not with any propriety be said to have written on the Hutchinsonian plan; but Mr. Heathcote, in aid of his own arguments, found

to take up and maintain the cause of the questionable erudition. On reconsidering the Hebrew Primavity against its opponents. state of the question between Christians and Confined as he was to the solitude of a coun- infidels, and seeing how absolutely necessary try parish, if he found himself out of prac-it was to speak a plain language in a case of tice in the writing of Latin, he used to renew such importance to the world, he gave to the it occasionally by reading over the Moria University of Oxford a discourse which he Encomium of Erasmus, which never failed called the "Christian Apology;" and which to reinstate him: and I am persuaded the the vice-chancellor and heads of houses reanecdote may be of use to other scholars quested him to publish. It went upon true when in danger of losing their Latinity. and indisputable principles; but it was not Mr. Holloway was first induced to take relished by the rash reasoners of the Warnotice of Mr. Horne, on occasion of some burtonian school; and a Mr. Heathcote, a verses which he had addressed to his friend very intemperate and unmannerly writer, Mr. Watson. They expressed the ardor of his who was at that time an assistant-preacher to gratitude, and discovered a poetical genius.* Dr. Warburton at Lincoln's Inn, published a The Rev. Mr. Welbourne of Wendelbury, pamphlet against it; laying himself open, near Bicester in Oxfordshire, whom, from the both in the matter and the manner of it, to monastic spirit of a single life, and a remarkable the criticisms of Dr. Patten; who will appear attachment to the study of antiquity, Mr. Horne to any candid reader, who shall review that delighted to call by the name of Robertus Wen- controversy, to have been greatly his superior delburiensis, was very much respected and as a scholar and a divine. Dr. Patten could beloved, and often visited by Mr. Horne so long as he lived. Educated at Westminster and Christ-Church, he was a scholar of the politer class; and a deep and skilful student it convenient to charge him with it, and sugin the Scripture, of which he gave a specimen in an interpretation of the last words of David from the Hebrew. He went farther in this, and with better success, than the learned and ingenious Dr. Grey, the versifier of the book of Job, after the manner of Bishop Hare's Psalms, with whom he had been acquainted. He wrote well in English and Latin, and composed several learned works, which had their exceptionable passages, from a visible inclination toward some of the peculiarities of the church of Rome. He had lived several years in strict friendship with Dr. Frewen the physician, in whose house he always resided when he made a visit to Oxford; also with the Rev. Sir John Dolben, of Finedon, in Northamptonshire, the learned, accomplished, devout, and charitable father of the present worthy Sir William Dolben, member for the University of Oxford; and also Mr. Counsellor Gilpin; to the last of whom he left his collection of Grecian and Roman coins; which, if I am rightly informed, is now in the new library, at Christ-Church.†

Another excellent friend of Mr. Horne was the late Dr. Patten, of Corpus Christi College; a gentleman of the purest manners and un

gest to the public that he was an Hutchinsonian; which gave Dr. Patten an opportunity of speaking his private sentiments, and doing justice to those gentlemen in the University of Oxford, who were then under the reproach of being followers of Mr. Hutchinson.*

The Rev. Dr. Wetherell, now dean of Hereford, was then a young man in the college of which he is now the worthy master: and such was his zeal at that time in favor of Hebrew literature, that Mr. Horne, Mr. Wetherell, and Mr. Martin (now Dr. Fairfax,) and a fourth person intimately connected with them all, sat down for one whole winter, to examine and settle, as far as they were able, all the Themata of the Hebrew language; writing down their remarks daily, and collecting from Marius, and Buxtorf, and Pagninus, and others, what might be of use for compiling a new lexicon. How much judgment they had, at this early period, to render their papers valuable, we dare not say; but, such as they were, the fruits of a faithful and laborious scrutiny, a copy of them was handed to the learned Mr. Parkhurst, late of the University of Cambridge,

*On occasion of this paragraph, I have reconsider* It was rather officious to give them to the world, ed Dr. Patten's Discourse and the Defence of it; and as somebody hath done since Dr. Horne's death. | am persuaded it might be of much service, if every Our opinion of a great and good man, who has finish-young man were to read them both, before he takes ed his course, ought not to be gathered from the hasty and ardent productions of his youth.

