1831.] OBITUARY.-William Hamper, Esq. F.S.A. there, on Dec. 12, 1776, his only child, the subject of the present memoir, was born. Raised in society by the cultivation of his superior talents and taste, he had the distinguished merit of self-education, and was the simple architect of his own reputation and station in the republic of letters. He was brought up to the business of his father, and the task of travelling in many English counties, required by its concerns, enabled him to indulge the taste he had acquired for visiting churches and other ancient buildings. His earliest productions, however, were poetical pieces, which were generally communicated to the pages of this miscellany. The very first of these we believe to bave been the lines entitled "The Beggar-boy," in our number for September 1798. In the following number is a more lively and spirited production, an anti-revolutionary song beginning "To learn Johnny Bull à la mode de Paris;" and as a clever piece written with the same loyal and constitutional feelings, may be mentioned Pindaric address" in Jan. 1801. These, and many others, are signed H. D. B. the initials of Hamper, Deritend, Birmingham. Whilst on the subject of his poetry, we may also mention a very clever versification of the legend regard ing the Devil's Dyke in Sussex, which has been frequently printed in the Brighton Guide-books, and will be found in our vol. LXXX. i. 513. It may be safely affirmed that Mr. Hamper's poetical compositions evince a feeling mind, felicity of expression, and occasionally great and original humour. In his younger days he was also much attached to music, and was a composer as well as a performer; he set to music one or a 567 more songs, which were published under the assumed name of Repmah, being his own reversed. From the year 1804 to 1812, Mr. Hamper communicated to this miscellany a succession of views of Churches and other ancient structures, accompanied by original descriptions and illustrations; they are upwards of thirty in number, in various counties, but chiefly in Hampshire, Sussex, and Kent. After the last-named year his attention was diverted to other objects, and the only subsequent plates engraved after his pencil are the very singular church of Barton-on-the-Humber, in Sept. 1816, and the birth-place of the reformer Knox at Haddington, in April 1817. In 1811, at the request of the Overseers and Guardians of the Poor of Birmingham, and on the express solicitation of the magistrates then acting for that town and neighbourhood, Mr. Hamper was induced to take upon himself the office of a Justice of the Peace for the county of Warwick. As there are no police magistrates in the great town of Birmingham, none of the unpaid magistracy in any part of the kingdom can be called upon for a greater sacrifice of time than the gentlemen who occupy the place which Mr. Hamper thus undertook. He executed its duties with the utmost activity, vigilance, and intelligence; and with the exception of one short interval,* continued to fulfil them for twenty years. To say that to this laborious and engrossing public duty, is entirely to be ascribed the non-execution of the new edition of Dugdale's Warwickshire, to which important object his researches were chiefly directed,† might be assuming * Upon occasion of Mr. Hamper's temporary relinquishment of the office in 1819, in consequence of a severe illness and subsequent debility, a special general meeting of the Overseers and Guardians was held, Nov. 3, 1819, and amongst other Resolutions, the following were unanimously agreed to: Resolved, That this meeting deeply regrets that severe illness should have obliged their highly respected magistrate William Hamper, Esq. to retire for the present from the office he has so long held with honour to himself and advantage to the town of Birmingham. Resolved, That the most respectful and sincere thanks of this meeting be given to William Hamper, Esq. for the readiness with which he accepted of the office of Magistrate, at the particular request of the Overseers and Guardians, and for the great vigilance, impartiality, and ability with which he has so faithfully discharged the duties of the Office. Resolved, That the cordial and best wishes of this meeting be conveyed to William Hamper, Esq. for his speedy recovery, and that he be assured that the Overseers and Guardians will feel much pleasure whenever the state of his health will allow of his again affording to the town the benefit of his active services. On this subject, see his letter signed M. R. in our number for March 1811. In 1813 be writes, "The little leisure I could steal from my own commercial concerns seems swallowed up pro bono publico,' in the duties of my magisterial office, so that I have really no time (comparatively speaking) to frolic in the peaceful fields ་ 568 too much; but his magisterial functions certainly occupied the best portion of his time, and for many years very closely