in Merlon-college,
Oxford, where his favourite studies were metaphysics and
the mathematics. He there engaged masters to teach him
French, Italian, and music, of which last he was very fond.
In 1726 he was entered of the Inner Temple. Soon afterwards, and just before he came of age, he lost his guardian sir Isaac. He studied enough of the law to be useful
to himself and his friends; but his fortune not requiring it,
and his constitution not being strong, he was never called
to the bar. He usually spent the summer vacations in
tours through different parts of England, Wales, and Scotland, and once passed six weeks in France and Flanders.
In 1727 he purchased Betchworth-castle with its estate.
He then turned his attention more to rural affairs, and with
his usual industry wrote down numberless observations
which he collected in discourses with his farmers, or extracted from various authors on the subject. On the 3d of
February, 1736, he married Dorothy, daughter of Edward
Barker, esq. afterwards cursitor baron of the exchequer, and
receiver of the tenths. By her he had three daughters,
Dorothy, who died under three years old, Judith, and
Dorothea- Maria, who, on the 27th of October, 1763, married sir Henry Paulett St. John, bart. and died on the 5th
of May, 1768, leaving one son. Mrs. Tucker died the 7th
of May, 1754, aged 48. As they had lived together in the
tenderest harmony, the loss was a very severe stroke to
Mr. Tucker. His first amusement was. to collect all the
letters which had passed between them whenever they happened to be absent from each other, which he copied out
in books twice over, under the title of “The Picture of
artless Love;
” one copy he gave to her father, who survived her five years, and the other he kept to read over to
his daughters frequently. His principal attention then was
to instruct his daughters; he taught them French and
Italian, and whatever else he thought might be useful to
them to know. In 1755, at the request of a friend in the
west of England, he worked up some materials which he
sent him into the form of a pamphlet, then published under
the title of “The Country Gentleman’s Advice to his Son
on the Subject of Party Clubs,
” printed by Owen, Temple-bar; and he soon after began writing “The Light of
Nature pursued,
” of which he not only formed and wrote
over several sketches before he fixed on the method he determined to pursue, but wrote the complete copy twice
with his own hand; but thinking his style was naturally
still and laboured, in order to improve it, he had employed
much time in studying the most elegant writers and orators,
and translating many orations of Cicero, Demosthenes, &c.
and, twice over, “Cicero de Oratore.
” After this he
composed a little treatise called “Vocal Sounds,
” printed,
but never published; contriving, with a few additional letters, to fix the pronunciation to the whole alphabet in such
manner, that the sound of any word may be conveyed on
puper as exactly as by the voice. His usual method of
spending his time was to rise very early to his studies, in
winter bu ‘ning a lamp in order to light his own fire before
his servants were stirring. After breakfast he returned to
his studies for two or three hours, and then took a ride on
horseback, or walked. The evenings in summer he often
spent in walking over his farms and setting down his remarks; and in the winter, while in the country, reading to
his wife, and afterwards to his daughters. In London,
where he passed some months every winter and spring, he
passed much time in the same manner, only that his evenings were more frequently spent in friendly parties with some
of his relations who lived near, and with some of his old fellow
collegiates or Temple friends. His walks there were chiefly
to transact any business he had in town, always preferring
to walk on all his own errands, to sending orders by a servant, and frequently when he found no other, would walk,
he said, to the Bank to see what it was o’clock. Besides
his knowledge in the classics and the sciences, he was perfectly skilled in merchant’s accompts, and kept all his
books with the exactness of an accompting-house; and he
was ready to serve his neighbours by acting as justice of
peace. His close application to his studies, and writing
latterly much by candle and lamp-light, weakened his
sight, and hrought on cataracts, which grew so much worse
after a fever in the spring, 1771, that he could no longer
amuse himself with reading or writing, and at last could
not walk, except in his own garden, without leading. This
was a great trial on his philosophy, yet it did not fail him i
he not only bore it with patience, but cheerfulness, frequently being much diverted with the mistakes his infirmity
occasioned him to make. His last illness carried him off
on the 20th of November, 1774, perfectly sensible, and
as he had lived, easy and resigned, to the last.
He published a pamphlet entitled a Man in quest of
himself,“in reply to some strictures on a note to his
” Free Will.“He had no turn for politics or public life,
and never could be induced to become a candidate to represent the county of Surrey, to which his fortune, abilities, and character gave him full pretensions.
” My
thoughts,“says Mr. Tucker of himself,
” have taken a
turn, from my earliest youth, towards searching into the
foundations and measures of right and wrong; my love for
retirement has furnished me with continual leisure; and
the exercise of my reason has been my daily employment."
He once, however, was induced to attend a public meeting
at Epsom in the beginning of the present reign, when party
ran very high, and when sir Joseph Mawbey began to
exercise his talent for poetry by a ballad on the occasion,
in which he introduced Mr. Tucker and other gentlemen
who differed from him in their opinions. So far from
being hurt by this, Mr. Tucker was highly amused at the
representation given of himself, and actually set the ballad
to music.
g before provided for his younger daughter, he left his estate at Betchworth to his eldest daughter, who was unmarried, and a more worthy successor could not have been
Having before provided for his younger daughter, he left his estate at Betchworth to his eldest daughter, who was unmarried, and a more worthy successor could not have been found. With the strong understanding of her father, she inherited his good and amiable qualities; and though possessed of learning which is not often found in a lady, it was never obtruded in conversation. Friendly to her neighbours, kind to her tenants, benevolent to the poor, she died unmarried Nov. 26, 1794, respected and regretted by all who were acquainted with her, leaving sir Henry Paulet St. John Mildmay, her sister’s only son, heir to her estates, who, in 1798, sold the manor, mansion-house, &c. to Henry Peters, esq. banker in London, the present owner, who has made great improvements, and enlarged the estate by purchases.
Here he attracted the notice of Dr. Joseph Butler, then bishop of Bristol, and afterwards of Durham, who appointed Mr. Tucker his domestic chaplain. By the interest
At the age of twenty-three he entered into holy orders,
and served a curacy for some time in Gloucestershire.
About 1737 he became curate of St. Stephen’s church,
Bristol, and was appointed minor canon in the cathedral of
that city. Here he attracted the notice of Dr. Joseph Butler, then bishop of Bristol, and afterwards of Durham,
who appointed Mr. Tucker his domestic chaplain. By the
interest of this prelate Mr. Tucker obtained a prebendal
stall in the cathedral of Bristol; and on the death of Mr.
Catcott, well known by his treatise on the deluge, he became rector of St. Stephen. The inhabitants of that parish consist chiefly of merchants and tradesmen, a circumstance which greatly aided his natural inclination for commercial and political studies. When the famous bill was
brought into the House of Commons for the naturalization
of the Jews, Mr. Tucker took a decided part in favour of
the measure, and was, indeed, its most able advocate; but
for this he was severely attacked in pamphlets, newspapers, and magazines; and the people of Bristol burnt his
effigy dressed in canonicals, together with his letters on.
behalf of naturalization . In 1753 he published an able
pamphlet on the “Turkey Trade,
” in which he demonstrates the evils that result to trade in general from chartered companies. At this period lord Clare (afterwards Ccirl Nugent) was returned to parliament for Bristol, which
honour he obtained chiefly through the strerruous exertions
of Mr. Tucker, whose influence in his large and wealthy
parish was almost decisive on such an occasion. In return
for this favour the earl procured for him the deanery of
Gloucester, in 1758, at which time he took his degree of
D. D. So great was his reputation for commercial knowledge, that Dr. Thomas Hayter, afterwards bishop of London, who was then tutor to his present majesty, applied
to Dr. Tucker to draw up a dissertation on this subject
for the perusal of his royal pupil. It was accordingly done,
and gave great satisfaction. This work, under the title of
“The Elements of Commerce,
” was printed in quarto, but
never published. Dr. Warburton, however, who, after having been member of the same chapter with the dean, at
Bristol, became bishop of Gloucester, thought very differently from the rest of mankind, in respect to his talents
and favourite pursuits; and said once, in his coarse manner,
that “his Dean’s trade was religion, and religion his trade.
”
The dean on being once asked concerning the coolness
which subsisted between him and ^Varburton, his answer
was to the following purpose: “The bishop affects to consider me with contempt; to which I say nothing. He has
sometimes spoken coarsely of me; to which I replied nothing. He has said that religion is my trade, and trade
is my religion. Commerce, and its connections have, it is
true, been favourite objects of my attention, and where is
jthe crime? And as for religion, I have attended carefully
to the duties of my parish: nor have I neglected my cathedral. The world knows something of me as a writer on
religious subjects; and I will add, which the world does
not know, that I have written near three hundred sermons,
preached them all, again and again. My heart is at
ease on that score, and my conscience, thank God, does
not accuse me.
” The fact is, that although there is no
possible connection between the business of commerce and
the duties of a clergyman, he had studied theology in all
its branches scientifically, and his various publications on
moral and religious subjects show him to be deeply versed
in theology.
he published “Directions for Travellers,” in which he lays down excellent rules, by which gentlemen who visit foreign countries may not only improve their own minds,
In 1771, when a strong attempt was made to procure an
abolition of subscription to the thirty-nine articles, Dr.
