1. Letters from a late eminent Prelate to one of his Friends. The Second Edition. Cadell and Davies. 1809. Sco. 510 pages. "Entry on a blank page in the first of five port-folios, containing the originals of the following Letters: "These Letters give so true a picture of the Writer's character, and are, besides, so worthy of him in all respects (I mean, if the Reader can forgive the playfulness of his wit in some instances, and the partiality of his friendship in many more), that, in honour of his memory, I would have them published after my death, and the profits arising from the sale of them applied to the benefit of the Worcester Infirmary. "January 18th, 1795." TH R. WORCESTER. HIS is a very interesting and entertaining publication; including the unreserved correspondence, for nearly thirty years, of two of the most distinguished Prelates of the eighteenth century, of whom the Survivor has very recently closed his venerable career, leaving the present volume as a legacy to the publick, and the emoluments of it (which we hope will be not inconsiderable) to that laudable Institution the Worcester Infirmary. The objections which have in some cases been urged against the appearance of posthumous works, and particularly of private correspondence, would here be wholly misapplied; the present collection having been maturely digested by Bp. Hurd, and the first edition, in quarto, actually printed under his own immediate inspection. The date of the earliest letter is June 1, 1749; of the latest, 1776; and through the whole series the cha reters of the two eminent Writers are distinctly and prominently developed; and their inviolable friendship is equally honourable to both. The learned labours of Bp. Warburton and his able Coadjutor have been long before the publick; but the secret springs which actuated them were till now not generally apprehended. In the fullest confidence, Dr. Warburton here unbosoms the secret motives of many of the most material events both of his private and his literary life; and appears to much advantage, in the independence of mind he on all occasions shews respecting his own personal interest, or prospect of advancement; contrasted GENT. MAG. Jauuary, 1809. with the zeal he demonstrated when ever he could assist his friend Mr. Hurd; which he never omitted, when the opportunity for it occurred. The consciousness of his colossal strength in Literature, in which he might be said "to bestride the narrow world,' is evident on all occasions; and has led him very frequently into sarcastic reflections on names of high renown. The mild discretion of Dr. Hurd, on the contrary, whilst in some cases he smoothed the asperities of his Patron, in others compelled him, by gentle relinquish projected hostilities, is perand almost imperceptible degrees, to fectly characteristic. The first offer of friendship, on the part of Dr. Warburton, arose from the perusal of Mr. Hurd's publication of "Horace's Art of Poetry." Some detached extracts shall be given; which, to those who are versed in the literary history of the period, will need no comment.mutat isms In a Letter highly complimentary to Dr. Bentley, whom he calls ska great and much injured man," he says, 1749. Aug. 19. I will just tell you what Mr. Pope told me, who had been let into the secret, concerning the Oxford performance. That Boyle wrote only the narrative of what passed between him and the Bookseller, Freind, the Master of Westminster, and which too was corrected for him; that Atterbury, wrote the body of the criticisins; and that Dr. King of the Commons wrote the droll argument to prove Dr. Bentley was not the author of the Dissertation on Phalaris, and the Index. And a powerful cabal gave it a surprising run." Sept. 28. "The Oxford man you mention, who writ something about Shakespear, and would write about Jonson, is a pert dunce, the most troublesome sort of vennin in all Parnassus." and knavish book I ever saw, one Lauder Dec. 23. "I have just read the most silly the bottom of 44 and the top of 45, proves on Milton's Imitations. An observation at him either the one or the other with a vengeance. If there are those things in Masenius, why did he not produce them? They are of more weight to prove his charge than all he says besides. If they are not, he is a knave. I think he has produced about half a dozen particular the matter of imitation is a thing very little thoughts that look like imitations. But book does not displease me. It is likely understood. However, in one view the enough to mortify all the silly adorers of Miton, who deserve to be laughed at,' Feb. 10, 1749 50. It gives me great pleasure