(George), the celebrated bishop of Cloyne, was the son of a clergyman in Ireland, distinguished only by his piety and learning. He was educated at Trinity college in Dublin, of which he attained a fellowship. His first essays as a writer were published in the Spectator and Guardian, which entertaining works he adorned with many pieces in favour of virtue and religion. His learning and virtues, his wit and agreeable conversation, introduced him to the acquaintance, and procured him the esteem and friendship, of many great and learned men; and among others the earl of Peterborough, Dr. Swift, and Mr. Pope. The earl made him his chaplain, and took him as his companion on a tour through Europe.

He was promoted to the deanery of Clogher after his return; and in this situation, formed a most benevolent and charitable plan for the better supplying of the churches in our foreign plantations, and converting the savage Americans to christianity, by erecting a college in the Summer islands. The proposal was well received; and he obtained a charter for the foundation, with a parliamentary grant of 20,000l. toward carrying it into execution: but he could never get the money; so that, after two years stay in America on this business, the design dropped.

He was warmly engaged too, in concert with Swift, Bolingbroke, and others, in a scheme for establishing a society for the improvement of the English language, in imitation of the academy of France. But Harley, the great patron of it, falling from power, this design too proved abortive.

In the year 1734, he was advanced from the deanery of Derry to the bishoprick of Cloyne, where he distinguished himself by pastoral vigilance and constant residence; and at once endeared himself to his people, by promoting their temporal and spiritual happiness. He endeavoured by all means to raise a spirit of industry, and propagate the arts of cultivation and agriculture in that neglected country.

The earl of Chesterfield, when he was lord lieutenant of Ireland, offered him a richer see; but he declined it, saying, his neighbours and he loved one another, and he could not think of forming new connections in his old days, and tearing himself from those friends whose kindness to him was his greatest happiness. Finding the infirmities of age come upon him, and that he was unable to discharge the functions of his office, he retired to Oxford, there to spend the remainder of his days in conversation with learned men, and to superintend the education of his son. And that the revenues of the church might not be misapplied, nor the interests of religion suffer by his absence from his diocese, he made great interest for leave to resign his bishoprick, and to obtain in lieu of it a canonry of Christ-church. But soon after his arrival in Oxford he died very suddenly and without a groan, January 14th, 1753, in the 73rd year of his age. His remains were interred at Christ-Church, Oxford; where there is a handsome monastery erected to his memory, with an inscription drawn up by Dr Markham, in Latin. Dr. Watkinson says he was particularly fond of music, and that he always kept one or two exquisite per- performers to amuse his leisure hours. Mr Pope sums up his character in one line. After he has mentioned some particular virtues that characterize other prelates, he ascribes

To Berkley ev'ry virtue under heav'n.

He published many ingenious works, particularly The Principles of Human Knowledge, the singular notions in which gave rise to much controversy: A new theory of vision; Alciphron, or the minute philosopher; one of the most elegant and genteel defences of that religion which he was born to vindicate both by his virtues and his ingenuity: and Siris, or a Treatise on tar water, which, under his sanction, became for a while a very popular medicine.