orders. Bentley, at this period, was but twenty. Not long after this difappointment, he undertook the charge of a fchool at Spalding, in Lincolnshire. His refidence in this place was probably of fhort continuance, as he was recommended, by his college, to Dean Stillingfleet, as tutor to his fon, who had been admitted penfioner of St. John's College, in 1677. Bentley took his degree of Mafter of Arts, in July, 1683, and then refided fome time with his pupil, at Oxford, where he devoted a large portion of his attention to the examination of manufcripts in the Bodleian Library, which offered to his view an inexhauftible mine of intellectual treasures. His natural inclination for critical difquifitions difcovered itself at a very early period. Before he was twentyfour years of age he had written an Hexapla, in a large quarto volume. The first column of this work contained all the words in the Hebrew Bible, and in the other five columns he wrote the Chaldee, Syriac, and vulgar Latin interpretations, as well as thofe of the Septuagint, of Aquila, Symmachus, and of Theodofian. He refolved to derive his knowledge of Hebrew from the ancient verfions, and not from the more modern Rabbins; and in order to facilitate the execution of this plan, and to enable him to compofe fuch a work, he must have perufed the whole Polyglott, except the Arabic, Perfic, and Ethiopic versions. At the fame time, he filled another quarto volume with various readings, drawn from the old tranflations, which might have made a fecond part to the Critica facra of Capellus, if it had been published. About the year 1790, he became domeftic chaplain to the Bishop of Worcester, the education of whofe fon he had fuperintended. He refided fourteen years with this right reverend patron, whofe efteem he enjoyed in a high degree, while he held a correfpondence with the Literati of every nation. His character now ranked high in the estimation of all his learned coun trymen; and in 1691, his first publication established his reputation beyond difpute. A fragment of a Chronography written by John of Antioch, furnamed Malala, had been discovered in the Bodleian Library, in manufcript, and was preparing for publication, by the learned Humphry Hody, of Wadham College. On this occafion, at the defire of Lloyd, Bifhop of St. Afaph, Bentley reperufed this work, and in a Latin epiftle, addrefled to Dr. Mill, he published critical obfervations on feveral Greek authors, particularly on thofe quoted by Malala; and corrected the paffages which had been corrupted by the careleffness of that writer, or the imperfection of the manufcript. This Epiftle was fubjoined to the Chronography, which was published in February, 1692, with a Latin tranflation and notes, by Chilmead, and a differtation on the author, by Hody. This first production of Bentley ftamped a luftre on his reputation, which the cavils of his enemies, and the fneers of the Ignorant could not efface from the minds of the learned few, in England, and on the Continent. He was now numbered among the most eminent fcholars of the age, and his Epiftle was read and quoted on every occafion. He was now introduced to public notice, by the trustees of the Honoura ble Robert Boyle, who appointed him the first preacher of the Lecture, inftituted by that great man's will, to vindicate the great fundamentals of natural and revealed religion, against the alarming attacks of Atheifin. He was only thirty years of age, and had not taken priefs's orders, when he delivered the firit lecture, at St. Martin's Church, March 7th, 1692, The He was recommended in the strongest terms to the truiters, by Bishop Stillingfect and Bithop Lloyd." fplendid abilities which he difplayed in the execution of this office juftified the choice, and the recommendation. All his fucceffors have built upon the foundation which he laid, while the atheifts were filmed, and their ab furdities furdities were incontrovertibly demonftrated. from the Secretary's Office for that purpofe, in December, 1693, and he received his patent in April following. His acti.cmanagement was fully proved, as foon as he was initituted into his new office; for he recovered above a thoufand volumes, of various kinds, and different values, which had been withheld from the King's collection of books, in defiance of the act of parliament, which orders, that a copy of every work which is entered at the Hall of the Stationer's company shall be tranimitted to the Royal Library, as well as to thofe of every univerfity England and Scotland. During this period, he maintained a philofophical correfpondence with. Sir Ifaac Newton. The dearest friendship