WHITAKER (JOHN), was born at Manchester
about the year 1755. Of his parentage, and of his
first steps in learning, we find no memorials; but he
was sent at an early age to the University of Oxford,
and in due time was elected a fellow of Corpus
Christi College. He took the degree of M. A. in
1759, and that of B. D. in 1767. Here, we are in-
formed, "his uncommon vigour of intellect at once
displayed itself among his acquaintance; but, whilst
his animated conversation drew many around him, a
few were repelled from the circle by his impatience
of contradiction (a failing which almost ever ac-
companies powers like his), and by the consciousness,
it should seem, of their own inferiority." That his
conversation must have displayed sufficient vivacity,
and his temper sufficient warmth, may very easily be
conceived; but through these lines of panegyric, it
is impossible not to discern a strong ray of truth;
namely, that, from the earliest period of his literary
career, he was distinguished by a bold and dogmatical
spirit, which could ill endure dissent or opposition.
This may indeed be considered as his first and last
characteristic; and although the zeal of a friend has,
with some degree of dexterity, endeavoured to con-
vert it into a topic of praise, by representing it as the
ordinary mark of a superior mind, we are not very
much inclined to regard it in the same light. The
doctrine seems, indeed, to be of a somewhat danger-
ous tendency: to be calculated for misleading young
candidates for literary honours, who may thus be in-
duced to supply, by arrogance and dogmatism, what
is wanting in sound learning and solid judgment. It
may be asserted without much hazard of confutation,
that this overweening and dogmatical spirit is at
least as frequently the characteristic of those who
possess but a very moderate stock of real merit;
who have perhaps made no uncommon progress in
any branch of science or literature, and yet con-
sider themselves as entitled to decide all controver-
sies, and to adjust all claims to intellectual distinc-
tion.
While Mr Whitaker was still a fellow of his col-
lege, he gave the first conspicuous proof of his abili-
ties by the publication of The History of Manchester.
Lond. 1771, 4to. The second volume followed in
the year 1775; but although four books were origi-
nally promised, only two are thus completed; they
embrace the Roman, British, and Saxon periods of
the history. This work, which is perhaps the most
remarkable of his publications, was immediately re-
garded as the production of no ordinary writer, but
as more conspicuous for bold and ingenious specula-
tion, than for cool and judicious discussion. Like
the other works of the same author, it is written in a
lively and rambling manner. His impatience and
vivacity rendered him incapable of selecting his to-
pics, and condensing his thoughts; and by adhering
to his usual method of writing, a large book may be
produced on almost any subject.
Before he had brought this work to a close, he
published The Genuine History of the Britons as-
serted. Lond. 1772, 8vo. This volume is chiefly
directed against the historical work of Mr Macpher-
son, better known as the foster-father of Ossian; and
both publications have been considered by compe-
tent judges as adding very little to the real stock of
information.
In the course of the following year we find him re-
siding in the metropolis, and officiating as the mor-
ning preacher of Berkeley Chapel. For this appoint-
ment he was indebted to a Mr Hughes; but their
connection was of a very short duration, for he was
removed from his situation in less than two months.
He thought proper to communicate his grievances to
the public, in The State of the Case between Mr
Whitaker and Mr Hughes, relative to the Morning
Preachings of Berkeley Chapel. Lond. 1774, 4to.
His resentment was so strong, and his discretion so
weak, that he thus subjected himself to the vexation
of a lawsuit, and the Court of King's Bench held his
printed Case to be a libel.
About the year 1778 he resigned his fellowship,
on being presented by his college to the rectory of
Ruan-Lanyhorne, one of the most valuable livings in
the gift of that society. He now withdrew into
Cornwall, and took possession of his benefice; and
he afterwards married Miss Tregenna, a lady of an
ancient Cornish family. For a long time his retire-
ment was not attended with peace and studious ease.
His restless and domineering disposition soon involv-
ed him in a long train of contentions with his par-
ishioners: he proposed a tithe-composition, which
his friends represent as by no means unreasonable,
but of which his parishioners appear to have enter-
tained a different opinion; they refused to accede to
his proposal, and he demanded the tithes in kind.
"Disputes," we are informed, "arose upon disputes;
animosities were kindled; and litigations took place.
