ians from the French of the baron de St. Croix; with notes and observations, by sir Richard Clayton, bart.” Lond. 1793, 4to.
His excesses with regard to wine were more notorious,
and beyond all imagination; and he committed, when intoxicated, a thousand extravagances. It was owing to
wine, that he killed Clytus, who saved his life; and burnt
Persepolis, one of the most beautiful cities of the east:
he did this last indeed at the instigation of the courtezan
Thais: a circumstance which makes it the more atrocious.
It is generally believed, that he died by drinking immoderately; and even Plutarch, who affects to contradict it,
owns that he did nothing but drink the whole day he was
taken ill.
His character has been so often the theme of history,
nd the subject of discussion, tfyat it would be superfluous
to analyze the various opinions entertained. The reader,
however, to whom the subject is interesting, may be referred, with confidence, to a work, entitled “A critical
Inquiry into the Life of Alexander the Great, by the ancient historians from the French of the baron de St. Croix;
with notes and observations, by sir Richard Clayton, bart.
”
Lond.
nstrument a bottle-screw. Mr. Amhurst was -the author, likewise, of an “Epistle to sir John Blount,” bart. one of the directors of the South-Sea Company in 1720; of the
Soon after Mr. Amhurst quitted Oxford, he seems to
have settled in London, as a writer by profession. He
published a volume of “Miscellanies,
” (principally written at the university), on a variety of subjects; partly originals, and partly paraphrases, imitations, and translations;
and consisting of tales, epigrams, epistles, love-verses,
elegies, and satires. They begin with a beautiful paraphrase on the Mosaic account of the creation, and end
with a very humorous tale upon the discovery of that
useful instrument a bottle-screw. Mr. Amhurst was -the
author, likewise, of an “Epistle to sir John Blount,
” bart.
one of the directors of the South-Sea Company in 1720;
of the “British General,
” a poem sacred to the memory
of his grace John duke of Marlborough; and of “Strephon’s revenge,
” a satire on the Oxford toasts. Our poet,
who had a great enmity to the clergy, and who had early,
at Oxford, displayed his zeal against what he called
priestly power, discovered this particularly in a poem entitled the “Convocation,
” in five cantos; a kind of satire
against all the writers who had opposed bishop Hoadly, in
the famous Bangorian controversy. He translated also,
Mr. Addison’s Resurrection, and some other of his Latin
poems. But the principal literary undertaking of Mr. Amhurst was, his conducting “The Craftsman,
” which was
carried on for a number of years with great spirit and
success; and was more read and attended to than any production of the kind which had hitherto been published in
England. Ten or twelve thousand were sold in a day; and
the effect which it had in raising the indignation of the
people, and in controlling the power of the Walpole administration, was very considerable. This effect was not,
however, entirely, or chiefly, owing to the abilities of Mr.
Amhurst, He was assisted by lord Bolingbroke and Mr.
Pulteney, and by other leaders of the opposition, whose
fame and writings were the grand support of the “Craftsman.
” Nevertheless, Mr. Amhurst’s own paper’s are allowed to have been composed with ability and spirit, and
he conducted the “Craftsman
” in the very zenith of-its
prosperity, with no small reputation to himself. July 2,
1737, there appeared in that publication an ironical letter,
in the name of Colley Gibber, the design of which was to
ridicule the act that had just passed for licensing plays.
In this letter, the laureat proposes himself to the lord
chamberlain to be made superintendant of the old plays, as
standing equally in need of correction with the new ones;
and produces several passages from Shakspeare, and other
poets, in relation to kings, queens, princes, and ministers
of state, which, he says, are not now fit to be brought
on the stage. The printer, &c. having been laid hold of
by order of government, Mr. Amhurst hearing that a warrant from the duke of Newcastle was issued against him,
surrendered himself to a messenger, and was carried before his grace to be examined. The crime imputed to
hini was, that “he was suspected to be the author of a
paper suspected to be a libel.
” As no proofs were alleged
against him, nor witnesses produced, an examination of
this kind could not last long. As soon as it was over, he
was told that the crime being bailable, he should be bailed
upon finding sufficient securities to answer for his appearance and trial; but these terms being imposed upon him,
be absolutely refused. Upon this refusal, he was
remanded back into custody, and the next day brought his
habeas corpus, and was then set at liberty, by consent,
till the twelve Judges should determine the question,
“Whether he was obliged to give bail for his good behaviour, as well as his appearance, before he was entitled
to his liberty.
” This determination was impatiently expected by the public, and several days were fixed for
hearing counsel on both sides, but no proceedings of that
kind took place, and the question remained undetermined
until the days of Wilkes.
from whom descended the late duke of Buckinghamshire. Catherine became the wife of sir George Booth, bart. ancestor to the earls of Warrington; and Margaret, by sir Thomas
Chief justice Anderson married Magdalen, daughter of Nicholas Smith of Aunables in Hertfordshire, by whom he had three sons, Edward, Francis, William, and six daughters, two of which died young. Of those that survived, Elizabeth married Sir Hatton Farmer, knt. ancestor to the earl of Pontefract; Griselda espoused sir John Shefeld, knt. from whom descended the late duke of Buckinghamshire. Catherine became the wife of sir George Booth, bart. ancestor to the earls of Warrington; and Margaret, by sir Thomas Monson, bart. established the family of the lords Monson. As for the sons, Edward the eldest died without issue. Francis the second son was knighted by queen Elizabeth, and his youngest son by his second wife, sir John Anderson, of St. Ives, in the county of Huntingdon, was created baronet in 1628. William, the chief justice’s youngest son, left one son Edmond, who was created baronet by king Charles H. and his family still flourishes at Kilnwick Piercy, in the east-riding of Yorkshire. Stephen Anderson, esq. eldest son and heir of Stephen Anderson, esq. son and heir of sir Francis Anderson before mentioned, was likewise raised to the dignity of a baronet, in the sixteenth of Charles II. and his honour was lately possessed by his direct descendant, sir Stephen Anderson, of Broughton in Lincolnshire, and Eyworth in Bedfordshire, but the title is now extinct.
rmer is dead; the other in 1800 succeeded to the title and estates of his uncle, sir Joseph Andrews, bart. a man of a most amiable and exalted character.
On the institution of the new system of London police, Mr. Andrews was appointed one of the commissioners for the district of Queen’s square and St. Margaret’s Westminster, and discharged the duties of that office with great industry and integrity, until his death, which happened at his house in London, August 6, 1797, in his sixtieth year. He was buried at Hampstead. He marrried Miss Anne Penrose, daughter of the rev. Mr. Penrose, late rector of Newbury. By this lady, whom he survived twenty years, he had two sons and a daughter: one of the former is dead; the other in 1800 succeeded to the title and estates of his uncle, sir Joseph Andrews, bart. a man of a most amiable and exalted character.
acquainted with Mary, sole daughter of sir William Forster, of Aldermarston, in the county of Berks, bart. who was first married to sir Edward Stafford, then to one Mr.
, an eminent philosopher, chemist,
and antiquary, of the seventeenth century, and founder
of the noble museum at Oxford, which still bears his name,
was the only son of Mr. Simon Ashmole, of the city of
Litchfield, in Staffordshire, sadler, by Anne, the daughter of
Mr. Anthony Boyer, of Coventry, in Warwickshire, woollen-draper. He was born May 23, 1617, and during his
early r education in grammar, was taught music, in which
he made such proficiency as to become a chorister in the
cathedral at Litchfield. When he had attained the age of
sixteen he was taken into the family of James Paget, esq.
a baron of the exchequer, who had married his mother’s
sister, and as his father died in 1634, leaving little provision for him, he continued for some years in the Paget
family, during which time he made considerable progress
in the law, and spent his leisure hours in perfecting himself in music and other polite accomplishments. In March
1638, he married Eleanor, daughter of Mr. Peter Manwaring, of Smallwood, in the county Palatine of Chester,
and in Michaelmas term the same year, became a solicitor
in Chancery. On February 11, 1641, he was sworn an
attorney of the court of common pleas, and on December
5th, in the same year, his wife died suddenly, of whom
he has left us a very natural and affectionate memorial.
The rebellion coming on, he retired from London, being
always a zealous and steady loyalist, and on May 9, 1645,
became one of the gentlemen of the ordnance in the garrison at Oxford, whence he removed to Worcester, where
he was commissioner, receiver, and register of the excise,
and soon after captain in the lord Ashley’s regiment, and
comptroller of the ordnance. In the midst of all this business he entered himself of Brazen-Nose college, in Oxford, and applied himself vigorously to the sciences, but
especially natural philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy;
and his intimate acquaintance with Mr. (afterwards sir George) Wharton, seduced him into the absurd mysteries
of astrology, which was in those days in great credit. In
the month of July, 1646, he lost his mother, who had
always been a kind parent to him, and for whom he had a
very pious regard. On October 16th, the same year, be
was elected a brother of the ancient and honourable society
of Free and Accepted Masons, which he looked upon as a
high honour, and has therefore given us a particular account of the lodge established at Warrington in Lancashire and in some of his manuscripts, there are very
valuable collections relating to the history of the free
masons. The king’s affairs being now grown desperate,
Mr. Ashmole withdrew himself, after the surrender of the
garrison of Worcester, into Cheshire, where he continued
till the end of October, and then came up to London,
where he became acquainted with Mr. (afterwards sir Jonas)
Moore, William Lilly, and John Booker, esteemed the
greatest astrologers in 'the world, by whom he was caressed, instructed, and received into their fraternity, which
then made a very considerable figure, as appeared by the
great resort of persons of distinction to their annual feast,
of which Mr. Ashmole was afterwards elected steward. Jn
1647 he retired to Englefield, in Berkshire, where he pursued his studies very closely, and having so fair an opportunity, and the advantage of some very able masters,
he cultivated the science of botany. Here, as appears
from his own remarks, he enjoyed in privacy the sweetest
moments of his life, the sensation of which perhaps was
quickened, by his just idea of the melancholy state of the
times. It was in this retreat that he became acquainted
with Mary, sole daughter of sir William Forster, of Aldermarston, in the county of Berks, bart. who was first married to sir Edward Stafford, then to one Mr. Hamlyn, and
lastly to sir Thomas Mainwaring, knt recorder of Reading,
and one of the masters in chancery and an attachment
took place but Mr. Humphrey Stafford, her second son,
had such a dislike to the measure, that when Mr. Ashmole
happened to be very ill, he broke into his chamber, and if
not prevented, would have murdered him. In the latter
end of 1648, lady Mainwaring conveyed to him her estate
at Bradfield, which was soon after sequestered on account
of Mr. Ashmole’s loyalty but the interest he had with
William Lilly, and some others of that party, enabled him
to get that sequestration taken off. On the sixteenth of
November, 1649, he married lady Mainwaring, and settled
in London, where his house became the receptacle of the
most learned and ingenious persons that flourished at that
time. It was by their conversation, that Mr. Ashmole,
who hud been more fortunate in worldly affairs than most
scholars are, and who had been always a curious collector
of manuscripts, was induced to publish a treatise written
by Dr. Arthur Dee, relating to the Philosopher’s stone,
together with another tract on the same subject, by an unknown author. These accordingly appeared in the year
following but Mr. Ashmole was so cautious, or rather
modest, as to publish them by a fictitious name. He at
the same time addressed himself to a work of greater consequence, a complete collection of the works of such English chemists, as had till then remained in ms. which cost
him a great deal of labour, and for the embellishment of
which he spared no expence, causing the cuts that were
necessary, to be engraved at his own house in Black-Friars,
by Mr. Vaughan, who was then the most eminent artist in
that department in England. He imbibed this affection for
chemistry from his intimate acquaintance with Mr. William
Backhouse, of Swallowfield in the county of Berks, who
was reputed an adept, and whom, from his free communication of chemical secrets, Mr. Ashmole was wont to call
father, agreeably to the custom which had long prevailed
among the lovers of that art, improperly, however, called
chemistry for it really was the old superstition of alchemy. He likewise employed a part of his time in acquiring the art of engraving seuls, casting in sand, and
the mystery of a working goldsmith. But all this time,
his great work of publishing the ancient English writers in
chemistry went on and finding that a competent knowlege of the Hebrew was absolutely necessary for understanding and explaining such authors as had written on the
Hermetic science, he had recourse to rabbi Solomon Frank,
by whom he was taught the rudiments of Hebrew, which
he found very useful to him in his studies. At length,
towards the close of the year 1652, his “Theatrum Chymicum Britannicum
” appeared, which gained him great reputation in the learned world, as it shewed him to be a
man of a most studious disposition, indefatigable application, and of wonderful accuracy in his compositions. It
served also to extend his acquaintance considerably, and
among others the celebrated Mr. Seiden took notice of him
in the year 1653, encouraged his studies, and lived in
great friendship with him to the day of his death. He was
likewise very intimate with Mr. Oughtred, the mathematician, and with Dr. Wharton, a physician of great
racter and experience. His marriage with lady -Main-waring, however, involved him in abundance of law-suits
with other people, and at last produced a dispute between
themselves, which came to a hearing on October 8, 1657,
in the court of chancery, where serjeant Maynard having
observed, that in eight hundred sheets of depositions taken
on the part of the lady, there was not so much as a bad
word proved against Mr. Ashrnole, her bill was dismissed,
and she delivered back to her husband. He had now for
some time addicted himself to the study of antiquity and
records, which recommended him to the intimate acquaintance of Mr. (afterwards sir William) Dugdale, whom about
this time he attended in his survey of the Fens, and was
very useful to him in 'that excellent undertaking. Mr.
Ashmole himself soon after took the pains to trace the
Roman road, which in Antoninus’s Itinerary is called Bennevanna, from Weeden to Litchfield, of which he gave
Mr. Dugdale an account, in a letter addressed to him upon
that subject. It is very probable, that after his studies
had thus taken a new turn, he lost somewhat of his relish
for chemistry, since he discontinued the Theatrum Chemicum, which, according to his first design, was to have consisted of several volumes yet he still retained such a remembrance of it, as induced him to part civilly with the
sons of art, by publishing a treatise in prose on the philosopher’s stone, to which he prefixed an admirable preface, in which he wishes to apologize for taking leave of
these fooleries. In the spring of the year 1658, our author began to collect materials for his history of the order
of the garter, which he afterwards lived to finish, and
thereby rendered both the order and himself immortal,
the just reward of the prodigious pains he took in searching
records in the Tower, and elsewhere, comparing them with
each other, and obtaining such lights as were requisite to
render so perplexed a subject clear, and to reduce all the
circumstances of such a vast body of history into their proper order. In September following he made a journey to
Oxford, where he was extremely well received, and where
he undertook to make a full and distinct description of the
coins given to the public library by archbishop Laud, which
was of great use to him in the works which he afterwards
composed. He had lodged and boarded sometimes at a house
in South Lambeth, kept by Mr. John Tradescant, whose
father and himself hud been physic-gardeners there for
many years, and had collected avast number of curiosities,
which, after mature deliberation, Mr. Tradescant and his
wife determined to bestow on Mr. Ashmole, and accordingly sealed and delivered a deed of gift for that purpose,
on December 16, 1659. On the restoration of king Charles
II. Mr. Ashmole was Dearly introduced into the presence
and favour of his majesty, and on June 18, 1660, which was
the second time he had the honour of discoursing with the
king, he graciously bestowed upon him the place of Windsor herald. A few days after, he was appointed by the king
to make a description of his medals, and had them delivered into his hands, and king Henry VHIth’s closet assigned
for his use, being also allowed his diet at court. On August 21st, in the same year, he presented the three books
which he had published, to his majesty, who, as he both
loved and understood chemistry, received them very graciously. On September 3, he had a warrant signed for the
office of commissioner of the excise, in consequence of a
letter written by his majesty’s express command, to the
earl of Southampton, then lord high-treasurer, by Mr. Se^
cretary Morris. About this time, a commission was granted
to him as incidental to the care of the king’s medals, to
examine the famous, or rather infamous, Hugh Peters,
about the contents of the royal library which had fallen
into his hands, and which was very carefully and punctually
executed, but to very little purpose. On November 2d,
he was called to the bar in Middle-Temple hall, and January 15, 1661, he was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society. On February 9th following, the king signed a warrant for constituting him secretary of Surinam in the West
Indies. In the beginning of the year 1662, he was appointed one of the commissioners for recovering the king’s
goods, and about the same time he sent a set of services
and anthems to the cathedral church of Litchfield, in memory of his having been once a chorister there, and he
gave afterwards twenty pounds towards repairing the cathedral. On June 27, 1664, the White Office was opened,
of which he was appointed a commissioner. On Feb. 17,
1665, sir Edward By she sealed his deputation for visiting Berkshire, which visitation he began on the llth
of March following, and on June 9, 1668, he was appointed by the lords commissioners of the treasury, accomptant-general, and country accomptant in the excise.
His second wife, lady Main waring, dying, April 1, in the
same year, he soon after married Mrs. Elizabeth Dugdale,
daughter to his good friend sir William Dugdale, kht. garter king at arms, in Lincoln’s-inn chapel, on Novembers.
The university of Oxford, in consideration of the many
favours they had received from Mr. Ashmole, created him
doctor of physic by diploma, July 19, 1669, which was
presented to him on the 3d of November following, by
Dr. Yates, principal of Brazen-Nose college, in the name
of the university. He was now courted and esteemed by
the greatest people in the kingdom, both in point of title
and merit, who frequently did him the honour to visit him
at his chambers in the Temple, and whenever he went his
summer progress, he had the same respect paid him in the
country, especially at his 'native town of Litchfield, to which
when he came, he was splendidly entertained by the corporation. On May 8, 1672, he presented his laborious
work on the most noble order of the garter, to his most
gracious master king Charles II. who not only received it
with great civility and kindness, but soon after granted to
our author, as a mark of his approbation of the work, and
of his personal esteem for him, a privy seal for 400 pounds
out of the custom of paper. This was his greatest undertaking, and had he published nothing else, would have
preserved his memory, as it certainly is in its kind one of
the most valuable books in our language. On January
29, 1675, he resigned his office of Windsor herald, which
by his procurement, was bestowed on his brother Dugdale,
It was with great reluctancy that the earl marshal parted
with him, and it was not long after, that he bestowed on
him the character of being the best officer in his office. On
the death of sir Edward Walker, garter king at arms, Feb_
20, 1677, the king and the duke of Norfolk, as earl marshal, contested the right of disposing of his place, on which
Mr. Ashmole was consulted, who declared in favour of the
king, but with so much prudence and discretion as not to
give any umbrage to the earl marshal. He afterwards himself refused this high office, which was conferred on his
father-in-law sir -William Dugdale, for whom he employed
his utmost interest. About the close of 1677, a proposal
was made to Mr. Ashmole to become a candidate for the
city of Litchfield, but finding himself poorly supported by
the very persons who would have encouraged him to stand,
he withdrew his pretensions. On the 26th of January,
1679, about ten in the morning, a fire began in the Middle
Temple, in the next chambers to Mr. Aslimole’s,- by which
he lost a library he had been collecting thirty-three years;
but his Mss. escaped, by their being at his house in South
Lambeth. He likewise lost a collection of 9000 coins,
ancient and modern but his more valuable collection of
gold medals were likewise preserved by being at Lambeth
his vast repository of seals, charters, and other antiquities
and curiosities, perished also in the flames. In 1683, the
university of Oxford having finished a noble repository
near the theatre, Mr. Ashmole sent thither that great collection of rarities which he had received from the Tradescants before-mentioned, together with such additions as he
had made to them; and to this valuable benefaction he
afterwards added that of his Mss. and library, which still
remain a monument of his generous love to learning in
general, and to the university of Oxford in particular. In
the beginning of the year 1685, he was invited by the magistrates, and by the dean of Litchfield, to represent that
corporation in parliament but upon king James’s intimating to him, by the lord Dartmouth, that he would take it
kindly if he would resign his interest to Mr. Levvson, he instantly complied.
the work of Atterbury. “Six familiar Essays upon Marriage, Crosses in Love, and Friendship,” 1706. “ Bart'lemy Fair, or an Inquiry after Wit,” 1700, occasioned by colonel
When Dr. D' Avenant published his “Moderation a Virtue,
” and his “Essay on Peace and War,
” she answered
him in Moderation truly stated.
”
The same year D' Avenant published a new edition of his
works, with remarks on hers, to which she immediately
replied in a postscript, and although without her name, she
was soon discovered, and distinguished with public approbation. Some eminent men of the time bear testimony to
the merit of her works, as Hickes, Walker, Norris, Dodwell, Evelyn, and bishop Atterbury, who praises her controversial powers, but with a hint that a little more urbanity
of manner would not have weakened her arguments.
Among her other works was “An impartial Inquiry into
the Causes of Rebellion and Civil Wars in this kingdom, in
an examination of Dr. Rennet’s Sermon, Jan. 30, 1703-4.
”
“A fair way with Dissenters and their Patrons, not writ by
Mr. Lindsay, or any other furious jacobite, whether a clergyman or a layman but by a very moderate person and
dutiful subject of the queen,
” The Christian Religion, as practised by a daughter of the Church of England,
” Six familiar Essays upon Marriage, Crosses in
Love, and Friendship,
” Bart'lemy Fair, or an
Inquiry after Wit,
”
l in his public as private affairs, and joined him in a commission with the late sir Joseph Ayloffe, bart. and Dr. Ducarel, for superintending the regulation of the public
, an eminent English antiquary, was descended from an ancient family of the same name, resident at, and lords of the manor of Fauld in Staffordshire. His father, Daniel Astle, who was keeper of Needwood forest, died in 1774, and was buried in Yoxal church, where is a neat mural monument erected to his memory. His eldest son, the subject of this article, imbibed an early taste for the study of antiquities, particularly that abstruse and laborious part of it, the decyphering of ancient records, in which the profession of an attorney, to which he was brought up at Yoxal, gave him an opportunity of excelling, far beyond any of his contemporaries. His father was about to fix him in a good country situation, to practise in the profession he had so aptly learnt; but his genius and enthusiasm, fortunately for himself and the public at large, frustrated that design, and induced him to come to London, where alone his taste could be indulged and his talents rewarded. About 1763, he obtained the patronage of Mr. Grenville, then first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer, who employed him as well in his public as private affairs, and joined him in a commission with the late sir Joseph Ayloffe, bart. and Dr. Ducarel, for superintending the regulation of the public records at Westminster. On the death of his colleague, Mr. Topham was substituted, and both were removed by Mr. Pitt during his administration". Previously, however, to this, if we mistake not, he had enjoyed the patronage of lord Townshend, and soon after he was introduced to the rev. Philip Morant, author of the History of Essex, a gentleman of good property in that country, whose daughter and heiress he soon after married, and by that means, at her father’s death, possessed his estate.
, bart. V.P.A.S. and F.R.S. of Framfield in Sussex, was descended from
, bart. V.P.A.S. and F.R.S.
of Framfield in Sussex, was descended from a Saxon family, anciently seated at Bocton Alof near Wye, in the
county of Kent, in the reign of Henry III. who removed to
Hornchurch, in the county of Essex, in that of Henry IV.
and to Sudbury in that of Edward IV. Sir William Ayloffe
of Great Braxtead, in the county of Essex, was knighted
by James I. May 1, 1603, and created a baronet, Nov. 25,
1612; and from his eldest son by his third wife, the late
baronet was the fourth in descent, and fifth in title. His
father Joseph, a barrister, who married a daughter of Bryan Ayliffe, an eminent merchant of London, and died in
1717, and his grandfather, were both of Gray’s Inn. He
was born about 1703, received the early part of his education at Westminster school, admitted of Lincoln’s Inn
1724, and in the same year was entered a gentleman-commoner at St. John’s college, Oxford, which college he
quitted about 1728; elected F.A.S. Feb. 10, 1731-2, one
of the first council under their charter, 1751
vice-president, 17; and F.R.S. June 3, 1731. He prevailed on
Mr. Kirby, painter in Ipswich, to make drawings of a great
number of monuments and buildings in Suffolk, of which
twelve were engraved, with a description, 1748, and others
remain unpublished. He had at that time an intention to
write a history of the county, and had drawn up proposals
for that purpose but, being disappointed of the materials
which he had reason to expect for so laborious a work, they
were never published. On the building of Westminsterbridge he was appointed secretary to the commissioners,
1737 and on the establishment of the Paper-office on the
respectable footing it at present is, by the removal of the
state-papers from the old gate at Whitehall to new apartments at the Treasury, he was nominated the first in the
commission for the care and preservation of them. In 1747
he circulated “Proposals for printing by subscription, Encyclopaedia; or, a rational Dictionary of Arts, Sciences,
and Trade. By several eminent hands. Methodized, digested, and now publishing at Paris, by M. Diderot, fellow
of the Imperial and Royal Academies of Paris and St. Petersburgh and, as to the mathematical part, by M. d'Alembert, member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris
and Berlin, aud F. R. S. Translated from the French, with
additions and improvements;
” in which was to be included
a great variety of new articles, tending to explain and illustrate the antiquities, history ecclesiastical, civil, and military, laws, customs, manufactures, commerce, curiosities, &c.
of Great Britain and Ireland by sir Joseph Ayloffe, bart.
F. R. S. and of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and
author of “The Universal Librarian.
” Of this work a
prospectus was published, in one large sheet, dated Dec.
14, 1751 and the first number of the work itself, June 11,
1752. This nuftiber being badly received by the public,
the further prosecution of the business seems to have been
dropped. See some account of it in the Gentleman’s Mag.
1752, p. 46. It was proposed to have been finished by
Christmas 1756, in ten quarto volumes, price nine guineas,
the last two to contain upwards of six hundred plates. In
1772 he published, in 4to, “Calendars of the Ancient
Charters, &c. and of the Welsh and Scottish Rolls now remaining in the Tower ofLondon, &c.
” (which was begun to be printed by the late Rev. Mr. Morant), and in the introduction gives a most judicious and exact account-of our
public records. He drew up the account of the ehapel of
London-bridge, of which an engraving was published by
Vertue, 1748, and again by the Society of Antiquaries,
1777. His historical description of the interview between
Henry VIII. and Francis I. on the Champ de Drap d'Or,
from an original painting at Windsor, and his account of
the paintings of the same age at Cowdray, were inserted in
the third volume of the Archaeologia, and printed separately, to accompany engravings of two of these pictures by
the Society of Antiquaries, 1775. His account of the body
of Edward I. as it appeared on opening his tomb, 1774, was
printed in the same volume, p. 376. Having been educated, as has been observed, at Westminster, he acquired
an early affection for that venerable cathedral and his intimate acquaintance witfi every part of it displayed itself in
his accurate description of five monuments in the choir,
engraved in 1779 by the same society; who must reckon,
among the many obligations which they owe to his zeal and
attention to their interests, the last exertions of his life to
put their affairs on the most respectable and advantageous
footing, on their removal to their new apartments in Somerset Place. He superintended the new edition of Leland’s Collectanea, in 9 vols. 8vo, 1770, and also of the
Liber Niger Scaccarii, in 2 vols. 8vo, 1771, to each of
which he added a valuable appendix to the latter the
charters of Kingston-on-Thames, of which his father was
recorder. He also revised through the press a new edition
of Hearne’s “Curious Discourses,
” Registrum Roffense,
” published by Mr.
Thorpe in A Collection of
Debates in Parliament before the Restoration, from Mss.
by sir Joseph Ayloffe, bart.
” which is supposed never to
have appeared. In January 1734, he married Mrs. Margaret Railton (daughter and heiress of Thomas Railton, esq. of Carlisle, in the county of Cumberland, and relict of Thomas Railton, esq. who died in the commission of the peace for the city of Westminster, Sept. 4, 1732) and by
this lady he had one son of his own name, who died of the
small-pox, at Trinity hall, Cambridge, at the age of twentyone, Dec. 19, 1756. Sir Joseph died at his house at Kennington-lane, Lambeth, April 19, 1781, aged seventy-two;
and was buried in a vault in Henclon church, with his father
and his only son. His extensive knowledge of our national
antiquities and municipal rights, and the agreeable manner
in which he communicated it to his friends and tjie public,
made him sincerely regretted hy all who had the pleasure
of his acquaintance. Such of his Mss. as had not been
claimed by his friends, were sold by auction, February 27,
1782.
rto unclescribed, consisting of five thousand volumes, including the collections of sir Hans Sloane, bart. and the Rev. Thoraas Birch, D. D. and about five hundred volumes
In 1783 Mr. Ayscough published a small political pamphlet, entitled “Remarks on the Letters of an American
Farmer or, a detection of the errors of Mr. J. Hector St.
John pointing out the pernicious tendency of those letters to Great Britain.
” But among his more useful labours
must be particularly distinguished his “Catalogue of the
Manuscripts preserved in the British Museum, hitherto unclescribed, consisting of five thousand volumes, including
the collections of sir Hans Sloane, bart. and the Rev. Thoraas Birch, D. D. and about five hundred volumes bequeathed, presented, or purchased at various times
” 2 vqls
1782, 4to. This elaborate catalogue is upon a new plan,
for the excellence of which an appeal may safely be made
to every visitor of the Museum since the date of its publication. Mr. Ayscough assisted afterwards in the catalogue
of printed books, 2 vols. folio, 1787, of which about twothirds were compiled by Dr. Maty and Mr. Harper, and
the remainder by Mr. Ayscough. He was also, at the time
of his death, employed in preparing* a new catalogue of the
printed books, and had completed a catalogue of the ancient charters in the Museum, amounting to about sixteen
thousand. As an index-maker his talents are well known
by the indexes he made for the Monthly Review, the
Gentleman’s Magazine, the British Critic, &c. and especially by a verbal index to Shakspeare, a work of prodigious
labour. It remains to be* added, that his knowledge of topographical antiquities was very considerable, and that perhaps no man, in so short a space of time, emerging too
from personal difficulties, and contending with many disadvantages, ever acquired so much general knowledge, or
knew how to apply it to more useful purposes. The leading facts in this sketch are taken from the Gentleman’s
Magazine for December 1804. To that miscellany, we believe, he was a very frequent contributor, and what he
wrote was in a style which would not have discredited talents of which the world has a higher opinion.
ss which proved fatal on the 19th of that month, while on a visit to his friend sir John Chichester, bart. in Queen- street, May-Fair.
It has been supposed that his acquaintance with the bishop of Exeter, Dr. Ross, and the most respectable clergymen of his diocese, might have led him to examme the foundation of dissent audit might have appeared to him, as it has to very many of sound judgment and acknowledged abilities, that this foundation was groundless. He was led to conform by no promise, and, at best, by very distant views of advancement. It is, indeed, impossible to read the heart of man but, if it can be read by an intimate acquaintance, his conformity was sincere. But whatever were his views, or the views of those who wished to see him among the defenders of the established church, they were disappointed by a premature death, In the spring of 1787, he was ordained deacon by bishop Ross, and, by a very distinguished compliment, received priest’s orders the following week. The title upon which he was ordained was the curacy of Broad Clyst, near Exeter, and he afterwards preached, as assistant to Dr. Gabriel, in the Octagon chapel, Bath. He was much afflicted with head-aches, which frequently interrupted his public services. In May, 1788, he was attacked by an illness which proved fatal on the 19th of that month, while on a visit to his friend sir John Chichester, bart. in Queen- street, May-Fair.
, an English prelate, son of sir Walter Bagot, bart. and brother to the first lord Bagot, was born Jan. 1, 1740.
, an English prelate, son of sir Walter Bagot, bart. and brother to the first lord Bagot, was born Jan. 1, 1740. He was educated at Westminster school, and chosen thence student of Christ-church, took the degree of M.A. May 23, 1764, and LL.D. Feb. 29, 1772. In In 1771 he was made canon of Christ-church in the room of Dr. Moore, the late archbishop of Canterbury, and the same year he married Miss M. Hay, niece to the earl of Kinnoul. He was installed dean of Christ- church, Jan. 25, 1777, on the translation of Dr. Markham to the see of York, about which time he resigned the livings of Jevington and Eastbourne in Sussex, in favour of his nephew, the Rev. Ralph Sneyd. In 1782 he was promoted to the see of Bristol, translated to Norwich the year following, and thence to St. Asaph in 1790, where he rebuilt the palace on an uncommon plan, but necessary for the situation, where, among the mountains, and in the vicinity of the sea, storms are often violent. The palace, therefore, is low; and being on the assent of a hill, the vestibule, dining-room, and drawing-room, which occupy the whole front of the building, are on a level with the first floor in the other apartments, two of which, on the ground-floor, are a neat domestic chapel and a library.
rt Price, esq. of Foxley in Herefordshire Anne, Thomas Clarges, esq. only son of sir Thomas Clarges, bart. and Mary died unmarried.
Lord Barrington married Anne, eldest daughter of sir William Daines, by whom he left six sons and three daughters. William, his eldest son, succeeded to his father’s honours; was elected, soon after he came of age, member for the town of Berwick, and afterwards for Plymouth; and, in the late and present reigns, passed through the successive offices of lord of the admiralty, master of the wardrobe, chancellor of the exchequer, treasurer of the navy, and secretary at war. He died in 1793. Francis, the second, died young. John, the third, was a majorgeneral in the army, commanded the land forces at the reduction of the island of Guadaloupe in 1758, and died in 17CM-. Of Daines and Samuel some notice will follow; Shutc, the sixth, is now bishop of Durham. Of the three daughters, who survived their father, Sarah married Robert Price, esq. of Foxley in Herefordshire Anne, Thomas Clarges, esq. only son of sir Thomas Clarges, bart. and Mary died unmarried.
In 1806, sir Richard Colt Hoare, bart. published in two splendid quarto volumes, “The Itinerary of
In 1806, sir Richard Colt Hoare, bart. published in two
splendid quarto volumes, “The Itinerary of archbishop
Baldwin through Wales, A. D. 1188, by Giraldus de
Barri; translated into English, and illustrated with views,
annotations, and a life of Giraldus.
” In this life, an elegant and elaborate composition, although the facts are not
materially different from the preceding, yet the colouring
is more highly favourable, and we refer with pleasure to
it as a memoir in which the curiosity of the antiquary
will be amply gratified. Sir Richard thus briefly sums
up the character of Girald: “Noble in his birth, and
comely in his person; mild in his manners, and affable
in his conversation; zealous, active, and undaunted in
maintaining the rights and dignities of his church; moral
in his character, and orthodox in his principles; charitable
and disinterested, though ambitious; learned, though superstitious. Such was Giraldus. And in whatever point
of view we examine the character of this extraordinary
man, whether as a scholar, a patriot, or a divine, we may
justly consider him as one of the brightest luminaries that
adorned the annals of the twelfth century.
”
e left behind him an only daughter, Mary, who married sir Ralph Dutton of Sherbounie in Dorsetshire, bart. The life of his brother was published, in Latin, 1721, 8vo,
, physician in ordinary to king Charles II. was brother to the preceding, and born in 1619, at Wetherslack in Westmoreland. From the same grammar-school as his elder brother, he removed to St. John’s college in Cambridge in 1637, and continued there about six years. In 1642, being then in the twenty-fourth year of his age, he took his degree of bachelor of arts. In 1644, he was nominated by the bishop of Ely, to a fellowship of St. John’s, in his gift, but the usurper being then in power, he never availed himself of it. Probably, indeed, he had left the college before he obtained this presentation, and perhaps about the same time his brother did, which was in the foregoing year. It is uncertain, whether, at that time, he had made any choice of a profession; so that being invited into Leicestershire, in order to become tutor to Ferdinando Sacheverell, esq. of Old Hayes in that county, a young gentleman of great hopes, he readily accepted the proposal, and continued with him for some time. In 1647, he returned to Cambridge, and took his degree of master of arts, applying himself then assiduously to the study of physic, and ahout the same time, Mr. Sacheverell died, and bequeathed our author an annuity of twenty pounds. How he disposed of himself for some years, does not very clearly appear, because he who so elegantly recorded the loyal services of his brother, has studiously concealed his own. It is, however, more than probable, that he was engaged in the service of his sovereign, since it is certain that he was at Worcester in 1651, where he had access to his royal master king Charles II. who testified to him a very kind sense of the fidelity of his family. In 1655, he was created doctor of physic, and two years afterwards, he took a house in St. Paul’s church-yard, and much about the same time, married the widow of Mr. Sayon, an eminent merchant. Being thus settled, he soon gained a very great repute in the city, for his skill in his profession, and among the learned, by his judicious defence of Dr. Harvey’s discovery of the Circulation of the Blood, which was then, and is still, admired as one of the best pieces written upon that subject. At this house he entertained his brother Dr. John Barwick, who repaired at his own expence an oratory he found there, and daily read the service of the established church, and with a few steadyroyalists, prayed for his exiled master. After the restoration in 1660, he was made one of the king’s physicians in ordinary, and in the year following, received a still stronger proof of his majesty’s kind sense of his own and his brother’s services by a grant of arms expressive of their loyalty. In 1666, being compelled by the dreadful fire to remove from St. Paul’s church yard, where, much to his honour, he was one of the few physicians who remained all the time of the plague, and was very active and serviceable in his profession, he took another house near Westminster-abbey, for the sake of being near that cathedral, to which he constantly resorted every morning at six o'clock prayers. He was a very diligent physicum, and remarkably successful in the small-pox, and in most kinds of fevers. Yet he was far from making money the main object of his care; for during the many years that he practised, he not only gave advice and medicines gratis to the poor, but likewise charitably administered to their wants in other respects. In. 1671, he drew up in Latin, which he wrote with unusual elegance and purity, the life of the dean his brother, and took care to deposit it, and the original papers serving to support the facts mentioned, in the library in St. John’s college at Cambridge. Another ms. he gave to Dr. Woodward, and one he left to his family. Twenty years after this, when our author was in the seventy-fourth year of his age, and his eye-sight so much decayed, that he was forced to make use of the hand of a friend, he added an appendix in defence of the Ewwv BacrimKti, against Dr. Walker, who was very well known to him, and of whom in that treatise he has given a very copious account. This piece of his is written with a good deal of asperity, occasioned chiefly by the frequency of scurrilous libels against the memory of Charles I. In 1694, being quite blind, and frequently afflicted with fits of the stone, he gave over practice, and dedicated the remainder of his life to the service of God, and the conversation of a few intimate friends, amongst whom was Dr. Busby, the celebrated master of Westminster-school. He died Sept. 4, the same year, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, and by his own. direction, was interred without any monument, as well as with great privacy, near the body of his dear wife, in the parish church of St. Faith’s, under St. Paul’s. He was a man of a very comely person, equally remarkable for the solidity of his learning, and for a wonderful readiness as well as elegance in expressing it. His piety was sincere, his reputation unspotted, his loyalty and his modesty most exemplary. In all stations of life he was admired and beloved, and of a chearful and serene mind in all situations. He was happy in the universal approbation of all parties, as he was himself charitable to all, and never vehement but in the cause of truth. He left behind him an only daughter, Mary, who married sir Ralph Dutton of Sherbounie in Dorsetshire, bart. The life of his brother was published, in Latin, 1721, 8vo, and in English, with an account of the writer, 1724. Mr. Hilkiah Bedford was editor of both.
The second was married to Jonathan Rashleigh, esq. and the third to John, afterwards sir John Call, bart. in the hon. East India company’s service. Dr. Battie gave by
In April 1764, he resigned the office of physician to
St. Luke’s hospital. In 1767, when disputesran very high
between the college of physicians and the licentiates,
Dr. Battie wrote several letters in the public papers, in
vindication of the college. In 1776, he was seized with a
paralytic stroke, which proved fatal, June 13, in his 72d
year. The night he expired, conversing with his servant, a
lad who attended on him as a nurse, he said to him, “Young
man, you have heard, no doubt, how great are the terrors
of death. This night will probably afford you some experience; but may you learn, and may you profit by the
example, that a conscientious endeavour to perform his
duty through life, will ever close a Christian’s eyes with
comfort and tranquillity.
” He soon after departed, without a struggle or a groan, and was buried by his own direction, at Kingston-upon-Thames, “as near as possible
to his wife, without any monument or memorial whatever.
”
He left three daughters, Anne, Catherine, and Philadelphia,
of whom the eldest was married to sir George Young (a gallant English admiral who died in 1810.) This lady sold her
father’s house and estate at Marlow, called Court garden,
to Mr. Davenport, an eminent surgeon of London. The
second was married to Jonathan Rashleigh, esq. and the
third to John, afterwards sir John Call, bart. in the hon.
East India company’s service. Dr. Battie gave by his will
100l. to St. Luke’s hospital; 100l. to the corporation for
the relief of widows and children of clergymen, and twenty
guineas to earl Camden, as a token of regard for his many
public and private virtues. His books and papers, whether published or not, he gave to his daughter Anne.
