HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [235 



He was soon afterwards made Preacher of Lincoln's Inn ; and, on the 

 death of Dr. Gekie, received the Archdeaconry of Gloucester, at 

 the recommendation of his friend Warburton. On July 5, 1768, 

 he was admitted D. D. at Cambridge, and on the same day ap- 

 pointed to open the Warburtonian Lecture. In the same year he 

 published an edition of Cowley's Works, with a preface and notes, 

 in which he is accused of having omitted some of the most dis- 

 tinguishing beauties of that poet. In 1770, he lost his steady friend 

 and patron Mr, Yorke; and in 1773, his mother died at the ad- 

 vanced age of 88. About this time an intimacy took place between 

 Dr. Hurd and Lord Mansfield, who was a great admirer of the Doc- 

 tor's talents; and on February 12, 1775, he was consecrated Bishop 

 of Lichfield and Coventry, which dignified preferment is said to have 

 been reserved for him by the King, as a reward for the pleasure 

 which his Majesty derived from the perusal of one of his Dialor- 

 gues. In the same year the new Bishop gave to the world a re- 

 publication of Dr. Jeremy Taylor's Demonstration of the Truth 

 of the Christian Religion, and the following year he was ap- 

 pointed Preceptor to the Prince of Wales and Prince Frederick. 

 The Bishop, having employed the interval between 1776 and 

 1781 in the discharge of his episcopal functions, and the publica- 

 tion of a number of excellent sermons, he was, in the latter year, 

 on the death of Dr. Thomas, Bishop of Winchester, translated to 

 the Bishopric of Worcester, on the collation of the Hon. Dr. 

 Brownlow North to the vacant See of Winchester. About two 

 years afterwards he had the honour, in conjunction with Dr. Louth, 

 Bishop of London, of refusing the Archbishopric of Canterbury, it 

 having been offered him on the death of Archbishop Cornwallis, 

 but was subsequently given to Dr. Moore, Bishop of Bangor. On 

 his arrival at Hartlebury Palace, he thoroughly repaired the castle, 

 built a new library, and furnished it with the greater part of Dr. 

 Warburton's collection, which he had purchased on the death of 

 that prelate, and to which he made considerable additions, at va- 

 rious times. Bishop Hurd had on different occasions received 

 tokens of the Royal regard; and in 1788, he received a visit at 

 Hartlebury from their Majesties and the Princesses, who were 

 then taking the waters at Cheltenham. In 1807 the Prince of 

 Wales and Prince Frederick visited their venerable preceptor. The 

 Bishop passed the remainder of his days at Hartlebury, in the con- 

 stant discharge of his pastoral duties, and the exercise of those 

 virtues which exalt and dignify human nature ; and, after having 



