buildings, and suggested to him the idea of a general history of antient architecture in this kingdom, which he justly considered a desideratum of the learned and inquisitive Antiquary. He was still intent upon this subject, and during the amusement of his leisure hours continued almost to the last to make collections with a view to some further illustration of this curious point, though his avocations of one kind or another prevented him from reducing them to any regular form or series. But he did not suffer these pursuits to call him off from the professional duties of his station, or from contributing his endeavours towards promoting works of general utility to the neighbourhood. To a laudable spirit of this latter kind, animated by a zeal for his native place, truly patriotic, is to be referred his steady perseverance in recommending to his countrymen, under all the discouragements of obloquy and prejudice, the plans suggested for the improvement of their Fens by draining, and the practicability of increasing their intercourse with the neighbouring counties by means of turnpike roads; a measure till then unattempted, and for a long time treated with a contempt and ridicule due only to the most wild and visionary projects, the merit of which he was at last forced to rest upon the result of an experiment made by himself. With this view, in 1757, he published his sentiments, under the title of Queries offered to the Consideration of the principal Inhabitants of the City of Ely," &c. (as stated in p. 485); and had at length the satisfaction to see the attention of the publick directed to the favourite object of those with whom he was associated. Several gentlemen of property and consideration in the county generously engaged in contributing donations towards setting on foot a scheme to establish turnpike roads. By the liberal example of Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, Lord Royston, and Bishop Mawson, and the seasonable bequest of 200l. by George Riste, Esq. of Cambridge, others were incited to additional subscriptions. In a short time these amounted to upwards of 1000l. and nearly to double that sum on interest. The scheme being thus invigorated by these helps, and by the increasing loans of those whose prejudices began now to wear away, an act was obtained in 1763 for improving the road from Cambridge to Ely. Similar powers and provisions were in a few years obtained by subsequent acts, and the benefit extended to other parts of the Isle in all directions, the success of which hath answered the most sanguine expectations of its advocates. With the same beneficent disposition, Mr. Bentham, in 1778, submitted a plan for inclosing and draining a large tract of common in the vicinity of Ely, called Gruntifen, containing near 1300 acres, under the title of "Considerations and Reflections upon the present State of the Fens near Ely, &c. Camb. 1778, Svo." The inclosure, however, from whatever cause, did not then take place; but some of the hints therein suggested have formed the groundwork of many of the improvements which have since obtained in the culture and drainage of the fens. Exertions of this kind could not fail to procure him the esteem and respect of all who knew him, especially as they were wholly unaccompanied with that parade and ostentation by which the best public services are sometimes disgraced. Mr. Bentham was naturally of a delicate and tender constitution, to which his sedentary life and habits of application were very unfavourable; but this was so far corrected by rigid temperance and regularity, that he was rarely prevented from giving due attention either to the calls of his profession, or the pursuits of his leisure hours. He retained his faculties in full vigour to the last, though his bodily infirmities debarred him latterly from attendance upon public worship, which he always exceedingly lamented, having been uniformly exemplary in that duty. He read, with full relish and spirit, most publications of note or merit as they appeared; and, till within a few days of his death, continued his customary intercourse with his friends. Though temperate and and abstemious to a great degree in his own person and habits, he lived generously and hospitably with the society of the place, to which he endeared himself by the most gentle, inoffensive, and benevolent demeanour. Of himself he never spoke or thought, but with the greatest diffidence and modesty: Of others, with equal candour and charity; always ready to credit and diffuse every favourable representation of their conduct, feeling a real uneasiness whenever any thing to their disadvantage was mentioned in his presence, and discouraging, by the most marked disapprobation, every attempt to disparage their merits and reputation. But the ruling affections of his soul, and those which shone forth most conspicuous in his character, and spread an engaging kind of sanctity over his countenance and whole demeanour, were his unfeigned humility and piety. These had been his refuge and consolation under some severe and trying circumstances; and to these he resorted in the same humble confidence at the close of life, supporting himself, and strengthening the hopes of others, by