to congratulate him upon the occasion, and also to express his hopes that, being now in so high a station, he would use his endeavours to bring matters to a greater degree of reconciliation between Churchmen and Dissenters, to remove obstacles lying in the way towards it, &c. The Bishop coolly answered, Doctor, my sentiments concerning those matters are different from yours' [or some such words]. So the Doctor saw there were no farther hopes, and dropped the application. It was said he was always, after his advancement to his high dignity, more shy towards the Dissenters than he had been formerly. Several instances have been given. - When he was exalted to Canterbury, he formed several designs for the service of the Established Church, and the security or restoration of its rules and orders, taking all opportunities to convince the world that he was firm and steady to her interests, and a staunch convert from the principles of his education. He intended to insist on a strict observance of the clerical habit (which was generally too much neglected); but found by degrees that the attempt was become in a manner impracticable, after such long disuse and disregard of order. Some represented him as being of the Laudéan notions and principles in several respects; but I do not think he was a man of that rigid turn and behaviour. A friend that knew him tells me, that he was very humane, civil, and condescending; which I was glad to hear, when he was thought by others to have assumed rather too much of the air of prelatical dignity and importance. He was for no reform or alteration in any of our Church Establishments at home, though he shewed himself so zealous to settle Bishops, &c. in our American Plantations.When the Free and Candid Disquisitions' were published, he, being then Bishop of Oxford, took the first opportunity to declare against them to his Clergy at his Visitation. Bp. Sherlock, in his Visitation of his Clergy of London, expressed a more favourable opinion of that Treatise, and the design of it, allowing that some things in the Church might deserve farther consideration, and some amendment, &c. Dr. Sykes, and some others of the Clergy, did thereupon apply to his Lordship to publish that Charge: to which request he gave a civil answer. Some very free and shrewd observations have been lately made by several sagacious persons upon Abp. Secker's Letter to Mr. Walpole *, which was published this year. Surely there are some things in that Letter that appear pretty odd, and somewhat difficult to be accounted for. And so do several parts of this Prelate's character and conduct, especially in Church-matters. Time may discover.What opinion he might have of Dissenting Divines in general I know not; but he did not approve of those who, having been educated in that way (as he himself had been) did afterwards come over to our Church for preferment. - Dr. Smith, who was intimately acquainted with the late Doctor Secker (nephew to the Archbishop), tells me, as he had it from that friend, that the uncle would never shew any favour to such converts, and had

"A Letter to the Right Hon. Horace Walpole, written June 9, 1750-1, concerning Bishops in America."

resolved

resolved never to give them any preferment in his gift or patronaget. At the same time he shewed all the favour, and gave all the encouragement he well could, to those Clergymen of his Diocese, and elsewhere, who made converts among the Lay Dissenters to the Established Church.-Some, who respected him, thought he went rather too far in discovering his dislike to his old friends, and his opposition to that Non-conformity in which he had been first nurtured. But the case is often so in such transitions from one persuasion to another.-Jan. 6, 1770, a Clergyman of the Diocese of Canterbury (well known to Abp. Secker, and favoured by him) being now at my house, speaks very well of that great man in several respects, at the same time acknowledging that he had heard his conduct in some things was not well approved,

"This article will, I presume, be found a mistake upon a proper enquiry. I think he preferred one Stretch, and several others, who were converts like himself.-He used one Clergyman [Mr. W. of in Kent] very ill, who applied for a dispensation, because he adopted Dr. Middleton's opinion about the discontinuance of Miraculous Powers in the Church, and obliged him to recant, &c.-He disposed of all preferments, during the last three or four years of his life, at the recommendation of Mrs. and Miss Talbot, who reigned without controul, and dispensed his favours as they thought fit. His own nephew, Dr. Secker, remonstrated to him on this head more than once, but without effect. He rigidly insisted on Curates being licensed in his Diocese; and a certain person was obliged to take out two licences for the same Church, where he was Curate and Lecturer at the same time, which cost him five pounds. His Grace said, it was not to fill his Officers' pockets at the expence of his Clergy. Q. What other end could it answer?-I have been informed that a Layman, who had been acquainted with the Archbishop a great many years, declared that it was a matter of great doubt with him whether he was sincere or not in his religious professions: so difficult, he observed, it was to discover the Prelate's real sentiments.-He disapproved of all theological tracts, or explanations of Scripture, though ever so ingenious, and according fo just criticism, unless they coincided with the doctrine of the Church of England as by law established; which he made the sole standard of truth and error. He was no friend to freedom or liberality of sentiment. Witness his treatment of Dr. Sharpe, and some others whom I could name. -It was his maxim, that the first rule in conversation was Silence. seemed to be averse to flattery, and was not fond of the least approach to it in conversation or writing. He was easy of access, and always gave strict orders, that every Clergyman should be admitted if he desired it; and then behaved with great affability and condescension. A German Divine, of the Calvinistical profession, who had applied for relief to build a Church abroad, &c. to the Kirk of Scotland and Dissenters in England, about 1762, with little success, applied at last to the Archbishop. He received him with so much civility and humanity, accosting him in a familiar manner in French, of which language he was a perfect master, that it raised the Foreigner's admiration; and assisted him more effectually than the Kirk, &c. had done. His conversation at table was free and cheerful; and, when Dean of St. Paul's, he entertained the Clergy of that Cathedral with hospitality every Sunday. -When his Grace first came to the See of Canterbury, he sent printed Queries to all the Clergy in his Diocese, touching the number of inhabitants, the number of Dissenters of all denominations from the Established Church, the number of communicants, the legacies given to the poor, how they were applied, as well as all donations, the money collected at the Offertory, &c. &c. by which he got an exact account of the state of every parish in his Diocese. He sent the same Queries to his Clergy twenty years before, when he was first made Bishop of Oxford."―This is an Addition, by Dr, DAWSON, to Mr. JONES'S MS.