Tucker came forward as an able advocate of the church of
England, yet admitted that some reformation of the liturgy
was wanted, and instanced particularly the Athanasian
creed, which he considered as too scholastic and refined
for a popular confession of faith. About this time he published “Directions for Travellers,
” in which he lays down
excellent rules, by which gentlemen who visit foreign countries may not only improve their own minds, but turn their
observations to the benefit of their native country. This
has become extremely scarce, but there is a part of it reprinted in Berohtold’s “Essay to direct the inquiries of
Travellers,
” an excellent work, published in 178i>, 2 vols.
hemselves. This advice startled all parties, and by all the dean was considered as a sort of madman, who had rambled out of the proper line of his profession to commence
When the dispute arose between Great Britain and the
American colonies, the dean was an attentive observer of
the contest, examining the affair with a very different eye
from that of a party-man, or an interested merchant, and
discovered, as he conceived, that both sides would be benefited by an absolute separation. The more he thought
on this subject, the more he was persuaded that extensive
colonies were an evil rather than an advantage to any commercial nation. On this principle, therefore, he published
his “Thoughts upon the Dispute between the Mother
Country and America.
” He demonstrated, that the latter 1
could, not be conquered, and that, if it could, the
purchase would be dearly bought. He warned this country
against commencing a war with the colonies, and advised
that they should be left to themselves. This advice startled
all parties, and by all the dean was considered as a sort of
madman, who had rambled out of the proper line of his
profession to commence political quack. Our author, however, went on vindicating and enforcing his favourite system, in spite of all the obloquy with which it was treated
both in the senate and from the press. As the war proceeded, some intelligent persons began to see more truth
and reason in his sentiments, and time, perhaps, may be
thought to have demonstrated that he was right. He
printed several essays in the newspapers under the title of
Cassandra.
t fanaticks,” and we may add, most persons of common sense. Tucker was, if we mistake not, the first who wrote in defence of the royal touch, and Carte, the historian,
Dr. Tucker was esteemed an excellent Greek and Latin
scholar. “The purity of his Latin pen,
” says Fuller,
“procured his preferment. He was an able divine, a person of great gravity and piety, and well read in curious and
critical authors.
” His publications are, 1. “Charisma, sive
Donum Sanationis, seu Explicatio totius qusestionis de mirabilium sanitatum gratia, &c.
” Lond. with him,
” say Wood and
Prince, “are said to agree most fanaticks,
” and we may
add, most persons of common sense. Tucker was, if we
mistake not, the first who wrote in defence of the royal
touch, and Carte, the historian, the last, or perhaps the
celebrated Whiston, who has a long digression on the subject in his life. 2. “Of the Fabrick of the Church and
Church-men’s Living,
” Lond. Of parity
and imparity of gifts; of competency and incompetency of
men’s livings; and of the reward of men’s gifts or maintenance, so called; of parity and imparity of men’s livings,
which ariseth out of the equality or inequality of men’s
gifts, and of preferments so called; of singularity and plurality of beneh'ces, and of the cause thereof, viz. dispensations; of the friends and enemies of pluralities; and of
supportance and keeping of the fabrick of the church upright, in which he vindicates the hierarchy and constitution
of the church of England against the enemies thereof, who
are for reducing all to a parity and equality.
” 3. “Singulare Certamen cum Martino Becano Jesuita,
” Lond.
ebellion, and withdrew to New England. On his departure the corporation of Boston chose Mr. Tuckney, who was now married, into this vicarage, and he kept it, at their
Mr. Tuckney took his first degree in arts before he was seventeen years old, and was chosen fellow of his college three years after. In 1620 he proceeded M. A. and was some time in the earl of Lincoln’s family, before he resided on his fellowship. When he returned he became a very eminent tutor, and had many persons of rank admitted under him. In 1627 he took his degree of B. D.; after which he accepted the invitation of his countrymen, and went to Boston, as assistant to the famous vicar of that town, John Cotton, for whom, though a very zealous nonconformist, his diocesan bishop Williams, when lord keeper, procured a toleration under the great seal, for the free exercise of his ministry, notwithstanding his dissenting in ceremonies, so long as done without disturbance to the church. But this was probably not very long: for Mr. Cotton quitted his native country, before the rebellion, and withdrew to New England. On his departure the corporation of Boston chose Mr. Tuckney, who was now married, into this vicarage, and he kept it, at their request, till the restoration; or rather his title to it, for he took no part of the profit after he ceased to reside. Calamy mentions a Mr. Anderson as having been ejected at the restoration; he probably officiated there, but never was vicar, and Dr. How succeeded Mr. Tuckney in 1660.
well, yet he never could be prevailed with to appear and act in that conference; whilst Mr. Baxter, who knew nothing of an university, nor was acquainted with any other
“The rest of his life,
” adds Mr. Baker, “he spent in
retirement, most part at London, where he had been pastor
of St. Michael le Querne, and where he had been
commissioner at the conference at the Savoy: but, either through
diffidence of himself, or for other reasons, although he had
filled the chair at Cambridge so many years with reputation, by acquitting himself extremely well, yet he never
could be prevailed with to appear and act in that conference; whilst Mr. Baxter, who knew nothing of an university, nor was acquainted with any other chair save that of
the pulpit, only in the strength of natural logic ventured to
engage in mood and figure with some of our best and most
experienced divines, with such success as usually attends
rash undertakings.
”
rkable proof of his candour, and of his zeal for truth, may be seen in his letters to Dr. Whichcote, who had been one of his pupils, published in 1753 by Dr. Salter,
Calamy says, he had the character of an eminently pious
and learned man, a true friend, an indefatigable student, a
candid disputant, and an earnest promoter of truth and godliness. A remarkable proof of his candour, and of his zeal
for truth, may be seen in his letters to Dr. Whichcote, who
had been one of his pupils, published in 1753 by Dr. Salter,
under the title of “Eight Letters concerning the use of
reason in religion; the differences of opinion among Christians; the reconciliation of sinners unto God; and, the
studies and learning of a minister of the gospel.
” These
were written in Aphorisms.
” Dr. Tuckney’s
other works were, “Forty Sermons
” published by his son
the Rev. Jonathan Tuckney,
hat learning then flourished: and it was under them that some of those great men had their education who were afterwards the ornaments of the following age. I need not
“One thing,
” Mr. Baker adds, “may be said in favour
of Dr. Tuckney, and his predecessor (Arrowsmith), or rather it is a right owing to their memory, that though they
were not perhaps so learned as some of those that have before
and since filled that post and station, yet their government
was so good, and the discipline under them so strict and
regular, that learning then flourished: and it was under
them that some of those great men had their education who
were afterwards the ornaments of the following age. I need
not name them. Stillingfleet, Beveridge, Cave, &c. are
names well known; names that will live in future ages,
when their first instructors will perhaps be forgot.
”
inventor of the drill-plough, and the first Englishman, perhaps the first writer ancient or modern, who attempted with any tolerable degree of success to reduce agriculture
, a gentleman of an ancient family in Yorkshire, deserves honourable mention in this work, although we can say little as to his biography, as the first inventor of the drill-plough, and the first Englishman, perhaps the first writer ancient or modern, who attempted with any tolerable degree of success to reduce agriculture to certain and uniform principles. After an education at one of our universities, and being admitted a barrister of the Temple, he made the tour of Europe, and, in every country through which he passed, was a diligent observer of the soil, culture, and vegetable productions. On his return to England he married, and settled in a paternal farm in Oxfordshire, where he pursued an infinite number of agricultural experiments, till by intense application, vexatious toil, and too frequently exposing himself to the vicissitudes of heat and cold in the open fields, he contracted a disorder in his breast, which, not being found curable in England, obliged him a second time to travel, and to seek a cure in the milder climates of France and Italy. Here he again attended more minutely to the culture of those countries; and, having little else to do, he employed himself, during three years residence abroad, to reduce his observations to writing, with a view of once more endeavouring to introduce them into practice, if ever he should be so happy as to recover his health, and be able to undergo the fatigues of a second attempt. From the climate of Montpelier, and the waters of that salutary spring, he found in a few months that relief which all the power of physic could not afford him at home; and he returned to appearance perfectly repaired in his constitution, but greatly embarrassed in his fortune. Part of his estate in Oxfordshire he had sold, and before his departure had settled his family on a farm of his own, called Prosperous Farm, near Hungerford in Berkshire, where he returned with a firm resolution to perfect his former undertaking, having, as he thought, devised means during his absence to obviate all difficulties, and to force his new husbandry into practice by the success of it, in spite of all the opposition that should be raised by the lower class of husbandmen against it. He revised and rectified all his old instruments, and contrived new ones proper for the different soils of his new farm; and he now went on pretty successfully, though not rapidly, nor much less expensively, in the prosecution of his new system. He demonstrated to all the world the good effects of his horsehoeing culture; and by raising crops of wheat without dunging for thirteen years together in the same field, equal in quantity, and superior in quality, to those of his neighbours in the ordinary course, he demonstrated the truth of his own doctrine, that labour and arrangement would snpply the place of dung and fallow, and would produce more corn at an equal or less expence. But though Mr. Tull was successful in demonstrating that this might be done, he was not so happy in doing it himself. His expences were enhanced various ways, but chiefly by the stupidity of workmen in constructing his instruments, and in the awkwardness and wickedness of his servants, who, because they did not or would not comprehend the use of them, seldom failed to break some essential part or other, in order to render them useless. These disadvantages were discernible only to Mr. Tull himself; the advantages attending the new husbandry were now visible to all the world; and it was now that Mr. Tull was prevailed upon, by the solicitations of the neighbouring gentlemen who were witnesses of its utility, to publish his theory, illustrated by a genuine account of the result of it in practice, which he engaged to do, and faithfully performed at no trivial expence.
he New Husbandry,” 1778, 8vo, a work which endeavoured to revive the ideas and practice of Mr. Tull, who died Jan. 3, 1740, at his seat at Prosperous,
His first publication was a “Specimen
” only, in An Essay on Horse-hoeing
Husbandry,
” those literary vermin that are
as injurious to the agriculture of England, as the fly is to
our turnips.
