(Laurence), an English writer of a very peculiar cast, was born at Clowmell, in the south of Ireland, on 24th November 1713. His father Roger Sterne was the grandson of Sterne archbishop of York, who has been supposed, we know not upon what grounds, to have been the author of the excellent book intitled "The Whole Duty of Man." Laurence inherited nothing of his ancestor's manner of writing, but rather resembled Rabelais, whose wit he carried with him even into the pulpit.

In 1722 he was sent to school at Halifax in Yorkshire, where he continued till 1732, when he was removed to Jesus College in Cambridge. How long he resided in college, or what progress he made in literature or science, is not known; his works display rather native genius than profound erudition. Upon quitting the university he went to York, and being in orders was presented to the living of Sutton by the interest of his uncle Dr Sterne, a prebendary of that church. In 1741 he married, and was soon afterwards made a prebendary of York, by the interest also of his uncle, who was then upon very good terms with him; but "quickly quarrelled with him (he says), and became his bitterest enemy, because he would not be a party man, and write paragraphs in the newspapers." By his wife's means he got the living of Stillington, but remained near 20 years at Sutton, doing duty at both places. He was then in very good health, which, however, soon after forsook him; and books, painting, fiddling, and shooting, were, as he tells us, his amusements.

In 1760, he went to London to publish his two first volumes of "Tristram Shandy;" and was that year presented to the curacy of Coxwold. In 1762 he went to France, and two years after to Italy, for the recovery of his health; but his health never was recovered. He languished under a consumption of the lungs, without the slightest depression of spirits, till 1768, when death put a period to his terrestrial existence.

The works of Sterne are very generally read. They consist of: 1. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy; 2. Sermons; 3. A Sentimental Journey; 4. Letters, published since his death. In every serious page, and in many of much levity, the author writes in praise of benevolence, and declares that no one who knew him could suppose him one of those wretches who heap misfortune upon misfortune: But we have heard anecdotes of him extremely well authenticated, which proved that it was easier for him to praise this virtue than to practise it. His wit is universally allowed; but many readers have persuaded themselves that they found wit in his blank pages, while it is probable that he intended nothing but to amuse himself with the idea of the sage conjectures to which these pages would give occasion. Even his originality is not such as is generally supposed by those fond admirers of the Shandean manner, who have presumed to compare him with Swift, Arbuthnot, and Butler. He has borrowed both matter and manner from various authors, as every reader may be convinced by the learned, elegant, and candid comments on his works published by Dr Farrier, in the fourth volume of the Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester.