Temple.
"R.H." inquires, whether Antony Alsop was at Trinity College before he
became a student of Christchurch? I have considered it to be my duty to
examine the Admission Registers of Trinity College in my possession
since the foundation of the college; and I can only say, that I do not
find the name in any of them. That he was at Christchurch, and admitted
there as a student, is recorded by his biographers. It is also {250}
said, that he was elected at once from Westminster to Christchurch,
where he took the degree of M.A. March 23. 1696, and that of B.D. Dec.
12. 1706. He was soon distinguished by Dean Aldrich as worthy of his
patronage and encouragement. He was consequently appointed tutor and
censor, and in course of time left college, on his promotion to a
prebendal stall in Winchesser Cathedral by Sir Jonathan Trelawney, the
then Bishop, with the rectory of Brightwell, near Wallingford; at which
latter place he chiefly resided till the time of his death, which
happened by an accident, June 10. 1726. Sir Francis Bernard, Bart., who
had himself been a student of Christchurch, published the 4to. volume of
_Latin Odes_ mentioned by "R.H.," Lond. 1753; for which he had issued
_Proposals_, &c., so early as July, 1748. In addition to these _Odes_,
four English poems by Alsop are said to be in Dodsley's collection, one
in Pearch's, several in the early volumes of the _Gentleman's Magazine_,
and some in _The Student_. Dr. Bentley calls him, rather familiarly,
"Tony Alsop, editor of the _Æsopian Fables_;" a work published by him at
Oxford, in 1698, 8 vo., in the preface to which he took part against Dr.
Bentley, in the dispute with Mr. Boyle.