” We use here the words of a noble writer,
vvho condescended to prefix an advertisement to a posthumous publication of the late Mr. Francis Forbes, entitled
“The extensive Practice of the New Husbandry,
”
Mr. Tull had a son, John, who in his early years travelled to France, Italy, and other parts
Mr. Tull had a son, John, who in his early years travelled to France, Italy, and other parts of the continent. On his return, being a good mechanic, he was led to various inventions, which had various success. He was, among other schemes, the first who introduced post-chaises, and posttravelling by them, in England, for which he obtained a patent in 1737. He then appears to have gone into the army, and was an officer in the train of artillery, and aidde-camp to general James Campbell, who fell at the battle of Fontenoy, where Mr. Tull attended him. After his return he resumed his schemes, one of which was the bringing of fish to London by land-carriage. This he introduced in July and August 1761; but, failing for want of capital, he was arrested, and died in prison in 1764.
rectory of Griggleton, or Grittleton, near Malmsbury in Wiltshire, by Thomas Gore of Alderton, esq. who had been one of his pupils, and in 1675 the king conferred upon
, a learned English divine and controversial writer, was born in St. Martin’s parish in the city of Carlisle, July 22, 1620, and was educated partly at the free-school there, and afterwards at Barton-kirk in Westmoreland. He was entered of Queen’s college, Oxford, in 1634, where Gerard Langbaine was his tutor, and attained a fellowship. In 1642 he was created M. A. and became master of the grammar-school at Tetbury in Gloucestershire; but this he seems to have accepted rather as a retreat, while Oxford was garrisoned during the rebellion, for after the surrender of the garrison, he returned to his college, and became a noted tutor and preacher, and in 1657 was admitted bachelor of divinity. He was soon after made principal of Edmund-hall, which he found almost empty, but raised it, as Wood informs us, to a state as flourishing as that of any hall in Oxford. After the restoration, he was created D. D. and was made chaplain to his majesty. He was also presented to the rectory of Griggleton, or Grittleton, near Malmsbury in Wiltshire, by Thomas Gore of Alderton, esq. who had been one of his pupils, and in 1675 the king conferred upon him the deanery of Rippon, which he did not long enjoy, as he died on January 14 following, 1675-6, at the parsonage house at Griggleton, and was interred in the chancel of that church.
There was another of this name, George Tully, son of Isaac Tully of Carlisle, who, we conjecture, was a nephew of the above Dr. Tully. He was
There was another of this name, George Tully, son of
Isaac Tully of Carlisle, who, we conjecture, was a nephew of
the above Dr. Tully. He was educated at Queen’s college,
Oxford, and was beneficed in Yorkshire. He died rector
of Gateside near Newcastle, subdean of York, &c. in 1697.
He was a zealous writer against popery, and was suspended
for a sermon he preached and published in 1686, against
the worship of images, and had the honour, as he terms it
himself, to be the first clergyman in England who suffered
in the reign of James II. “in defence of our religion against
popish superstition and idolatry.
” He was one of the translators of “Plutarch’s Morals,
” “Cornelius Nepos,
” and
“Suetonius,
” all which were, according to the phrase in
use, “done into English by several hands.
” Thomas Tully,
author of the funeral sermon on the death of bishop Rainbow, which is appended to Banks’s Life of that prelate, was,
we presume, of the same family as the preceding. He died
chancellor of Carlisle about 1727.
some valuable anatomical remarks; and, according to Haller, Tulp was the first, or one of the first, who observed the lacteal vessels.
In the medical world he is principally known by his
“Observationum medicarum Libri tres,
” Amst.
matics. These accomplishments, on his return, recommended him to the patronage of archbishop Warham, who constituted him vicar-general or chancellor, in August 1511.
, a very learned, and in many respects a very excellent prelate of the church of Rome, was born at Hatchford, near Richmond, Yorkshire, about 1474. He was a natural son of a gentleman named Tunstall or Tonstal, by a lady of the Conyers family. He became a student at Baliol college, Oxford, about 1491, but, on the plague breaking out, went to Cambridge, where he became a fellow of King’s hall, now part of Trinity college. After having for some time prosecuted his studies there, he went to the university of Padua, which was then in high reputation, studied along with Latimer, and took the degree of doctor of laws. According to Godwin, he was by this time a man of extensive learning, a good Hebrew and Greek scholar, an able lawyer and divine, a good rhetorician, and skilled in various branches of the mathematics. These accomplishments, on his return, recommended him to the patronage of archbishop Warham, who constituted him vicar-general or chancellor, in August 1511. The archbishop also recommended him to Henry VIII. and in December of the same year, collated him to the rectory of Harrow-on-the hill, Middlesex; which he held till 1522.
harles V. then at Brussels, and there had the satisfaction of living in the same house with Erasmus, who said of him that he not only excelled all his contemporaries
In 1514 he was installed prebendary of Stow-Ionga, in the church of Lincoln, and the following year admitted archdeacon of Chester. In 1516 he was made master of the rolls, a post for which his extensive knowledge of the laws had well qualified him. The same year he was sent on an embassy, with sir Thomas More, to the emperor Charles V. then at Brussels, and there had the satisfaction of living in the same house with Erasmus, who said of him that he not only excelled all his contemporaries in the knowledge of the learned languages, but was also a man of great judgment, clear understanding, and uncommon modesty, and of a cheerful temper, but without levity. In the performance of his duty at the Imperial court, he made himself well acquainted with such circumstances as were of importance to his royal master and the interests of his country, and gave such satisfaction to the administration at home, that about ten days after his arrival in London in 1517, he was a second time sent on an embassy to the emperor.
in this matter, bishop Burnet observes that judicious persons discerned the moderation of Tunstall, who would willingly put himself to a considerable expence in burning
In July 1527, Tunstall attended cardinal Wolsey in his pompous embassy into France; and in 1529 was one of the English ambassadors employed to negociate the treaty of Camhray. It was on his return from this last place, that he exerted himself to suppress Tyndale’s edition of the New Testament, by means which will be noticed in our account of that celebrated reformer and martyr. Even in this matter, bishop Burnet observes that judicious persons discerned the moderation of Tunstall, who would willingly put himself to a considerable expence in burning the books of the heretics, but had too much humanity to be desirous, like many of his brethren, to burn the heretics themselves.
While in the Tower, Tunstall was frequently visited by his nephew, the celebrated Bernard Gilpin, who had probably been brought up to the church with a view of being
While in the Tower, Tunstall was frequently visited by his nephew, the celebrated Bernard Gilpin, who had probably been brought up to the church with a view of being advanced by this prelate, but he was now in no capacity to serve him otherwise than by his advice, and the advice he gave him about this time, places Tunstall in a very favourable point of view. When Gilpin, just entered on his parochial duties in the north, found that his mind was not quite settled in his religious opinions, he wrote to his uncle Tunstall, who told him, in answer, that he should thiuk of nothing till be had fixed his religion, and that, in his opinion, he could not do better than put his parish into the hands of some person in whom he conld confide, and spend a year or two in Germany, France, and Holland; by which means he might have an opportunity of conversing with some of the most eminent professors on both sides of the question. To this admirable advice, for such it surely is, from a popish bishop of that age, Giipin had but one objection, namely the expence; but the bishop wrote, that his living would do something towards his maintenance; and he would supply deficiencies. When they parted, the bishop gave him some books he had written while in the Tower, particularly one" on the Lord’s supper, which he wished to be printed under his inspection at Paris.
. Haddon. The character of Tunstall may in part he collected from the preceding particulars. Gilpin, who has frequently introduced notices of him in his Lives of Bernard
Bishop Tunstall did not continue long in this state of
retirement, for he died Nov. 18, 1559, aged eighty-five,
and was handsomely buried in the chancel of Lambeth
church, at the expence of archbishop Parker, with a Latin
epitaph by the learned Dr. Haddon. The character of
Tunstall may in part he collected from the preceding particulars. Gilpin, who has frequently introduced notices of
him in his Lives of Bernard Gilpin, Latimer, &c. says “he
was a papist only by profession; no way influenced by the
spirit of popery; but he was a good catholic, and had true
notions of the genius of Christianity. He considered a
good life as the end, and faith as the means; and never
branded as an heretic that person, however erroneous his
opinions might be in points less fundamental, who had
such a belief in Christ as made him live like a Christian.
