Hussey, there is an elegant marble monument, by Richard Westmacott, in the north transept of Lichfield Cathedral in a false window. A female figure, with her left arm leaning upon an urn, points with her right-hand to the inscription:

"Obiit 7 Januarii 1787, æt. 25."

And underneath:

" M. S.

Catherinæ Cecilia,

Caroli Buckeridge

uxoris dilectissimæ,

amplexu ejus ah! nimium beati
mense consortii septimo
direptæ."

ARMS. Or, two pallets between five cross-crosslets fitchee in saltire Sable, Buckeridge; impaling, 1st and 4th, Barry of six, Ermine and Gules; 2d and 3d, Or, a cross Vert, Hussey. - The arms of Dr. Buckeridge also occur in the Prebendaries' window, placed in the choir between 1806 and 1808.

Archdeacon Buckeridge married, secondly, Miss Elizabeth Slaney, by whom he had two children, who both died before him, Mary-Elizabeth, in 1810, at the age of thirteen; and Charles-Lewis, in 1812. Mrs. Buckeridge is now living, Jan. 1829.

2. The Rev. Richard Buckeridge. He was also of St. John's-college, Oxford, where he took his degree of B. C. L. June 22, 1791. In the same year his father resigned to him the Curacy of Edingale; in 1802 he was presented by the Lord Chancellor to the Perpetual Curacy of Stone in Staffordshire; and in 1790 he was presented by Viscount Anson to the Rectory of Beighton in Norfolk. He was also Dean's Vicar in the Cathedral of Lichfield. He was married at Lichfield, January 5, 1792, to the eldest daughter of Mr. William Wright, and granddaughter of Richard Greene, Esq. the Collector of the Lichfield Museum. He died at Stone in June 1824, at the age of 59; leaving two sons and three daughters.

3. Lewis Buckeridge, Esq. He died at Lichfield, Nov. 23, 1821.

318

RICHARD GREENE, Esa. M.D.

This intelligent Collector of Curiosities was a respectable Surgeon and Apothecary at Lichfield, and one of the Aldermen of that City.

He was proprietor of a Museum which attracted and merited the notice of the antiquary and the curious of every denomination; to the formation of which he dedicated the principal part of his life; and which was open, free from expense, to all scientific and inquiring individuals. In 1776 it was visited by Dr. Samuel Johnson, a circumstance thus recorded by Mr. Boswell: "We went and viewed the Museum of Mr. Richard Greene, apothecary here, who told me he was proud of being a relation of Dr. Johnson's. It was truly a wonderful collection, both of antiquities and natural curiosities, and in, genious works of art. He had all the articles accurately arranged, with the names of the contributors upon labels, printed at his own little press; and on the stair-case leading to it was a board, with the names of the contributors marked in gold letters. A printed Catalogue of the collection was to be had at the bookseller's*. Johnson expressed his

*There were two or three editions of the "New and Accurate Survey of the Lichfield Museum, in which every article is particularly described. Printed by J. Jackson, bookseller in Lichfield." It is now very scarce. Several of the more curious articles, particularly those of local interest, are described in Shaw's Staffordshire, vol. I. p. 331. A view of the apartment was published in 1789 in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVIII. p. 847, accompanied by a letter which is re-printed hereafter, p. 325. He had previously, at various times, had several of his curiosities engraved in that publication. One of the several urns found in the wall of Fairwell Church, Staffordshire, was represented in vol. XLI. p. 59; a chalice, found in Lichfield Cathedral, vol. XLII. p. 169; a Roman pig of lead found on Hints Common, ibid. p. 558 (on which see also vol. XLII. p. 61; LV. p. 693); a sepulchral urn found at Yoxall in vol. XLIV. p. 358; a celt and spear-head found

admiration of the activity, and diligence, and good fortune of Mr. Greene, in getting together, in his situation, so great a variety of things; and Mr. Greene told me that Johnson once said to him, 'Sir, I should as soon have thought of building a man of war, as of collecting such a museum.' Mr. Greene's obliging alacrity in showing it was very pleasing. His engraved portrait has a motto truly characteristic of his disposition, NEMO SIBI VIVAT *."

In 1784 Dr. Johnson consigned to Mr. Greene the task of inscribing a grave-stone to his father, mother, and brother, in St. Michael's, Lichfield +.

The following brief notice of Mr. Greene is from an unpublished manuscript of the late Rev. Mark Noble, F.S.A. written in 1808: "A more inoffensive character I never knew. We were well acquainted; and many interchanges took place between us. He visited us in Birmingham and I him in Lichfield. He collected a Museum, perhaps the finest that was ever formed in a provincial City, and he was so generally beloved that the neighbouring Nobility, Gentlemen, and Clergy were constantly adding to it, often presents of no small value. I have myself been a contributor, and when I have

in Staffordshire in vol. LII. p. 281; a painted altar-piece in vol. LV. p. 25 (before described in vol. LIV. p. 396); another chalice, and a crucifix, also found in Lichfield Cathedral, in vol. LV. p. 332; a medal and seal in vol. LVI. p. 632; an ivory carving of the Nativity, ibid. p. 925. All these were in Mr. Greene's Museum, and most of the engravings are accompanied by letters of Mr. Greene. Among his other communications were, an interesting letter on Dr. Johnson's willow at Lichfield, and other localities, in vol. LV. p. 495; one on the death of the Parliamentarian general Lord Brook, ibid. p. 943; on the opening of the grave of Adam de Stanford in Lichfield Cathedral (who died Precentor in 1278) vol. LVII. p. 461.