That Mr Whitaker was finally victorious, afforded
pleasure to the friends of the rector, and to the friends
of justice and truth; yet it was long before harmony
was restored to Ruan-Lanyhorne." Let us here re-
mark in passing, that this mode of confounding the
cause of religion with the cause of tithes is a pretty
ancient device. It is not certainly to be considered as
wonderful, if, after all these contentions and litiga-
tions, Mr Whitaker was subjected to the mortifica-
tion of observing that his parishioners manifested an
aversion to his preaching, an indifference to his ad-
monitions, and a repugnance to his authority. This
is indeed the natural consequence of the measures to
which he resorted; they have an obvious tendency
to excite or continue animosities, and to circumscribe
the utility of a clergyman, by rendering him obnox-
ious to almost every man in his parish who has prop-
erty enough to bring him within the circle of such
litigations. It may perhaps be regarded as extremely
doubtful whether any clergyman, possessing a
portion of the primitive spirit of Christianity, would
be tempted to engage, more especially with his own
flock, in quarrels, disputes, and lawsuits, which there
Whitaker. might be any decent means of avoiding. We are informed, that after the lapse of a few years, Mr Whitaker had the satisfaction of perceiving a visible alteration in the behaviour of his principal parishioners, and that a good understanding was at length established between the pastor and his flock. His manner was hearty and familiar; and notwithstanding the rabid spirit that sometimes animates his writings, he was possessed of many virtues, though meekness and humility were certainly not of their number.
His next publication was of a professional kind, namely, Sermons upon Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. Lond. 1783, 12mo. He afterwards engaged in the famous controversy respecting the character of Queen Mary, and produced an immense work under the title of Mary Queen of Scots vindicated. Lond. 1787, 3 vols. 8vo. He published an enlarged edition in the year 1790; and he seems to have been not a little mortified that neither Lord Hailes nor Dr Robertson could be induced to print a single page against him. This production, which is by no means eminent for coolness of reasoning, or sobriety of manner, has probably convinced very few competent judges of historical evidence, who have submitted to the labour of a patient investigation. If Mary's innocence is so apparent as some of her advocates aver, is it not remarkable that so many bulky volumes should be required to display that innocence? Besides, if we suppose her to be innocent, we must at the same time suppose all the most distinguished of those who opposed her after the murder of her husband, to be covered with an enormous load of infamy. And we will only venture to add, that the uncontroverted history of her proceedings, from a short period preceding the murder, till her indecent nuptials with Bothwell, furnishes a degree of moral evidence which seems to be ineffectually opposed by all the persevering sophistry of her defenders.
Having again recurred to his theological studies, Mr Whitaker published a large volume, entitled The Origin of Arianism disclosed. Lond. 1791, 8vo. Whatever might be the opinion of others, it is clear that the author himself entertained a favourable enough opinion of this production; which he represents as "a train of historical argumentation, at once novel in its direction, comprehensive in its scope, and decisive in its efficacy." If he could not discuss a point of history without heat and violence, it is easy to conceive how he would be disposed to discuss a point of heresy. As a proof of his zeal for orthodoxy, an anonymous friend presents us with the following anecdote: "That the feeble Deist should have shrunk from his indignant eye, may well be conceived, when we see his Christian principle and his manly spirit uniting in the rejection of a living of considerable value, which was at this time offered him by an Unitarian patron. He spurned at the temptation, and pitied the seducer." But in order to render this anecdote altogether intelligible, some further information seems to be required. Were his principles so pure and rigid that he could only accept of preferment from a patron of confirmed and approved orthodoxy? Or did this nameless
patron offer him the living under the condition, express or implied, that he should become a convert to the Unitarian creed? With respect to the first question, it is quite evident that many pious divines have accepted of preferment from patrons who, to all human appearance, had no religion whatsoever; and with respect to the second, it is equally evident, that no patron, if he possessed common sense, could expect a benefited clergyman to make an open avowal of opinions which the church has formally condemned as heretical.
