seems to be confirmed by Dr. Pearson in his preface to the "Golden Remains," he shared with several ejected clergymen, scholars, and others. We shall now relate a story which has appeared in the various accounts of his life, and which is at least interesting, but in most particulars questionable. It is thus related: "His friend Mr. Faringdon" (See FARINGDON) "coming to see Hales some few months before his death, found him in very mean lodgings at Eton, but in a temper gravely chearful, and well becoming a good man under such circumstances. After a slight and homely dinner, suitable to their situation, some discourse passed between them concerning their old friends, and the black and dismal aspect of the times; and at last Hales asked Faringdon to walk out with him into the church-yard. There this unhappy man's necessities pressed him to tell his friend that he had been forced to sell his whole library, save a few books which he had given away, and six or eight little books of devotion which lay in his chamber; and that for money, he had no more than what he then shewed him, which was about seven or eight shillings; and besides,' says he, 'I doubt I am indebted for my lodging.' Faringdon, it seems, did not imagine that it had been so very low with him, and therefore was much surprised to hear it; but said that he had at present money to command, and to-morrow would pay him fifty pounds, in part of the many sums he and his wife had received of him in their great necessities, and would pay him more as he should want it.' But Hales replied, "No, you don't owe me a penny; or if you do, I here forgive you; for you shail never pay me a penny. I know you and yours will have occasion for much more than what you have lately gotten; but if you know any other friend that hath too full a purse, and will spare me some of it, I will not refuse that.' this Hales added, When I die, which I hope is not far off, for I am weary of this uncharitable world, I desire you to see me buried in that place in the church-yard,' pointing to the place. But why not in the church,' said Faringdon, with the provost (sir Henry Savile), sir Henry Wotton, and the rest of your friends and predecessors ?" 'Because,' says he, I am neither the founder of it, nor have I been a benefactor to it, nor shall I ever now be able to be so."" Το . Dr. Walker, who relates this story, informs us of the persons from whom he received it; but it is now unnecessary to trace a narrative so flatly contradicted by Mr. Ha,es's will, in which we find him bequeathing a very The following is a copy of his will, from Eton college register. "In Dei nomine Amen. May 19, 1656. My soul having been long since bequeathed unto the mercies of God in Jesus Christ my only Saviour, and my body naturally bequeathing itself to dust and ashes, out of which it was taken, I John Hales, of Eton, in the county of Bucks, Clerk, by this my last will and testament, do dispose of the small remainder of my poor and broken estate, in manner and form following. First, I give to my sister Cicely Combes, 51. I give to my sister Bridget Guilliford, 51. More, I give to the poor of the town of Eton, to be distributed at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named, 57. More, I give to six persons, to be appointed by my said executrix to carry my body to the grave, 31. to be distributed among them by even portions. More, I give to Mr. Thomas Mansfield, of Windsor, grocer, 54, More, I give to Mrs. Mary Collins, wife to Mr. John Collins, of Eton, 57. to this end and purpose, that she would be pleased to provide her a ring in what manner she listeth, to remain with her in memory of a poor deceased friend. All which monies here bequested, do at this present rest intrusted in the hands of my singular good friends Mr. William Smith, and Mr. Thomas Montague. "Moreover, all my Greek and Latin books (except St. Jerome's works, which I give to Mr. Thomas Montague), I give to my most deservedly beloved friend William Salter of Richkings, esq.; to whom I further give 57. to this end, that he would provide him a fair seal-ring of gold, engraven with his arms and hatchments doubled and mantled, to preserve the memory of a poor deceased friend. All my English books, together with the remainder of all monies goods and utensils whatsoever, I give and bequeath to Mrs. Hannah Dickenson of Eton, widow and relict of John Dickenson, lately deceased. In whose house (for her's indeed it is, and not mine, as being bought with her money, howsoever for some reasons I have suffered the