the court of George II. he was much noticed by their majesties, and particularly by queen Caroline, who was very desirous of keeping him in England, but he could not
After this absence from his diocese of eighteen months, which he had spent mostly in London, where he was beloved and admired to a degree of enthusiasm by all classes of people, he returned to the island, and resumed his ex^ emplary course. In 1735 he came to England for the last time, to visit his son, the subject of the following article; and being introduced at the court of George II. he was much noticed by their majesties, and particularly by queen Caroline, who was very desirous of keeping him in England, but he could not be prevailed upon to quit his poor diocese, the value of which did not exceed 3QO/. a year. On his return he visited the province of York at the request of archbishop Blackburn, and confirmed upwards-of fifteen thousand persons.
In 1739 the clergy of the Isle of Man were much alarmed by the death of the earl of Derby, who dying without issue, the lordship of Man, as a barony in fee,
In 1739 the clergy of the Isle of Man were much alarmed by the death of the earl of Derby, who dying without issue, the lordship of Man, as a barony in fee, became the property of the duke of Athol, who had married the heiress of a late earl of Derby. This threatened to deprive the clergy of their subsistence, for the livings of the Isle of Man consist of a third of the impropriations, which had been originally purchased of a former earl of Derby by bishop Barrow, in the reign of Charles II.; but now the duke of Athol claimed the impropriations as an inseparable appendage of his estate and royalty. The clergy were now in danger of losing all their property, for the deeds of conveyance from the earl of Derby to bishop Barrow were lost from the records of the island, and the affair became every year more difficult, until at length, by the care and diligence of the bishop and his son, the deeds were discovered in the Rolls chapel, where they had been deposited for safe custody. This discovery put an end to the dispute, and in 1745 the deeds were exemplified under the great seal of England, and every precaution taken for the future payment of the money.
nd clothed, and the house in general supplied from his demesnes by exchange, without money. The poor who could spin or weave, found the best market at Bishop’s-court,
Bishop Wilson’s life was an uniform display of the most genuine and active benevolence. Considering himself as the steward, not the proprietor, of the revenues of the bishopric, he devoted his income to what he esteemed its proper use. The annual receipts of the bishopric, as we have just mentioned, did not exceed 300l. in money; some necessaries in his house were of course to be paid for in money; distressed or shipwrecked mariners, and some other poor objects, it was also requisite to relieve with money; but the poor of the island were fed and clothed, and the house in general supplied from his demesnes by exchange, without money. The poor who could spin or weave, found the best market at Bishop’s-court, where they bartered the produce of their labour for corn. Taylors an'd shoemakers were kept in the house constantly employed, to make into garments or shoes that cloth or leather which his corn had purchased; and the aged and the infirm were supplied according to their several wants. At the same time he kept an open hospitable table, covered with the produce of his own demesnes, at which he presided with equal affability and decorum. His manners, though always consistently adorned with Christian gravity, were ever gentle and polite; and in his conversation he was one of the most entertaining and agreeable, as well as instructive of men. With these qualities of the gentleman, the bishop united the accomplishments and virtues of the scholar and the divine. He was well skilled in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages; and there was hardly any part of science that could be serviceable in his diocese which he did not understand. In his younger days he had a poetical turn, but afterwards laid aside such amusements, as thinking them inconsistent with his episcopal character. During the fiftyeight years that he held the bishopric, he never failed, unless on occasions of sickness, to expound the scripture, to preach, or to administer the sacrament, every Sunday, at one or other of the churches in his diocese, and, if absent from the island, he always preached at the church where he resided for the day. He alternately visited the different parishes of his diocese on Sundays (which the dimensions of the island will permit in a carriage) without giving them notice, and, after doing the duty of the day, returned home to dinner. His family prayers were as regular as his public duties. Every summer morning at six, and every winter morning at seven o'clock, his whole household attended him in his chapel, where he himself, or one of those divinity-students whom he maintained in his house, performed the service of the day; and in the evening they did the same. Thus it was that he formed his young clergy for the pulpit, and for a graceful delivery. He was so great a friend to toleration, that the papists who resided in the island, loved and esteemed him, and not unfrequently attended his ministrations. Dissenters likewise even attended the communion-service, as he admitted them to receive the sacrament, either standing or sitting, at their own option, so that there was neither schism nor separate- congregation in his diocese. The few quakers also, who were resident on the island, visited and respected him. Many other amiable, and some singular traits of the character of this excellent prelate may be seen in the work from which the above particulars are taken.
ls. 4to, and reprinted in 2 handsome Tolumes, folio, by the editor, the late Rev. Clement Cruttweil, who also edited, a few years after, a splendid edition of the Bible
His works, consisting of religious tracts, most of which have been repeatedly printed separately, and extensively circulated, and of sermons, were collected by his son and published in 1780, 2 vols. 4to, and reprinted in 2 handsome Tolumes, folio, by the editor, the late Rev. Clement Cruttweil, who also edited, a few years after, a splendid edition of the Bible in 3 vols. 4to, with notes by bishop Wilson.
notes, c. of his own. This assertion is made by an anonymous writer in the Gent. Mag. for 17S6, but who the late archdeacon Hole was, we haye not been able to discover;
, D. D. only surviving son of the
preceding, was born. Aug. 24, 1703, in the parish of Kirk-Michael, in the Isle of Man, and after such an institution
there as he must have received under the eye of so excellent a father, was entered of Christ Church, Oxford,
where he took the degree of M. A. Dec. 16, 1727. On
the 10th of May, 1739, having previously become possessed of his mother’s jointure, which devolved to him on
her decease, he accumulated the degrees of B. and D. D.
May 10, 1739, when he went out grand compounder. He
was many years senior prebendary of Westminster, and
minister of St. Margaret’s there; and rector of St. Stephen’s, Walbrook, forty-six years; in which last he succeeded Dr. Watson, on the presentation of lord-chancellor Hardwicke. In 1761 was published a pamphlet entitled “The Ornaments of Churches considered; with a
particular view to the late decoration of the parish church
of St. Margaret, Westminster. To which is subjoined an
appendix, containing the history of the said church, an
account of the altar-piece and stained glass window erected
over it, a state of the prosecution it has occasioned, and
other papers,
” 4to. To the second edition of this pamphlet was prefixed a view of the inside of St. Margaret’s
church, with the late excellent speaker, Arthur Onslow,
in his seat. This pamphlet has been by some ascribed to
a son of Dr. Shebbeare, as published under Dr. Wilson’s
inspection. The reason for such conjecture is not given,
and the fact is therefore doubtful. We know of no son of
Dr. Shebbeare’s, and at this time Dr. Shebbeare himself
was a well-known writer, and sufficiently practised in deceptions, had any been necessary. Another report is that
the work was chiefly the composition of the late archdeacon Hole; Dr. Wilson having borrowed a ms treatise on
the subject written by the archdeacon, and then printed
almost the whole of it, inserting here and there a few
notes, c. of his own. This assertion is made by an
anonymous writer in the Gent. Mag. for 17S6, but who the
late archdeacon Hole was, we haye not been able to
discover; Mr. William Hole, archdeacon of Sarum, was then
alive, and died in 1791. Another pamphlet ascribed to
Dr. Wilson was, “A review of the project for building a
new square at Westminster, said to be for the use of Westminster-school. By a Sufferer. Part I.
” Distilled Liquors the bane
of the nation;
” which recommended him to sir Joseph
Jekyil, then master of the rolls, who interested himself in
procuring him his rectory. Even concerning this a doubt
has been suggested, as Dr. Hales printed a pamphlet with
exactly the same title. That elaborate and excellent work
of Dr. Leland’s, entitled “A view of the principal Deistical Writers,
” was originally addressed in a series of letters,
in the form they now appear, to Dr. Wilson, who finding
that the booksellers would not give the author any adequate
remuneration (50l. only were offered) printed the first
edition at his own risk.
v. Clement Cruttwell, whom we have mentioned as the editor of bishop Wilson’s works, as his almoner, who, among many other instances of his liberality and prompt attention
Dr. Wilson died at Alfred House, Bath, April 15, 1784,
in the eighty-first year of his age, and on the 27th was interred, with great funeral pomp, in Walbrook church;
where he had in his life-time put up a tablet undated. His
tenacity in the cause he espoused v^as no less conspicuous
in his opposition to the building of the intended square in
Westminster, than in his attachment to the noted Mrs.
Macaulay, to whom, when living, he erected a statue in
his church, which, with his other marks of high regard for
this lady, created much ridicule. By her second 'marriage,
however, he was completely cured, and diverted his testamentary remembrances into more proper channels. Dr.
Wilson adopted the modest motto of “Sequitur patrem,
non passibus aequis,
” and in his adherence to the turbulent
politics of Wilkes and his party, certainly departed from
his father’s example, but in acts of benevolence was by no
means behind him. He often employed the Rev. Clement
Cruttwell, whom we have mentioned as the editor of bishop
Wilson’s works, as his almoner, who, among many other
instances of his liberality and prompt attention to the wants
of the distressed, used to relate the following. One day
Dr. Wilson discovered a clergyman at Bath, who he was
told was sick, poor, and had a numerous family. In the
evening of the same day he gave Mr. Cruttwell a
considerable sum (50l. if we have not forgot) requesting he
would deliver it to the clergyman in the most delicate
manner, and as from an unknown person. Mr. Gruttwell
said, “I will call upon him early in the morning.
” “You
will oblige me by calling directly. Think, sir, of what
importance a good night’s rest may be to that poor man.
”
Dr. Wilson had accumulated a very copious historical library for the use of Mrs. Macaulay, which he bequeathed
to Mr. Cruttwell, along with the copy-right of his father’s
works. This curious library, after Mr. Cruttwell’s death,
came into the possession of one of his nephews at Bath.
me year, June 10, he married Lucretia Townson, sister of Thomas Townson, rector of Malpas, Cheshire, who had also been fellow of Magdalen-college. She died-at Appleton,
, a learned English divine, was the son of a reputable surgeon at Farringdon, in the county of Berks, where he was born. He was educated at Magdalen-college, Oxford, as a chorister and demy; proceeded M.A. in 1736, B. D. in 1747, and D. D. in 174-9. In July 1747 he was elected fellow, having been for some years before, as he was afterwards, a considerable tutor in the college. In 1761 he resigned his fellowship, on being presented by the society to the rectory of Appleton, Berkshire, at a small distance from his native place; and in the same year, June 10, he married Lucretia Townson, sister of Thomas Townson, rector of Malpas, Cheshire, who had also been fellow of Magdalen-college. She died-at Appleton, greatly esteemed and lamented, Jan. 26, 1772. Five years afterwards he married Jennett, widow of his fellowcollegian, Richard Lluellyn, B. D. and sister of the late Thomas Lewis, esq, of Frederick’s-place, London, one of the directors of the Bank of England. To the sincere and lasting regret of all who knew him, he was seized with a paralytic stroke, which proved fatal May 17, 1780, and was buried in the chancel of his own church, near the remains of his wife. His only preferment, besides the rectory of Appleton, was the curacy of Astley-chapel, near Arbury, Warwickshire, a donative given him by his esteemed friend sir Roger Newdigate, bart.
doctrine and discipline of the church, and contributed some valuable remarks to contemporary writers who were more particularly involved in these disputes. He also wrote
Dr. Winchester paid great attention to such controversies in his time as concerned the doctrine and discipline of
the church, and contributed some valuable remarks to contemporary writers who were more particularly involved in
these disputes. He also wrote some letters in the Gentleman’s Magazine on the Confessional controversy, and topics arising from it. The only separate publication from
his pen was published, but without his name, in 1773,
under the title of “A Dissertation on the XVIIth article
of the Church of England; wherein the sentiments of the
compilers, and other contemporary reformers, on the subject of the divine decrees, are fully deduced from their
own writings, to which is subjoined a short tract, ascertaining the reign and time in which the royal declaration
before the XXXIX articles was first published.
” This
work was reprinted in 1803, on occasion of the controversy
being revived by Mr. Overton, “with emendations from
the author’s corrected copy, and the addition of a biographical preface.
” The latter is written by the rev. archdeacon Churton, and to it we are indebted for the preceding particulars.
city of character prevented his striking at the first acquaintance, every hour endeared him to those who had the happiness of his intimacy. In every relation of life
, an artist and antiquary of great
taste and talents, was born August 21, 1739, at Twickenham, in the house afterwards the residence of Richard
Owen Cambridge, esq. He was educated at Eton school,
from which he went to Christ’s-college, Cambridge, but
took no degree. He returned from an extensive tour
through France, Italy, Istria, and Switzerland, in 1769;
and soon after married the honourable Charlotte De Grey,
sister to the lord Walsingham; by whom he has left no
issue. In all which is usually comprehended under the
denomination of Belles Lettres, Mr. Windham may claim a
place among the most learned men of his time. To an indefatigable diligence in the pursuit of knowledge, he joined
a judgment clear, penetrating, and unbiassed, and a memory uncommonly retentive and accurate. An ardent love
for truth, a perfect freedom from prejudice, jealousy, and
affectation, an entire readiness to impart his various and
copious information, united with a singular modesty and
simplicity, marked his conversation and manners. Few
men had a more critical knowledge of the Greek and Latin
languages, or a deeper feeling for the beauties of style
and sentiment in the classic writers; but in his minute and
comprehensive acquaintance with every thing in them illustrative of human life and manners, especially all that relates to the fine arts, he scarcely had an equal. The history of art in the middle ages, and every circumstance relative to the revival of literature and the arts, from the
fourteenth century to the present time, were equally familiar to him; and his acquaintance with the language of
modern Italy was surpassed by few. He had very particularly studied the antiquities of his own country, and was
eminently skilled in the history of English architecture.
His pencil, as a draftsman from nature, was exquisite. His
portraits of mere natural scenery were peculiarly spirited
and free, and his drawings of architecture and antiquities
most faithful and elegant. During his residence at Rome,
he studied and measured the remains of ancient architecture there, particularly the baths, with a precision which
would have done honour to the most able professional architect. His numerous plans and sections of them he gave
to Mr. Cameron, and they are engraved in his great work
on the Roman baths. To this work he also furnished a
very considerable and valuable part of the letter-press.
He also drew up the greater portion of the letter-press of
the second volume of the “Ionian Antiquities,
” published
by the society of Dilettanti; and Mr. Stuart received material assistance from him in the second volume of his
Athens. In his own name he published very little. His
accuracy of mind rendered it difficult to him to please
himself; and, careless of the fame of an author, he was
better content that his friends should profit by his labours,
than that the public should know the superiority of his own
acquirements. He had been long a fellow of the Royal
and Antiquarian Societies; and in the latter, was for many
years of the council, and one of the committee for the
publication of the Cathedrals of England. He more than
once declined the honourable office of vice-president. Of
the society of Dilettanti he was one of the oldest members;
and to his zeal it was principally owing that the publications of that society were continued, after a suspension of
many years.
Mr. Windham died at Earsham-house, Norfolk, Sept. 21,
181U. In private life, he was the most amiable of men.
Benevolent, generous, cheerful, without caprice, above
envy, his temper was the unclouded sun-shine of virtue
and sense. If his extreme modesty and simplicity of character prevented his striking at the first acquaintance,
every hour endeared him to those who had the happiness of
his intimacy. In every relation of life he was exemplary.
A kind husband, a firm friend, a generous landlord, an
indulgent master.
fairs, that it became the standing joke of one of his contemporaries, that “Windham would never know who was prime minister.” This disinclination to a political life,
At seven years of age young Mr. Windham was placed at
Eton, where he remained until he was about sixteen, distinguishing himself by the vivacity and brilliancy of his
talents. On leaving Eton in 1766, he went to the university of Glasgow, where he resided for about a year in the
house of Dr. Anderson, professor of natural philosophy,
and diligently attended his lectures and those of Dr. Robert
Simson, professor of mathematics. For this study Mr.
Windham had an early predilection, and left behind him
three treatises on mathematical subjects. In Sept. 1767
he was entered a gentleman commoner of University-college, Oxford, Mr. (afterwards sir Robert) Chambers being
his tutor. While here he took so little interest in public
affairs, that it became the standing joke of one of his contemporaries, that “Windham would never know who was
prime minister.
” This disinclination to a political life,
added to a modest diffidence in his own talents, led him
about this period, to reject an offer which, by a youth not
more than twenty years of age, might have been considered
as a splendid one, that of being named secretary to his
father’s friend, lord Townshend, who had been appointed
lord-lieutenant of Ireland.
England, he was chosen a member of the Literary club founded by sir Joshua Reynolds and Dr. Johnson, who had the greatest esteem for Mr. Windham; and, notwithstanding
In 1773, when he was but twenty-three years old, his love of adventure and his thirst of knowledge, induced him to accompany his friend, Constantine lord Mulgrave, in his voyage towards the North Pole; but he was so harassed with sea-sickness, that he was under the necessity of being landed in Norway, and of wholly abandoning his purpose. His earliest essay as a public speaker was occasioned by a call which was made on the country, for a subscription in aid of government, to be applied towards carrying on the war with our American colonies. A meeting for this purpose was held at Norwich, and his speech, which has been preserved by his biographer, though it must not be compared with later specimens of his eloquence, may be allowed to exhibit some proofs of acuteness, dexterity, and vigour. He opposed the subscription, as well as the war itself. Some time before this he had entered himself as an officer in the western battalion of Norfolk militia, and when quartered at Bury in Suffolk, by his intrepidity and personal exertion, he quelled a dan^ gerous mutiny which had broke out, notwithstanding he was highly beloved by the regiment. Soon afterwards, in consequence of remaining several hours in wet cloaths, he was seized with a dangerous bilious fever, which nearly deprived him of his life. In the autumn of that year, partly with a view of restoring his health, he went abroad, and spent the two following years in Switzerland and Italy. Previously to his leaving England, he was chosen a member of the Literary club founded by sir Joshua Reynolds and Dr. Johnson, who had the greatest esteem for Mr. Windham; and, notwithstanding his engagements in consequence of his parliamentary business, and the important offices which he filled, he was a very frequent attendant at the meetings of that society, for which he always expressed the highest value, from 1781 to near the time of his death. In 1782 he came into parliament, where he sat for twenty-eight years, at first for Norwich, and afterwards for various boroughs; and he so early distinguished himself in the House of Commons, that he was selected by Mr. Burke in 1784 to second his motion for a representation to his majesty on the state of the nation. He was at this time in the ranks of the opposition, created by the appointment of Mr. Pitt to be prime-minister, and may have been said to be particularly of the school of Burke, with whom he afterwards thought and acted on many important occasions. In the preceding year, he had been appointed principal secretary to the earl of Northington, then constituted lord-lieutenant of Ireland; and in that capacity he visited Dublin in the spring of 1783, and intended to have accompanied his excellency, when he afterwards opened the session of parliament there in October*, but being prevented by illness, he relinquished the office.
which account his virtues and talents were never rightly appreciated by persons of that description, who frequently on this ground vainly attempted to undervalue him.
* When about to visit that country in perhaps I make the time shorter than
his official capacity, he called on Dr. it was. Such conversation I shall not
Johnson and in the course of con- have again till I come back to the reversation lamented that he should be gions of Literature, and there Windunder the necessity of sanctioning ham is inter stellas luna. minores.“Alpractices of which he could not ap- though e have said that illness was
prove.
” Don't be afraid, sir,“said the cause of Mr. Windham’s resignathe tioctor, with a pleasant smile, tion, his biographer affords some rea
”you will soon in -ke a very pretty son to think that it really arose from
rascal.“Dr. Johnson in a letter to the conscientious scruples which Dr.
Dr. Bruckle.-'by, written an Ashbourne Johnson thought might soon vanish,
in 1784 says:
” Mr. Wjiuiham has and that it was owing to his being
been here to see me he came, [ dissatisfied with some part of the lord
think, forty miles ou of his Vay, lieutenaut’s conduct,
and staid about a day aud a half;
Although from the time of his coming into parliament,
he usually voted with the opposition of that day, he never
was what is called a thorough party-man, frequently deviating from those to whom he was in general attached,
when, in matters of importance, his conscience directed
him to take a different course from them; on which account his virtues and talents were never rightly appreciated
by persons of that description, who frequently on this
ground vainly attempted to undervalue him. After thq
rupture between Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke, in consequence
of the French revolution, Mr. Windham attached himself
wholly to the latter, with whom he had for many years
lived in the closest intimacy; and of whose genius and
virtues he had always the highest admiration. Being with
him thoroughly convinced of the danger then impending
over his country from the measures adopted by certain
classes of Englishmen, in consequence of that tremendous
convulsion, he did not hesitate to unite with the duke of
Portland, lord Spencer, and others, in accepting offices
under the administration in which Mr. Pitt then presided.
On this arrangement Mr. Windham was appointed secretary at war, with a seat in the cabinet, an honourable distinction which had never before been annexed to that
office. This station he continued to fill with the highest
reputation from that time (17S4) till 1801, when he, lord
Spencer, lord Grenville, and Mr. Pitt, resigned their offi-r
ces; and shortly afterwards Mr. Addington (now lord viscount Sidmouth) was appointed chancellor of the exchequer
and first lord of the treasury. On the preliminaries of
peace with France being acceded to by that statesman aod
his coadjutors, in 1801, Mr. Windham made his celebrated
speech in parliament, which was afterwards (April 1802)
published, with an Appendix, containing a character of
the Usurper of the French throne, which will transmit to
posterity the principal passages of his life up to that period,
in the most lively colours. On Mr. Addington being driven
from the helm, in 1805, principally by the battery of Mr,
Windham’s eloquence, a new administration was again
formed by Mr. Pitt, which was dissolved by his death, in
1806; and shortly afterwards, on lord Grenville’s accepting the office of first lord of the Treasury, Mr. Windham
was appointed secretary of state for the war department,
which he held till his majesty in the following year thought
fit to constitute a new administration. During this period
he carried into a law his bill for the limited service of those
who enlist in our regular army; a measure which will ever
endear his name to the English soldiery. But it is not our
purpose to detail the particular measures which either
originated from him, or in which he took a part. This indeed would be impossible within any prescribed limits;
and would involve the history of perhaps the whole of the
war. It may suffice to notice that his genius and talents
were universally acknoxvledged. He was unquestionably
not inferior, in many respects, to the most admired characters of the age that is just gone by. He had been in
his earlier years a very diligent student, and was an excellent Greek and Latin scholar. In his latter years, like
Burke and Johnson, he was an excursive reader, but gathered a great variety of knowledge from different books,
and from occasionally mixing, like them, with very various
classes and descriptions of men. His memory was most
tenacious. In his parliamentary speeches his principal
object always was to convince the understanding by irrefragable argument, which he at the same time enlivened
by a profusion of imagery, drawn sometimes from the most
abstruse parts of science, but oftener from the most familiar
objects of common life. But what gave a peculiar lustre
to whatever he urged, was his known and uniform integrity,
and a firm conviction in the breasts of his hearers, that he
always uttered the genuine and disinterested sentiments of
his heart. His language, both in writing and speaking,
was always simple, and he was extremely fond of idiomatic
phrases, which he thought greatly contributed to preserve
the purity of our language. He surveyed every subject of
importance with a philosophic eye, and was thence enabled
to discover and detect latent mischief, concealed under the
plausible appearance of public advantage. Hence all the
clarnourers for undefined and imaginary liberty, and all
those who meditate the subversion of the constitution under
the pretext of Reform, shrunk from his grasp; and persons
of this description were his only enemies. But his dauntless intrepidity, and his noble disdain of vulgar popularity,
held up a shield against their malice; and no fear of consequences ever drove him from that manly and honourable
course, which the rectitude and purity of his mind induced
him to pursue. As an orator, he was simple, elegant,
prompt, and graceful. His genius was so fertile, and his
reading so extensive, that there were few subjects on which
he could not instruct, amuse, and persuade. He was frequently (as has justly been observed) “at once entertaining and abstruse, drawing illustrations promiscuously from
familiar life, and the recondite parts of science; nor was
it unusual to hear him through three adjoining sentences,
in the first witty, in the second metaphysical, and in the
last scholastic.
” But his eloquence derived its principal
power from the quickness of his apprehension, and the
philosophical profundity of his mind. In private life no
man perhaps of any age had a greater number of zealous
friends and admirers. In addition to his extraordinary ta-^
lents and accomplishments, the grace and happiness of his
address and manner gave an irresistible charm to his conversation; and few, it is believed, of either sex (for his address to ladies was inimitably elegant and graceful) ever
partook of his society without pleasure and admiration, or
quitted it without regret. His brilliant imagination, his
various knowledge, his acuteness, his good taste, his wit,
his dignity of sentiment, and his gentleness of manner (for he never was loud or intemperate) made him universally
admired and respected. To crown all these virtues and
accomplishments, it mav be added, that he fulfilled all the
duties. of life, the lesser as well as the greatest, with the
most scrupulous attention; and was always particularly ardent in vindicating the cause of oppressed merit. But his
best eulogy is the general sentiment of sorrow which agitated every bosom on the sudden s and unexpected stroke
which terminated in his death. During the nineteen days
of his sickness, his hall was daily visited by several hundred
successive inquirers concerning the state of his health; and
that part of Pall Mall in which his house was situated, was
thronged with carriages filled with ladies, whom a similar
anxiety brought to his door. Every morning, and also at a
late hour every evening, when his physicians and surgeons
attended, several apartments in his house were filled with
friends, who anxiously waited to receive the latest and
most accurate accounts of the progress or abatement of
his disorder. This sympathetic feeling extended almost
through every class, and even reached the throiio, for his
majesty frequently inquired concerning the state of his
health, pronouncing on him this high eulogy, that “he
was a genuine patriot, and a truly honest man.
” Of the
fatal malady which put an end to his invaluable life, erroneous accounts have been published, but the fact was, that
on the 8th of July 1809, Mr. Windham, returningon foot
at twelve o'clock at niiht from the house of a friend, as he
passed by the end of Conduit-street, saw a house on fire,
and instantly hastened to the spot, with a view to assist the
sufferers; and soon observed that the house of the Hon.
Mr. Frederic North was not far distant from that which was
then on fire. He therefore immediately undertook to
save his friend’s library, which he knew to be very valuable. With the most strenuous activity he exerted himself for four hours, in the midst of rain and the playing of
the fire-engines, with such effect that, with the assistance
of two or three persons whom he had selected from the
crowd assembled on this occasion, he saved four parts out
of five of the library; and before they could empty the
fifth book room, the house took fire. The books were immediately removed, not to Mr. Windham’s house, but to
the houses of the opposite neighbours, who cook great care
of them. In removing same heavy volumes he accidentally
fell, and suffered a slight contusion on his hip, of which,
however, he unfortunately took no notice for some months,
when an indolent encysted tumour was formed, which,
after due consultation, it was judged proper to cut out.
The operation was accordingly performed apparently with
success on May 17, 1810, but soon after unfavourable
symptoms came on, and terminated fatally June 4, to the
unspeakable regret of all who knew him.
mmissioners, for that county, to eject from their situations those loyal clergymen and schoolmasters who were accused as being scandalous and ignorant. He died in Gray’s-
, whom Dr. Hutton pronounces one of the clearest writers on arithmetic, &c. in the English language, was the son of Roger Wingate, esq. of Bornend and Sharpenhoe, in Bedfordshire, but was born in Yorkshire in 1593. In 1610 he became a commoner of Queen’s-college, Oxford, and after taking a degree in arts, removed to Gray’s -Inn, London, where he studied the law. His chief inclination, however, was to the mathematics, which he had studied with much success at college. In 1624 he was in France, where he published the scale, or rule of proportion, which had been invented by Gunter, and while in that country gave instructions in the English language to the princess Henrietta Maria, afterwards wife of Charles I. and to her ladies. After his return to England, he became a bencher of Gray VInn; and on the breaking out of the great rebellion, he joined the popular party^ took the covenant, was maxle justice of the peace for the county of Bedford, where he resided at Woodend in the parish of Harlington. His name occurs in the register of Anipthill church, as a justice, in 1654, at which period, according to the republican custom, marriages were celebrated by the civil magistrate. In 1650 he took the oath, commonly called the engagement, became intimate with Cromwell, and was chosen into his parliament for Bedford. He was also appointed one of the commissioners, for that county, to eject from their situations those loyal clergymen and schoolmasters who were accused as being scandalous and ignorant. He died in Gray’s- Inn, in 1656, and was buried in the parish church of St. Andrew Holborn.
London, in English^ 1626, 1645, and 1658. In this book, Mr. Wingate speaks of having been the first who carried the logarithms tqf France; but an edition of Napier’s
His works are, 1. “The use of the proportional Rules
in Arithmetic and Geometry; also the use of Logarithms
of numbers, with those of sines and tangents;
” printed ill
French, at Paris, Description and construction of Logarithms
” was printed at Lyons in Of Natural,
and Artificial Arithmetic, or Arithmetic made easy,
” Lond.
ibid. 1633, 8vo. 4.
” The Construction and use of Logarithms, with the resolution of Triangles, &c.“5.
” Ludus
Mathematicus: or an Explanation of the description, construction, and use of the numerical table of proportion,“ibid. 1654, 8vo. 6.
” Tacto-metria, seu Tetagne-nqme-t
tria, or the Geometry of regulars, &c.“ 8vo. 7.
” The
exact Surveyor of Land, &c.“8vo. 8.
” An exact abridgment of all the statutes in force and use from the Magna
Charta to 1641,“1655, 8vo, reprinted and continued to
1663, 1680, 1681, and 1684. 9.
” The body of the common
law of England,“1655, &c. 8vo. 10.
” Maxims of reason, or the Reason of the Common Law of England,“1658,
fol. 11.
” Statuta Pacis; or, the Table of all the Statutes
which any way concern the office of a justice of peace,
&c." 12mo. 12. An edition of Britton, 1640, 12mo. He
was supposed to be the editor of some other law books,
which show equal judgment and industry, but he is now
remembered only as a mathematician.
s of Rome and Italy, beginning with a volunqe on the Belvedere statues, in the manner of Richardson, who, he says, only ran over Rome. In. the preface he intended to
, an eminent antiquary,
was born at Stendall, in the old Marche of Brandenbourg,
in the beginning of 1718. He was the son of a shoemaker,
but although to all appearance destined by his birth to superintend a little school in an obscure town in Germany,
he raised himself to the office of president of antiquities in
the Vatican. After having been seven years professor in
the college of Seehausen near Salswedel, he went into
Saxony,where he resided seven years more, and was Jibrarian to count Bonau at Nothenitz. The count was author of an “History of the Empire,
” and died History of Art.
”
In Restoration of Ancient Statues,
”
and a larger work on the “Taste of the Greek Artists;
”
$od designed an account of the galleries of Rome and Italy,
beginning with a volunqe on the Belvedere statues, in the
manner of Richardson, who, he says, only ran over Rome.
In. the preface he intended to mention the fate of these
statues at the sacking of Rome in 1527, when the soldiers
made a fire in Raphael’s lodge, which spoiled many things.
He also intended a history of the corruption of taste in art,
the restoration of statues, and an illustration of the obscure
points of mythology. All these different essays led him to
his “History of Art,
” and his “Monumenti Inediti.
” It
must, however, be confessed, that the first of these works
has not all the clearness and precision that might be expected in its general plan, and division of its parts and objects; but it has enlarged and extended the ideas both of
antiquaries ancj collectors. The description of the gems
and sulphurs of the Stosch cabinet contributed not a little
to extend Mr. Winkelman’s knowledge. Few persons have
had opportunities of contemplating such vast collections.
The engravings of Lippet and count Caylus are all that
many can arrive at. Mr. Winkelman’s “Monumenti Inediti,
” of which he had begun the third vol. History of Art
” is full of anachronisms.
of 80,000 crowns, a house, and a coach; and he soon got access to the library of cardinal Passionei, who is represented as a most catholic and respectable character,
In one of his letters, dated 1754, he gives an account
of his change of religion, which too plainly appears to have
been guided by motives of interest, in order to make his
way to Rome, and gain a better livelihood. At Dresden
he published, 1755, “Reflections on the Imitation of the
Works of the Greeks,
” 4to, translated into French the same
year, and republished 1756, 4to. At Rome he made an
acquaintance with Mengs, first painter to the king of Poland, afterwards, in 1761, appointed first painter to the
house of Spain, with an appointment of 80,000 crowns, a
house, and a coach; and he soon got access to the library
of cardinal Passionei, who is represented as a most catholic and respectable character, who only wanted ambition
to be pope. His catalogue was making by an Italian, and
the work was intended for Winkelman. Giacomelli, canon
of St. Peter, &c. had published two tragedies of Æschylus
and Sophocles, with an Italian translation and notes, and
was about a new edition of “Chrysostom de Sacerdotio;
”
and Winkelman had joined with him in an edition of an
unprinted Greek oration of Libanius, from two Mss. in
the Vatican and Barberini libraries. In 1757 he laments
the calamities of his native country, Saxony, which was
then involved in the war between the emperor and the king
of Prussia. In 1758 he meditated a journey over the
kingdom of Naples, which he says could only be done on
foot, and in the habit of a pilgrim, on account of the many
difficulties and dangers, and the total want of horses and
carriages from Viterbo to Pisciota, the ancient Velia. Jn
1768 we find him in raptured with the idea of a voyage to
Sicily, where he wished to make drawings of the many
beautiful earthen vases collected by the Benedictines at
Catana. At the end of the first volume of his letters, 1781,
were first published his remarks on the ancient architecture of the temple of Girgenti. He was going to Naples,
with 100 crowns, part of a pension from the king of Poland, for his travelling charges, and thence to Florence,
at the invitation of baron Sto&ch. Cardinal Archinto, secretary of state, employed him to take care of his library.
His “Remarks on Ancient Architecture' 7 were ready for a
second edition. He was preparing a work in Italian, to
clear up some obscure points in mythology and antiquities,
with above fifty plates; another in Latin, explanatory of
the Greek medals that are least known; and he intended
to send to be printed in England
” An Essay on the Style
of Sculpture before Phidias.“A work in 4to appeared at
Zurich, addressed to Mr. Wrnkelman, by Mr. Mengs, but
without his name, x entitled,
” Thoughts on Beauty and
Taste in Painting,“and was published by J. C. Fuesli.
When Cardinal Albam succeeded to the place of librarian
of the Vatican, he endeavoured to get a place for the Hebrew language for Winkelman, who refused a canonry
because be would not take the tonsure. The elector of
Saxony gave him, 1761, unsolicited, the place of counsellor Richter, the direction of the royal cabinet of medals,
and antiquities at Dresden. Upon the death of the abbe
Venuti, 1762, he was appointed president of the antiquities of the apostolic chamber, with power over all discoveries and exportations of antiquities and pictures. This
is a post of honour, with an income of 160 scudi per annum. He had a prospect of the place of president of antiquities in the Vatican, going to be created at 16 scudi
per month, and was named corresponding member of the
academy of inscriptions. He had thoughts of publishing
an
” Essay on the Depravation of Taste in the Arts and
Sciences.“The king of Prussia offered him by Col. Quintus Icilius the place of librarian and director of his cabinet
of medals and antiquities, void by the death of M. Gautier
de la Croze, with a handsome appointment. He made no
scruple of accepting the offer; but, when it came to the
pope’s ears, he added an appointment out of his own purse,
and kept him at Rome. In April 1768 he left Rome to go
with M. Cavaceppi over Germany and Switzerland. When
he came to Vienna he was so pleased with the reception he
met with that he made a longer stay there than he had
intended. But, being suddenly seized with a secret uneasiness, and extraordinary desire to return to Rome, he set
out for Italy, putting off his visits to his friends in Germany to a future opportunity. It was the will of Providence, however, that this opportunity should never come,
he being assassinated in June of that year, by one Arcangeli, of whom, and of his crime, the following narrative
was published:
” Francis Arcangeli was born of mean parents, near the
city of Pistoia, and bred a cook, in which capacity he served
in a respectable family at Vienna, where, having been
guilty of a considerable robbery, he was condemned to
work in fetters for four years, and then to be banished
from all the Austrian dominions, after being sworn never to
return. When three years of his slavery were expired, he
found friends to intercede in his favour, and he was released
from serving the fourth, but strictly enjoined to observe
the order of banishment; in consequence of which he left
Vienna, and retired to Venice with his pretended wife,
Eva Rachel. In August 1767, notwithstanding his oath,
he came to Trieste with a view to settle; but afterwards
changed his mind, and returned to Venice, where, being
disappointed of the encouragement he probably expected,
he came again to Trieste in May 1768. Being almost destitute of money, and but shabbily dressed, he took up his
lodging at a noted inn (probably with a view of robbing some traveller). In a few days the abbe Winkelman arrived at the same inn in his way from Vienna to Home, and
was lodged in the next apartment to that of Arcangeli.
This circumstance, and their dining together at the ordinary, first brought them acquainted. The abbe expressed a desire of prosecuting his journey with all possible
expedition, and Arcangeli was seemingly very assiduous
in procuring him a passage, which the abbé took very
kindly, and very liberally rewarded him for his services.
His departure, however, being delayed by the master of
the vessel which was to carry turn, Arcangeli was more
than ordinarily diligent in improving every opportunity of
making himself acceptable to the abbe, and their frequent
walks, long and fainiliar conversations, and the excessive
civility and attention of Arcangeli upon all occasions that
offered, so improved the regard which the abbe had begun
to conceive for him, that he not only acquainted him in
the general run of their discourse with the motives and the
event of his journey to Vienna, the graces he had there
received, and the offers of that ministry; but informed
him also of the letters of credit he had with him, the medals of gold and silver which he had received from their
imperial majesties, and, in short, with all the things of
value of which he was possessed.
nt he intended to use in the execution, and then going to the coffee-house, he there found the abbe, who paid for him as usual, and continued with him in conversation
"In the morning of the 7th of June, being determined no longer to delay his bloody purpose, he bought a sharp pointed knife, the instrument he intended to use in the execution, and then going to the coffee-house, he there found the abbe, who paid for him as usual, and continued with him in conversation till they both went home to dinner. After dinner they went again abroad together: but the villain having meditated a new scheme, he parted from the abbe and went and purchased some yards of cord, with which he returned home and retired to his chamber. Till the abbe came home, he employed himself in twisting the cord and forming a noose; and having prepared it to his mind, he placed that and the knife in a chair, ready. Soon after this the abbé came in, and, as his custom was, invited Arcangeli to supper. The cheerfulness of the abbe, and the frankness and cordiality with which he received and treated him, staggered him at first; and the sentiments of humanity so far took place, that his blood ran cold with the thoughts of his cruel intention, nor had he at this time courage to execute it. But the next morning, June the 8th, both going out of the inn together, and drinking coffee at the usual house, after Arcangeli had pretended in vain to hire a vessel to carry the abbe to Bagni, they returned to the inn, and each going into his Owr room, Arcangeli pulled off his coat (probably to prevent its being stained with blood) and putting the knife unsheathed, and the cord into his waistcoat pocket, about nine he went into Winkelmarf s chamber, who received him with his accustomed frankness, and entered into chat about his journey and about his medals; and, as he was upon the point of his departure, he invited the man, who was that instant to be his murderer, in the most affectionate manner, to Home, where he promised him his best assistance. Full of those friendly sentiments, the abbe sat himself down in his chair, when instantly the assassin, who stood behind him, threw the cord over his head and drew it close. The abbe with both his hands endeavoured to loosen the cord, but the murderer with his knife already unsheathed stabbed him in several places. This increased the struggle, and the last efforts of the unhappy victim brought both of them to the ground; the murderer, however, was uppermost, and having his knife still reeking with blood in his hand, plunged it five times into the bowels of his wounded friend. The noise of the fall, and the groans of the abbe, alarmed the chamberlain of the house, who hastily opening the door, was witness to the bloody conflict. The assassin, surprised in the fact, dropped the bloody knife, and in his waistcoat only, without a hat, his breast open, and his shirt covered with blood, he escaped out of the inn.
t, he placed himself against the balustrade, and called for assistance. Moved with compassion, those who heard his cries hastened to his relief, and helping him to his
"With the cord about his neck, and his wounds streaming, the abbe had still strength to rise, and descending from the second floor to the first, he placed himself against the balustrade, and called for assistance. Moved with compassion, those who heard his cries hastened to his relief, and helping him to his room, laid him upon his bed, where, having no hope of recovery, he received the sacraments, and made his will. After suffering a great deal with heroic constancy, and truly Christian piety, not complaining of his murderer, but most sincerely pardoning him, he calmly breathed his last about fourin the afternoon.
th of the same month it was executed in all its points, in the presence of an innumerable multitude, who flocked from all parts to see the execution.”
“In the mean time the assassin had escaped into the
Venetian territories, where, not thinking himself safe, he
pursued his way to Pirano, with a design to embark in
whatever ship was ready to sail, to whatever place; but expresses being every where dispatched with an account of
the murder, and a description of the murderer, he found
himself surrounded with dangers on all sides. Having
found means, however, to change his deaths, he quitted
the high road', and passing through forests, and over mountains unknown to him, he at length came to a road that led
to Labiana, and had already reached Planina, when a
drummer, mistaking him for a deserter, caused him to be
apprehended. Upon his examination, not being able to
give a satisfactory account of himself, and being threatened
by the magistrates of Aldesperg, he voluntarily confessed
the murder, and eight days after committing the fact, wan
brought back to Trieste, heavily ironed, and under a strong
guard. Here he was tried, and being found guilty, as
well on his own confession as on the clearest evidence, he
was sentenced by the emperor’s judges to be broken on the
wheel opposite to the inn where he had perpetrated the
murder, and his body to be exposed in the usual place of
executions, On the 18th of June he was informed of his
sentence, and on the 20th of the same month it was executed in all its points, in the presence of an innumerable
multitude, who flocked from all parts to see the execution.
