however, he was returned in 1820, and continued to represent them until 1826, when he became member for Aberdeen. During the proceedings against Queen Caroline, he rendered himself conspicuous, as one of her majesty's active supporters; and, subsequently, acquired considerable reputation, by his severe and persevering investigation of the public accounts, and his constant exertions to reduce the national expenditure. Among his multitudinous labours in parliament, it is proper to notice, his attempt to preclude civil officers in the ordnance from voting for members of parliament; his thirty-eight resolutions on the financial circumstances of the country, censuring the borrowing system, and the sinking fund; his proposition to abolish tithes in Ireland, and to provide for the clergy out of the rental of the church-lands; his hostility to the continuation of the vice-regal office in that kingdom; his motion in favour of the Ionian Islands; his defence of a repeal of the combination laws, on the ground that masters, for the most part, were oppressive to their workmen; his opposition to the building of additional churches; his support of the catholic relief bill, and of the repeal of the test and corporation acts.

HORNER, (FRANCIS,) the son of a linen-draper, was born at Edinburgh, on the 12th of August, 1778. From the high-school, at which he had greatly distinguished himself, he proceeded to the university of his native city, where, under the roof of Dugald Stewart, he formed a close intimacy with Lord Henry Petty; who, on becoming chancellor of the exchequer, in 1806, procured his return for the borough of St. Ives. At the next election, he lost his seat; and, becoming a law-student, was, in due time, called to the bar. On the resignation of Viscount Mahon, he succeeded that nobleman, as member for Wendover; and was, about the same time, nominated a commissioner for investigating the claims on the nabob of Arcot. In 1810, he became a member of the celebrated bullion committee, whose report he subsequently brought up; and, with considerable eloquence, unsuccessfully urged a return to cash payments.

He

supported Alderman Combe's motion to pass a vote of censure on ministers, for having obstructed an address to his majesty, from the lord-mayor and corporation of the city of London; and, on the regency question being discussed, proposed the appointment of a regent by address, rather than by bill, because, as he contended, by the latter mode, parliament would usurp the legislative power of the crown, and, by a gross and illegal fiction, steal the semblance of an assent, where there could be no negative. During the debate, in 1812, relative to the two tellerships of the exchequer, he made seven distinct motions on the subject, with a view to confine those sinecures to fixed annual sums, all of which, were, however, negatived. He distinguished himself on various other occasions, and applied so closely to public business, and private study, that his constitution became seriously impaired. In the hope of deriving benefit from a warmer climate, he proceeded to France, and thence to Italy; but died at Pisa, in February, 1817. He was one of the earliest and most able writers in the Edinburgh Review; a chaste, correct, and forcible speaker; a respectable scholar, a deep thinker, a close reasoner, and a most amiable man.

SPENCER, (JOHN CHARLES, Viscount Althorpe,) eldest son of Earl Spencer, was born on the 30th of May, 1782, and completed his education at Trinity college, Cambridge, where he obtained the honorary degree of M. A. At the age of twenty-one, he became member for Okehampton; and, on the death of Pitt, offered himself as a candidate for the representation of the university of Cambridge; but lost the election by a large majority. In the same year, (1806,) after a very severe struggle, he obtained his return for Northamptonshire; and, during the Fox and Grenville administration, held office as a lord of the treasury. At the next general election, he was again returned for the county of Northampton, which he represented in every succeeding parliament, up to the demise of George the Fourth. In March, 1809, during a debate on the evidence taken with regard to the conduct of the Duke of York, he proposed the following

POMFRET, (SAMUEL,) was born at Coventry, in 1650, and proceeded, at a proper age, from the grammar-school of his native city to the university of Cambridge; but, as it is said, the tenderness of his conscience not allowing him to comply with the customs there practised, he removed to Dr. Button's theological academy, at Islington, where he completed his studies. At the age of nineteen, while plunged in the deepest grief, by the death of his mother, he believed himself to be specially converted, but regretted "that he had not been called" at an earlier period of his life, frequently repeating the exclamation of St. Austin, "Sero te amavi, Domine !" Unwilling to preach before he had arrived at manhood, he became chaplain to Sir William Dyer, whom, however, he soon quitted; and, feeling anxious to see the world, embarked for Smyrna, on board a merchantman, which being attacked by two Algerine vessels, in the Mediterranean, he was requested to go below, by the captain, to whom he replied:"They are the enemies of Christ and his kingdom: I will remain on deck, and live and die by you." It is added, that he behaved with great gallantry during the action, which terminated in the defeat of the corsairs. Soon after his arrival at Smyrna, being requested to read the burial service over a child of the English consul, he stated, that as he could not conform to the established church in his own country, he must be excused from adopting its ritual abroad. " If, however," added, he, "the consul will admit of my services in my own way, I am ready to give them." His offer being accepted, he delivered so affecting a discourse over the child's grave, that, at its conclusion, the consul exclaimed, "If this be your way, I judge it preferable to my own." He had, it appears, embarked £50 in a venture of hats, all of which, however, he gave away to the sailors, on condition "that they should no more