public voice to entitle me to it)-in whose house I say, I have for a long time (especially since my unjust and causeless extrusion from my college) been with great care and good respect entertained. And ber the said Hannah, I do by these presents constitute and ordain my sole executrix. And unto this my last will I make overseers my very good friends Mr. Thomas Montague and Mr. William Smith, of Eton, and to each of them I give 5l. humbly requesting them to be assistant to my said executrix with their best advice to help, if so be she chance to find any trouble. "Now because monies are many times not at command, but may require some time to take them up, I ordain, that in six months after my departure, she see all these my bequests and legacies orderly and faithfully discharged. As for my funeral, I ordain that at the time of the next even-song after my departure (if conveniently it may be) my body be laid in the church-yard of the town of Eton (if I chance to die there), as near as may be to the body of my little godson, Jack Dickenson the elder; and this to be done in plain and simple manuer, without any sermon, or ringing the bell, or calling the people together; without any unseasonable commessation or compotation, or other solemnity on such occasions usual. And I strictly command my executrix, that neither of her own head, nor at the importunity or authority of any other, neither upon any other pretence whatsoever, to take upon her to dispense with this part of my will; for as in my life I have done the church no service, so I will not, that in my death, the church do me any honour,” Mr. Montague, mentioned here as an overseer or executor, was at that time usher of Eton school, afterwards head-master, and then fellow of the college. Mrs. Dickenson afterwards was married to Simon Powney, and has already been mentioned by that name. considerable property, and a very considerable part of his library, and indeed leaving such friendly legacies as are wholly inconsistent with the circumstances of a man reduced to a few shillings, and in debt for his lodging. His last illness was of short duration, nor did it appear serious to his friends, with whom he conversed as freely as if in perfect health, within half an hour of his death. Mr. Montague, to whom he had been talking, left the room for about that time, and found him dead on his return. During this sickness, being aware that he was suspected of holding opinions adverse to the faith of the church of England, he made a declaration of his belief to his pupil, Mr. Salter, and appears to have recanted, if ever he held, opinions unfavourable to the doctrine of the Trinity. Mr. Salter made a memorandum of this from his mouth, which was long in possession of that family, as Mr. Fulman, when collecting materials for Hales's life, was credibly assured, both by Mr. Salter and by Mr. Montague. There is an article indeed in his "Remains" which seems to confirm this point, entitled his "Confession of the Trinity," and may probably be the manuscript which Mr. Salter penned. He died May 19, 1656, aged seventy-two, and was buried, according to his own desire, in Eton church-yard, where a monument was erected over his grave by Mr. Peter Curwen. In person, he was of an ingenuous and open countenance, sanguine, cheerful, and vivacious; his body was well proportioned, and his motion quick and sprightly. As to the excellence of his character, all writers seem agreed. Whatever his errors, he was esteemed a good man by those who knew him, and an able writer, as appears by the testimonies of lord Clarendon, lord Say and Sele, Dr. Pearson, bishop of Chester, Dr. Heylin, Andrew Marvel, Wood, Stillingfleet, and others, quoted by sir David Dalrymple lord Hailes, in his fine edition of Hales's works, and in the Biographia Britannica. "They," says lord Hailes, "who are acquainted with the literary and political history of England, will perceive that the leading men of all parties, however different and discordant, have, with a wonderful unanimity, concurred in praise of the virtues and abilities of the ever memorable Mr. John Hales of Eton." We do not find that Hales ever suffered any thing to be published in his life-time, except his oration at the funeral of sir Thomas Bodley. Bishop Pearson says, that "while he lived, none was ever more solicited and urged to write, and thereby truly teach the world, than he; but that none was ever so resolved, pardon the expression, so obstinate against it." In 1659, however, there appeared a collection of his works with