fubfifted between them, and he compofed his fermons with that great man's approbation. In thefe difcourfes, he proved the folly of the atheifts with refpect to the prefent life, and the incapacity of matter and motion to think. He confuted their affertions by confidering the faculties of the foul, the ftructure and origin of the human body, and the origin and frame of the world, while he applied the mathema-ia tical principles of his friend Newton to evidence the being of a Ged. Thefe lectures were originally publifhed at the defire of the truflces, and have been reprinted feveral times, as well as tranflated in many foreign languages. Their merit is not confined, or local: they are as well known on the continent, as in England. If they have any fault, it is, the frequent witticifms with which they are interfperfed. We have fometimes fufpected, that he wished to imitate South, whofe compofitions are frequently too jocofe for the pulpit. There is an aftronomical error in one of the difcourfes, which was pointed out by Keil. To the friendly affiftance, or rather counfel, which he received from the learned philofopher, he was juftly entitled. By the advice of Bentley, and by his earneft folicitations, Sir Ifaac was induced to publifh his Principia. So great was the diffidence of this eminent man, that he was fearful of trufting his immortal labours to the fcrutinizing eye of the critic. The importunity of the friend, however, prevailed; and conquered his natural diffidence. To thefe repeated and urgent inftigations the world was indebted for the early publication of that invaluable performance. On the 2d of October, 1692, Bentley was inflailed a prebendary of Worcefter, by his patron Bifhop Stillingfleet; and when the death of Mr. Juftel vacated the place of Royal Librarian, at St. James's, he was appointed his fucceffor, A warrant was iffued This appointment may be deemed one of the greateft misfortunes of Bertley's life, as it engaged him in a dipute with Mr. Boyle, which created him a legion of enemies, who continued for a long courfe of years to load him with abufe. As flander alfo fpreads more rapidly than the records of benevolence, many engaged in the controver fy, who were incapable of judging, with regard to the merits of the difputants. Mr. Boyle was a young man of family, fortune, and abilities. Of courfe his followers were numerous. Bentley flood alone. He fingly, however, fuftained the attacks of his adverfaries, and while he proved the juftice of his caufe, fhewed himfelf their equal in wit and genius, in learning and argument. The opinions of the literary world have long decided in favour of Bentley. We fall, however, give an account of this grand controverfy, as it may juftly be confidered as an event of the firft magnitude in the life which we are now writing, and may prove "What dire effects from trivial causes spring!" At the defire of Dr. Aldrich, Dean of Chrift-Church, Mir. Boyle undertook the publication of a new edition of Phalaris; and as he wished to confult a manufcript of the epiftles, which was in the King's library, he commiffioned Mr. Fennet, a bookfeller, to apply in his name to Bentley, who had very lately entered upon his office. The book was delivered to the meffenger; but as the lib.auan was going Bennet affirmed, that he received the book, after a folicitation of feveral months, and that it was taken from him by the Librarian (who difparaged the work and the editor, in his converfation) although he had informed him, that the examination was not completed. Thefe affertions were partly refuted, and partly contradicted. The Epiftles were published in 1694. The preface, by Mr. Boyle, gave an account of the edition, and when he mentioned this manufcript, faid, that the collation could not be carried farther than the fortieth Letter, becaufe the book was taken away, by the fingular kindness of the Librarian. A few days before the public fale of Phalaris, Bentley, by accident, faw a copy in the hands of a perfon, to whom it had been prefented. As foon as he had read the preface, he wrote an account of the affair to Mr. Boyle, in hopes that he would order the leaf which contained the charge to be reprinted. An anfwer was returned, couched in very civil terms, but faying, that the ftory had been written, according to Mr. Bennet's reprefentation; that he was hurt at the refufal of the manufcript, but that if he had been deceived, he fhould certainly acknowledge his error. The book was diffeminated, and the exceptionable paffage remained unaltered. In this fituation, the affair refted, for near three years, during which time, in 1696, Bentley was admitted to