ords and sounds, &c. &c. But perhaps this animadverter will “by some be ranked among the persons, of whom Dr. Lupton gives the following character” Those who are censorious
, a learned divine in the seventeenth century, and bishop of St. Asaph, was born at
Barrow in Leicestershire (where his grandfather, father, and brother, were vicars) in 1636-7. On the 24th of May,
1653, he was admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge,
and took his degrees of bachelor of arts in 1656, master of arts in 1660, and of doctor of divinity in 1679.
At his coming to the university, he closely applied himself to the study of the learned languages and, by
his great diligence and application, soon became so well
skilled, particularly in all Oriental learning, that when
he was not above eighteen years of age, he wrote a
treatise of the excellency and use of the Oriental tongues,
especially the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, and
Samaritan, with a Syriac Grammar, in three books; which
he published when he was about twenty years of age.
He also distinguished himself, at the same time, by his
early piety and seriousness of mind, and by his exemplary sobriety and integrity of life, all which procured
him great esteem and veneration. January 3, 1660-1,
he was ordained deacon in the church of St. Botolph,
Aldersgate, by Robert, bishop of Lincoln and priest, in
the same place, the 31st of that month. About this time,
Dr. Sheldon, bishop of London, collated him to the vicarage of Ealing in Middlesex. On the 22d of November,
1672, he was chosen, by the lord-mayor and aldermen of
London, rector of St. Peter’s, Cornhill, London, and then
he resigned the vicarage of Ealing. He now applied himself, with the utmost labour and zeal, to the discharge of
his ministry, and so instructive was he in his discourses
from the pulpit, so warm and affectionate in his private
exhortations, so regular and uniform in the public worship of the church, and in every part of his pastoral function, and so remarkably were his labours crowned with
success, that as he himself was justly styled “the great
reviver and restorer of primitive piety,
” so his parish was
deservedly proposed, as the best model and pattern, for
the rest of its neighbours to copy after. His singular merit having recommended him to the favour of his diocesan,
bishop Henchman, he was collated by him, on the 22d of
December, 1674, to the prebend of Chiswick, in the cathedral of St. Paul’s, London and, by his successor bishop Compton, he was also, on the 3d of November, 1681,
collated to the archdeaconry of Colchester. In this dignity
he behaved, as he had done before in every station of life,
In a most regular, watchful, and exemplary manner and
not satisfied with the false, or at least imperfect, reports
given in by church-wardens at visitations, he visited everjr
parish within his archdeaconry in person. November the
5th, 1684, he was installed prebendary of Canterbury, and
became also chaplain to king William and queen Mary.
In 1691, he was offered, but refused the see of Bath and
Wells, then vacant by the deprivation of Dr. Thomas Kenn,
for not taking the oaths to king William and queen Mary.
liut though he refused that see, because, probably, being
a man of a tender conscience, he would not eat Dr. Kenn’s
tread, adtording to the language of those times, he afterwards accepted of that of St. Asaph, vacant by the translation of Dr. George Hooper to Bath and Wells, and was
consecrated July 16, 1704. Being placed in this eminent
station, his care and diligence increased in proportion as
his power in the church was enlarged and now when his
authority was extended to larger districts, he still pursued
the same pious and laborious methods of advancing the
honour and interest of religion, by watching over both
clergy and laity, and giving them all necessary direction
and assistance, for the effectual performance of their respective duties. Accoruingly, he was no sooner advanced
to the episcopal chair, but in a pathetic letter to the clergy
of his diocese, he recommended to them the “duty of
catechising and instructing the people committed to their
charge, in the principles of the Christian religion to the
end they might know what they were to believe and do
in order to salvation
” and told them, “he thought it necessary to begin with that, without which, whatever else
he or they should do, would turn to little or no account,
as to the main end of the ministry.
” And to enable them
to do this the more effectually, he sent them a plain and
easy “Exposition upon the Church Catechism.
” This
good man did not enjoy his episcopal dignity above three
years seven months and twenty days for he died at his
lodgings in the cloisters in Westminster- abbey, March
5, 1707-8, in the seventy-first year of his age, and was
buried in St. Paul’s cathedral. He left the greatest part of
liis estate to the societies for propagating the gospel, and
promoting Christian knowledge. To the curacy of MountSorrel in particular, and vicarage of Barrow in the county
of Leicester, in a thankful remembrance of God’s mercies
vouchsafed to him thereabouts, he bequeathed twenty
pounds a year for ever, on condition that prayers be read
morning and evening every day, according to the Liturgy
of the church of England, in the chapel, and parish church
aforesaid; with the sum of forty shillings yearly, to be divided equally upon Christmas-eve, among- eight poor housekeepers of Barrow, as the minister and churchwardens
should agree, regard being had especially to those who
had been most constantly at prayers, and at the sacrament
of the Lord’s Supper, the foregoing year. And if it should
so happen, that the Common- Prayer could not be read in
the church or chapel aforesaid, his will then was, that what
should have been given in either place for that, be in each
place allowed to one chosen by the vk-ar of Barrow to teach
school, and instruct the youth in the principles of the
Christian religion, according to the doctrine of the church
of England. His works were many, and full of great variety of learning. Those published by himself were a?
follows: 1. “De Linguarum Orientalium, praesertim HeIpraicce, Chaldaica?, Syriacae, Arabicae, et Samaritans, praestantia et usu,
” &c. mentioned above. Loud. Institutionum Chronologicarum libri duo, una cum totidem Arithmetices Chronoiogicae libellis,
” Loud. Swvo'&Kov, sive Pandectse Canonum Ss. Apostolorum, et Conciliorum ab Ecclesia Graeca receptoium
necnon Canonicarum Ss. Patrum Epistolarum una cum
Scholiis antiquorum singulis eorurn annexis, et scriptis
aliis hue spectantibus quorum plurima e Bibliothecae Bodleianae aliarumque Mss. Codicibus nunc primum edita
reliqua cum iisdem Mss. summa fide et diligentia collata,
”
Oxonii, 1672, 2 vols. fol. 4. “Codex Canonum Ecclesiae
Primitivae vindicatus et illustratus,
” Lond. The Church Catechism explained, for the use of the
diocese of St. Asaph,
” Lond. J Private Thoughts upon Religion, digested into
twelve articles, with practical resolutions formed thereupon.
” Written in his younger years (when he was about twenty-three years old), for the settling of his principles
and conduct of life, Lond. 1709. 2. “Private Thoughts
upon a Christian Life or, necessary directions for its beginning and progress upon earth, in order to its final perfection in the Beatific Vision,
” part II. Lond. 1709. 3.
“The great necessity and advantage of Public Prayer and
frequent Communion. Designed to revive primitive piety
with, meditations, ejaculations, and prayers, before, at,
and after the sacrament,
” Lond. One hundred and fifty Sermons and Discourses on several subjects,
” Lond. 170S, &c. in 12 vols. 8vo, reprinted at London, 17iy, in 2 vols. fol. 5. “Thesaurus Theologians
or, a complete system of Divinity, summed up in brief
notes upon select places of the Old and New Testament;
wherein the sacred text is reduced under proper heads;
explained and illustrated with the opinions and authorities
of the ancient fathers, councils, &c.