this title, "Golden Remains of the ever-memorable Mr. John Hales of Eton college, &c." which was enlarged with additional pieces in a second edition of 1673. This collection consists of sermons, miscellanies, and letters; all of them written upon particular occasions. In 1677 there appeared another collection of his works, entitled "Several Tracts by the ever-memorable Mr. John Hales, &c." The 1st of which is, "Concerning the Sin against the Holy Ghost;" 2. "Concerning the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and whether the Church may err in Fundamentals;" 3. " A Paraphrase on the 12th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew;" 4. "Concerning the power of the Keys, and auricular Confession;" 5. "Concerning Schism and Schismatics;" and some short pieces entitled "Miscellanies." There is no preface nor advertisement to this volume, which seems to have been put out by the editor, who was thought to be sir Robert Filmer, with caution: but it is finely and correctly printed, with a portrait of Mr. Hales. To these volumes of posthumous works we must add the letter to archbishop Laud, mentioned before, which was printed in 1716. In 1765 lord Hailes edited a beautiful edition of his whole works, 3 vols. 12mo, with a very few alterations of obsolete words, and corrections in spelling, &c. Dr. Johnson blamed him for taking these liberties. We are more inclined to blame him for omitting bishop Pearson's preface to the "Golden Remains," with Faringdon's Letter, which give a particular value to the edition of 1673. On the other hand, lord Hailes has added some letters and other articles which enhance the merit of his labours. It remains to be mentioned, that Wood informs us that Mr. Hales not only associated with, and was respected by the wits of his time, sir John Suckling, sir William Davenant, Ben Jonson, &c. but would sometimes divert himself with writing verses; and that he had a talent for poetry he thinks appears from sir John Suckling's mentioning him in his "Session of Poets :" "Hales, set by himself, most gravely did smile But there is no proof that Mr. Hales of Eton was meant here, and still less proof of a letter in verse by sir John Suckling having been written to Mr. Hales at Eton, and beginning "Sir, whether these lines do find you out," &c. It has more the appearance of one written to some person at Oxford or Cambridge, than at Eton. Mr. Faringdon had collected materials with a view to the life of Mr. Hales, which, Mr. Zouch informs us, were on his demise consigned to the care of Isaac Walton, by Mr. Fulman of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, who had proposed to finish the work, and on that occasion had applied for the assistance of Mr. Walton. Mr. Zouch adds, that "the result of this application is not known." Having, however, by the kindness of Henry Ellis, esq. of the British museum, had access to a transcript of Mr. Fulman's MSS. in Corpus college, as far as they regard the project of writing Hales's life, we are enabled to say that it was a Mr. Milington, and not Mr. Fulman, who sent Faringdon's materials to Mr. Walton, and that the latter gave Fulman every information in his power. By the same MSS. we have been enabled to correct many mistakes in Des Maizeaux's life of Hales, as well as in those in the General Dictionary, and Biographia Britannica.1 HALES (STEPHEN), an eminent natural philosopher, particularly distinguished by his experiments on the physiology of plants, was the sixth son of Thomas Hales, esq. of Beakeborn, or Beckesbourn, Kent, and grandson of sir Robert Hales, bart. of Beckesbourn, where he was born, Sept. 17, 1677, and was admitted a pensioner of Bene't college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Mr. Moss, June 19, 1696, where, after taking his first degree in arts, he was admitted a fellow, Feb. 25, 1702-3. He proceeded M. A. at the next commencement, and was admitted B. D. in 1711. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by the university of Oxford in 1733. Botany and anatomy formed his studies of relaxation while at Cambridge, his companion in which was the celebrated antiquary Dr. Stukeley. He was advanced successively to the perpetual curacy of Teddington, Middlesex, and to the livings of Portlock, Somersetshire, and Farringdon, Hampshire. He married Mary, the daughter and heiress of Dr. Henry 1 Gen. Dict.-Biog. Brit.-Des Maizeaux's Life interleaved with MS notes and corrections, apparently intended as materials for a life.-Letters by emiment persons, 3 vols. 8vo, 1813, |