”
is own inspection at Rome. It was translated by M. Hubert, so well known in the republic of letters, who has since published it in 3 vols. 4to, witlj head and tailpieces
Some of Winkelman’s Mss. got to Vienna, where the
new edition of his “History of Art
” was presently advertised. He intended to have got this work translated into
French at Berlin, by M. Toussaint, that it might be printed
under his own inspection at Rome. It was translated by
M. Hubert, so well known in the republic of letters, who
has since published it in 3 vols. 4to, witlj head and tailpieces from designs of M. Oeser. An Italian translation
of it by a literary society has been published at Milan.
friends tremble for his temerity. If ever man knew what friendship was, that man was Mr. Winkelman, who regularly practised all its duties, and for this reason he could
Abbe Winkelman was a middle-sized man; he had a
very low forehead, sharp nose, and little black hollow eyes,
which gave him an aspect rather gloomy than otherwise.
If he had any thing graceful in his physiognomy, it was,
his mouth, yet his lips were too prominent; but, when he
was animated, and in good humour, his features formed an
ensemble that was pleasing. A fiery and impetuous disposition often threw him into extremes. - Naturally enthusiastic, he often indulged an extravagant imagination;
but, as he possessed a strong and solid judgment, he
knew how to give things a just and intrinsic value. In
consequence of this turn of mind, as well as a neglected
education, a cautious reserve was a quality he little knew.
If hewas bold in his decisions as an author, he was still
more so in his conversation, and has often made his friends
tremble for his temerity. If ever man knew what friendship was, that man was Mr. Winkelman, who regularly
practised all its duties, and for this reason he could boast
of having friends among persons of every rank and condition. People of his turn of thinking and acting seldom or
ever indulged suspicions: the abbe’s fault was a contrary
extreme. The frankness of his temper led him to speak
his sentiments on all occasions; but, being too much addicted to that species of study which he so assiduously cultivated, he was not always on his guard to repress the sallies of self-love. His picture was drawn half length, sitting, by a German lady born at Kosinitz, but carried when
young into Italy by her father, who was a painter. She
etched it in a 4to size, and another artist executed it in
mezzotinto. This lady was Angelica Kauffman. The portrait is prefixed to the collection of his letters published at
Amsterdam, 1781, 2 vols. 12ino. Among his correspondents were Mr. Heyne, Munchausen, baron Reidesel (whose travels into Sicily, translated into English by Dr. Forster, 1773, 8vo, are addressed to him, and inspired him with an ardent longing to go over that ground), count Bunau, C.
Fuesli, Gesner, P. Usteri, Van Mechlen, the duke de
Rochfoucault, lord (alias Mr. Wortley) Montague, Mr.
Wiell; and there are added extracts from letters to M.
Clerisseaux, while he was searching after antiquities in the
South of France a list of the principal objects in Rome,
1766, &c. and an abstract of a letter of Fuesli to the
German translators of Webb on the “Beauties of Painting.
”
, a skilful anatomist who settled in France, was born in 1669, at Odensee, in Denmark,
, a skilful anatomist who
settled in France, was born in 1669, at Odensee, in Denmark, where his father was minister of the place, and intended him for his own profession, but he preferred that of
medicine, which he studied in various universities in Europe. In 1698 he was at Paris, studying under the celebrated Duverney, and here he was induced by the writings
of Bossuet to renounce the protestant religion, a change
which, it is rather singular, happened to his granduncle Stenonius (See Stenonius) by the same influence.
He now settled at Paris, was elected one of the college
of physicians, lecturer at the royal garden, expounder of
the Teutonic language at the royal library, and member
of the academy of sciences. According to Haller, who
had been his pupil, his genius was not so remarkable as
his industry, but by dint of assiduity he became an excellent anatomist; and his system of anatomy, or “Exposition Anatomique,
” has long been considered as a work of
the first reputation and utility, and has been translated into
almost all the European languages, and into English by
Douglas, 1734, 2 vols. 4to. He was also the author of a
great number of anatomical dissertations, some of which
were published separately, but they mostly -appeared in
the Memoirs of the French academy. He died in 1760,
at the advanced age of ninety-one.
work; those of 1660 and 1684, in order to possess the whole of his biographical labours: Winstanley, who could trim in politics as well as trade, omitted from the latter
, originally a barber,
author of the “Lives of the Poets;
” of “Select Lives of
England’s Worthies;
” “Historical Rarities;
” “The Loyal
Martyrology;
” and some single lives; all in 8vo. Granger
says he is a fantastical writer, and of the lowest class of
biographers:. but we are obliged to him for many notices
of persons and things, which are mentioned by no other
writer, which must account for his “England’s Worthies
”
being a book still in request; and, as some of the vampers
think, even worthy of being illustrated by prints. It is
not, however, generally known, that it is necessary to have
both editions of this work; those of 1660 and 1684, in
order to possess the whole of his biographical labours:
Winstanley, who could trim in politics as well as trade,
omitted from the latter all the republican lives, and substituted others in their room. He flourished in the reigns
of Charles I. II. andJames II. and was probably alive at
the publication of his second edition, in which he changed
his dedication, adopting new patrons. * In the “Gensura
Literaria,
” vol. V. is an account of “The Muses Cabinet,
”
both pleasant and profitable;
”
but now we are afraid will not be thought either. He was
a great plagiary, and took his character of the English
poets from Phillips’s “Theatrum,
” and much from Fuller
and others, without any acknowledgment.
for the Greek professorship at Cambridge, on the death of Andrew Downes, with four other candidates, who all read solemn lectures in the schools on a subject appointed
, an eminent Greek scholar,
was the son of Francis Winterton of Lutterworth in Leicestershire, A. M. where he was born. That he was an excellent Greek scholar appears from many of his productions in that language, which entitled him to be a competitor, though an unsuccessful one, in 1627, for the
Greek professorship at Cambridge, on the death of Andrew
Downes, with four other candidates, who all read solemn
lectures in the schools on a subject appointed them by the
electors. He was educated at KingVcollege, Cambridge,
where he had the misfortune, during the early part of his
residence, to be somewhat disordered in his intellects;
but, recovering, he took to the study of physic, and was
allowed to excel all of that profession in his time. In 1631
he 'published the first book of Hippocrates’s Aphorisms in
a Greek metrical version at Cambridge, in quarto, and the
year following the whole seven books together, in the same
manner. In 1633, by the advice of Dr. John Collins, regius professor of physic, he published an edition of the
Aphorisms in octavo at Cambridge, with Frere’s Latin poetical translation, and his own Greek version, with a Latin
prose translation by John Heurnus of Utrecht. At the
end is annexed a small book of epigrams and poems, composed by the chiefest wits of both universities, but chiefly
of Cambridge, and of KingVcollege in particular. In
1631 he printed, in octavo, at Cambridge, a translation of
“Gerard’s Meditations,
” whicfi went through six editions
in about nine years. In 1632 he published likewise at
Cambridge, in octavo, Gerard’s “Golden Chain of Divine Aphorisms.
” He published also, for the use of Etonschool, an edition of “Dionysius de situ Orbis,
” with
some Greek verse* at the end of it, addressed to the scholars, and exhorting them to the study of geography. This
was reprinted at London in 1668, 12mo. In the above
year (1632), he translated “Drexelius on Eternity,
” which
was printed at Cambridge. In the preface to this, he has
some sentiments which shew that he was of a pious but
somewhat singular turn of mind. In 1634, being M. D.
he was nominated by the king his professor of physic for
forty years, if he should live so long. The year following
he published at Cambridge in octavo an edition of the
“Minor Greek Poets,
” with observations upon Hesiod.
This has passed through many editions. His advancement
to the professorship appears to have interrupted his employment as an author; but he did not survive that honour
long, dying in the prime of life Sept. 13, 1636. He vva^
buried at the east end of King’s- college chapel, but without any memorial. After his death was published a translation by him of Jerome Zanchius’s “Whole Duty of the
Christian Religion,
” Lorid.
, an eminent physician, was the son of Dr. Clifton Wintringham, also a physician, who died at York, March 12, 1748, and was an author of reputation,
, an eminent physician,
was the son of Dr. Clifton Wintringham, also a physician,
who died at York, March 12, 1748, and was an author of
reputation, but rather of the mechanical school, as appears
by his first publication, “Tractatus de Podagra, in quo de
ultimis vasis et liquidis et succo nutritio tractatur,
” York,
A Treatise of endemir-diseases,
” ibid. Commentarium nosologicum morbos epidemicos et aeris
variationes in urbe Eboracensi, locisque vicinis, ab anno
1715 ad anni 1725 finem grassantes complectens,
” Lorn!.
An experimental inquiry on some parts
of the animal structure,
” ibid. An inquiry
into the exility of the vessels of a human body,
” ibid.
mainder to Jarvis Clifton, esq. second son of sir Jarvis Clifton, bart. of Clifton, Nottinghamshire, who however died before him, and the title became extinct. By his
His son, the more immediate subject of this brief notice, was born in 1710, and educated at Trinity college, Cambridge, where he took his degree of bachelor. of medicine in 1734, and that of doctor in 1749. During the interval it is not improbable that he studied the art at Leyden, as was usual at that time. He settled however at London, where he became a fellow of the college of physicians, and in 1742 of the Royal Society, in 1759 physician extraordinary, and afterwards physician general to the army. In 1749 he had been appointed chief physician to the duke of Cumberland, and in 1762 was nominated physician ta his present majesty, and received the honour of knighthood. He attained considerable practice during a very long life, and was much respected both for his private and public character. He died at Hammersmith, after a lingering illness, Jan. 9, 1794, at the age of eighty-four. In 1774 he had been created a baronet, with remainder to Jarvis Clifton, esq. second son of sir Jarvis Clifton, bart. of Clifton, Nottinghamshire, who however died before him, and the title became extinct. By his will, sir Clifton left to Trinity college, where he had been educated, a small marble image of Esculapius found near Rome, which was accordingly deposited there by his widow.
and supercilious in his demeanour. He left a son named Richard, afterwards of Ditton Park in Bucks, who dying without issue in 1688, his estate went to a son of Edward
In 1614, Winwood was made secretary of state; in which
office he continued till his death, which happened Oct. 27,
1617. He was interred in the parish church of St. Bartholomew the Less, London. Lloyd tells us, that “he was a
gentleman well seen in most affairs, but most expert in.
matters of trade and war.
” But although others acknowledge his abilities and integrity, they add that he was nol;
sufficiently polished as a courtier, as there was something
harsh and supercilious in his demeanour. He left a son
named Richard, afterwards of Ditton Park in Bucks, who
dying without issue in 1688, his estate went to a son of
Edward earl of Montague, who had married his sister. In
1725, were published at London, in 3 vols. folio, “Memorials of Affairs of State in the Reigns of queen Elizabeth and king James I. collected chiefly from the original
papers of the right honourable sir Ralph Winwood, knight,
some time one of the principal secretaries of state. Comprehending likewise the negotiations of sir Henry Neville,
sir Charles Cornwallis, sir Dudley Carlton, sir Thomas Edmonds, Mr. Trumble, Mr. Cottington, and others, at the
courts of France and Spain, and in Holland, Venice, &c.
wherein the principal transactions of those times are faithfully related, and the policies and the intrigues of those
courts at large discovered. The whole digested in an exact series of time. To which are added two tables, one of
the letters, the other of the principal matters. By Edmund Sawyer, esq.
” then one of the masters in chancery.
r. Hudson, as an underkeeper or assistant in the Bodleian library, an admirable school for Mr. Wise, who had a turn for literary history and antiquities. In 1718 he
, a learned antiquary, and Radcliffe librarian at Oxford, was born in the house of his father
Francis Wise, a mercer at Oxford, June 3, 1695. He received the first part of his education in New college school,
under the care of Mr. James Badger, a man very eminent
as a schoolmaster. In January 1710-11 he was admitted
a. member of Trinity college, and in the summer following
was elected scholar of that house. He took the degree of
M.A. in 1717, and about this period was employed by
Mr. Hudson, as an underkeeper or assistant in the Bodleian
library, an admirable school for Mr. Wise, who had a turn
for literary history and antiquities. In 1718 he became
probationer, and in the following year actual fellow of his
college. In 1722 he published “Asser Menevensis de rebus gestis Alfredi magni,
” 8vo, very elegantly printed, and
with suitable engravings, &c. The year preceding this,
(172 J) the hon. Francis North, afterwards earl of Guildford, entered of Trinity college under die tuition of Mr.
Wise, for whom he entertained a great esteem through
life. From this nobleman he received the living of Eljesfield near Oxford, a very small piece of preferment, and
not worth above 251. a year at most, but peculiarly agrefeable to our author, who contrived to make it a place of
some importance to curious visitors. He took a small
estate there, on a long lease, under lord Guildford, and
converted a cottage upon it into an agreeable retirement,
by building one or two good rooms, and laying out a garden with a piece of ground adjoining, scarcely before of
any use, in a very whimsical but pleasing manner. In this
little spot of a few acres, his visitors were surprised to
meet with ponds, cascades, seats, a triumphal arch, the
tower of Babel, a Druid temple, and an Egyptian pyramid.
These buildings, which were designed to resemble the
structures of antiquity, were erected in exact scale and
measure, to give, as far as miniature would permit, a just
idea of the edifice they were intended to represent. From
the time that his illustrious pupil left Oxford, Mr. Wise constantly resided in his family at intervals, and divided his
time between the seat of the Muses, and the elegant mansion of his friend and patron. In 1726 he was elected
custos archivorum; and in 1727 took his degree of bachelor of divinity.
4to. This pamphlet was answered by an anonymous person (supposed to be one Asplin, vicar of Banbury) who in his pamphlet, entitled “The Impertinence and Imposture of
In 1738, Mr. Wise published a Letter to Dr. Mead concerning some antiquities in Berkshire, particularly showing
that the White Horse was a Saxon monument, 4to. This
pamphlet was answered by an anonymous person (supposed to be one Asplin, vicar of Banbury) who in his pamphlet,
entitled “The Impertinence and Imposture of Modern
Antiquaries displayed,
” insinuated a suspicion that Mr.
Wise was no friend to the family on the throne. This insinuation gave Mr. Wise great uneasiness, as he then had
in view, some preferment from the officers of state (the place of Radcliffe Librarian). He therefore drew up in
1742, another treatise, called “Further Observations upon
the White Horse, &c.
” and was vindicated also both in his
political principles and antiquarian conjectures by a friend
(the Rev. Mr. North, F.S.A.) who then concealed his name.
(See North, George).
llections many deficiencies in the series of their coins; and after his death, his surviving sister, who resided at Oxford, and was his executrix, generously gave a
In 1745, he was presented by Trinity college to the rectory of Rotherfield Greys, in the county and diocese of Oxford; and on May 10, 1748, he was appointed Radcliffe
librarian. In 1750, he published his “Catalogue of the
Coins in the Bodleian library,
” folio, which he had designed, and taken subscriptions for, above twenty years
before, but through the smallness of his income he was unable to bear the expense of engravings, &c. This work he
dedicated to his friend and patron the earl of Guildford,
and in it has given some yiews of his house and gardens at
Ellesfield. After this period he resided chiefly in this
pleasing retreat, and pursued his researches into antiquity.
In 1758, he printed in 4to, “Some Enquiries concerning
the first inhabitants, learning, and letters of Europe, by a
member of the Society of Antiquaries, London;
” and in
History and Chronology of Fabulous Ages considered.
” No name is prefixed
to these performances, but at the end of each we have the
initials F. W. R. L. (Francis Wise, Radcliffe librarian).
These were his last publications. He was after this period
much afflicted with the gout, and lived quite retired at
Ellesfield till his death, which happened Oct. 6, 1767. He
was buried in the churchyard of that place, and by his own
direction, no stone or monument perpetuates his memory.
In his life-time he had been a benefactor to the Bodleian
library by supplying from his own collections many deficiencies in the series of their coins; and after his death,
his surviving sister, who resided at Oxford, and was his
executrix, generously gave a large and valuable cabinet of
his medals, &c. to the Radcliffe library.
mbers of that house. In 1544, he returned to his native country, in the company of the commissioners who had been sent to negociate a treaty with Henry VIII. of England.
, one of the first martyrs for the protestant religion in Scotland, and a person of great distinction in the ecclesiastical history of that country, was born in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and appears to have very early felt the consequences of imbibing the spirit of the reformers. He was descended of the house of Pitarrow in the Mearns, an illustrious family in Scotland, and is said to have travelled into Germany, where he became acquainted with the opinions of Luther. Other accounts mention x his having been banished from his own country by the bishop of Brechin, for teaching the Greek 7‘estament in the town of Montrose, and that after this he resided for some years in the university of Cambridge. Of this latter circumstance there is no reason to doubt, for besides an account of him while there by one of his pupils, printed by Fox, the historian of Bene’t or Corpus Christ! college has inserted a short account of him, as one of the members of that house. In 1544, he returned to his native country, in the company of the commissioners who had been sent to negociate a treaty with Henry VIII. of England. At this time he was allowed to excel all his countrymen in learning, and to be a man of the most persuasive eloquence, irreproachable in life, courteous and affable in manners. His fervent piety, zeal, and courage, in the cause of truth, were tempered with uncommon meekness, modesty, patience, prudence, and charity. With these qualifications he began to preach in a very bold manner, against the corruptions of the Romish church, and the vices of the clergy. He met with a most favourable reception wherever he appeared, and was much followed and eagerly listened to, which so excited the indignation of cardinal Beaton, and the popish clergy in general, that a resolution was formed to take away his life by some means or other.
is caution. On the first of these attempts he behaved with great generosity. A friar named Weighton, who had undertaken to kill him when he was in Dundee (where he principally
Two attempts were made to cut him off by assassination;
but he defeated the first by his courage, and the second
by his caution. On the first of these attempts he behaved
with great generosity. A friar named Weighton, who had
undertaken to kill him when he was in Dundee (where he principally preached), knowing that it was his custom to
remain in the pulpit after sermon, till the church was
empty, skulked at the bottom of the stairs with a dagger in
his right hand under his gown. Wishart (who was remarkably quick-sighted), as he came down from the pulpit, observing the friar’s countenance, and his hand with something in it under his gown, suspected his design, sprung
forward, seized his hand, and wrenched the dagger from
him. At the noise which this scuffle occasioned, a crowd
of people rushed into the church, and would have torn the
friar in pieces; but Mr. Wishart clasped him in his arms, and
declared that none should touch him but through his body.
“He hath done me no hurt
” said he, “my friends; he
hath done me much good; he hath taught me what I have
to fear, and put me upon my guard.
” And it appeared
that he defeated the second attempt on his life by the suspicion which the first had inspired. When he was at Montrose, a messenger came to him with a letter from a country
gentleman, acquainting him that he had been suddenly
taken ill, and earnestly intreating him to come to him without delay. He immediately set out, accompanied by two
or three friends, but when they were about half a mile from
the town, he stoppled, saying, “I suspect there is treason
in this matter. Go you (said he to one of his friends) up
yonder, and tell me what you observe.
” He came back
and told him, that he had seen a company of spearmen
lying in ambush near the road. They then returned to the
town, and on the way he said to his friends; “I know I
shall one day fall by the hands of that blood-thirsty man
(meaning cardinal Beaton), but I trust it shall not be in
this manner.
”
f a man, in whose grave he hoped that their principles would be buried, he openly, with the prelates who accompanied him, witnessed the melancholy spectacle. In many
These two plots having miscarried, and Wishart still continuing to preach with his usual boldness and success, the
cardinal summoned a synod of the clergy to meet Jan. 11,
1546, in the Blackfriars church, Edinburgh, and to consider of means for putting a stop to the progress of heresy,
and while thus employed, he heard that Wishart was in the
house of Ormiston, only about eight miles from Edinburgh,
where he was seized by treachery, and conducted to the
castle of Edinburgh, and soon after to the castle of St. An-r
drew’s. Here, being completely in the hands of the cardinal, he was put upon his trial March 1, before a convocation of the prelates and clergy assembled for that purpose
in the cathedral, and treated with the utmost barbarity,
every form of law, justice, or decency, being dispensed
with. He endeavoured to answer the accusations brought
against him, and to shew the conformity between the doctrines he had preached and the word of God; but this was
denied him, and he was condemned to be burnt as an obstinate heretic, which sentence was executed next day on
the castle green. The cardinal seems to have been sensible that the minds of men would be much agitated by the
fate of this amiable sufferer, and even to have apprehended
that some attempt might be made to rescue him from the
flames. He commanded all the artillery of the castle to be
pointed towards the scene of execution; and, either to
watch the ebullitions qf popular indignation/to display his
Contempt of the reformers, or to satiate himself by contemplating the destruction of a man, in whose grave he hoped
that their principles would be buried, he openly, with the
prelates who accompanied him, witnessed the melancholy
spectacle. In many accounts which we have of Wishart’s
death, it is mentioned that, looking towards the cardinal,
he predicted, “that he who, frooi yonder place (pointing to the tower where he sat), beholdeth us with such pride,
shall, within a few days, lie in the same as ignominiously
as now he is seen proudly to rest.
” In our account of Beaton we have noticed the evidence for this fact, and the
opinion of historians upon it, to which may now be added
the opinions of some able writers (noticed in our references)
who have appeared since that article was drawn up. Concerning Wishart, we may conclude, with Dr. Henry, that
his death was a loss to his persecutors as well as to his
friends. If he had lived a few years longer, the reformation, it is probable, would have been carried on with more
regularity and less devastation. He had acquired an astonishing power over the minds of the people; and he always employed it in restraining them from acts of violence,
inspiring them with lave to one another, and with gentleness and humanity to their enemies.
hat benevolence which should ever characterise a real Christian; for, when some of the presbyterians who had persecuted him were committed to prison for rebellion, he
, bishop of
Edinburgh, was born in East Lothian in 1609, and educated in the university of Edinburgh; where he took his
degrees, and entered into holy drders. He became minister of North Leith, but was deposed in 1638, for refusing
to take the covenant, and was also imprisoned for his
loyalty. On his release he accompanied the marquis of
Montrose as his chaplain. When the marquis was defeated
by general Lesley in 1645, Wishart was taken prisoner,
and would have suffered death along with several noblemen
and gentlemen whom the covenanters condemned, had not
his amiable character endeared him to some of the leading
men of the party. He then went abroad, and became
chaplain to Elizabeth, queen of Bohemia, sister to Charles
I. with whom he came over into England in 1660, to visit
her royal nephew Charles II. Soon after, Mr. Wishart had
the rectory of Newcastle upon Tyne conferred upon him;
and upon the restoration of episcopacy in Scotland, was
consecrated bishop of Edinburgh, June I, 1662. In that
station he gave a most striking proof of that benevolence
which should ever characterise a real Christian; for, when
some of the presbyterians who had persecuted him were
committed to prison for rebellion, he assisted them with
every necessary, and procured them a pardon. He died
in 1671, and was buried in the abbey of Holyrood-bouse,
under a magnificent tomb, with a long Latin inscription.
Keith says, “he was a person of great religion; and having been a prisoner himself, it is reported of him that he
was always careful at each dinner, to send off the first mess
to the prisoners.
” He wrote the history of the war in
Scotland under the conduct of the marquis of Montrose, in
elegant Latin, ijmler the title of “J. G. de rebus auspiciis
serenissimi et potentissimi Caroli, Dei gratia Mag. Brit.
regis, &c. sub imperio illustrissimi Montisrosarum marchionis, &c. anno 1644, et duobus sequentibus, praeclare
gestis, comtuentarius, mterprete A. S.
” This was first
published in
lton in Hampshire, June 11, 1588. He was the only son of George Wither of Bentworth (by Anne Serle), who was the second son of John Wither of Manydowne near W r otton
, a name well known among the
readers of old English poetry, and revived, of late, by the
taste and judgment of some eminent poetical antiquaries,
was born at Bentworth, near Alton in Hampshire, June 11,
1588. He was the only son of George Wither of Bentworth (by Anne Serle), who was the second son of John
Wither of Manydowne near W r otton St. Lawrence in that
county, at which' seat Mr. Bigg Wither, the heir (not the heir male, hut the heir female, who has taken the name),
still resides. The poet was educated under John Greaves
of Colemore, a celebrated schoolmaster, whom he afterwards commemorated with gratitude in a poem published
in 1613. About 1604- he was sent to Magdalen college,
Oxford, under the tuition of John Warner, afterwards
bishop of Rochester. Here he informs us, in the proemium to his “Abuses stript and whipt,
” that he found the
v art of logic, to which his studies were directed, first dull
and unintelligible; but at the moment it began all at once
to unfold its mysteries to him, he was called home “to
Jiold the plough.
” He laments that he was thus obliged
to forsake “the Paradise of England
” to go “in quest of
care, despair, and discontent.
”
tained him the acquaintance and friendship of many men of genius. William Browne, the pastoral poet, who was of the Inner Temple, was an early familiar of his. And some
After he had remained some time in his own country,
certain malicious advisers, under the mask of friendship,
pretending that nothing was to be got by learning, endeavoured to persuade his father to put him to some mechanic
trade; but our poet, finding that country occupations were
not fitted to his genius, determined, on some slight gleam
of hope, to try his fortune at court, and therefore entered
himself as a member of Lincoln’s-inn. The world now
opened upon him in characters so different from his expectations, that, having been probably educated in puritanical
principles, he felt that disgust which perhaps made him a
satirist for life. The first thing which appeared to fill him
with dislike and anger, was the gross flattery and servility
which seemed necessary to his advancement. If, however,
his manners did not procure him favour with the courtiers,
his talents obtained him the acquaintance and friendship of
many men of genius. William Browne, the pastoral poet,
who was of the Inner Temple, was an early familiar of
his. And some of his verses having got abroad, began to
procure the name of a poet for himself. His “Philarete’s
Complaint, &c.
” formed a part of his “Juvenilia,
” which
are said to have been his earliest compositions. He also
wrote elegies in 1612 on that general subject of lamentation, the death of prince Henry.
so abundant in a natural vein of simple, affecting, and just sentiment, as well as imagery, that he who can read it, and doubt the author’s genius, is insensible to
In 1613 first appeared his celebrated satires, entitled
“Abuses stript and xvhipt,
” for which so much food was
furnished by the motley and vicious manners of the nation.
Wither, therefore, bursting with indignation at the view of
society which presented itself to his young mind, took this
opportunity to indulge in a sort of publication to which
the prosaic taste of the times was well adapted; but he
disdained, and perhaps felt himself unqualified, to use that
glitter of false ornament, which was now substituted for the
true decorations of the muse. “I have strived,
” says he,
“to be as plain as a pack-saddle,' 7 and in these satires he
is indeed excessively plain, and excessively severe, and
they gave so much offence that he was committed to the
Marshalsea, where be continued several months. In 1615
be published
” The Shepherd’s Hunting: being certain
eglogues written during the time of the author’s imprisonment in the Marshalsea;“which book, Wood observes, is
said to contain more of poetical fancy than any other of
his writings. Of this interesting poem, sir Egerton Brydgnes
has lately published a beautiful edition in 12mo, and in the
preface observes, with a decision which every man of taste
will respect, that
” The Shepherd’s Hunting has so much
merit, and is so abundant in a natural vein of simple,
affecting, and just sentiment, as well as imagery, that he
who can read it, and doubt the author’s genius, is insensible
to all the features which bespeak the gifts of the muse.“When in prison, Wither not only also wrote but published his
” Satire to the King," 1614. He terms this an apology for
former errors, proceeding from the heat of youth, but part
of it is a vindictive appeal to the king from the restraint
put upon his person, and part of it is a monologue conducted by the author between the impulses of supplication
and disdain. It h thought, however, to have procured his
release.
ristics“for many years in Scotland. It is levelled at the party in the general assembly of Scotland, who were called the moderate men, in contradistinction to those
, an eminent divine in Scotland and America, and a lineal descendant from Knox the
celebrated Scotch reformer, was born Feb. 5, 1722, at
Yester near Edinburgh, of which parish his father was
minister. After some previous education at the public
school at Haddingtonj he was, at the age of fourteen, sent
to the university of Edinburgh, and having gone through
the usual course of academical studies, was licensed to
preach, and soon after was ordained minister of the parish
of Beith, in the west of Scotland, whence, in a few years,
he was removed to be minister at the large and flourishing town of Paisley. During his residence here he was
much admired for his general learning, his abilities in the
pulpit, and for his writings, one of which, his “Ecclesiastical Characteristics,
” is perhaps one of the most humorous
satires ever written on a subject which apparently did not
admit of that mode of treatment. No satire in our time
was read with more approbation and interest than Witherspoon’s a Characteristics“for many years in Scotland. It
is levelled at the party in the general assembly of Scotland,
who were called the moderate men, in contradistinction to
those called the orthodox, of who adhered strictly to the
doctrines contained in their national
” Confession or Faith.“From this publication, and from his speeches in the general
assembly, Witherspoon acquired much influence, but he
had to contend with almost all the literary force of the assembly, the Blairs, Gerards, Campbells, and Robertsons,
who were considered as the leaders of the moderate party.
One day, after carrying some important questions against
Dr. Robertson, the latter said in his pleasant manner,
” I
think you have your men better disciplined than formerly.“”Yes,“replied Witherspoon,
” by urging your politics too
far, you have compelled us to beat you with your own
weapons."
rious phiiologers, historians, orators, and philosophers; but wanted memoirs of the chief Englishmen who, in the present (seventeenth) century, have cultivated these
, or W1TTEN (Henningus), a German biographer, was born in 1634. We find very few particulars
of him, although he has contributed so muc)i to our knowledge of other eminent men. He was a divine and professor of divinity at Riga, where he died Jan. 22, 1696.
Morhoff bestows considerable praise on his biographical labours, which were principally five volumes of memoirs of
the celebrated men of the seventeenth century, as a sequel
to those of Meichior Adam. They were octavo volumes,
and published under the titles of “Memoria Theologorum
nostri seculi,
” Franc. Memoria Medicorum
” “Memoria Jurisconsultorum
”
“Memoria Philosophorum,
” &c. which last includes poets
and polite scholars. The whole consist of original lives, or
eloges collected from the best authorises. The greater
part are Germans, butthere are a few French and English.
In 1688 he published, what we have often found very useful, his * 4 Diarium Biographicum Scriptorum seculi xvii.“vol. I. 4to, 1688, vol, II. 1691. It appears that Wittepaid
a visit to England in 1666, and became acquainted with
the celebrated Dr. Pocock, to whom he sent a letter ten
years afterwards, informing the doctor that he had for some
time been engaged in a design of writing the lives of the
most famous writers of that age in each branch of literature, and had already published some decades, containing
memoirs of divines, civilians, and physicians;
” that he
was now collecting eloges on the most illustrious phiiologers, historians, orators, and philosophers; but wanted memoirs of the chief Englishmen who, in the present (seventeenth) century, have cultivated these sciences, having no
relation of this sort in his possession, except of Mr. Camden; he begs, therefore, that Dr. Pocock, would, by the
bearer, transmit to him whatever he had to communicate
in this way."
am, bishop of St. Asaph, Eusebius, archbishop of Dublin, and John, student of Christ Church, Oxford, who were all attached to Mr. Wodhull with the sincerest friendship
, the first translator into English verse of all the tragedies and fragments of Euripides which are extant, was born Aug. 15, 1740, at Then ford, in Northamptonshire, and was sent first to Twyford, in Buckinghamshire, to the school of the rev. William Cleaver. This preceptor had three sons, William, bishop of St. Asaph, Eusebius, archbishop of Dublin, and John, student of Christ Church, Oxford, who were all attached to Mr. Wodhull with the sincerest friendship through life. To John, one of his poetical epistles (the ninth) is addressed, in which honourable mention is made of the father.
ed to Winchester school, and afterwards to Brasennose college, Oxford. He inherited from his father, who died while he was at school, a large fortune, of which the first
From Twyford he was removed to Winchester school, and afterwards to Brasennose college, Oxford. He inherited from his father, who died while he was at school, a large fortune, of which the first use that he made was to build a handsome mansion on his patrimonial inheritance. In 1761 he married a lady of great personal accomplishments, and universally loved and respected, Miss Catherine Milcah Ingram, of an ancient family situated at WoK ford, in Warwickshire, who left him a widower without family in 1808. In 1803 he took advantage of the short peace to gratify his curiosity in the libraries of Paris, and was one of the English detained by Bonaparte, but was afterward released on account of his age. He returned home an invalid and alone, and it was a source of great distress to him to be compelled to leave behind him in France his faithful servant. From that period his bodily infirmities gradually increased, his sight at length failed, and his voice became scarcely audible, but his senses and his memory, which was most singularly retentive, continued unimpaired to the last. He died without a struggle or groan, Nov. 10, 1816, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
t the poetical images, and ideas of one man cannot adequately be represented or expressed by another who does not himself possess the imagination and fancy of a poet.
The first edition of Mr. Wodhull’s translation of
“Euripides
” appeared in The Philosophic Bard.
”
ive authors, might be published, but they could not find a printer furnished with Egyptian types, or who would hazard the undertaking, until at last the university of
, a name worthy to be preserved on account of his valuable edition of the Alexandrine
ms. of the New Testament, was a native of Holland, but
of his early history we have no account. His first preferment in this country was to the preachership of the Dutch
chapel-royal at St. James’s, about 1770, to which he was
afterwar4s appointed reader also. At the time of his death
he was reader and chaplain at the Dutch chapel in the Savoy. In 1778 he was elected a fellow of the society of antiquaries, and in that year distinguished himself by revising,
through the Clarendon press, Scholtz’s “Egyptian
Grammar,
” written in 1750, in 2 vols. 4to, and also La Croze’s
5* Lexicon Egyptiaco-Latinum." It had long been the
wish of the learned that both these works, left in ms. by
their respective authors, might be published, but they could
not find a printer furnished with Egyptian types, or who
would hazard the undertaking, until at last the university
of Oxford, with its usual munificent spirit, determined to
t>ear the expense. When the Lexicon was printing, Mr.
Woide was desired to make some additions to it, but this
not being proposed till more than half the work was printed,
he could extend his remarks to three letters only, and to
render the undertaking more useful, he added an index.
It was intended to print Scholtz’s Grammar in 2 quarto
yols. immediately after the Dictionary, which consists of
one vol. quarto; but it being found too voluminous, Woide
very properly abridged it, and has improved it by carefully
examining and correcting it by means of Mss. unknown to
Scholtz. The Sahidic part was entirely supplied by Dr.
Woide.
ay on Metaphysics,” published a refutation of it. Wolfe made his complaints to the academic council, who issued out an order, that no one should presume to write against
In the midst of this prosperity he raised a storm against
himself. He had, on the 12th of July, 1721, delivered a
Latin oration, the subject of which was the morality of the
Chinese: he loaded their philosophy with applause, an-d
endeavoured to prove how similar its principles were to
those which he, had advanced in. doctrines of his own.
The divines at Hall were so exasperated at this attempt to
undervalue their tenets, that on the day following every
pulpit resounded with censures of Wolfe, and^the opposition to him continued till 1722, when the faculty of theology were determined strictly to examine each production
of our extraordinary philosopher. Daniel Strathler, whose
province was to scrutinize the “Essay on Metaphysics,
”
published a refutation of it. Wolfe made his complaints
to the academic council, who issued out an order, that no
one should presume to write against him: but the facultyhaving sent their representation to the court, which were
all backed by the most strenuous assertions, that the doctrine which Wolfe taught, particularly on the subject of
liberty and necessity, was dangerous to the last degree, an
order at length arrived, Nov. 18, 1723, not only displacing
Wolfe, but commanding him (under pain of being severely punished if he presumed to disobey) to leave Hall and the
States in twenty-four hours at the farthest.
ers; amongst which was the post of president 6f the academy at St. Petersburgh. The king of Prussia, who was now recovered from the prejudices he had been made to conceive
Wolfe retired now to Cassel, where he obtained the
professorship of mathematics and philosophy in the university of Marbourg, with the title of counsellor to the court
^f the landgrave of Hesse, to which a profitable pension
was annexed. Here he reassumed his labours with redoubled ardour; and it was in this retreat that he published
the best parts of his numerous works. In 1725 he was declared an honorary professor of the academy of sciences at
St. Petersburgh, and, in 1733, was admitted into “that at
Paris. The king of Sweden also declared him one of the
council of regency: the pleasing situation of his new
abode, and the multitude of honours which he had received,
were too alluring to permit him to accept of many advantageous offers; amongst which was the post of president
6f the academy at St. Petersburgh. The king of Prussia,
who was now recovered from the prejudices he had been
made to conceive against Wolfe, wished to re-establish
him in the university of Hall in 1733, and made another
attempt to effect it in 173.9. Wolfe met these advances
with all that respectful deference which became him, but
took the liberty to insinuate, that he did not then believe
it right for him to comply. At last, however, he submitted; and the prince offered him, in 1741, an employment
which threw every objection that he could make aside.
Wolfe, still mindful of his benefactors, took a gracious
leave of the king of Sweden; and returned to Hall, invested with the characters of privy-counsellor, vice-chancellor,
” and professor of the law of nature and of nations.
After the death of Ludwig, the king raised him to the dignity
of chancellor of the university, and the elector of Bavaria
created him a baron of the empire (whilst he was exercising the vicarship of it), from his own free unbiassed inclination.
that day. Of that regiment he continued lieutenant-colonel, till Mr. Pitt, afterwards lord Chatham, who roused the sleeping genius of his country, called him forth
, a brave English officer, was the son of lieutenant-general Edward Wolfe, and
was born at Westerham, in the county of Kent, where he
was baptised the 11th of Jan. 1726. He seemed by nature
formed for military greatness his memory was retentive,
his judgment deep, and his comprehension amazingly quick
and clear: his constitutional courage was not only uniform
and daring, perhaps to an extreme, but he possessed that
higher species of it, that strength, steadiness, and activity,
of mind, which no difficulties could obstruct, or dangers
deter. With an universal liveliness, almost to impetuosity
of temper, he was not subject to passion; with the greatest independence of spirit, free from pride. Generous,
almost to profusion, he contemned every little art for the
acquisition of wealth; whilst he searched after objects for
his charity and beneficence, the deserving soldier never
went unrewarded, and even the needy inferior officer frequently tasted of his bounty: constant and distinguishing
in his attachment, manly and unreserved, yet gentle, kind,
and conciliating in his manners. He enjoyed a large share
of the friendship, and almost the universal good-will, of
mankind; and, to crown all, sincerity and candour, a true
sense of honour, justice, and public liberty, seemed the inherent principles of his nature, and the uniform rule of his
conduct. He betook himself, when very young, to the
profession of arms; and with such talents, joined to the
most unwearied assiduity, he was soon singled out as a most
rising military genius. Even so early as the battle of Lafeldt, when scardely twenty, he exerted himself in so masterly a manner, at a very critical juncture, that it drew the
highest encomiums from the great officer then at the head
of the army. During the whole war, he went on, without
interruption, forming his military character; was present
at every engagement, and never passed undistinguished.
Even after the peace, whilst others lolled on pleasure’s
downy lap, he was cultivating the arts of war. He introduced (without one act of inhumanity) such regularity and
exactness of discipline into his corps, that, as long as the
six British battalions on the plains of Minden are recorded
in the annals of Europe, so long, will Kingsley’s stand
amongst the foremost of that day. Of that regiment he
continued lieutenant-colonel, till Mr. Pitt, afterwards lord
Chatham, who roused the sleeping genius of his country,
called him forth into higher spheres of action. He was
early in the most secret consultations for the attack upon
Rochfort: and what he would have done there, and what
he afterwards did at Louisbourg, are recorded in history,
with due approbation. He was scarcely returned thence,
when he was appointed to command the important expedition against Quebec. There his abilities shone out in
their brightest lustre: in spite of many unforeseen diifiaulties, from the nature of the situation, from great superiority of numbers, the strength of the place itself, and his
own bad state of health, he persevered with unwearied diligence, practising every stratagem of war to effect his purpose. At last, singly, and alone in opinion, he formed and
executed that great, that dangerous, yet necessary, plan
which drewout the French to their defeat, and will for
ever denominate him the conqueror of Canada. When,
however, within the grasp of victory, he received a ball
through his wrist, which immediately wrapping up, he
went on, with the same alacrity, animating his troops by
precept and example: but, in a few minutes after, a second ball, through his body, obliged him to be carried off
to a small distance in the rear. There, roused from fainting, in the last agonies, by the sound of “They run,
” he
eagerly asked, “Who run?
” and being told the French,
and that they were defeated, he said, “then I thank God;
I die contented;
” and almost instantly expired, Sept. 13,
1759.
He was brought to England, and interred at Greenwich in the same grave with his father, who was buried on the second of April preceding. There is no memorial
He was brought to England, and interred at Greenwich in the same grave with his father, who was buried on the second of April preceding. There is no memorial for him. at Greenwich, but a cenotaph has been put up to his memory in Westminster Abbey at the public expence, and there is another at Westerham, the place of his nativity.
er he was admitted into the number of assessors. In 1569 he attended Wolfgang, the elector Palatine, who came with an army to the assistance of the French protestants,
, a learned compiler, was born Aug. 10,
1537, at Bergzabern in the duchy of Deux Fonts, and was
educated in law and philosophy at Strasburgli, Wirtemberg,
Tubingen, and other celebrated academies, and afterwards
was entrusted with the education of some noblemen’s sons,
with whom he travelled in France, &c. from 1564 to 1567.
Returning then to Dol, he took the degree of licentiate in
civil law, and settled in practice at Spire, where two years
after he was admitted into the number of assessors. In
1569 he attended Wolfgang, the elector Palatine, who came
with an army to the assistance of the French protestants,
and his highness dying a few months afterwards, Wolfe
conducted his corpse back to Germany by sea, and it was
interred at Meisenheim. For this melancholy duty and his
other faithful services he grew in esteem with Philip Lewis
and John, the electors Palatine, who thought him worthy of
being sent twice on important'business to queen Elizabeth of
England, and once to the king of Poland. In 1573 Charles
marquis of Baden made him one of his counsellors, and
in 1575 appointed him governor of Mundlesheim, which
office he held for twenty years, and received many honours
and marks of favour from the Baden family. In 1594,
finding his health exhausted by official fatigues, he retired
to Hailbrun, where he passed the remainder of his days in
study, and died of a very short illness, as had always been
his wish, May 23, 1600, in the sixty-third year of his
age. He wrote “Clavis Historiarum;
” and a larger work
entitled “Lectionum memorabilium et reconditarum Centuriae XVI.
