A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature | Page 8

not
advance him further on account of his opposition to the alienation of
ecclesiastical revenues. On the accession, however, of James I., to
whom his somewhat pedantic learning and style of preaching
recommended him, he rose into great favour, and was made
successively Bishop of Chichester, of Ely, and, in 1618, of Winchester.
He attended the Hampton Court Conference, and took part in the
translation of the Bible, known as the Authorised Version, his special
work being given to the earlier parts of the Old Testament: he acted,
however, as a sort of general editor. He was considered as, next to
Ussher, the most learned churchman of his day, and enjoyed a great
reputation as an eloquent and impassioned preacher, but the stiffness
and artificiality of his style render his sermons unsuited to modern taste.
His doctrine was High Church, and in his life he was humble, pious,
and charitable. Ninety-six of his sermons were published in 1631 by
command of Charles I.
There are lives by A.T. Russell (1863), and R.L. Ottley (1894);
Devotions were edited by Rev. Dr. Whyte (1900).

ANSTEY, CHRISTOPHER (1724-1805).--Poet, s. of Dr. A., a wealthy
clergyman, rector of Brinkley, Cambridgeshire, was ed. at Eton and
Cambridge. He pub. in 1766 a satirical poem of considerable sparkle,
The New Bath Guide, from which Smollett is said to have drawn
largely in his Humphrey Clinker. He made many other excursions into
literature which are hardly remembered, and ended his days as a
country squire at the age of eighty.
D'ARBLAY, FRANCES (BURNEY) (1752-1840).--Novelist, dau. of
Dr. Charles B., a musician of some distinction, was b. at Lynn Regis,
where her f. was organist. Her mother having died while she was very
young, and her f., who had come to London, being too busy to give her
any attention, she was practically self-educated. Her first novel, Evelina,
pub. anonymously in 1778, at once by its narrative and comic power,
brought her fame, and, through Mrs. Thrale (q.v.), she made the
acquaintance of Dr. Johnson, with whom she became a great favourite.
Her next literary venture was a comedy, The Witlings; but, by the
advice of her f., it was not put upon the stage. In 1782, however, she
produced Cecilia, which, like its predecessor, had an enormous sale,
and which, though not perhaps so popular as Evelina, added to her
fame. She now became the friend of Burke and other distinguished
persons, including Mrs. Delaney, through whom she became known to
the royal family, and was offered the appointment of Second Keeper of
the Robes, which, with some misgivings, she accepted. This situation
did not prove a happy one, the duties being menial, the society
uncongenial, and the court etiquette oppressive and injurious to her
health, and in 1791 she obtained permission to retire on a pension of
£100. She had, during her connection with the court, continued her
Diary, which she had begun in girlhood, and continued during her
whole life, and which during this period contains many interesting
accounts of persons and affairs of note. She married (1793) Gen.
D'Arblay, a French emigré, their only income being her slender pension.
This she endeavoured to increase by producing a tragedy, Edwy and
Elvira, which failed. In 1795 she pub. by subscription another novel,
Camilla, which, though it did not add to her reputation, considerably
improved her circumstances, as it is said to have brought her £3000.
After some years spent in France, where her husband had obtained

employment, she returned to England and pub. her last novel, The
Wanderer, which fell flat. Her only remaining work was a life of her
father, written in an extraordinarily grandiloquent style. She died in
1840, aged 87.
ARBUTHNOT, JOHN (1667-1735).--Physician and satirist, was b. in
Kincardineshire, and after studying at Aberdeen and Oxford, took his
degree of M.D. at St. Andrews. Settling in London, he taught
mathematics. Being by a fortunate accident at Epsom, he was called in
to prescribe for Prince George, who was suddenly taken ill there, and
was so successful in his treatment that he was appointed his regular
physician. This circumstance made his professional fortune, for his
ability enabled him to take full advantage of it, and in 1705 he became
physician to the Queen. He became the cherished friend of Swift and
Pope, and himself gained a high reputation as a wit and man of letters.
His principal works are the Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus, partly by
Pope, but to which he was the chief contributor, the History of John
Bull (1712), mainly against the Duke of Marlborough, _A Treatise
concerning the Altercation or Scolding of the Ancients, and the Art of
Political Lying_. He also wrote various medical treatises, and
dissertations on ancient coins, weights, and measures. After the death
of Queen Anne, A. lost