business and literature, preserved in the Archives, the Library, and the Master's Lodge of Trinity College, and the registers and public records belonging to the University. I have also examined and gleaned much information from Mr. William Cole's voluminous manuscripts, from the Harleian papers, and other materials in the British Museum; from the collections of Hearne and Gough the antiquaries, and from the Ballard papers in the Bodleian Library at Oxford; a considerable correspondence between Archbishop Wake and Dr. Bentley, preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth: and a great variety of letters and other original documents, which have been communicated to me by different private hands. Next to the first-named great collections of original papers, I have derived the most assistance from three manuscript journals kept by Dr. Colbatch, Dr. Rud, and Mr. Attwood, who detailed from day to day with great exactness events in which Dr. Bentley was concerned during several interesting periods of his life.

I have of course been careful to investigate and draw from the works of Bentley and his contemporaries, as well as from every subsequent publication, whatever authentic anecdotes or hints I could discover which might be of use in his biography. In the latter class of publications, I feel that it is a just tribute to acknowledge the frequent assistance which I have found in Mr. Nichols's volumes of Literary Anecdotes and Illustrations of Literature. I have examined every one of the numerous pamphlets re

lative to Bentley's literary works and his personal controversies which are any where recorded to have appeared, besides several others which have escaped the notice of bibliographers and collectors.

In taking this work in hand, I had little suspicion of its extent, or the time required for its completion : of the labour which it has cost me, I shall say nothing; since this can only be appreciated by such readers as may have employed themselves in similar undertakings: from them I shall probably have credit for an endeavour to give a faithful representation of incidents long past; and they, perhaps, will be most disposed to treat with indulgence the faults and imperfections of the book.

My special acknowledgments are due to the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, for their kindness and confidence shown in the unreserved communication of all the documents in their possession; to Mr. WILLIAM HUSTLER, the Registrary, for greatly facilitating my researches in the Archives of the University; to the REV. DR. BLISS, and the gentlemen who have the care of the Bodleian Library, for their kind assistance in furthering my enquiries in that noble repository; and to the Rev. DR. D'OYLY, Librarian of the Archbishop of Canterbury, for similar aid in the Manuscript Library of Lambeth Palace.

To many gentlemen I am indebted for memoranda, original letters, and other documents which have contributed to this narrative; of whom I would par

ticularly mention Mr. JOHN BLAYDS, of Oulton, for information respecting Bentley's family and early years; the Very Rev. DR. WOOD, Dean of Ely, for the particulars of him while a member of St. John's College; to the Rev. DR. TOURNAY, Warden of Wadham College, for notices respecting his residence at Oxford; to Mr. UPCOTT, Librarian of the London Institution, for copies of a valuable correspondence of Bentley with his distinguished friend Evelyn; to the Rev. DR. BURNEY, for the communication of many detached papers respecting Bentley, collected by his learned father; to MR. JAMES RIMINGTON, for a large mass of papers belonging to Dr. Colbatch; and to the late MR. BENTLEY WARREN, for the communication of many interesting particulars which he had learned from his uncle, Dr. Richard Bentley, of Nailstone in Leicestershire, the nephew and executor of our hero. There are many other persons, who have kindly supplied me with detached materials, to whom my obligations are expressed in the If I have in any instance neglected to make this acknowledgment, I trust that the omission will be attributed to oversight and accident.

notes.

One more remark is necessary, before this volume leaves my hands. As I have been obliged to relate the particulars of several sharp controversies and stormy disputes, it has happened that the conduct of some personages concerned is represented in unfavourable colours. In so doing I have had no object in view except the establishment of truth; and as more than a century has now passed away

since the transactions alluded to took place, I trust that the parties may be considered as being fairly the subjects of history. Should there, however, be any part of my book which occasions pain or displeasure to the descendants of persons who figure in the narrative, I can only say that I shall be sincerely concerned at such a result, as being entirely contrary both to my feelings and intentions.

· Deanery, Peterborough, April, 1830.