Among these was a tract on the meaning of 1 Cor. xv. 22,
and some others which were printed before his death, but
not published, nor have we seen a copy.
Bell, his fourth lineal descendant, married Margaret, daughter of sir Anthony Oldfield of Spalding, bart. who died 1720, and by whom he had issue his namesake the subject
, an English antiquary, was son of
Beaupré Bell, esq. of Beaupré-hall in Upwell and Outwell
in Clackclose hundred, Norfolk, where the Beaupré family
had settled early in the fourteenth century, and enjoyed the
estate by the name of Beaupré (or de Bello prato) till sir
Robert Bell intermarried with them about the middle of
the sixteenth. Sir Robert was speaker of the house of
commons, 14 Eliz. and chief baron of the exchequer; and
caught his death at the black assize at Oxford, 1577.
Beaupr Bell, his fourth lineal descendant, married Margaret, daughter of sir Anthony Oldfield of Spalding, bart. who
died 1720, and by whom he had issue his namesake the
subject of this article, and two daughters, of whom the
youngest married William Graves, esq. of Fulborn in Cambridgeshire, who thereby inherited the family estate near
Spalding, with the site of the abbey. Mr. Bell, junior, was
educated at Westminster school, admitted of Trinity-college, Cambridge, 1723, and soon commenced a genuine
and able antiquary. He made considerable collections of
church notes in his own and the neighbouring counties, all
which he bequeathed to the college where he received his
education. Mr. Biomfield acknowledges his obligations to
him for collecting many evidences, seals, and drawings, of
great use to him in his “History of Norfolk.
”
reen silk doublet, hat, and plaited ruff, 1540 or 1545, formerly belonging to sir Marmaduke Gresham, bart. then to Mr. Philip, filazer, by whose widow, a niece to sir
His father led a miserable life, hardly allowing his son
necessaries, and dilapidated his house, while at the same
time he had five hundred horses of his own breeding,
many above thirty years old, unbroke. On his death his
son succeeded to his estate, of about 1500l. a-year, which
he did not long enjoy, dying of a consumption, on the road
to Bath, August, 1745. He left the reversion, after the
death of his sister, with his books and medals, to Trinitycollege, under the direction of the late vice-master, Dr.
Walker; but his sister marrying, the entail was cut off,
He was buried in the family burying-place, in St. Mary'g
chapel in Outwell-church.
The registers of the Spalding society abound with proofs
of Mr. Bell’s taste and knowledge in ancient coins, both
Greek and Roman, besides many other interesting discoveries. He published proposals, elegantly printed, for the
following work, at 5s. the first subscription, “Tabulae
Augustae, sive Imperatorum Romanorum, Augustorum,
Csesarum, Tyrannorum, et illustrium virorum a Cn. Pompeio Magno ad Heraclium Aug. series chronologica. Ex
historicis, nummis, et mannoribus collegit Beaupreius
Bell, A.M. Cantabrigian, typis academicis 1734,
” which
was in great forwardness in Itinerarium,
” and
an elegant bust of Alexander Gordon, after the original
given by him to sir Andrew Fountaine’s niece. He communicated to the Spalding society an account of Outwell
church, and the Haultoft family arms, in a border engrailed
Sable a lozenge Ermine, quartering Fincham, in a chapel
at the east end of the north aile. He collected a series of
nexus literarum, or abbreviations. He had a portrait of sir
Thomas Gresham, by Hilliard, when young, in a close
green silk doublet, hat, and plaited ruff, 1540 or 1545,
formerly belonging to sir Marmaduke Gresham, bart. then
to Mr. Philip, filazer, by whose widow, a niece to sir Marmaduke, it came to sir Anthony Oldfield, and so to Maurice
Johnson. He addressed verses on “Color est connata lucis proprietas,
” to sir Isaac Newton, who returned him a
present of his “Philosophy,
” sumptuously bound by
Brindley.
that war. In 1695, we find him thus employed with a few English and Dutch ships, when the famous Du Bart had the good luck to escape him, with nine sail of clean ships,
, a brave English admiral, descended
of an ancient Shropshire family, reduced in fortune by its
adherence to Charles I. was born about the year 1650,
at Coton-hill, Shrewsbury, an ancient house now occupied
by Mr. Bishop, a maltster of that place. His father, colonel John Benbow, dying when he was very young, this
son had no other provision than being bred to the sea, a
profession which he eagerly adopted, and in which he was
so successful, that before he was thirty he became master,
and partly owner, of a ship called the Benbow frigate,
employed in the Mediterranean trade, in which he would
have probably acquired a good estate, if an accident had
not brought him to serve in the British navy. In the year
1686, he was attacked in his, passage to Cadiz by a Sallee
rover, against whom he defended himself, though very
unequal in' the number of men, with the utmost bravery,
and, although the Moors boarded him, they were quickly
beat out of the ship again, with the loss of thirteen men,
whose heads captain Benbow ordered to be cut off, and
thrown into a tub of pork pickle. When he arrived at
Cadiz, he went ashore, and ordered a negro servant to
follow him, with the Moors heads in a sack. He had
scarcely landed before the officers of the revenue inquired
of his servant, what he had in his sack? The captain answered, “Salt provisions for his own use.
” The officers
insisted upon seeing them, which captain Benbow refused.
The officers told him that the magistrates were sitting,
and he might appeal to them, but that it was not in their
power to act otherwise. The captain consented to the
proposal, and the magistrates treated him with great civility, told him they were sorry to make a point of such a
trifle, but that since he had refused to shew the contents
of his sack to their officers, the nature of their employments obliged them to demand a sight of them; and that
as they doubted not they were salt provisions, the shewing
them could be of no great consequence. “I told you,
”
said the captain sternly, “they were salt provisions for my
own use. Caesar, throw them down upon the table, and,
gentlemen, if you like them, they are at your service.
”
The Spaniards were exceedingly struck at the sight of the
Moors’ heads, and no less astonished at the account of the
captain’s adventure, who with so small a force had been
able to defeat such a number of barbarians. This anecdote, in our opinion, reflects but little credit on the
feelings of our seaman, nor does it clearly appear why he
should think this barbarous display necessary for his reputation. These magistrates, however, sent an account of
the matter to the court of Madrid, and Charles II. then
king of Spain, invited Benbow to court, where he was received with great respect, dismissed with a handsome
present, and his Catholic majesty wrote a letter in his
'behalf to king James, who, upon the captain’s return,
gave him a ship, which was his introduction to the royal
navy. After the revolution he was constantly employed,
and frequently at the request of the merchants, was appointed to cruize in the channel, where he ably protected
our own trade, and annoyed and distressed that of the
enemy. He was likewise generally made choice of for
bombarding the French ports, in which he shewed the
most intrepid courage, by going in person in his boat to
encourage and protect the engineers, sharing in all their
hardships. It is certain that several of those dreadful bombardments spoiled several ports, and created a terror on the
French coast, notwithstanding all the precautions their government could take to keep up their spirits. This vigour
and activity recommended Benbow so effectually to king
William, that he was very early promoted to a flag, and
intrusted with the care of blocking up Dunkirk; the privateers from thence proving extremely detrimental to our
trade during all that war. In 1695, we find him thus employed with a few English and Dutch ships, when the famous Du Bart had the good luck to escape him, with nine
sail of clean ships, with which he did a great deal of mischief, both to our trade and to that of the Dutch. Rearadmiral Benbow, however, followed him as well as he
could; but the Dutch ships having, or pretending to have
no orders, quitted him, which hindered from going to the
Dogger-bank, as he intended, and obliged him to sail to
Yarmouth roads; and here he received advice that Du Bart
had fallen in with the Dutch fleet of seventy merchantmen,
escorted by five frigates, and that he had taken all the latter,
and thirty of the vessels under their convoy; which might
probably have been prevented, if the rear-admiral could
have persuaded the Dutch to have continued with him.
As it was, he safely convoyed a great English fleet of
merchantmen to Gottenburgh, and then returned to Yarmouth roads, and from thence to the Downs, for a supply
of provisions. He afterwards resumed his design of seeking
Du Bart; but his ships being much cleaner than the
rear-admiral’s, he escaped him a second time, though
once within sight of him. In 1697, he sailed the 10th of
April, from Spithead, with seven third-rates and two fireships, and after some time returned to Portsmouth for
provisions; after which he had the good fortune to convoy
the Virginia and West-India fleets safe into port. He
then repaired to Dunkirk, where he received from captain
Bowman two orders or instructions from the lords of the
admiralty; one to pursue M. Du Bart, and to destroy his
ships if possible, at any place, except under the forts in
Norway and Sweden; the other to obey the king’s commands, pursuant to an order from his majesty for that
purpose. On the 30th of July, rear-admiral Vandergoes
joined him with eleven Dutch ships, when he proposed
that one of the squadrons should be so placed, as that
Dunkirk might be south of them, and the other in or near
Ostend road, that if Du Bart should attempt to pass, they
might the better discover him: but the Dutch commander
objected that his ships being foul, they were not in a condition to pursue him. Rear-admiral Benbow being disappointed in this project, immediately formed another; for,
observing in the beginning of August that ten French frigates were hauled into the bason to clean, he judged their
design was to put to sea by the next spring-tide; and therefore, as his ships were all foul, he wrote up to the board, to
desire that four of the best sailers might be ordered to Sheerness to clean, and that the others might come to the Downs,
not only to take in water, but also to heel and scrub, which
he judged might be done before the next spring-tide gave
the French an opportunity of getting over the bar. But
this was not then thought advisable, though he afterwards
received orders for it, when it was too late. By this unlucky accident, the French had an opportunity of getting
ut with five clean ships; which, however, did not hinder
the admiral from pursuing them as well as he was able,
and some ships of his squadron had the good luck to take a
Dunkirk privateer of ten guns and sixty men, which had done
a great deal of mischief. This was one of the last actions
of the war, and the rear-admiral soon after received orders
to return home with the squadron under his command. It
is very remarkable, that as the disappointments we met
with in the course of this war occasioned very loud complaints against such as had the direction of our maritime
affairs, and against several of our admirals, there was not
one word said, in any of the warm and bitter pamphlets
of those times, to the prejudice of Mr. Benbow. On the
contrary, the highest praises were bestowed upon him in
many of those pieces, and his vigilance and activity made
him equally the favourite of the seamen and the merchants; the former giving him always the strongest marks
of their affection, and the latter frequently returning him
thanks for the signal services he did them, and for omitting
no opportunity that offered of protecting their commerce,
even in cases where he had no particular orders. With
respect to political parties, he never seems to have had
any attachments, which probably made him be respected
by them all. On one occasion king William consulted
him about a question agitated in those times, respectingthe expediency of preferring tars, as they were called, or
gentlemen in the navy; and though Mr. Benbow considered himself, and was considered by all the world, as
one of the former, yet he told the king it was safest to
employ both, and that the danger lay in preferring gentlemen without merit, and tars beyond their capacities.
, bart. descended from an ancient and respectable family originally
, bart. descended from an ancient and respectable family originally of Yorkshire, was educated at Westminster school, where in 1725, he was elected into the college; and in 1729, became a student of Christ Church, Oxford, and took his master’s degree in 1736. From Oxford he removed to the Middle Temple, of which society he was afterwards a bencher. He practised at the bar some years and, going the Midland circuit, was elected steward of the city of Lincoln, and also officiated as recorder at Boston in that circuit. In February, 1758, he was appointed governor of New Jersey and in January, 1760, governor of Massachusetts Bay. Of this last province he continued governor ten years, receiving, during that time, the repeated and uniform approbation of the crown, amid many successive changes of the ministry at home and likewise preserving the confidence and good opinion of all ranks in the province, until the differences arising between the two countries, and the opposition given to the orders sent from Great Britain, made it a part of his official duty to take decisive measures for supporting the authority of government which, although generally approved in this country, could not fail, on the spot, to weaken and gradually undermine the degree of popularity he before enjoyed. His conduct, however, in that trying and difficult situation gave such entire satisfaction to his majesty, that he was advanced while abroad, and without any solicitation, to the dignity of a baronet, in 1769, and was denominated of Nettieham, the present family estate near Lincoln.
Philadelphia, daughter and heir of John Potinger, esq. by Philadelphia, daughter of sir John Erule, bart. chancellor of the exchequer, was born, in 1715, at Melcomb
, the sixth son of Richard Bingham, esq. and Philadelphia, daughter and heir of John Potinger, esq. by Philadelphia, daughter of sir John Erule, bart. chancellor of the exchequer, was born, in 1715, at Melcomb Bingham, in the county of Dorset, where that antient and respected family have resided for many centuries.
ing colleague. Another set of supervisors was therefore appointed in 1781, being sir Gilbert Elliot, bart. sir Charles Bunbury, bart. and Thomas Bowdler, esq. One of
, an eminent surveyor and
architect, was born in the borough of Southwark, on the
20th of December, 1750. His father was a respectable
tradesman in St. John’s parish, and his mother was a native
of Spain. The whole of his grammatical education was
derived from a common seminary in the neighbourhood;
and at a proper age he was placed under a surveyor of no
eminence, but from whom he derived very few advantages
in the knowledge of his profession. However, from the
natural bent of an ardent mind, he sought the acquaintance of men of genius, several of whom belonged to the
Jioyal Academy. Into that academy he was admitted as a
student; and in 1773 he was presented with the medal for
the best drawing of the inside of St. Stephen’s church in
Walbrook. This prize he bore away from many competitors and, at the delivery of it, received a high compliment to his abilities from the late sir Joshua Reynolds, the
president. About the same time he entered into business
for himself in Southwark, and carried it on for some
years with increasing success among his private connections, when an event occurred which brought him into
public notice and reputation. An act of parliament had
passed in 1779, declaring, that “if any offenders convicted of crimes for which transportation had been usually
inflicted, were ordered to solitary imprisonment, accompanied by well regulated labour and religious instruction,
it might be the means, under providence, not only of deterring others from the commission of the like crimes, but
also of reforming the individuals, and enuring them to the
habits of industry.
” By this act his majesty was authorised
to appoint three persons to be supervisors of the buildings
to be erected; and the supervisors were to fix upon any
common, heath, or waste, or any other piece of ground,
in Middlesex, Essex, Kent, or Surrey, on which should
be erected two plain strong edifices, to be called “Penitentiary Houses
” one for the confinement and employment of six hundred males, the other of three hundred females. In the same year in which the act was passed,
three supervisors were appointed to carry it into execution.
These were John Howard, esq George Whatley, esq. and
Dr. John Fothergill. This commission however was dissolved, first by the death of Dr. Fothergill, and soon after
that event by the resignation of Mr. Howard, who found it
not in his power to coalesce with his remaining colleague.
Another set of supervisors was therefore appointed in 1781,
being sir Gilbert Elliot, bart. sir Charles Bunbury, bart.
and Thomas Bowdler, esq. One of the principal objects
with these gentlemen was to provide that they should be
constructed in the manner most conducive to the ends of
solitary confinement, useful labour, and moral reformation.
Accordingly, the supervisors proposed premiums for the
best plans that should be produced of the penitentiary
houses intended to be erected. The highest premium was
a hundred guineas, which xvas unanimously assigned to Mr.
Blackburn, in the month of March 1782. This preference,
as a pecuniary consideration, was a matter of little
consequence. The grand advantage that was to be expected
from it, with regard to Mr. Blackburn, was, that he should
be employed as the architect and surveyor of the buildings
proposed. And in fact he was appointed by the supervisors to that office and the plan of a penitentiary house
for male offenders was accordingly arranged by him, and
proper draughts were made for the use of the workmen;
and a great part of the work was actually contracted for by
different persons. Yet the designs of government were
not carried into execution the circumstances of the times
having diverted the attention of public men from this important object nor has it ever since been resumed. Nevertheless, though Mr. Blackburn might in this respect be
disappointed of his just expectations, he did not lose his
reward, nor was the nation deprived of the benefit arising
from his ingenuity. A spirit of erecting prisons in conformity to his plans was immediately excited and many
county gaols, and other structures of the same nature,
were built under his inspection. Besides the completion
of several prisons, Mr. Blackburn was engaged in other
designs of a similar nature, when he was arrested by the
hand of death, in the fortieth year of his age. He departed this life on the 28th day of October, 1790, at Preston in Lancashire, being on a journey to Scotland, whither
he was going at the instance of his grace the duke of Buccleugh, and the lord provost of Glasgow, with a view to
the erection of a new gaol in that city. From Preston his
remains were removed to London, and interred in the
burying-ground of Bunhill-fields.
re he died, he was applied to by the trustees for executing the will of the late sir George Downing, bart. who had bequeathed a large estate for the endowing a new college
A few weeks before he died, he was applied to by the trustees for executing the will of the late sir George Downing, bart. who had bequeathed a large estate for the endowing a new college in Cambridge, to give his assistance in forming a proper plan for this society, and framing a body of statutes for its regulation. This was a task to which his abilities were peculiarly adapted and it may be difficult to determine, whether the application reflected more, honour on the trustees, or on him. He had mentioned to some of his most intimate friends, his undertaking this business with great pleasure, and seemed to promise himself much satisfaction in the amusement it would afford him but, alas his disorder was then coming on with such hasty strides, that before any thing could be done in it, death put an end to this and all his labours, and left the university of Cambridge, as well as that of Oxford, to lament the loss of Mr. Justice Blackstone. He was buried, by his own direction, in a vault he had built for his family, inliis parish church of St. Peter’s in Wallingford. His neighbour And friend Dr. Barrington, bishop of Landaff, now of Durham, at his own particular request, performed the funeral service, as a public testimony of his personal regard and highest esteem.
y of bringing up a number of excellent scholars besides Mr. Dawes. Among these was sir Henry Atkins, bart. who, being patron of the church of Clapharn. in Surrey, as
Mr. Blackwall, in his seminaries at Derby and Bosworth,
had the felicity of bringing up a number of excellent
scholars besides Mr. Dawes. Among these was sir Henry
Atkins, bart. who, being patron of the church of Clapharn.
in Surrey, as a mark of his gratitude and esteem, presented
our author, on the 12th of October, 1726, to that rectory,
which was then supposed to be worth three hundred pounds
a year. The grammar which Mr. Blackwall made use of,
for the purpose of initiating the young people under his
care into the knowledge of the Latin tongue, was of his
own composition; and it was considered as so well adapted
to that end, that he was prevailed upon to publish it in
1728. Such, however, was his modesty, that it would not
permit him to fix his name to it, because he would not be
thought to prescribe to other instructors of youth. The
title of it is, “A 'New Latin Grammar; being a short,
clear, and easy introduction of young scholars to the knowlege of the Latin tongue containing an exact account of
the two first parts of grammar.
” It is probable, that Mr.
Blackwall’s situation at Clapham did not altogether suit his
disposition; for, early in 1729, he resigned the rectory
of that place, and retired to Market- Bosworth, where his
abilities and convivial turn of mind rendered him generally
respected. At the school-house of this town he died, ou
the 8th of April, 1730. He left behind him two children,
a son and a daughter. The son was an attorney at
StokeGolding, in the neighbourhood of Bosworth, where he died
July 5, 1763; and the daughter was married to a Mr.
Pickering.
twice married; first in 1704, to Miss Frances Barkham, daughter of sir William Barkham, of Norfolk, bart. who died in 1710, without issue; and secondly, to Mrs. Santlowe,
Besides his professional merit, Booth was a man of letters, and an author in more languages than one. He had
a taste for poetry, which discovered itself when he was
very young, in translations from several Odes of Horace;
and in his riper years, he wrote several songs and other
original poems, which were very far from injuring his reputation. He was also the author of a mask or dramatic
entertainment called “Dido and JEneas,
” that was very
well received upon the stage; but his best performance
was a Latin inscription to the memory of a celebrated
actor, Mr. William Smith, one of the greatest men of his
profession, and of whom Mr. Booth always spoke in raptures. This short elogy has much strength, beauty, and
elegance. In his private life he had many virtues, and
few of the failings so common to his profession. He had
no envy in his composition, but readily approved, and as
readily rewarded, merit, as it was in his power. He was
something rough in his manner, and a little hasty in his
temper, but very open and free to speak his sentiments,
which he always did with an air of sincerity, that procured
him as much credit with people at first sight, as he had
with those to whom he had been long known. He was
kind to all the players whose circumstances were indifferent,
and took care not to make them uneasy, either in point of
salary or of usage. He was no great speaker in company,
but when he did, it was in a grave lofty way, not unlike
his pronunciation on the stage. He had a great veneration for his parents while they were living, and was also
very useful to his brother and sister after their decease.
Booth was twice married; first in 1704, to Miss Frances
Barkham, daughter of sir William Barkham, of Norfolk,
bart. who died in 1710, without issue; and secondly, to
Mrs. Santlowe, an actress, who. survived him forty years,
and in 1772, erected a monument to his memory in Westminster abbey. In 1737 she married Mr. Goodyer,a
gentleman of fortune in Essex.
, Lord Delamer, the son of William Booth, esq. and grandson of sir George Booth, bart. rendered himself remarkable by heading an insurrection in Cheshire,
, Lord Delamer, the son of William
Booth, esq. and grandson of sir George Booth, bart. rendered himself remarkable by heading an insurrection in
Cheshire, about a year after the death of Oliver Cromwell.
He received a commission from king Charles II. under his
signet and sign-manual, bearing date July 22, 1659, by
which he was constituted commander in chief of all forces
to be raised for his majesty’s service in Cheshire, Lancashire, and North Wales. A duplicate of this was dated
at Brussels, Aug. 9, the same year, but sir George did
not openly profess to act by the king’s authority, or with
a view to his restoration, but only in opposition to the
tyranny of the parliament. He assembled about four thousand men, took possession of Chester, and was joined by
the earl of Derby, sir Thomas Middleton, and major Brook.
Bui the parliamentary forces pursued sir George and his
adherents so closely, that they could not avoid coming to
an action; and, after a sharp contest, on the 19th of August, 1659, Lambert totally routed sir George Booth’s
troops, pursued them a considerable way, and killed and
took many of them. Ludlow informs us, that “Sir George
Booth, after his defeat, put himself into a woman’s habit,
and with two servants hoped to escape to London, riding
behind one of them. The single horseman going before,
went to an inn on the road; and, as he had been ordered,
bespoke a supper for his mistress, who, he said, was
coming after. The pretended mistress being arrived,
either by alighting from the horse, or some other action,
raised a suspicion in the master of the house, that there
was some mystery under that dress. And thereupon resolving to make a full inquiry into the matter, he got together some of his neighbours to assist him, and with them
entered the room vyhere the pretended lady was. But sir
George Booth suspecting their intentions, and being unwilling to put them to the trouble of a farther search, discovered himself. Whereupon they took him into their
custody, and sent him up to London, where the parliament committed him prisoner to the Tower.
” Sir George
made applications to many of the parliament and council,
by his friends, for favour; was examined by Haselrig and
Vane, who referred his examination to the council of state;
and applications were made from the lord Say, and others,
to save his life.
amborn and Illuggan. In 1732, the lord chancellor King, by the recommendation of sir William Morice, bart. presented Mr. Borlase to the vicarage of St. Just, his native
, a learned English antiquary, was born at Pendeen, in the parish of St. Just, Cornwall, February 2, 1695-6. The family of that name, from which he was descended, had been settled at the place from whence they derived it (Borlase), from the time of king William Rufus. Our author was the second son of John Borlase, esq. of Pendeen, in the parish before mentioned, by Lydia, the youngest daughter of Christopher Harris, esq. of Hayne in the county of Devon; and was put early to school at Penzance, from which he was removed, in. 1709, to the care of the rev. Mr. Bedford, then a learned school-master at Plymouth. Having completed his grammatical education, he was entered of Exeter college, Oxford, in March 1712-13; where, on the 1st of June 1719, he took the degree of master of arts. In the same year, Mr. Borlase was admitted to deacon’s orders, and ordained priest in 1720. On the 22d of. April, 1722, he was instituted, by Dr. Weston, bishop of Exeter, to the rectory of Ludgvan in Cornwall, to which he had been presented by Charles Duke of Bolton . On the 28th of July, 1724, he was married in the church of Illuggan, by his elder brother, Dr. Borlase of Castlehorneck, to Anne, eldest surviving daughter and coheir of William Smith, M. A. rector of the parishes of Camborn and Illuggan. In 1732, the lord chancellor King, by the recommendation of sir William Morice, bart. presented Mr. Borlase to the vicarage of St. Just, his native parish, and where his father had a considerable property. This vicarage and the rectory of Ludgvan were the only preferments he ever received.
anged this for the parish of St. Mary’s in Caroline county, Virginia. When the late sir Robert Eden, bart. became governor of Maryland, he appointed Mr. Boucher rector
, a learned English clergyman and philologer, was horn at Blencogo, in the county of Cumberland, March 12, 1738; and after receiving his education at Wigton, under the rev. Joseph Blaine, went in his sixteenth year to North America. At the proper age he returned to England to be ordained, previously to which, in 1761, the vestry of the parish of Hanover, in the county of King George, Virginia, had nominated him to, the rectory of that parish. He afterwards exchanged this for the parish of St. Mary’s in Caroline county, Virginia. When the late sir Robert Eden, bart. became governor of Maryland, he appointed Mr. Boucher rector of St. Anne’s in Annapolis, and afterwards of Queen Anne’s in Prince George’s county, where he faithfully and zealously discharged the duties of a minister of the church until 1775.
ther collections of pictures and prints, by way of lottery. His letter to sir John William Anderson, bart. on the occasion of his introducing a petition for that purpose
After having expended in his favourite plan of advancing the fine arts in England no less a sum than 350,000l. this worthy and venerable character was necessitated, by the stoppage of his foreign trade during a dozen years of war, to apply to parliament, in the beginning of 1804, for permission to dispose of the Shakspeare gallery, and his other collections of pictures and prints, by way of lottery. His letter to sir John William Anderson, bart. on the occasion of his introducing a petition for that purpose to the house of commons, is a document of too much curiosity and interest to the feelings to be omitted. We have therefore thrown it into a note.
ron was William Paston, esq. his friend and contemporary at college, to whose sou sir Robert Paston, bart. of Oxnead in that county, a volume of his “Sermons,” Lond.
, a learned clergyman of the seventeenth century, and nephew to the dean of Canterbury,
hereafter mentioned, was of a good family in Kent, and
was educated at Eton school, from which he was admitted
a scholar of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, in May
1620. Here he took the degree of A. B. in 1623, of A. M.
1627, and was elected fellow in 1651. He proceeded
B. D. and was appointed one of the university preachers in
1634; and in 1640, was presented to the rectory of Mautboy in Norfolk, upon the death of Mr. Thomas D'Engayne;
but before he left college, he gave to its library a fine set
of Binnius’s Councils. His patron was William Paston,
esq. his friend and contemporary at college, to whose sou
sir Robert Paston, bart. of Oxnead in that county, a volume
of his “Sermons,
” Lond. Sermons,
” informs us that it
was with difficulty he obtained leave of the dying author to
make them public, and obtained it only upon condition that
he should say nothing of him. He has, however, given a
short, but excellent character of him.
n of the late general Trelawney, of Soho-square, and the second son of the rev. sir Henry Trelawney, bart. of Cornwall.
Mr. Breretort' became a member of the society of arts
in 1762; and,by his assiduity, zeal, and order, filled the
distinguished office of vice-president with great credit to
himself and advantage to the society, from March 1765
till his last illness in 1798. He was also an early member
of the royal society and the society of antiquaries. The
Archaeologia of the latter contain his “Observations on
Peter Collinson’s Account of the Round Towers in Ireland;
” his “Tour through South Wales;
” his “Extracts
from the Household Book of Henry VIII;
” his “Account
of a painted Window in Brereton Church, Cheshire;
” and
that of “A non-descript Coin,
” supposed to be Philip VI.
of France. Mr. Pennant has also, in his Welch Tour,
described and given an engraving of several Roman antiquities found at a Roman station on his estate in Flintshire.
Mr. Brereton was a bencher of the hon. society of Lincol n’s-Inn; filled the office of treasurer, and was keeper
of the Black Book. He also represented the borough of
Ilchester in parliament. He took the name of Salusbury
with an estate, and became constable of the castle of
Flint, a valuable privilege to his adjacent possessions. His
domestic happiness was manifest to his numerous and respectable acquaintance, among whom were some of the
most learned men of the age. He died Sept. 8, 1798, in
the eighty-fourth year of his age, and was interred in St.
George’s chapel, Windsor. His wife was sister of sir
Thomas Whitmore, K. B. and with her he lived happily
for more tnan fifty years. They had five children, who all
died young: he bequeathed the rents of his estates to her
during her life, and after her decease, which happened in
1799, to his relations, the only son of the late general
Trelawney, of Soho-square, and the second son of the rev.
sir Henry Trelawney, bart. of Cornwall.
nd one son, Nicholas, who was chaplain to sir Robert Cotton, of Steeple-Gedding, in Huntingdonshire, bart. and afterwards settled in Kent.
He appears now to have lived in obscurity and with
caution, until his death, which happened at his house at
Spring-grove, March 5, 1743, when his remains were
placed among those of his ancestors in the family vault at
Wye. Mr. Masters, from whose history of C. C. college
we have taken this account of Dr. Brett, represents him,
upon the authority of one who knew him well, as a “learned,
pious, and indefatigable author, a worthy, orthodox member of the church of England, and no small honour to her;
whose works are a clear indication of his writing in the
search of truth, which, if at any time he found himself
deviating from, he always took the first opportunity of f<?tracting it in, the most public manner. In private life he
was a dutiful son, an affectionate husband, a kind parent,
and a true friend. His conversation was ever facetious,
good-natured, and easy, tempered with a becoming gravity, without moroseness, and so well adapted to those he
happened to be in company with, that it rendered him
agreeable to, as well as esteemed by persons of all ranks,
who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
” His widow
survived him some time, and one son, Nicholas, who was
chaplain to sir Robert Cotton, of Steeple-Gedding, in
Huntingdonshire, bart. and afterwards settled in Kent.
, bart. a judge of the court of king’s-bench and common-pleas, the
, bart. a judge of the court of king’s-bench and common-pleas, the son of James Buller, esq. member of parliament for the county of Cornwall, by Jane, his second wife, one of the daughters of Allen earl Bathurst, was born in 1745, and educated at a private school in the west of England. After this he removed ta London, and was admitted of the Inner Temple, Feb. 1763, and became a pupil of sir William Ashurst, who was at that time a very eminent spe'cial-pleader, but whom, it has been thought, he excelled. He was always ranked among the most eminent of the profession in this branch, and his business, as a common -law draughtsman, was immediate, and immense. His practice also at the bar, to which he was called by the honourable society of the Middle Temple in Easter Term, 1772, was at first considerable, and in a very short period, became equal to that of almost any of his brethren. Devoting himself entirely to it, he never came into parliament. On Nov. 24, 1777, he was appointed king’s-counsel, and on the 27th of the same month, second judge of the Chester circuit. In Easter term, May 6, 1778, by the patronage of lord Mansfield, who had a high opinion of his talents, he was made a judge of the king’s-bench, in the room of sir Richard Aston. During the indisposition of lord Mansfield, for the last three or four years that he held the office of chief justice, sir Francis Buller executed almost all the business at the sittings ap nisi prius, with great ability, and lord Mansfield left him 2000l. in his will, which, it is said, Mr. justice Buller declined receiving of his lordship, when offered as a compensation for his trouble. On the resignation of lord Mansfield, his expectations were directed to the succession to the high office so long and ably filled by that venerable lawyer, but, for various reasons, sir Lloyd Kenyon was preferred. In 1794, in consequence of his declining state of health, which rendered him unequal to the laborious duties of that court, he was, on the death of judge Gould, removed to the court of common-pleas, but his health still continuing to decay, he was about to have obtained his majesty’s leave to resign, when he died suddenly, at his house in Bedford-square, June 4, 1800, and was interred in a vault in St. Andrew’s burying-ground. He was created a baronet in 1789, and was succeeded in titles and estate by his son sir F. Buller Yarde, which last name he took for an estate. Sir Francis Buller was allowed to be ably and deeply versed in the law, and was certainly more distinguished for substantial than showy talents. His eloquence at the bar was seldom admired, but his addresses from the bench were perspicuous, dignified, and logical. He possessed great quickness of perception, saw the consequences of a fact, and the drift of an argument at its first opening, and could immediately reply to an unforeseen objection, but was on some occasions thought rather hasty. He seldom, however, formed his opinions without due ^consideration, and was particularly tenacious of what he had thus considered.
elected by a very honourable majority on a poll, with his friend Mr. Perring (now sir John Perring, bart.) to the shrievalty of London and Middlesex: an office which
In 1794 Mr. Cadell retired from business, in the full possession of his health and faculties, and with an ample fortune corresponding to the magnitude of the concerns he had so long carried on, and which were probably the greatest in Europe; and was succeeded by his only son, Thomas, and Mr. William Davies, who entered at that time into partnership. Accustomed, however, from his early days to business, Mr. Cadell senior, with a laudable ambition, sought, and most honourably obtained, a seat in the magistracy of the city of London, being unanimously elected, March 30, 1798, to the office of alderman of Waibrook ward; and the following year was elected master of the worshipful company of Stationers, whose hall he decorated with a magnificent window in stained and painted glass. At Midsummer 1800, a period when party-spirit ran high, he was elected by a very honourable majority on a poll, with his friend Mr. Perring (now sir John Perring, bart.) to the shrievalty of London and Middlesex: an office which he discharged with the entire approbation of his constituents. His conscientious attendance on its duties, for he was never absent a single Sunday from the chapel of one of the prisons, we are sorry to add, seems to have laid the foundation of that asthmatic complaint, which so fatally terminated at a period when the citizens of London, who justly esteemed him as an independent, humane, and intelligent magistrate, anticipated the speedy approach of his attainment to the highest civic honours. A sudden attack of the asthma proved fatal in the night of Sunday, Dec. 27, 1802, to the lasting regret of a numerous circle of friends, and to the loss of many public institutions of which he had been an active governor, and to which he had been a liberal contributor. He was interred in the family vault, in the church-yard of Eltham, Kent.
d. Three volumes of his “Sermons” were published in the following year, 12mo, by sir William Forbes, bart. who undertook the task of selecting these from his numerous
, a clergyman of the episcopal church
in Scotland, was born at Newcastle, Feb. 16, 1704, and
educated at St. John’s college, Cambridge, where he took
the degree of bachelor of arts. Soon after his return to
Newcastle he went into orders, and in 1737 was appointed
senior clergyman of the episcopal chapel at Edinburgh,
where he spent the remainder of his days, and officiated
for the space of thirty-nine years. On the morning of
Sunday, August 18, 1776, as he was preparing to go to the
chapel, he suddenly expired. Three volumes of his “Sermons
” were published in the following year, 12mo, by sir
William Forbes, bart. who undertook the task of selecting
these from his numerous manuscripts. On his private and
public character, sir William lived to express himself with
zeal and affection thirty years after the decease of his
friend, and says of his “Sermons,
” that although they do
not contain the profound reasonings of Butler, nor the
elegant discussions of Sherlock; neither the learning of
Tillotson, nor the declamation of Seed, they exhibit the
most useful and important truths of the gospel, not only
with plainness and perspicuity, but in language always
elegant and seldom incorrect. Dr. Beattie, on the occasion
of his death, said, that “to his merits as a preacher, great
as they were, the lustre of his private character was still
superior,
” and that " the death of such a man was a real
loss to society.
Whilst he was thus employed, his head quarters were at Madingly, the seat of sir John Hinde Cotton, bart. whose large collection of old pamphlets and journals, published
It is highly probable that the success and popularity of
Kapin’s History gave considerable disgust to Mr. Carte,
and other gentlemen of the same principles, and suggested
the scheme of a new undertaking. It is evident, from
some letters written about this time to Dr. Z. Grey by
our author, that he laid a great stress upon that part of his
Life of the duke of Ormonde which vindicated Charles I.
in his transactions with the earl of Glamorgan, and which
brought a charge of forgery against that nobleman, but in
this it has since been proved he was mistaken. Some booksellers of Dublin having formed a design of printing in Ireland a piratical edition of the “History of the duke of
Ormonde,
” Mr. Carte recollected an order of the house of
lords, made in 1721, which was full to his purpose. By
this order, which had been issued upon occasion of Curll’s
publication of the duke of Buckingham’s writings, it was
declared that whoever should presume to print any account
of the life, the letters, or other works of any deceased
peer, without the consent of his heirs or executors, should
be punished as guilty of a breach of privilege of that house.
An attested copy of the order was carried by our historian
to the earl of Arran, and his lordship sent it to his agent
in Dublin, to serve upon the booksellers concerned in the
pirated impression, and to discharge them in his name from
proceeding in the design. But as this was a remedy only
in Mr. Carte’s case, and arising from the particular naiure
of his work, he was very solicitous that a new act of parliament should be passed, to secure the property of authors in their writings, and. drew up a paper recommending
such an act. Lord Cornbury, at the instance of the university of Oxford, had procured the draught of a bill to
be prepared, which was approved by the speaker of the
house of commons but we do not find that any farther
measures were pursued in the affair. In April 1738, Mr.
Carte published on a separate sheet, “A general account
of the necessary materials for a history of England, of the
society and subscriptions proposed for defraying the expences of it, and the method in which he intended to proceed in carrying on the work.
” In the following October
he had obtained subscriptions, or the promise of subscriptions, to the amount of 600l. a year. Not long after, he
was at Cambridge, collecting materials for his history, from
the university and other libraries. Whilst he was thus
employed, his head quarters were at Madingly, the seat
of sir John Hinde Cotton, bart. whose large collection of
old pamphlets and journals, published during the civil war
between 1639 and 1660, he methodized, and procured to
be bound in a great number of volumes now in the library
there. March 8, 1744, a cause in chancery was determined in his favour against his brother Samuel and his
sister Sarah, with regard to a doubt concerning their father’s will. Not many weeks after, our author fell under
the suspicions of administration, and was taken into custody, together with a Mr. Garth, at a time when the
habeas-corpus act was suspended, in consequence of some
apprehended designs in favour of the pretender. It is certain that nothing material was discovered against him, for
he was soon discharged out of custody, May 9, 1744- *. This
event did not detract from his popularity, or prevent his
receiving such encouragement in his historical design, as
never before or since has been afforded, or expected in
any literary undertaking. On July 18, the court of common-council of the city of London agreed to subscribe 5()l.
a year for seven years to Mr, Carte, towards defraying the
expence of his writing the history of England. In the
next month was printed, in an 8vo pamphlet, “A collection of the several papers that had been published by him
relative to his rgreat work.
” Oct. 18, the company of
goldsmiths voted 2 5l. a year for seven years, towards de* Whilst under examination, the walking in a heavy shower, he wa
been taken of this proposal at the time, but very lately, 1806, in the mayoralty of sir James Shaw, bart. and at the suggestion of that magistrate, the foundation of
Besides the works mentioned, he was the author of the
following publications: 1. “A collection of original letters
and papers, concerning the affairs of England, from 1641
to 1660,
” The History of the Revolutions of Portugal, from the foundation of that kingdom
to the year 1567, with letters of sir Robert Southwell,
during his embassy there, to the duke of Ormonde; giving
a particular account of the deposing don Alphonso, and
placing don Pedro on the throne,
” A full
Answer to the Letter from a bystander,
” a pamphlet, A full and clear vindication of the full answer
to a Letter from a bystander,
” ditto, Catalogue des rolles Gascons, Normans, et
Francois, conserves dans les archives de la Tour de Londres;
tire* d‘apres celui du Garde* desdites archives; & contenant
la precis & le sommaire de tous les titres qui s’y trouvent
concernant la Guienne, la Normandie, & les autres provinces de la France, sujettes autres fois auX rois d’Angleterre, &c.
” Paris, A preface to a translation, by Mrs. Thompson, of the
history of the memorable and extraordinary calamities of
Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, &c. by the chevalier
Michael Baudier,
” London, Advice of
a Mother to her son and daughter,
” translated from the
French of the marchioness de Lambert. This has gone
through several editions. 8. “Farther reasons, addressed
to parliament, for rendering more effectual an act of queen
Anne, relating to the vesting in authors the right of copies,
for the encouragement of learning, by R. H.
” about The case of the royal martyr considered with candour,
” in 2 vols. 8vo, the author of which acknowledges
his obligations to Mr. Carte. It was written by the rev.