confined him to home. Of the favourite project of his early years, he did not, however, ever lose sight; he was constantly making additions to his manuscript collections, and it may be added that those collections derived considerable accession from the very circumstance which prevented their publication. His intercourse as a magistrate with the nobility and gentry of Warwickshire, furnished him with facilities of investigating the muniments of nearly all the ancient county families, an opportunity that he diligently improved, and such a one as altogether may never occur again. The result of these researches, as well as others made in our public depositories, and in private collections (for nothing escaped his vigilance and industry), has been the accumulation of materials that may be truly said to be invaluable; and deeply is it to be regretted that he was not prevailed upon to prepare for, and conduct through, the press, a new edition of Dugdale's history, under auspices becoming such an undertaking. We believe that Mr. Hamper's antiquarian essays were confined to our own pages, until in 1817 he became a correspondent of the Society of Antiquaries. In the mean time his manuscript treasures were continually accumulating; but it was not with Mr. Hamper as it has been with so many collectors, that they have not ceased to collect, and yet have found no opportunity to arrange. He was an example for order and arrangement, and his handwriting a model for neatness and elegance. He thus possessed the power, as well as the will, to become the ready assistant of his antiquarian friends; and from the time of his first communications to Mr. Nichols for the History of Leicestershire in 1803, there was a succession of authors among the most eminent topographers of the age, to whom he furnished important contributions. Mr. Ormerod was particularly indebted to his assistance and advice; and it should be noticed that nearly all the seals engraved in his Cheshire were from the accurate sketches of Mr. Hamper. Among other names it may be sufficient to enumerate those of Bray, Blakeway, Baker, Britton,—and, though last, not least in the scale of obligation, Cartwright. The list might be OBITUARY.-William Hamper, Esq. F.S.A. [June, greatly extended, for his liberality in communication knew no restraint; but one more work must be named, in which he took particular interest on account of its local nature-we allude to "Kenilworth Illustrated," 4to. 1821, which splendid volume has, amongst other articles, a Masque contributed from bis stores, and the modern scenery of the cas'le was altogether described by his pen. Mr. Hamper's distinct publications were confined to two. In 1820, he printed at Birmingham a quarto tract, entitled "Observations on certain ancient pillars of memorial called Hoarstones," wherein he has most ingeniously and satisfactorily developed the origin and meaning of the heretofore misunderstood or unknown appellation Hoar, by a cloud of evidence that might create surprise, but for the fact of his industrious research having since_collected and prepared for printing at least an equal quantity of additional illustrations, which enlarged work has been presented to the Society whereof be was so distinguished a member. His greatest published work is "The Life, Diary, and Correspondence of Sir Wm. Dugdale," a bandsome quarto volume, printed in 1827, and reviewed in our vol. xcvi. i. 513, ii. 49, 154. No fuller proof of his research and industry need be adduced, than the notes and illustrations which accompany that publication. This, with all its labours of collecting, arranging, and elucidating, was a most delightful occupation, as the writer of this imperfect tribute to his memory can bear testimony. His latter days were in part amused and beguiled by preparing for the press an Appendix to that work, consisting of several additional letters by Sir William, bis son John, and others, extracts from a recovered volume of Sir William's Diary, and various interesting matter, which it is to be hoped will be printed, for the benefit of those who possess the original work. A singular curiosity which Mr. Hamper edited in 1822, deserves to be mentioned. It is entitled "Two Copies of Verses, on the meeting of King Charles the First and his Queen Henrietta-Maria, in the valley of Kineton, below Edge-Hill, in Warwickshire, July 13, 1643." Of these verses, which were found among the papers of S-W Dugdale, Mr. Hamper print of literature. I live in the town, which keeps my knocker goin night; whereas my brothers of the Bench, one and all, reside are free from these perpetual interruptions.”—(Letter to Mr. N OBITUARY.-William Hamper, Esq. F.S A. 1831.] impression, accompanied with an engraving of the silver medal struck in commemoration of the event. We shall now enumerate Mr. Hamper's communications to the Society of Antiquaries, of which he became a Fellow April 5, 1821. Their titles are as follow: in 1817, Observations on the Seal of Evesham Abbey in Worcestershire, (printed with an engraving in vol. XIX. of the Archæologia, pp. 66 69); in 1818, Observations on the site of the Priory of Holywell in Warwickshire, a cell to Roucester Abbey in the county of Stafford, (printed ibid. pp. 75-78); in 1820, The Runic inscription on the Font at Bridekirk considered, and a new interpretation proposed (ibid. pp. 379-382); in 1823, Observations on a gold Ring with a Runic inscription, in the possession of the Earl of Aberdeen, Pres. S. A. (vol. XXI. 25-30); Sarcastic Verses, written by an adherent to the House of Lancaster, in the last year of the reign of Richard the Second (ibid. pp. 88-91); Observations on the Arms and Seal of the town of Liverpool (ibid. pp. 543-546); in 1824, Explanation of a Runic inscription upon a jasper Ring belonging to Mr. Cumberland (ibid. pp. 117-118)*; Account of a Grave in the sand-rock at Lower Stonnall, Staffordshire (ibid. 548); in 1829, a Disquisition on a passage in King Athelstan's Grant to the Abbey of Wilton (vol. XXII. 399-402); a Comment on a Penny of Offa King of Mercia (XXIII. 403-405); and in 1830, a Disquisition on the member in architecture called an Oriel (ibid. pp. 105-116).-The several articles we have recited (which are distinguished for ingenuity of illustration, and a condensed apposite style), bear testimony to Mr. Hamper's varied attainments as an antiquary. In his philological investigations of the Runic inscriptions, he was considered peculiarly successful; as his sagacity bas in more than one instance most satisfactorily explained what had before been totally misunderstood. In the Saxon language, and the Latinity of the middle ages, he was equally well versed. The beautiful neatness of his writing has been already mentioned; and so complete in every respect was the command that he had acquired over his pen, that his fac-similes of autographs, &c. are perfect in point of accuracy, and his trickings of ancient seal rkable for their minute cor another Dissertation q. F.S.A.; the subour vol. xcvi. ii. 147. 1. 569 rectness as for their number and the facility with which he executed them. The copies he industriously made of rolls of accounts, charters, deeds, and pedi grees, are as fair as print, or rather as copper-plate engraving. These manuscripts, together with a curious collection of original letters (for each of which he provided a case like a thin book), and bis valuable library, are now preparing for sale by Mr. Evans of Pall-Mall, and a most rare and choice assemblage will they present. Mr. Hamper's very extensive materials for a distinct History of Aston and Birmingham, both ancient and modern, and which it was one of his cherished ideas to publish, are by purchase gone into the hands of Messrs. Beilby, Knott, and Beilby, of Birmingham, with a view to their being printed. Mr. Hamper was a kind and sincere friend, an excellent husband and parent, and a most devout but unpretending Christian. His amiable disposition and pleasing manners gained the esteem of all who knew him, and even those who differed from him in political opinions could not avoid admiring and respecting his candour and disinterested sincerity. Such was the range of his talent, and so agreeable his society, that whether condescending to sport with children, or to delight and inform maturer minds, he has left recollections that will not easily be obliterated. Possessed of great natural taste, a cultivated understanding, playful but harmless wit, and an excellent memory, such were the irresistible charms of his conversation, that he was the centre of attraction in every society he joined. His letter-writing was the very beau ideal of perfection; easy, elegant, clearly expressed; and whether grave or gay, couched in language as remote from common-place as it was evidently unstudied. Mr. Hamper married on the 7th Nov. 1803, Jane, the youngest daughter of William Sharp, Esq. of Newport in the Isle of Wight, a gentleman of some celebrity amongst the political characters of the day, and distinguished both for literary taste and talent; by her he had three daughters, now orphans, their mother having died on the 6th of June 1829. Mr. Hamper's remains were deposited with those of his parents, in the churchyard of King's Norton, Warwickshire. Σ. CHARLES RIVINGTON, ESQ. May 26. In his 77th year, Charles Rivington, esq of Waterloo-place, and Brunswick-square, the senior member of the respectable firm of Messrs. Rivingtons, book OBITUARY.-Chas. Rivington, Esq.