WARBURTON (William), bishop of Gloucester, a learned prelate, was born at Newark upon Trent, in the county of Nottingham, Dec. 24. 1698. His father was George Warburton, an attorney, and town-clerk of the place, in which this his eldest son received his birth and education. While at school, the bishop showed no indication of superior genius. His original designation was to the same profession as that of his father and grand-father; and he was accordingly placed clerk to an attorney, with whom he remained until he was qualified to engage in business upon his own account. He was then admitted to one of the courts at Westminster; and for some years continued the employment of an attorney and solicitor at the place of his birth. The success he met with as a man of business was probably not great. It was certainly insufficient to induce him to devote the rest of his life to it; and it is probable, that his want of encouragement might tempt him to turn his thoughts towards a profession in which his literary acquisitions would be more valuable, and in which he might more easily pursue the bent of his inclination. He appears to have brought from school more learning than was requisite for a practising lawyer. This might rather impede than forward his progress, as it has been generally observed, that an attention to literary concerns, and the bustle of an attorney's office, with only a moderate share of business, are wholly incompatible. It is therefore no wonder that he preferred retirement to noise, and relinquished what advantages he might expect from continuing to follow the law. It has been suggested by an ingenious writer, that he was for some time usher to a school. In the year 1724, his first work, consisting of translations from Cæsar, Pliny, Claudian, and others, appeared under the title of "Miscellaneous Translations in Prose and Verse, from Roman Poets, Orators, and Historians," 12mo. It is dedicated to his early patron, Sir Robert Sutton, and seems to have laid the foundation of his first ecclesiastical preferment. At this period it is probable he had not abandoned his profession, though it is certain he did not attend to it much longer. About Christmas 1726 he came to London; and while there, was introduced to Theobald, Concanen, and others of Mr Pope's enemies, with whose conversation he was extremely pleased. In 1727, he published a work, entitled, "A Critical and Philosophical Enquiry into the Causes of Prodigies and Miracles, as related by Historians," &c. 12mo, and was also dedicated to Sir Robert Sutton. He was at this time in orders, and on the 25th of April 1728, had the honour to be in the king's list of Masters of Arts, created at Cambridge, on his majesty's visit to that university. In June, the same year, he was presented by Sir Robert Sutton to the rectory of Burnt Broughton, in the county of Lincoln; a living which he retained till his death, at which he spent a considerable part of his middle life in a studious retirement, devoted entirely to letters, and there planned, and in part executed, some of his most important works. Several years elapsed, after obtaining this preferment, before Mr Warburton appeared again in the world as
a writer. It was in this year 1736, that he may be said to have emerged from the obscurity of a private life into the notice of the world. The first publication which rendered him afterwards famous now appeared under the title of "The Alliance between Church and State; or, the Necessity and Equity of an Established Religion and a Test-law, demonstrated from the Essence and End of Civil Society, upon the fundamental Principles of the Law of Nature and Nations." At the end was announced the scheme of "The Divine Legation of Moses demonstrated on the Principles of a religious Deist, from the omission of the doctrine of a future state of rewards and punishments in the Jewish dispensation;" and met with a reception which neither the subject, nor the manner in which it was treated, seemed to authorise. It was, as the author afterwards observed, fallen upon in so outrageous and brutal a manner, as had been scarce pardonable, had it been "The Divine Legation of Mahomet."—It produced several answers, and so much abuse from the authors of "The Weekly Miscellany," that in less than two months he was constrained to defend himself, in "A Vindication of the Author of the Divine Legation of Moses, from the Aspersions of the Country Clergyman's Letter in the Weekly Miscellany of February 24, 1737-8," 8vo. Mr Warburton's extraordinary merit had now attracted the notice of the heir-apparent to the crown; in whose immediate service we find him in June 1738, when he published "Faith working by Charity to Christian Edification; a sermon preached at the last episcopal visitation for confirmation in the diocese of Lincoln; with a preface, showing the reasons of its publication, and a postscript, occasioned by some letters lately published in the Weekly Miscellany. By William Warburton, M. A. Chaplain to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales." A second edition of "The Divine Legation" also appeared in November 1738. In March 1739, the world was in danger of being deprived of this extraordinary genius by an intermitting fever, which with some difficulty was relieved by a plentiful use of the bark. The "Essay on Man" had now been published some years; and it is universally supposed that the author had, in the composition of it, adopted the philosophy of Lord Bolingbroke, whom on this occasion he had followed as his guide, without understanding the tendency of his principles. In 1738, M. de Croufaz wrote some remarks on it, accusing the author of Spinozism and Naturalism; which falling into Mr Warburton's hands, he published a defence of the first epistle, and soon after of the remaining three, in seven letters, of which six were printed in 1739, and the seventh in June 1740, under the title of, "A Vindication of Mr Pope's Essay on Man, by the Author of the Divine Legation." The opinion which Mr Pope conceived of these defences, as well as of their author, will be best seen in his letters. In consequence, a firm friendship was established between them, which continued with undiminished fervour until the death of Mr Pope; who, during the remainder of his life, paid a deference and respect to his friend's judgment and abilities, which will be considered by many as almost bordering on servility. In 1741, the second volume of "The Divine