+ The complexion of this good man's character may be distinguished in the last letter I received from him, about two months before his death, of which I had an account from Dr. Horne. I shall give both the letters in the Appendix.

holy orders. His picture of fashionable Christianity is very alarming, and I fear it is not exaggerated. and from the same pen, published also by request, Another Discourse preached before the university, entitled "The opposition between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what is called the religion of Na

ture," deserves to be noticed here.

an eminent laborer in the same vineyard, to | Berkeley was very greatly esteemed by his whom the public have since been greatly in-patron the late Archbishop Secker, with debted for three editions of his Hebrew lexi- whom he had much influence; and he never. con; which contains such variety of curious and useful information, that contrary to the nature of other dictionaries (properly so called) it may be turned over for entertainment as a commentary on the Scripture, and a magazine of biblical erudition. His two Scriptural lexicons, the one Greek, and the other Hebrew, are both so excellent in their way, that they will last as long as the world; unless the new Goths of infidelity should break in upon us, and destroy, as they certainly wish to do, all the monuments of Christian learning.*

ceased to take advantage of it, till he had ob tained preferment from him for one of his old friends, who had no other prospect. The father of Dr. Berkeley has been made known to the world by a few happy words of Mr. Pope: but the following anecdote, which is preserved among the private notes of Bishop Horne, will give us a more exact idea of his character. Bishop Atterbury, having heard much of Mr. Berkeley, wished to see him. Accordingly, he was one day introduced to him by the Earl of Berkeley. After some time, Mr. Berkeley left the room; on which Lord Berkeley said to the bishop, "Does my cousin answer your lordship's expectations?" The bishop, lifting up his hands in astonishment, replied, "So much understanding, so much knowledge, so much innocence, and such humility, I did not think had been the portion of any but angels, till I saw this gentleman." The passage is taken from Hughes's Letters II. 2.*

Doctor George Berkeley, of late years a prebendary of the church of Canterbury, and Chancellor of Brecknock, was then Mr. George Berkeley, a student of Christ-Church, a son of that celebrated pattern of virtue, science, and apostolical zeal, Dr. Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyne in the kingdom of Ireland; who chose to spend the latter days of his life in retirement at Oxford, while his son was a member of the university. Between this Mr. Samuel Glasse, a student of Christgentleman and Mr. Horne a very early inti- Church, who had the repute he merited of macy commenced, and much of their time being one of the best scholars from Westwas spent in each other's company. Under minster school, was another of Mr. Horne's the training, and with the example of so ex- intimate friends, and continued to love and cellent a father, Mr. Berkeley grew up into admire him through the whole course of his a firm believer of the Christian religion, and life. The world need not be told what Dr discovered an affectionate regard to every Glasse has been doing since he left the univerman of letters, who was ready, like himself, sity, as a divine, as a magistrate, and as a to explain and defend it. He was conse- teacher and tutor of the first eminence; of quently a very zealous admirer of Mr. Horne; whose useful labors, the Gospel, the law, the and the one had the happiness of belonging church, the bar, the schools of learning, to the Chapter, while the other for several the rich and the poor, have long felt and years was Dean of Canterbury; and when confessed the benefit; and may they long his friend was removed to the see of Nor- continue so to do! although it may be said, wich, Dr. Berkeley preached his consecration without any suspicion of flattery, in the sermon at Lambeth; an act of respect for words of the poet-non deficit alter aureus which he had reserved himself, having been a son, whose learning, abilities, and good under a persuasion, for some years before, that he should see Mr. Horne become a Bishop. His discourset on that occasion showed him to be a true son and an able minister of the church of England; and another discourse, originally delivered on a 30th of January, and reprinted since with large and curious annotations, has distinguished him for as firm and loyal a subject to his king and the laws of his country. Dr.

The third edition of Mr. Parkhurst's Hebrew lexicon was promoted by Bishop Horne, whose name stands first among the patrons to whom it is inscribed; though Bishop Horne did not live till it was published.

This sermon is now published. The title of it is, An Inquiry into the origin of Episcopacy, in a Discourse preached at the Consecration of George Horne, D.D &c. &c.

VOL. I.

principles, have already entitled him to the thanks of his country, and will secure his fame with posterity.

