and many have perished by time or carelessness, few volumes of any value remain at present; with the exception of Walton's Polyglott Bible, the Lexicon of Castellus, and some Variorum Classics.

In 1692, he purchased for his own occasional residence the ancient archiepiscopal palace at Charing, in Kent, along with the manor and about four hundred acres of land *.

His anxiety to extend the light of the Gospel to the inhabitants of Greece originated in his personal knowledge of their wretched condition. It was his earnest wish, that the modern way of pronouncing Greek, as well as the ancient, might be taught in our schools. "It would be a great help (he observes) to those that travel into those parts, or intend to be understood of the modern Greeks at home. And who knows, but in some it may please God to excite the piety of some good men to go and preach the purity and sincerity of the Holy Gospel to those poor Christians, who seem at present to be buried in ignorance and overwhelmed with Roman superstition,

* Archbishop Cranmer, perceiving the envy of the courtiers drawn upon him from his possessing so many palaces, was obliged to give up most of them to the King. Among others, he conveyed to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, the manor and palace of Charing with the rectory and advowson of the vicarage, and all his estates in that parish.

(Halsted's History of Kent, II. 212.)

whose sectators encompass sea and land to gain proselytes !" *

In 1693, a design was actually in agitation to found, and endow, a College at Oxford for the distressed Greek Churches. For this purpose a quadrangle was to have been appropriated in Gloucester Hall, of which Dr. Benjamin Woodroffe was then Principal t. Nothing could exceed †. the solicitude of Sir George Wheler to promote this design. Having obtained a thorough knowledge of the constitution of the Greek Church, and the character of the Greek nation, he thought it necessary to advise (in a letter still extant) ‡ that the new students should be indulged with respect to their eating and drinking, their own way of fasts, lents, and festivals: otherwise there would be such scandal taken in their country, that either none would be permitted to come over, or the good which they might do would be

*Travels, V. 355.

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+ Dr. Byrom Eaton, the preceding principal, finding his Hall in a state of dilapidation and destitute of students, resigned his office in favour of Dr. Woodroffe, a man of a generous public spirit, who caused the buildings to be repaired, and under whose government the Society was placed in a very flourishing condition. (Wood's Ath. Ox. II. 1648.)

There is another letter, likewise, addressed to the Rev. Dr. Fitzherbert Adams (who was elected Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1685) upon the same subject.

rendered ineffectual.' These young persons, it was sanguinely hoped, by pursuing under the direction of prudent men the method of study recommended to their adoption, might receive a due impression of the regard entertained by the Church of England for those of the East; and discovering their resemblance, might become so well acquainted with the sentiments of the early ages upon the pure Christian faith, as would not only arm them against the Romanists, but also induce them to remove some superstitions from their own Church. But the execution of this project was attended with so many difficulties, that it was at length, after various attempts, finally abandoned.

A Greek student, who was a Presbyter of the Greek Church, was at that time resident at Oxford; and Sir George Wheler and Dr. Covel, the latter of whom had in 1688 succeeded Dr. Ralph Cudworth in the Mastership of Christ's College, Cambridge, contributed liberally to his support. It does not appear, however, that Dionysius, for such was his Christian name, paid a proper attention to the plan of instruction which he was required to pursue.

The following letter, addressed by Sir George about this period to his friend Mr. Smith, Prebendary of Durham, on the demise of his mother, discovers a tenderness of heart truly amiable.

"DEAR SIR,

"There is nothing in your affairs, whether of good or evil consequence attending you, but by sympathy I partake of the satisfaction or mortification thereof with you. And therefore you are very kind to impart this last surprise of Providence upon you, that I may condole with yourself and lady, the loss of so good and kind a mother. Truly the death of friends and relations is always surprising to us, though in most reason it should be far otherwise; considering on how slender a thread so great a weight depends, and when the fruit is ripe, we must daily expect it will either drop or be gathered by the hand of some guardian angels, as I doubt not but the soul of this pious gentlewoman your mother is: of whose worthiness I am now the better enabled to make a just estimate, since she deservedly had so great a value for you. I had indeed, at last, a letter from Mr. F: but let him know I am in expectation of hearing from him again, as he long since writ me word I in a short time should. My humble service pray to my good lady, with my blessing to my godson, which with my sincere wishes and prayers for your health, happiness, and prosperity, is all at present

From your affectionate friend, brother,

and humble servant."

But that whenever the occasion required it, he could readily adopt a sprightlier strain of writing, appears from the subjoined note, addressed to Lord Carteret.

"MY LORD,

Aug. 31, -93.

"Since your Lordship did us the honour of calling upon us at Basingstoke, I understand your Lordship made so much haste to my Lady, that if I may not say you left time behind you, yet you left the measure of it at your lodging. Your watch, with the seal to it, is safe in the innkeeper's hands where you lodge; being brought to him by the honest maid, soon after you parted from hence. What your Lordship shall order him, or me, concerning it, shall be punctually performed."

Mr. Beaumont, a clergyman resident in the county of Durham, seems to have composed a Narrative of the Life of Dean Granville. Of this he had read sundry portions to Sir George Wheler, and received from him the following letter upon the subject:

"DEAR MR. BEAUMONT,

Basingstoke, Aug. 19, 1693.

"I was very sorry I could not see you

before my return into the south, and now must