” 2 vols. fol. printed first in the year he died,
but there is an edition of 1671, which is not so much valued. Mr. Dibdin has accurately described this curious
work in his “Bibliomania,
” to which the reader is referred.
o Pool’s “Synopsis,” but is written with more judgment, and contains the opinions of many expositors who have lived since the publication of Pool’s work. Wolfe, moreover,
, a learned scholar, hitherto strangely overlooked by most foreign biographers,
was a native of Germany, born in 1683, but removed in
his youth to Hamburgh, where he was educated under Fabricius, and assisted him in his “Bibliotheca Graeca,
” as
appears by vol. XIII. of that laborious work. He was a
Lutheran divine, and preached at Hamburgh, where he
was also professor of the Oriental languages, and where he
died in 1739. Many of his works are known in this country, and have been often quoted with approbation by biblical scholars and critics. Among them are, 1. “Historia
Lexicorum Hebraicorum,
” Wittem. Dissertatio de Zabiis,
” ibid. Origenis Philosophumena recognita et nods illustrata,
” Hamb. Dissertatio de Atheism!
falso suspectis,
” Wittem. Casauboniana,
sive Isaaci Casauboni varia de Scriptoribus, librisque judicia,
” Hamb. Libanii epist. adhuc non
editarum centuria selecta Gr. cum versione et nods,
”
Leipsic, Anecdota Gneca sacra et profana,
” Hamb. Curse philologicae et criticae in omnes libros N. T.
” Hamb. Synopsis,
” but
is written with more judgment, and contains the opinions
of many expositors who have lived since the publication
of Pool’s work. Wolfe, moreover, has not followed Pool
in simply relating the sentiments of others, but has frequently animadverted on them with great critical discernment. Wolfe published other works, and new editions, all
which display great learning and critical acumen. His
brother John Christian, who died in 1770, was the author
of the “Monumenta typographies,
” Hamburgh,
on of a second son, yet notwithstanding this remarkable series of younger brothers, his grandfather, who stands in the midst of it, had a considerable estate both real
, a learned and ingenious" writer, was born March 26, 1659, at Colon Clanford, in Staffordshire, where his father then resided, a private gentleman of small fortune, being descended from an ancient and considerable family in that county, where the elder branch always continued; but the second, in process of time, was transplanted into other counties. The head of it flourished formerly at Oncot, in the county of Stafford, though afterwards at Shenton, in Leicestershire; and was possessed of a large estate lying in those and other counties. Our author was a second son of a third son of a second son of a second son, yet notwithstanding this remarkable series of younger brothers, his grandfather, who stands in the midst of it, had a considerable estate both real and personal, together with an office of 700l. per annum. And from a younger brother of the same branch sprang sir John Wollaston,lord- mayor of London, well known in that city at the time of the grand rebellion.
At nine years old, Mr. Wollaston was sent to a master, who had opened a Latin school, at Shenstone in Stafford^ shire,
At nine years old, Mr. Wollaston was sent to a master, who had opened a Latin school, at Shenstone in Stafford^ shire, where his father then resided. Here he continued near two years, and then removed to Lichfield; but had not been long at this school, when the magistrates of the city, in consequence of some dispute, turned the master out of the school-house. Mr. Wollaston, however, with many of the scholars, followed the ejected master, and re^ inained with him till he quitted school, which was about three years, after which, the schism being ended, he returned into the free-school, and continued there about a year. The rudeness of a great school was particularly disagreeable to his natural disposition; and what was still worse, he began now to be much troubled with the headach, which seems to have been constitutional in him; yethis uncommon attention to his book, and eagerness to improve, had now rendered him fit for the university. Accordingly he was sent to Cambridge, and admitted a pensioner at Sidney-college, June 18, 1674, in the sixteenthyear of his age. Here he laboured under some discouragements. He was come up a country lad from a countryschool; had no acquaintance in his college^ nor even in the university; few books or materials to work with; his allowance being by no means more than sufficient for bare necessaries; neither had he sufficient confidence to supply that defect by applying to others. Add to this that his state of health was not quite firm. However, under all these disadvantages, he acquired much reputation, and having taken his degree of B. A. at the regular time, he offered himself a candidate for a fellowship in his college, but missed of that preferment. In July 1681 he commenced M. A. and about this time seems to have entered into deacon’s orders.
ances of his family, as about this time to become assistant at Birmingham school to the head master, who readily embraced the opportunity of such a coadjutor, and considered
On Michaelmas-day following, he left the university, and having made a visit to the then head of this branch of the family, his cousin Wollaston of Shenton in Leicestershire, he went to pay his duty to his father and mother at Bloxwyche, where they then lived, and remained with them till May or June 1682. But seeing no prospect of preferment, he so far conformed himself to the circumstances of his family, as about this time to become assistant at Birmingham school to the head master, who readily embraced the opportunity of such a coadjutor, and considered Mr. Wollaston as one who had prudentially stooped to an employment beyond what he might reasonably have pretended to. This instance, however, of his humble industry was far from being displeasing to his cousin of Shenton, who had a great esteem for the head master, and in a short time, he got a small lecture at the distance of about two miles from Birmingham; but as he performed there the whole Sunday’s duty, that fatigue, added to the business of a great freeschool for about four years, began to break his constitution. But the old master being now turned out, in order to make way for a particular person to succeed him, our author was chosen second master only, under a pretence that he was too young to be at the head of so great a school, but some of the governors themselves owned that he was not well used in this affair.
intention by words. However, he used to employ persons privately to observe our author’s behaviour ( who little suspected any such matter), and his behaviour was found
Our author all this while applied himself to his business; and never waited upon his cousin, or employed any one tospeak or act in his behalf (though many then blamed him for neglecting to do it); only one visit he made him in the November before his death, which was upon a Saturday in the afternoon. He gave him a sermon the next day, received his hearty thanks, and the next morning desired leave to return to the duties of his station; without speaking or even insinuating any thing respecting his estate. His cousin dismissed him with great kindness; and by his looks and manner seemed to have a particular regard for him, but discovered nothing of his intention by words. However, he used to employ persons privately to observe our author’s behaviour (who little suspected any such matter), and his behaviour was found to be such, that the stricter the observations were upon it, the more they turned to his advantage. In fine, Mr. Woliaston, of Shenton, became so thoroughly satisfied of our author’s merit, that he revoked the above-mentioned settlement, and made a will in his favour. In August following, that gentleman fell sick, and sending secretly toour author to come over to him, as of his own accord, without any notice of his illness, be complied with the message, and staid some days at Shenton. But while he was gone home, under a promise of returning, his cousin died, August 19, 1688.
alisbury, which informs us, that this work was in great esteem with her late majesty queen Caroline, who commanded him to translate the notes into English for her own
Of the ingenuity of this work as a composition no doubts
have been entertained, but its tendency was soon thought
liable to suspicion. Some objected that he had injured
Christianity by laying too much stress upon the obligations
of truth, reason, and virtue; and by making no mention
of revealed religion, nor even so much as dropping the
least and most distant hints in its favour. This made him
pass for an unbeliever with some; and the late lord Bolingbroke supposes Dr. Clarke to have had him in his eye
when he described his fourth sort of theists. Wollaston
held and has asserted the being and attributes of God, natural and moral a providence, general and particular; the
obligations to morality the immateriality and immortality
of the soul a future state and Clarke’s fourth sort of
theists held and asserted the same. But whether Wollaston,
like those theists, rejected all above this in the system of
revelation, cannot with any certainty be concluded, though
at the same time the contrary perhaps may not appear;
because, whatever might have been thought necessary to
prevent offence from being taken, it was not essential to
Wollaston’s design to meddle with revealed religion. In
the mean time, lord Bolingbroke has treated “The Religion of Nature delineated,
” as a system of theism; which
it certainly is, whether Wollaston was a believer or not.
His lordship calls it “strange theism, as dogmatical and
absurd as artificial theology,
” and has spent several pages
to prove it so; yet allows the author of it to have been “a
man of parts, of learning, a philosopher, and a geometrician.
” The seventh edition of this work was printed in
1750 in 8vo, to which are added an account of the author,
and also a translation of the notes into English. There is
prefixed an advertisement by Dr. John Clarke, late dean of
Salisbury, which informs us, that this work was in great
esteem with her late majesty queen Caroline, who commanded him to translate the notes into English for her own
use. Pope, who has taken some thoughts from it into his
“Essay on Man,
” informs Mr. Bethel in one of his letters
how much this work was a favourite with the ladies, but
accompanies his information with a sneer at the sex, which
we dare not transcribe.
Oct. 29, 1724. He was interred in Great Finborough church, Suffolk, in the same grave with his wife, who died in 1720.
Immediately after he had completed the revisal and publication of his “Religion of Nature delineated,
” Mr. Wollaston had the misfortune to break his arm; and as his
health was before in a very infirm state, this accident accelerated his death, which happened Oct. 29, 1724. He
was interred in Great Finborough church, Suffolk, in the
same grave with his wife, who died in 1720.
es, however, are preserved by Rymer (Feed. vol. XIV. p. 355), in the pope’s bull of favours to those who came to Cardinal college in Oxford, and prayed for the safety
, a celebrated cardinal and statesman, but to be remembered with more respect as a benefactor to learning, was so obscure in his origin that scarcely any historian mentions the names of his father and mother. Their names, however, are preserved by Rymer (Feed. vol. XIV. p. 355), in the pope’s bull of favours to those who came to Cardinal college in Oxford, and prayed for the safety of the said cardinal, and after his decease for the souls of him, his father Robert, and his mother Joan. This partly confirms the discovery of his zealous biographer, Dr. Fiddes, that he was the son of one Robert Wolsey, a butcher of Ipswich, where he was born in March 1471. Fiddes says that this Robert had a son whose early history corresponds with that of the cardinal, and that he was a man of considerable landed property. We may from other evidence conclude that his parents were either not poor, or not friendless, since they were able to give him the best education his native, town afforded, and afterwards to send him to Magdalen college. But in whatever way he was introduced here, it is certain that his progress in academical studies was so rapid that he was admitted to the degree of bachelor of arts at the age of fifteen, and from this extraordinary instance of precocity, was usually named the boy bachelor.
was preserved in Wolsey’s correspondence, Erasmus could not help betraying the feelings of a client who has received little more than promises from his patron, and
No proofs are indeed wanting of his uncommon reputation as a scholar, for he was elected fellow of his college soon after taking his bachelor’s degree, and proceeding to that of master, he was appointed teacher of Magdalen grammar school. In 1498, he was made bursar of the college, about which time he has the credit of building Magdalen tower. It is yet more in proof of his learning having been of the most liberal kind, and accompanied with a corresponding liberality of sentiment, that he became acquainted with Erasmus, then at Oxford, and joined that illustrious scholar in promoting classical studies, which were peculiarly obnoxious to the bigotry of the times. The letters which passed between Wolsey and Erasmus for some years imply mutual respect and union of sentiment on all matters in which literature was concerned; and their love of learning, and contempt for the monks, although this last was excited by different motives, are points in which we perceive no great disagreement. Yet as Erasmus continued to live the life of a mere scholar, precarious and dependent, and Wolsey was rapidly advancing to rank and honours, too many and too high for a subject, a distance was placed between them which Wolsey would not shorten, and Erasmus could not pass. Hence, while a courteous familiarity was preserved in Wolsey’s correspondence, Erasmus could not help betraying the feelings of a client who has received little more than promises from his patron, and when Wolsey fell from his high state, Erasmus joined in the opinion that he was unworthy of it. For this he is severely censured by Fiddes, and ably defended by Knight and Jortin.
rer of Calais, which was then in the possession of the English, and by him recommended to Renry VII. who made him one of his chaplains. About the end of 1504, he obtained
On his quitting Lymington, though without resigning the living, Henry Dean, archbishop of Canterbury, made him one of his domestic chaplains, and in 1503, the pope, Alexander, gave him a dispensation to hold two benefices. On the death of the archbishop, in the same year, he was appointed chaplain to sir John Nan fan of Worcestershire, treasurer of Calais, which was then in the possession of the English, and by him recommended to Renry VII. who made him one of his chaplains. About the end of 1504, he obtained from pope Julius II. a dispensation to hold a third living, the rectory of Redgrave in Norfolk. In the mean time he was improving his interest at court by an affable and plausible address, and by a display of political talent, and quick and judicious dispatch in business, which rendered him very useful and acceptable to his sovereign. In February 1508, the king gave him the deanery of Lincoln, and two prebends in the same church, and would probably have added to these preferments had he not been prevented by his death in the following year.
This event, important as it was to the kingdom, was of no disadvantage to Wolsey, who saw in the young king, Henry VIII. a disposition that might
This event, important as it was to the kingdom, was of no disadvantage to Wolsey, who saw in the young king, Henry VIII. a disposition that might be rendered more favourable to his lofty views; yet what his talents might have afterwards procured, he owed at this time to a court intrigue. Fox, bishop of Winchester and founder of Corpus Christi college, introduced him to Henry, in order to counteract the influence of the earl of Surrey (afterwards duke of Norfolk), and had probably no worse intention than to preserve a balance in the council; but Wolsey, who was not destined to play a subordinate part, soon rose higher in influence than either his patron or his opponent. He studied, with perfect knowledge of the human heart, to please the young king, by joining in indulgencies which, however suitable to the gaiety of a court, were ill becoming the character of an ecclesiastic. Yet amidst the luxuries which he promoted in his royal master, he did not neglect to inculcate maxims of state, and, above all, to insinuate, in a manner that appeared equally dutiful and disinterested, the advantages of a system of favouritism, which he secretly hoped would one day center in his own person. Nor was he disappointed, as for some time after this, his history, apart from what share he had in the public councils, is little more than a list of promotions following each other with a rapidity that alarmed the courtiers, and inclined the people, always jealous of sudden elevations, to look back on his origin.
the mean time, there was no intermission in his preferments. His influence was courted by the pope, who had made him a cardinal, and, in 1516, his legate in England,
In the mean time, there was no intermission in his preferments. His influence was courted by the pope, who had
made him a cardinal, and, in 1516, his legate in England,
with powers not inferior to his own; and by the king of
Spain, who granted him a pension of three thousand livres,
while the duchy of Milan bestowed on him a yearly grant
often thousand ducats. On the resignation of archbishop
Warham, he was appointed lord high chancellor. “If this
new accumulation of dignity,
” says Hume, “increased his
enemies, it also served to exalt his personal character and
prove the extent of his capacity. A strict administration
of justice took place during his enjoyment of this high
office; and no chancellor ever discovered greater impartiality in his decisions, deeper penetration of judgment, or
more enlarged knowledge of law or equity.
”
with those of Worcester and Hereford, which the cardinal likewise farmed, were filled by foreigners who were allowed nonresidence, and compounded for this indulgence
In the same year the pope granted him the administration of the bishopric of Bath and Wells, and the king bestowed on him its temporalities. This see, with those of Worcester and Hereford, which the cardinal likewise farmed, were filled by foreigners who were allowed nonresidence, and compounded for this indulgence by yielding a share of the revenues. The cardinal’s aid, about this time, in establishing the College of Physicians of London, is to be recorded among the many instances of the very liberal views he entertained of every improvement connected with literature. In 1521, he evinced his zeal against the reformation' which Luther had begun, by procuring his doctrines to be condemned in an assembly of divines held at his own house, published pope Leo’s bull against him, and endeavoured to suppress his writings in this kingdom; but there is no favourable part of his character so fully established as his moderation towards the English Lutherans, for one article of his impeachment was his being remiss in punishing heretics, and showing a disposition rather to screen them.
but was not successful. This disappointment, however, was compensated in some degree by the emperor, who settled a pension on him of nine thousand crowns of gold, and
In the same year he received the rich abbey of St. Alban’s to hold in commendam, and soon after went abroad on an embassy. About this time also, he became a candidate for the papal chair, on the demise of Leo X. but was not successful. This disappointment, however, was compensated in some degree by the emperor, who settled a pension on him of nine thousand crowns of gold, and by the bishopric of Durham, to which he was appointed in 1523. On this he resigned the administration of Bath and Wells. The same year he issued a mandate to remove the convocation of the province of Canterbury from St. Paul’s to Westminster, one of his most unpopular acts, but which appears to have been speedily reversed. On the death of pope Adrian he made a second unsuccessful attempt to be elected pope; but while he failed in this, he received from his rival a confirmation of the whole papal authority in England.
urt, and having finished it, with all its sumptuous furniture, in 1528, he presented it to the king, who in return gave him the palace of Richmond for a residence. In
Of the immense riches which he derived from his various preferments, some were no doubt spent in luxuries which left only a sorrowful remembrance, but the greater part was employed in" those magnificent edifices which have immortalized his genius and spirit. In 1514 he began to build the palace at Hampton Court, and having finished it, with all its sumptuous furniture, in 1528, he presented it to the king, who in return gave him the palace of Richmond for a residence. In this last mentioned year, he acceded to the bishopric of Winchester by the death of Fox, and resigned that of Durham. To Winchester, however, he never went. That reverse of fortune which has exhibited him as an example of terror to the ambitious, was now approaching, and was accelerated by events, the consequences of which he foresaw, without the power of averting them. Henry was now agitated by a passion not to be controuled by the whispers of friendship, or the counsels of statesmen, and when the cardinal, whom he had appointed to forward his divorce from queen Catherine and his marriage with Anne Boleyn, appeared tardily to adhere to forms, or scrupulously to interpose advice, he determined to make him feel the weight of his resentment. It happened unfortunately for the cardinal that both the queen and her rival were his enemies, the queen from a suspicion that she never had a cordial friend in him, and Anne from a knowledge that he had secretly endeavoured to prevent her match with the king. But a minute detail of these transactions and intrigues belongs to history, in which they occupy a large space. It may suffice here to notice that the cardinal’s ruin, when once determined, was effected in the most sudden and rigorous manner, and probably without his previous knowledge of the violent measures that were to be taken.
The next step to complete his ruin was taken by the duke of Norfolk and the privy counsellors, who drew up articles against him, and presented them to the king;
The next step to complete his ruin was taken by the duke of Norfolk and the privy counsellors, who drew up articles against him, and presented them to the king; but he still affecting to take no personal concern in the matter, remained silent. Yet these probably formed the basis of the forty-four articles presented December 1, to the House of Lords, as by some asserted, or, according to other accounts, by the lords of the council to the House of Commons. Many of them are evidently frivolous or false, and others, although true, were not within the jurisdiction of the House. The cardinal had, in fact, already suffered, as his goods had been seized by the king; he was now in a prtemunire, and the House could not go much farther than to recommend what had already taken place. The cardinal, however, found one friend amidst all his distresses, who was not to be alarmed either at the terrors of the court or of the people. This was Thomas Cromwell, formerly Wolsey’s steward (afterwards earl of Essex), who now refuted the articles with so much spirit, eloquence, and argument, that although a very opposite effect might have been expected, his speech is supposed to have laid the foundation of that favour which the king afterwards extended to him, but which, at no very distant period, proved as fatal to him as it had been to his master. His eloquence had a yet more powerful effect, for the address founded on these articles was rejected by the Commons, and the Lords could not proceed farther without their concurrence.
nted to the king as being apparently fatal. The king ordered his physician, Dr. Butts, to visit him, who confirmed what had been reported of the dangerous state of his
During the cardinal’s residence at Esher the king sent
several messages to him, “some good and some bad,
”
says Cavendish, “but more ill than good,
” until this tantalizing correspondence, operating on a mind of strong
passions, brought on, about the end of the year, a sickness
which was represented to the king as being apparently
fatal. The king ordered his physician, Dr. Butts, to visit
him, who confirmed what had been reported of the dangerous state of his health, but intimated that as his disease
affected his mind rather than his body, a kind word from
his majesty might prove more effectual -than the best skill
of the faculty. On this the king sent him a ring, with a
gracious message that he was not offended with him in his
heart; and Anne Boleyn sent him a tablet of gold that
usually hung at her side, with many kind expressions.
The cardinal received these testimonies of returning favour
with joy and gratitude, and in a few days was pronounced
ut of danger.
some time in the lodge in the old park, and afterwards in the priory. His enemies at court, however, who appear to have influenced the king beyond his usual arbitrary
Nor can we blame Wolsey for his credulity, since Henry, although he had stripped the cardinal of all his property, and the income arising from all his preferments, actually granted him, Feb. 12, 1530, a free pardon for all crimes and misdemeanors, and a few days after restored to him the revenues, &c. of the archbishopric of York, except York place, before-mentioned, and one thousand marks yearly from the bishopric of Winchester. He also sent him a present of 3000l. in money, and a quantity of plate and furniture exceeding that sum, and allowed him to remove from Esher to Richmond, where he resided for some time in the lodge in the old park, and afterwards in the priory. His enemies at court, however, who appear to have influenced the king beyond his usual arbitrary disposition, dreaded Wolsey’s being so near his majesty, and prevailed on him to order him to reside in his archbishopric. In obedience to this mandate, which was softened by another gracious message from Henry, he first went to the archbishop’s seat at Southwell, and about the end of September fixed his residence at Cawood castle, which he began to repair, and was acquiring popularity by his hospitable manners and bounty, when his capricious master was persuaded to arrest him for high treason, and order him to be conducted to London. Accordingly, on the first of November he set out, but on the road he was seized with a disorder of the dysenteric kind, brought on by fatigue and anxiety, which put a period to his life at Leicester abbey on the 28th of that mouth, in the fifty-ninth year of his age . Some of his last words implied the awful and just reflection, that if he had served his God as diligently as he had served his king, he would not have given him over to his enemies. Two days after he was interred in the abbey church of Leicester, but the spot is not now known. As to the report of his having poisoned himself, founded on an expression in the printed work of Cavendish, it has been amply refuted by a late eminent antiquary, who examined the whole of the evidence with much acuteness. Modern historians have formed a more favourable estimate of Wolsey’s character than their predecessors, yet it had that mixture of good and evil which admits of great variety of opinion, and gives to ingenious party-colouring all the appearance of truth. Perhaps Shakspeare, borrowing from Holinshed and Hall, has drawn a more just and comprehensive sketch of his perfections and failings than is to be found in any other writer.
pointments frcrr Cambridge, we find the names of Tyndal and Frith, the translators of the Bible, and who had certainly discovered some symptoms of heresy before this
Of these Wolsey himself named the dean and eighteen of the canons. The dean was Dr. John Hygden, president of Magdalen college, and the canons first nominated were all taken from the other colleges in Oxford, and were men of acknowledged reputation in their day. He afterwards added others, deliberately, and according as he was able to supply the vacancies by men of talents, whom he determined to seek wherever they could be found. Among his lattfic appointments frcrr Cambridge, we find the names of Tyndal and Frith, the translators of the Bible, and who had certainly discovered some symptoms of heresy before this time. Cranmer and Parker, afterwards the first and second protestant archbishops of Canterbury, were also invited, bat declined; and the cardinal went on to complete his number, reserving all nominations to himself during his life, but intending to bequeath that power to the dean and canons at his death. In this, however, he was as much disappointed as in his hopes to embody a force of learned men sufficient to cope with Luther and the foreign reformers, whose advantage in argument he conceived to proceed from the ignorance which prevailed among the monastic clergy.
whom Wood was mistaken, one hundred and forty-six; but no mention could yet be made of the scholars who were to proceed from his school at Ipswich, although, had he
The society, as he planned it, was to consist of one hundred and sixty persons, according to Wood, or omitting the forty canons of the second order, in the enumeration of whom Wood was mistaken, one hundred and forty-six; but no mention could yet be made of the scholars who were to proceed from his school at Ipswich, although, had he lived, these would doubtless have formed a part of the society, as the school was established two years before his fall. This constitution continued from 1525 to 1529-30, when he was deprived of his power and property, and for two years after it appears to have been interrupted, if not dissolved. It is to his honour that in his last correspondence with secretary Cromwell and with the king, when all worldly prospects were about to close upon him, he pleaded with great earnestness, and for nothing so earnestly, as that his majesty would be pleased to suffer his college at Oxford to go on. What effect this had, we know not, but the urgent entreaties of the members of the society, and of the university at large, were at length successful, while at the same time the king determined to deprive Wolsey of all merit in the establishment, and transfer the whole to himself. The subsequent history of Christ church it would be unnecessary to detail in this place.
ay be consulted with advantage as a series of general annals of the time. But Cavendish, on whom all who have written on the actions of Wolsey, especially our modern
An impartial life of cardinal Wolsey is perhaps still a desideratum in English biography. Cavendish is minute
and interesting in what he relates of the cardinal’s domestic
history, but defective in dates and arrangement, and not
altogether free from partiality; which, however, in one so
near to the cardinal, may perhaps be pardoned. Fiddes is
elaborate, argumentative, and upon the whole useful, as arc
extensive collector of facts and authorities; but he wrote
for a special purpose, and has attempted, what no man can
effect, a portrait of his hero free from those vices and failings of which it is impossible to acquit him. Grove, with
all the aid of Cavendish, Fiddes, and even Shakspeare,
whose drama he regularly presses into the service, is a
heavy and injudicious compiler, although he gives so much
of the cardinal’s contemporaries, that his volumes may be
consulted with advantage as a series of general annals of
the time. But Cavendish, on whom all who have written
on the actions of Wolsey, especially our modern historians, have relied, has been the innocent cause of some of
their principal errors. Cavendish’s work remained in manuscript, of which several copies are still extant, until the
civil wars, when it was first printed under the title of “The
Negociations of Thomas Wolsey, &c.
”
ham upcfi his diocese in 1642, but was ejected by the Norfolk committee for the examination of those who were deemed scandalous ministers, and appears to have been afterwards
, an English prelate, was a native of Norfolk, born in 1612, and the son of Lawrence Womock, B. D. rector of Lopham and Fersfield in that county. He was admitted pensioner of Corpus Christi, Cambridge, July 4, 1629, and in October following was chosen a scholar of sir Nich. Bacon’s foundation. He took the degree of A. B. in 1632, was ordained deacon Sept. 21, 1634, and proceeded A.M. in 1639. He is supposed to have succeeded his father in the living of Lopham upcfi his diocese in 1642, but was ejected by the Norfolk committee for the examination of those who were deemed scandalous ministers, and appears to have been afterwards imprisoned for his principles of religion and loyalty, and to have suffered extreme hardships. After the restoration v however, he was promoted by letters mandate to the degree of D. D. and made both archdeacon of Suffolk, Sept. 8, 1660, and a prebendary of Ely. In 1662 he was presented to the rectory of Horningsheath in Suffolk, and in 1663 to that of Boxford in the same county. He was at length promoted, but late in life, to the bishopric of St. David’s, Nov. 11, 1683, a preferment which, owing to his short continuance in it, was detrimental to his relations. He died March 12, 1685, aged seventy-three, and was buried near the remains of his only daughter in the south aile of the church of St. Margaret, Westminster, where, on a small compartment affixed to the pillar next the west end, is an inscription to his memory.
s of the several colleges and churches, from which he compiled his two great worts, and assisted all who were engaged in the like designs; at the same time digesting
, an eminent English antiquary and
biographer, was the son of Thomas Wood, bachelor of arts
and of the civil law; and was born at Oxford, December
17, 1632. He was sent to New-college school in that city
in 1641; and three years after removed to the free-school
at Thame in Oxfordshire, where he continued till his admission at Merton, 1647. His mother in Tain endeavoured
to prevail on him to follow some trade or profession; his
prevailing turn was to antiquity: “heraldry, music, and
painting, he says, did so much crowd upon him, that he
could not avoid them; and he could never give a reason
why he should delight in those studies more than others;
so prevalent was nature, mixed with a generosity of mind,
and a hatred to all that was servile, sneaking, or advantatageous, for lucre-sake.
” He took the degree of B.A.
1652, and M.A. in 1655, As he resided altogether at Oxford, he perused all the evidences of the several colleges
and churches, from which he compiled his two great worts,
and assisted all who were engaged in the like designs; at
the same time digesting and arranging all the papers he
perused; thus doing the cause of antiquity a double service. His drawings preserved many things which soon
after were destroyed. In 1665, he began to lay the foundation of “Historia & Antiquitates Universitatis Oxoniensis;
” which was published in But at length having obtained the knack,
”
says Wood, “he went forward with the work; yet all the
proofs, that came from the press, went through the doctor’s hands, which he would correct, alter, or dash out, or
put in what he pleased; which created a great deal of
trouble to the composer and author, but there was no help.
He was a great man, and carried all things at his pleasure
so much, that many looked upon the copy as spoiled and
vitiated by him. Peers was a sullen, dogged, clownish, and
perverse, fellow; and when he saw the author concerned
at the altering of his copy, he would alter it the more, and
study to put things in that might vex him, and yet please
his dean, Dr. Fell.
” And he afterwards complains, how
“Dr. Fell, who printed the book at his own charge, took
so much liberty of putting in and out what he pleased, that
the author was so far from dedicating or presenting the
book to any one, that he would scarcely own it.
” Among
the “Genuine Remains of Barlow, bishop of Lincoln, published by sir Peter Pett in 1693,
” 8vo, are two letters of
that prelate, relating to this work. In the first letter we
have the following passage: “What you say of our late
antiquities is too true. We are alarmed by many letters,
not only of false Latin, but false English too, and many bad
characters cast on good men; especially on the Anti-Arminians, who are all made seditious persons, schismatics, if
not heretics: nay, our first reformers are made fanatics.
This they tell me; and our judges of assize, now in town,
say no less^. I have not read one leaf of the book yet; but
I see I shajl be necessitated to read it over, that I may
with my own eyes see the faults, and (so far as I am able)
endeavour the mending of them. Nor do I know any
other way but a new edition, with a real correction of all
faults; and a declaration, that those miscarriages cannot
justly be imputed to the university, as indeed they cannot,
but to the passion and imprudence, if not impiety, of one
or two, who betrayed the trust reposed in them in the managing the edition of that book.
” In the second letter,
after taking notice that the translation was made by the
order and authority of the dean of Christ-church; that not
only the Latin, but the history itself, is in many things
ridiculously false; and then producing passages as proofs
of both; he concludes thus: “Mr. Wood, the compiler of
those antiquities, was himself too favourable to papists;
and has often complained to me, that at Christ-church
some things were put in which neither were in his original
copy nor approved by him. The truth is, not only th
Latin, but also the matter of those antiquities, being erroneous in several things, may prove scandalous, and give
our adversaries some occasion to censure, not only the university, but the church of England and our reformation.
Sure I am, that the university had no hand in composing
or approving those antiquities; and therefore the errors
which are in them cannot de jure be imputed to the university, but must lie upon Christ-church and the composer
of them.
” This work, however, is now in a great measure
rescued from misapprehension by the publication of Wood’s
ms. in English by the rev. John Gutch, 3 vols. 4to.
in 1721. folio, with this title: “Athenæ Oxonienses. An exact history of all the writers and bishops who have had their education in the most ancient and famous university
Mr. Wood afterwards undertook his more important work,
which was published in 1691, folio; and a second edition
in 1721. folio, with this title: “Athenæ Oxonienses. An
exact history of all the writers and bishops who have had
their education in the most ancient and famous university
of Oxford, from the fifteenth year of king Henry the seventh, A.D. 1500, to the author’s death in November,
1695; representing the birth, fortune, preferment, and
death of all those authors and prelates, the great accidents
of their lives, and the fate and character of their writings.
To which are added, the Fasti, or annals of the skid university. In two volumes. The second edition, very much
corrected and enlarged; with the addition of above 500
new lives from the author’s original manuscript.
” Impartiality and veracity being qualities so essential in an historian, that all other qualities without them cannot make a
history good for any thing, Wood has taken some pains to
prove, that these great qualities were not wanting in him;
and for that purpose thought it expedient to prefix to his
work the following curious account of himself. “As to the
author himself,
” says he, “he is a person who delights to
converse more with the dead than with the living, and has
neither interest with, nor inclination to flatter or disgrace,
any man, or any community of men, of whatever denomination. He is such a universal lover of all mankind, that
he could wish there was such a standing measure of merit
and honour agreed upon among them all, that there might
be no cheat put upon readers and writers in the business
of commendations. But, since every one will have a double
balance herein, one for himself and his own party, and another for his adversary and dissenters, all he can do is, to,
amass and bring together what every side thinks will make
best weight for themselves. Let posterity hold the scales
and judge accordingly; suu m cuique decus. posteritas rependat. To conclude: the reader is desired to know, that
this Herculean labour had been more proper for a head
or fellow of a college, or for a public professor or officer
of the most noble university of Oxford to have undertaken
and consummated, than the author, who never enjoyed any
place or office therein, or can justly say that he hath eaten
the bread of any founder. Also, that it had been a great
deal more fit for one who pretends to be a virtuoso, and to
know all men, and all things that are transacted; or for one
who frequents much society in common rooms, at public
fires, in coffee-houses, assignations, clubs, &c. where the
characters of men and their works are frequently discussed;
but the author, alas! is so far from frequenting such company and topics, that he is as it were dead to the world,
and utterly unknown in person to the generality of scholars
in Oxon. He is likewise so great an admirer of a solitary
and retired life, that he frequents no assemblies of the said
university, hath no companion in bed or at board, in his
studies, walks, or journeys; nor holds communication with
any, unless with some, and those very few, of generous and
noble spirits, that have in some measure been promoters
and encouragers of this work: and, indeed, all things considered, he is but a degree different from an ascetic, as
spending all or most of his time, whether by day or night,
in reading, writing, and divine contemplation. However,
l>e presumes, that, the less his company and acquaintance
is, the more impartial his endeavours -will appear to the
ingenious and learned, to whose judgments only he submits them and himself.
”
and these prejudices and attachments will always be attended with partialities for or against those who shall be found to favour or oppose such notions or systems.
But, as unconnected as Wood represents himself with
all human things and persons, it is certain that he had his
prejudices and attachments, and strong ones too, for certain notions and systems; and these prejudices and attachments will always be attended with partialities for or
against those who shall be found to favour or oppose such
notions or systems. They had their influence upon Wood,
who, though he always spoke to the best of his judgment,
and often with great truth and exactness, yet sometimes
gave way to prejudice and prepossession. Among other,
freedoms, he took some with the earl of Clarendon, their
late chancellor, which exposed him to the censure of the
university. He had observed in the life of judge Glynne,
that “after the restoration of Charles II. he was made his
eldest serjeant at law, by the corrupt dealing of the then
chancellor,
” who was the earl of Clarendon: for which
expression, chiefty, the succeeding earl preferred an action in the vice-chancellor’s court against him for defamation of his deceased father. The issue of the process
was a hard judgement given against the defendant; which,
to be made the more public, was put into the Gazette in
these words: “Oxford, July 31, 1693. On the-29th instant, Anthony Wood was condemned in the
vice-chancellor’s court of the university of Oxford, for having written
and published, in the second volume of his book, entitled
`Athense Oxonienses,' divers infamous libels against the
right honourable Edward late earl of Clarendon, lord high
chancellor of England, and chancellor of the said university; and was therefore banished the said university, until
such time as he shall subscribe such a public recantation
as the judge of the court shall approve of, and give security not to offend in the like nature for the future: and his
said book was therefore also decreed to be burnt before the
public theatre; and on this day it was burnt accordingly,
and public programmas of his expulsion are already affixed
in the three usual places.
” An historian who has recorded
this censure says, that it was the more grievous to the
blunt author, because it seemed to come from a party of
men whom he had the least disobliged. His bitterness had
been against the Dissenters; but of all the zealous Churchmen he had given characters with a singular turn of esteem
and affection. Nay, of the Jacobites, and even of Papists
themselves, he had always t spoken the most favourable
things; and therefore it was really the greater mortification
to him, to feel the storm coming from a quarter where he
thought he least deserved, and might least expect it. For
the same reason, adds the historian, this correction was
some pleasure to the Presbyterians, who believed there was
a rebuke due to him, which they themselves were not able
to pay. Wood was animadverted upon likewise by Burnet,
in his “Letter to the bishop of Litchfield and Coventry,
concerning a book of Anthony Harmer (alias Henry Wharton), called `A Specimen of some Errors and Defects in
the History of the Reformation,' &c.
” upon which, in
Athenæ Oxonienses.
”
Mr. Wood had drawn up a great part of his “Essay on Homer” in the life-time of Mr. Dawkins, who wished it to be made public. “But,” says Mr. Wood, “while I
Mr. Wood had drawn up a great part of his “Essay on
Homer
” in the life-time of Mr. Dawkins, who wished it to
be made public. “But,
” says Mr. Wood, “while I was
preparing it for the press, I had the honour of being called
to a station, which for some years fixed my whole attention upon objects of so very different a nature, that it hecame necessary to lay Homer aside, and to reserve the farther consideration of my subject for a time of more leisure. However, in the course of that active period, the
duties of my situation engaged me in an occasional attendance upon a nobleman (the late earl Granville), who,
though he presided at his majesty’s councils, reserved
some moments for literary amusement. His lordship was
so partial to this subject, that I seldom had the honour of
receiving his commands on business, that he did not lead
the conversation to Greece and Homer. Being directed to
wait upon his lordship a few days before he died, with the
preliminary articles of the treaty of Paris, I found him so
languid, that I proposed postponing my business for another
time^ but he insisted that I should stay, saying,
” it could
not prolong his life, to neglect his duty:“and, repeating a
passage out of Sarpedon’s speech, dwelt with particular
emphasis on a line which recalled to his mind the distinguishing part he had taken in public affairs. His lordship
then repeated the last word several times with a calm and
determined resignation; and, after a serious pause of some
minutes, he desired to hear the treaty read; to which he
listened with great attention; and recovered spirits enough
to declare the approbation of a dying statesman (1 use his own words) on the most glorious war, and most honourable
peace, this country ever saw.
”
Mr. Wood also left behind him several Mss. relating to
his travels, but not sufficiently arranged to afford any
hopes of their being given to the public. The house in
which he lived in Putney is situated between the roads
which lead to Wandswprth and Wimbledon, and became
the residence of his widow. Mr. Wood purchased it of
the executors of Edward Gibbon, esq. whose son, the celebrated historian, was born there. The farm and pleasuregrounds which adjoin the house are very spacious, containing near fourscore acres, and surrounded by a gravel-walk,
which commands a beautiful prospect of London and the
adjacent country. Mr. Wood was buried in the cemetery
near the upper road to Richmond. On his monument
is the following inscription, drawn up by the hon. Horace
Walpole, earl of Orford, at the request of his widow:
“To the beloved memory of Robert Wood, a man of supreme benevolence, who was born at the castle of Riverstown near Trim, in the county
“To the beloved memory of Robert Wood, a man of
supreme benevolence, who was born at the castle of Riverstown near Trim, in the county of Meath, and died
Sept. 9, 1771, in the fifty-fifth year of his age; and of
Thomas Wood his son, who died August 25th, 1772, in his
ninth year; Ann, their once happy wife and mother, now
dedicates this melancholy and inadequate memorial of her
affection and grief. The beautiful editions of Balbec and
Palmyra, illustrated by the classic pen of Robert Wood,
supply a nobler and more lasting monument, and will survive those august remains.
”
ragments,” 1681 and is called by others “an incomparable version,” especially by his friend Flatman, who wrote a Pindaric ode on it, and a copy of verses on Woodford’s
, a divine and poet, eldest son
of Robert Woodford, of Northampton, gent, was born in
the parish of All-hallows on the Wall, London, April 15,
1636; became a commoner of Waclham college in 1653;
took one degree in arts in 1656; and in 1658 returned to
the Inner Temple, where he was chamber-fellow with the
poet Flatman. In 1660, he published a poem “On the
return of king Charles II.
” After that period, he lived
first at Aldbrook, and afterwards at Bensted in Hampshire,
ift^i married and secular condition, and was elected F. R. S.
in Nov. 1664. He took orders from bishop Morley, and
was soon after presented by sir Nicolas Stuart, bart. to the
rectory of Hartley-Maudet in Hampshire. He was installed
prebend of Chichester May 27, 1676; made D. D. by the
diploma of archbishop Sancroft in 1677; and prebendary
of Winchester, Nov. 8, 1680, by the favour of his great
patron, the bishop of that diocese. He died in 1700. His
poems, which have some merit, are numerous. His “Paraphrase on the Psalms, in five books,
” was published in
Paraphrase,
”
which was written in the Pindaric and other various sorts of
verse, is commended by R. Baxter in the preface to his
“Poetical Fragments,
” an
incomparable version,
” especially by his friend Flatman,
who wrote a Pindaric ode on it, and a copy of verses on
Woodford’s “Paraphrase on the Canticles,
” The Legend
of Love, in three cantos.'. 12.
” To the Muse,“a Pindaric
ode. 3.
” A Paraphrase upon some select Hymns of the
New and Old Testament.“4.
