INTRODUCTION. IX 



ton, poetry professor at Oxford. He was ad- 

 mitted at Oriel College, Oxford, in December, 

 1739, and took his degree of Bachelor of 

 Arts in June, 1743. In March, 1744, he was 

 elected Fellow of his College. He became 

 Master of Arts in October, 1746, and was 

 admitted one of the senior Proctors of the 

 University in April, 1752. Being of an un- 

 ambitious temper, and strongly attached to 

 the charms of rural scenery, he early fixed 

 his residence in his native village, where he 

 spent the greater part of his life in literary 

 occupations, and especially in the study of 

 Nature. This he followed with patient assi- 

 duity, and a mind ever open to the lessons of 

 piety and benevolence, which such a study is 

 so well calculated to afford. Though several 

 occasions offered of settling upon a college 

 living, he could never persuade' himself to 

 quit the beloved spot, which was indeed a 

 peculiarly happy situation for an observer. 

 Thus his days passed tranquil and serene, 

 with scarcely any other vicissitudes than those 

 of the seasons, till they closed at a mature age 

 on June 26, 1793." 

 JARDINE HALL, August, 1829. 



