BENJAMIN, successively bishop of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury, and Winchester, was born in 1676. His first preferment in the church was the rectory of St Peter le Poor, and the lectureship of St Mildred’s in the Poultry. In the year 1706, he published some Remarks on the late Bishop Atterbury’s sermon at the funeral of Mr Bennet, in which Dr Atterbury had, in the opinion of Mr Hoadley, laid down some dangerous propositions. Two years after, Mr Hoadley again entered the lists against this formidable antagonist; and in his exceptions against a sermon published by Dr Atterbury, intitled “The Power of Charity to cover Sin,” he attacked the doctor with his usual strength of reasoning and dispassionate inquiry. In 1709, another dispute arose between these two learned combatants, concerning the doctrine of non-resistance, occasioned by a performance of Mr Hoadley’s, intitled “The Measures of Obedience,” some positions in which Dr Atterbury endeavoured to confute in his elegant Latin sermon preached that year before the London clergy. In this debate Mr Hoadley signalized himself in so eminent a degree, Hoadley, that the honourable house of commons gave him a particular mark of their regard, by representing, in an address to the queen, the signal services he had done to the cause of civil and religious liberty.—The principles, however, which he espoused being repugnant to the general temper of those times, drew on him the virulence of a party; yet it was at this period (1710, when, as he himself expressed it, fury seemed to be let loose upon him) that the late Mrs Hoveland presented him to the rectory of Streatham in Surrey, unasked, unapplied to, and without his either having seen her or been seen by her. Soon after the accession of King George I. Mr Hoadley was consecrated to the see of Bangor; and, 1717, having broached some opinions concerning the nature of Christ's kingdom, &c., he again became the object of popular clamour. At this juncture he was distinguished by another particular mark of the royal regard, by means of which the convocation was successively prorogued, and it was not permitted to sit, or do any business, till that resentment was entirely subsided. In 1721 he was translated to Hereford; and from thence, in 1723, to Salisbury. In 1734, he was translated to Winchester (on the demise of Dr Willis), and published his Plain Account of the Sacrament: a performance which served as a butt for his adversaries to shoot at; yet impartiality owns it to be clear, rational, and manly, written with great candour and judgment, and suited to the capacity of every serious and considerate inquirer after truth.—His latter days were embittered by a most vile instance of fraud and ingratitude. The bishop took a French priest, who pretended to abjure his religion, under his protection, with no other recommendation than that of his necessities; in return for which act of humanity, the priest found an opportunity of getting the bishop's name written by his own hand, and, causing a note of some thousand pounds to be placed before it, offered it in payment. But the bishop denying it to be his, it was brought before a court of justice, and was there found to be a gross imposition. The ungrateful villain had now recourse to a pamphlet, in which he charged the bishop with being a drunkard; and alleged that he had the note of him when he was in liquor. To this calumny the bishop made a full and nervous answer; in which he exposed the man's falsehood, and solemnly averred that he was never drunk in his whole life. The world with becoming ardour embraced his defence, and he had the happiness to find himself perfectly acquitted even of any suspicion of such a charge. As a writer, he possessed uncommon abilities. His sermons (published in 1754 and 1755) are esteemed inferior to few writings in the English language, for plainness and perspicuity, energy and strength of reasoning, and a free and masterly manner. In private life, he was naturally facetious, easy, and complying; fond of company, yet would frequently leave it for the purposes of study or devotion. He was everywhere happy; and particularly in his own family, where he took all opportunities of instructing by his influence and example. He died in 1761, aged 83. Besides the works already mentioned, he wrote, 1. Terms of Acceptance, 8vo. 2. Reasonableness of Conformity. 3. On the Sacrament. His tracts and pamphlets are extremely numerous; and the reader may see a complete catalogue of them in his life inserted in the supplement to the Biographia Britannica.

Hoadley, Benjamin, M.D., son of the former, was born in 1706; and studied at Bennet college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Dr Herring afterwards archbishop of Canterbury. He took his degree in physic; and particularly applying himself to mathematical and philosophical studies, was, when very young, admitted a member of the royal society. He was made registrar of Hereford while his father filled that see, and was early appointed physician to his majesty's household, but died at his house in Chelsea in 1757. He wrote, 1. Three letters on the organs of respiration, 4to. 2. The Suspicious Husband, a comedy. 3. Observations on a series of electrical experiments; and, 4. Oratio anniiversaria, in Theatro Col. Med. Londin. ex Harvei instituto habita die Octob. 1742.

HOAI-ngan-fou, a city of China, in the province of Hiang-nan. According to Grofier, it is situated in a marsh, and is enclosed by a triple wall. As the ground on which it stands is lower than the bed of the canal, the inhabitants live in continual dread of an inundation. The suburbs extend to the distance of a league on each side of the canal, and form at their extremity a kind of port on the river Hoang-ho. This place is very populous, and everything in it announces an active and brisk trade. One of those great mandarins who have the inspection of the canals and navigation, and who are also obliged to supply the court with necessary provisions, resides here. This city has eleven others under its jurisdiction; two of which are of the second, and nine of the third class.