the pencil of one whose political prejudices were equal to his own: I mean, the writer of the History and Antiquities of Rochester, 1772, who styles him "the most pious and charitable Dean;" but reserves the chief part of the panegyrick for his wife, who, I believe, much better deserved it.

The picture.of his outward man may be seen in the Master's Gallery, drawn as a Roman, bald, or without his wig, which is not much like him. He has a better likeness in the picture of Archbishop Warham, by Mr. Vertue, in the collection of Houbraken's heads, and in Knight's Life of Erasmus, which much, in my opinion, resembles him. His great ambition was to be on the Episcopal bench: but it was thought that he never would have attained to that dignity, even had his great Patron, the Duke of Newcastle, maintained his power. In 1744, he attained the dignity of Dean of Rochester, on Dr. William Barnard's promotion to the See of Raphoe. At his Deanery he was very generous, and laid out a great deal of money in building and improvements; and during his residence there lived very hospitably.

In 1743, Dr. Rutherforth, who afterwards fruitlessly endeavoured to succeed him in the Mastership, dedicated his "Ordo Institutionum Physicarum" to him: to whom he had communicated it in sheets three years before.

Before he was preferred to Rochester Deanery, he used constantly to spend his vacations, and what time he could spare, at his house at Triplow, which he seemed to be very fond of; though he had a country-rectory at Offord Cluny in Huntingdonshire but, as this was farther removed from Cambridge, whither he had frequent calls, both as Master and Professor, it is presumed that might be one motive for the preference of Triplow.

He was often made uneasy by the difference of his politicks with those of his Fellows; especially during the former part of his government; towards

the

the latter end, matters cooled; and he had time to model the College, in a long Prefecture of thirty years, according to his own system. Mr. Paulet St. John, for grossly abusing and affronting him, on political foundations, was rusticated by him for his behaviour: he afterwards married a lady of Northamptonshire, of the name of Sharpe; with whom he had a good fortune, and several children: but she dying of a consumption, he married to his second wife, a widow of that county, with an ample fortune, and is since dead himself. I used often to meet him at his brother-in-law's, Mr. Troutbeck, rector of Woughton in Bucks, who married his first wife's sister.

Among many original letters and papers communicated to me by my ever-esteemed friend, Dr. Zachary Grey, one is from Bishop Gibson, dated Whitehall, February 3, 1734-5; but the address is lost as Dr. Grey had a great many of these papers from Dr. Williams, I make no doubt but that it was directed to him. The date shews it was only three days before the election of the Master. In it the Bishop tells him, that he wrote the day before to Mr. Barnard and Mr. Lowe, informing them that he wished him success. Notwithstanding this application, I find by the poll, that they both voted for Dr. Newcome.

In 1743, he was appointed to preach before the House of Commons: but I do not recollect to have seen the Sermon: which, no doubt, was printed. Heard him I have in the pulpit at St. Mary's; but not with pleasure; as his manner was bad, and his

matter worse.

Some few years before he died, he had the misfortune to lose his most amiable lady, who had every body's good word *. A writer whom I have already had occasion to mention, seems in raptures about her. I will transcribe what he says concerning her: "He was happy many years in the strictest mutual affection of the conjugal state, with a most accomplished lady: her modesty and

* See some particulars of this lady in vol. I. pp. 186. 481.

humility

humility always strove to conceal the great powers and extraordinary improvements of her mind. But no person of discernment could be long acquainted with that excellent woman, without esteeming her one of the most perfect pieces of nature *."