He was just therefore the reverse of (his early patron)
Warham, and thought the persecution of protestants one
of the things most foreign to his function. For parts and
learning he was very eminent: his knowledge was extensive, and his taste in letters superior to that o- most of his
contemporaries. The great foible of which he stands accused in history, was the pliancy of his temper. Like
most of the bishops of those times, he had been bred in a
court; and was indeed too dextrous in the arts there practised.
” On this last failing, Mr. Gilpin seems to us to lay
too much stress, for even the particulars which, in the preceding sketch we have extracted from his life of Bernard
Gilpin, shew decidedly that Tnnstall was no courtly complier in those measures which were particularly characteristic of the times, and which have been more or less the
test of the worth of every eminent man who lived in them.
he resigned in 1757, for the valuable vicarage of Rochdale in Lancashire, given him by abp. Hutton, who married his wife’s aunt; but the exchange, from many circumstances,
, a learned and amiable divine,
was born about 1710, and educated at St. John’s college in
Cambridge, of which he became fellow and a principal
tutor. He was instituted to the rectory of Sturmer in
Essex, in 1739, and, in 1741, elected public orator of the
university. He afterwards became chaplain to Potter,
abp. of Canterbury; and was there a person of such uniform meekness and humility as to make it said, after he left
Lambeth, that “many a man came there, as chaplain,
humble, but that none ever departed so except Dr. Tunstall.
” He was created D. D. at Cambridge in 1714; was
collated by the archbishop to the rectory of Great Chart in
Kent, and to the vicarage of Minster in the Isle of Thanet,
both which he resigned in 1757, for the valuable vicarage
of Rochdale in Lancashire, given him by abp. Hutton, who
married his wife’s aunt; but the exchange, from many circumstances, di i not answer his expectation; he wished for
a prebend of Canterbury. It is supposed that either family
uneasinesses, or the above disappointment, hastened his
death, which took place March 28, 1772.
iness, as his well-known abilities recommended him to the post of secretary to Thomas Randolph, esq. who was appointed queen Elizabeth’s ambassador at the court of Russia.
, an English poet, descended from a family of considerable note in Dorsetshire, was a younger son of Nicholas Turbervile of Whitchurch, and supposed to have been born about 1530. He received hia education at Winchester school, and became fellow of New college, Oxford, in 1561, but left the university without taking a degree, and resided for some time in one of the inns of court. He appears to have accumulated a stock of classical learning, and to have been well acquainted with modern languages. He formed his ideas of poetry partly on the classics, and partly on the study of the Italian school. His poetical pursuits, however, did not interfere with more important business, as his well-known abilities recommended him to the post of secretary to Thomas Randolph, esq. who was appointed queen Elizabeth’s ambassador at the court of Russia. While in this situation, he wrote three poetical epistles to as many friends, Edward Davies, Edmund Spenser (not the poet), and Parker, describing the manners of the Russians. These may be seen, in Hackluyt’s voyages, vol. I. p. 381. After his return, he was much courted as a man of accomplished education and manners; and the first edition of his " Songs and Sonnets/* published in 1567, seems to have added considerably to his fame. A second edition appeared in 1570, with many additions and corrections.
of B. Mantuan,” published in 1567. The only copy known of this volume is in the Royal Library. Wood, who appears to have seen it, informs us that one Thomas Harvey afterwards
His other works were, translations of the “Heroical
Epistles of Ovid,
” of which four editions were printed;
and the “Eclogues of B. Mantuan,
” published in Tragical Tales, translated by Turbervile, in time of his troubles, out of sundrie Italians, with
the argument & L'Envoye to each tale.
” What his troubles
were, we are not told. To the latter edition of these tales
were annexed “Epitaphs and Sonets, with some Other
broken pamphlettes and Epistles, sent to certain e of his
friends in England, at his being in Moscovia, anno 1569.
”
Wood has mistaken this for his “Epitaphs, Epigrams,
Songs, and Sonets,
” from which it totally differs.
f invention at a time when the language was certainly improving; and hence among a number of authors who flourished in this period, we seldom meet with the glow of pure
Turbervile was a sdnnetteer of great note in his time, although, except Harrington, his contemporaries and successors appear to have been sparing of their praises. It is
probably to some adverse critics that he alludes, in his address to Sycophants. Gascoigne also used to complain of
the Zoilus’s of his time. There is a considerable diversity
of fancy and sentiment in Turbervile’s pieces: the verses
in praise of the countess of Warwick are ingenipusly imagined, and perhaps in his best style, and his satirical effusions, if occasionally flat and vulgar, are characteristic of
his age. Many of his allusions, as was then the fashion,
are taken from the amusement of hawking, and these and
his occasional strokes on large noses, and other personal
redundancies or defects, descended afterwards to Shakspeare, and other dramatic writers. He entitles his pieces
Epitaphs and Epigrams, Songs and Sonnets, but the reader
will seldom recognize the legitimate characteristics of those
species of poetry. His epitaphs are without pathetic reflection, being stuffed with common-place railing against
“the cursed cruelty
” of death; and his epigrams are often
conceits without point, or, in some instances, the point is
placed first, and the conclusion left “lame and impotent.
”
His love sonnets, although seemingly addressed to a real
mistress, are full of the borrowed passion of a translator,
and the elaborate and unnatural language of a scholar.
The classics in his age began to be studied very generally,
and were no sooner studied than translated. This retarded
the progress of invention at a time when the language was
certainly improving; and hence among a number of authors
who flourished in this period, we seldom meet with the
glow of pure poetry. It may, however, be added in favour of Turbervile, that he seldom transgresses against
morals or delicacy.
esolution to forsake the world, and become a monk; in which he was encouraged by that pious prelate, who committed him to the care of Aldwine, the first prior of Durham,
, an ancient historian, of the eleventh century,
was an Anglo-Saxon, of a good family in Lincolnshire.
When a young man, he was delivered by the people of
Lindsay, as one of their hostages, to William the Conqueror, and confined in the castle of Lincoln. From thence
he made his escape to Norway, and resided several years
in the court of king Olave, by whom he was much caressed
and enriched. Returning to his native country, he was
shipwrecked on the coast of Northumberland, by which he
lost all his money and effects, escaping death with great
difficulty. He then travelled to Durham; and applying to
Walter, bishop of that see, declared his resolution to forsake the world, and become a monk; in which he was encouraged by that pious prelate, who committed him to the
care of Aldwine, the first prior of Durham, then at Jarrow.
From that monastery he went to Melross; from thence to
Wearmouth, where he assumed the monastic habit; and
lastly returned to Durham, where he recommended himself so much to the whole society, by his learning, piety,
prudence, and other virtues, that, on the death of Aidwine, in 1087, he was unanimously chosen prior, and not
long after was appointed by the bishop archdeacon of his
diocese. The monastery profited greatly by his prudent
government; the privileges were enlarged, and revenues
considerably increased by his influence; and he promoted
many improvements in the sacred edifices. In this office
he spent the succeeding twenty years of his life, sometimes residing in the priory, and at other times visiting
the diocese, and preaching in different places. At the
end of these twenty years, he was, in 1107, elected bishop
of St. Andrew’s and primate of Scotland, and consecrated
by archbishop Thomas, at York, Aug. 1, 1109. Dissentions arising between our archbishop and the king of Scotland, the prelate’s anxiety and distress of mind brought on
a decline of health, under which he obtained permission to
return to England; and came back to Durham in 1115,
where he resided little more than two months before his
death. Stevens, in the “Monasticon,
” says that he returned to Durham after the death of king Malcolm and his
queen; and Spotiswood, in his “Church History,
” that he
died in Scotland, and was thence conveyed to and buried
at Durham, in the Chapter-house, between bishops Walcher and William.
g to the custom of those times, it fell into the hands of Simeon, precentor of the church of Durham, who published it under his own name, expunging only a few passages
Some of his leisure hours he employed in collecting and
writing the history of the church of Durham from the year
635 to 1096, in four books. But not having published this
work, or made many transcripts of it, according to the
custom of those times, it fell into the hands of Simeon,
precentor of the church of Durham, who published it under his own name, expunging only a few passages that
would have discovered its real author. This curious fact,
of which we were not aware when we drew up our brief account of Simeon, is demonstrated by Selden, in his preface to sir Roger Twysden’s “Decem Scriptores,
” and
shews that literary fame was even then an object of ambition. Turgot composed several other works, particularly
the lives of Malcolm Canmore, king of Scotland, and of
his pious consort queen Margaret, which is often quoted
by Fordun and others, but is not supposed to exist. Turgot had been confessor to queen Margaret, and as Papebroch has published in the “Acts of the Saints,
” a life of
her, under the name of Theodoric, also said to have been
a confessor to the queen, it seems not improbable, according to lord Hailes and others, that Theodoric is another
name for Turgot, or that the name of Theodoric has been
prefixed to the saint’s life, instead of that of Turgot, by
the mistake of some copier: but Papebroch certainly thinks
they were two distinct persons.
ssion of the law, and at once displayed his views by fixing on the office of master of the requests, who is the executive officer of government, in operations of commerce
, a French minister of
state, was born at Paris, May 10, 1727, of a very ancient
Norman family. His father was, for a long time, provost
of the corporation of merchants. He was intended for
the church, and went through the requisite preparatory
studies; but whether he disliked the catholic religion, or
objected to any peculiar doctrines, is not certain. It is
generally supposed that the latter was the case, and the
intimacy and correspondence he had with Voltaire, Diderot, D'Alembert, &c. afford very probable ground for believing him entirely of their opinion in matters of religion.
