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heard. The bishop inviting me to dinner, I could not but observe, 1. The lovely situation of the palace, covered with trees, and as rura and retired as if it was quite in the country; 2. The plainness of the furniture, not costly or showy, but just fit for a Christian bishop; 3. The dinner, sufficient but not redundant; plain and good but not delicate; 4. The propriety of the company, five clergymen and four of the aldermen; and 5. The genuine unaffected courtesy of the bishop, who I hope will be a blessing to his whole diocese.'

Sam. Badcock writes 5 Dec. 1782 (Nichols Lit. Anecd. v. 230, 231): 'Mr. Wesley, after receiving the sacrament this last summer at the cathedral of Exeter, was invited by the bishop to dine at the palace. There were some who thought his lordship might have spared the compliment; but others considered it as only another proof, added to the many he hath already given, of his amiable courtesy, candour and good-sense. How far he relaxed his zeal or his dignity by his condescension, may be a point to be canvassed by the scrupulous; but the wise and the good of every communion will settle it in a moment.

"The discourse at the table turned on a variety of literary topicks. At that time the public was amused by the controversy about Rowley's poems. Mr Wesley said, that he had made enquiries about Chatterton; and from the information he could gather, he could scarcely believe him equal to such a complicated and ingenious piece of fraud. The subject introduced the name of Mr Jacob Bryant. Mr canon [Geo.] Moore asked him, if he had ever read that gentleman's Analysis. He said, he had not only read the first two volumes, but had actually abridged them. Mr Moore lent him the third volume, which he intended to abridge likewise. These are instances of uncommon assiduity, as well as singular curiosity, in this transcendant man, as bishop Warburton denominated him, in a vein of mingled satire and irony; but posterity may perhaps apply the epithet to him without a jest.'

Wesley's description is confirmed by Geo. Ashby (Nichols Lit. Anecd. 11. 185): The bishop has confined himself, through 30 years of the prime of a life uncommonly abstemious, to an unceasing reading of the very best books only on the most important subject.'

He was a friend and patron of Geo. Ashby of St John's (Nichols Lit. Anecd. I. 157; II. 186; III. 146; VIII. 680; his letters to Ashby II. 186-189). He also gave preferment to Ri. Hole, translator of the Homeric hymn to Ceres (ibid. VIII. 92).

He seems to have had little historical sense, as he 'turned over' Baker's MSS. and found nothing of interest in them (ibid. IV. 511; v. 663).

He died at Exeter 14 Aug. 1792 and was buried in the S. aisle of the choir there. The Roman Catholic historian of Exeter cathedral, Dr Oliver (p. 164) calls him 'this learned member of the Royal Society, as modest as he was learned.... His career was gentle and unpretending, making himself affable to all.' See Gent. Mag. and Eur. Mag. for Aug. 1792. The substance of his will is given by

Nichols, and the epitaph on a small marble tablet by Jenkin (Hist. of Exeter).

His first publication was: A Dissertation after the manner of Mr. Markland, in which the defence of P. Sulla is clearly proved to be spurious. 8vo. Lond. 1746 (Nichols II. 184—188 ; IV. 281 ; V. 412). 5

'Animi causa, ut per elpwvelav illuderet Marklando et Tunstallo, hunc librum composuit Rossius' (Orelli). There can be no doubt that Markland's scepticism was excessive; speeches condemned by him and F. A. Wolf are cited as genuine by Madvig.

Gray wrote to Wharton 25 Apr. 1749 (Works, ed. Mitford, III. 63, 10 64): Ross's Epistles of Tully ad familiares will come out in about a week. It is in two handsome 8vo. volumes, with an Introduction and Notes in English, but no translation, dedicated to Lord Gower.'

Marci Tullii Ciceronis epistolarum ad familiares libri XVI. Edidit et commentario Anglico illustravit Joannes Ross A. M. Cantabrigiae 15 typis academicis excudebat J. Bentham impensis Gul. Thurlbourn. A. M.DCC.XL.IX. 2 vols. 8vo.

In the notes Ross imitated, but has not equalled, Mongault's excellent French commentary on the letters to Atticus; in the text he generally followed Olivet, but had the use of a MS. of Dr Mead's, his 20 description of which betrays a want of familiarity with MSS. The letters are arranged in chronological order. He sensibly defends the use of English, then very unusual, as the language for notes on the ancients. This is still the most convenient edition, though there is little in the notes which may not be traced to Victorius or Manutius. 25 Orelli says of it in his index editionum, 'Editio et elegans nec frequens. Annotationes partim criticae, partim exegeticae minime contemnendae; usus est Codice manu scripto. Ceterum nemo adhuc editorum Germanicorum, ut tamen optabile erat, hac Ed. uti potuit.'

Jer. Markland was still sore from the old grudge when he wrote, 30 9 June 1749 (Nichols Lit. Anecd. IV. 313, cf. 319): 'I have had a very full and innocent revenge upon him for his pertness and want of judgement in undertaking what I then saw he knew nothing of; and now see so many instances of his ignorance and want of skill and taste in these matters as, if I could shew them to you, would make you 35 laugh, even though you had a moderate fit of the cholic upon you. But this between ourselves; for this is the Esoteric Doctrine, which I shall communicate only to Mr. Clarke and yourself [Wm. Bowyer the printer]. The Exoteric is, that the English is very good, and the Notes (scarce one of them his own, but taken from others, without any 40 acknowledgement for the most part) very useful, and such as I could wish might be read by everybody. I do not doubt but he will get a great deal of reputation from this work.'

There was a report that the Cicero was called in by Ross when a bishop (ibid. VIII. 414).

For some sermons published by Ross see Index to Monthly Rev. and Darling.

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RI. BEADON, bp. of Gloucester and Bath and Wells. Consecrated 1789.

Son of Rob. B. freeholder ('suum fundum colentis'), born 15 Apr. 1757 at Oakford Dev. where his grandfather Sam. Squire was rector, at Bampton school under Wood, examined and approved by Murthwaite, adm. pens. under Brooke 30 Apr. 1754. Foundation scholar dec. Browne 4 November 1755. Nominated Hare exhibitioner by the master yearly 1755-1759. B.A., 8th wrangler and senior medallist, 1758, M.A. 1761, B.D. 1769, D.D. 1780. Members' prizeman 1759 and 1760. Lector matutinus 1760; sublector sive moderator 1761; examinator in dialectica 1762; lector mathematicus in perspectiva 1763; jun. dean 1768, 1769.

On Dr Powell's death in 1775, lords North and Sandwich and bp. Brownlow North endeavoured to procure the mastership for Beadon ; but John Fisher, afterwards bp. of Salisbury, and the junior fellows, secured Chevalier's election (Ann. Biogr. 1826, 222; Nichols Lit. Anecd. I. 578, 579).

In 1781 Cole writes to Dr. Lort (ibid. 671): "There is a good master [Beadon] sent to Jesus College, with whom every one seems pleased, and Dr. Gooch in particular.'

He married Rachel daughter of Dr John Gooch (Ibid. IX. 582; Lit. Illustr. VI. 650).

He was tutor to the duke of Gloucester, which led no doubt to his preferments (Public Characters, 1823, I. 108).

When in 1801 Hannah More was slanderously accused, she wrote a long and interesting vindication of her schools and work to her bishop, whose reply is creditable to his good sense (Roberts Memoir and Correspondence of H. M., ed. 2, III. 123—141).

Public orator 1768-1778; held Reculverland prebend Lond. 12 Oct. 1771-1775 (Hardy's Le Neve II. 432); archd. of London 22 Febr. 1775-1789 (ibid. 325); held Mapesbury prebend Lond. 23 Febr. 1775-1802 (ibid. 409); master of Jesus 1781-1789; v. c. 1781 and 1782. He held the rectory of Stanford Rivers Essex (Annual Biogr. 1825, 395; Nichols Lit. Anecd. II. 380); the rectory of Orsett Ess. in the patronage of Bp. Terrick, whose chaplain he was; and the chancellorship of St. David's (MS. Cole Add. 5850; Britton's Cath. of Wells cited by Mr Yate).

Consecrated bp. of Gloucester 7 June 1789; confirmed bp. of Bath and Wells 2 June 1802; died at Bath 21 April 1824 and was buried in Wells cathedral (Stubbs; Hardy 1. 148, 442; Cassan's Bishops of B. and W. II. 179, 180). His wife survived him and resided in Charles Str. Berkeley Squ. (List of Subscribers to Cassan).

'Bp. Beadon, whilst at Bath and Wells, either by purchase or clever management of leases, contrived to get a considerable portion of the estates into his own possession, and bequeathed them to his son [his only son Ri. Beadon]; by whose extravagance or neglect the property has been dissipated, and been necessitated to be sold (in 1837 or 1838).' CHAS. YATE.

He was a near relation to the wife of Jo. Newcome, master, who made him his exor., and left him a large legacy (Nichols Lit. Anecd. I. 560, 564).

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He was a friend and connexion of R. C. Whalley (Whalley's Memoir etc. xxxiii. xxxiv, 61, 119, 125). A letter, written after his promotion, 5 with the burden Nolui episcopari, is in Journal and Correspondence of T. S. Whalley II. 35.

He was a correspondent of Rob. Robinson, the noted Dissenting minister in Cambridge (Dyer's Life of Robinson 132). It seems to have been a common thing for church dignitaries to solicit sermons from 10 Robinson; and Beadon was among the importunate suitors (ibid. 89): 'Robinson always spake of this man as a person of amiable manners and of liberal sentiments: he knew him to be determined on preferment, but thought him too enlightened to be a bishop. On hearing of his advancement to a mitre, he archly remarked, He is no fitter to be 15 a bishop, than I am'. As Beadon's only publications are an S. P. G. sermon and a fast sermon, it is not likely that Robinson, who wrote against the observance of Good Friday, supplied them (Upcott's Biogr. Dict. of living authors, 1816, 18, 412).

Another of his friends was Horne Tooke (Tooke's Life 1. 23).