J. Boswell, M. A. a clergyman and a schoolmaster, at
Taunton, in Somersetshire, and the author of a “Method
of Study, or a useful library,
” printed in Remarks on the Free and Candid Disquisitions,
”
which appeared in
ers relative to antiquities are supposed to have been sold by his widow to the late sir Thomas Cave, bart. He assisted Mr. Jackson, schoolmaster of Coventry, in his account
was admitted a scholar of Trinity-hall, Cambridge,
on the 5th of May, 1704, and proceeded LL. B. He was
afterwards a member of Symond’s-inn, and practised as a
solicitor in Chancery in 1708, in which profession he became eminent. He was also a learned antiquary. Most
of his manuscripts and papers relative to antiquities are
supposed to have been sold by his widow to the late sir
Thomas Cave, bart. He assisted Mr. Jackson, schoolmaster of Coventry, in his account of the benefactions and
charities belonging to that city; and was the editor, though
without his name, of Brewster’s “Collectanea Ecclesiastica,
” to which he added many learned notes. Mr. Samuel
Carte was alive in 1760, but died not long after. Several
manuscript letters of his, relative to subjects of antiquity,
were in Dr. Ducarel’s possession, and are now in that of
Mr, Nichols.
; first at Long-Leat, on the 17th of October, 1710, to Frances, only daughter of sir Robert Worsley, bart.; and secondly, on the 14th of April, 1744, to lady Sophia,
We now come to a part of lord Carteret’s life, including
nearly twelve years, from 1730 to 1742, during which he
engaged in the grand opposition, that was carried on so
long, and with so much pertinacity, against sir Robert
Walpole. In this opposition he took a very distinguished
part, and was one of its ablest and most spirited leaders.
There was scarcely any motion or question on which his
eloquence was not displayed. His powers of oratory are
allowed to have been eminently great; and it is highly
probable, that they were invigorated and increased by
that superior ardour which naturally accompanies an attack
upon the measures of government. In the session of parliament, 1730-1, he supported the bill against pensioners
being permitted to sit in that house; and the motion for
discharging the twelve thousand Hessian forces in the pay
of Great Britain. In the subsequent session, which opened
on the 13th of January, 1731-2, besides speaking in
favour of the pension bill, lord Carteret exerted his whole
ability against the passing of the act for reviving the salt
duty. This tax he asserted to be grievous, pernicious,
and insupportable; oppressive to the lower part of the
people; and dangerous to public liberty, by the numerous
dependents it would create upon the crown. In the next
year, the grand objects that engaged the attention of the
minority were, the motion for the reduction of the land
forces; the produce of the forfeited estates of the SouthSea directors in 1720; and the bill for granting eightythousand pounds for the princess-royal’s marriage settlement, and a sum out of the sinking fund; on which occasions lord Carteret displayed his usual energy and eloquence. In the session which began on the 17th of January, 1733-4, his lordship made the motion for an address
to the king, to know who had advised the removal of the
duke of Bolton and lord Cobham from their regiments;
and took the lead in the memorable debate which arose
upon that question, and an, active part in the other matters that were agitated in this and the following sessions.
It is observable that, about this time, Dr. Swift had some
doubts concerning lord Carteret’s steadiness in the cause
of opposition, yet, in the session>f parliament which
opened on the 1st of February, 1736-7, his lordship distinguished himself greatly in the several question-s concerning the riots at Edinburgh, and the affair of captain
Porteus; and he was the mover, in the house of peers,
for the settlement of an hundred thousand pounds a year,
out of the civil list, upon the prince of Wales; a matter
which excited a very long and violent debate. He exercised the same vigour with regard to all the motions and
questions of that busy session; and it is evident, from the
records of the times, that he was the prime leader of opposition in the upper house. This character was preserved
by lord Carteret in the parliament which met on the 15th
of November, 1739; and in the following session, when
the minority exerted their whole strength to overturn the
administration, he made the motion in the house of peers,
Feb. 13, 1740-1, to address his majesty, that he would
graciously be pleased to remove sir Robert Walpole from
his presence and councils for ever, and prefaced his proposal with the longest, as well as the ablest speech that, he
ever appears to have delivered. A year after, when
views of opposition were attained, so far as related to the
displacing of sir Robert Walpole, lord Carteret, Feb. 12>
1741-42, was appointed one of his majesty’s principal secretaries of state, and then began to change his parliamentary language, opposing the motion for the commitment of the pension -bill, and the bill to indemnify
evidences against Robert earl of Orford, not consistently,
although with some reason. In September 1742, he was
sent to the States General, to concert measures with them,
for the maintenance of the liberties of the United Provinces, and the benefit of the common cause and soon
after his return, he opposed the motion for discharging the
Hanoverian troops in British pay and distinguished himself in favour of the bill for retailing spirituous liquors. In
1743 he waited upon his majesty at Hanover, and attended
him through the whole interesting campaign of that year;
and the king placed the greatest confidence in his counsels,
to which he was the more entitled, as he was eminently
^killed in foreign affairs. On the death of his mother,
upon the 18th of October, 1744, he succeeded to the titles
of viscount Carteret and earl Granville, and, a few weeks
after, resigned the seals as secretary of state, unable to
oppose the patriotic party, whom he had suddenly forsaken, and the duke of Newcastle and his brother, Mr.
Pelham, who formed analliance with them against him.
George II. however, with reluctance parted with a minister who had gained his personal affection by his great
knowledge of the affairs of Europe, by his enterprizing
genius, and, above all, by his ready compliance with the
king’s favourite views. In the beginning of 1746, his
lordship made an effort to retrieve his influence in the cabinet, but the duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pelham, who
knew his aspiring disposition, refused to admit him into
administration, yet mismanaged their intrigues so much,
that at first they were themselves obliged to resign, and
earl Granvilie was appointed secretary of state, and resumed the reins of administration, in February 1745-6:
finding, however, that he could not counteract the accumulated opposition that preponderated against him, he resigned the seals four days after they had' been put into his
hands. Still lord Granville’s political antagonists were not
able to prevent his receiving,. personal marks of royal favour. On the 22d of June, 1749J he was elected at Kensington, one of the knights companions of the most noble
order of the garter, and next year was again brought into
the ministry, in connection with the very men by whom
he had been so long and so warmly opposed. He was
then constituted president of the council, and notwithstanding the various revolutions of administration, was continued in this high post till his decease. When his majesty went to Hanover, in 17- r >2, earl Granville was appointed
one of the lords justices of the kingdom and he was in
the commissions for opening and concluding the session of
parliament, which began on the 31st of May, 1754, and
ended on the 5th of June following. The Ifist time in
which he spoke in the house of peers, was in opposition to
the third reading of the militia-bill, on the 24th of May,
1756, but not with his usual effect. When, in October
1761, Mr. Pitt proposed in council, an immediate declaration of war with Spain, and urged the measure with his
usual energy, threatening a resignation, if his advice should
not be adopted; lord Granville is said to have replied to
him in terms both pointed and personal. Mr. Wood, in
the preface to his “Essay on the original Genius and
Writings of Homer,
” informs us, that “being directed to
wait upon his lordship, a few days before he died, with
the preliminary articles of the treaty of Paris, he found
him so languid, that he proposed postponing his business
for another time; but earl Granville insisted that he should
stay, saying, it could not prolong his life to neglect his
duty; and repeating a passage out of Sarpedon’s speech
in Homer, he dwelled with particular emphasis on one of
the lines which recalled to his mind the distinguishing part
he had taken in public affairs.
” After a pause he desired
to hear the treaty read and gave it the approbation of a
“dying statesman (his own words) on the most glorious
war, and most honourable peace, this nation ever saw.
”
In other respects, lord Granville so much retained his vivacity to the close of his life, as to be able to break out
into sallies of wit and humour. He died Jan. 2, 1763, in.
the seventy-third year of his age. He was twice married;
first at Long-Leat, on the 17th of October, 1710, to
Frances, only daughter of sir Robert Worsley, bart.; and
secondly, on the 14th of April, 1744, to lady Sophia,
daughter of Thomas earl of Pomfret. By his former wife
he had three sons and five daughters; by the latter, only
one daughter.
Lord Granville’s character has been drawn as follows,
by the late earl of Chesterfield: “Lord Granville had
great parts, and a most uncommon share of learning for a
man of quality. He was one of the best speakers in the
house of lords, both in the declamatory and the argumentative way. He had a wonderful quickness and precision
in seizing the stress of a question, which no art, no sophistry, could disguise in him. In business he was bold,
enterprizing, and overbearing. He had been bred up in
high monarchical, that is, tyrannical principles of government, which his ardent and impetuous temper made him
think were the only rational and practicable ones. He
would have been a great first minister in France, little inferior, perhaps, to Richelieu; in this government, which is
yet free, he would have been a dangerous one, little less
so, perhaps, than lord Strafford. He was neither ill-natured nor vindictive, and had a great contempt for money.
His ideas were all above it. In social life he was an agreeable, good-humoured, and instructive companion; a great
but entertaining talker. He degraded himself by the vice
of drinking, which, together with a great stock of Greek
and Latin, he brought away with him from Oxford, and
retained and practised ever afterwards. By his own industry, he had made himself master of all the modern languages, and had acquired a great knowledge of the law.
His political knowledge of the interest of princes and of
commerce was extensive, and his notions were just and
great. His character may be summed up, in nice precision, quick decision, and unbounded presumption.
”
the second son of George Cary, esq. and“Elizabeth, daughter of sir Edward Seymour, of Berry-castle, bart. When he was well-grounded in school -learn ing, he went to
, a learned Chronologer in the seventeenth
century, and great nephew of sir George Cary, knt. lord
deputy of Ireland in queen Elizabeth’s reign, was born at
Cockinton, in the county of Devon, about the year 1615;
being the second son of George Cary, esq. and“Elizabeth,
daughter of sir Edward Seymour, of Berry-castle, bart.
When he was well-grounded in school -learn ing, he went
to Oxford, and was admitted sojourner of Exeter college,
on the 4th of October 1631, aged sixteen. Having continued there about three years, he was, in October 1634,
chosen scholar of Corpus Christi college in the same university. The next year, on December the 3d, he was
admitted bachelor of arts; and the 23d of February 1638-9,
proceeded master of arts: and it is probable, that he was
also chosen fellow of his college, though Mr. Wood professes he did not know. On Nov. 4, 1644, he was created
doctor of laws, by virtue of mandatory letters from
the chancellor, William marquis of Hertford, who was his
kinsman. Some time after, he travelled into Fiance, the
Low Countries, and other foreign parts. At his return,
he was presented by the marquis of Hertford, to the rectory of Portlemouth, near Kingsbridge in Devonshire, a
living of very good value. There he settled, and lived in
good repute: and being distinguished by his birth, degrees,
and learning, the presbyterian ministers of those times
made him moderator of that part of the second divisional*
the county of Devon, which was appointed to meet at
Kingsbridge; yet he was never zealous in their interest: for,
upon the restoration of Charles II. he was one of the first
that congratulated that king upon his return. For this,
he was soon after preferred to the archdeaconry of Exeter,
which he was installed into August 18, 1662. But he was
in a little while, namely, in 1664, affrighted and ejected
out of it by some great men then in power: who taking
advantage of some infirmities, or perhaps imprudences, of
his, resolved to throw him out, in order to raise a favourite
upon his ruin. Being thus deprived of his archdeaconry,
he retired to his rectory at Portlemouth, where he spent
the remainder of his days in a private, cheerful, and contented condition in good repute with his neighbours
and as much above content as he was below envy. He
died at the parsonage-house of Portlemouth, and was buried
in his own church there, on the 19th of September, 1688,
without any funeral monument. He was a man very perfect in curious and critical learning, particularly in chronology; of which he gave a full testimony, in the excellent book he published, entitled
” Palaelogia Chronica, a
chronological account of ancient time, in three parts, 1.
Didactical. 2. Apodeictical. 3. Canonical," Lond. 1677,
folio. He was also in his younger years well skilled in
poetry, as well Latin as English; though he published nothing in this kind but those hymns of our church, that are
appointed to be read after the lessons, together with the
creed, &c. These being translated by him into Latin verse,
were printed on the flat sides of two sheets in folio. In
person he was of a middle stature, sanguine complexion,
and in his elder years somewhat corpulent. In his carriage
he was a gentleman of good address, free and generous,
and courteous and obliging.
acteristics. Dr. Chamberlen was thrice married; and his widow, the daughter of sir Willoughby Aston, bart. was afterwards married to sir Thomas Crew, of Utkinton, in
, an eminent man-midwife,
was grandson to Dr. Peter Chamberlen, who, with his
fathers and uncles, were physicians to the kings James I.
Charles I. and II. James II. William, and queen Anne.
He was born in 1664, and educated at Trinity college,
Cambridge, where he took his master’s degree in 1683,
and that of M. D. in 1690. He has a Latin poem in the
“Hymenæus Cantabrigiensis,
” on the marriage of prince
George of Denmark with the princess Anne, 1683. He, his
father, and brothers, invented among them an obstetric
forceps, with which they were enabled to deliver women with
safety in cases where, before this discovery, the child was
usually lost. In 1672 he went to Paris, but happening to
be unsuccessful in a case there, he thought it adviseable to
remove to Holland, where he is said to have succeeded
better. Here he imparted his secret to two eminent practitioners, and received a considerable reward. On his
return to London he had great practice, and realized a handsome fortune. In 1683 he published his translation of
“Mauriceau’s Midwifery,
” a work in great request, and
republished as late as 1755. Mauriceau mentions him
often in some of his works, but always with the littleness
of jealousy. Chamberlen’s forceps, improved by Smellie
and some other practitioners, continues in use, and gives
the inventor an honourable rank among the improvers of
art. In 1723 we find him attending bishop Atterbury in
the Tower, in lieu of Dr. Freind, who was himself a prisoner. He died at his house in Covent-garden, June 17,
1728; and a very fine marble monument was erected to his
memory in Westminster-abbey at the expence of Edmund,
duke of Buckingham. The long Latin epitaph, the production of bishop Atterbury, records, besides his skill, his
benevolence, liberality, and many other amiable personal
characteristics. Dr. Chamberlen was thrice married; and
his widow, the daughter of sir Willoughby Aston, bart.
was afterwards married to sir Thomas Crew, of Utkinton,
in Cheshire, knight, who also left her a widow, but she
died suddenly, April 6, 1734, and that year Dr. Chamberlen’s library was sold by Fletcher Gyles.
imself in Latin, which has been twice printed; first from a ms. in the hands of sir Philip Sydenham, bart. by Hearne, and a second time by Peck, from a ms. still preserved
In 1638 his patrons, the earl of Strafford, and the archbishop of Canterbury, preferred him to the bishoprics of
Cork, Cloyne, and Ross; and he was consecrated at St.
Patrick’s, Dublin, Nov. 11, though he had done all he
could to avoid this honour. By the king’s command he
continued in his provostship till July 20, 1640; before
which time he had endeavoured to obtain a small bishopric
in England, that he might return to his native country, as
he tells us, and die in peace. But his endeavours were
fruitless; and he was left in Ireland to feel all the fury of
the storm, which he had long foreseen. He was attacked
in the house of commons with great bitterness by the puritan party, and obliged to come to Dublin from Cork,
and to put in sureties for his appearance. June 1641,
articles of impeachment were exhibited against him to the
house of peers, consisting of fourteen, though the substance
of them was reduced to two; the first, perjury, on a supposed breach of his oath as provost; the second, malice
towards the Irish, founded on discontinuing the Irish lecture during the time of his being provost. The prosecution was urged with great violence, and, as is supposed,
for no other reason but because he had enforced uniformity
and strict church discipline in the college. This divine’s
fate was somewhat peculiar, for although his conduct was
consistent, he was abused at Cambridge for being a puritan, and in Ireland for being a papist. Yet as we find the
name of archbishop Usher among his opponents in Ireland,
there seems reason to think that there was some foundation
for his unpopularity, independent of what was explicitly
stated. While, however, he laboured under these troubles,
he was exposed to still greater, by the breaking out of the
rebellion in the latter end of that year. He was under a
kind of confinement at Dublin, on account of the impeachment which was still depending; but at length obtained
leave to embark for England, for the sake of returning
thence to Cork, which, from Dublin, as things stood, he
could not safely do. He embarked Dec. 26, 1641, and
the next day landed at Milford-haven, after a double
escape, as himself phrases it, from the Irish wolves and
the Irish sea. He went from Milford-haven to Pembroke,
and thence to Tenby, where information was made of him
to the mayor, who committed him to gaol Jan. 25. After
lying there seven weeks, he was set at liberty by the interest of sir Hugh Owen, a member of parliament, upon
giving bond in 1000l. for his appearance; and March 16,
set out for Bristol. Here he learnt that the ship bound
from Cork to England, with a great part of his effects, was
lost near Minehead; and by this, among other things, he
lost his choice collection of books. After such a series of
misfortunes, and the civil confusions increasing, he withdrew to his native soil, where he spent the remainder of
his life in retirement and study; and died at Derby, where
he had some time resided, upon Whitsunday, 1649.
He published the year before his death, “Methodus
concionandi,
” that is, the method of preaching, which for
its usefulness was also translated into English. His “Use
of Holy Scripture,
” was printed afterwards in ’Tis
certain ‘The whole Duty of Man’ was written by one who
suffered by the troubles in Ireland; and some lines in this
piece give great grounds to conjecture that bishop Chappel
was the author. March 3, 1734.
” Thus we see this
prelate, as well as many other great and good persons,
comes in for part of the credit of that excellent book; yet
there is no explicit evidence of his having been the author
of it. It appears indeed to have been written before the
death of Charles I. although it was not published till 1657,
and the manner of it is agreeable enough to this prelate’s
plain and easy way of writing; but then there can be no
reason given why his name should be suppressed in the
title-page, when a posthumous work of his was actually
published with it but a few years before.
&c.” illustrated by books of travels, he recovered this treasure by means of sir William Jlusgrave, bart. in whose possession it was, not a single quarto volume, but
In the preface to his Voyages, he promised other works,
as “A Geography of Persia;
” “A Compendious History
of that Empire, taken from Persian Authors;
” and “Observations on Passages of the Holy Scripture, explained by
the manners and customs of the East,
” but the two former
never appeared, and the latter was discovered by a public
advertisement In 1770, sir John’s descendants advertised a reward of twenty guineas for this manuscript, which
they call “A Commentary or Explanation of the Old Testament, from the manners and customs of the East, written
in French by sir J. Chardin,
” and which, they add, about
twenty years before, i. e. 1750, was seen by a gentleman
in the possession of Dr. Oldfield. It was describecTto have
been a thin quarto volume, in a very small hand. But
when Mr. Harmer compiled his “Observations on divers
passages of Scripture, &c.
” illustrated by books of travels,
he recovered this treasure by means of sir William Jlusgrave, bart. in whose possession it was, not a single quarto
volume, but six small ms volumes, the principal part of
which Mr. Harmer incorporated in his valuable work.
and the estate devolved to Edward’s younger sister Anne, wife of sir Thomas Tipping of Oxfordshire, bart. who left only two daughters, whereof Catherine, the youngest,
f- It was composed by his learned “Doctrine Checus linguaeque utriusfriend Dr. Walter Haddon. que magister.
”
James I. He purchased the seat of Pyrgo near Romford
in Essex, where he and his posterity were settled several
years. He was buried March 25, 1659, in St. Albau’s,
Wood-street, near his grandfather. Sir Thomas’s second
son, Thomas, commonly known by the name of colonel
Cheke, inherited the estate, and was lieutenant, of the
Tower in the reigns of Charles II. and James II. This
Thomas had two sons, Henry, who died young, and Edward, who succeeded him in his estates. Edward dying in
1707, left two sons; but they died both under age; and
the estate devolved to Edward’s younger sister Anne, wife
of sir Thomas Tipping of Oxfordshire, bart. who left only
two daughters, whereof Catherine, the youngest, was married to Thomas Archer of Underslade in Warwickshire,
esq. the late possessor of the Essex estate of the Chekes.
daughter of Richard Lee, of Winsloder, in Devonshire, esq. She was married to sir George Chudleigh, bart. by whom she had several children; among the rest, Eliza-Maria,
, who had the character of
a very philosophic and poetic lady, was born in 1656, and
was the daughter of Richard Lee, of Winsloder, in Devonshire, esq. She was married to sir George Chudleigh,
bart. by whom she had several children; among the rest,
Eliza-Maria, who dying in the bloom of life, was lamented
by her mother in a poem entitled “A Dialogue between
Lucinda and Marissa.
” She wrote another poem called
“The Ladies Defence,
” occasioned by an angry sermon
preached against the fair sex. These, with many others,
were collected into a volume in 1703, and printed a third
time in 1722. She published also a volume of Essays upon
various subjects in verse and prose, in 1710, which have
been much admired far delicacy of style. These were dedicated to her royal highness the princess Sophia, electress
and duchess dowager of Brunswick; on which occasion
that princess, then in her eightieth year, honoured her
with a very polite epistle.
year after, Collins married a second wife, namely Elizabeth, the daughter of sir Walter Wrottesley, bart. but had no children by her. His daughters survived him, and
In July 1698, when he was just entered into his 23d year, he married Martha, the daughter of sir Francis Child, who was the year following lord mayor of London and by her he had two sons and two daughters. The elder of his sons died in his infancy. Anthony, the younger, was born Oct. 1701, and was a gentleman of great sweetness of temper, a fine understanding, and of good learning. He was educated at Bene't college in Cambridge, and died universally lamented by all that knew him, Dec. 20, 1723. The year after, Collins married a second wife, namely Elizabeth, the daughter of sir Walter Wrottesley, bart. but had no children by her. His daughters survived him, and were unmarried at his death.
iver on the 30th of July. In this voyage he was accompanied by Joseph Banks, esq. (since sir Joseph, bart. knight of the bath, and president of the royal society) and
On this occasion lieutenant Cook was promoted to be captain, and his commission bore date the 25th of May 1768. He immediately hoisted the pendant, and took command of the ship, in which he sailed down the river on the 30th of July. In this voyage he was accompanied by Joseph Banks, esq. (since sir Joseph, bart. knight of the bath, and president of the royal society) and Dr. Solander. On the 13th of October he arrived at Rio de Janeiro, and on the 13th of April 1769 came to Otaheite, where the transit of Venus was observed in different parts of the island. He staid there until the 13th of July, after which he went in search of several islands, which he discovered. He then proceeded to New Zealand, and on the 10th of October 1770, arrived at Batavia with a vessel almost worn out, and the crew much fatigued and very sickly. The repairs of the ship obliged him to continue at this unhealthy place until the 27th of December, in which time he lost many of his seamen and passengers, and more in the passage to the Cape of Good Hope, which place he reached on the 15th of March 177-1. On the 14-th of April he left the Cape, and the 1st of May anchored at St. Helena, from whence he sailed on the 4th, and came to anchor in the Downs on the 12th of June, after having been absent almost three years, and in that time had experienced every danger to which a voyage of such a length is incident, and in which he had made discoveries equal to those of all the navigators of his country from the time of CoJumbus to the present. The narrative of this expedition was written by Dr. Hawkesworth, who, although the facts contained in it have not been denied, nor the excellence of the composition disputed, was, on its publication, treated with peculiar severity, owing to some opinions on the nature of providence, which Dr, Hawkesworth incautiously advanced, Soon after captain Cook’s return to England, it was resolved to equip two ships to complete the discovery of the southern hemisphere. It had long been a prevailing idea, that the unexplored part contained another continent; and Alexander Dalrymple, esq. a gentleman of great skill and an enterprising spirit, had been very firmly persuaded of its existence. To ascertain the fact was the principal object of this expedition; and that nothing might be omitted that could tend to facilitate the enterprise, two ships were provided, furnished with every necessary which could promote the success of the undertaking. The first of these ships was called the Resolution, under the command of captain Cook; the other, the Adventure, commanded by captain Furneaux. Both of them sailed from Deptfortl on the 9th of April 1772, and arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on the 30th of October. They departed from thence on the 22d of November, and from that time until the 17th of January 1773, continued endeavouring to discover the continent, when they were obliged to relinquish the design, observing the whole sea covered with ice from the direction of S. E. round by the south to west. They then proceeded into the South Seas, and made many other discoveries, and returned to the Cape of Good Hope on the 2 1 st of March 1774, and from thence to England on the 14th of July; having during three years and eighteen days (in which time the voyage was performed) lost but one man by sickness, in captain Cook’s ship; although he had navigated throughout all the climates from fifty-two degrees north to seventy-one degrees south, with a company of an hundred and eighteen men. The relation of this voyage was given to the public by captain Cook himself, and by Mr. George Forster, son of Dr. Forster, who had been appointed by government to accompany him for the purpose of making observations on such natural productions as might be fouud in the course of the navigation; but the publication was superintended by Dr. Douglas, the late bishop of Salisbury.
an of very dubious character, was son of sir John Cooper, of llockborn in the county of Southampton, bart. by Anne, daughter of sir Anthony Ashley of Winborne St. Giles
, earl of Shaftesbury, an
eminent statesman of very dubious character, was son of
sir John Cooper, of llockborn in the county of Southampton, bart. by Anne, daughter of sir Anthony Ashley of Winborne St. Giles in the county of Dorset, bart. where he
was born July 22, 1621. Being a boy of uncommon parts,
he was sent to Oxford at the age of fifteen, and admitted
a gentleman commoner of Exeter college, under Dr. John
Prideaux, the rector of it. He is said to have studied hard
there for about two years; and then removed to Lincoln’s
inn, where he applied himself with great vigour to the law,
and especially that part of it which related to the constitution of the kingdom. He was elected for Tewksbury in
Gloucestershire, in the parliament which met at Westminster, April 13, 1640, but was soon dissolved. He seems
to have been well affected to the king’s service at the beginning of the civil war: for he repaired to the king at
Oxford, offered his assistance, and projected a scheme,
not for subduing or conquering his country, but for reducing such as had either deserted or mistaken their duty
to his majesty’s obedience. He was afterwards invited to
Oxford by a letter from his majesty; but, perceiving that
he was not in confidence, that ins behaviour was disliked,
and his person in danger, he retired into the parliament
quarters, and soon after went up to London, where he was
well received by that party “to which,
” says Clarendon,
“he gave himself up body and soul.
” He accepted a
commission from the parliament and, raising forces, took
Wareham by storm, October 1644, and soon after reduced
all the adjacent parts of Dorsetshire. This, and some other
actions of the same nature, induced the above-mentioned
historian to say that he “became an implacable enemy to
the royal family.
” The next year he was sheriff of Wiltshire, in 1651 he was of the committee of twenty, appointed to consider of ways and means for reforming the
law. He was also one of the members of the convention
that met after Cromwell had turned out the long parliament. He was again a member of parliament in 1654, and
one of the principal persons who signed that famous protestation, charging the protector with tyranny and arbitrary
government; and he always opposed the illegal measures
of that usurper to the utmost. When the protector Richard
was deposed, and the Rump came again into power, they
nominated sir Anthony one of their council of state, and a
commissioner for managing the army. He was at that very
time engaged in a secret correspondence with the friends
of Charles II. and greatiy instrumental in promoting his
restoration; which brought him into peril of his life with
the powers then in being. He was returned a member for
Dorsetshire, in that which was called the healing parliament, which sat in April 1660; and a resolution being
taken to restore the constitution, he was named one of the
twelve members of the house of commons to carry their
invitation to the king. It was in performing this service
that he had the misfortune to be overturned in a carriage
upon a Dutch road, by which he received a dangerous
wound between the ribs, which ulcerated many years after,
and was opened when he was chancellor.
ive, tin and English. H-- died at the house like old sir Ralph Starkie when he of sir Thomas Cotton, bart. in the be- lived, let out, or lent out, sir Robert ginning
It may be necessary, in order to elucidate this matter
still farther, to take notice, that one of the articles in the
attorney-general’s information against sir Robert Cotton
was, “that the discourse or project was framed and con* This was Richard James, fellow of three years before hi* death, he beCorpus Christ! college, in Oxford, born stowed the custody of his whole library
at Newport, in the Isle of Wight, and on him and he being a needy sharkauthor of several sermons, both in La- ing companion, and very expensive,
tin and English. H-- died at the house like old sir Ralph Starkie when he
of sir Thomas Cotton, bart. in the be- lived, let out, or lent out, sir Robert
ginning of Dec. 1636. Sir Symcmds Cotton’s most precious manuscripts for
D'Ewes gives a very severe character money, to any that would be his cusof him; an atheistical profane scholar, tomers; which,
” says sir Symonds, “I
but otherwise witty and moderately once made known to sir Robert Cotton,
learned; and he adds, that he had so before the said James’s face.
” But this
screwed himself info the good opinion appears to be in some essential points
of srt- Robert Cotton, “that whereas incorrect, as will be shewn when we
at first he had only permitted him the come to the article of Richard James,
use of his books, at last, some two or
trived within five or six months past here in England;
”
but sir David Foulis testified upon oath, being thereunto
required, that it was contrived at Florence seventeen years
before, by sir Robert Dudley; upon which most of the
parties were released, and sir Robert Cotton had his library
restored to him soon after.
, bart. lord chancellor of Ireland, and author of a history of that
, bart. lord chancellor of Ireland,
and author of a history of that kingdom, was son to Richard
Cox, esq. captain of a troop of horse, and was born at
Bandon, in the county of Cork, on the 25th of March
1650. He had the misfortune to become an orphan before
he was full three years of age and was then taken care of
by his mother’s father, Walter Bird, esq. of Cloghnakilty.
But his grandfather also dying when he was about nine
years old^ he was then taken under the protection of his
uncle, John Bird, esq. who placed him at an ordinary
Latin school at Cloghnakiity, where he soon discovered a
strong inclination to learning. In 1668, in his eighteenth
year, he began to practise as an attorney in several manor
courts where his uncle was seneschal, and continued it
three years, and was entered of Gray’s Inn in 1671, with
a view of being called to the bar. Here he was so much
distinguished for his great assiduity and consequent improvement, that in the summer of 1673 he was made one
of the surveyors at sir Robert Shaftoe’s reading. He soon
after married a lady who had a right to a considerable fortune; but, being disappointed in obtaining it, he took a
farm near Cloghnakiity, to which he retired for seven
years. Being at length roused from his lethargy by a great
increase of his family, he was, hy the interest of sir Robert Southwell, elected recorder of Kinsale in 1680. He
now removed to Cork; where he practised the law with
great success. But, foreseeing the storm that was going
to fall on the protestants, he quitted his practice, and his
estate, which at that time amounted to 300l. per ann. and
removed with his wife and five children to England, and
settled at Bristol. At this place he obtained sufficient
practice to support his family genteelly, independently of
his Irish estate; and at his leisure hours compiled the
History of Ireland;“the first part of which he published
soon after the revolution, in 1689, under the title of
” Hibernia Anglicana; or the History of Ireland, from the
conquest thereof by the English to the 'present time."
When the prince of Orange arrived in London, Mr. Cox
quitted Bristol, and repaired to the metropolis, where he
was made undersecretary of state. Having given great satisfaction to the king in the discharge of this office, Mr. Cox
was immediately after the surrender of Waterford made
recorder of that city. On the 15th of September 1690, he
was appointed second justice of the court of common
pleas. In April 1691 Mr. Justice Cox was made governor
of the county and city of Cork. His situation now, as a
judge and a military governor, was somewhat singular;
and he was certainly not deficient in zeal for the government, whatever objections may be made to his conduct on
the principles of justice and humanity. During the time
of Mr. Cox’s government, which continued till the reduction of Limerick, though he had a frontier of 80 railes to
defend, and 20 places to garrison, besides Cork and the
fort of Kinsale, yet he did not lose a single inch of ground.
On the 5th of November 1692, Mr. justice Cox received
the honour of knighthood; in July 1693 was nominated
lord chancellor of Ireland, and in October 1706 was created
a baronet. On the death of queen Anne, and the accession of king George I. sir Richard Cox, with the other
principal Irish judges, was removed from his office, and
also from the privy council. He then retired to his seat
in the county of Cork, where he hoped to have ended his
days in peace; hut his tranquillity was disturbed by several attacks which were made against him in the Irish parliament, but though several severe votes were passed
against, him, they were not followed by any farther proceedings. He now divided his time between study, making improvements on his estate, and acts of beneficence.
But in April 1733, he was seized by a fit of apoplexy,
which ended in a palsy, under which he languished till
the 3d of May that year, when he expired without pain,
at the age of 83 years one month and a few days.
d ingenious lady, nearly related to the poet Dryden, was the only daughter of sir Gilbert Pickering, bart. by Elizabeth, the only daughter of sir Sidney Montagu, knt.
, a very amiable and ingenious
lady, nearly related to the poet Dryden, was the only
daughter of sir Gilbert Pickering, bart. by Elizabeth, the
only daughter of sir Sidney Montagu, knt. and sister of
Edward Montagu, first earl of Sandwich. She was born
in 1642, and was married to John Creed of Oundle, esq. a
wise, learned, and pious man (as his inscription, written by her, intimates), “who served his majesty Charles II. in
diverse honourable employments at home and abroad;
lived with honour, and died lamented, 1701.
” By this
gentleman she had a numerous family, one of whom, the
brave major Richard Creed, is commemorated by a monument in Westminster-abbey, as well as by one erected by
his mother in the church of Tichmarsh. During her
widowhood, Mrs. Creed resided many years in a mansionhouse at Barnwell, near Oundle in Northamptonshire, belonging to the Montagu family, where she amused and employed herself in painting, and gratuitously instructed
many young women in drawing, fine needle-work, and
other elegant arts. Many of the churches in the neighbourhood of Oundle are decorated with altar-pieces, monuments, and ornaments of different kinds, the works of
her hand; and her descendants are possessed of many
portraits, and some good pictures painted by her. Two
days in every week she constantly allotted to the public;
on one, she was visited by all the nobility and gentry who
resided near her; on the other, she received and relieved
all the afflicted and diseased of every rank, giving them
food, raiment, or medicine, according to their wants.
Her reputation in the administration of medicine was
considerable; and as she afforded it gratis, her practice was
of course extensive. Her piety was great and unaffected.
That it was truly sincere, was evinced by the magnanimity
with which she endured many trials more heavily afflictive
than what usually fall to the lot even of those whose life is
prolonged to so great an extent. In 1722, when in her
eightieth year, she erected a monument in the church of
Ticbmarsh to the memory of Dryden and his ancestors,
with a:; inscription by herself. She died at Ountlle in
May 1728, and her remains were removed to Tichmarsh,
where she was buried with her ancestors. Her funeral
sermon, which Mr. Malone doesnot appear to have seen,
was preached hy Henry Lee, D. D. rector of Tichmarsh in
May 1728, and therefore probably the date of her death,
in Malone’s Life of Dryden, viz. “the beginning of
1724-5,
” must be incorrect. This sermon, printed at
London the same year, 8vo, is dedicated to Mrs. Stuart,
executrix and sole surviving daughter of Mrs. Creed. An
extract from it, confirming the excellence of her character,
may be seen in a compilation less respected than it deserves, Wilford’s “Memorials.
”
he lived. He happened to be quartered at Rouslidge, in Gloucestershire, where one sir James Ennyon, bart. of Northamptonshire, and some friends of his took up a great
, an eminent and loyal citizen in the reigns of king Charles the First, and king Charles the Second, the son of a very eminent merchant of London, was born in 1598, and bred, according to the custom of those times, in a thorough knowledge of business, though heir to a great estate. He made a considerable addition to this by marriage; and being a man of an enterprizing genius, ever active and solicitous about new inventions and discoveries, was soon taken notice of at court, was knighted, and became one of the farmers of the king’s customs. When the trade to Guinea was under great difficulties and discouragements, he framed a project for retrieving it, which required a large capital, but his reputation was so great, that many rich merchants willingly engaged with him in the prosecution of the design; and to give a good example, as well as to shew that he meant to adhere to the work that he had once taken in hand, he caused the castle of Cormantyn upon the Gold Coast, to be erected at his own expence. By this judicious precaution, and by his wise and wary management afterwards, himself and his associates carried their trade so successfully, as to divide amongst them fifty thousand pounds a year. When the rebellion began, and the king was in want of money, sir Nicholas Crispe, and his partners in the farming of the customs, upon very short warning, and when their refusing it would have been esteemed a merit with the parliament, raised him one hundred thousand pounds at once. After the war broke out, and in the midst of all the distractions with which it was attended, he continued to carry on a trade to Holland, France, Spain, Italy, Norwaj', Moscovy, and Turkey, which produced to the king nearly one hundred thousand pounds a year, besides keeping most of the ports open and ships in them constantly ready for his service. All the correspondence and supplies of arms which were procured by the queen in Holland, and by the king’s agents in Denmark, were consigned to his care, and by his prudence and vigilance safely landed in the north, and put into the hands of those for whom they were intended. In the management of so many nice and difficult affairs, he was obliged to keep up a very extensive correspondence, for which he hardly ever made use of cypher, but penned his letters in such a peculiar style, as removed entirely his intentions from the apprehension of his enemies, and yet left them very intelligible unto those with whom he transacted. He had also great address in bringing any thing to bear that he had once contrived, to which it contributed not a little, that in matters of secrecy and danger he seldom trusted to any hands but his own, and made use of all kinds of disguises. Sometimes, when he was believed to be in one place, he was actually at another; letters of consequence he carried in the disguise of a porter; when he wanted intelligence he would be at the water side, with a basket of flounders upon his head, and often passed between London and Oxford in the dress of a butter-woman on horseback, between a pair of panniers. He was the principal author of a well-laid design for publishing the king’s commission of array at London, in which there was nothing dishonourable, so far as sir Nicholas Crispe was concerned, which, however, Clarendon inadvertently confounds with another design, superinduced by Mr. Waller, of surprizing the parliament, in bringing which to bear he proceeded very vigorously at first, till, finding that he had engaged in a matter too big for his management, he suddenly lost his spirits, and some of the chief men in the house of commons gaining intelligence that something was in agitation to their prejudice, May 31st, 1643, they presently seized Mr. Waller, and drew from him a complete discovery, which, from the account they published, plainly distinguished these two projects. By the discovery of this business, sir Nicholas Crispe found himself obliged to declare openly the course he meant to take; and having at his own expence raised a regiment of horse for the king’s service, he distinguished himself at the head of it as remarkably in his military, as he had ever done in his civil capacity. When the siege of Gloucester was resolved on, sir Nicholas Crispe was charged with his regiment of horse to escort the king’s train of artillery from Oxford, which important service he very gallantly performed; but in the month of September following, a very unlucky accident occurred, and though the circumstances attending it clearly justified his conduct to the world, yet the concern it gave him was such as he could not shake off so long as he lived. He happened to be quartered at Rouslidge, in Gloucestershire, where one sir James Ennyon, bart. of Northamptonshire, and some friends of his took up a great part of the house, though none of them had any commands in the army, which, however, sir Nicholas bore with the utmost patience, notwithstanding he was much incommoded by it. Some time after, certain horses belonging to those gentlemen were missing, and sir James Ennyon, though he had lost none himself, insinuating that some of sir Nicholas’s troopers must have taken them, insisted that he should immediately draw out his regiment, that search might be made for them. Sir Nicholas answered him with mildness, and offered him as full satisfaction as it was in his power to give, but excused himself from drawing out his regiment, as a thing improper and inconvenient at that juncture, for reasons which he assigned. Not content, however, sir James left him abruptly, and presently after sent him a challenge, accompanied with a message to this effect, that if he did not comply with it, he would pistol him against the wall. Upon this, sir Nicholas Crispe taking a friend of his with him, went to the place appointed, and finding sir James Ennyon and the person who brought him the challenge, sir Nicholas used his utmost endeavours to pacify him; but he being determined to receive no satisfaction, unless by the sword, they engaged, and sir James received a wound in the rim of the belly, of which he died in two days. Before this, however, he sent for sir Nicholas Crispe, and was sincerely reconciled to him. Upon the 2d of October following, sir Nicholas was brought to a court-martial for this unfortunate affair, and upon a full examination of every thing relating to it, was most honourably acquitted. He continued to serve with the same zeal and fidelity during 1644, and in the spring following; but when the treaty of Uxbridge commenced, the parliament thought fit to mark him, as they afterwards did in the Isle of Wight treaty, by insisting that he should be removed from his majesty’s presence; and a few months after, on April 16th, 1645, they ordered his large house in Breadstreet to be sold, which for many years belonged to his family. Neither was this stroke of their vengeance judged a sufficient punishment for his offences, since having resolved to grant the elector palatine a pension of eight thousand pounds a year, they directed that two thousand should be applied out of the king’s revenue, and the remainder made up out of the estates of lord Culpeper and sir Nicholas Crispe, Sir Nicholas finding himself no lon^ev in a capacity to render his majesty any service, thought it expedient to preserve himself; and in April 1646 embarked with lord Culpeper and colonel Monk for France, but as he had many rich relations who had interest with those in power, they interposed in his favour; and as sir Nicholas perceived that he could be of no service to the royal cause abroad, h did not look upon it as any deviation from his duty, to return and live quietly at home. Accordingly, having submitted to a composition, he came back to London, to retrieve his shattered fortunes, and very soon engaged again in business, with the same spirit and success as before. In this season of prosperity he was not unmindful of the wants of Charles II. but contributed cheerfully to his relief, when his affairs seemed to be in the most desperate condition. After the death of Oliver Cromwell, he was instrumental in reconciling many to their duty, and so well were his principles known, and so much his influence apprehended, that when it was proposed that the royalists in and about London should sign an instrument signifying their inclination to preserve the public tranquillity, he was called upon, and very readily subscribed it. He was also principally concerned in bringing the city of London, in her corporate capacity, to give the encouragement that was requisite to leave general Monk without any difficulties or suspicion as to the sincerity and unanimity of their inclinations. It was therefore very natural, after reading the king’s letter and declaration in common-council, May 3d, 1660, to think of sending some members of their own body to preSent their duty to his majesty; and having appointed nine aldermen and their recorder, they added sir Nicholas Crispe, with several other worthy persons, to the committee, that the king might receive the more satisfaction from their sentiments being delivered by several of those who had suffered deeply in his own and in his father’s cause. His majesty accordingly received these gentlemen very graciously, as a committee, and afterwards testified to them separately the sense he had of their past services, and upon his return, sir Nicholas Crispe and sir John Wolstenholme, were re-instated as farmers of the customs. Sir Nicholas was now in years, and somewhat infirm, spent a great part of his time at his noble country seat near Hammersmith, where he was in some measure the founder of the chapel, and having an opportunity of returning the tbligation he had received from some of his relations, he procured for them that indemnity from the king, gratis, for which he had so dearly paid during the rebellion. The last testimony he received of his royal master’s favour, was his being created a baronet, April 16th, 1665, which he did not long survive, dying February 26th, the next year, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, leaving a very large estate to his grandson, sir Nicholas Crispe. His corpse was interred with his ancestors, in the parish church of St. Mildred, in Bread-street, and his funeral sermon was preached by his reverend and learned kinsman Mr. Crispe, of Christ-church, Oxford. But his heart was sent to the chapel at Hammersmith, where there is a short and plain inscription upon a cenotaph erected to his memory; or rather upon that monument which himself erected in grateful commemoration of king Charles I. as the inscription placed there in sir Nicholas’s life-time tells us, under which, after his decease, was placed a small white marble urn, upon a black pedestal, containing his heart.
ed seventy-eight. Dying without issue, the title devolved on his brother, now sir ThomasGery Cullum, bart.