” Lond. A defence of the book of Psalms, collected
into English metre by Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins,
and others with critical Observations on the New Version,
compared with the Old,
” Lond. Exposition of the XXXIX Articles,
” Lond. 1710, 1716, fol.
Bishop Beveridge’s character is in general represented
in a most advantageous light. He was a person of the
strictest integrity, of true and sincere piety, of exemplary charity, and of great zeal for religion, and so
highly esteemed, that when he was dying, one of the
chief of his order deservedly said of him, “There goes
one of the greatest and of the best men that ever England
bred.
” He is also celebrated as a man of extensive and
almost universal learning; furnished, to a very eminent
degree, with all useful knowledge; and much to be admired for his readiness in the scriptures, which he had
thoroughly studied, so that he was able to produce suitable
passages from them on all occasions, and happy in explaining them to others. Mr. Nelson says, that he cannot forbear acknowledging the favourable dispensation of Providence to the present age, in blessing it with so many of
those pious discourses, which our truly primitive prelate
delivered from the pulpit; and that he the rather takes
the liberty to call it a favourable dispensation of Providence, because the bishop gave no orders himself that
they should be printed, but humbly neglected them, as
not being composed for the press. But that this circumstance is so far from abating the worth of the sermons,
or diminishing the character of the author, that it raises
the excellency of both, because it shews at once the
true nature of a popular discourse which is to improve
the generality of hearers, and for that purpose to speak
to them in a plain and intelligible style.
Dr. Henry Felton says, that our learned and venerable
bishop delivered himself with those ornaments alone,
which his subject suggested to him, and wrote in that
plainness and solemnity of style, that gravity and simplicity, which gave authority to the sacred truths he taught,
and unanswerable evidence to the doctrines he defended.
That there is something so great, primitive, and apostolical, in his writings, that it creates an awe and veneration
in our mind that the importance of his subjects is above
the decoration of words and what is great and majestic in
itself looketh most like itself, the less it is adorned. The
author of one of the Guardians, having made an extract
out of one of the bishop’s sermons, tells us, that it may
for acuteness of judgment, ornament of speech, and true
sublime, compare with any of the choicest writings of the
ancients, who lived nearest to the apostles’ times. But
the author of a pamphlet published in 1711, entitled “A
short view of Dr. Bevericlge’s Writings,
” passes a very different judgment upon bishop Beveridge’s works, in order
to stop, as he says, the mischief they are doing, and that
which the publication of his Articles may do. With regard
to the bishop’s language, he observes, that he delights in
jingle and quibbling; affects a tune and rhyme in all he
says, and rests arguments upon nothing but words and
sounds, &c. &c. But perhaps this animadverter will “by
some be ranked among the persons, of whom Dr. Lupton
gives the following character
” Those who are censorious
enough to reflect with severity upon the pious strains,
which are to be found in bishop Beveridge, &c. may possibly
be good judges of an ode or essay, but do not seem to
criticise justly upon sermons, or express a just value for
spiritual things.“After all, whatever faults may be found
in bishop Beveridge’s posthumous works, must be charged
to the injudiciousness of his executor. He must himself
have been an extraordinary man who, with all the faults
pointed out by the author of
” The short view," could
have conciliated the good opinion and favour of men of all
principles, and the most eminent patrons of the church
and the estimation in which his works continue to be held
to this day, prove how little he was injured by the captious
quibblings of a writer who was determined to find fault
with' that, into the spirit of which he could not enter. The
life of bishop Beveridge, prefixed to the folio edition of
his works, was written by Mr. Kimber, a dissenting minister of the Baptist persuasion, in London.
l exhibition. At his college he lived for some time in the same chamber with the well-known Ford, by whom Dr. Johnson heard him described as a contracted scholar and
was born in Cheshire, as is said, of very mean parents. Of the place of his birth, or the first part of his life, we have not been able to gain any intelligence. He was educated upon the foundation at Eton, and was captain of the school a whole year, without any vacancy, by which he might have obtained a scholarship at King’s college. Being by this delay, such as is said to have happened very rarely, superannuated, he was sent to St. John’s college by the contributions of his friends, where he obtained a small exhibition. At his college he lived for some time in the same chamber with the well-known Ford, by whom Dr. Johnson heard him described as a contracted scholar and a mere versifier, unacquainted with life, and unskilful in conversation. His addiction to metre was then such, that his companions familiarly called him Poet. When he had opportunities of mingling with mankind, he cleared himself, as Ford likewise owned, from great part of his scholastic rust.
indolence and a love of ease, and partly acquired by a seclusion from polished society. The lady to whom Dr. Farmer is said to have been attached, was the eldest daughter
Dr. Farmer had now attained the utmost of his wishes;
and although both an English and an Irish bishoprick were
offered to him, he declined them, for which various reasons
have been assigned. One is certainly erroneous. It has
been said “that in early life he had felt the power of love,
and had suffered such a disappointment as had sunk deep
in his mind, and for a time threatened his understanding.
From that period, though he retained his faculties entire,
he acquired some peculiarities of manner, of which he was
so far conscious, as to be sensible that they would hardly
become the character of a bishop; being likewise strongly
attached to dramatic entertainments (which, if we mistake net, the English bishops never witness), and delighting in
clubs where he could have rational conversation without
state or ceremony of any kind, he very wisely preferred
his residentiaryship to the highest dignity in the church.
”
What is here said as to his habits being incompatible with
the character of a bishop, cannot be denied; but these
habits were partly natural, from indolence and a love of
ease, and partly acquired by a seclusion from polished
society. The lady to whom Dr. Farmer is said to have
been attached, was the eldest daughter of sir Thomas’
Hatton, with whom he became acquainted while curate of
Swavesey. Cole says, sir Thomas refused his consent, and
this refusal appears to have been given in 1782, when Dr.
Farmer was in his forty-seventh year, and if, as Cole affirms, the lady was then only twenty-seven or twenty-eight
years of age, she must have been an infant when Dr.
Farmer became acquainted with her father. The whole,
however, may be only one of Cole’s gossiping stories; and
whether so or not, Dr. Farmer, neither at this or any
previous time, exhibited any symptoms of-“disappointed
love.
