NEWTON (Richard) D. D. the founder of Hertford college, is a man of whom we regret that we can give but a superficial and rather a vague account. By one writer he is said to have been a Northamptonshire gentleman; by another, we are told that his father enjoyed at Lavendon Grange in Bucks a moderate estate, which is still in the family, though he lived in a house of Lord Northampton's in Yardley-Chace, where in 1675 our doctor was born. All agree that the family from which he sprung had long been respectable, though its fortunes had been much injured during the great rebellion.
The subject of this article was educated at Westminster school, and from that foundation elected to a studentship of Christ-church, Oxford. At what age
Newton. he was admitted into the university we have no certain information; but in the list of graduates he is thus distinguished: "Newton (Richard,) Christ-church, M. A. April 12th 1701; B. D. March 18th 1707; Hart-hall, D. D. December 7th 1710." He was appointed a tutor in Christ-church as soon as he was of the requisite standing in his college, and discharged the duties of that important office with honour to himself and advantage to the society of which he was a member. From Oxford he was called (we know not at what precise period) into Lord Pelham's family to superintend the education of the late duke of Newcastle and his brother Mr Pelham; and by both these illustrious persons he was ever remembered with the most affectionate regard. In 1710 he was by Dr Aldrich, the celebrated dean of Christ-church, inducted principal of Hart-hall, which was then an appendage to Exeter college. From this state of dependance Dr Newton wrested it against much opposition, especially from the learned Dr Conybeare, afterwards dean of Christ-church and bishop of Bristol. In no contest, it has been observed, were ever two men more equally matched; and the papers that passed between them, like Junius's letters, deserved to be collected for the energetic beauty of their style and the ingenuity of their arguments. Dr Newton, however, proved successful; and in 1740 obtained a charter, converting Hart-hall into Hertford college; of which, at a considerable expence to himself, and with great aid from his numerous friends, he was thus the founder and first head.
Though this excellent man was Mr Pelham's tutor, and, if report be true, had by him been more than once employed to furnish king's speeches, he never received the smallest preferment from his pupil when first minister; and when that statesman was asked, why he did not place in a proper station the able and meritorious Dr Newton? his reply was, "How could I do it? he never asked me." He was not, however, neglected by all the great. Dr Compton, bishop of London, who had a just sense of his merits, had, at an early period of his life, collated him to the rectory of Sudbury in the county of Northampton, which he held together with the headship of Hart-hall. He resided for some years on that living, and discharged all the parts of his office with exemplary care and fidelity. Amongst other particulars he read the prayers of the liturgy in his church at seven o'clock in the evening of every week-day (hay-time and harvest excepted), for the benefit of such of his parishioners as could then assemble for public devotion. When he left the place, returning again to Oxford about 1724, he enjoined his curates to observe the same pious practice; and was fortunate enough to have three successfully who trode in the steps of their worthy principal. Being always an enemy to pluralities with cure of souls, he exerted his utmost endeavours from time to time with Dr Gibson, Bishop Compton's successor in the see of London, for leave to resign his rectory in favour of his curate. To the resignation his lordship could have no objection; but being under some kind of engagement to confer the living on another, Dr Newton retained it himself, but bestowed all the emoluments upon works of charity in the parish, and curates who so faithfully discharged their duty. Dr Sherlock, who succeeded Bishop Gibson, being under
no engagement of a like nature, very readily granted Newton. Dr Newton's request, by accepting his resignation, and collating to the rectory Mr Saunders, who was the last of his curates. Upon a vacancy of the public orator's place at Oxford, the head of Hertford college offered himself a candidate; but as the race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, Dr Digby Coates carried the point against him. He was afterwards promoted to a canonry of Christ-church, but did not long enjoy it; for in April 1753 death deprived the world of this excellent man in the 78th year of his age.
He was allowed to be as polite a scholar, and as accomplished a gentleman, as almost any of the age in which he lived. In closeness of argument, and perspicuity of style, he had no superior. Never was any private person employed in more trust, nor were trusts ever discharged with greater integrity. He was a zealous friend to religion, the university, the clergy, and the poor; and such was his liberality of sentiment, that he admitted to his friendship every man, whatever might be his religious creed, who was earnestly employed in the same good works with himself—the promotion of virtue and unaffected piety. Of his works we have seen only his Theophrastus, which was published after his death; and his Pluralities Indefensible; but he published several other things during his life, and left a volume of sermons prepared for the press at his death.