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LIFE OF MATTHEW PRIOR.

BY THE REV. JOHN MITFord.

THERE appears to be great difficulty in settling with correctness, the birth-place of Matthew Prior. In most of the biographies he is said to have been born in London; but in the register of his college, he is called at his admission, Matthew of Prior, Winburn, in Middlesex on the next day, after his admission,1 he himself signs his name, Matthew Prior, of Dorsetshire, in which county, as Dr. Johnson observes, and not in Middlesex, Winburn is found. When he stood candidate for a fellowship, five years afterwards, he was registered by himself, as of Middlesex. The last ought to be preferred, because it was made upon oath. He was born 21st July, 1664; in the college register he is styled Filius Georgii Prior generosi; a term that scarcely applies to the account of the Biogra

1 Perhaps there is a slight mistake in reading the register, and it should stand-of Winburn AND Middlesex: at least, that would lessen the difference which now exists. Either the world Winburn is in toto a mistake, or the word and should be used for in: or the whole account must remain in its present contradictory state. If Prior's father was a joiner in London, it is not probable that he should belong to Winburn.

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