"Four Hundred Texts of Holy Scripture, with the corresponding Passages, explained to the Understandings of common People, arranged under the several Heads: Texts which appear contradictory. Not to be understood literally. Improperly translated. Better translated otherwise. Requiring Explanation. The Parables. The whole compiled with a View to promote Religious Knowledge, and to facilitate the Reading of the Divine Writings. By Oliver St. John Cooper *, M. A. Vicar of Thur are some parts of Miss Woolstonecraft's book, in particular, which may be thought to provoke this species of ridicule. We wish the Author had kept up the irony with more success; for though we do not think ridicule to be the test of truth, we always wish to be able to enjoy a hearty laugh with these pleasant fellows called laughing Philosophers." M. Rev. N. S. IX. 353. * Son of the Rev. Oliver St.-John Cooper and Judith his wife, one of the daughters of Thomas Orlebar, Gent. brother of Richard Orlebar, Esq. of Hinwick Hall, in the Parish of Puddington in Bedfordshire. He was born at Milton Erness in that County, and baptized July 26, 1741, his father being then Curate of Milton, and afterwards Rector of Tilbrook near Kimbolton. He received the first rudiments of his education at the school of Dean, a Village in that County; afterwards went to the school of New College, Oxford, and in due time was admitted of that College as Bible Clerk, and became A. B. in that University 1761. He took the degree of M. A. at Cambridge in 1784, having entered himself of Sidney Sussex College there. He was for a considerable time a Curate at Wisbeach in Cambridgeshire; after which, in 1766, he was presented to the Vicarage of Puddington, on the presentation of his relation, Richard Orlebar, Esq. one of the Clerks of the Privy Council; and to the Vicarage of Thurleigh, on the death of Robert Laroque, Clerk, in 1784, by Susanna Crawley, John Crawley, Susanna Crawley, Junior, Samuel Crawley, and Thomas Halsey, having been previously appointed one of the domestic Chaplains to Gertrude Duchess Dowager of Bedford, Oct. 5, 1784; his Dispensation and Letters Patent bearing date in the same month. When he resided at Thurleigh, he was for a considerable time Curate of Milton Erness. He married for his first wife Miss Pickering, of Puddington, by whom he had a son John, now an eminent Surgeon in Kent, and another child, which died; this wife lived but a few years. The second wife, now living (1814), was one of the daugh ters of Thomas Cockman, Esq. of Woolaston in Northamptonshire, by whom he had the six following children-Mary-Anne, Samuel, Lettice-St.-John, Oliver-St.-John, another Oliver-St. John, leigh and Puddington, in the County of Bedford *." John, and Charles-William. He died at Thurleigh, May 3, 1801, after a short illness; and was buried by his first wife, on the 8th of the same month, at Puddington, by his particular desire.— Mr. Cooper was related to the Lords St. John of Bletsoe, his grandfather, Samuel Cooper, of Farnborough, Gent. having married Barbara, daughter of Oliver-St.-John (third son of Sir Oliver-St.-John, the first Baronet of that name, and uncle to Paulet the seventh Lord St.-John). He was a diligent and an esteemed Preacher, and was ever remarkably attentive to the sick, to whom, with reiterated spiritual advice, he commonly gave medical; his knowledge of Physic being equal to that of many of the profession; insomuch that he had offers of proper certificates to enable him to receive a Doctor's degree from Edinburgh. He kept a medicinal thest, and gave liberally, not only medicine, but advice to, and attendance on, the neighbouring poor. Besides his knowledge of Antiquities, he was well versed in Heraldry; in which, by his Works, it appears he took much pleasure. Sometimes, also, he amused himself with Musick. He was in behaviour affable, by disposition generous and humane, charitable above what worldly prudence in the time he lived could well justify, considering the mediocrity of his income and his large family, kind to his relatives, and steady in friendship, and to his servants a truly considerate master. He published, in the Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica, three Bedfordshire parishes, Puddington (of which he was Vicar) 1783; Wimmington (where he had been some time Curate) 1785; and Odell 1787. He was the Author of "Four Hundred Texts of Holy Scripture," &c. (as above) 1792; a very sensible anonymous Letter to the Bishop of Lincoln, intituled "Reflections on the Cruelty of inclosing Common Field Lands, particularly as it affects the Church and Poor, 1796;" and after his death was published, in 1806, his "Manual of Orthodox Divinity;" which was printed by the Endeavour Society, who purchased the copy for a small sum. His unpublished Works are, the Histories of Bromham and Turvey, in Bedfordshire, both almost fit for the Press; and about 15 thin volumes of Collections relating to that County; two books respecting general History; and a considerable quantity of loose papers; all which are now, by purchase, in the possession of the Rev. Thomas Orlebar Marsh, Vicar of Stevington, and F. L. S. of Fulmersham House, Bedfordshire. * "The design of this good Parish Priest, whom we have had occasion to celebrate for his antiquarian researches, cannot be enough commended; and, we can add, his execution is equal to his design. We heartily recommend this compilation to the many thousands of Christians,' who, we (with Mr. Cooper) hope and trust, seriously and devoutly apply themselves to understanding the will of God from his written word'." Gent. Mag. LXII. 842. "Hawk "Hawkherst; a Sketch* of its History and Antiquities, upon the Plan suggested in the Gentleman's Magazine for procuring Parochial Histories throughout England," 4to. * By David Jennings, Esq. of Hawkherst, and of Fenchurch Street; long known and highly valued by his Fellow Citizens, for his active zeal, and the strictest integrity, in public situations of great responsibility; particularly as Chairman of the Land and Assessed Taxes for the City of London, and a Special Commissioner of the Property Tax. In these several situations, his conduct has been uniformly and equally firm to the just demands of Government, and lenient to the fair and equitable claims of indulgence to