PREFACE.

AMONG the various objects which engage

the notice of mankind, there is none more worthy of contemplation than the human character adorned with the treasures of intellectual improvement and carried to its utmost perfection. In the developement of such a subject the mind is instructed and the heart improved; while veneration and love insensibly excite a noble and generous emulation.

If the character of the person, whose life is here imperfectly recorded, were not fully commensurate with that laid down, yet was he far advanced in the scale of intelligent and moral beings and as such, it is presumed, will ever attract attention.

Independent of his rank amongst divines, Taylor is to be regarded as holding a distin

guished place in the republic of letters and walk of genius. Few persons have possessed in their full extent qualifications more adapted to the description of a true poet, than this great man.

"Ingenium cui sit, cui mens divinior, atq' os
Magna sonaturum, des nominis hujus honorem."
Hor. Sat. 4. Lib. i.

Impressed with the excellence of the subject, and believing that society is benefited by the presence of illustrious example, the author of the following pages was induced to collect materials for the Life of Taylor; but not until he had observed that, from various causes, it had been relinquished by abler hands *. Of these it will be expected he should give some account.

The first person who recorded any history

* The author might have been deterred from entering into this subject, had he not been urged to the investigation, by several literary friends of acknowledged judgment. Among these, he records with pleasure the name of Dr. Thomas Fanshaw Middleton, whose friendship, ("quâ apud animum meum nihil carius habeo") was manifested on this occasion, in a letter written, whilst on his voyage to his Bishopric of Calcutta, to stimulate the author to the task.

of this eminent Bishop was Dr. George Rust; who, in a sermon preached at Taylor's funeral, and published in quarto in 1668, has comprehended the leading points of his life, and entered minutely into his character. The author of the "Athenæ Oxonienses and Fasti," has preserved some further information on the subject; but from the nature of these works they did not admit of room for more than the chief events of his life, and the bare mention of his writings. Short as the record is, it will be found in great part authentic; and to have been the source of information to all the subsequent compilers of biographical Memoirs.

The next in order was Thomas Baker, of St. John's college, Cambridge; who, in his manuscript notes to the works of the antiquary already mentioned, and preserved in the public library in that university, added to the stock already collected.

Bishop White Kennet left important remarks on his writings: and in the Cole ma

nuscripts are observations on the same subject, made with a view to an Athena Cantabrigienses. In later times, the Reverend Mr. Wheeldon, rector of Wheathamstead in Hertfordshire, and prebendary of Lincoln, made a selection of his works; which he published with a preface in the year 1789, (including large extracts from Bishop Rust's sermon preached at Taylor's funeral,) in order to revive attention to the genius and character of this superior man. And in still more modern days, a further selection was made, accompanied by extracts from other early English writers, with a preface, by Basil Montague, esq. A. M. printed in London, 1805.

The admirers of Taylor had some reason to hope for additional information from the pen of the late Reverend Ralph Nicholson, of St. James's in Liverpool, and rector of Dudcote, near Abingdon in Berkshire; but death deprived the world of his abilities, which appear to have been eminently qualified for the task.*

*See Gentleman's Magazine: January, 1763: Obituary. Mr. Nicholson died December 25th, 1792. His

To supply in some measure this deficiency, the author has endeavoured, by reference to original and authentic documents, preserved, in the British Museum, University library at

papers have since that time been examined, and nothing relating to Taylor has been found. This information is obtained through the favour of Sir Christopher Robinson, Mr. Nicholson's son-in law; and is confirmed by Archdeacon Churton; who, in writing to a friend, quotes a letter from Mr. Nicholson, sent a short time before his death, in which he declares that his inquiries were not attended with success. In the Gentleman's Magazine for the year 1791, a correspondence is inserted, between Mr. Nicholson,under the initials R. N. and other contributors under the signatures of E. J. and O. C. from which it appears that the materials for a Life of Taylor then in Mr. Nicholson's possession, were as follow:

"1. Particulars in which the 'Biographia Britannia' "differs from the 'Oxford Antiquary' in the account of "the said Bishop.

“2. A more exact Catalogue of his Writings than that "in the 'General Dictionary' or 'Anthony Wood'; where"in the authenticity of the major part is proved, the "spurious rejected, and the places where they were "written and published ascertained.

"3. A Copy of Archbishop Laud's Letter to the "Warden and Fellows of All Souls College, recommend"ing Mr. Taylor to their election as Fellow, which was "accepted, though under more than one statutable "disqualification.

4. Testimonia Auctorum, and some other pieces."