profane the name of God." On his return to England, he collected a congregation in the metropolis, which he quitted, by invitation, to become pastor of a more numerous flock, at Sandwich, where he officiated for about seven years. Being persecuted, as a non-conformist, he then returned to London, and gradually formed an important connexion, first in Winchesterstreet, and, afterwards, in Gravel-lane, Houndsditch. Enthusiastic as Whitefield, he wore out a strong constitution by his incessant labours for the advancement of Calvinism. When not engaged in his ministerial labours, he was usually occupied in reading or meditation, for the purpose of improving his utility as a pastor. He had, it is said, a marvellous way of striking the consciences of sinners, and few could attend his preaching without being greatly affected. Shortly before his decease, which took place on the 11th of January, 1722, he invited a friend "to come and see a dying man, under exquisite pains, and yet not afraid to die."

CLARKE, (MATTHEW,) was the son of an ejected non-conformist divine, and, at a very early age, is said to have felt convinced that he was specially ordained to preach the Gospel. After having rendered himself familiar with Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and several oriental languages, he qualified himself for the ministry, by studying under Woodhouse, an eminent dissenting teacher in Shropshire. He filied the office of pastor, successively, at Little Bowden, Sandwich, and Miles's-lane, London; and, in 1695, became one of the lecturers at Pinners' hall; where he usually preached, twice a-day, to large congregations. His incessant labour, at length, brought on so violent a fever, that no hopes were entertained of his recovery. He had already taken leave of his family and friends, when, as a desperate experiment, his

his medical attendants administered to him a large quantity of the strongest cordial they could prepare. Within a quarter of an hour after, he exclaimed, "This medicine is from God!" and in a short time he became convalescent. On the death of George, Prince of Denmark, he was deputed by the dissenters to present their address of condolence to Queen Anne. About seven years afterwards, he broke his leg, and thus lamed himself for the remainder of his life. In 1722, he went to court, at the head of a deputation of his sect, to congratulate the king, it is said, "on the discovery of the popish plot." The close of his life appears to have been much embittered by the divisions produced among the dissenters by the Arian controversy. He is described as having united elegant manners to deep erudition, unaffected piety, universal benevolence, and extraordinary powers as a preacher. "His subjects," says Neal, were well chosen, and he brought down the most sublime truths to the level of his hearers; for though his language was too chaste and correct to offend the most learned, it was so simple and lucid, that it must have been peculiarly instructive to the young, the poor, and the illiterate. Free from all that could be called cant, he might have been understood by those who never heard before the language of any religious party; while he preached the doctrines of the Gospel so fully, that it was evident he loved them; and with such fervour, that it was manifest he deemed them essential to the eternal safety of his hearers." He died on the 27th of March, 1726.

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BRADBURY, (THOMAS,) a native of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, was born in 1677. While yet a mere child, his father, being afraid to leave home, on account of his debts, was in the habit of sending him to a public-house, where a newspaper was frequently read, by one of the customers, for the entertainment of the rest; the boy's memory being so retentive, that, on his return, he could accurately repeat nearly the whole of what he had heard. He acquired the rudiments of education in a free-school, at Leeds, where he chiefly distinguished himself by his eccentricity and satirical wit. At the age of eighteen,

