Montfort (then Mr. Bromley), for whose father he purchased a valuable library, since dispersed by a bookseller's marked catalogue. From 1745 till his death, he had also under his tuition Mr. Robarts, nephew to the Earl of Radnor of that name, who generously continued the annual allowance to Dr. Middleton after the young gentleman was dead.

Besides the mezzotinto print of him, which is a very good likeness, a medal of him was cast and repaired by Giovanni Pozzo, at Rome, in 1724; which some years ago was copied in London by Mr. Stewart; and was afterwards engraved, as well as copied, at an easier expence, by Mr. Wedgwood. The Doctor's antiques, which he collected in Italy, and described in "Germana quædam Antiquitatis Monumenta," were transferred to the cabinet of Horace the late Lord Orford, and are now at Strawberry Hill.

Dr. Middleton left behind him in MS. 1. "Brouillon of an Apology for Dr. Middleton's Writings, and how far it is allowable to conform to the Religion of any Country." 2. "Dr. Laughton's* Account of finding Dr. Middleton at a Tavern. [July 3, 1710.]" 3. "An University Grace for establishing the Office of Library-Keeper." 4. "An Advertisement for the intended publication of a serious Apology for the Letter to Dr. Waterland." 5. "Oratio Woodwardiana." 6. "Brouillon of a Latin Dissertation concerning the Power of Miracles to prove a

The celebrated tutor of Clare hall, then senior proctor, and warmly attached to Dr. Bentley. See Middleton's "Remarks on the Case of Dr. Bentley farther stated," &c. in his Works, 4to, vol. III. p. 341. He was a prebendary of Worces ter, and died July 28, 1723. He was eminent for his learning, integrity, and zeal for the public good, as well as for the great number of the nobility and gentry educated under his care. He printed a Sermon preached before King George I, in King's ColJege chapel, Oct. 6, 1717, 4to.-Dr. Colbatch, in a Commemoration Sermon, 1717, speaks thus of Dr. Laughton: "We see what a confluence of nobility and gentry the virtue of one man daily draws to one of our least colleges."

Q. If not a Bentleian Tract? R. G.

He published his Inauguration Speech" in 1732; see

p. 408.

Religion." 7. "A Latin Dissertation on the Gift of Tongues." 8" Remarks on the Letters from Agbarus to Jesus." 9." A Latin Speech intended to be spoken before King George II. on his Visit to Cambridge." 10. "An Expostulatory Letter to the Rev. Dr. Waterland." 11. "The first and second Books of Cicero's Epistles translated into English." 12. "Brouillon concerning the Characters of some Writers, and the State of the Church in the third and fourth Centuries."

There were also found among his papers some materials for a Life of Demosthenes, correspondent to that of Cicero.

Several other works of Dr. Middleton were known

to have existed; particularly the two following, which were burnt by himself. 1. "The First Part of some Considerations in Defence of the Plain Account of the Sacrament." 2. "A Latin Dissertation on the Proofs of the Divinity and Truth of Religion." Of the last-mentioned article a copy had been taken by Lord Bolingbroke.

A friend once lamenting to Dr. Middleton that he had not been made a Bishop; "Then, Sir," he replied, "as they have not thought fit to trust me, I am at liberty to speak my mind."

* Speaking of Bishop Hoadly's "Plain Account," in a letter to Lord Harvey, July 28, 1735, not published in his Works, Dr. Middleton says, "I like both the design and the doctrine, as 1 do every design of reconciling Religion with Reason; or, where that cannot be, of bringing them as near together as pos sible. His enemies will insult him with the charge of lessening Christian piety; but the candid will see, that he seeks only to destroy a superstitious doctrine, by establishing a rational one in its place. But as, by throwing down the shrines and altars of the Church, he will raise no small stir from the men of craft, so I rejoice much with your Lordship, that he has secured the good Castle of Farnham for his retreat." And again, Feb. 9, 1736, "You would advise him to waste no more of his time in controversy; which, generally speaking, means no more at the best, than to make plausible to weak men, what is contemptible to men of sense."

66

"These slumberers in stalls," he observes in another letter to Lord Hervey, Sept. 13, 1736, suspect me very unjustly of ill designs against their peace; for though there are many things in the Church that I wholly dislike, yet, whilst I am content to

ac

On his third marriage, Bishop Gooch making him a matrimonial visit, told Mrs. Middleton *, before the Doctor appeared, that " he was glad she did not dislike the Antients so much as her husband did." She replied, "that she hoped his Lordship did not reckon Dr. Middleton among the Antients yet." The Bishop answered, "You, Madam, are the best judge of that!"

Dr. Middleton had a niece, a brother's daughter, who resided some time in his family, as did also a niece of his last wife, Miss Hester Powell, afterwards married to the Rev. Dr. Barnardiston, master of Bene't college, both long since dead, leaving one daughter of their name, married to Mr. Yates, curate of Solyhull, Warwickshire.

It may be added, that Mrs. Montagu, nearly related to his first wife, was educated at the feet of this Gamaliel.