” It is more rational to suppose, with his last biographer (Mr. Nichols), that when he arrived at that situation, as to fortune, which gave him a claim to the object
of his affections, he found, on mature reflection, that his
habits of life were then too deeply rooted to be changed
into those of domestic arrangements with any probable
chance of perfect happiness to either party. As to his
promotion to a bishopric, it may yet be added, that
although few men have been more beloved by an extensive
circle of friends than Dr. Farmer, there was not, perhaps,
one of them who did not applaud his declining that station,
or who did not think, with all their respect for him, that
he would not have appeared to advantage in it. It is not
as a Divine that Dr. Farmer was admired by his contemporaries, or can be known to posterity.
sh and change passages much more frequently than he ought to have done. “However,” says Giardini, of whom Dr. Burney had this account, “I acquired great reputation among
, an eminent musician, and in many
respects the greatest performer on the violin during the
last century, was a native of Piedmont; and when a boy,
was a chorister in the Duomo at Milan, under Paladini, of
whom he learned singing, the harpsichord, and composition; but having previously manifested a partiality for the
violin, his father recalled him to Turin, in order to receive
instructions on that instrument of the famous Somis. He
went to Rome early in his life, and afterwards to Naples,
where, having obtained a place among ripienos in the
opera orchestra, he used to flourish and change passages
much more frequently than he ought to have done. “However,
” says Giardini, of whom Dr. Burney had this account,
“I acquired great reputation among the ignorant for my
impertinence yet one night, during the opera, Jomellfc
who had composed it, came into the orchestra, and seating
himself close by, me, I determined to give the maestro di
cappella a touch of my taste and execution; and in the
symphony of the next song, which was in a pathetic style, I
gave loose to my fingers and fancy; for which I was rewarded by the composer with a violent slap in the face;
which,
” adds Giardini, “was the best lesson I ever received from a great master in my life.
” Jomelli, after this,
was however very kind, in a different way, to this young and
wonderful musician.
Hearne left his ms collections by will to Dr. William. Bedford, of whom Dr. Rawlinson purchased them for an hundred guineas, and at
Hearne left his ms collections by will to Dr. William. Bedford, of whom Dr. Rawlinson purchased them for an hundred guineas, and at his death bequeathed them with his own Mss. to the Bodleian library. Among other injurious reports at the time of Hearne’s death, one was, that he died a Roman catholic, an imputation on the nonjurors not very uncommon at that time, but which, as to Hearne, has been fully disproved in a letter printed by Mr. Huddesford in his life. Hearne had no more of popery than antiquaries in general, who can never forgive the injuries done to libraries at the time of the reformation.
e grossest personal scurrility on the characters of Mr. Folkes and Mr. Henry Baker, two gentlemen to whom Dr. Hill had formerly been under the greatest obligations, and
But the disposition of Dr. Hill was greatly changed with
his circumstances: from being humble and diffident, he had
become vain and self-sufficient. There appeared in him a
pride, which was perpetually claiming a more than ordinary homage, and a vindictive spirit, which could never
forgive the refusal of it. Hence his writings abounded
with attacks on the understandings, morals, or peculiarities
of others, descending, even to personal abuse and scurrility.
This licence of his pen engaged him frequently in disputes
and quarrels; and an Irish gentleman of the name of
Browne, supposed to be ridiculed in an “Inspector,
” proceeded so far as to cane him in the public gardens at Ranelagh. He had a paper war with Woodward the comedian was engaged with Henry Fielding in the affair of
Elizabeth Canning and concerned in a contest with the
Royal Society, Of this, the origin and progress has been
thus detailed by one who had every opportunity of knowing
the circumstances. When Mr. Hill had started all at once
as before related, from a state of indigence and distress,
to taste the comforts of very considerable emoluments from
his labour, giddy with success, and elated beyond bounds
with the warm sunshine of prosperity, he seemed to be
seized with a kind of infatuation. Vanity took entire possession of his bosom, and banished from thence every
consideration but of self. His conversation turned on little
else, and even his very writings were tainted with perpetual details of every little occurrence that happened to him.
His raillery, both in company and in his writings, frequently turned on those who closely attached themselves to
philosophical investigations, especially in the branches of
natural philosophy. The common -place wit of abusing the
medal-scraper, the butterfly-hunter, the cockle-shell-merchant, &c. now appeared in some of his Magazines and
Inspectors, and in two or three places he even indulged
some distant glances of satire at the Royal Society. Notwithstanding which, however, when the Supplement to
“Chambers’s Dictionary
” was nearly finished, the proprietors of that work, very sensible of the weight of an
F. R. S. annexed to the author’s name, were very desirous
that Dr. Hill should have this addition as well as Mr. Scott,
his colleague in the work. In consequence of this design,
Dr. Hill procured Mr. Scott to propose him for election
into that honourable body; but the doctor’s conduct for
some time past having been such as had rendered him the
object of contempt to some, of disgust to others, and of
ridicule to almost all the rest of his former grave and philosophical acquaintances, he now stood but a very indifferent chance for carrying an election, where an opposition
pf one third was sufficient to reject the candidate; and as.
the failing in that attempt might have done our author
more essential prejudice than the succeeding in it could
even have brought him advantage, the late ingenious and
worthy president, Martin Folkes, esq. whose remembrance
must ever live in the highest estimation with all who ever
had the honour of knowing him, notwithstanding that Dr.
Hill had given him personal occasion of offence against him,
yet with the utmost generosity and candour, advised Mr.
Scott to dissuade his friend, for his own sake, against a
design which there appeared so little probability of his succeeding in. This advice, however, Dr. Hill, instead of
considering in the generous light it was meant, misinterpreted into a prejudiced opposition against his interest, am
would have persisted in his intention even in despite of it,
had net his being unable to obtain the subscription o
requisite number of members to his recommendation^
obliged him to lay it aside, from a conviction that he could
not expect to carry an election in a body composed of three
hundred members, of which he could not prevail on three
to set their names to the barely recommending him as a
candidate. Thus disappointed, his vanity piqued, and his
pride lowered, no relief was left him but railing and scurrility, for which purpose, declaring open war with the
society in general, he first published a pamphlet entitled
*' A Dissertation on Royal Societies,“in a letter from a
Sclavonian nobleman in London to his friend in Sclavonia;
which, besides the most ill-mannered and unjust abuse on
the whole learned body he had been just aiming, in vain,
to become a member of, is interlarded with the grossest
personal scurrility on the characters of Mr. Folkes and
Mr. Henry Baker, two gentlemen to whom Dr. Hill had
formerly been under the greatest obligations, and whose
respective reputations in both the moral and literary world
had long been too firmly established for the weak efforts
of a disappointed scribbler to shake or undermine. Not
contented with this, he proceeded to compile together a
large quarto volume entitled
” A Review of the Works of
the Royal Society,“in which, by the most unfair quotations,
mutilations, and misrepresentations, numbers of the papers
read in that illustrious assembly, and published under the
title of the
” Philosophical Transactions,“are endeavoured
to be rendered ridiculous. This work is ushered into the
world with a most abusive and infamous dedication to
Martin Folkes, esq. against whom and the afore-mentioned
Mr. Henry Baker the weight of this furious attack was
chiefly aimed but the whole recoiled upon himself; and
by such personal abuse, malignant altercation, proud and
insolent behaviour, together with the slovenliness and inaccuracy of careless and hasty productions, he wrote himself out of repute both with booksellers and the town;
and, after some time, sunk in the estimation of the public
nearly as fast as he had risen. He found, however, as
usual, resources in his own invention. He applied himself
to the preparation of certain simple medicines namely,
” the Essence of Water-dock; Tincture of Valerian Pectoral Balsam of Honey and Tincture of Bardana.“The
well-known simplicity of these preparations led the public
to judge favourably of their effects; they had a rapid sale,
and once more enabled the doctor to live in splendour.
