an Antony Wood, and the brighter Talents of a John Eachard. It may not perhaps be unentertaining to the Reader, to give fome Account of an old Custom, which gave rife to Dr. Warburton's Reflection. It was a Practice, I fuppofe, from Time immemorial, when any Guests dined at Lambeth, for the Archbishop, when Dinner was over, and after drinking two or three loyal Toafts, to invite fome Part of the Company into a Withdrawing-chamber. The reft went up with the Chaplains into their own Room, fituated in the highest Tower of the Palace, where they amused themselves with a Pipe of Tobacco, as honeft Wood fays, and a fober Glafs till the Bell invited the Family to Prayers. In Archbishop Potter's Time, I am told, this Custom received fome fmall Alteration: after the ufual Toafts, that Prelate invited fuch of the Company as chose it, to drink Coffee in another Room, and immediately withdrew. At length Archbishop Secker made a very confiderable Alteration in the Etiquette of the Palace of Lambeth, fo far at least as regards the Matter in Question. He broke through the strange and unpolite Practice of diftinguishing one Gueft from another. He laid afide the Aufterity of the high facerdotal Character, as unfit for Festivity, and conversed at his Table with the Ease and Freedom of a private Gentleman. His conftant Method of entertaining his Guests, was fuch as became the Primate of all England, who ought to be at once a Pattern of Hofpitality, and an Example of Sobriety. Meals were chearful, and always feafoned with Difcourfe equally agreeable and inftructive to all who were invited. When the Hour of Parting arrived, all the Company went away together. His Dr. Eachard died in 1697, and was fucceeded in the Mastership of Catharine-hall, by Sir William Dawes. VOL, III, X Eachard's Eachard's Works, (and particularly his Contempt of the Clergy with his Defence of it) we have Reafon tobelieve, were for a long Time the favourite Companion both of Divines and Laymen. Swift fpeaks of them with Refpect. He feems indeed to have read our Author with Attention, and to have greatly profited by him. An ingenious Gentleman affured me, that fome Outlines of the Tale of a Tub, might be traced in the Writings of Eachard. This I am afraid is going too far. Certain it is, that this Writer was endowed with a very large Share of Wit, which he employed to the belt and nobleft Purposes, to the Defence of Religion and Morality when attacked by a Philofopher, who laid claim to the Reputation of a great Scholar, and a profound Mathematician. Eachard had befides a Vein of Humour peculiar to himself, much useful Learning, a strong Manner of Reafoning, without the Appearance of it, and above all an uncommon Skill in turning an Adverfary into Ridicule; in which no Writer has fince exceeded, nor perhaps equalled him. Let us not forget too, that he poffeffed an inexhaustible Fund of Good-nature, with the most eafy and laughing Pleafantry: Qualities, which the haughty and fplenetic Swift could never enjoy. The celebrated Dean of St. Patrick turns his Pen too frequently into a Scalping-knife, and makes his Wit the Executioner to his Ill-nature. Not content to overcome his Antagonist by the Strength of his Abilities and the Force of his Argument, Swift treats him, as if he were not only the dulleft, but the vileft of Mankind. It is not enough for him to conquer, unless he tramples too upon his Enemy: he frequently felects the moft opprobrious Terms and fhocking Expreffions he can find in the English Language; and throws them about at random on Perfons in the most exalted, as well as the lowest Stations on Princes and Stock-jobbers; Chancellors and Printers; Dutcheffes and Coiners; Statef men men and News-writers; Bishops and Ufurers; fine Ladies and lewd Rakes. Eachard contents himself with hunting down the Argument of his Opponent, and rarely meddles with the Man: he thinks it fufficient, if he can prove him to be a dull and affected, a foppifh and pedantic, an ignorant and a foolish Reafoner. He wishes not to render him hateful to the Populace, or obnoxious to the Government. He laughs in his Antagonist's Face at the very Time he difarms him; then helps him to his Sword again, and humouroufly rallies him for not knowing how to use it. In fhort, Eachard's Difcuffion of an Argument or Confutation of a Book, divested of that Severity and Acrimony with which Theological Difputes are too often maintained, refembles a Feaft, where easy Wit, fprightly Humour, Good-nature and good Senfe form the most agreeable Part of the Entertainment. The Infcription on Dr. Eachard's Tomb, will. fhew his Character in a new Light. A Wit is fupposed by some People to be a worfe Member of Society in Proportion to the Share he poffeffes of that dangerous Quality, which as often excites our Hatred as our Admiration. This amiable Man was as refpectable for the Benevolence of his Mind, as the Extent of his Capacity. He executed the Trust repofed in him of Mafter of his College, with the utmoft Care and Fidelity, to the general Satisfaction of the Fellows, and with the Approbation of the whole University. He was extremely anxious to rebuild the greatest Part, if not the Whole of Catharine-hall, which had fallen into decay: but unhappily for the College, he died before he could accomplish his generous Defign. However, he lived long enough to give that beautiful Front, which the Infcription fo juftly celebrates: and this he effected by the most painful Affiduity in procuring liberal Contributions X 2 from from his learned Friends, and confiderable Largeffes from his rich Acquaintance, who could not refift the Power of his perfuafive Eloquence; and laftly, by bestowing the little all he was Master of. He lies buried in the Chapel of Catharine-hall: over his Tomb is the following Infcription which will be a lafting Monument of Dr. Eachard's Worth, and of the Gratitude of the learned Society to which he belonged. Tibi habeas, Catherina, hoc mortale depofitum ; Tenues hafce exuvias: Si quæras cujæ fint, vix lapides tacere poterunt Fundatorem fuum Johannem Eachard S. T. P. Academiæ Cantabrigienfis bis Pro-Cancellarium, Videfne lector, novam hanc collegij faciem Totum hoc mufarum non indecorum domicilium, Huic operi intentus, liberalitate partim fua Nullum non movendo lapidem, (Quæ erat optimi hominis indefeffa induftria,) Et Et vix collegij nomine indigitandum Elegans, magnificum Obijt Julij 7mo 1697. N. B. The greatest part of the Hiftorical Facts in this Narrative are taken from the Account of Dr. Eachard's Life, in the General Dictionary. The Reverend Mr. Farmer of Emanuel-college, has enabled the Editor to correct some Mistakes, and supply fome Deficiencies of that Work.-The Reader is likewife obliged to him for the elegant Inscription on the Tomb of Dr. Eachard. T. D. POST |