During his residence abroad, a circumstance occurred in this country, which induced him again to turn his thoughts towards divinity. Butler, then preacher at the Rolls, who had been his schoolfellow at Tewkesbury, having warmly recommended him to the notice of Mr. Edward Talbot, the latter engaged that his father, the Bishop of Durham, should provide for Secker, if he thought proper to take orders in the church of England. Secker, after a mental debate of two months' duration, accepted this offer. He, accordingly, quitted France, in August, 1720; and, immediately on his arrival in England, was introduced to Mr. Talbot; with whom he cultivated a close acquaintance. Shortly before Christmas, he went to Leyden, and there took the degree of M. D., in order to facilitate his graduating at an English university. While at Leyden, he is broadly accused, by Horace Walpole, of having been president of a freethinking club: "Mr. Robins," observes that writer, "said that he had known him an atheist, and had advised him against talking so openly in the coffee-houses; and Mr. Stephens says Secker made him an atheist at Leyden, where the club was established."

Soon after his return to England, in April, 1721, he entered himself a gentleman commoner at Exeter college, Oxford. In the ensuing year, he took the degree of B. A., and was ordained deacon by his patron, Bishop Talbot; who appointed him one of his domestic chaplains; and, in the year 1724, presented him to the valuable rectory of Houghton-le-spring. On the 28th of October, 1725, he married Bishop Benson's sister, a relation, as Walpole asserts, of the Bishop of Durham; and, two years afterwards, exchanged his rectory for that of Ryton, near Newcastle, and a prebend at Durham.

In 1732, he became chaplain to the king; and, in the following year, obtained the rectory of St. James's, as Walpole affirms, by the queen's favour. His biographers, Porteus and Stinton, however, state that his preferment took place under the following circumstances:-Dr. Tyrwhit, who succeeded Dr. Clarke, as rector of St. James's, in 1729, finding that preaching

in so large a church endangered his health, his father-in-law, Bishop Gibson, proposed to the crown, that he should be made residentiary of St. Paul's, and that Secker should succeed him in the rectory; a proposition which proved so acceptable to those in power, that the arrangement was effected without difficulty. Shortly afterwards, Secker took the degree of D. C. L.; on which occasion he preached his celebrated act sermon, On the Advantages and Duties of an Academical Education. In December, 1734, he was raised to the see of Bristol. Walpole attributes his elevation to the episcopal bench, as well as his subsequent translation to the diocese of Oxford, which took place in 1737, to the same august patronage which procured for him, according to the same writer, the rectory of St. James's.

Pending the differences between George the Second and his son, Frederick, Prince of Wales, the latter, who had removed to Norfolk house, constantly attended divine service in St. James's church. The first time he went thither, Bonney, the clerk in orders, inadvertently commenced the service with his usual sentence of Scripture, "I will arise and go to my father, &c." and Dr. Secker, who preached the sermon, as it was currently reported at the time, selected for his text the commandment, "Honour thy father and thy mother, &c." The latter part of the story appears, however, to be altogether void of foundation. It has been positively contradicted by good authorities; and, if this were not the case,

it can scarcely be supposed that a man of Secker's character would have ventured to allude so pointedly and offensively to the heir-apparent's quarrel with the king in the presence of his royal highness, and especially after the singular inadvertence of the clerk in orders. Nor is it probable that the prince, had he received so severe a public rebuke from the bishop, would have honoured him, as his royal highness afterwards did, with many marks of civility and condescension. All the prince's children, with two exceptions, were baptised by Secker, who, for some time, acted so adroitly as to secure the esteem of the heir-apparent, without giving cause of offence to the monarch;

paying all due respect to the rank of the prince, but never attending his court, as such a step would have precluded him from appearing in the presence of the king.

At length, on account of his supposed influence over the prince, he was deputed to bear what George the Second considered an amicable offer to his son; which, however, the prince thought proper to reject; and Secker, in consequence of the failure of his mission, fell under the severe displeasure of the king, who was so convinced that he had not acted with becoming zeal and loyalty on this occasion, that his majesty refused to speak to him for a very considerable time; and even after several years had elapsed, as Walpole states, one day refused to go to St. James's church, because Secker was appointed to preach before him.

