COLERIDGE, SAMUEL TAYLOR (1772-1834).--Poet, philosopher, and critic,

_s._ of the Rev. John C., vicar and schoolmaster of Ottery St. Mary,

Devonshire, was _b._ there in 1772, the youngest of 13 children. He was

at Christ's Hospital from 1782 to 1790, and had Charles Lamb for a

schoolfellow, and the famous scholar and disciplinarian, James Boyer, for

his master. Thence he proceeded to Jesus Coll., Camb., in 1791, where he

read much, but desultorily, and got into debt. The troubles arising

thence and also, apparently, a disappointment in love, led to his going

to London and enlisting in the 15th Dragoons under the name of Silas

Tomkyn Comberbacke. He could not, however, be taught to ride, and through

some Latin lines written by him on a stable door, his real condition was

discovered, his friends communicated with, and his release accomplished,

his brothers buying him off. After this escapade he returned (1794) to

Camb. He had by this time imbibed extreme democratic or, as he termed

them, pantisocratic principles, and on leaving Camb. in the same year he

visited Oxf., where he made the acquaintance of Southey, and discussed

with him a project of founding a "pantisocracy" on the banks of the

Susquehanna, a scheme which speedily fell through, owing firstly to want

of funds, and secondly to the circumstance of the two projectors falling

in love simultaneously with two sisters, Sarah and Edith Fricker, of whom

the former became, in 1795, the wife of C., and the latter of Southey. C.

had spent one more term at Camb., and there in Sept. 1794 his first work,

_The Fall of Robespierre_, a drama, to which Southey contributed two

acts, the second and third, was _pub._ After his marriage he settled

first at Clevedon, and thereafter at Nether Stowey, Somerset, where he

had Wordsworth for a neighbour, with whom he formed an intimate

association. About 1796 he fell into the fatal habit of taking laudanum,

which had such disastrous effects upon his character and powers of will.

In the same year _Poems on various Subjects_ appeared, and a little later

_Ode to the Departing Year_. While at Nether Stowey he was practically

supported by Thomas Poole, a tanner, with whom he had formed a

friendship. Here he wrote _The Ancient Mariner_, the first part of

_Christabel_ and _Kubla Khan_, and here he joined with Wordsworth in

producing the _Lyrical Ballads_. Some time previously he had become a

Unitarian, and was much engaged as a preacher in that body, and for a

short time acted as a minister at Shrewsbury. Influenced by Josiah and

Thomas Wedgwood, who each in 1798 gave him an annuity of £75 on

condition of his devoting himself to literature, he resigned this

position, and soon afterwards went to Germany, where he remained for over

a year, an experience which profoundly influenced the future development

of his intellect. On his return he made excursions with Southey and

Wordsworth, and at the end of 1799 went to London, where he wrote and

reported for the _Morning Post_. His great translation of Schiller's

_Wallenstein_ appeared in 1800. In the same year he migrated to Greta

Hall, near Keswick, where he wrote the second part of _Christabel_. Soon

after this his health gave way, and he suffered much; and, whether as the

cause or the consequence of this, he had become a slave to opium. In 1804

he went to Malta in search of health, and there became the friend of the

governor, Sir Alexander Ball, who appointed him his sec., in which

position he showed remarkable capacity for affairs. Resigning this

occupation, of which he had become tired, he travelled in Italy, and in

the beginning of 1806 reached Rome, where he enjoyed the friendship of

Tieck, Humboldt, and Bunsen. He returned to England in the end of 1806,

and in 1808 delivered his first course of lectures on Shakespeare at the

Royal Institution, and thereafter (1809), leaving his family at Keswick,

he went to live with Wordsworth at Grasmere. Here he started _The

Friend_, a philosophical and theological periodical, which lasted for 9

months. That part of his annuity contributed by T. Wedgwood had been

confirmed to him by will in 1805, and this he allowed to his wife, but in

1811 the remaining half was stopped. He delivered a second course of

lectures in London, and in 1813 his drama, _Remorse_, was acted at Drury

Lane with success. Leaving his family dependent upon Southey, he lived

with various friends, first, from 1816 to 1819, with John Morgan at

Calne. While there he _pub._ _Christabel_ and _Kubla Khan_ in 1816, and

in 1817 _Biographia Literaria_, _Sybilline Leaves_, and an autobiography.

In 1818 he appeared for the last time as a lecturer. He found in 1819 a

final resting-place in the household of James Gillman, a surgeon, at

Highgate. His life thenceforth was a splendid wreck. His nervous system

was shattered, and he was a constant sufferer. Yet these last years were,

in some respects, his best. He maintained a struggle against opium which

lasted with his life, and though he ceased to write much, he became the

revered centre of a group of disciples, including such men as Sterling,

Maurice, and Hare, and thus indirectly continued and increased his

influence in the philosophic and theological thought of his time. He

returned to Trinitarianism, and a singular and childlike humility became

one of his most marked characteristics. In 1824 he was elected an

Associate of the Royal Society of Literature, which brought him a pension

of 100 guineas. His latest publications were _Aids to Reflection_ (1825)

and _The Constitution of Church and State_. After his death there were

_pub._, among other works, _Table Talk_ (1835), _Confessions of an

Enquiring Spirit_ (1840), _Letters_ and _Anima Poetæ_ (1895).

Endowed with an intellect of the first order, and an imagination at once

delicate and splendid, C., from a weakness of moral constitution, and the

lamentable habit already referred to, fell far short of the performance

which he had planned, and which included various epic poems, and a

complete system of philosophy, in which all knowledge was to be

co-ordinated. He has, however, left enough poetry of such excellence as

to place him in the first rank of English poets, and enough philosophic,

critical, and theological matter to constitute him one of the principal

intellectually formative forces of his time. His knowledge of philosophy,

science, theology, and literature was alike wide and deep, and his powers

of conversation, or rather monologue, were almost unique. A description

of him in later life tells of "the clerical-looking dress, the thick,

waving, silver hair, the youthful coloured cheek, the indefinable mouth

and lips, the quick, yet steady and penetrating greenish-grey eye, the

slow and continuous enunciation, and the everlasting music of his tones."

SUMMARY.--_B._ 1772, _ed._ Christ's Hospital and Camb., enlists 1794 but

bought off, became intimate with Southey, and proposes to found

pantisocracy, settles at Clevedon and Nether Stowey 1795, and became

friend of Wordsworth, began to take opium 1796, writes _Ancient Mariner_,

and joins W. in _Lyrical Ballads_, became Unitarian preacher, visits

Germany 1798, _pub._ translation of _Wallenstein_ 1800, settles at Greta

Hall and finishes _Christabel_, goes to Malta 1804, lectures on

Shakespeare 1808, leaves his family and lives with W. 1809, and

thereafter with various friends, latterly with Gillman at Highgate,

returned to Trinitarianism, _pub._ various works 1808-1825, _d._ 1834.

_S.T. Coleridge, a Narrative_, J.D. Campbell (1893), also H.D. Traill

(Men of Letters Series, 1884), also Pater's _Appreciations_, De Quincey's

Works, Principal Shairp's _Studies in Poetry and Philosophy_ (1868).

COLERIDGE, SARA (1802-1852).--Miscellaneous writer, the only _dau._ of

the above, _m._ her cousin, Henry Nelson C. She translated Dobrizhöffer's

_Account of the Abipones_, and _The Joyous and Pleasant History ... of

the Chevalier Bayard_. Her original works are _Pretty Lessons in Verse_,

etc. (1834), which was very popular, and a fairy tale, _Phantasmion_. She

also ed. her father's works, to which she added an essay on Rationalism.

COLET, JOHN (1467-1519).--Scholar and theologian, was _b._ in London, the

_s._ of a wealthy citizen, who was twice Lord Mayor. The only survivor of

a family of 22, he went to Oxf. and Paris, and thence to Italy, where he

learned Greek. He entered the Church, and held many preferments,

including the Deanery of St. Paul's. He continued to follow out his

studies, devoting himself chiefly to St. Paul's epistles. He was

outspoken against the corruptions of the Church, and would have been

called to account but for the protection of Archbishop Warham. He devoted

his great fortune to founding and endowing St. Paul's School. Among his

works are a treatise on the Sacraments and various devotional writings.

It is rather for his learning and his attitude to the advancement of

knowledge than for his own writings that he has a place in the history of

English literature.

COLLIER, JEREMY (1650-1726).--Church historian and controversialist, _b._

at Stow, Cambridgeshire, _ed._ at Ipswich and Camb., entered the Church,

and became Rector of Ampton, Suffolk, lecturer of Gray's Inn, London,

and ultimately a nonjuring bishop. He was a man of war from his youth,

and was engaged in controversies almost until his death. His first

important one was with Gilbert Burnet, and led to his being imprisoned in

Newgate. He was, however, a man of real learning. His chief writings are

his _Ecclesiastical History of Great Britain_ (1708-1714), and especially

his _Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage_

(1699), on account of which he was attacked by Congreve and Farquhar, for

whom, however, he showed himself more than a match. The work materially

helped towards the subsequent purification of the stage.

COLLINS, JOHN (_d._ 1808).--Actor and writer, was a staymaker, but took

to the stage, on which he was fairly successful. He also gave humorous

entertainments and _pub._ _Scripscrapologia_, a book of verses. He is

worthy of mention for the little piece, _To-morrow_, beginning "In the

downhill of life when I find I'm declining," characterised by Palgrave as

"a truly noble poem."

COLLINS, JOHN CHURTON (1848-1908).--Writer on literature and critic, _b._

in Gloucestershire, and _ed._ at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and

Oxf., became in 1894 Prof. of English Literature at Birmingham. He wrote

books on _Sir J. Reynolds_ (1874), _Voltaire in England_ (1886),

_Illustrations of Tennyson_ (1891), and also on Swift and Shakespeare,

various collections of essays, _Essays and Studies_ (1895), and _Studies

in Poetry and Criticism_ (1905), etc., and he issued ed. of the works of

C. Tourneur, Greene, Dryden, Herbert of Cherbury, etc.

COLLINS, MORTIMER (1827-1876).--Novelist, _s._ of a solicitor at

Plymouth, was for a time a teacher of mathematics in Guernsey. Settling

in Berkshire he adopted a literary life, and was a prolific author,

writing largely for periodicals. He also wrote a good deal of occasional

and humorous verse, and several novels, including _Sweet Anne Page_

(1868), _Two Plunges for a Pearl_ (1872), _Mr. Carrington_ (1873), under

the name of "R.T. Cotton," and _A Fight with Fortune_ (1876).

COLLINS, WILLIAM (1721-1759).--Poet, _s._ of a respectable hatter at

Chichester, where he was _b._ He was _ed._ at Chichester, Winchester, and

Oxf. His is a melancholy career. Disappointed with the reception of his

poems, especially his Odes, he sank into despondency, fell into habits of

intemperance, and after fits of melancholy, deepening into insanity, _d._

a physical and mental wreck. Posterity has signally reversed the judgment

of his contemporaries, and has placed him at the head of the lyrists of

his age. He did not write much, but all that he wrote is precious. His

first publication was a small vol. of poems, including the _Persian_

(afterwards called _Oriental_) _Eclogues_ (1742); but his principal work

was his _Odes_ (1747), including those to _Evening_ and _The Passions_,

which will live as long as the language. When Thomson died in 1748 C.,

who had been his friend, commemorated him in a beautiful ode.

Another--left unfinished--that on the _Superstitions of the Scottish

Highlands_, was for many years lost sight of, but was discovered by Dr.

Alex. Carlyle (_q.v._). C.'s poetry is distinguished by its high

imaginative quality, and by exquisitely felicitous descriptive phrases.

_Memoirs_ prefixed to Dyce's ed. of Poems (1827), Aldine ed., Moy Thomas,

1892.

COLLINS, WILLIAM WILKIE (1824-1889).--Novelist, _s._ of William C., R.A.,

entered Lincoln's Inn, and was called to the Bar 1851, but soon

relinquished law for literature. His first novel was _Antonina_ (1850), a

historical romance. He found his true field, however, in the novel of

modern life, in which his power lies chiefly in the construction of a

skilful plot, which holds the attention of the reader and baffles his

curiosity to the last. In Count Fosco, however, he has contributed an

original character to English fiction. Among his numerous novels two,

_The Woman in White_ (1860), and _The Moonstone_ (1868), stand out

pre-eminent. Others are _The Dead Secret_ (1857), _Armadale_ (1866), _No

Name_ (1862), _After Dark, "I say No,"_ etc. He collaborated with Dickens

in _No Thoroughfare_.