To this testimony of that writer, give me leave to add what I have written on the same person in one of my volumes: "When Dr. Zachary Grey published his edition of Hudibras, 1744, I remember some interruption was put to the press, on an intimation that Dr. Newcome, who was Dr. Grey's friend, would give a Dissertation upon Hudibrastic Verse. He actually drew up such a paper: but whether he did not approve of it himself, or that it was not relished by Mrs. Newcome, who had much the better judgment, it was recalled. However, he contributed some notes to that publication, for which Dr. Grey acknowledges the obligation in his preface, by the initial of his name, "Dr. N.” Mrs. Newcome (vol. I. p. 103.) also contributed some notes to that poem, as well as myself: being a woman of excellent parts and abilities; of sound sense and masculine judgment; and had written a pamphlet or two on moral subjects, which I have heard much commended. She was as fine a figure of a woman when she was turned of sixty, as many are when they are twenty years younger; and she has often put me in mind of the person and character of that most exalted and excellent woman, Madame de Maintenon, in a more humble style: for she was as good a woman, as she was an accomplished one.. I think she was sister of Archdeacon Squire of Wells and aunt to the Bishop of St. David's of that name. The Doctor did her all the justice that was due to so much merit. Mr. Lort told me, that he employed him, after her death, to get an engraving of her picture: accordingly, a large mezzotinto is taken from a picture of her, which, I think, does not do her justice. As only Mrs. Newcome is wrote under it, being a private plate, it is in danger of being soon * History and Antiquities of Rochester, p. 197.

utterly

utterly forgot for whom it was engraved. Mr. Beadon * was so kind to give me one of them, which I sent to my honoured friend, the Honourable Mr. Horace Walpole, to be reposited among his choice, valuable, and numerous collection of English portraits, designed by him for a public library, but which particularly, I am not at liberty to declare, where it will be safe, and known for whom it was designed, as I have written under it. She was buried, as I believe, in St. Benedict's church in Cambridge, in which parish the Margaret Professor's house is situated, and where she had lived for some years before her husband was elected to St. John's Lodge."

Since I wrote the above, I fell upon a letter from Dr. Newcome to Dr. Grey, farther explanatory of what has been mentioned. I will transcribe it, together with my observations upon it.

"To the Rev. Dr. GREY, in Cambridge. 66 GOOD SIR,

May 26, 1744.

I

"UPON mature consideration, and by the advice of friends, I think your book will do better without the defence of the versification, which is merely trifling, and not wanted. If I suffer, your book will fare the worse; which I should be sorry for and therefore choose to quite suppress so superficial a performance. I have wrote to a friend to break the types: and I will pay all that is due to the compositor and printer, when I return. heartily beg pardon for giving you so much trouble; &c. Good Sir, your affectionate friend J. NEWCOME. "It requires more time to fit it for the approbation of the publick, than I can possibly bestow upon it: and as yours will be a standing book, it concerns me to be careful how I appear. You will excuse, and, in time, approve my caution."

and faithful servant,

Richard Beadon, then Fellow of St. John's, now, through a succession of preferments, Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was nearly related to Mrs. Newcome.

When

When we consider that it was a Whig Ministry that the prudent Doctor was courting, and which actually gave him a Deanery this year, and might give him a Bishoprick another; and that it was a Tory book that was coming out, full of anecdotes and stories in ridicule of the beloved party; no wonder the Doctor was cautious in ushering so profane a book into the world with his countenance, and permitted not Dr. Grey to print his name at full length, as a contributor to the illustration of it. I had no such scruples; and the few notes, and little assistance I contributed, Dr. Grey very generously acknowledged with thanks; though hardly deserving them. Dr. Newcome had actually drawn up a Dissertation upon the Versification of Hudibras, which he had promised to Dr. Grey, to be printed with his edition of that Poem; and had even printed it (see the preceding page): but, to the great mortification and disappointment of the Editor, when it came to the point, the cautious old Master chose to suppress his performance. Many people conceived the reason of all this caution to proceed from its being a dull, heavy thing, and a consciousness of the jokes and sneers that might be cast upon it in the University: but I rather suppose, the other was the true reason of its suppression.

"Dr. Newcome may be a deserving man; but he is time-serving, ambitious, and deceitful. He has been long in expectation of a Mitre, which few people think he will ever arrive at. Mrs. Newcome, his wife, bears the character, by every body, of a most excellent and worthy woman; not to say learned for she has given proof of her erudition in more than one book which she has published *."

*This last paragraph I find in a book, where (Vol. XXX. 179) I entered it in 1759. I was no ways acquainted with Dr. Newcome, nor was ever in company with him above half a dozen times, chiefly at Dr. Middleton's; but used to be often with one of his great cronies and acquaintance, Mr. Ambrose Glover, a sensible maltster at Chesterton, who loved politicks, and carried him news. This man never passed by my uncle Cock's house,

at