the 8th of July, 1716, and was buried in Westminster abbey, near the tomb of Busby.

"The character of this singular man," says a Retrospective Reviewer, "will be best known from his sermons. His disposition, apparently open and ingenuous, stimulated by an ardent temper not always under the control of prudence, prompted him to express his opinions without reserve or caution. He has laid himself completely open his thoughts, his feelings, his animosities, and his predilections, are all exposed to the severest scrutiny." His sermons are printed in 6 and 11 vols. 8vo. His 'Opera Posthuma Latina,' appeared in 1717.

George Hickes, D. D.

BORN A. D. 1642.-DIED A. D. 1715.

THIS celebrated philologist and antiquarian was born in the parish of Kirby-Wiske, north-riding of Yorkshire, in June, 1642. He was educated at the free grammar-school of North Allerton, then taught by Thomas Smelt, a pedagogue of considerable learning, who had the honour of instructing several pupils, who afterwards rose to distinguished eminence, such as Thomas Burnet, the author of the Theory of the Earth,' Thomas Rymer, Ratcliffe, and Kettlewell.

In 1659, young Hickes was admitted a servitor in St John's college, Oxford. In 1644 he was elected fellow of Lincoln college. After having spent some time on the continent, he became chaplain to John, duke of Lauderdale. While in Scotland, he imprudently published a book, entitled, Ravaillac Redivivus,' on the occasion of the trial of James Mitchell, one of the murderers of the archbishop of St Andrews, which strongly excited the public feeling against him, and compelled him to look to his own safety. These high-church principles were, however, rewarded with the degree of D. D. from the universities of St Andrews and Oxford; and he was presented to the vicarage of Allhallows, Barking, in London.

In 1682 he was made chaplain in ordinary to the king; and the next year, upon the elevation of Dr Thomas, dean of Worcester, to the bishopric of that see, Dr Hickes was appointed to succeed him. In 1683 he published a book, entitled, Jovian, in answer to Julian the apostate,' written by the Rev. Mr Samuel Johnson, chaplain to Lord Russell. Both treatises were extremely popular, and highly esteemed by their respective parties. From his character and connections, it is more than probable that Hickes would have risen to the episcopal bench, had not the Revolution laid an insuperable bar in his way. The dean was a firm protestant, yet he was also as inflexible a loyalist, and could not reconcile it to his conscience to renounce the oath of allegiance which he had already taken to one sovereign. He did not, however, yield up his station in the church without protesting against his deprivation; which protestation, directed to the subdean and prebendaries, dated May 2d, 1691, and formally signed and witnessed, was publicly fixed up in the cathedral of Worcester. Being thus embarked in the

cause of the nonjurors, the dean, by his writings, added considerable strength to that party, and very powerfully annoyed their opponents. Among these Dr Tillotson, now raised from the deanery to the archiepiscopal chair of Canterbury, by the deprivation of Archbishop Sancroft, came in for a pretty large share. In 1692-3, King James sent over to the deprived bishops for a list of those clergymen who had suffered for not taking the new oaths; and, accordingly, as perfect a list as could be formed was drawn up, and Dean Hickes was deputed to carry it over to his majesty, with a request from the bishops, that the king would appoint two out of the number to be consecrated by them as their suffragans, one of which to be at the nomination of Archbishop Sancroft, and the other of Dr Lloyd, bishop of Norwich. Dr Hickes and Thomas Wagstaffe, the deprived chancellor of Litchfield, were accordingly named by James. Archbishop Sancroft then nominated the former as his suffragan bishop of Thetford, and Bishop Lloyd, the latter as his suffragan bishop of Ipswich. The archbishop died in November, 1693, and the ceremony of consecration was performed-agreeably to his desire-by Bishop Lloyd, but whether with the assistance of any of the other nonjuring prelates does not appear.

Dr Hickes being thus spiritually a bishop, exercised the duties of that character by ordaining deacons and priests; but he became thereby so obnoxious to the government, both in church and state, that his personal safety was greatly endangered. He was often under the necessity of keeping himself closely concealed, and of going in disguise; and it is related by the continuator of the life of Mr Kettlewell, that once visiting the Doctor, that good man was surprised and concerned at observing Mr Dean in a military dress, and passing for a captain or a major."