COLMAN, GEORGE, THE ELDER (1732-1794).--Dramatist, _b._ at Florence,

where his _f._ was British Envoy, he was a friend of Garrick, and took to

writing for the stage with success. He wrote more than 30 dramatic

pieces, of which the best known are _The Jealous Wife_ (1761), and _The

Clandestine Marriage_ (1766). C. was also manager and part proprietor of

various theatres. He was a scholar and translated Terence and the _De

Arte Poetica_ of Horace, wrote essays, and ed. Beaumont and Fletcher and

B. Jonson.

COLMAN, GEORGE, THE YOUNGER (1762-1836).--Dramatist, _s._ of the

preceding, wrote or adapted numerous plays, including _The Heir at

Law_ and _John Bull_. He was Examiner of Plays (1824-1836). Many of his

plays are highly amusing, and keep their place on the stage. His wit made

him popular in society, and he was a favourite with George IV.

COLTON, CHARLES CALEB (1780-1832).--Miscellaneous writer, _ed._ at Eton

and Camb., took orders and held various livings. He was an eccentric man

of talent, with little or no principle, took to gaming, and had to leave

the country. He _d._ by his own hand. His books, mainly collections of

epigrammatic aphorisms and short essays on conduct, etc., though now

almost forgotten, had a phenomenal popularity in their day. Among them

are _Lacon, or Many Things in Few Words_, and a few poems.

COMBE, GEORGE (1788-1858).--Writer on phrenology and education, _b._ in

Edin., where for some time he practised as a lawyer. Latterly, however,

he devoted himself to the promotion of phrenology, and of his views on

education, for which he in 1848 founded a school. His chief work was _The

Constitution of Man_ (1828).

COMBE, WILLIAM (1741-1823).--Miscellaneous writer. His early life was

that of an adventurer, his later was passed chiefly within the "rules" of

the King's Bench prison. He is chiefly remembered as the author of _The

Three Tours of Dr. Syntax_, a comic poem (?). His cleverest piece of work

was a series of imaginary letters, supposed to have been written by the

second, or "wicked" Lord Lyttelton. Of a similar kind were his letters

between Swift and Stella. He also wrote the letterpress for various

illustrated books, and was a general hack.

CONGREVE, WILLIAM (1670-1729).--Dramatist, was _b._ in Yorkshire. In

boyhood he was taken to Ireland, and _ed._ at Kilkenny and at Trinity

Coll., Dublin. In 1688 he returned to England and entered the Middle

Temple, but does not appear to have practised, and took to writing for

the stage. His first comedy, _The Old Bachelor_, was produced with great

applause in 1693, and was followed by _The Double Dealer_ (1693), _Love

for Love_ (1695), and _The Way of the World_ (1700), and by a tragedy,

_The Mourning Bride_ (1697). His comedies are all remarkable for wit and

sparkling dialogue, but their profanity and licentiousness have driven

them from the stage. These latter qualities brought them under the lash

of Jeremy Collier (_q.v._) in his _Short View of the English Stage_.

Congreve rushed into controversy with his critic who, however, proved too

strong for him. C. was a favourite at Court, and had various lucrative

offices conferred upon him. In his latter years he was blind; otherwise

his life was prosperous, and he achieved his chief ambition of being

admired as a fine gentleman and gallant. _Life_, Gosse (1888). _Works_,

ed. by Henley (1895), also Mermaid Series (1888).

CONINGTON, JOHN (1825-1869).--Translator, _s._ of a clergyman at Boston,

Lincolnshire, where he was _b._, _ed._, at Rugby and Magdalen and Univ.

Coll., Oxf., and began the study of law, but soon relinquished it, and

devoting himself to scholarship, became Prof. of Latin at Oxf.

(1854-1869). His chief work is his translation of Virgil's _Æneid_ in the

octosyllabic metre of Scott (1861-68). He also translated the _Satires_

and _Epistles_ of Horace in Pope's couplets, and completed Worsley's

_Iliad_ in Spenserian stanza. He also brought out valuable ed. of Virgil

and Perseus. C. was one of the greatest translators whom England has

produced.

CONSTABLE, HENRY (1562-1613).--Poet, _s._ of Sir Robert C., _ed._ at

Camb., but becoming a Roman Catholic, went to Paris, and acted as an

agent for the Catholic powers. He _d._ at Liège. In 1592 he _pub._

_Diana_, a collection of sonnets, and contributed to _England's Helicon_

four poems, including _Diaphenia_ and _Venus and Adonis_. His style is

characterised by fervour and richness of colour.

COOKE, JOHN ESTEN (1830-1886).--Novelist, _b._ in Virginia, illustrated

the life and history of his native state in the novels, _The Virginia

Comedians_ (1854), and _The Wearing of the Gray_, a tale of the Civil

War, and more formally in an excellent History of the State. His style

was somewhat high-flown.

COOPER, JAMES FENIMORE (1789-1851).--Novelist, _b._ at Burlington, New

Jersey, and _ed._ at Yale Coll., he in 1808 entered the U.S. Navy, in

which he remained for 3 years, an experience which was of immense future

value to him as an author. It was not until 1821 that his first novel,

_Precaution_, appeared. Its want of success did not discourage him, and

in the next year (1822), he produced _The Spy_, which at once gained him

a high place as a story-teller. He wrote over 30 novels, of which may be

mentioned _The Pioneers_ (1823), _The Pilot_ (1823), _The Last of the

Mohicans_ (1826), _The Prairie_ (1826), _The Red Rover_ (1831), _The

Bravo_ (1840), _The Pathfinder_, _The Deerslayer_ (1841), _The Two

Admirals_ (1842), and _Satanstoe_ (1845). He also wrote a _Naval History

of the United States_ (1839). C. was possessed of remarkable narrative

and descriptive powers, and could occasionally delineate character. He

had the merit of opening up an entirely new field, and giving expression

to the spirit of the New World, but his true range was limited, and he

sometimes showed a lack of judgment in choosing subjects with which he

was not fitted to deal. He was a proud and combative but honest and

estimable man.

COOPER, THOMAS (1805-1892).--Chartist poet, was _b._ at Leicester, and

apprenticed to a shoemaker. In spite of hardships and difficulties, he

_ed._ himself, and at 23 was a schoolmaster. He became a leader and

lecturer among the Chartists, and in 1842 was imprisoned in Stafford gaol

for two years, where he wrote his _Purgatory of Suicides_, a political

epic. At the same time he adopted sceptical views, which he continued to

hold until 1855, when he became a Christian, joined the Baptists, and was

a preacher among them. In his latter years he settled down into an

old-fashioned Radical. His friends in 1867 raised an annuity for him, and

in the last year of his life he received a government pension. In

addition to his poems he wrote several novels. Somewhat impulsive, he was

an honest and sincere man.

CORBET, RICHARD (1582-1635).--Poet, _s._ of a gardener, was _ed._ at

Westminster School and Oxf., and entered the Church, in which he obtained

many preferments, and rose to be Bishop successively of Oxf. and Norwich.

He was celebrated for his wit, which not seldom passed into buffoonery.

His poems, which are often mere doggerel, were not _pub._ until after his

death. They include _Journey to France_, _Iter Boreale_, the account of a

tour from Oxf. to Newark, and the _Farewell to the Fairies_.

CORNWALL, BARRY, _see_ PROCTER, B.W.

CORY, WILLIAM JOHNSON (1823-1892).--Poet, _b._ at Torrington, and _ed._

at Eton, where he was afterwards a master. He was a brilliant writer of

Latin verse. His chief poetical work is _Ionica_, containing poems in

which he showed a true lyrical gift.

CORYATE, or CORYATT, THOMAS (1577-1617).--Poet, _b._ at Odcombe,

Somerset, and _ed._ at Westminster and Oxf., entered the household of

Prince Henry. In 1608 he made a walking tour in France, Italy, and

Germany, walking nearly 2000 miles in one pair of shoes, which were,

until 1702, hung up in Odcombe Church, and known as "the thousand mile

shoes." He gave an amusing account of this in his _Coryate's Crudities

hastily gobbled up_ (1611), prefixed to which were commendatory verses by

many contemporary poets. A sequel, _Coryate's Crambé_, or _Colewort twice

Sodden_ followed. Next year (1612) C. bade farewell to his

fellow-townsmen, and set out on another journey to Greece, Egypt, and

India, from which he never returned. He _d._ at Surat. Though odd and

conceited, C. was a close observer, and took real pains in collecting

information as to the places he visited.

COSTELLO, LOUISA STUART (1799-1877).--Poet and novelist, _b._ in Ireland,

lived chiefly in Paris, where she was a miniature-painter. In 1815 she

_pub._ _The Maid of the Cyprus Isle_, etc. (poems). She also wrote books

of travel, which were very popular, as were her novels, chiefly founded

on French history. Another work, _pub._ in 1835, is _Specimens of the

Early Poetry of France_.

COTTON, CHARLES (1630-1687).--Poet and translator, succeeded to an

embarrassed estate, which his happy-go-lucky methods did not improve,

wrote burlesques on _Virgil_ and _Lucian_, and made an excellent

translation of _Montaigne's Essays_, also a humorous _Journey to

Ireland_. C. was the friend of Izaak Walton, and wrote a second part of

_The Complete Angler_. He was apparently always in difficulties, always

happy, and always a favourite.

COTTON, SIR ROBERT BRUCE (1571-1631).--Antiquary, _b._ at Denton, Hunts,

and _ed._ at Camb., was a great collector of charters and records

throwing light upon English history, and co-operated with Camden

(_q.v._). Among his works are a history of the _Raigne of Henry III._

(1627). He was the collector of the Cottonian library, now in the British

Museum, and was the author of various political tracts.

COUSIN, ANNE ROSS (CUNDELL) (1824-1906).--Poetess, only _dau._ of D.R.

Cundell, M.D., Leith, _m._ 1847 Rev. Wm. Cousin, minister of the Free

Church of Scotland, latterly at Melrose. Some of her hymns, especially

"The Sands of Time are sinking," are known and sung over the

English-speaking world. A collection of her poems, _Immanuel's Land and

Other Pieces_, was _pub._ in 1876 under her initials A.R.C., by which she

was most widely known.

COVERDALE, MILES (1488-1568).--Translator of the Bible, _b._ in

Yorkshire, and _ed._ at Camb. Originally an Augustinian monk, he became a

supporter of the Reformation. In 1535 his translation of the Bible was

_pub._, probably at Zurich. It bore the title, _Biblia, the Bible: that

is the Holy Scripture of the Olde and New Testament faithfully and newly

translated out of the Doutche and Latyn into English_. C. was made Bishop

of Exeter in 1551, but, on the accession of Mary, he was imprisoned for

two years, at the end of which he was released and went to Denmark and

afterwards to Geneva. On the death of Mary he returned to England, but

the views he had imbibed in Geneva were adverse to his preferment. He

ultimately, however, received a benefice in London, which he resigned

before his death. Besides the Bible he translated many treatises of the

Continental Reformers.

COWLEY, ABRAHAM (1618-1667).--Poet, _s._ of a grocer or stationer in

London, where he was _b._ In childhood he was greatly influenced by

reading Spenser, a copy of whose poems was in the possession of his

mother. This, he said, made him a poet. His first book, _Poetic

Blossoms_ (1633), was _pub._ when he was only 15. After being at

Westminster School he went to Camb., where he was distinguished for his

graceful translations. On the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the

Royalists, was turned out of his college, and in 1646 followed the Queen

to Paris, where he remained for 10 or 12 years, during which he rendered

unwearied service to the royal family. At the Restoration he wrote some

loyal odes, but was disappointed by being refused the Mastership of the

Savoy, and retired to the country. He received a lease of Crown lands,

but his life in the country did not yield him the happiness he expected.

He is said by Pope to have _d._ of a fever brought on by lying in the

fields after a drinking-bout. The drinking-bout, however, is perhaps an

ill-natured addition. C.'s fame among his contemporaries was much greater

than that which posterity has accorded to him. His poems are marred by

conceits and a forced and artificial brilliancy. In some of them,

however, he sings pleasantly of gardens and country scenes. They comprise

_Miscellanies_, _The Mistress, or Love Poems_ (1647), _Pindaric Odes_,

and _The Davideis_, an epic on David (unfinished). He is at his best in

such imitations of Anacreon as _The Grasshopper_. His prose, especially

in his Essays, though now almost unread, is better than his verse; simple

and manly, it sometimes rises to eloquence. C. is buried in Westminster

Abbey near Spenser.

Ed., Grosart (1881), Waller (1903).

COWPER, WILLIAM (1731-1800).--Poet, was the _s._ of the Rev. John C.,

Rector of Great Berkhampstead, Herts, and Chaplain to George II. His

grandfather was a judge, and he was the grand-nephew of the 1st Earl C.,

the eminent Lord Chancellor. A shy and timid child, the death of his

mother when he was 6 years old, and the sufferings inflicted upon him by

a bullying schoolfellow at his first school, wounded his tender and

shrinking spirit irrecoverably. He was sent to Westminster School, where

he had for schoolfellows Churchill, the poet (_q.v._), and Warren

Hastings. The powerful legal influence of his family naturally suggested

his being destined for the law, and at 18 he entered the chambers of a

solicitor, where he had for a companion Thurlow, the future Chancellor, a

truly incongruous conjunction; the pair, however, seem to have got on

well together, and employed their time chiefly in "giggling and making

giggle." He then entered the Middle Temple, and in 1754 was called to the

Bar. This was perhaps the happiest period of his life, being enlivened by

the society of two cousins, Theodora and Harriet C. With the former he

fell in love; but his proposal of marriage was opposed by her _f._, who

had observed symptoms of morbidity in him, and he never met her again.

The latter, as Lady Hesketh, was in later days one of his most intimate

friends. In 1759 he received a small sinecure appointment as Commissioner

of Bankrupts, which he held for 5 years, and in 1763, through the

influence of a relative, he received the offer of the desirable office of

Clerk of the Journals to the House of Lords. He accepted the appointment,

but the dread of having to make a formal appearance before the House so

preyed upon his mind as to induce a temporary loss of reason, and he was

sent to an asylum at St. Albans, where he remained for about a year. He

had now no income beyond a small sum inherited from his _f._, and no aims

in life; but friends supplemented his means sufficiently to enable him to

lead with a quiet mind the life of retirement which he had resolved to

follow. He went to Huntingdon, and there made the acquaintance of the

Unwins, with whom he went to live as a boarder. The acquaintance soon

ripened into a close friendship, and on the death, from an accident

(1767), of Mr. U., C. accompanied his widow (the "Mary" of his poems) to

Olney, where the Rev. John Newton (_q.v._) was curate. N. and C. became

intimate friends, and collaborated in producing the well-known _Olney

Hymns_, of which 67 were composed by C. He became engaged to Mary Unwin,

but a fresh attack of his mental malady in 1773 prevented their marriage.

On his recovery he took to gardening, and amused himself by keeping pets,

including the hares "Tiny" and "Puss," and the spaniel "Beau,"

immortalised in his works. The chief means, however, which he adopted for

keeping his mind occupied and free from distressing ideas was the

cultivation of his poetic gift. At the suggestion of Mrs. U., he wrote

_The Progress of Error_; _Truth, Table Talk, Expostulation, Hope, Charity,

Conversation_, and _Retirement_ were added, and the whole were _pub._ in

one vol. in 1782. Though not received with acclamation, its signal merits

of freshness, simplicity, graceful humour, and the pure idiomatic English

in which it was written gradually obtained recognition, and the fame of

the poet-recluse began to spread. His health had now become considerably

re-established, and he enjoyed an unwonted measure of cheerfulness, which

was fostered by the friendship of Lady Austin, who had become his

neighbour. From her he received the story of John Gilpin, which he

forthwith turned into his immortal ballad. Hers also was the suggestion

that he should write a poem in blank verse, which gave its origin to his

most famous poem, _The Task_. Before it was _pub._, however, the intimacy

had, apparently owing to some little feminine jealousies, been broken

off. _The Task_ was _pub._ in 1785, and met with immediate and

distinguished success. Although not formally or professedly, it was, in

fact, the beginning of an uprising against the classical school of

poetry, and the founding of a new school in which nature was the teacher.

As Dr. Stopford Brooke points out, "Cowper is the first of the poets who

loves Nature entirely for her own sake," and in him "the idea of Mankind

as a whole is fully formed." About this time he resumed his friendship

with his cousin, Lady Hesketh, and, encouraged by her, he began his

translation of _Homer_, which appeared in 1791. Before this he had

removed with Mrs. U. to the village of Weston Underwood. His health had

again given way; and in 1791 Mrs. U. became paralytic, and the object of

his assiduous and affectionate care. A settled gloom with occasional

brighter intervals was now falling upon him. He strove to fight it by

engaging in various translations, and in revising his _Homer_, and

undertaking a new ed. of Milton, which last was, however, left

unfinished. In 1794 a pension of £300 was conferred upon him, and in 1795

he removed with Mrs. U., now a helpless invalid, to East Dereham. Mrs. U.

_d._ in the following year, and three years later his own death released

him from his heavy burden of trouble and sorrow. His last poem was _The

Castaway_, which, with its darkness almost of despair, shows no loss of

intellectual or poetic power. In addition to his reputation as a poet C.

has that of being among the very best of English letter-writers, and in

this he shows, in an even easier and more unstudied manner, the same

command of pure idiomatic English, the same acute observation, and the

same mingling of gentle humour and melancholy. In literature C. is the

connecting link between the classical school of Pope and the natural

school of Burns, Crabbe, and Wordsworth, having, however, much more in

common with the latter.

SUMMARY.--_B._ 1731, _ed._ Westminster School, entered Middle Temple and

called to the Bar, 1754, appointed Clerk of Journals of House of Lords,

but mind gave way 1763, lives with the Unwins, became intimate with J.

Newton and with him writes _Olney Hymns_, _pub._ _Poems_ (_Progress of

Error_, etc.), 1782, _Task_ 1785, _Homer_ 1791, _d._ 1731.

The standard ed. of C.'s works is Southey's, with memoir (15 vols.

1834-37). Others are the Aldine (1865), the Globe (1870). There are

_Lives_ by Hayley (2 vols., 1805), Goldwin Smith (Men of Letters Series),

and T. Wright.

COXE, WILLIAM (1747-1828).--Historian, was _b._ in London, and _ed._ at

Eton and Camb. As tutor to various young men of family he travelled much

on the Continent, and _pub._ accounts of his journeys. His chief

historical work is his _Memoirs of the House of Austria_ (1807), and he

also wrote lives of Walpole, Marlborough, and others. He had access to

valuable original sources, and his books, though somewhat heavy, are on

the whole trustworthy, notwithstanding a decided Whig bias. He was a

clergyman, and _d._ Archdeacon of Wilts.

CRABBE, GEORGE (1754-1832).--Poet, _b._ at Aldborough, Suffolk, where his

_f._ was collector of salt dues, he was apprenticed to a surgeon, but,

having no liking for the work, went to London to try his fortune in

literature. Unsuccessful at first, he as a last resource wrote a letter

to Burke enclosing some of his writings, and was immediately befriended

by him, and taken into his own house, where he met Fox, Reynolds, and

others. His first important work, _The Library_, was _pub._ in 1781, and

received with favour. He took orders, and was appointed by the Duke of

Rutland his domestic chaplain, residing with him at Belvoir Castle. Here

in 1783 he _pub._ _The Village_, which established his reputation, and

about the same time he was presented by Lord Thurlow to two small

livings. He was now secured from want, made a happy marriage, and devoted

himself to literary and scientific pursuits. The _Newspaper_ appeared in

1785, and was followed by a period of silence until 1807, when he came

forward again with _The Parish Register_, followed by _The Borough_

(1810), _Tales in Verse_ (1812), and his last work, _Tales of the Hall_

(1817-18). In 1819 Murray the publisher gave him £3000 for the last named

work and the unexpired copyright of his other poems. In 1822 he visited

Sir Walter Scott at Edinburgh. Soon afterwards his health began to give

way, and he _d._ in 1832. C. has been called "the poet of the poor." He

describes in simple, but strong and vivid, verse their struggles,

sorrows, weaknesses, crimes, and pleasures, sometimes with racy humour,

oftener in sombre hues. His pathos, sparingly introduced, goes to the

heart; his pictures of crime and despair not seldom rise to the terrific,

and he has a marvellous power of painting natural scenery, and of

bringing out in detail the beauty and picturesqueness of scenes at first

sight uninteresting, or even uninviting. He is absolutely free from

affectation or sentimentality, and may be regarded as one of the greatest

masters of the realistic in our literature. With these merits he has

certain faults, too great minuteness in his pictures, too frequent

dwelling upon the sordid and depraved aspects of character, and some

degree of harshness both in matter and manner, and not unfrequently a

want of taste.

_Life_ prefixed to ed. of works by his son (1834), Ainger (Men of

Letters, 1903). Works (Ward, 3 vols., 1906-7).

CRAIGIE, MRS. PEARL MARY TERESA (RICHARDS) (1867-1906).--_Dau._ of John

Morgan, R. _b._ in Boston, Massachusetts. Most of her education was

received in London and Paris, and from childhood she was a great reader

and observer. At 19 she _m._ Mr. R.W. Craigie, but the union did not

prove happy and was, on her petition, dissolved. In 1902 she became a

Roman Catholic. She wrote, under the pseudonym of "John Oliver Hobbes," a

number of novels and dramas, distinguished by originality of subject and

treatment, brightness of humour, and finish of style, among which may be

mentioned _Some Emotions and a Moral_, _The Gods, Some Mortals and Lord

Wickenham_ (1895), _The Herb Moon_ and _The School for Saints_ (1897),

and _Robert Orange_ (1900), _The Dream and The Business_ (1907). Her

dramas include _The Ambassador_ and _The Bishop's Move_.

CRAIK, GEORGE LILLIE (1798-1866).--Writer on English literature, etc.,

_b._ at Kennoway, Fife, and _ed._ at St. Andrews, went to London in 1824,

where he wrote largely for the "Society for the Promotion of Useful

Knowledge." In 1849 he was appointed Prof. of English Literature and

History at Belfast. Among his books are _The Pursuit of Knowledge under

Difficulties_ (1831), _History of British Commerce_ (1844), and _History

of English Literature and the English Language_ (1861). He was also joint

author of _The Pictorial History of England_, and wrote books on Spenser

and Bacon.

CRANMER, THOMAS (1489-1556).--Theologian and Churchman, _b._ at Aslacton,

Notts, _ed._ at Camb., and became an eminent classical and biblical

scholar. He supported Henry VIII. in his divorce proceedings against

Queen Catherine, gained the King's favour, and obtained rapid preferment,

ending with the Primacy. He was one of the chief promoters of the

Reformation in England. On the accession of Mary, he was committed to the

Tower, and after a temporary failure of courage and constancy, suffered

martyrdom at the stake. It is largely to C. that we owe the stately forms

of the Book of Common Prayer. He also wrote over 40 works, and composed

several hymns; but the influence of the Prayer-book in fixing the

language is his great, though indirect, service to our literature.

Fox's _Book of Martyrs_, Strype's _Memorials of Cranmer_, Hook's _Lives

of Archbishops of Canterbury_, etc.

CRASHAW, RICHARD (1613?-1649).--Poet, _s._ of William C., a Puritan

divine, was _b._ in London, and _ed._ at Charterhouse and Camb., where he

became a Fellow of Peterhouse, from which, however, he was, in 1643,

ejected for refusing to take the Solemn League and Covenant. Thereafter

he went to France, and joined the Roman communion. He suffered great

straits, being almost reduced to starvation, but was, through the

influence of Queen Henrietta Maria, appointed Sec. to Cardinal Palotta.