Sir John Cullum died Oct. 9, 1785, in the fifty-second year of his age; and was hurled (according to the express direction of his will, dated Dec. 1, 1784), in the churchyard at Hawsted, under the great stone that lies at the north door of the church. His relict, dame Peggy Cullum, the daughter of Daniel Bisson, esq. of West Ham, died Aug. 2, 1810, aged seventy-eight. Dying without issue, the title devolved on his brother, now sir ThomasGery Cullum, bart.
, bart. a man of considerable talents, unhappily, in some respects,
, bart. a man of considerable talents, unhappily, in some respects, misapplied, was the son of Alexander Cuming of Coulter, who was created a baronet in 1695, and was born probably about the beginning of the last century. It appears by his Journal, which was in the possession of the late Isaac Reed, esq. that he was bred to the law of Scotland, but was induced to quit that profession in consequence of a pension of 300l. per annum being assigned him by government, either, as he intimates, for services done by his family, or expected from himself. This pension was withdrawn in 1721, at the instance, according to his account, of sir Robert Walpole, who had conceived a pique against his father, for opposing him in parliament. It is mors probable, however, that he was found too visionary a schemer to fulfil what was expected from him. In 1129 he was induced, by a dream of lady Cunaing’s, to undertake a voyage to America, for the purpose of visiting the Cherokee nations. He left England on Sept. 13, and arrived at Charlestown Dec. 5. On March 11 following, he set out for the Indians country; and on April 3, 1730, he was crowned commander, and chief ruler of the Cherokee nations in a general meeting of chiefs at Nequisee among the mountains; he returned to Charlestown April 13, with six Indian chiefs, and on June 5, arrived at Dover. On the 18th he presented the chiefs to George II. at Windsor, where he laid his crown at his majesty’s feet: the chiefs also did homage, laying four scalps at the king’s feet, to show that they were an overmatch for their enemies, and five eagles’ tails as emblems of victory. These circumstances are confirmed by the newspapers of that time, which are full of the proceedings of the Cherokees whilst, in England, and speak of them as brought over by sir Alexander Cuming. Their portraits were engraved on a single sheet. Sir Alexander says in his Journal, that whilst he was in America in 1729, he found such injudicious notions of liberty prevail, as were inconsistent with any kind of government, particularly with their dependence on the British nation. This suggested to him the idea of establishing banks in each of the provinces dependent on the British exchequer, and accountable to the British parliament, as the only means of securing the dependency of the colonies. But it was not till 1748 (as it appears) that he laid his plans before the minister (the right hon. Henry Pelham) who treated him as a visionary enthusiast, which his journal indeed most clearly indicates him to have been. He connected this scheme with the restoration of the Jews, for which he supposed the time appointed to be arrived, and that he himself was alluded to in various passages of Scripture as their deliverer. He was not, like a late enthusiast, to conduct them to the Holy Land, but proposed to take them to the Cherokee mountains: wild as his projects were, some of the most learned Jews (among whom was Isaac Netto, formerly grand rabbi of the Portuguese synagogue) seem to have given him several patient hearings upon the subject. When the minister refused tollsten to his schemes, he proposed to open a subscription himself for 500,000l. to establish provincial banks in America, and to settle 300,000 Jewish families among the Cherokee mountains. From one wild project he proceeded to another; and being already desperately involved in debt, he turned his thoughts to alchemy, and began to try experiments on the transmutation of metal. He was supported principally by the contributions of his friends: till at length, in 1766, archbishop Seeker appointed him one of the pensioners in the Charter-house, where he died at a very advanced age in August 1775, and was buried at East Bavnet, where lady Cuming had been buried in 1743. He appears to have been a man of learning., and to have possessed talents, which, if they had not been under a wrong bias, might have been beneficial to himself and useful to his country. His son, who succeeded him in his title, became deranged in his intellects, and died some years ago, in a state of indigence, in the neighbourhood of Red-lionstreet, Whitechapel. He had been a captain in the army: the title became extinct at his death.
ed to Childerley in Cambridgeshire, to take possession of a good estate given him by sir John Cutts, bart. who died without issue. This, estate, after the decease of
, a brave officer in king William’s
wars, was a younger son of Richard Cutts, esq. of an
ancient and distinguished family, settled about the time of
Henry VI. at Matching in Essex, where they had considerable property. His father removed to Childerley in Cambridgeshire, to take possession of a good estate given him
by sir John Cutts, bart. who died without issue. This,
estate, after the decease of an elder brother, devolved on
John; who sold it, to pay incumbrances, to equip himself
as a soldier, and to enable himself to travel. After an
academical education at Cambridge, he entered early into
the service of the duke of Monmouth, and afterwards was
aid-de-camp to the duke of Lorrain in Hungary, and signalized himself in a very extraordinary manner at the
taking of Buda by the imperialists in 1686; which important place had been for nearly a century and a half in the
hands of the Turks. Mr. Addison, in a Latin poem, not
unworthy of the Augustan age, plainly hints at Mr. Cutts’ s
distinguished bravery at that siege. He was afterwards
colonel of a regiment in Holland under the States, and accompanied king William to England, who “being graciously pleased to confer a mark of his royal favour upon
colonel John Cutts, for his faithful services, and zealous
affection to his royal person and government, thought fit
to create him a baron of the kingdom of Ireland, by the
style and title of Baron Cutts of Gowran in the said
kingdom, December 6, 1690.
” He was appointed governor of
the Isle of Wight, April 14, 1693 made a major-general
and, when the assassination-project was discovered, 1695-6,
was captain of the king’s guard. He was twice married
first to Elizabeth, daughter of George Clark of London,
merchant (relict of John Morley, of Glynd, in Sussex, and after, of John Trevor, esq. eldest brother to the first lord Trevor). This lady died in Feb. 1692. His second wife,
an amiable young woman, was educated under the care of
her grandmother, the lady Pickering, of Cambridgeshire.
She was brought to bed of a son, September 1, 1697, and
died in a few days after, aged only 18 years and as many
days. Her character has been admirably delineated by
bishop Atterbury, in the dedication to a sermon he
preached on occasion of her death.
ng married sir James’s sister, a very sensible and accomplished woman (the relict of sir John Baird, bart.), in 1752, from his intimacy with alderman Baker, then chairman
Sir James Dalrymple died in 1750; and the hon. general St. Clair having married sir James’s sister, a very sensible and accomplished woman (the relict of sir John Baird, bart.), in 1752, from his intimacy with alderman Baker, then chairman of the East India company, general St. Clair got Mr. Baker’s promise to appoint his nephew, Mr. Dalrymple, a writer in the company’s service; the young man having conceived a strong desire of going to the East Indies, by reading Nieuhoff’s Voyages, and a novel of that time, called Joe Thomson. He accordingly left Scotland in the spring of 1752, with his brother sir David, who affectionately accompanied him to London. He was put to Mr. Kinross’s academy, at Forty-hill, near Enfield, for some months antecedent to his appointment in the company’s service. He tells us he was obliged to Mr. Kinross for his great kindness and attention to him, and received much good instruction for his conduct through life; by which he greatly profited: but was too short a time at that academy to learn much of what was the object of sending him there, viz. writing and merchants’ accounts; which are, at least were at that time, the only qualifications the East India company thought requisite in their servants: and the absurdity of supposing a boy of sixteen from an academy competent to keep a set of merchants’ books not being considered, some demur was made to Mr. Kinross’s certificate of this part of Mr. Dalrymple’s education not being expressed in terms sufficiently direct; however, this was not insisted on.
h are added some thoughts on building and planting, addressed to sir James Lowther, of Lowther-hall, bart. 1755, 4to. This entertaining poem, which is reprinted in Pearch’s
He now applied himself with diligence to the duties of
his function, and was noticed as an able preacher at the
university, in which character he was employed by Seeker,
afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, as his assistant at
St. James’s. In July 1750 he took his degrees of B. and
D. D. for which he went out grand compounder, and about
the same time, was presented to the rectory of St. Mary at
Hill by the late duke of Somerset; and upon his recommendation, promoted by the king to a prebend of Worcester, at which place be died, July 21, 1763. He married a sister of sir Francis Gosling, an alderman of London, by whom he left no issue. He had published, 1.
“A volume of Sermons,
” Two
Epistles,
” A descriptive
Poem, addressed to two ladies, at their return from viewing the coal-mines near Whitehaven;
” to which are added
some thoughts on building and planting, addressed to sir
James Lowther, of Lowther-hall, bart. 1755, 4to. This
entertaining poem, which is reprinted in Pearch’s collection, vol. I. describes the real descent of two fair heroines
into the subterraneous, and indeed submarine, regions;
the mines, which are remarkable for many singularities;
Savery’s fire-engine; and the remainder is employed in a
survey of the improvements in Whitehaven, by the great
commerce which these mines occasion, and in a very elegant
display of the beauties of the adjacent country. 4. “Remarks on twelve historical designs of Raphael, and the
Museum Gr^ccum & Egvptiacum
” illustrated by prints
from his brother Mr. Richard Dalton’s drawings.
n the 2d of October, 1731, he became a fellow of the college on the nomination of sir Wolston Dixie, bart. In 1733, he took the degree of master of arts. The next year
, a learned critic, especially in the Greek tongue, was born in 1708. A respectable family of the name of Dawes had long been situated at Stapleton, between Market-Bosworth and Hinckley in Leicestershire, and our critic was probably of the same family, but it does not appear, from the register of the parish, that he was born at that place. There was a Dr. Dawes, who, early in the last century, resided at Stapleton, and was a great scholar, and a searcher after the philosopher’s stone. It has been supposed, that he might be father to the subject of the present article; but of this fact no decisive evidence can be produced. All the traditions concerning Richard Dawes are, that the place of his birth was either MarketBosworth, or the vicinity of that town. Whoever his parents were, or whatever was their condition in life, it is probable that they perceived such marks of capacity in their son, as determined them to devote him to a literary profession; and accordingly he was put to the free grammar-school at Bosworth, where he had the happiness of receiving part of his education under the care of Mr. Anthony Blackwall. Here he laid the foundation of that critical knowledge of the Greek language which he afterwards displayed so conspicuously. In 1725, he was admitted a sizar of Emanuel college, in the university of Cambridge, where he proceeded bachelor of arts in 1729. On the 2d of October, 1731, he became a fellow of the college on the nomination of sir Wolston Dixie, bart. In 1733, he took the degree of master of arts. The next year he was a candidate for the place of esquire beadle of the university, but his application was not crowned with success. Whilst Mr. Dawes was at Cambridge, he distinguished himself by some peculiarities of conduct, which probably arose from a mixture of insanity in his constitution; and in his conversation he occasionally took such liberties on certain topics as gave great offence to those about him. Having indulged himself too much, at college, in an indolent sedentary way of life, he, at length, found it absolutely necessary to have recourse to some kind of exercise. In this case, being of a strong athletic frame of body, and not over-delicate in the choice of his company, he took to the practice of ringing; and, as such a genius could not stop at mediocrity, he quickly became the leader of the band, and carried the art to the highest perfection.
to the sentiments of his own breast. After his death appeared “The whole Works of sir William Dawes, bart.” &c. 3 vols. 8vo, with a preface and life, 1733, including
So strict an observer was he of his word, that no consideration whatever could make him break it; and so inviolable in his friendship, that without the discovery of
some essential fault indeed, he never departed from it.
A great point of conscience it was with him, that his
promises should not create fruitless expectances; but
when, upon proper considerations, he was induced to do
it, he always thought himself bound to employ his utmost
interest to have the thing effected; and till a convenient
opportunity should present itself, was not unmindful to
support the petitioner (if in mean circumstances) at his
own expence: for charity indeed was his predominant
quality. Both as a bishop and peer of the realm, he considered himself as responsible for the souls committed to
his charge in one respect, and as intrusted with the lives
and fortunes of his fellow subjects, in the other. If in
some parliamentary debates (in which he made a very considerable figure), he happened to dissent from other great
men, who might have the same common good in view, but
seemed to pursue it in a method incongruous to his sentiments, this ought to be accounted his honour, and a proof
of his integrity, but cannot, with any colour of justice, be
deemed party prejudice, or a spirit of contradiction in
him; because those very men, whom he sometimes opposed, at other times he joined himself to, whenever he
perceived them in the right. He associated himself with
no party, it being his opinion, that whoever enters the
senate house, should always carry his conscience along
with him; that the honour of God, the renown of his
prince, and the good of his fellow subjects, should be, as
it were, the polar-star to guide him; that no multitude,
though never so numerous; no faction, though never so
powerful; no arguments, though never so specious; no
threats, though never so frightful; no offers, though never
so advantageous and alluring; should blind his eyes, or
pervert him to give any the least vote, not directly answerable to the sentiments of his own breast.
After his death appeared “The whole Works of sir William Dawes, bart.
” &c. 3 vols. 8vo, with a preface and
life, 1733, including those published by himself, viz.
1. “An Anatomy of Atheism,” London, 1693, 4to, a poem, dedicated to sir George Darcy, bart. This poem was written by the author, before he was eighteen
1. “An Anatomy of Atheism,
” London,
shed “An Account of an improved method of treating the Small-pox, in a letter to sir Thomas Parkyns, bart.” 8vo. By this it appears, that his medicine was of the antiphlogistic
, or Doering, an ingenious
but unfortunate physician, was a native of Saxony, who
took his degrees in physic at Leyden, and came to England, according to Mr. Martyn, in the train of a foreign
ambassador; but another account pays, that soon after he
came to London he was appointed secretary to the British
ambassador at the Russian court. Both accounts may probably be true. Dr. Pulteney thinks he settled in London
about 1720, where he practised physic and midwifery,
and having a strong bias to the study of botany, became
one of the members of the society established by Dr. Dillenius and Mr. Martyn, which subsisted from 17*1 to 1726.
In 1736 he removed to Nottingham, tinder the recommendation of sir Hans Sloane, and was at first well received, and very successful in his treatment of the smallpox, which disease was highly epidemical at that place
soon after his arrival; but he incurred the censure of the
faculty by his pretensions to a nostrum. In 1737 he published “An Account of an improved method of treating
the Small-pox, in a letter to sir Thomas Parkyns, bart.
”
8vo. By this it appears, that his medicine was of the antiphlogistic kind, and that he was one of the first who introduced the cool regimen.
nd House of Commons, collected by sir Symonds D'Ewes, of Stowhall in the county of Suffolk, knt. and bart. revised and published by Paul Bowes, of the Middle Temple,
D‘Ewes (Sir Symonds), an English historian and antiquary, was the son of Paul D’Eues, esq. and born in
1602, at Coxden in Dorsetshire, the seat of Richard Syxnonds, esq. his mother’s father. He was descended from
an ancient family in the Low Countries, from whence his
ancestors removed hither, and gained a considerable settlement in the county of Suffolk. In 1618, he was entered a
fellow- commoner of St. John’s college in Cambridge and
about two years after, began to collect materials for forming a correct and complete history of Great Britain. He
was no less studious in preserving the history of his own
times; setting down carefully the best accounts he was
able to obtain of every memorable transaction, at the time
it happened. This disposition in a young man of parts
recommended him to the acquaintance of persons of the
first rank in the republic of letters, such as Cotton, Selden,
Spelman, &c. In 1626, he married Anne, daughter to sir
William Clopton of Essex, an exquisite beauty, not fourteen years old, with whom he was so sincerely captivated,
that his passion for her seems to have increased almost to
a degree of extravagance, even after she was his wife. He
pursued his studies, however, as usual, with great vigour
and diligence, and when little more than thirty years of
age, finished that large and accurate work for which he is
chiefly memorable. This work he kept by him during his
life-time it being written, as he tells us, for his own private use. It was published afterwards with this title
“The Journals of all the Parliaments during the reign of
queen Elizabeth, both of the House of Lords and House
of Commons, collected by sir Symonds D'Ewes, of Stowhall in the county of Suffolk, knt. and bart. revised and
published by Paul Bowes, of the Middle Temple, esq.
1682,
” folio. In
, bart. of Prestonfield, an eminent physician, the third son of sir
, bart. of Prestonfield, an eminent physician, the third son of sir William Cunningham,
of Caprington, by dame Janet Dick, the only child and
heiress of sir James Dick, of Prestonfield, near Edinburgh,
was born Oct. 23, 1703. While his two elder brothers
succeeded to ample fortunes, the one as heir to his father,
and the other to his mother, the provision made for a
younger son was not sufficient to enable him to live in a
manner agreeable to his wishes without the aid of his own
exertions. After, therefore, receiving a classical education at Edinburgh, he studied medicine at Leyden under
the celebrated Boerhaave, and obtained the degree of
M. D. from that univer c; Aug. 31, 1725. On this occasion he published an i“, > -,gural dissertation,
” De Epilepsia," which did him much credit. Not long after this
he returned to Scotland, and had the honour of receiving
a second diploma for the degree of M. D. conferred upon
him by the university of St. Andrew’s, Jan. 23, 1727, and
Nov. 7 of the same year, was admitted a fellow of the royal
college of physicians of Edinburgh. But after Dr. Cunningham (for at that time he bore the name of his father)
had received these distinguishing marks of attention at
home, he was still anxious to obtain farther knowledge of
his profession by the prosecution of hi-, studies abroad.
With this intention he made the tour of Europe; and although medicine was uniformly his first and principal object, yet other arts and sciences were not neglected.
and commerce, presented him, in 1774, with a gold medal, which is inscribed “To sir Alexander Dick, bart. for the best specimen of British rhubarb.” While steady in
On his return to Britain, Mr. Hooke, a gentleman with
whom he had formed an intimate friendship, and who possessed a large fortune in Pembrokeshire, persuaded him
to settle as a physician in that country, where for several
years he practised with great reputation and success. But
his immediate elder brother, sir William Dick, dying without issue, he succeeded to the family estate and title, assuming from that time the name and arms of Dick; and
very soon after fixed his residence at the family-seat of
Preston-field. Although he now resolved to relinquish
medicine as a lucrative profession, yet, from inclination,
he still continued to cultivate it as an useful science. With
this view he supported a friendly and intimate correspondence with the physicians of Edinburgh, and paid particular attention to the business of the royal college, among
the list of whose members his name had been enrolled at a
very early period of his life. In 1756 he was unanimously
chosen president of the college, and was afterwards elected
to that office for seven years successively. He not only
contributed liberally towards the building of a hall for their
accommodation, but strenuously exerted himself in promoting every undertaking in which he thought the honour
or interest of the college was concerned. He was also
long distinguished as a zealous and active member of the
philosophical society of Edinburgh, and when the present
royal society of Edinburgh received its charter, the name
of sir Alexander Dick stood enrolled as one of the first in
the list. For many years he discharged the duties of a
faithful tfnd vigilant manager of die royal iniirinnrj of
Kdinburgh; and took on all occasions an active share in
promoting every public and useful undertaking. When
the seeds of the true rhubarb were first introduced into
Britain by the late Dr. Mounsey of Petersburg!), he not
only bestowed great attention on the culture of the plant,
but also on the drying of the root, and preparing it for the
market. His success in these particulars was so great,
that the society in London for the encouragement of arts
and commerce, presented him, in 1774, with a gold medal,
which is inscribed “To sir Alexander Dick, bart. for the
best specimen of British rhubarb.
” While steady in the
pursuit of every object which engaged his attention, his
conduct in every transaction through life was marked with
the strictest honour and integrity. This, disposition, and
this conduct, not only led him to be constant and warm in
his friendship to those with whom he lived in habits of
intimacy, but also procured him the love and esteem of
all who really knew him. Notwithstanding the keenness
and activity of his temper, yet its striking features were
mildness and sweetness. He was naturally disposed to put
the most favourable construction on the conduct and actions of others, which was both productive of much happiness to himself, and of general benevolence to mankind.
And that serenity and cheerfulness which accompanied his
conduct through life, were the attendants even of his last
moments for on Nov. 10, 1785, he died with a smile
upon his countenance, lamented as a great loss to society.
were found at the house of Charles Cornwallis, esq. executor to sir Kenelm Digby, by sir Rice Rudd, bart. and William Wogan of Gray’s-inn, esq. They were afterwards
Sir Everard left at his death two young sons, afterward*
sir Kenelm and sir John Digby, and expressed his affection
towards them by a well-written and pathetic paper, which
he desired might be communicated to them at a fit time,
*i> the last advice of their father. While he was in the
Tower, he wrote, in juice of lemon, or otherwise, upon
slips of paper, as opportunity offered; and got these conveyed to his lady, by such as had permission to see him.
These notes, or advertisements, were preserved by the
family as precious relics till, in 1675, they were found at
the house of Charles Cornwallis, esq. executor to sir
Kenelm Digby, by sir Rice Rudd, bart. and William
Wogan of Gray’s-inn, esq. They were afterwards annexed
to the proceedings against the traitors, and other pieces
relating to the popish plot, printed by the orders of secretary Coventry, dated Dec. 12, 1678. In the first of these
papers there is the following paragraph “Now for my
intention, let me tell you, that if I had thought there had
been the least sin in the plot, I would not have been of it
for all the world; and no other cause drew me to hazard
my fortune and life, but zeal to God’s religion.
” Such
was the subjugation of sir Everard Digby' s understanding
and feelings to his religious principles, and the interest of
the church to which he was devoted, that he had no conception of there being the least sin in his engaging in a
conspiracy of the most execrable nature, and which involved in it an astonishing complication of murder. It
appears, too, that he was surprised and grieved to the last
degree, that the plot should be condemned by any catholic. Nor was he singular in these sentiments. The other
persons who were concerned in the conspiracy gloried in
the design, and they were most of them men of family,
estate, and character. Mr. Hume’s observations on the
subject are worthy of being recited: “Neither,
” says he,
“had the desperate fortune of the conspirators urged them
to this enterprize, nor had the former profligacy of their
lives prepared them for so great a crime. Before that
audacious attempt, their conduct seems, in general, liable
to no reproach. Catesby’s character had entitled him to
such regard, that Rookwood and Digby were seduced by
their implicit trust in his judgment; and they declared,
that, from the motive alone of friendship to him, they were
ready, on any occasion, to have sacrificed their lives.
Digby himself was as highly esteemed and beloved as any
man in England; and he had been particularly honoured
with the good opinion of queen Elizabeth. It was bigoted
zeal alone, the most absurd of prejudices masqued with
reason, the most criminal of passions covered with the
appearance of duty, which seduced them into measures that
were fatal to themselves, and had so nearly proved fatal to
their country.
”
of the Treasury, at the head of whom Mr. Grenville then was, in conjunction with sir Joseph Ayloffe, bart. and Mr. Astle, to digest and methodize the records of the state
A question being started by the hon. Daines Barrington,
concerning trees indigenous to Great Britain, in the “Philosophical Transactions,
” and the chesnut, elm, Him 1 and
sycamore, box, abele, and yew, accounted non-indigenous;
the doctor undertook the defence of the first of these trees,
and to prove it a native here in which he was supported
by his antiquarian friends Thorpe and Hasted, who, as
Kentishinen, seern to have thought themselves more particularly interested in the dispute. His and their letters
on the subject were printed in the “Philosophical Transactions,
” vol. LXI.; and Mr. Harrington, in the next article, gave up the controversy, and Dr. Ducarel received
great congratulations on his victory. His account of the
early cultivation of botany in England, and more particularly of John Tradescant, a great promoter of that science,
and of his monument and garden at Lambeth, appeared
originally in the “Philosophical Transactions;
” whence
it is copied, in the “History of Lambeth,
” with several
improvements, communicated by the doctor to Mr. Nichols.
Dr. DucarePs letter to Gerard Meerman, grand pensioner
at the Hague, on the dispute concerning Corsellis, as the
first printer in England, read at the Society of Antiquaries,
1760, and translated into Latin by Dr. Musgrave, with
Mr. Meerman’s answer, were published in the second volume of Meerman’s “Origines Typographies, 1765,
” and,
with a second letter from Mr. Meerman, were given to the
public by Mr. Nichols in a Supplement to his learned partner’s “Two Essays on the Origin of Printing, 1776.
”
Upon printing the new edition of bishop Gibson’s “Codex,
” at the Clarendon press, A Repertory of the Endowments of Vicarages in the
Diocese of Canterbury, 1763,
” 4to, printed for the benefit
of the charity-school at Canterbury; of which Mr. Gough
had the doctor’s copy, with considerable additions in ms.
by him, which were all incorporated into a second edition
in 8vo, 1782; to which were added, endowments of vicarages in the diocese of Rochester. In a letter to the rev,
Mr. Cole, of Milton, 1757, he says, “I hope, within this
year, to have about twelve dioceses ready for the press;
”
and in another, to the rev. Dr. Cox Macro, curious and elaborate.
”
of our next article, and by his second wife Anne, the daughter of sir Robert Gordon of Invergordon, bart. five sons and a daughter, one of the sons, the late Henry Dundas,
As a judge, lord Arniston distinguished himself no less by the vigour of his talents, and his knowledge of the laws, than by his strict principles of honour and inflexible integrity. His own idea of the character, both of a lawyer and of a judge, remains, penned by himself, in that admirable euiogiuin on lord Newhall, which stands upon the records of the faculty of advocates; and many of those various talents and accomplishments which he there applied to another, were in a peculiar manner his own. Although he inherited neither the ample stores of various knowledge, nor the enlarged and philosophic mind of his predecessor Forbes, yet he possessed a sound and discriminating judgment, and the manner in which he filled the high offices of the law in times of much difficulty, from the prevalence of party spirit, reflects great honour on his moderation and humanity. This eminent lawyer, after a life devoted to the public good, died August 26, 1753, leaving by his first wife, Elizabeth, the daughter of Robert Watson, esq. of Muirhouse, a son, Robert, the subject of our next article, and by his second wife Anne, the daughter of sir Robert Gordon of Invergordon, bart. five sons and a daughter, one of the sons, the late Henry Dundas, viscount Melville.
to John Baring, esq. M. P. for the city of Exeter at that time, and to the late sir Francis Baring, bart. By this lady he had two sons, John, who died in infancy, and
On the change of administration in 1782, which he had laboured to promote, he was appointed through the interest of his friend lord Shelburne, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, one of the places against which he and his friends had often objected as useless and burthensome to the public; and was about the same time advanced to the peerage by the title of lord Ashburton, of Ashburton, co. Devon. This honour, however, he did not long survive. His constitution, not perhaps originally good, was now worn down by indefatigable labour in his profession, and he died on a visit to Exmouth, August 18, 1783. His lordship married in 17SO, Elizabeth, daughter of John Baring, of Larkbear, co. Devon, esq. sister to John Baring, esq. M. P. for the city of Exeter at that time, and to the late sir Francis Baring, bart. By this lady he had two sons, John, who died in infancy, and Richard Barre, the present lord Ashburton.
many years employed at works of tlnfl nature by John Morris of Clasement, esq. now sir John Morris, bart. He studied much the remains of Caerphilly Castle, which is
After he had performed his engagement at Cardiff, he built many good houses, with several forges and smeltinghouses, and was for many years employed at works of tlnfl nature by John Morris of Clasement, esq. now sir John Morris, bart. He studied much the remains of Caerphilly Castle, which is in his native parish, and his principles were formed on those of its masonry. His manner of hewing and dressing his stones was exactly that of the old castle-masons, and he put them together with a closeness, neatness, and firmness, that is never seen but in those ancient edifices.
n-table, near his father. By his wife, lady Sophia, he had a daughter (the lady of sir Abraham Hume, bart.) and two sons, John-William, who on the death of Francis, third
His health had been declining for many years, and though
he was neither so old nor so infirm as to look upon death
as a release, he lived as it he hourly expected it. He
died at his house in Grosvenor-square, London, on the
18th of January, 1787, and by his own express desire was
privately interred in St. James’s church, under the communion-table, near his father. By his wife, lady Sophia,
he had a daughter (the lady of sir Abraham Hume, bart.)
and two sons, John-William, who on the death of Francis,
third duke of Bridgwater, succeeded to the earldom, and
is now seventh earl of Bridgewater; and the hon. and rev.
Francis Egerton, prebendary of Durham, and rector of
Whitchurch, in Shropshire, to whom the last and present
articles are much indebted for his work entitled “A compilation of various authentic evidences and historical authorities, tending to illustrate the life and character of
Thomas Egerton, lord Ellesmere, viscount Brackley, lord
chancellor of England, Jfcc. and the nature of the times in
wjiich he was lord keeper and lord chancellor; also a sketch
of the lives of John Egerton, bishop of Durham, and of
Francis Egerton, third duke of Bridgewater,
” fol.
, or as sometimes improperly spelt Ellis (Sir Richard, Bart.), a gentleman of extensive learning, particularly in biblical
, or as sometimes improperly spelt Ellis (Sir Richard, Bart.),
a gentleman of extensive learning, particularly in biblical criticism and antiquities, descended
from an ancient family originally of Wales, but who afterwards obtained possessions in Lincolnshire, was the son of
sir William Ellys of Wyham, in that county, by Isabella,
grand-daughter of the celebrated Hampden. Of his early
history we have little information. His father had been a
member of Lincoln college, Oxford, where he proceeded
M. A. and his son might probably have been sent to the
same university, and left it without taking a degree. From,
his extensive acquaintance with the literati of Holland, it
is not improbable, as the practice was then common, that
he studied at some of the Dutch universities. We are
told that he served in two parliaments for Grantham, and
in three for Boston in Lincolnshire; but, according to
Beatson’s Register, he sat only for Boston in the fifth,
sixth, and seventh parliament of Great Britain, namely,
from 1715 to 1734; but his father sir William sat for three
parliaments for Grantham. Although sir Richard communicated some particulars of his family to Collins, when,
publishing his “Baronetage,
” the latter has either omitted,
or was not furnished with the dates that might have assisted
us in ascertaining these facts with certainty. Sir Richard
married, first, a daughter and coheiress of sir Thomas
Hussey, bart. and, secondly, a daughter and coheiress of
Thomas Gould, esq. who survived him, and afterwards
married sir Francis Dashwood, bart. (who died lord le Despencer in 1781), and died Jan. 19, 1769. Sir Richard had
no issue by either of his wives, and the title of course became extinct on his death, which happened February 21,
1741-2, when he was deeply lamented, not only as a man
of great learning and piety, but on account of his many
and extensive charities. He entailed his estates, after the
death of lady Ellys, on the Hobarts and Trevors, and his
seat at Nocton in Lincolnshire is now the chief seat of the
earl of Buckinghamshire. Sir Richard had two sisters
married to Edward Cheek and Richard Hampden, esqs.
improvements of several colleges in Cambridge, and of Madingley, the seat of sir John Hinde Cotton, bart. in that county, and his repair of the tower of Winchester college
, F. S. A. a man whose astonishing
knowledge of gothic architecture could only be equalled
by his modesty, was the son of a builder and carpenter at Cambridge, where he was born in 1723, and was
educated under Mr. Heath, fellow of KingVcollege, and
then master of the college school near the chapel, the
perpetual contemplation of which probably inspired him
with that taste for and love of our ancient architecture,
which so eminently marked the whole of his progress. The
repairs and improvements of that celebrated chapel, and
of Ely and Lincoln minsters, planned and conducted by
him, will be a lasting monument of his skill, even if the
public should never be indulged with his drawings, admeasurements, and observations, on the first of these admirable specimens of that style of building; not to mention
his improvements of several colleges in Cambridge, and
of Madingley, the seat of sir John Hinde Cotton, bart. in
that county, and his repair of the tower of Winchester
college chapel, as well as innumerable instances of his
friendly assistance. His proposals for publishing the plans
and sections of King’s-college chapel, in fifteen plates,
with remarks and comparisons, may be seen in Cough’s Brit.
Top. vol. I. p. 237. All that were actually published of his
writing were, “Remarks on the antiquity of different
modes of brick and stone buildings in England,
” Archseol.
vol. IV. p. 73. “Observations on Lincoln Cathedral,
”
ib. On the origin and antiquity of round
churches, and of the round church at Cambridge in particular,
” ib. vol. VI. p. 163, and “On Croyland abbey
and bridge,
” which forms the 22d number of the Bibliotheca Topog. Britann. He was preparing further remarks
on the rise and progress of his favourite science in its various parts, which death intercepted. His designs for the
new building of Bene't, King’s, and Emanuel colleges,
Trinity-hall, and the Public Library at Cambridge, were
engraved 1739, 1741, 1743, 1748, and 1752. The first
of these drew him into a controversy with the historian of
that house, who disputed his claim to the design, and
obliged him to publish “A letter to his subscribers to the
plan and elevation ofan intended addition to Corpus
Christi college, in Cambridge,
” Cambridge,
Being now recommended to sir Richard Brown, bart. the king’s minister there, he made his addresses to his only
Being now recommended to sir Richard Brown, bart. the
king’s minister there, he made his addresses to his only
daughter Mary, whom he married June 27, 1647, and in
her right became possessed of Sayes-court near Deptford,
in Kent, where he resided after his return to England,
which was in October of that year. Soon after his arrival
he went to Hampton court, where he had the honour to
kiss his majesty’s hand, and gave him an account of several things he had in charge. On Jan. 21, 1648-9, he published his tract on liberty and servitude, for which he wasseverely threatened, and probably on this account he went
again to France in July 1649, and in November of that
year he attended his father-in-law sir Richard Brown,
when he had his first audience at the French court, after
the death of Charles I. and delivered his credentials from
Charles II. In July 1650 he went again to England, but
returned to Paris in the following month. In Jan. 1651-2
he left France, and returning to England, settled at Sayescourt near Deptford, and in May was joined by his wife
from France. In all he appears to have spent about seven
years in his travels, and with a mind highly improved by
what he had seen and read, he silently pursued his studies
at this retirement (for such it then was), and wrote and
published some of those works which afterwards gave him
a distinguished name in the learned world. It was here
also that he first shewed his skill in planting and gardening,
both then very little understood in England, and rendered
this place the wonder and admiration of the most judicious
men of his time. The situation, indeed, of public affairs
induced him to consider privacy as a very great blessing;
and so fond was he of his rural retreat, that he very rarely
quitted it, though but a young man, with a considerable
fortune, and extremely admired and courted by all his
acquaintance. This studious disposition, together with
his disgust of the world, occasioned by that strange scene
of violence and confusion that was then acted upon the
public stage, was so strong, that he actually proposed to the
honourable Mr. Robert Boyle, the raising of a kind of college for the reception of persons of the same turn of mind,
where they might enjoy the pleasure of agreeable society,
and at the same time pass their days without care or interruption. His plan was thus formed: “I propose the purchasing of thirty or forty acres of land, in some healthy
place, not above twenty-five miles from London, of which
a good part should be tall wood, and the rest upland pastures, or downs sweetly irrigated. If there were not
already an house which might be converted, &c. we wonld
erect, upon the most convenient site of this near the wood,
our building, viz. one handsome pavillion, containing a refectory, library, withdrawing-room, and a closet this the
first story for, we suppose the kitchen, larders, cellars,
and offices, to be contrived in the half-story under ground.
In the second should be a fair lodging-chamber, a palletroom, gallery, and a closet, all which should be well and
very nobly furnished, for any worthy person that might
desire to stay any time, and for the reputation of the college. The half-story above, for servants, wardrobes, and
like conveniences. To the entry fore-front of this court,
and at the other back-front, a plot walled in, of a competent square for the common seraglio, disposed into a garden, or it might be only carpet, kept curiously, and to
serve for bowls, walking, or other recreations, &c. if the
company please. Opposite to the house, towards the
wood, should be erected a pretty chapel, and, at equal
distances, even within the flanking walls of the square, six
apartments or cells for the members of the society, and
not contiguous to the pavillion, each whereof should contain a small bed-chamber, an outward room, a closet, and
a private garden, somewhat after the manner of the Carthusians. There should likewise be an elaboratory, with a
repository for rarities and things of nature; aviary, dovehouse, physic-garden, kitchen-garden, and a plantation of
orchard-fruit, &c. all uniform buildings, but of single stories, or a little elevated. At a convenient distance, towards the olitory garden, should be a stable for two or
three horses, and a lodging for a servant or two. Lastly,
a garden-house and conservatory for tender plants. The
estimate amounts thus the pavillion 400l. the chapel, 150.
apartments, walls, and out-housing, 600l. the purchase
of a fee for thirty acres, at fifteen pounds 1600/, will be
the utmost. Three of the cells, or apartments, that is, one
moiety with the appurtenances, shall be at the disposal of
one of the founders, and the other half at the others. If,
I and my wife take up two apartments (for we are to be decently asunder, however, I stipulate, and her inclination will greatly suit with it, that shall be no impediment to the society, but a considerable advantage to the ceeonomicpart),
a third shall be for some, worthy person; and, to facilitate
the rest, I offer to furnish the whole pavillion completely
to the value of 500l. in goods and moveables, if need be for
seven years, till there shall be a public stock, &c. There
shall be maintained, at the public charge, only a chaplain,
well qualified, an ancient woman to dress the meat, wash,
and do all such offices; a man to buy provision, keep the
garden, horses, &c. a boy to assist him and serve within.
At one meal a day, of two dishes only, unless some little,
extraordinary upon particular days or occasions (then never exceeding three) of plain and wholesome meat a small
refection at night wine, beer, sugar, spice, bread, fish,
fowl, candle, soap, oats, hay, fuel, &c. at four pounds per
week, 200l. per annum; wages, fifteen pounds; keeping
the gardens, twenty pounds; the chaplain, twenty pounds
per annum. Laid up in the treasury 145l. to be employed
for books, instruments, drugs, trials, &c. The. total, 400l.
a year, comprehending the keeping of two horses for the
chariot, or the saddle, and two kine; so that 200l. per annum will be the utmost that the founders shall be at to
maintain the whole society, consisting of nine persons (the servants included), though there should no others join capable to alleviate the expence. But, if any of those who
desire to be of the society be so well qualified as to support their own particulars, and allow for their proportion,
it will yet much diminish the charge; and of such there
cannot want some at all times, as the apartments are
empty. If either of the founders thinks expedient to alter
his condition, or that any thing do humanitus contingere,
he may resign to another, or sell to his colleague, and dispose of it as he pleases, yet so as it still continue the institution. Orders. At six, in summer, prayers in the chapel. To study till half an hour after eleven. Dinner in
the refectory till one. Retire till four. Then called to
conversation (if the weather invite) abroad, else in the refectory. This never omitted but in case of sickness.
