HILL, Sir John, a voluminous writer, and singular character, was born about the year 1716. He was originally bred an apothecary; but his having married early, and without a fortune, made him very soon look around for other resources than his profession supplied. In the year 1746, he translated from the Greek a small tract by Theophrastus, on Gems, which he published by subscription; and which, being well executed, procured him friends, reputation, and money. Encouraged by this, he engaged in works of greater extent and importance. The first he undertook was a General Natural History, in three vols. folio. He next en-
gaged, in conjunction with George Lewis Scott, in furnishing Hilversum a Supplement to Chambers's Dictionary. He at the same time started the British Magazine; and whilst he was engaged in a great number of works, some of which would seem to have claimed the continued attention of a whole life, he carried on a daily essay, under the title of Inspector. Amidst this hurry of business, Mr Hill was so laborious and ready in all his undertakings, and was withal so exact an economist of his time, that for many years he scarcely ever missed a public amusement, where, whilst he relaxed from the severer pursuits of study, he gleaned up articles of information for his periodical works. It would not be easy to trace Mr Hill through all his various pursuits in life. He obtained his doctor's degree from the university of St Andrews. A quarrel he had with the Royal Society, for being refused admission as a member, provoked him to ridicule that learned body, in a review of the works of the Royal Society, 4to, 1751. This, together with his writing upon all subjects without reserve, made him sink in the estimation of the public nearly at the same rate at which he had ascended. He found, as usual, however, resources in his own invention. He applied himself to the preparation of certain simple medicines, as the essence of water-dock, tincture of valerian, balsam of honey, and the like. The well-known simplicity of these medicines made the public judge favourably of their effects, insomuch that they had a rapid sale, and once more enabled the doctor to figure in that style of life which was so congenial to his inclination. He obtained the patronage of the Earl of Bute, through whose interest he acquired the management of the royal gardens at Kew; and, to wind up the whole of an extraordinary life, having a little before his death seized an opportunity to introduce himself to the knowledge of the king of Sweden, that monarch invested him with the order of knighthood, which he had not the happiness of enjoying above two years. He died near the close of the year 1775.