Soon after the publication of the first of these medicines,
he obtained the patronage of the earl of Bute; under
which he published a very pompous and voluminous botanical work, entitled
” A System of Botany;“but is said to
have been a very considerable loser by this speculation.
His botanical works, however, had a favourable influence
in promoting the science in general. To wind up the
whole of so extraordinary a life, having a year or two
before his death presented an elegant set of his botanical
works to the king of Sweden, that monarch invested him
with one of the orders of his court, that of Vasa, in consequence of which he assumed the title of Sir John. He
died Nov. 22, 1775, of the gout, which he professed to cure
others. As to his literary character, and the rank of
merit in which his writings ought to stand, Hill’s greatest
enemies could not deny that he was master of considerable
abilities, and an amazing quickness of parts. The rapidity
of his pen was ever astonishing, and he has been known
to receive within one year, no less than 1500l. for the
works of his own single hand; which, as he was never in
such estimation as to be entitled to any extraordinary price
for his copies, is, we believe, at least three times as much
as ever was made by any one writer in the same period of
time. But, had he written much less, his works would
probably have been much more read. The vast variety of
subjects he handled, certainly required such a fund of
universal knowledge, and such a boundless genius, as were
never perhaps known to centre in any one man; and it is
not therefore to be wondered, if, in regard to some he
appears very inaccurate, in some very superficial, and in
others altogether inadequate to the task he had undertaken.
His works on philosophical subjects seemed most likely to
have procured him fame, had he allowed himself time to
digest the knowledge he possessed, or preserved that regard
to veracity which the relation of scientific facts so rigidly
demands. His novels, of which he has written many, such
as
” The History of Mr. Lovell,“(in which he had endeavoured to persuade the world he had given the detail of his own life),
” The Adventures of a Creole,“” The Life of
Lady Frail,“&c. have, in some parts of them, incidents
not disagreeably related, but the most of them are merely
narratives of private intrigues, containing throughout the
grossest calumnies, and endeavouring to blacken and
undermine the private characters of many worthy persons.
In his
” Essays,“which are by much the best of hia
writings, there is, in general, a liveliness of imagination,
and adroitness in the manner of extending, perhaps some
very trivial thought, which at first may by many be mistaken for wit; but, on a nearer examination, will be found
to lose much of its value. A continued use of smart short
periods, bold assertions, and bolder egotisms, produces a
transient effect, but seldom tempts the spectator to take a
second glance. The utmost that can be said of Hill is,
that he had talents, but that, in general, he either greatly
nisapplied them, or most miserably hackneyed them for
profit. As a dramatic writer he stands in no estimation^
nor has he been known in that view by any thing but three
very insignificant pieces: namely, 1.
” Orpheus,“an
opera, 1740. 2.
” The Critical Minute,“a farce, published in 1754, but not acted, 3.
” The Rout," a farce,
1754*. A large volume might be written on the life and!
adventures of this extraordinary man, as affording a complete history of literary quackery, every branch of which
he pursued with a greater contempt for character than
perhaps any man in our time.
ustees were, Dr. George For.lyne, Dr. David Pitcairne, and Mr. Charles (since Dr.) Combe, to each of whom Dr. Hunter bequeathed an annuity of 20l. for thirty years, that
By his will, the use of his museum, under the direction of trustees, devolved to his nephew Matthew. Baillie, and in case of his death, to Mr. Cruikshank, for the term of thirty years, at the end of which period the whole collection was bequeathed to the university of Glasgow, but Dr. Baillie removed it to its destination some years before the completion of that term. The, sum of 8000l. sterling was left as a fund for the support and augmentation of the collection. The trustees were, Dr. George For.lyne, Dr. David Pitcairne, and Mr. Charles (since Dr.) Combe, to each of whom Dr. Hunter bequeathed an annuity of 20l. for thirty years, that is, during the period in which they would oe executing the purposes of the will. Dr. Hunter likewise bequeathed an annuity of 100l. to his sister Mrs. Baillie, during her life, and the sum of 2000l. to each of her two daughters. The residue of his estate and effects went to his nephew. On Saturday April 5, his remains were interred in the rector’s vault of St. James’s church, Westminster.
1719, by lord Lechmere, in whose gift it was then, as chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and from whom Dr. Clarke had the year before received the mastership of that
, an English divine, son of the rev.
John Jackson, first rector of Lensey, afterwards rector of
Rossington, and vicar of Doncaster in Yorkshire, was born
at Lensey, April 4, 1686. He was educated at Doncasterschool under the famous Dr. Bland, who was afterwards
head master of Eton-school, dean of Durham, and from
1732 to 1746 provost of Eton college. In 1702, he was
admitted of Jesus college, Cambridge; and, after taking
the degree of B. A. at the usual period, left the university
in 1707. During his residence there, he learned Hebrew
under Simon Ockley, the celebrated orientalist; but never
made any great proficiency. In 1708, he entered into
deacon’s orders, and into priest’s two years after; when he
took possession of the rectory of Rossington, which had
been reserved for him from the death of his father by the
corporation of Doncaster. That politic body, however,
sold the next turn of this living for 800l. and with the
money paved the long street of their town, which forms
part of the great northern road. In 17)2, he married Elizabeth, daughter of John Cowley, collector of excise at
Doncaster; and, soon after, went to reside at Rossington.
In 1714, he commenced author, by publishing three
anonymous letters, in defence of Dr. S. Clarke’s “Scripture-Doctrine of the Trinity,
” with whom he soon after
became personally acquainted and nine treatises by Jackson on this controversy, from 1716 to 1738, are enumerated
in the supplementary volume of the “Biographia Britannica.
” In Leicester; where, between politics (Leicester being a great party-town) and religion, he
was engaged in almost continual war: and his spirit was
by no means averse from litigation. In May 1720, he qualified himself for afternoon-preacher at St. Martin’s church
in Leicester, as confrater; and, in the two following years,
several presentments were lodged against him in the bishop’s
and also in the archdeacon’s court, for preaching heretical
doctrines; but he always contrived to defeat the prosecutions; and, after the
” Case of the Arian Subscription“was
published by Dr. Waterland, he resolved, with Dr. Clarke,
never to subscribe the articles any more. By this he lost,
about 1724, the hopes of a prebend of Salisbury, which
bishop Hoadly refused to give him without such subscription.
” The bishop’s denial,“says his biographer,
” was
the more remarkable, as he had so often intimated his own
dislike of all such subscriptions:" Jackson, however, had
keen presented before by sir John Fryer to the private
prebend of Wherwell in Hampshire, where ho such qualification was required.
ton-Lucy, in Shropshire, who was executed at Tyburn, in 1678, for the murder of a natural child; and whom Dr. Lloyd and Dr. Buraet attended during his imprisonment. 6.