Prayers at seven. To bed at nine. In the winter the
same, with some abatements for the hours, because the
nights are tedious, and the evening’s conversation more
agreeable. This in the refectory. All play interdicted,
sans bowls, chess, &c. Every one to cultivate his own
garden. One month in spring a course in the claboratory
on vegetables, &c. In the winter a month on other experiments. Every man to have a key of the elaboratory, pavillion, library, repository, &c. Weekly fast. Communion once every fortnight, or month at least. No stranger
easily admitted to visit any of the society, but upon certain days weekly, and that only after dinner. Any of the
society may have his commons to his apartment, if he will
not meet in the refectory, so it be not above twice a week.
Every Thursday shall be a music-meeting at conversation
hours. Every person of the society shall render some public
account of his studies weekly, if thought fit, and especially
shall be recommended the promotion of experimental
knowledge, as the principal end of the institution. There
shall be a decent habit and uniform used in the college.
One month in the year may be spent in London, or any of
the universities, or in a perambulation for the public
befiefit, &c. with what other orders shall be thought convenient.
”
Richard Spenser, esq. Turkey merchant, whose widow married sir John Stonehouse, of Radley, in Berks, bart. Mr. Evelyn, who had a turn for business as well as study, and
, third son of the former, was born at his
father’s house at Sayes-court, near Deptford, January 14,
1654-5, and was there very tenderly educated in his infancy, being considered (after the death of his brother Richard Evelyn, January 27, 1657, who, though but five years of age, was esteemed a kind of prodigy) as the heir
of the family. He was likewise universally admired for
the pregnancy of his parts, of which he gave a pleasing
proof in a Latin letter written to his father in Dec. 1665,
and which induced his father to send him in 1666 to Oxford, where he remained in the house of the ingenious and
learned Dr. Ralph Bathurst, then president of Trinity-college, before he was admitted a gentleman-commoner, which
was in Easter term 1663. It is not clear at what time he
left Oxford; but Mr. Wood seems to be positive that he took
no degree there, but returned to his father’s house, where
he prosecuted his studies under the directions of that great
man. There is, however, good reason to believe that it
was during his residence in Trinity-college, and when he
was not above fifteen years of age, that he wrote that elegant Greek poem which is prefixed to the second edition
of the Sylva, and is a noble proof of the strength of his
genius, and wonderful progress in learning in the early
part of his life. In Nov. 1675, he set out for Paris with
lord Berkley, ambassador to the French court; and in May
1676, returned to England. He discovered his proficiency
soon afterwards, both in the learned and modern languages,
by his elegant translations, as well as his intimate acquaintance with the muses, in some original poems which were
very justly admired. If we consider the father’s turn of
mind, we need not wonder that he should employ his pen
first upon gardening, especially in the easy way of translation, and from a book so justly as well as generally admired as the French Jesuit’s has ever been. The title of
our author’s little treatise was, 1. “Of gardens, four
books, first written in Latin verse, by Renatus Rapinus;
and now made English by John Evelyn, esq.
” Sylva,
” and it must be allowed that the sense is very
faithfully rendered, and the poetry is more easy and harmonious than could have been expected from a youth of
his age. 2. “The life of Alexander the great,
” translated from the Greek of Plutarch, printed in the fourth
volume of Plutarch’s lives by several hands. 3. “The history of the grand visiers, Mahomet and Achmet Coprogli;
of the three last grand signiors, their sultanas, and chief
favourites; with the most secret intrigues of the seraglio,
”
&c. Lond. 1677, 8vo. This was a translation from the
French, and has been esteemed an entertaining and instructive history. Our author wrote also several poems
occasionally, of which two are printed in Dryden’s Miscellanies, and more are in Nichols’s Collection of Poems.
The one entitled “On virtue,
” has been esteemed excellent in its kind by the best judges and the other, styled
“The remedy of love,
” has been also much admired. On
Feb. 24, 1679-80, he married Martha, daughter and coheiress of Richard Spenser, esq. Turkey merchant, whose
widow married sir John Stonehouse, of Radley, in Berks,
bart. Mr. Evelyn, who had a turn for business as well as
study, and had been introduced to the prince of Orange
in 1688, was in 1690 made one of the chief clerks of the
treasury, and quitting that situation in 1691, became one
of the commissioners of the revenue in Ireland, which
country he visited in 1692. He would probably have been
advanced to higher employments if he had not been cut
off in thd flower of his age, dying at his house in Berkeleystreet, London, March 24, 1698, in the forty-fifth year of
his age. He had by his wife two sons and three daughters.
His eldest son, Richard, -died an infant at Sayes-court, as
did his eldest daughter Martha Mary. His second daughter, Elizabeth, married Simon Harcourt, esq. eldest son
and heir of Simon lord viscount Harcourt, lord high chancellor of Great Britain, by whom she became mother to
the first earl Harcourt. Jane, his third daughter, died an
infant at his house in the parish of St. Martin’s in the fields,
and was interred at Kensington. John Evelyn, his second
and only surviving son, born at Sayes-court, March 2,
1681, succeeded to his grandfather’s estate. He was married at Lambeth chapel, September 18,- 1705, to Anne,
daughter of Edward Boscawen, of Worthivil, co. Cornwall, esq. He was by letters-patent bearing date July 30,
1713, created a baronet. This worthy gentleman, who inherited the virtue and learning as well as the patrimony of
his ancestors, made several alterations and additions to the
family-seat at Wotton, in 1717, one of which was the
erecting a beautiful library, forty-five feet long, fourteen
feet broad, and as many high, for the reception of that
large ajtd curious collection of books made by his grandfather, his father, and himself, and where they still remain. He was long one of the commissioners of the
customs, a fellow of the royal society, and was succeeded by
his eldest son, John, who dying in 1767, was succeeded
by sir Frederick Evelyn, on whose death, in 1812, the
title descended to Mr. John Evelyn, the grandson of
Charles, a younger son of the first baronet of the Wotton
branch.
, of Tissington, bart. a descendant of the same fa'mily as the preceding, the son
, of Tissington, bart. a
descendant of the same fa'mily as the preceding, the son of
William Fitzherbert, of Tissington, esq. was born May
27, 1748, and was educated at St. John’s college, Cambridge, and obtained the degree of M. A. by mandamus,
in 1767. Having studied the law, he was, during seven
years, a practising barrister, but passed the latter part of
his life at his seat in Derbyshire, and took a very active
and useful share in the public business of that county as
one of its magistrates, and as recorder of the borough of
Derby. He was created a baronet Jan. 22, 1784. He was
for some years one of the gentlemen ushers daily waiters
to his present majesty, which he resigned before his death,
which took place July 30, 17S1, in his forty-third year.
He was the author of two small tracts, one entitled “Maxims,
” and the other “A Dialogue on the Revenue Laws;
”
both of which are elegantly written, and display much
useful and practical knowledge and observation, together
with the highest benevolence and zeal for the public good.
A third pamphlet is ascribed to him, “On the Knighu
made in 1778.
” Sir William’s younger brother is the
present lord St. Helen’s.
, Smith Fleetwood, of Feltwell in that county, esq. who marrying Mary, daughter of sir John Hartopp, bart. had two sons, Smith Fleetwood, and Charles Fleetwood, esqrs.
Upon the restoration he was one of the persons excepted out of the general act of pardon and indemnity, to suffer such pains, penalties, and forfeitures, not extending to life, as should be inflicted on them by an act to be made for that purpose. The remainder of his life he spent in great obscurity among his friends at Stoke-Newington, near London, where he died soon after the revolution, leaving issue by his second wife, Frances, daughter of Solomon Smith of Norfolk, esq. one son, Smith Fleetwood, of Feltwell in that county, esq. who marrying Mary, daughter of sir John Hartopp, bart. had two sons, Smith Fleetwood, and Charles Fleetwood, esqrs. General Fleetwood had likewise a daughter, Elizabeth, married to sir John Hartopp, bart
the church, he was presented, in 1621, to the living of Hilgay, in Norfolk, by sir Henry Willoughby, bart. and according to Elomefield, the historian of Norfolk, he held
Phineas was educated at Eton, and admitted a scholar
of King’s-college, Cambridge, in 1600, where, in 1604, he
frook his bachelor’s degree, and his master’s in 1608. After
going into the church, he was presented, in 1621, to the
living of Hilgay, in Norfolk, by sir Henry Willoughby,
bart. and according to Elomefield, the historian of Norfolk,
he held this living twenty-nine years. Mr. Ellis conjectures that he was born in 1584, and died about 1650.
Besides the poems which are added to the last edition of
the “English Poets,
” he was the author of a dramatic piece,
entitled “Sicelides,
” which was performed at King’s college, Cambridge, and printed in 1631. A manuscript copy
is in the British Museum. The editor of the Biographm
Dramatica informs us, that “it was intended originally to
be performed before king James the First, on the thirteenth
of March, 1614; but his majesty leaving the university
sooner, it was net then represented. The serious parts of
it are mostly written in rhyme, with choruses between the
acts. Some of the incidents are borrowed from Ovid, and
some from the Orlando Furioso.
” He published also, at
Cambridge, in 1632, some account of the lives of the
founders and other learned men of that university, under
the title of “De Literatis antique Britanniae, praesertim
qui doctrina claruerunt, quique collegia Cantabrigise fundarunt.
”
in Devonshire. His mother, by an unhappy quarrel between her two brothers, sir John Dinely Goodere, bart. and sir Samuel Goodere, captain of the Ruby man of war, became
, esq. called the English Aristophanes,
a distinguished writer and actor in comedy, was of a good
family, and born at Truro, in Cornwall, about 1720. His
father, John Foote, esq. enjoyed the offices of commissioner of the prize-office and line contract, and was finally
member of parliament for Tiverton, in Devonshire. His
mother, by an unhappy quarrel between her two brothers,
sir John Dinely Goodere, bart. and sir Samuel Goodere,
captain of the Ruby man of war, became heiress of the
Goodere family. The quarrel alluded to, after subsisting
for some years, ended in the murder of sir John by his
brother, and the subsequent execution of the latter, in
1741. Foote received his education at Worcester-college,
Oxford; and was thence removed to the Temple, as designed for the law. The dry ness and gravity of this study,
however, not suiting the vivacity and volatility of Foote' s
spirit, and his fortune, whatever it was, being soon dissipated, he left the law, and had recourse to the stage. He
appeared first in Othello; but whether he discovered that
his forte did not lie in tragedy, or that the language of
other writers would not serve sufficiently to display his humour, he soon struck out into a new and untrodden path,
by taking upon himself the double character of author and
performer. In this double capacity, in 1747, he opened
the little theatre in the Haymarket with a sort of drama of
his own, called “The Diversions of the Morning,
” This
piece was nothing more than the introduction of well-known
characters in real life; whose manner of conversing and
expressing themselves he had a most amazing talent at
imitating, copying not only the manner and voice, but in
some degree, even the persons of those he ridiculed.
he time of going to court to return thanks, his zeal for a brother seaman of great merit, named John Bart, whom he considered as neglected, burst forth in remonstrances
, a French naval officer of great repute, was born in 1656, and bred to the sea-service under a: relation, who was a sea-captain, named Korbin-Gardane. In 1636, he was left by his commander the chevalier de Chaumont, in the service of the king of Siam, to whom he was some time chief admiral. He afterwards distinguished himself on the coast of Spain, where, in 1703, he displayed his generosity no less than he had before proved his valour, by giving up to the owner a French prize, which the governor of Barcelona had ceded to him. In 1708 he was intrusted with conveying the pretender to Scotland, but was so closely watched by admiral Byng, that he was happy in returning his charge to Dunkirk. Louis XIV. admired and esteemed his greatness of soul, and frequently discoursed with him on the subject of his engagements, the recital of which he heard with great satisfaction. Once, when the king had given him some recompence for his services, at the time of going to court to return thanks, his zeal for a brother seaman of great merit, named John Bart, whom he considered as neglected, burst forth in remonstrances for him. The king was pleased with this generous disinterestedness, and remarked to his minister Louvois, that he saw few such examples at his court. But though Forbin was favoured by the king, he was not equally in the good graces of the ministers; and, after he had distinguished himself highly in many engagements against various enemies, his infirmities and his discontent caused him to retire from the service in 1710. He died in 17:53, at the age of 77.
a picture of the Virgin seated, and surrounded by several figures; among whom is the portrait of M. Bart. Felisini, for whom the picture was painted. In this he still
, an historical painter, whose real
name was Raibolini, was born at Bologna in 1450, and wa
bred to the profession of a goldsmith, which he exercised
for some time with very considerable celebrity, having the
coinage of the city of Bologna under his care. His desire
of reputation, and his acquaintance with Andrea Mantegna
and other painters, led him to the study of painting-, but
from whom he received the first elements of instruction is
not known. In 1490 he produced a picture of the Virgin
seated, and surrounded by several figures; among whom
is the portrait of M. Bart. Felisini, for whom the picture
was painted. In this he still calls himself “Frauciscus
Francis, aurifex,
” and it, with another picture of a similar
subject, painted for the chapel Bentivoglio a St. Jacopo,
gained him great reputation. He painted many pictures
for churches, &c. in Bologna, Modena, Parma, and other
cities; but they were in the early, Gothic, dry manner,
called “stila antico moderuo,
” which he greatly improved
upon in his latter productions. On Pietro Perugino he
formed his characters of heads, and his choice of tone and
colour; on Gian. Bellino, fullness of outline and breadth
of drapery; and if the best evidence of his merit, the
authority of Raphael, be of weight, in process of time he
excelled them both. In a letter dated 1508, edited by
Malvasia, Raphael declares that the Madonnas of Francia
were inferior, in his opinion, to none for beauty, devoutness, and form. His idea of Francia’s talents exhibited
itself still stronger in his entrusting his picture of St.
Cecilia, destined for the church of St Gio da Monte at
Bologna, to his care, by letter soliciting him as a friend to
See it put in its place, and if he found any defect in it, that
he would kindly correct it. Vasari says that Francia died
with grief in 1518, upon seeing by this picture that he
was as nothing in the art, compared with the superior genius
of Raphael; but Malvasia proves that he lived some years
afterwards, and in an improved style produced his celebrated St. Sebastian, which Caracci describes as the general model of proportion and form for the students at Bologna. A copy of this figure still exists in the church
della Misericordia.
invited to London and ordained. The following year he commenced an intimacy with sir Richard Ellys, bart. (see Ellys) and became his chaplain, taking the lead in family
, D. D. son of Emanuel, and
grandson of Andrew Gifford, both dissenting ministers of
the baptist persuasion, was born Aug. 17, 1700, and educated at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, under the Rev.
Mr. Jones, author of the “History of the Canon of the
Scripture,
” whose seminary produced, among other eminent men, archbishop Seeker, bishop Butler, and Dr.
Chandler. Mr. Gifford finished his studies under the celebrated Dr. Ward, and being afterwards baptised, was
joined to his father’s church at Bristol, but in 1723 removed to the baptist meeting in Devonshire-square, London. In 1725 his first ministerial duties appear to have
been performed at Nottingham, where he was very
popular. In Feb. 1730 he was invited to London and ordained.
The following year he commenced an intimacy with sir
Richard Ellys, bart. (see Ellys) and became his chaplain,
taking the lead in family worship. Lady Ellys continued
him in the same office, with an annual present of forty
guineas, until her second marriage in 1745. One of Mr.
Gifford’s sermons preached in commemoration of the great
wind in 1703, and published in 1734, was dedicated to sir
Richard. In 1754 Mr. Gifford received the degree of D.D.
from Marischal college, Aberdeen. His favourite study
was that of antiquities, and although at no time a man of
opulence, he made a very large collection of curious
books, Mss. coins, &c. for which he gave liberal prices.
It is said that his collection of coins, which was a very
valuable one, was purchased by George II. as an addition
to his own cabinet. His reputation as an antiquary, recommended him to the situation of assistant librarian of the
British Museum in 1757, in which he was placed by the
interest of the lord chancellor Hardwicke, and some other
friends, but not, as his biographer says, by that of sir
Richard Ellys, who had been dead some years before this
period. To a man of literary curiosity and taste, no situation can be more interesting than that of librarian in the
British Museum, and Mr. Gifford knew how to improve the
opportunities which it affords. Having the talent to receive
and communicate information with unaffected politeness,
his acquaintance among the nobility and gentry soon became extensive. Some of them honoured him by a mutual exchange of friendly visits, and others of the first
rank discovered their respect for him, either by an occasional attendance on his ministry, or by an obliging correspondence and intimacy. Amongst these were the marquis of Lothian, the earl of Halifax, lord Dartmouth, lady
Buchan, lady Huntingdon, &c.
ford edition without acknowledgement. To which is prefixed, a Defence of the late sir Thomas Hanmer, bart. addressed to the rev. Mr. Warburton, preacher of Lincoln’s-Inn,“8vo,
, LL. D. an English divine, and miscellaneous writer, was of a Yorkshire family, originally
from France. He was born in 1687, and was admitted a
pensioner in Jesus college, Cambridge, April 18, 1704,
but afterwards removed to Trinity-ball, where he was admitted scholar of the house, Jan. 6, 1706-7; LL. B. 1709
LL. D. 1720; and though he was never fellow of that
college, he was elected one of the trustees for Mr. Ayloffe’s benefaction to it. He was rector of Houghton
Conquest in Bedfordshire: and vicar of St. Peter’s and St.
Giles’s parishes in Cambridge, where he usually passed
the winter, and the rest of his time at Ampthill, the neighbouring market-town to his living. He died Nov. 25, 1766,
at Ampthill, and was buried at Houghton Conquest. Very
little of his history has descended to us. How he spent
his life will appear by a list of his works. He is said to
have been of a most amiable, sweet, and communicative
disposition; most friendly to his acquaintance, and never
better pleased than when performing acts of friendship
and benevolence. Being in the commission of the peace,
and a man of reputable character, he was much courted
for his interest in elections. He was not, however, very
active on those occasions, preferring literary retirement.
His works were, 1. “A Vindication of the Church of England, in answer to Mr. Pearce’s Vindication of the Dis^
senters; by a Presbyter of the Church of England.
” Presbyterian Prejudice displayed,
” A pair of clean Shoes and Boots for a Dirty Baronet;
or an answer to Sir Richard Cox,
” The
Knight of Dumbleton foiled at his own weapons, &c. In a
Letter to Sir Richard Cocks, knt. By a Gentleman and
no Knight,
” A Century of eminent Presbyterians: or a Collection of Choice Sayings, from the public sermons before the two houses, from Nov. 1641 to Jan.
31, 1648, the day after the king was beheaded. By a
Lover of Episcopacy,
” A Letter of Thanks to
Mr. Benjamin Bennet,
” A memorial of the Reformation,
” full of gross prejudices
against the established church, and “A defence of it.
”
7. “A Caveat against Mr. Benj. Bennet, a mere pretender to history and criticism. By a lover of history,
” A Defence of our ancient and modern Historians against the frivolous cavils of a late pretender to.
Critical History, in which the false quotations smd unjust
inferences of the anonymous author are confuted and exposed in the manner they deserve, la two parts,
” A Review of Dr. Zachary Grey’s Defence
of our ancient and modern historians. Wherein, instead
of dwelling upon his frivolous cavils, false quotations, unjust inferences, &c it is proved (to his glory be it spoken)
that there is not a book in the English tongue, which contains so many falsehoods in so many pages. Nori vitiosus
homo es, Zachary, sed vitium. By the author,
” &c. y. “An
Appendix by way of Answer to the Critical Historian’s
Review,
” 1725. 11.
” The Ministry of the
Dissenters proved to be null and void from Scripture and
antiquity,“1725. 12. In 1732 he wrote a preface to his
relation dean Moss’s sermons,
” by a learned hand.“Mr.
Masters in his history of C. C. C. C. ascribes this to Dr.
Snape, who might perhaps have been editor of the sermons, but it was written by Dr. Grey. 13.
” The spirit
of Infidelity detected, in answer to Barbeyrac, with a defence of Dr. Waterland,“1735, 8vo. 14.
” English Presbyterian eloquence. By an admirer of monarchy and episcopacy,“1736, 8vo. 15.
” Examination of Dr. Chandler’s
History of Persecution,“1736, 8vo. 16.
” The true picture
of Quakerism,“1736. 17.
” Caveat against the Dissenters,“1736, 8vo. 18.
” An impartial Examination of the
second volume of Mr. Daniel Neal’s History of the Puritans,“1736, 8vo. The first volume of Neal had been examined by Dr. Madox, assisted in some degree by Dr.
Grey, who published his examination of the third volume
in 1737, and that of the fourth in 1739. J 9.
” An examination of the fourteenth chapter of Sir Isaac Newton’s
Observations upon the prophecies of Daniel,“1736, 8vo.
This is in answer to sir Isaac’s notion of the rise of Saintworship. 20.
” An attempt towards the character of the
Royal Martyr, king Charles I.; from authentic vouchers,“1738. 21.
” Schismatics delineated from authentic vouchers, in reply to Neal, with Dowsing' s Journal, &c. By
Philalethes Cantabrigiensis,“1739, 8vo. 22.
” The Quakers and Methodists compared,“&c. 1740. 23.
” A Review of Mr. Daniel Neil’s History of the Puritans, with a
Postscript. In a letter to Mr. David Jennings;“a pamphlet, Cambridge, 174-4. 24.
” Hudibras with large annotations, and a prelate,“&c. 1744, 2 vols. 8vo. 2b.
” A
serious address to Lay Methodists: by a sincere Protestant,“1745, 8vo. 27.
” Popery in its proper colours, with a list
of Saints invocated in England before the Reformation,“17, 8vo. 28,
” Remarks upon a late edition of Shakspeare, with a long string of emendations borrowed by the
celebrated editor from the Oxford edition without acknowledgement. To which is prefixed, a Defence of the late
sir Thomas Hanmer, bart. addressed to the rev. Mr. Warburton, preacher of Lincoln’s-Inn,“8vo, no date, but
about 1745. 29.
” A word or two of Advice to William
Warburton, a dealer in many words; by a friend. With
an Appendix, containing a taste of William’s Spirit of Railing,“1746, 8vo. 30.
” A free and familiar Letter to that
great refiner of Pope and Shakspeare, the rev. William
Warburton, preacher at Lincoln’s-Inn. With Remarks
upon the epistle of friend W. E. (query if not T. E. i. e. Thomas Edwards). In which his unhandsome treatment of
this celebrated writer is exposed in the manner it deserves.
By a Country Curate,“1750, 8vo, 31.
” A Supplement
to Hudibras,“1752, 8vo. 32.
” Critical, historical, and
explanatory notes on Shakspeare, with emendations on the
text and metre,“1755, 2 vols. 8vo. 33.
” Chronological
account of Earthquakes,“1757, 8vo. In 1756 he assisted
iVIr. Whalley in his edition of Shakspeare; he had also contributed to Mr. Peck’s
” Desiderata,“and
” Life of Cromwell," and collected some materials for a Life of Baker,
the Cambridge antiquary, which were afterwards enlarged
and published by the rev. Robert Masters. Dr. Grey left
some other Mss. and a collection of letters, now in Mr.
Nichols’s possession.
ixth son of Thomas Hales, esq. of Beakeborn, or Beckesbourn, Kent, and grandson of sir Robert Hales, bart. of Beckesbourn, where he was born, Sept. 17, 1677, and was
, an eminent natural philosopher, particularly distinguished by his experiments on the physiology of plants, was the sixth son of Thomas Hales, esq. of Beakeborn, or Beckesbourn, Kent, and grandson of sir Robert Hales, bart. of Beckesbourn, where he was born, Sept. 17, 1677, and was admitted a pensioner of Bene't college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Mr. Moss, June 19, 1696, where, after taking his first degree in arts, he was admitted a fellow, Fob. 25, 1702-3. He proceeded M. A. at the next commencement, and was admitted B. D. in 1711. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by the university of Oxford in 1733. Botany and anatomy formed his studies of relaxation while at Cambridge, his companion in which was the celebrated antiquary Dr. Stukeley. He was advanced successively to the perpetual curacy of Teddington, Middlesex, and to the livings of Portlock, Somersetshire, and Farringdon, Hampshire. He married Mary, the daughter and heiress of Dr. Henry Newce of Much-Hadham, in the county of Hertford, and rector of Halisham in Sussex. This lady died at the end of two years, leaving no issue, nor did he ever marry strain. He resided to the end of his life at Teddington, wliere he was visited by persons of rank and taste, amongst others by Frederick late prince of Wales, after whose death Dr. Hales was made clerk of the closet to the princess dowager, who always entertained a high respect for him, and after his decease erected a handsome monument to his memory in Westminster-abbey, near that of Handel. On this is liis bust in a large medallion, supported by a female figure representing Botany, accompanied by Religion. The epitaph is in Latin. He refused a canonry 01 Windsor, that he migbt continue to devote himself to his parochial duties, and his favourite scientific pursuits; and as piety, truth, and virtue were the principles of his character, he lived in universal esteem to the age of eighty-four, dying at Teddington, January 4, 1761, where he was buried, under the church tower, which he had rebuilt at his own expence.
r of educating, among many other eminent men, the late earl of Huntingdon, and sir Jeremy Sambrooke, bart. After the death of his grandfather, Hugh lord Colerane, in
, third and last baron
of that name and family, descended from John, younger
brother to sir Nicholas Hare, baronet, master of the rolls,
and privy-counsellor to Henry VIII. (both sons to Nicholas Hare of Homersfield, in the county of Suffolk, the elder branch being seated at Stow Bardolph, in Norfolk)
was born at Blechingley, in Surrey, May 10, 1693; educated at Enfield, under Dr. Uvedale, who had also the
honour of educating, among many other eminent men, the
late earl of Huntingdon, and sir Jeremy Sambrooke, bart.
After the death of his grandfather, Hugh lord Colerane,
in 1708, he succeeded to the title, and was admitted a
gentleman commoner of Corpus Christi college, Oxford,
under the tuition of Dr. Rogers, who afterwards married
Lydia, one of his lordship’s sisters . A lyric poem by
lord Colerane appeared in the “Academiae Oxoniensis
Comitia Philologica, 1713,
” and in the “Musaj Anglicanae,
” vol. III. p. 303, under the title of “Musaruin
oblatio ad reginam.
” Dr. Basil Kennet, who succeeded
Dr. Turner in the presidency of that society, inscribed
to his lordship an epistolary poem on his predecessor’s
death. He was a great proficient in the learned languages, particularly the Greek; and eminently versed
in history, both civil and ecclesiastical. He was grand
master of the society of free-masons, and had made the
tour of Italy three times; the second time with Dr.
Con yers Middle ton, about 1723, in which he made a noble collection of prints and drawings of all the antiquities,
buildings, and pictures in Italy; given after his decease
to Corpus Christi college. The esteem in which he was
held by the literati procured him admittance into the Republica Literaria di Arcadia, and the particular intimacy
of the marquis Scipio Maffei; who afterwards visited him
at his ancient manor and seat at Tottenham, in Middlesex.
His lordship died at Bath, Aug. 4, 1749; and was buried
in the family vault at Tottenham, built, with the vestrv,
by his grandfather. His very valuable collection of prints
relative to English antiquities, with a portrait of him when
a young man, by Richardson, were obtained after his
death by Mr. Henry Baker for the Society of Antiquaries.
His books were sold to T. Osborne, who detained some of
the family papers, which were with difficulty recovered
from him. The pictures, bronzes, marble, tables, urns,
vases, and other antiquities, were sold by auction, March
13 and 14, 1754, for 904l. 135. 6d. The coins, it is supposed, were disposed of privately. His lordship married
in 1717, Anne, only daughter of John Hanger, esq. by
whom he had a fortune of 100,000l. but she, having unaccountably left him within three years, and resisted every
effort of his to recall her, after twenty more years he
formed a connexion with a foreign lady, Miss Duplessis, by
whom he had a natural daughter, Henrietta Rosa Pevegrina, born in Italy, and afterwards naturalized. She was
married in 1764 to James Townsend, esq. alderman of
Bishopsgate ward, who in her right -enjoyed the extensive manor of Tottenham, and repaired the family seat,
commonly called Bruce-castle, from having anciently belonged to theBruces earls of Huntingdon, which had been
considerably modernized in the close of the seventeenth
century. It is now the property of William Curtis, esq.
son to sir William Curtis, bart.
, Elizabeth Heber, by Henrietta, only surviving daughter and heiress of sir Thomas Vernon of Hodnet, bart. who chose for her heir the daughter, in preference to the son,
, a learned and amiable English
clergyman, the second son of Thomas Heber, &sq. of Marton-hall in the deanery of Craven, one of the oldest families
in that district of Yorkshire, was born at Marton, Sept. 4,
1728, O. S. He had his school education under the rev.
Mr. Wilkinson at Skipton, and the rev. Thomas Hunter at
Blackburn, Lancashire, afterwards vicar of Weaverham,
Cheshire, author of “Observations on Tacitus,
” and other
works of credit. From Blackburn he ‘removed to the freeschool at Manchester, and on March 4, 1746--7, was entered a commoner of Brazen-nose college; where his elder’
brother, Richard Heber, was at that time a gentleman
commoner. In October 1752, his father died, and his mother in the month of March following. He was admitted
to the degree of M. A. July 5, 1753, and chosen fellow of
the college November 15 following, having previously in
that year been ordained deacon by bishop Trevor, Match
18, and priest by bishop Hoadly, Nov. 1, to qualify himself for the fellowship founded in 1533 by William Clifton,
subdean of York, for which he was a candidate. He had
private pupils when he was only B. A. and was afterwards
in much esteem as a public tutor, particularly of gentlemen commoners, having at one time more than twenty of
that rank under his care. In July 1766, his brother died,
and, as he left no male issue, Mr. Heber succeeded to a
considerable estate at Hodnet in Shropshire, which was
bequeathed in 1752 to his mother, Elizabeth Heber, by
Henrietta, only surviving daughter and heiress of sir Thomas Vernon of Hodnet, bart. who chose for her heir the
daughter, in preference to the son, of her niece Elizabeth
wife of Richard Atherton, esq. ancestor of Henrietta wife
of Thomas lord Liftbrd. Dec. 5, 1766, he was inducted
into the rectory of Chelsea, the presentation to which had,
several years before, been purchased for him by his brother and another kind relative. He resigned his fellowship
July 1, 1767. Finding the rectorial house at Chelsea bad
and unfinished, he in part rebuilt and greatly improved the
whole, without asking for dilapidations, as the widow of
his predecessor, Sloane Elsmere, D. D. was not left in
affluent circumstances. In 1770, he exchanged Chelsea
for the Upper Mediety of Malpas, Cheshire, into which
he was inducted, July 25, on the presentation of William.
Drake, esq. of Ainersham, Bucks; whose eldest son, the
late William Drake, esq. had been one of his pupils in
Brazen-nose college. In the long incumbency, and latterly non-residence, of his predecessor, the honourable and
rev. Henry Moore, D. D. chaplain to queen Anue, and son
of the earl of Drogheda, who was instituted to Malpas,
Nov. 26, 1713, the parsonage was become ruinous. Mr.
Heber therefore built an excellent new house, on a new
site, which commands an extensive view of Flintshire and
Denbighshire, and some other counties.
d wife, Elizabeth, sole daughter and heir to sir Thomas Felton of Playford in the county of Suffolk, bart. He was born Oct. 15, 1696, and educated at Clare-hall, Cambridge,
, a political and poetical writer of considerable fame, was the
eldest son of John first earl of Bristol, by his second wife,
Elizabeth, sole daughter and heir to sir Thomas Felton of
Playford in the county of Suffolk, bart. He was born Oct.
15, 1696, and educated at Clare-hall, Cambridge, where
he took his master’s degree in 1715, previously to which,
on Nov. 7, 1714, he had been made gentleman of the
bed-chamber to the Prince of Wales. He came into parliament soon after the accession of George I. and was appointed vice-chamberlain to the king in 1730, and a privy
counsellor. In 1733 he was called up by writ to the house
of peers, as lord Hervey of Ickworth; and in 1740 was
constituted lord privy seal, from which post he was removed
in 1742. He died Aug. 5, 1743, in the forty-seventh year
of his age, a short period, but to which his life had been
protracted with the greatest care and difficulty. Having
early in life felt some attacks of the epilepsy, he entered
upon and persisted in a very strict regimen, which stopped
the progress of that dreadful disease, but prevented his
acquiring, or at least long enjoying, the blessing of sound
health. It is to this rigid abstemiousness that Pope malignantly alludes in the character he has given of lord Hervey,
under the name of Sporus, in the line “the mere white
curd of asses milk.
” But lord Hervey affords a memorable
instance of the caution with which we ou^ht to read the
characters drawn by Pope and his associates; nor can too
much praise be given to his late editors for the pains they
have taken to rescue some of them from the imputations
which proceeded from the irritable temper and malignity
of that admired satirist. In the character of Sporus, Dr.
Warton has justly observed, that language cannot afford
more glowing or more forcible terms to express the utmost
bitterness of contempt. Pope and his lordship were once
friends; but they quarrelled at a time when the poetical
world seemed to be up in arms, and perpetually contending
in a manner disgraceful to their characters. In the quarrel
between Pope and lord Hervey, it appears that Pope was
the aggressor, and that lord Hervey wrote some severe lines
in reply, and An Epistle from a Nobleman to a Doctor of
Divinity.“1733. (Dr. Sherwin). In answer to this, Pope
wrote the
” Letter to a Noble Lord, on occasion of some
libels written and propagated at court in the year 1732-3,“which is printed in his Works, and, as Warburton says,
” is
conducive to what he had most at heart, his moral character,“to which, after all, it conduced very little, as he
Violated every rule of truth and decency in his subsequent
attack on lord Hervey in the
” Prologue to the Satires,“under the character of Sporus, whic,h, we agree with
Mr. Coxe,
” cannot be read without disgust and horror
disgust at the indelicacy of the allusions, and horror at
the malignity of the poet, in laying the foundation of his
abuse on the lowest species of satire, personal invective;
and what is still worse, on sickness and debility."
n the Italian model. His lordship married, in early life, Elizabeth, daughter of sir Jenny n Davers, bart. by whom he had several children. He was succeeded in titles
In 1779, on the death of his elder brother, he became
earl of Bristol, with a noble estate, the produce of which
he expended in acts of munificence and liberality. One
of his first donations, after this accession of fortune, was
1000l. towards an augmentation of an endowment for the
widows and clergy of his diocese. He became, however,
about this time, rather eccentric in his political conduct,
and was among the leaders of the Irish patriots, as they
were called, during the A'merican war, and a member of
the famous convention of delegates from the volunteers,
held in Dublin in 1782; on which occasion he was escorted
from Derry to Dublin by a regiment of volunteer cavalry,
and received military honours in every town through which
he passed in that long journey. As an amateur, connoissieur, and indefatigable protector of the fine arts, he was
generally surrounded by artists, whose talents his
judgment directed, and whose wants his liberality relieved.
His love of the sciences was only surpassed by his Jove to
his country, and by his generosity to the unfortunate of
every country; neither rank nor power escaped his resentment when any illiberal opinion was thrown out against
England. At a dinner with the late king of Prussia and
the prince royal of Denmark, at Pynnont, in 1797, he
boldly said, after the conversation about the active ambition of England had been changed into inquiries about
the delicacy of a roasted capon, that he did not like neutral animals, let them be ever so delicate. In 1798 he was
arrested by the Frencb in Italy, and confined in the castle
of Milan; was plundered by the republicans of a valuable
and well-chosen collection of antiquities, which he had
purchased with a view of transmitting to his native country; and was betrayed and cheated by many Italians, whose
benefactor he had been. But neither the injustice nor
the ingratitude of mankind changed his liberal disposition,
he no sooner recovered his liberty, than new benefactions
forced even the ungrateful to repent, and the unjust to
acknowledge his elevated mind. The earl of Bristol was
one of the greatest English travellers (a capacity in which his merits have been duly appreciated by the celebrated Martin Sherlock); and there is not a country in Europe
where the distressed have not obtained his succour, and
the oppressed his protection. He may truly be said to
have clothed the naked, and fed the hungry; and, as ostentation never constituted real charity, his left hand did
not know what, his right hand distributed. The tears and
lamentations of widows and orphans discovered his philanthropy when he was no more; and letters from Swiss
patriots and French emigrants, from Kalian catholics and
German protestants, proved the noble use his lordship made
of his fortune, indiscriminately, to the poor, destitute, and
unprotected of all countries, of all parties, and of all religions. But, as no man is without his enemies, and envy
is most busy about the most deserving, some of his lordship’s singularities have been the object of calumny and
ridicule. He certainly did retain that peculiarity of character for which his family were formerly distinguished,
and which induced the mother of the late marquis Townsbend, a woman of uncommon wit and humour, to say that
there were three sorts of people in the world, “men,
women, and /fewys.
”His lordship died at Aibano, near
Rome, July 8, 1803, and his remains, being brought to
England, were interred in the family vault at Ickworth,
near Bury, where, at the time of his death, he was building a magnificent viila on the Italian model. His lordship
married, in early life, Elizabeth, daughter of sir Jenny n
Davers, bart. by whom he had several children. He was
succeeded in titles and estate by Frederic-William, his
second son, now fifth earl of Bristol.
He married Anne, daughter of sir John Cropley, bart. whom he left without issue; and died in March 1709, after a
He married Anne, daughter of sir John Cropley, bart.
whom he left without issue; and died in March 1709,
after a lingering illness, in his 68th year. The following
reports were published by himself, in 1708, fol. with some
notes of his own upon them: “A Report of divers Cases in
Pleas of the Crown, adjudged and determined, in the reign
of the late King Charles the Second, with directions for
justices of the peace, and others, collected by sir John
Key ling, knight, late lord chief justice of his Majesty’s
court of King’s-bench, from the original manuscript under
his own hand. To which is added, The Report of three
modern Cases, viz. Armstrong and Lisle; the King and
Plumer; the Queen and Mawgridge.
” A second edition
was pretendedly published in
of some law treatises, in ms. which became the property of his grandson, sir John Hoskins, -knt. and bart. master in chancery, but better known to the world as a philosopher,
He was much admired for his. talent in Latin and English poetry, and highly respected by the most eminent
men of his time, Camclen, Selden, Daniel, Dr. Donne,
sir Henry Wotton, sir Walter Raleigh, whose “History
”
he revised before it was sent to press; and others, particularly Ben Jonson, who used to say, “'t was he that
polished me, I do acknowledge it.
” Wood speaks of him,
as the author of the Greek lexicon already mentioned, left
in ms. and imperfeqj of several epigram-: and epitaphs,
ill Latin and English, interspersed in various collections;
“The Art of Memory,
” in which he himself excelled and
of some law treatises, in ms. which became the property
of his grandson, sir John Hoskins, -knt. and bart. master in chancery, but better known to the world as a philosopher, and one of the first members of the royal society,
of which he was president in 1682.
lle, of Pantryllos. in Herefordshire, esq. widow of sir Edward Morgan, of Laternam in Monmouthshire, bart. b$ whom he was father to the first lord Chedworth.
Mr. Howe was author of “A panegyric on king William,
”
and of several songs and little poems; and is introduced in
Swift’s celebrated ballad “On the Game of Traffic.
” He
married Mary, daughter and coheir of Humphrey Baskerville, of Pantryllos. in Herefordshire, esq. widow of sir
Edward Morgan, of Laternam in Monmouthshire, bart. b$
whom he was father to the first lord Chedworth.
this lady dying without issue, to Frances, daughter, and at length heiress, to sir Thomas Aylesbury, bart. in 1634; by whom he had four sons and two daughters. Anne his
Being greatly afflicted with the gout, and not finding himself secure in that part of France, he went in the summer to Montpelier, where, recovering his health in a considerable measure, he continued three or four years. In 1672 he resided at Moulins, and removing thence to Rouen, died Dec. 9, 1673, in that city; from whence his body was brought to England, and interred on the north side of Henry Vllth’s chapel in Westminster-abbey. He was twice married: first to Anne, daughter of sir Gregory Ayloffe, of Robson, in Wiltshire, knt. and this lady dying without issue, to Frances, daughter, and at length heiress, to sir Thomas Aylesbury, bart. in 1634; by whom he had four sons and two daughters. Anne his eldest daughter was married, as we have already observed, to the duke of York, by which match she became mother to two daughters, Mary and Anne, who were successively queens of England. Besides these, she brought the duke four sons and three daughters, who all died in their infancy. The last was born Feb. 9, 1670-1, and her mother died on March 31 following; having a little before her death changed her religion, to the great grief of her father, who on that occasion wrote a most pathetic letter to her, and another to the duke her consort.
