to the office of a herald. For which purpose daily attendance is given at his chambers in the Heralds' office, near Doctors Commons, London. He answers letters post-paid, and advertises, if required." This quackery did not probably raise him very high in the opinion of his brethren. In 1749, he published a map of Middlesex on two sheets of imperial atlas, with the arms of the nobility and gentry on the borders. But the earl marshal, supposing these to be fictitious, by his warrant commanded him not to take in any subscriptions for arms, nor advertise or dispose of any maps, till the right of such person respectively to such arms were first proved, to the satisfaction of one of the kings of arms. In his book of "London and Middlesex illustrated," after observing the above injunction of the earl marshal, he subjoins, "which person's (Anstis) partiality being well known to this author, he thought it best to have another arbitrator joined with him, and therefore made choice of the impartial public, rather than submit his performance wholly to the determination of a person so notoriously remarkable for knowing nothing at all of the matter." After censuring the notion, that trade and gentility are incompatible, as a doctrine fitted only for a despotic government, and judiciously remarking the moral impossibility there would soon be of proving descents and arms for want of visitations, he returns to attack the heads of the college, by saying, that such proofs are obstructed by the exorbitant and unjustifiable fees of three heralds, called kings at arms, who receive each 301. for every new grant. In his "London and Middlesex illustrated," he gave the names, residences, genealogy, and coat-armour of the nobility, principal merchants, and other eminent families, emblazoned in their proper colours, with references to authorities.

In 1753, Mr. Warburton published "Vallum Romanum, or the History and Antiquities of the Roman Wall, commonly called the Picts Wall, in Cumberland and Northumberland," with plates and maps, 4to. These, with some prints, are the whole of his publications, but he had an amazing collection of MSS. books, prints, &c. relating to the history and antiquities of England, which were dispersed by auction after his death. He had also, but unfortunately lost, a large collection of old dramas, of which a catalogue, with remarks, appears in the Gentleman's Magazine for September 1815.

Mr. Warburton died at his apartments in the college of arms, May 11, 1759, aged seventy-eight, and was buried on the 17th in the south aisle of St. Bennet's church, Paul's Wharf. A peculiar circumstance attended his funeral. Having a great abhorrence to the idea of worms. crawling upon him when dead, he ordered that his body should be inclosed in two coffins, one of lead, the other of oak: the first he directed should be filled with green broom, hather, or ling. In compliance with his desire, a quantity, brought from Epping forest, was stuffed extremely close round his body. This fermenting, burst the coffin, and retarded the funeral, until part of it was taken out. Mr. Warburton married twice: one of his wives was a widow with children, for he married her son, when a minor, to one of his daughters. Amelia, another, married Oct. 23, 1750, to captain John Elphinston, afterwards viceadmiral and commander-in-chief of the Russian fleet, who died very greatly respected by the late empress, Catherine II. who created him knight of the order of St. George: he was deservedly honoured and beloved by all who knew him. This gallant officer died in November 1789, at Cronstat, after a short illness. By his last wife, our author had John Warburton, esq. who resided many years in Dublin, and was pursuivant to the court of exchequer in Ireland: he married, in 1756, Ann-Catherine, daughter of the rev. Edward-Rowe Mores, rector of Tunstal in Kent, and sister of Edward-Rowe Mores, esq. M. A. and F. R. and A. S., so well known for his skill in antiquity, and the large collections of choice MSS. and books he left at his death, which were sold by Mr. Paterson in 1779. This Mr. Warburton, leaving Dublin, became one of the exons belonging to his majesty's yeomen of the guard at St. James's. Mr. Noble says, that going into France since the troubles in that kingdom, he was one of the few English who fell victims to the sanguinary temper of the usurpers, being guillotined for a pretended sedition, by order of the national convention committee at Lyons, in December 1793; but a correspondent in the Gentleman's Magazine says that the Mr. Warburton, who was guillotined, was the nephew and not the son of the herald. 1

WARBURTON (WILLIAM), an English prelate of great abilities and eminence, was born at Newark-upon-Trent,

1 Noble's Coll, of Arms.-Nichols's Bowyer.

in the county of Nottingham, Dec. 24, 1698. His father was George Warburton, an attorney and town-clerk of the place in which this his eldest son received his birth and education. His mother was Elizabeth, the daughter of William Hobman, an alderman of the same town; and his parents were married about 1696. The family of Dr. Warburton came originally from the county of Chester, where his great-grandfather resided. His grandfather, William Warburton, a royalist during the rebellion, was the first that settled at Newark, where he practised the law, and was coroner of the county of Nottingham. George Warburton, the father, died about 1706, leaving his widow and five children, two sons and three daughters, of which the second son, George, died young; but, of the daughters, one survived her brother. The bishop received the early part of his education under Mr. Twells, whose son afterwards married his sister Elizabeth; but he was principally trained under Mr. Wright, then master of Okehamschool in Rutlandshire, and afterwards vicar of Campden. in Gloucestershire. Here he continued till the beginning of 1714, when his cousin Mr. William Warburton being made head - master of Newark-school, he returned to his native place, and was for a short time under the care of that learned gentleman. During his stay at school, he did not distinguish himself by any extraordinary efforts of genius or application, yet is supposed to have acquired a competent knowledge of Greek and Latin. His original designation was to the same profession as that of his father and grandfather; and he was accordingly placed clerk to Mr. Kirke, an attorney at East Markham in Nottinghamshire, with whom he continued till April 1719, when he was qualified to engage in business upon his own account. He was then admitted to one of the courts at Westminster, and for some years continued the employment of an attorney and solicitor at the place of his birth. The success he met with as a man of business was probably not great. It was certainly insufficient to induce him to devote the rest of his life to it: and it is probable, that his want of encouragement might tempt him to turn his thoughts towards a profession in which his literary acquisitions would be more valuable, and in which he might more easily pursue the bent of his inclination. He appears to have brought from school more learning than was requisite for a practising lawyer. This might rather impede than forward his pro

