But the popularity with which Camden's first production was received, did not constitute the only reward that sweetened the zealous assiduity of his life; for long before it was brought down to the mature state already described, he enjoyed more valuable receipts of dignity. In 1593, he was appointed to succeed Dr. Grant as head master of Westminster School; and in 1597 he was transferred, through the interest of Sir Fulke Greville, to the Heralds' College, first with the rank of Richmond Herald, and then of Clarencieux, King of Arms. This change of profession, so. well accommodated to his favourite pursuits, and so productive of a greater share of literary leisure, did not, however, take place before he had given a lasting earnest of his care for the advancement of his pupils, by publishing a Greek grammar for the benefit of the school. The book was retained in use for many years, but is deserving of no greater merit, than that of being a sensible abridgement from a more copious volume composed by his predecessor. In 1600, he again diverted his mind from profound researches, by drawing up an account of the monuments in Westminster Abbey, with their inscriptions;—a publication long since urged into oblivion by the accession of more popular remains, but entitled to grateful mention in these pages, as the parent of many imitative productions, which it is the object of the present enlarged undertaking to supersede.

As a matter of course Camden was by this time, associated with the nascent Society of Antiquaries, for which he subsequently

to the curiosities of literature. In this pursuit. he had many rivals but no superiors. His books were not more estimated for the rarity of the editions, and the splendour of their bindings, than for the intrinsic value of the authors; his medals and minerals comprised the most exquisite specimens ; and his prints and drawings were numerous and choice beyond example. Mr. Cracherode's habits were retired and regular in the extreme: for the last forty years of his life he never missed going every day, at a stated hour, to his bookseller, Elmsley, in the Strand, and thence to Payne's, at the Mews Gate; and with the same punctuality, he called every Saturday night, to have his watch regulated at Dutton's in Fleet-street. The greatest journey of his life was from London to Oxford; he was never on horseback; and only knew his estate by an etched plate. His funeral, in conformity with the modesty of his life, was by his own orders strictly private; while his fortune, as he had never been married, was inherited by an only sister. He was a good scholar, and wrote I atin verse with ease.

composed, as occasion required, various short essays connected with the profession of the members-performances of which the most interesting may be seen preserved in the collection of Thomas Hearne. The next period distinguished by his exertions, was the year 1603, during which he printed, at Franckfort, a series of ancient writers on English History, of whom some had never before been published, and others were now first edited with an exact text and explanatory notes. This display of regard for the fame of his country added greatly to his own reputation; the task was well received, but as the works themselves have long ago lost their interest, it is unnecessary to expatiate upon the style in which they appeared. In 1608 he issued from the London press, a 4to. Latin volume, entitled, "Remains of a greater work on Britain," which was only subscribed with the final letters of his name. This modesty was evidently occasioned by a conviction that the contents were for the larger part unworthy of his former labours; for the preface contains an admission that they are only the refuse of a better undertaking. But, notwithstanding these disparaging circumstances, the book was dedicated to his friend Sir Robert Cotton, and ran through several editions.

The discovery of the Gunpowder Plot led to a fresh proof of the estimation in which Camden's talents were held; for when the pedantic James looked around him for a writer to give a detail of his escape to the nations of Europe, he fixed upon the author of the Britannia as his historian. The injunctions of a sovereign were of course readily observed, and in a manner the most likely to secure the grace of approbation: he wrote the account in Latin, gave the court version of the treason, and has therefore been seldom quoted as an authority upon the subject. Still he felt so well satisfied with the reception of the composition, that he resolved forthwith to undertake a more important concern, and give annals of the reign of Queen Elizabeth-a labour to which he was first encouraged by the suggestions of his old patron the Lord Treasurer Burleigh. He accordingly began to make serious preparations for the work in 1608; his mind was now disembarrassed of other cares, but he had a more arduous impediment in the bad state of his health, and was thus unable to complete the first part of the work before the year 1615. It was written in Latin; was honoured with a review in manuscript by King

James, and printed in folio, at London, under royal approbation. Like all party productions, it met with a divided fortune: by some it was extolled with the warmest applauses, and by others attacked with the most resolute opposition. Camden received the admiration of his friends with gratitude, but met the reproaches of his enemies with deep chagrin. Though repeatedly challenged to the field of disputation, he found it more prudent to be silent than to reply; and was so awed by contradictions, that, though he finished the history in 1617, he refused to let it be published before his death.