” Occasional compositions
in English rhymes," with some translations out, of Latin,
Greek, and Italian, but chiefly out of the last;. some of
which compositions and translations were before falsely
published by a too-curious collector of them, from very
erroneous copies, against the will and knowledge of their
author. Dr. Woodford complains, that several of his translations of some of the moral odes had been printed after
the same incorrect manner.
whom Dr. Whitby pronounces “the most ingenious and solid writer of the Roman (catholic) party,” and who merits some notice from his name occurring so frequently in
, whom Dr. Whitby pronounces “the most ingenious and solid writer of the Roman (catholic) party,
” and who merits some notice from his
name occurring so frequently in the popish controversy at
the latter end of the seventeenth century, was the son of
John Woodhead of Thornhill in Yorkshire, and was born
in 1608 at Meltham in the parish of Abbersbury, or Ambury, in that county. He had his academical education
in University college, Oxford, where he took his degrees
in arts, was elected fellow in 1633, and soon after entered
into holy orders. In 1641 he served the office of proctor,
and then set out for the continent as travelling tutor to
some young gentlemen of family who had been his pupils
in college. While at Rome he lodged with the duke of
Buckingham, whom he taught mathematics, and is supposed about the same time to have embraced the communion of the church of Rome, although for a long time he
kept this a profound secret. On his return to England he
had an apartment in the duke of Buckingham’s house in
the Strand, and was afterwards entertained in lord Capel’s
family. In 1648 he was deprived of his fellowship by the
parliamentary visitors, but merely on the score of absence,
aod non-appearance, when called. After the restoration
he was reinstated in his fellowship, but rinding it impossible any longer to conform, he obtained leave to travel,
with the allowance of a travelling fellowship. Instead,
Kbwever, of going abroad, he retired to an obscure residence at Hoxton near London, where he spent several
years, partly in instructing some young gentlemen of popish families, and partly in composing his works. Here
he remained almost undiscovered, until a little while before
his death, which happened at Hoxton, May 4, 1678. He
was buried in St. Pancras church-yard, where there is a
monument to his memory.
noured with the particular friendship of that distinguished scholar and physician Dr. Peter Barwick, who was so pleased with his ingenuity and industrious application,
, an eminent natural philosopher, was descended from a good family, originally of Gloucestershire, and was born in Derbyshire, May 1, 1665. He received the first part of his education at a school in the country, where he made a considerable progress in the Latin and Greek languages; but his father designing him for trade, he was taken from school, before he was sixteen years old, and put apprentice, as is said, to a linen-draper jr> London. This way of life, however, was so contrary to his natural thirst for knowledge and love of books, that he quitted it in a few years, and devoted himself entirely to literary pursuits. His studies were directed to philosophical objects, and the progress he made soon attracted the notice of some persons of eminence in the learned world. Amongst others he was honoured with the particular friendship of that distinguished scholar and physician Dr. Peter Barwick, who was so pleased with his ingenuity and industrious application, that he took him under his immediate tuition in his own family. In this advantageous situation he prosecuted his studies in philosophy, anatomy, and physic, with the utmost ardour.
During his residence here, sir Ralph Dutton, who was Dr. Barwick' s son-in-law, invited Mr. Woodward to accompany
During his residence here, sir Ralph Dutton, who was
Dr. Barwick' s son-in-law, invited Mr. Woodward to accompany the doctor on a visit to his seat at Sherborne, in Gloucestershire. He probably made some stay here, for we are
told that he was now first led to inquire into that branch of
natural philosophy, which became afterwards the favourite
object of his studies, and the foundation of the fame which
he acquired. The country about Sherborne, and the neighbouring parts of Gloucestershire, to which he made frequent excursions, abounded with stone; and there being
quarries laid open almost every where, he was induced to
visit them, and to examine the nature and condition of the
stone. In these visits he was struck with the great variety
of sea-shells, and other marine productions, with which the
sand of most of this stone was incorporated; and being encouraged by the novelty, and as he judged, the singular
importance of this speculation, he resolved to pursue it
through the remote parts of the kingdom. In consequence
of this resolution, he travelled throughout almost all England, in order to inform himself of the present condition of
the earth, and all bodies contained in it, as far as either
grottoes, caverns, mines, quarries, &c. led him into a knowledge of the interior, and as far as his best observations
could extend in respect to the exterior surface, and such
productions as any where occurred, plants, insects, sea,
river, and land-shells. He directed his attention likewise
to the fluids; as well those within the surface of the earth,
the water of mines, grottoes, caverns, &c. as those upon
the surface, the sea, rivers, and springs; and in making
these observations, he entered every curious circumstance,
with great care$ in a journal. When he had finished these
researches, and had returned to London, he would gladly
have gone to the continent on the same pursuit, hut was
prevented by the war which at that time disturbed the quiet
of Europe. In order, however, to supply this defect as far
as possible, he applied to gentlemen who had travelled, and
were likely to give him information on the subject of his
inquiries; and he also drew up a list of questions upon this
subject, which he sent off to all parts of the world, whereever either himself, or any of his acquaintance, had any
friends resident; the result of which was, that in time he
was abundantly satisfied, that the circumstances after which
he inquired, were much the same every where. Being
now prepared with information, and, as it will appear, not
unprovided with a theory, he published in 1695, in 1 vol.
6vo, “An Essay towards a natural history of the Earth and
terrestrial bodies, especially minerals; as also of the sesj
rivers, and springs. With an account of the universal deluge, and of the effects that it had upon the earth.' 1 He
called it an
” Essay," because it was designed, as, he said,
to be followed by a large work upon the same subject, of
whi-ch this was but a specimen.
the Philosophical Transactions. It is not necessary to take notice of the old hypothesis of Burnel, who conceived that the ante-diluvian world consisted of a thin,
Not only the account of the deluge in Genesis, and the traditions to the same effect preserved by all ancient nations, but the abundant remains of sea-shells and coral, found at great distances from the sea, at great heights, and intermixed with various rocks, have induced mineralogists, without exception, to agree that at some former period the whole of this earth was covered with the sea. Various hypothetical explanations of the Way in which* this deluge took place have been from time to time published, and several of these are to be found in the Philosophical Transactions. It is not necessary to take notice of the old hypothesis of Burnel, who conceived that the ante-diluvian world consisted of a thin, smooth crust spread over the whole sea, and that this crust breaking occasioned the deluge, and the j|reWnt uneven surface of the earth; nor of Whiston, who ascribed the deluge to the effect of the tail of a comet; because those opinions have many years ago lost all their supporters. Nor is any attention at present paid to the hypothesis of Buffon, who conceived the earth to have been splintered from the sun by the blow of a comet, and accounted for the deluge by suppositions equally arbitrary, and inconsistent with the phenomena. Dr. Woodward was the first writer who acquired a splendid reputation by his theory; and his opinions, though not always correct, generally prevailed in his time, and after. In the work above mentioned, which he afterwards considerably augmented and improved, after refuting the hypotheses of his predecessors, he proceeds to shew, that the present slate of the earth is the consequence of the universal deluge; that the waters took up and dissolved all the minerals and rocks, and gradually deposited them along with the sea-shells; and he affirms that all rocks lie in the order of their specific gravity. Although this theory has long lost its authority, several of the positions which he laid down continue still to find a place in every theory which has succeeded him.
eautiful manner. Mr. Conyers, in whose collection this curiosity was, had purchased it of a brazier, who bought it among some brass and iron fragments which came out
In 1699 he published, in the Philosophical Transactions,
“Some thoughts and experiments concerning Vegetation.
”
These experiments have acquired great celebrity, and are
constantly referred to by all writers on vegetable physiology. They consist in putting sprigs of vegetables into
the mouths of phials filled with water, allowing them to
vegetate for some time, and then determining the quantity
of water which they have imbibed, and the quantity of
weight which they have gained. The difference obviously
indicates the quantity of moisture exhaled by the plant.
About 1693, Dr. Woodward’s attention was directed to an
object of a very different kind. He had purchased from
the museum of a deceased friend, a small, but very curious
icon shield of a round form; on the concave side of which
were represented, in the upper part, the ruins of Rome
when burnt by the Gauls; and below, the weighing out
the gold to purchase their retreat, together with the arrival
of Camillus, and flight of the Gauls; and in the centre
appeared a grotesque mask with horns very large and prominent; the figures all executed in a spirited and beautiful
manner. Mr. Conyers, in whose collection this curiosity
was, had purchased it of a brazier, who bought it among
some brass and iron fragments which came out of the armoury in the Tower of London, near the end of Charles
II.'s reign. As soon as it came into the possession of Dr.
Woodward, many inquisitive persons came to see it, and
in order to enable others, who had not that opportunity,
to form a judgment of it, he not only had several casts
made of it, but also, in 1705, had it engravenat Amsterdam, on a copper-plate of the size of the original copies
of which were transmitted to many learned foreigners, for
their opinion. Antiquaries, however, could not agree as
to its age. The professors and other critics in Holland, in
general, pronounced it antique; but those in France thought
otherwise, and Woodward wrote against their opinion a
letter to the abbe Bignon, which is published by Dr. Ward
in the appendix to his “'Lives of the Gresham Professors.
”
Dodwell wrote a “Dissertatio de Parma equestri Woodwardiana,
” which was published by Hearne (See Hearne)
in 1713. Dodwell supposed this shield came out of some
public collection; such as the Shield Walk in Whitehall-palace, from Henry VIII.'s time to Charles I. Theophilus
Downes, fellow of Baliol college, differed from him as to
the antiquity of this monument; and after his death were
published, in two leaves, 8vo, his “De clypeo Woodwardiano stricturae breves.
” Ainsworth abridged Dodwell’s
dissertation, and inserted it at the end of the “Museum
Woodwardianum,
” or catalogue of the doctor’s library and
curiosities, sold by auction at Covent-garden in 1728. He
afterwards enlarged the piece, considered the objections, and
reprinted it with the title, “De Clypeo Camilli antique,
”
&c.
n some dangerous cases of the confluent small-pox. This practice was warmly Opposed by Dr. Woodward, who, on the contrary, strenuously recommended the use of emetics
In the midst of those researches into antiquity, Dr.
Woodward did not neglect his medical profession, although
it cannot be said that he was eminently successful. In 1718
we find him involved in a controversy with two of the
greatest physicians of his time, Dr. Freind and Dr. Mead.
In a learned work which Dr. Freind published, about this
time, he had advanced several arguments in favour of
purging upon the access of the second fever, in some dangerous cases of the confluent small-pox. This practice
was warmly Opposed by Dr. Woodward, who, on the contrary, strenuously recommended the use of emetics in such
cases; and in the following year printed his “State of
Physic and of Diseases, with an Inquiry into the Causes of
the late increase of them; but more particularly of the
Small-pox. With some considerations upon the new practice of purging in that disease
” &c. in 8vo. This laid
the foundation of a bitter controversy and Dr. Mead retained a sense of the injury, as he thought it, for many
years after, as appears from the preface to his treatise on
the small-pox; where he gives a short history of the affair,
and also throws some personal reflections on Dr. Woodward, which would have been inexcusable in the heat of
the controversy, and were certainly much more so near
thirty years after. Pope, Arbuthnot, and other wits, attempted also to turn Dr. Woodward into ridicule, and there
appears to have been something of irascibility in his temper, which afforded his enemies considerable advantage io
this way.
rchased and conveyed to that university, and out of this a hundred pounds per annum to the lecturer, who, after the death of his executors Dixie Windsor, Hugh Bethel,
Dr. Woodward declined in his health a considerable
time before he died; and though he had all along continued
to prepare materials for his large work, relating to the
Natural History of the Earth, yet it was never finished;
but only some collections, said to have been detached frooi
it, were printed at different times, as enlargements upon
particular topics in his essay. He was confined first to his
house, and afterwards to his bed, many months before his
death. During this time, he not only drew up instructions
for the disposal of his books and other collections, but alsocompleted and sent to the press his “Method of Fossils,
”
in English; and lived to see the whole of it printed, except the last sheet. He died in Gresham-college April
25, 1728; and was buried in Westminster-abbey, where is
a monument to his memory. After his death, the two following* works were published, 1. “Fossils of all kinds, digested into a Method suitable to their mutual relation and
affinity,
” &c. 8vo. 2. “A Catalogue of Fossils in the
Collection of John Woodward, M. D.
” in 2 vols. 8vo. By
his last will, he founded a lecture in the university of Cambridge, to be read there upon his “Essay towards the Na-r
tural History of the Earth, his Defence of it, his Discourse
of Vegetation, and his State of Physic;
” for which he ordered lands of
against the royalists near Maidstone. Our artist was educated at Maidstone under Mr. Simon Goodwin, who used to notice his graphic talents. Once having taken on a slate
, one of the most eminent of modern engravers in England, was born at Maidstone, in Kent,
Aug. 27, 1735. Of his early history few particulars have
been preserved, and those mostly traditionary. His father
was a thread-maker, and long time a foreman to Mr. Robert Pope. The family is said to have come originally
from Holland; and there is a tradition that Woollett’s great
grandfather escaped from the battle fought by the parliamentary forces against the royalists near Maidstone. Our
artist was educated at Maidstone under Mr. Simon Goodwin, who used to notice his graphic talents. Once having
taken on a slate the likeness of a schoolfellow named Burtenshaw, who had a prominent nose, his master desired him to
finish it on paper, and preserved the drawing. He was also
in the habit of drawing the likenesses of his father’s acquaintances. His earliest production on copper was a portrait of
a Mr. Scott, of Maidstone, with a pipe in his mouth.
These are perhaps trifles, but they compose all that is now
remembered of Woollett’s younger days. His first attempts having been seen by Mr. Tinney, an engraver, he
took him as an apprentice at the same time with Mr. Anthony Walker and Mr. Brown. His rise in his profession
was rapid, and much distinguished, for he brought the art
of landscape engraving to great perfection. With respect
to the grand and sublime, says Strutt, “if 1 may be allowed the term in landscapes, the whole world cannot produce his equal.
” Woollett, however, did not confine
himself to landscapes, he engraved historical subjects and portraits with the greatest success. The world has done
ample justice to his memory, and the highest prices still
continue to be given for good impressions of all his prints,
but particularly of his “Niobe
” and its companion “Phaeton,? ' his
” Celadon and Amelia,“and
” Ceyx and Alcyone;“and
” The Fishery,“all from Wilson, whose peculiar happiness it was that his best pictures were put into the
hands of Woollett, who so perfectly well understood and
expressed the very spirit of his ideas upon thecopper.
To these we may add the portrait of Rubens, from Vandyke, and, what are in every collection of taste, his justly
celebrated prints from the venerable president of the academy,
” The Death of General Wolfe,“and The Battle
of the Boyne.
”
tchfield; Smalbroke, of St. David’s Hare, of Chichester; Sherlock, of Bangor; and Potter, of Oxford, who are all treated with the utmost rudeness. What he undertakes
The “Four free gifts
” were scarcely published, when,
the controversy with Collins going on at this time, Mr.
Woolstou, under pretence of acting the part of an impartial inquirer, published his “Moderator between an Infidel and Apostate,
” and two “Supplements to the Moderator.
” In these pieces, he pursued his allegorical scheme,
to the exclusion of the letter; and, with regard to the
miracles of Christ, not only contended for sublime and
mystical interpretations of them, but also asserted that
they were not real, or ever actually wrought. As he conducted this attempt with greater rudeness and insolence
than any of those that had appeared before him, his presumption was not likely to be unnoticed in a Christian
country, and he was prosecuted by the attorney-general;
but the prosecution was stopped at the intercession of Mr.
Whision*. In 1727, 1728, 1729, and 1730, were published his “Six Discourses on the Miracles of Christ,
”
and his two “Defences
” of them. The six discourses are
dedicated to six bishops: Gibson, of London; Chandler,
of Litchfield; Smalbroke, of St. David’s Hare, of Chichester; Sherlock, of Bangor; and Potter, of Oxford, who
are all treated with the utmost rudeness. What he undertakes to prove is, that the miracles of our Saviour, as we
find them in the Evangelists, however related by them as
historical truths, were not real, but merely allegorical; and
that they are to be interpreted, not in literal but only in
mystical senses. His pretence is, that the fathers of the
church considered our Saviour’s miracles in the same allegorical way that he does; that is, as merely allegorical, and
excluding the letter: but this is not so. Some of the fathers, indeed, and Origen in particular, did not confine
themselves to the bare letter, but endeavoured, upon the
at having applied sto theattorney-gene- the report would then go abroad, that ral, sir Philip Yorke, who said that he the kmij supported blasphemy. Howwould not’ proceed
* It does not appear very clearly Clarke, to persuade him to go with me
whether this was at the intercession of to lord Townsend (th‘e secretary of Wbiston. Winston informs us of his state) but he refused, alledging that
having applied sto theattorney-gene- the report would then go abroad, that
ral, sir Philip Yorke, who said that he the kmij supported blasphemy. Howwould not’ proceed unless the secretary ever, no farther progress was made i
of state sent himan order so to do. Mr. Woolston’s trial.
“1 then,
” addsWhiston, “went to Dr.
foundation of the letter, to raise spiritual meanings, and to
allegorize by way of moral application; and they did this,not only upon the miracles of Christ, but upon almost all
the historical facts of the Old and New Testament: but
they never denied the miracles or the facts. This strange
and enthusiastic scheme of Woolston was offensive enough
of itself, but infinitely more so from his manner of conducting it; for he not 'only argues against the miracles of
Christ, but treats them in a most ludicrous and outrageous
way: expressing himself in terms of astonishing insolence
and scurrility. Such conduct raised a general disgust:
and many books and. pamphlets, berth from bishops and inferior clergy, appeared against his discourses; and a second prosecution was commenced and carried on with vigour, against which there seemed to be now little or no
opposition, he having by his disingenuity of argument and
scurrility of manner, excluded himself from all the privileges of a fair reasoner. At his trial in Guildhall before
the lord chief-justice Raymond, he spoke several times
himself; and among other things urged, that
” he thought
it very bard to be tried by a set of men, who, though otherwise very learned and worthy persons, were yet no morejudges
of the subjects on which he wrote than he himself was a
judge of the most crabbed points of law.“He was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment, and to pay a fine of Iool
He purchased the liberty of the rules of the King’s Bench,
where he continued after the expiration of the year, being
unable to pay the fine. Dr. Samuel Clarke had begun his
solicitations at court for the releasement of Woolston, declaring that he did not undertake it as an approver of his
doctrines, but as an advocate for that liberty which he himself had always contended for; but he was hindered from
effecting it by his death, which happened soon after Woolston’s commitment. The greatest obstruction to his deliverance from confinement was the obligation of giving
security not to offend by any future writings, he being resolved to write again as freely as before. While some supposed this author not in earnest, but meaning to subvert
Christianity under a pretence of defending it; others believed him disordered, and not perfectly in his right mind;
and many circumstances concurred to persuade to the latter of these opinions; but how, in either case, a prosecu-r
tion for blasphemy comes to* be considered as persecution
for religion, remains yet to be explained. Such a
construction, however, appears to have been put upon it by
the Clarkes and Lardners of those days, and by their successors in our own. As the sale of Woolston’s books was
very great (for such blasphemies will find readers as well as advocates for the publication of them), his gains arising
from them must have been proportionable; but he defrayed
all the expences, and those not inconsiderable, to which
his publishers were subjected by selling. He died January 27, 1732-3, after an illness of four days; and, a few
minutes before his death, uttered these words:
” This is a
struggle which all men must go through, and which I bear
not only patiently, but with willingness." His body was
interred in St. George’s church-yard, Southwark.
Bishop Godwin, the biographer, who married one of his daughters, and seems to have been with him
Bishop Godwin, the biographer, who married one of his
daughters, and seems to have been with him in his last moments, says, he dictated letters, not two hours before his
death, on subjects of importance, full of the piety and prudence of a man in health and vigour; and being reminded
to consult his health, he repeated and applied the saying of
Vespasian, that “a bishop ought to die upon his legs;
”
which in him, as before in the emperor, was verified, for as
he was supported across the room (his complaint being an asthma) he sunk, and expired almost before he touched
the ground, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. He was interred in Exeter cathedral, with a Latin inscription by his
son. He composed many theological tracts, monitory and
practical, which were all printed and published in the space
of about twelve months, in the years 1576 and 1577. 1.
“Anatornie of the whole man.
” 2. “Christian manual.
”
3. “Of Conscience.
” 4. “Armour of proofe.
” 5. < Immortalitie of the soule.“6.
” Fortresse of the Faithfull,“and 7.
” David’s Chain," which last is not mentioned by
Wood or Ames.
by etchings, in the manner of Rembrandt, which proved to be a very easy task, by the numbers of men who have counterfeited that master so as to deceive all those who
, an artist of considerable merit, was a native of England, born in 1700, and for the greater part of his life painted portraits in miniature: he afterwards, with worse success, performed them in oil; but at last acquired reputation and money by etchings, in the manner of Rembrandt, which proved to be a very easy task, by the numbers of men who have counterfeited that master so as to deceive all those who did not know his works. Worlidge’s imitations and his heads in black-lead have grown astonishingly into fashion. His best, piece is the whole-length of sir John Astley, copied from Rembrandt, and his copy of the hundred Guilder print; but his print of the theatre at Oxford and the act there, and his statue of lady Pomfret’s Cicero, are very poor performances. His last work was a book of gems from the antique. He died at Hammersmith, Sept. 23, 1766, aged sixty-six.
Wormius had three wives, who brought him a family of sixteen children. He published some
Wormius had three wives, who brought him a family of
sixteen children. He published some works on subjects
relating to his profession, several in defence, of Aristotle’s
philosophy, and several concerning the antiquities of Denmark and Norway. For these last he is principally remembered now, and they are esteemed very learned and
correct; particularly his, I. “Fasti Danici,
” A
History of Norway,
” Litteratnira Danica
antiquissima, vulgo Gothica dicta, & de prisca Danorura
Poesi,
” Monumentorum Danicorurn libri
VI.
” 1643, folio. 5. “Lexicon Runicum, & Appendix ad
Monumenta Danica,
” Series Regum
Danise duplex, & limitum inter Daniam & Sueciam Descriptio,
” 1642, folio. 7. “Talshoi, seu Monumentuni
Stroense in Scania,
” Monumentum Trygvvaldense,
”
He entered upon the cure of St. Bene't Fink in June 1664, under Dr. George Evans, canon of Windsor, who held a lease from that college of the rectory; and he continued
, an excellent divine of
the church of England, was born at Manchester, in the beginning of Feb. 1617-18, and was the son of Roger Worthington, a person of “chief note and esteem
” in that town.
His mother was Mary, the daughter of Christopher Whichcote, esq. and niece to sir Jeremy Whichcote, bart. He
was educated at Emanuel college, Cambridge, of which he
became a fellow, was created B.D. in 1646, and D. D. in
1655. He was afterwards chosen master of Jesus college,
vacant by the ejectment of Dr. Richard Sterne, afterwards
archbishop of York, but was with some difficulty prevailed
upon to submit to the choice and request of the fellows, his
inclination being to a more private and retired life; and
soon after the restoration be resigned that mastership to
Dr. Sterne. In the mean time he was successively rector
of Horton in Buckinghamshire, Gravely and Fen Ditton in
the county of Cambridge, Barking, with Needham, in the
county of Suffolk, and Ingoldsby in Lincolnshire. During
the years 1660 and 1661 he cultivated a frequent correspondence by letters with that great promoter of all useful learning, Mr. Samuel Hartlib; four and twenty of Dr.
Worthington’s being published at the end of his Miscellanies; and several others by bishop Kennet in his Register
and Chronicle. In 1663, he was collated to the sinecure
rectory of Moulton All Saints, in Norfolk. He entered
upon the cure of St. Bene't Fink in June 1664, under Dr.
George Evans, canon of Windsor, who held a lease from
that college of the rectory; and he continued to preach
there during the plague-year 1665, coming thither weekly
from Hackney, where he had placed his family: and from
February 18, 1665-6, till the fire in September, he preached
the lecture of that church, upon the death of the former
lecturer. Soon after that calamity, he was presented by
Dr. Henry More> of Christ’s college in Cambridge, to the
living of Ingoldsby, before mentioned, and to the prebend
of Asgarby in the church of Lincoln, procured him by
archbishop Sheldon, who had a great esteem for him.
From Ingoldsby he removed to Hackney, being chosen
lecturer of that church with a subscription commencing
from Lady-day 1670; and, the church of St. Bene't Fink
being then rebuilding, he made suit to the church of Windsor to have his lease of the cure renewed to him, being recommended by the archbishop to Dr. Ryves, dean of that
church. This was granted him; but some difficulties
arising about the form of the lease, with regard to the parsonage house, agreed to be rebuilt, he did not live to execute it, dying at Hackney Nov. 26, 1671. He was interred
in the church there.
as early taken notice of by that great encourager of learning bishop Hare, then bishop of St. Asaph, who presented him first to the vicarage of Llanyblodwell, in the
, a learned English divine, was born in Merionethshire in 1703, and educated
at Oswestry-school, whence he came to Jesus-college, Oxford, where he made great proficiency in learning. From
college he returned to Oswestry, and became usher in that
school. He took the degree of M. A. at Cambridge in
1742; was afterwards incorporated at Jesus-college, Oxford, July 3, 1758; and proceeded B. and D. D.July 10,
in that year. He was early taken notice of by that great
encourager of learning bishop Hare, then bishop of St.
Asaph, who presented him first to the vicarage of
Llanyblodwell, in the county of Salop, and afterwards removed him to Llanrhayader, or Llanrhadra, in Denbighshire,
where he lived much beloved, and died Oct. 6, 1778, much
lamented. As he could never be prevailed upon to take
two livings, bishop Hare gave him a stall at St. Asaph, and
a sinecure, “to enable him,
” he said, “to support his
chanties
” (for charitable he was in an eminent degree).
Afterwards archbishop Drummond (to whom he had been chaplain for several years) presented him to a stall in the
cathedral of York. These were all his preferments. He
was a studious man, and wrote several books, of which the
principal are here enumerated. I. “An Essay on the
Scheme and Conduct, Procedure and Extent, of Man’s
Redemption; designed for the honour and illustration of
Christianity. To which is annexed, a Dissertation on the
Design and Argumentation of the Book of Job,
” by William Worthington, M. A. vicar of Blodwel in Shropshire,
London, 1743, 8vo. 2. “The historical Sense of the Mosaic Account of the Fall proved and vindicated,
” 17. . ,
8vo. 3. “Instructions concerning Confirmation,
” 17.,. ,
8va. 4. “A Disquisition concerning the Lord’s-Supper,
”
17. . , 8vo. 5. “The Use, Value, and Improvement, of various Readings shewn and illustrated, in a Sermon preached
before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary’s, on Sunday
Oct. 18, 1761,
” Oxford, A Sermon
preached in the parish-church of Christchurch, London, on
Thursday April the 21st, 1768; being the time of the
yearly meeting of tl^e children educated in the charityschools in and about the cities of London and Westminster,
” The Evidences of Christianity,
deduced from Facts, and the Testimony of Sense, throughout all Ages of the Church, to the present Time. In a
series of discourses, preached for the lecture founded by
the hon. Robert Boyle, esq. in the parish-church of St.
James, Westminster, in the years 1766, 1767, 1768;
wherein is shewn, that, upon the whole, this is not a decaying, but a growing, Evidence,
” The Scripture Theory of the Earth, throughout all its
Revolutions, and all the periods of its existence, from the
creation to the final renovation of all things; being a sequel to the Essay on Redemption, and an illustration of the
principles on which it is written,
” Irenicum; or, the Importance of Unity in the Church of
Christ considered, and applied towards the healing of our
unhappy differences and divisions,
” An
Impartial Enquiry into the Case of the Gospel-Demoniacs
with an appendix, consisting of an Essay on Scripture-Demonology,
” Essay on the Demoniacs,
” A farther Enquiry
into the case of the Gospel-Demoniacs, occasioned by Mr.
Farmer’s on the subject,
”
principal accuser was the Rev. George Walker, minister of St. John the Evangelist in Watling-street, who went so far as to bring forward a charge of Socinianism, heresy,
His next trouble arose from his brethren in London, of
the puritan stamp, with which he is usually classed. He
was accused of holding an erroneous opinion concerning
the doctrine of justification, which, according to him, consisted in the forgiveness of sins. His principal accuser
was the Rev. George Walker, minister of St. John the
Evangelist in Watling-street, who went so far as to bring
forward a charge of Socinianism, heresy, and blasphemy. This produced a conference between eight divines of eminence, four for each party; and the result
was, that although these judges differed from Mr, Wotton
“in some points of the former doctrine of justification,
contained in his expositions,
” yet they held “not the difference to be so great and weighty, as that they are to be
justly condemned of heresy and blasphemy.
”
In 1624, as Mr. Wotton had promised to explain himself
more fully on the subject in dispute, he published his
Latin treatise “De reconciliatione peccatoris,
” thinking it
more advisable to discuss the question in a learned language, than to hazard differences among common Christians by printing his opinion in English. In this work he
professed to agree with the Church of England, the generality ofr the first reformers, and particularly Calvin, and to
oppose only the opinion of Flaccus III} ricus, Hemmingius,
c. and that of the Church of Rome, as declared in the
Council of Trent. Walker, however, returned to the charge,
but did not publish any thing until after Mr. Wotton’s
death. This obliged his friend Mr. Gataker, one of the
eight divines who sat in judgement on him, to write a narrative of the conference, which was published by Mr.
Wotton’s son in 1641.
ranslation of Ramus’s logic, made by his son, and with a dedication by our author. This son, Samuel, who died in 1680, was rector of East and West Wretham in Norfolk.
His writings are, 1. “An answer to a popish pamphlet,
&c. entitled ‘Certain Articles,’ &c.
” Lond. A defence of Mr. Perkins’ booke called A Reformed
Catholike, &c.
” ibid. The tryal of the
Roman Clergy’s title to the Church,
” ibid. Sermons on part of chapter first of St. John’s Gospel,
”
ibid. Run from Rome; or, The necessity
of separating from that Church,
” ibid. De
reconciliatione peccatoris, &c.
” Basil. An
answer to a book, entitled Appello Coesarem, written by
Mr. Richard Mountague,
” ibid. The art of
Logick,
” ibid.
r 5, 1555, and lies buried in St. Alban’s church, London. He was the first of our English physicians who particularly applied to the study of natural history. He made
, an eminent physician, celebrated
by Leland in his “Encomia,
” by the name of Ododunus,
was the son of Richard Wotton, superior beadle of divinity
in the university of Oxford, and was born there in 1492,
and educated at the school near Magdalen-college, of
which college he became demy, and took a bachelor’s degree in 1513. Bishop Fox, founder of Corpus Christi college, was his patron, by whose interest he was appointed
socius compar and Greek lecturer of that new foundation,
and continued there till 1520, when he obtained leave to
travel into Italy for three years. It appears that he studied
physic on the continent, for he had a doctor’s degree conferred upon him at Padua. After his return he resumed
his lectureship, and was incorporated doctor of physic tor
wards the end of 1525. He became very eminent in his
profession, first about Oxford, and then in London; and
was a member of the college of pny^icians, and physician to Henry VIII. He died October 5, 1555, and
lies buried in St. Alban’s church, London. He was the
first of our English physicians who particularly applied
to the study of natural history. He made himself famous at home and abroad by his book, entitled “De
Differentiis Animaiium, lib. X.
” Paris, Minim; rum Animaiium Theatrum,
” Loud.
s knight-porter and comptroller of Calais; where he died and lies buried. Sir Henry’s elder brother, who was afterwards raised by king James J. to the peerage by the
, an Englishman, eminent for
learning and politics, was descended from a gentleman’s
family by both parents, and was born at Boughton-hall in
Kent, March ^0, 1568. The Wottons were of no inconsiderable distinction, having possessed this lordship for
nearly three centuries. Sir Edward Wotton,“our statesman’s grandfather, was treasurer of Calais, and of the privycouncil to king Henry VIII. and was elder brother to the
celebrated Dr. Nicholas Wotton, dean of Canterbury, the
subject of our next article. Sir Robert Wotton, the father
of these, was entrusted by king Edward i V. with the lieutenancy of Guisnes, and was knight-porter and comptroller of Calais; where he died and lies buried. Sir Henry’s
elder brother, who was afterwards raised by king James J.
to the peerage by the title of lore) Wotton, was in 1585
sent by queen Elizabeth ambassador to that monarch in
Scotland; and Dr. Robertson speaks of him, as
” a man,
gay, well-bred, and entertaining; who excelled in all the
exercises, for which James had a passion, amused the
young king by relating the adventures which he had met
with, and the'obseYvations h,e had made during a long residence in foreign countries; but under the veil of these superficial qualities,“Dr. Robertson adds, that
” he concealed a dangerous and intriguing spirit. He soon grew in
favour with James, and while he was seemingly attentive
only to pleasure and diversions, he acquired influence over
the public councils, to a degree, which was indecent for
strangers to possess."
with signor Vietta, a gentleman of Venice, with whom he had been formerly intimately acquainted, and who was now the grand duke’s secretary. It was during this retreat
Sir Henry was the only son of the second marriage of his
father Thomas Wotton, esq. with Eleanora, daughter of
sir William Finch, of Eastwell in Kent (ancestor to lord Winchelsea), and widow of Robert Morton, of the same
county, esq. He was educated first under private tutors,
and then sent to Winchester-school whence, in 1584, he
was removed to New- college in Oxford. Here he was
entered as a gentleman-commoner, and had his chamber
in Hart-hall adjoining; and, for his chamber-fellow, Richard Baker, his countryman, afterwards a knight, and author of the well known “Chronicle
” which goes by his
name. Wotton did not continue long there, but went to
Queen’s-college, where he became well versed in logic
Uid philosophy-, and, being distinguished for his wit, was
solicited to write a tragedy for private acting in that society,
The name of it was “Tancredo
” and Walton relates,
“that it was so interwoven with sentences, and for the method and exact personating those humours, passions, and
dispositions, which he proposed to represent, so performed,
that the gravest of the society declared^ he had in a slight
employment given an early and solid testimony of his future abilities.
” In 1588 he supplicated the congregation
of regents, that he might be admitted to the reading of any
of the books of Aristotle’s logic, that is, be admitted to the
degree of bachelor of arts; but “whether he was admitted
to that or any other degree doth not appear,
” says Wood,
^from the university registers;“although Walton tells us,
that about his 20th year he proceeded master of arts, and
at that time read in Latin three lectures de oculo, on the
blessing of sight, which he illustrated by some beautiful
passages aud apt reflexions.
In 1589 he lost his father, and was left with no other
provision than a rent-charge of 100 marks a-year. Soon
after, he left Oxford, betook himself to travel, and went
into France, Germany, and Italy. He stayed but one year
in France, and part of that at Geneva; where he became
acquainted with Beza and Isaac Casaubon. Three years he
spent in Germany, and five in Italy, where both in Rome,
Venice, and Florence, he cultivated acquaintance with the
most eminent men for learning and all manner of fine arts;
for painting, sculpture, chemistry, and architecture; of all
which he was an amateur and an excellent judge. After
having spent nine years abroad, he returned to England
highly accomplished, and with a great accumulation of
knowledge of the countries through which he had passed.
His wit and politeness so effectually recommended him to
the earl of Essex that he first admitted him into his friendship, and afterwards made him one of his secretaries, the
celebrated Mr. Henry Cuff being the other. (See Cuff.)
He personally attended all the councils and employments
of the earl, and continued with him till he was apprehended
for high treason. Fearing now lest he might, from his intimate connexion, be involved in his patron’s ruin, he thought
proper to retire, and was scarcely landed in France, when
he heard that his master Essex was beheaded, and his
friend Cuff hanged. He proceeded to Florence, and was
received into great confidence by the grand duke of Tuscany. This place became the more agreeable to him, from
his meeting with signor Vietta, a gentleman of Venice,
with whom he had been formerly intimately acquainted,
and who was now the grand duke’s secretary. It was during this retreat that Mr. Wotton drew up his
” State of
Christendom, or a most exact and curious discovery of
many secret passages, and hidden myteries of the times."
This was first printed, a thin fol. in 1657, and afterwards in
1677, with a small alteration in the title. It was here also
that the grand duke having intercepted letters which discovered a design to take away the life of James VI. of
Scotland, dispatched Wouon thither to give him notice of
it. Wotton was on this account, as well as according to
his instructions, to manage this affair with all possible secrecy: and therefore, having parted from the duke, he
took the name and language of an Italian; and to avoid
the line of English intelligence and danger, he posted into
Norway, and from that country to Scotland, He found
the king at Stirling, and was admitted to him under the
name of Octavio Baldi. He delivered his message and his
letters to the king in Italian: then, stepping up and whis^
pering to his majesty, he told him he was an Englishman,
requested a more private conference with him, and that he
might be concealed during his stay in Scotland. He spent
about three months with the king, who was highly entertained with him, and then returned to Florence, where,
after a few months, the news of queen Elizabeth’s death,
and of king James’s accession to the crown of England,
arriyep!.
ot sooner than welcome, for king James, finding, among other officers of the late queen, sir Edward, who was afterwards lord Wotton, asked him, “if _he knew one Henry
Sir Henry Wotton then returned to England, and, as it
seems, not sooner than welcome, for king James, finding,
among other officers of the late queen, sir Edward, who
was afterwards lord Wotton, asked him, “if _he knew one
Henry Wotton, who had spent much time in foreign
travel?
” Sir Edward replied, that “he knew him well, and
that he was his brother.
” Then the king asking, “Where
he then was
” was answered, “at Venice, or Florence;
but would soon be at Paris.
” The king ordered him to be
sent for, and to be brought privately to him; which being
done, the king took him into his arms, and saluted him by
the nanie of Octavio Baldi. Then he knighted him, and
nominated him ambassador to the republic of Venice;
whither he went, accompanied by sir Albertus Morton, his
nephew, who was his secretary, and Mr. William Bedel,
a man of great learning and wisdom, and afterwards bishop
of Kilrnore in Ireland, who was his chaplain. He continued many years in king James’s favour, and indeed
never entirely forfeited it, although he had once the misfortune to displease his majesty, by an apparently trifling
circumstance. In proceeding as ambassador to Venice, he
passed through Germany, and stayed some days at Augsburg; where, happening to spend a social evening with
some ingenious and learned men, whom he had before
known in his travels, one Christopher Flecamore requested
him to write some sentence in his Album, a paper book
which the German gentry used to carry about with them
for that purpose. Sir Henry Wotton, consenting to the
motion, took occasion from some incidental discourse of
the company, to write a definition of an ambassador in
these words: “Legatus est vir bonus peregre missus ad
memiendum Reipublicae causa:
” which Walton says he
would have interpreted thus; “An ambassador is an honest
man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country.
” The
word lie was the hinge on which this conceit turned, yet
it was no conceit at all in Latin, and therefore could not
bear the construction sir Henry, according to Walton,
wished to have put upon it: so that when the Album fell
afterwards into the hands of Caspar Scioppius (See Scioppjus), he printed it in his famous hook against king James,
as a principle of the religion professed by that king, and
his ambassador sir Henry Wotton; and in Venice it was
presently after written in several glass windows, and spitefully declared to be sir Henry’s. This coming to the
knowledge of king James, he apprehended it to be such an
oversight, such weakness, or worse, that he expressed
much anger against him; which caused sir Henry to write
two apologies in Latin; one to Velserus at Augsburg, which
was dispersed into the cities of Germany, and another to
the king “de Gaspare Scioppio.
” These gave such satisfaction that the king entirely forgave sir Henry, declaring
publicly, that “he had commuted sufficiently for a greater
offence.
”
g James died; and brought with him many servants, of which some were German and Italian artists, and who became rather burthensome to him; for notwithstanding the many
After this embassy, he was sent twice more to Venice,
once to the States of the United Provinces, twice to
Charles Emanuel duke of Savoy, once to the united princes
of Upper Germany; also to the archduke Leopold, to the
duke of Wittemberg, to the imperial cities of Strasburgh
and Ulm, and lastly to the emperor Ferdinand II. He returned to England the year before king James died; and
brought with him many servants, of which some were German and Italian artists, and who became rather burthensome
to him; for notwithstanding the many public services in
which he had been employed, he had by no means improved his private fortune, which was also impaired by his
liberality and want of ceconomy. As some recompense,
which may at first appear rather a singular one for a man
who had spent his days as a courtier and ambassador, he
was in 1623 appointed provost of Eton-college. But in
fact this situation was very agreeable to him, for he was
now desirous of retiring from the bustle of life, and passing
the evening of his days in studious pursuits. Whoever
peruses his “Remains,
” must perceive that he had much
of the literary character, and finding now that the statutes
of the college required the provost to be io holy orders,
he was ordained deacon, and seemed to begin a new life.
His usual course now was, after his customary public
devotions, to retire into his study, and there daily spend
some hours in reading the Bible, and works of divinity,
closing those studies with a private prayer. His afternoons
he spent partly in philosophical studies, and partly in conversation with his friends, or in some recreation, particularly angling. His sentiments and temper during his latter days will best appear by what he said, on one occasion,
when visited by the learned John Hales, then a fellow of Eton.
“I have in my passage to my grave met with most of those
joys of which a discursive soul is capable and have been
entertained with more inferior pleasures than the souls of
men are usually made partakers of. Nevertheless, in this
voyage I have not always floated on the calm sea of content; but have often met with cross winds and storms, and
with many troubles of mind and temptations to evil. And
yet though I have been, and am a man compassed about
with human frailties, Almighty God has by his grace prevented me from making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience; the thought of which is now the joy of my heart,
and I most humbly praise him for it. And I humbly acknowledge, that it was not myself, but he that hath kept
me to this gr^at age, and let him take the glory of his great
mercy. And, my dear friend, I now see that I draw near
my harbour of death; that harbour will secure me from all
the future storms and waves of this restless world; and I
praise God I am willing to leave it, and expect a better;
that world wherein dwelleth righteousness; and I long
for it.
”
erhaps not inferior to that of any man of his time. Among other proofs of it, he was among the first who were delighted with Milton’s mask of Comus; and although Mr.
Sir Henry Wotton was a man of eminent learning and
abilities, and greatly esteemed by his contemporaries. His
knowledge was very extensive, and his taste perhaps not inferior to that of any man of his time. Among other proofs
of it, he was among the first who were delighted with Milton’s mask of Comus; and although Mr. Warton has pronounced him to be “on the whole a mixed and desultory
character,
” he has found an able defender in a living author of equal taste and judgment, who observes on Mr.
Warton’s expression, that “this in a strict sense may be
true, but surely not in the way of censure. He mingled
the character of an active statesman with that of a recluse
scholar; and he wandered from the crooked and thorny
intrigues of diplomacy into the flowery paths of the muses.
But is it not high praise to have been thus desultory?
