book dated Dresden, Jan. 15, 1778,' and that I have a very curions "Please to write my direction as follows: 'To John Seiferth, Esq. at Dresden. To the care of Mr. Gregory, Banker at Dresden.' But in case you should send prints they must go with a Hamburgh ship. In case you should have at any time some new English books which you can recommend particularly as good saleable subjects, be so kind to send me one; for a German translation is very much desired to satisfy our literary world that way." "To Mr. J. Nichols, Printer to the Royal Society, London." Rev. Archdeacon SQUIRE PAYNE*, was instituted to the Rectory of Barnack, upon the death of William Denny in 1706, to the Prebend of Liddington in Rutland, in the Church of Lincoln, 12 November, 1728, and to the Archdeaconry of Stow in the same Church, 14 November 1730. Mr. Payne was buried at Barnack, 10 January, 1750. He was succeeded in the Rectory by the father of Dr. Rennell, the present learned Dean of Winchester, and Master of the Temple, who was baptized at Barnack, 9 March, 1753. The following curious account of his father, extracted from the Archdeacon's MSS. has been recently communicated to me by John Hopkinson, Esq. of Stamford: "Some account of the Life and Writings of Dr. Payne, sent to my brother, Robert Payne, November, 1733, to be communicated to Mr. Richardson. * See the "Literary Anecdotes,” vol. I. p. 143; and VII. 312. “William Payne, born at Hutton in the county of Essex, in May, 1650, had his education in the Free-School of Brentwood, which rose to a great reputation at that time under the care of Mr. Barnard, a man of genius and abilities. Thence he removed to Magdalen College in Cambridge, into which he was admitted in the year 1665, under a tutor of extraordinary merit, Dr. Hezekiah Burton, with whom he maintained an intimate friendship till the Doctor's death put an end to it. He was elected Fellow of this Society. This preferment he held till his marriage, May 6, 1675, with Elizabeth daughter of the Reverend John Squire, Vicar of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch in Middlesex; a clergyman of exemplary life and piety, who suffered sequestration, five years imprisonment, and many other hardships for the Royal cause in the time of the great rebellion. At this time he settled at Frinstead in Kent, being possessed of that living and the neighbouring one of Wormshill; these he quitted upon his promotion to Whitechapel in London, into which Rectory he was instituted June 3, 1681. "The school of Brentwood flourished to such a degree under the Government of Mr. Barnard that the gentlemen educated in it instituted an annual feast. Mr. Payne was requested to preach before them. This was the first occasion of his appearing in print. The title was, Learning and Knowledge recommended to the scholars of Brentwood School, in Essex; in a Sermon preached at their first feast, June 29, 1682. Published at the earnest desire of the Stewards.' "His next public exercise (except an occasional sermon or two) was in the Popish controversy in the reign of King James. With what courage the City Clergy stood then in the gap, and how well they acquitted themselves is known to all the world; though that they acted in concert, and that every man had a particular part allotted him, which they volunta rily obliged themselves to perform by such a time under a penalty, is a matter not so generally known. Mr. Payne had his part both in the danger and the credit of that service. The duty that fell to his share in that War of Religion, was the writing the five following treatises: 1. The three grand corruptions of the Eucharist in the Church of Rome, in three discourses.' 2. A discourse of the Comthe munion in one kind, in answer to a treatise of the Bishop of Meaux's of Communion under both species. 3. A discourse of the Sacrifice of the Mass.' d4. 'A discourse of the Adoration of the Host.' 5. 'The sixth note of the Church examined, viz. Agreement in doctrine with the Primitive Church.' 6. "The texts examined, which the Papists cite out of the Bible for the proof of their doctrine concerning the celibacy of Priests, and vows of Continence.' 10 "While he was thus employed he was honourably invited to accept of the Lectureship of the Poultry Church in the City, which he held as long as he lived. At the Commencement in 1689 he took degree of D. D. and was the same year appointed the Chaplain in Ordinary to their Majesties. "The threatening clouds were dispelled by a providential event, that of the Revolution. In the fair weather that succeeded, Mr. Payne set himself to discharge the proper work of his Ministry, and began his practical discourse of Repentance; but was retarded in finishing of it by two interruptions. "The new Government was desirous to strengthen the interest of the Reformed Religion by an union among Protestants; the Bishops, in their common danger, under King James, had promised to promote such a reconciliation. A commission of thirty members of the Convocation, twelve of the upper, eighteen of the lower house, such as were thought best disposed to this work, was appointed, and they determined to try how far a reconciliation with the most reasonable and moderate Dissenters was prac ticable; the warmest of the members of the Church declared openly against this comprehension. A worthy and well-meaning, but over-zealous Clergyman, and a member of the Convocation appeared in print against this design, and, as if he had been deputed proctor for the body of the Clergy, gave his book the title of Vox Cleri;' in reply to this Dr. Payne wrote a piece, intituled, "An answer to Vox Cleri, &c.; examining the reasons against making any alterations and abatements in order to a comprehension; and showing the expediency thereof.' Some of the Clergy, unhappily, scrupled complying with the new establishment and the oaths that were enjoyned by it. One of these Nonjurors published his scruples and addressed it to Dr. William Payne, of Whitechapel. This put him upon vindicating the Government then settled, which he did in a piece, intituled, 'An answer to a printed letter to Dr. William Payne concerning non-resistance and other reasons for not taking the oaths. With some queries to the Nonjurors in a postscript.' "These political disputes being ended, he had leisure to complete and publish his book of Repentance: A practical discourse of Repentance, rectifying the mistakes about it; and demonstrating the invalidity of a death-bed repentance.' "A little before this, having been called upon to preach before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, at the request of the Court he printed his sermon: Family Religion, or the duty of taking care of Religion in families; recommended in a Sermon preached at Guildhall chapel before the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, on Sunday Feb. 22, 1690-1.' What he thus recommended, he endeavoured further to enforce by practice, and seconded the good design of this sermon by a small book of piety which he composed chiefly for the use of his own numerous parishioners of Whitechapel. This he printed under the same title of Family Religion.' It con 1 tains exhortations and directions for private and family devotion, and forms of prayer suitable for such occasions. He made a present of one of them to every housekeeper that lived within his cure. By the distribution of these books it appeared that there were almost 3000 families in that populous parish. In London and the parts adjacent were a considerable number of Churches that were not subject to the visitation of the Bishop or any other Ordinary, but only to that of the King or some person commissioned by him; they are vulgarly called 'Lawless Churches.' Many irregularities, especially as to Marriages, were committed in them. To regulate these disorders Dr. Payne was, by a Commission from their Majesties, appointed Visitor Royal, with the same jurisdiction over those exempt Churches that Bishops have over those of their respective Sees, and a power to grant matrimonial licences, a privilege thought by the Courts of Doctors' Commons too great for a private man. Those gentlemen interesting themselves very much to get this Commission revoked, Dr. Payne voluntarily resigned it to King William in 1696. "In 1694 Dr. Payne was preferred to a prebend in the Church of Westminster, his promotion being owing chiefly to Queen Mary. It pleased God, soon after, to deprive this Nation of her: Dr. Payne preached and published an affectionate Sermon on the occasion of her death, in which he did some justice to the character of that excellent Princess. "The leaven of Infidelity, that has since extended itself to such a degree, began to work about this time. This was the great abuse the enemies of Religion made of that liberty, which the Nation obtained by the Revolution. This monster made its appearance in the shape of Socinianisn; books and pamphlets swarmed that were written to favour these erroneous opinions. Dr. Payne judged rightly that the attack was designed against Christianity in |