This gentleman, the son of Dr. G., distinguished himself very early in life by his uncommon proficiency in Hebrew literature, which procured him the favor of Dr. Kennicott, and a studentship of Christ-Church. He has since acquired a great addition of fame as a classical scholar, by his elegant translation into Greek Iambics of Mason's Caractacus, and Milton's Samson Agonistes, adapted in form, and style, and manner, to the

*Dr. Berkeley, the excellent son of an excellent father, changed this world (in which he had seen much trouble) for a better, on the day of Epiphany 1795, before the first edition of this work went to

the press.

ancient Greek drama.* And he has recently | In the beginning of his indisposition, he had shown himself an elegant English writer, as been almost miraculously restored at Bristol, well as a pious and well-informed divine, by in the spring of the year 1754, just at the his publication of the Contemplations of Bishop Hall, in a form very much improved. He had prepared a dedication of that excellent work to Bishop Horne; but the bishop dying, while the work was depending, an advertisement is prefixed, which does great honor to his memory.

time when the living was given to him by Lord Abercorn, his relation, and the dignity superadded by the bishop of the diocese. Ireland was a stage on which his learning and principles, his active zeal, his polite manners and great abilities, were much wanted. They have at this time but a mean From Westminster school there came, at opinion of that kind of learning which this an earlier period, a Mr. John Hamilton, of young archdeacon so much valued and University College, whose father was a mem-affected. Had he lived, he might have done ber of the Irish Parliament, and his mother a much good in bringing over many considerlady of high rank. This amiable young able persons to an attentive study of the man, for the politeness of his behavior, his Scripture, which had produced so happy an high accomplishments, his vivacity of temper effect upon himself. But, alas! instead of and readiness of wit, was a companion equal- this, it is now reported, that the country ly respectable and desirable; so nearly allied has been considerably hurt in its principles in disposition and abilities to the two charac- by some modern writings, which have. ters of Mr. Watson and Mr. Horne, that a lately come into vogue; of which it is not strict friendship grew up between them. my business in this place to speak more parThe example of some seducing companions ticularly. from Westminster school had rendered him for a while dissipated and thoughtless: but when the time approached in which he was required to prepare himself for holy orders, he determined to become a clergyman in good earnest; gave himself up to study and retire-pect that I have turned my pen to the making ment; and was known to rise frequently at four o'clock in a summer's morning, to read the works of St. Austin. With this disposition, it is no wonder he was ready to embrace every opportunity of deriving more light to his Christian studies. He therefore soon became a Hebrew student in common with his friends, and made a rapid progress in divinity. For a time he took upon himself the curacy of Bedington, in Surrey: but he was soon advanced to the archdeaconry of Raphoe, in Ireland, having first obtained a presentation to the valuable living of Taboyne; where, to the loss of the world, and the unspeakable grief of the author of these papers, to whom he was a most affectionate and valuable friend, he soon afterwards died.

*

Though I speak with respect of this, as a work of great scholarship, and even wonderful in a young man, I have my doubts whether any Englishman can exhibit unexceptionable Greek versification, in which a critic cannot, with a microscope in his hand, and a little jealousy in his eye, discover flaws and pinholes; and that a Greek version of a fine English poem, whoever produces it, will at last be but a bad likeness of a good thing: which may be said without impeaching the parts or the diligence of any translator. When a man writes in a dead language, he does it at a great hazard: and I have heard this matter carried to such a nicety by a person of distinguished learning, as to suppose it dangerous, even in Latin composition, to put a noun and a verb together, unless you can find that noun and that verb actually standing together in some native Latin

writer of allowed authority.

It has given me great pleasure thus to take a review, hasty as it has been, of some of those excellent persons with whom Mr. Horne was connected in the days of his youth. A reader, who is a stranger to all the parties, may sus

of extraordinary characters; but I trust he will take my word for it, that I have only made them such as I found them; and such as the late good bishop their friend would have represented them, had he been alive and called upon to do them justice. I am convinced his own pen would have given more to some, not less to any and that he would have mentioned others of whom I have not spoken; for certainly I might have added many to the collection; such as the Rev. John Auchmuty, whose father was Dean of Armagh, and who used to amuse us with an account of his adventures at Tetuan in Africa, during his chaplainship under Admiral Forbes; Mr. James Stillingfleet, a grandson to the celebrated and learned bishop of that name, first one of the Hebrew exhibitioners at Wadham College, afterwards fellow of Merton, and now prebendary of Worcester; Mr. George Downing, another Hebrew exhibitioner at Wadham College, and now a prebendary of Ely, whom Mr. Horne admired and respected for those virtues and qualifications which have endeared him to all his acquaintaince. To these I might add Mr. Edward Stillingfleet, a gentleman commoner of Wadham; the Rev. John Whitaker, now so well known by his learned and valuable writings; with others of like character and literature, to none of whom do I mean any disrespect if I have omitted them. There

