and 4 of the clock in the morning. This great man died a true confessor of this distressed and afflicted church, and the publick has received a great loss by his fall. The last etter I had from bim was dated the 1st of April last, when he gave me a very dismal and deplorable relation of the utter extinction of his right eye, and of the great weakness of his left, which caused such extreme pain, that he was forced to obtain some kind of ease, to lye upon the bed a good part of the day. He died in the three score and twelfth year of his age, (being born on June the 3d, in 1638) and has left me a large collection of MSS. papers, which I shall have sent to me by an excellent friend in a short time.

Within these twelve months we have lost several learned and worthy men; and I am afraid that in a little time we shall hear of the death of the Reverend and learned Dr. Humphrey Prideaux, Dean of Norwich, who has informed us that he is miserably afflicted with an unpassable stone in the bladder, which intirely interrupts his studies, and he has by the exquisite pain and anguish of it been forced to lay aside a great work he had begun concerning the original and history of Tythes, whereof he lately published one volume in 8vo. and intended three others for the publick, had not this distemper put a fatal stop to the undertaking.

I wish this learned divine had both health and

leisure to revise and correct the Marmora Oxoniensia, by comparing his edition with the stones themselves. When he published this useful work he was very young, and had more regard, and thought it more for the honour of himself, to write long notes, than to take accurate copies of the several inscriptions. I am informed that he is become highly sensible of this neglect, and for that reason does not care to discourse with any one about the edition. However, what he did is prodigious, and far beyond his years. 'Tho' the Marble Chronicle, and some others are almost quite defaced (occasioned in a great measure by being exposed to the weather, and to the abuses of children, who are continually playing in the area, and of other ignorant persons) yet I find that many of them still be read with ease,

may

and the mistakes in divers respects corrected, which would tend much to the clearing of antiquity, and to the advancement of curious and critical learning. But these are not times to set about, or to expect, such an undertaking, when patrons are scarce and books of true value are subject to so many difficulties in vending them. Amongst others of these marbles, I observe one to the memory of Claudius Agathemerus and Myrtale his wife, of which neither Dr. Prideaux nor Mr. Selden have said one word. The inscription (which is in verse) plainly informs us that this Agathemerus was a most learned and

successful physician; but it does not acquaint us when he lived, nor what countryman he was. Nor do I remember to have heard of any books under his name. Perhaps you could suggest some useful remarks for settling the point. Yet I do not know that you have said any thing about it in your excellent Dissertation upon Agathemerus, one of the lesser geographers, published by Dr. Hudson, who is now printing Festus Avienus, and will afterwards proceed with the other parts that are to compleat the III d. vol.

I am, Sir,

Your most oblig'd humble Servant,

THO. HEARNE.

Oxon, May 14, 1710.

Be pleased to give my humble service to Mr. Cherry, Mr. Brokesby, and (if you chance to see him) to young Mr. Hayes of Holly-Port, to whom I wish a long life, vigorous health, and all possible success in his studies, that he may make a good and useful man. The small-pox is still very rife here, and mortal.

LETTER LXXVI.

Mr. JOSEPH BINGHAM to Dr. CHARLETT.

Maps of Ecclesiastical Geography.

HOND. SIR,

HAVING this opportunity I could not but lay hold of it to return you my thanks for your last remembrance of me from London. Sir P. Sydenham called upon me in his journey, and bought some books of me at Winton, where I have lately disposed of Dr. Sayer's study among friends, finding it as profitable to sell books as to write them, tho' I have made a shift to send another Vol. now to the press. Mr. Sone desired me to recommend the bearer to your favour to be Bible Clerk the next vacancy, assuring me that he was both a sober youth and a tolerable good scholar, and if you have not disposed of the place, I should be glad to hear that you think him worthy of an office which contributed in part to my own education. We expect two new members for the county, Sir Simeon Stewart and Mr. Pit, who are in the poll 4 or 500 voters before their Competitors here at Winton, and it is supposed they will rather gain than lose in the Isle of Wight. This is all the present news this place affords. I would have had my bookseller to have printed a little set of Maps of Ecclesiastical Geography, about 10 or 12, to have gone

along with my next book, but he is not willing to venture upon it without assurance of subscriptions or the like, so I must let it drop, which I am sorry for, because I take it to be an useful thing for all that read ancient Ch. History.

I am, with all due respects,

Your obliged Fr. and Serv.

All Sts. Day, 1710.

J. BINGHAM.*

LETTER LXXVII.

Dr. LLOYD, Bishop of Worcester, to Dr. CHARLETT.

Hebrew Learning.-Longevity.

SIR,

1710, Nov. 10.

I DOE very heartily thank you for your kindeness in making Simon Lamb Bible Clerk upon my commendation. It will be a great pleasure to me if ever it come in my power to do

* The learned author of "Origines Ecclesiastica; or, the Antiquities of the Christian Church." He was born at Wakefield, in 1668, elected fellow of University College in 1689, presented, by Dr. Radcliffe, to the rectory of HeadbourneWorthy, near Winchester, about 1695, collated in 1712, by Sir Jonathan Trelawney, at that time Bishop of Winchester, to the rectory of Havant, near Portsmouth, and died in 1723.