These annals of the reign of Queen Elizabeth were published by Hearne, at Oxford, in three vols. 8vo. 1717: they have been less popular than the Britannia, yet have always been held worthy of a creditable preservation by conflicting authors. Hume bestows a lavish praise upon them; and Robertson, as far as they are interwoven with the affairs of Scotland, pronounces as unqualified a censure; while a host of writers prove that the Irish transactions are either grossly mistold, or ignorantly related. If then, for the sake of brevity, we may form an opinion of the work upon the testimonies of Hume and Robertson alone, it may perhaps not be too much to assert, that the former chiefly regarded those beauties by which he is himself most distinguished, -elegance of style and purity of language; while the latter decided upon the nobler merits of impartial investigation and correct facts. Thus Camden will be found to have furnished an equable relation of things, delivered with classical propriety, and implicitly faithful to one interest: his version is ruffled by no doubts, and broken by no discrepancies; he adopts a prevalent story, and arranges the incidents presented to him with poetical justice. Moral truth and historical rectitude, however, are in such a case sacrificed; and Camden therefore, though read with pleasure, has never been adopted by able judges, either as a guide or a model.

All the plans of a sedulous capacity were by this time prosperously realized, and our author was enabled to spend the remainder of his days in ease and honour. On one occasion he was recalled to more active occupations by being appointed Professor of History in Dr. Sutcliffe's new College of Polemics at Chelsea. But the institution, though supported by the patronage

of King James, failed of success, and Camden was finally restored to leisure. Thenceforward his only avocations arose out of his office at the Heralds' College: these were by no means excessive; and he generally used to spend his summers at a seat he possessed near Chiselhurst, in Kent, and return during the winter to his mansion in Westminster. But though no longer emulous in literature, he felt a grateful affection for its interests, and made one of the latest acts of his life memorable for the benefit it conferred on the cause. In 1622, he founded an historical lectureship in the University of Oxford, and made over for its support his interest in the manor of Bexley, in Kent, then valued at 1407. a-year. He had the satisfaction of nominating the first lecturer to the endowment; but expired at Chiselhurst during the month of November in the following year, aged 73. He directed his body to be buried in the parish church; but it was removed to his house in town, and interred with great heraldic pomp under that spot in the Abbey which is now indicated by his monument.

In concluding the life of Camden it is observable, that though styled the founder of British Archeology, he was neither the first nor the best who treated upon the subject. He may be considered a writer of good Latin, but not a standard author, and a studious reader rather than a judicious compiler. Of all his works the Britannia alone is now referred to, and that in a translation, of which the subject-matter is particularly defective, and mainly preserved by a huge body of editorial annotations, which swell the publication into four volumes folio. The most authoritative panegyric he ever received, was pronounced by Hume; and perhaps the bitterest sarcasm shot against him was uttered by O'Flaherty in his 'Ogygia,' who said—

Perlustras Anglos oculis, Camdene, duobus,

Uno oculo Scotos, cæcus Hibernigenas.

211

HUGH CHAMBERLEN, M.D. F.R.S.

HUGH CHAMBERLEN, Doctor in Medicine, is principally entitled to notice here for an elegant monument standing in the north aisle of Westminster Abbey,* and a classical epitaph of elaborate prolixity by Bishop Atterbury. As to the particulars of his life, they can only be given with brevity; for, of all who rise to fortune and reputation by the exercise of undoubted talents, the medical are perhaps exclusively those men, who in their works and deeds are considered with the least interest by their contempo

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Upon the adjoining pillar is a tablet of white marble, surmounted by a medallion, and relieved with emblematical devices: it was executed by Bacon, and has its destination imparted in the following lines:

In memory of

Dr. JOHN PLenderleath,

Third son of John Plenderleath, Esq. of Glen, in Tweedale, Scotland, Physician to the forces serving under the Marquis of Wellington, in Portugal, Who died at Coimbra of a Typhus Fever, on the 18th of June, 1811,

Aged 28 years.

He was eminently distinguished by the strength of his mental faculties,
His great classical and professional knowledge;
And no less so by the humanity of his heart,
Which manifested itself on all occasions,

But especially towards the numerous sick and wounded,
Both of his countrymen and the enemy,
Who were committed to his care.

In commemoration of his public virtues,
And of his many amiable qualities in private life,
This monument is erected

As a small tribute of parental affection.