pleasure to understand you was the author Feb. 24. "Browne (the Pipe-of-Tobacco Browne) wrote a lampoon on lord Granville, called "The Fire-side." To add the more poignancy to his satire, he, in the wantonness of his spleen, conceived a design that Upton should write notes upon it. He knew him to be dull enough not to see the drift of the lampoon, and vain enough to think himself honoured by the request; so he get him to his chambers, and persuaded him to write what indeed he himself in part dictated, to him. In this condition the lampoon was printed, and then Browne told all his acquaintance the joke." 1750. Nov. 23. "I have read over the Academic twice, with great pleasure. It is an admirable thing, and full of delicate and fine-turned raillery. The author was eruel to turn it out and expose it, like an orphan, to the care of a parish nurse, a sleepy printer, who had like to have overlaid it." 1751. Sept. 22. "Our friend Browne is now on a visit (on invitation) at Mr. George Lyttelton's. It is about 250 miles from him, and he is accompanied by his friend Dr. Law as far as Litchfield; who takes this opportunity to visit his friend the Bp. of Litchfield and Coventry. Which will prove the better Patron, the Layman or the Archpriest, for an even wager? And you shall choose your side. I think they might as well have gone to Hell (I mean the Classical Hell) to consult Tiresias in the ways of thriving. God help them; for they are a couple of helpless creatures in the ways of this world; and nothing to bear their charges but a little honesty, which, like Don Quixote's Chivalry, will pass current in never an inn between Carlisle and London." Nov. 18. "The Bishop of Clogher, or some such heathenish name, in Ireland, has just published a book. It is made up out of the rubbish of old Heresies; of a much ranker cast than common Arianism. Jesus Christ is Michael; and the Holy Ghost, Gabriel, &c. This might be Heresy in an English Bishop; but in an Irish, 'tis only a blunder." 1752. Jan. 2. " Pray do you know Byrom's character? or have you seen his two Epistles, one a year or two ago on occasion of Sherlock's book of Prophecies, and the other just now, on Enthusiasm He is certainly a man of genius, plunged deep into the rankest fanaticism. His poetical Epistles shew him both; which, were it not for some unaccountable negli gences in his verse and language, would shew us that he has hit upon the right style for familiar didactic Epistles in verse. He is very libellous upon me; but I forgive him heartily, for he is not malevolent, but mad." July 18. "Yon talk of Jackson's Chronology; on which occasion you quote a line of Mr. Pope, which he would have envied you the application of; and would certainly have drawn a new character of a diving Antiquarian, for the pleasure of applying this line to him. As for Jackson, you would hardly think (after what had passed between us) that all his account of the Mysteries should be one entire theft from me, a transcript of my account, without one word of acknowledgment: for which I shall make him all due acknowledgments in a note. The wretch has spent his days in the Republic of Letters, just as your vagabonds do in the streets of London, in one unvaried course of begging, railing, and stealing." Dec. 15. "Your good wishes for me are very kind; and your sense of the times, much juster than you yourself imagine. Should I tell you my usage through life, and yet my acquaintance in the great world has been only with those of whom the publick has spoke highest, I should astonish you. The small specimen I gave you was but a paltry one, in comparison. You shall know the whole, one day or other: for I should be sorry to go out of the world, and leave you in it, ignorant of this part of my history. And yet, I will assure you, I deserved other usage; as one of your penetration will the easier credit from this circumstance, that though several of the actors, or rather no actors, of course know several parts, yet the whole of this curious history is unknown to all mankind but myself; and 1 conld wish, but for the reason above, that I myself could forget it. At the same time I am sensible enough how much what we call chance governs in the affairs of the world; that is, things falling out besides the intention of the actors; and therefore sufferers are generally apt to ascribe more to injustice than they ought." 