He looked, however, to the political department, as that
which was best adapted to his acquisitions, and the rer
sources which he found in his ingenuity and invention. For
this purpose he studied the sciences suited to his destination, and mixed experimental philosophy with mathematics, and history with political disquisition. He embraced the profession of the law, and at once displayed his
views by fixing on the office of master of the requests, who
is the executive officer of government, in operations of
commerce and finance. His panegyrist, M. Condorcet,
tells us, that a master of requests is rarely without a considerable share of influence respecting some one of the
provinces, or the whole state; so that it seldom happens
that his liberality or his prejudices, his virtues or his vices,
do not, in the course of his life, produce great good or
great mischief. About this period Turgot wrote some articles for the Encyclopedic, of which the principal were,
Etymology, Existence, Expansibility, Fair, and Foundation. He had prepared several o.thers; but these five only
were inserted. All these his biographer praises with more
zeal than judgment; the article on Expansibility being very
exceptionable, and that on Existence being little more than
an ingenious commentary on the first principles of Des Cartes, and by no means deserving to be called the “only
improvement in the science of the human mind since the
days of Locke.
”
he death of Louis XV. the public voice called M. Turgot to the first offices of government, as a man who united the experience resulting from habits of business, to
At the death of Louis XV. the public voice called M. Turgot to the first offices of government, as a man who united the experience resulting from habits of business, to all the improvement which study can procure. After being at the head of the marine department only a short time, he was, in August 1774, appointed comptroller-general of the finances. In this office he introduced a great many regulations, which were unquestionably beneficial, but it has been remarked, that he might have done more, if he had attempted less. He does not appear to have attended closely to the actual state of the public mind in France. He would have been an enlightened minister for a sovereign, where the rights of the people were felt and understood. He endeavoured, it is true, to raise them from the abject state in which they had long continued, but this was to be done at the expence of the rich and powerful. The attempt to establish municipalities probably put a period to his career. This scheme consisted in the establishment of many provincial assemblies for the internal government, whose members were elected according to the most rigorous rules of representation. These little parliaments, by their mutual contests, might, and indeed did, lay the foundation of great confusion, and created a spirit of liberty which was never understood, and passed easily into licentiousness. The nobility, whom he attempted to controul the clergy, whom he endeavoured to restrict; and the officers of the crown, whom he wished to restrain, united in their common cause. All his operations created a murmur, and all his projects experienced an opposition, which ended in his dismissal from office in 1776, after holding it about twenty months. From that period, he Jived a private and studious life, and died March 20, 1781, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. Condorcet has written a long life of him, but it is throughout the whole a pane-gyric His countrymen now do not seem agreed in his chara< ter. By some it is considered that he might have saved the state by others he is classed among those who precipitated the revolution.
near Rouen in Normandy, in 1512. Two nations have contended for the honour of his hirth; the trench, who say he was descended of a noble but decayed family in Normandy;
, an eminent critic and translator, was born at Andeli, a small village near Rouen in Normandy, in 1512. Two nations have contended for the honour of his hirth; the trench, who say he was descended of a noble but decayed family in Normandy; and the Scotch, who have discovered (Dempster, and after him Mackenzie) that his French name Tourncbceuf is no other than Turnbully and that he was the son of a Scotch gentleman of that name who married in Normandy. Whatever may be in this, Turnebus, for that is the name he took in his writings and correspondence, came to Paris at the age of eleven, and soon made such progress in classical and polite literature as to surpass all his fellow-students, and even, we are told, his masters. He had every qualification indeed to form an accomplished scholar, great memory, indefatigable application, and both taste and judgment far beyond his years. Before these all difficulties vanished, and his avidity and knowledge knew no intermi-sion in his after-life. Even on the day of his marriage, it is said, he devoted some hours to study.
th papists and protestants endeavoured to claim him as their own. It was his singular fate, that all who knew him, and all who read his works, loved him. This gave rise
The progress of his pursuits are not particularly detailed,
but he is reported to have taught the classics at Toulouse,
and afterwards, in 1547, was appointed Greek professor at
Paris, where he had for his colleagues Buchanan and Muretus, whose joint reputation brought scholars from all
parU of Europe. In 1552, Turnebus was appointed super*
intendant of the royal printing-house for Greek books, and
had William Morel for his associate, whom he left in sole
possession of this office about four years after; on being
appointed one of the royal professors. Such was his fame,
that he had invitations and large offers from Italy, Spain,
Portugal, Germany, and England, on condition of settling
in. either of those countries; but he preferred the moderate circumstances enjoyed in his own country to the most
tempting offers of riches elsewhere. He died June 12,
1565, in the fifty-third year of his age, and was buried on
the evening of the same day, agreeably to his desire, in
a very private manner, in the burial-place belonging to the
college of Montaign, being followed to his grave by only
a few friends. He was supposed to have embraced the
doctrines of the Reformation; but this was not generally
known; and so much was he admired, that both papists
and protestants endeavoured to claim him as their own. It
was his singular fate, that all who knew him, and all
who read his works, loved him. This gave rise to some
ingenious lines by Henry Stephens, in which, after putting
the question, “Why does Turnebus please every body?
”
in various ways, he answers, that “he pleaded every
body, because he did not please himself,
” alluding to his
extreme diffidence and modesty, and his very amiable
manners. Such was the esteem in which he was held, that
some of the German professors, when in their lectures they
quoted the authority of Turnebus (or Cujacius, to whom the same compliment was paid) they used to move their
right hand to their cap, as a token of veneration. He directed his studies chiefly to philological researches, and to
translating the Greek authors. His translations have always been approved, and his criticisms were not less admired in his own and the succeeding age. It has been,
indeed, sometimes objected, that he was too fond of conjectural emendations, and that, notwithstanding the constitutional gentleness of his temper, he displayed more
than necessary warmth in his controversies with Ramus,
and with Bodin but in general his style, as well us his
sentiments, were liberal and he is said to have discovered
nothing of the pedant but in his dress. His works were
collected and published in three volumes, folio, which generally make but one, at Strasburg, 1600, and consist of
his commentaries on various parts of Cicero, Varro, Horace, Pliny, &c.; his translations of Aristotle, Theophrastus, Plutarch, &c. and his miscellaneous pieces, letters,
and poems. His “Adversaria
” went through man)' editions, first in quarto, from 1564 to 1599, when the last
was printed in folio. Niceron enumerates a few other separate publications, and comments contributed by him to
some of the classics. Of his translations, Huetius says,
that “he had every quality which is necessary for a perfect translator; for ho understood Greek thoroughly, and
turned it into elegant Latin, closely and without
departing in the least from his author, yet in a clear and pleasant
style.
”
nd his funeral sermon, since printed, was preached by Dr. Peter du Moulin, prebendary of the church, who gives him a very high and apparently very just character. It
Having enjoyed an uninterrupted share of good health,
during thirty years, he was at length attacked with that severe disease the stone; the sharpness of which he endured
with exemplary fortitude and resignation. Nor did the
“innocent gayety of his humour,
” which made his company
so agreeable to all, forsake him to the last. He reached
the age of eighty-one, and died in Oct. 1672, with “the
greatest Christian magnanimity, and yet with the deepest
sense imaginable of godly sorrow, working repentance unto
salvation not to be repented of.
” He was buried in the
dean’s chapel in Canterbury cathedral, and his funeral sermon, since printed, was preached by Dr. Peter du Moulin,
prebendary of the church, who gives him a very high and
apparently very just character. It is not known that dean
Turner published more than a single sermon on Matt. ix.
13. mentioned by Wood. Prynne censures him as an Arnrinian, yet Du Moulin, who enters so fully and so affectionately into his character, in
13. mentioned by Wood. Prynne censures him as an Arnrinian, yet Du Moulin, who enters so fully and so affectionately into his character, in all respects both as a man and as a divine, was a zealous Calvinist.
o introduce popery and arbitrary power, he opposed them to the utmost. He was one of the six bishops who joined archbishop Sancroft on May 18, 1688, in subscribing and
, an English prelate, son of the
preceding, received his education at Winchester school,
and was thence elected fellow of New college, Oxford;
where he took his degrees in arts, that of bachelor, April
14, 1659, and that of master in the beginning of 1663. He
commenced B. I), and D. D. July 6, 1669, and in December following was collated to the prebend of Sneating in
St. Paul’s. On the promotion of Dr. Gunning to the see
of Chichester, he succeeded him in the mastership of St.