”
The same writer says of sir Henry as a poet, “It may be
true, that sir Henry’s genius was not suited to the
” higher
conceptions of Milton. His mind was subtle and elegant
rather than sublime. In truth the habits of a diplomatist,
and of a great poet, are altogether incompatible,“but
” for moral and didactic poetry, the experience of a statesman does not disqualify him," and of this species, sir
Henry has left some exquisite specimens. He seems to
have lived in a perpetual struggle between his curiosity
respecting the world, fomented by his ambition, and his
love of books, contemplation, and quiet. His letters to
sir Edmund Bacon, who married his niece, prove his strong
family affections. His heart appears to have been moulded
with a high degree of moral tenderness. This, both the
sentiments attributed to him by Walton, and the cast of
his poems, sufficiently evince.
enemy to wrangling and disputes about religion and used to cut inquiries short by witticisms. To one who asked him, “Whether a Papist may be saved” he replied, “You
He was a great enemy to wrangling and disputes about
religion and used to cut inquiries short by witticisms.
To one who asked him, “Whether a Papist may be saved
”
he replied, “You may be saved without knowing that
look to yourself.
” To another, who was railing at the
papists with more zeal than knowledge, he gave this advice: “Pray, Sir, forbear, till you have studied the points
better; for, the wise Italians have this proverb, c He that
understands amiss concludes worse;' and beware of thinking, that, the farther you go from the church of Rome,
the nearer you are to God.
” One or two more of his bons
mots are preserved. A pleasant priest of his acquaintance
at Rome invited him one evening to hear their vespermusic, and seeing him standing in an obscure corner of
the church, sent a boy to him with this question, writ upon
a scrap of paper, “Where was your religion to be found
before Luther?
” To which sir Henry sent back underwritten, “Where yours is not to be found, in the written
word of God.
” Another evening, sir Henry sent a boy of
the choir with this question to his friend: “Do you believe those many thousands of poor Christians damned who
were excommunicated because the popeand the duke of
Venice could not agree about their temporalities?
” To
which the priest underwrit in French, “Excusez moi,
Monsieur.
”
his faculties for the term of his natural life. About the same time he became chaplain to the king, who in 1.539 nominated him to the archdeaconry of Gloucester, then
In 1538 archbishop Cranmer constituted him commissary of his faculties for the term of his natural life. About the same time he became chaplain to the king, who in 1.539 nominated him to the archdeaconry of Gloucester, then vacant by the promotion of archdeacon Bell to the see of Worcester. His next promotion was to the deanery of Canterbury in 1541; in addition to which he obtained in 1544 the deanery of York, and was the only person who ever possessed at the same time the deaneries of the two metropolitan churches. In 1545 he was presented to the prebend of Osbaldwick in York cathedral. In 1553 he resigned the archdeaconry of Gloucester, and was presented in 1557 to the treasuryship of the church of Exeter, which he also relinquished the succeeding year.
t the duke of Cleves with Henry’s repudiation of his sister. In 1546 he was one of the commissioners who met at Campe, a small place between Ardres and Guisnes, in order
Such were the appointments which Wotton obtained, but in 1539 he had refused a bishopric, and it is said that he refused the see of Canterbury, so that whatever he might be as a courtier, he was an unambitious ecclesiastic. His talents indeed were better suited to political negociation, and accordingly he was often employed on foreign embassies. His first service abroad is thought to have been his embassy to Cleves in 1539, in order to carry on the treaty of marriage between Henry and the lady Anne; and it fell to his lot afterwards to acquaint the duke of Cleves with Henry’s repudiation of his sister. In 1546 he was one of the commissioners who met at Campe, a small place between Ardres and Guisnes, in order to negociate peace between England, Scotland, and France. In September following he obtained the royal dispensation for non-residence on his preferments, being then the king’s ambassador in France, and was there at the death of Henry, by whose will he was appointed one of the executors to whom, during the minority of his son Edward VI. he entrusted the government of the kingdom.
tate, to which he was appointed in 1549, but resigned it in 1550 to Cecil. He was one of the council who, on Oct. 6, 1549, seceded from the protector, and who addressed
During the reign of Edward, the abilities of Wotton were exercised not only abroad, but also in his own country; as he held, for a short time, the distinguished office of principal secretary of state, to which he was appointed in 1549, but resigned it in 1550 to Cecil. He was one of the council who, on Oct. 6, 1549, seceded from the protector, and who addressed a memorial to the young king on the encroachments of that unfortunate nobleman. In 1551, he was sent ambassador to the emperor, in order to explain that no absolute assurance had ever been made to the lady Mary, in respect to the exercise of her religion, but that only a temporary connivance had been granted under the hope of her amendment. Mary had been threatened, as well as pressed, on the point of conformity, and she did not fail to represent in the most odious lights these proceedings to her kinsman Charles, who, by his ambassador, remonstrated to the English court on her behalf, and Edward, prevailed upon by his council, sent Wotton to continue a good correspondence with his imperial majesty. At the death of Edward, Wotton, sir William Pickering, and sir Thomas Chaloner, were ambassadors ifi France, whence they wrote to Mary on her accession to the throne, acknowledging her queen, and ceasing to act any further in their public character. But in this capacity she thought proper to continue Wotton, with whom she joined sir Anthony St. Leger.
glish crown, a claim which the French hoped to establish, and the declining affairs of the reformers who solicited her assistance, at length determined her to send a
The last important service Wotton performed in the reign of queen Mary was in 1557, when he detected the rebellious plot of Thomas Stafford, the, consequence of which was Stafford’s defeat and execution, and a declaration of war against France. At the queen’s death he was acting as one of the commissioners to treat of a peace between England, Spain, and France, and in this station queen Elizabeth retained him (having also appointed him a privy-counsellor), and after much negociation peace was concluded at Chateaif-Camhresis April 2, 1559. He was afterwards commissioned with lord Howard and sir Nicholas Throgmorton to receive from the French king the confirmation of the treaty. This peace, however, was of short duration. The ambitious proceedings of the French court in 1559, and the success of their arms against the Scotch protestants, were sufficient to excite the vigilance of Elizabeth. Her indignation at the claim of Mary (queen of Scots) to the English crown, a claim which the French hoped to establish, and the declining affairs of the reformers who solicited her assistance, at length determined her to send a powerful force to Scotland. In the event of this quarrel the French were obliged to capitulate, and commissioners were appointed to treat of peace. Those on the part of England were dean Wotton and sir William Cecil; on that of France, Mouluc bishop of Valence, and the Sieur de Randan. The interests of the English and French courts were soon adjusted; but to a formal treaty with the Scots, the French ambassador considered it derogatory from the dignity of their sovereign to accede. The redress of their grievances was, however, granted in the name of Francis and Mary, and accepted by the Scots, as an act of royal indulgence. And whatever concessions they obtained, whether in respect to their personal safety, or their public demands, the French ambassadors agreed to insert in the treaty with Elizabeth; so that they were sanctioned, though not with the name, yet with all the security of the most solemn negociation. The treaty was signed at Edinburgh, July 6, 1560.
public services of Wotton were afterwards employed in regard to the trade of the English merchants, who had been ill-treated not only in Spain, but more particularly
The public services of Wotton were afterwards employed in regard to the trade of the English merchants, who had been ill-treated not only in Spain, but more particularly in the Netherlands, upon pretence of civil differences, but in fact out of hatred to the protestant religion. They therefore removed their mart to Embden in East Friesland, But Guzman de Sylva (canon of Toledo), then the Spanish ambassador in England, endeavoured to compose these differences, which he. found materially to affect the interests of the Netherlands. At length Elizabeth, and the duchess of Parma, regent of the Low Countries, exchanged in Dec. 1564, a mutual agreement, by which the commerce between the two countries was restored, and viscount Montague, dean Wotton, and Dr. Haddon, were sent commissioners to Bruges in order to a full discussion of the subject. But, in the following year, the troubles in the Netherlands put a stop to their farther conference, after it had been agreed, that there should be an open trade, till one prince denounced war against the other; and in that case, the merchants should have forty days notice to dispose of themselves and their effects.
wonderful, yet it is so well attested that we know not how to refuse it credit. Sir Philip Skippon, who lived at Wrentham, in a letter to Mr. John Ray, Sept. Is, 1671,
, an English divine of uncommon
parts and learning, was the son of Mr. Henry Wotton,
rector of Wrentham, in Suffolk, a man of considerable
learning also, and well skilled in the Oriental tongues. He
was born at Wrentham the 13th of August, 1666, and was
educated by his father. He discovered a most extraordinary genius for learning languages; and, though what is
related of him upon this head may appear wonderful, yet
it is so well attested that we know not how to refuse it
credit. Sir Philip Skippon, who lived at Wrentham, in a
letter to Mr. John Ray, Sept. Is, 1671, writes thus of him:
“I shall somewhat surprise you with what I have seen in a
little boy, William Wotton, five years old the last month,
the son of Mr. Wotton, minister of this parish, who hath
instructed his child within the last three quarters of a year
in the reading the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages,
which he can read almost as well as English; and that
tongue he could read at four years and three months old
as well as most lads of twice his age. I could send you
many particulars about his rendering chapters and psalms
out of the three learned languages into English,
” &c.
Among sir Philip’s papers was found a draught of a longer
letter to Mr. Ray, in which these farther particulars are
added to the above: “He is not yet able to parse any
language, but what he performs in turning the three
learned tongues into English is done by strength of memory; so that he is ready to mistake when some words of
different signification have near the same sound. His father
hath taught him by no rules, but only uses the child’s memory in remembering words: some other children of his
age seem to have as good a fancy and as quick apprehension.
” He was admitted of Catharine Hall, Cambridge, in
April 1676, some months before he was ten years old; and
upon his admission Dr. John Eachard, then master of the
college, gave him this remarkable testimony: Gulidmns
Wottonus infra decem annos nee Ilammondo nee Grotio secundus. His progress in learning was answerable to the expectations conceived of him; and Dr. Duport, the master
of Magdalen-college, and dean of Peterborough, has
described it in an elegant copy of verses; “In Gulielmum
Wottanum stupendi ingenii et incomparabilis spei puerum
vixdum duodecim annorum.
” He then goes on to celebrate his skill in the languages, not only in the Greek and
Latin, which he understood perfectly, but also in the Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac, Chaldee; his skill too in arts and
sciences, in geography, logic, philosophy, mathematics^
chronology.
and, the winter following, was invited to London by Dr. Gilbert Burner, then preacher at the Rolls, who introduced him to almost all the learned; and among the rest
In 1679 he took the degree of B. A. when he was but
twelve years and five months old; and, the winter following, was invited to London by Dr. Gilbert Burner, then
preacher at the Rolls, who introduced him to almost all the
learned; and among the rest to Dr. William Llovd, bishopi
of St. Asaph, who was so highly pleased with him, that he
took him a an assistant in making the catalogue of his library, and carried him the summer following to St. Asaph.
Upon his return, Dr. Turner, afterwards bishop of Ely^
procured him by his interest a fellowship in St. John’s colege, where he took his degree of ML A. in 1683, and iri
1691 he commenced bachelor of divinity. The same year
bishop Lloyd gave him the sinecure of LlandriUo, in Denbighshire. He was afterwards made chaplain to the earl of
Nottingham, then secretary of state, who in 1693 presented
him to the rectory of Middleton Keynes, in Buckinghamshire. In 1694- he published “Reflections upon Ancient
and modern Learning
” and dedicated his book to his patron the earl of Nottingham^ To settle the bounds of all
branches of literature, and all arts and sciences, as they
have been extended by both ancients and moderns, and
thus to make a comparison between each, was a work too
vast, one should think, for any one man, even for a whole
life spent in study; yet it was executed with very considerable ability by Mr. Wotton at twenty-eight years of
age; and if it did involve him somewhat in the controversy
between Boyle and Bentley, that was rather owing to his
connections with Bentley, whose “Dissertations upon Phalaris,
” &c. were printed at the end of the 2d edition of his
book in 1697, than to any intermeddling of his own. Boyle
himself acknowledged that “Mr. Wotton is modest and
decent, speaks generally with respect of those he differs
from, and with a due distrust of his own opinion. His
book has a vein of learning running through it, where there
is no ostentation of it.
” This and much more is true of
Wotton’s performance yet it must not be dissembled,
that this,as it stands in Boyle’s hook, appears to have
been said rather for the sake of reflecting on Bentley than
to commend Wotton. Wotton suffered, as is well known,
under the satirical pen of Swift; and this induced him to
write “A Defence of the Reflections upon Ancient and
Modern Learning, in answer to the objections of sir William Temple and others;
” with “Observations upon the
Tale of a Tub;
” reprinted with a third corrected edition of
the “Reflections,
” &c. in Tale is of a very irreligious nature, and a crude banter
upon all that is esteemed as sacred among all sects and
religions among men;
” and his judgment of that famous
piece is confirmed by that of Mr. Moyle, in the following
passage: “I have read over the * Tale of a Tub.' There
is a good deal of wild wit in it, which pleases by its extravagance and uncommonness; but I think it, upon the
whole, the profanest piece of ribaldry which has appeared
since the days of Rabelais, the great original of banter and
ridicule.
”
on of bishop Burnet, and intended for the use of his lordship’s royal pupil, the duke of Gloucester, who, however, did not live to see it finished. It was therefore
His “Reflections
” were published, as already noticed,
in Philosophical
Transactions,
” an “Abstract
” of Agostino Scilla’s book
concerning marine bodies which are found petrified in several places at land; and in 1697, a “Vindication
” of that
abstract, which was subjoined to Dr. John Arbuthnot’s
“Examination of Dr. Woodward’s Account of the Deluge,
”
&c. In The History of Rome from
the death of Antoninus Pius to the death of Severus Alexander,
” in 8vo. He paid great deference to the authority
of medals in illustrating this history, and prefixed several
tables of them to his book, taken chiefly from the collections of Angeloni, Morell, and Vailiant. This work was
undertaken at the direction of bishop Burnet, and intended
for the use of his lordship’s royal pupil, the duke of Gloucester, who, however, did not live to see it finished. It
was therefore dedicated to the bishop, to whom Wotton
had been greatly obliged in his youth, and who afterwards,
in 1705, gave him a prebend in the church of Salisbury.
This history was esteemed no inconsiderable performance:
M. Leibnitz immediately recommended it to George II. his
late majesty, then electoral prince of Hanover; and it was
the first piece of Roman history which he read in our
language.
. Yet, being too active in his nature to be idle, he drew up, at the request of Browne Willis, esq v who afterwards published them, the “Memoirs of the Cathedral Churqh
In 1706 Wotton preached a visitation- sermon, at
Newport-Pagnel in Bucks, against Tindal’s bookof “The Rights
of the Christian Church,
” and printed it. This was the
first answer that was written to that memorable performance; and it was also the first piece which Wotton published
as a divine. In 1707, archbishop Tenison presented him
with the degree of doctor of divinity. In 1708 he drew
up a short view of Dr. Hickes’s “Thesaurus;
” but the appendix and notes are Hickes’s own. In Memoirs of the Cathedral Churqh of St.
David/' in 1717, and of
” Landaff“in 1719. Here he
also wrote his
” Miscellaneous discourses relating to the
traditions and usages of the Scribes and Pharisees,“&c.
which was printed 1718, in 2 vols. 8vo. Le Clerc tells us
that
” great advantage may be made by reading the writings of the Rabbins; and that the public is highly obliged
to Mr. Selden, for instance, and to Dr. Lightfoot, for the
assistances which they have drawn thence, and communicated to those who study the holy scripture. Those who
do not read their works, which are not adapted to the capacity of every person, will be greatly obliged to Dr. Wotton for the introduction which he has given them into that
kind of learning." In 1719 he published a sermon upon
Mark xiii. 32, to prove the divinity of the Son of God from
his omniscience.
preached a sermon in Welsh before the British Society in 1722; and was, perhaps, the only Englishman who ever attempted to preach in that language. The same year, his
After his return from Wales he preached a sermon in
Welsh before the British Society in 1722; and was, perhaps, the only Englishman who ever attempted to preach
in that language. The same year, his account of the life and
writings of Mr. Thomas Stanley was published at Eysenach,
at the end of Scaevola Sammartbanus’s “Elogia Gallorum.
”
In Bibliotheca Literaria
” an account
of the “Caernarvon Record, 7 ' a manuscript in the Harleian
library. This manuscript is an account of several ancient
Welsh tenures, and had some relation to the Welsh laws,
which he was busy in translating. He undertook that laborious work at the instance of Wake, who knew that the
trouble of learning a new and very difficult language would
be no discouragemen t to Dr. Wotton. It was published in
1730, under this title,
” Cysreithjeu Hywel Dda, ac erail;
ceu, Leges Wallicae Ecclesiasticae et Civiles Hoeli Boni,
et aliorum Walliae princjpum, quas ex variis Codicibus
Manuscriptis eruit, interpretatione Latina, notis et glossario illustravit Gulielmus Wottonus,“in foijo. But this way
a posthumous work, for he died at Buxted, in Essex, Feb.
13,1726. He left a daughter, who was the wife of the
late Mr. William Clarke, canon-residentiary of Chichester.
After his death came out his
” Discourse concerning the
Confusion of Languages at Babel,“1730, 8vo; as did the
same year his
” Advice to a young Student, with a method
of study. for the four first years.“He was likewise the author of five anonymous pamphlets: 1.
” A Letter to Eusebia,“1707. 2.
” The case of the present Convocation
considered,“1711. 3.
” Reflections on the present posture of Affairs, 1712. 4. “Observations on the State of
the Nation,
” A Vindication of the Earl of Nottingham,
”
great humanity and friendliness of temper. His time and abilities were at the service of any person who was making advances in real learning. The narrowness of a party-spirit
What distinguished him from other men chiefly was his
memory: his superiority seems to have lain in the strength
pf that faculty; for, by never forgetting any thing, he
became immensely learned and knowing; and, what is
more, his learning (as one expresses it) was all in ready
cash, which he was able to produce at sight. When he
was very young he remembered the whole of- almost any
discourse he had heard, and often surprised a preacher
with repeating his sermon to him. This first recommended
him to bishop Lloyd, to whom he repeated one of his own
sermons, as Dr. Burnet had engaged that he should. But
above all, he had great humanity and friendliness of temper. His time and abilities were at the service of any person who was making advances in real learning. The narrowness of a party-spirit never broke in upon any of his
friendships; he was as zealous in recommending Dr. Hickes’s
great work as if it had been his own-, and assisted Mr.
Spinkes in his replies to Mr. Collier in the controversy
about the necessity of mixing wine and water in the sacrament, in 1718 and 1719. He was a great lover of etymology; and 'Mr. Thwaites in his Saxon Grammar, takes
notice of his skill and acuteness that way, which he was
extremely well qualified for, by knowing most of the languages from east to west. Mr. John Chapman, chaplain
to the archbishop of Canterbury (in “Remarks upon the Letter to Dr. Waterland in relation to the natural account of Languages,
” pag. 8, 9.) has done him the honour to
place him in a list of great names after Bochart, Walton,
Vossius, Scaliger, Duret, Heinsius, Selclen, &c. all men
of letters and tracers of languages. Wotton lived at a time
when a man of learning would have been better preferred
than he was; but it is supposed that some part of his conduct, which was very exceptionable, prevented it.
, De Witt said (with a loud voice), “All our connoisseurs seem to prefer the works of those painters who have studied at Rome; and observe only, how far the work of
Houbraken observes, that the works of Wouvermans and
Bamboccio were continually placed in competition by the
ablest judges of the art; and the latter having painted a
picture which was exceedingly admired, John De Witt
prevailed on Wouvermans to paint the same subject, which
he executed in his usual elegant style. These pictures
being afterwards exhibited together to the public, while
both artists were present, De Witt said (with a loud voice),
“All our connoisseurs seem to prefer the works of those
painters who have studied at Rome; and observe only,
how far the work of Wouvermans, who never saw Rome,
surpasses the work of him who resided there for several
years!
” That observation, which was received with general
applause, was thought to have had too violent an effect
on the spirits of Bamboccio and by many it was imagined
that it contributed to his untimely death.
, 1701, in the parish of St. Botolph, Aldersgate. His father, sir Daniei Wray, was a London citizen, who resided in Little Britain, made a considerable fortune in trade
, a man of taste and learning, was born
Nov. 28, 1701, in the parish of St. Botolph, Aldersgate.
His father, sir Daniei Wray, was a London citizen, who
resided in Little Britain, made a considerable fortune in
trade (as a soap-boiler), and purchased an estate in Essex,
near Ingatestone, which his son possessed aftr r him. Sir
Daniel served the office of sheriff for that county, and was
knighted in 1708 on presenting a loyal address to queen
Anne. His son was educated at the Charter-house, and
was supposed in 1783 to have been the oldest survivor of
any person educated there. In 1718 he went to Queen’s
college, Cambridge, as a fellow commoner. He took his
degree of B. A. in 1722, after which he made the tour of
Italy, accompanied by John, earl of Morton, and Mr. King,
the son of lord chancellor King, who inherited his title.
How long he remained abroad between 1722 and 1728 is
not precisely ascertained, except by the fact that a cast in
bronze, by Pozzo, was taken of his profile, in 1726, at
Home. It had this inscription upon the reverse, “Nil actum reputans, si quid superesset agendum,
” which line is
said to have been a portrait of his character, as he was in
all his pursuits a man of uncommon diligence and perseverance. After his return from his travels, he became
M.A.-in 1728, and was already so distinguished in philosophical attainments, that he was chosen a fellow of the
Royal Society in March 1728-9. He resided however generally at Cambridge, though emigrating occasionally^ to
London, till 1739, or 1740, in which latter year, January
1740-41, he was elected F. S. A. and was more habitually a
resident in town. In 1737 commenced his acquaintance
and friendship with the noble family of Yorke; and in 1745,
Mr. Yorke, afterwards earl of Hardwicke, as teller of the
exchequer, appointed Mr.Wray his deputy teller, in which
office he continued until 1782, when his great punctuality
and exactness in any business he undertook made the constant attendance of the office troublesome to him. He was
an excellent critic in the English language; an accomplished judge of polite literature, of virtft, and the fine
arts; and deservedly a member of most of our learned societies; he was also an elected trustee of the British Museum. He was one of the writers of the “Athenian Letters
” published by the earl of Hardwicke; and in the first
volume of the Archaeologia, p. 128, are printed “Notes on
the walls of antient Rome,
” communicated by him in Extracts from different Letters from Rome, giving an
Account of the Discovery of a most beautiful Statue of Venus, dug up there 1761.
” He died Dec. 29, 1783, in his
eighty. second year, much regretted by his surviving friends,
to whose esteem he was entitled by the many worthy and
ingenious qualities. which he possessed. Those of his heart
were as distinguished as those of his mind; the rules of religion, of virtue, and morality, having regulated his conduct from the beginning to the end of his days. He was
married to a lady of merit equal to his own, the daughter
of Barrel, esq. of Richmond. This lady died at Richmond, where Mr.Wray had a house, in May 1803. Mr.
Wray left his library at her disposal and she, knowing his
attachment to the Charter-house, made the governors an
offer of it, which was thankfully accepted and a room was
fitted up for its reception, and it is placed under the care
of the master, preacher, head schoolmaster, and a librarian.
The public at large, and particularly the friends of Mr.
Wray, will soon be gratified by a memoir of him written by
the lare George Hardinge, esq. intended for insertion in
Mr. Nichols’s “Illustrations of Literature.
” This memoir,
of which fifty copies have already been printed for private
distribution, abounds with interesting anecdotes and traits
of character, and copious extracts from Mr. Wray’s correspondence, and two portraits, besides an engraving of the
cameo.
23, 1585. Being a youth of promising talents, he was much noticed while at school by bishop Andrews, who being chosen master of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge, procured
, a learned bishop of Ely, was descended of a very ancient family, which came originally
from Denmark. His father, Francis, citizen and mercer
of London, was the only son of Cuthbert Wren, of Monkskirby.in Warwickshire, second son of William Wren of
Sberbume-honse and of Billy-hall in the bishopric of Durham: but the chief seat of the family was at Binchester in
that county. Our prelate was born in the parish of St. Petercheap, London, Dec. 23, 1585. Being a youth of promising talents, he was much noticed while at school by bishop
Andrews, who being chosen master of Pembroke-hall in
Cambridge, procured his admission into that society June
23, 1601, and assisted him in his studies afterwards, which
he pursued with such success as to be chosen Greek scholar, and when he had taken his batchelor’s degree was elected
fellow of the college Nov. 9, 1605. He commenced M.A.
in 1608, and having studied divinity was ordained deacon
in Jan. and priest in Feb. 1610. Being elected senior regent master in Oct, 1611, he kept the philosophy act with
great applause before king James in 1614, and the year following was appointed chaplain to bishop Andrews, and was
presented the same year to the rectory of Teversham in
Cambridgeshire. In 1621 he was made chaplain to prince
(afterwards king) Charles, whom he attended in that office
to Spain in 1623. After his return to England, he was
consulted by the bishops Andrews, Neile, and Laud, as to
what might be the prince’s sentiments towards the church
of England, according to any observations he had been able
to make. His answer was, “1 know my master’s learning
is not equal to his father’s, yet I know his judgment is very
right: and as for his affections in the particular you point
at (the support of the doctrine and discipline of the church)
I have more confidence of him than of his father, in whom
you have seen better than I so much inconstancy in some
particular cases.' 7 Neile and Laud examined him as to his
grounds for this opinion, which he gave them at large; and
after an hour’s discussion of the subject, Andrews, who had
hitherto been silent, said,
” Well, doctor, God send you
may be a true prophet concerning your master’s inclination, which we are glad to hear from you. I am sure I shall
be a true prophet: I shall be in my grave, and so shall you,
my lord of Durham (Neile), but my lord of St. David’s (Laud)
and you, doctor, will live to see the day, that your master
will be put to it upon his head and his crown, without he
will forsake the support of the church."
esertion of the Norwich weavers was chiefly procured through the policy and management of the Dutch, who, wanting that manufacture, (which was improved there to great
In April 1629, Mr.Wren was sworn a judge of the starchamber for foreign causes. In 1633, he attended Charles
I. in his progress to Scotland, and he had some hand in composing the ill-fated form of liturgy fur that country. On
his return home he was made clerk of the closet to his majesty, and was about the same time created D. D. at Cambridge. In 1634 he was installed a prebendary of Westminster, and the same year promoted to the bishopric of
Hereford, which he held only until the following year,
when he was translated to the see of Norwich, in which he
sat two years and a half, and appears to have been very unpopular with the puritan party. Lord Clarendon informs
us that he “so passionately and warmly proceeded against
the dissenting congregations, that many left the kingdom,
to the lessening of the wealthy manufacture there of kerseys and narrow cloths, and, which was worse, transporting
that mystery into foreign parts.
” But the author of the
“Parentalia
” says, “that this desertion of the Norwich
weavers was chiefly procured through the policy and management of the Dutch, who, wanting that manufacture,
(which was improved there to great perfection) left no
means unattempted to gain over these weavers to settle in
their towns, with an assurance of full liberty of conscience,
and greater advantages and privileges than they had obtained
in England.
” This author commends his modesty and humility, particularly in never seeking preferment: but he
says too little of his zeal, which was indeed, ardent and
active. This drew upon him the unjust imputation of popery. Nothing seems to have rendered him more hateful
and invidious to the parliament, than his standing high in
the favour of his sovereign.
hall, but in a private house, as he could not conform to the principles or practises of the persons who then had the government of the university. At the restoration'
, eldest son of the preceding,
was born Aug. 20, 1629, at Peter- house, Cambridge, ut
which time his father was master of that college. His first
education was in that university, heing admitted of St.
Peter’s-college in 1642, whence he removed to Oxford,
where he was a student, not in a college or hall, but in a
private house, as he could not conform to the principles or
practises of the persons who then had the government of
the university. At the restoration' he was elected burgess
of St. Michael in Cornwall, in the parliament which began
May8, 1661, and was appointed secretary to the earl of
Clarendon, lord high chancellor of England, who visiting
the university of Oxford, of which he was chancellor, in
Sept. 1661, Mr. Wren was there created master of arts.
He was one of the first members of the Royal Society,
when they began their weekly meetings at London, in
166O. After the fall of his patron, the earl of Clarendon,
he became secretary to James duke of York, in whose service he continued till his death, June 11, 1672, in the fortythird year of his age. He was interred in the same vault
with his father, in the chapel of Pembroke- hall, Cambridge.
He wrote, 1. “Considerations on Mr. Harrington’s Commonwealth of Oceana, restrained to the first part of the
preliminaries, London, 1657,
” in 8vo. To this book is prefixed a long letter of our author to Dr. John Wilkins, warden of Wadham-college in Oxford, who had desired him
to give his judgment concerning Mr. Harrington’s “Oceana.
” Harrington answered this work in the first book of
his “Prerogative of popular government,
” had an excellent fcculty of mag^
nifying a louse, and diminishing a commonwealth.
” Mr.
Wren replied in 2, “Monarchy asserted; or, the State of
Monarchical and Popular Government, in vindication of
the considerations on Mr. Harrington’s * Oceana,' London,
1659,
” in 8vo. Harrington’s rejoinder was an indecent
piece of buffoonery, entitled “Politicaster i or, a Comical
Discourse in^answer to Mr. Wren’s book, entitled ‘ Monarchy asserted, &c.’
” Life,
” was very solicitous, that
Mr. Wren should undertake a confutation of Hobbes’s “Leviathan:
” “I hope,
” says he, “it is only modesty in Mr.
Wren, that makes hirn pause upon undertaking the work
you have recommended to him; for I dare swear, by what
I have seen of him, he is very equal to answer every part of
it: I mean, every part that requires an answer. Nor is
there need of a professed divine to vindicate the Creator
from making man a verier beast than any of those of the
field, or to vindicate scripture from his licentious interpretation. I dare say, he will find somewhat in Mr. Hobbes
himself, I mean, in his former books, that contradicts what
he sets forth in this, in that part in which he takes himself
to be most exact, his beloved philosophy. And sure there
is somewhat due to Aristotle and Tuily, and to our
universities, to free them from his reproaches; and it is high
time, if what I hear be true, that some tutors read his Leviathan, instead of the others, to their pupils. Mr. Hobbes
is my old friend, yet I cannot absolve him from the mischiefs he hath done to the king, the church, the laws, and
the nation; and surely there should be enough to be said
to the politics of that man, who, having resolved all religion, wisdom, and honesty, into an implicit obedience to
the laws established, writes a book of policy, which, I may
be bold to say, must be, by the established laws of any
kingdom or province in Europe, condemned for impious
and seditious: and therefore it will be very hard if the
fundamentals of it be not overthrown. But I must ask
both yours and Mr. Wren’s pardon for enlarging so much,
and antedating those animadversions he will make upon it.
”
English architect and mathematician, was nephew to bishop Wren, and the son of Dr. Christopher Wren, who was fellow of St. John’s college, Oxford, afterwards chaplain
, a learned and illustrious English architect and mathematician, was nephew to bishop Wren, and the son of Dr. Christopher Wren, who was fellow of St. John’s college, Oxford, afterwards chaplain to Charles I. and rector of Knoyle in Wiltshire; made dean of Windsor in 1635, and presented to the rectory of Hasely in Oxfordshire in 1638; and died at Blechindon, in the same county, 1658, at the house of Mr. William Holder, rector of that parish, who had married his daughter. He was a man well skilled in all the branches of the mathematics, and had a great hand in forming the genius of his only son Christopher.' In the state papers of Edward, earl of Clarendon, vol.1, p. 270, is an estimate of a building to be erected for her majesty by dean Wren. He did another important service to his country. After the chapel of St. George and the treasury belonging to it had been plundered by the republicans, he sedulously exerted himself in recovering as many of the records as could be procured, and was so successful as to redeem the three registers distinguished by the names of the Black, Blue, and lied, which were carefully preserved by him till his death. They were afterwards committed to the custody of his son, who, soon after the restoration, delivered them to Dr. Bruno Ryves, dean of Windsor.
His son Christopher, who is the subject of this article, was born at Knoyle Oct. 20,
His son Christopher, who is the subject of this article, was born at Knoyle Oct. 20, 1632 and, while very young, discovered a surprising turn for learning, especially for the mathematics. He was sent to Oxford, and admitted a gentleman-commoner at Wadham college, at about fourteen years of age: and the advancements he made there in mathematical knowledge, before he was sixteen, were, as we learn from Oughtred, very extraordinary, and even astonishing. His uncommon abilities excited the admiration of Dr. Wilkins, then warden of his college, and of Dr. Seth Ward, Savilian professor of astronomy, who then resided in Wadham. By Dr. Wilkins he was introduced to Charles, elector palatine, to whom he presented several mechanical instruments of his- own invention. In 16*7 he became acquainted with sir Charle* Scarborough, at whose request he undertook the translation of Oughtred’s geometrical dialling into Latin. He took a bachelor of arts degree in 1650; and in 1651 published a short algebraical tract relating to the Julian period. In 1652 betook his master’s degree, having been chosen fellow of All Souls’ college. Soon after, he became*one of that ingenious and learned society, who then met at Oxford for the improvement of natural and experimental philosophy.
eral of his majesty’s works. In 1663, he was chosen 'fellow of the Royal Society; being one of those who were first appointed by the council after the grant of their
Among his other eminent accomplishments, he had
gained so considerable a skill in architecture, that he was
sent for the same year from Oxford, by order of Charles II.
to assist sir John Denham, surveyor-general of his majesty’s
works. In 1663, he was chosen 'fellow of the Royal Society; being one of those who were first appointed by the
council after the grant of their charter. Not long after, it
being expected that the king would make the society a
visit, the lord Brounker, president, by a letter desired the
advice of Dr. Wren, who was then at Oxford, concerning
the experiments which might be most proper for his majesty’s entertainment: to whom the doctor recommended
principally the Torricellian experiment, and the weatherneedle, as being not bare amusements, but useful, and
likewise neat in the operation, and attended with little incumbrance. Dr. Wren did great honour to this illustrious
body, by many curious and useful discoveries in astronomy,
natural philosophy, and other sciences, related in the
“History of the Royal Society
” where the author Sprat,
who was a member of it, has inserted them from the registers and other books of the society to 1665. Among
other of his productions there enumerated is a lunar globe,
representing not only the spots and various degrees of
whiteness upon the surface, but the hills, eminences, and
cavities; and not only so, but it is turned to the light, shewing all the lunar phases, with the various appearances that
happen from the shadows of the mountains and valleys;
The lunar globe was formed, not merely at the request of
the Royal Society, but likewise by the command of
Charles II. whose pleasure, for the prosecuting and perfecting of it was signified by a letter under the joint hands
of sir Robert Moray and sir Paul Neile, dated from Whitehall, the 17th of May, 1661, and directed to Dr. Wren,
Savilian professor at Oxford. His majesty received the
globe with satisfaction, and ordered it to be placed among
the curiosities of his cabinet. Another of these productions
is a tract on the doctrine of motion that arises from the
impact between two bodies, illustrated by experiments.
And a third is, the history of the seasons, as to the temperature, weather, productions, diseases, &c. &c. For which
purpose he contrived many curious machines, several of
which kept their own registers, tracing out the lines of variations, so that a person might know what changes the
weather had undergone in his absence: as wind-gages,
thermometers, barometers, hygrometers, rain- gages, &c.
&c. He made also great additions to the new discoveries
on pendulums; and among other things shewed, that there
may be produced a natural standard for measure from the
pendulum for common use. He invented many ways to
make astronomical observations more easy and accurate,
He fitted and hung quadrants, sextants, and radii more
commodiously than formerly: he made two telescopes to
open with a joint like a sector, by which observers may infallibly take a distance to half minutes, &c. He made
many sorts of retes, screws, and other devices, for improving telescopes to take small distances, and apparent diameters, to seconds. He made apertures for taking in more or
less light, as the observer pleases, by opening and shutting,
the better to fit glasses for crepusculine observations. He
added much to the theory of dioptrics; much to the manufacture of grinding good glasses. He attempted, and not
without success, the making of glasses of other forms than
spherical. He exactly measured and delineated the spheres
of the hamoura of the eye, the proportions of which to one
another were only guessed at before: a discussion shewing
the reasons why we see objects erect, and that reflection
conduces as much to vision as refraction. He displayed a
natural and easy theory of refractions, which exactly answered every experiment. He fully demonstrated all
dioptrics in a few propositions, shewing not only, as in
Kepler’s Dioptrics, the common properties of glasses, but
the proportions by which the individual rays cut the axis,
and each other, upon which the charges of the telescopes,
or the proportion of the eye-glasses and apertures, are demonstrably discovered. He made constant observations on
Saturn, and a true theory of that planet, before the printed
discourse by Huygens, on that subject, appeared. He
made maps of the Pleiades and other telescopic stars: and
proposed methods to determine the great question as to
the earth’s motion or rest, by the small stars about the
pole to be seen in large telescopes. In navigation he made
many improvements. He framed a magnetical terella,
which he placed in the midst of a plane board with a hole,
into which the terella is half immersed, till it be like a
globe with the poles in the horizon the plane is then dusted
over with steel filings from a sieve the dust, by the magnetical virtue, becomes immediately figured intofurrows
that. bend like a sort of helix, proceeding as it were out at
one pole, and returning in it by the other; the whole plane
becoming figured like the circles of a planisphere. It being a question in his time among the problems of navigation, to what mechanical powers sailing against the wind
was reducible; he shewed it to be a wedge: and he demonstrated, how a transient force upon an oblique plane
would cause the motion of the plane against the first mover:
and he made an instrument mechanically producing the
same effect, and shewed the reason of sailing on all winds.
The geometrical mechanism of rowing, he shewed to be a
lever on a moving or cedent fulcrum: for this end, he
made instruments and experiments, to find the resistance
to motion in a liquid medium; with other things that are
the necessary elements for laying down the geometry of
sailing, swimming, rowing, flying, and constructing of ships.
He invented a very speedy and curious way of etching.
He started many things towards the emendation of waterworks. He likewise made some instruments for respiration, and for straining the breath from fuliginous vapours,
to try whether the same breath, so purified, will serve
again. He was the first inventor of drawing pictures by
microscopical glasses. He found out perpetual, or at least
long-lived lamps, for keeping a perpetual regular heat, in
order to various uses, as hatching of eggs and insects, production of plants, chemical preparations, imitating nature
in producing fossils anji minerals, keeping the motion of
watches equal, for the longitude and astronomical uses.
He was the first author of the anatomical experiment of
injecting liquor into the veins of animals. By this operation, divers creatures were immediately purged, vomited,
intoxicated, killed, or revived, according to the quality of
the liquor injected. Hence arose many other new experiments, particularly that of transfusing blood, which has
been prosecuted in sundry curious instances. Such is a
short account of the principal discoveries which Dr. Wren
presented, or suggested, to the Royal Society, or were
improved by him. We now return to his progress as an
architect.
y, in order to a speedy reparation. You will not, as I am sure, forget the struggle we had with some who were for patching it up any how, so the steeple might stand,
In 1665, he went over to France, where he not onljr
surveyed all the buildings of note in Paris, and made excursions to other places, but took particular notice of what
was most remarkable in every branch of mechanics, and
contracted acquaintance with all the considerable virtuosi*.
Upon his return home, he was appointed architect and one
of the commissioners for the reparation of St. Paul’s cathedral; as appears from Mr. Evelyn’s dedication to him of
“The Account of Architects and Architecture,
” I have
named St. Paul’s, and truly not without admiration, as oft
as I recall to mind, as I frequently do, the sad and deplorable condition it was in; when, after it had been made
a stable of horses, and a den of thieves, you, with other
gentlemen and myself, were by the late king Charles
named to survey the dilapidations, and to make report to
his majesty, in order to a speedy reparation. You will
not, as I am sure, forget the struggle we had with some
who were for patching it up any how, so the steeple might
stand, instead of new building; when, to put an end to the
contest, five days after, that dreadful conflagration happened, out of whose ashes this phoenix is risen, and was by
providence designed for you.
” Within a few days after
the fire, which began Sept. 2, 1666, he drew a plan for a
new city, of which Oldenburg, the secretary of the Royal
Society, gave an account to Mr. Boyle. “Dr. Wren,
”
says he, “has drawn a model for a new city, and presented
it to the king, who produced it himself before his council,
and manifested much approbation of it. I was yesterday
morning with the doctor, and saw the model, which methiriks does so well provide for security, conveniency, and
beauty, that I can see nothing wanting as to these three
main articles: but whether it has consulted with the populousness of a great city, and whether reasons of state would,
have that consulted with, is a qusere with me,
” &c. The
execution of this noble design was unhappily prevented by
year following he, received from the king the honour of knighthood. He was one of the commissioners who, at the motion of sir Jonas Moore, surveyor-general of the ordnance,
Upon the decease of sir John Denham, in March 1688,
he succeeded him in the office of surveyor-general of his
majesty’s works. The theatre at Oxford will be a lasting
monument of his great abilities as an architect; which curious work was finished by him in 1669. As in this structure the admirable contrivance of the flat roof, being eighty
feet over one way, and seventy the other, without any
arched work or pillars to support it, is particularly remarkable, it has been both largely described, and likewise delineated, by the ingenious Dr. Plott, in his “Natural History of Oxfordshire.