Whitaker. Mr Whitaker had contributed to the English Review a series of articles on Gibbon's history, which were now reprinted in a separate form, under the title of Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, in Vols. IV. V. and VI. quarto, reviewed. Lond. 1791, 8vo. This work, which extends to a considerable volume, is written in his usual vein—with sufficient acuteness and animation, but with little suavity of manner, or elegance of style. He certainly detects errors and exposes inconsistencies; but it may readily be supposed that a writer of his cast of mind was not very likely to form an impartial estimate of Gibbon's real merits, which, after all the fair and necessary deductions are made, must still be allowed to be very great. Mr Whitaker is always an intrepid writer; he is never afraid to deliver a decided opinion; and whether the subject is very familiar or quite new to him, his tone of decision is commonly the same. Thus, for example, in his animadversions on Gibbon's admirable chapter relating to the Roman jurisprudence, he is pleased to declare, that "nothing can subdue the native barrenness of such a field as this." His censure refers to a subject of which he may be considered as in a state of almost total ignorance: he seems to have been alike unacquainted with this science, and incapable of appreciating the masterly manner in which it is here discussed. It may, indeed, be affirmed that there is no portion of Gibbon's work more remarkable than this very chapter: although his early studies had not prepared him for such a task, he has yet exhibited a rapid and powerful sketch of the Roman jurisprudence, to which it might be difficult to find a parallel in the writings of the professed civilians. And it has accordingly been stamped with the approbation of some of the most distinguished civilians of the present age. It has been illustrated by Hugo and Warnkenig, the former having published it in German, and the latter in French.
After an interval of three years, Mr Whitaker produced a copious work on a subject which is certainly curious and interesting. This work he entitles, in his usual form, The Course of Hannibal over the Alps ascertained. Lond. 1794, 2 vols. 8vo. Like some of his former publications, it attracted a considerable degree of attention, and, like them, was thought to contain many hasty and erroneous opinions. On this ground he was encountered by the late Lord Woodhouselee, who published, but without his name, A Critical Examination of Mr Whitaker's Course of Hannibal over the Alps ascertained. Lond. 1795, 8vo.
In the year 1795, he endeavoured to enlighten
Whitaker. the public by an octavo tract on The real Origin of Government, which we have never had the pleasure of seeing, but which his friend, formerly quoted, describes as a very singular pamphlet. This information may, without scruple, be received as authentic; for it is not difficult to conjecture how the subject of civil government would be treated by such a writer at such a period.
The last work which Mr Whitaker lived to communicate to the public is The Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall historically surveyed. Lond. 1804, 2 vols. 4to. His vigour was still undiminished, and he had formed the plan of many other works, particularly a history of Oxford, and a history of London: the former he intended to comprise in an octavo volume, the latter he contemplated as "quite new and original, and fit to make a quarto." While he was prosecuting his ardent researches into the antiquities of the metropolis, his friends remarked the first indications of declining health. He had originally possessed a robust constitution, but his mind was restless, and his temper ardent; and during his last visit to London, his great exertions in procuring materials for his work, and his great efforts in supporting his usual tone of conversation in the literary circles, left him in a state of debility which was not at first considered as alarming. It was, however, followed by a stroke of palsy, from which his recovery was never so complete as to allow him to resume his occupations with his former vigour. During the last year of his life, he lingered in a state of gradual decay; and he is said to have contemplated his approaching dissolution with the cheerful resignation of a Christian. On Sunday the 30th of October 1808, he sank as into a quiet slumber, without any indication of suffering, and with a smile on his countenance. He died at Ruan-Lanyhorne, at the age of about seventy-three, and left a widow and two daughters.
He had recently sent to the press an antiquarian volume, which was soon afterwards published under the title of The Life of Saint Neot, the oldest of all the Brothers of King Alfred. Lond. 1809, 8vo. The preface is written by his publisher, Mr Stockdale. All his principal works have now been enumerated, but a few supplementary notices are still necessary. He wrote an introduction to Flindell's Bible, and a supplement to Polwhele's Antiquities of Cornwall, and was a contributor to The Cornwall and Devon Poets. His connection with the English Review has already been mentioned; but he likewise appears to have lent his aid to the British Critic and the Antijacobin Review; and his eulogist informs us, in a very solemn style, that "the strength of his principles is no where more apparent than in those articles where he comes forward, armed with the panoply of truth, in defence of our civil and ecclesiastical constitution. It was there he struck his adversaries with consternation, and we beheld the host of Jacobins shrinking away from before his face, and creeping into their caverns of darkness." The same tasteful and judicious writer avers, that at Whitaker's lucubrations "a Gibbon trembled;" but this panegyric is somewhat abated by another piece of information, namely, that Gibbon was a "feeble Deist."
