Gentlemen of Estates) in behalf of their own sons. It having pleased God to bless me with a son, who is now upwards of fifteen years and a quarter old, and has been betwixt seven and eight years at a very good Free-School in Scorton (a beautiful village about four miles distant from Richmond), under the care of the reverend and learned Mr. Noble, and is (I hope I may venture to say it without the imputation of partiality too natural to parents) of a promising genius, as the said Mr. Noble and other competent judges have frequently and publicly declared; I should esteem it a peculiar happiness if, by the special favour and interest of my friends, I could be able to obtain for him so generous and ample a benefaction, which in my present circumstances might justly and properly be deemed and denominated a charity within the Donor's intention. For, on my being inducted into this Rectory, in May 1731, I found the Parsonage house to be a very ordinary and incommodious one, and situate in a part of the Glebe at about three quarters of a mile's distance from my Church: whereupon, in the year 1733, I procured from the late Dr. Stratford, then Commissary of this Archdeaconry, a licence to erect, in another part of my Glebe adjoining to my Church-yard, a new Parsonage-house, with other necessary outbuildings, and also a new barn near to the old Parsonage-house, which stands nearly in the centre of my Parish, and is very commodious for the Farmer of my Tithes; in which buildings I expended several hundred pounds. And moreover, in April 1750 (having previously in person consulted the late Bishop of Chester, to whom I made known my grievances, which I had in vain for upwards of seven years endeavoured to get redressed in an amicable manner, and having met with his approbation and recommendation), I commenced a Suit in the Court of Exchequer against several persons (who in my Parish and else where in this County are possessed of lands to the value of at least eight thousand pounds a year) for the recovery of the rights of my Church; which suit has already cost me some hundreds of pounds more, and I not yet within prospect of an end of it: for though the Barons of the said Court pronounced a decree in my favour in May 1753, I cannot yet get these very opulent Defendants brought to a fair account; but am threatened by them with the prolongation of the Suit in the Exchequer for many years to come, and after all with an Appeal to the House of Lords. The large sums by me laid out in building on my Church-lands, and in vindicating against such powerful adversaries many of my Church's rights, which were in so great danger of being entirely lost, as aforesaid, would, if saved, have made a fund a great deal more than sufficient to have given my said son a liberal education in the University, without my soliciting the assistance of others, which is now become necessary for me to do, for the reasons aforesaid. — These considerations will, I humbly apprehend, be of some weight, not only with yourself, but with such other humane Gentlemen Gentlemen as you may think fit to communicate them to; if, as I most earnestly request, you vouchsafe to interest yourself in mine and my son's favour. And you will still farther add to the obligation by intimating to me to what persons, as proper patrons, and in what manner, you would recommend my addressing myself on this occasion. I am, honoured Sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient and most humble servant, THO. ROBINSON. 'P.S. If you condescend to favour me with an answer, be pleased to direct to me, Rector of Wycliffe, near Richmond, Yorkshire." 2. "To the Rev. Mr. Robinson, Rector of Wycliffe, &c. "Rev. Sir, Peter House, Dec. 10, 1755. "I received your very obliging letter, and communicated it to the Master of Christ's, but found him deeply engaged for the first four Students of Mr. Tankred's foundation whenever it takes place; and indeed I understood the same both of him and the Master of Caius last Winter, when I was pressed to apply for a particular friend; the latter telling me that he had then seven prior applications; upon which all hopes of it were given up. The rest of the Trustees are, the Treasurer of Lincoln's Inn, Governors of Chelsea and Greenwich, and President of the College of Physicians; but how far they may be engaged, or how to apply to them, I really know no more than yourself, and fear you are a year too late. I heartily wish it had either been in my power to have served you on the present occasion, or may be so on any other; who am, Sir, your most humble servant, E. LAW." P. 73, 1. 23, the parenthesis should include "assequi." P. 74, 1. 20, r. "Augeæ."— P. 78, 1. 22, r. "chin." P. 80, note, 1.24, r. “referre."— P. 82, l. 18, r. "Operis." P. 85. Mr.Birt, Bookseller, Ave Maria Lane, died Nov. 21, 1755. P.87. Mr. Robert Gosling, Bookseller, died Jan. 4, 1741. P. 97, 1. ult. r "Churchwardens."-P. 105, 1. 