DR WILLIAM, a celebrated antiquarian, descended from an ancient family in Lincolnshire, was born at Holbech in 1687, and educated in Bennet college, Cambridge. While an under graduate, he often indulged a strong propensity to drawing and designing; but made physic his principal study, and first began to practise at Boston in his native country. In 1717 he removed to London, where, on the recommendation of Dr Mead, he was soon after elected a fellow of the Royal Society; he was one of the first who revived that of the antiquarians in 1718, and was their secretary for many years during his residence in town. In 1729 he took holy orders by the encouragement of Archbishop Wake; and was soon after presented by Lord-chancellor King with the living of All-Saints in Stamford. In 1741 he became one of the founders of the Egyptian society, which brought him acquainted with the benevolent duke of Montague, one of the members; who prevailed on him to leave Stamford, and presented him to the living of St George the Martyr, Queen Square. He died of a stroke of the palsy in 1765. In his medical capacity, his Dissertation on the Spleen was well received; and his Itinerarium Curiosum, the first fruit of his juvenile excursions, was a good specimen of what was to be expected from his riper age. His great learning, and profound researches into the dark remains of antiquity, enabled him to publish many elaborate and curious works: his friends used to call him the arch-druid of his age. His discourses, intitled Paleographia Sacra, on the vegetable creation, bespeak him a botanist, philosopher, and divine.