Grose, Francis, born about the year 1731, was the son of Francis Grose, a jeweller of Richmond, by whom the coronation crown of George II. was filled up. Young Grose obtained an independent fortune by the death of his father, which happened in the year 1769. He was then paymaster and adjutant in the Surrey militia, but dissipation so far prevented him for some time from giving proper attention to his duty, that, in his own humorous mode of expressing himself, he kept but two books of accounts, his right and left hand pockets. The losses which this thoughtless conduct occasioned him awakened his dormant talents, and he resolved to turn his attention to literary pursuits. Having received a classical education, he united to it an excellent taste for drawing, which induced him to commence his Views of Antiquities in England and Wales. He began this work in numbers in 1773, and completed it in 1776; and by it he obtained both reputation and profit, which last his unpardonable prodigality had rendered extremely welcome. In 1777 he added to his English Views other two volumes, including the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, finished in 1778. All his expectations were fully gratified by the publication of this work; and during the remainder of his life he continued to publish others, which in general increased his reputa-