Besides the “Considerations,
” &c. mentioned above,
he wrote, 1. “The late Apology in behalf of Papists, reprinted and answered, in behalf of the Royalists,
” A seasonable Discourse, shewing the necessity
of maintaining the Established Religion in opposition to
Popery,
” A reasonable Defence of the Seasonable Discourse,
” &c. The difference between the Church and the Court of
Rome considered,
” An Alarm for
Sinners,
” An historical account of Church
Government,
” A Letter to Dr. William
Sherlock, in vindication of that part of Josephus’s History,
which gives an account of Jaddua the high priest’s submitting to Alexander the Great,
” A Discourse of God’s ways of disposing Kingdoms,
” The Pretences of the French Invasion examined,
”
&c. A Dissertation upon Daniel’s 70
Weeks,
” the substance of which is inserted in the chronology of sir Isaac Newton. 12. An exposition of the same
subject, left printed imperfect, and not published. 13.
*‘ A Letter upon the same subject, printed in the ’ Life of
Dr. Humphrey Prideaux,' p. 288, edit. 1758,“8vo. 14.
” A
System of Chronology,“left imperfect, but out of it his
chaplain, Benjamin Marshall, composed his
” Chronological Tables,“printed at Oxford, 1712, 1713. 15.
” A Harmony of the Gospels,“partly printed in 4to, but left imperfect. 16.
” A Chronological account of the Life of
Pythagoras,“&c. 1699. 17. He is supposed to have had
a hand in a book published by his son at Oxford, 1700, in
folio, entitled
” Series Chronologica Olympiadum,“&c.
He wrote also some
” Explications of some of the Prophecies in the Revelations,“and added the chronological dates
at the head of the several columns, with an index to the
Bible, and many of the references and parallel places, first
printed in the fine edition of the Bible published in folio,
under the direction of archbishop Tenison, in 1701. He
left a Bible interlined with notes in short hand, which was
in the possession of Mr. Marshall, his chaplain, who married a relation, and would have published these notes had
he met with encouragement, as Whiston informs us, who
always, even in his index, calls Dr. Lloyd
” the great
bishop,“and in speaking of Wasse says,
” one more
learned than any bishop in England since bishop Lloyd."
Bartholomew’s hospital, it being at the same time proposed, that the physicians to that hospital (of whom Dr. Pitcairn was one) should lecture on other branches of medical
, a late eminent anatomist and
physician, was born in Fifeshire, in 1742, at Park-hill, a
large farm on the side of the Tay, near Newburgh, held
by his father, Mr. John Marshal, of the earl of Rothes.
His lather had received a classical education himself; and
being desirous that his son should enjoy a similar advantage, sent him first to the grammar-school at Newburgh,
and afterwards tothat of Abernethy, then the most celebrated place of education among the Seceders, of which
religious sect he was a most zealous member. Here he
was regarded as a quick and apt scholar. From his childhood he had taken great delight in rural scenery. One
day, while under the influence of feelings of this kind,
being then about fourteen years old, he told his father that
he wished to leave school, and be a farmer, but he soon
shewed that it had not arisen from any fondness for ordinary country labours. In the following harvest-time, for
instance, having been appointed to follow the reapers, and
bind up the cut corn into sheaves, he would frequently lay
himself down in some shady part of the field, and taking
a book from his pocket, begin to read, -utterly forgetful of
his task. About two years after, however, he resumed his
studies, with the intention of becoming a minister: and
soon after, he was admitted a student of philosophy at
Abernethy; and next became a student of divinity. In
his nineteenth year he went to Glasgow, and divided his time between teaching a school, and attending lectures in
the university. The branches of learning which he chiefly
cultivated were Greek and morals. At the end of two
years passed in this way, he became (through the interest of the celebrated Dr. Reid, to whom his talents and diligence had recommended him), tutor in a gentleman’s family, of the name of Campbell, in the Island of Islay.
He remained here four years, and removed to the university of Edinburgh, with Mr. -Campbell’s son, whom the
following year he carried back to his father. Having
surrendered his charge, he returned to Edinburgh, where
he subsisted himself by reading Greek and Latin privately
with students of the university; in the mean time taking
no recreation, but giving up all his leisure to the acquisition of knowledge. He still considered himself a student
of divinity, in which capacity he delivered two discourses
in the divinity-hall; and from motives of curiosity began in
1769 to attend lectures on medicine. While thus employed, he was chosen1 member of the Speculative society,
where, in the beginning of 1772, he became acquainted
with lord Balgonie, who was so much pleased with the
display which he made of genius and learning in that society,
that he requested they“should read together; and in the
autumn of the following year made a proposal for their
going to the Continent, which was readily accepted.
They travelled slowly through Flanders to Paris, where
they stayed a month, and then proceeded to Tours, where
they resided eight months, in the house of a man of letters,
under whose tuition they strove to acquire a correct knowledge of the French language and government. They became acquainted here with several persons of rank, among
whom were a prince of Rohan, and the dukes of Clioiseul
and Aguilon, at whose seats in the neighbourhood they
were sometimes received as gnests. An acquaintance with
such people would make Marshal feel pain on account of
his want of external accomplishments; and this, probably,
was the reason of his labouring
” to learn to dance and to
fence while he was at Tours, though he was then more
than thirty years old. He returned to England in the
summer of 1774; and proceeded soon after to Edinburgh,
where he resumed the employment of reading Latin and
Greek with young men. Hitherto he seems to have formed
no settled plan of life, but to have bounded his views
almost entirely to the acquisition of knowledge, and a present subsistence. His friends, however, had been induced
to hope that he would at some time be advanced to a professor’s cl; ir and it is possible that he entertained the same
hope himself. In the spring of 1775, this hope appeared
to be strengthened by his being requested by Mr. Stewart,
the professor of humanity at Edinburgh, to officiate for
him, as he was then unwell: Marshal complied, but soon
after appears to have given up all hopes of a professorship,
and studied medicine with a determination to practise it.
In the spring of 1777, he was enabled by the assistance of
a friend, Mr. John Campbell of Edinburgh, to come to
London for professional improvement; and studied anatomy under Dr. W. Hunter, and surgery under Mr. J,
Hunter. After he had been here a twelvemonth, he was
appointed surgeon to the S3rd, or Glasgow regiment,
through the interest of the earl of Leverv, the father of his
late pupil, lord Balgonie. The first year after was passed
with his regiment, in Scotland. In the following he accompanied it to Jersey, where he remained with it almost
constantly till the conclusion of the war in the beginning
of 1783, when it was disbanded. In this situation he
enjoyed, almost for the first time, the pleasures best suited
to a man of independent mind. His income was more than
sufficient for his support; his industry and knowledge rendered him useful; and his character for integrity and honour procured him general esteem. From Jersey he came
to London, seeking for a settlement, and was advised by
Dr. D. Pitcairn (with whom he had formed a friendship while a student at Glasgow) to practise surgery here,
though he had taken the degree of doctor of physic the
preceding year at Edinburgh; and to teach anatomy at St.