About 1649 he went to Italy, and in the following year became a canon of

the Church of Loretto. He _d._ the same year. C. is said to have been an

eloquent preacher, and was a scholar as well as a poet of a high order in

the ecstatic and transcendental style. His chief work is _Steps to the

Temple_ (1646), consisting mainly of religious poems somewhat in the

style of Herbert; his _Weeping of the Magdalen_ is full of the most

extravagant conceits, a fondness for which is, indeed, his besetting sin

as a poet. His friend Cowley commemorated him in a beautiful ode.

CRAWFORD, FRANCIS MARION (1854-1909).--Novelist and historian, _s._ of

Thomas C., an American sculptor, _b._ at Bagni di Lucca, Italy, and _ed._

in America, at Camb., and in Germany, he went to India and ed. _The

Indian Herald_ (1879-80). Thereafter he settled in Italy, living chiefly

at Sorrento, and becoming a Roman Catholic. His principal historical

works are _Ave Roma Immortalis_ (1898), _The Rulers of the South_

(reprinted as _Sicily, Calabria, and Malta_, 1904), and _Venetian

Gleanings_ (1905), but his reputation rests mainly on his novels, of

which he wrote between 30 and 40, the best known of which are perhaps

_Mr. Isaacs_ (1882), _Dr. Claudius_ (1883), _A Roman Singer_ (1884),

_Marzio's Crucifix_ (1887), _Saracinesca_ (1887), _A Cigarette-maker's

Romance_ (1890), generally considered his masterpiece, _Don Orsino_

(1892), _Pietro Ghisleri_ (1893), and _The Heart of Rome_ (1903). His one

play is _Francesca, da Rimini_. His novels are all interesting, and

written in a style of decided distinction. His historical works, though

full of information, lack spirit.

CREASY, SIR EDWARD SHEPHERD (1812-1878).--Historian, _ed._ at Eton and

Camb., and called to the Bar in 1837, he became in 1840 Prof. of History,

London Univ., and in 1860 Chief Justice of Ceylon, when he was knighted.

His best known contribution to literature is his _Fifteen Decisive

Battles of the World_ (1852). Other works are _Historical and Critical

Account of the Several Invasions of England_ (1852), _History of the

Ottoman Turks_, and _Imperial and Colonial Institutions of the British

Empire_ (1872).

CREECH, THOMAS (1659-1700).--Translator, _b._ near Sherborne, _ed._ at

Oxf., became Head Master of Sherborne School. He translated _Lucretius_

in verse (1682), for which he received a Fellowship at Oxf., also Horace,

Theocritus, and other classics. Owing to a disappointment in love and

pecuniary difficulties he hanged himself.

CREIGHTON, MANDELL (1843-1901).--Churchman and historian, _b._ at

Carlisle, and _ed._ at Durham Grammar School and Merton Coll., Oxf., he

took orders, and was presented to the living of Embleton, Northumberland,

in 1875, where, in addition to zealous discharge of pastoral duties, he

pursued the historical studies on the results of which his reputation

chiefly rests. In 1882 the first two vols. of his _History of the Papacy_

appeared, followed by two more in 1887, and a fifth in 1894. In 1884 he

was appointed first Dixie Prof. of Ecclesiastical History at Camb. He ed.

the _English Historical Review_ (1886-91). In 1891, after having held

canonries at Worcester and Windsor, he became Bishop of Peterborough,

from which he was in 1897 translated to London. His duties as Bishop of

London made the completion of his great historical work an impossibility.

He wrote in addition to it various text-books on history, a life of Queen

Elizabeth, a memoir of Sir George Grey, and many articles and reviews. He

was recognised as a leading authority on the department of history to

which he had specially devoted himself, and he made his mark as a

Churchman.

CROKER, JOHN WILSON (1780-1857).--Politician and miscellaneous writer.

_Ed._ at Trinity Coll., Dublin, he entered Parliament as a Tory, and was

appointed to various offices, including the Secretaryship of the

Admiralty, which he held for 20 years. He was one of the founders of the

_Quarterly Review_, and wrote some of its most violent political articles

and reviews. He _pub._ in 1831 an ed. of _Boswell's Life of Johnson_. He

also wrote some historical essays and satirical pieces.

CROKER, THOMAS CROFTON (1798-1854).--Irish Antiquary, _b._ at Cork, for

some years held a position in the Admiralty. He devoted himself largely

to the collection of ancient Irish poetry and folk-lore. Among his

publications are _Researches in the South of Ireland_ (1824), _Fairy

Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland_ (1825-27), _Popular Songs

of Ireland_ (1837), _Daniel O'Rourke_ (1829), and _Barney Mahoney_

(1832). He assisted in founding the "Camden" and "Percy" Societies.

CROLY, GEORGE (1780-1860).--Poet, novelist, historian, and divine, _b._

at Dublin, and _ed._ at Trinity Coll. there, he took orders and became

Rector of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, and had a high reputation as a

preacher. He wrote poems, dramas, satires, novels, history, and

theological works, and attained some measure of success in all. Perhaps

his best known works are his novels, _Salathiel_ (1829), founded on the

legend of "the wandering Jew," and _Mareton_ (1846). His chief

contribution to theological literature is an exposition of the

Apocalypse.

CROWE, CATHERINE (STEVENS) (1800-1876).--Wrote dramas, children's books,

and one or two novels, including _Susan Hopley_ (1841), and _Lilly

Dawson_ (1847), but is chiefly remembered for her _Night-side of Nature_

(1848), a collection of stories of the supernatural. Though somewhat

morbid she had considerable talent.

CROWE, EYRE EVANS (1799-1868).--Historian and novelist, _s._ of an

officer in the army, _b._ near Southampton, and _ed._ at Trinity Coll.,

Dublin. He wrote several novels, including _Vittoria Colonna_, _To-day in

Ireland_ (1825), _The English in France_ (1828), and _Charles Dalmer_

(1853). Among his historical works are a _History of France_ in

_Lardner's Cabinet Encyclopædia_, afterwards enlarged and separately

_pub._, and a _History of Louis XVIII. and Charles X._

CROWE, SIR JOSEPH ARCHER (1825-1896).--Writer on art, _s._ of the above,

was _b._ in London. Most of his childhood was spent in France, and on his

return to England in 1843 he became a journalist. He was then for some

years engaged in educational work in India, and was afterwards war

correspondent for the _Times_ on various occasions, and filled various

important consular posts, for which he was in 1890 made K.C.M.G. In

collaboration with G.B. Cavalcasselle, an Italian refugee, he was the

author of several authoritative works on art, including _The Early

Flemish Painters_ (1856), _A New History of Painting in Italy_ (1864-68),

_A History of Painting in North Italy_ (1871), _Titian, His Life and

Times_ (1877), and _Raphael, His Life and Works_ (1883-85). The actual

writing of all these was the work of C.

CROWE, WILLIAM (1745-1829).--Poet, _b._ at Midgham, Berks, the _s._ of a

carpenter, was _ed._ as a foundationer at Winchester, whence he proceeded

to Oxf., where he became Public Orator. He wrote a smooth, but somewhat

conventional poem, _Lewesdon Hill_ (1789), ed. Collins's Poems (1828),

and lectured on poetry at the Royal Institution. His poems were _coll._

in 1827. C. was a clergyman and Rector of Alton Barnes, Wilts.

CROWNE, JOHN (1640?-1703).--Dramatist, returned from Nova Scotia, to

which his _f._, a Nonconformist minister, had emigrated, and became

gentleman usher to a lady of quality. His first play, _Juliana_, appeared

in 1671. He wrote in all about 17 dramatic pieces, of which the best is

_Sir Courtly Nice_ (1685), adapted from the Spanish. It is amusing, and

enjoyed a long continued vogue. In general, however, C. is dull.

CUDWORTH, RALPH (1617-1688).--Divine and philosopher, _b._ at Aller,

Somerset, and _ed._ at Camb., where, after being a tutor, he became

Master of Clare Hall 1645, Prof. of Hebrew (1645-88), and Master of

Christ's Coll., 1654. His great work is _The True Intellectual System of

the Universe_ (1678). A work of vast learning and acuteness, it is

directed against the infidelity of the age. C.'s candour in his statement

of the opposing position was so remarkable that Dryden remarked "that he

raised such strong objections against the being of a God and Providence

that many thought he had not answered them." He also left in MS. a

_Treatise concerning Eternal and Immutable Morality_, _pub._ in 1731.

CUMBERLAND, RICHARD (1732-1811).--Novelist and dramatist, _ed._ at

Westminster and Camb., entered the diplomatic service, and filled several

government appointments. His best play is _The West Indian_. His novels

do not rise much above mediocrity. Along with Sir J.B. Burges he wrote an

epic entitled _The Exodiad_, and he also made some translations from the

Greek.

CUMMINS, MARIA SUSANNA (1827-1866).--_B._ at Salem, Mass., was well-known

as the authoress of _The Lamplighter_, a somewhat sentimental tale which

had very wide popularity. She wrote others, including _Mabel Vaughan_,

none of which had the same success.

CUNNINGHAM, ALLAN (1784-1842).--Poet and miscellaneous writer, _b._ near

Dalswinton, Dumfriesshire, in his youth knew Burns, who was a friend of

his father's. He was apprenticed to a stonemason, but gave his leisure to

reading and writing imitations of old Scottish ballads, which he

contributed to Cromek's _Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song_, _pub._

in 1810, and which gained for him the friendship of Scott and Hogg.

Thereafter he went to London, and became a parliamentary reporter, and

subsequently assistant to Chantrey, the sculptor, but continued his

literary labours, writing three novels, a life of Sir D. Wilkie, and

_Lives of Eminent British Painters, Sculptors, and Architects_, besides

many songs, of which the best is _A wet sheet and a flowing Sea_. He also

brought out an ed. of Burns's Works. He had four sons, all of whom rose

to important positions, and inherited in some degree his literary gifts.

CURTIS, GEORGE WILLIAM (1824-1892).--American essayist, editor, and

journalist, contributed to _New York Tribune_, and to _Putnam's_ and

_Harper's_ monthlies, in which most of his books first appeared. Among

these are _Trumps_, a story of New York life, _Prue and I_,

_Lotus-eating_, and the _Potiphar Papers_. C. was also one of the

finest American orators of his day.

CYNEWULF (_fl._ 750).--Anglo-Saxon poet. He was probably a Northumbrian,

though sometimes thought to have been a Mercian. His poems, and some

others, more or less doubtfully attributed to him, are contained in the

Exeter Book and the Vercelli Book. The poems which are considered to be

certainly his are the _Riddles_, from hints and allusions in which is

derived nearly all that is known of him, or at least of the earlier part

of his life, which appears to have been that of a joyous and poetical

nature, rejoicing in the beauty of the world. His next poem, _Juliana_,

the legend of a virgin-martyr, indicates a transition in his spiritual

life; sorrow and repentance are its predominant notes, and in these

respects another poem, _St. Guthlac_, resembles it. In the _Crist_

(Christ), C. has passed through the clouds to an assured faith and peace.

_The Phoenix_, and the second part of _Guthlac_, though not certainly

his, are generally attributed to him. _The Fates of the Apostles_ and

_Elene_ (the legend of St. Helena) are his; the _Andreas_ and _The Dream

of the Roode_ are still in some respects the subject of controversy. In

several of the poems the separate letters of C.'s name are introduced in

a peculiar manner, and are regarded as an attesting signature. _Juliana_,

_Crist_, _The Apostles_, and _Elene_ are thus said to be signed. The

Exeter and Vercelli Books are collections of ancient English poems, and

they are named from the places where they were found.

DALLING AND BULWER, WILLIAM HENRY LYTTON EARLE BULWER, 1ST LORD

(1801-1872).--Elder brother of Lord Lytton (_q.v._), and a distinguished

diplomatist. He represented England at Madrid, Washington (where he

concluded the Bulwer-Clayton Treaty), Florence, Bucharest, and

Constantinople, and was raised to the peerage in 1871. He was the author

of a number of books of travel and biography, including _An Autumn in

Greece_ (1826), a _Life of Byron_ (1835), _Historical Characters_

(1868-70), and an unfinished life of Lord Palmerston.