He

and

any

and that many had expressed their dislike of it.— He was, it seems, highly respected on many accounts in his Diocese of Canterbury, where he was a ready and generous contributor towards several pious and charitable designs, as is well known and remembered in those parts. And few comparatively there seem to be, apprised of any disrespect paid to his memory in other places. He was generally considered there as a great and good man*, and a true friend to the interest of Church and State. Very careful of the concerns of his Church, and the good behaviour of his Clergy; and in some instances particularly inquisitive into their conduct and morals. It was commonly said he had two paper-books, one called the black, the other the white book; in which he entered down such notices as he received concerning the different characters of each, as they happened to suit the design of either book. Those whose character he found to be bad, he resolved never to promote; nor did, paying no regard to solicitations made in their behalf. And one or more, being men of ill report, and highly unworthy of their office, he had intended to have prosecuted, and to have put them under Churchcensures; which, it seems, they had long and greatly deserved, being indeed a scandal to their professionHe encouraged young Clergymen of good character for fidelity in theis calling. When a near relation of his, a Clergyman in Northamptonshire, who had collected a good library, died, leaving it to the Archbishop's disposal, he appointed Archdeacon Head, with one or two more, men of judgment and probity, to divide that library into three parts, and bestow them upon three studious and regular young Clergyman, for their encouragement and further proficiency in useful knowledge and literature; the person who gives me this account being one of the three; and he says, that the books he received are very useful ones, and of considerable value. He has bestowed many benefactions in the county of Kent and elsewhere; giving large sums towards the repair of decayed vicarage-houses, and for the relief of distressed persons, &c. from 10 or 20l. to 100l. and upwards. He gave Sl. to the church or chapel at Sheerness, towards purchasing proper plate with other utensils for the Communion; which before had been usually borrowed from a public-house in the neighbourhood.— -He required all Clergymen, who were possessed of a benefice of the value of 100l. per annum, clear, to perform divine offices in their respective churches twice every Sunday (viz. morning and afternoon), not allowing any such to serve also a curacy.— And such as had a living of 150l. a year, or above, he required t * Dr. Dawson observes, "that he was commonly called Tho. Cant, by the Clergy in Kent." This originated from a famous epigram of Lord Chesterfield's, ending,

"He signs his own name when he writes Thomas Cant."

+ Dr. Dawson adds, "It does not appear that the Archbishop ever carried his point in either of these articles. The Clergy in a great part of his Diocese are so far from preaching twice a day, that they never reside upon their livings, nor preach at all. His Grace would not allow 307. a year curates to serve more than one church; and I know one, who served two churches witbout neglecting either of them, that was obliged to quit the diocese on that account."

to

to preach twice every Sunday *. And he expected also the regu lar observation of holidays happening on a week-day.—I asked what care he took about catechising, when he was so careful about preaching. My friend says, he has not heard.-The Bishop, it seems, was averse to persecution. He declared so in particular with regard to the Methodists: some of whom thought he favoured their principles and tenets. Accordingly, when his catechetical lectures were published after his death, they greedily bought them up, but were disappointed more than they expected, though in some things they approved of him.

P 153, note, 1. 29. for "Edward," read "Richard."