” But the conflagration of the city of
London gave him many opportunities afterwards of employing his genius in that way; when, besides the works
of the crown, which continued under his care, the cathedral of St. Paul, the parochial churches, and other public
structures, which had been destroyed by that dreadful calamity, were rebuilt from his designs, and under his direction; in the management of which affair he was assisted
in the measurements and laying out of private property by
the ingenious Mr. Robert Hooke. The variety of business
in which he was by this means engaged requiring his constant attendance and concern, he resigned his Savilian professorship at Oxford in 1673; and the year following he,
received from the king the honour of knighthood. He was
one of the commissioners who, at the motion of sir Jonas
Moore, surveyor-general of the ordnance, had been appointed by his majesty to find a proper place for erecting
a royal observatory; and he proposed Greenwich, which
was approved of. On Aug. 10, 1675, the foundation of
the building was laid; which, when finished under the direction of sir Jonas, with the advice and assistance of sir
Christopher, was furnished with the best instruments for
making astronomical observations; aud Mr. Flamsted was
constituted his majesty’s first professor there.
edge were very extensive in all the arts and sciences, and especially in the mathematics. Mr. Hooke, who was intimately acquainted with him, and very able to make a
As to his person, he was of low stature, and thin; but,
by temperance and skilful management, for he was not
unacquainted with anatomy and physic, he enjoyed a
good state of health to a very unusual length of life. He
was modest, devout, strictly virtuous, and very communicative of what he knew. Besides his peculiar eminence as
an architect, his learning and knowledge were very extensive in all the arts and sciences, and especially in the mathematics. Mr. Hooke, who was intimately acquainted with
him, and very able to make a just estimate of his abilities,
has comprised his character in these few but
comprehensive words: “I must affirm,
” says he, “that since the time
of Archimedes, there scarcely ever has met in one man, in
so great a perfection, such a mechanical hand, and so philosophical a mind.
” And a greater than Hooke, even the
illustrious and immortal Newton, whose signet stamps an
indelible character, speaks thus of him, with other eminent
men: “D. Christophorus Wrennus, Eques Auratus, Johannes Wallisius, S. T. D. et D. Christianus Hugenius, hujus aetatis Geometrarum facile principes.
” Mr. Evelyn, in
the dedication referred to above, tells him, that “he inscribed his book with his name, partly through an ambition of
publickly declaring the great esteem I have ever had,
” says
he, “of your virtues and accomplishments, not only in the art
of building, but through all the learned cycle of the most
useful knowledge and abstruser sciences, as well as of the
most polite and shining; all which is so justly to be allowed
you, that you need no panegyric, or other history, to eternize them, than the greatest city of the universe, which
you have rebuilt and beautified, and are still improving:
witness the churches, the royal courts, stately halls, magazines, palaces, and other public structures; besides that
you have built of great and magnificent in both the universities, at Chelsea, and in the country; and are now advancing of the royal Marine-hospital at Greenwich: all of
them so many trophies of your skill and industry, and conducted with that success, that, if the whole art of building
were lost, it might be recovered and found again in St.
Paul’s, the historical pillar, and those other monuments of
your happy talent and extraordinary genius.
”
plates. Mr. Wren married twice; in May 1706 to Mary, daughter of Mr. Musard, jeweller to queen Anne, who died in 1712; he afterwards married in 1715 dame Constance,
Sir Christopher was succeeded in his estate by his son
and only surviving child, Christopher Wren, esq. This
gentleman was born Feb. 16, 1675 (the year St. Paul’s was founded), and was educated at Eton school and Pembroke
hall, Cambridge. In 1694, sir Christopher procured him
the office of deputy-clerk engrosser; but this preferment
did not prevent him from making a tour through Holland,
France, and Italy. On his return from the continent he
was elected member of parliament for Windsor in 1712
and 1714. He died Aug. 24, 1747, aged seventy-two, and
was buried in the church of Wroxhall, adjoining to his seat
at Wroxhall in Warwickshire. He was a man very much
esteemed, and was equally pious, learned, and amiable.
He had made antiquity his particular study, well understood
it, and was extremely communicative. He wrote and published in 1708, in 4to, a work entitled “Numismatum antiquorum sylloge, populis Graecis, municipiis et coloniis
Romanis cusorum, ex chimeliarcho editoris.
” This, which
he dedicated to the Royal Society, contains representations of many curious Greek medallions in four plates, and
two others of ancient inscriptions; these are followed by
the legends of imperial coins in the large and middle size,
from Julius Caesar to Aurelian, with their interpretations:
and subjoined is an appendix of Syrian and Egyptian
kings, and coins of cities, all collected by himself. He
also collected with so much care and attention, as to leave
scarcely any curiosity ungratifiecl, memoirs of the life of
bishop Wren, Dr. Christopher Wren, dean of Windsor,
and his illustrious father; with collections of records and
original papers. These were published in fol. under the
title of “Parentalia,
” by his son Stephen, a physician,
assisted by Mr. Ames, in 1750, and are illustrated by portraits and plates. Mr. Wren married twice; in May 1706
to Mary, daughter of Mr. Musard, jeweller to queen Anne,
who died in 1712; he afterwards married in 1715 dame
Constance, widow of sir Roger Burgoyne, bart. and daughter of sir Thomas Middleton, of Stansted Montfitchet,
Essex, who died in 1734. By each marriage he had one
sbn, Christopher, and Stephen. Christopher, the eldest,
an eccentric humourist, was the poetical friend of lady
Luxborough and Shenstone. Displeasing his father, all
the unentailed estates were given from him to sir Roger
Burgoyne, bart. son of sir Roger. Wroxall is still in the family, and owned by Christopher Wren, esq. now (1806)
in the East Indies, who is the sixth Christopher Wren in
succession from the father of sir Christopher.
l divine of the seventeenth century, was the son of Richard Wright, citizen and silk-dyer of London, who was the son of Jeffrey Wright, of Loughborough, in Leicestershire.
, a learned and loyal divine of the
seventeenth century, was the son of Richard Wright, citizen and silk-dyer of London, who was the son of Jeffrey
Wright, of Loughborough, in Leicestershire. He was born
in Black- Swan alley, Thames-street, in the parish of St.
James’s, Garlick Hythe, London, Dec. 23, 1611, and educated partly at Mercers’- chapel school, but principally at
Merchant Taylors, whence he was elected scholar of St.
JobnVcollege, Oxford, in 1629, by the interest of Dr.
Juxon, then president, w/ho became his patron. He was
much admired at this time for a natural eloquence, and a
love of polite literature. In 1632 he was elected fellow,
and while bachelor of arts, made a collection of modern
Latin poetry, which he published afterwards under the
title of “Delitiae delitiarum, siveepigrammatum ex optimis
quibusque hujus novissimi seculi Poetis in amplissima ilia
Bibl. Bodleiana, et pene omnino alibi extantibus artthologia
in unum corollum connexa,
” Ox. 1637, 12mo. In 1636,
when archbishop Laud entertained the royal family at St.
JohnVcollege, Mr. Wright was selected to make an English address, and afterwards distinguished himself as a
performer in a comedy called “Love’s Hospital,
” which
was acted before their majesties in the hall, by a company
of St. John’s men.
ding to the forms of the Church of England, although at some risk. On the restoration Benjamin King, who had been put into his living at Okeham, resigned, by his hand
In Sept. 1637, and 1639, betook deacon’s and priest’s
orders, and was so much admired as an eloquent preacher
as to be frequently called upon to preach at St. Mary’s, St.
Paul’s, London, &c, In 1645 he became vicar of Okeham
in Rutlandshire, by the interest of his patron Jnxon, now
bishop of London, and received institution, but refused
induction, because in that case he must have taken the
covenant, which was altogether repugnant to his principles,
and therefore a nonconformist was placed in his living, one
Benjamin King. Mr. Wright then went to London, and
lived retired till after the death of the king, when he was
hospitably received into the family of sir George Grime or
Graham at Peckham, and while here he instructed sir
George’s sons in Latin and Greek, and read the Commonprayer on all Sundays and holidays, and preached and administered the sacrament. About 1655 he returned to
London, on being chosen by the parishioners of St. Olave,
Silver-street, to be their minister. In this office he remained for four years, and was in fact rector, but would
not take possession on account of the republican oaths and
obligations necessary. He performed all his duties, however, according to the forms of the Church of England,
although at some risk. On the restoration Benjamin King,
who had been put into his living at Okeham, resigned, by
his hand and seal, all title to it, and Mr. Wright took possession and retained it to his dying day, refusing some
other preferments. He lived here to a very advanced age,
and died May 9, 1690, and was buried in Okeham church.
Besides the “Delitiae paetarum
” already mentioned, he
published 1. “Five Sermons in five several stiles or ways
of preaching,
” Lond. A practical commentary, or exposition on the hook of
Psalms,
” Lond. Practical Commentary on
the Pentateuch,
” ibid. fol. 4. “Parnassus biceps, or several choice pieces of poetry, composed by the best wits
that were in both the universities before their dissolution,
”
ibid.
nation. In a dialogue of plays and players,” Lond. 1699, 8vo. It was-first brought forward by Oldys, who quoted it in his life of Alleyn the player in the Biographia
He left a son, James Wright, known to dramatic antiquaries, as one of the earliest historians of the stage, and
perhaps one of the first collectors of old plays after Cartwright, whbse collection was at Dulwich-college. His
work on this subject, which is extremely scarce, is entitled
“Historia Histrionica; an historical account of the English
stage, shewing the ancient use, improvement, and perfection, of dramatic representations in this nation. In a dialogue of plays and players,
” Lond. Old Plays,
” but the preface has been omitted which
Warton says is a sensible one, and certainly points out the
only use of most old plays, 'as exhibiting the manners of
the times. Wright wrote likewise “Country conversations,
being an account of some discourses that happened on a
visit to the country last summer, on divers subjects; chiefly,
of the modern comedies, of drinking, of translated verse,
of painting and painters, of poets and poetry,
” Lond. Itinerary,
” of the age of queen Elizabeth, and consequently made before the present mutilations and corruptions. On this he had much correspondence with Hearne.
His other works were, 1. “A poem, being an Essay on
the present ruins of St. Paul’s cathedral,
” Lond. History and Antiquities of the county of Rutland,
”
ibid. Additions
” in Farther Additions,
” A new der
scription of the city of Paris, in two parts, out of the
French,
” ibid. Verses anniversary to the
venerable memory of his ever honoured father, &c.
” Monasticon Anglicanum, &c.
” an accurate epitome in English of Dugdale’s “Monasticon,
” ibid. Three poems of St. Paul’s cathedral, viz. The
Ruins (mentioned above), The re-building, The Choir,
”
Phcenix Paulina, a poem on St. Paul’s
cathedral,
” Burley on the hill, a poem,
”
4to, no date, but reprinted in his last additions to his Rutlandshire. Hearne, who knew and respected Wright, informs us, that he wrote strictures on Wood’s “Athenæ,
”
but that they remained in manuscript. Wright, a few years
before his death, gave Hearne a complete catalogue of his
works, which on application he had refused to Wood, “as
an injudicious biographer.
”
Wright, who was born about 1644, was probably educated at Merchant Taylors’
Wright, who was born about 1644, was probably educated at Merchant Taylors’ school, but was not of either university. In 1666 be became a student of New Inn, and in three years removed to the Middle Temple, and was at length called to the bar. He died about 1715.
, a noted English mathematician, who flourished in the latter part of the sixteenth century and beginning
, a noted English mathematician,
who flourished in the latter part of the sixteenth century
and beginning of the seventeenth, is thus characterised in
a Latin paper in the library of Gonvile and Caius college,
Cambridge: “This year (1615) died at London, Edward
Wright, of Garveston, in Norfolk, formerly a fellow of
this college; a man respected by all for the integrity and
simplicity of his manners, and also famous for his skill in
the mathematical sciences; so that he was not undeservedly
styled a most excellent mathematician by Richard Hackluyt, the author of an original treatise of our English navigations. What knowledge he had acquired in the science
of mechanics, and how usefully he employed that knowledge to ths public as well as to private advantage, abundantly appear both from the writings he published, and
from the many mechanical operations still extant, which
are standing monuments of his great industry and ingenuity.
He was the first undertaker of that difficult but useful work,
by which a little river is brought from the town of Ware
in apew canal, to supply the city of London with water
but by the tricks of others he was hindered from completing the work he had begun. He was excellent both in
contrivance and execution, nor was he inferior to the most
ingenious mechanic in the making of instruments, either
of brass or any other matter. To his invention is owing
whatever advantage Hondius’s geographical charts have
above others; for it was Wright who taught Jodocus Horn
dius the method of constructing them, which wa.s till then
unknown; but the ungrateful Hondius concealed the name
of the true author, and arrogated the glory of the invention
to hjmself. Of this fraudulent practice the good man could
nqt help complaining, and justly enough, in the preface
to his treati.se of the
” Correction of Errors in the art of
Navigation;“which he composed with excellent judgment
and after long experience, to the great advancement of
naval affairsi For the improvement of this art he was appointed mathematical lecturer by the East India company,
and read lectures in the house of that worthy knight sir
Thomas Smith, for which he had a yearly salary of fifty
pounds, This office he discharged with great reputation,
and much to the satisfaction of his hearers. He published
in English a book on the doctrine of the sphere, and another
concerning the construction of sun-dials. He also prefixed an ingenious preface to the learned Gilbert’s book
on the loadstone. By these and other his writings, he has
transmitted his fame to latest posterity. While he was yet
a fellow of this college, he could not be concealed in his
private study, but was called forth to the public business
of the nation by the queen, about 1593. He was ordered
to attend the earl of Cumberland in some maritime expeditions. One of these he has given a faithful account of,
in the manner of a journal or ephemeris, to which he has
prefixed an elegant hydrographical chart of his own contrivance. A little before his death he employed himself
about an English translation of the book of logarithms, then
lately discovered by lord Napier, a Scotchman, who had a
great affection for him. This posthumous work of his- was
published soon after by his only son Samuel Wright, who
was also a scholar of this college. He had formed many
other useful designs, but was hindered by death from bringing them to perfection. Of him it may truly be said, that
he studied more to serve the public than himself; and
though he was rich in fame, and in the promises of the
great, yet he died poor, to tfie scandal of an ungrateful
age.
” So far the memoir; other particulars concerning
him are as follow:
751, he came to London, and was placed with Hudson, the most eminent portraitpainter of the day, and who, lord Orford tells us, pleased the country gentlemen with “his
, commonly called Wright of Derby,
a very distinguished painter, was born at Derby, September 3, 1734. His father was an attorney there. In early
life, he gave indications of a taste for mechanics, and those
habits of attentive observation, which generally lead to
perfection in the fine arts. In 1751, he came to London,
and was placed with Hudson, the most eminent portraitpainter of the day, and who, lord Orford tells us, pleased
the country gentlemen with “his honest similitudes, fair
tied wigs, blue velvet coats, and white sat tin waistcoats,
which he bestowed liberally on his customers.
” Wright
used to lament that he could not receive much instruction
from this master, but it is certain he at this time painted
both portraits and historical pieces in a very capital style,
of which his “Blacksmith’s forge,
” “Air-pump, &c.
” are
proofs. In
fferent pictures of this sublime event stood decidedly chef d* ceuvres in that line of painting; for who but Wright ever succeeded in fire or moonlights? His later pictures
During his abode in Italy he had an opportunity of seeing a very memorable eruption of Vesuvius, which fe^kindled his inclination for painting extraordinary effects of light; and his different pictures of this sublime event stood decidedly chef d* ceuvres in that line of painting; for who but Wright ever succeeded in fire or moonlights? His later pictures were chiefly landscapes, in which we are at a loss, whether most to admire the elegance of his outline, his judicious management of light and shade, or the truth and delicacy of his colouring; but of those, the greatest part have never been exhibited, as they were always purchased from the easel by amateurs who knew how to appreciate their value: a large landscape (his last work) now at Derby, being a view of the head of Ullswater, may be considered amongst the finest of his works, and deservedly ranks with the most valued productions of Wilson, or even Claude himself.
t, would alone establish his -fame, if his Edwin (in the possession of J. Milnes, esq. of Wakefield, who has also his Destruction of the Floating Batteries off Gibraltar,
In the historical line, the Dead Soldier, which is now known by Heath’s admirable print, would alone establish his -fame, if his Edwin (in the possession of J. Milnes, esq. of Wakefield, who has also his Destruction of the Floating Batteries off Gibraltar, and some of his best landscapes), the two pictures of Hero and Leander, Lady in Comus, Indian Widow, and other historical subjects, had not already ascertained his excellence. His attachment to his native town, added to his natural modesty, and his severe application both to the theory and practice of painting, prevented his mixing with promiscuous society, or establishing his reputation by arts which he would never descend to practise. His friends long urged him to reside in London; but his family attachments, and love of retirement and study were invincible, and he fell a victim to his unwearied attention to his profession. He died of a decline, Aug. 29, 1797;
l of his extraordinary talents, and also that, as a man, he enjoyed the friendship and esteem of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
His pictures have been so much in request, that there is scarcely an instance of their ever having come into the hands of dealers; neither have his best works ever been seen in London; a strong proof of their intrinsic worth, and that no artifices were necessary to ensure their sale. It is with pleasure therefore that we record, that his pecuniary circumstances were always affluent, and shew that the world has not been unmindful of his extraordinary talents, and also that, as a man, he enjoyed the friendship and esteem of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
er chosen to carry on the evening-lecture in Southwark, in conjunction with the rev. Mr. Haman Hood, who soon quitting it, it devolved on Mr. Wright, then only twenty-three.
, an eminent dissenting clergyman,
was born Jan. 30, 1682-3, being eldest son of Mr. James
Wright, a nonconformist minister at Retford, in the county
of Nottingham, by Mrs. Eleanor Cotton, daughter of Mr
Cotton, a gentleman of Yorkshire, and sister to the rev.
Mr. Thomas Cotton of Westminster, whose funeral-sermon
his nephew preached and published. At eleven years old
he lost his father, being then at school at Attercliffe, in
Yorkshire, whence he removed to Darton, in the same
county, under the care of his grandmother, and his uncle
Cotton. At sixteen he studied under the care of the rev.
Mr. Jollie, at Attercliffe, whom about the age of twentyone he quitted, and went to his uncle’s house at the Haigh,
>!vhere he officiated as his chaplain and after his death he
came to London, having preached only three or four sermons in the country. He lived a little while in his uncle’s
family at St. Giles’s, and thence went to be chaplain to
Jady Susannah Lort, at Turnham-green, and was chosen
10 preach the Sunday evening-lecture at Mr. Cotton’s, at
St. Giles’s. Being soon after invited to assist Dr. Grosvenor at Crosby-square meeting, he quitted lady Lort and
St. Giles’s, and was soon after chosen to carry on the
evening-lecture in Southwark, in conjunction with the rev.
Mr. Haman Hood, who soon quitting it, it devolved on
Mr. Wright, then only twenty-three. On the death of
Mr. Matthew Sylvester, 1708, he was chosen pastor of the
congregation at Blackfriars, which increased considerably
Under his care, and where he continued many years, till
he removed to Carter- lane, which meeting-house was built
for him, and opened by him Dec. 5, 1734, with a sermon
on 2 Chron. vi. 40. His sermons, printed singly, amount
to near forty. But his most considerable work was iris?
“Treatise on the New Birth, or, the being born again,
without which it is impossible to enter into the kingdom of
God,
” which had gone through fifteen editions before his
death. Dr. Wright is traditionally understood to have been
the author of the song, “Happy Hours, all Hours excelling.
” He was remarkable for the melody of his voice and
the beauty of his elocution. Archbishop Herring, when a
young man, frequently attended him as a model of delivery,
not openly in the meeting house, but in a large porch belonging to the old place in Blackfriars. He married, in
1710, the widow of his predecessor, Mr. Sylvester, daughter of the rev. Mr. Obadiah Hughes, minister of the dissenting congregation at Enfield, aunt to the late Dr. Obadiah
Hughes, by whom he had one son, since dead, a tradesman in the city, and one daughter, married to a citizen in
Newgate-street, a most accomplished woman, but who became the victim of her own imprudence. He died April
3, 1746, at Newington-green, which was his residence.
His funeral -sermon was preached at Carter-lane meeting
by Dr. Milner and another at the same place, by Dr.
Obadiah Hughes, who wrote his epitaph.
A man who walked foremost in the ranks of a lucrative profession (in a
A man who walked foremost in the ranks of a lucrative profession (in a country filled with a rich and liberal aristocracy) for near 48 years, a considerable portion of which he was honoured with the royal favour, might naturally be supposed to have amassed a fortune almost princely; but, Mr. Wyatt bequeathed to his family little more than a name universally beloved and regretted, and a reputation which will live as long as the liberal arts continue to embellish and ennoble human life. To account for this, says his biographer, it is only necessary to observe, that, if to superior and all-powerful genius were added conduct and prudence equivalent, every individual so gifted would become a Napoleon or a Wellington the destroyer or the saviour of nations: but infinite wisdom having ordained that such instances should be most rare, and that the mass of mankind should live in a great degree equalized in power, we commonly find that genius and great parts are paralyzed by an inattention to the minor considerations and details of calculating prudence, while a slow and dull intellect is often compensated by industry and worldly caution. Mr. Wyatt' s genius achieved for him greatness at an early age, without the humbler aids last alluded to, and those discreet handmaids to wealth and permanent prosperity were never afterwards found in his train. He died Sept. 5, 1813, aged about seventy. He was proceeding to London with Mr. Codrington, in that gentleman’s carriage, when it was overturned near Marlborongh. The suddenness and violence of this accident was fatal to Mr. Wyatt: it is supposed to have produced a concussion of the brain. His death was instantaneous. The suavity of manners, the kind and obliging disposition, and the intelligent mind of Mr. Wyatt, attracted and retained the notice and friendship of some of the most v illustrious persons in. this kingdom; among whom are to be ranked the sovereign, and almost every branch of the royal family. No one, indeed, ever obtained more friends, or created fewer enemies. Mr. Wyatt left a widow and four sons, the eldest of whc-m, Mr. Benjamin Dean Wyatt, already has attained great fame in the profession of architecture.
in which he was employed by that king, was conducting to the Tower the unfortunate earl of Suffolk, who was afterwards beheaded by Henry VIII. He was also a member
, a statesman and poet, the only son and heir of sir Henry Wyat of Allington-castle, in Kent, was born in 1503. His mother was the daughter of John Skinner, of the county of Surrey. His father was imprisoned in the Tower in the reign of Richard III. when he is said to have been preserved by a cat which fed him while in that place, for which reason he was always pictured with acat in hisarms, or beside him. On the accession of Henry VIL be had great marks of favour shewn him, among which w0,s the honour of knighthood, and a seat in the privy-council. One of the last services in which he was employed by that king, was conducting to the Tower the unfortunate earl of Suffolk, who was afterwards beheaded by Henry VIII. He was also a member of Henry VIII.'s privy-council, master of the jewel-office, and of the vanguard of the army, commanded by the king in person, which fought the memorable battle of the Spurs. He died in 1533.
o sense and wit as to have attracted the admiration of all ranks, and particularly of his sovereign, who bestowed on him the order of knighthood, and employed him in
The honours of educating sir Thomas has been claimed
for both universities; by Carter for St. John’s college,
Cambridge, and by Anthony Wood for Oxford, because
he resided for sometime on the establishment of cardinal
Wolsey’s new college, now Christ-church. He then set
out on his travels according to the custom of that age, and
returned after some years, a gentleman of high
accomplishments and elegant manners, and of such conversation talents both as to sense and wit as to have attracted the admiration of all ranks, and particularly of his sovereign, who
bestowed on him the order of knighthood, and employed
him in various embassies. Mr. Warton appears offended
with Wood for saying that “the king was in a high manner delighted with his witty jests,
” while he allows that
Henry was probably as much pleased with his repartees as
his politics. Lloyd, whom Mr. Gray and lord Orford have
adopted as an authority, reports enough of his wit, to convince us that he might delight a monarch of Henry’s fickleness and passionate temper. Persons of this character are
often more easily directed or diverted by a striking expression, than by a train of argument.
with his character. When urged by the king to dance at one of the court-balls, he replied that, “He who thought himself a wise man in the day-time, would not be a fool
According to Lloyd, he was frequently honoured with
the king’s familiar conversation, which never put Wyat so
much off his guard as to betray him into any fooleries inconsistent with his character. When urged by the king to
dance at one of the court-balls, he replied that, “He who
thought himself a wise man in the day-time, would not be
a fool at night.
” His general deportment is said to have
been neither too severe for Henry VIII.‘s time, nor too
loose for Henry VII.’s, with whose court, however, he could
have little acquaintance. In him also was said to have
been combined the wit of sir Thomas More, and the wisdom of sir Thomas Cromwell. It is no small confirmation
of this character that his friend Surrey describes him as of
“a visage stern and mild,
” a contrariety which seems to
be very happily preserved in Holbein’s incomparable drawing lately published by Mr. Chamberlain.
orms us that in Vertue’s manuscript collections he found that Vertue was acquainted with a Mr. Wyat, who lived in Charterhouse-yard, and was the representative descendant
Lord Orford informs us that in Vertue’s manuscript collections he found that Vertue was acquainted with a Mr. Wyat, who lived in Charterhouse-yard, and was the representative descendant of that respectable family. In 1721, and at other times, Vertue says, at that gentleman’s house, he saw portraits of his ancestor for seven descents, and other pictures and ancient curiosities . Sir Thomas has usually been termed sir Thomas Wyat the elder, to distinguish him from sir Thomas Wyat, his son, who suffered death for high treason in the reign of queen Mary., His lady, according to Wood, was Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Brooke, lord Cobham . His son left issue, by Jane his wife, daughter and co-heir of William Hawte of Bourne, knight, a son named George Wyat of Boxley in Kent, restored 13 Elizabeth.
e gave him a proof of esteem which perhaps, never any sovereign prince before had given to an author who was only a private gentleman. Wycherley happened to fall sick
Upon the publication of his first play, he became acquainted with several of the wits, both of the court and
town; and likewise with the duchess of Cleveland, by
whom, according to Mr. Dennis, and the secret history
of those times, he was admitted to the last degree
of intimacy. Villiers duke of Buckingham 4iad also the
highest esteem for him; and, as master of the horse to the
king, made him one of his equerries; and, as colonel of a
regiment, captain- lieutenant of his own company, resigning to him, at the same time his own pay as captain, with
many other advantages. King Charles likewise shewed him
signal marks of favour; and once gave him a proof of esteem
which perhaps, never any sovereign prince before had given
to an author who was only a private gentleman. Wycherley
happened to fall sick of a fever at his lodgings in Bowstreet, Covent*Garden, when the king did him the honour
to visit him; and, finding his body extremely weakened,
and his spirits miserably shattered, and his memory almost
totally gone, he commanded him, as soon as he should be
able to take a journey, to go to the south of France, believing that the air of Montpelier would contribute to restore him as much as any thing; and assured him, at the
same time, that he would order him 500l. to defray the
charges of the journey. Wycherley accordingly went into
France, and, having spent the winter there, returned to
England in the spring, entirely restored to his former vigour both of body and mind. The king, it is said, shortly
after his arrival told him, that “he had a son, who he had
resolved should be educated like the son of a king; and
that he could not chuse a more proper man for his governor than Mr. Wycherley;
” for which service 1500l. per
annum should be settled upon him. But there seems no solid
foundation for this report.
curious correspondence with Pope may be seen in that poet’s works, with many anecdotes of Wycherley, who appears to have been a libertine through the whole course of
Besides the plays abovementioned, he published a volume
of poems in 1704, folio, of very inferior merit; and in
1728, his “Posthumous Works in prose and verse
” were
published by Theobald, in octavo. His curious correspondence with Pope may be seen in that poet’s works, with
many anecdotes of Wycherley, who appears to have been
a libertine through the whole course of his life; nor are
his works free from the licentiousness, so much encouraged when he was the favourite of Charles and James II.
hess dowager of Bedford. He was born about 1442, and in his seventeenth year accompanied his father, who was now created lord Rivers, to Sandwich, where he had been
, a very accomplished nobleman of the fifteenth century, was the son of sir Richard Wydeville, by Jaqueline of Luxembourg, duchess dowager of Bedford. He was born about 1442, and in his seventeenth year accompanied his father, who was now created lord Rivers, to Sandwich, where he had been sent to equip a strong squadron, in order to deprive Richard Nevil earl of Warwick, of his government of Calais but that nobleman contrived to surprize lord Rivers in port, and took him and all his ships, together with his son Anthony, to Calais, where they were for some time detained as prisoners. From this it appears that both father and son were engaged in the interest of the house of Lancaster, and in opposition to that of York. But king Edward IV. being raised to the throne, and afterwards espousing lady Elizabeth Gray, daughter to lord Rivers, and sister to Anthony Wycleville, the former attachment of the Wydeville’s to the Lancastrian interest was forgotten, and they began almost solely to engross the favour of king Edward.
but this design was defeated by the intrigues of Richard duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III. who by treachery got possession of the earl’s person, as well as
On the death of king Edward, the queen sent a messenger to her brother earl Rivers, desiring him to assemble a body of troops in Wales, and with them to bring the young king immediately to London to be crowned; but this design was defeated by the intrigues of Richard duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III. who by treachery got possession of the earl’s person, as well as that of the young king, and next day earl Rivers, with lord Richard Gray, and sir Thomas Vaughan, was conveyed as a prisoner to the castle of Pontefract. They were all soon after beheaded by order of the usurper, and without any form of trial, on the very same day that lord Hastings was by the same order beheaded in the Tower of London.
the boisterousness of the times, nothing softened, nothing roughened the mind of this amiable lord, who was as gallant as his luxurious brother-in-law, without his
Earl Rivers was at this time (1483) in the forty-first year
of his age. He was without dispute one of the most accomplished noblemen of his time. Sir Thomas More asserts that “Vir haud facile discernas, manuve aut consilio
promptior,
” equally able to advise, and to execute in affairs
of state. Lord Orford observes, that “the credit of his
sister (the queen), the countenance and example of his
prince, the boisterousness of the times, nothing softened,
nothing roughened the mind of this amiable lord, who was
as gallant as his luxurious brother-in-law, without his weaknesses; as brave as the heroes of either Rose, without their
savageness; studious in the intervals of business, and devout after the manner of those whimsical times, when men
challenged others whom they never saw, and went barefoot to visit shrines, in countries of which they scarce had
a map.
”
n, supposed to be Nicholas Uvedale, lord of the manor of Wykeham, and governor of Winchester castle, who must have discovered some talents worth improving, since he
His parent’s were of good reputation and character, but in mean circumstances when he was born; yet from the number of his contemporary relations, whose names and situations are upon record, it is probable that the family was not of mean extraction. Of their poverty there is less reason to doubt the report, as they could not afford to give their son a liberal education. He soon, however, found a patron, supposed to be Nicholas Uvedale, lord of the manor of Wykeham, and governor of Winchester castle, who must have discovered some talents worth improving, since he maintained him at Winchester school, where he was instructed in grammatical learning, and where he gave early proofs of piety and diligence, employing his leisure hours in acquiring a knowledge of arithmetic, mathematics, logic, divinity, and the canon and civil law. He was afterwards employed by his patron, in quality of secretary, and either by him, or by Edyngdon, bishop of Winchester, or by both) was recommended to the notice of Edward III.
f Occham and of Duns Scotus, which seem to have formed the only learning then in vogue; but that one who dignified every office civil and ecclesiastical with the wisdom,
This circumstance, however honourable to his talents, appears to have limited the progress of what was then deemed education, and disposed him to a life of business rather than of study, but can never be advanced to justify the opinion that he was deficient in useful learning. He certainly did not study at Oxford, and escaped the contests prevailing between the disciples of Occham and of Duns Scotus, which seem to have formed the only learning then in vogue; but that one who dignified every office civil and ecclesiastical with the wisdom, talents, and popularity of Wykeham, should have been illiterate, is an absurdity too gross to require refutation, and would have passed unnoticed, had it not been, as far as his architectural abilities are concerned* in some measure countenanced by the Wartons.
bly filled, There is" every reason to think that his skill in drawing recommended him to a sovereign who was bent on adding to his country the ornament and utility of
He was about twenty-two, or twenty-three years of age' when first introduced at court, but in what employment has not been ascertained, although it was probably of the same nature with those which he afterwards so ably filled, There is" every reason to think that his skill in drawing recommended him to a sovereign who was bent on adding to his country the ornament and utility of magnificent and durable structures. The first office he held, or the first of which we read, had evidently a reference to this object, In May 1356, he was appointed clerk of all the king’s works at the castle, and in the park of Windsor. It was by his advice that the king was induced to pull down great part of this castle, and by his skill that it was rebuilt nearly in the manner in which we find it. His other great work was Queenborough castle; and although in these military structures he had little scope for the genius displayed afterwards at Oxford and Winchester, they would have been sufficient to prove that he had already reached that degree of architectural skill which modern art can but poorly imitate.
rd. As early as 1373 he established a school at Winchester, in which he placed certain poor scholars who were to be instructed in grammatical learning, by one Richard
The foundation of a college, or of some institution for the education of youth, had probably been revolved for a considerable time. About two years after he entered on the bishopric of Winchester, he began to make purchases in the city of Oxford with that view, and he connected with it the plan of a college at Winchester, which should be a nursery for that of Oxford. As early as 1373 he established a school at Winchester, in which he placed certain poor scholars who were to be instructed in grammatical learning, by one Richard de Herton, with an assistant. But the progress of this generous plan was for some time impeded by the intrigues of a party, headed by the duke of Lancaster, in the last year of the reign of Wykeham’s friend and master Edward III. An accusation, branching into eight articles, was brought against him, but upon a fair trial, seven were found destitute of proof, and the eighth only was laid hold of, as a pretext for seizing into the king’s hands the temporalities of the bishopric of Winchester, excluding the bishop from parliament, and removing him from court. A measure so violent, and justified upon such slight grounds, was not to be overlooked even in those days of popular acquiescence. At the ensuing convocation, the bishop of London, William Courtney, had the spirit to oppose any subsidy to the king until satisfaction should be made for the injury done to the whole body of the clergy, in the person of the bishop of Winchester; and he was so firmly supported by the convocation, that the archbishop of Canterbury, though a warm partizan of the duke of Lancaster, was obliged to admit Wykeham into their assembly, where he was received by every member with all possible marks of respect. Nor was he less a favourite with the people, who, when they rose in the affair of Wickliffe, demanded that the duke of Lancaster should allow the bishop to be brought to a fair trial. Wykeham was soon after restored to his temporalities, but with the ungracious condition, that he should fit out three ships of war for a certain time, or if they were not wanted, pay the amount of the probable expense to the king that king who had formerly heaped so many marks of favour on him, but who, although in some measure reconciled to him, was now too much enslaved by a party to act with his wonted liberality.
ree years from this commencement of his plan, the society consisted of a warden and seventy fellows, who were called Pauperes Scholares Vtnerabilis Domini Domini Wilhelmi
Within less than three years from this commencement of his plan, the society consisted of a warden and seventy fellows, who were called Pauperes Scholares Vtnerabilis Domini Domini Wilhelmi de Wykeham Wynton. Episcopi. The warden had a salary of 20l. a year, and the fellows were lodged in the places hired for them, and then known by the names of Blake-hall, Hert-hall, Shule-hall, Mayden-hall, and Hamer-hall. The annual expense of their lodging amounted to iOi 13.S. 4d.; and each was allowed Is. and 6d. a week for commons.
place in the second week of July. The warden of Winchester is elected by the fellows of New-college, who for some years chose their own warden for that office; but in
From this school the society at Oxford was to be supplied with proper subjects by election, and the college aj; Winchester was to be always subordinate, both in government and discipline, use and design, to that at Oxford, and subject to a yearly visitation from the warden and two fellows of the latter. This visitation, and the annual elections from Winchester to New-college, generally take place in the second week of July. The warden of Winchester is elected by the fellows of New-college, who for some years chose their own warden for that office; but in Wykebam’s time, and for many years after, the wardenship of New-college was far superior in value . The first instance of-a warden of New-college being preferred to Winchester is that of Dr. Nicholas in 1679, and the last, Dr. Coxed.
descent from Ailwardus, an eminent Saxon, in the county of Norfolk, soon after the Norman conquest, who being possessed of lands in Wymondham, or Wyndham, in that county,
, an eminent statesman,
chancellor of the exchequer in the reign of queen Anne,
was descended from a very ancient family, which derives
its descent from Ailwardus, an eminent Saxon, in the
county of Norfolk, soon after the Norman conquest, who
being possessed of lands in Wymondham, or Wyndham,
in that county, assumed his surname thence. Sir John
Wyndham, who was knighted at the coronation of king
Edward VI. had the estate of Orchard, in the county of
Somerset, in right of his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and
co-heir of John Sydenham, of Orchard, esq. His great
grandson John married Catharine, daughter of Robert
Hopton, esq. sister and co-heir to Ralph lord Hopton, by
whom he had issue sir William Wyndham, advanced to
the dignity of a baronet by king Charles II. whose eldest
son, Edward, married Catharine, daughter of sir William
Levison Gower, bart. and by that lady had one daughter,
Jane, wife of sir Richard Grosvenor, of Eton, in Cheshire,
bart. and an only son, the subject of this article, who was
born about 1687; and upon the decease of his father, while
he was very young, succeeded to the title and estate. He
was educated at first at Eton school, and thence removed
to Christ Church, Oxford, where his excellent genius soon
discovered itself, and afterwards received great advantage
from his travels into foreign countries. Upon his return to
England he was chosen knight of the shire for the county
of Somerset, in which station he served in the three last
parliaments of queen Anne, and all the subsequent ones
till his death. This public scene of action soon called forth
his eminent abilities, and placed him in so conspicuous a
point of light, that, after the change of the ministry under
that queen in the latter end of 1710, he was first appointed
master of her majesty’s hart and buck hounds, then secretary at war, and at last, about August 1713, was advanced to
the important post of chancellor of the exchequer. In this
station he had an opportunity of appearing in his judicial
capacity in a cause of Dr/Hooper, bishop of Bath and
Wells, in which he gave sentence, and at the same time
explained the grounds of it with a perspicuity, force of
reasoning, and extent of knowledge worthy the most experienced judge. In May the year following he brought
into the House of Commons, and carried successfully
through it, the “Bvll to prevent tae growth of schism, and
for the future security of the Church of England,
” &c.
and was appointed to carry it up to the House of Lords,
where also it passed. Upon the breach between the earl
of Oxford, lord high treasurer, and lord Bolidgbroke, secretary of state, in July 1714, sir William adhered to the
interests of the latter.
s, duke of Somerset; by whom he had issue two sons, Charles and Percy, and two daughters, Catharine, who died in April. 1734, and Elizabeth. His. second lady was Maria
He died at Wells, in Somersetshire, after an illness of a few days, June 17, 1740. He was twice married; first, July 21, 1708, to the lady Catharine Seymour, second daughter of Charles, duke of Somerset; by whom he had issue two sons, Charles and Percy, and two daughters, Catharine, who died in April. 1734, and Elizabeth. His. second lady was Maria Catharina, relict of the marquis of Blandford, sister to the countess of Denbigh, and daughter of M. De Jong, of the province of Utrecht, in Holland.
He was succeeded in dignity and estate by his eldest son, sir Charles Wyndham, who succeeded to the titles of earl of Egremont, and baron of Cockermouth,
He was succeeded in dignity and estate by his eldest son, sir Charles Wyndham, who succeeded to the titles of earl of Egremont, and baron of Cockermouth, by the death of his grace, Algernon, duke of Somerset, without heir male, who had been created earl of Egremont, and baron of Cockermouth, in the county of Cumberland, by George II. with limitation of these honours to \r Charles Wyndham. His lordship, whilst he was a commoner, was elected to parliament as soon as he came of age, for the borough of Bridgewater in Somersetshire. He sat afterwards for Appleby, in Westmoreland, Taunton,. in Somersetshire, and Cockermouth, in Cumberland. In 1751 he was appointed lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county of Cumberland. In April 1761 he was nominated the first of the three plenipotentiaries on the pnrfc of Great Britain to the intended congress at Augsburg, for procuring a general pacification between the belligerent powers; and in the same year was constituted one of the principal secretaries of state, in which it was his disadvantage to succeed Mr. Pitt (afterwards lord Chatham). In 1762 he was made lord lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county of Sussex. He died of an apoplectic fit in June 1763. He was succeeded by his son, George, the second and present earl of Egremont.
antiquity and dignity of the degree of serjeant at law.” These two last were written by his father, who in the former refuted an aspersion cast on his character by
His first work was printed, but not generally published,
under the title of “A miscellany containing several law
tracts,
” Observations on
Fitzherbert’s natura brcvium, with an introduction concerning writs, and a dissertation on the writ De non ponendis in
assists et juratis, and on the writ De leprose amovendo,
2. An inquiry concerning the reason of the distinction the
law has made in cases between things annexed to the freehold, and things severed from it. 3. Argument in behalf
of unlimited extension of collateral consanguinity, with
extracts from the statutes on which the question arose. 4.
Account of the trial of the Fix; and observations on the
nature and antiquity of the court of claims. 5. An answer
to two passages in the ' Catalogue of Royal and Noble
Authors. 16. Observations on the antiquity and dignity
of the degree of serjeant at law.
” These two last were written by his father, who in the former refuted an aspersion
cast on his character by Walpole (lord Orford) in his article of Philip duke of Wharton. After: relating the story
of Wharton’s cheating the minister out of his arguments
against bishop Atterbury, and replying to them, by anticipation, in a speech for Atterbury, Walpole added in a
note that “Serjeant Wynne served the bishop in much
the same manner; being his counsel, he desired to see the
bishop’s speech, and then spoke the substance of it himself.
” This calumny Mr. Wynne refuted with so much
spirit, that Walpole thought proper to omit the note in
the subsequent editions of his “Catalogue.
