mate acquaintance, &c. with original letters, novels, &c." In this farrago are some few poetical pieces which have generally been attributed to the duke, but the greater part are by other hands, and the whole given without any apparent authority. The late Mr. Ritson had formed the design of publishing Wharton's genuine poetry, with a life. What he prepared is now before us, but does not amount to much. He probably began the collection in his latter days. Wharton appears to have been at one time a patron of men of letters. He certainly was such to Dr. Young, who dedicated the tragedy of the "Revenge" to him, in a style of flattery which must excite surprise in all who observe the date, 1722, and know that long before that period Wharton's character was decided and notorious. Young might perhaps blush now, and it is certain that he lived afterwards to be completely ashamed, and to suppress his dedication.1

WHARTON (SIR GEORGE), a loyal astrologer of the seventeenth century, was descended from an ancient family in Westmoreland, and born at Kirby-Kendal in that county April 4, 1617. He passed some time at the university of Oxford, but was more studious of mathematics and astronomy than of any other academical pursuits. After this, having some private fortune, he retired from the university, until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he converted his property into money, and raised a troop of horse for his majesty, of which he became captain. After other engagements, he was finally routed at Stow-on-the-Would in Gloucestershire, March 21, 1645, where sir Jacob Astley was taken prisoner, and Wharton received several wounds, the marks of which he carried to his grave. He then joined the king at Oxford, and had an office conferred upon him in the ordnance, but after the decline of the royal cause, he came to London and gained a livelihood by his writings, chiefly by that profitable article, the composing of almanacks, with predictions. In some of his productions he gave offence by his loyal hints and witticisms, and was several times imprisoned, particularly in Windsor-castle, where he found his brother conjuror William Lilly. Lilly showed him much kindness, which Wharton repaid afterwards by saving him from prosecution as

1 Life prefixed to his Prose Works.-Biog. Brit.—Park's edition of the Royal and Noble Authors.-Nichols's Poems.

a republican prophet. Upon the restoration, Wharton's loyalty was rewarded by the place of treasurer and paymaster of the ordnance, and he was also created a baronet. He died Aug. 12, 1681. He wrote, besides his Almanacks, Mercuries, astronomical pieces, and chronologies of the events of his time. His works were collected and published by Gadbury in 1683, 8vo. 1

WHARTON (HENRY), an English divine, of most uncommon abilities, was born * Nov. 9, 1664, at Worstead in Norfolk; of which parish his father Edmund, who survived him, was vicar. He was educated under his father; and made such a progress in the Greek and Latin tongues, that, from his first entrance into the university, he was thought an extraordinary young man. On Feb. 17, 1679So, he was admitted into Caius-college, Cambridge, of which his father had been fellow, under the tuition of John, afterwards sir John Ellys, one of the senior fellows. Here he prosecuted his studies with the greatest vigour, and was instructed in the mathematics by Mr. (afterwards sir) Isaac Newton, then fellow of Trinity-college and Lucasian professor, amongst a select company, to whom that great man read lectures in his own private chamber. He took a bachelor of arts degree in 1683-4, and resided in the college till 1686, was a scholar on the foundation of his great uncle Stockys, but, observing no probability of a vacancy among the fellowships, he left it, and was recommended by Dr. Barker, afterwards chaplain to archbishop Tillotson, to Dr. Cave, whom he assisted in compiling his "Historia Literaria." Of the nature of that assistance, and the manner in which he conducted himself, we shall have occasion. to speak afterwards. In 1687 he was ordained deacon; and the same year proceeded master of arts by proxy; which favour was indulged him on account of being then dangerously ill of the small-pox at Islington. About this time the reputation he had acquired recommended him to the notice of Dr. Tenison, vicar of St. Martin's in the Fields, London, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, who employed him to prepare for the press a manuscript on "The incurable Scepticism of the Church of Rome," written in

* He is said to have been born with two tongues, one of which gradually lessened until it became no way inconvenient, though both were originally

of the same size; this is mentioned in the Philosophical Transactions, No. 486, for 1748.

Cibber's Lives.-Ath. Ox, vol. II.-Cens. Lit. vol. VI.

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Latin by Placette of Hamburgh. This Wharton translated into English and epitomized. Tenison also recommended him to lord Arundel of Trerice, as tutor for his son. Soon after being presented to archbishop Sancroft, his grace put into his hands, in April 1788, the manuscript of archbishop Usher's dogmatical history of the Holy Scriptures, which he published, in 4to, under the title, "J. Ússerii, &c. Hist. Dogmatica controversiæ inter orthodoxos et pontificios de scripturis, &c." to which he added an aucta rium," or supplement. He also published before and about this time several treatises against popery, among which are, 1. "The Speculum Ecclesiasticum considered, in its false reasonings and quotations," Lond. 1687, 4to. The "Speculum Ecclesiasticum" was a production of Thomas Ward, whom we have noticed already. 2. "A treatise proving Scripture to be the rule of Faith, writ by Reginald Pecock, bishop of Chichester, before the reformation, about 1450," Lond. 1688, 4to. This, to which Mr. Wharton prefixed a preface on the same subject, is the only production of that learned prelate which has been published. 3. "A treatise of the Celibacy of the Clergy, wherein its rise and progress are historically considered," ibid. 1688, 4to. In this he proves that the celibacy of the clergy was not enjoined either by Christ or his apostles; that it has nothing excellent in itself; that the imposition of it is unjust, and that, in point of fact, it was never universally imposed or practised in the ancient church. 5. A translation of Dellon's "History of the Inquisition of Goa." 6. About the same time he translated some homilies of St. Macarius, the prologue and epilogue of Euronius to his "Apologetic Treatise" (formerly transcribed by him out of a manuscript of Dr. Tenison) with a treatise of "PseudoDorotheus," found by Mr. Dodwell in the Bodleian library, out of Greek into Latin, and the famous Bull" in Cona Domini" out of Latin into English; annexing a short preface containing some reflections upon the Bull, and animadversions on the account of the proceedings of the parliament of Paris. 7. He gave his assistance likewise to a new edition of Dr. Thomas James's "Corruption of the Scriptures, Councils, and Fathers, by the Prelates of the Church of Rome for the maintenance of Popery ;" and at the request of Mr. Watts he revised the version of " Philalethe & Philirene," fitting it for the press. 8. "A brief declaration of the Lord's Supper, written by Dr. Nicholas