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At college he was a member of the Hyson Club, with Geo. Pretyman (Tomline), Gilb. Wakefield, prof. Waring and others. He was then orator; 'which office I have heard him discharge with an excellent elocution, and a latinity, easy, elegant and copious' (Gilb. Wakefield's Memoirs, ed. 2, I. 132). A fragment of Beadon's speech on presenting 25 the duke of Grafton for his degree is in Cradock's Memoirs L. 151.

His elder brother Edwards Beadon was born at Brushford Somerset, educated at Bampton school under Wood, adm. pensioner 2 Apr. 1744 under Rutherforth.

12 Apr. 1759 Agreed to elect Mr Beadon into the vicarage of 30 Higham.' Conclusion Book.

He died 17 Dec. 1810, rect. of N. Stoneham Hants, j. p. for Hants, vic. of Minting (Gent. Mag. 1790, 1151 b; Dec. 1810, 665).

John Watson Beadon, fell. Jes., B.A. 1788, M.A. 1791 was rector of Christian Malford Wilts and Fairley Chamberlain Hants. (T. S. 35 Whalley's Journals 1. 409; Clerical Guide); precentor of Wells 24 June 1812; appointed to Lytton preb. B. and W. 3 Aug. 1805; died Aug. 1835 (Hardy's Le Neve 1. 172, 198).

Three of bp. Beadon's grandsons were of St John's, sons of Ri. Beadon and Annabella daughter of Sir Wm. Pierce Ashe a'Court bart. 40 (Gent. Mag. lxv (1). 485 b); Wm. Fred. B.A. 1829, barrister, police magistrate first at Wandsworth, then at the Marlborough Str. police court, who died 30 Mar. 1862 (Camb. Indep. Press 5 Apr. 1862; Eton Lists; Walford's County Families); Ri. a'Court B.A. 1832, M.A. 1835; presented to Wivelscombe prebend B. & W. 18 July 1833 45 (Hardy's Le Neve 1. 201); vic. of Cheddar 1836, of Wivelscombe 1837 (Crockford's Clerical Directory); Hyde Wyndham B.A. 1835, M. A.

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1839, vicar of Haslebury Plucknett 1837 and of Latton with Eisey (Eton Lists; Crockford).

WM. STUART, bp. of St David's, abp. of Armagh. Consecrated 1794.

See Gent. Mag. LXVIII. 992 b; Ann. Reg. xxxv. 66; XLII. 54; Ann. Biogr. 1835, 445 a.

Youngest son of the earl of Bute, and his wife Mary, daughter of lady Wortley Montagu; born at London 16 Mar. 1755, educated under Joseph Warton at Winchester, admitted fellow commoner 14 Jan. 1772 under Beadon and Ferris.

Boswell says (Life of Johnson, ed. Croker, 1851, 723): On Thursday, April 10 [1782] I introduced to him, at his house in Bolt Court, the Honorable and Reverend William Stuart, son of the Earl of Bute; a gentleman truly worthy of being known to Johnson; being, with all the advantages of high birth, learning, travel and elegant manners, an exemplary parish priest in every respect.' Malone adds: 'At that time vicar of Luton, where he lived for some years, and fully merited the character given of him in the text.'

Appointed canon of Windsor 18, installed 23 Mar. 1793; on his resignation a successor was appointed 13 Nov. 1800 (Hardy's Le Neve III. 412). Consecrated bp. of St. David's 12 Jan. 1794, which see he resigned 12 Oct. 1800 (ibid. 1. 306; Stubbs 123; Nichols' Lit. Illustr. VI. 640). Translated to Armagh by patent dated 22 Nov. 1800. Died 6 May 1822, by accidentally taking poison instead of medicine. Buried at Luton park. In Armagh cathedral is a full length marble figure of him in the attitude of prayer (Cotton's Fasti III. 28; Ann. Biogr. 1823, 462, 463; Public Characters, 1823, 1. 56; Walcott's Wykeham 386; Burke's Peerage, where his pedigree may be seen).

JOHN FISHER, bp. of Exeter and Salisbury. Consecrated 1803.

The eldest of 10 sons of Jo. Fisher cur. of Hampton Midds., born at Hampton. His father was chaplain to John Thomas, preceptor to Geo. III. who died bp. of Winchester 1 May 1781; with bp. Thomas he went to Peterborough and became vicar there and was collated to the prebend of Preston Sarum 30 July 1759 (Hardy's Le Neve 11.674), which he resigned in 1779 (ibid. 677). In 1768 he removed to the living of Calbourn I. of Wight, where he died.

The son was educated first at Peterborough and then at St Paul's under Dr Thicknesse. He entered at Peterhouse in 1766 under Dr Edm. Law and was intimate with his sons. In 1770 he took his B.A. degree as 10th wrangler. M.A. 1773, B.D. 1780, D.D. 1789. He obtained an appropriated fellowship at St John's in 1773, and became tutor of the college, 'in which capacity he acquired considerable distinction, not only for his various talents, but for the suavity of his manners, and the peculiarly felicitous manner with which he conveyed instruction. He was engaged as private tutor to prince Zartorinski Poniatowski, and afterwards to Mr. St. George, son of the late abp. of Dublin, who dying, Dr. Fisher was for some time with Sir J. Cradock

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