568 
evercoming these difficulties, and of pub- 
lishing the materials] have collected, ar- 
ranged, and written; or whether any one 
coming after me, w vill take the trouble 
and care, to make use of them; or whe- 
ther any more able enquirers will tread 
in the same path, I cannot dare to ex- 
pect with any sanguine hope.” 
Perhaps no man in modern times ever 
pursued with more unabated diligence 
and determined spirit those objects of 
study which engaged his attention, than 
Mr." King. liis mind was peculiarly 
formed for profound research; and his 
writings display an uncommon extent and 
variety of learning, and an extraordinary 
acuteness and ingenuity of thought; some 
ot his opinions, particularly on philosophi- 
cal matters, are certainly of a speculative 
nd eccentric kind, though in general no 
man could be more cautious and wary as 
to the conclusions he formed, nor could 
any one suggest his ideas oak more bhu- 
mility 5 the subject which especially en- 
gaged his penetratmeg mind, was the sa- 
ered volume. ‘In him,’ observes a 
learned writer, “ we see an “example, now 
alas! but too uncommon, of a man whose 
propensity for the study ‘of sacred things, 
and particularly of the Holy Scriptures, 
in as active, lively, and sincere, ag any 
feeling of taste, cr any principle of lite- 
rary or elegant curiosity. His works dis- 
play him to our view, meditating on the 
imspired writers, with | an exactness which 
a sincere affection for them only could 
produce; weighing facts and comparing 
them with philosophical discoveries, and 
calling to his aid every branch of know- 
ledze, if by any means he might be able 
to illustrate something obscure, or clear 
away some difficulty.” Of his knowledge 
and skill in the pursuits of antiquity, the 
Munimenta Antiqua, will long continue 
an eminent amd splendid proof. 
We may in a great measure form our 
opinion of the man from a view of his 
writings; for in them will be found, an 
honesty, a candour, a sincerity, and a 
piety which very much s serve to exem- 
plify the amiableness of his mind, and 
the purity of his heart. But to become 
thoroughly acquainted .with the worth of 
his character, it is necessary that he 
should have been seen in his private life 
and conduct: all the duties of which he 
discharged in a most exemplary manner; 
as to his piety, it had a degree of warmth 
and zeal which seenied near enthusiasm ; 
and at the same time, all the solidity, 
gonstancy, and regularity, that the in- 
Memoirs of Eds vard King, Esq. 
[July 3, 
fluence of reason and revelation are cal-+ 
culated to produce on a mind which sin- 
cerely gives itself up to be conducted by 
them. He was kind and charitable in his 
disposition; and was ready to give. te 
those who were in need; as a companion 
he was entertaining at instructive; his 
conversation was full of spirit and al 
ligence; and his manners were charac- 
terized by a plain and genuime simplicity 
which was truly interesting. 
In 1781, he became a vice president 
of the Society of Antiquaries, en the vacan- 
cy oceasioned by the death of Sir Jogeph 
Aylofte, bart. ‘In the year 1783, the so- 
ciety lost its president, the late Dean 
Milles. Yor several years it had been, 
from a variety of causes, im a state very 
far from prosperous ; its pecuniary Te- 
sources deficient, and a certain degree of 
languor attending its weekly meetings, 
which obstructed those lively, animated 
communications of seience, on the sup- 
plies of which, not only the welfare but 
the existence of such a learned body most 
obviously depends. it was therefore 
highly necessary to appoint some person 
to the office of president, who by the in- 
fluence of his character and other qua~ 
lifications might be capable. of restor- 
ing its enfeebled energies. The eyes of 
all were turned on Mr. King, and he 
accepted of the responsible charge. 
Mr. King’s continuance in the office of 
president was, however, but short; for 
at the annual election in the follow- 
ing year, he quitted the chair, in order 
to introduce Lord de Ferrars, now Earl 
of Leicester, as the future president: 
which he did in a speech which will long 
be remembered for the very satisfactory 
account it afforded cf his proceedings, 
and of the noble disinterested principle by 
which he was actuated in his retirement 
from a post, the duties of which he had 
discharged so honourably to himself, and | 
so beneficially to the respectable society 
at the head of which he had been placed. 
This speech was printed. “ I come 
now,” said he, “ to take my leave of this 
dienified station, and to quit this seat of 
high honor, having been-so fortunate as 
to have carried into execution, during the 
short time I have sat here, most of those 
plans and purposes for the advancement 
of the true interests of the society; for 
the augmenting and securing its revenues ; 
and for adding fresh vigour “and spirit to 
its operations “and proceedings; the ac- 
complishment of which, was my sole in- 
ducement for encase to take this 
chargs 