"One of Dr. Bentley's most formidable enemies was Dr. Middleton, as appears from several parts of his works, and particularly from his remarks upon Dr. Bentley's projected edition of the New Testament, which remarks are supposed to have been one principal objection to the publication of that work. [See before, p. 410.] But, length of time having overcome all prejudices, it is much wished that the person who possesses the MS. would oblige the learned world by setting forth so curious a performance. It is also well known that he wrote a treatise on the

acquiesce in the ill, I should be glad to taste a little of the good, and to have some amends for that ugly assent and consent, which no man of sense can approve of. We read of some of the earliest disciples of Christ, who followed him, not for his works, but his loaves. These are certainly blameable, because they saw his miracles; but to us, who had not the happiness to see the one, it may be allowable to have some inclination to the other. Your Lordship knows a certain Prelate who, with a very low notion of the Church's sacred bread, has a very high relish for, and a very large share of, the temporal. My appetite to each is equally moderate, and would be satisfied almost with any thing but more emptiness. I have no pretensions to riot in the feast of the elect; but, with the sinner in the Gospel, to gather up the crum's that fall from the table."

The relict of Mr. Wilkins, a Bristol merchant.

inutility

inutility and inefficacy of Prayer*, which was communicated to Lord Bolingbroke, who much approved it, and advised the publication of it. Mrs. Middleton, however, never thought proper to publish it in her life-time; and the Bishop [Dr. Newton] has heard that Dr. Heberden, a particular friend of Dr. Middleton, and to whom his widow left all his papers, has since committed it to the flames; an act worthy of so good a man, and the fittest end of such a work."

CROMWELL MORTIMER, M. D. was second son of John Mortimer, F. R. S. He was many years secretary to the Royal Society, fellow of the Col

"This learned and investigating Writer left behind him an unfinished MS. against the use of Prayer. He had treated on two parts of that duty, and on that of consolation, of supplication, and on thanksgiving. He had said nothing on the third part, that of intercession. On his widow's death his MS papers fell into the hands of the present virtuous and learned Father of Physic in this country, who threw this pernicious treatise into the fire; his acuteness and philanthropy exerting themselves with the same energy against the poison of the mind, which they had ever employed against the contagion of the body."

Seward's Anecdotes, vol. II. p. 344.

"As to my letters to Middleton, 1 do not recollect any one word or sentiment of any one letter. Only this I know; I spoke my sentiments freely of men and things, because this is my way: therefore it cannot but be that there must be things in them which will give offence. Yet I can never think that the woman can be so infamous to print them without my leave. I acted very differently by her husband. When her own Bookseller collected a complete Edition of his Works, I gave him, at his request, about a dozen of the Doctor's letters, carefully purged of dọmestic matters, and such as might give offence, in order to make men think better both of his moral and religious character. However, if the woman be thus prostituted to gain, I must try whether the courts of justice or equity will give me relief, for a violation of the most sacred trust amongst mankind. The substance of all this I have by this post wrote to Dr. Heberden, desiring him, if there be any truth in this report, he would remonstrate with the widow, with whom, I suppose, he has a particular influence." Dr. Warburton to Mr. Hurd, Jan. 30, 1759.

Author of "The Whole Art of Husbandry, 1708, 1765," Svo, by experiments in which he almost ruined himself. His first wife (who died in child-bed, May 14, 1681, æt. 21) was Dorothy, youngest daughter of the Protector, Richard Cromwell,

lege

lege of Physicians *, 1744, and a member and regular correspondent of the Gentlemen's Society at Spalding. The Doctor's eldest brother left him

* His singular "Plan of Practice" shall be here transcribed: Having nothing more at heart than the speedy recovery of every one that consults me, I thought it highly necessary to provide myself with such medicines, as I judge most efficacious; and to keep a proper person in my house, who shall carefully make up and dispense my prescriptions; that so I may be assured of what my patients take. For some years past I have made use of several peculiar chemical remedies; one of which has hardly ever failed of success in curing with one single dose, fevers, quinsies, pleurisies, or any inflammatory disease, if taken within the first three days; and has rendered the small por itself much milder. Others of these medicines have been employed with extraordinary success in the rheumatism, gout, scurvy, jaundice, dropsy, colic, &c. &c. gravel, abscesses, cancers, and diseases of the eyes. That all who apply to me directly for advice, may not be burthened with the double expence of giving fees, and paying for medicines, I shall freely make them a present of all the remedies, which I shall order by myself alone, or in consultation with one or more physicians, without expecting any extraordinary fee, more than what is usually given to a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, LONDON. In consultations I shall readily acquaint my brethren with the intentions and operations of my particular remedies, though I am under obligations not to disclose the preparations. That the apothecaries may have no reason to complain, if any of them call me in to a sick person, or if a patient chooses to have his apothecary attend him as usual, I shall make a present to the apothecary of such of my peculiar medicines as I shall think proper for the patient; giving the apothecary leave to charge for them, as for the like doses of things out of his own shop; and what common medicines are required, I shall write to his shop for. Several persons of fortune, who have the generosity and humanity to take care of their servants when sick, being often at great expences on that account; and many small families, or single persons, finding themselves upon any illness put to great charges; I offer to agree with single persons or families for a certain salary, by the year; computing at about one guinea for each person; for which salary I propose to give them my advice, and attendance when necessary, and to make them a present of the proper medicines; but if other physicians are called in to consult with me, I shall expect to be feed, in the same manner, as the other physicians are, over and above the yearly salary agreed on. By means of such an agreement people may be induced to ask advice, as soon as they feel any disorder; and need not be for deferring to see what a day or two will produce, as too many do, being deterred by the cuperer attending the common way; and I believe, they