Bartholomew’s hospital, it being at the same time proposed, that the physicians to that hospital (of whom Dr. Pitcairn was one) should lecture on other branches of medical learning. He took a house, in consequence, in the
neighbourhood of the hospital; and proceeded to prepare
for the execution of his part of the scheme. This proving
abortive, he began to teach anatomy, the following year,
at his own house; and at length succeeded in procuring
annually a considerable number of pupils, attracted to him
solely by the reputation of his being a most diligent and
able teacher. In 1788 he quitted the practice of surgery,
and commenced that of medicine, having previously become a member of the London college oF physicians. In
the ensuing year a dispute arose between John Hunter
and him, which it is proper to relate, as it had influence
on his after-life. When Marshal returned to London, he
renewed his acquaintance with Mr. Hunter, who thought
so well of him, that he requested his attendance at a committee of his friends, to whose correction he submitted his
work on the venereal disease, before it was published. He
became also a member of a small society, instituted by Dr.
Fordyce and Mr. Hunter, for the improvement of medical
and surgical knowledge. Having mentioned at a meeting
of this society, that, in the dissection of those who had
died insane, he had always found marks of disease in the
head, Mr. Hunter denied the truth of this in very coarse
language. The other members interfering, Mr. Hunter
agreed to say, that his expressions did not refer to Dr.
Marshal’s veracity, but to the accuracy of his observation.
Marshal, not being satisfied with this declaration, at the
next meeting of the society demanded a.i ample apology;
but Mr. Hunter, instead of making one, repeated the offensive expressions; on which Marshal poured some water
over his head out of a bottle which had stood near them.
A scuffle ensued, which was immediately stopped by the
other members, and no father personal contention between
them ever occurred. But Marshal, conceiving that their
common friends in the society had, from the superior rank
of Mr. Hunter, favoured him more in this matter than justice permitted, soon after estranged himself from them.
He continued the teaching of anatomy till 1800, in which
year, during a tedious illness, the favourable termination
of which appeared doubtful to him, he resolved, rather
suddenly, to give it up. While he taught anatomy, almost
the whole of the fore-part of the day, during eight months
in the year, was spent by him in his dissecting and lecture
rooms. He had, therefore, but little time for seeing sick
persons, except at hours frequently inconvenient to them;
and was by this means prevented from enjoying much medical practice; but as soon as he had recovered his health,
after ceasing to lecture, his practice began to increase.
The following year it was so far increased as to render it
proper that he should keep a carriage. From this time to
within a few months of his death, an interval of twelve
years, his life flowed on in nearly an equable stream. He
had business enough in the way he conducted it to give
him employment during the greater part of the day; and
his professional profits were sufficient to enable him to live
in the manner he chose, and provide for the wants of sickness and old age. After having appeared somewhat feeble
for two or three years, he made known, for the first time,
in the beginning of last November, that he laboured under
a disease of his bladder, though he must then have been
several years affected with it. His ailment was incurable,
and scarcely admitted of palliation. For several months he
was almost constantly in great pain, which he bore manfully. At length, exhausted by his sufferings, he died on
the 2nd of April, 1813, at his house in Bartlett’s buildings,
Holborn, being then in the seventy-first year of his age.
Agreeably to his own desire, his body was interred in the
church-yard of the parish of St. Pancras. His fortune,
amounting to about bOOO/. was, for the most part, bequeathed to sisters and nephews.
her stated and vindicated, &c.” The author of the piece here remarked, was the well-known Dr. Sykes, whom Dr. Middleton treats here with great contempt, but afterwards
In Oct. 1717, when George the First visited the university of Cambridge, Middleton was created, with several
others, a doctor of divinity by mandate; and was the person who gave the first cause of that famous proceeding
against Dr. Bentley, which so much occupied the attention of the nation. Although we have given an ample
account of this in the life of Bentley, some repetition
seems here necessary to explain the part Dr. Middleton
was pleased to take in the prosecution of that celebrated
scholar. Bentley, whose office it was to perform the ceremony called Creation, made a new and extraordinary demand of four guineas from each of the doctors, on pretence
of a fee due to him as divinity-professor, over and above a
broad piece, which had by custom been allowed as a present on this occasion. After a warm dispute, many of the
doctors, and Middleton among the rest, consented to pay
the fee in question, upon condition that the money should
be restored if it were not afterwards determined to be his
right. But although the decision was against Bentley, he
kept the money, and Middleton commenced an action
against him for the recovery of his share of it. Bentley
behaving with contumacy, and with contempt to the authority of the university, was at. first suspended from his
degrees, and then degraded. He then petitioned the
king for relief from that sentence: which induced Middleton, by the advice of friends, to publish, in the course of
the year 1719, the four following pieces: 1. “A full and
impartial Account of all the late Proceedings in the University of Cambridge, against Dr. Bentley.
” 2. “A Second Part of the full and impartial Account, &c.
” 3.
“Some Remarks upon a Pamphlet, entitled The Case of
Dr. Bentley farther stated and vindicated, &c.
” The author of the piece here remarked, was the well-known Dr.
Sykes, whom Dr. Middleton treats here with great contempt, but afterwards changed his opinion of him, and in
his “Vindication of the Free Enquiry into the Miraculous
Powers,
” published after his death, he appeals to Dr.
Sykes’s authority, and calls him “a very learned and judicious writer.
” The last tract is entitled, 4. “A true
Account of the present State of Trinity-college in Cambridge, under the oppressive Government of their Master
Richard Bentley, late D. D.
” This, which relates only to
the quarrel betwixt him and his college, is employed in
exposing his misdemeanors in the administration of college
affairs, in order to take off a suspicion which many then
had, that the proceedings of the university against Dr.
Bentley did not flow so much from any real demerit in the
man, as from a certain spirit of resentment and opposition,
to the court, the great promoter and manager of whose interest he was thought to be there: for, it must be remembered that, in that part of his life, Dr. Middleton was a
strong tory; though like other of his contemporaries in
the university, he afterwards became a very zealous whig.
a grandson, Charles. He married as his second wife Mrs. Anastasia Robinson, a celebrated singer, of whom Dr. Burney has given a very particular account in vol. IV. of
His lordship married Carey, daughter to sir Alexander
Fraser, of Dotes, in the shire of Mearns, in Scotland, and
by her (who died May 13, 1709) he had two sons, John
and Henry, who both died before him, and a daughter,
Henrietta, married to Alexander second duke of Gordon.
He was succeeded in titles and estate by a grandson,
Charles. He married as his second wife Mrs. Anastasia
Robinson, a celebrated singer, of whom Dr. Burney has
given a very particular account in vol. IV. of his “History
of Music.
” To this lady he was ardently attached, and
behaved to her with great delicacy and propriety, but his
pride revolted at the match, and he kept it secret until a
very short period before his death. Of the lady herself he
had, according to every account, no reason to be ashamed;
but a connection of this kind had not then become so common as we have of late witnessed. How long he was married to her does not appear. She survived him fifteen
years, residing in an exalted station, and visited by persons of the first rank, partly at Bevis Mount, his lordship’s
seat near Southampton, and partly at Fulham, or perhaps
at Peterborough-house at Parson’s green. Lord Peterborough had written his “Own Memoirs,
” which this lady
destroyed, from a regard to his reputation. Tradition says,
that in these memoirs he confessed his having committed
three capital crimes before he was twenty years of age.