Mss. relative to the “History of Northamptonshire,” which were afterwards bought by sir Thomas Cave, bart. and finally digested, and published in 2 vols. folio, by the
, a native of Nottingham, and a
member of Peter-house, Cambridge, became attached to
the nonjurors, and accepted the office of librarian to the
celebrated Jeremy Collyer. While he was at Peter-house
he printed a translation of “Martyn’s Answers to Emlyn,
”
Studiorum Primitiae
” namely,
“S. Justini Martyris cum Tryphone Dialogus,
” Bibliotheca Literaria,
” a learned work, of which
only ten numbers were printed, and in which are interspersed the observations of Masson, Wasse, and other
eminent scholars of the time. He also published, 1. “De
Vita & Rebus gestis Marise Scotorum Regina?, Francise
Dotarice.
” “The History of the Life and Reign of Mary
Queen of Scots and Dowager of France, extracted from
original records and writers of credit,
” 1725, 8vo. 2. Art
edition of “Aristides,
” with notes, Joannis Caii Britanni de Canibus Britannicis
liber unus; de variorum Animalium & Stirpium, &c. liber
unus; de Libris propriis liber unus; de Pronunciatione
Græcæ & Latinæ Linguæ, cum scriptione nova, libellus;
ad optimorum exemplarium fidem recogniti; à S. Jebb,
M. D.
” London, Opus Majus,
” folio, neatly and accurately printed for
W. Bowyer, 1733. 5. “Humphr. Hodii, lib. 2. de Græcis
illustribus Linguæ Græcæ Literarumque humaniorum instauratoribus,
” &c. Lond. Præmittitur de
Vita & Scriptis ipsius Humphredi Dissertatio, auctore S.
Jebb, M. D.
” He wrote also the epitaph inscribed on a,
small pyramid between Haut-Buisson and Marquise, in the
road to Boulogne, about seven miles from Calais, in memory of Edward Seabright, esq. of Croxton in Norfolk,
three other English gentlemen, and two servants, who were
all murdered Sept. 20, 1723. The pyramid, being decayed, was taken down about 1751, and a small oratory or
chapel erected on the side of the road. In 1749, Dr.
Jebb possessed all Mr. Bridges’s Mss. relative to the
“History of Northamptonshire,
” which were afterwards
bought by sir Thomas Cave, bart. and finally digested,
and published in 2 vols. folio, by the rev. Peter Whalley,
in 1791. Dr. Jebb practised at Stratford with great success till within a few years of his death, when he retired
with a moderate fortune into Derbyshire, where he died
March 9, 1772, leaving several children, one of whom is
the subject of the next article. He was uncle to the preceding Dr. John Jebb.
Our author’s mother was one of the daughters of sir Peter Soame, of Hayden, in the county of Essex, bart. a lady of great beauty, and highly esteemed for her piety,
, an elegant and ingenious writer, was born in Great Ormond-street, London, at twelve o'clock at night, 1703-4. The day of his birth he could not ascertain, and considering himself at liberty to choose his birth-day, he fixed it on new-year’s day. His father, sir Roger Jenyns, knt. was descended from the ancient family of the Jenyns’s of Churchill, in Somersetshire. His country residence was at Ely, where his useful labours as a magistrate, and his loyal principles, procured him the honour of knighthood from king William. He afterwards removed to Bottisham-hall, which he had purchased, a seat not far from Cambridge. Our author’s mother was one of the daughters of sir Peter Soame, of Hayden, in the county of Essex, bart. a lady of great beauty, and highly esteemed for her piety, understanding, and elegance of manners.
cient Roman catholic family in Norfolk, was the youngest brother of the late sir William Jerningham, bart. and was born in 1727. He was educated in the English college
, an elegant English poet,
descended from an ancient Roman catholic family in Norfolk, was the youngest brother of the late sir William Jerningham, bart. and was born in 1727. He was educated
in the English college at Douay, and from thence removed
to Paris, where he improved himself in classical attainments,
becoming a good Latin scholar, and tolerably well acquainted with the Greek, while the French and Italian languages, particularly the former, were nearly as familiar to
him as that of his native country. In his mind, benevolence and poetry had always a mingled operation. His
taste was founded upon the best models of literature, which,
however, he did not always follow, with respect to style, in
his latter performances. The first production which raised
him into public notice, was a poem in recommendation of
the Magdalen hospital; and Mr. Jonas Hanway, one of its
most active patrons, often declared, that its success was
very much promoted by this poem. He continued 'occasionally to afford proofs of his poetical genius; and his
works, which passed through many editions, are uniformly
marked by taste, elegance, and a pensive character, that
always excites tender and pleasing emotions; and in some
of his works, as in “The Shakspeare Gallery,
” “
Enthusiasm,
” and “The Rise and Fall of Scandinavian Poetry,
”
he displays great vigour, and even sublimity. The fiist of
these poems had an elegant and spirited compliment from
Mr. Burke, in the following passage: “I have not for a,
long time seen any thing so well-finished. He has caught
new fire by approaching in his perihelium so near to the
Sun of our poetical system.
” His last work, published a
few months before his death, was entitled “The Old Bard’s
Farewell.
” It is not unworthy of his best days, and
breathes an air of benevolence and grateful piety for the
lot in life which Providence had assigned him. In his later
writings it has been objected that he evinces a species of
liberal spirit in matters of religion, which seems to consider
all religions alike, provided the believer is a man of meekness and forbearance. With this view in his “Essay on
the mild Tenour of Christianity
” he traces historically the
efforts to give an anchorite-cast to the Christian profession,
and gives many interesting anecdotes derived from the page
of Ecclesiastical history, but not always very happily applied. His “Essay on the Eloquence of the Pulpit in
England,
” (prefixed to bishop Bossuet’s Select Sermons and Orations) was very favourably received by the public,
but his notions of pulpit eloquence are rather French than
English. Mr. Jerningham had, during the course of a
long life, enjoyed an intimacy with the most eminent literary characters in the higher ranks, particularly the celebrated earl of Chesterfield, and the present earl of Carlisle.
The illness which occasioned his death, had continued for
some months, and was at times very severe; but his sufferings were much alleviated by a course of theological
study he had imposed on himself, and which he considered
most congenial to a closing life. He died Nov. 17, 1812.
He bequeathed all his manuscripts to Mr. Clarke, New
Bond-street. Mr. Jerningham’s productions are as follow:
J. “Poems and Plays,
” 4 vols. 9th edition, 1806. 2. “Select Sermons and Funeral Orations, translated from the
French of Bossuet, bishop of Meaux,
” third edition, The mild Tenour of Christianity, an Essay, (elucidated from Scripture and History; containing a new illustration of the characters of several eminent personages,)
”
second edition, The Dignity of Human Nature, an Kssay,
” The Alexandrian School;
or, a narrative of the first Christian Professors in Alexandria,
” third edition, The Old Bard’s
Farewell,
” a Poem, second edition, with additional passages,
1812. His dramatic pieces, “The Siege of Berwick,
” the
“Welsh Heiress,
” and “The Peckham Frolic,
” have not
been remarkably successful.
in Sept. 1709. His learning and piety having recommended him to sir John Phillips, of Picton castle, bart. he was preferred by that gentleman to the rectory of Llanddowror,
, a pious divine and great benefactor
to his country, Wales, was born in 1684, in the parish of
Kilredin in the county of Carmarthen, and educated at
Carmarthen school, where he made great proficiency in
Greek, Latin, and other studies, but does not appear to
have been at either university. Having, however, qualified himself for the ministry, he received deacon’s orders
from bishop Bull in Sept. 1708, and priest’s orders from
the same prelate in Sept. 1709. His learning and piety
having recommended him to sir John Phillips, of Picton
castle, bart. he was preferred by that gentleman to the
rectory of Llanddowror, in Carmarthenshire. He was soon
after fixed upon by the “Society for propagating the gospel
in foreign parts,
” as a person every way qualified to be
sent as a missionary amongst the Indians, and at first gave
his consent, but circumstances occurred which prevented
his country from being deprived of his services. In his
parish he soon became popular by his fervent and well
digested discourses, delivered with a voice and action
tranquil, easy, yet strongly impressive; and by his affectionate discharge of the other duties of his station in
risking, catechizing, &c. But he was principally distinguished for his zeal in procuring subscriptions for the support of what were called circulating Welsh schools, to
teach poor Welsh men, women, and children to read their
native language; and such was his diligence, and the
effect of his superintendence of these schools, that he could
enumerate 158,000 poor ignorant persons who had been
taught to read; and equal care was taken to catechize and
instruct young people in the principles of the Christian
religion. Having applied to the “Society for promoting
Christian knowledge,
” of which he was a corresponding
member, that body caused to be printed two large editions
of the Welsh Bible, of 15,000 copies each, which were sold
cheap for the benefit of the poor in Wales. He likewise
wrote and published several instructive treatises in the
Welsh as well as the English language; and was enabled
by the assistance of some charitable friends to print editions
of from 8000 to 12,000 of these useful manuals, which were
distributed throughout all Wales. His own charitable exertions were extensive, and having studied medicine in a
certain degree, he laid in a large stock of drugs, which he
made up and dispensed to the poor gratis, taking that opportunity also to give them spiritual advice. This truly
good man died April 8, 1761, lamented as a father to his
flock, and a general benefactor to the whole country.
ndertake. He proceeded M. A. Jan. 22, 1684; and, the same year, was presented by sir William Glynne, bart. to the vicarage of Amersden, or Ambroseden, in Oxfordshire;
, an English writer, and bishop of
Peterborough, was the son of the rev. Basil Kennet, rector of Dunchurch, and vicar of Postling, near Hythe, in
Kent, and was born at Dover, Aug. 10, 1660. He was
called White, from his mother’s father, one Mr. Thomas
White, a wealthy magistrate at Dover, who had formerly
been a master shipwright there. When he was a little
grown up, he was sent to Westminster-school, with a view
of getting upon the foundation; but, being seized with
the srnall-pox at the time of the election, it was thought
advisable to take him away. In June 1678 he was entered
of St. Edmund-hall in Oxford, where he was pupil to Mr.
Allam, a very celebrated tutor, who took a particular pleasure in imposing exercises on him, which he would often
read in the common room with great approbation. It was
by Mr. Allam’s advice that he translated Erasmus on Folly,
and some other pieces for the Oxford booksellers. Under
this tutor he applied hard to study, and commenced an
author in politics, even while he was an under-graduate;
for, in 1680, he published “A Letter from a student at
Oxford to a friend in the country, concerning the approaching parliament, in vindication of his majesty, the
church of England, and tfye university:
” with which the
whig party, as it then began to be called, in the House of
Commons, were so much offended, that inquiries were made
after the author, in order to have him punished. In March
1681 he published, in the same spirit of party, “a Poem,
”
that is, “a Ballad,
” addressed “to Mr. E. L. on his majesty’s
dissolving the late parliament at Oxford,
” which was printed
on one side of a sheet of paper, and began, “An atheist
now must a monster be,
” &c. He took his bachelor’s degree in May Morise encomium,
” which he entitled “Wit
against Wisdom, or a Panegyric upon Folly,
” which, as
we have already noticed, his tutor had advised him to
undertake. He proceeded M. A. Jan. 22, 1684; and, the
same year, was presented by sir William Glynne, bart. to
the vicarage of Amersden, or Ambroseden, in Oxfordshire;
which favour was procured him by his patron’s eldest son,
who was his contemporary in the halh To this patron he
dedicated “Pliny’s Panegyric,
” which he translated in
An address of thanks
to a good prince, presented in the Panegyric of Pliny upon
Trajan, the best of the Roman emperors.
” It was reprinted in Postscript
” to the translation
of his “Convocation Sermon,
” in The remarker
says, the doctor dedicated Pliny’s Panegyric to the late
king James: and, what if he did? Only it appears he did
not. This is an idle tale among the party, who, perhaps,
have told it till they believe it: when the truth is, there
was no such dedication, and the translation itself of Pliny
was not designed for any court address. The young translator’s tutor, Mr. Allam, directed his pupil, by way of exercise, to turn some Latin tracts into English. The first
was a little book of Erasmus, entitled,
” Moriae Encomiumu;“which the tutor was pleased to give to a bookseller in Oxford, who put it in the press while the translator was but an
under-graduate. Another sort of task required by his tutor
was this ‘ Panegyric of Pliny upon Trajan,’ which he likewise gave to a bookseller in Oxford, before the translator
was M. A. designing to have it published in the reign, of
king Charles; and a small cut of that prince at full length
was prepared, and afterwards put before several of the
books, though the impression happened to be retarded till
the death of king Charles; and then the same tutor, not
long before his own death, advised a new preface, adapted
to the then received opinion of king James’s being a just
and good prince. However, there was no dedication to
king James, but to a private patron, a worthy baronet, who
came in heartily to the beginning of the late happy revolution. This is the whole truth of that story, that hath
been so often cast at the doctor not that he thinks himself
obliged to defend every thought and expression of his
juvenile studies, when he had possibly been trained up to
some notions, which he afterwards found reason to put
away as childish things.
”
bus illustrior,” &c. He married Anne, daughter of sir William Russel of Strensham in Worcestershire, bart. who after the bishop’s decease married sir Thomas Millington
, bishop of Chichester in the seventeenth
century, was eldest son of the preceding, by Jane, daughter of Mr. Henry Freeman of Staffordshire, and was born
at Wornall in Buckinghamshire in January 1591, and educated in grammar learning partly in the free-school at
Thame in Oxfordshire, and partly at Westminster-school,
from which he was elected a student of Christ church in
1608. On June the 19th, 1611, he took the degree of
bachelor of arts and July the 7th, 1614, that of master.
He then entered into holy orders, and became an eminent
preacher, and chaplain to king James I. He was afterwards made archdeacon of Colchester; residentiary of St.
Paul’s, and canon of Christ church. On May the 19th,
1625, he took the degree of doctor of divinity. He was
afterwards chaplain to king Charles I. and February the
6th, 1638, was installed in the deanery of Rochester. In
1641 he was advanced to the see of Chichester, to which
he was consecrated December 19th of that year. But
though he was always esteemed a puritan, and had been
promoted to that see in order to please that party; yet
upon the breaking out of the civil wars, and the dissolution of episcopacy, he was treated by them with great severity; “nor was he suffered to live quietly at his friend’s
house (for some time, at least), when they could discover
him.
” He lived for the most part with sir Richard Hobart,
who had married his sister, at Langley in Buckinghamshire,
by whom he was supported. At the restoration he recovered his bishopric. Wood tells us, that “he was esteemed by many persons of his neighbourhood and diocese,
the epitome of all honours, virtues, and generous
nobleness, and a person never to be forgotten by his tenants and
by the poor.
” He died October the 1st, 1669, and was
interred on the south side of the choir belonging to his
cathedral of Chichester, where a monument was erected
to him, with an inscription, in which it is said, that he
was “antiqua, eaque regia Saxon urn apud Dan monies in
Agro Devoniensi prosapia oriundus,
” and that he was
“natalium splendore illustris, pietate, doctrina & virtutibus illustrior,
” &c. He married Anne, daughter of sir
William Russel of Strensham in Worcestershire, bart. who
after the bishop’s decease married sir Thomas Millington
the physician.
subsisted in that body, which produced a good effect. His intimate connection with sir John Pringle, bart. who was formerly president of the royal society, led Dr. Kippis,
Soon after his admission into the Royal Society, he published a pamphlet, entitled “Observations on the late Contests in the Royal Society,
” Six Discourses, delivered at the assignment
of sir Godfrey Copley’s medal,
” to which he has prefixed
a valuable life of the author, 1783, 8vo. At the close of
the American war he published a political pamphlet, formed
from materials which were communicated to him by persons
in office, and designed to justify the peace, which was
entitled “Considerations on the Provisional Treaty with
America, and the Preliminary Articles of Peace with France
and Spain.
” He also published several single discourses,
which were delivered on particular occasions; some of
which are reprinted in his volume of sermons, 1794. His
sentiments as a divine were originally Calvinistic, but approached in his latter days to those of the modern Socinians, or Unitarians as they affect to be called. To these
works we may also add his account of the “Life and Voyages of captain Cook,
” Dr. Doddridge’s Lectures,
” with a great number of
additional references; his life of Doddridge, prefixed
to a new edition of his Exposition of the New Testament, 1792; his “Life of Dr. Lardner,
” prefixed to the
complete collection of his works, in 11 vols. 8vo, 1788;
“An Address delivered at the Interment of Richard Price,
D. D. F. R. S. &c.
” Ordination Charge,
”
A Collection of Hymns and Psalms, for public and private Worship,
” Biographia Britannica.
” “His indefatigable industry in collecting materials
for it, his access to the best sources of information, his
knowledge of men and books, his judgment in selecting
and marking every circumstance that could serve to distinguish talents and character, and the habit which he had
acquired', by long practice, of appreciating the value of
different works, qualified him in a very high degree, for
conducting this elaborate performance.
” He did not,
however, live to carry on this edition of the “Biographia
”
farther than to about a third part of the sixth volume,
which was destroyed in the fire at Mr. Nichols’s premises.
. D. 1698. He was, in 1708, presented to the rectory of Beddington in Surrey, by sir Nicholas Carew, bart. who had been his pupil; and he was appointed chaplain to king
, a learned English prelate, was born at
Norwich in 1665, and educated at St. Paul’s school, London, whence he removed to Catherine-hall, Cambridge;
and took his degrees of A. B. in 1636, A.M. 1690, and
B. D. 1698. He was, in 1708, presented to the rectory of
Beddington in Surrey, by sir Nicholas Carew, bart. who
had been his pupil; and he was appointed chaplain to king
George I. who also promoted him to the see of Norwich
in 1723. He died Oct. 26, 1727, of the small-pox, which
he caught at the coronation of George II. He lies buried
in the church of St. Margaret, Westminster, where is a
monument to his memory. Richardson, in his continuation
of Godwin, calls him a man of the first-rate genius and
abilities. In 1695, he published two of the comedies of
Aristophanes, the “Plutus
” and “Nubes,
” Gr. & Lat.
8vo, with notes; and in Terence,
” that printed
at Cambridge in De ratione
et licentia metri Terentiani.
” It was reprinted at Cambridge, in octavo,
d a “Life of Charles I.” Of him we find no memoirs worth transcribing. In 1760 sir Henry L'Estrange, bart. of Hunstanton, died, and with him the title became extinct.
He had a brother, Hammond L'Estrange, who wrote a
learned work entitled “The Alliance of Divine Offices,
”
and a “Life of Charles I.
” Of him we find no memoirs
worth transcribing. In
fordshire. The doctor’s second wife was relict of Mr. Austin Brograve, uncle of sir Thomas Brograve, bart. of Hertfordshire, a gentleman well versed in rabbinical learning,
As to his rabbinical learning, he was excelled by none,
and had few equals; and foreigners who came to England
for assistance in their rabbinical studies, usually paid their
court to him, as one of the most eminent scholars in that
branch. Among these were Frederic Miege and Theodore Haak, who were peculiarly recommended also to Dr.
Pocock, with whom our author had a correspondence as
also Dr. Marshal of Lincoln-college, in Oxford Samuel
Clarke, keeper of the Bodleian library Dr. Bernard, of
St. John’s; and the famous Buxtorf were all correspondents of his. Castell acknowledges his obligations to him,
when he had little encouragement elsewhere. It is true,
he is charged with maintaining some peculiar opinions t;
of which he says, “Innocua, ut spero, semper proponens;
”
yet he bore the reputation of one of the most ingenious as
well as learned of our English commentators, and has been
of great service to his successors. He bequeathed his
whole library of rabhinical works, oriental books, &c. to
Harvard college, in America, where the whole were burnt
in 1769.
in Jamaica, he at first filled the post of private secretary to his brother-in-law, sir Henry Moore, bart. then lieutenant-governor of the island; and was afterwards
, author of a valuable History of Jamaica, was the fourth son of Samuel Long, esq. of Longville, in the island of Jamaica, and Tredudwell in the
county of Cornwall, by his wife Mary, second daughter of
Bartholomew Tate, of Delapre in the county of Northampton, esq. He was born Aug. 23, 1734, at Rosilian, in the
parish of St. Blaize, in Cornwall. He was placed first at
Bury school, under Dr. Kinnesman, and was removed
thence about 1746, probably on account of his father’s
residence in the country, to a school at Liskeard, in Cornwall, under the management of the Rev. Mr. Haydon. In
1752 he left this place, and after two years private instruction in London, he was entered at Gray’s Inn, and fixed
with Mr. Wflmot. His father dying, in 1757, in Jamaica,
he resolved to embark for that Island; but, not having
completed his terms, he obtained an ex gratia call to the
bar before he sailed. On his arrival in Jamaica, he at first
filled the post of private secretary to his brother-in-law,
sir Henry Moore, bart. then lieutenant-governor of the
island; and was afterwards appointed judge of the vice-admiralty court. On Aug. 12, 1758, he married Mary, second daughter, and at length sole heiress, of Thomas
Beckford, esq. Mr. Long’s ill health compelled him to
leave the island in 1769; and he never returned to it, but
passed the remainder of his life in retirement, devoting his
leisure to literary pursuits, and particularly to the com 7
pletion of his “History of Jamaica,
” which was published
in History of Jamaica,
” Mr. Long contributed to public information or amusement by a variety of
lesser productions. Early in life he wrote some essays in
“The Prater, by Nicholas Babble, esq.
” The
Antigallican, or the History and Adventures of Harry Cobham, esq.
” The Trial of farmer Carter’s Dog Porter, for murder,
” Reflections on the Negro Cause,
” The Sentimental Exhibition, or Portraits and Sketches of the Times,
”
Letters on the Colonies,
” English Humanity no Paradox,
” The Sugar Trade, 1782, 8vo. He was likewise
editor of
” Memoirs of the Reign of Bossa Ahaclee, king
of Dahomy, with a short account of the African slave
trade, by Robert Norris," 1789, v 8vo.
ca Cantabrigiam nascentium, quae post Raium observatae fuere,” 8vo. Mr. Banks (now sir Joseph Banks, bart. and president of the royal society), whom he first instructed
, son of a Polish Jew, who was a silversmith, and teacher of Hebrew at Cambridge, was born
there, in 1739. He displayed wonderful talents as a young
man; and shewed very early a great inclination to learning, particularly mathematics; but though Dr. Smith, then
master of Trinity-college, offered to put him to school at
his own expence, he would go only for a day or two, saying, “he could learn more by himself in an hour than in
a day with his master.
” He began the study of botany in.
1755, which he continued to his death; and could remember, not only the Linniean names of almost all the English
plants, but even the synonyma of the old botanists, which
form a strange and barbarous farrago of great bulk; and
had collected large materials for a “Flora Cantabrigiensis,
” describing fully every part of each plant from the life,
without being obliged to consult, or being liable to be
misled by, former authors. In 1758 he obtained much celebrity by publishing a treatise “on Fluxions,
” dedicated
to his patron, Dr. Smith; and in 1763 a work entitled
“Fasciculus plantaruui circa Cantabrigiam nascentium, quae
post Raium observatae fuere,
” 8vo. Mr. Banks (now sir Joseph Banks, bart. and president of the royal society),
whom he first instructed in this science, sent for him to
Oxford, about 1762 or 1763, to read lectures; which he
did with great applause, to at least sixty pupils; but could
not be induced to make a long absence from Cambridge.
He had a salary of a hundred pounds per annum for calculating the “Nautical Almanack,
” and frequently received
presents from the board of longitude for his inventions.
He could read Latin and French with ease; but wrote the
former ill; had studied the English history, and could quote
whole passages from the Monkish writers verbatim. He
was appointed by the board of longitude to go with captain Phipps (afterwards lord Mulgrave) to the North pote
in 1773, and made the astronomical and other mathematical calculations, printed in the account of that voyage.
After his return he married and settled in London, where,
on May 1, 1775, he died of the measles. He was then
engaged in publishing a complete edition of all the works
of Dr. Halley. His “Calculations in Spherical Trigonometry abridged,
” were printed in “Philosophical Transactions,*' vol. LXI. art. 46. After his death his name appeWed in the title-page of
” A Geographical Dictionary,“of
which the astronomical parts were said to be
” taken from
the papers of the late Mr. Israel Lyons, of Cambridge, author of several valuable mathematical productions, and
astronomer in lord Mnlgrave’s voyage to the Northern hemisphere.“It remains to be noticed, that a work entitled
” The Scholar’s Instructor, or Hebrew Grammar, by Israel
Lyons, Teacher of the Hebrew Tongue in the University
of Cambridge: the second edition, with many Additions
and Emendations which the Author has found necessary in
his long course of teaching Hebrew,“Cambridge, 1757,
8vo, was the production of his father; as was a treatise
printed at the Cambridge press, under the title of
” Observations and Enquiries relating to various parts of Scripture
History, 1761," published by subscription at two shillings
and six-pence. He died in August 1770, and was buried, agreeably to his own desire, although contrary to
the Jewish principles, in Great St. Mary’s Church-yard,
Cambridge. He was on this occasion carried through the
church, and his daughter Judith read some form of interment-service over his grave. He had resided near forty
years at Cambridge.
an elegant English writer, was the eldest son of sir Thomas Lyttelton, of Hagley, in Worcestershire, bart. and was born in 1709. He came into the world two months before
, an elegant English writer,
was the eldest son of sir Thomas Lyttelton, of Hagley, in
Worcestershire, bart. and was born in 1709. He came into
the world two months before the usual time, and was
imagined by the nurse to be dead, but upon closer
inspiection was found alive, and with some difficulty reared. At
Eton school, where he was educated, he was so much distinguished that his exercises were recommended as models
to his school-fellows. From Eton he went to Christ Church,
where he retained the same reputation of superiority, and
displayed his abilities to the public in a poem on Blenheim.
He was a very early writer, both in verse and prose; his
“Progress of Love,
” and his “Persian Letters,
” having both been written when he was very young. After
a short residence at Oxford, he began his travels in
1728, and visited France and Italy. From Rome he
sent those elegant verses which are prefixed to the works
of Pope, whom he consulted in 1730 respecting his four
pastorals. Pope made some alterations in them, which
may be seen in Bowles’s late edition of that poet’s works
(vol. IV. p. 139). We find Pope, a few years afterwards,
in a letter to Swift, speak thus of him: He is “one of
those whom his own merit has forced me to contract an
intimacy with, after I had sworn never to love a man
more, since the sorrow it cost me to have loved so many
now dead, banished, or unfortunate, I mean Mr. Lyttelton, one of the worthiest of the rising generation,
” &c.
In another letter Mr. Lyttelton is mentioned in a manner
with which Dr. Warton says he was displeased .
sir William Hammond of St. Alban’s, in East Kent, he left two sons; sir John Marsham, of Cuckstone, bart. and sir Robert Marsham, of Bushy-hall, knt. both of them studious
, a very learned English writer,
was the second son of Thomas Marsham, esq. alderman of
London, and born in the parish of St. Bartholomew’s, Aug.
23, 1602. He was brought up at Westminster school, and
sent thence, in 1619, to St. John’s college in Oxford, where
betook, in due time, his degrees in arts. In 1625, he
went to France, and spent the winter at Paris; in 1626
and 1627, he visited most parts of that kingdom, and of
Italy, and some parts of Germany, and then returned to
London. In 1629, he went through Holland and Guelderland, to the siege of Boisleduc; and thence by Flushing to
Boulogne and Paris, in the retinue of sir Thomas Edmondes, ambassador extraordinary, who was sent to take
the oath of Louis XIII. to the peace newly concluded between England and France. During his residence in London, he studied the law in the Middle Temple; and, in
1638, was sworn one of the six clerks in chancery. Upon
the breaking out of the civil wars, he followed the king and
the great seal to Oxford for which he was deprived of
his place by the parliamentarians, and suffered a vast loss
by the plundering of his estate. After the surrender of
the garrison at Oxford, and the ruin of the king’s affairs,
he returned to London; and, having compounded for his
estate, he betook himself wholly to retirement and study.
In the beginning of 1660, he served as a burgess for the
city of Rochester, in the parliament which recalled Charles
the Second; about which time, being restored to his place
in chancery, he had the honour of knighthood conferred
upon him, and three years after was created a baronet.
He died at Bushy-hall in Hertfordshire, in May 1685; and
his body was interred at Cuckstone near Rochester, where
he had an estate. By Elizabeth his wife, daughter of sir
William Hammond of St. Alban’s, in East Kent, he left
two sons; sir John Marsham, of Cuckstone, bart. and sir
Robert Marsham, of Bushy-hall, knt. both of them studious
and learned men, and the ancestors of the Romney family.
Sir John Marsham was a very accomplished gentleman,
and had acquired a critical knowledge of history, chronology, and languages. He published in 1649, 4to, “Diatriba chronologica;
” in which he examines succinctly the
principal difficulties which occur in the chronology of the
Old Testament.“The greatest part of this was afterwards
inserted in another work, entitled
” Canon chronicus,
Ægyptiacus, Ebraicus, Groecus, & disquisitiones,“Lond.
1672, folio. The principal object of this is to reconcile
the Egyptian dynasties. The Egyptians, as is well known,
pretended to excessive antiquity, and had framed a list of
thirty successive dynasties, which amounted to a number
of years (36,525) greatly exceeding the age of the world.
These were rejected as fabulous by some of the ablest chronologers; but sir John Marsham first conjectured that
these dynasties were not successive, but collateral; and
therefore without rejecting any, he endeavoured to reconcile the entire series in this manner, to the scripture chronology. The attempt, which was highly ingenious, gained
him great reputation, and many contemporary as well as
succeeding authors, have been liberal in their praises. Mr.
Wotton represents him as the first
” who has made the
Egyptian antiquities intelligible: that most learned gentleman,“says he,
” has reduced the wild heap of Egyptian
dynasties into as narrow a compass as the history of Moses
according to the Hebrew account, by the help of a table
of the Theban kings, which he found under Eratosthenes’s
name in the Chronography of Syncellus. For, by that table, he, 1. Distinguished the fabulous and mystical part of
the Egyptian history, from that which seems to look like
matter of fact. 2. He reduced the dynasties into collateral families, reigning at the same time in several parts of
the country; which, as some learned men saw before, was
the only way to make those antiquities consistent with
themselves, which, till then, were confused and incoherent.“Dr. Shuckford, after having represented the foundation of
sir John Marsham’s Canon with regard to Egypt, says that,
” upon these hints and observations, he has opened to us
a prospect of coming at an history of the succession of the
kings of Egypt, and that in a method so natural and easy,
that it must approve itself to any person who enters truly
into the design and conduct of it.“Afterwards, having
given a view of sir John’s scheme, from the beginning of
the reigns of the Egyptian kings down to his Sesostris, or
Sesac, he observes, that,
” if the reader will take the
pains thoroughly to examine it, if he will take it in pieces
into all its parts, review the materials of which it is formed,
consider how they He in the authors from whom they are
taken, and what manner of collecting and disposing them
is made use of, he will find that however in some lesser
points a variation from our very learned author may be defensible, yet no tolerable scheme can be formed of the
ancient Egyptian history, that is not in the main agreeing
with him. Sir John Marsham has led us to a clear and
natural place for the name of every Egyptian king, and
time of his reign," &c. But although sir John Marsham’s
system has been followed by some, it has been strenuously
opposed by other writers, who have represented it as not
only false, but even prejudicial to revelation.
learning and piety. She was the second wife of sir Francis Masham, of Gates in the county of Essex, bart. by whom she had an only son, the late Francis Cudworth Masham,
, a lady distinguished by her
piety and extraordinary accomplishments, was the daughter
of Dr. Ralph Cudworth, and born at Cambridge on the
18th of January, 1658. Her father, perceiving the bent of
her genius, took such particular care of her education,
that she quickly became remarkable for her uncommon
learning and piety. She was the second wife of sir Francis
Masham, of Gates in the county of Essex, bart. by whom
she had an only son, the late Francis Cudworth Masham,
esq. one of the masters in chancery, accomptant-general
of that court, and foreign opposer in the court of exchequer. She was well skilled in arithmetic, geography, chronology, history, philosophy, and divinity; and owed a
great part of her improvement to the care of the famous
Mr. Locke, who lived many years in her family, and at
length died in her house at Gates; and whom she treated
with the utmost generosity and respect. She wrote “A
Discourse concerning the Love of God,
” published at London in Gccasional Thoughts in reference to
a virtuous and Christian Life.
” This amiable lady died in
Near this place lies Dame Damans
Masham, daughter of Ralph Cudworth, D. D. and second
wife of sir Francis Masham, of Gates, in the county of
Essex, bart. who, to the softness and elegancy of her own
sex, added several of the noblest accomplishments and
qualities of the other. She possessed these advantages in
a great degree unusual to either, and tempered them with
an exactness peculiar to herself. Her learning, judgment, sagacity, and penetration, together with her candour and love of truth, were very observable to all that
conversed with her, or were acquainted with those small
treatises she published in her life-time, though she industriously concealed her name. Being mother of an only
son, she applied all her natural and acquired endowments
to the care of his education. She was a strict observer of
all the virtues belonging to every station of life, and only
wanted opportunities to make those talents shine in the
world, which were the admiration of her friends. She was
born on the 18th of January, 1658, and died on the 20th
of April, 1708.
”
Thomas Henderson, of Ploughlands near Edinburgh, and first cousin to the late sir William Johnstone, bart. of Westerhall. By this lady, who appears to have died before
, an ingenious poet, was the son of the rev. Alexander Mickle or Meikle, who exchanging the profession of physic for that of divinity, was admitted, at an age more advanced than usual, into the ministry of the church of Scotland. From that country he removed to London, where he preached for some time in various dissenting meetings, particularly that of the celebrated Dr. Watts. He was also employed by the booksellers in correcting the translation of Bayle’s Dictionary, to which he is said to have contributed the greater part of the additional notes. In 1716 he returned to Scotland, on being presented to the living of Langholm in the county of Dumfries; and in 1727, he married Julia, daughter of Mr. Thomas Henderson, of Ploughlands near Edinburgh, and first cousin to the late sir William Johnstone, bart. of Westerhall. By this lady, who appears to have died before him, he had ten children.
little before his death, he thought it prudent to accept of a small living from sir John Frederick, bart *. A few months after was published, his 25. “Vindication of
* “Sherlock told me that he pre- bably from the same authority,
sented Dr. M. with this book when first f It is said by bishop Newton, that
published in 1725, and that he soon when Middleton applied for the Charafterwards thanked him for it, and ex- terhouse. Sir Robert Walpole told him
pressed his pleasure in the perusal.
” that Sherlock, with the other bishops,
ms note by Whiston the bookseller, in was against his being chosen. This to
his copy of the first edition of this Die- a man who, as Warburton, his friend, tionary. The same fact occurs in the declared, “never could bear contraGent. Mag. 1773, 385, 387, but pro- diction,
” was sufficient provocation.
Michael, Cambridge. As he died without issue, he left
his widow, who died in 1760, in possession of an estate
which was not inconsiderable: yet we are told that a little
before his death, he thought it prudent to accept of a small
living from sir John Frederick, bart *. A few months after
was published, his 25. “Vindication of the Free enquiry
into the Miraculous powers, &c. from the objections of
Dr. Dodwell and Dr. Church.
” The piece is unfinished,
as we have observed, but correct, as far as it goes, which
is about fourscore pages in quarto.
sity of Oxford, was born May 30, 1719. He was the seventh and youngest son of sir Richard Newdigate, bart. by his second lady Elizabeth, daughter of sir Roger Twisden,
, of Arbury in Warwickshire, an elegant scholar, and an eminent benefactor to the university of Oxford, was born May 30, 1719. He was the seventh and youngest son of sir Richard Newdigate, bart. by his second lady Elizabeth, daughter of sir Roger Twisden, bart. In his sixteenth year he succeeded, in title and estate, his elder brother, sir Edward. Sir Roger was at that time a king’s scholar at Westminster school, where by his own choice he continued three years, and then entered of University college, Oxford. Here he was created M. A. in May 1738, and afterwards set out on one of those continental tours which his classical knowledge and fine taste enabled him to turn to the best advantage, by accumulating a vast collection of monumental antiquities, and drawings of ancient ruins, buildings, statues, &c. Of these last there are two ample folios in his library at Arbury, the produce of his indefatigable and accurate pencil. He also brought home some curious antique marbles and vases of exquisite workmanship (some of which are engraved in Piranesi, where his name occurs several times), casts from the most admired statues at Rome and Florence, and copies of many celebrated paintings, particularly a fine one of the famous Transfiguration, by Raphael, which adorns the magnificent saloon at Arbury.
the death of his father, who was descended from the eldest branch of the family of sir John Newton, bart. and was lord of the manor of Woolsthorpe. The family came originally
, the most splendid genius that has yet adorned human nature, and by universal consent placed at the head of mathematics and of science, was born on Christmas-day, O. S. 1642, at Woolsthorpe, in the parish of Colsterworth, in the county of Lincoln. When born he was so little, that his mother used to say he might have been put into a quart mug, and so unlikely to live, that two women who were sent to lady Pakenham’s, at North Witham, for something for him, did not expect to find him alive at their return. He was born near three months after the death of his father, who was descended from the eldest branch of the family of sir John Newton, bart. and was lord of the manor of Woolsthorpe. The family came originally from Newton, in the county of Lancaster, from which, probably, they took their name. His mother was Hannah Ayscough, of an ancient and honourable family in the county of Lincoln. She was married a second time to the rev. Barnabas Smith, rector of North Witham, a rich old bachelor, and had by him a son and two daughters. Previously, however, to her marriage, she settled some land upon Isaac. He went to two little day-schools at Skillington and Stoke till he was twelve years old, when he was sent to the great school at Grantham, under Mr. Stokes, who had the character of being a very good schoolmaster. While at Grantham he boarded in the house of Mr. Clark, an apothecary, whose brother was at that time usher of the school.
. In the month of September in this year the general married the only daughter of sir Nathan Wright, bart. of Cranhamhall, in Essex.
The ill success of the attack on St. Augustine was ascribed to different causes, as the interests and passions of several of the persons concerned in the business operated. By some it was imputed to treachery: by others, to the misconduct of the general. A controversy, carried on with much acrimony, ensued; and, on the general’s return to England, nineteen articles of complaint were delivered in against him by lieutenant-colonel William Cooke, on which a board of officers sat a considerable time, when, after hearing the evidence, they, on the 7th of June, 1744, dismissed the charges as groundless and malicious, and declared the accuser incapable of serving his majesty. In the month of September in this year the general married the only daughter of sir Nathan Wright, bart. of Cranhamhall, in Essex.
is estate, but considerably embarrassed by his imprudence, devolved to his nephew, sir John Parnell, bart. one of the justices of the King’s-bt-nch in Ireland, and father
Having been warmly recommended by Swift to archbishop King, this prelate gave him a prebend in 1713, and
in May 1716, presented him to the vicarage of Finglass,
in the diocese of Dublin, worth 400l. a-year. “Such notice,
” says Dr. Johnson, “from such a man, inclines me
to believe, that the vice of which he has been accused was
not gross, or not notorious.
” But he enjoyed these preferments little more than a year, for in July 1717 he died
at Chester, on his way to Ireland, in his thirty-eighth year.
Dying without male issue, his estate, but considerably embarrassed by his imprudence, devolved to his nephew, sir
John Parnell, bart. one of the justices of the King’s-bt-nch
in Ireland, and father to the Irish chancellor of the Exchequer, sir John Parnell, who died in 1801.
justly founded, are, his “Rise of Woman;
” the “Fairy
Tale;
” the “Hymn to Contentment;
” “Health;
” the
“Vigil of Venus
” the “Night-piece on Death
” the
<c Allegory on Man,“and
” The Hermit.“These have
been respectively criticised by his biographers Goldsmith
and Johnson, and have stood the test of nearly a century.
” His praise,“says Dr. Johnson,
” must be derived from
the easy sweetness of his diction,; in his verses there is
more happiness than pains: he is sprightly without effort,
and always delights, though he never ravishes: every
thing is proper, yet every thing seems casual."