In 1705 the Doctor published at Oxford one of the most extraordinary, and certainly one of the most Herculean labours ever attempted and executed by one man; it was entitled, A Grammatico-Critical and Archæological Treasure of the Ancient Northern Languages,' in two volumes folio. It is dedicated to Prince George of Denmark; and in this dedication the author goes quite out of the usual course of such compositions, by discoursing not panegyrically, but upon the mutual agreement among the northern languages, on their close relation to the English tongue, and on the origin of the nations from whom ours is derived. This is followed by a long preface, containing an account of the work, and a grateful remembrance of those learned persons from whom he had received assistance, particularly Bishop Nicholson, William Elstob, Dr Hopkins, prebendary of Worcester, and Edmund Gibson, the editor of Camden. The work itself is divided into two parts; the first containing three grammars and two dissertations; the other, Humphrey Wanley's catalogue of Anglo-Saxon books. The first grammar is an Anglo-Saxon and Mæsc-Gothic one. In this are contained all the helps necessary to attain a knowledge of these languages; after which the Doctor considers historically the changes which have happened in this language, dwells fully upon the Saxon poetry, and illustrates every part by copious and curious specimens. The next grammar is of the Franco-Teutonic language; added to which is a small dictionary of such Italian and French words as are manifestly derived from the northern languages. The last grammar is that called the 2 G

IV.

Islandic, by Runolphus Jonas; but the Doctor has subjoined many curious observations of his own upon the ancient Runic monuments of the Danes, &c.

The Doctor's 'Dissertation concerning the Excellence of the Northern Languages,' was written at the request of Sir Bartholomew Shower, and is a work of astonishing labour and erudition. This is followed by Sir Andrew Fountaine's Dissertation upon the Anglo-Saxon Coins,' with ten plates of these coins. In the second book we have an accurate list of all the books and charters in any of the public libraries, either in Anglo-Saxon, or relating to Anglo-Saxon antiquities. This catalogue takes up 310 pages, and is a mass of critical, historical, and biographical knowledge. This is followed by a catalogue of northern books, sent by the learned Perinskiold from Stockholm to the Doctor; and the whole is closed by six large and useful indexes. Besides this and the other works above-mentioned, the dean published a variety of pieces in controversial and practical divinity; and, in 1726, his friend Spinckes published a volume containing thirteen practical sermons of the Doctor's, prefaced with a short vindication of his character on the score of political sincerity.

Thomas Burnet.

BORN A. D. 1635.-DIED A. D. 1715.

THOMAS BURNET was born at Croft, in Yorkshire, about the year 1635. He was educated at Christ's-college, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship. He made three tours on the continent in the capacity of tutor the first with the earl of Wiltshire, the second with the duke of Bolton, and the third with Lord Ossory, through whose interest he obtained, in 1685, the mastership of the Charter-house. During the same year he took the degree of LL.D., and, shortly afterwards, rendered himself conspicuous by resisting the king's attempt to fix a Roman catholic as a pensioner on the Charter-house. By William III. he was made a royal chaplain, and clerk of the closet; but he lost these appointments, in 1692, by the publication of his Archæologia Philosophica, sive Doctrina Antiqua de Rerum Originibus,' in which he displayed such latitude of opinion as gave offence to many influential divines. He had previously produced his celebrated work, entitled, 'Telluris sacra Theoria,' which he afterwards translated into English. He was also the author of two treatises, posthumously published, De Fide et Officiis Christianorum,' and 'De Statu Mortuorum et Resurgentium.' Dr Keill attacked him with considerable severity; Flamstead, the astronomer-royal, declared that he could overthrow the 'Telluris Sacra Theoria' in a few sentences; and a satirical song-writer, in a ballad on the controversy between South and Sherlock, stigmatised him as an absolute infidel. He died in September, 1715.

Daniel Williams.

BORN A. D. 1644.—died A. D. 1716.

DANIEL WILLIAMS was born at Wrexham, in Denbighshire, about the year 1644. When only nineteen years of age, he became a presbyterian preacher; and, after having officiated in various parts of England, he was nominated chaplain to the countess of Westmeath. He subsequently obtained the appointment of pastor to a congregation in Wood-street, Dublin, which he retained for upwards of twenty years. Being exposed to much inconvenience, on account of his zeal for protestantism, he quitted Ireland towards the close of the reign of James II., and took up his residence in London.