This we hope has been exaggerated; but it seems allowed
that his morals were loose, and that he was a freethinker.
hbishop of Cashel, who received him in a most friendly manner, but died soon after. The first person whom Dr. Hoadly ordained, after he was consecrated bishop of Ferns,
Lord Hay had introduced Mn Robertson to bishop
Hoadly, who mentioned him to archbishop Wake, and he
was entertained with much civility by those great prelates.
As he was then too young to be admitted into orders, he
employed his time in London in visiting the public libraries, attending lectures, and improving himself as opportunities offered. He had the honour to be introduced to
lord-chancellor King, by a very kind letter from Dr. Hort,
bishop of Kilmore, and was often with his lordship. In
1727 Dr. John Hoadly, brother to the bishop of Salisbury,
was nominated to the united bishoprics of Ferns and Leighlin in Ireland. Mr. Robertson was introduced to him by his
brother; and, from a love of the natale solum, was desirous
to go thither with him. Mr. Robertson then informed the
archbishop of Canterbury of his design; and his Grace
gave him a letter of recommendation to Dr. Goodwin,
archbishop of Cashel, who received him in a most friendly
manner, but died soon after. The first person whom Dr.
Hoadly ordained, after he was consecrated bishop of Ferns,
was Mr. Robertson, whose letters of deacon’s orders bear
date January 14, 1727; and in February the bishop nominated him to the cure of Tullow in the county of Carlow:
and here he continued till he was of age sufficient to be
ordained a priest, which was done November 10, 1729;
and the next day he was presented by lord Carteret, then
lord-lieutenant of Ireland, to the rectory of Ravilly in the
county of Carlow, and to the rectory of Kilravelo in the
county of Widow; and soon after was collated to the
vicarages of the said parishes by the bishop of Ferns.
These were the only preferments he had till 1738, when
Dr. Synge, bishop of Ferns, collated him to the vicarages
of Rathmore and Straboe, and the perpetual cure of Rahil,
all in the county of Carlow. These together produced art
income of about 200l. a-year. But, as almost the whole
lands of these parishes were employed in pasture, the
tithes would have amounted to more than twice that sum if
the herbage had been paid for black cattle, which was certainly due by law. Several of the clergy of Ireland had,,
before him, sued for this herbage in the Court of Exchequer, and obtained decrees in their favour. Mr. Robertson, encouraged by the exhortations and examples of his
brethren, commenced some suits in the Exchequer for this
herbage, and succeeded in every one of them. But when
he had, by this means, doubled the value of his benefices,
the House of Commons in Ireland passed several severe resolutions against the clergy who had sued, or would sue, for
this “nexv demand,
” as they called it, which encouraged the
graziers to oppose it so obstinately as to put a period to that
demand. This proceeding of the Commons provoked Dean
Swift to write “The Legion- Club.
” Mr. Robertson soon
after published a pamphlet, entitled “A Scheme for utterly
abolishing the present heavy and vexatious Tax of Tithe;
”
the purport of which was, to pay the clergy and impropriators a tax upon the land in lieu of all tithes. This
went through several editions: but nothing farther was
done in it.
to Paris, and there remained till the October following. By the recommendations of David Hume, with whom Dr. Smith had been united in. strict friendship from the year
After the publication of this work, Dr. Smith remained
four years at Glasgow, discharging his official duties with
increasing reputation. Towards the end of 1763 he received an invitation from Mr. Charles Townsend to accompany the duke of Buccieugh on his travels; and the liberal
terms of the proposal, added to a strong desire of visiting
the continent of Europe, induced him to resign his professorship at Glasgow. Early in the year 1764 he joined the
duke of Buccieugh in London, and in March set out with
him for the continent. Sir James Macdonald, afterwards
so justly lamented by Dr. Smith and many other distinguished persons, as a young man of the highest accomplishments and virtues, met them at Dover. After a fevr
days passed at Paris, they settled for eighteen months at
Thou louse, and then took a tour through the south of
France to Geneva, where they passed two months. About
Christmas 1765 they returned to Paris, and there remained
till the October following. By the recommendations of
David Hume, with whom Dr. Smith had been united in.
strict friendship from the year 1752, they were introduced
to the society of the first wits in France, but who were also
unhappily the most notorious deists. The biographer of
Dr. A. Smith has told us, in the words of the duke of Buccleugh himself, that he and his noble pupil lived together
in the most uninterrupted harmony during the thres years
of their travels; and that their friendship continued to the
end of Dr. Smith’s life, whose loss was then sincerely regretted by the survivor.
The next ten years of Dr. A. Smith’s life were passed in a
retirement which formed a striking contrast to his late migrations. With the exception of a few visits to Edinburgh
and London, he passed the whole of this period with his mother at Kirkaldy, occupied habitually in intense study. His
friend Hume, who considered a town as the true scene for
a man of letters, in vain attempted to seduce him from his
retirement; till at length, in the beginning of 1776, he
accounted for his long retreat by the publication of his
“Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations,
” 2 vols. 4to. This book is well known as the most
profound and perspicuous dissertation of its kind that the
world has ever seen. About two years after the publication
of this work the author was appointed one of the commissioners of the customs in Scotland. The greater part of
these two years he passed in London, in a society too extensive and varied to allow him much time for study. In
consequence of his new appointment, he returned in 1778
to Edinburgh, where he enjoyed the last twelve years of
his life in affluence, and among the companions of his youth.
“During the first years of his residence in Edinburgh,
”
says his biographer, “his studies seemed to be entirely
suspended; and his passion for letters served only to amuse
his leisure and to animate his conversation. The infirmities
of age, of which he very early began to feel the approaches,
reminded him at last, when it was too late, of what he yet
owed to the public and to his own fame. The principal
materials of the works which he had announced had long
ago been collected, and little probably was wanting, but a
few years of health and retirement, to bestow on them that
systematical arrangement in which he delighted; and the
ornaments of that flowing, and apparently artless style,
which he had studiously cultivated, but which, after all his
experience and composition, he adjusted with extreme difficulty to his own taste.
” The death of his mother in 1784,
who, to an extreme old age, had possessed her faculties
unimpaired, with a considerable degree of health, and that
of a cousin, who had assisted in superintending his household, in 1788, contributed to frustrate his projects. Though
he bore his losses with firmness, his health and spirits gradually declined, and, in July 1790, he died of a chronic
obstruction in his bowels, which had been lingering and
painful. A few days before his death he gave orders to
destroy all his manuscripts, with the exception of some
detached essays, which he left to the care of his executors,
and which have since been published in one volume 4to,
in 1795.
* Chaplain totbe bishop, from whom Dr. Dodd also savs, in his " Thoughts
* Chaplain totbe bishop, from whom Dr. Dodd also savs, in his " Thoughts
grave in the forty-fourth year of his age, May 9, 1768. He left a widow, a daughter and two sons, of whom Dr. Thornton, physician, is the only survivor.