DAMPIER, WILLIAM (1652-1715).--Discoverer and buccaneer, _b._ near

Yeovil. After various seafaring adventures, and leading a semi-piratical

life, he was in 1688 marooned on Nicobar Island, but escaped to Acheen,

returned to England in 1691. He _pub._ his _Voyage Round the World_

(1697), and _A Discourse of Winds_ (1699). He was then employed by

government on a voyage of survey and discovery (1699-1700), in the course

of which he explored the north-west coast of Australia and the coasts of

New Guinea and New Britain. In 1701 he was wrecked upon Ascension Island,

from which he was rescued by an East Indiaman. He was afterwards

court-martialled for cruelty, and wrote an angry but unconvincing

vindication. His _Voyage_ is written in a style plain and homely, but is

perspicuous and interesting.

DANA, RICHARD HENRY (1787-1879).--Novelist and critic, _b._ at Camb.,

Mass., was called to the Bar in 1817. Among his novels are _Tom Thornton_

and _Paul Felton_, both somewhat violent and improbable tales, and his

poems, which are better, include _The Buccaneer_ (1827), and _The Dying

Raven_. He is, however, stronger as a critic than as a writer. He wrote

largely in _The North American Review_, and for a time conducted a paper,

_The Idle Man_, which contains some of his best work.

DANA, RICHARD HENRY, JR. (1815-1882).--Miscellaneous writer, _s._ of the

above, _ed._ at Harvard, but on his eyesight giving way shipped as a

common sailor, and gave his experiences in _Two Years before the Mast_

(1840). Called to the Bar in 1840, he became an authority on maritime

law. Other books by him are _The Seaman's Friend_ (1841), and _Vacation

Voyage to Cuba_ (1859).

DANIEL, SAMUEL (1562-1619).--Poet, _s._ of a music master, was _b._ near

Taunton, and _ed._ at Oxf., but did not graduate. He attached himself to

the Court as a kind of voluntary laureate, and in the reign of James I.

was appointed "Inspector of the children of the Queen's revels," and a

groom of the Queen's chamber. He is said to have enjoyed the friendship

of Shakespeare and Marlowe, but was "at jealousies" with Ben Jonson. In

his later years he retired to a farm which he owned in Somerset, where he

_d._ D. bears the title of the "well-languaged," his style is clear and

flowing, with a remarkably modern note, but is lacking in energy and

fire, and is thus apt to become tedious. His works include sonnets,

epistles, masques, and dramas. The most important of them is _The History

of the Civil Wars between York and Lancaster_ in 8 books, _pub._ in 1604.

His _Epistles_ are generally considered his best work, and his sonnets

have had some modern admirers. Among his poems may be mentioned the

_Complaynt of Rosamund_, _Tethys Festival_ (1610), and _Hymen's Triumph_

(1615), a masque, and _Musophilus_, a defence of learning, _Defence of

Rhyme_ (1602).

DARLEY, GEORGE (1795-1846).--Poet, novelist, and critic, _b._ at Dublin,

and _ed._ at Trinity Coll. there, he early decided to follow a literary

career, and went to London, where he brought out his first poem, _Errors

of Ecstasie_ (1822). He also wrote for the _London Magazine_, under the

pseudonym of John Lacy. In it appeared his best story, _Lilian of the

Vale_. Various other books followed, including _Sylvia, or The May

Queen_, a poem (1827). Thereafter he joined the _Athenæum_, in which he

showed himself a severe critic. He was also a dramatist and a profound

student of old English plays, editing those of Beaumont and Fletcher in

1840. So deeply was he imbued with the spirit of the 17th century that

his poem, "It is not beauty I desire," was included by F.T. Palgrave in

the first ed. of his _Golden Treasury_ as an anonymous lyric of that age.

He was also a mathematician of considerable talent, and _pub._ some

treatises on the subject. D. fell into nervous depression and _d._ in

1846.

DARWIN, CHARLES ROBERT (1809-1882).--Naturalist, _s._ of a physician, and

grandson of Dr. Erasmus D. (_q.v._), and of Josiah Wedgwood, the famous

potter, was _b._ and was at school at Shrewsbury. In 1825 he went to

Edin. to study medicine, but was more taken up with marine zoology than

with the regular curriculum. After two years he proceeded to Camb., where

he _grad._ in 1831, continuing, however, his independent studies in

natural history. In the same year came the opportunity of his life, his

appointment to accompany the _Beagle_ as naturalist on a survey of South

America. To this voyage, which extended over nearly five years, he

attributed the first real training of his mind, and after his return

_pub._ an account of it, _Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle_ (1840).

After spending a few years in London arranging his collections and

writing his _Journal_, he removed to Down, a retired village near the

Weald of Kent, where, in a house surrounded by a large garden, his whole

remaining life was passed in the patient building up, from accurate

observations, of his theory of Evolution, which created a new epoch in

science and in thought generally. His industry was marvellous, especially

when it is remembered that he suffered from chronic bad health. After

devoting some time to geology, specially to coral reefs, and exhausting

the subject of barnacles, he took up the development of his favourite

question, the transformation of species. In these earlier years of

residence at Down he _pub._ _The Structure and Distribution of Coral

Reefs_ (1842), and two works on the geology of volcanic islands, and of

South America. After he had given much time and profound thought to the

question of evolution by natural selection, and had written out his notes

on the subject, he received in 1858 from Mr. A.R. Wallace (_q.v._) a

manuscript showing that he also had reached independently a theory of the

origin of species similar to his own. This circumstance created a

situation of considerable delicacy and difficulty, which was ultimately

got over by the two discoverers presenting a joint paper, _On the

Tendency of Species to form Varieties_, and _On the Perpetuation of

Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection_. The publication in

1859 of _The Origin of Species_ gave D. an acknowledged place among the

greatest men of science, and the controversies which, along with other of

his works, it raised, helped to carry his name all over the civilised

world. Among his numerous subsequent writings may be mentioned _The

Fertilisation of Orchids_ (1862), _Variation of Plants and Animals under

Domestication_ (1868), _The Descent of Man, and Selection in relation to

Sex_ (1871), _The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals_ (1872),

_Insectivorous Plants_ (1875), _Climbing Plants_ (1875), _Different Forms

of Flowers_ (1877), _The Power of Movement in Plants_ (1880), and _The

Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms_ (1881). D.,

with a modesty which was one of his chief characteristics, disclaimed for

himself the possession of any remarkable talents except "an unusual power

of noticing things which easily escape attention, and of observing them

carefully." In addition, however, to this peculiar insight, he had a

singular reverence for truth and fact, enormous industry, and great

self-abnegation: and his kindliness, modesty, and magnanimity attracted

the affection of all who knew him.

_Life and Letters_, by his son, F. Darwin, 3 vols., 1887; _C. Darwin and

the Theory of Natural Selection_. E.B. Poulton, 1896; various short Lives

by Grant Allen and others.

DARWIN, ERASMUS (1731-1802).--Poet, physician, and scientist, was _b._ at

Elston, Notts, and _ed._ at Camb. and at Edin., where he took his degree

of M.D. He ultimately settled in Lichfield as a physician, and attained a

high professional reputation, so much so that he was offered, but

declined, the appointment of physician to George III. In 1778 he formed a

botanical garden, and in 1789 _pub._ his first poem, _The Loves of the

Plants_, followed in 1792 by _The Economy of Vegetation_, which combined

form _The Botanic Garden_. Another poem, _The Temple of Nature_, was

_pub._ posthumously. He also wrote various scientific works in prose. The

poems of D., though popular in their day, are now little read. Written in

polished and sonorous verse, they glitter with startling similes and

ingenious, though often forced, analogies, but have little true poetry or

human interest.

DASENT, SIR GEORGE WEBBE (1817-1896).--Scandinavian scholar, _b._ in the

island of St. Vincent, of which his _f._ was Attorney-general, _ed._ at

Westminster School, King's Coll., London, and Oxf., he entered the

diplomatic service, and was for several years Sec. to the British Embassy

at Stockholm, where he became interested in Scandinavian literature and

mythology. Returning to England he was appointed Assistant Ed. of _The

Times_ (1845-1870). In 1852 he was called to the Bar, and in the

following year was appointed Prof. of English Literature and Modern

History at King's Coll., London, an office which he held for 13 years. He

was knighted in 1876. His principal writings have to do with Scandinavian

language, mythology, and folk-lore, and include an _Icelandic Grammar_,

_The Prose or Younger Edda_ (1842), _Popular Tales from the Norse_

(1859), _The Saga of Burnt Njal_ (1861), and _The Story of Gisli the

Outlaw_ (1866), mostly translated from the Norwegian of Asbjörnsen. He

also translated the Orkney and Hacon Sagas for the Rolls Series, and

wrote four novels, _Annals of an Eventful Life_, _Three to One_, _Half a

Life_, and _The Vikings of the Baltic_. His style is pointed and clear.

DAVENANT, or D'AVENANT, SIR WILLIAM (1606-1668).--Poet and dramatist, was

_b._ at Oxf., where his _f._ kept an inn, which Shakespeare was in the

habit of visiting. This had some influence on the future poet, who

claimed to be Shakespeare's natural son. D., _ed._ at Lincoln Coll., was

afterwards in the service of Lord Brooke, became involved in the troubles

of the Civil War, in which he took the Royalist side, and was imprisoned

in the Tower, escaped to France, and after returning was, in 1643,

knighted. Later D. was employed on various missions by the King and

Queen, was again in the Tower from 1650 to 1652, when he _pub._ his poem

_Gondibert_. He is said to have owed his release to the interposition of

Milton. In 1656 he practically founded the English Opera by his _Siege of

Rhodes_ (1656). In 1659 he was again imprisoned, but after the

Restoration he seems to have enjoyed prosperity and Royal favour, and

established a theatre, where he was the first habitually to introduce

female players and movable scenery. D. wrote 25 dramatic pieces, among

which are _Albovine, King of the Lombards_ (1629), _Platonick Lovers_

(1636), _The Wits_ (1633), _Unfortunate Lovers_ (1643), _Love and Honour_

(1649). None of them are now read; and the same may be said of

_Gondibert_, considered a masterpiece by contemporaries. D. succeeded Ben

Jonson as Poet Laureate, and collaborated with Dryden in altering (and

debasing) _The Tempest_. He _coll._ his miscellaneous verse under the

title of _Madagascar_. He is said to have had the satisfaction of

repaying in kind the good offices of Milton when the latter was in danger

in 1660. He joined with Waller and others in founding the classical

school of English poetry.

DAVIDSON, JOHN (1837-1909).--Poet and playwright, _b._ at Barrhead,

Renfrewshire, _s._ of a Dissenting minister, entered the chemical

department of a sugar refinery in Greenock in his 13th year, returning

after one year to school as a pupil teacher. He was afterwards engaged in

teaching at various places, and having taken to literature went in 1890

to London. He achieved a reputation as a writer of poems and plays of

marked individuality and vivid realism. His poems include _In a Music

Hall_ (1891), _Fleet Street Eclogues_ (1893), _Baptist Lake_ (1894), _New

Ballads_ (1896), _The Last Ballad_ (1898), _The Triumph of Mammon_

(1907), and among his plays are _Bruce_ (1886), _Smith: a Tragic Farce_

(1888), _Godfrida_ (1898). D. disappeared on March 27, 1909, under

circumstances which left little doubt that under the influence of mental

depression he had committed suicide. Among his papers was found the MS.

of a new work, _Fleet Street Poems_, with a letter containing the words,

"This will be my last book." His body was discovered a few months later.

DAVIES, JOHN (1565?-1618).--Called "the Welsh Poet," was a

writing-master, wrote very copiously and rather tediously on theological

and philosophical themes. His works include _Mirum in Modum_,

_Microcosmus_ (1602), and _The Picture of a Happy Man_ (1612). _Wit's

Bedlam_ (1617), and many epigrams on his contemporaries which have some

historical interest.

DAVIES, SIR JOHN (1569-1626).--Lawyer and poet, _s._ of a lawyer at

Westbury, Wiltshire, was _ed._ at Winchester and Oxf., and became a

barrister of the Middle Temple, 1595. He was a member successively of the

English and Irish Houses of Commons, and held various legal offices. In

literature he is known as the writer of two poems, _Orchestra: a Poem of

Dancing_ (1594), and _Nosce Teipsum_ (Know Thyself), in two elegies (1)

Of Humane Knowledge (2) Of the Immortality of the Soul. The poem consists

of quatrains, each containing a complete and compactly expressed thought.