In 1750, he accepted the deanery of St. Paul's, in exchange for the rectory of St. James's, and his prebend at Durham; and, in 1758, without any solicitation on his own part, he was advanced to the primacy. During the latter part of his life, he suffered excruciating pain in one of his thighs, from gout; and, on Sunday, the 31st of July, 1768, while his servants were raising him in bed, he suddenly exclaimed that it was broken: this, the surgeon who attended him soon discovered to be the fact. A fever ensued, and, three days afterwards, he expired. On a post mortem examination, it appeared that, previously to the fracture, a great portion of the thigh-bone, with the exception of the outward integument only, had been destroyed by disease. He was buried in a covered passage, leading from a private door in Lambeth palace, to the north entrance of the church.

His domestic character appears to have been very amiable. He attended his wife, who died in 1748, during a very long illness, with extraordinary care and tenderness, although her bad health and depressed spirits, it is said, frequently put his affection to the most severe trials. To the widow and daughters of Bishop Talbot's son, who had laid the foundation of his ecclesiastical honours, he displayed great kindness during his life; and, at his decease, left them the interest of

£13,000 in the three per cents. To the archiepiscopal library, at Lambeth, he bequeathed a valuable collection of books, and a great number of his own manuscripts; among which were, an interleaved English Bible, with very copious remarks; Michaelis' Hebrew Bible, filled with comparisons of the ancient versions, emendations, and conjectures on the original text; and two folio volumes of notes upon Daniel.

As an author, he displayed more elegance than depth; and excelled rather in the correction of other men's writings, than in original composition. He improved the style of Bishop Butler's Analogy; assisted Archdeacon Sharpe in his controversy with the Hutchinsonians; and lent his aid to Dr. Church, both in the Vindication of the Miraculous Powers, and the Analysis of the Works of Bolingbroke. Among his original productions are, Lectures on the Catechism of the Church of England, and A Reply to Mayhew on the Charter and Conduct of the Society for propagating the Gospel. He also communicated some observations to Warburton on The Divine Legation, in allusion to which, Bishop Hurd says, "Dr. Secker was a wise man, an edifying preacher, and an exemplary bishop; but the course of his life and studies had not qualified him to decide on such a work as The Divine Legation. Even in the narrow walk of literature he most affected, that of criticising the Hebrew text, it does not appear that he attained to any great distinction. His chief merit (and, surely, it was a great one) lay in explaining, clearly and properly, the principles delivered by his friend, Bishop Butler, in his famous book of The Analogy, and in shewing the important use of them to religion." Four volumes of his works were published about the year 1770; in which, says a reviewer of that period," though the reader will seldom meet with the strokes of a lively genius, the graces of oratorical language, the critical accuracy of Dr. Clarke, the reasoning of Hoadly, or the acuteness of Sherlock, yet he will find what is extremely valuable, the strongest marks of a benevolent disposition, unaffected piety, and solid sense." His discourses, according to Walpole, were a kind of moral essays; but what they wanted

in Gospel was made up in fanaticism. A second edition of his works, in twelve octavo volumes, appeared in 1795.

Although intolerant towards the Roman catholics, he cultivated a good understanding with the dissenters, whose numbers rapidly increased during his

primacy. With some of their most eminent leaders, Watts, Doddridge, and others, he maintained a friendly intercourse; considering them, it is said, as temporary separatists only from the church, whom conciliation might, perhaps, induce to return to her bosom.

THIS ingenious and learned divine was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1693, and, becoming a student of Lincoln college, Oxford, took the degree of B. A. in 1715, and that of M. A. in 1718. On entering into holy orders, he was appointed chaplain and secretary to Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham, who presented him, first, to the rectory of Hinton, in Northamptonshire; afterwards to the living of Kingscote, in Leicestershire; and procured him a stall in St. Paul's cathedral.

In 1730, he published his celebrated Memoria Technica, or, A New Method of Artificial Memory; and, in the following year, A System of Ecclesiastical Law, extracted from the Codex Juris Ecclesiastici Anglicani of Bishop Gibson, for the use of students in divinity. Of this work, which was subsequently reprinted, with marginal references, the university so highly approved, that in the year after its appearance, he was rewarded with the degree of D. D. by diploma. In 1736, he published, anonymously, The Miserable and Distracted State of Religion in England, upon the Downfal of the Church Established; and, in 1738, A New and Easy Method of Learning Hebrew with Points. He produced several other learned works, to facilitate the study of Hebrew; and, in 1742, published his Book of Job, divided into metrical verses, with the Latin version and notes of Professor Schultens, and his own annotations. In the preface to this work, he introduced some strictures on certain passages of Bishop Warburton's Divine Legation of Moses; to which that prelate having replied, Grey, in 1744, printed An Answer to Mr. Warburton's Remarks on several occasional Reflections, so far as they concern the Preface

to a late Edition of the Book of Job, &c. In 1746, he acted as official and commissary of the archdeaconry of Leicester; in 1749, he published his Last Words of David, divided according to the metre, with notes critical and explanatory; and, in 1753, an English translation of Browne's poem, De Animæ Immortalitate.

