HERVEY (James), a late divine of exemplary piety, was born in 1714, and succeeded his father in the livings of Weston Favell and Collingtree in Northamptonshire. These being within five miles of each other, he attended alternately with his curate; till being confined by his ill health, he resided constantly at Weston; where he diligently pursued the labours of the ministry and his study, under the disadvantage of a weak constitution. He was remarkably charitable; and desired to die just even with the world, and to be, as he termed it, his own executor. This excellent divine died on Christmas-day 1758, leaving the little he possessed to buy warm clothing for the poor in that severe season.—No work is more generally or deservedly known than his Meditations and Contemplations: containing, Meditations among the tombs, reflections on a flower-garden, a delectant on creation, contemplations on the night and starry heavens, and a winter-piece. The sublime sentiments in these pieces have the peculiar advantage of being conveyed in a flowing elegant language, and they have accordingly gone through many editions. He published besides, Remarks on lord Bolingbroke's letters on history; Theron and Aspasio, or a series of dialogues and letters on the most important subjects; some sermons, and other tracts.