RICHARD, an eminent critic and divine, was born at Oulton, in the parish of Rothwell, near Wakefield. His ancestors, who were of some consideration, possessed an estate, and had a seat at Hepenstall, in the parish of Halifax. His grandfather James Bentley was a captain in King Charles I.'s army at the time of the civil wars; and being involved in the fate of his party, had his house plundered, his estate confiscated, and was himself carried prisoner to Pomfret Castle, where he died. Thomas Bentley, the son of James, and father of Dr Bentley, married the daughter of Richard Willis of Oulton, who had been a major in the royal army. This lady, who was a woman of exceeding good understanding, taught her son Richard his accidence. To his grandfather Willis, who was left his guardian, he was in part indebted for his education; and having gone through the grammar school at Wakefield with singular reputation, both for his proficiency and his exact and regular behaviour, he was admitted of St John's college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Mr Johnson, on the 24th of May 1676; being then only four months above 14 years of age. On the 22d of March 1681-2, he stood candidate for a fellowship, and would have been unanimously elected, had he not been excluded by the statutes on account of his being too young for priest's orders. He was then a junior bachelor, and but little more than 19 years old. It was soon after this that he became a schoolmaster at Spalding. But that he did not continue long in this situation is certain from a letter of his grandfather Willis's, still preserved in the family, from which it appears, that he was with Dr Stillingfleet at the deanery of St Paul's on the 25th of April 1683. He had been recommended by his college to the dean as preceptor to his son; and Dr Stillingfleet gave Mr Bentley his choice whether he would carry his pupil to Cambridge. Cambridge or Oxford. He fixed upon the latter university on account of the Bodleian library, to the consulting of the manuscripts of which he applied with the closest attention. Being now of age, he made over a small estate which he derived from his family to his elder brother, and immediately laid out the money he obtained for it in the purchase of books. In July 1683, he took the degree of master of arts at St John's college, Cambridge. In 1692, his patron being advanced to the see of Worcester, collated him to a prebend in that church, and also made him his domestic chaplain. That learned prelate, as well as Dr Will Lloyd, then bishop of Litchfield, had seen many proofs of our author's extraordinary merit, when they concurred in recommending him as a fit person to open the lectures upon Mr Boyle's foundation, in defence of natural and revealed religion. This gave him a fine opportunity of establishing his fame. He saw it well; and resolved to push it to the utmost. Sir Isaac Newton's Principia had been published but a few years, and the book was little known and less understood. Mr Bentley therefore determined to spare no pains in displaying to the best advantage the profound demonstrations which that excellent work furnished in proof of a Deity; and that nothing might be wanting to complete the design, he applied to the author and received from him the solution of some difficulties which had not fallen within the plan of his treatise*. In short, our author's sermons at Boyle's lectures were universally admired, and highly raised his reputation as a preacher; notwithstanding that escape which laid him open to the railery of Dr Keil, viz. of proving the moon not to turn round her axis, because she always shows the same face to the earth. In 1693, he was made keeper of the royal library at St James's.

In the following year arose the famous dispute between him and the honourable Mr Boyle, in relation to the epistles of Phalaris; of which Mr Boyle had published a very fine edition, with a Latin version of the text. These epistles the Doctor asserted to be spurious, the production of some sophist, and altogether contemptible as a literary performance. The principal pieces which appeared in this noted controversy were,

1. Dr Bentley's dissertation upon the epistles of Themistocles, Socrates, Euripides, Phalaris, and the Fables of Æsop, at the end of the second edition of Mr Wotton's Reflections on Ancient and Modern Learning: but afterwards printed by Dr Bentley entire, and added with great additions to his farther defence of it, in answer to Mr Boyle.

2. "Dr Bentley's Dissertation on the Epistles of Phalaris and the Fables of Æsop," a book more commonly known by the title of Boyle against Bentley.