On the accession of William III., Mr Williams, being the most influential presbyterian minister of his day, was admitted to an interview with that monarch; whom, it is said, he persuaded to ameliorate the condition of the Irish dissenters. In 1688, he was chosen pastor to a large congregation in Hand-alley, Bishopsgate-street; and, in 1691, he succeeded Baxter, as lecturer at Pinner's-hall. He now became involved in a controversy on the doctrine of the Trinity, which led to his establishing a separate lecture at Salter's-hall. In 1692, he published a tract against the Antinomian doctrines of Crisp, entitled, 'Gospel Truth Stated and Vindicated,' &c.; and soon afterwards another, entitled, 'A Defence of Gospel Truth,' &c. These productions exposed him to a charge of Socinianism, which, after a strict investigation by a committee of ministers, was declared to be without the least foundation. In 1709 he received a diploma of D. D. from the university of Edinburgh. Towards the close of Queen Anne's reign he gave great offence to the tory ministers by his bold invectives against the intolerant principles of their party, and his zeal for a protestant succession. Soon after the arrival of George I. in this country, he presented the new monarch, at the head of a deputation of metropolitan pastors, with a congratulatory address from the dissenters. His death took place on

the 26th of January, 1716.

Dr Williams was twice married, and both his wives are said to have been in opulent circumstances. He bequeathed the bulk of his fortune for the alleviation of distress, and the advancement of learning and religion. Among other noble benefactions, he gave large sums for the education of youth in Dublin,-for the support of a preacher to the native Irish,—and for the relief of the widows of poor ministers. He also devised estates for the support of six students at the university of Glasgow; and left his books, including the collection of Dr Bates, (for which he had given £15,000,) together with a considerable sum of money, to found a public library in London. The last mentioned bequest led to the establishment of Red Cross-street institution, one of the most valuable dissenting foundations in the country.

Bishop Cumberland.

BORN A. D. 1632.-DIED A. D. 1718.

THIS learned prelate was born in London in 1632. He received his education at the school of St Paul's, and at Magdalene-college, Oxford. His first clerical preferment was to the rectory of Brampton, in Northamptonshire. In 1691 he was elevated to the bishopric of Peterborough. He died in 1718.

Bishop Cumberland bore an unblemished reputation throughout a long life. As a prelate, he was unostentatious; assiduous in the discharge of his functions; charitable, and pious. As a scholar, his reputation stood high among his contemporaries. His principal works are, 'De Legibus Naturæ Disquisitio Philosophica,'-a treatise, directed against the philosophy of Hobbes, which was translated into several European languages; An Essay on Jewish Weights and Measures;' 'Origines Gentium Antiquissimæ ;' and 'The Phoenician History of Sanchoniathos, translated from Eusebius.'

Simon Ockley.

BORN A. D. 1678.-DIED A. D. 1720.

SIMON OCKLEY, an eminent Orientalist, was born at Exeter in 1678. After a proper foundation in school-learning he was sent, in 1693, to Queen's college, Cambridge, where he soon distinguished himself by great quickness of parts, as well as by intense application to literature, and to the Oriental languages more particularly. He took at the usual times the degrees in arts, and that of B. D.

Having taken holy orders, he was, in 1705, through the interest of Simon Patrick, bishop of Ely, presented by Jesus college, in Cambridge, to the vicarage of Swavesey in that county; and, in 1711, he was chosen Arabic professor of the university. These preferments he held to the day of his death, which happened at Swavesey, the 9th of August, 1720.

In

Ockley had the culture of Oriental learning very much at heart; and his several publications were all intended solely to promote it. 1706, he printed at Cambridge a useful little book, entitled, 'Introductio ad Linguas Orientales,' 12mo. Prefixed is a dedication to his friend the bishop of Ely, and a preface addressed to young collegians, whom he labours to excite by various arguments to the pursuit of Oriental learning; assuring them in general, that no man ever was, or ever will be truly great in divinity without at least some portion of skill in it: "Orientalia studia, sine quorum aliquali saltem peritiâ nemo unquam in Theologia vere magnus evasit, imo unquam evasurus est." There is a chapter in this work relating to the famous controversy between Buxtorf and Capellus, upon the antiquity of the Hebrew points, where Ockley professes to think with Buxtorf, who contended for it: