to die upon Tower-hill. There are so many printed testimonies of his sufficiency, as I need say the lesse of it; but it is like he shall not abide there long. Of all his sermons he preached before Queen Elizabeth, which were many and very good, one that she liked exceedingly was of the plough, of which she said, Barlow's text might seem taken from the cart, but his talk may teach you all in the court. He made a sermon not long after that at Pauls, which men, especially Puritans, did much mislike, and for that cause call it (alledging to his name) the Barley Loaf, not marking how much honour they give it in their scorn, by example, both of the Old Testament and New. In the Old Testament the Barley Loaf signified Gedeon's sword, ordained to destroy the wicked. In the New by the blessing of our Saviour, that fed more thousands of honest men than this offended.

OF OXENFORD.-DOCTOR UNDERHILL.

ROM Rochester I should go a long pilgrimage to St. David's,

in

new bishopricks erected by King Henry the Eighth, of famous memory, and therefore I hope not ordained to be dissolved of a Henry the Ninth, of future and fortunate expectation; I say I will but bait especially at Oxford, lest I be baited, if I stay too long, for I know this discourse is to some as Unguis in ulcere. This bishoprick being but 66 yeeres since erected, had two bishops in 26 yeeres, and then continued voyd 21 yeeres, what time of pure devotion to the leases that would yield good fines, a great person recommended Doctor Underhill to this place, perswading him to take it, as in the way to a better; but God knows it was out of his way every way. For ere his first fruits were paid, he died (as I heard at Greenwich) in much discontent and poverty; yet his preferrer to seem to doe some favour to the University of Oxford, for recompence of the spoyle done on the bishoprick of Oxford, erected a new solemne lecture there at his own charge, which Doctor Reynolds did read, at which lecture I hapned once to be present with the founder, where we were taught, Nihil & non, as elsewhere I have at large shewed to your Highnesse. But though the many-headed beast, the multitude was bleared with this bounty; yet the schollers that were more Nasuti oculati & cordati, did smell, and see, and say, that this was but to steale a goose, and stick a feather. And indeed this was the true, theorique and practique of puritanisme. One impugning the authority of bishops sccretly by such lectures; the other impoverishing their livings openly by such leases.

After the Bishop Underhill was laid under the earth, I think the Sea of Oxford would have been drowned in the sea of oblivion,

if his Majesty, whose soule abhors all sacriledge, had not supplied it with the good father that now holdeth it, Doctor John Bridges, a man whose volumes in prose and verse give sufficient testimony of his industry; though for mine own part I am grown an unfit praiser of poetry, having taken such a surfeit of it in my youth, that I think now, a gray head and a verse doe not agree together, and much lesse a grave matter and a verse. For the reputation of poetry is so altered by the iniquity of the times, that whereas it was wont to make simple folke believe some things that were false, now it makes our great wise men to doubt of things that be true. When the Creed was first put into English verse, as it is now sung in the church, the descending of Christ into hell was never questioned; but since it hath been sung fifty yeere or more,

His Spirit did after this descend into the lower parts,

To them that long in darknesse were, the true light of our heartsthe doubt that was made of the latter of these two verses, hath caused the truth of the former to be called in question.

Wherefore though I grant that psalms and hymns may, and perhaps ought to be in verse, as good linguists affirme Moses and David's psalms to be originally, yet I am almost of opinion that one ought to abjure all poetry when he comes to divinity. But not derogating herein from the travels of my betters, and the judgement of mine elders, I proceed or rather post to my next stage.

OF GLOUCESTER.-DOCTOR THOMSON.

T Gloucester I shall at this time make a very short bait, the last bishop thereof being but lately removed to London, and the present Bishop scant yet warme in his seat; yet this I must say, that I have heard some students of good judgement, that knew him in Oxford, affirme, that in his very young yeeres he gave a great hope and good presage of his future excellency, having a rare gift ex tempore in all his schoole exercises, and such a happy wit to make use of all occurrents to his purpose, as if he had not taken the occasions, as they fell out by accident, but rather bespoken such pretty accidents to fall out to give him the occasions. I have often heard him before Queen Elizabeth, and it was not possible to deliver sounder matter, nor with better method, for which cause he was greatly respected and reverenced at the court. But for his latter sermon, before the two most mag, nificent kings, your Highnesse father and unckle, I cannot praise him; no, for I am a Cambridge man, but I can envy him, that in two judgements, omni exceptione majoribus, did carry the commendation of the pure Latine language (peculiar as I thought unto Cambridge) to her younger sister of Oxford; and thus much for him whose vertues no doubt will give matter for some further relation under some other title hereafter.

SOME

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE

DOCTOR SAMUEL ARNOLD.

(Continued from p. 319)

THE distinguished honour with which Mr. Arnold had ac

THE quitted himself in the arduous task of composing an oratorio

encouraged him to proceed; and soon after gave birth to a second production of the same kind, called Abimilech, which was suc ceeded by the Resurrection and the Prodigal Son. The latter three of these oratorios were, during several successive Lents, performed at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket, and Covent Garden theatre, under his own management and direction. His first enterprise was in the Haymarket, at play-house prices, and succeeded so far as to induce him to quit the Little Theatre.

But the second speculation was not equally favourable. The plan on which he proceeded was certainly judicious; and, had he not been opposed by a powerful court-interest at Drury Lane, must have answered his most sanguine expectations; but, from that opposition, together with his enormous expences, and other unforescen causes, it proved an unfortunate adventure.

About the time that he wrote the Resurrection, he composed and published in score four sets of Vauxhall songs, the greater part of which are uncommonly sweet in their melodies, and in their accompaniments display much richness of taste, aided by a thorough acquaintance with the characters and powers of the various instruments. Of all his oratorios, the Prodigal Son reflects the greatest portion of honour on his talents and judgement.

The fame of this sacred drama was so high, that, when, in 1773, it was in contemplation to instal the late Lord North chancellor of the university of Oxford, the stewards, appointed to conduct the musical department of the ceremony, applied to the composer of the Prodigal Son for permission to perform that oratorio on the solemn occasion. Mr. Arnold's ready and polite acquiescence with this request, procured him the offer of an honorary degree in the theatre; but, conscious of his own scientific qualifications, he preferred the academical mode; and, conforma bly to the statutes of the university, received it in the school wherein he performed it as an exercise, Hughes's poem on the Power of Music. On such occasions, it is usual for the musical professor of the university to examine the exercise of the candidate; but Dr. William Hayes, then the professor of Oxford, returned Mr. Arnold his score unopened, saying, "Sir, it is quite unnecessary to scrutinize the exercise of the author of the Prodi gal Son."

In the year 1771, Dr. Arnold married Miss Napier, daughter of Archibald Napier, doctor in physic, with which lady he received

a hands

a handsome fortune. About the same year, he purchased, of Mr. Pinto, Marybone Gardens, then the much-frequented scene of gaiety and fashion. For the better entertainment of the public, the doctor furnished the gardens with a scenic stage, and composed and performed some excellent burlettas, which were most favourably received.

In 1776, the lease of the gardens expired; and that delightful spot, to which the votaries of taste and innocent pleasure had so long resorted, was, by the proprietors, let to various builders, and soon after converted into an integral part of the metropolis.

When Mr. Beard, after many years of meritorious public service, retired to the enjoyment of a well-earned competency, the late Mr. George Colman became his successor, as one of the managers of Covent Garden theatre. The classical and discriminating mind of this gentleman and scholar, felt and acknowledged the sterling abilities of Dr. Arnold; and he was desirous to retain so valuable an acquisition to the house. The place of composer to his theatre could not be better occupied than by a master whose merit the town had already so strongly stamped with the sanction of its approbation.

About the year 1776, the English Aristophanes quitted the stage, and Mr. Colman, having sufficient interest to procure the continuance of the patent, purchased the Haymarket theatre. Unwilling to lose the tributary service of those talents, by which he had already so greatly profited, he engaged Dr. Arnold to conduct the musical department in his new concern. This situation the doctor still continued to fill with honour to himself and advantage to the proprietors, until the day of his death.

On the death of the late Dr. Nares, which happened early in the year 1783, Dr. Arnold was appointed his successor as organist and composer to his Majesty's chapel at St. James's, to which honourable office he was sworn in on March the 1st of the same year; and, at the grand performances of the Commemoration of Handel, at Westminster Abbey, the first of which took place in 1784, the doctor was appointed one of the sub-directors of that celebrity, and presented with a medal which his Majesty has permitted the sub-directors to wear at all times, as a mark of his approbation of their conduct on that great and magnificent occasion. In the year 1786, Dr. Arnold projected and entered upon the plan of publishing an uniform edition of the whole of Handel's works; and proceeded in this arduous undertaking to the hundred and eighteenth number, going through all his productions, except his Italian operas. He also, at the same time, published four volumes of cathedral music, forming a continuation of Dr. Boyce's great and well-known work. Three of the volumes are in score for the voice, and one for the organ.

In November 1789, it was resolved, by the subscribers to the Academy

2.

Academy of Antient Music, to place their performances more fully under the direction of some professional gentlemen of eminence. On this occasion Dr. Arnold, Dr. Cooke, and Dr. Dupuis, were severally nominated candidates, when Dr. Arnold was elected by a great majority, and invested with the entire direction and management of the orchestra, the authority of hiring of instruments, engaging performers, and of doing whatever else related to the concert; the committee pledging itself to indemnify the conductor for all expences. The management of this respectable institution has, since that time, continued in the doctor's hands, with the highest credit to himself, and the greatest satisfaction to the academicians and subscribers.

At the death of the late Dr. Cooke, which happened in the year 1793, the real merit and high reputation of Dr. Arnold recommended him to the notice of the ingenious and learned Dr. Horsley, then bishop of Rochester and dean of Westminster. The bishop, casting his eye around for a meritorious object, naturally fixed on Dr. Arnold; and the doctor himself said, that his appointment was unsolicited, and performed on the part of the worthy prelate "in the handsomest manner possible."

In 1796, the doctor was applied to, to succeed the late Dr. Philip Hayes as conductor of the annual performances at St. Paul's for the feast of the sons of the clergy; in which situation he has well supported his high professional character.

Dr. Arnold has had five children, of which, two daughters and one son are now living. His eldest daughter was lately married to Mr. Rose, a gentleman engaged in mercantile business. The second is unmarried.

It is a truth highly honourable to Dr. Arnold, that the exercise of his professional talents has never been entirely confined to the public amusement and his own private emolument. The prosperity of those numerous charities which distinguish this country, and reflect so much honour on their several founders, has engrossed much of his attention; and many a handsome collection has, in a great measure, been derived from his voluntary and gratuitous assistance. By the kindly aid of that science which some consider as trivial, or as an useless luxury, and only calculated to excite the looser passions, he has succoured the most philanthropic and noble institutions, and contributed to "feed the hungry

and clothe the naked."

Every one, who had the pleasure of the doctor's acquaintance, will acknowledge, that, independently of his professional excellencies, he possessed many qualities which claim the esteem of society. His genius and science, from time to time, procured him a great number of friends; and his social and amiable disposition always preserved them. His conversation was open, pleasant, and chaffected; his heart was framed to feel for the distresses of others; and his sincerity in friendship was universally known.

SACRED