3. Dr Bentley's Answer to the above, commonly known by the name of Bentley against Boyle; a curious piece, interspersed with a great deal of true wit and humour. From the caprice or partiality of the age the victory was adjudged to Mr Boyle, and the ridicule of the writs exercised upon Dr Bentley. Thus Dr Garth, in the Dispensary,

So Diamonds take a lustre from their foil, And to a BENTLEY 'tis we give a BOYLE.

Dr Bentley had also some wags who were his enemies even at Cambridge, who drew his picture in the hands of Phalaris's guards, who were putting him into their master's bull, and out of the Doctor's mouth came a label with these words, I had rather be Roasted than BOYLED. And Dean Swift, in his Tale of a Tub, had some strokes at Dr Bentley upon this occasion, but more especially in his Battle of the Books, where, on account of Dr Bentley's Dissertation of Phalaris, &c. being annexed to Mr Wotton's Reflections on Learning, and their being great friends, he makes Mr Wotton and Dr Bentley, standing side by side, in each other's defence, to be both transfixed to the ground by one stroke of the javelin of Mr Boyle, and this he heightens by the simile of a cook's spitting a brace of woodcocks. Nay, so strong is the influence of literary prejudice and fashion, that many even of Dr Bentley's friends considered Boyle's Examination as unanswerable. Nor could they be convinced of the contrary, till the Doctor, first asking them where it was so impregnable, and confuting one article after another upon the spot, as fast as they instanced, assured them it was all of the same kind. This he effectually showed in his answer. It now, however, seems to be the settled opinion of the literary world, that the Doctor has not only the evident advantage in respect of learning and argument, but that he is little, if at all, inferior to his antagonist in point of wit and smartness. It may not, however, be amiss to recite a few testimonies on the subject. Mr Walpole, speaking of Mr Boyle's translation of the Epistles of Phalaris, says, "This work occasioned the famous controversy with Dr Bentley;—who alone, and unworsted, sustained the attacks of the brightest geniuses in the learned world, and whose fame has not suffered by the wit to which it gave occasion." Mr Towers, in his British Biography, expresses himself in the following terms: "In the controversy between him and Mr Boyle, the popular clamour, indeed, was in favour of the latter; but Bentley's is unquestionably a much more valuable performance than that of Boyle. The latter, considered as a mere English composition, has the advantage in point of style; and pleased the generality, by the personal satire which it contained against Dr Bentley, who had many enemies. But Bentley had greatly the superiority with respect to just reasoning, critical sagacity, and extent of learning; and his vindication of himself also contained many shrewd and sarcastical strokes against Mr Boyle and his performance. Much has been said in favour of Mr Boyle, as a genteel and polite writer; and it must be confessed, that Dr Bentley's manner was often too assuming, and that he was deficient in point of civility. But notwithstanding this, there was, perhaps, a much greater want of real candour and politeness, whatever affectation of them there might be, in the very contemptuous and unfair manner in which Dr Bentley was treated throughout Mr Boyle's book, than in any thing which Bentley had said against Boyle. Bentley, with all his foibles, was too respectable a character to be a proper subject of such treatment: though Swift, Garth, and Pope, have joined in countenancing the popular prejudices against him." Mr Dodwell, who resided at Oxford during the controversy, who made himself in some sort a party in it, and who had a very particular court paid to him by the Christ-Church men, declared to them that he never learned so much from any book of the size in his life, In 1696, at the public commencement, Mr Bentley had been created doctor of divinity by the university of Cambridge; and some time thereafter, admitted, ad eundem, in the university of Oxford.

In 1700 he was presented to the mastership of Trinity college, Cambridge, which is reckoned worth near £1000 per annum. Upon this promotion he resigned his prebend of Worcester; and, in 1701, was collated to the archdeaconry of Ely. Being thus placed in a state of ease and affluence, he entered into matrimony, and indulged his inclination in critical pursuits; and the fruits of his labours, which he occasionally published, all displayed such erudition and sagacity, that, by degrees, he obtained the character of being the greatest critic of the age. In the mean while, however, he carried matters so high a hand in the government of his college, that, in 1709, a complaint was brought before the bishop of Ely, as visitor, against him, by several of the fellows, who charged him with embezzling the college money, and other misdemeanors. In answer to this, he presented his defence to the bishop, which he published in 1710, under the title of The present State of Trinity College, 8vo; and thus began a quarrel, which was carried on with the most virulent animosity on each side, for above 20 years, when it at last ended in the Doctor's favour. In 1716, upon the death of Dr James, he was appointed regius professor of divinity in the former university; annexed to which was a good benefice in the bishopric of Ely. His majesty King George I. on a visit to the university in 1717, having, as usual, nominated by mandate several persons for a doctor's degree in divinity, our professor, to whose office it belonged to perform the ceremony called creation, demanded four guineas from each person, besides a broad piece of gold, and absolutely refused to create any doctor without these fees: hence there arose a long and warm dispute, during which, the doctor was first suspended, and then degraded; but on a petition to his majesty for relief from that sentence, the affair was referred to the court of King's bench, where the proceedings against him being reversed, a mandamus was issued, charging the university to restore him. With regard to Dr Bentley's long dispute with his college, Mr Whiston represents his having been induced in a single instance, after four years of unexceptionable conduct, to recede from the excellent rule of detur digniori, in the election to a fellowship, as the first false step which led to others, and was very prejudicial to his own happiness. A concise and accurate account of his controversies with his college and the university, and of the publications which appeared on these occasions, may be seen in Mr Gough's anecdotes of topography. There are likewise, in the Harleian collection of manuscripts in the British Museum, No. 7523, some authentic papers, relative to the proceedings of the university against Dr Bentley. Dr Bentley was endowed with a natural hardness of temper, which enabled him to ride out both these storms without any extraordinary disturbance, or interruption to his literary pursuits. In his private character, though he is generally allowed to have been too fond of money, he was hearty, sincere, and warm in his friendship, an affectionate husband, and a most indulgent father. He loved hospitality and respect; maintained the dignity and munificence of the ancient abbot in house-keeping at his lodge, which he beautified; and, in conversation, tempered the severity of the critic with such a peculiar strain of vivacity and pleasantry, as was very entertaining. He died at his lodge in Trinity college, on the 14th of July 1742, at 80 years of age. To his latest hour, he could read the smallest Greek Testament without spectacles; and he died of a young man's disorder, a pleuritic fever. He was of a large and robust frame of body, and of strong features. These gave a dignity, perhaps a severity, to his aspect, which probably heightened the opinion many had conceived of the haughtiness and roughness of his temper. But, in fact, he was of so tender a disposition, that he never read a touching story without tears. It was not, indeed, till after he had been afflicted with a slight paralytic stroke, that this particular effect of the softness of his nature was in every case apparent: so that it may possibly be imputed, in some degree, to his disorder. It is, however, certain that previous to that event he was endued with great tenderness and sensibility. In the contest about the visitatorial power, when he met Bishop Moore, he was so struck with seeing his old friend appear in a hostile manner against him, that he fainted away in the court.