With what torrents of fiery indignation this worthy divine must, in his fugitive and anonymous writings, have overwhelmed Jacobins and heretics, may very easily be imagined by those who have inspected his more elaborate works, bearing his name and addition, and intended for the benefit of posterity. Some persons of cooler tempers, and of more habitual candour, when they are fairly enveloped in the cover of a review, may now and then be tempted to speak in a very high and arrogant tone to men greatly elevated above their own standard, and of subjects of which they only possess a very casual and superficial knowledge.
This anonymous writer, whom we strongly suspect to be Mr Polwhele, has, in the following passage, discussed the character of Mr Whitaker with more sobriety and discrimination. "It is true, to the same warmth of temper, together with a sense of good intentions, we must attribute an irritability at times destructive of social comfort, an impetuosity that brooded not opposition, and bore down all before it. This precipitation was in part also to be traced to his ignorance of the world; to his simplicity in believing others like himself—precisely what they seemed to be; and, on the detection of his error, his anger at dissimulation or hypocrisy. But his general good humour, his hospitality, and his convivial pleasantry, were surely enough to atone for those sudden bursts of passion, those flashes which betrayed his 'human frailty,' but still argued genius. And they who knew how 'fearfully and wonderfully he was made,' could bear from a Whitaker what they could not so well have tolerated in another. In his family, Mr Whitaker was uniformly regular; nor did he suffer at any time his literary cares to trench on his domestic duties. The loss of such a man must be deemed, as it were, a chasm both in public and private life. But, for the latter, we may truly say, that if ever wife had cause to lament the kind and faithful husband, or children the affectionate parent, or servants the indulgent master, the family at Ruan-Lanyhorne must feel their loss irreparable." (Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lxxviii. p. 1037. See likewise Nichols's Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, vol. iii. p. 105.) (w. w. w.)
WICKLOW is a county in the province of Leinster in Ireland, bounded by Dublin and Kildare on the north; by Wexford on the south; by St George's Channel on the east; and by Kildare, Dublin, and Carlow on the west. It extends about 40 English miles from north to south, and 33 from east to west, containing 781 square miles, or nearly 500,000 English acres, and is divided into six baronies and half baronies, and 58 parishes. Of these parishes, 49 are situated in the archbishopric of Dublin, six in the diocese of Leighlin, and three in that of Ferns.
The outline of this county is rendered very irregular by a district on the south-west, the barony of Shillelagh, being almost detached from the rest of it, projecting between the counties of Carlow and Wexford. On the east, the sea-coast stretches almost in an unbroken line, except a little to the south of the town of Wicklow, where there is a promontory called Wicklow Head. Bray Head, another point, is on the northern extremity. Mountains and bogs oc-
Wicklow. Wicklow. occupy a great part of the interior, from the north along the centre of the district, to the barony of Shillelagh. Much of this tract is without inhabitants. To the north and west these mountains are bold and abrupt; but on the east they are penetrated by several beautiful glens, of which the Dargle, the glen of the Downs, the vale of Imalee, and Glendalough, are the most celebrated. Some of these are of considerable extent, finely wooded and watered, and, with the mountains which inclose them, exhibit a great variety of romantic scenery. In these glens much of the wood is oak, but not of a large size. Detached hills also abound on either side of this range, though on the east, south, and west, the country is in general low and fertile. It has been compared, not inaptly, to a frieze cloak with a laced border. In the central range, the prevailing rock is granite, and argillaceous schist in the less elevated hills on the east and south. On the north, near the confines of Dublin county, is a remarkable chasm, called the Scalp, in a ridge of granite. Calcareous strata occur on the west, and also on the east, from Wicklow to Bray; but no limestone has been found in continuous rocks. In these quarters, it is in the form of pebbles or gravel.
Minerals. Wicklow is thought to be rich in metallic substances, particularly on the south, from the Croughan Mountain to the hill of Cronebane, about ten miles to the north-east. In this tract copper has been wrought at Cronebane and Ballymurtagh to a considerable extent. In 1809, the Cronebane mines produced about 3000 tons of ore annually, at an expense of L. 8000; but at both places the works were soon after discontinued. Native gold has been found on the north-east side of the mountains Croughan Kinshela, on the summit of which this county meets with that of Wexford, in a stream which falls into the Ova, and also on the south side of these mountains. In 1796, gold was obtained to the value of L. 10,000, sometimes in pieces of considerable weight; one of them weighed nine, a second eighteen, and a third eventwenty-two ounces. The search was then undertaken by Government, both in the mountains themselves and the streams which flow from them; but no veins were discovered, and the works have been long since abandoned. Lead has been worked at Glenmaher and in Glendalough, or the Seven Churches. At the latter place, in 1809, there were three smelting houses, and about 180 bars, weighing one hundred weight each, were made per week.