The greater part of Mr. Peck’s Mss. became the property of sir Thomas Cave, bart. Among others, he purchased 5 vols. in 4to, fairly transcribed
The greater part of Mr. Peck’s Mss. became the property of sir Thomas Cave, bart. Among others, he purchased 5 vols. in 4to, fairly transcribed for the press, in.
Mr. Peck’s own neat hand, under the title of “Monasticon
Anglicanum.
” These volumes were, on the 14th of May,
1779, presented to the British Museum, by the last sir
Thomas Cave, after the death of his father, who twenty
years before had it in contemplation to bestow them on that
excellent repository. They are a most valuable and almost
inestimable collection, and we hope will not be neglected
by the editors of the new edition of Dugdale. Mr. Peck’s
other literary projects announced in the preface to his
“Desiderata,
” and at the end his “Memoirs of Cromwell,
”
are, 1. “Desiderata Curiosa,
” vol. III. Of this Mr. Nichols has a few scattered fragments. 2. “The Annals of
Stanford continued.
” 3. “The History and Antiquities
of the Town and Soke of Grantham, in Lincolnshire.
”
4. “The Natural History and Antiquities of Rutland.
”
5. “The Natural History and Antiquities of Leicestershire.
” The whole of Mr. Peck’s Mss. relative to this
work, were purchased by sir Thomas Cave, in 1754, whose
grandson, with equal liberality and propriety, presented
them to Mr. Nichols for the use of his elaborate history of
that county. It appears from one of Mr. Peck’s Mss. on
Leicestershire, that he meditated a chapter on apparitions,
in which he cordially believed. 6. “r rhe Life of Mr. Nicholas Ferrar, of Little Gidding, in the county of Huntingdon, gent, commonly called the Protestant St. Nicholas, and the pious Mr. George Herbert’s Spiritual Brother,
done from original Mss.
” This ms. of Ferrar is now in the
possession of Mr. Gilchrist of Stamford, before mentioned,
who informs us that there is nothing in it beyond what may
be found in Peckard’s Life of Ferrar. 7. “The Lives of
William Burton, esq. author of the Antiquities of Leicestershire, and his brother Robert Burton, B. D. student of
Christ-church, and rector of Seagrave, in Leicestershire,
better known by the name of Democritus jun.
” Mr. Nichols had also the whole of this ms. or plan, which was
merely an outline. 8. “New Memoirs of the Restoration
of King Charles the Second (which may be considered also as an Appendix to secretary Thurloe’s Papers), containing
the copies of Two Hundred and Forty-six Original Letters
and Papers, all written annis 1658, 1659, and 1660 (none of them ever yet printed). The whole communicated by
William Cowper, esq, Clerk of the Parliament.
” In Account of the Asshebys and
De la Launds, owners of Bloxham, in the county of Lincoin,
” a ms. in the British Museum. Mr. Gilchrist has
a copy of Langbaine’s Lives, carefully interlined by him,
whence it should seem that he meditated an enlargement
of that very useful volume. Mr. Peck also left a great
many ms sermons, some of which are in the possession of
the same gentleman, who has obligingly favoured us with
some particulars of the Stamford antiquary.
7, he married Elizabeth, daughter to sir Hardresse Waller, knight, and relict of sir Maurice Fenton, bart. and afterwards set up iron works, and a pilchard-fishery, opened
In 1666, sir William drew up his treatise, called “Verbum Sapienti,
” containing an account of the wealth and expences of England, and the method of raising taxes in the
most equal manner; shewing likewise, that England can
bear the charge of four millions per annum, when the occasions of the government require it! The same year,
1666, he suffered a considerable loss by the fire of London;
having purchased, several years before, the earl of Arunders
house and gardens, and erected buildings in the garden,
called Token-house, which were for the most part destroyed
by that dreadful conflagration. In 1667, he married Elizabeth, daughter to sir Hardresse Waller, knight, and relict of sir Maurice Fenton, bart. and afterwards set up
iron works, and a pilchard-fishery, opened lead- mines,
and commenced a timber trade in Kerry, which turned to
very good account; and with all these employments he
found time to consider other subjects of general utility,
which he communicated to the Royal Society, He
composed a piece of Latin poetry, and published it at London
in 1679, in two folio sheets, under the name of ' Cassid. Aureus Manutius,“with the title of
” Colloquium Davidis cum
anima sua.“His patriotism had before led him to use his
endeavours to support the expence of the war against the
Dutch, and he felt it necessary also to expose the sinister
practices of the French, who were at this time endeavouring to raise disturbances in England, increase our divisions,
and corrupt the parliament at this time. With this vievr
he published, in 1680, a piece called
” The Politician Discovered,“&c. and afterwards wrote several essays in political arithmetic; in which, from a view of the natural
strength both of England and Ireland, he suggests a method
of improving each by industry and frugality, so as to be a
match for, or even superior to, either of her neighbours.
Upon the first meeting of the Philosophical Society at
Dublin, after the plan of that at London, every thing was
submitted to his direction; and, when it was formed into
a regular society, he was chosen president, Nov. 1684.
UpoiKthis occasion he drew up a
” Catalogue of mean,
vulgar, cheap, and simple Experiments,“proper for the
infant state of the society, and presented it to them; as he
did also his
” Supellex Philosophica," consisting of fortyfive instruments requisite to carry on the design of their
institution. But, a few years after, all his pursuits were
determined by the effects of a gangrene in his foot, occasioned by the swelling of the gout, which put a period to
his life, at his house in Piccadilly, Westminster, Dec. 16,
1687, in his sixty-fifth year. His body was carried to
Rumsey, and there interred, near those of his parents.
There was laid over his grave only a flat stone on the pavement, with this short inscription, cut by an illiterate workman:
adful fire, anno 1666. Afterwards, anno 1667, I married Elizabeth, the relict of sir Maurice Fenton, bart. I set up iron-works and pilchard-fishing in Kerry, and opened
This singular composition bears date May 2, 1685, and
runs thus: “In the name of God, Amen. I, sir William.
Petty, knt. born at Rumsey, in Hantshire, do, revoking
all other and former wills, make this my last will and
testament, premising the ensuing preface to the same,
whereby to express my condition, design, intentions, and
desires, concerning the persons and things contained in,
and relating to, my said will, for the better expounding
any thing which may hereafter seem doubtful therein, and
also for justifying, on behalf of my children, the manner
and means of getting and acquiring the estate, which I
hereby bequeath unto them; exhorting them to improve
the same by no worse negociations. In the first place I
declare and affirm, that at the full age of fifteen years I
had obtained the Latin, Greek, and French tongues, the
whole body of common Arithmetic, the practical Geometry
and Astronomy conducing to Navigation, Dialling, &c.
with the knowledge of several mathematical trades, all
which, and having been at the university of Caen, preferred me to the king’s navy; where, at the age of twenty
years, I had gotten up about threescore pounds, with as
much mathematics as any of my age was known to have
had. With this provision, anno 1643, when the civil wars
between the king and parliament grew hot, I went into the
Netherlands and France for three years, and having vigorously followed my studies, especially that of medicine, at
Utrecht, Leyden, Amsterdam, and Paris, I returned to
Rumsey, where I was born, bringing back with me my
brother Anthony, whom I had bred, with about 10l. more
than I had carried out of England. With this 70l. and my
endeavours, in less than four years more, I obtained my
degree of M. D. in Oxford, and forthwith thereupon to be
admitted into the College of Physicians, London, and into
several clubs of the Virtuous (Virtuosi); after all which
expence defrayed, I had left 28l. and in the next two
years being made Fellow of Brazen -Nose, and Anatomy
Professor in Oxford, and also Reader at Gresham-college,
I advanced my said stock to about 400l. and with 100l.
more advanced and given me to go for Ireland, unto full
500l. Upon the 10th of September, 1652, I landed, at
Waterford in Ireland, Physician to the army who had suppressed the rebellion begun in the year 1641, and to the
general of the same, and the head quarters, at the rate of 20^.
per diem, at which I continued till June 1659, gaining,
by my practice, about 400l. a year above the said salary.
About Sept. 1654, I perceiving that the admeasurement
of the lands, furfrited by the aforementioned rebellion, and
intended to regulate the satisfaction of the soldiers who
hadsuppressed the same, was most insufficiently and absurdly
managed; I obtained a contract, dated llth December,
1654, for making the said admeasurement, and, by God’s
blessing, so performed the same, as that I gained about
9,000l. thereby, which, with the 500l. abovementioned,
and my salary of 20s. per diem, the benefit of my practice,
together with 600l. given me for directing an after survey
of the adventurer’s lands, and 800l. more for two years’
salary as clerk of the council, raised me an estate of about
13,000l. in ready and real money, at a time when, without art, interest, or authority, men bought as much lands
for ten shillings in real money, as in this year, 1685, yields
10s. per annum rent, above his majesty’s quit-rents. Now
I bestowed part of the said 13,000l. in soldier’s debentures, part in purchasing the earl of Arundel’s house and
garden in Lothbury, London, and part I kept in cash to
answer emergencies. Hereupon I. purchased lands inIreland, with soldiers’ debentures , bought at the above
market-rates, a great part whereof I lost by the Court of Innocents, anno 1663; and built the said garden, called Tokenhouse Yard, in Lothbury, which was for the most part destroyed by the dreadful fire, anno 1666. Afterwards, anno
1667, I married Elizabeth, the relict of sir Maurice Fenton,
bart. I set up iron-works and pilchard-fishing in Kerry,
and opened the lead -mines and timber-trade in Kerry: by
all which, and some advantageous bargains, and with living
under my income, I have, at the making this my will, the
real and personal estate following: viz. a large house and
four tenements in Rumsey, with four acres of meadow
upon the causeway, and four acres of arable in the fields,
called Marks and Woollsworths, in all about 30A per ann.;
houses in Token-house Yard, near Lothbury, London,
with a lease in Piccadilly, and the Seven Stars and Blazing
Star in Birching-lane, London, worth about 500l. per
annum, besides mortgages upon certain houses in Hoglane, near Shoreditch, in London, and in Erith, in Kent,
worth about 20l. per annum. I have three fourth parts of
the ship Charles, whereof Derych Paine is master, which
I value at 80l. per annum, as also the copper-plates for
the maps of Ireland with the king’s privilege, which I rate
at lOOl. per annum, in all 730l. per annum. I have in
Ireland, without the county of Kerry, in lands, remainders, and reversions, about 3,100l. per annum. I have of
neat profits, out of the lands and woods of Kerry, above
1,100l. per annum, besides iron-works, fishing, and leadmines, and marble-quarries, worth 600l. per annum; in all
4,800l. I have, as my wife’s jointure, during her life,
about 850l. per annum; and for fourteen years after her
death about 2001. per ann. I have, by 3,300l. money at interest, 20l. per annum; in all about 6,700l. per annum. The
personal estate is as follows, viz. in chest, 6,600l.; in the
hands of Adam Loftus, 1,296l.; of Mr. John Cogs, goldsmith, of London, 1,2 5 1l.; in silver, plate, and jewels,
about 3,000l.; in furniture, goods, pictures, coach-horses,
books, and watches, 1,1 So/.; per estimate in all 12,000l.
I value my three chests of original map and field -books,
the copies of the Downe-survey, with the Barony-maps,
and chest of distribution-books, with two chests of loose
papers relating to the survey, the two great barony-books,
and the book of the History of the Survey, altogether at
2,000l. I have due out of Kerry, for arrears of my rent
and iron, before 24th June, 1685, the sum of 1,912l. for
the next half year’s rent out of my lands in Ireland, my
wife’s jointure, and England, on or before 24th June next,
2,000l. Moreover, by arrears due 30th April, 1685, out
of all my estate, by estimate, and interest of money, 1,800l.
By other good debts, due upon bonds and bills at this
time, per estimate, 900l. By debts which I call bad 4000l.
worth perhaps 800l. By debts which I call doubtful,
50,0007. worth, perhaps, 25,000l. In all, 34,4 12l. and
the total of the whole personal estate, 46,412l.: so as my
present income for the year 1685 may be 6,700l. the profits of the personal estate may be 4,64 \l. and the demonstrable improvement of my Irish estate may be 3,659l. per
ann. to make in all I5,000l. per ann. in and by all manner
of effects, abating for bad debts about 28,000l.; whereupon
I say in gross, that my real estate or income may be 6,600l.
per ann. my personal estate about 45,000l. my bad and
desperate debts 30,000l. and the improvements may be
4,000 /. per ann. in all 15,000l. per ann. ut supra. Now
my opinion and desire is (if I could effect it, and if I were clear from the law, custom, and other impediments)
to add to my wife’s jointure three fourths of what it now
is computed at, viz. 637l. per ann. to make the whole
1,487l. per ann. which addition of 637l. and 850l. being
deducted out of the aforementioned 6,600l. leaves 5,113l.
for my two sons whereof I would my eldest son should
have two-thirds, or 3,408l. and the younger 1,705l. and
that, after their mother’s death, the aforesaid addition of
637l. should be added in like proportion, making for the
eldest 3,S32l. and for the youngest 1,916l. and I would
that the improvement of the estate should be equally divided between my two sons; and that the personal estate
(taking out 10,000l. for my only daughter) that the rest
should be equally divided between my wife and three
children; by which method my wife would have 1,587l.
per ann. and 9,000l. in personal effects; my daughter
would have 10,000l. of the Crame, and 9,000l. more, with
less certainty: my eldest son would have 3,800l. per ann.
and half the expected improvement, with 9,000l. in hopeful effects, over and above his wife’s portion: and my
youngest son would have the same within 1,900l. per ann.
I would advise my wife, in this case, to spend her whole
l,587l. per ann. that is to say, on her own entertainment,
charity, and munificence, without care of increasing her
children’s fortunes: and I would she would give away
one-third of the above mentioned 9,000l. at her death,
even from her children, upon any worthy object, and dispose of the other two-thirds to such of her children and
grand-children as pleased her best, without regard to any
other rule or proportion. In case of either of my three
children’s death under age, I advise as follows; viz. If my
eldest, Charles, die without issue, I would that Henry
should have three-fourths of what he leaves; and my daughter Anne the rest. If Henry die, I would that what he leaves
may be equally divided between Charles and Anne: and if
Anne die, that her share be equally divided between Charles
and Henry. Memorandum, That I think fit to rate the
30,000l. desperate debts at 1,1 Ooj. only, and to give it my
daughter, to make her abovementioned 10,000l. and 9,000l.
to be full 20,000l. which is much short of what I have given
her younger brother; and the elder brother may have
3,800 per ann. and 9,000l. in money, worth 900l. more,
2,0001. by improvements, and 1,300l. by marriage, to make
up the whole to 8,000l. per ann. which is very well for the
eldest son, as 20,000l. for the daughter.
” He then leaves
his wife executrix and guardian during her widowhood,
and, in case of her marriage, her brother James Waller,
and Thomas Dame: recommending to them two, and his
children, to use the same servants and instruments for
management of the estate, as were in his life- time, at certain salaries to continue during their lives, or until his
youngest child should be twenty-one years, which would be
the 22d of October, 1696, after which his children might
put the management of their respective concerns into what
hands they pleased. He then proceeds:
kinsman, John Petty, supposing my wife will add thereunto for her excellent son, Sir William Fenton, bart. who was buried there 18th March, 1670-71; and if I myself be
“I would not have my funeral charge to exceed 300l.
over and above which sum I allow and give 150l. to set
up a monument in the church of Rumsey, near where my
grandfather, father, and mother, were buried, in memory of them, and of all my brothers and sisters. I give
also 5l. for a stone to be set up in Lothbury church,
London, in memory of my brother Anthony, there buried
about 18th October, 1649. I give also 50l. for a small monument to be set up in St. Bride’s church, Dublin, in memory of my son John, and my near kinsman, John Petty,
supposing my wife will add thereunto for her excellent son,
Sir William Fenton, bart. who was buried there 18th
March, 1670-71; and if I myself be buried in any of the
said three places, I would have Joo/. only added to the
above-named sums, or that the said 100l. shall be bestowed
on a monumentfor me in any other place where I shall
die. As for legacies for the poor, I am at a stand as for
beggars by trade and election, I give them nothing; as
for impotents by the hand of God, the public ought to
maintain them; as for those who have been bred to no
calling nor estate, they should be put upon their kindred;
as for those who can get no work, the magistrate should
cause them to be employed, which may be well done in
Ireland, where is fifteen acres of improvable land for every
head; prisoners for crimes, by the King; for debts, by
their prosecutors; as for those who compassionate the sufferings of any object, let them relieve themselves by relieving such sufferers, that is, give them alms pro re nata,
and for God’s sake relieve those several species above-mentioned, where the above-mentioned obligors fail in their
duties: wherefore I am contented that I have assistc I all
my poor relations, and put many into a way of getting their
own bread, and have laboured in public works, and by
inventions have sought out real objects of charity; and do
hereby conjure all who partake of my estate, from time
to time to do the same at their peril. Nevertheless, to
answer custom, and to take the surer side, 1 give 20l. to
the most wanting of the parish wherein I die. As for the
education of my children, I would that my daughter might
marry in Ireland, desiring that such a sum as I have left
her, might not be carried out of Ireland. I wish that my
eldest son may get a gentleman’s estate in England, which,
by what I have gotten already, intend to purchase, and by
what I presume he may have with a wife, may amount to
between 2000l. and 3000l. per ann. and buy some office he
may get there, together with an ordinary superlucration
may reasonably be expected; so as I may design my youngest son’s trade and employment to be the prudent management of our Irish estate for himself and his elder brother,
which I suppose his said brother must consider him for. As
for myself, I being now about three-score and two years old,
I intend to attend the improvement of my lands in Ireland,
and to get in the many debts owing unto me; and to promote
the trade of iron, lead, marble, fish, and timber, whereof
my estate is capable: and as for studies and experiment,
I think now to confine the same to the anatomy of the
people and political arithmetic as also to the improvements of ships, land- carriages, guns, and pumps, as of
most use to mankind, not blaming the studies of other men.
As for religion, I die in the profession of that faith, and in
the practice of such worship, as I find established by the
law of my country, not being able to believe what I myself
please, nor to worship God better than by doing as I would
be done unto, and observing the laws of my country, and
expressing my love and honour to Almighty God by such
signs and tokens as are understood to be such by the people
with whom I live, God knowing my heart, even without
any at all; and thus begging the Divine Majesty to make
me what he would have me to be, both as to faith and good
works, I willingly resign my soul into his hands, relying
only on his infinite mercy, and the merits of my Saviour,
for my happiness after this life, where I expect to know
and see God more clearly than by the study of the Scriptures and of his works I have been hitherto able to do.
Grant me, O Lord, an easy passage to thyself, that, as I
have lived in thy fear, I may be known to die in thy favour. Amen.
”
the county of Roxburgh, North Britain, April 10, 1707. His father was sir John Pringle, of Stichel, bart. and his mother, whose name was Magdalen Eliott, was sister
, baronet, president of the Royal
Society, was born at Stichel-house, in the county of Roxburgh, North Britain, April 10, 1707. His father was sir
John Pringle, of Stichel, bart. and his mother, whose name
was Magdalen Eliott, was sister to sir Gilbert Eliott of Stobs,
bart. Both the families from which he descended were
very ancient and honourable in the south of Scotland, and
were in great esteem for their attachment to the religion,
and liberties of their country, and for their piety and virtue in private life. He was the youngest of several sons,
three of whom, besides himself, arrived to years of maturity. His grammatical education be received at home,
under a private tutor and after having made such a progress as qualified him for academical studies, he was removed to the university of St. Andrew’s, where he was put
under the immediate care of Mr. Francis Pringle, professor
of Greek in the college, and a near relation of his father.
Having continued there some years, he went to Edinburgh
in Oct. 1727, for the purpose of studying physic, that being
the profession which he now determined to follow. At
Edinburgh, however, he stayed only one year, the reason,
of which was, that he was desirous of going to Leyden, at
that time the most celebrated school of medicine in Europe. Boerhaave, who had brought that university into
reputation, was considerably advanced in years, and Mr.
Pringle was unwilling, by delay, to expose himself to the
danger of losing the benefit of that great man’s lectures.
For Boerhaave he had a high and just respect but it was
not his disposition and character to become the implicit
and systematic follower of any man, however able aod distinguished. While he studied at Leyden, be contracted
an intimate friendship with Van Swieten, who afterwards
became so famous at Vienna, both by his practice and
writings. Van Swieten was not only Pringle’s acquaintance and fellow-student at the university, but also his physician when he happened to be seized there with a fit of
sickness; yet on this occasion he did not owe his recovery
to his friend’s advice; for Van Swieten having refused to
give him the bark, another person prescribed it, and he was
cured. When he had gone through his proper course of
studies at Leyden, he was admitted, July 20, 1730, to his
doctor of physic’s degree. His inaugural dissertation,
“De marcore senili,
” was printed. Upon quitting LeyIen, Dr. Pringle settled as a physician at Edinburgh, where
he gained the esteem of the magistrates of the city, and
of the professors of the college, by his abilities and good
conduct and, such was his known acquaintance with ethical subjects, that, March 28, 1734, he was appointed, by
the magistrates and council of the city of Edinburgh, to be
joint professor of pneumatics and moral philosophy with
Mr. Scott, during that gentleman’s life, and sole professor
after his decease and, in consequence of this appointment,
Dr. Pringle was admitted, on the same day, a member of
the university. In discharging the duties of this new employment, his text-book was “Puffendorff de Officio Hominis et Civis,
” agreeably to the method he pursued
through life, of making fact and experiment the basis of
science. Dr. Pringle continued in the practice of physic
at Edinburgh, and in performing the obligations of his professorship, till 1742, when he was appointed physician to
the earl of Stair, who then commanded the British army.
For this appointment he was chiefly indebted to his friend
Dr. Stevenson, an eminent physician at Edinburgh, who
had an intimate acquaintance with lord Stair. By the interest of this nobleman, Dr. Pringle was constituted, Aug.
24, 1742, physician to the military hospital in Flanders;
and it was provided in the commission, that he should receive a salary of twenty shillings a-day, and be entitled to
half-pay for life. He did not, on this occasion, resign his
professorship of moral philosophy; the university permitted
him to retain it, and Messrs. Muirhead and Cleghorn were
allowed to teach in his absence, us long as he continued to
request it. The exemplary attention which Dr. Pringle
paid to his duty as an army physician is apparent from
every page of his “Treatise on the Diseases of the Army.
”
One thing, however, deserves particularly to be mentioned,
as it is highly probable that it was owing to his suggestion.
It had hitherto been usual, for the security of the sick,
when the enemy was near, to remove them a great way
from the camp the consequence of which was, that many
were lost before they came under the care of the physicians. The earl of Stair, being sensible of this evil, proposed to the duke de Noailles, when the army was encamped at Aschaffenburg, in 1743, that the hospitals on
both sides should be considered as sanctuaries for the sick,
and mutually protected. The French general, who was
distinguished for his humanity, readily agreed to the pro
posal, and took the first opportunity of shewing a proper
regard to his engagement. At the hattle of Dettingen,
Dr. Pringle was in a coach with lord Carteret during the
whole time of the engagement, and the situation they were
placed in was dangerous. They had been taken unawares,
and were kept betwixt the fire of the line in front, a
French battery on the left, and a wood full of hussars on
the right. The coach was occasionally shifted, to avoid
being in the eye of the battery. Soon after this event,
Dr. Pringle met with no small affliction in the retirement
of his great friend, the earl of Stair, from the army. He
offered to resign with his noble patron, but was not permitted. He, therefore, contented himself with testifying
his respect and gratitude to his lordship, by accompanying
him forty miles on his return to England; after which he
took leave of him with the utmost regret.
reasonably be expected, he bequeathed to his worthy nephew and heir, sir James Pringle, of Stichel, bart. whom he appointed his sole executor. But the whole was not
Sir John Pringle, by long practice, had acquired a handsome fortune, which he disposed of with great prudence and propriety. The bulk of it, as might naturally and reasonably be expected, he bequeathed to his worthy nephew and heir, sir James Pringle, of Stichel, bart. whom he appointed his sole executor. But the whole was not immediately to go to sir James; for a sum equal, we believe, to seven hundred pounds a year, was appropriated to annuities, revertible to that gentleman at the decease of the annuitants. By these means, sir John exhibited an important proof of his regard and affection for several of his valuable relations and friends. Sir John Pringle’s eminent character as a practical physician, as well as a medical author, i sg well known, and so universally acknowledged. that an enlargement upon it cannot be necessary. In the exercise of his profession he was not rapacious being ready, on various occasions, to give his advice without pecuniary views. The turn of sir John Pringle’s mind led him chiefly to the love of science, which he built on the firm basis of fact. With regard to philosophy in general, he was as averse to theory, unsupported by experiments, as he was with respect to medicine in particular. Lord Bacon was his favourite author; and to the method of investigating recommended by that great man he steadily adhered. Such being his intellectual character, it will not be thought surprising that he had a dislike to Plato. To metaphysical disquisitions he lost all regard in the latter part of his life; and, though some of his most valued friends had engaged in discussions of this kind, with very different views of things, he did not choose to revert to the studies of his youth, but contented himself with the opinions he had then formed.
on the Voyage for Guiana,” a manuscript containing leaves in 4to, in the library of sir Hans Sloane, bart. and now in the British Museum “Discovery of the large, rich,
His works may be divided into classes, according to
Oldys’s arrangement, 1. “Poetical: including his poems
on Gascoigne’s Steel-Glass; The Excuse; The silent Lover; the Answer to Marloe’s Pastoral; with his poems of
Cynthia, and two more on Spenser’s Fairy-Queen; The
Lover’s Maze; a Farewei to Court; The Advice; which
last three are printed in an old
” Collection of several ingenious Poems and Songs by the wits of the age,“1660,
in 8vo; another little poem, printed in the London Magazine for August 1734; several in the Ashmolean library at
Oxford, namely,
” Erroris Responsio,“and his
” Answer,
to the Lie,“&c. three pieces written just before his death,
viz. his Pilgrim; his
” Epigram in allusion to the Snuff' of
a Candle,“and his Epitaph, printed in his
” Remains.“There is likewise ascribed to him a satirical Elegy upon
the death of the lord treasurer Cecil, earl of Salisbury,
printed by Osborne in his Memoirs of king James, and
said to be our author’s by Shirley in his Life of Ralegh,
p. 179. Of his poems, a beautiful and correct, but limited
edition, has lately been published by sir E. JBrydges, with
a memoir of his life, written with the taste and feeling
which distinguish all the productions of that gentleman’s
pen. 2. Epistolary: viz. Letters, eight-and-twenty of which
Mr. Oldys tells us he has seen in print and manuscript.
3. Military: these discourses relate either to the defence
of England in particular, or contain general arguments
and examples of the causes of war among mankind. On
the former subject he seems to have drawn up several remonstrances, which have but sparingly and slowly come
to light. However, as he had a principal hand in the determinations of the council of war for arming the nation
when it was under immediate apprehensions of the Spanish
invasion, there is reason to believe that he was the author
of a treatise concerning
” Notes of Direction“for such
” Defence of the Kingdom,“written three years before
that invasion. To this treatise was also joined a cc Direction for the best and most orderly retreat of an army,
whether in campaign or straits.
” And these were then
presented in manuscript to the privy-council. One advice
is, that since frontier forces are unlikely to prevent an
enemy from landing, if they should land through the deficiency or absence of our shipping (for this is the force which Ralegh was ever for having first used against such foreign invasions) it were better by driving or clearing the
country of provisions, and temporizing, to endeavour at
growing stronger, and rendering the enemy weaker, than
to hazard all by a confused and disorderly descent of the
populace to oppose the first landing, as their custom was
formerly. But this was one of the chief points, which a
little before the approach of the Spanish armada was opposed by Thomas Digges, esq. muster-master-general of
the queen’s forces in the Low Countries, in a “Discourse
of the best order for repulsing a foreign Force,
” &c. which
he then published. This occasioned an Answer, which
having been found in an old manuscript copy among others
of sir Walter Ralegh’s discourses, and several circumstances agreeing with the orders in the council of war, as
well as some passages in his “History of the World,
” and
his other writings, it was published by Nathaniel Booth, of
Gray’s Inn, esq. at London, 1734, in 8vo, under this title:
“A Military Discourse, whether it be better for England
to give an invader present battle, or to temporize and
defer the same,
” &c. But Ralegh’s opinion upon this
subject is more fully given in his Discourses of the original
and fundamental cause of natural and necessary, arbitrary
and customary, holy and civil wars; which, though published several years after his death, have sufficient marks
of authenticity. 4. Maritimal: viz. his “Discourse of the
invention of shipping,
” &c. printed among his essays in
Observations and Notes concerning
the Royal Navy and Sea-service,
” dedicated to prince
Henry, printed likewise among his essays; his Letter to
that prince concerning the model of a ship, printed among
his Remains; his “Report of the truth of the Fight about
the isles of Azores,
” printed in Memorial touching Dover
Port,
” printed in a pamphlet, entitled “An Essay on
ways and means to maintain the Honour and Safety of
England,
” published by sir Henry Sheers in Observations and
Notes concerningthe Royal Navy and Sea-service,
” men*
tions a “Discourse of a maritimal voyage, with the passages and incidents therein,
” which he bad formerly
written to prince Henry; and in his “History of the World
”
he takes notice of another treatise, written to the same
prince, “Of the art of War by Sea;
” “a subject to my
knowledge,
” says he, “never handled by any man, ancient
or modern; but God has spared me the labour of finishing
it, by the loss of that brave prince; of which, like an
eclipse of the sun, we shall find the effects hereafter.
” 5.
Geographical; viz. several discourses and papers of his
concerning the discovery, planting, and settlement of Virginia, which were formerly in the hands of sir Francis Walsingham “A treatise of the West Indies;
” “Considerations on the Voyage for Guiana,
” a manuscript containing
leaves in 4to, in the library of sir Hans Sloane, bart. and
now in the British Museum “Discovery of the large, rich,
and beautiful empire of Guiana,
” pqblished by himself,
and mentioned above. His “Journal of his second Voyage to Guiana,
” which remains still in manuscript; and his
“Apology
” for the said voyage. 6. Political viz. “The
Seat of Government,
” shewing it to be upheld by the two
great pillars of civil justice and martial policy; “Observations concerning the causes of the magnificency and
o'pulency;
” “The Prince; or Maxims of State,
” printed at
London, Aphorisms of State,
” published by John Milton at London, in The Cabinet-Council, containing the chief arts of Empire, and mysteries of State discabineted,
” &c. published by John Milton, esq. London,
The Arts of Empire and mysteries of State discabineted,
” &c. “The Spaniard’s Cruelties to the English in Havanria
” his “Consultation about the Peace with
Spain
” and our protecting the Netherlands, in manuscript.
“The present state of Spain, with a most accurate account
of his catholic majesty’s power and rights also the names
and worth of the most considerable persons in that kingdom,
” in manuscript; which seems to be a different piece
from “The present state of Things, as they now stand
between the three kingdoms, France, England, and Spain,
”
also in manuscript; “A Discourse on the Match propounded by the Savoyan between the lady Elizabeth and
the prince of Piedmont,
” and another on that “between,
prince Henry of England and a daughter of Savoy,
” both
in manuscript “A Dialogue between a Jesuit and a i\ecusarit shewing how claugv rous their principles are to
Christian Princes,
” published by Philip Ralegh, esq. among
jour author’s genuine Remains, at the end of an Abridgment
of his History of the World, London, 1700, in 8vo; “A
Dialogue between a counsellor of state and a justice of
peace,
” better known in the printed copies by the title of
the “Prerogative of Parliaments,
” dedicated to king James,
and printed at Midelburge, 1628, in 4to, and reprinted in
1643 in 4to A “Discourse of the words Law and Right,
”
jn manuscript in the, Ashmolean library “Observations
touching Trade and Commerce with the Hollander and other
nations, as it was presented to king James; wherein is
prqve.d, that our sea and land commodities serve to enrich
and strengthen other countries against our own
” printed in
A treatise
of the Soul
” in manuscript in the Ashmolean library,
His “Sceptic,
” or Speculations printed among his Remains. “Instructions to his Son and Posterity,
” The dutiful Advice of a
Joving Son to his aged Father:
”. a treatise of “Mines, and
the trial of Minerals;
” and a “Collection of chymical and
medicinal Receipts;
” both which are in manuscript, 8.
Jiistorical: viz. his “History of the World,
” the best edition of which is that by Oldys, Miscellaneous Works,
”
including most of the above,
the memory of Edward Augustus, Duke of York.“19.” A Poem on the Death of sir Watkin Williams Wynne, bart.“20.” Shakspeare in Elysium to Mr. Garrick.“21.” The Ancient
The following catalogue of Mr. Rolt’s publications, is
subjoined to his proposals in 1769. But many of them
were published without his name, and in weekly numbers.
In folio, he published, 1. “A Dictionary of Trade and Commerce; dedicated, by permission, to George Lord Anson.
”
To this Johnson wrote the preface. 2. “Lives of the Reformers dedicated to the Princess Dowager of Wales
” a
decent compilation, but most valued for a fine set of mezzotinto heads. In quarto, 3. “Life of John earl of Craufurd; dedicated to his grace James duke of Hamilton.
”
In octavo, &c. 4. <f History of the General War from 1733
to 1748,“4 vols. 1st volume dedicated to admiral Vernon; 2d, to John earl Grenville; 3d, to his grace Charley
duke of Marlborough; 4th to George Dunk, earl of Halifax. 5.
” Universal Visitor, with several Songs.“(la this he joined with Christopher Smart, as is before-mentioned.) 6.
” Account of capt. Northall’s Travels through
Italy.“7.
” Letters concerning the Antigallican privateer.“8.
” Case of Clifford against the Dutch West India Company.“9.
” Reply to the Anssver of the Dutch
Civilians to Clifford’s Case.“10.
” History of England,“4 vols. 11.
” History of France,“vol. 12.
” History
of Egypt,“4 vols. 13.
” History of Greece,“6 vols.
14.
” Cambria; inscribed to Prince George“(his present majesty.) 15.
” Eliza,“an English opera. 16.
” Aljnena,“an English opera. 17.
” A Monody on the Dqath
oC Frederic Priace of Wales.“18.
” An Elegiac Ode t*
the memory of Edward Augustus, Duke of York.“19.
” A Poem on the Death of sir Watkin Williams Wynne,
bart.“20.
” Shakspeare in Elysium to Mr. Garrick.“21.
” The Ancient Rosciad," published in 1753.
He died Oct. 5, 1771, aged fifty-nine, having married a sister of the late sir Anthony Thomas Abdy, bart of Albins, in Essex, by whom he had two sons, one of whom survived
, an ingenious philosopher
and divine, the son of the rev. Thomas Rutherforth, rector
of Papworth Everard, in the county of Cambridge, who
had made large collections for an history of that county,
was born October 13, 1712. He was entered of St. John’s
college, Cambridge, about 1725, and took his degrees of
A. B. 1729, and A.M. 1733. He was then chosen fellow,
and proceeded bachelor of divinity in 1740. Two years
after he was chosen fellow of the Royal Society, and in
1745, on being appointed professor of divinity, took his
doctor’s degree, and was appointed chaplain to his royal
highness the prince of Wales. In the church, he was promoted to be rector of Barrow in Suffolk, of Shenfield in
Essex, and of Barley in Hertfordshire, and archdeacon of
Essex. He communicated to the Gentleman’s Society at
Spalding a curious correction of Plutarch’s description of
the instrument used to renew the vestal fire, as relating to
the triangle with which the instrument was formed. It was
nothing but a concave speculum, whose principal focus
which collected the rays is not in the centre of concavity,
but at the distance of half a diameter from its surface: but
some of the ancients thought otherwise, as appears from
Prop. 31 of Euclid’s il Catoptrics;“and, though this piece
has been thought spurious, and this error a proof of it, the
sophist and Plutarch might easily know as little of mathematics. He published
” An Essay on the nature and oblirgations of Virtue,“1744, 8vo, which Mr. Maurice Johnson, of Spalding, in a letter to Dr. Birch, calls
” an useful, ingenious, and learned piece, wherein the noble author of the Characteristics, and all other authors ancient and
modern, are, as to their notions and dogmata, duly, candidly, and in a gentleman-like manner, considered, and
fully, to my satisfaction, answered as becomes a Christian
divine. If you have not yet read that amiable work, I must
(notwithstanding, as we have been told by some, whom he answers in his Xlth and last chapters, do not so much approve it) not forbear recommending it to your perusal.“”Two Sermons preached at Cambridge,“1747, 8vo.
” A
System of Natural Philosophy, Cambridge,“1748, 2 vols.
4to.
” A Letter to Dr. Middleton in defence of bishop
Sherlock on Prophecy,“1750, 8vo.
” A Discourse on
Miracles,“1751, 8vo.
” “Institutes of Natural Law,
” A Charge to the Clergy of Essex,
” Two
Letters to Dr. Kennicott,
” A Vindication of the Right of Protestant Churches to require the
Clergy to subscribe to an established Confession of Faith
and Doctrines, in a Charge delivered at a Visitation, July
1766,
” Cambridge, A Letter to Archdeacon Blackburn,
” he was no less eminent for his piety and integrity than his extensive learning; and filled every public
station in which he was placed with general approbation.
In private life, his behaviour was truly amiable. He was
esteemed, beloved, and honoured by his family and friends;
a,nd his death was sincerely lamented by all who ever heard
of his well-deserved character.
”
ied him to the daughter and coheiress of sir Henry Winchecomb of Bucklebury, in the county of Berks, bart.; and upon this marriage a large settlement was made, which
As these youthful extravagances involved him in discredit, his parents were very desirous to reclaim him. With this view, when in his twenty-second year, they married him to the daughter and coheiress of sir Henry Winchecomb of Bucklebury, in the county of Berks, bart.; and upon this marriage a large settlement was made, which proved very serviceable to him in his old age, though a great part of what his lady brought was taken from him, in consequence of his attainder. The union in other respects was not much to his liking. The same year he was elected for the borough of Wotton-Basset, and sat in the fifth parliament of king William, which met Feb. 10, 1700; and in which Robert Harley, esq. afterwards earl of Oxford, was chosen for the first time speaker. Of this short parliament, which ended June 24, 1701, the business was the impeachment of the king’s ministers, who were concerned in the conclusion of the two partition-treaties; and, Mr. St. John siding with the majority, who were then considered as tories, ought to be looked upon as commencing his political career in that character. He sat also in the next, which was the last parliament in the reign of William, and the first in that of Anne. He was charged, so early as 1710, with having voted this year against the succession in the House of Hanover; but this he has peremptorily denied, because in 1701 a bill was brought into parliament, by sir Charles Hedges and himself, entitled tt A Bill ibr the farther security of his majesty’s person, and the succession of the crown in the Protestant line, and extinguishing the hopes of the pretended prince of Wales, and all other pretenders, and their open and secret abettors." In July 1702, upon the dissolution of the second parliament, the queen making a tour from Windsor to Bath, by way of Oxford, Mr. St. John attended her; and, at that university, with several persons of the highest distinction, had the degree of doctor of laws conferred upon him.
he Antiquities of Surrey, collected from the most ancient records, and dedicated to Sir John Evelyn, bart. with some Account of the Present State and Natural History
, an English antiquary, was the
son of the rev. Thomas Salmon, M. A. rector of Mepsall in
Bedfordshire, by a daughter of the notorious Serjeant Bradshaw. He was admitted of Bene‘t college, Cambridge,
June 11, 1690, where his tutors were dean Moss and archdeacon Lunn, and took the degree of LL. B. in 1695. Soon
after he went into orders, and was for some time curate of
Westmill in Hertfordshire; but, although he had taken
the oaths to king William, he had so many scruples against
taking them to his successor, queen Anne, that he became
contented to resign the clerical profession, and with it a
living of 140l. per annum ’offered him in Suffolk. He then
applied himself to the study of physic, which he practised
first at St. Ives in Huntingdonshire, and afterwards at Bishops Stortford, in the county of Hertford. His leisure
time appears to have been employed in studying the history
and antiquities of his country, on which subjects he published, 1. “A Survey of the Roman Antiquities in the Midland Counties in England,
” A Survey of
the Roman Stations in Britain, according to the Roman
Itinerary,
” The History of Hertfordshire,
describing the county and its ancient monuments, particularly the Roman, with the characters of those that have
been the chief possessors of the lands, and an account of
the most memorable occurrences,
” The Lives of the
English Bishops from the Restoration to the Revolution, fit
to be opposed to the Aspersions of some late Writers of
Secret History,
” A Survey of
the Roman Stations in England,
” The Antiquities of Surrey, collected from
the most ancient records, and dedicated to Sir John Evelyn, bart. with some Account of the Present State and
Natural History of the County,
” 1736, 8vo. 7. “The History and Antiquities of Essex, from the Collections of Mr.
