a well-known religious author, was born at King's Cliff, Northamptonshire, in 1686. He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1705; and, with the intention of taking orders, passed through the necessary degrees. He was elected a fellow in 1711, and took the degree of M.A. in the following year. On the accession of George I, he refused to take the prescribed oath and declaration, and in consequence vacated his fellowship in 1716. After officiating for some time as a curate in London, he went to reside at Putney as tutor to the father of Gibbon the historian. It is not known how long he continued in that situation; but it is certain that he left it about 1740, and retired, along with Hester Gibbon, his ward's sister, and another lady, to his birthplace, for the purpose of leading a retired and charitable life. There he had founded, in 1727, an hospital and a school. After a twenty years' residence, he died on the 19th of April 1761, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

Law's character is clearly indicated by his published works. It is thus pointedly described by Gibbon in his *Miscellaneous Works*:

"In our family he left the reputation of a worthy and pious man, who believed all that he professed, and practised all that he enjoined."

His works extend to 9 volumes octavo, embracing sixteen treatises and a collection of letters. The most popular are the *Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life* and the *Practical Treatise upon Christian Perfection*. To the former Dr Johnson attributed his having been led to think earnestly about religion. The *Three Letters to the Bishop of Bangor* are, perhaps, the most powerful of his productions, and very valuable as specimens of a high style of controversy comparatively rare in any language. His *Reply to Mandeville's Fable of the Bees* has been lately republished in a separate form, with an Introductory Essay, by F. D. Maurice.