John’s college, Cambridge, April 11, 1670. In 1683, he
was made dean of Windsor, and the same year, was promoted to the see of Rochester, being consecrated on Nov.
11, and next year Aug. 23, was translated to the bishopric
of Ely. Though he owed most of these preferments to the
influence of the duke of York, afterwards James II. yet on
the accession of that prince to the throne, as soon as he
perceived the violent measures that were pursued, and the
open attempts to introduce popery and arbitrary power, he
opposed them to the utmost. He was one of the six bishops
who joined archbishop Sancroft on May 18, 1688, in subscribing and presenting a petition to the king, setting forth
their reasons, why they could not comply with his commands, in causing his majesty’s “Declaration for liberty of
conscience
” to be read in their churches. This petition
being styled by the court, a seditious libel against his majesty and his government, the bishops were all called before
the privy council; and refusing to enter into recognizances,
to appear in the court of the king’s bench, to answer the
misdemeanour in framing and presenting the said petition,
were, on June 8, committed to the Tower; on the 15th of
the same month they were brought by habeas corpus to the
bar of the king’s bench, where, pleading not guilty to the
information against them, they were admitted to bail, and
on the 29th came upon their trials in Westminster-hall,
where next morning they were acquitted to the great joy
of the nation. However, when king William and queen
Mary were settled on the throne, our bishop, among many
others of his brethren and the clergy, refused to own the
established government, out of a conscientious regard to
the allegiance he had sworn to James II.; and refusing to
take the oaths required by an act of parliament of April 24,
1689, was by virtue of that act suspended from his office,
and about the beginning of the following year, deprived of
his bishopric. After this he lived the rest of his days in
retirement, and dying Nov. 2, 1700, was buried in the
chancel of the parochial church of Therfteld in Hertfordshire, where he had been rector, but without any memorial except the word Expergiscar engraven on a stone over
the vault.
which he was elected. fellow; he afterwards became chaplain to Dr. Henry Compton, bishop of London, who collated him, Nov. 4, 1680, to the rectory of Thorley in He
, brother to the above, was born a Bristol in 1645, and educated at Corpus Christi college, Oxford, of which he was elected. fellow; he afterwards became chaplain to Dr. Henry Compton, bishop of London, who collated him, Nov. 4, 1680, to the rectory of Thorley in Hertfordshire, and Dec. 20 following, to the archdeaconry of Essex; and in 1682, to the prebend of Mapesbury in St. Paul’s. He commenced D. D. at Oxford, July 2, 1683, was collated by his brother to a prebend of Ely, March 26, 1686, and elected president of Corpus, March 13, 1687-8. The same year, May 7, he was instituted to the sinecure rectory of Fulham, on the presentation of his brother, to whom the advowson, for that turn, had been granted (the bishop of London being then under suspension), and at length was made precentor and prebendary of Brownswood in St. Paul’s, Jan. 11, 1689. What his political principles were at the revolution, we are not told, although, by keeping possession of his preferments, it is to be presumed, he did not follow the example of his brother, but took the oaths of allegiance. However, we are informed, that after the act passed in the last year of king William III. requiring the abjuration oath to be taken before Aug. 1, 1702, under penalty of forfeiting all ecclesiastical preferments, Dr. Turner went down from London to Oxford, July 28, seemingly with full resolution not to take the oath, and to quit all his preferments; but, on better, advice, he made no resignation, knowing that if he was legally called upon to prove his compliance with the act, his preferments would be void in course; and so continued to act, as if he had taken the oath, by which means he retained his preferments to his death, without ever taking it at all. He died April 30, 1714, and was buried in the chapel of Corpus Christi college, where there is a monument, and an inscription written by Edmund Chishull, B. D.
1635, and was buried in St. Giles’s church, and near his remains were deposited those of his mother, who died in 1692.
Dr. Turner has left only one sermon in print, preached before the king, May 29, 1685, but he is memorable on another account. He was a single man, and remarkable for his munificence and charity in his life-time. By his will, he left the bulk of his fortune, which was very considerable, in public and charitable uses; for, besides 4000l. in legacies to his relations and friends, he gave or left to his college 6000l. for improving the buildings, and other purposes; to the dean and chapter of Ely 1000l. for augmenting the singing-men’s stipends and 100l. the interest of which was to be expended in putting out children of tha town of Ely apprentices, at the nomination of his successors in the stall he held; and the remainder of his effects, which amounted to 20,000l. his executors were directed to lay out" in estates and lands, and settle them on the governors of the charity for the relief of poor widows and children of clergymen. His executors accordingly purchased the manor of Stow in Northamptonshire, and other estates there, and at West-Wratting in Cambridgeshire, amounting to above 1000l. a year, and settled them in 1716, agreeably to his will. They also erected a sumptuous monument to his memory in Stow church, with an inscription. William Turner, the third son of the dean of Canterbury, was archdeacon of Durham, and rector of Stanhope in that county. He died at Oxford in 1635, and was buried in St. Giles’s church, and near his remains were deposited those of his mother, who died in 1692.
ipline and ceremonies, as to incur censure, but certainly was not deprived, as some of those writers who are hostile to the church have asserted, for he died possessed
On the accession of Edward VI. he returned o England,
was incorporated M. D. at Oxford, appointed physician to
Edward, duke of Somerset, and, as a divine, was rewarded
with a prebend of York, a canonry of Windsor, and the
deanery of Wells. In 1552 he was ordained priest by
bishop Ridley. He speaks of himself in the third part of
his “Herbal,
” as having been physician to the “erle of
Embden, lord of East Friesland.
” In 1551 he published
the first part of his History of Plants, which he dedicated to
the duke of Somerset his patron. But on the accession
of queen Mary, his zeal in the cause of the reformation,
which he had amply testified, not only in preaching, but
in various publications, rendered it necessary for him to
retire again to the continent, where he remained at Basil,
or Strasburgh, with others of the English exiles, until
queen Elizabeth came to the throne. He then returned,
and was reinstated in his preferments. He had, however,
while abroad, caught some of the prejudices which divided
the early protestants into two irreconcilable parties, and
spoke and acted with such contempt for the English discipline and ceremonies, as to incur censure, but certainly
was not deprived, as some of those writers who are hostile
to the church have asserted, for he died possessed of the
deanery of Wells. It would appear, indeed, that he had
given sufficient provocation, but found a friend in the
queen on such occasions. In the dedication of the complete edition of his “Herbal
” to her in
of “Historia de naturis herbarum, scholiis et notis vallata,” 1544, 8vo. Bumaldus is the only writer who mentions this work, and it probably was not reprinted in England.
His first work on the subject of plants was printed at
Cologn, under the title of “Historia de naturis herbarum,
scholiis et notis vallata,
” Names of Herbes, in Greek, Latin,
English, Dutch and French,
” Lond. Avium praecipuarum, quarum apud Plinium et Aristotelem mentio est,
brevis et succincta historia,
” Cologn. Historia Animalium,
”
edit. History of
Plants,
” printed at different times, in three parts, in fol.
with cuts, under the title of a “New Herbal,
” Lond. Book on the Bathes of
England and Germany.
” These were reprinted, with a
third part, in
ed, nor credit to be disputed.” He married Jane, daughter of George Ander, an alderman of Cambridge, who after his death married Cox, bishop of Ely. In memory of her
It appears that at one time there was a design of placing
Dr. Turner at the head of Oriel college. Kennet mentions
a letter to that college (1550, July 5) “to accept Dr.
Turner for master of the same, appointed by the king;
”
but this appointment certainly did not take place. But
from a passage in his “Spiritual Physic,
” he appears to
have been once a member of the House of Commons. Fox
speaks of Turner with great respect, as “a man whose authority neither is to be neglected, nor credit to be disputed.
” He married Jane, daughter of George Ander, an
alderman of Cambridge, who after his death married Cox,
bishop of Ely. In memory of her first husband, she left
some money and lands to Pembroke Hall.
By this lady Dr. Turner had a son, Peter, who was a physician, and practised in London, and resided the latter
By this lady Dr. Turner had a son, Peter, who was a physician, and practised in London, and resided the latter part of his life in St. Helen’s, Bishopsgate-street, London. He died in 1614, and was buried near his father in St. Olave’s church, where there is a monument to his memory. He married Pascha, sister to Dr. Henry Parr, bishop of Worcester, by whom he had eight children, one of whom is the subject of the following article.
y of protestant divines, was the son of Francis Turretin, descended from an ancient family at Lucca, who was obliged to fly his country for the cause of religion, and
, the first of a celebrated family of protestant divines, was the son of Francis Turretin,
descended from an ancient family at Lucca, who was
obliged to fly his country for the cause of religion, and
resided partly at Antwerp and Geneva, and lastly at Zurich, where he died. His son Benedict was born Nov. 9,
1588, and in his thirty-third year (1621) was appointed
pastor, and professor of theology at Geneva. The same
year the republic of Geneva being alarmed at the hostile
preparations making by the duke of Savoy, sent Mr. Turretin to the States General of the United Provinces and to
the prince of Orange, and he prevailed on their high
mightinesses to advance the sum of 30,000 livres, and
10,000 livres per month, for three months, in case of a
siege. He also obtained other pecuniary aid from the
churches of Hamburgh, Embden, and Bremen. During
his being in Holland, he had interviews with the French
and English ambassadors, and had an audience of the king
of Bohemia, to whom he communicated the sympathy
which the state of Geneva felt on his reverse of fortune.