Strangeman,
” in folio, with some notes and additions of
his own; but death put a stop to this work, when he had
gone through about two thirds of the county, so that the
hundreds of Chelmsford, Hinkford, Lexden, Tendring,
and Thurstable, were left unfinished.
and May 29. 6. “Nineteen familiar Letters of his to Mr. (afterwards sir Henry) North, of Mildenhall, bart. both before, but principally after, his deprivation, for refusing
Though of considerable abilities and uncommon learning, he published but very little. The first thing was a
Latin dialogue, composed jointly by himself and some of
his friends, between a preacher and a thief condemned to
the gallows; and is entitled, 1. “Fur Prædestinatus sive,
dialogismus inter quendam Ordinis proedicantium Calvinistam etFurem ad laqueum damnatum habitus,
” &c. Modern Politics, taken from Machiavel,
Borgia, and other modern authors, by an eye-witness,
”
3652, 12mo. 3. “Three Sermons,
” afterwards re-printed
together in Defence of the vulgar Translation of the Bible,
” with a
preface of his own. 5. He drew up some offices for Jan.
3O, and May 29. 6. “Nineteen familiar Letters of his to
Mr. (afterwards sir Henry) North, of Mildenhall, bart. both
before, but principally after, his deprivation, for refusing
to take the oaths to king William III. and his retirement to
the place of his nativity in Suffolk, found among the papers
of the said sir Henry North, never before published,
” were
printed in 1757, 8vo. In this small collection of the archbishop’s “Familiar Letters,
” none of which were probably
ever designed to be made public, his talents for epistolary
writing appear to great advantage. He left behind him a
multitude of' papers and coUections in ms. which upon his
decease came into his nephew’s hands; after whose death
they were purchased by bishop Tanner for eighty guineas,
who gave them, with the rest of his manuscripts, to the
Bodleian library. From these the Rev. John Gutch, of
Oxford, published in 1781, 2 vols. 8vo, various “Miscellaneous Tracts relating to the History and Antiquities of
England and Ireland,
” &c.
character, was descended from an ancient family in Yorkshire. He was the son of sir William Savile, bart. and Anne, daughter of Thomas lord Coventry, lord keeper of
, marquis of Halifax, a celebrated statesman, but of equivocal character, was descended from an ancient family in Yorkshire. He was the son of sir William Savile, bart. and Anne, daughter of Thomas lord Coventry, lord keeper of the great seal. He was born, probably about 1630. Upon the death of his father, he succeeded to the title of baronet, and soon distinguished himself by his abilities in public affairs; and being zealous in bringing about the restoration, was created a peer, in consideration of his own and his father’s merits. In 1668 he was appointed of that remarkable committee, which sat at Brook-hall for the examination of the accounts of the money which had been given during the Dutch war, of which no member of the House of Commons was admitted. In April 1672 he was called to a seat in the privy council; and, June following, went over to Holland with the duke of Buckingham and the earl of Arlington, as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, to treat about a peace with France, when he met with great opposition from hi* colleagues.
aughters, co-heiresses, the eldest of whom married lord Romney, and the other sir Narborough D'Aeth, bart.
Sir Cloudesley Shovel wasj at the time of his death rearadmiral of England, admiral of the white, commander in chief of her majesty’s fleets, and one of the council to prince George of Denmark, as lord high admiral of England. He married the widow of his patron sir John Narborough, by whom he left two daughters, co-heiresses, the eldest of whom married lord Romney, and the other sir Narborough D'Aeth, bart.
the commissioners for framing the treaty of union. He married Jane, daughter of sir Aulay Macauley, bart. of Ardincaple, by whom he had four sons and two daughters.
, a historian, novelist, and poet of considerable reputation, was the grandson of sir James Smollett of Bonhill, a member of the Scotch parliament, and one of the commissioners for framing the treaty of union. He married Jane, daughter of sir Aulay Macauley, bart. of Ardincaple, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. The fourth son, Archibald, married without asking his father’s consent, Barbara Cunningham, daughter of Mr. Cunningham of Gilbertfield s in the 7ieighbourhood of Glasgow. His father, however, allowed him an income of about 300l. a-year. He unfortunately died, after the birth of two sons and a daughter, who, with their mother, were left dependent on the grandfather, and we do not find that he neglected them. Tobias, the subject of this memoir, and the youngest of those children, was born in the house of Dalquhnrn, near Renton in the parish of Cardross, in 1721, and christened Tobias George; but this latter name he does not appear to have used.
h there. He married Dorothy daughter and co-heir of sir James Enyon, of Flower, in Northamptonshire, bart. By this lady he had a son of both his own names, who was educated
Mr. Stanley died at his lodgings, in Suffolk-street, in
the parish of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, April 12, 167S,
and was buried in the church there. He married Dorothy
daughter and co-heir of sir James Enyon, of Flower, in
Northamptonshire, bart. By this lady he had a son of both
his own names, who was educated at Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, and, when very young (Aubrey says at fourteen),
translated Ælian’s “Various Histories,
” which he dedicated to his aunt, the lady Newton, wife of sir Henry Puckering Newton, knt. and bart. to whom his father had dedicated his jÆschylus.
editions of both were lately published in 1814 and 1815, under the fostering hand of sir E. Brydges, bart. who has prefixed a biographical memoir to the “Poems,” to which
Mr, Stanley’s “Poems
” and “Translations
” were printed
in Poems,
” to
which we are greatly indebted in this sketch, especially
for corrections of the preceding erroneous accounts of Mr.
Stanley.
litical writer, was born at Edinburgh, Oct. 10, 1713. His father was sir James Stewart of Goostrees, bart. solicitorgeneral for Scotland, and his mother was Anne, daughter
, an eminent political writer, was born at Edinburgh, Oct. 10, 1713. His father was sir James Stewart of Goostrees, bart. solicitorgeneral for Scotland, and his mother was Anne, daughter of sir Hugh Dalrymple of North Berwick, bart. president of the college of justice in Scotland. After some classical education at the school of North Berwick, in East Lothian, he was removed to the university of Edinburgh, where, in addition to the other sciences usually taught there, he made himself well acquainted with the Roman law and history, and the municipal law of Scotland. He then went to the bar as an advocate, and published an acute and ingenious thesis on that occasion, having before submitted himself, as is usual, to a public examination by the fac'ilty of advocates.
uments of Antiquity that relate to Sacred History,” in 4to, which he dedicated to sir Richard Kllys, bart. “from whom he had received many favours.” In this work (uhich
, an antiquary of much celebrity,
descended from an antient family in Lincolnshire, was born
at Holbech in that county, November 7, 1687. After having had the first part of his education at the free-school of
that place, under the care of Mr. Edward Kelsal, he was
admitted into Bene't-college in Cambridge, Nov. 7, 1703,
under the tuition of Mr. Thomas Favvcett, and chosen a
scholar there in April following. While an under-graduate,
he often indulged a strong propensity for drawing and designing; and began to form a collection of antiquarian
books. He made physic, however, his principal study, and
with that view took frequent perambulations through the
neighbouring country, with the famous Dr. Hales, Dr. John
Gray of Canterbury, and others, in search of plants; and
made great additions to Ray’s “Catalogus Plantarum circa
Cantabrigiam;
” which, with a map of the county, he was
solicited to print; but his father’s death, and various domestic avocations, prevented it. He studied anatomy under
Mr. Rolfe the surgeon attended the chemical lectures of
signor Vigani and taking the degree of M. B. in 1709,
made himself acquainted with the practical part of medicine
under the great Dr. Mead at St. Thomas’s hospital. He
first began to practise at Boston in his native county, where
he strongly recommended the chalybeate waters of Stanfield
near Folkingham. In 1717 he removed to London, where,
on the recommendation of his friend Dr. Mead, he was soon
after elected F. R. S. and was one of the first who revived
that of the Antiquaries in 1718, to which last he was secretary for many years during his residence in town. He was
also one of the earliest members of the Spalding society.
He took the degree of M. D. at Cambridge in 1719, and
was admitted a fellow of the College of Physicians in the
year following, about which time (1720) he published an
account of “Arthur’s Oon
” in Scotland, and of “Graham’s
dyke,
” with plates, 4to. In the year Itinerarium Curiosum; or, an Account of the Antiquities and Curiosities in his Travels
through Great Britain, Centuria I.
” adorned with one hundred copper-plates, and published in folio, London, 1724.
This was reprinted after his death, in 1776, with two additional plates; as was also published the second volume,
(consisting of his description of the Brill, or Caesar’s camp at Pancras,“IterBoreale,
” A Treatise on the Cause
and Cure of the Gout, from a new Rationale;
” which, with
an abstract of it, has passed through several editions. He
collected some remarkable particulars at Stamford in relation
to his predecessor bishop Cumberland; and, in 1736, printed
an explanation, with an engraving, of a curious silver plate
of Roman workmanship in basso relievo, found underground
at Risley Park in Derbyshire; wherein he traces its journey thither, from the church of Bourges, to which it had
been given by Exsuperius, called St. Swithin, bishop of
Toulouse, about the year 205. He published also the
same yea.- his “Palæographia Sacra, No. I. or, Discourses
on the Monuments of Antiquity that relate to Sacred History,
” in 4to, which he dedicated to sir Richard Kllys, bart.
“from whom he had received many favours.
” In this
work (uhich was to have been continued in succeeding numbers) he undertakes to shew, how Heathen Mythology
is derived from Sacred History, and that the Bacchus in the
Poets is no other than the Jehovah in the Scripture, the
conductor of the Israelites through the wilderness. In his
country retirement he disposed his collection of Greek and
Roman coins according to the order of the Scripture History; and cut out a machine in wood (on the plan of an Orrery), which shews the motion of the heavenly bodies,
the course of the tide, &c. In 1737 he lost his wife and
in 1738, married Elizabeth, the only daughter of Dr. Gale,
dean of York, and sister to his intimate friends Roger
and Samuel Gale, esquires; and from this time he often
spent his winters in London. In 1740, he published an
account of Stonehenge, dedicated to the duke of Ancaster,
who had made him one of his chaplains, and given him the
living of Somerby near Grantham the year before. In
1741, he preached the Thirtieth of January Sermon before
the House of Commons; and in that year became one of
the founders of the Egyptian society, composed of gentlemen who had visited Egypt. In 1743 he printed an account
of lady Roisia’s sepulchral cell, lately discovered at Royston, in a tract, entitled “Palseographia Britannica, No. I.
”
to which an answer was published by Mr. Charles Parkin,
in 1744. The doctor replied in “Palasographia Britannica,
No. II.
” 1746, giving an account of the origin of the universities of Cambridge and Stamford, both from Croylandabbey; of the Roman city Granta, on the north-side of
the river, of the beginning of Cardike near Waterbeach,
&c. To this Mr. Parkin again replied in 1748; but it
does not appear that the doctor took any further notice of
him. In 1747, the benevolent duke of Montagu (with whom he had become acquainted at the Egyptian society)
prevailed on him to vacate his preferments in the country,
by giving him the rectory of St. George, Queen-square,
whence he frequently retired to Kentish-town, where the
following inscription was placed over his door:
law-writer, was an esquire’s son, as Wood says, but probably the son of sir Humphrey Style, knt. and bart. whose family are buried in Beckenham in Kent. He was born in
, a law-writer, was an esquire’s son,
as Wood says, but probably the son of sir Humphrey Style,
knt. and bart. whose family are buried in Beckenham in
Kent. He was born in 1603, and became a gentlemancommoner of Brasenose college, Oxford, in 1618; but, as
usual with gentlemen destined for the law, left the university without a degree, and went to the Inner Temple. He
was afterwards called to the bar, but, according to Wood,
“pleased himself with a retired and studious condition.
”
He died in 1679, if he be the William Style buried that
year at Beckenham, as Mr. Lysons conjectures with great
probability. The most valued of his writings are his
“Reports,
” published in The Practical Register, or the Accomplished Attorney,
”
The Common Law epitomized, with directions how to prosecute and defend personal actions,
”
8vo. Wood also mentions a non-professional work, translated from the Latin of John Michael Delher, a name we
are unacquainted with, under the title of “Contemplations, Sighs, and Groans of a Christian,
” Lond.
er, and probably a descendant of the preceding, was the youngest son of the late sir John Swinburne, bart. of Capheaton, in Northumberland, the long-established seat
, a learned traveller, and probably a descendant of the preceding, was the youngest son of the late sir John Swinburne, bart. of Capheaton, in Northumberland, the long-established seat of that ancient Roman Catholic family. He was educated at Scorton school, in Yorkshire, and afterwards studied at Paris, Bourcleaux, and in the royal academy at Turin. He made the usual tour of Italy; and, in 1774, travelled with his lady on the Continent, for the express purpose of indulging their taste for antiquities and the fine arts. He spent six years in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany; formed an intimacy with some of the most celebrated literati of those coun^ries, and received some signal marks of esteem from the sovereigns of the courts he visited. On his return to England he retired to his seat at Hamsterley, in the bishopric of Durham, which thenceforth became his principal residence. He published his Travels in Spain in a quarto volume, 1779; four years after, vol. I. of his Travels in the Two Sicilies, and a lid two years after. Both these works have been reprinted in octavo, the first in two, the other in four, volumes, with improvements. The learning and ingenuity of Mr. Swinburne have been generally acknowledged, and the warmth and animation of his descriptions discover an imagination highly susceptible of every bounty of nature or art; but he is perhaps too apt to relinquish simplicity for profusion of ornament. He was the first who brought us intimately acquainted with Spain, and the arts and monuments of its ancient inhabitants. By the marriage of his only daughter to Paul Benfield, esq. he became involved in the misfortunes of that adventurer, and obtained a place in the newly-ceded settlement of Trinidad, where he died in April 1803. His library had been sold by auction, by Leigh and Sotheby, the preceding year.
himself so well, as to be recommended to be private tutor to the younger son of sir William Clayton, bart. a charge which led to his future elevation. How long he remained
, bishop of Rochester, the eldest of
three sons of the rev. John Tnomas, many years vicar of
Brampton in Cumberland, was born at Carlisle Oct. 14,
1712. Many of his ancestors, both on the paternal and
maternal side, were remarkable for their longevity; so that
he might be considered as “born with somewhat like an
hereditary claim to length of days.
” Being designed for
the church, at a proper age he was placed in the grammar-school at Carlisle, whence he was sent to Oxford, in
1730, and, on the 23d of November, was admitted a commoner of Queen’s-college. Soon after his admission he
had a clerkship given him by Dr. Smith, then provost.
Having discharged this office, and completed his terms,
he put on a civilian’s gown, and, leaving Oxford, became
an assistant at the classical academy in Soho-square. In
this situation he acquitted himself so well, as to be recommended to be private tutor to the younger son of sir William Clayton, bart. a charge which led to his future elevation. How long he remained in it, is not precisely known,
but probably till he had completed his pupil’s education.
His conduct, however, was so well approved, that shortly
after, with the consent of sir William Clayton, the sister
of his pupil, on the death of her first husband, sir Charles
Blackwell, of Sprowston-hall, Norfolk, became his wife.
Mr. Thomas lived in habits of the closest friendship with
his brother-in-law, until about 1784, when that gentleman met a premature death, occasioned by a fall from his
horse.
an the Norman conquest. He was the son of sir Lionel Tolmach of Helmingnam in the county of Suffolk, bart. by Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William Murray, earl of
, a brave English officer, was descended of a family said to be more ancient than the Norman conquest. He was the son of sir
Lionel Tolmach of Helmingnam in the county of Suffolk,
bart. by Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William Murray,
earl of Dysart, afterwards married to John, duke of Lauderdale. His talents and education were improved by his
travels, in which he spent several years, and after he entered into the army, distinguished himself so much by skill
and bravery, as very soon to acquire promotion. But L|
the reign of James If. whose measures he thought hostile
to the true interests of the kingdom, he resigned his commission, and went again abroad. The same political principles inclining him to favour the revolution, he was, on
the accession of William III. appointed colonel of the
Coldstream regiment, which had been resigned by William,
carl of Craven, on account of his great age and infirmities;
and was soon advanced to the rank of lieutenant-general.
In 1691, he exerted himself with uncommon bravery in
the passage over the river Shannon, at the taking of Athlone in Ireland, and in the battle of Aghrim. In 1693, he
attended king William to Flanders, and at the battle of
Landen against the French, commanded by marshal Luxemburg, when his majesty himself was obliged to retire,
the lieutenant-general brought off the English foot with
great prudence, resolution, and success.
But, in June the year following, he fell in the unfortunate attempt for destroying the harbour of Brest in France.
He had formed this desigrt, and taken care to be well instructed in every circumstance relating to it. Six thousand
men seemed to be more than necessary for taking and keeping Cameret, a small neck of land, which lies in the mouth
of and commands the river of Brest. The project and the
preparations were kept so secret, that there was not the
least suspicion till the hiring of transport-ships discovered
it. A proposition for that purpose had indeed been made
two years before to the earl of Nottingham; who, among
other things, charged admiral Russel with having neglected
that scheme, when it was laid before him by some persons
who came from Brest. Whether the French apprehended
the design from that motion, or whether it was now betrayed to them by some who were in the secret; it is certain, that they had such timely knowledge of it, as put
them upon their guard. The preparations were not quite
ready by the day that had been fixed; and when all was
ready, they were stopt by a westerly wind for some time;
so that they arrived a month later than was intended. They
found the place well fortified with many batteries, which,
were raised in different lines upon, the rocks, that lay over
the place of descent; and great numbers were posted there
to dispute their landing. When the English fleet came so
near as to see all this, the council of officers declared
against making the attempt; but the lieutenant-general
was so possessed with the scheme, that he could not be
diverted from it. He imagined, that the men they saw
were only a rabble brought together to make a shew;
though it proved, that there were regular bodies among
them, and that their numbers were double to his own. He
began with landing of six hundred men, and put himself
at the head of them, who followed him with great courage;
but they were so exposed to the enemies’ fire, and could
do them so little harm, that the attempt was found absolutely impracticable. The greatest part of those, who
landed, were killed or taken prisoners; and not above an
hundred of them came back. The lieutenant-general himself was shot in the thigh, of which he died in a few days,
extremely lamented. Thus failed a design, which, if it
had been undertaken before the French were so well prepared to receive it, might have been attended with success,
and followed with very important effects. In this manner
bishop Burnet represents the affair, who styles the lieutenant-general a brave and generous man, and a good officer,
very fit to animate and encourage inferior officers and soldiers. Another of our historians speaks of this affair in
somewhat a different strain, declaring, that the lieutenantgeneral “fell a sacrifice in this desperate attempt, being
destined, as some affirmed, to that fall by the envy of some
of his pretended friends.
” His body was brought to England, and interred on the 30th of June, 1694, at Helmingham in Suffolk.
him to a place in the state-paper office, with his friends and patrons, the late sir Joseph AyiofFe, bart. who died in his arms, and Thomas Astle, esq. He was also one
, a learned antiquary, was a native of
Malton, in Yorkshire and, in an humble situation under
the late Philip Carteret Webb, esq. solicitor to the treasury, acquired such a knowledge of ancient hands and muniments as raised him to a place in the state-paper office,
with his friends and patrons, the late sir Joseph AyiofFe,
bart. who died in his arms, and Thomas Astle, esq. He
was also one of the gentlemen engaged in preparing for
the press the six volumes of the Rolls of Parliament; an
office in which he succeeded his friend Richard Blyke, esq,
with whom, in 1775, he was joint editor of Gianville’s “Reports of cases of controverted Elections determined and
adjudged in parliament, 21 and 22 Jac. I.
” 8vo. To this
is prefixed an historical account of the ancient rights
of determining cases upon controverted elections. He
was also editor, if not translator, of an English edition of
sir John Fortescue’s “De laudibus Legum Anglise,
” A collection of Ordinances and Regulations for the government of the Royal
Household, in divers reigns, from Edward III. to William
and Mary,
” 1790, 4to. Mr. Topham was elected F. S. A.
in 1767, and treasurer (on the death of Mr. Bartlet) in
tfield, was presented to the rectory of Blithfield, in Staffordshire, by sir Walter Wagstaffe Bagot, bart. Soon after he quitted the proctorship he was admitted (June
On his return to college he resumed the employment of tutor. Mr. Lovibond, the poet, and lord Bagot, were two of his pupils. In 1746 he was presented to the living of Hatfield Peverel, in Essex. In 1749 he was senior proctor of the university; and, resigning Hatfield, was presented to the rectory of Blithfield, in Staffordshire, by sir Walter Wagstaffe Bagot, bart. Soon after he quitted the proctorship he was admitted (June 15) to the degree of B. D. and the same summer Mr. Drake offered him the lower rnediety of Malpas, in the county of Chester. After some reluctance, principally arising from his unwillingness to leave Oxford, he accepted this offer, and was instituted Jan. 2, 1751. At the close of the year (Dec. 19) he quitted Oxford, and resigned his fellowship the month following. He now divided his time between Malpas and Blithfield, which he held for a few years with his new preferment; and then, having resigned it, he inducted (Feb. 23, 1759) his worthy successor, the rev. Walter Bagot, M. A. son of his esteemed friend and patron. In 1758, a very considerable accession of fortune came to him by the death of the rev. William Barcroft, rector of Fairsted and vicar of Kelvedon, in Essex, who bequeathed him his library and the principal part of his fortune, amounting in the whole to more than eight thousand pounds. According to the testimony of his biographer, his conduct as a Christian' pastor seems to have been in all respects most exemplary.
Judith, and Dorothea- Maria, who, on the 27th of October, 1763, married sir Henry Paulett St. John, bart. and died on the 5th of May, 1768, leaving one son. Mrs. Tucker
, an ingenious English writer, was
born in London Sept. 2, 1705, of a Somersetshire family;
his father was a merchant, his mother was Judith, daughter
of Abraham Tillard, esq. Both his parents died before he
was two years old, and left him under the care of his
grandmother Tillard and his maternal uncle sir Isaac Tillard, a man of strict piety and morality, of whose memory
Mr. Tucker always spoke with the highest veneration and
regard, and who took the utmost pains to give his nephew
principles of integrity, benevolence, and candour, with a
disposition to unwearied application and industry in his pursuits. He was educated at Bishop’s Stortford, and in 1721
was entered as a gentleman commoner in Merlon-college,
Oxford, where his favourite studies were metaphysics and
the mathematics. He there engaged masters to teach him
French, Italian, and music, of which last he was very fond.
In 1726 he was entered of the Inner Temple. Soon afterwards, and just before he came of age, he lost his guardian sir Isaac. He studied enough of the law to be useful
to himself and his friends; but his fortune not requiring it,
and his constitution not being strong, he was never called
to the bar. He usually spent the summer vacations in
tours through different parts of England, Wales, and Scotland, and once passed six weeks in France and Flanders.
In 1727 he purchased Betchworth-castle with its estate.
He then turned his attention more to rural affairs, and with
his usual industry wrote down numberless observations
which he collected in discourses with his farmers, or extracted from various authors on the subject. On the 3d of
February, 1736, he married Dorothy, daughter of Edward
Barker, esq. afterwards cursitor baron of the exchequer, and
receiver of the tenths. By her he had three daughters,
Dorothy, who died under three years old, Judith, and
Dorothea- Maria, who, on the 27th of October, 1763, married sir Henry Paulett St. John, bart. and died on the 5th
of May, 1768, leaving one son. Mrs. Tucker died the 7th
of May, 1754, aged 48. As they had lived together in the
tenderest harmony, the loss was a very severe stroke to
Mr. Tucker. His first amusement was. to collect all the
letters which had passed between them whenever they happened to be absent from each other, which he copied out
in books twice over, under the title of “The Picture of
artless Love;
” one copy he gave to her father, who survived her five years, and the other he kept to read over to
his daughters frequently. His principal attention then was
to instruct his daughters; he taught them French and
Italian, and whatever else he thought might be useful to
them to know. In 1755, at the request of a friend in the
west of England, he worked up some materials which he
sent him into the form of a pamphlet, then published under
the title of “The Country Gentleman’s Advice to his Son
on the Subject of Party Clubs,
” printed by Owen, Temple-bar; and he soon after began writing “The Light of
Nature pursued,
” of which he not only formed and wrote
over several sketches before he fixed on the method he determined to pursue, but wrote the complete copy twice
with his own hand; but thinking his style was naturally
still and laboured, in order to improve it, he had employed
much time in studying the most elegant writers and orators,
and translating many orations of Cicero, Demosthenes, &c.
and, twice over, “Cicero de Oratore.
” After this he
composed a little treatise called “Vocal Sounds,
” printed,
but never published; contriving, with a few additional letters, to fix the pronunciation to the whole alphabet in such
manner, that the sound of any word may be conveyed on
puper as exactly as by the voice. His usual method of
spending his time was to rise very early to his studies, in
winter bu ‘ning a lamp in order to light his own fire before
his servants were stirring. After breakfast he returned to
his studies for two or three hours, and then took a ride on
horseback, or walked. The evenings in summer he often
spent in walking over his farms and setting down his remarks; and in the winter, while in the country, reading to
his wife, and afterwards to his daughters. In London,
where he passed some months every winter and spring, he
passed much time in the same manner, only that his evenings were more frequently spent in friendly parties with some
of his relations who lived near, and with some of his old fellow
collegiates or Temple friends. His walks there were chiefly
to transact any business he had in town, always preferring
to walk on all his own errands, to sending orders by a servant, and frequently when he found no other, would walk,
he said, to the Bank to see what it was o’clock. Besides
his knowledge in the classics and the sciences, he was perfectly skilled in merchant’s accompts, and kept all his
books with the exactness of an accompting-house; and he
was ready to serve his neighbours by acting as justice of
peace. His close application to his studies, and writing
latterly much by candle and lamp-light, weakened his
sight, and hrought on cataracts, which grew so much worse
after a fever in the spring, 1771, that he could no longer
amuse himself with reading or writing, and at last could
not walk, except in his own garden, without leading. This
was a great trial on his philosophy, yet it did not fail him i
he not only bore it with patience, but cheerfulness, frequently being much diverted with the mistakes his infirmity
occasioned him to make. His last illness carried him off
on the 20th of November, 1774, perfectly sensible, and
as he had lived, easy and resigned, to the last.
He published a pamphlet entitled a Man in quest of
himself,“in reply to some strictures on a note to his
” Free Will.“He had no turn for politics or public life,
and never could be induced to become a candidate to represent the county of Surrey, to which his fortune, abilities, and character gave him full pretensions.
” My
thoughts,“says Mr. Tucker of himself,
” have taken a
turn, from my earliest youth, towards searching into the
foundations and measures of right and wrong; my love for
retirement has furnished me with continual leisure; and
the exercise of my reason has been my daily employment."
He once, however, was induced to attend a public meeting
at Epsom in the beginning of the present reign, when party
ran very high, and when sir Joseph Mawbey began to
exercise his talent for poetry by a ballad on the occasion,
in which he introduced Mr. Tucker and other gentlemen
who differed from him in their opinions. So far from
being hurt by this, Mr. Tucker was highly amused at the
representation given of himself, and actually set the ballad
to music.
o sons and two daughters arrived at maturity. Of the latter, Mary was married to sir Edward Crofton, bart. and Rqse to lord Lambert, afterwards earl of Cavan. His eldest
By his wife, sir James Ware had ten children, of whom only two sons and two daughters arrived at maturity. Of the latter, Mary was married to sir Edward Crofton, bart. and Rqse to lord Lambert, afterwards earl of Cavan. His eldest son James succeeded him in his estate and office, and married the daughter of Dixie Hickman, of Kew, in the county of Surrey, esq. and sister to Thomas lord Windsor, who was afterwards created earl of Plymouth. By a general entail raised on this marriage, the estate of the family afterwards came to an only daughter, Mary, who took for her second husband sir John St, Leger, knt. one of the barons of his majesty’s court of exchequer in Ireland, in whom the estate vested. Sir James Ware’s youngest son Robert was in his youth troubled with epilepsy, and afforded no hopes to his father, which induced him to consent to the general entail before mentioned; but this son afterwards recovering a vigorous state of health, sir James had little pleasure in reflecting on what he had done, and to make Robert every amends in his power, laid up 1000l. for every remaining year of his life, which was not above six or seven. Robert married Elizabeth, daughter to sir Henry Piers, of Tristernagh, in the county of Westmeath^ bart. and from this marriage one only son, Henry, survived. Henry married Mary, the daughter of Peter Egerton, of Shaw, in Lancashire, esq. by whom he had two sons, and a daughter Elizabeth, married to Walter Harris, esq. editor of sir James Ware’s works.
; and about the year 1647, he married, to his second wife, dame Joan, widow of sir William Botteler, bart. who was killed in the battle at Cropredy-bridge, and daughter
He married, about the year 1638, Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Button of Mash, Yorkshire, by whom he had an only son Philip. Towards the end of Charles the First’s reign he purchased the seat called Frognal, in the parish of Chiselhurst, in Kent, now or lately the seat of lord viscount Sidney; and about the year 1647, he married, to his second wife, dame Joan, widow of sir William Botteler, bart. who was killed in the battle at Cropredy-bridge, and daughter of sir Henry Fanshaw, of More-park, a near kinswoman to General Fairfax.
nty of Surrey, with remainder severally aud successively to his nephews, sir James Sinclair Erskine, bart. and John Erskine, esq. and by patent, April 21, 1801, was created
Immediately after this commotion he was appointed chief justice of the common pleas, and called to the house of peers by the name, style, and title of lord Loughborough, baron of Loughborough, in the county of Leicester. In 1783 his lordship was appointed first commissioner for keeping the great seal; but as soon as the memorable coalition between loVd North and Mr. Fox look place, his lordship joined his old friend lord North, and remained in opposition to the administration of Mr. Pitt. It has been said that it was by his advice that Mr. Fox was led to act the unpopular part which lost him so many friends during his majesty’s indisposition in 1788-9. In 1793, when many members both of the house of lords and commons, formerly in opposition, thought it their duty to rally round the throne, endangered by the example of Fiance, lord Loughborough joined Mr. Pitt, and on Jan. 27th of that year, was appointed lord high chancellor of England, which ' office he held until 1801, when he was succeeded by thfe present lord Eldon. In Oct. 1795 his lordship obtained a new patent of a barony, by the title of lord Loughborough, of Loughborough in the county of Surrey, with remainder severally aud successively to his nephews, sir James Sinclair Erskine, bart. and John Erskine, esq. and by patent, April 21, 1801, was created earl of Rosslyn, in the county of Mid Lothian, with the same remainders.
’s creditors. He had, in the year 1735, married Anna Dyer, the only daughter of Sir Swinnerton Dyer, bart. of Spains Hall, Essex, with whom he received the sum of ten
Fleetwood was always in distress, and always contriving new modes of relief: Whitehead was pliable, good-natured, and friendly; and being applied to by the artful manager, to enter into a joint security for the payment of three thousand pounds, which he was told would not affect him, as another name, besides Fleetwood’s, was wanted merely as a matter of form, readily fell into the snare. It is perhaps wonderful that Whitehead, who knew something of business, and something of law, should have been deceived by a pretence so flimsy: but, on the other hand, it is not improbable that Fleetwood, who had the baseness to lie, had also the cunning to enjoin secresy; and Whitehead might be flattered, by being thus admitted into his confidence. The consequence, however, was, that Fleetwood was unable to pay; and Whitehead, considering himself as entrapped into a promise, did not look upon it as binding in honour, and therefore submitted to a long confinement in the Fleet Prison. If this transaction happened, as one of his biographers informs us, about the year 1742, Whitehead was not unable to have satisfied Fleetwood’s creditors. He had, in the year 1735, married Anna Dyer, the only daughter of Sir Swinnerton Dyer, bart. of Spains Hall, Essex, with whom he received the sum of ten thousand pounds. By what means he was released at last, without payment, we are not told.
in French. He died Nov. 23, 1679, leaving issue sir Felix Wilde, of St. Clement Danes, in Middlesex, bart. The title is now extinct. Sir William Wilde was indeed “a grave
Neal, perhaps, we know others have, confounded his
favourite hero, serjeant Wilde, which was his only legitimate title, with sir William Wild, who was recorder of
London in 1659, created a baronet Sept. 13, 1660, appointed king’s serjeant Nov. 10, 1661, and made one of
the justices of the common pleas in 1668. He was advanced to be a justice of the court of king’s bench Jan. 21,
1672. In 1661 and 1674 he published “Yelverton’s Reports,
” in French. He died Nov. 23, 1679, leaving issue
sir Felix Wilde, of St. Clement Danes, in Middlesex, bart.
The title is now extinct. Sir William Wilde was indeed “a grave and venerable judge,” and it must not be forgot
to his honour, that, because he disbelieved the evidence
of the perjured Bedloe, in the popish plot, he was deprived of his office a few months before his death.
the same year, Mrs. Frances Bendish (sister to the late Rev. sir Richard Wrottesley, of WYottesley, bart.) who died Dec. 24, 1798, at Froxfield, Hampshire, at a very
, an English antiquary and physician, was the eldest son of Mr. Richard Wilkes, of
Willenhall, in the county of Stafford, a gentleman who lived upon
his own estate, and where his ancestors had been seated
since the time of Edward IV. His mother was Lucretia,
youngest daughter of Jojias Asteley, of Woodeaton, in Staffordshire, an ancient and respectable family. He was born
March 16, 1690-91, and had his school-education at Trentham. He was entered of St. John’s college, Cambridge,
March 13, 1709- 10, and was admitted scholar in 1710. On
April 6, 1711, he attended Mr. Saunderson’s mathematical
lectures, aud ever after continued a particular friendship
with that gentleman. In the preface to “Saunderson’s
Elements of Algebra,
” the reader is told, that whatever
materials had been got together for publishing Saunderson’s life, had been received, among other gentlemen, from
Mr. Richard Wilkes. He took the degree of B.A. January 1713-14; and was chosen fellow Jan. 21, 1716-17;
and April 11, 1716, was admitted into lady Sadler’s Algetra Lecture, and took the degree of M. A. at the commencement of 1717; also July 4, 1718, he was chosen
Linacre Lecturer. It does not appear that he ever took
any degrees in medicine. He seems to have taken pupils
and taught mathematics in the college from 1715 till tfet
time thathe left it. It is not known when he took deacon’s orders, but a relation of his remembered his having
preached at Wolverhampton. He also preached some time
at Stow, near Chartley. The disgust he took to the ministry has been imputed to his being disappointed in the
hope of preferment in the church, and he thought he could
make his talents turn to better account, and accordingly
began to practise physic at Wolverhampton, Feb. 1720,
and became veryeminent in his profession. On the 24th
June 1,725, he married Miss Rachel Manlove, of Lee’s-hill,
near Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire, with whom he had
a handsome fortune, and from that time he dwelt with his
father at Willenhall. In the beginning of 1747 he had a
severe fit of illness, during which, among other employments, he composed a whimsical epitaph on himself, which
may be seen in Shaw’s History of Staffordshire. His wife
dying in May 1756, he afterwards married in October the
same year, Mrs. Frances Bendish (sister to the late Rev. sir Richard Wrottesley, of WYottesley, bart.) who died Dec.
24, 1798, at Froxfield, Hampshire, at a very advanced age.
Dr. Wilkes died March 6, 1760, of the gout in his stomach,
greatly lamented by his tenants, to whom he had been an
indulgent landlord, and by the poor to whom he had been
a kind and liberal physician and friend.
University college to do the same in Bechampton church, for their great benefactor sir Simon Benet, bart. above 100 years after his death: he also, at his own expence,
, an eminent antiquary, was born
Sept. 14, 1682, at Blandford in Dorset. He was grandson
to the preceding Dr. Willis, and eldest son of Thomas
Willis, esq. of Bletchley, in Bucks. His mother was daughter of Robert Browne, esq. of Frampton, in Dorsetshire.
He had the first part of his education under Mr. Abraham
Freestone at Bechampton, whence he was sent to Westminster-school, and during his frequent walks in the adjoining abbey imbibed that taste for architectural, particularly
Ecclesiastical, antiquities, which constituted the pleasure
and employment of his future life. At the age of seventeen he was admitted a gentleman commoner of Christ
church, Oxford, wilder the tuition of the famous geographer Edward Wells, D. D. and when he left Oxford, he
lived for three years with the famous Dr. Will. Wotton. In
1702, he proved a considerable benefactor to Fenny-Stratford, by reviving the market of that town. In 1705, he
was chosen for the town of Buckingham; and, during the
short time he was in parliament, was a constant attendant,
and generally upon committees. In 1707, he married Catharine, daughter of Daniel Elliot, esq. of a very ancient
family in Cornwall, with whom he had a fortune of 8000l.
and by whom he had a numerous issue. She died Oct. 2,
1724. This lady had some literary pretensions. She wrote
a book entitled “The established Church of England the
true catholick church, free from innovations, or diminishing the apostolic doctrines, the sacraments, and doctrines
whereof are herein set forth,
” Lond.
a, one of the daughters and coheiresses of sir Samuel Marow, of Berkswell, in the county of Warwick, bart.He was born Aug. 16, 1709, at Derby, where his father then lived,
, a learned lawyer, and lord chief justice of the court of common pleas, was the second son of Robert Wilmot, of Osmaston in the county of Derby, esq. and of Ursula, one of the daughters and coheiresses of sir Samuel Marow, of Berkswell, in the county of Warwick, bart.He was born Aug. 16, 1709, at Derby, where his father then lived, and after having acquired the rudiments of learning at the free-school in that town, under the Ker, Mr. Blackwell, was placed with the Rev. Mr. Hunter at Lichfield, where he was contemporary with Johnson and Garrick. At an after period of his life it could be remarked that there were then five judges upon the bench who had been 'educated at Lichfield school, viz. Willes, Parker, Noel, Lloyd, and Wilmot. In Jan. 1724, he was removed to Westminster-school, and placed under Dr. Freind; and here, and at Trinity-hall, Cambridge, where he resided until Jan. 1728, he laid the foundation of many friendships, which he preserved through a long life. At the university he contracted a passion for study and retirement that never quitted him, and he was often heard to say, that at this time the height of his ambition was to become a fellow of Trinity- hall, and to pass his life in that learned society. His natural disposition had induced him to give the preference to the church; but his father, who was a man of sagacity as well as of reading, had destined him to the study of the law, which he accordingly prosecuted with much diligence at the Inner Temple, and was called to the fear in June 1732. In 1743 he married Sarah, daughter of Thomas Rivett, of Derby, esq.
-chapel, near Arbury, Warwickshire, a donative given him by his esteemed friend sir Roger Newdigate, bart.
, 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.
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
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.
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
, 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.
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
, 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.
n 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,
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.
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
, 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.
r following ha was appointed one of the tellers of the exchequer, in the room of sir Charles Turner, bart. deceased. In 1740 he. left college, and soon after married
, earl of Hardwicke, the eldest son of the preceding, was born Dec. 20, 1720. At the school of Dr. Newcome, at Hackney, he received the first rudiments of his education, and from that seminary, on 26th May, 1737, was removed to Bene'c college, Cambridge, under the tuition of the Rev. Dr. Salter. In the year following ha was appointed one of the tellers of the exchequer, in the room of sir Charles Turner, bart. deceased. In 1740 he. left college, and soon after married lady Jemima Campbel, only daughter of John lord viscount Glenorchy, by the lady Amabel Grey, eldest daughter of Henry duke -of Kent, at whose decease she succeeded to the title of marchioness Grey and baroness Lucas of Crudwell. By this marriage he became possessed of a large part of the duke’s estate, together with his seat of Wrest-house, near Silsoe, in Bedfordshire. He early engaged as a legislator. In 1741 he was chosen member for Ryegate, in Surrey, and in 1747 one of the representatives for the county of Cambridge, as he was also in 1754 and 1761. At the installation of the duke of Newcastle, as chancellor of the university of Cambridge, in 1749, he had the degree of LL.D. conferred upon him. In 1764 he succeeded his father in his title and estate; and after a strong contention for the office of lord high steward of the university, he obtained that honour against Lord Sandwich. The infirm state of his lordship’s health, combined with his attachment to literary pursuits, prevented him from attending to, or joining in, the politics of the day. He had the honour, however, of a seat in the cabinet during the existence of that short-lived administration in 1765, of which lord Rockingham was the head, but without any salary or official situation which, though repeatedly offered to- him, he never would accept. He died May 16, 1790.