he became a preacher in the metropolis. Shortly before he entered the pulpit, for the first time, a person, to whom he was unknown, thus accosted him: "Pray, sir, who preaches to-day?" He replied, "Mr. Bradbury." "If that be the case," rejoined the inquirer," I shall go elsewhere." He commenced his discourse in great trepidation, but soon convinced his hearers, it is said, that he was young only in years. From that hour, as he states, he never knew the fear of man. After having officiated, successively, with but little pecuniary advantage, at Beverley, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Stepney, and Fetterlane, he was appointed to the pulpit of a chapel in New-court, Careystreet, which he retained during the remainder of his life. He published some pieces against Dr. Watts, on the doctrine of the Trinity, and two volumes of sermons, which rendered him exceedingly popular among the Calvinistic dissenters. His chapel, when he preached, was crowded to excess, and his pulpit eloquence, which resembled that of Burgess, is said to have been remarkably powerful; although his discourses were debased by humorous tales, and jocose observations. day, as it is related, a man fell on his knees, and addressed him to the following effect:-"The Roman catholics, by whom, it is well known, you are regarded with great abhorrence, have hired me to assassinate you; I have, consequently, in order to become well acquainted with your person, for some time past, been a constant attendant at your chapel; your pious exhortations have, however, not only induced me to abandon my murderous intention, but made me one of the most devout members of your congregation." At a meeting, which was held on the subject of the Arian controversy, in Salters' hall, he strenuously upheld the divinity of Christ; and concluded by exclaiming, "You, who are not afraid to avow the Deity of our Lord, follow me into the gallery!" The opposite party beginning to express their disapprobation as he ascended the stairs, he turned round and said, "I have been pleading for him who bruised the serpent's head: no wonder that the seed of the serpent should hiss!" He was of a particularly jovial disposition; and is stated to have

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sung, at a dinner in honour of the revolution, "Oh! the roast beef of old England!" with great spirit. He was much esteemed by Archbishop Wake, Bishop Burnet, and other eminent episcopal divines: Grainger calls him The Patriarch of the Dissenters; and Noble speaks of him in the following terms:-" He was the social, pleasant companion; and more famed for his mirth than for long harangues. He often vented coarse witticisms from the pulpit, and particularly delighted in ridiculing the devotional poetry of Dr. Watts. Yet he was a singularly honest, upright man; and his sermons, though not elegant, were bold and decisive." When upwards of fifty, he married a lady of fortune, named Richmond, much younger than himself, by whom he had two daughters. His death took place on the 9th of September, 1759.

NEAL, (DANIEL,) the historian of the Puritans, was born in London, on the 14th of December, 1678-9. Becoming an orphan at an early age, the care of his education devolved upon his uncle; who, about the year 1686, placed him at Merchant Tailors' school; whence, after refusing an exhibition to St. John's college, Cambridge, he removed to Mr. Rowe's academy for young men who intended to become dissenting ministers. He subsequently studied at the universities of Utrecht and Leyden, under Burman and Grævius. In 1706, he was appointed pastor of a congregation, in Aldersgate-street; whence, on account of the increase of his flock, he subsequently removed to a more commodious building, in Jewinstreet. Notwithstanding his indefatigable exertions as a preacher, he found leisure to become a voluminous author. In 1720, he published A History of New England, in two volumes, octavo; and, in the following year, the university of Cambridge, in America, conferred on him the degree of M. A. In 1722, appeared his Letter to Dr. Francis Hare, Bishop of Chichester, in reply to some remarks which that prelate had made on the dissenters, in a visitation sermon. In 1732, he produced the first part of his History of the Puritans; the second, third, and fourth volumes of which appeared, respectively, in 1733, 1736, and 1738. Warburton, on finding this work,

VOL. I.

which is highly honourable to the abilities of its author, in the library at Durham, without a reply, determined on answering it himself. He says, "I took it home to my house, and, at breakfast time, filled the margins quite through; which I think to be a full confutation of all his false facts and partial representations." The notes which Warburton made on this occasion, were subsequently printed in a volume, entitled, Tracts by Warburton and a Warburtonian. Neal's History was also attacked by Bishop Maddox, to whom he published a reply; and, by Dr. Zachary Grey, whose objections were answered by Dr. Toulmin, in a new edition of the work, which appeared in 1797. In 1740, Neal delivered a course of lectures, in support of the reformed religion, against popery, which, it is said, "crowds of persons eagerly attended." -About the year 1738, his health began to decline, and, after having suffered much from paralytic attacks, he died at Bath, on the 4th of April, 1743, leaving a son, by his wife, who was a sister of the celebrated Dr. Lardner. Besides the productions already mentioned, Neal published A Narrative of the Method and Success of Inoculating for the Small Pox, in New England; which led to an interview between him and the Princess Caroline of Wales; who, notwithstanding the violent prejudices then entertained against the practice, shortly afterwards caused her children to be inoculated. He was beloved by his family and friends, revered by his congregation, and admired by the whole of his sect; although he appears to have given some temporary offence, by withdrawing from those who subscribed to the doctrine of the Trinity, in which, however, he is said to have fully believed. His disposition was particularly mild, and his aversion to any appearance of bigotry so great, that he repelled no denomination of Christians from his communion.

GALE, (JOHN,) a native of London, and the son of an eminent merchant, was born in 1679. After having obtained the degrees of master of arts and doctor of philosophy at the university of Leyden, he proceeded to Amsterdam, when about nineteen years of age, and there studied theology under