"Two Treatises, one of the Christian Priesthood, the other of the Dignity of the Episcopal Order, first written and afterwards published to obviate the erroneous Opinions, fallacious Reasonings, and bold and false Assertions, in a late Book, intituled, The Rights of the Christian Church; with a large prefatory Discourse in Answer to the said Book *. All written by George Hickes, D. D. With an Appendix; whereto are added, in this Edition, several new Tracts; viz. a particular Treatise written by Isaac Casaubon of Geneva, intituled, De Libertate Ecclesiastica, of the Liberty (or free Estate) of the Church. Mr. Hughes's Preliminary Dissertations (to St. Chrysostom de Sacerdotio) wherein the Authority of the Church, as it is distinguished from that of the State, is explained and defended, and all the Objections of the Erastians answered, especially those of a late Author, who has published a Book, intituled, The Rights of 6 * Among other Answerers to "The Rights of the Christian Church," may be noticed some "Remarks" by Dr. Swift, written in the year 1708, but left unfinished; in which he observes, "It may still be a wonder how so heavy a book, written upon a subject in appearance so little instructive or diverting, should survive to three editions, and consequently find a better reception than is usual with such bulky spiritless volumes; and this in an age that pretends so soon to be nauseated with what is tedious and dull. To which I can only return, that, as burning a book by the common hangman is a known expedient to make it sell; so, to write a book that deserves such treatment, is another And a third, perhaps as effectual as either, is to ply an insipid, worthless tract, with grave and learned answers, Dr. Hickes, Dr. Potter, and Mr. Wotton, have done. performances, however commendable, have glanced a reputation Such upon the piece; which owes its life to the strength of those hands and weapons that were raised to destroy it; like flinging a mountain upon a worm, which instead of being bruised, by the advantage of its littleness, lodges under it unhurt."-In one of the Dean's satirical tracts, he also says, "The most learned and ingenious author of a book, called The Rights of the Christian Church,' was in a proper juncture reconciled to the Romish faith, whose true son, as appears by a hundred passages in his treatise, he still continues." Swift's Works, 1808, vol. III. pp. 125, 161. as the the Christian Church, &c.' The Third Edition, enlarged; in Two Volumes," Svo. "The Works of Mr. George Farquhar; containing all his Poems, Letters, Essays, and Comedies, published in his Life-time; the Comedies illustrated with Cuts representing three of the principal Scenes in each Play. The Second Edition;" 8vo. "The Subjects' Sorrow; or, Lamentations on the Death of Britain's Josiah, King Charles I. most unjustly and cruelly murthered by his own People, before his Royal Palace at Whitehall, Jan. 30, 1648; in a Sermon upon Sam: iv. 20. To which is added, a Form of Prayer, used in King Charles the Second's Chapel at the Hague, upon Tuesdays throughout the Year; being the Day of the Week on which King Charles I. was barbarously murthered:" 8vo. "A short Essay against Arianism, and some other Heresies lately revived; or, a Reply to Mr. Whiston's Historical Preface and Appendix;" 8vo. "The Usefulness of Prophecy, in a Letter to Mr. Whiston;" 8vo. "Remarks on Two late Sermons preached in the Cathedral Church of Salisbury. In a Letter to a Friend. To which is added a Postscript, wherein the Charge of Uncharitableness against the Church, for condemning Lay Baptism as invalid, is more particularly considered and confuted;" 8vo. "Grammatica Espaniola; a Spanish Grammar; containing the shortest and most easy Method to attain the true Knowledge of that extensive Language. Dedicated to her Grace the Duchess of Shrewsbury. By Don Pasqual Joseph Anton, Master of Languages in London;" 8vo. "A Poem to the Right Honourable Mr. Harley, on his appearing in Publick after the Wound given him by Guiscard. By Joseph Trapp *, A. M.;" 8vo. *Dr. Joseph Trapp was elected poetry professor in 1708, and published his lectures under the title of "Prælectiones Poetica;" the first volume of which is dedicated to Mr. Secretary St. John; to whose father, in the early part of his life, he had been chap "Verses sent to the Right Honourable the Earl of Oxford, Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain * ; occasioned by a late subtle and barbarous Machination against his Lordship's valuable Life, by Gunpowder, loaded Pistols, &c. sent in a Box to his Lordship, Nov. 4, 1712." [By Mr. Castleton.] This Poem passed through five editions. Another "Poem," by Mr. Castleton †, "to Lord Harley, on his Father's Promotion." "An Epistle from Mr. Elijah Fenton to Mr. Southerne;" 8vo. "Critical History of the Creed. By Sir Peter King; second edition;" 8vo. lain (and was also made chaplain to the son by Swift's recommendation; Journal to Stella, July 17, 1712). He had been chaplain to the lord chancellor of Ireland in 1711, in which year he published "A Character of the present Set of Whigs;" which Swift, who conveyed it to the printer, calls " a very scurvy piece;" see the Journal to Stella, May 14, 1711. In a short time after, he printed at Dublin a poem on the Duke of Ormond, which was re-published at London," and the printer sold just eleven of them;" sce Journal, Aug. 24, 1711. Dr. Swift, having mentioned to Stella, that Trapp and Sacheverell had been to visit him, adds, " Trapp is a coxcomb, and the other is not very deep; and their judgment in things of wit and sense is miraculous!" Journal, March 17, 1711-12.-He was an agreeable and pathetic preacher; published several volumes of sermons; and died Nov. 22, 1747. * See, in Dr. Swift's Works, 1808, vol. III. p. 333, “A true Narrative of what passed at the Examination of the Marquis de Guiscard, at the Cockpit, March 8, 1710-11; his stabbing Mr. Harley; and other precedent and subsequent Facts, relating to the Life of the said Guiscard."