”
of the bishops of St. Andrew’s, with occasional notices concerning the other sees, as from Wyntown, who in describing the churches, their buildings and paraphernalia,
whereas the information contained in all the other histories of Scotland preceding the middle of the seventeenth century, if we except the brief chronicle subjoined to some manuscripts of Wyntown, and the translations of Ballenden and Read, was effectually concealed from the unlearned part of mankind under the veil of a dead or a foreign language. In Wyntbwn’s Chronicle the historian may find what, for want of more ancient records, which have long ago perished, we must now consider as the original accounts of many transactions, and also many events related from his own knowledge or the reports of eye-witnesses. His faithful adherence to his authorities appears from comparing his accounts with unquestionable vouchers, such as the Fcedera Anglise, and the existing remains of the Register of the priory of St. Andrew’s, that venerable monument of ancient Scottish history and antiquities, generally coaeval with the facts recorded in it, whence he has given large extracts, almost literally translated. All these we have hitherto been obliged to take at second or third hand in copies by Bower and others, with such additions and embellishments as they were pleased to make to Wyntown’s simple and genuine narrative. An ecclesiastical historian of Scotland can no where find so good an account of the bishops of St. Andrew’s, with occasional notices concerning the other sees, as from Wyntown, who in describing the churches, their buildings and paraphernalia, shews himself quite at home. The compiler of a Scottish peerage may obtain from Wyntown more true information concerning the ancient noble families of Scotland, than is to be found in any work extant, except the accurate and elaborate research made by the late lord Hailes in the celebrated Sutherland case, wherein he has repeatedly had recourse to our author for proofs of the laws and customs of succession. In this view the lawyer will also find the Chronicle of Wyntown an useful addition to his library, and may consult it with advantage, when called upon to adjust a disputed inheritance in an ancient family. Mr. Ellis, who allows that Wynton is highly valuable as a historian, adds that his versification is easy, his language pure, and his style often animated.
which of late years expired in an heiress married into the family of Birch, of Birch, in Lancashire, who have since sold their ancient paternal estate in that county,
, Rouge-Croix pursuivant, was son of Augustine of Wyrley, of Nether Seile,
in the county of Leicester, by Mary his wife, daughter of
William Charnells of Snareston, in that county, esq. which
Augustine was second son of William Wyrley, of Handsworth, in Staffordshire, esq. of an ancient family in that
county, which of late years expired in an heiress married
into the family of Birch, of Birch, in Lancashire, who have
since sold their ancient paternal estate in that county, and
reside at the Wyrley seat in Staffordshire, having assumed
the name and arms of that family. In early life he was noticed by the antiquary Sampson Erdeswick, of Sandon,
who took him into his house; t and Wyrley having for many
years laboured in the study of heraldry, was, upon the 15th
of May, 1604, appointed Rouge-Croix pursuivant of arms,
which office he held, without higher promotion, till the beginning of February 1617-18, when he died in the Heralds’
college, and was buried in the burial-place belonging to
that corporation in the church of St. Bene't, Paul’s Wharf,
London. In 1592, he published a book, intituled, “The
true Use of Armory shewed by History, and plainly proved
by example. London,
” 4to; but the fame derivable from
this work was somewhat injured by Erdeswick, in his dotage,
laying claim to the authorship of it. Wyrley also made
many collections for a history of his native county of Leicester, which Burton made use of. In 1569 he began
to survey the churches there. His original ms. written by
himself, containing also many churches in Warwickshire, is
now in the library of the Heralds’ college, bearing the mark
V. 197. It appears also, that he afterwards accompanied
Burton in his survey of the churches there, in the years
1603, 1608, &c. In V. No. 127, in the same library, is a
fair and beautiful copy of their labours in this way, with the
arms, monuments, and antiquities, well drawn. At the end
of his “True Use of Armory
” are two dull creeping metrical narratives, one on the life and death of lord Chandos,
the other on Sir John de Gralhy, Capitall de Buz; but it
seems doubtful whether these were the production of Erdeswick or of Wyrley. It is certain they are not worth
contending for.
s for some missionaries to preach the gospel in the East Indies, Xavier was chosen for that purpose, who, embarking at Lisbon, April 7, 1541, arrived at Goa, May 6,
, commonly called the Apostle of the Indies, was born April 7, 1506, in Navarre, at the castle of Xavier. His father, Don John de Jasso, was one of the chief counsellors of state to John III. king of Navarre. Among their numerous family of children, of which Francis was the youngest, those that were elder bore the surname of Azpilcueta, the younger that of Xavier. Francis was sent to the university of Paris, in the eighteenth year of his age. He was afterwards admitted master of arts, and tauglit philosophy in the college of Beauvais, with an intention of entering the society of the Sorbonne; but having formed a friendship with Ignatius Loyola, he renounced all establishments, and became one of his first disciples. Xavier then went to Italy, where he attended the sick at the hospital of incurables at Venice, and was ordained priest. Some time after, John III. king of Portugal, having applied to St. Ignatius for some missionaries to preach the gospel in the East Indies, Xavier was chosen for that purpose, who, embarking at Lisbon, April 7, 1541, arrived at Goa, May 6, 1542. In a short time he spread the knowledge of the Christian religion, or, to speak more properly, of the Romish system, over a great part of the continent, and in several of the islands of that remote region. Thence in 1549 he passed into Japan, and laid there, with amazing rapidity, the foundation 'of the famous church which flourished during so many years in that vast empire. His indefatigable zeal prompted him to attempt the conversion of the Chinese, and with this view he embarked for that extensive and powerful kingdom, but died on an island in sight of China, Dec. 2, 1552. The body of this missionary lies interred at Goa, where it is worshipped with the highest marks of devotion. There is also a magnificent church at Cotati dedicated to Xavier, to whom the inhabitants of the Portuguese settlements pay the most devout tribute of veneration and worship. In 1747, the late king of Portugal obtained for Xavier, or rather for his memory, the title of protector of the Indies, from Benedict XIV. There are two lives of this saint, the one by Tursellinus, and the other by Bouhours, but the latter is little more than a translation from Latin into French of the former, dressed out in a more elegant manner. They both contain the miracles ascribed to this saint, which are among the most absurd and incredible in the annals of superstition. For this, however, Xavier, who appears to have been only a zealous enthusiast, ought not to be censured. He claims no miracles for himself, nor were any such heard of for many years after his death; on the contrary, in his correspondence with his friends, during his mission, he not only makes no mention of miracles, but disclaims all supernatural assistance. For the miracles, therefore, his biographers must be accountable, and we know of no evidence they have produced in confirmation of them. The life of Xavier is not unknown in this country. No less a person than our celebrated poet Dryden published a translation of Bouhours’s Life of Xavier, in 1688, in consequence qf the queen of James II. having, when she solicited a son, recommended herself to Xavier as her patron saint. Besides this, a Wesleyan preacher published, in 1764, anabridgment of Bouhours, as if he had intended to assist bishop Lavington in proving the alliance between the enthusiasm of the methodists and papists. Xavier’s Letters were published at Paris, 1631, 8vo, with some lesser works ascribed to him.
acquired so great a command over his passions, that Phryne, the most beautiful courtezan of Greece, who had laid a wager that she would seduce him, could not effect
, one of the most celebrated philosophers of ancient Greece, was born at Chalcedon, B. C. 400.
He at first attached himself to Æschines, but afterwards
became the disciple of Plato, and always retained a high
degree of respect and attachment for that great man, whom
he accompanied in a voyage to Sicily. When Dionysius
the tyrant threatened Plato one day, saying, “that some
person should behead him;
” “Nobody shall do that,
” said
Xenocrates, “till they have first beheaded me.
” This philosopher studied under Plato at the same time with Aristotle, but did not possess equal talents: for he had a slow
genius and dull apprehension, while Aristotle’s genius was
quick and penetrating, whence their master observed of them,
“that one wanted a spur, and the other a bridle.
” But however inferior Xenocrates might be to Aristotle in genius, he
greatly excelled him in the practice of moral philosophy.
He was grave, sober, austere, and of a disposition so serious,
and so far removed from the Athenian politeness, that Plato
frequently exhorted him to “sacrifice to the graces.
” He
always bore his master’s reproofs with great patience, and
when persuaded to defend himself, replied, “He treats me
thus only for my good.
” Xenocrates is particularly celebrated for chastity, and is said to have acquired so great a
command over his passions, that Phryne, the most beautiful
courtezan of Greece, who had laid a wager that she would
seduce him, could not effect her purpose. Being afterwards laughed at, and the wager demanded, she replied, “I
have not lost it; for I undertook to seduce a man, and not
a statue.
” The conduct of Xenocrates exhibited an equal
example of temperance in every other respect. He cared
neither for pleasures, wealth, or fame; and was so moderate in his dietj that he often found it necessary to throw
away his provisions because they were grown stale and
mouldy; whence the proverb among the Grecians, of
Xenocrates* s cheese, when they would describe any thing
which lasted a long time. This philosopher succeeded
Speusippus, who was Plato’s immediate successor in the'
academy at Athens, in 339 B. C. He required his disciples
to understand mathematics before they placed themselves
under his care; and sent back a youth who was ignorant of
that science, saying, “that he had not the key of philosophy.
” So great was his reputation fqr sincerity and probity,
that the magistrates accepted his testimony without an
oath; a favour granted to him alone. Polemo, a rich
young man, but so debauched, that his wife had begun a
prosecution against him for his infamoqs conduct, rambling
through the streets, one day, with his dissolute companions, after they had drank freely, entered our philosopher’s school, with an intention to ridicule and insult him.
The audience were highly offended at this behaviour; but
Xenocrates Continued perfectly calm, and immediately
turning his discourse upon temperance, spoke of that virtue
in terms so forcible, lofty, and elevated, that the young libertine made a sudden resolution to renounce his licentiousness, and devote himself to wisdom. From that moment, Polemo became the pupil of virtue, and a model of
temperance, and at length succeeded Xenocrates in the
philosophical chair. Hia conversion made much noise, and
so increased the public veneration for Xenocrates, that
when he appeared in the streets, no dissolute youths dared
to remain there, but turned aside that they might avoid
meeting him. The Athenians sent this philosopher on an
embassy to Philip, king of Macedon, and, a considerable time
after, to Antipater; neither of whom could corrupt him by
their presents, which circumstance made him doubly honoured. Alexander the Great so highly esteemed Xenocrates, that he sent him fifty talents, a large sum then; and
when his messengers arrived at Athens, Xenocrates invited
them to eat with him, but gaVe them only his common farel
Upon their inquiring, next morning, to whom they should
pay the fifty talents, he replied, “Has not lak night’s
supper convinced you that I want no money?
” intimating
that he was contented with a little, and that money was
necessary to kings, not to philosophers. But at the earnest entreaties of Alexander’s messengers, he accepted a
small part of the sum, lest he should appear deficient in
respect to that great monarch. It is astonishing that ‘the
Athenians should suffer a philosopher of such exalted merit
to be so ill treated by the collectors and receivers of their
taxes 5 for though they were once fined for attempting to
imprison Xenocrates, because he had not paid a certain tax
imposed on foreigners, yet it is certain that the same collectors and receivers sold him at another time, because he
had not enough to pay them. But Demetrius Phalereus,
detesting so base an action; purchased Xenocrates’, gave hirri
his freedom immediately, and discharged his debt to the
Athenians. This philosopher died about 314 B.C. aged
eighty-two, in consequence ’of falling in the dark into a reservoir of water. He 1 wrote, at the request of Alexander, *a
small tract on the Art of Reigning; six books on Nature;
MX books oh Philosophy one on Riches, &c, but none of
these have come down to us. There is a tract on Death,
under his name, in 'the Jamblicus of Aldus, 1497, folio.
Xenocrates used to say, “That we often repent of having
spoken, b,ut never of having kept silence; that true philosophers are the only persons who do willingly, and by their
own choice, what others are constrained to do by fear of the
laws; that it is as great a crime to look into our neighbour’s
house as to enter it privately J that there was more necessity for putting iron-plates over the ears of children, to defend and preserve them from hearing vicious discourse, than
of gladiators, to guard them from blows,
” c. As to his
philosophical system, it was truly Platonic; but in his’
method of teaching he made use of the language of the
Pythagoreans. He made Unity and Diversity principles in
nature, or gods; the former of whom he represented as the
father, and the latter as the mother, of the universe. He
taught, that the heavens are divine, and the stars celestial
gods; and that besides these divinities, there are terrestrial daemons, of a middle order between the gods and man,
which partake of the nature both of mind and body, and
are therefore, like human beings, capable of passions, and
liable to diversity of character. After Plato, he probably
conceived the superior divinities to be the Ideas, or intelligible forms, which immediately proceeded from the supreme Deity, and the inferior gods or daemons, to be derived from the soul of the world, and therefore, like that
principle, to be compounded of a simple and a divisible substance, or of that which always remains the same, and that
which is liable to change.
ticulars to oppose the doctrines of Epimenides, Thales, and Pythagoras. This gave occasion to Timon, who was a severe satirist, to introduce him in ridicule as one of
, an eminent philosopher, was author of the Eleatic sect, so cabled because three of its most celebrated members, Parmenides, Zeno, and Leucippus, were natives of Elea, or Velia, a town in Magna Graecia. Xenopharies was a native of Colophon, and born probably about 556 B.C. He early left his country, and went to Sicily, where he supported himself by reciting verses against the theogonies of Hesiod and Homer. Thence he passed over into Magna Graecia, where he took up the profession 6f philosophy, and became a celebrated preceptor in the Pythagorean school. Indulging, however, a greater freedom of thought than was usual among the disciples of Pythagoras, he ventured to introduce new opinions of his Own, and in many particulars to oppose the doctrines of Epimenides, Thales, and Pythagoras. This gave occasion to Timon, who was a severe satirist, to introduce him in ridicule as one of the characters in his dialogues, Xenophanes possessed the Pythagorean chair of philosophy about seventy years, and lived tp the extreme age of an hundred years, that is, according to Eusebius, till the eighty-first Olympiad, or B C. 456.
erently represented by different writers. Some have confounded it with the moden impiety of Spinoza, who supposed all the appearances in nature to be only modifications
The doctrine of Xenophanes concerning nature is so imperfectly preserved, and obscurely expressed, that it is no wonder that it has been differently represented by different writers. Some have confounded it with the moden impiety of Spinoza, who supposed all the appearances in nature to be only modifications of one material substance. Others have endeavoured to accommodate it to the ancient system of emanation; and others, to the Pythagoric and Stoic notions of the soul of the world. But none of these explanations accord with the terms, in which the tenets of Xenophanes are expressed. Perhaps the truth is, that he held the universe to be one in nature and substance, but distinguished in his conception between the matter of which all things consist, and that latent divine force, which, though not a distinct substance, but an attribute, is necessarily inherent in the universe; and this is the cause of all its perfection. What Xenophanes maintained concerning the immobility and immutability of nature is to be understood of the universe considered as one whole, and not of its several parts, which his physical tenets supposed liable to change. If he asserted, that there is no motion in nature, he probably understood the term motion metaphysically, and only meant that there is no such thing in nature as passing from nonentity to entity, or the reverse, perhaps the disputes among the ancients concerning motion, like many other metaphysical contests, were mere combats in the dark, for want of settling previously the meaning of terms. Brucker thinks that the notion ascribed to Xenophanes concerning the nature and origin of the celestial bodies, as meteors daily renewed, is so absurd as perhaps to have been defectively or unfairly stated; and he is inclined likewise to suppose, that many of the fancies, ascribed to philosophers, are nothing more than the misconceptions of ignorant or careless biographers.
henians. Here Xenophon, in the precipitation of flight, was unhorsed and thrown down; when Socrates, who having lost his horse was fighting on foot, took him upon his
He was one of Socrates’s most eminent scholars; but he
did not excel in philosophy only; he was also famous for
arms and military achievements. In the Peloponnesian
war, he was personally engaged in the fight before Delium,
the first year of the 89th Olympiad; in which the Bœotians
overcame the Athenians. Here Xenophon, in the precipitation of flight, was unhorsed and thrown down; when
Socrates, who having lost his horse was fighting on foot,
took him upon his shoulders, and carried him many furlongs, till the enemy gave over the pursuit. This was the
first essay of his military profession: afterwards he became
known to the younger Cyrus, by means of Proxenus the
Boeotian, who was favoured by that prince, and resided
with him at Sardis. Proxenus, then Xenophon’s friend,
wrote to Athens, to invite him to come to Cyrus.
Xenophon shewed his letters to Socrates, desiring -his advice.
Socrates referred him to the oracle of Delphi, which Xenophon accordingly consulted: but, instead of asking
whether he should go to Cyrus, he inquired how he should
goto him; for which Socrates reprimanded him, yet advised him to go. Being arrived at the court of Cyrus, he
acquired at least as great a share of his favour as Proxenus
himself; and accompanied that prince in his expedition to
Persia, when he took up arms against his brother Artaxerxes, who had succeeded his father Darius in the kingdom. Cyrus was killed: and Artaxerxes sent -the day
after to the Grecians, that they should give up their arms.
Xenophon answered Phalinus, who brought the order,
“that they had nothing left but their arms and valour;
that as long as they kept their arms they might use their
valour; but, if they surrendered them, they should cease
to be masters of themselves.
” Phalinus replied, smiling,
“Young man, you look and speak like a philosopher; but
assure yourself, that your valour will not be a match for
the king’s power.
” Nevertheless, ten thousand of them
determined to attempt a retreat, and actually effected it
with Xenophon at their head, who brought them' from
Persia to their own homes, remaining victorious over all
who attempted to oppose his passage. The history of this
expedition, which happened in the 4th year of the 94th
Olympiad, was written by himself; and is still extant.
Agesilaus; others, because he took part against the king of Persia their friend, and followed Cyrus, who had assisted the Lacedemonians against them. Whatever was the
After this retreat, Xenophon went into Asia with Agesilaus, king of the Lacedemonians; to whom he delivered for a sum of money the soldiers of Cyrus, and by whom he was exceedingly beloved. Cicero says, that Xenophon instructed him; apd Plutarch, that by his advice Agesilaus sent his sons to be educated at Sparta. Agesilaus passed into Asia, the first year of the 96th Olympiad, and carried on the war successfully against the Persians; but the year after, was called home by the Lacedemonians, to assist his country, which was invaded by the Thebans and their allies, whom the Persian, with a view of drawing the war from his dominions, had corrupted. During the absence of Xenophon, the Athenians proclaimed a decree of banishment against him; some say, for his going to Agesilaus; others, because he took part against the king of Persia their friend, and followed Cyrus, who had assisted the Lacedemonians against them. Whatever was the reason, he was obliged to fly; and the Lacedemonians, to require hint for Buffering in their cause, maintained him at the public charge. Then they built a town at Scilluntes in Elea, having driven the Ele.ans thence, and bestowed a fair house and lands upon Xenophon: upon which he left Agesilaus, and went thither, with his wife Philesia, and his two sons Diodorus and Qryllus. At this place of retirement, he employed himself in planting, hunting, and writing; and led a life truly philosophic, dividing his time between his friends, rural amusements, and letters.
e. The news of his death reached Xenophon, as he was sacrificing at Corinth, crowned with a garland; who immediately laid down the garland, and demanded in what manner
At length, a war arising between the Eleans and Lacedemonians, the Eleans invaded Scilluntes with a great army;
and) before the Lacedemonians came to their relief, seized
on the house and lands of Xenophon. His sons, with some
few servants, got away privately to Lepreus: Xenophon
fled first to Elis, then to Lepreus to his sons, and lastly
with them to Corinth, where he took a house, and continued the remainder of his life. During this time, the
Argives, Arcadians, and Thebans, jointly opposed the Lacedemonians, and had almost oppressed them, when the Athenians made a public decree to succour them. Xenophoa
sent his sons upon the expedition to Athens, to fight for
the Lacedemonians; for they had been educated at Sparta,
in the discipline of that place. This enmity ended in a
great battle at Mantinea, in the 2d year of the 104th Olympiad when Epaminondas, the Theban general, though he
had gained the victory, was yet slain by the hand of Gryllus. This Pausanias affirms to have been attested both by
the Athenians and Thebans; but the glory was short-lived;
for Gryllus himself fell in the same battle. The news of
his death reached Xenophon, as he was sacrificing at Corinth, crowned with a garland; who immediately laid down
the garland, and demanded in what manner he died?
When being informed, that Gryllus vVas fighting in the
midst of the enemy, and had slain many of them, he put
on the garland again, and proceeded to sacrifice, without
so much as shedding a tear, only saying, “I knew that I
begot him mortal.
”
f Thucydides to forty-eight years farther; and here is recorded an instance of Xenophon’s integrity, who freely gave the public the writings of Thucydides, which he
Xenophon, being extremely old, died at Corinth in the
firstyear of the 105th Olympiad, or B. C. 360 leaving
behind him many excellent works, of which a fine collection are happily come down to us. The principal of these
are, the “Cyropeedia,
” or the life, and discipline, and actions, of the elder Cyrus seven books of the “Expedition
of the younger Cyrus into Persia, and of the retreat of the
ten thousand Greeks under himself;
” seven books of the
“Grecian History
” four books of the “Memorabilia
” of
Socrates, with the “Apologia Socratis.
” Cicero tells us,
probably grounding his opinion upon what he had read in
the third book of Plato “de legibus,
” that the “Cyropaedia
” is not a real history, but only a moral fable; in which
Xenophon meant to draw the picture of a great prince,
without confining himself to truth, except in two or three
great events, as the taking of Babylon, and the captivity of
Croesus: and in this he has been pretty generally followed,
though some have thought otherwise. The “Hellenica,
”
or seven books of Grecian history, are a continuation of
Thucydides to forty-eight years farther; and here is recorded an instance of Xenophon’s integrity, who freely
gave the public the writings of Thucydides, which he might
either have suppressed, or made to pass as his own. The
smaller pieces of Xenophon are, “Agesilaus;
” of which
piece Cicero says, “that it alone surpasses all images and
pictures in his praise;
” “Oeeonomics
” with which Cu
cero was so delighted, that in his younger years he translated it, and when he was grown old, gave an honourable
testimony of it. The other writings of Xenophon arej
“The Republic of the Lacedemonians,
” and “The Republic of the Athenians
” “Symposium
” “Hiero, or, of
a Kingdom
” *< Accounts of the Revenues, of Horses, of
Horsemanship;“and
” Epistles."
truly Socratic. Of all the disciples of Socrates, he is said, by a recent critic, to be the only one who had the good faith and good sense to report his master’s opinions
Xenophon strictly adhered to the principles of his master
in action as well as opinion, and employed philosophy, not
to furnish with the means of ostentation, but to qualify him
for the offices of public and private life; and his integrity,
piety, and moderation, proved how much he had profited
by the precepU of his master. His whole military conduct
discovered an admirable union of wisdom and valour; and
his writings, at the same time that they have afforded, to all
succeeding ages, one of the most perfect models of purity,
simplicity, and harmony of language, abound with sentiments
truly Socratic. Of all the disciples of Socrates, he is said,
by a recent critic, to be the only one who had the good
faith and good sense to report his master’s opinions accurately without addition or disguise. When he teaches,
Xenophon is the most delightful of instructors; when he
narrates, the most fascinating of all narrators. When he
invents, he seasons his fictions with so much of his great
master’s genuine philosophy, and so much of his own
exquisite taste, that it becomes impossible to decide, whether
they are more instructive or more delightful when he
speculates as a politician, it is with a good sense and sagacity, which soar above the prejudices of his fellow citizens,
and distinguish with correctness, the institutions which lead
to virtue and happiness, from those which allow and encourage depravity. The most imperfect of his works, the
“Hellenica,
” has yet many of the merits peculiar to the
writer, and is, at the present day, an invaluable treasure.
all a character, that the whole work is comprised in no more than nine leaves, 4to. The first person who copied it was Salvini, who likewise, in 1723, translated this
, usually mentioned with the epithet Ephesius, from the place of his birth, to distinguish him from
the above Xenophon Socraticus, is the author of five books
“Of the loves of Habrocomes and Anthia,
” which are entitled “Ephesiaca,
” although they have no more to do with
the town of Ephesus than the “Ethiopics of Heliodorus,
”
which is a love-romance also, have with the affairs of Ethiopia. His late editor thinks that Xenophon lived about the
end of the second, or the beginning of the third century of
the Christian jera. It is at least very probable that he is
one of the most ancient of the Authores Erotici, from the
purity and simplicity of his style, in which there is little of
those affected ornaments so common in writers of a later
period. The only Mss. in which the history of Habrocomes and Anthia has been transmitted to posterity, is
preserved in the Benedictine abbey of Monte Cassino, at
Florence, and is written in so small a character, that the
whole work is comprised in no more than nine leaves, 4to.
The first person who copied it was Salvini, who likewise,
in 1723, translated this romance into the Italian language.
Of the Greek text itself, the first edition was prepared by
the celebrated physician Anthony Cocchi, and published
at London in 1726, 4to, although his late editor baron
Locellst asserts that London was put in the title instead of
Florence. But the fact was that it was printed at London
by Bowyer, as is proved in Mr. Nichols’s life of that celebrated printer. Two other editions, of 1781 and 1793, have
likewise appeared, but they are all incorrect. At length
in 1796 the work was rendered not unworthy of the classical scholar, by baron Locella, a gentleman, not a philologist by profession, but a man of business, who dedicated
the leisure of his declining years to the Greek muses. His
edition, which was elegantly printed at Vienna, 4to, is entided, “Xenophontis Ephesii de Anthia et Habrooome
Ephesiacorum libri quinque, Gr. et Lat. Recensuit et
supplevit, emendavit, Latine vertit, ad notationibus aliorum et suis illustravit, indicibus instruxit Aloys. Emerie.
Liber Baro Locella, S. C. R. A. M. a cons, aulae.
”
n the “Observat. Miscellan.” He had also access to the valuable collections of the learned Dorville, who was preparing an edition for the press.
Politian is said to have been so much pleased with this
author, that he made no scruple to rank him with the Athenian Xenophou for sweetness and purity of style and manner. Fabricius speaks of him nearly in as high terms, and
his style is certainly his chief merit. In regard to antiquities, little can be learnt from him, and his geographical
knowledge is very limited. The admirers of the Greek
language will think themselves greatly indebted to baron
Locella, since, in the earlier editions, nothing had been
done either to improve or illustrate the text; nor had any
proper use hitherto been made of the criticisms on this
work, by Hemsterhuis and Abresch, contained in the “Observat. Miscellan.
” He had also access to the valuable collections of the learned Dorville, who was preparing an edition for the press.
ishop of Toledo refused to grant, and confined him in the tower of Uceda, where it is said a priest, who had long been prisoner there, foretold to him that he should,
, an eminent statesman and patron
of literature, was born in 1437, at Torrelaguna, in Old Castille, and was the son of Alphonso de Cimeros de Ximenes,
procurator of that city. He was educated for the church,
at Alcala and Salamanca, and then went to Rome, but
having been robbed on his journey home, brought nothing
back with him, except a bull for the first prebend which
should be vacant. This the archbishop of Toledo refused
to grant, and confined him in the tower of Uceda, where it
is said a priest, who had long been prisoner there, foretold
to him that he should, one day, be archbishop of Toledo.
Having recovered his liberty, he obtained a benefice in the
diocese of Siguenza, and cardinal Gonsalez de Mendoza,
who was bishop there, made him his grand vicar. Ximenes
entered soon after among the Franciscans of Toledo, and
took the vows; but finding himself embarrassed by visits,
he retired to a solitude called Castauel, where he studied
the Oriental languages and divinity. On his return to Toledo, queen Isabella of Castille appointed him her confessor, and nominated him to the archbishopric of Toledo,
14.95, without his knowledge. When Ximenes received
the bulls from the hand of this princess, he only kissed
them, returned them to her, unopened, saying, “Madam,
these letters are not addressed to me,
” and went immediately back to his convent at Castanel, being determined
not to accept the archbishopric. The queen was much
pleased with this refusal; but when Ximenes still persisted
in his refusal, an express command from the pope became
necessary to overcome his resolution. Nor would he even
then yield but upon the following conditions: “That he
should never quit his church of Toledo; that no pension
should be charged on his archbishopric (one of the richest in the world); and that no infringement of the privileges
and immunities of his church should ever be attempted.
”
He took possession of it in It is doing great service to the church
to publish the scriptures in their original language, both
because no translation cati give a perfect idea of the original, and because, according to the opinion of the holy
fathers, we should refer to the Hebrew text for the Old
Testament, and to the Greek for the New Testament.
”
The work was above fifteen years in finishing. Ximenes
himself assisted in it with great assiduity, and paid the
whole expence, which amounted to an immense sum. He
purchased seven Hebrew copies, that cost four thousand
crowns, and gave vast prices for ancient Mss. To the
above-mentioned Bible, which is called the Polyglot of
Ximenes, he added a dictionary of the Hebrew and Chaldee words in the Bible. In 1507 pope Julius II. gave him
a cardinal’s hat; and Ferdinand the catholic entrusted
him with the administration of state affairs, from which
moment cardinal Ximenes became the soul of all that was
done in Spain. He began his ministry by delivering the
people from an oppressive tax, which had been continued
on account of the war of Grenada; and he laboured so zealously and successfully in the conversion of the Mahometans, that he made near three thousand proselytes, among
whom was the prince of the blood royal of Grenada. This
great multitude he baptized in a spacious square, awd ordering all the copies of the Koran to be brought thither,
set them on fire; which memorable day was afterwarda
kept as a festival in Spain. Cardinal Ximenes extended
Ferdinand’s dominion over the Moors, 1509, by the conquest of Oran, a city in the kingdom of Algiers. He undertook this conquest at his own expence, and marched
himself at the head of the Spanish army in his pontifical
habit, accompanied by a great number of ecclesiastics and
monks, and at his return was met within four leagues of
Seville by Ferdinand, who alighted to embrace him. Foreseeing afterwards an uncommon dearth, he ordered public
granaries to be built at Toledo, Alcala, and Torrelaguna,
and stored them with corn at his own cost; which made
him so generally beloved, that his eulogy was engraved in
the senate-house at Toledo, and in the public square, to
perpetuate the memory of this noble action. King
Ferdinand dying in 1516, appointed him regent of his dominions, and the archduke Charles (afterwards the emperor Charles V.) confirmed this appointment. No sooner was
cardinal Ximenes established in the regency, than he became intent on exerting his authority. He introduced a
reformation among the officers of the supreme council, and
those of the court, ordered the judges to repress all extortions of the rich and of the nobility, and dismissed prince
Ferdinand’s two favourites. These changes excited murmurs among the grandees, and some officer’s asked the cardinal, by what authority he thus acted? Ximenes immediately showed them the soldiers who composed his common guard, and replied, that his power consisted in their
strength; then shaking his cord of St. Francis, said, “This
suffices me to quell my rebellious subjects.
” At the same
time he ordered the cannon, which he kept behind his palace, to be fired, and concluded with these words: “Haec
est ratio ultima regis;
” i. e. This is the decisive argument
of kings. He opposed the reformation of the inquisition;
devoted himself, with indefatigable ardour, to the affairs of
the church and state; and omitted nothing that he thought
could contribute to the glory of religion, and the advantage
of his sovereigns. At length, after having governed Spain
twenty -two years, in the reigns of Ferdinand, Isabella,
Jane, Philip, and Charles of Austria, he died November 8, 1517, as some think, by poison, in the eighty-first
year of his age. His remains were interred in the college of Ildephonsus, at Alcala, where his tomb may be seen.
This cardinal had settled several excellent foundations;
among others, two magnificent female convents; one for
the religious education of a great many young ladies of high
rank, but destitute of fortune the other to be an asylum;
for such poor maidens as should be found to have a real
call to the monastic life. He also founded a chapel in his
cathedral for the performance of divine service according
to the Mozarabic rites. If we add the fountain of springwater, which he conveyed to the town of Torrelaguna, for
public use, to the other sums he expended there, it will appear that he laid out nearly a million in that one place.
ontempt for what were styled the arts of a court, and would never use them. Don Pedro Porto Carrero, who was with king Charles in Flanders, wrote to him, that he had
He had a great contempt for what were styled the arts
of a court, and would never use them. Don Pedro Porto
Carrero, who was with king Charles in Flanders, wrote to
him, that he had many enemies there, and advised him to
make use of a cypher. He thanked him for his intelligence and friendship, but rejected the expedient: “1 have
nothing,
” said he, “that I desire to conceal; and, if I
write any thing that is amiss, I will not deprive my enemies
of their evidence.
” He behaved sternly himself to the
nobility; but he advised both Ferdinand and Charles not
to treat them with rigour. “Ambition,
” said he, “is
their common crime; and you will do well to make submission their only punishment.
” His coadjutor Adrian
was miserably disturbed at the libels that flew about; but
Ximenes, who was as little spared, bore them with great
temper: “We act,
” says he, “and we must give the
others leave to speak; if what they say is false, we may
laugh; if true, we ought to mend.
” However, he sometimes searched the printers and booksellers shops; but, as
he gave a previous notice, it may be presumed he did not
often meet with things that could give offence.
; but Bayle is of opinion, that this date must be a mistake; for he thinks it improbable, that a man who had employed himself vigorously in study, and possessed such
, a German of great abilities and learning, was born at Augsburg in 1532, of very poor parents, and the love therefore of learning, which he discovered from his infancy, would have been fruitless if he had not met with a patron, in Wolfgang Relinger, a senator of Augsburg. This gentleman made him be supported at the public expence, till his progress in literature procured him admittance into the colleges, where the city maintained a certain number of students. In 1549 he was sent to the university of Tubingen, and afterwards to that of Basil, where he became an excellent Greek and Latin scholar. Melchior Adam affirms, that he took a master of arts degree at Basil in 1556; but Bayle is of opinion, that this date must be a mistake; for he thinks it improbable, that a man who had employed himself vigorously in study, and possessed such excellent natural talents, did not take that lower degree till his 24th year. Xylander certainly wrote his Latin version of Dion Cassius in 1557; at which time he was so good a scholar, that he employed but seven months in this work; for the truth of which he appeals to Mr. Herwat, a senator of Augsburg and his patron, to whom he dedicates it. Having given ample proof of his learning, and especially of his uncommon skill in the Greek tongue, he was invited in 1558 to Heidelberg, to take possession of the Greek professor’s chair, then vacant. In 1566, the elector-palatine Frederic III, and the duke of Wirtemberg, having called an assembly of the clergy to hold a conference upon the eucharist, about which there were great disputes, Xylander was chosen by the elector as secretary of the assembly, together with Osiander, who was named by the duke he executed the same office upon a similar occasion in 1581. Excessive application to study is supposed to have brought an illness upon him, of which he died in February 1576, aged forty-three years.
nd promised to favour him. Among his contemporaries in the college were Addison and Sacheverell, men who were in those times friends, and who both adopted Yalden to
, a divine and poet, the sixth son
of Mr. John Yalden, of Sussex, was born at Exeter in 1671.
Having been educated in the grammar-school belonging to
Magdalen college, Oxford, he was, in 1690, at the age of
nineteen, admitted commoner of Magdalen Hall, under
the tuition of Josiah Pullen, a man whose name is still remembered in the university. He became next year one
of the scholars of Magdalen college, where he was distinguished by a declamation, which Dr. Hough, the president,
happening to attend, thought too good to be the speaker’s.
Some time after, the doctor, finding him a little irregularly busy in the library, set him an exercise, for punishment; and, that he might not be deceived by any artifice,
locked the door. Yalden, as it happened, had been latelyreading on the subject given, and produced with little difficulty a composition which so pleased the president that
he told him his former suspicions, and promised to favour
him. Among his contemporaries in the college were Addison and Sacheverell, men who were in those times friends,
and who both adopted Yalden to their intimacy. Yalden
continued throughout his life to think, as probably he
thought at first, yet did not lose the friendship of Addison.
When Namur was taken by king William, Yalden made an
ode . He wrote another poem, on the death of the duke
of Gloucester. In 1700 he became fellow of the college,
and next year entering into orders, was presented by the
society with the living of Willoughby, in Warwickshire,
consistent with his fellowship, and chosen lecturer of moral
philosophy, a very honourable office. On the accession of
queen Anne he wrote another poem; and is said, by the
author of the “Biographia,
” to have declared himself one
of the party who had the distinction of high-churchmen.
In 1706 he was received into the family of the duke of
Beaufort. Next year he became D. D. and soon after he
resigned his fellowship and lecture; and, as a token of his
gratitude, gave the college a picture of their founder. The
duke made him rector of Chalton and Cleanville, two adjoining towns and benefices in Hertfordshire; and he had
the prebends, or sinecures, of Deans, Hains, and Pendles,
in Devonshire. In 1713 he was chosen preacher of Bridewell Hospital, upon the resignation of Dr. Atterbury. From
this time he seems to have led a quiet and inoffensive life,
till the clamour was raised about Atterbury’s plot. Every
loyal eye was on the watch for abettors or partakers of the
horrid conspiracy; and Dr. Yalden, having some acquaintance with the bishop, and being familiarly conversant with
Kelly his secretary, fell under suspicion, and was taken
into custody. Upon his examination he was charged with
a dangerous correspondence with Kelly. The correspondence he acknowledged; but maintained that it had no
treasonable tendency. His papers were seized; but nothing was found that could fix a crime upon him, except
two words in his pocket-book, f< thorough- paced doctrine.“This expression the imagination of his examiners had impregnated with treason; and the doctor was enjoined to
explain them. Thus pressed, he told them that the words
had lain unheeded in his pocket-book from the time of
queen Anne, and 'that he was ashamed to give an account
of them; but the truth was, that he had gratified his curiosity one day by hearing Daniel Burgess in the pulpit,
and these words were a memorial hint of a remarkable sentence by which he warned his congregation to
” beware of
thorough-paced doctrine, that doctrine, which, coming in
at one ear, paces through the head, and goes out at the
other.“Nothing worse than this appearing in his papers,
and no evidence arising against him, he was set at liberty.
It will not be supposed that a man of this character attained high dignities in the church; but he still retained
the friendship, and frequented the conversation of a very
numerous and splendid body of acquaintance. He died
July 16, 1736, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. Of his
poems which have been admitted into Dr. Johnson’s collection, his
” Hymn to Darkness“seems to be his best
performance, and is, for the most part, imagined with great
vigour, and expressed with great propriety. His
” Hymn
to Light" is not equal to the other. On his other poems it
is sufficient to say that they deserve perusal, though they
are not always exactly polished, though the rhymes are
sometimes very ill sorted, and though his faults seem rather the omissions of idleness than the negligences of enthusiasm.
te to the article of Baroness Grey de Ruthyn, in Collins’s Peerage. It is remarkable that sir Henry, who, we are inclined to think, was a man of independent spirit,
His “Reports of Special Cases in the King’s Bench, from
44 Eliz. to 10 Jac. I.
” were originally published in French
by sir W. Wylde, 1661, and 1674, and were afterwards
carefully translated into English, and published in 1735,
folio. Under his name there are extant in print, several speeches in parliament, and particularly one in Rushworth’s collection also “The Rights of the People concerning Impositions,
” Lond. Thirty- two Sermons
of Mr. Edward Phillips,
” a puritan preacher, taken by him
in short-hand. Some additional particulars concerning our
author and his family and descendants may be seen in a
long note to the article of Baroness Grey de Ruthyn, in
Collins’s Peerage. It is remarkable that sir Henry, who,
we are inclined to think, was a man of independent spirit,
fell under king James’s displeasure in 1609, by his freedom of speech and conduct in parliament. His own narrative of this affair was lately communicated to the society
of antiquaries, and is printed in the “Archaeologia,
” vol.
XV.
ant. About the same time, he gained much reputation in parliament by opening the bill against Kelly, who had been principally concerned in bishop Atterbury’s plot, as
, an eminent lawyer, was the son of Philip Yorke, an attorney, and was born at Dover, in Kent, December 1, 1690; and educated under Mr. Samuel Morland, of Bethnal Green, in classical and general learning, which he ever cultivated amidst his highest employments. He studied the law in the Middle Temple under the instruction of an eminent conveyancer of the name of Salkeld; and, being called to the bar in 1714, he soon became very eminent in his profession. In 1718 he sat in parliament as member for Lewes, in Sussex; and, in the two successive parliaments, for Seaford. In March 1719-20, he was promoted to the office of solicitorgeneral by the recommendation of the lord-chancellor Parker; an obligation he never forgot, returning it by every possible mark of personal regard and affection. He received also about the same time the honour of knighthood. The trial of Mr. Layer at the king’s bench for high. treason, gave him, in Nov. 1722, an opportunity of shewiug his abilities; his reply, in which he summed up late at night the evidence against the prisoner, and answered all the topics of defence, being justly admired as one of the ablest performances of that kind extant. About the same time, he gained much reputation in parliament by opening the bill against Kelly, who had been principally concerned in bishop Atterbury’s plot, as his secretary. la February 1723-4, he was appointed attorney-general, in the execution of which important office he was remarkable for his candour and lenity. As an advocate for the crown, he spoke with the veracity of a witness and a judge; and, though his zeal for justice and the due course of law was strong, yet his tenderness to the subject,- in the court of exchequer, was so distinguished, that upon a particular occasion in 1733, the House of Commons assented to it with a general applause. He was unmoved by fear or favour in what he thought right and legal; and often debated and voted against the court in matters relating to the South-Sea company, when he was solicitor; and,‘ in the affair of lord Derwentwater’s estate, when he was attorneygeneral. Upon the resignation of the great seal by Peter lord King, in October 1733, sir Philip Yorke was appointed lord chief-justice of the king^s bench. He was soon after raised to the dignity of a baron of this kingdom, with the title of lord Hardwicke, baron of Hardwicke, in the county of Gloucester, and called to the cabinet council. The salary of chief-justice of the king’s bench being thought not adequate to the weight and dignity of that high office, was raised on the advancement of lord Hardwicke to it, from 2000l. to 4000l. per ann. to the chiefjustice and his successors; but his lordship refused to accept the augmentation of it; and the adjustment of the two vacancies of the chancery and king’s bench (which happened at the same time) between his lordship and lord Talbot, upon terms honourable and satisfactory to both, was thought to do as much credit to the wisdom of the crown in those days, as the harmony and friendship, with which they co-operated in’the public service, did honour to themselves. In the midst of the general approbation with which he discharged his office there, he was called to that of lord high chancellor, on the decease of lord Talbot, February 17, 1736-7.
sly chosen high steward of the university of Cambridge, on the resignation of the duke of Newcastle, who was elected chancellor; and the year after was again one of
The integrity and abilities with which he presided in the court of chancery, during the space of almost twenty years, appears from this remarkable circumstance, that only three of his decrees were appealed from, and even those were afterwards affirmed by the House of Lords. On May 12th, 1740, he was nominated one of the lords justices for the administration of the government during his majesty’s absence: also on April 21st, 1743, and in 1745. In 1746' he was appointed lord high steward of England, for the trials of the earls of Kilmarnock and Cromartie, and lord Balmerino: and in 1747 for the trial of lord Lovat. In 1748 he was again one of the lords justices; and on July 31, 1749, was unanimously chosen high steward of the university of Cambridge, on the resignation of the duke of Newcastle, who was elected chancellor; and the year after was again one of the lords justices, and the same in 1752.
les of viscount Royston, and earl of Hardwicke. This favour was conferred unasked, by his sovereign, who treated him through the whole of his reign with particular esteem
After he had executed the high office of lord high chancellor about seventeen years, in times and circumstances of
accumulated difficulty and danger, he was, in April 1754,
advanced to the rank of an earl of Great Britain, with the
titles of viscount Royston, and earl of Hardwicke. This
favour was conferred unasked, by his sovereign, who
treated him through the whole of his reign with particular
esteem and confidence, and always spoke of him in a manner which shewed that he set as high a value on the man as
on the minister. His resignation of the great seal, in November 1756, gave ah universal concern to the nation,
however divided at that time in other respects. But he still
continued to serve the public in a more private station; at
council, at the House of Lords, and upon every occasion
where the course of public business required it, with the
same assiduity as when he rilled one of the highest offices in
the kingdom. He always felt and expressed the truest affection and reverence for the laws and constitution of his
country: this rendered him as tender of the just prerogatives invested in the crown, for the benefit of the whole, as
watchful to prevent the least incroachment upon the liberty
of the subject. The part which he acted in planning, introducing, and supporting, the “Bill for abolishing the
heritable Jurisdictions in Scotland,
” and the share which he
took, beyond what his department required of him, in
framing and promoting the other bills relating to that
country, arose from his zeal to the Protestant succession,
his concern for the general happiness and improvement of
the kingdom, and for the preservation of this equal and
limited monarchy which were the governing principles of
his public conduct through life. And these, and other
bills which might be mentioned, were strong proofs of his
talents as a legislator. In judicature, his firmness and dignity were evidently derived from his consummate knowledge and talents; and the mildness and humanity with
which he tempered it, from the most amiable disposition.