Warburton Legation" was published; as was also a second edition of the "Alliance between Church and State." Mr Pope's affection for Mr Warburton was of service to him in more respects than merely increasing his fame. He introduced and warmly recommended him to most of his friends, and amongst the rest to Ralph Allen, Esq. of Prior-Park, whose niece he some years afterwards married, and whose great fortune at length came to his only son. In 1742, Mr Warburton published "A Critical and Philosophical Commentary on Mr Pope's Essay on Man." In which is contained a Vindication of the said essay from the misrepresentations of M. de Resnel, the French translator, and of M. de Croufaz, professor of philosophy and mathematics in the Academy of Lausanne, the commentator. It was at this period when Mr Warburton had the entire confidence of Mr Pope, that he advised him to complete the Dunciad, by changing the hero, and adding to it a fourth book. This was accordingly executed in 1742, and published early in 1743, 4to, with notes by our author; who, in consequence of it, received his share of the fatire which Mr Cibber liberally bestowed on both Mr Pope and his annotator. In the latter end of the same year, he published complete editions of "The Essay on Man," and "The Essay on Criticism;" and, from the specimen which he there exhibited of his abilities, it may be presumed Mr Pope determined to commit the publication of those works which he should leave, to Mr Warburton's care. The publication of "The Dunciad" was the last service which our author rendered Mr Pope in his life-time. "The Divine Legation of Moses" having now been published some time, and various answers and objections to it having started up from different quarters, Mr Warburton, in 1744, turned his attention to these attacks on his favourite work; and defended himself in a manner which, if it did not prove him to be possessed of much humility or diffidence, at least demonstrated, that he knew how to wield the weapons of controversy with the hand of a master. His answers are couched in those high terms of confident superiority, which marked almost every performance that fell from his pen during the remainder of his life. At this important crisis, 1745, Mr Warburton printed three very excellent and seasonable sermons, 1. "A faithful Portrait of Popery, by which it is seen to be the reverse of Christianity, as it is the Destruction of Morality, Piety, and Civil Liberty. A Sermon preached at St James's Church, Westminster, Oct. 1745, 8vo." 2. "A Sermon occasioned by the present unnatural Rebellion, &c. preached in Mr Allen's Chapel at Prior-Park, near Bath, Nov. 1745, and published at his request," 8vo. 3. "The nature of National Offences truly stated. A Sermon preached on the General Fast-day, Dec. 18. 1745," 8vo, 1746. Notwithstanding his great connections, his acknowledged abilities, and his established reputation, yet we do not find that he received any addition to the preferment given him in 1728 by Sir Robert Sutton (except the chaplainship to the Prince of Wales), until April 1746, when he was unanimously called by the Society of Lincoln's-Inn to be their preacher. In 1747 appeared his edition of Shakespeare, and his Preface to Clarissa; and in the same year he published, 1. "A Letter from an Author to a Member of Parliament, concerning Literary Property," 8vo. 2. "Preface to Mrs Cockburn's Remarks upon the Principles and
Reasonings of Dr Rutherford's Essay on the Nature and Obligations of Virtue," &c. 8vo. 3. "Preface to a Critical Inquiry into the Opinions and Practice of the ancient Philosophers, concerning the Nature of a Future State, and their Method of teaching by double Doctrine," (by Mr Towne,) 8vo, 1747, 2d edition. In 1748, a third edition of "The Alliance between Church and State; corrected and enlarged." In 1749, a very extraordinary attack was made on the moral character of Mr Pope, from a quarter where it could be the least expected. His "Guide, Philosopher, and Friend," Lord Bolingbroke, published a book which he had formerly lent Mr Pope in MS. The preface to this work, written by Mr Mallet, contained an accusation of Mr Pope's having clandestinely printed an edition of his Lordship's performance without his leave or knowledge. A defence of the poet soon after made its appearance; which was universally ascribed to Mr Warburton, and was afterwards owned by him. It was called, "A Letter to the Editor of the Letters on the Spirit of Patriotism, the Idea of a Patriot King, and the State of Parties, &c. occasioned by the Editor's Advertisement," &c. which soon afterwards produced an abusive pamphlet, under the title of "A Familiar Epistle to the most impudent Man living," 8vo; a performance, as hath been truly observed, couched in language bad enough to disgrace even gaols and garrets. About this time the publication of Dr Middleton's Enquiry