He died in 1771, leaving four daughters, by his wife, Joyce, youngest daughter of the Rev. Mr. Thicknesse, of Farthingoe, to whom he had been united while chaplain to Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham, in the neighbourhood of whose residence the young lady lived. Her brother, Philip Thicknesse, states, in his memoirs, that Grey, having been sent with a message from Lord Crewe to the elder Thicknesse, on entering the study of the latter, instead of disclosing his business, he inquired, whether a young lady he had seen in the courtyard was his daughter. "My father," continues the brother, "informed him he had two daughters, and probably it might be. 'Bless me!' said Mr. Grey, it made my heart leap to see so fine a girl in such a country village.' This so offended my father, that he had a great mind to make him leap, body and soul, out his study, had he not quickly perceived his displeasure at so novel an address, and explained his errand. My father, finding him an ingenious young man, began to feel as much partiality for the young parson, as the parson had conceived for his youngest daughter. Mr. Grey repeated his visits, and before my sister was well out of her white frock, she became the rector of Hinton's wife. Mr. Grey paid her the following singular compliment the day he obtained her father's and mother's consent:-Entering the

garden with my sister and mother, he led her on the grass plot, and walking several times round, admiring her person, Well,' said he, Miss Joyce, I own you are too good for me; but, at the same time, I think myself too good for any body else!" "

Dr. Grey was learned, amiable, and ingenious. His system of mnemonics has, under various modifications, been extensively circulated, and considerably praised. His works on the study of Hebrew, which are still esteemed, prove him to have been a man of much talent, as well as deep erudition. He might, it is said, but for his Jacobitical opinions, at one time have attained the episcopal bench. His early patron, Lord Crewe, appears to have been a staunch

adherent to the exiled family; but, according to Thicknesse, Grey was quite cured of Jacobitism long before he died. He observed, that when the Pretender was at Rome, his friends here kept his birth-day, and spoke of him with concern; but when he was in Scotland, they seemed to forget him every day. "Now," continued he, "if I had been the king, I would have pardoned all those who showed their unshaken loyalty openly, and hanged all cowardly adherents, who durst not appear to serve him when their services were wanted. But, thank God! that silly business is at an end; and the catholics know the sweets of living under a protestant prince, and a free government."

THIS celebrated prelate, the son of an attorney, was born at Newark-upon-❘ Trent, on the 24th of December, 1698. After receiving the rudiments of learning at a school kept by his brotherin-law, and finishing his education at another in Rutlandshire, he was articled to an attorney, at Great Merkham. On the completion of his clerkship, in 1719, he was admitted in one of the courts at Westminster, and, for a short time, practised in his native town; but, finding his profession neither pleasant nor profitable, he soon abandoned it, and was for some time, it is supposed, an usher in a school. In 1723, he was ordained deacon; and having, in the following year, dedicated his first work, consisting of miscellaneous translations, in prose and verse, from Latin authors, to Sir Robert Sutton, he was presented, by that gentleman, on his taking priest's orders in 1726-7, to the small vicarage of Griesley, in Nottinghamshire.

About the close of the same year he came to London, and formed an acquaintance with Theobald; to whose edition of Shakspeare, he contributed several notes. He now engaged in a confederacy against Pope, of whom he said, that while Milton borrowed by affectation, and Dryden by idleness, Pope did so from necessity. In 1727,

he published his Inquiry into the Causes of Prodigies and Miracles, which he dedicated to Sir Robert Sutton, who procured him a place among the king's masters of arts, on the occasion of his majesty's visit to Cambridge, in 1728; during which year, Warburton was also presented, by his patron, to the rectory of Brand Broughton, in Lincolnshire, worth about £200 a year.

