"Indeed, by his exalted name, I ever took him to be none of our smaller prophets, nor of the patres minorum gentium. In his first education, and at his first appearance in the grammar-school, he soon signalized himself; none of his age and stature being well able to keep pace with him. At his coming unto the university, it was by times taken notice of his stock of grammar, and all good learning, especially in the learned languages; and his studies and manners were such, that he rendered himself in the college both much a scholar and much a gentleman, and was chosen out from amongst others to instruction and government therein, and particularly the instruction and government of several young gentlemen, and some descended from some of our noble and most honourable families in our kingdom and nation. In the churches of Christ, unto the service whereof he was never slack, when invited and called, his very first-fruits were promising; and his first-fruits being holy, the lump was also holy. The crowds in Hackney Church, in St. Mary Woolnoth Lombard Street, at Exon, at Dublin, at Raphoe, at London-derry, and last at St. Mary, Aldermanbury, in our own city, declare him a master-workman, the preacher that was wise, and that sought out acceptable words: and his words were as profitable as they were acceptable."

Bishop Hopkins had an elder brother named John, B. A. of Wadham College, who died before he took the degree of Master; and a younger, named James, B. A. of Corpus Christi College, who, dying also before he was Master, about the month of October, 1663, was buried at Hackney. They were all three," adds Wood," comely and ingenious persons, and beloved of their contemporaries in their respective colleges *.

* Wood's Athen. Oxon. vol. ii. p. 851.

Two sons, Charles and John, who inherited, in some measure, the talents and genius of their father, survived him, though but for a few years. Some account of them is given in the Appendix. Their history is affecting, as they appear to have imbibed but little of their great father's spirit and virtues, Charles at least, if not his brother, falling an early victim to his excesses, though, it may be hoped, as will appear, in a penitent frame of mind.

Such are the scanty accounts which I have been able to glean of this eminent man. "It were heartily to be wished," says the editor of the folio volume of our author's works, "for the honour as well as ornament of the Church of England, that the picture of this great man was drawn at its full length by some skilful hand; and we are not yet without hopes that some or other of his friends who knew him best will still erect a monument to his memory." That these hopes were never realized is a subject of deep regret to every admirer of our author's inestimable writings. Mr. Prince's is the fullest account of him; but it is too short to do justice to his character.

APPENDIX I.

SOME ACCOUNT OF MR. CHARLES HOPKINS, SON OF BISHOP HOPKINS.

"He was born at Exeter; but, his father being taken chaplain to Ireland by Lord Robarts when Lord Lieutenant in 1669, our poet received the early part of his education at Trinity College, Dublin; and afterwards was a student at Cambridge. On the rebellion in Ireland in 1688, he returned thither, and exerted his early valour in the cause of his country, religion, and liberty *. When public tranquillity was restored, he came again into England; and fell into an acquaintance with gentlemen of the best wit, whose age and genius were most agreeable to his own. In 1694, he published some EPISTOLARY POEMS AND TRANSLATIONS; and, in 1695, he shewed his genius as a dramatic writer by PYRRHUS, KING OF EGYPT, a tragedy, to which Mr. Congreve wrote the Prologue: (see English Poets, vol. xxix. p. 84). He published, that year, THE HISTORY OF LOVE; a collection of select fables from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1695; which, by the sweetness of his numbers and easiness of his thoughts, procured him considerable reputation. With Mr. Dryden, in particular, he became a great favourite. He afterwards published THE ART OF LOVE; which, Jacob says, added to his fame, and happily brought him acquainted with the Earl of Dorset and other persons of distinction, who were fond of his

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company, through the agreeableness of his temper and the pleasantry of his conversation. It was in his power to have made his fortune in any scene of life; but he was always more ready to serve others than mindful of his own affairs; and, by the excesses of hard drinking and a too passionate fondness for the fair sex, he died a martyr to the cause in the 36th year of his age.' I shall preserve in this collection an admirable HYMN, written ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE HIS DEATH, WHEN IN GREAT PAIN. His COURT-PROSPECT, in which many of the principal nobility are very handsomely complimented, is called by Jacob' an excellent piece;' and of his other poems he adds, that they are all remarkable for the purity of their diction, and the harmony of their numbers,' Mr. Hopkins was also the author of two other tragedies: BOADICEA, QUEEN OF BRITAIN, 1697; and FRIENDSHIP IMPROVED, OR THE FEMALE WARRIOR, with a humorous Prologue, comparing a poet to a merchant; comparison, which will hold in most particulars, except that of accumulating wealth. Our author, who was at Londonderry when this tragedy came out, inscribed it to Edward Coke, of Norfolk, Esquire; in a Dedication, dated Nov. 1, 1699, so modest and pathetic that I am persuaded I shall stand excused if I print it at full length:

"The greatest, and indeed almost the only advantage, a poet reaps from what he writes, is the opportunities he meets with of making himself known to the best and greatest men of his age. A play is first made public in the Theatre; and, when it comes to the press, if any one has spoken kindly and favourably of it in the representation, the poet chooses Him for his patron; he having before, according to the author's construction, chosen him for his poet.

"The distance I am at from the city, and even from the kingdom too, will keep me ignorant, for some

time, what success this play, which I humbly offer to your patronage, may meet with. If the town is pleased with it, I shall be pleased with myself for pleasing them : if they condemn it, I shall be apt to conclude so many in the right, rather than my single self. You saw it in manuscript; and I have this early and auspicious advantage, that you approve of it. "Boadicea" pleased them; and I received a very great additional satisfaction, when I understood how particularly it pleased you.

"I will not go to compare that play and this together; nor follow the custom of reckoning the last performance best, and shewing the greater fondness of the youngest brat. The rhime was the only thing, that recommended that; and, for ought I know, the only thing too, that can recommend this.. I could wish for something distinguishing in it, because it is sacred to you; and I should desire to be known to you at advantage. If the pains in writing will endear it to you, it cost me much more than the former. It has some sort of design besides, such as it is; but I was never very guilty of plotting. I can hardly keep the characters in my play from being as honest and sincere, as I would be myself in a dedication. A vicious character disturbs me while I draw it; and it grates me to delineate a villain. 'Tis certain no poet can excite any passion in another, if he does not feel it first in himself *. Who then will choose to describe Discontent, Envy, or Revenge; when they may have such fair fields as Honour

* This paradox is somewhat analagous to that respecting acting which Johnson so decisively exposed, and may be refuted on the same ground. He said one day to Mr. Kemble," Are you, Sir, one of those enthusiasts, who believe yourself transformed into the very character you represent?' Upon Mr. Kemble's answering that he had never felt so strong a persuasion himself; To be sure not, Sir,' said Johnson, the thing is impossible: and if Garrick really believed himself to be that monster, Richard the Third, he deserved to be hanged every time he performed it.'" Boswell's Life of Johnson: 2d. edit. 1793, vol. iii. p. 499,