concerning the Miraculous Powers gave rise to a controversy, which was managed with great warmth and asperity on both sides, and not much to the credit of either party. On this occasion Mr Warburton published an excellent performance, written with a degree of candour and temper, which, it is to be lamented, he did not always exercise. The title of it was, "Julian; or a Discourse concerning the Earthquake and Fiery Eruption which defeated that Emperor's attempt to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem," 8vo, 1750. In 1751, he gave the public his edition of Mr Pope's works, with notes, in nine volumes 8vo; and in the same year printed "An Answer to a Letter to Dr Middleton, inserted in a pamphlet intitled, The Argument of the Divine Legation fairly stated," &c. 8vo, and "An Account of the prophecies of Arife Evans, the Welch prophet, in the last century;" the latter of which pieces afterwards subjected him to much ridicule. In 1753, Mr Warburton published the first volume of a Course of Sermons preached at Lincoln's Inn, intitled, "The Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion occasionally opened and explained;" and this, in the subsequent year, was followed by a second. After the public had been some time promised the appearance of Lord Bolingbroke's works, they were about this time printed. Many answers were soon published, but none with more acuteness, solidity, and sprightliness, than "A View of Lord Bolingbroke's Philosophy, in two Letters to a Friend, 1754;" the Third and Fourth Letters were published in 1755, with another edition of the two former; and in the same year a smaller edition of the whole; which, tho' it came into the world without a name, was universally ascribed to Mr Warburton, and afterwards publicly owned by him. To some copies of this is prefixed an excellent complimentary epistle from the President Montefquieu, dated May 26. 1754. At this advanced period of his life, that preferment which his abilities
Warburton bilities might have claimed, and which had hitherto been withheld, seemed to be approaching towards him. In September 1754, he was appointed one of his Majesty's chaplains in ordinary, and in the next year was presented to a prebend in the cathedral of Durham, on the death of Dr Mancey. About the same time the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by Dr Herring, then archbishop of Canterbury. In 1757, a pamphlet was published, called "Remarks on Mr David Hume's Essay on the Natural History of Religion;" which is said to have been composed of marginal observations made by Dr Warburton, on reading Mr Hume's book; and which gave so much offence to the author animadverted upon, that he thought it of importance enough to deserve particular mention in the short account of his life. On the 11th of October, in this year, our author was advanced to the deanry of Bristol; and at the latter end of 1758, received the honour so justly due to his merit, of being dignified with the mitre, and promoted to the vacant see of Gloucester. In 1762, he published "The Doctrine of Grace; or, the Office and Operations of the Holy Spirit vindicated from the Insults of Infidelity and the Abuses of Fanaticism," 2 vols, 12mo; and in the succeeding year drew upon himself much illiberal abuse from some writers of the popular party, on occasion of his complaint in the House of Lords, on the 15th of November 1763, against Mr Wilkes, for putting his name to certain notes on the infamous "Essay on Woman." In making his complaint, the bishop, after solemnly disavowing both the Poem and the Notes, averred, that the former was worthy of the Devil; then, after a short pause, added, "No, I beg the Devil's pardon, for he is incapable of writing it." The year 1777 produced a third volume of his Sermons, dedicated to Lady Mansfield: and with this, and a single "Sermon preached at St Lawrence Jewry, on Thursday April 30. 1767, before his Royal Highness Edward duke of York, President, and the Governors of the London Hospital, &c." 4to, he closed his literary labours. His faculties continued unimpaired for some time after this period; and in 1769 he gave considerable assistance to Mr Ruffhead in his life of Mr Pope. He also transferred 500l. to Lord Mansfield, Judge Wilmot, and Mr Charles Yorke, upon trust, to found a Lecture in the form of a course of Sermons; to prove the truth of Revealed Religion in general, and of the Christian in particular, from the completion of the prophecies in the Old and New Testament, which relate to the Christian Church, especially to the apostacy of Papal Rome. To this foundation we owe the admirable Introductory Lectures of bishop Hurd, and the well-adapted continuation of bishop Halifax and dean Bagot. It is a melancholy reflection, that a life spent in the constant pursuit of knowledge frequently terminates in the loss of those powers, the cultivation and improvement of which are attended to with too strict and unabated a degree of ardour. This was in some degree the misfortune of Dr Warburton. Like Swift, and the great duke of Marlborough, he gradually sunk into a situation in which it was a fatigue to him to enter into general conversation. There were, however, a few old and valuable friends in whose company, even to the last, his mental faculties were exerted in their wonted force; and at such times he would appear cheerful for several hours, and on the departure of his friends retreat as it were within himself. This me-
lancholy habit was aggravated by the loss of his only son, a very promising young gentleman, who died of a consumption but a short time before the bishop himself resigned to fate, in the 81st year of his age.