In 1622 he returned to Geneva, and was received with
all the respect due to his services. He died at Geneva,
March 4, 1631, with the character of a very learned divine, and a man of great moderation and judgment. His
works are, 1. A defence of the Geneva translation of the
Bible, against the attack of father Colon in his “Geneve
Plagiaire.
” This extended to three parts, or volumes,
printed from 1618 to 1626. 2. “Sermons,
” in French,
“sur rutilite
” des chatiments.“3.
” Sermons," in Italian,
&c.
, which his father took every pains to improve and direct. Some of his early preceptors were divines who had fled from France for religion, and one of them, a Mons.
, the most celebrated
of the family, was the son of Francis Turretin, and was
born at Geneva, Aug. 24, 1671. From his infancy he
shewed a great ardour for study, which his father took
every pains to improve and direct. Some of his early preceptors were divines who had fled from France for religion,
and one of them, a Mons. Dautun, was particularly serviceable in correcting the exuberances of his compositions,
and habituating him to revise and reconsider what he wrote.
This at first was rather troublesome to the lively spirits of
our author, but he soon saw that Dautun had reason on his
side. He studied the Cartesian philosophy under Chouet,
a very able professor. Bishop Burnet, who passed the
winter at Geneva in 1685, conceived a very high opinion
of young Turretin, often examined him on his tasks, and
in the course of many conversations inspired him with that
taste which Turretin always afterwards indulged for English literature. In 1687 he lost his father, but continued
to pursue his theological studies under Louis Tronchin,
Calendrini, and Pictet. Tronchin admired in him a great
love for truth and peace, and said, “that young man begins where others end.
” Turretin had many advantages
on his side, an uncommon share of natural understanding,
a great memory, a facility in discovering the important
parts of a question; an aversion to idleness and frivolous
amusements; learned friends, an ample library, and a patrimony which set him at ease from anxiety or precipitation in his studies. At the age of twenty, with these advantages, we are told he was “almost a great man,
” (presque un grand homme).
tematic course of divinity lectures, for which he was blamed. In 1706 he joined those Geneva divines who sought to be excused from subscribing the form called the consensus,
In 1699 he embraced a favourable opportunity to make
the tour of Swisserland, in the course of which he added
considerably to the number of his friends and admirers.
After his return, the commencement of a new century directed his attention to the secular games of the ancients,
and produced from his pen a treatise entitled “De ludis
ssECularibus Academicae Questiones,
” Gen.
entiments of eminent men of all ages on the subject of toleration, was dedicated to archbishop Wake, who as well as the author laboured much to procure a re-union between
In 1711 he began to print his theses on different subjects,
but chiefly on the necessity of a revelation, and on the
truth of the Christian religion, all of which were published
at Geneva in 2 vols. 4to, 1737. In 1719 he published a
“Dissertation on Fundamental Points,
” which he had written at the request of two persons of rank of the Lutheran
profession. Along with it was published his “Cloud of
Witnesses.
” The title was “Nubes Testium de moderate
et pacifico de rebus theologicis judicio, et instituenda inter
protestantes concordia. Premissa est brevis et pacifica de
articulis fundamentalibus disquisitio, qua ad protestantium
pacem, mutuamque tolerantiam via sternitur,
” 4to. This
work, which contains an assemblage of the sentiments of
eminent men of all ages on the subject of toleration, was
dedicated to archbishop Wake, who as well as the author
laboured much to procure a re-union between the protestant
churches; and Turretin derived no little reputation from
this attempt, which many of the leading men among the
Lutherans highly approved. About this time he had a controversy with Buddeus on the subject of miracles, which
was conducted on both sides with great urbanity. Turretm
also began to prepare for the press his lectures on natural
religion, which form an excellent system on that subject.
On the death of Pictet he succeeded him in his duties on.
solemn academical festivals, and in delivering the accustomed harangues, prescribed by the laws of Geneva, not
only in the council of two hundred, but in the half-yearly
meetings of the burgesses. He also took an active part in
various improvements introduced by the church of Geneva,
as a revision of their liturgies, a translation of the new
testament published in 1726, the establishment of a society
for the education of the young, &c. In 1734 he published
his abridgment of ecclesiastical history, in Latin, “Historiae
Ecclesiastics compendium a Christo nato usque ad annum.
1700,
” Genev. 8vo. This he used to dictate to his students,
and it served as a text-book for his lectures. The preceding
year he received from our queen Caroline, who had often
shewn him marks of respect, a gold medal, brought by Sir
Luke Schaub, but she was dead before it arrived. On the
death of archbishop Wake in 1737, which Turretin very
much regretted, the divines of Geneva having determined
to write a letter to the new archbishop, Potter, congratulating him on his promotion, and requesting his protection
to the foreign churches, Turretin was employed on the occasion, and this was the last letter of any importance which
he wrote. His health, always delicate, now began to give
way, and he died May I, 1737, in his sixty-sixth year,
regretted as one of the most able divines of his church or
time.
In 1708 he married, and left a son, who did not follow his father’s profession, but died in 1754. There
In 1708 he married, and left a son, who did not follow
his father’s profession, but died in 1754. There were two
Lives of Turretin written, one in French, by Vernet, which
is inserted in the “Bibliotheque raisonnee,
” vol. XXI.; the
other in Latin by Tronchin, inserted in the “Tempe Helvetica,
” vol. III. From these Chaufepie has compiled an
excellent article, as indeed all his additional articles are,
from which we have taken the above particulars.
e; a circumstance which invincible modesty alone prevented from being more generally known. To those who were favoured with his intimacy his treasures and his judicious
, an eminent merchant in Pudding-lane, is said to have united to the integrity and skill of a man of business the accomplishments of a polite scholar and an intelligent antiquary. He was elected a member of the Society of Antiquaries June 26, 1755. In 1771 he married a cousin, but had not any issue. On the 5th of July, 1785, presently after supper, he received a sudden and unexpected paralytic strokej which in a few hours deprived him of speech and senses; in which state he lay till the 9th of July, being the day on which he had accomplished fifty-two years and eleven months. By his will he ordered his coins, medals, books, and prints, to be sold by auction (which was done from the llth of January to the 18th of February, 1786, inclusive) the produce to be added to the principal part of his estate, which his industry and extreme frugality had increased to a considerable fortune, the interest of which he bequeathed to his widow for her life; and after her to a female cousin of the same condition; the ultimate reversion equally amongst the children of his brother. Few of his survivors understood better the rare secret of collecting only what was truly valuable; a circumstance which invincible modesty alone prevented from being more generally known. To those who were favoured with his intimacy his treasures and his judicious communications were regularly open. His select and valuable library was remarkable for the neatness of the copies; and many of the books were improved by notes written in his own small but elegant hand-writing.
erintendance of the Rev. Matthew Raine (father of the late learned Dr. Raine, of the Charter-house), who early discovered those rare endowments which were shortly to
an enterprizing scholar of uncommon talents and, attainments, was born June I, 1769, at
Threepwood, near Hexham, in the county of Northumberland. He was the son of Francis Tweddell, esq. an able
and intelligent magistrate. His earlier years were passed
under the care and instruction of a most pious and affectionate mother; and at the age of nine years he was sent
to school at Hartforth, near Richmond, in the North Riding
of Yorkshire, under the superintendance of the Rev. Matthew Raine (father of the late learned Dr. Raine, of the Charter-house), who early discovered those rare endowments which were shortly to win high distinction, and were
cherished by him with a kind solicitude, and treated with
no common skill. Previously to his commencing residence
at the university of Cambridge he spent some time under
the immediate tuition of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Parr, whose
pre-eminent learning opened not its stores in vain to an ardent and capacious mind; and whose truly affectionate regard for his pupil spared no pains to perfect him in all the
learning of Greece and Rome; nor is it too much to say,
that the tutor saw his pains requited, and gloried in his
charge; whilst he secured the grateful respect and lasting
attachment of his accomplished scholar. Mr. Tweddell’s
proficiency in his academical course procured him unprecedented honours. The “Prolusiones Juveniles,
” which were
published in the year Redditos mihi his diebus sunt litters? tuae, missae ex urbe
Dresdse, Saxoniae, inclusse litteris elegantissimis Jbannis
Tweddell, juvenis ornatissimi; cujus visendi et compellandi copiam 'mihi haud obtigisse vehementer doleo; spirant litteroe ejus indolem ingenuam, ingenium venustum,
mores amabiles et jncundos. Eruditionem autem ejus exquisitam ex prolasionibus ejus juvcnilibus perspexi, quas litteris adjunxerat; una cum generoso libertatis sensu, quern
cum ipsa libertate sibi eripi haud videtur pati velle.