L

was one very learned gentleman in particular, Mr. Forster of Corpus Christi College, who published a beautiful quarto editon of the Hebrew Bible. He had the reputation of being a profound scholar, and was a great favorite with Bishop Butler, author of the celebrated Analogy, &c. This learned man introduced himself to Mr. Horne's acquaintance, only for the opportunity of conferring with him on some principles which he had newly adopted in philosophy and divinity. How far Mr. Horne and Mr. Forster proceeded in the argument I cannot exactly say; but this I well remember, that when the consubstantiality of the elements came into question, Mr. Forster did not seem to think that doctrine improbable, which later inquiries have rendered much less so; and allowed, that if the public were once satisfied in that particular, he believed very few objections would be made to the philosophical scheme of Mr. Hutchinson.*

I am now to conclude with a character, which I introduce with some reluctance; but it is too remarkable to be omitted in an account of Mr. Horne's literary connections; and some useful moral attends it in every circumstance: the character I mean is that of the late Dr. Dodd. Humanity should speak as tenderly of him as truth will permit, in consideration of his severe and lamentable fate.

Secker conceived a favorable opinion of Mr. Dodd, from his performances in the pulpit; and it was probably owing to the influence of the archbishop, that he was appointed to preach the sermons at Lady Moyer's Lectures. But this unhappy gentleman, having a strong desire, like many other young men of parts, to make a figure in the world, with a turn to an expensive way of living; and finding that his friends, who unhappily were suffering under the damnatory title of Hutchinsonians, would never be permitted (as the report then was) to rise to any eminence in the church; Mr. Dodd thought it more prudent to leave them to their fate, with the hope of succeeding better in some other way: and, to purge himself in the eye of the world, he wrote expressly against them; laying many grievous things to their charge; some of which were true, when applied to particular persons; some greatly exaggerated; and some utterly false; as it may well be imagined, when it is considered that the author was writing to serve an interest.*

There could be no better judge than Mr. Dodd himself, of the motives on which he had assumed a new character. He certainly did himself some good, in the opinion of those who thought he was grown wiser; but being sensible how far he had carried some things, and how much he had lost himself in the esteem of his old friends, he was anxious to know what some of them said about him. He therefore applied himself one day to a lady of great understanding and piety, who knew him well, and who also knew most of them, desiring her to tell him, what Mr. such-a-one said of him? He says of you, answered she-Demas hath forsaken us, having loved this present world: with which he appeared to be much affected. Not that the thing had actually been said, so far as I know,t by the person in question; but she, knowing the propriety with which it might have been said, gave him the credit of it. There was a general appearance of vanity about Mr. Dodd, which was particularly dis

A similitude in their studies and their principles produced an acquaintance between Mr. Horne and Mr. Dodd: for when Mr. Dodd began the world, he was a zealous favorer of Hebrew learning, and distinguished himself as a peacher; in which capacity he undoubtedly excelled to a certain degree, and in his time did much good. After Mr. Dodd had been noticed in the University of Cambridge for some of his exercises, he made himself known to the public by an English poetical translation of Callimachus, in which he discovered a poetical genius. Of the preface to the translation of Callimachus, which gives the best general account that was ever given in so short a compass, of the Heathen Mythology, the greater part was written for him by Mr. * When it was under deliberation whether any Horne. It is supposed, with good reason, answer should be given to this book of Mr. Dodd, Mr. that Mr. Dodd was obliged to others of his Horne objected to it in the following terms, which discover his great prudence and judgment: "Whofriends for several useful notes on the text of ever shall answer it, will be under the necessity of Callimachus. He makes a particular ac- appearing as a partisan, which in these times should knowledgment to the Rev. Mr. Parkhurst, be avoided as much as possible. I had much rather "from whose sound judgment, enlarged un-ful things in him recommended to the world, with the name of Hutchinson were dropped, and the usederstanding, unwearied application, and gen- their evidence, in another manner than they have erous openness of heart, the world has great been. Mankind are tired and sick (I am sure I am and valuable fruits to expect." Archbishop for one) with the fruitless squabbles and altercations

See Mr. Horne's Apology (hereafter to be spoken of) where this conference with Mr. Forster is alluded to.

about etymologies and particularities. In the mean time, the great plan of philosophy and theology, that must instruct and edify, lies dormant."