When we consider the great abilities and uncommon erudition of which Dr Bentley was possessed, it reflects some disgrace on our country, says Dr Kippis, that even his literary reputation should be so long treated with contempt; that he should be represented as a mere verbal critic, and as a pedant without genius. The unjust light in which he was placed, was not entirely owing to the able men who opposed him in the Boylean controversy: it arose perhaps principally from the poets engaging on the same side of the question, and making him the object of their satire and ridicule. The "flashing Bentley" of Pope will be remembered and repeated by thousands who know nothing of the Doctor's real merit. Having mentioned this epithet, we shall add the candid note of the poet's right reverend editor. "This great man with all his faults, deserved to be put into better company. The following words of Cicero describe him not amiss: 'Habuit a natura genus quoddam acuminis, quod etiam arte ille movet, quod erat in reprehendis verbis versutum et solers; sed saxe stomacorum, nonnunquam frigidum, interdum etiam facetum." In the fourth book of the Dunciad, Mr Pope introduces our critic at greater length, and with still greater severity. Perhaps it may be found that the asperity of Mr Pope was not entirely owing to the combination of certain wits and poets against Dr Bentley, but to personal resentment. We are told that Bishop Atterbury, having Bentley and Pope both at dinner with him, insisted on knowing what opinion the Doctor entertained of the English Homer. He for some time eluded the question; but at last, being urged to speak out, he said, "The verses are good verses; but the work is not Homer, it is Spondanus." It must indeed be acknowledged, that one cause of Dr Bentley's having enemies, was his not always bearing his faculties with sufficient meekness. He appears to have had a considerable degree of literary pride, and to have spoken of himself and others with uncommon freedom. Mr Whiston informs us of the Doctor's hav- Bentley, ving said, "That when he himself should be dead, Wasse would be the most learned man in England."

Dr Salter, who was extremely devoted to the memory of Dr Bentley, confessed that he was remarkable for his fastus, especially towards his equals, and for speaking highly of himself. But at the same time, he is described by Dr Salter as having been a very amiable and pleasant man in private life, and as possessing much good nature, though he had been otherwise represented. This account agrees with the most authentic information from different quarters. It is related of Dr Bentley, that he used to pull off his hat to the younger students, but would not do it to the fellows of his college. Being asked the reason for making this difference, he answered, "That the young ones might come to something; but for the others, they never could be good for anything."

The Doctor's principal works, besides those already mentioned, were, 1. Animadversions and Remarks on the poet Callimachus. 2. Annotations on the two first Comedies of Aristophanes. 3. Emendations, &c. on the Fragment of Menander and Philemon. 4. Remarks upon Collins's discourse of freethinking. 5. Beautiful and correct editions of Horace, Terence, Phaedrus, and Milton, with notes.

In 1721 he published Proposals for printing a new edition of the Greek Testament, and St Hieron's Latin version; in which edition he intended to make no use of any manuscript that was not at least 1000 years old. Upon these proposals Dr Middleton published some remarks; and the work never made its appearance. "If Dr Middleton's attack contributed to this event (Dr Kippis observes), he certainly did no little disservice to the cause of sacred literature. The completion of Dr Bentley's noble undertaking was the principal employment of the latter part of his life. He had collected and collated all the manuscripts of Europe to which access could be obtained. For this purpose, his nephew Thomas Bentley, LL.D. well known in the republic of letters, travelled through Europe at his uncle's expense. The work was of such magnitude, that he found it necessary, for the first time, to publish proposals for printing it by subscription. The whole was completed for publication; and he had received 2000l. in part of the subscription, all of which he returned to the subscribers when he took the resolution of not letting it appear in the world during his own life. The work is now in the possession of his executor Dr Richard Bentley, one of the senior fellows of Trinity College, and rector of Nailston near Ashby in Leicestershire; and it is hoped that at some future period it may yet see the light.—Other valuable remains of Dr Bentley are still in existence; some of which are in the hands of his executor, and some in those of Mr Cumberland his grandson. The latter gentleman is possessed of the Doctor's classic books, with his marginal notes. From these notes Mr Cumberland hath published an edition of Lucan; which though not perfect throughout, is full and complete with regard to the four first books. The same gentleman has a Homer of our great critic's, with many marginal notes and corrections, preparatory to an edition of it which he intended to have given. Dr Bentley's critical correspondence with his numerous literary acquaintance, which must be very instructive and entertaining, is not only preserved, but designed to be laid before the public."

The Doctor's publication of Milton, it is said, was owing to Queen Caroline. Her majesty represented to him, that he had printed no edition of an English classic, and urged him to undertake Milton. His notes upon this great poet have been the worst received of any of his critical performances. The learned Bishop Newton speaks of them with considerable severity, intermixed, however, with some applause.