gress; as it has been generally observed, that an attention to literary concerns, and the bustle of an attorney's office, with only a moderate share of business, are wholly incompatible. It is therefore no wonder that he preferred retirement to noise, and relinquished what advantages he might expect from continuing to follow the law. It has been suggested by an ingenious writer, that he was for some time usher to a school, but this probably was founded on his giving some assistance to his relation at Newark, who in his turn assisted him in those private studies to which he was now attached; and his love of letters continually growing stronger, the seriousness of his temper, and purity of his morals, concurring, determined him to quit his profession for the church. In 1723 he received deacon's orders from archbishop Dawes; and his first printed Xin 1724 work then appeared, consisting of translations from Cæsar, Pliny, Claudian, and others, under the title of " Miscellaneous Translations in Prose and Verse, from Roman Poets, Orators, and Historians," 12mo. It is dedicated to his early patron, sir Robert Sutton, who, in 1726, when Mr. Warburton had received priest's orders from bishop Gibson, employed his interest to procure him the small vicarage of Gryesly in Nottinghamshire. About Christmas,

1726, he came to London, and, while there, was introduced to Theobald, Concanen, and other of Mr. Pope's enemies, the novelty of whose conversation had at this time many charms for him, and he entered too eagerly into their cabals and prejudices. It was at this time that he wrote a letter to Concanen, dated Jan. 2, 1726, very disrespectful to Pope, which, by accident, falling into the hands of the late Dr. Akenside, was produced to most of that gentleman's friends, and became the subject of much speculation. About this time he also communicated to Theobald some notes on Shakspeare, which afterwards appeared in that critic's edition of our great dramatic poet. This Edition is In 1727, his second work, entitled "A Critical and Philovery scarce. sophical Enquiry into the Causes of Prodigies and MiraIt was re cles, as related by Historians," &c. was published in 12mo, ublished by and was also dedicated to sir Robert Sutton in a prolix arParr, huticle of twenty pages. In 1727 he published a treatise, nitted under the title of "The Legal Judicature in Chancery Be. Hard's Edition if the Bishop's works.

This letter, which Dr. Akenside has been lately given to the world by says will probably be remembered as Mr. Malone, in the Supplement to long as any of the bishop's writings,

Shakspeare,"

+ This was & Warburton's first publication. It is very
scarce, and is bought up by his order as
appears in any public catalogue!"

often as it

་

M5 note by G. Stevens, dated 1754.

stated," which he undertook at the particular request of Samuel Burroughs, esq. afterwards a master in Chancery, who put the materials into his hands, and spent some time in the country with him during the compilation of the work. On April 25, 1728, by the interest of sir Robert Sutton, he had the honour to be in the king's list of masters of arts, created at Cambridge on his majesty's visit to that university. In June, the same year, he was presented by sir Robert Sutton to the rectory of Burnt or Brand Broughton, in the diocese of Lincoln, and neighbourhood of Newark, where he fixed himself accompanied by his mother and sisters, to whom he was ever a most affectionate relative. Here he spent a considerable part of the prime of life in a studious retirement, devoted entirely to letters, and there planned, and in part executed, some of his most important works. They, says his biographer, who are unacquainted with the enthusiasm which true genius inspires, will hardly conceive the possibility of that intense application, with which Mr. Warburton pursued his studies in this retirement. Impatient of any interruptions, he spent the whole of his time that could be spared from the duties of his parish, in reading and writing. His constitution was strong, and his temperance extreme, so that he needed no exercise but that of walking; and a change of reading, or study, was his only amusement.

Several years elapsed after obtaining this preferment, before Mr. Warburton appeared again in the world as a writer *. In 1736 he exhibited a plan of a new edition of Velleius Paterculus, which be printed in the "Bibliotheque Britannique, ou Histoire des Ouvrages des Savans de la Grande Bretagne, pour les mois Juillet, Aout, & Sept. 1736. A la Haye." The design never was completed. Dr. Middleton, in a letter to him dated April 9, 1737, returns him thanks for his letters, as well as the Journal, which, says he, came to my hands soon after the date of

* At least there was nothing published that can be with certainty ascribed to him. In 1732, his patron, sir Robert Sutton, having been a member of the Charitable Corporation, fell under the censure of the House of Commons, on account of that iniquitous business. He was expelled the House, and his fortune for some time seemed to be holden but on a precarious tenure. On this occasion a

pamphlet appeared, entitled “An Apology for sir Robert Sutton." It can only be conjectured, that Dr. Warburtou had some concern in this production; but, when the connexion between him and sir Robert, and the recent obligation received from that gentleman, are considered, it will not be thought unlikely that he might, on this oceasion, afford his patron some assistance by his pen.