his degree of Doctor in Divinity; and preached on the day of the public commencement. His erudition was now fo celebrated, that his advice was afked with regard to a new edition of fome Roman Claffics, which were to be published at the Univerfity prefs, for the ufe of the Duke of Gloucefter. He procured the types from Holland, with which thefe books were printed; and advifed Laughton, to whom the Virgil was entrufted, to follow Heinfius. His ideas, however, did not coincide with thofe of the Doctor. Terence was published by Leng; Horace by LOND. MAG, CA. 1783, Talbot; and Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius, by Mr. Annefley, who was afterwards Earl of Anglefey. While the Cambridge prefs was engaged in printing thefe fplendid editions, in 1697, Dr. Bentley publifhed his Differtation on the Epiftles of Themiftocles, Socrates, Euripides, Phalaris, and the Fables of Efop. This work was added to a new edition of Wotton's Reflections on ancient and modern Learning. The injury which he had received in the preface to Phalaris was not forgotten. In this differtation, he defended himself against the charges of Bennet, and afferted that the Epiftles which had been attributed, for fo many centuries, to the Tyrant of Agrigentum, were fpurious, and the production of fome fophift. Mr. Boyle was attacked for employing his time in the publication of fo contemptible an author, and accufed of degrading a miferable performance, by a bad edition. In the courfe of this year, the learned Grevius publifhed his edition of Callimachus, which was enriched with the notes and animadverfions of Dr. Bentley, as well as with his collection of the fragments of that poet. While he was engaged in writing these remarks, Sir Edward Sherburne lent him the manufcript papers of Stanley, the celebrated editor of Efchylus, which contained feveral annotations on this author. From the labours of fo excellent a fcholar, the Doctor undoubtedly derived fome affiftance. He did not, however, require literary alliances. Whatever he received, he emended. His own ftock of erudition was fo extenfive, and fo diverfified, his mind was fo vigorous and fo active, that there were few of his contemporaries whofe learning could affift his refearches. This new edition of Wotton's Reflections appeared juft as Mr. Boyle was fetting out for Ireland; and the urgency of his bufinefs prevented his writing an immediate anfwer. In the following year, however, he published an examination of this differtation. In which he attempted to vindicate the Epiftles of Phalaris, and the Fables of Efop, LIFE OF BENTLEY. 314 This once famous book, which was This work, in its improved ftate, appeared in 1699. His adverfary now began to feel the firength of thofe powers which he had flighted; and in order to animate a dying caufe, many engines were employed to overturn Dr. Bentley's reputation. Several pamphlets were published: farcastic reflections were fubftituted in the place of found argument. He was accufed of plagiary. It was afferted that his obfervations on Callimachus were borrowed almoft wholly from Stanley, that his Epiftle on Malala was a confufed rhapfody, and that, in the remarks on Phalaris, pedantry was fo predominant, that it was difficult to trace any veftiges of difcerning tafte and found knowledge. So bitter and acrimonious were his enemies. Some people of confequence appeared in the lifts against him. Smairidge wrote a burlefque parody on the differtation, in order to prove that Bentley was not the author of it, by the fame arguments which the Doctor had employed to evince that the Epiftles of Phalaris were fpurious. Dr. John Friend wrote an Examination of his Remarks upon Efop's Fables. King, the author of the Journey to London, ridiculed him and his performance, in fome "Dialogues of the Dead," which, in his preface, he fays were the production of a gentleman at Padua, and written by him, on account of the character which he had received of a troublefome critic, whofe name was Bentroughs. In thefe dia logues, there is a fmall portion of wit, Dr. Johnfon, in his life of King, Dr. Alfop mentioned the Doctor, in the preface to his edition of Efopean fables, with rudenefs and contempt. Kiel, of Baliol College, in his examination of Burnet's Theory, made feveral farcaftic reflections on his lectures. He recommended him to confine his la bours to lexicons; and not to hazard conjectures, in those branches of learning which are capable of demonftration. Garth mentioned both the opponents in his Difpenfary, "So diamonds take a luftre from their foil, you, e. Some of the wicked wits, even in his own univerfity, drew the Doctor's