1753. April 5. "I should be sorry that a newspaper should tell you, before I can do it, of Lord Chancellor's favour to me; which receives its value from the very po lite manner of doing it. Last Sunday be sent me a message, with the offer of a prebend of Gloucester, as a mark of his regard, and wishes that it had been better. I desired Mr. Charles Yorke to tell him, that no favours from such a hand could be unacceptable. He said, he always had it in his intention; though he said no more of his design, than I did of any expectation or desire."-" In two or three days I shall set out either for Prior-Park, or Glơy cester. cester. Don't you laugh when I mention Gloucester? Birch introduced the directions he gave me about taking possession, &c. not amiss. He said, it was so long since I had any preferment, that I must have forgot all the formalities of the law. There was another thing he did not dream of that it is so long since I had occasion to enquire about the formalities, that I am become very indifferent to the things themselves." 1753. "The report you speak of is partly false, with a mixture of truth; and is a thing that touches me so little, that I never mentioned it to any of my friends who did not chance to ask about it. I have no secrets that I would have such to you. I would have it so to others, merely because it is an impertinent thing, that concerns nobody; and its being in common report, which nobody gives credit to, covers the secret the better, instead of divulging it. The simple fact is only this: that not long since, the Duke of Newcastle sent word, by a noble person, to Mr. Allen, that he had a purpose of asking the King for the Deanery of Bristol for me, if it should become vacant while he is in credit, as a thing which, he supposed, would not be unacceptable to us, on account of its neighbourhood to this place. And now, my dearest friend, you have the whole secret and a very foolish one it is. If it comes, as Falstaff says of Honour, it comes unlooked for, and there's an end. But he had a good chance, because he did not deserve what he was so indifferent about. What my chance is by this scale, I leave to be adjusted between my friends and enemies." 1754. June 27. "On Monday last Sir Edward Littleton was so good to come and stay two days with me. He is a very amiable young gentleman. He has very good sense, and appears to have strong impressions of virtue and honour. The latter endowments were no other than I expected from a pupil of yours. He has a perfect sense of his obligations to you. But, my good friend, what is the serving à single person, when you have talents to serve the world? A word to the wise. Remember for what Nature formed you, and your profession requires of you, Remem ber your great scheme." (To be continued.) 2. Poems by the Rev. James Hurdis, D. D. late Fellow of Magdalen College, and Professor of Poetry in the University of Oxford: Three Volumes, 12mo. pp. 224, 199, 203. Oxford; at the University Press, for J. Parker; Rivington, Longman, &c. London; 1808. Published by Subscription. This complete edition of the poetical works of the late truly ingenious Dr. Hurdis is, we find, published for the benefit of that gentleman's sisters; and the care apparent in its produc tion redounds greatly to the credit of Mr. Hayley, the anonymous editor. The List of Subscribers fills 31 crowded pages; at the head of which we rejoice to see THE QUEEN OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, to whom the Work is briefly dedicated. A succinct account of the author, and a sweetly pathetic Elegy to his memory, signed with the initials P. H. are, very properly, prefixed to the first volume. Vol. I. contains "The Village Curate," first published in 1788, and "Adriano, or the First of June," printed in 1790. Vol. II. presents us with "Sir Thomas More," an interesting tragedy, written in 1791, and "The Bouquet," a short collection of light pieces, composed at different times. Vol. III. exhibits" Tears of Affection," a poem occasioned by the lingering regret still experienced from the death of a favourite sister, and, "The favourite Village," published in 1800. We need not, we trust, expatiate on the merits of these elegant productions: individually, they have all been more or less admired; collec tively, they cannot fail to ensure perd manent popularity. Se Besides these beautiful pieces, Dr., Hurdis wrote, at intervals, the fol lowing; viz. "Panthea, Elmer and Ophelia," and "The Orphan Twins;" "A Critical Dissertation on the true Meaning of the Hebrew Word aan, found in Genesis i. 21;" some lect Critical Remarks upon the English Version of the first Ten Chapters of Genesis;" "Cursory Remarks upon the Arrangement of the Plays of Shakespear, occasioned by reading Mr. Malone's Essay on the chronological Order of those celebrated Pieces;" and, in 1800, his "Twelve Dissertations on the Nature and Occasion of Psalm and Prophecy." He was born at Bishopstone, in the county of Sussex, in 1763; and died at Buckland, in Berkshire, at the close of 1801, in his 38th year, at the house of the Rev. John Rathbone, D.D. . A small marble tablet is erected to his memory by his four sisters, with the following Epitaph, by the present amiable Editor: To thee no sculptura tomb could prove As the fond tribute of a Sister's tear. 3. Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books. tale, there were some who imputed to me what I never felt, the personal vanity of an egotist, eager to speak of myself, and artfully laying plans for future distinction and benefit. My friends already know, that I had no such feelings; and they who are not my friends will exult perhaps to learn, that if such were my motives, they have not succeeded. "I trust, however, yet to be able to proceed in my literary pursuits, to promote the welfare of learning; and when I do retire from the world, to be followed by the esteem of the wise and good." The first article in the third vo lume, an "Account of the earlier Bibles," is highly interesting; and is followed by a particular description of many rare and valuable articles; particularly the earliest edition of the New Testament in Latin, possessed by Bp. Dampier; and of a Polish Bible, which De Bure represents as one of the scarcest books in the world; and of which we here learn, that To common readers, I apprehend, "The expence of printing it, which this present volume may not be particu- was defrayed by Prince Radzivil, Palatine larly interesting. There are some things of Volna, amounted to 10,000 golden in it, I trust, that may however be gene crowns. It was entirely superintended by rally entertaining; but I am aware, that the leaders of the Socinians, among whom the Bibliographer, and curious Collector was the celebrated Michael Servetus. De maylibe best satisfied with this, which is Buré observes, that only two copies were. the precursor of two more, to be hereafter known, one in the Imperial Library at Vicontinued, and for which I have prepared enna, and the other in the Royal Library copious materials. But readers of of Paris. Earl Spencer has however a every denomination may have an idea of beautiful copy, for which I have heard he what they have to expect from the two vo- gave 100%. The Bishop of Rochester's * limes which I am preparing in succession wants, I believe, a leaf. The title is in. to this, I wish them to understand here, the Polish language, which De Bure was without entering into any specific arrange'not able to translate, as the copy at Paris ment, they will find had no title, and several leaves at the be ginning were torn out," An Account of some of the Greek Books printed at Venice and at Rome, by Calliergus, The first Books printed at Paris, by Ægi Caius Gormontius. Greek Books by Colinæus. Books printed at Eton College. Under the head of " Miscellaneous Books printed under the Patronage of Biblical," the Complutensian Poly Miscellaneous, Anecdotes of early print- Early English Literature, General Miscellaneous Anecdotes. I conclude this Preface, as I did the former, with entreating those who may possess literary rarities, or who may chance to know where such things are deposited, to oblige me with the loan of them, or to inform me where I may have access to them. As to my former Preface, it leads to the recollection, that although it gave general satisfaction to my friends, as they knew it to relate a plain and unvarnished glott, and many other valuable Works, are enumerated, with the names of Collectors who possess them. A very rare book, under the title of "A necessary Doctrine and Erudition for any Christen man, set furthe by the kynges maiestie of Englande, &c." is given, from a copy in Sion College Library. The history of Tindal's "New Tesstament" is thus illustrated; "In p. 320 of my second volume, I have erroneously asserted that the "Newe Testament" by Tindal, purchased, of Dr. Combe by the British Museum, of the Dr. Dampier, now Bishop of Ely. date I date of 1534, was the first edition. have since discovered, that the first edition was printed in 1526. The only copy known was bought by Dr. Gifford, and given by him to the Baptist Library at Bristol. There were two or three other editions, it seems, before that of 1534. "Dr. Gifford, it is well known, was Aasistant Librarian at the British Museum, and I believe a Baptist, He left his li brary to the use of the Baptist Society at Bristol. He is said to have been a lively and much admired preacher, of whom it might have been said, as it was of Of this last edition is that most