It was _pub._ in 1599. D. was also the author of treatises on law and

politics.

DAVIS, or DAVYS, JOHN (1550?-1605).--Navigator, known as D. of Sandridge

to distinguish him from another of the same name. He was one of the most

enterprising of the Elizabethan sailors, who devoted themselves to the

discovery of the North-west Passage. Davis Strait was discovered by, and

named after, him. He made many voyages, in the last of which he met his

death at the hands of a Japanese pirate. He was the author of a book, now

very scarce, _The World's Hydrographical Description_, and he also wrote

a work on practical navigation, _The Seaman's Secrets_, which had great

repute.

DAVIS, THOMAS OSBORNE (1814-1845).--Poet, _b._ at Mallow, _ed._ at

Trinity Coll., Dublin, and called to the Irish Bar 1838. He was one of

the founders of _The Nation_ newspaper, and of the Young Ireland party.

He wrote some stirring patriotic ballads, originally contributed to _The

Nation_, and afterwards republished as _Spirit of the Nation_, also a

memoir of Curran the great Irish lawyer and orator, prefixed to an ed. of

his speeches; and he had formed many literary plans which were brought to

naught by his untimely death.

DAVY, SIR HUMPHREY (1778-1829).--Chemist and man of letters, _s._ of a

wood-carver, was _b._ at Penzance. He early showed an enthusiasm for

natural science, and continued to pursue his studies when apprenticed in

1795 to a surgeon. He became specially interested in chemistry, to which

in 1797 he began more exclusively to devote himself. Thereafter he

assisted Dr. Beddoes in his laboratory at Bristol, and entered upon his

brilliant course of chemical discovery. His _Researches, Chemical, and

Philosophical_ (1799), led to his appointment as Director of the Chemical

Laboratory at the Royal Institution, where he also delivered courses of

scientific lectures with extraordinary popularity. Thereafter his life

was a succession of scientific triumphs and honours. His great discovery

was that of the metallic bases of the earths and alkalis. He also

discovered various metals, including sodium, calcium, and magnesium. In

1812 he was knighted, and _m._ a wealthy widow. Thereafter he

investigated volcanic action and fire-damp, and invented the safety lamp.

In 1818 he was _cr._ a baronet, and in 1820 became Pres. of the Royal

Society, to which he communicated his discoveries in electro-magnetism.

In addition to his scientific writings, which include _Elements of

Agricultural Chemistry_ (1813), and _Chemical Agencies of Electricity_,

he wrote _Salmonia, or Days of Fly Fishing_ (1828), somewhat modelled

upon Walton, and _Consolations in Travel_ (1830), dialogues on ethical

and religious questions. D. sustained an apoplectic seizure in 1826,

after which his health was much impaired, and after twice wintering in

Italy, he _d._ at Geneva, where he received a public funeral. Though not

attached to any Church, D. was a sincerely religious man, strongly

opposed to materialism and scepticism. He holds a foremost place among

scientific discoverers.

DAY, JOHN (_b._ 1574).--Dramatist, _s._ of a Norfolk yeoman, was at

Camb., 1592-3. It is only since 1881 that his works have been identified.

He collaborated with Dekker and others in plays, and was the author of

_The Isle of Gulls_ (1606), _Law Trickes_ (1608), and _Humour out of

Breath_ (1608), also of an allegorical masque, _The Parliament of Bees_.

DAY, THOMAS (1748-1789).--Miscellaneous writer, was _b._ in London, _ed._

at the Charterhouse and at Oxf., and called to the Bar 1775, but having

inherited in infancy an independence, he did not practise. He became a

disciple of Rousseau in his social views, and endeavoured to put them in

practice in combination with better morality. He was a benevolent

eccentric, and used his income, which was increased by his marriage with

an heiress, in schemes of social reform as he understood it. He is

chiefly remembered as the author of the once universally-read _History of

Sandford and Merton_.

DEFOE, DANIEL (1661?-1731).--Journalist and novelist, _s._ of a butcher

in St. Giles, where he was _b._ His _f._ being a Dissenter, he was _ed._

at a Dissenting coll. at Newington with the view of becoming a

Presbyterian minister. He joined the army of Monmouth, and on its defeat

was fortunate enough to escape punishment. In 1688 he joined William III.

Before settling down to his career as a political writer, D. had been

engaged in various enterprises as a hosier, a merchant-adventurer to

Spain and Portugal, and a brickmaker, all of which proved so unsuccessful

that he had to fly from his creditors. Having become known to the

government as an effective writer, and employed by them, he was appointed

Accountant in the Glass-Duty Office, 1659-1699. Among his more important

political writings are an _Essay on Projects_ (1698), and _The True-born

Englishman_ (1701), which had a remarkable success. In 1702 appeared _The

Shortest Way with the Dissenters_, written in a strain of grave irony

which was, unfortunately for the author, misunderstood, and led to his

being fined, imprisoned, and put in the pillory, which suggested his

_Hymns to the Pillory_ (1704). Notwithstanding the disfavour with the

government which these disasters implied, D.'s knowledge of commercial

affairs and practical ability were recognised by his being sent in 1706

to Scotland to aid in the Union negotiations. In the same year _Jure

Divino_, a satire, followed by a _History of the Union_ (1709), and _The

Wars of Charles XII._ (1715). Further misunderstandings and

disappointments in connection with political matters led to his giving up

this line of activity, and, fortunately for posterity, taking to fiction.

The first and greatest of his novels, _Robinson Crusoe_, appeared in

1719, and its sequel (of greatly inferior interest) in 1720. These were

followed by _Captain Singleton_ (1720), _Moll Flanders_, _Colonel

Jacque_, and _Journal of the Plague Year_ (1722), _Memoirs of a Cavalier_

(1724), _A New Voyage Round the World_ (1725), and _Captain Carlton_

(1728). Among his miscellaneous works are _Political History of the

Devil_ (1726), _System of Magic_ (1727), _The Complete English Tradesman_

(1727), and _The Review_, a paper which he ed. In all he _pub._,

including pamphlets, etc., about 250 works. All D.'s writings are

distinguished by a clear, nervous style, and his works of fiction by a

minute verisimilitude and naturalness of incident which has never been

equalled except perhaps by Swift, whose genius his, in some other

respects, resembled. The only description of his personal appearance is

given in an advertisement intended to lead to his apprehension, and runs,

"A middle-sized, spare man about forty years old, of a brown complexion,

and dark brown-coloured hair, but wears a wig; a hooked nose, a sharp

chin, grey eyes, and a large mole near his mouth." His mind was a

peculiar amalgam of imagination and matter-of-fact, seeing strongly and

clearly what he did see, but little conscious, apparently, of what lay

outside his purview.

_Lives_ by Chalmers (1786), H. Morley (1889), T. Wright (1894), and

others; shorter works by Lamb, Hazlitt, L. Stephens, and Prof. Minto,

Bohn's _British Classics_, etc.

DEKKER, THOMAS (1570?-1641?).--Dramatist and miscellaneous writer, was

_b._ in London. Few details of D.'s life have come down to us, though he

was a well-known writer in his day, and is believed to have written or

contributed to over 20 dramas. He collaborated at various times with

several of his fellow-dramatists, including Ben Jonson. Ultimately Jonson

quarrelled with Marston and D., satirising them in _The Poetaster_

(1601), to which D. replied in _Satiromastix_ (1602). D.'s best play is

_Old Fortunatus_ (1606), others are _The Shoemaker's Holiday_ (1600),

_Honest Whore_ (1604), _Roaring Girl_ (1611), _The Virgin Martyr_ (1622)

(with Massinger), and _The Witch of Edmonton_ (1658) (with Ford and

Rowley), _History of Sir Thomas Wyat_, _Westward Ho_, and _Northward Ho_,

all with Webster. His prose writings include _The Gull's Hornbook_

(1609), _The Seven Deadly Sins of London_, and _The Belman of London_

(1608), satirical works which give interesting glimpses of the life of

his time. His life appears to have been a somewhat chequered one,

alternating between revelry and want. He is one of the most poetical of

the older dramatists. Lamb said he "had poetry enough for anything."

DE LOLME, JOHN LOUIS (1740?-1807).--Political writer, _b._ at Geneva, has

a place in English literature for his well-known work, _The Constitution

of England_, written in French, and translated into English in 1775. He

also wrote a comparison of the English Government with that of Sweden, a

_History of the Flagellants_ (1777), and _The British Empire in Europe_

(1787). He came to England in 1769, lived in great poverty, and having

inherited a small fortune, returned to his native place in 1775.

DELONEY, THOMAS (1543-1600).--Novelist and balladist, appears to have

worked as a silk-weaver in Norwich, but was in London by 1586, and in the

course of the next 10 years is known to have written about 50 ballads,

some of which involved him in trouble, and caused him to lie _perdue_ for

a time. It is only recently that his more important work as a novelist,

in which he ranks with Greene and Nash, has received attention. He

appears to have turned to this new field of effort when his original one

was closed to him for the time. Less under the influence of Lyly and

other preceding writers than Greene, he is more natural, simple, and

direct, and writes of middle-class citizens and tradesmen with a light

and pleasant humour. Of his novels, _Thomas of Reading_ is in honour of

clothiers, _Jack of Newbury_ celebrates weaving, and _The Gentle Craft_

is dedicated to the praise of shoemakers. He "dy'd poorely," but was

"honestly buried."

DE MORGAN, AUGUSTUS (1806-1871).--Mathematician, _b._ in India, and _ed._

at Camb., was one of the most brilliant of English mathematicians. He is

mentioned here in virtue of his _Budget of Paradoxes_, a series of papers

originally _pub._ in _The Athenæum_, in which mathematical fallacies are

discussed with sparkling wit, and the keenest logic.

DENHAM, SIR JOHN (1615-1669).--Poet, _s._ of the Chief Baron of Exchequer

in Ireland, was _b._ in Dublin, and _ed._ at Oxf. He began his literary

career with a tragedy, _The Sophy_ (1641), which seldom rises above

mediocrity. His poem, _Cooper's Hill_ (1642), is the work by which he is

remembered. It is the first example in English of a poem devoted to local

description. D. received extravagant praise from Johnson; but the place

now assigned him is a much more humble one. His verse is smooth, clear,

and agreeable, and occasionally a thought is expressed with remarkable

terseness and force. In his earlier years D. suffered for his Royalism;

but after the Restoration enjoyed prosperity. He, however, made an

unhappy marriage, and his last years were clouded by insanity. He was an

architect by profession, coming between Inigo Jones and Wren as King's

Surveyor.

DENNIS, JOHN (1657-1734).--Critic, etc., _s._ of a saddler, was _b._ in

London, and _ed._ at Harrow and Caius Coll., Camb., from the latter of

which he was expelled for stabbing a fellow-student, and transferred

himself to Trinity Hall. He attached himself to the Whigs, in whose

interest he wrote several bitter and vituperative pamphlets. His attempts

at play-writing were failures; and he then devoted himself chiefly to

criticising the works of his contemporaries. In this line, while showing

some acuteness, he aroused much enmity by his ill-temper and jealousy.

Unfortunately for him, some of those whom he attacked, such as Pope and

Swift, had the power of conferring upon him an unenviable immortality.

Embalmed in _The Dunciad_, his name has attained a fame which no work of

his own could have given it. Of Milton, however, he showed a true

appreciation. Among his works are _Rinaldo and Armida_ (1699), _Appius

and Virginia_ (1709), _Reflections Critical and Satirical_ (1711), and

_Three Letters on Shakespeare_. He _d._ in straitened circumstances.