-J. W. Dixon, Esq. [June, infatuation which inclines the young to seek comfort every where but at home. It might perhaps appear rather personal to advert to the happy effects of Mr. Rivington's affectionate temper and paternal care on numerous family, the conduct of all of whom formed the great consolation of his life; especially when, a few years ago, he had the misfortune to lose the mother who had so long, with a corresponding attachment, borne her share in domestic education. It may be sufficient to add that the harmony which prevailed in his family, and the united affections of his sons and daughters, were the admiration of every visitor at his host pitable table. In social life, Mr. Rivington was equally distinguished for mildness and composure of temper, and his conversation was enlivened by the memory of literary history and anecdote, improved by his long continuance in business, and friendly intercourse with men of learning, and in particular with many of the highest ornaments of our church. 570 sellers, of St. Paul's Church-yard, and Waterloo-place. He was one of the sons of John Rivington, esq. who carried on considerable business as a bookseller in St. Paul's Churchyard, for more than half a century, where he died Jan. 16, 1792. He was succeeded in business by his sons Messrs. Francis and Charles Rivington. Mr. Francis Rivington died Oct. 18, 1822, aged 77 (see a character of him in our vol. xc. ii. p. 875); leaving his eldest son Mr. John Rivington as his representative in the firm. The va rious members of the house of Rivington have now we believe for upwards of a cen tury continued booksellers to the Society for promoting Christian knowledge; and been uuiformly patronized by the Episcopal Bench, and the higher order of the Clergy; innu. merable, therefore, are the valuable works on theology and ecclesiastical affairs, that have been published at their expense, or under their auspices. The family of Mr. Charles Rivington have also been always much connected with the Company of Sta tioners. At one time his father, two uncles, and three brothers were, with himself, liverymen of the Company. His youngest brother Henry Rivington, esq. died Clerk of the Company, June 9, 1829, when he was suc ceeded in that office by Mr. Chas, Rivington, a son of Mr. Charles Rivington. His father served the office of Master of the Company in 1775; his brother Francis in 1805; and he himself in 1819. He had previously as siduously served the Company for many years in the arduous office of one of the Stock-keepers. He has left a nephew and four sons, Liverymen of the Company, and four daughters. His death was awfully sudden, but his friends have the satisfaction of believing he was always prepared. He was on the point of removal from his late residence in Waterloo-place to a house he had taken in Brunswick-square; and in the interval had accepted the invitation of his sister-inlaw Mrs. Curling, to sleep at her house in the King's-road. As he did not come down to breakfast, one of his nephews entered his bed-room, and found him on the floor quite dead. It is supposed that he died whilst dressing himself. The character of Mr. Rivington, through a long and very active life, has left the warmest sentiments of regret among his numerous friends and connections. This of course has been felt with most poignancy by his family, to whom he was a most affectionate parent. It was invariably his object to exhibit an example of strict moral conduct, founded on the soundest religious principles; and he had the happiness to contemplate, to the very last, and without a single exception, the salutary influences of a mode of domestic education, too much neglected in the present day, and too much interrupted by the love of pleasure, and the J. W. DIXON, Esq. June 18. In Walworth Terrace, after an illness of some months continuance, brought on by the bursting of a blood-vessel, J. W. Dixon, Esq. He was the son of Samuel Dixon, Esq. well known as one of the most strenuous supporters of his king and country in the civic Senate, of which, although at a very advanced period of life, he still continues a member. Mr. J. W. Dixon for several years held a situation of high trust and confidence in His Majesty's Customs. In the execution of its duties, the suavity of his manners gave satisfaction to every one with whom he had occasion to transact business. As a friend and companion he was all that might be expected, from a mind richly stored by exten sive reading and a liberal education; and although his puns and his jokes were abundant, they were never used to hurt the feelings of his hearers, but always had a tendency to promote mirth and good fellowship. He has left a widow and young family to deplore the loss of an excellent husband and father, besides a numerous circle of relatives and friends who had the happiness of enjoying his society. LONDON DEATHS. Feb. 17. Aged 57, W. A. Hobday, esq. R.A. the eminent painter. March 12. Aged 58, Samuel Reed, esq. late Secretary to the Army Medical Board, in Berkeley-street, for upwards of thirty years; he retired last year, on account of ill health. The able and systematic manner in which he conducted his share of the multifarious detail and intricate affairs of the Medical Board, under several changes both of 1831.] principals and of systems, and this too during a very long and eventful period of war, as