curious: the early Reformers, Vividus vultus of and beautiful copy on vellum in the Cracherode Collection, which, beyond a doubt, belonged to Anne Boleyn, and has her name ANNA REGINA ANGLIE inscribed: on the three outward edges of the leaves. "I have employed an intelligent friend to examine the copy of the first edition of Tindal's Testament in the Baptists' Library at Bristol, where by the way are to be found many scarce and valuable books, with several curious articles collected by their Missionaries in the East Indies. By his assistance I am enabled to give the following description of it. "It in duodecimo, and is lettered on the back, New Testament by Tyndal, first edition 1526,' It has no title-page, There is a portrait pasted to, the first leaf, with G. Vertue ad vivum delin. 1735, & sculpsit 1752. Underneath the print is this inscription: Hoh Maister John Murray of Sacomb, The works of old Time to collect was his pride, Till Oblivion dreaded his care; Regardless of friends intestate he dy'd, So the Rooks and the Crows were his heir, "Quere, who was this John Murray? "On the opposite leaf is a printed paper pasted, which says, that On Tues day evening (13th of May 1760), at Mr. Langford's sale of Mr. Ames's books, a copy of the Translation of the New Testament by Tindall, and supposed to be the only one remaining which escaped the flames, was sold for fourteen guineas and a half. This very book was picked up by one of the late Lord Oxford's Collectors (John Murray written in the margin), and was esteemed so galuable, a purchase by his Lordship, that he settled 20% a-year for life upon the person who procured it. His Lordship's library being afterwards purchased by Mr. Osborne, of Gray's Inn, he marked it at 15s.; for which price Mr. Ames bought it.This translation was finished in the reign of Henry the Eighth, an. 1526, and the whole impression, as supposed (this copy excepted), was purchased by Tonstall. Bp. of London, and burnt at St. Paul's Cross that year.' "On the other side of the leaf in MS. is this: N. B. This choice book was purchased at Mr. Langford's sale, 13th May, 1760, by me John White; and on the 15th day of May, 1776, I sold it to, the Rev. Dr. Gifford for 20 guineas, the price at first paid for it by the date Lord Oxford, This is signed John White, vividi oculi, vicide manus, denique omnia vividi, He died in 1784. This by the way. "Then follows a print of the Earl of Oxford, formerly the owner of the book, who died in 1741. "At the end of the book is the follow ing note in MS. by J. Ames This singular English Translation of ̧ the New Testament appears perfect to a person understanding printing, although it bears no date, which many books about that time wanted also, the subject at that` time so dangerous. to meddle with. Recourse may be had to history to know the person who, the time when, and the place where it was done. First, the person is generally supposed to be William Tindal. from many writers, and his own other writings, as his Pentateuche, or five Books of Moses, printed 1530, at different presses. See Fox's Book of his Acts and Monuments for the burning of it, pp. 549 and 990 of his Book of Martyrs; and also in my History of English Printing, p. 490. And he sure observe the last paragraph to the Reader in this same book. This edition was thought to be so effectually destroyed, that till late no one was found, until Harley Earl of Oxford, a great lover of scarce books, employed one John Murry, a person of some taste, who by accident found, this.. The Earl was so rejoiced at it, that he forthwith settled an annuity on him, so, long as he lived, of 207. which was a-year, paid him to his decease (which was in 1748.), Myself, among others, having heard the story of such an edition of the N. Testament when I was about my History of Printing, I went among the most noted Libraries, and net with this in the Harlejan Library, but never saw another. The place where printed is generally supposed to be Antwerpe, where persons in those days had the press, and greater liberties than in their own countries. When Lord Oxford's books were sold to Tho. Osborne for 13,000. this book among the rest went with them to him, and was represented by his Catalogue-maker as some Dutch edition of the N. Testament. See his Catalogue, vol. I. p. 25. No. 420, anno 1743. "The manner in which this book is done. show it very early, as the illuminating of the great or initial letters, early used in the finest of our old MSS. when they had a set of men, called Illuminators, for such purposes: besides the marginal notes being done with the pen, which were afterwards printed, |