J. J."

P. 156 Dr. John King was born at St. Columb in Cornwall, May the 1st 1652. He was patron of the Church of Pertenhall in Bedfordshire, and became rector there in the year 1690, but in 1694 removed by exchange to Chelsea. A great intimacy subsisted between him and Sir William Dawes Archbishop of York, who gave him the Prebend of Wighton, in the Cathedral Church of York, in the year 1718. Though educated at Exeter College in Oxford, he took the degree of Doctor in Divinity in 1698 at Catharine Hall in Cambridge, where the Archbishop was Master. He died May the 30th, 1732, and was buried at Pertenhall. His eldest son John was born Aug 5, 1696. From Eton school he was sent to King's College, Cambridge, where he became fellow, and took the degree of B. A. 1718, and M. A. 1722. He afterwards settled at Stamford in Lincolnshire, and practised physic there with great reputation; but was cut off by a fever Oct. 12, 1728. By Lucy daughter of Thomas Morice, esq. he had one son John, now Patron and rector of Pertenhall in Bedfordshire. Martyn's Dissert. on the Eneids of Virgil, 12mo. Preface, p. xlviii.

P. 158. The Rev. John Lettice was chaplain to Sir Robert Gunning, envoy or resident at Copenhagen; and was afterwards tutor to William Beckford, esq. son of the famous alderman. He was in 1783 senior fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. His first wife (daughter of John Newling, esq. an Alderman of Cambridge) died Jan. 8, 1788.

P. 161. I have here another of those aweful mementos which have frequently occurred as these volumes have been passing through the press.-The sheets which contain a memoir of my kind and worthy Friend and Patron Bishop Percy (an article which I had fondly hoped would have gratified him to have heard read, for he was himself quite blind), were printed off only a short week before the news arrived of his death; which happened Sept. 30, 1811, in his 83d year, at the See-house of Dromore. This venerable Prelate was well known for more than half a rentury by various learned and ingenious publications, and distinguished by the most active and exemplary public and private virtues. In him Literature has lost one of its brightest ornaments and warmest patrons; his ardour of genius, his fine classical taste, his assiduity of research, and his indefatigable zeal in its cause, were such as were possessed by the

"This is a mistake. What his Grace called the whole duty was one sermon, and twice prayers." J. DUNCOMBE.

distinguished few, and which will for ever render his name dear to Learning and Science. He was the intimate friend of Shenstone, Johnson, Goldsmith, Reynolds; and the last of the illustrious association of men of letters, who flourished at the commencement of the present Reign. He was a native of Bridgenorth in Shropshire, and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. In July 1753, being then of Christ Church, Oxford, he took the degree of M. A.; and in 1756 was presented by his College to the vicarage of Easton Mauduit in Northamptonshire, which he held with the rectory of Wilbye in the same county, given him by the Earl of Sussex. He took his Doctor's degree in 1770; and in the List of Graduates is styled of Emanuel College. June 12, 1761, he entered into an agreement with Messrs. Tonson, to publish an edition of the Works of George Villiers, the second Duke of Buckingham, for which he received 52 guineas; March 24, 1763, for an edition of Surrey's Poems, 20 guineas. The translation from the Chinese, mentioned in p. 160, was followed in 1762, by a collection of " Chinese Miscellanies," and in 1763 by " Five Pieces of Runic Poetry," translated from the Icelandic language. May 5, 1764, he again engaged with Messrs. Tonson, to furnish notes for an edition of The Spectator, and Guardian, for which he had 100 guineas. In 1764, he thus communicated to Dr. Ducarel his intended publication of the "Reliques of English Poetry, and the Works of Buckingham:"-" What I chiefly want are old MS or printed copies of the more fugitive Remains of ancient genius: of such poems as are not to be found in our voluminous poets, such as Chaucer, Lydgate, Gower: of such pieces as are left us by unknown authors. These are of various kinds, viz. Allegories, Romances in verse, Historical Ballads, &c. The following would be particularly acceptable, Pierce Plowman. Life and Death [an old allegorical poem in the metre of Pierce Plowman.] Child, an old metrical Romance. Ippotize, (quoted by Chaucer) ditto. Sir Guy, (quoted by Chaucer) ditto. Sir Bevis of Hampton, ditto. Sir Eglamoure, ditto. Sir Tryamoure, ditto. Ippomedon, ditto. The Life and Death of Merlin, ditto. Sir Lambwell, ditto. The Squire of low Degree, ditto. The Churk

Horn

and the bird, a Fable by Lydgate. I also want to see either the second or third edition 4to. of the Rehearsal. The first edition was published in 1672; which I have. The fourth edition was published in 1683, which I have also. I want to see either or both of the intermediate editions: and should even be obliged by a perusal of any tracts written by or concerning George Villiers the second Duke of Buckingham, who died in 1687.""The Reliques of Antient English Poetry" first appeared in 1765; and this publication constitutes an era in the history of English Literature in the 18th century. Perhaps the perusal of a folio volume of ancient MSS given the Bishop by a friend in early life (from which he afterwards made large extracts in the "Reliques"), led his mind to those studies in which he so eminently distinguished himself. In this work he recovered from obscurity, and preserved from oblivion, many beautiful remains of genius. VOL. III. 3 C In