Individuals. Under the several Commissions above named, the City pays above a million annually in direct Taxes; and to the credit of the Commissioners it may be stated, that no default has taken place in the Collection, which in some districts is obliged to be supplied by re-assessments on the inhabitants. Hall-house, in this parish, for two centuries in the family of Mercer, came by purchase in 1662, into the possession of Nathaniel Collyer, Esq., and from him to his grandson Dr. Nathaniel Lardner; who, dying unmarried, bequeathed his property at Hawkherst to his sister's daughter and her husband, Mr. Joseph Jennings; by whose son, the Historian of the Parish, it is at present possessed. + This elegant Local Tract being now exceedingly scarce, I shall take from it two short extracts : "An oval marble tablet has lately been erected, on the ornamental part of which it is sufficient to observe, that it is executed by the first Statuary of the age, Bacon. On the upper part of the oval is a Bible, open at the first page of the New Testament, surrounded by rays of light, with the motto running through it, God said, Let there be light, and there was light. And on a black marble in the centre; 'Nathaniel Lardner, D. D. Drew his first and latest breath at Hall House, in this Parish, Benevolent as a Gentleman, indefatigable as a Scholar, exemplary as a Minister, wherever he resided. His Usefulness was prolonged to his S6th year; when, having established the Historical Credibility From reverence to the memory of his Uncle, "Scotish Poems, reprinted from scarce Editions. Collected by John Pinkerton, F. S. A. Perth *, &c." "Modern Britons, and Spring in London," by the Rev. Thomas Monro. "A Letter to Charles Bonner, Esq. Deputy Comptroller of the Post-Office, by Philip Thicknesset," 8vo. "An Historical and Picturesque Description of the County of Nicet." Imperial Folio. It were unjust," Mr. Jennings observes, " to quit the account of this Parish without a tribute to the memory of Mr. Thomas Redford, a respectable inhabitant. He was a man of strong natural understanding, and had by constant application acquired much knowledge; as the information he possessed, however, was all his own attainment, he had often formed sentiments that were peculiar, and which increased acquaintance with science, and commerce with the world, sometimes compelled him to alter. He was for many years assistant to the Receiver-general of the County; and his unceasing punctuality and strict integrity recommended him to be Agent to several Noblemen and Gentlemen who had estates in the neighbourhood, and who did not reside; in this capacity, his letters were always well written, and a proof how much superior native good sense is to unmeaning civility and parade. He was occasionally an anonymous writer in the Gentleman's Magazine, and his style and character are sufficiently marked to those who were acquainted with him. A Disquisition on Spiders darting their Webs was one of his subjects of controversy, in which, like many theorists, he maintained the impossibility of the fact till experience had convinced him of the fallacy of his principle. He died, after a long and painful illness, October 1774, at the age of 67. Such a man was truly the ornament of his native village. * "With laudable zeal has the Scotish Nation lately rescued from oblivion a great number of those Poets who illustrated the dawn of their Literature. Among their Printers, the Morisons of Perth have deserved well of the Publick, by elegant pocket editions of Dunbar, and other versifiers, whose works merited preservation; and among their Editors none more than Mr. Pinkerton seems industriously to have searched and wisely to have gleaned among their remnants of antiquity. We have already followed him through three similar publications." M. Rev. N. S. XI. 172. + Of whom see an account in the "Essays and Illustrations." + "This elegant and splendid production gives a very satisfactory and pleasing description of this part of the Continental territory of his Sardinian Majesty. The plates consist of twelve views, 1793. "A Sermon preached at Park Street Chapel, on April 19, 1793, being the Day appointed for a general Fast. By James Scott*, D. D. late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge," 4to. which are very neatly engraved, and remarkably well coloured; and the romantic and pleasant appearances, which they afford, are admirably adapted to tempt the beholder to visit the scenes themselves, which are the substances whence these beautiful shadows are reflected." M. Rev. N. S. X. 308. * James Scott, of Trinity College, Cambridge; B. A. 1757; M. A. 1760; B. D. 1768; D. D. 1775; a celebrated public Preacher at Cambridge, and well known in the days of Wilkes and Liberty as Writer of the Political Letters in the Public Advertizer signed Anti-Sejanus. In 1760 he far outstripped his competitors for the Seatonian prize, in a Poem which was published under the title of "Heaven;" and afterwards printed "Odes on several Subjects, 1761," 4to; a Spousal Hymn; or, an Address to his Majesty, on his Marriage, 1761," 4to, "Purity of Heart, a Moral Epistle," which gained the Author a second Seatonian Prize; "An Hymn to Repentance, 1762," a third Prize Poem. In 1763 he published "The Redemption, a Monody;" written for the Seatonian prize, but rejected; and, in the same year, "Every Man the Architect of his own Fortune; or, the Art of Rising in the Church, a Satire;" in which he thus describes himself: "No sly Fanatic, no Enthusiast wild, Yes, he abhors each sordid, selfish view, And dreads the paths your men of art pursue." In 1771, through the friendship of the Earl of Sandwich, he was presented by the Governors of Greenwich Hospital to the Rectory of Symondsburne, in the County of Northumberland; a Rectory of such magnitude and value, that, on the next presentation, it is intended to be divided into four, or, perhaps, into six, distinct benefices, each of which will be a very acceptable preferment to the Divine who may be so fortunate as to obtain it. In the line of his profession Dr. Scott has been distinguished by several elegant Discourses. "How far a Dependance, and a Sense of Gratitude, should influence our Conduct; a Sermon preached before the University of Cambridge, Jan. 1. 1764.” “A Sermon |