sentiments of piety and resignation suitable to that supreme respect for Religion which he had manifested in every occurrence of his life. Mr. Bentham died Nov. 17, 1794, in the 86th. year of his age. There is a very fine Portrait of him by Facius after a drawing by Mr. Kerrich. He left only one son, the Rev. James Bentham, vicar of West Braddenham, in Norfolk; for which preferment he was indebted to the kind patronage of the late Bishop of Ely, the Honourable Dr. James Yorke. Mr. Joseph Bentham, brother to the Historian, an Alderman of Cambridge, and many years Printer to the University, died in 1778. ་ A younger brother, the Rev. Jeffery Bentham, was of Catherine-hall, Cambridge; B, A. 1777, M. A. 1780. He was precentor of the church of Ely, minister of Trinity parish in that city, and minor canon for near 50 years, having, in 1744, exchanged the vicarage of Meldreth, in Cambridge shire, for a minor canonry, with Mr. Tookie. He died at the Hill houre in Ely, on the 5th of June, 792, aged 72. X. ANTHONY ASKEW, M. D. was born at Kendal, in Westmoreland, in the year 1722. His father, Dr. Adam Askew, was in such high estimation at Newcastle, that he was considered as another Radcliffe, and consulted by all the families of consequence for many miles round. Anthony was educated at Sedburgh school, and from thence removed to Emanuel college, in Cambridge, where he continued till he took his degree of B. A. in December, 1745. He then went to Leyden, and resided there twelve months, with the view of being initiated into the science of medicine. In the following year we find him in the suite of his Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople. Returning from thence through Italy, he came to Paris in the year 1749, and was admitted a member of the Academy of Belles Lettres. Here he had an opportunity of purchasing several rare MSS. early editions of the Classics, and valuable books in various branches of science, and of laying the foundation of an elegant and extensive library. Having finished his travels, he returned to Cambridge, and in the year 1750 commenced M. D. He was soon after admitted Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and of the Royal Society, in London; and, on his establishment in the Metropolis, was visited by all who were distinguished for learning, and curious in the fine arts *. What time could be afterwards * Mr. Dibdin says, " Dr. Mead supported him with a sort of paternal zeal; nor did he find in his protegé an ungrateful son. Few minds were probably more congenial than were those of Mead and Askew: the former had, if I may so speak, a magnificence of sentiment, which infused into the mind of the latter just notions of a character aiming at solid intellectual fame; without the petty arts and dirty tricks which we now see too frequently pursued to obtain it. Dr. Askew, with less pecuniary means of gratifying it, evinced an equal ardour in the pursuit of books, MSS. spared from attending his professional engagements was dedicated to the conversation of literary men, and to increasing and arranging his collection of books. Amongst the other rich stores of Dr. Askew's library was a complete collection of the editions of Eschylus, some illustrated with MS notes; and likewise one or two, if not more, MSS. of the same author; which were collected purposely for the intention of publishing at some future period an edition of Eschylus; and accordingly, in the year 1746, he printed a specimen of his intended edition in a small quarto pamphlet, under the following title: "Novæ Editionis Tragoediarum schyli Specimen, curante Antonio Askew, M. B. Coll. Emman. apud Cantabrigienses haud ita pridem Socio Commensali. Lugduni Batavorum, 1746." This pamphlet, which is now become very scarce, was dedicated to Dr. Mead, and consisted only of 29 lines, namely, from ver. 563 to ver. 596 of the Eumenides (edit. Schultz.) It contained various readings from his MSS. and printed books, and the Note Variorum. Though we have no other publication of Dr. Askew, yet the benefit the publick received by the dissemination of his collection of scarce and valuable MSS. and books, give him a just title to be recorded among the promoters of literature and science. Dr. Askew died at Hampstead, in the neighbourhood of London, Feb. 27, 1774, aged 52; and his very valuable Library was sold early in the follow MSS. and inscriptions. I have heard from a very worthy old gentleman, who used to revel 'midst the luxury of Askew's table, that few men exhibited their books and pictures, or, as it is called, shewed the Lions, better than did the Doctor. Of his attainments in Greek and Roman literature it becomes not me to speak, when such a scholar as Dr. Parr has been most eloquent in their praise." Bibliomania, p. 515. * "We are told by the compiler of the Catalogue, that it was thought unnecessary to say much with respect to the library of the late Dr. Anthony Askew, as the collector and the collection were so well known in almost all parts of Europe.'-Afterwards it is observed that 'The books in general are in very fine condition, many of them bound in morocco, and russia leather, with gilt leaves..... To give a particular account,' continues the compiler, ' of |