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(otherwise Brand) Broughton*, Lincolnshire, but in the neighbourhood of Newark, where he fixed himself, accompanied by his mother and his sisters; and spent a considerable part of the prime of life, from 1728

* Thomas Kempson, the preceding rector of Brand-Broughton, died June 15, 1728, æt. 68.

The affectionate interest which he took in the welfare of his relations will appear in the following extract of a letter to Mr. Hurd, July 12, 1757: "I had the pleasure of finding a Sister and a Niece well at Broughton; with whom I spent a few days with much satisfaction: for you must know I have a numerous family, perhaps the more endeared to me by their sole dependence on me. It pleased Providence that two of my Sisters should marry unhappily, and that a third, on the point of venturing, should escape the hazard, and so engage my care only for herself. I reckon this a lucky year, for I have married a Niece to a reputable Grocer at York, and have got a Commission for a Nephew in the Regiment of Artillery: and this fierce Man of War lies at present encamped, much at my expence, at Amersham, near High Wycombe (as he notifies to me), with two field-pieces under his command. These are pleasures; but less than what I enjoy in the superior merit and affection of a friend like you." Several years after, on the death of Dr. Hurd's mother, he says, "I do not know whether I ought to condole with you, or congratulate you, upon the release of that excellent woman, full of years and virtues. I rejoice when I find a similarity of our fortunes, in the gentler parts of humanity. My mother, somewhat less indebted to years, though not to the infirmities of them, at length fell asleep, and departed, in all the tranquillity and ease that your mother did. The last leave she took of all human concerns, as she winged her way into the bosom of our common God and Father, was an anxious enquiry concerning my welfare: which being assured of, she immediately closed her eyes for ever.-But I must turn mine from this tender subject, which will give us both relief."

This happy period of his life he thus pleasingly recollects : "If you have seen my friends at Grantham, particularly Mr. Towne, you will have no reason to think yourself disappointed. There are half a dozen worthy men there, with whom, for a course of years, I have spent the most pleasurable parts of my life. And few things can make me amends for the loss I have of them. I am particularly glad you have given so sincere a pleasure to Mr. Towne, who will think himself both honoured and happy in your visit. If you think the acquisition of a warm friend valuable, treasure him up in your heart, for such he will prove to you, for no esteem could be higher than his for you, before he knew you. I would have every man of virtue and letters imitate the true Virtuoso-taste in this, who enjoy and even adore antient coins for the elegance of their figures and the learning of their inscriptions; and use as they deserve the

current

to 1746 in a studious retirement, devoted entirely to letters *; usually sitting up a great part of the night in study; and there planned, and in part executed, some of his most important works; but several years elapsed, after obtaining this preferment, before he appeared again in the world as a writer†.

current cash, which the necessities of life make it prudent to get as much of as they fairly can, but never be an idolizer of that which is a slave to every body else." Letter to Mr. Hurd.

* The following remarkable instance of his intenseness of thinking is recorded by a Correspondent of Mr. Urban: "My father, who was a neighbour of Bp. Warburton when he was plain Mr. Warburton, residing at Brand Broughton, his living in Lincolnshire, was invited to meet him at Lord Tyrconnel's. On his arrival at Belton hall, he found the company lamenting Mr. Fane of Fulbeck's sad accident, his house being likely to be destroyed by a fire, which was still burning. Some one said, "We shall know the particulars when Mr. Warburton comes, who must pass by it." Mr. Warburton arrived;—was questioned, - saw no fire or bustle.' It was hoped the report was not true: 'It must be some other house was burning down.' But the bad news was soon confirmed by people from Fulbeck, who also saw Mr. Warburton ride by. He had rode close by it, without asking a question, or having the thread of the argument which occupied his thoughts interrupted. Yet he was not an absent man; read every thing, Magazines, Novels, Dictionaries; and forgot nothing. (Fulbeck still belongs to the Fanes of the Westmoreland family)." W. E.-Gent. Mag. vol. LXXIX. p. 519.

† At least, there was nothing published which can be with certainty ascribed to him. In the year 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 held but on a precarious tenure. On this occasion a pamphlet appeared, intituled, "An Apology for Sir Robert Sutton." It can only be conjectured that Mr. Warburton 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 occasion, afford his Patron some assistance by his pen.-Gratitude indeed was a predominant feature in this great man's mind. - In an Appendix to his Biographical Discourse, Bp. Hurd has preserved a letter which Mr. Warburton addressed to Mr. Pope, in vins dication of Sir Robert Sutton; written, it appears, with the view of prevailing with him to strike that gentleman's name out of his satires; which sets the author in an amiable light, and seems to confirm a conjecture, that his former dissatisfaction with Mr. Pope had arisen from this circumstance. —

"I have

It was in this season of early discipline, while his mind was opening to many literary projects,

