M I D D L E T N. 



237 



In 1729, Middleton published "A letttT from Rome, 

 shewing an exact conformity between Popery and Pa- 

 ganism ; or, the religion of the present Romans derived 

 from that of their Heathen ancestors." In this letter, 

 he gave offence to some of the English divines, by at- 

 tacking the Popish miracles with that general spirit of 

 scepticism and levity, which seemed to condemn all 

 miracles. In a second edition, he endeavoured to ob- 

 viate this objection, by an express declaration in favour 

 of the Jewit>h and Christian miracles. To the fourth 

 edition, which came out in 1741, 8vo. were added, 

 1. A prefatory discourse, containing an answer to 

 the writer of a Popish book, entitled, " The Catholic 

 Christian instructed, "Sic. and 2. " A Postscript, in which 

 Mr. Warburton's opinion concerning the Paganism of 

 Uome is paticularly considered." 



>n the publication of Tindal's famous book, called 

 " Christianity as old as the Creation," many writers en- 

 tered into controversy with its author ; and, among 

 others, Waterland, who wrote " A Vindication of Scrip- 

 ture," tec. Middleton being displeased with Water- 

 land's manner of vindicating Scripture, addressed " A 

 Letter" to him, in 1731, containing some remarks on it, 

 together with the sketch or plan of another answer to 

 Tindal's book. He did not, however, put his name to 

 the tract ; nor was it known for some time, who was 

 the author of it. Waterland having continued to pub- 

 lish more parts of " Scripture vindicated,'' &c. Prarce, 

 bishop of Rochester, took up the contest in his brhalf ; 

 which drew from Middleton " A Defence of the Letter 

 to Dr. Waterland against the false and frivolous cavils 

 of the author of the Reply, 1 ' 1731. Pearce replied to 

 this defence, and treated Middleton, as he had done be- 

 fore, as an infidel, or enemy to Christianity in disguise. 

 Middleton, who was now known to be the author of the 

 Letter, was, in consequence, very near being stripped 

 of his degrees, and deprived of all his connections with 

 the University. But this was deferred, upon a pro- 

 mise that he would make all reasonable satisfaction, 

 and explain himself, if possible, in such a manner as to 

 remove every objection. This he, accordingly, attempt- 

 ed to do, in " Some Remarks on Dr. Pearce's Reply ;" 

 He also published, in 1733, " Some Remarks," &c. on 

 aa anonymous pamphlet, entitled, " Observations ad- 

 dressed to the author of the I/etter to Dr. Waterland," 

 which was written by Dr. Williams. 



During this controversy, Middleton was appointed, 

 in December 1 -twardian professor, being the 



first appointed by Woodward's trustees. In July 1738, 

 he published hi* inauguration speech, with this title, 

 Oralio dt HOPO phtfiiologia txplicanda muntrt, ex celf- 

 berrimi h 'oudvardi tttlfmfnluinttitulo habUa : Cantabri- 

 gif in tcHolu fmblicit. This situation, however, he re- 

 signed in 1734, when he was made principal librarian. 



In 1735, he published " A Dissertation concerning 

 the origin of Printing in England," &c. in which he 

 endeavoured to prove that this art had been introduced 



byCaxton. In the year 17*1, appeared Middleton'* Middi.ton, 

 great work, " The History of the Life of M. Tullius .^"J"^. 

 Cicero," in 2 vols. 4to. The profits of this work ena- *^~ m 

 bled him to portion two nieces, and to purchase a small 

 estate at Hildersham, about six miles from Cambridge. 

 In 1743, he published " The Epistles of M. T. Cicero to 

 M . Hrutus, and of Brutus to Cicero," &c. in which he vin- 

 dicated the authority of these epistles against the objec- 

 tions of the Rev. Mr. Tunstall. In 17i., lie published 

 Grrmana qwxdam antiquilatit rrudiitr monumenfa, quibut 

 Komanontm veicrum rilitt varii, lam sacii qutm ;>ro/<int, 

 tnm Grovorura atque .T.giiptiorum nonnulli, iUuttraiititr, 

 kc. 4to. ; and in 1747, "A Treatise on the Roman 

 Senate," in two parts. 



In the last mentioned year also, a publication appear- 

 ed, which laid the foundation of another controversy 

 with the clergy. This was his " Introductory Discourse 

 to a larger book, designed here it'ter to be published, 

 concerning the.miraculous powers which are supposed 

 to have subsisted in the Christian church from the 

 earliest ages, through several successive centuries," &c. 

 This introductory discourse was immediately attacked 

 by two celebrated controversial writers, Dr. Stehbing 

 and Dr. Chapman ; and Middleton replied by " Some 

 Remarks" on both their performances. In Dt-i-t tu- 

 ber of the same year, he published his larger work, 

 with this title, " A Free Inquiry into the miracu- 

 lous powers which are supposed to have subsisted in the 

 Christian Church," Stc. Innumerable antagonists now 

 appeared against Kim, among whomDodwclhiml Church 

 distinguished themselves so much, that they were com* 

 plimented by the University with the decree of D.D. 



Meanwhile, Middleton surprised the public with 

 " An Examination of the Lord Bishop of London'* 

 Discourses concerning the use and intent of Prophecy,*' 

 Sec. which was refuted by Dr. Rutlierforth, divinity pro- 

 fessor at Cambridge. While meditating an answer to all 

 the objections made against the " Free Inquiry," he was 

 seized with a slow hectic fever and disorder in his liver, 

 which terminated his life, at Hildersham, on the 28th 

 of July, 1750, in the sixty- seventh year of his age. He 

 left no children by any of his wives. 



In 17.V2, were published the miscellaneous works of 

 Middleton, containing all those above mentioned, with 

 the exception of the Life of Cicero, and several tracts 

 which had not been published during his life. A second 

 edition of these miscellaneous works was afterward* 

 published in five volumes octavo. 



Middleton was undoubtedly a man of great talents, 

 learning, and industry ; and in controversy he was a 

 very formidable antagonist. But neither the principles 

 he proposed, nor the style and tone of bis polemical 

 tract* do much credit to his judgment and temper. 

 None of his works are now much read, except his Life 

 of Cicero, which is certainly a very valuable produc- 

 tion, although written too much in the language of 

 panegyric, (i) 



MIDWIFERY. 



-M 



strictly signifies the art of delivering wo- 

 men ; but it is now universally understood to include 

 also the physiology and pathology of the pregnant and 

 puerperal states, and a knowledge of the management 

 of infants and children both in health and disease. 



The term, in the English language, is derived from 

 the two Saxon words signifying mead and wife, the 

 midwife being the woman who got a present or gift 



for accomplishing the delivery. The old Scotch term Midwlfsry. 

 for midwife is hotudit, supposed to be derived from the " "Y""'' 

 Saxon word signifying childbirth. 



The French name their midwives, from their reput- 

 ed skill, lagrt femmet ; whilst the art itself is styled, 

 from the confinement of the patient, I. 'art del accouche- 

 ntnt. In all ages, and in every country, the practice 

 has been generally in the band* of females ; and both 



