WELBY (Henry), a singular gentleman, was a native of Lincolnshire, where he had an estate of above 1000 pounds a year. He possessed, in an eminent degree, the qualifications of a gentleman. Having been a competent time at the university and the inns of court, he completed his education by making the tour of Europe. He was happy in the love and esteem of his friends, and indeed of all that knew him, as his heart was warm, and the virtues of it were conspicuous from his many acts of humanity, benevolence, and charity. When he was about 40 years of age, his brother, an abandoned profligate, made an attempt upon his life with a pistol; which not going off, he wrested it from his hands, and found it charged with a double bullet. Hence he formed a resolution of retiring from the world; and taking a house in Grubstreet, he reserved three rooms for himself; the first for his diet, the second for his lodging, and the third for his study. In these he kept himself so closely retired, that for 44 years he was never seen by any human creature, except an old maid that attended him, who had only been permitted to see him in some cases of great necessity. His diet was constantly bread, water-gruel, milk, and vegetables, and, when he indulged himself most, the yolk of an egg. He bought all the new books that were published; most of which, upon a slight examination, he rejected. His time was regularly spent in reading, meditation, and prayer. No Carthusian monk was ever more constant and rigid in his abstinence. His plain garb, his long and silverbeard, his mortified and venerable aspect, bespoke him an ancient inhabitant of the desert, rather than a gentleman of fortune in a populous city. He expended a great part of his income in acts of charity, and was very inquisitive after proper objects. He died the 29th of October 1636, in the 84th year of his age, and lies buried in St Giles's church, near Cripplegate. The old maid-servant died but six days before her master. He had a very amiable daughter, who married Sir Christopher Hilliard, a gentleman of Yorkshire; but neither she, nor any of her family, ever saw her father after his retirement.