27, r. "upwards." P. 106. In December 1734 Mr. Samuel Gibbons was appointed Stationer, to the Prince of Wales, in the room of Jacob Tonson. Ibid. The following Advertisement appeared in June 1792: "Bridges's History of Northamptonshire. "The Subscribers to this History are earnestly requested to send for that Part of it which they have not yet received; the Committee having hitherto entirely with-holden the public sale of it for their accommodation; and, notwithstanding they have almost daily application for it, they have resolved still to withhold it until Michaelmas next, that they may be ready to answer the demands of the Subscribers; after which period they hope they may consider themselves at liberty to gratify the desire and expectations of the Publick.-Copies of the History may be had of Mr. Payne, Mews-gate, Charing Cross; Mr. Prince, Oxford; and Mr. Lacy, of Northampton." P. 107, note, 1. 34, r. “Sir Edmund Isham." "SIR, "Upon looking over your letters, find it's so long since I was favoured favoured with them, that I am almost ashamed to acknowledge the receipt of them; but, being shut up here in the North, half asleep, and half dead with cold, as it was the true cause of the neglect, must be my excuse for it, and which I hope you'll accept, together with my compliments of the season to you and Mr. Gale, my thanks for both your favours, and best wishes for your enjoyment of many happy years.--I have spoiled part of your leaf-silver in endeavouring to take off an impression of the coin you mention, and find I can't do it tolerably till I have talk d to you about it, and received further directions. I must thank you too for the "Plan of the English Dictionary, which I much approve of, but from the specimen, wish the Author may be found equal to the undertaking.-Pray be so kind to buy, and keep for me till I come up, two of Mr. Vertue's Prints of the Court of Wards and Liveries, of the first Impressions, for I value the man, and like the subject.- Mr. Rushworth has a fine boy born since you was here. He and his Family and ours are well, and desire their compliments. We have often wish'd for your and Mr. Gale's company to enliven us this Winter; a more dull or severe one, ever since the beginning of last month, I never remember. The excessive deep snows, floods, and bad roads, kept me so much at home, that, for want of company, I had almost read myself blind by way of amusement; so, to change the scene, about ten days ago I crept over to Northampton, and luckily met there with the famous Dr. Taylor, who operated every morning, and read Lectures, as he call'd them, every evening to all twelvepenny chaps, excepting on Sundays, when he gave gratis a Declamation (as you'll find by his Advertisement inclosed, which was delivered to every house in town). This gratis, I own, took me in for an auditor; and I'll tell you how it was carried on―The Doctor appeared dress'd in black, with a long, light, flowing, ty'd wig; ascended a scaffold behind a large table raised about two feet from the ground, and covered with an old piece of tapestry, on which was laid a dark-coloured Cafoy chariot-seat, with four black bunches (used upon hearses) tyed to the corners for tossels, four large candles on each side the cushion, and a quart decanter of drinking water, with a half-pint glass, to moisten his mouth. He bowed, snuff'd the candles, descended, and delivered out to the Company his hat-full of Syllabuses, divided into Sections, No 1. 2. 3. &c. (such stuff, and so printed, as to be intirely incoherent and unintelligible). Then, mounting his scaffold, he bowed very low; then, putting himself into a proper attitude, began, in a solemn tragical voice and toneAt Number 1. thus written you will find and repeating this with some vehemence, he read N° 1. of his Syllabus (which was) 'A General Account of this Design is meant then spoke upon it most wretchedly--and so went through his whole Syllabus, speaking for two hours in the same manner, and with the same air, gesture, and tone, making a sort of blank verse of it, and always ending with a verb for that, he says, is the true Cice ceronian, ronian, prodigiously difficult, and never attempted by any man in our language before. In some instances, he said, 'He equal'd the finest periods Tully ever wrote or spoke;' which always began with the Genitive Case, were followed by the Substantive, and concluded with the Verb-as thus-Of th' Eye, the Beauties I will now declare.' This was often repeated, as his masterpiece; and he exulted and admired himself vastly upon it. When he had finished, he came smiling amongst his Auditors, appealed to them publicly if it was not charming fine, and if they had ever heard any thing like it. I must own, I never did, or saw his equal; and therefore send you this sketch of him, as a great rarity. Excuse my writing you such stuff: it is what I met with in the Country. And believe me I am, Sir, &c. JN°. PALMER. "In about 20 days I propose being at the Chicken-house [at Hampstead], where I shall hope to meet Mr. Gale and you.” The following is a literatim copy of the Doctor's Hand-bill: "Northampton, Saturday, Dec. 19. To-morrow, being Sunday the 20th, (as usual on that Day) the Gentlemen, - the Ladies, the Clergy, and all of Literature and Distinction, are hereby invited,—at Six in the Evening, at the Great ROOM, at the Red-Lyon, to a Phisico-Theological Declammation in Praise of SIGHT,-design'd, both in Speaking and Action, agreeable to the Rules of ORATORY-The SYLLABUS,-will be given free to all present, and the Whole will be free.