DE QUINCEY, THOMAS (1785-1859).--Essayist and miscellaneous writer, _s._

of a merchant in Manchester, was _b._ there. The aristocratic "De" was

assumed by himself, his _f._, whom he lost while he was still a child,

having been known by the name of Quincey, and he claimed descent from a

Norman family. His _Autobiographic Sketches_ give a vivid picture of his

early years at the family residence of Greenheys, and show him as a

highly imaginative and over-sensitive child, suffering hard things at the

hands of a tyrannical elder brother. He was _ed._ first at home, then at

Bath Grammar School, next at a private school at Winkfield, Wilts, and

in 1801 he was sent to the Manchester Grammar School, from which he ran

away, and for some time rambled in Wales on a small allowance made to him

by his mother. Tiring of this, he went to London in the end of 1802,

where he led the strange Bohemian life related in _The Confessions_. His

friends, thinking it high time to interfere, sent him in 1803 to Oxf.,

which did not, however, preclude occasional brief interludes in London,

on one of which he made his first acquaintance with opium, which was to

play so prominent and disastrous a part in his future life. In 1807 he

became acquainted with Coleridge, Wordsworth, and Southey, and soon

afterwards with C. Lamb. During the years 1807-9 he paid various visits

to the Lakes, and in the latter year he settled at Townend, Grasmere,

where Wordsworth had previously lived. Here he pursued his studies,

becoming gradually more and more enslaved by opium, until in 1813 he was

taking from 8000 to 12,000 drops daily. John Wilson (Christopher North),

who was then living at Elleray, had become his friend, and brought him to

Edinburgh occasionally, which ended in his passing the latter part of his

life in that city. His marriage to Margaret Simpson, _dau._ of a farmer,

took place in 1816. Up to this time he had written nothing, but had been

steeping his mind in German metaphysics, and out-of-the-way learning of

various kinds; but in 1819 he sketched out _Prolegomena of all future

Systems of Political Economy_, which, however, was never finished. In the

same year he acted as ed. of the _Westmoreland Gazette_. His true

literary career began in 1821 with the publication in the _London

Magazine_ of _The Confessions of an English Opium-Eater_. Thereafter he

produced a long series of articles, some of them almost on the scale of

books, in _Blackwood's_ and _Tait's_ magazines, the _Edinburgh Literary

Gazette_, and _Hogg's Instructor_. These included _Murder considered as

one of the Fine Arts_ (1827), and in his later and more important period,

_Suspiria De Profundis_ (1845), _The Spanish Military Nun_ (1847), _The

English Mail-Coach_, and _Vision of Sudden Death_ (1849). In 1853 he

began a _coll._ ed. of his works, which was the main occupation of his

later years. He had in 1830 brought his family to Edinburgh, which,

except for two years, 1841-43, when he lived in Glasgow, was his home

till his death in 1859, and in 1837, on his wife's death, he placed them

in the neighbouring village of Lasswade, while he lived in solitude,

moving about from one dingy lodging to another.

De Q. stands among the great masters of style in the language. In his

greatest passages, as in the _Vision of Sudden Death_ and the _Dream

Fugue_, the cadence of his elaborately piled-up sentences falls like

cathedral music, or gives an abiding expression to the fleeting pictures

of his most gorgeous dreams. His character unfortunately bore no

correspondence to his intellectual endowments. His moral system had in

fact been shattered by indulgence in opium. His appearance and manners

have been thus described: "A short and fragile, but well-proportioned

frame; a shapely and compact head; a face beaming with intellectual

light, with rare, almost feminine beauty of feature and complexion; a

fascinating courtesy of manner, and a fulness, swiftness, and elegance of

silvery speech." His own works give very detailed information regarding

himself. _See_ also Page's _Thomas De Quincey: his Life and Writings_

(1879), Prof. Masson's _De Quincey_ (English Men of Letters). _Collected

Writings_ (14 vols. 1889-90).

DERMODY, THOMAS (1775-1802).--Poet, _b._ at Ennis, showed great capacity

for learning, but fell into idle and dissipated habits, and threw away

his opportunities. He _pub._ two books of poems, which after his death

were _coll._ as _The Harp of Erin_.

DE VERE, AUBREY THOMAS (1814-1902).--Poet, _s._ of Sir Aubrey de V.,

himself a poet, was _b._ in Co. Limerick, and _ed._ at Trinity Coll.,

Dublin. In early life he became acquainted with Wordsworth, by whom he

was greatly influenced. On the religious and ecclesiastical side he

passed under the influence of Newman and Manning, and in 1851 was

received into the Church of Rome. He was the author of many vols. of

poetry, including _The Waldenses_ (1842), _The Search for Proserpine_

(1843), etc. In 1861 he began a series of poems on Irish subjects,

_Inisfail_, _The Infant Bridal_, _Irish Odes_, etc. His interest in

Ireland and its people led him to write prose works, including _English

Misrule and Irish Misdeeds_ (1848); and to criticism he contributed

_Essays chiefly on Poetry_ (1887). His last work was his _Recollections_

(1897). His poetry is characterised by lofty ethical tone, imaginative

power, and grave stateliness of expression.

DIBDIN, CHARLES (1745-1814).--Dramatist and song writer, _b._ at

Southampton, began his literary career at 16 with a drama, _The

Shepherd's Artifice_. His fame, however, rests on his sea songs, which

are unrivalled, and include _Tom Bowling_, _Poor Jack_, and _Blow High

Blow Low_. He is said to have written over 1200 of these, besides many

dramatic pieces and two novels, _Hannah Hewitt_ (1792), and _The Younger

Brother_ (1793), and a _History of the Stage_ (1795).

DICKENS, CHARLES (1812-1870).--Novelist, _b._ at Landport, near

Portsmouth, where his _f._ was a clerk in the Navy Pay-Office. The

hardships and mortifications of his early life, his want of regular

schooling, and his miserable time in the blacking factory, which form the

basis of the early chapters of _David Copperfield_, are largely accounted

for by the fact that his _f._ was to a considerable extent the prototype

of the immortal Mr. Micawber; but partly by his being a delicate and

sensitive child, unusually susceptible to suffering both in body and

mind. He had, however, much time for reading, and had access to the older

novelists, Fielding, Smollett, and others. A kindly relation also took

him frequently to the theatre, where he acquired his life-long interest

in, and love of, the stage. After a few years' residence in Chatham, the

family removed to London, and soon thereafter his _f._ became an inmate

of the Marshalsea, in which by-and-by the whole family joined him, a

passage in his life which furnishes the material for parts of _Little

Dorrit_. This period of family obscuration happily lasted but a short

time: the elder D. managed to satisfy his creditors, and soon after

retired from his official duties on a pension. About the same time D. had

two years of continuous schooling, and shortly afterwards he entered a

law office. His leisure he devoted to reading and learning shorthand, in

which he became very expert. He then acted as parliamentary reporter,

first for _The True Sun_, and from 1835 for the _Morning Chronicle_.

Meanwhile he had been contributing to the _Monthly Magazine_ and the

_Evening Chronicle_ the papers which, in 1836, appeared in a _coll._ form

as _Sketches by Boz_; and he had also produced one or two comic

burlettas. In the same year he _m._ Miss Ann Hogarth; and in the

following year occurred the opportunity of his life. He was asked by

Chapman and Hall to write the letterpress for a series of sporting plates

to be done by Robert Seymour who, however, _d._ shortly after, and was

succeeded by Hablot Browne (Phiz), who became the illustrator of most of

D.'s novels. In the hands of D. the original plan was entirely altered,

and became the _Pickwick Papers_ which, appearing in monthly parts during

1837-39, took the country by storm. Simultaneously _Oliver Twist_ was

coming out in _Bentley's Miscellany_. Thenceforward D.'s literary career

was a continued success, and the almost yearly publication of his works

constituted the main events of his life. _Nicholas Nickleby_ appeared in

serial form 1838-39. Next year he projected _Master Humphrey's Clock_,

intended to be a series of miscellaneous stories and sketches. It was,

however, soon abandoned, _The Old Curiosity Shop_ and _Barnaby Rudge_

taking its place. The latter, dealing with the Gordon Riots, is, with the

partial exception of the _Tale of Two Cities_, the author's only

excursion into the historical novel. In 1841 D. went to America, and was

received with great enthusiasm, which, however, the publication of

_American Notes_ considerably damped, and the appearance of _Martin

Chuzzlewit_ in 1843, with its caustic criticisms of certain features of

American life, converted into extreme, though temporary, unpopularity.

The first of the Christmas books--the _Christmas Carol_--appeared in

1843, and in the following year D. went to Italy, where at Genoa he wrote

_The Chimes_, followed by _The Cricket on the Hearth_, _The Battle of

Life_, and _The Haunted Man_. In January, 1846, he was appointed first

ed. of _The Daily News_, but resigned in a few weeks. The same year he

went to Switzerland, and while there wrote _Dombey and Son_, which was

_pub._ in 1848, and was immediately followed by his masterpiece, _David

Copperfield_ (1849-50). Shortly before this he had become manager of a

theatrical company, which performed in the provinces, and he had in 1849

started his magazine, _Household Words_. _Bleak House_ appeared in

1852-53, _Hard Times_ in 1854, and _Little Dorrit_ 1856-57. In 1856 he

bought Gadshill Place, which, in 1860, became his permanent home. In 1858

he began his public readings from his works, which, while eminently

successful from a financial point of view, from the nervous strain which

they entailed, gradually broke down his constitution, and hastened his

death. In the same year he separated from his wife, and consequent upon

the controversy which arose thereupon he brought _Household Words_ to an

end, and started _All the Year Round_, in which appeared _A Tale of Two

Cities_ (1859), and _Great Expectations_ (1860-61). _Our Mutual Friend_

came out in numbers (1864-65). D. was now in the full tide of his

readings, and decided to give a course of them in America. Thither

accordingly he went in the end of 1867, returning in the following May.

He had a magnificent reception, and his profits amounted to £20,000; but

the effect on his health was such that he was obliged, on medical advice,

finally to abandon all appearances of the kind. In 1869 he began his last

work, _The Mystery of Edwin Drood_, which was interrupted by his death

from an apoplectic seizure on June 8, 1870.

One of D.'s most marked characteristics is the extraordinary wealth of

his invention as exhibited in the number and variety of the characters

introduced into his novels. Another, especially, of course, in his entire

works, is his boundless flow of animal spirits. Others are his marvellous

keenness of observation and his descriptive power. And the English race

may well, with Thackeray, be "grateful for the innocent laughter, and the

sweet and unsullied pages which the author of _David Copperfield_ gives

to [its] children." On the other hand, his faults are obvious, a tendency

to caricature, a mannerism that often tires, and almost disgusts, fun

often forced, and pathos not seldom degenerating into mawkishness. But at

his best how rich and genial is the humour, how tender often the pathos.

And when all deductions are made, he had the laughter and tears of the

English-speaking world at command for a full generation while he lived,

and that his spell still works is proved by a continuous succession of

new editions.

SUMMARY.--_B._ 1812, parliamentary reporter _c._ 1835, _pub._ _Sketches

by Boz_ 1836, _Pickwick_ 1837-39, and his other novels almost

continuously until his death, visited America 1841, started _Household

Words_ 1849, and _All the Year Round_ 1858, when also he began his public

readings, visiting America again in 1867, _d._ 1870.

_Life_ by John Foster (1872), _Letters_ ed. by Miss Hogarth (1880-82).

Numerous Lives and Monographs by Sala, F.T. Marzials (Great Writers

Series), A.W. Ward (Men of Letters Series), F.G. Kitton, G.K. Chesterton,

etc.

DIGBY, SIR KENELM (1603-1665).--Miscellaneous writer, _b._ near Newport

Pagnell, _s._ of Sir Everard D., one of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators,

was _ed._ at Oxf., travelled much, and was engaged in sea-fighting.

Brought up first as a Romanist, then as a Protestant, he in 1636 joined

the Church of Rome. During the Civil War he was active on the side of the

King, and on the fall of his cause was for a time banished. He was the

author of several books on religious and quasi-scientific subjects,

including one on the _Choice of a Religion_, on the _Immortality of the

Soul_, _Observations on Spenser's Faery Queen_, and a criticism on Sir T.

Browne's _Religio Medici_. He also wrote a _Discourse on Vegetation_, and

one _On the Cure of Wounds_ by means of a sympathetic powder which he

imagined he had discovered.

