he that tenants a farm, or is lesee thereof. Also generally every lesee for life, years, or at will, is called farmer. As this word implies no mystery, except it be that of husbandry, husbandman is the proper addition for a farmer.

Hugh, an English clergyman and a man of literature, belonging to the protestant nonconformists, was descended from people of respectability in North Wales, and drew his first breath at Shrewsbury, in the year 1714. Dr Charles Owen was for some time his tutor, and prior to that period he was educated at a school in Llanegryn. His parents from the first having designed him for the ministry, he was sent to prosecute his studies under the justly celebrated Dr Doddridge at Northampton, in 1730. Here, by the rectitude of his conduct and wonderful proficiency, he gained the esteem of that great man, who always spoke of him in the most respectful terms. Having completed his academical studies, Mr Farmer became the chaplain of William Coward, Esq., of Walthamstow, in the county of Essex, and was at the same time chosen minister to a dissenting congregation in that village. Notwithstanding the gratitude with which Mr Coward ought to be remembered by many for his charitable institutions, he had certain peculiarities of temper which rendered him a very disagreeable domestic. His doors were shut at an uncommonly early hour of the night, and neither visitor nor constant resident could afterwards obtain admission. Mr Farmer having one evening been detained a little beyond that hour, found the doors shut against him, and was under the necessity of applying to a William Snell, Esq., solicitor, a man of eminence, and possessed of many excellent qualifications, in whose family he remained for 30 years, living in the greatest friendship and intimacy. In this gentleman's house he gradually prepared those valuable treatises and dissertations which were afterwards given to the public, and acquired him so much celebrity as a man of letters. He also continued to discharge the duties of his ministerial function to the people of Walthamstow.

When a day of thanksgiving was appointed for the fortunate suppression of the rebellion in 1745, Mr Farmer preached a sermon on that occasion which was published the following year. His next work was of considerably greater importance, and was entitled, "An Inquiry into the Nature and Design of our Lord's temptation in the wilderness," 8vo. In this work it was the design of Mr Farmer to prove that the whole was transferred in vision, the different stages of which were intended to point out to him the difficulties and duties of his subsequent ministry. The originality of thought and profound erudition which this work displayed, soon gave it a very extensive circulation, and called forth the exertions of those who were of an opposite opinion. It received one reply under the title of "Christ's temptations real facts," which possessed considerable merit, but much inferior to Mr Farmer's for energy of expression, depth of thinking, and force of argument. But the most materially, perhaps, of all Mr Farmer's literary productions, was his "Dissertation on Miracles," designed to shew that they are arguments of a divine interposition, and absolute proofs of the mission and doctrine of a prophet." Some have believed, and perhaps not without reason, that this work has no proper rival, notwithstanding the many able treatises upon that subject which have made their appearance in different ages. It was first published in the year 1771. But as great talents are frequently envied, and as this infernal principle is the prolific source of calumny and detraction, so this supereminent work of Mr Farmer was declared to have been chiefly borrowed from M. le Moine on the same subject; a slander which Mr Farmer refuted in a very able and satisfactory manner. In the year 1775, he published his celebrated "Essay on the Demonicus of the New Testament," which may be considered as a masterly completion of the design he had in view by his dissertation on miracles. The hypothesis he adopted had been formerly defended with great ability by Mede, Sykes, Lardner, and others; but it was reserved for the critical acumen of Mr Farmer to free it completely from these difficulties which still hung around it. His essay on demoniacs was successfully attacked by Dr Worthington and Mr Fell, both of them men of considerable erudition, but much inferior to their able antagonist.

Mr Farmer having continued for several years the sole pastor of the congregation at Walthamstow, another colleague was appointed him in 1761, in consequence of which he became the afternoon preacher to the congregation of Salter's-hall, in the city of London, and soon after the Tuesday lecturer at the same place. He resigned his ministerial employments as he advanced in years, which the people committed to his charge very much regretted. In the year 1785 his eyes gave him very much trouble, of the sight of which he was nearly deprived, but by means of a surgical operation, he was for some time enabled to resume his studies. But mortality is the inevitable lot of all men, and the growing infirmities of Mr Farmer brought him to the grave in 1787, in the 73rd year of his age.

By his last will he had ordered all his manuscripts to be burnt after his death, a circumstance which men of letters have just reason to lament. It is no doubt the duty of executors to pay attention to the will of the deceased; yet for the benefit of the Christian world they would have been justified in taking a certain latitude in the explanation of his meaning; as it does by no means appear probable that he meant to confine to the flames his manuscript entitled, "A Dissertation on the story of Balaam," which appeared written in a fair hand, as if manifestly intended for the press. When we say that Mr Farmer was a consummate scholar, we trust that his numerous and able works will fully justify the assertion; and his talents as a preacher were equally conspicuous. His voice was remarkable for its clearness and harmony, and his whole manner was peculiarly impressive. His piety was not morose; his conversation was lively, and his whole deportment was a beautiful transcript of his moral injunctions.