-The following lines also, inscribed to the Physician who attended Mr. Harley whilst he was wounded, were written by Dr. Swift: "On Britain Europe's safety lies; Britain is lost if Harley dies: Harley depends upon your skill: Think whom you save, or what you kill." † Of whom see farther under the years 1713 and 1715. This celebrated poet was at that time usher to Mr. Bonwicke, at Headley in Surrey. § The first edition of this volume was published in 1703. Of its excellent author some idea may be formed from the following inscription on a handsome monument on the North side of Ockham church in Surrey (engraved in Gent. Mag. vol. LXX. p. 113). On the urn is written: DEPOSITUM "The City Ramble; or, the Playhouse Wedding in London. By Elkanah Settle *;" 8vo. DEPOSITUM PETRI DOMINI KING, BARONIS DE OCKHAM. And at the bottom this inscription: "He was born in the city of Exeter of worthy and substantial parents, but with a genius greatly superior to his birth. By his industry, prudence, learning, and virtue, he raised himself to the highest character and reputation, and to the highest posts and dignities. He applied himself to his studies in the Middle Temple; and, to an exact and complete knowledge in all parts and history of the law, added the most extensive learning, theological and civil. He was chosen a member of the House of Commons in the year 1699; recorder of the city of London in the year 1708; made chief-justice of the Common Pleas in 1714, on the accession of King George I.; created Lord King, Baron of Ockham, and raised to the post and dignity of lord high chancellor under the laborious fatigues of which weighty place sinking into a paralytic disease, he resigned it November 19, 1733; and died July 23d, 1734, aged 65. A friend to true religion and liberty. He married Anne, daughter of Richard Seys, of Boverton, in Glamorganshire, Esquire, with whom he lived to the day of his death in perfect leve and happiness; and left issue by her four sons, John, now Lord King, Peter, William, and Thomas; and two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne." Mr. Walpole, in his Noble Authors, vol. II. p. 136, gives the following account of him: "Lord Chancellor King was related to Mr. Locke, who, on seeing his treatise in defence of the Rights of the Church, persuaded him to apply himself to the Law; to the highest dignity of which he rose. We have of his writing: Enquiry into the Constitution, Discipline, Unity, and Worship, of the Primitive Church,' 1691. History of the Apostles' Creed, with critical Observations on its several Articles.' The Speech of Sir Peter King, Knight, Recorder of the City of London, at St. Margaret's Hill, to the King's most excellent Majesty, upon his Royal Entry, Sept. 20, 1714." * This writer having been particularly noticed by Dr. Johnson, in his Life of Dryden, some memorials of him may perhaps be acceptable. He was the son of Joseph Settle, of Dunstable, in Bedfordshire; born in 1648; and in the 18th year of his age was entered commoner of Trinity College, Oxon, in 1665; but, quitting the University without taking any degree, came to London, where he applied himself to the study of poetry; in which he lived to make no inconsiderable figure. According to Gildon, he once possessed a good fortune, which he soon dissipated. In 1671 he published "Cambyses, a Tragedy;" and in "Reflections upon some Passages in Mr. Le Clerc's Life of Mr. John Locke, in a Letter to a Friend. 1673, "The Empress of Morocco, a Tragedy," written in rhyme by the success of which Dryden seems to have had his quiet much disturbed. Dr. Johnson," as to make him think his supremacy of reputa"It was so much applauded," says tion in some danger. Settle had not only been prosperous on the stage, but, in the confidence of success, had published his play, with sculptures and a preface of defiance. Here was one offence added to another; and, for the last blast of inflammation, it was acted at Whitehall by the Court-ladies. Dryden could not now repress those emotions, which he called indignation, and others jealousy; but wrote upon the play and dedication such criticisin as malignant impatience could pour out in haste. Of Settle he gives this character: He's an animal of a most deplored understanding, without reading and conversation. His being is in a twilight of sense, and some glimmering of thought which he can never fashion into wit or English. His style is boisterous and rough-hewn, his rhyme incorrigibly lewd, and his numbers perpetually harsh and ill-sounding. The little talent which he has, is fancy. He sometimes labours with a thought; but, with the pudder he makes to bring it into the world, 'tis commonly still-born; so that, for want of learning and elocution, he will never be able to express any thing either naturally or justly. This is not very decent; yet this is one of the pages in which criticism prevails over brutal fury. He proceeds: He has a heavy hand at fools, and a great felicity in writing nonsense for them. Fools they will be in spite of him. His King, his two Empresses, his Villain, and his Sub-villain, nay his Hero, have all a certain natural cast of the father-their folly was born and bred in them, and something of the Elkanah will be visible.'-Settle's is said to have been the first play embellished with sculptures; those ornaments seem to have given poor Dryden great disturbance. He tries however to ease his pain by venting his malice in a parody.Such was the criticism to which the genius of Dryden could be reduced, between rage and terrour; rage with little provocation, and terrour with little danger. To see the highest minds thus levelled with the meanest, may produce some solace to the consciousness of weakness, and some mortification to the pride of wisdom. But let it be remembered, that minds are not levelled in their powers but when they are first levelled in their desires. Dryden and Settle had both placed their happiness in the claps of multitudes.-Settle had afterwards an opportunity of taking his revenge on one of Dryden's Tragedies. In a quarto pamphlet of 95 pages, he wrote a vindication of his own lines; and, if he is forced to yield any thing, makes his reprisals upon his enemy. To say that his answer is equal to the censure, is no high commendation. analysing his expressions, he tries the same experiment upon Texpose Dryden's method of the |