- By JOHN TAYLOR, Esq;-Doctor of Physick-Oculist to the King of GREAT-BRITAIN-Fellow of several Colleges of Physicians, &c. Being a Specimen of a Course many Years given in the several Universities, and the several Courts Abroad,-London, Edinburgh—and lately at Dublin. The GENTRY are invited every Morning to see his METHOD of restoring SIGHT, &c.— —At Six on Monday Evening next (the 21st Instant) he will certainly give the LECTURE on the Alterations of the EYE, &c.-When the EYE will be dissected, and all its various Beauties displayed, in the Order of a Work lately published in Octavo, with Plates, at EDINBURGH. Notwithstanding the Many that usually attend on this Occasion, the Room will be so regulated that every Person present may see the several Parts of the EYE accurately examin'd." P. 114. Mr. Charles Rivington, an eminent Bookseller in St. Paul's Church-yard, died Feb. 22, 1742. P.116, 1. 19, r. "apostrophe."-P. 127, 1.2, r. "Robert Smith." P. 128, note, 1. 25, r. "So high an opinion had Sir Isaac Newton of our Author's genius, that he used to say, 'If Cotes had lived, we had known something.' P. 130. "Mrs. Knowler was daughter and only child of Mr. Presgrove, surgeon in Westminster. In Mrs. Knowler personal beauty was heightened by animation of mind beaming through eyes expressive of that mixture of sense, sensibility, and vivacity, which left no doubt to any beholder of the merit of the heart which was enshrined within so attractive a forin; and all who had the happiness of her acquaintance were witnesses to the VOL. VIII. justness DD justness of her claim to admiration, love, and esteem. Engaging manners, sweetness of temper, and a heart disposed to diffuse benevolence, chearfulness, and general philanthropy around her, rendered her life a blessing to her friends, who were very numerous; and to those who had the happiness of her most confidential connexion, her integrity was entire. She was always rather above chearful when pleased with her company; and enlivened her circles of intimacy with sweet unoffending sallies of wit and humour, which charmed society, without that assuming confidence which superior talents for pleasing too often accompanies. She was exemplary in fulfilling the common duties of life, particularly that of an affectionate wife to one sensible, in the highest degree, of all her merit, with whom she lived 50 years in conjugal happiness. She died at Canterbury, Jan. 6, 1805." (From an article communicated by the late Mrs. Sarah Duncombe, in Gent. Mag. vol. LXXV. p. 90.) P. 135, l. 42, r. "member.”—P. 138, 1.7, r. “100,000 copies.” P. 163. John Tanner, third son of Thomas Tanner, of Market Lavington, Wilts, and younger brother of Bishop Tanner, was born in 1684, and educated at Queen's College, Oxford; M. A. 1707. Through the interest of his brother, who was then Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, he obtained in 1708 the rectory of Kessingland, with the vicarage of Lowestoft annexed, in Suffolk; and in 1725 was appointed Commissary and Official to the Archdeaconry of Suffolk; and afterwards Precentor of the Cathedral of St. Asaph. About the year 1719, by his unremitted exertions, a subscription was obtained, by which, with the aid of 2001. from Queen Anne's Bounty, the impropriation of Low estoft was purchased, at the expence of 10501. for the endow. ment of the vicarage. His brother dying in 1735, before the "Notitia Monastica" was completed, that valuable work was published in 1744 by the Vicar of Lowestoft, who prefixed to it a large Preface. He expended more than 300l. in repairing and ornamenting the church of Lowestoft, and in building several seats both in the chancel and in the body of the church. Six of those seats have on them the following inscription: "In memory of MARY, the wife of JOHN TANNER, but unto thy name be the praise." And eight others, in the year following: "JOHN TANNER, Vicar; who desires this to be considered as a monument and pledge of love." In 1750 he gave to his Church at Kessingland a set of sacra mental plate. Mr. Tanner was a person of the most eminent piety and integrity, a truly primitive pastor, and of the most exemplary life and conversation. He was so extremely conscientious in performing the several duties of the pastoral office, that he persisted in discharging them under all the pains and weaknesses of a debilitated |