TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR RICHARD PEPPER ARDEN, MASTER OF THE ROLLS, AND ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL. SIR, PERFECTLY fenfible of that regard which you entertain for the virtuous character, I experience no difficulty in committing to your patronage a new edition of the following pages. They contain portraits of genuine excellence, finished by no unfkilful artist. Charmed from my earlieft years with their captivating beauties, I fhall probably be deemed a partial and prejudiced spectator. Be this as it may-when I requeft your permifsion to infcribe to you a volume which exhibits a full and adequate reprefentation of perfons eminent for their great and amiable qualities, I am confident of your kind indulgence. I am, SIR, with all possible respect, your Honour's most obliged THOMAS ZOUCH, WYCLIFFE, JAN. 16, 1796. PREFACE to the SECOND EDITION. T It will be necessary to obferve, that a more full and particular account of feveral of our English Divines and other eminent perfons mentioned in this volume might eafily have been introduced. But fuch a detail would have far exceeded the bounds of my plan, which was only to interfperfe fome traits of their characters, fome fhort extracts from, or references to their works, fufficient to incite in the reader a defire of acquiring a more intimate knowledge of them, by a diligent examination of their writings, or a more enlarged inquiry into their lives. In compliance with a requeft made by the late Mr. Gilbert Wakefield, the note relative to his remark on the venerable Richard Hooker is omitted in this edition. The Editor has been blamed for his attempt to embellish this volume with the portraits of those good men whofe lives are recorded in it. He makes no apology. The fatisfaction, which is not feldom derived to him from contemplating the portraits of excellent men, may be attributed to the delufions of fancy, or the temerity of groundless conjecture. However this may be, he can furely incur no great degree of just rebuke for indulging himself in an harmless gratification. He discovers, or at least he thinks that he difcovers in the countenance of Ifaac Walton, a placid and ferene mind, never ruffled by difcontent, or discomposed by pafsion. That of Dr. Donne exhibits an acuteness, a penetration and promptitude of talent, which peculiarly difcriminated his character; while in that of Sir Henry Wotton is difcerned the demeanour of a gentleman adorned with urbanity of manners, elegance of tafte, and benignity of difpofition. The ever to be revered Hooker prefents the features of an humble, meek, and mild temper, In the lineaments of Mr. George Herbert, piety and benevolence, with an unaffected fanctity and fimplicity of heart, are confpicuous; and Dr. Sanderfon's dignity of afpect fuggefts profound erudition, illuminated wifdom, and a gravity and seriousness becoming a Chriftian Prelate. fie illi oculos, fic ora ferebant. VIRG. The authors of a periodical publication*, which was once read with great avidity, have afserted, that this biographical work of Ifaac Walton was re-published with the exprefs intention of mifrepresenting the conduct of the Dissenters, and with a view to exalt, at all events, the character of the Church of England. That Church requires no fuch fupport. The Editor is not confcious that he has entertained any other defign than that of exhibiting the characters of men with truth and candour, and of paying that tribute of applause which is due to the modeft merit of many of our excellent Divines. If remarks are occafionally made on the temper and behaviour of those who had feparated themselves from the established Church, he trufts that he has paid the ftricteft regard to truth, and that he has neither exaggerated nor extenuated, nor fet down aught in malice: It is his wish to follow the example of Virgil's hero. Tros Rutulusve fuat, nullo difcrimine habebo. VIRG. Many of thofe gentlemen whofe assistance and encouragement he experienced in the first impression of this work, are now numbered among the dead: James Bofwell, Efq. who once formed the defign of editing thefe Lives; Dr. Richard Farmer, Mafter of Emanuel College, Cambridge; and Dr. William Sheffield, Provost of Worcester College, Oxford, and Keeper of the Afhmolean Museum. *The Analytical Review, Vol. xxiv. for July 1796, p. 48-50. That excellent perfon to whom the first edition of this work was infcribed, died March 19, 1804, aged 59 years. Sir Richard Pepper Arden, Mafter of the Rolls, and one of his Majefty's moft Honourable Privy Council, was created, May 22, 1801, Baron Alvanley of Alvanley, in the county of Chefter, and promoted to the office of Chief Juftice of the Court of Common Pleas, which was vacated by the advancement of Lord Eldon to the dignity of Lord High Chancellor. He was formerly Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, having previously acquired thofe academical honours which are conferred upon classic and mathematical erudition. His profefsional learning and talents were univerfally acknowledged. Totally removed from a haughty demeanour, he uniformly endeared himself to all who knew him, by the suavity of his difpofition, and the innocent cheerfulness of his converfation. He discharged the relative duties of life with fidelity and honour. Impressed with a ftrong fenfe of the intrinfic worth of Chriftianity, he conformed his life to its precepts, and was himself an amiable example of that goodness which it enjoins. A true and firm friend to our ecclefiaftical conftitution, he was a ferious and conftant attendant on the fervices of the Church. From the period of his early years to his demife, he was the dear and intimate friend of Mr. William Pitt; of that great and good man, whofe pre-eminent merit, while it is the admiration of the prefent age, will command the approbation and applause of the lateft pofterity. |