Richard, D.D., a scholar and critic of considerable Farmer, considerable eminence, was the son of a hosier at Leicestershire, at which place he was born in the year 1735. Here he received the rudiments of his education, and was afterwards a student at Cambridge, and pensioner of Emanuel college. He was considered as a young man well acquainted with books, was much esteemed among his friends, and looked upon as possessed of lively parts, even before he acquired any extraordinary reputation as a scholar. He was made B. A. in 1757, and M. A. in 1760. Seven years after this period, having been for some time a curate, he took the degree of B. D., and became a preacher at Whitehall. Besides the attention he paid to the Grecian and Roman authors, he prosecuted the study of books in his own language, printed on black-letter, which laid the foundation of a work that added more to his literary reputation than any other performance. This was "An Essay on the learning of Shakespeare," which he published in 1766. Men of letters had long turned their attention to the learning of Shakespeare, in order to ascertain its real extent. It could not be questioned that he was acquainted with the history and mythology of the ancients, but it was still a matter of dispute from what sources that acquaintance was derived. To obviate this difficulty, Mr Farmer's knowledge of books enabled him to demonstrate, that translations of the far greater part of classical authors were to be met with in the time of the celebrated dramatist; and as he proved that Shakespeare had even copied the blunders and errors of such translations, he made it manifest beyond the possibility of a rational doubt, that he was wholly incapable of consulting the originals. This essay passed through three editions in a very short time; was much admired for the sprightliness of its composition, and the generality were persuaded that he had fully established his point.

This performance brought him so much into notice, as to become extremely favourable to his professional advancement. By the influence of Bishop Hurd, he procured the chancellorship and a prebend in the cathedral of Lichfield, and in 1775 he was elected master of Emanuel college, and took the degree of D. D. He was soon after constituted principal librarian to the university, and served in turn the office of vice-chancellor. He was made prebendary of Canterbury by Lord North, at that time prime minister, and Mr Pitt made him twice an offer of a bishopric; but the constraints and solemnity of the episcopal character were not congenial to his natural temper, on which account he declined the offer, and having resigned his office as prebendary, he accepted of a residuaryship of St Paul's. This obliged him to reside three months annually in London, which he spent with pleasure and advantage in the company of literary characters. From nature he inherited a fund of good humour, and was of such an obliging turn, that he buried party spirit in the satisfaction which he found in the performance of beneficent actions. Though in general an enemy to reforms of any kind, and anxious to preserve things as they were, both in the church and state, he was instrumental in amending the police of Cambridge, especially as it related to the paving and lighting of the streets. At his instigation also, monumental sculpture was admitted into the cathedral of St Paul's, which will continue to exhibit a striking proof of national gratitude, and serve to cover the nakedness of the walls.

It was at one time the intention of Dr Farmer to publish a history of the town and antiquities of Leicester, the expenses to be defrayed by subscription; but either his independent circumstances, or a degree of native indolence, made him relinquish the design, and the few materials he had collected were given to Mr John Nichols, at that time engaged in an elaborate work on the same subject. After a painful illness of some length, Dr Farmer died at Emanuel college in the month of September, 1797, in the 62nd year of his age. Dr Parr wrote an epitaph for his tombstone, in which we find the following testimony to his worth. "Vir facetus et dulcis, feliique sermonis, Graecè et Latine docens, in explicatione veterum Anglorum poëtæ subtilis et elegans." He had a considerable library, in which were a vast number of books purchased at the stalls of London, and afterwards disposed of for much more than they cost.

mining, is the lord of the field, or one that farms the lot and cope of the king.

Farn Islands, two groups of little islands and rocks, 17 in number, lying opposite to Bamborough castle in Northumberland. At low water the points of several others are visible besides the 17 just mentioned. The nearest island to the shore is called the House Island, and lies exactly one mile and 68 chains from the coast. The most distant is about seven or eight miles. Their produce is kelp, feathers, and a few seals, which the tenant watches and floats for the sake of the oil and skins. Some of them yield a little grass that may serve to feed a cow or two; which the people transport over in their little boats. The largest or House Island is about one mile in compass, and has a fort and a lighthouse. It contains about six or seven acres of rich pasture; and the shore abounds with good coals which are dug at the ebb of tide. St Cuthbert is said to have palled the last years of his life on this island. A priory of Benedictines was afterwards established here, for six or eight monks, subordinate to Durham. A square tower, the remains of a church, and some other buildings, are still to be seen on this island; and a stone coffin, which is pretended to be that of St Cuthbert. At the north end of the isle is a deep chasm, from the top to the bottom of the rock, communicating with the sea; through which, in tempestuous weather, the water is forced with great violence and noise, and forms a fine jet d'eau of 60 feet high. It is called by the inhabitants of the opposite coast, the Chern. One of the islands in the most distant group is called the Pinnacles, from some vast columnar rocks at the south end, even at their sides, flat at the tops, and entirely covered with guillemots and flags. The fowlers pass from one to the other of these columns by means of a board, which they place from top to top, forming a narrow bridge over such a dreadful gap that the very sight of it strikes one with horror.

Farnabie, Thomas, son of a carpenter at London, born in 1575, staid a short while at Oxford; where being enticed to abandon his religion, he went to Spain, and was there educated in a college belonging to the Jesuits. Being weary of their severe discipline, he went with Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake in their last voyage in 1595. He was afterwards a soldier in the Low Countries; but being redu- ced to great want, returned to England, where wandering about for some time under the name of Thomas Bainrath, the anagram of his name, he settled at Mattock in Somersetshire, and taught a grammar-school with good reputation. He removed to London, and opened a school with large accommodations for young gentlemen. While he taught this school, he was made master of arts at Cambridge, and incorporated into the university of Oxford. Thence he removed, in 1646, to Seven-oaks in Kent; and taught the sons of several noblemen and gentlemen, who boarded with him, with great success, and grew rich. His works gained him reputation. Upon the breaking out of the civil commotions in 1647, he was cast into prison. It was debated in the house of commons, whether he should be sent to America; but this motion being rejected, he was removed to Ely-house in Holborn, and there he died in 1647. Mr Farnabie is a very eminent grammarian; and many writers have spoken with great approbation of his labours. Mr Bayle in particular says, "His notes upon most of the ancient Latin poets have been of very great use to young beginners; being short, learned, and designed chiefly to clear up the text."