In 1764, Mr. Thornton married Miss Sylvia Brathwaite, youngest daughter of colonel Brathwaite, who was governor of Cape Coast Castle in Africa, and who, when the ship in which he was returning to England, was taken by a Spanish privateer, fell under a treacherous blow by one of the sailors, who had observed a valuable brilliant on his finger. With this lady, Mr. Thornton appears to have enjoyed the highest domestic felicity, for which he^ was eminently qualified by a most affectionate heart, until his prospects were closed by bad health, which hurried him to his grave in the forty-fourth year of his age, May 9, 1768. He left a widow, a daughter and two sons, of whom Dr. Thornton, physician, is the only survivor.
d to the Revolution; but his political ardour did not abate his reverence or kindness for Dryden, to whom, Dr. Johnson says, he gave a Dissertation on Virgil’s Pastorals;
, an English critic and poet, was
the son of Joseph Walsh of Abberley in Worcestershire, esq.
and born about 1663, for the precise time does not appear.
According to Pope, his birth happened in 1659; but Wood
places it four years later. He became a gentleman-commoner of Wadham-college in Oxford in 1678, but left
the university without a degree, and pursued his studies
in London and at home. That he studied, in whatever
place, is apparent from the effect; for he became, in
Dryden’s opinion, “the best critic in the nation.
” He
was not, however, merely a critic or a scholar. He was
likewise a man of fashion, and, as Dennis remarks, ostentatiously splendid in his dress. He was likewise a member
of parliament and a courtier, knight of the shire for his
native county in several parliaments, in another the re*
presentative of Richmond in Yorkshire, and gentleman of
the horse to queen Anne under the duke of Somerset.
Some of his verses shew him to have been a zealous friend
to the Revolution; but his political ardour did not abate
his reverence or kindness for Dryden, to whom, Dr. Johnson says, he gave a Dissertation on Virgil’s Pastorals; but
this was certainly written by Dr. Chetwood, as appears
by one of Drydeu’s letters. In 1705 he began to correspond with Pope, in whom he discovered very early the
power of poetry, and advised him to study correctness,
which the poets of his time, he said, all neglected. Their
letters are written upon the pastoral comedy of the
Italians, and those pastorals which Pope was then preparing
to publish. The kindnesses which are first experienced
are seldom forgotten. Pope always retained a grateful memory of Walsh’s notice, and mentioned him in one of his
latter pieces among those that had encouraged his juvenile
studies.
, whom Dr. Hutton pronounces one of the clearest writers on arithmetic,
, whom Dr. Hutton pronounces one of the clearest writers on arithmetic, &c. in the English language, was the son of Roger Wingate, esq. of Bornend and Sharpenhoe, in Bedfordshire, but was born in Yorkshire in 1593. In 1610 he became a commoner of Queen’s-college, Oxford, and after taking a degree in arts, removed to Gray’s -Inn, London, where he studied the law. His chief inclination, however, was to the mathematics, which he had studied with much success at college. In 1624 he was in France, where he published the scale, or rule of proportion, which had been invented by Gunter, and while in that country gave instructions in the English language to the princess Henrietta Maria, afterwards wife of Charles I. and to her ladies. After his return to England, he became a bencher of Gray VInn; and on the breaking out of the great rebellion, he joined the popular party^ took the covenant, was maxle justice of the peace for the county of Bedford, where he resided at Woodend in the parish of Harlington. His name occurs in the register of Anipthill church, as a justice, in 1654, at which period, according to the republican custom, marriages were celebrated by the civil magistrate. In 1650 he took the oath, commonly called the engagement, became intimate with Cromwell, and was chosen into his parliament for Bedford. He was also appointed one of the commissioners, for that county, to eject from their situations those loyal clergymen and schoolmasters who were accused as being scandalous and ignorant. He died in Gray’s- Inn, in 1656, and was buried in the parish church of St. Andrew Holborn.
, whom Dr. Whitby pronounces “the most ingenious and solid writer of
, whom Dr. Whitby pronounces “the most ingenious and solid writer of the Roman (catholic) party,
” and who merits some notice from his
name occurring so frequently in the popish controversy at
the latter end of the seventeenth century, was the son of
John Woodhead of Thornhill in Yorkshire, and was born
in 1608 at Meltham in the parish of Abbersbury, or Ambury, in that county. He had his academical education
in University college, Oxford, where he took his degrees
in arts, was elected fellow in 1633, and soon after entered
into holy orders. In 1641 he served the office of proctor,
and then set out for the continent as travelling tutor to
some young gentlemen of family who had been his pupils
in college. While at Rome he lodged with the duke of
Buckingham, whom he taught mathematics, and is supposed about the same time to have embraced the communion of the church of Rome, although for a long time he
kept this a profound secret. On his return to England he
had an apartment in the duke of Buckingham’s house in
the Strand, and was afterwards entertained in lord Capel’s
family. In 1648 he was deprived of his fellowship by the
parliamentary visitors, but merely on the score of absence,
aod non-appearance, when called. After the restoration
he was reinstated in his fellowship, but rinding it impossible any longer to conform, he obtained leave to travel,
with the allowance of a travelling fellowship. Instead,
Kbwever, of going abroad, he retired to an obscure residence at Hoxton near London, where he spent several
years, partly in instructing some young gentlemen of popish families, and partly in composing his works. Here
he remained almost undiscovered, until a little while before
his death, which happened at Hoxton, May 4, 1678. He
was buried in St. Pancras church-yard, where there is a
monument to his memory.
sh academy, which owes its existence to the zeal and exertions of the members of that society, among whom Dr. Young was particularly distinguished. In the intervals of
, the very learned bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduacb, in Ireland, was of a respectable family in the county of Hoscommon, where he was born in
1750. He was admitted of Trinity college, Dublin, in
1766, and was elected fellow of x the college in 1775, and
took orders. He became early an enthusiastic admirer of
the Newtonian philosophy, and even at his examination
for his fellowship, displayed an unexampled knowledge and
comprehension of it; but although it was his favourite subject, his actjve mind, in rapid succession, embraced the
most dissimilar objects; and these he pursued with unceasing ardour, amidst his various duties as a fellow and
tutor, and the freest intercourse with society, which he was
formed at once to delight and instruct. His love of literary conversation, and the advantages he experienced from
it. in the pursuit of science, led him early to engage in
forming a society whose chief object was the improvement
of its members in theological learning. It consisted of a
small number of his most intimate college friends, and continued to exist for a series of years, with equal reputation
and advantage. Out of this association grew another,
somewhat more extensive, whose labours were directed to
S'lilosophical researches, and in the formation of which
r. Young was also actively engaged: and this itself became the gerrn of the royal Irish academy, which owes its
existence to the zeal and exertions of the members of that
society, among whom Dr. Young was particularly distinguished. In the intervals of his severer studies, he applied
himself to modern languages: and the result of his labours
may be seen in the transactions of the royal Irish academy,
to which he also contributed largely on mathematical
and philosophical subjects. Besides these he published
the following learned and ingenious works: 1. “The phendmena of Sounds and Musical Strings,
” The force of Testimony,
” &c. 4to. 3. “The number of
Primitive Colours in Solar light on the precession of the
Equinoxes; Principles of Natural philosophy,
”