Rivers. The rivers are the Liffey, which has its rise on the north-west quarter of this county, and passes into that of Dublin; the Ova, which flows into the sea at Arklow; and the Slaney, which, rising in the south-west, proceeds southward into the county of Carlow. None of these rivers are navigable in their course through this district. There are no extensive lakes; the most considerable are Lough Bray, Lough Tay, Lough Dan, and the loughs of the Seven Churches. Some of the streams precipitate themselves from considerable heights, forming beautiful cascades; the most remarkable one is at Powerscourt, where the water falls from a height of 360 feet.
Climate. The climate of this county is remarkably mild.
Myrtle flourishes in such profusion as to have been sometimes used for making stable-brooms. The common laurel, Portugal laurel, and arbutus, attain a great size, and can scarcely be recognized to be the same shrubs. Dublin is supplied with early potatoes and house-lamb from the sea-coast of Wicklow, the climate of which, according to Mr Wakefield, is decidedly different from that of the rest of Ireland. This is the only part of that country where he ever saw grapes growing out of doors.
There are several large estates in Wicklow. Estates and That of Earl Fitzwilliam extends to 66,000 Irish Farms. acres. The centre of the county, which consists of bogs and mountains, and is uninhabited, belongs chiefly to the see of Dublin. The district of the sea-coast, however, is much divided, and abounds with villas, the temporary residence of the wealthy citizens of Dublin. "It appears to me," says Mr Wakefield, "to contain more gentlemen's seats than the same space in the vicinity of London." The common period of leases is twenty-one years and a life. On the sea-coast, land lets at from L. 3 to L. 5 per Irish acre, or about 47s. the English acre, and on the north-east, near Dublin, it is considerably higher. Potatoes, and all the usual kinds of corn, are cultivated; but turnips, clover, and other ameliorating crops, only partially. Marl and limestone gravel are the principal manures. Irrigation is practised according to the method common in England. A breed of fine-woolled sheep, peculiar to the mountains of this county, exhibit the only traces of a distinct race of short-woolled sheep in Ireland.
Besides the manufacture of coarse woollens for Manufact. domestic use, flannel is made to a considerable extent. amount for sale; there is a Flannel Hall at Rathdrum, at which, before 1808, from 5000 to 7000 pieces were sold annually. The cotton trade was, at that period, in a flourishing condition at Stratford on the western side of the county. But the linen manufacture, so general in other parts of Ireland, is carried on here only to a small extent. There are no good harbours, nor any canal or navigable river, in this district. Wicklow harbour has only from seven to eight feet of water on its bar at high tides. Wicklow, the county town, with Baltinglass, Blessington, and Carysfort, were Parliamentary boroughs before the Union, though, excepting the first, none of them contained, at that time, 1000 inhabitants, and Wicklow itself not many more. The villages are Bray, Rathdrum, Arklow, Stratford-upon-Slaney, and a few others. Of these Arklow, the most considerable, contained about 2600 inhabitants. A battle was fought there 9th June 1798, in which the rebels, computed to be about 31,000, were defeated, by General Needham, with a mixed force, said not to have exceeded 1500. The herring-fishery, in the Herring-bay of Arklow, which, next to that of Galway, is Fishery. considered the best in Ireland, employed, in 1816, from 100 to 150 boats, and has sometimes produced about L. 25,000 yearly.
The population of this county, in 1790, was Population. about 58,000. According to the census taken in 1821, it was 115,162. Mr Wakefield computes the proportion of the Catholics to the Protestants to be as ten to one. In the parish of Arklow, according
Wicklow
Wigtown-
shire.
Representation.
to the writer of that Article in the Parochial Survey, the proportion is only as three to one. The county sends two members to Parliament, both of whom may be returned by the influence of Earl Fitzwilliam. The wages of labour and the prices of provisions being affected by the vicinity of Dublin, are higher than in most parts of Ireland, and the condition of the lower classes is said to be more comfortable.
See Frazer's General View of the Agriculture, &c. of the County of Wicklow, and the works of Beaufort and Wakefield, as quoted under the former Irish counties. (A.)
Situation
and Bound-
aries.