well as peace; his mild and uniformly kind disposition; and, above all, his constant readiness to serve, and to promote, as far as depended upon him, the best interests, and wishes of every, even the humblest medical officer, will be long remembered by the Medical Department in general. OBITUARY. April 25. At Apsley House, Piccadilly, aged 58, the Most Noble Catherine Duchess of Wellington, sister to the Earl of Longford. She was the third daughter of EdwardMichael, second Lord Longford, by the Hon. Catherine Rowley, second dau. of the Rt. Hon. Hercules Langford Rowley and Elizabeth Viscountess Langford. She was married to the illustrious General April 10, 1806, and has left two sons. The Duchess of Wellington was of retiring habits, but her domestic virtues and charities have ever been the theme of admiration. Her remains were interred at Strathfieldsay, attended by her brother-in-law, Lord Maryborough, as chief mourner; other relations and friends of the Duke, in four carriages; and more than thirty private carriages, of which the King, the Queen, the Dukes of Cumberland and Northumberland, each sent one. May 4. In Harley-street, aged 68, the Rt. Hon. Frances dowager Viscountess Nelson, Duchess of Bronte. She was the widow of Josiah Nisbet, M.D. when his present Majesty performed the ceremony of giving her away in marriage to the immortal Nelson, at the island of Nevis, March 22, 1787. Her maiden name was Woolward, and she was niece to Wm. Herbert, esq. President of Nevis. By her first husband she had a son, the late Capt. Josiah Nisbet, R.N. who died in the course of last year, and of whom we gave a memoir in our number for September. May 18. In York-st. Portmau-sq. Kezia, widow of Henry Pyne, esq. and dau. of the late Thomas Price, esq. of Ardmoyle, co. Tipperary. May 19. In Chapel-st. Lisson-green, aged 85, T. Staveley, esq. May 23. At Great Queen-st. aged 76, Mr. James Nunn, bookseller, a honest, plain-dealing tradesman, well known for very many years as possessing one of the largest collections of old books in the metropolis. In Craven-st. aged 60, John Humphries, esq. for many years private solicitor to the Princess Charlotte of Wales. May 24. In Portman-pl. Edgware-road, Jane, widow of Francis St. Aubyn, esq. of Plymouth-dock. May 25. Aged 70, G. Cowie, esq. of Upper Clapton. To Newman-st. Mather Brown, esq. Historical Painter to his Majesty and the late Duke of York. May 27. At Turnham-green, aged 37, Jane, widow of W. Hamilton, esq. of the Inner Temple. 571 May 29. In Winchester-row, Mary, widow of the Rev. Claudius Martyn, of Ludgershall, Bucks. May 30. At Upper North-pl. Gray'sinn-road, aged 70, G. Hornby, esq. June 1. At his house, St. John's Wood, John Jackson, esq. R.A. June 2. Aged 24, Anne, wife of Mr. Joshua Battye, of Coleman-st. solicitor, dau. of Mr. W. Allen, York-place, City-road. June 3. B. Greenwood, esq. solicitor, of Manchester, who shot himself in Hyde-park. June 4. In Gloucester-place, aged 28, Thomas Percy Meade, M.A. Fellow of All Souls' College, Oxford, second son of the Hon. and Rev. Pierce Meade, by Elizabeth, daughter of the late Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore. In Alfred-place, aged 71, Capt. G. Richardson. June 5. At Lincoln-place, New Northroad, Ann-Ledyard, wife of the Rev. JohnEustace Giles, Minister of Salter's-hall Chapel. At Newington-green, aged 75, the widow of R. Parker, esq. Doctors' Commons. June 6. T. Hall, esq. late of the Ordnance Office, in the Tower. In Wimpole st. aged 83, Edw. Kent, esq. In Burton-st. aged 76, R. Butler, esq. June 7. At Camberwell, Mr. G. Johnston, late of the India Board. June 9. At Blackwall, aged 42, R. Frost, esq. of the E.I.C. home establishment. June 10. Sarah, wife of Henry R. Bishop, esq. the composer. At Wandsworth, aged 61, D. Watney, esq. of the Clapham-road. Charlotte-Janetta, wife of Capt. D. B. Newall, E.I.S. June 11. Charlotte-Penn, eldest dau. of C. Alexander Craig, esq. of Great George-st. At Walthamstow, aged 78, G.Wilson, esq. June 13. The wife of J. Watson, esq. of Park-st. Westminster. June 21. At Brixton Hill, Surrey, M. T. F. Hommey, esq. He was a native of France, and a highly intelligent and agreeable man. He formed a partnership with the late celebrated Mr. Bonnycastle, mathematical master of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, in the establishment of a private Military Institution at Charlton, near Woolwich Common; which was carried on with success for some years, under the firm of Bonnycastle and Hommey, and afterwards by Mr. Hommey alone. He married a half-sister of Mrs. Bonnycastle, the only daughter of the late David Henry, esq. of Lewisham, by his second wife. Mr. Henry had married to his first wife Mary, sister to Edward Cave, the founder of the Gentleman's Magazine; and Mr. Henry and Mr. Hommey were successively its chief proprietors (see vol. LXII. pp. 578, 671, 697). Mr. Hommey has left his widow and an only daughter to lament his loss. |