"I have known this gentleman," he says, "about twenty years. I have been greatly and in the most generous manner obliged to him; so I am very capable, and, you will readily believe, very much disposed to apologize for him. Yet, for all that, if I did not really believe him to be an honest man, I would not venture to excuse him to you." He then gives the early history of Sir Robert Sutton in his public capacity, as an ambassador at Constantinople; and of his connexion with the Charitable Corporation, by which he lost near 20,000l.; and adds, "He is a tender and indulgent father, to very hopeful children, a kind master, and one of the best landlords to his tenants. I speak all this of my own knowledge. He has a good estate in this place. My parishioners are good people. The times (till very lately) for this last fifteen years have been extreme bad for the graziers; I got of him for them two abatements in their rents, at two several times. I will only beg leave to give you one more instance, that relates to myself, and is not equivocal in his character. I chanced to know him, when I was very young, by means of my neighbourhood to Lord Lexington (whom I never knew), where he oft came. And, without any consideration to party or election interest, he seemed to have entertained an early esteem for me. He had two good livings, on estates he had lately bought; and, without the least intimation or solicitation, he told me I should have the first that fell. He was as good as his word. But this was not all. As soon as I became possessed of the living, he told me, that (from what he had been informed by my predecessor, who at his death was going to commence a suit for his just dues) the living was much injured by a long and illegal composition. That he thought I ought to right myself; and he would join with me against the other freeholders, for his estate is something more than one half of the parish. I replied, that as he paid all the tithes for his tenants, the greatest loss, in my breaking the composition, would fall upon himself, who must pay me half as much more as he then did. He said, he did not regard that: I was his friend, and it was my due. I answered, that, however, I could not do it yet, for that the world would never conceive it to be done with his consent, but would say that I had no sooner got his living than I quarelled with him. But, when I came to my parish, I found them so good a sort of people, that I had as little inclination to fall out with them. So (though to my great injury) I have deferred the matter to this day, though the thing in the opinion of Sir R. Raymond, who gave it on the case, as drawn up by the parishioners themselves, is clear and indisputable; yet, they won't give it up without a law-suit."-In 1750 he tells Mr. Hurd, "Mr. Richard Sutton, a pensioner of Trinity College, is the younger son of the late Lady Sunderland and Sir Robert Sutton, persons with whom I had a long and

that he conceived an idea, which he was long pleased with, of giving a new edition of Velleius Paterculus, a plan of which he printed in the "Bibliotheque Britannique, ou Histoire des Ouvrages des Savans de la Grande Bretagne, à la Haye, &c.

intimate friendship, and was under great obligations to. is just come to College, after having been long at the head of Westminster School. A perfect boy in the simplicity of his manners, but of surprizing acquirements. Besides his knowledge of the antient languages, he speaks and writes Spanish and French with great exactness, understands Italian, and is now learning High-Duteh. I had promised him you should take notice of him. I am sure I cannot render him so great a service as by obtaining this favour of you. Besides, I believe the acquaintance and friendship of so promising a youth will be a pleasure to you. I believe you will find him perfectly docile. He has determined for the Law. I have wrote to him, so that whenever you send for him you will do a real pleasure to us both. Had I had any direction in his education, he should not be where he is."-Again, "I am sorry the letter, with the Dutch book, never came to hand. It was to recommend to your favour and notice a charming young boy, a younger son of Sir Robert Sutton and Lady Sunderland, who is now of Trinity College. I had high obligations and close friendship with his father and mother, and the greatest love for the whole family. Not that I should have recommended him to your notice, but that he is the most extraordinary young boy I every knew. If you won't take my word, I will give you Dr. Nicoll's [then master of Westminster school], who tells me he never met with his fellow. He was bred at Westminster, and having mastered the learned languages at school, he got the three modern ones in conversing with his mother and sister; some of which he speaks. I told him I would recommend him to you, and it gave him great pleasure. fancy by this time he must be come back to College, from his cousin Mr. Spencer's † at Althorpe. Whenever you have leisure to give him an hour of your time, if you send for him you will make him very happy."-Eleven years afterwards, Mr. Hurd says, "Mr. Sutton did me the favour to steal away from his companions on the Circuit last week, and to spend a day with me at Thurcaston. He seems intent upon his profession. But what pleased me most was, to find the same sweetness of temper, and simplicity of manners, which he carried out with him when he made the grand tour. I took this short visit very kindly; and the more so, as he promises to repeat it as oft as he comes to Leicester."

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+ John, the late Earl of that name; with whose family Mr. afterwards Sir Richard Sutton, bart. always kept up the elosest intimacy.

1736*." But the design never was completed. Dr. Middleton, in a letter, 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 my last. I had before seen the force of your critical genius very successfully employed on Shakspeare, but did not know you had ever tried it on the Latin authors. I am pleased with several of your emendations, and transcribed them into the margin of my editions, though not equally with them all. It is a laudable and liberal amusement, to try now and then in our reading the success of a conjecture; but, in the present state of the generality of the old writers, it can hardly be thought a study fit to employ a life upon; at least not worthy, I am sure, of your talents and industry, which, instead of trifling on words, seem calculated rather to correct the opinions and manners of the world."

These sentiments of his friend appear to have had their due weight; for, from that time, the intended edition was laid aside, and never afterwards re- ' sumed.

It was in the same year, 1736, that this colossal Writer may be said to have emerged from the obscurity of a private life into the notice of the world.

The first publication which rendered him afterwards famous now appeared, under the title of "The Alliance between Church and State; or, the Necessity and Equity of an Established Religion and a Test-Law, demonstrated from the Essence and

* Tome Septième, seconde Partie, pour les Mois Juillet, Aout et Septembre, Art. II. "G. Warburton, A. M. in Vellcii Paterculi Historias Emendationes."

+ Middleton's Works, vol. II. p. 470.

"He was charmed with the elegance of this writer, and the high credit in which emendatory criticism (of which Paterculus stood much in need) was held in the beginning of the eighteenth century, occasioned by the dazzling reputation of such men as Bentley and Hare, very naturally seduced a young enterprizing scholar into an attempt of this nature. But Dr. Middleton advised him very properly to drop the design." Bp. Hurd, p. 6. § See before, vol. II. p. 83.

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