quick succession he rose to several dignities, which were soon after crowned by the mitre. In 1559 he was consecrated bishop of Salisbury, and never were ecclesiastical rank and emolument more judiciously bestowed. Dr. Jewell had shewn his attachment to the Reforma tion in the most critical times; he had enforced its doctries both by his eloquence and his writings, and had adorned them by his blameless life and exemplary con

versation.

The papists, however, though often confuted, were not to be abashed. The more absurd any tenets are, the stronger hold they take on minds of a certain cast; the feeble intellect is confounded by what it cannot comprehend, and it regards the plausible delusions of designing men as the sacred mysteries of religion. On this account the bishop of Salisbury found it necessary to be active and urgent in his exertion to trace and disconcert the schemes, and break through the snares, of an assiduous and domineering party. He impeached some of the leading dogmas of the Romish church, and challenged the whole world to defend them, but the papists, though they did not altogether decline the controversy, knew too well the disadvantageous ground on which they now stood, to enter the lists with him in public.

The bishop, encouraged by success, and emboldened by the present aspect of affairs, published his famous Apology for the Church of England. This work was translated into all the modern languages of Europe, and even into Greek: it did more service to the cause of the Reformation, and more injury to popery, than almost any other work that can be named, or put in competition with it; and still deserves to be read by every member of the church of England, and in short by every

SIR THOMAS GRESHAM.

Born 1519.-Died 1579.

From 10th Henry VIII., to 21st Elizabeth. IN the age of queen Elizabeth, our commerce began to expand itself to the remotest parts of the world; and the character of a merchant to become as truly respectable as in the eye of reason and the scale of utility it certainly de serves to be. The national opulence of Britain, her consequence, and her glory, arise neither from peculiar fertility of soil, extent of territory, nor number of inhabi tants, in all which respects she is excelled or rivalled by her neighbours but from her shipping, manufactures, and trade; from the spirit of enterprise that actuates her capitalists; from the industry and ability of her artists; and from the skill and resolution of her seamen: which last have carried the British flag, either to enrich or aggrandize their country, wherever winds blow, or ocean rolls.

But among all the mercantile characters who in past or present times have done honour to their native land, or immortalized their memory by laudable and benevolet actions, there are none that can be put in competition with GRESHAM: a man who will be remembered with gratitude while the city of London shall remain the emporium of nations; and while extensive commercial knowledge, combined with a love of science, shall merit esteem and reputation.

Thomas Gresham was descended of an ancient family in Norfolk, several of whom had born the honour of knighthood; and among the rest his father sir Richard, who was sheriff of London in 1531, and much employed by Henry the Eighth in his foreign contracts and negociations. He had two sons, the elder of whom, though bred to his father's business,

accompanied the protector Somerset in his expedition to Scotland, and was knighted by him in the field of battle at Musselborough, but died in the reign of queen Mary. The younger, the subject of the present memoirs, was also bound very early to the trade of a mercer; but it appears probable that this was only to initiate him in a general knowledge of business, for neither his birth nor his fortune required that he should for any length of time submit to the drudgery of a

counter.

It is to be lamented, however, that scarcely a single particular of this celebrated merchant's early life can be found on record: it is certain that he received a classical education: and, notwithstanding his apprenticeship, he passed some years at Caius college, Cam bridge, under its great founder Dr. Caius; who, in compliment to the learning and proficiency of his pupil, calls him mercator doctissimus, or the very learned merchant."

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But though the higher departments of trade are by no means incompatible with great advances in learning, Gresham's destination in life being early fixed by paternal solicitude, he soon engaged in active commerce; which put an end, in a great measure, to his literary pursuits, though not to his zeal in the cause of learning. He was made free of the mercers' company, and about the same time married the widow of a gentleman by the name of Reade.

On the death of his father, who had been the king's agent at Antwerp, another person was appointed to that office but from his defect either of abilities or integrity, he involved his sovereign in considerable difficulties; and young Gresham, being consulted on the mode of extricating his majesty from the pressure of certain pecuniary engagements, gave such shrewd.

and satisfactory advice, that he was immediately authorized to carry his own ideas into execution, and remove to Antwerp with his family in the character of royal agent.

Here he soon found himself involved in a business of great intricacy, arising from the want of prompt responsibility in his government; the fertility of his invention, however, enabled him to accomplish the object in view with honour to himself, and advantage to his master. Having discovered the selfish and intriguing disposition of the Flemings, he counteracted it in the most effectual manner for the service of his country; and raised the reputation of England to such an unusual pitch, that he could with facility borrow money on equitable terms, either on account of government or by his own private credit. He turned the balance of trade wholly in favour of England; and so much raised the course of exchange, that money flowed apace into his native country, which had been exhausted before, and was even deeply in debt to the citizens of Antwerp.

However, on the accession of queen Mary he was removed from his appointment; but not before he had obtained sufficient grants from his late royal master to enable him to live with credit in the style of a private gentleman. In a patent, settling a pension on him and his heirs for ever, signed only three weeks before Edward's death, among other honourable expressions are these words, "You shall know that you have served a king."

During the reign of Mary he was rather a petitioner for justice, than an object of favour; but when Elizabeth ascended the throne, and merit was confident of royal regard, he was among the first citizens of London who experienced her discriminating attention. She employed him to furnish the arsenals with arms; and

soon after conferred on him the honour of knighthood, and made him her agent in foreign parts.

Among his fellow-citizens his credit at this period had arrived at a very high pitch; and in order the more firmly to establish his connexions among them, he built a spacious house on the west side of Bishopsgate-street, afterwards called Gresham-college, where he lived in a style becoming his character, opulence, and station.

But that prosperity which had hitherto been his constant attendant with little variation, was now interrupted by the severest domestic calamity. He had an only son named Richard, about sixteen years of age; and his toils and his cares were probably all directed to secure the fortune and to promote the welfare of this object of his fondest affection: but he was deprived of him in the bloom of youth, before it was possible that his virtues could be developed, or his faults could diminish the anguish of a parent's sorrow.

The strong ties which bound him to his offspring being now for ever dissolved, with the dignity of a man who still wished to perpetuate his name by honourable service, he turned his thoughts to the welfare of his fellow-citizens, among whom he lived highly respected and beloved.

The merchants of London had hitherto met to transact business in the open air in Lombard-street, subject to all the inclemencies of the weather; and he conceived that he could not more essentially serve them, than by erecting an Exchange for their use on the plan of the Bourse at Antwerp. Animated with this liberal idea, he only requested the corporation to assign him an eligible spot of ground for the purpose, and promised them to erect the edifice at his own expense. Such an offer could not be considered with