”
w of Trinity college; and, soon afterwards, entered himself a student of the Middle-Temple. By those who were acquainted with the vivacity and playfulness of his mind,
In 1792 Mr. Tweddell was elected fellow of Trinity college; and, soon afterwards, entered himself a student of the Middle-Temple. By those who were acquainted with the vivacity and playfulness of his mind, and who remember with what an exquisite feeling he relished the beauties of poetic fiction and the graces of classical composition, it will not be thought surprising that the study of the law should be in a more than common degree distasteful; yet, such was his deference to the wishes of his father, that, although he could never overcome the prevailing aversion of his mind, he paid considerable attention to his professional studies. It appears, both from the records of his private sentiments, as well as from his large and constant intercourse with the best sources of English history, and his predilection for political economy, that he would have wished to employ his talents and cultivated address in diplomacy at the courts of foreign powers.
honours have in consequence been paid to Mr. TweddelPs memory, by various distinguished travellers, who have since visited Athens, where his remains are deposited in
The regret and regard expressed on this melancholy occasion were universal; and many honours have in consequence been paid to Mr. TweddelPs memory, by various distinguished travellers, who have since visited Athens, where his remains are deposited in the Theseum, with a beautiful Greek inscription by the rev. Robert Walpole, A.M. of Carrow abbey, near Norwich, a gentleman whose taste and classical erudition are well known, and particularly in the sources of Grecian literature and antiquities.
divine, was descended from German ancestors, of whom his grandfather is said to have been the first who settled in England. He was born about 1575. His father, who
, a very learned nonconformist divine, was descended from German ancestors, of whom his
grandfather is said to have been the first who settled in
England. He was born about 1575. His father, who was
a clothier at Newbury in Berkshire, perceiving this his sou
to be weil qualified for a learned education, sent him to
Winchester-school, whence he was in 1596 elected probationer fellow of New-college, Oxford, and two years
after became actual fellow. According to Wood, he studied divinity for sixteen years together. In 1604 he proceeded in arts, and about that time taking orders, was a
frequent and diligent preacher, “noted to the academicians
for his subtile wit, exact judgment, exemplary life and
conversation, and for the endowment of such qualities that
were befitting men of his function.
” He was not less
esteemed as a logician and philosopher, and his learning
appeared not only in his public lectures and disputations,
but in the accuracy with which he corrected the works of
the celebrated Bradwardine, published by sir Henry Savile.
Besides his catechistical lectures, which he read every
Thursday in term-time in the college chapel, he preached
every Sunday at St. Aldate’s church; and at length his
fame reaching the court, king James appointed him chaplain to his daughter Elizabeth, afterwards the unfortunate
queen of Bohemia, who was then about to leave her native
country and go to the Palatinate. On this he was admitted
to his degree of D. D.
be furnished with a suitable successor. With this view he waited upon the archbishop of Canterbury, who received him very kindly, granted his request, an'd added, that
His stay abroad, however, was not long. In about two months he was called back to England, but on his arrival took a final leave of the court, and devoted himself to a learned retirement at Newbury, the place of his birth, of which he obtained the curacy. Here, such was his attachment to the quiet enjoyment of his studies, and the discharge of his parochial duties, that he refused some valuable preferments offered him entirely on the score of merit; among these were the wardenship of Winchester college, a prebend of Winchester, and a valuable living. This last he had some thoughts of accepting, provided the people of Newbury could be furnished with a suitable successor. With this view he waited upon the archbishop of Canterbury, who received him very kindly, granted his request, an'd added, that he would mention him to the king as a pious and learned divine, and no puritan. Twiss seems to have been alarmed at this last compliment, which he knew he did not deserve, and upon more mature consideration, remained at Newbury. About the same time he refused a professor’s chair at Oxford, and another in the university of Franeker.
be godly. Whence it came to pass that he was often imposed upon, especially by certain crafty heads, who solemnly professed that their chiefest care was the preservation
others, were dug up and thrown into was nothing inDr.Twiss’s conduct to rena pit, in St. Margaret’s churchyard, derhis memory particularly obnoxious.
personal character, there seems no difference of opinion
among historians. Fuller denominates him “a divine of
great abilities, learning, piety, and moderation;
” and Wood
says, “his plain preaching was esteemed good; his solid
disputations were accounted better; but his pious life was
reckoned best of all.
” Nor less favourably does bishop
Sanderson speak of him, even while differing greatly from
some of his opinions. Mr. Clark says, that he “had his
infirmities, whereof the most visible was this: that he was
of a facile nature, and too prone to be deceived by giving
too much credit to those, whom, by information from
others, or in his own opinion, he judged to be godly.
Whence it came to pass that he was often imposed upon,
especially by certain crafty heads, who solemnly professed
that their chiefest care was the preservation of the purity
of doctrine, and reformation of discipline, whereas, in deed
and truth, they sought the utter subversion of both.
”
e fifteen of his letters in Mr. Joseph Mede’s Works, and he, left many Mss. in the hands of his son, who, WoocJ says, was a minister, but these are probably lost.
His writings are all controversial, and more or less directed against Arminianism, of which, it seems to be agreed,
even by his adversaries, he was the ablest and most successful opponent of his time. The authors against whom he
wrote were, principally, Dr. Thomas Jackson, Mr. Henry
Mason, Dr. Thomas Godwin, Mr. John Godwin, Mr. John
Cotton, Dr. Potter, Dr. Heylin, and Dr. Hammond. His
works were, 1. “Vindiciae gratioe,
” Amst. A discovery of Dr. Jackson’s
Vanity,
” &c. Dissertatio
de scientia media tribus libris absoluta,
” &c. Arnheim, Of the Morality of the Fourth Commandment,
”
Lond. Treatise of Reprobation,
” ibid.
ntiquities. He was held in great esteem by men able to judge of his talents, particularly by Leland, who introduces him among the worthies of his time in his “Encomia,”
, one of a family of Oxford antiquaries,
was the grandson of sir Brian Twyne, of Long Parish, in
Hampshire, knight, and was born at Bolingdon, in the
same county. He was educated at New Inn hall, Oxford,
and admitted to the reading of the institutions in 1524, at
a time when that society could boast of many excellent civilians. After he left the university he was appointed head
master of the free-school at Canterbury, and in 1553 rose
to be mayor of the city, in the time of Wyat’s rebellion.
By the school he became so rich as to be able to purchase
lands at Preston and Hardacre, in Kent, which he left to
his posterity. He was a good Greek and Latin scholar, and
devoted much of his time to the study of history and antiquities. He was held in great esteem by men able to judge
of his talents, particularly by Leland, who introduces him
among the worthies of his time in his “Encomia,
” and by
Camden, who speaks of him in his “Britannia
” as a
learned old man. Holinshed also mentions him as a learned
antiquary, in the first edition of hia “Chronicle;
” but this
notice is for some reason omitted in the edition of 1587.
It is said he was a violent papist, but Tanner has produced
evidence of a charge more disgraceful to his character as
a tutor and magistrate. This appears in a ms. in Bene't
college library, Cambridge, No. CXX. “Anno 1560, Mr.
Twyne, school- master, was ordered to abstain from riot
and drunkenness, and not to intermeddle with any public
office in the town.
” He died in an advanced age, Nov.
24, 1581, and was buried in the chancel of the church of
St. Paul, Canterbury, with an inscription, in which he is
styled armiger. His only publication, which, however,
did not appear until after his death, was his work “De
rebus Albionicis, Britannicis atque Anglicis commentariorum libri duo,
” Lond. History of king Boccus
and Sydracke,
”
books. He lived and probably died on his father’s estate at Hardacre in Kent. He had a brother John, who also wrote verses prefixed to books; and a third, Thomas, of
By his wife Alice, daughter of William Piper of Canter*
bury, whom he married in 1524, which, according to Wood,
must have been when he was at Oxford, he had three sons.
The first, Lawrence, was a fellow of All Souls college,
and bachelor of civil law, and an ingenious poet, but ventured no farther than some encomiastic verses prefixed to
books. He lived and probably died on his father’s estate
at Hardacre in Kent. He had a brother John, who also
wrote verses prefixed to books; and a third, Thomas, of
whom Wood has given us some farther particulars, although
perhaps they are not very interesting. He was born in
Canterbury, and admitted scholar of Corpus Christi college,
Oxford, in 1560, and probationer fellow in 1564, being
then bachelor of arts. He afterwards proceeded in arts,
and then studied medicine, and in 1581 took his doctor’s
degree, and practised at Lewes in Sussex, under the patronage of Thomas lord Buckhurst. He died in 1613,
aged seventy, and was buried in the chancel of St. Anne’s
church, Lewes. He wrote and translated many tracts, enumerated by Wood, but of very little value. He was an admirer of the mysterious philosophy of John Dee. Among
his other publications tie completed Phaer’s translation of
the Æneid, with Maphaeus’s thirteenth book, in 1583;
translated Lhuyde’s “Breviary of Britayne, &q.;
” and was
editor of his father’s work “De rebus Albionicis,
” which
he dedicated to lord Buckhurst. He also wrote some contemptible rhirnes, then called poetry.