Ridley, bishop of London, during his imprisonment. With some other determinations and disputations concerning the same argument, by the same author. To which is annexed an extract of several passages to the same purpose out of a book entitled 'Diallecticon,' written by Dr. John Poynet, bishop of Winton in the reigns of Edward VI. and queen Mary," 1688, 4to. 9. "The Enthusiasm of the Church of Rome demonstrated in some observations upon the Life of Ignatius Loyola," 1688, 4to.

In this year (1688) although as yet no more than a deacon, he was honoured by Sancroft with a licence to preach through the whole province of Canterbury; a favour granted to none but him during Sancroft's continuance in that see. In Sept. following, the archbishop admitted him into the number of his chaplains, and at the same time (as his custom was) gave him a living; but, institution to it being deferred till he should be of full age, the vicarage of Minster in the Isle of Thanet fell void in the mean time, and afterwards the rectory of Chartham, to both which he was collated in 1689, being ordained priest on his own birth-day, Nov. 9, 1688.

In 1692 he published, in 8vo, "A Defence of Pluralities," in which the subject is handled with great ingenuity; and the same year was printed, in two volumes folio, his "Anglia Sacra, sive Collectio Historiarum, partim antiquitùs, partim recenter, scriptarum, de Archiepiscopis & Episcopis Angliæ, a prima Fidei Christianæ susceptione ad annum MDXL." He has been generally commended for having done great service to the ecclesiastical history of this kingdom by this work; yet bishop Burnet, in his "Reflections" on Atterbury's book of "The Rights, Powers, and Privileges, of an English Convocation," tells us, that "he had in his hands a whole treatise, which contained only the faults of ten leaves of one of the volumes of the Anglia Sacra.' They are, indeed," adds he, "so many, and so gross, that often the faults are as many as the lines: sometimes they are two for one.” This may be perhaps asserting too much, but unquestionably the errors in transcription, from haste, or from employing improper amanuenses, are so considerable as to render it necessary to peruse it with great caution, otherwise it is a truly valuable collection. There is a copy of it in the Bodleian library, among Mr. Gough's books, with an immense addition of MS notes by bishop Kennet. In 1693, Wharton

published, in 4to, "Bedæ Venerabilis Opera quædam Theologica, nunc primum edita; nec non Historica antea semel edita:" and the same year, under the name of Anthony Harmer, "A Specimen of some errors and defects in the History of the Reformation of the Church of England, written by Gilbert Burnet, D. D." 8vo. In the answer to this, addressed by way of letter to Dr. Lloyd bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, Dr. Burnet observes, that "be had not seen any one thing relating to his history which had pleased him so much as this specimen. It is plain," says he, "that here is a writer, who has considered those times and that matter with much application; and that he is a master of this subject. He has the art of writing skilfully; and how much soever he may be wanting in a Christian temper, and in the decency that one who owns himself of our communion owed to the station I hold in it, yet in other respects he seen to be a very valuable man; so valuable, that I cannot, without a very sensible regret, see such parts and such industry like to be soured and spoiled with so ill a temper." And afterwards, in his "Reflections" upon Atterbury's book just mentioned, he speaks of the specimen in these words: "Some years ago, a rude attack was made upon me under the disguised name of Anthony Harmer. His true name is well enough known, as also who was his patron:-but I answered that specimen with the firmness that became me; and I charged the writer home to publish the rest of his "Reflections." He had intimated, that he gave then but the sample, and that he had great store yet in reserve. I told him upon that, I would expect to see him make that good, and bring out all he had to say; otherwise, they must pass for slander and detraction. He did not think fit to write any more upon that, though he was as much solicited to it by some as he was provoked to it by myself." In 1695 he published, in folio, "The History of the Troubles and Trials of Archbishop Laud;" the second part or volume of which was published after his death by his father, the Rev. Edmund Wharton, in 1700. This is one of the most useful collections of facts illustrative of the times in which Laud lived, that we are in possession of. He published also a new edition of Becatelli's Life of Cardinal Pole, in Latin, with the contest between the ambassadors of England and France at the council of Constance. He published in 8vo, "Historia de Episcopis & Decanis Londinensibus, nec non de Episcopis &