picture, with the guards of Phalaris preparing to thrust him into the bull. In Bentley's mouth they put a label, on which was written, "I would rather be ROASTED, than BOYLED." In the Tale of a Tub, Swift ridiculed our great critic, and in the Battle of the Books, he has defcribed Bentley and Wotton defending each other, fide by fide, until they were both transfixed by Mr. Boyle's triumphant javelin. The ftory of Stanley's notes on Callimachus was again and again related. In a letter to Mr. Boyle, the Doctor's fuppofed want of justice and humanity afforded ample scope for vindicate abufe. The pretence, indeed, was to vindicate the reputation of the editor of Efchylus, but the writer's intention was to expofe Bentley, and to hold him up as an object of contempt and ridicule. An appendix to this epiftle was written by Mr. Bennet, the bookfeller, or at least appeared under his name. The writer fat down with a fixed determination to cenfure Bentley. In this he has fucceeded. But, at the fame time, he has difplayed a glaring deficiency in humanity and juftice. A fhort review of the controverfy was likewife publifhed, with reflections on the Doctor's advantageous character of himself at full length. In this pamphlet, the narration of the bookfeller, and the defence of Bentley, were not very candidly examined; the arguments of the differtation, the author, a Mr. Milner, if we are not mistaken, attempted to confute. But in vain. He was like Milo, Wedg'd in the timber that he ftrove to rend." He purfued the track which Mr. Boyle had before beaten, but not with equal fuccefs. Befides the want of novelty, it poffeffed lefs wit, and lefs learning. This pamphlet was anfwered by an anonymous friend, with fome ingenuity, and more learning. The author, whoever he was, defended his caufe with ability. This anfwer is little known, but from the general tenor of the arguments, and the knowledge of ancient writers which is difplayed in feveral places, it feems to have merited a better fate, and more frequent perufal. Some of the other books might, perhaps, have been anfwered. Such replies, however, in all probability, were few, and they were now become fo very rare, that they have efcaped our refearches. Bentley, indeed, ftood almost fingle in the controverfy. While Boyle, who was a young man of great expectations and brilliant parts, was affifted by the w.ts, and by the Literati, while the Learned and the Ingenious inlifted under his banner, Bentley, by choice, remained independent. Several of his friends at Cambridge offered their affiftance. The Doctor, however, re He Se folutely rejected their overtures. was well acquainted with the juftice of his caufe, and knew that he might rely on the vigour of his own abilities. veral paffages in Mr. Boyle's book, even his own friends had deemed unanfwerable. They were fhewn to Bentley. He immediately confuted them, and "unveiled the latent errors." As focn, indeed, as he had perufed the answer, he openly declared, that the whole was equally liable to objections. The voice of the people, for fome years, fupported the airtions of Boyle, and his adherents. But the obftinacy of prejudice at length gave way, and the Learned became unanimous in their opinion. It is fcarcely necessary to remark, that the decifion was against the Epiftles of Phalaris : Extin&us amabitur idem." We are told, indeed, that the learned Bishop Cumberland, during the difpute, from a conviction of the truth of Bentley's arguments, predicted, that when the heat of refentment had fubfided, and the biafs of party had lost its influence, the determination of pofterity would be in favour of Bentley. Mr. Dodwel alfo, who refided at Oxford during thefe difputes, and wrote to the Doctor with fome afperity about the affectation of contempt, with which he falfely fuppofed that he treated his adverfaries, declared, that he never derived fo much knowledge from any fingle volume, as from the differtation on the Epiftles of Phalaris. The life of a literary man feldom furnishes the variety of incidents which enlivens narration, and renders biography entertaining. However ufeful the labours of the learned, their lives are generally spent in their libraries, and a catalogue of their works frequently forms their hiftory. This, however, was not wholly the cafe with Dr. Bentley. His days were not confumed merely in claffical studies, or in literary purfuits. Soon after the republication of his anfwer to Boyle, in the year 1700, he was prefented by the Crown to the Masterthip of TrinityCollege, Cambridge, which was then vacant by the death of Dr. Montague. This proof of royal favour rendered it S$2 neceffary |