He was wonderfully happy in his manner of debating causes
upon the bench. His extraordinary dispatch of the business
of the court of chancery, increased as it was in his time
beyond what had been known in any former, was an advantage to the suitor, inferior only to that arising from the
acknowledged equity, perspicuity, and precision, of his
decrees. The manner in which he presided in the House
of Lords added order and dignity to that assembly, and expedition to the business transacted there. His talents as a
speaker in the senate as well as on the bench, were universally admired: he spoke with a natural and manly eloquence, without false ornaments or personal invectives; and,
when he argued, his reasons were supported and strengthened by the most apposite cases and examples which the
subject would allow. His manner was graceful and affecting; modest, yet commanding his voice peculiarly clear
and harmonious, and even loud and strong, for the greater
part of his time. With these talents for public speaking r
the integrity of his character gave a lustre to his eloquence,
which those who opposed him felt in the debate, and which
operated most powerfully on the minds of those who heard
him with a view to information and convictions, is<
The amiableness of his manners, and his engaging address, rendered him as much beloved by those who had access to him as he was admired for his great talents by
The amiableness of his manners, and his engaging address, rendered him as much beloved by those who had access to him as he was admired for his great talents by the whole nation. His character indeed was never impeached until within a few years ago by an injudicious publication of a Mr. Cooksey, who professed to be compiling a life of him: but this had little other effect than to excite a portion of indignation, and to revive the respect in which lord Hardwicke’s conduct had ^ver been held. Lord Hardwicke’s constitution, in the earlier part of his life, did not seem to promise so much health and vigour as he afterwards enjoyed for a longer period than usually falls ta the share of men of more robust habit of body. But his care to guard against any excesses secured to him an almost uninterrupted tenour of health: and his habitual mastery of his passions gave him a firmness and tranquillity of mind unabated by the fatigues ‘and an’xieties of business; from the daily circle of which, he rose, to the enjoyment of the conversation of his family and friends, with the spirits of a person entirely vacant and disengaged. Till the latter end of his seventy -third year, he preserved the appearance atrd vivacity of youth in his countenance, in which the characters of dignity and amiableness were remarkably united: and he supported the tedious disorder which proved fatal to him, and which was of the dysenteric kind, with an uncommon resignation, and even cheerfulness, till-the close of lite. He died, in his seventy-fourth year, at his house in Grosvenor-square, March 6. 1764. His body lies interred at Wimple in Cambridgeshire, by that of his lady, Margaret, daughter of Charles Cocks, esq. of Worcestershire, and niece of lord-chancellor Sommers.
duced several useful works, besides the assistance which he rendered on various occasions to authors who have acknowledged their obligations to him. On the death of
His lordship through life was attentive to literature, and
produced several useful works, besides the assistance which
he rendered on various occasions to authors who have
acknowledged their obligations to him. On the death of
queen Caroline, in 1738, he inserted a poem amongst the
Cambridge verses printed on that occasion. Whilst a
member of the university of Cambridge, he engaged with
several friends in a work similar to the celebrated Travels
of Anacharsis into Greece, by Monsieur Barthelemi. It
was entitled “Athenian Letters; or the Epistolary Correspondence of an Agent of the Kin r of Persia residing at
Athens during the Peloponnesian War,
” and consisted of
letters supposed to have been written by contemporaries of
Socrates, Pericles, and Plato. A few copies were printed
in 1741 by Bettenbam, and in 1782 a hundred copies were
reprinted; but still the work was unknown to the public at
large. At length, an elegant, correct, and authenticated
edition, under the auspices of the present earl of Hardwicke,
was published in 1798, in two volumes, 4to, and an advertisement prefixed to the first volume, attributes its having
been so long kept from the public to an ingenuous diffidence which forbad the authors of it, most of them extremely young, to obtrude on the notice of the world what
they had considered merely as a preparatory trial of their
strength, and as the best method of imprinting on their own
minds some of the immediate subjects of their academical
studies. The friends who assisted in this publication were,
the hon. Charles Yorke, afterwards baron Morden, who died
in 1770; Dr. Rooke, master of Christ’s college, Cambridge;
Dr. Green, afterwards bishop of Lincoln; Daniel Wray,
esq., the rev. Mr. Heaton, of Bene't college; Dr. Heberden, Henry Coventry, esq., the rev. Mr. Laury, Mrs. Catherine Talbot, Dr. Birch, and Dr. Salter.
y, and known also in the literary world, was the son of Simon Yorke, esq. of Erthig in Denbighshire, who died in 1767, leaving the subject of the present memoir, who
, a relation of the Hardwicke family,
and known also in the literary world, was the son of Simon
Yorke, esq. of Erthig in Denbighshire, who died in 1767,
leaving the subject of the present memoir, who was born in
1743, and admitted fellow-commoner of Bene‘t college,
Cambridge. 1765; created M. A. by mandamus 1765;
elected F. A. S. 1768; married Elizabeth youngest daughter of the speaker of the House of Commons, sir John
Cust, by whom he had a son in 1771, afterwards M. P. for
Grantham, and a daughter in 1772. She died 1779; and
he took to his second wife, 1782, the relict of Owen Meyrick, esq. of Dyffrynaled, co. Denbigh. Mr. Yorke died
Feb. 19, 1804. He was a gentleman of superior endowments and the most benevolent disposition. His hospitality,
friendship, and charity, made the ample fortune he inherited
a common benefit; whilst the peculiar mildness and suavity
of his manners endeared him to lire’ relatives, and to every
one who had the honour of his acquaintance. He loved
his country, and the constitution of its government, from
conviction of their excellence; and what he loved he was
always ready to support, both in his public and private capacity, although constitutional diffidence would not allow
him to speak ift the House of Commons, where he sat as
burgess for Helstone and Grantham. But Mr. Yorke had a
cultivated as well as benevolent mind, being well versed in
most branches of polite literature; which an accurate and
retentive memory enabled him to apply with great advantage. Of late years he turned his attention a good deal to
Welsh history and genealogy, in which, from the specimens
given in his “Royal Tribes of Wales, 1799,
” 4to, he appears to have made great progress. This study, rather dry
in itself, was, in his hands, enlivened by a variety of authentic and entertaining anecdotes, many of which had escaped
preceding historians, as well as genealogical discussions;
and his book was adorned with portraits of eminent persons
of Wales, well engraved by the late Mr. Bond. He had
collected materials for a longer work of the same kind,
which has not yet appeared. His taste for natural beauties
was very correct, of which the pleasure-grounds of Erthig
are a decided proof. Of a character so respectable and
amiable throughout, one of the most distinguishing traits was
his talent for conversation. Whatever he advanced arose
naturally from the occasion; and was expressed in such a
happy manner and choice of words, as made him the very
life and delight of society.
681. He was the son of Edward Young, at that time fellow of Winchester college, and rector of Upham: who was the son of John Young of Woodhay, in Berkshire, styled by
, a very celebrated and popular English poet, was born at Upham, near Winchester, in June 1681. He was the son of Edward Young, at that time fellow of Winchester college, and rector of Upham: who was the son of John Young of Woodhay, in Berkshire, styled by W T ood, gentleman. In September 1682 the poet’s father was collated to the prebend of Gillingham Minor, in the church of Sarum, by bishop Ward. When Ward’s faculties were impaire'd by age, his duties were necessarily performed by others. We learn from Wood, that at a visitation of bishop Sprat, July 12, 1686, the prebendary preached a Latin sermon, afterwards published, with which the bishop was so pleased, that he told the chapter he was concerned to find the preacher had one of the worst prebends in their church. Some time after this, in consequence of his merit and reputation, and of the interest of lord Bradford, to whom, in 1702, he dedicated two volumes of sermons, he was appointed chaplain to king William and queen Mary, and preferred to the, deanery of Salisbury, where he died in 1705, in the sixtythird of his age.
n independent member of that society, that he might live at little expence in the warden’s lodgings, who was a particular friend of his father, till he should be qualified
His son was educated, on the foundation, at Winchesterschool, where he remained until the election after his eighteenth birth-day; but, for what reason his biographers have not determined, he did not succeed to a fellowship of New-college. In 1703, however, he was entered an independent member of that society, that he might live at little expence in the warden’s lodgings, who was a particular friend of his father, till he should be qualified to stand for a fellowship at All-Souls. In a few months the warden died, and Mr. Young was then removed to Corpus college, the president of which, from regard also for his father, invited him thither, in order to lessen his academical expences. In 1708, he was nominated to a law fellowship at All-Souls, by archbishop Tenison, into whose hands it came by devolution. These exertions of patronage make it probable that his father did not leave behind him much wealth.
he shewed a reverence for religion, and considerable warmth in defending it. The atheistical Tindal, who spent much of his time at All-Souls, used to say, “The Other
In April 1714, Young took his degree of bachelor of
civil laws, and his doctor’s degree in June 1719. His
college appears to have set a value on his merit, both as
a scholar and a poet, for in 1716, when the foundation of
the present magnificent library of All-Souls was laid, he
was appointed to speak the Latin oration, which, however,
he desired to be omitted in the collection of his works
published in 1741. It has been said, that when he first
found himself independent, and his bAyri master at All-Souls, he was not the ornament to religion and morality
which he afterwards became. Yet he shewed a reverence
for religion, and considerable warmth in defending it. The
atheistical Tindal, who spent much of his time at All-Souls, used to say, “The Other boys I can always answer,
because I always know whence they have their arguments,
which I have read an hundred times, but that fellow Young
is continually pestering me with something of his own.
”
had been well acquainted with lady Anne Wharton, the first wife of the marquis of Wharton, and she, who was celebrated by Burnet and Waller for her poetical talents,
As his connection with the proBigate duke of Wbarton has been thought a very objectionable part of his history, it is at least necessary to explain how it arose. His father had been well acquainted with lady Anne Wharton, the first wife of the marquis of Wharton, and she, who was celebrated by Burnet and Waller for her poetical talents, added some verses to dean Young’s visitation sermon. Wharton, after the dean’s death, was kind to Young, but died in 1715. Next year the young marquis, afterwards duke, began his travels, and the year following went to Ireland, and it is conjectured that our poet went with him. Whether this was the case or not, it is certain that he looked up to him afterwards as his patron.
church, he did not address himself to any eminent divine for instructions in theology, but to Pope, who jocularly advised the diligent perusal of Thomas Aquinas, and
In 1719, Dr. Young published ^A paraphrase on part
of the book of Job,“prefixed by a dedication to the lord
chancellor Parker, which he omitted afterwards, and of
whom, says his biographer, he clearly appears to have had
no kind of knowledge. Of his
” Satires“it is not easy to
fix the dates. They probably came out between 1725 and
1728, and were afterwards published collectively under the
title of
” The Universal Passion.“In his preface he says
that he prefers laughing at vice and folly, a different temper than that in which he wrote his melancholy
” Night
Thoughts.“These satires were followed by
” The Installment,“addressed to sir Robert Walpote, but afterwards
suppressed: and by
” Ocean, an Ode,“accompanied by
an
” Ode to the King, pater patria“an
” Essay on Lyric
Poetry,“both afterwards omittedby him. Perhaps no
writer ever rejected so many of his own performances, nor
were the>e juvenile effusions, for he was now forty-six or
forty-seven years old; and at this age, he entered into orders, April 1728, and was soon after appointed chaplain to
king George II. It is said by one of the biographers of
Pope, but the story is scarcely credible, that when he determined on the church, he did not address himself to any
eminent divine for instructions in theology, but to Pope,
who jocularly advised the diligent perusal of Thomas Aquinas, and this, Ruffhead says, had almost brought on an
irretrievable derangement. But as we have seen that Young
had once refused two livings in the gift of All Souls, it is
surely not improbable that he had then studied in the theological faculty, although at the duke of Wharton’s persuasion, he had been induced to think of political life. One
thing, after taking orders, he thought becoming his new
character. He withdrew his tragedy of
” The Brothers,"
which was already in rehearsal, and when at last it was performed in 1753, he made up the profits to the sum of iOOO/.
and gave the money to the society for the propagation of
the gospel in foreign parts. We know not that that society
has been so honoured since, and it certainly never was so
before.
r ite, he thought proper to entrust the whole management of his household affairs to a housekeeper, who is said to have attained an improper ascendancy over him, when
He was now far advanced in years: but amidst the languors of age, he still occasionally employed his pen, producing in 1759, “Conjectures on original Composition.
”
This was followed by “Resignation, a Poem,
” in which
there is a visible decay of powers. In
ances of this promotion reflect equal honour on himself and on the lord lieutenant (earl Cornwallis) who conferred it. It was a favour as unsolicited as unexpected,
In 1786, when the professorship of philosophy in Trinity
college became vacant, he had attained so high reputation
in that branch of science, that he was elected to the office
without opposition. His “Essay on Sounds
” had been
published two years, and it was known that he was engaged
in the arduous task of illustrating the “Principia
” of Newton. He now devoted himself to the duties of his professorship: and the college having been enriched with the
excellent apparatus of Mr. Atwood, Dr. Young improved
the occasion of carrying his lectures to a degree of perfection unknown in the university of Dublin, and never
perhaps exceeded in any other. He proceeded in the
mean time in his great work, “The method of Prime and
Ultimate Ratios, illustrated by a commentary on the first
two books of the Principia,
” and had nearly completed it
in English, when he was advised by his friends to publish
it in Latin. He readily acquiesced, and thus had an opportunity, while translating it, of revising the whole, and
rendering it fuller and more perfect. It was finished a
year or two before his promotion to the see of Clonfert, at
which time he was engaged in preparing it for the press.
The^circumstances of this promotion reflect equal honour
on himself and on the lord lieutenant (earl Cornwallis) who
conferred it. It was a favour as unsolicited as unexpected,
unless the report made to his excellency by his principal
secretary, on being consulted as to the properest person to
fill the vacant see, may be called solicitation. His report
was, that “he believed Dr. Young to be the most distinguished literary character in the kingdom.
”
s born Aug. 29, 1584, at Seaton, in Lothian, then the residence of his father, sir Peter Young, knt. who, among other honourable offices, had been assistant tutor, with
, an eminent scholar, was descended
of an ancient Scotch family, and was born Aug. 29, 1584,
at Seaton, in Lothian, then the residence of his father, sir
Peter Young, knt. who, among other honourable offices,
had been assistant tutor, with the celebrated Buchanan, to
king James VI. At the age of fifteen Mr. Young was sent
to the university of St. Andrew’s, where having completed
the usual course of academical study, he received the degree of M. A. in 1603. Soon after he accompanied his
father to England, and being recommended to Dr. Lloyd,
bishop of Chester, the latter assisted him in the study of
divinity, as he was destined for the church. He continued
about a year with the bishop, and then went to Oxford,
and his merit having strongly recommended him to some
of the heads of houses, he was incorporated M. A. in July
1605. He then took deacon’s orders, and was chosen
chaplain of New college, which office he held for three
years, and during that time he employed himself chiefly in
the study of ecclesiastical history, and in cultivating the
Greek language, of which he at length acquired a profound
knowledge. Leaving Oxford, he went to London, where
his object seems to have been advancement at court, and
where his father, still living, had considerable interest.
The first patron he acquired was Montague, bishop of Bath
and Wells, by whose recommendation the king granted
him a pension of' 50l. Having succeeded thus far, his
next wish was to be appointed librarian to prince Henry,
who had a very fine collection of books, and a museum of
other curiosities; and although he failed in this, he succeeded in obtaining the care of the royal library newly
founded by the king, chiefly by the interest of his friend
and patron, bishop Montague. He had already drawn up
a catalogue of the books by the king’s express command,
and after he obtained the place he employed himself in
forming them into classes, as well as in making additions
by purchases which he recommended to the king,
particularly of Isaac Casaubon’s books. With the same view
he took journeys to Francfort, Holland, Paris, &c. In
the mean time his partiality to the Greek language induced
him to invite some of the natives of that country to England, and he contributed by himself or friends, to thenmaintenance and education here. Such was his zeal in
this species of learned patronage, that bishop Montague
used to call him the “patriarch of the Greeks.
” He also
cultivated the Latin language, which he wrote elegantly,
and assisted Mr. Thomas Rhead, or Read, in translating
king James’s works into that language. This volume appeared in 1619, and by his majesty’s special command Mr.
Young was sent with a presentation copy to Oxford and
Cambridge.
he rectories of Hayes, in Middlesex, and Llannine, in Denbighshire, it being then lawful for persons who were only in deacon’s orders to hold parsonages. He was also
In 1620 he married, and about the same time was presented to the rectories of Hayes, in Middlesex, and Llannine, in Denbighshire, it being then lawful for persons who
were only in deacon’s orders to hold parsonages. He was
also collated to a prebend of St. Paul’s, of which church he
was made treasurer in 1621. Although he had hitherto
published nothing himself, he had been a very liberal contributor to the labours of others. Among these was Selden,
whom he assisted in preparing for the press his edition of
the “Arundelian Marbles,
” and Selden was so sensible of
the value of his aid, that he dedicated the work to him.
The same year the famous Alexandrian ms. of the Old and
New Testament 1 being placed in the king’s library, Mr.
Young examined it with great attention, and furnished
the various readings, upon collation, to Usher, Grotius,
and other learned men. He had intended to have published a fac-simile of this ms; but his many avocations, and
perhaps the confusions which ensued in the political world,
prevented him. In 1643, however, he printed a specinrea
of his intended edition, containing the first chapter of Genesis, with notes; and left at his death scholia as far as the
15th chapter of Numbers. The future progress of such a
publication is noticed in our articles of Grabe and Woide.
xpected. Mr. Young now retired to Bromfield, in Essex, to the house of Mr. John Atwood, a -civilian, who had married his eldest daughter. There he died Sept. 7, 1652,
In 1633, he published an edition of Clemens Romanus
reprinted in 1637, with a Latin version “Catena Graecorum patrum in Jobum, collectore Nsceta Heraclere Metropolitaa,
” to which he subjoined, from the Alexandrian
ms. a continued series of the books of scripture, called
Poetici. This was followed, in 1638, by the “Expositio
in Canticum Canticorum Gilberti Folioti episc. Londini, una
cum, Alcuini in idem Canticum compendio,
” with a dedication to bishop Juxon. He made preparations for publishing several other curious Mss. while he continued in the
royal library, which was till near the death of Charles I.
when it was seized by the republican party, and preserved,
amidst many vicissitudes, with more care than could have
been expected. Mr. Young now retired to Bromfield, in
Essex, to the house of Mr. John Atwood, a -civilian, who
had married his eldest daughter. There he died Sept. 7,
1652, and was interred in the chancel of Brornfield church.
ense collections of materials for a general alphabetical library, in many folios, of all the authors who have treated of the geography, history, politics, literature,
That in his several employments he acquitted himself
with great application and industry,' appears from the
catalogue of his works, which consist of “Regiae Bibliothecae
Matritensis codices Graeci Mss. Joan Yriarte ejusdem custos excussit, recensuit, notis, indicibus, auecdotis pluribus
evulgatis illustravit,
” 1769, folio, vol. I.; vol II. hr left in
manuscript “Regiae Mat. Bibl. Geographica & Chronologica,
” R. M. Bibl. Mathematical 1730; corrections and improvements of Antonio’s
” Bibliotheca Hispana,“and Don Miguel Casiri’s
” Bibl. Arabieo-Hispana-Escurial;“” Palseographia Graeca,“a ms. 4to; his collection of Spanish treaties of peace; near 600 articles intended
for a Castilian Dictionary; a treatise on the orthography
and grammar of the Castdian idiom; his immense collections of materials for a general alphabetical library, in many
folios, of all the authors who have treated of the geography,
history, politics, literature, biography, trade, &c. of Spain
and for a history of the Canary islands, which was 10 consist of six quarto volumes at least. He wrote also a great
number of articles inserted in the
” Diario de los literatos,“a critical journal. In 1774, his
” Select Works“were published in 2 vols. 4to,
” for the benefit of literature, at the
expence of several noblemen, lovers of genius and merit.“This collection,
” Obras Sueltas,“contains some works of
imagination, his sacred and prophane Latin poems, or
translations; and his Latin translations of a number of Castilian proverbs, and of some oratorical and critical discourses. Juan de Yriarte was probably related to Don
Tomas de Yriarte, whose ingenious
” Literary Fables“were published at Madrid in 1782, and were lately well
translated into English verse by John Belfour, esq; but of
this Don Tomas we have not found any biographical memoir. His poem
” La Musica" has gone through many
editions, and is much admired in Spain.
by giving it to another. Zabarella was afterwards invited to Rome by Boniface IX. and by John XXIII, who made him archbishop of Florence, and created him cardinal in
, an
eminent cardinal, was born in 1339, at Padua. He taught
common law in his native place and at Florence, where
he acquired so much esteem, that when the archbishopric
became vacant, he was chosen to fill it, but the pope had
anticipated the election by giving it to another. Zabarella
was afterwards invited to Rome by Boniface IX. and by
John XXIII, who made him archbishop of Florence, and
created him cardinal in 1411, from which time he had the
title of the cardinal of Florence. The pope sent him on
an embassy to the emperor Sigisrnund, who demanded a
council, both on account of the Bohemian heresies, and
the schism between the various candidates for the popedom; and the city of Constance having been fixed upon
for this general council, Zabarella very much distinguished
himself in its debates. He advised the deposition of John
XXIII. and there is every reason to believe he would have
been elected pope, had he not died, September 26, 1417,
aged seventy-eight, six weeks before the election of Martin V. The emperor and the whole council attended his
obsequies, and Poggio spoke his funeral oration, exerting
the full powers of his eloquence and learning. Zabarella' s
works are, “Commentaries on the Decretals and the Clementines,
” 6 vols. folio. “Councils,
” 1 vol. “Speeches
and Letters,
” 1 vol. A treatise “De Horis Canonicis
”
“De Felicitate, libri tres
” “Varise Legum repethiones;
”
“Opuscula de Artibus liberalibus et de natura rerun* diversarum
” * c Commentarii in naturalem et moralem Philosophiam“” Historia sui temporis“” Acta in Conciliis
Pisano et Constanttensi“lastly,
” Notes“on the Old and
New Testament, and a treatise
” On Schism,“Basil, 1565,
folio, in which he ascribes all the misfortunes of the church,
during his time, to the cessation of councils. This treatise
” On Schism" has been frequently reprinted by the
protestants, because Zabarella speaks very freely in it of
the popes and the court of Rome; and for the same reason
the book has been put into the index. Cardinal Zabarella
had a nephew, Bartholomew Zabarella, who gave lectures in canon law at Padua, with reputation, and was afterwards archbishop of Florence, and referendary of the
church under pope Eugenius IV. He died August 12,
1442, aged forty-six.
eld by Muratori, and on his death tendered to the learned father Corsini, of the university of Pisa, who had declined it, from his invincible attachment to his native
In 1752, he was recommended by the celebrated cardinal. Quirini as a director of the public library of Brescia, a re-< commendation which, however, had no effect. But two years after, his name being already known to the reigning duke of Modena, under whose auspices he had undertaken and continued his literary history of Italy, he was appointed director of the Ducal library, a place formerly held by Muratori, and on his death tendered to the learned father Corsini, of the university of Pisa, who had declined it, from his invincible attachment to his native place. He associated to himself, in the direction of the Ducal library, those two excellent friends and brothers, who were also co-operators in the compilation of the Literary History, father Dominic Troilo of Macerata, and father Joachim Gabardi of Carpi; who afterwards retained the same place under the celebrated father Granelli, and his successor, the illustrious Tiraboschi. Without any interruption to his higher literary pursuits, the improvements which he made in this situation are recorded highly to the honour of Zaccaria:. he enlarged the apartment devoted to the library; introduced a better classification of books, enriched it with new articles, and compiled a catalogue raisonne" of every branch, which, to the regret of many intelligent persons, was never published.
rsity in Spain. After this, he practised physic at Lisbon till 1624; when, by an edict of Philip IV. who governed Spain with a high hand, the whole race of Jews were
, an eminent Spanish physician, was born
at Lisbon in 1575, and is usually called Lusitanus. He
studied both philosophy and medicine at Salamanca and
Coimbra, and took his degree of doctor in 1594 at Saguntum, now called Morvedre, a famous university in Spain.
After this, he practised physic at Lisbon till 1624; when,
by an edict of Philip IV. who governed Spain with a high
hand, the whole race of Jews were interdicted the kingdom.
Zacutus, being a Jew, retired into Holland, practising
chiefly at Amsterdam and the Hague; at the former of
which places he died, in 1641 or 1642, aged about sixtysix or seven. His works, written in Latin, were printed at
Lyons in France, in 1649, 2 vols. fojio. Before the second
is placed what he calls “Introitus ad Praxin; or, An Introduction rto Practice;
” in which be displays the qualities
of a physician, morale as well as intellectual; and shews,
not only what are the qualifications necessary to the art,
but also what are the duties necessary to the man.
ery cruel manner, and ended his days miserably, in consequence of a decree of the pope against those who did not reside in their convents, but some have conjectured
, one of the most learned men of
the sixteenth century, was a native of Bergamo. His real
name was Peter, which he exchanged for Basil, when he
became a canon regular. He was born in 1501. He appears to have studied at Rome and various other places, but
resided for the greater part of his life at Rome, where he
was highly honoured for his literary talents, and, as some
say (but this is disputed), was made keeper of the Vatican
library. He died there, however, in 1560. Paul Manutius, in a letter to Gambara, the intimate friend of Zanchius, says that he was oppressed and persecuted in a very
cruel manner, and ended his days miserably, in consequence of a decree of the pope against those who did not
reside in their convents, but some have conjectured that
he might have probably become a convert to the reformed
religion, like his cousin Jerome, of whom we are nxt to
speak. It seems certain, however, that he died in prison,
and that he was worthy of a better fate, being one of the
most learned men, and best Latin poets of his age. His
beautiful verses on the death of Sannazarius were translated
into Italian by the great Torquato Tasso. His Latin poems
were first printed at Rome in 1540, 4to, and were often reprinted. Serassi gave a new edition of them at Bergamo
m 1747, with a life of the author. He wrote also observations on all the books of scripture, printed at Rome 1553,
and twice reprinted. He is ranked among lexicographers,
from having contributed to Nizolius’s observations on Cicero, and from having added a great collection of words to
Calepin, from the best and purest authors. He published
also “Epithetorum commentarii,
” Rome, Dictionarium poedcum et epitheta veterum poetarum,
” &c.
in the Palatinate, when the elector strongly solicited him to take up his pen against the Socinians, who had fixed their bead quarters in Poland and Transylvania, and
He had not been long settled in the Palatinate, when the
elector strongly solicited him to take up his pen against the
Socinians, who had fixed their bead quarters in Poland and
Transylvania, and were displaying every artifice to propagate their opinions. This produced Zanchius’ s two masterly treatises “De Dei natura,
” and “De tribus Elohim
uno eodemque Jehovah.
” After this he retained his professorship at Heidelberg ten years, until the death of thqi
elector, and the accession of a successor of different principles, who obliged him to remove to Newstadt, the residence of prince John Casimir, count Palatine. Here he
remained upwards of seven years, ana when excused^ an
account of his age and infirmities from public services, he
removed once more to Heidelberg, where he died Nov. 1&,
1590, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and was interred
in the college chapel of St. Peter. Zanchius, while one of
the most learned of the reformers, was also one of the most
pious, and distinguished for great moderation in controversy, united with sufficient firmness in maintaining what
he considered to be the truth. His works were printed at
Geneva in 1619, 9 vols. folio, usually bound in three.
preached Lutheranism afterwards, in several cities in Hungary, and was taken prisoner by the Turks, who used him with great cruelty. Having recovered his liberty, he
, an eminent Lutheran divine, was born in 1505, at Zegedin, a city
of Lower Hungary; his family name was Kis. He studied
under Luther and Melancthon, at Wittemberg; taught and
preached Lutheranism afterwards, in several cities in Hungary, and was taken prisoner by the Turks, who used him
with great cruelty. Having recovered his liberty, he officiated as minister at Buda, and in many other places. He
died at Reven, in Hungary, May 2, 1572, aged sixty-seven,
leaving, “Speculum Roman. Pontificum Historicum,
” Assertio de Trinitate,
” Tabulae Analyticae in Prophetas, Psalmos, et Novum Testamentum,
”
low him to adopt their indifference to scientific inquiry. He therefore attended upon other masters, who professed to instruct their disciples in the nature and causes
, the founder of the Stoic sect (a branch from the Cynic, ad a far as respected morals, differing from it in words more than in reality), was a native of Cittius, a
maritime town of Cyprus, and as this place was originally
peopled by a colony of Phenicians, he is sometimes called
a Phenician. His father, a merchant, encouraged him in
the study of philosophy, and bought for him several of the
writings of v the most eminent Socratic philosophers, which
he read with great avidity and when he was about thirty
years of age, determined to take a voyage to Athens, which
was so celebrated both as a mart of trade and of science.
Whether this voyage was in part mercantile, or wholly undertaken for the sake of conversing with those philosophers
whose writings Zeno had long admired, is uncertain. If
it be true, as some writers relate, that he brought with him
a valuable cargo of Phenician purple, which was lost by
shipwreck upon the coast of Pira3us, this circumstance will
account for the facility with which he at first attached himself to a sect whose leading principle was the contempt of
riches. Upon his first arrival in Athens, going accidentally
into the shop of a bookseller, he took up a volume of the
Commentaries of Xenophon, and formed so high an idea of
the author, that he asked the bookseller, where he might
meet with such men. Crates, the Cynic philosopher, happening at that instant to be passing by, the bookseller
pointed to him, and said, “Follow that man,
” which he did,
and was so well pleased with his doctrine, that he became
one of his disciples. But though he highly admired the
general principles and spirit of the Cynic school, he could
not easily reconcile himself to their peculiar manners; nor
would his inquisitive turn of mind allow him to adopt their
indifference to scientific inquiry. He therefore attended
upon other masters, who professed to instruct their disciples in the nature and causes of things, and when Crates,
displeased at this, attempted to drag him by force out of
the school of Stilpo, Zeno said to him, “You may seize my
body, but Stilpo has laid hold of my mind.
” After continuing to attend upon the lectures of Stilpo several years,
he passed over to other schools, particularly those of Xenocrates and Diodorus Cronus. By the latter he was instructed
in dialectics; and at last, after attending almost every other
master, he offered himself as a disciple of Polemo, who suspected that his design was to collect materials for a new
system: nor was he mistaken. The place which Zeno
chose for his school was called 2/rea, or the Porch, and hence
the name of Stoics. Zeno had advantages as the founder
of a new sect; he excelled in that kind of subtle reasoning
which was at that time popular, and while he taught a system of moral doctrine, his own morals were unexceptionable. He therefore soon became much followed, and on
account of his integrity the Athenians deposited the keys of
their citadel in his hands, and honoured him with a golden
crown and a statue of brass.
In his person Zeno was tall and slender; his aspect was
severe, and his brow contracted. His constitution was
feeble; but he preserved his health by great abstemiousness. The supplies of his table consisted of figs, bread,
and honey; notwithstanding which, he was frequently honoured with the company of great men. It was a singular
proof of, his moderation, mixed indeed with that high
spirit of independence which afterwards distinguished his
sect, that when Democharis, son of Laches, offered to
procure him some gratuity from* Antigonus, he was so
offended, that from that time he declined all intercourse
with him. In public company, to avoid every appearance
of an assuming temper, he commonly took the lowest place.
Indeed, so great was his modesty, that he seldom chose to
mingle with a crowd, or wished for the company of more
than two or three friends at once. He paid more attention
to neatness and decorum in external appearance, than the
Cynic philosophers. In his dress indeed he was plain, and
in all his expences frugal, which arose from a contempt of
external magnificence. He showed as much respect to
the poor as to the rich; and conversed freely with persons
of the meanest occupations. He had only one servant, or,
according to Seneca, none. Yet with all these virtues,
several philosophers of great ability and eloquence employed their talents against him, and Arcesilaus and Carneades, the founders of the middle and new academy, were
his professed opponents. Towards the latter end of his
life he found another powerful adversary in Epicurus, whose
temper and doctrines were alike inimical to the severe
gravity and philosophical pride of the Stoic sect. Hence
mutual invectives passed between the Stoics and other
sects, to which little credit is due. At least it may be
fairly presumed that Zeno, whose personal character was
so exemplary, never countenanced gross immorality in his
doctrine.
selection of words, and varied and mellifluous measures, soon obscured the theatrical glory of Zeno, who, after the arrival of his young colleague, seems to have attempted
, a learned poet, critic, and antiquary, was born in 1669, and descended from <an illustrious
Venetian family, which had been long settled in the island
of Candia. He early applied himself to literature, and the
study of Italian history and antiquities. In 1696 he instituted at Venice the academy Degli Animosi, and was the
editor of the “Giornale de‘ Letterati d’ltalia,
” of which he
published thirty volumes between the years 1710 and 1719.
His first musical drama, “L'Inganni Felici,
” was performed
at Venice in Bibl. dell' Eloquenza Italiana di Foutanini,
”
which was published in safe,
” as he
says, “if not sound and cured,
” after twelve days of excessive suffering on the road. Most of the dramas, sacred
and secular, which he wrote for the imperial court, were
set by Caldara, a grave composer and sound harmonist,
to whose style Zeno seems to have been partial. But thii
excellent antiquary and critic seems never to have been
satisfied with his own poetical abilities. So early as 1722,
in writing to his brother from Vienna, he says, “I find
more and more every day, that I grow old, not only in
body, but in mind; and that the business of writing verses
is no longer a fit employment for me.
” And afterwards
he expressed a wish that he might be allowed a partner in
his labours, and was so just and liberal as to mention the
young Metastasio as a poet worthy to be honoured with -the
emperor’s notice. If the musical dramas of Apostolo Zeno
are compared with those of his predecessors and contemporaries, they will be found infinitely superior to them in
conduct, regularity, character, sentiment, and force. But
Metastasio’s refined sentiments, selection of words, and
varied and mellifluous measures, soon obscured the theatrical glory of Zeno, who, after the arrival of his young
colleague, seems to have attempted nothing but oratorios.
iversally allowed to have possessed great talents for dramatic poetry, and is the first Italian poet who gave his countrymen good rules for tragedy, and taught them
In 1731 he returned to Venice, and his place at court
was entirely supplied by Metastasio, but the salaries of
poet and historiographer were still continued to him. Zeno
corresponded with the learned of Italy, and other countries;
was an able antiquary, and had made an excellent collection
of literary anecdotes. His candour, sincerity, affability, and
other amiable qualities, rendered him universally esteemed,
and highly agreeable in society. He died at Venice, November 11, 1750, in the eighty-second year of his age,
and was buried at the convent of the Dominicans of the
strict observance, to whom he had left his library. He is
universally allowed to have possessed great talents for dramatic poetry, and is the first Italian poet who gave his
countrymen good rules for tragedy, and taught them to
consider music only as an embellishment. He discovers
genius, spirit, and feeling; but his style, as has been
remarked, is far inferior to that of Metastasio. Zeno also
left a great number of works on Antiquities, &c. “Dissertationi Vossiani,
” 3 vols. 8vo “Letters,
” Venice,
gth, finding that the city would be obliged to surrender, she quitted it privately; but the emperor, who had notice of her escape, caused her to be pursued with such
, queen of Palmyra, and one of the most illustrious women that have swayed the sceptre, declared herself to be descended from the Ptolemies and Cleopatras. She was instructed in the sciences by the celebrated Longinus, and made such progress, that she spoke the Egyptian tongue in perfection, as well as the Greek. She also understood the Latin, although she scrupled to speak it. She protected learned men; and was so well acquainted with the history of Egypt, and that of the East, that she wrote an epitome of it. This princess had also read the Greek and Roman history, and was justly admired for her beauty, chastity,-sobriety, and extraordinary courage. She married Odenatus, a Saracen prince, and contributed greatly to the most signal victories he gained over the Persians, which preserved the East to the Romans, when, after the taking of Valerian, it was highly probable that Sapr would dispossess them of all that country. Gallienus, in return for such important services, declared her Augusta, and, in the year 264, created Odenatus emperor. After her husband’s death, Zenobia reigwed with great bravery and glory; for, her sons Herennianus and Timor laus, on account of their tender age, had only the name and ornaments of emperor. She preserved the provinces that had been under the obedience of Odenatus, conquered Egypt, and was preparing to make other conquests, when the emperor Aurelian made war against her; and, having gained two battles, besieged her in Palmyra, where r!enobia defended herself with great bravery; but at length, finding that the city would be obliged to surrender, she quitted it privately; but the emperor, who had notice of her escape, caused her to be pursued with such diligence, that she was overtaken just as she got into a boat to cross the Euphrates. This happened in the year 272. Aurelian spared her life, although he made her serve to adorn his triumph, and gave her a country-house near Rome, where she spent the remainder of her life in tranquillity with her children. Her daughters formed noble alliances, and her race was not extinct in the fifth century. All histonsnl bestow the most magnificent praises on this princess; and yet they suspect her of having consented that Maeonius should assassinate Odenatus, her husband, for shewing [ess fondness for her sons than for Herod, his son by another wife. She has also been censured for protecting Paulus Samosatenus, who had been condemned in the council of Antioch, and by that means preventing his being driven from his church so long as she reigned. But P. Jouve, who published her Life, 1753, 12mo, endeavours, not unsuccessfully, to clear her from all these imputations. She must be distinguished from Zenobia, wife of Hhadamistus, king of Iberia, who fled from the Armenians, and took her with him. This princess being near the time of her delivery, begged Rhadamistus to kill her. He reluctantly yielded to Zenobia’s earnest entreaties, and wounded her with a sword; but she was found by some shepherds, who saved her life, in the year 51. Zenobia being afterwards conducted to Tiridates, he ordered her to be treated as a queen.
d himself vanquished; since he had only imposed upon birds, whereas Parrhasius had misled even those who were masters of the art. Another time, he painted a boy loaded
Many curious particulars are recorded of this painter;
among others we are told that he had painted some grapes
so very naturally, that the birds used to come and peck
them; and Parrhasius painted a curtain so artfully, that
Zeuxis, mistaking it for a real curtain, which hid his rival’s
work, ordered it to be drawn aside, that he might see
Parrhasius’s painting; but, finding his mistake, he confessed himself vanquished; since he had only imposed upon
birds, whereas Parrhasius had misled even those who were
masters of the art. Another time, he painted a boy loaded
with grapes, when the birds flew again to this picture, at
which he was vexed; and frankly confessed, that it was
not sufficiently finished, since, had he painted the boy as
perfectly as the grapes, the birds would have been afraid
of him. Archelaus, king of Macedon, made use of
Zeuxis’s pencil for the embellishment of his house; upon
which Socrates made this reflection, as it is preserved by
Æian: “Archelaus,
” said he, “has laid out a vast sum,
of money upon his house, but nothing upon himself:
whence it is, that numbers come from all parts of the
world to see his house, but none to see him; except those
who are tempted by his money and presents, and who wilt
not be found among the worthiest of men.
”
since he presented it to the Agrigentines. He did not paint with rapidity; and used to say to those who reproached him with slowness, that “he was indeed a long time
One of Zeuxis’s finest pieces was a Hercules strangling
some dragons in his cradle, in the presence of his frighted
mother: but he himself esteemed chiefly his athleta, of
champion, under which he made a verse that became afterwards proverbial, viz. “that it would be easier to envy
than to imitate that picture.
” It is probable, that he valued his Alcmena, since he presented it to the Agrigentines. He did not paint with rapidity; and used to say to
those who reproached him with slowness, that “he was
indeed a long time in painting, but that it was also to last
a long time.
” Lucian has given us a description of a picture of Zeuxis, that of a female centaur. As to his death,
we are told that having painted an old woman, he laughed
so heartily at his performance that he died. This circumstance is related by Verrius Flaccus, under the word Pictor but it is probably fabulous.