*This was a private plate, but was lent by his son to the History of Staffordshire, where it may be seen, representing a pleasing elderly countenance, vol. I. p. 308. The original painting is now in the possession of his son.

See the Doctor's letter in Boswell, vol. I. p. 566; or in Shaw's Staffordshire, I. 327.

gone to London he has commissioned me to purchase rarities for him, depending a good deal upon my judgment. He laid out, however, no very large sums; the whole, though at his death sold for a considerable amount, had been of little expense, comparatively speaking, to himself. He was religious, strictly just, diligent in business, and very moderate in his charges. A Scottish University, without any solicitation of his own, sent him the degree of M. D. He was gratified by it; but never assumed the title of Doctor. As a husband, father, neighbour, and master he was most estimable; I think he could not have had an enemy in the world. It must be remarked that he was the first who brought a printing-press to Lichfield, as he informed me; so we see Dr. Johnson's father and brother were only booksellers."

Mr. Greene died at Lichfield, June 4, 1793, in his 78th year; and his widow on the first of August following. He had been twice married. By his first wife, whose name was Dawson, he had a daughter, who was married to Mr. William Wright, of Lichfield *. One of her daughters became the wife of the Rev. Richard Buckeridge (of whom in p. 316); and another of her daughters is yet alive. Richard Wright, M. D. (mentioned in p. 321,) was her son.

Mr. Greene's second wife was Theodosia Webb, of Croxall in Derbyshire. "Mrs. Greene," adds Mr. Noble, "was plain in her person, manner, and dress; but a very valuable woman, being strictly attentive to her duty. By her Mr. Greene had an only son, Thomas, a Lieutenant and Surgeon in the Staffordshire Militia. He was educated in the Free Gram

* The wife of William Mott, Esq. a proctor at Lichfield, and for many years Secretary, Registrar, and Chapter-clerk to the See, was a daughter of Mr. Richard Greene,-not the collector, but a relation, whose family resided at Brewood at Staffordshire. Mr. Mott died at Lichfield, May 13, 1826, aged 71.

mar School of King Edward the Sixth in Birmingham, where I often invited him at that time to dine with me. He seemed to have none of his father's Thoresbeian taste *; and he sold the Museum soon after it had passed into his hands." Some part of it came, whether by sale or otherwise, into the possession of Richard Wright, M. D. the grandson of Dr. Greene, who greatly increased it. It was afterwards removed to Bath, where itwas sold, with the exception of a small portion of it, also dispersed by auction after his death.

1. Mr. GREENE to Mr. BOWEN.

"DEAR MR. BOWEN,

Lichfield, April 17, 1769. By favour of my friend Mr. Buckeridge t, I send you an impression in plaster, taken from a brass seal; which, by very good luck, has fallen into my hands. I am so much of an antiquary that I can perceive it is the Great Seal of Henry Prince of Wales, son of Henry IV. Duke of Aquitaine, Lancaster, and Earl of Chester. My dear friend, shall I entreat an explanation by the return of Mr. Buckeridge? I shall be glad of the circumscription in the old character, with the abbreviations, and an explanation in your own hand; and, if not too much trouble, your sentiments upon this curious piece of antiquity. I am amazed how it chanced to be in private hands. There are four holes in the same number of ears, which, I suppose, were to receive four pins, to keep the other part steady. I am in pursuit of that part; but as yet cannot find it.

"An antiquarian acquaintance, the Rev. Mr. Percy, a relation of the Duke of Northumberland, is now collecting materials for a History of the Battle of Shrewsbury, temp. Henry IV. I have furnished him with a print of the Battle-field Church, with which he seems greatly pleased, as I find it is re-built.

"Do not give yourself the trouble to send back the casts, as I can coin more. I have some thoughts, if I could get a draw

A letter of Miss Seward, to Captain Seward, Sept. 2, 1787, contains the following anecdote connected with young Greene. Lord Heathfield had paid a flying visit to Lichfield, and, we are told, "had he passed only one night, the compliment of a general illumination through our little city had been paid. The words Elliot, Gibraltar, Victory, enwreathed with flowers, were to have shone in phosphorus upon the walls of our town-hall, and over the arms of our city. It was the contrivance of an ingenious young surgeon, of the name of Greene, who prepared it when you taught me to expect one of the most flattering distinctions of my life; but his Lordship arriving on a Sunday morning, and departing in the afternoon, he frustrated the wish of our inhabitants to have welcomed, with public eclat, the restorer of the nation's glory." Seward's Letters, vol. I. p. 322.

†The Rev. Theophilus Buckeridge, the subject of the preceding memoir. Afterwards Bishop of Dromore.