1799-] 
few remarks upon them, which may ferve 
to kindle in the minds of perfons better 
informed than myfelt, a refolution of 
giving more ample and correct memoirs. 
1. JAMES PIERCE, Divine. 
This learned critic, and eminent con- 
troverfialilt, has been omitted, together 
with his coadjutor, HALLETT, in every 
biographical work that has fallen in my 
way. No two names ftand higher in 
the clafs of biblical critics, nor any a- 
mong what are called rational diffenters, 
and yet they have been ftrangely negleéted. 
They were both fettled at Exeter, at the 
head of a Jarge and relpeétable congrega- 
tion of prefbyterians; and when Dr. 
Clarke kindled the controverfy refpeéting 
the Trinity, they avowed the Arian hy- 
pothefis, which raifed a violent diftur- 
bance among the diffenters in the welt of 
England. Mr. Pierce commenced his 
literary career by a very able, and what 
is rather unufual in a polemical treatife, 
a very entertaining book, entitled ‘* 4 
Vindication of the Prateffant Diffcuters,”’ 
which was firft publifhed in good Latin, 
and afterwards in Englith, 1717, in re- 
ply to Dr. Nicholls’s ‘* Defence of the 
Church of Enzland.’ He alfo printed 
feveral fingle fermons and tracts, but 
his greateft work is his ‘* Commentary on 
St. Paul’s Epifiles”’ 1 believe both 
he and Mr. Hallett were natives of 
Exeter, or its neighbourhood. Sure 
it is in the power of many now liv- 
ing, to gather fome interefting faéts re- 
lative to thefe able fcholars, and though 
the information be but little, it is better 
tocommunicate that little to the public 
through the channel of a refpectable work, 
than to fuffer men of fuch merit to remain 
without any memorial. 
2. BENJAMIN Martin, Mathematician. 
A meagre notice is given of this extra- 
ordinary and indefatigable man in the 
Jaft edition of the ‘‘ General Biographical 
Didtionary, butno reader can be {atis- 
fied with it; we are left by it totally in 
the dark as to the birth-place, various 
fettlements, and even family of this in- 
genious writer. He was at one time 
fettled as a f{choolmafter at Chichefter, 
but from the circumiftance of his after- 
wards becoming an itinerant le¢turer in 
experimental philefophy, it feems tha 
his fchool did not anfwer. He next fet 
up as a mathematical inftrument maker 
and optician in Fleet-ftreet, where he 
failed. The catalogue of his writings is 
very numerous, and all of them are very 
relpectable, but he certainly fucceeded 
better upon philolophical than mathema- 
Dr. Watkins on Articles of neglected Biography. 
184 
tical fubje&ts.. The plan of his philofo- 
phical grammar isa very excellent one; 
though it is marked by too mutch pedan- 
try. His ‘* Magazine of Arts and Sci- 
cncies,” was a good work, and it excites 
aftonithment and indignation to find that it 
dropped for want of encouragement. His 
‘¢ Philological Library,” is a very judi- 
cious compendium, and extremely well 
fitted for the ufe of young perfons, and 
thofe who have not the means of procuring 
many books. A new edition, with corm 
reCtions and improvements, would doubt- 
lefs be acceptable at prefent, efpecially 
as the book is become rather fcarce. The 
fame may be faid of the ‘* Philofophical 
Grammar,” and fome of the other produc- 
tions of this induftrious writer. I have 
been told that his ‘* Young Gentleman's 
and Lady’s Philofophy,’ which firft ap- 
peared in his magazine, and was after- 
wards publifhed in two volumes, owes 
much of its livelinefs to his daughter, 
who polifhed the language, and feleéted 
the poetical paflages which ornamented 
the work. It I am not miftaken, a 
fon of Mr. Martin’s is now living ; if 
it fhould be fo, Thope this fketch will 
fall in his way, and ftimulate him to 
fend the publifher of this magazine fome 
information which may be made ufe of 
in drawing up a more fatisfactory me- 
moir of his father. The chief particu- 
Jars defired are ms birth place, names 
and proteffion of his parents, dates of 
bith, death, &c. place of his education, 
his different fettlements, &c. 
3. SAMUEL DuNN, Mathematician. 
This gentleman was the contemporary, 
correfpondent and friend of Benjamin 
Martin. He was a native of Crediton, 
in Devonfhire, where he kepta refpeéta- 
ble mathematical ichool for feveral years 5 
but afterwards removed to Chelfea, where 
he was engaged in the fame way. He was 
deeply verfed in the fcience of calcula- 
tion, and was a good praétical aftrono- 
mer; feveral reports of his obfervations 
being inferted in the Philofophical Tranf- 
actions. He was alfo the author of fome 
feparate treatifes on mathematical fubjeé&ts, 
and publifhed an Atlas in folio which 
has been held in good eftimation. He di- 
ed in. good circumftances, and left an 
eftate of about thirty pounds a year, 
to fupport a mathematical {chool in his | 
native town, the Arft mafter of which was 
appointed in 1793. 
4. MARTIN MapaAn, Devine. 
This once very popular clergyman was 
brought up tothe bar, and poifefled ex-- 
traordinary powers as anorator. He had 
a hand- 