† But I am now informed, it actually was said.

gusting to Mr. Horne, who had none of it himself; and the levity with which he had totally cast off his former studies being added to it, both together determined him to drop the acquaintance with little hesitation. He not only avoided his company, but conceiving a dislike as well to his moral as to his literary character, is supposed to have given such an account of him in one of the public papers, as made him very ridiculous, under the name of Tom Dingle. Not long afterwards Mr. Foote brought him upon the stage, for a transaction which reflected great dishonor upon a clergyman, and for which the king ordered him to be struck off the list of his chaplains.

The revolt of Mr. Dodd, if he meant to raise himself in the world by it, did by no means answer his purpose. It brought him into favor with Lord Chesterfield; but that did much more hurt to his mind, than good to his fortune. The farther he advanced in life, the more he became embarrassed and his moral conduct was commonly known to be so far depraved, that a late celebrated gentleman of Clapham, who was privy to it, is said to have predicted, some years before, that he would come to an untimely end. How unsearchable are the wisdom and justice of divine providence! The worldly policy of Dr. Dodd lost him the friendship of some wise and good men, particularly of Mr. Horne, but procured for him the favor of Lord Chesterfield; and that favor tempted him to another step of policy, which brought him to his death. The memory of Dr. Johnson is much to be honored for the tender part he took in behalf of Dr. Dodd during the time of his affliction. And let it be remembered in justice to his former friends, that few persons were more deeply affected by his lamentable end than some of those who had been under the necessity of dropping his acquaintance. I have it on the best authority, that one of them kept a solemn fast till night on the day of his execution, and afterwards moralized very seriously upon his fate in one of the newspapers of the

clines him to favor the measures of his party indiscriminately, and therefore does great hurt to the judgment. He is apt to praise and censure, to love and hate, not with his own spirit, but with the spirit of his party. With their singularities, whatever they may be, he will find little fault; and if they have errors, they are such as he will not soon discover. To this danger Mr. Horne was exposed as a reader of Hutchinson. I shall therefore describe it more particularly, and show how and by what means he escaped it in all its parts, and preserved the independency of his understanding; in doing which, if I can do it faithfully, I shall certainly make myself of some use to the public.

Mr. Hutchinson fell into a new and uncommon train of thinking in philosophy, theology, and Heathen antiquity; and ap pears to have learned much of it from the Hebrew, which he studied in a way of his own: but as he laid too great a stress in many instances on the evidence of Hebrew etymology, his admirers would naturally do the same and some of them carried the matter so far, that nothing else would go down with them; till, by degrees, they adopted a mode of speaking which had a nearer resemblance to cant and jargon, than to sound and sober learning. To this weakness those persons were most liable who had received the fewest advantages from a learned education. This was the case with some sensible tradesmen and mechanics, who, by studying Hebrew, with the assistance of English only, grew conceited of their learning, and carried too much sail with too little ballast. Of this Mr. Horne was very soon aware; and he was in so little danger of following the example, that I used to hear him display the foibles of such persons with that mirth and good humor which he had ready at hand upon all occasions. With the like discretion and candor, he allowed to the Rev. Dr. Sharp, of Durham, all that could reasonably be allowed, when he attacked the followers of Hutchinson upon the etymological quarter, where they seemed most vulnerable, or, where they might at least be annoyed with From this account of Mr. Horne's friends most appearance of advantage: and he never, and acquaintance, I return now to the his- through the whole course of his life, was a tory of his studies. When a young man of a friend to the etymological part of the convigorous mind determines, in these latter days troversy, as it appears from his writings; in of the church, to make himself learned, he which Hebrew etymology, however he is in great danger, from the books he may might apply to it for himself, is rarely, if read, and the company into which he may ever, insisted upon. In some of his private fall, notwithstanding the integrity of his letters, one of which has been already remind and the purity of his intentions. If ferred to in a note, he declared his mind he join himself to a party, he will be under very freely on the expediency of squabbling the influence of an affection which is very about words, when there were so many properly called partiality; and which in-things, to be brought forward which were of

time.