At this time he appears to have possessed but little ambition; for he passed many years in the quiet performance of his duties as a parish priest; and the public heard but little or nothing of him, until 1736, when he produced his celebrated Alliance between Church and State; on account of the merits of which, Hare, Bishop of Chichester, recommended him to the notice of Queen Caroline; who, however, died before he could be introduced. had previously announced, in a foreign periodical, his intention of preparing for the press a new edition, with notes, of Velleius Parterculus; but had abandoned the idea, by the advice of Dr. Middleton.

He

At the conclusion of the Alliance, he had announced his great work, entitled The Divine Legation of Moses, demonstrated on the Principles of a Religious Deist, from the Omission of the

Doctrine of a Future State of Rewards and Punishments, in the Jewish Dispensation; the first volume of which, published in 1737-8, excited so much clamour against him, that, as he said, he could not, with justice, have been more bitterly abused had he written a book maintaining the divine legation of Mahomet. He defended his work, of which a second volume appeared in 1741, with great ability, against the attacks of his numerous clerical adversaries; but, with a view, perhaps, to conciliate the caustic satirist, Pope, he published, in a periodical, entitled The Works of the Learned, a vindication of that author, who had been charged with having evinced a tendency to Spinosism and naturalism in his Essay on Man. Pope, proud of his champion, sought an intimacy with Warburton, which continued, much to the advantage of the latter, up to the period of the poet's death. In 1741, during a country excursion, they visited Oxford, where the vice-chancellor proposed conferring a degree on Pope, which, however, he declined, on finding that some impediment occurred, in carrying into effect an offer which had, at the same time, been made of the degree of D. D. to Warburton. "We shall take our degree together in fame," said the poet, on this occasion, "whatever we do at the university." At this time, the fourth book of the Dunciad was projected; and it appeared in the following year, with notes, by Warburton, who, it is said, suggested many alterations and improvements in the writings of his friend.

About this time, Sir Thomas Hanmer procured from Warburton a large collection of notes and emendations, which were, it is asserted, afterwards improperly used in Hanmer's edition of Shakspeare. Warburton's next great work was a Dissertation on the Origin of Books of Chivalry; relative to which, Pope, in a letter to the author, used the following expressions: "I had not read two clauses before I cried out, Aut Erasmus, aut diabolus!' I know you as certainly as the ancients did the gods, by the first pace, and the very gait." He was indebted to the friendship of Pope, for introductions Murray, afterwards Lord Mansfield; to Lord Chesterfield, who, on being made viceroy of Ireland, offered him

to

the appointment of first chaplain, which, however, he declined; and to the lady who afterwards became his wife. The poet, it appears, while on a visit to his friend, Mr. Allen, of Prior park, near Bath, had a letter put into his hand, on reading which, he exhibited some symptoms of perplexity. Allen asked him what was the matter: "A Lincolnshire parson," replied Pope, "to whom I am much obliged, writes me word that he will be with me in a few days, at Twickenham." Allen then proposed that the reverend gentleman should be invited to Prior park, and offered to send a carriage to meet him, at Chippenham. Pope acquiesced, and, shortly afterwards, Warburton, who was the Lincolnshire parson in question, arrived at Allen's residence; where he captivated his host's favourite niece, Miss Gertude Tucker, whom he afterwards married, and in whose right, he eventually obtained possession of Prior park, and the greater part of Allen's property.

A change appears to have taken place in the tone of Warburton's writings, about the year 1744, when, utterly abandoning his previous comparative diffidence, he adopted, in his defences against those who had presumed to enter the lists of controversy against him, the lofty and austere style of one who condescended to convince antagonists whom he despised. During the rebellion, in 1745, he was a staunch advocate of government; still, notwithstanding his loyalty and talents, he had not hitherto been honoured with any public preferment. In 1746, by the interest of Murray, he was chosen preacher of Lincoln's inn; and, in the following year, he published an edition of Shakspeare; which, says one of his cotemporaries, raised a considerable outcry against him, his illustrations of the poet's sense being frequently not admitted, and his corrections of the faulty text not allowed.

He now engaged in a controversy with Dr. Middleton, in which, both parties disgraced themselves by uncharitable asperity towards each other. In 1749, he thus wrote, from his house in Bedford row, to Bishop Hurd, apparently in a splenetic mood, at the total indifference evinced towards him by government:-"I am now got hither