DILKE, CHARLES WENTWORTH (1789-1864).--Critic and writer on literature,

served for many years in the Navy Pay-Office, on retiring from which he

devoted himself to literary pursuits. He had in 1814-16 made a

continuation of Dodsley's _Collection of English Plays_, and in 1829 he

became part proprietor and ed. of _The Athenæum_, the influence of which

he greatly extended. In 1846 he resigned the editorship, and assumed that

of _The Daily News_, but contributed to _The Athenæum_ his famous papers

on _Pope_, _Burke_, _Junius_, etc., and shed much new light on his

subjects. His grandson, the present Sir C.W. Dilke, _pub._ these

writings in 1875 under the title, _Papers of a Critic_.

DISRAELI, B., (_see_ BEACONSFIELD).

D'ISRAELI, ISAAC (1766-1848).--Miscellaneous writer, was descended from a

Jewish family which had been settled first in Spain, and afterwards at

Venice. _Ed._ at Amsterdam and Leyden, he devoted himself to literature,

producing a number of interesting works of considerable value, including

_Curiosities of Literature_, in 3 series (1791-1823), _Dissertation on

Anecdotes_ (1793), _Calamities of Authors_ (1812), _Amenities of

Literature_ (1841); also works dealing with the lives of James I. and

Charles I.D. was latterly blind. He was the _f._ of Benjamin D., Earl of

Beaconsfield (_q.v._).

DIXON, RICHARD WATSON (1833-1900).--Historian and poet, _s._ of Dr. James

D., a well-known Wesleyan minister and historian of Methodism, _ed._ at

King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Oxf., took Anglican orders, was

Second Master at Carlisle School, Vicar of Hayton and Warkworth, and

Canon of Carlisle. He _pub._ 7 vols. of poetry, but is best known for his

_History of the Church of England from the Abolition of Roman

Jurisdiction_ (1877-1900).

DIXON, WILLIAM HEPWORTH (1821-1879).--Historian and traveller, _b._ near

Manchester, went to London in 1846, and became connected with _The Daily

News_, for which he wrote articles on social and prison reform. In 1850

he _pub._ _John Howard and the Prison World of Europe_, which had a wide

circulation, and about the same time he wrote a _Life of Peace_ (1851),

in answer to Macaulay's onslaught. Lives of _Admiral Blake_ and _Lord

Bacon_ followed, which received somewhat severe criticisms at the hands

of competent authorities. D. was ed. of _The Athenæum_, 1853-69, and

wrote many books of travel, including _The Holy Land_ (1865), _New

America_ (1867), and _Free Russia_ (1870). His later historical works

include _Her Majesty's Tower_, and _The History of Two Queens_ (Catherine

of Arragon and Anne Boleyn). Though a diligent student of original

authorities, and sometimes successful in throwing fresh light on his

subjects, D. was not always accurate, and thus laid himself open to

criticism; and his book, _Spiritual Wives_, treating of Mormonism, was so

adversely criticised as to lead to an action. He wrote, however, in a

fresh and interesting style. He was one of the founders of the Palestine

Exploration Fund, and was a member of the first School Board for London

(1870). He was called to the Bar in 1854, but never practised.

DOBELL, SYDNEY THOMPSON (1824-1874).--Poet, _b._ at Cranbrook, Kent, _s._

of a wine-merchant, who removed to Cheltenham, where most of the poet's

life was passed. His youth was precocious (he was engaged at 15 and _m._

at 20). In 1850 his first work, _The Roman_, appeared, and had great

popularity. _Balder, Part I._ (1854), _Sonnets on the War_, jointly with

Alexander Smith (_q.v._) (1855), and _England in Time of War_ (1856)

followed. His later years were passed in Scotland and abroad in search of

health, which, however, was damaged by a fall while exploring some ruins

at Pozzuoli. D.'s poems exhibit fancy and brilliancy of diction, but

want simplicity, and sometimes run into grandiloquence and other faults

of the so-called spasmodic school to which he belonged.

DODD, WILLIAM (1729-1777).--Divine and forger, _ed._ at Camb., became a

popular preacher in London, and a Royal Chaplain, but, acquiring

expensive habits, got involved in hopeless difficulties, from which he

endeavoured to escape first by an attempted simoniacal transaction, for

which he was disgraced, and then by forging a bond for £4200, for which,

according to the then existing law, he was hanged. Great efforts were

made to obtain a commutation of the sentence, and Dr. Johnson wrote one

of the petitions, but on D.'s book, _Thoughts in Prison_, appearing

posthumously, he remarked that "a man who has been canting all his days

may cant to the last." D. was the author of a collection of _Beauties of

Shakespeare_, _Reflections on Death_, and a translation of the _Hymns of

Callimachus_.

DODDRIDGE, PHILIP (1702-1751).--Nonconformist divine and writer of

religious books and hymns, _b._ in London, and _ed._ for the ministry at

a theological institution at Kibworth, became minister first at Market

Harborough, and afterwards at Northampton, where he also acted as head of

a theological academy. D., who was a man of amiable and joyous character,

as well as an accomplished scholar, composed many standard books of

religion, of which the best known is _The Rise and Progress of Religion

in the Soul_ (1745). In 1736 he received the degree of D.D. from

Aberdeen. He _d._ at Lisbon, whither he had gone in search of health.

Several of his hymns, _e.g._, _Ye Servants of the Lord_, _O Happy Day_,

and _O God of Bethel_, are universally used by English-speaking

Christians, and have been translated into various languages.

DODGSON, CHARLES LUTWIDGE ("LEWIS CARROLL") (1832-1898).--Mathematician

and writer of books for children, _s._ of a clergyman at Daresbury,

Cheshire, was _ed._ at Rugby and Oxf. After taking orders he was

appointed lecturer on mathematics, on which subject he _pub._ several

valuable treatises. His fame rests, however, on his books for children,

full of ingenuity and delightful humour, of which _Alice's Adventures in

Wonderland_, and its sequel, _Through the Looking-glass_, are the best.

DODSLEY, ROBERT (1703-1764).--Poet, dramatist, and bookseller, _b._ near

Mansfield, and apprenticed to a stocking-weaver, but not liking this

employment, he ran away and became a footman. While thus engaged he

produced _The Muse in Livery_ (1732). This was followed by _The Toy

Shop_, a drama, which brought him under the notice of Pope, who

befriended him, and assisted him in starting business as a bookseller. In

this he became eminently successful, and acted as publisher for Pope,

Johnson, and Akenside. He projected and _pub._ _The Annual Register_, and

made a collection of _Old English Plays_, also of _Poems by Several

Hands_ in 6 vols. In addition to the original works above mentioned he

wrote various plays and poems, including _The Blind Beggar of Bethnal

Green_ (1741), and _Cleone_ (1758).

DONNE, JOHN (1573-1631).--Poet and divine, _s._ of a wealthy ironmonger

in London, where he was _b._ Brought up as a Roman Catholic, he was sent

to Oxf. and Camb., and afterwards entered Lincoln's Inn with a view to

the law. Here he studied the points of controversy between Romanists and

Protestants, with the result that he joined the Church of England. The

next two years were somewhat changeful, including travels on the

Continent, service as a private sec., and a clandestine marriage with the

niece of his patron, which led to dismissal and imprisonment, followed by

reconciliation. On the suggestion of James I., who approved of

_Pseudo-Martyr_ (1610), a book against Rome which he had written, he took

orders, and after executing a mission to Bohemia, he was, in 1621, made

Dean of St. Paul's. D. had great popularity as a preacher. His works

consist of elegies, satires, epigrams, and religious pieces, in which,

amid many conceits and much that is artificial, frigid, and worse, there

is likewise much poetry and imagination of a high order. Perhaps the best

of his works is _An Anatomy of the World_ (1611), an elegy. Others are

_Epithalamium_ (1613), _Progress of the Soul_ (1601), and _Divine Poems_.

Collections of his poems appeared in 1633 and 1649. He exercised a strong

influence on literature for over half a century after his death; to him

we owe the unnatural style of conceits and overstrained efforts after

originality of the succeeding age.

DORAN, JOHN (1807-1878).--Miscellaneous writer, of Irish parentage, wrote

a number of works dealing with the lighter phases of manners,

antiquities, and social history, often bearing punning titles, _e.g._,

_Table Traits with Something on Them_ (1854), and _Knights and their

Days_. He also wrote _Lives of the Queens of England of the House of

Hanover_ (1855), and _A History of Court Fools_ (1858), and ed. Horace

Walpole's _Journal of the Reign of George III._ His books contain much

curious and out-of-the-way information. D. was for a short time ed. of

_The Athenæum_.

DORSET, CHARLES SACKVILLE, 6TH EARL of (1638-1706).--Poet, was one of the

dissolute and witty courtiers of Charles II., and a friend of Sir C.

Sedley (_q.v._), in whose orgies he participated. He was, however, a

patron of literature, and a benefactor of Dryden in his later and less

prosperous years. He wrote a few satires and songs, among the latter

being the well-known, _To all you Ladies now on Land_. As might be

expected, his writings are characterised by the prevailing indelicacy of

the time.

DORSET, THOMAS SACKVILLE, 1ST EARL of, AND LORD BUCKHURST

(1536-1608).--Poet and statesman, was _b._ at Buckhurst, Sussex, the only

_s._ of Sir Richard S., and _ed._ at Oxf. and Camb. He studied law at the

Inner Temple, and while there wrote, in conjunction with Thomas Norton,

_Ferren and Porrex_ or _Gerboduc_ (1561-2), the first regular English

tragedy. A little later he planned _The Mirror for Magistrates_, which

was to have been a series of narratives of distinguished Englishmen,

somewhat on the model of Boccaccio's _Falls of Princes_. Finding the plan

too large, he handed it over to others--seven poets in all being engaged

upon it--and himself contributed two poems only, one on _Buckingham_, the

confederate, and afterwards the victim, of Richard III., and an

_Induction_ or introduction, which constitute nearly the whole value of

the work. In these poems S. becomes the connecting link between Chaucer

and Spenser. They are distinguished by strong invention and imaginative

power, and a stately and sombre grandeur of style. S. played a prominent

part in the history of his time, and held many high offices, including

those of Lord Steward and Lord Treasurer, the latter of which he held

from 1599 till his death. It fell to him to announce to Mary Queen of

Scots the sentence of death.

DOUCE, FRANCIS (1757-1834).--Antiquary, _b._ in London, was for some time

in the British Museum. He _pub._ _Illustrations of Shakespeare_ (1807),

and a dissertation on _The Dance of Death_ (1833).

DOUGLAS, GAVIN (1474?-1522).--Poet, 3rd _s._ of the 5th Earl of Angus,

was _b._ about 1474, and _ed._ at St. Andrews for the Church. Promotion

came early, and he was in 1501 made Provost of St. Giles, Edin., and in

1514 Abbot of Aberbrothock, and Archbishop of St. Andrews. But the times

were troublous, and he had hardly received these latter preferments when

he was deprived of them. He was, however, named Bishop of Dunkeld in 1514

and, after some difficulty, and undergoing imprisonment, was confirmed in

the see. In 1520 he was again driven forth, and two years later _d._ of

the plague in London. His principal poems are _The Palace of Honour_

(1501), and _King Hart_, both allegorical; but his great achievement was

his translation of the _Æneid_ in ten-syllabled metre, the first

translation into English of a classical work. D.'s language is more

archaic than that of some of his predecessors, his rhythm is rough and

unequal, but he had fire, and a power of vivid description, and his

allegories are ingenious and felicitous.

_Coll._ ed. of works by John Small, LL.D., 4 vols., 1874.

DOYLE, SIR FRANCIS HASTINGS (1810-1888).--Poet, belonged to a military

family which produced several distinguished officers, including his _f._,

who bore the same name. He was _b._ near Tadcaster, Yorkshire, and _ed._

at Eton and Oxf. Studying law he was called to the Bar in 1837, and

afterwards held various high fiscal appointments, becoming in 1869

Commissioner of Customs. In 1834 he _pub._ _Miscellaneous Verses_,

followed by _Two Destinies_ (1844), _Oedipus, King of Thebes_ (1849), and

_Return of the Guards_ (1866). He was elected in 1867 Prof. of Poetry at

Oxf. D.'s best work is his ballads, which include _The Red Thread of

Honour_, _The Private of the Buffs_, and _The Loss of the Birkenhead_. In

his longer poems his genuine poetical feeling was not equalled by his

power of expression, and much of his poetry is commonplace.

DRAKE, JOSEPH RODMAN (1795-1820).--Poet, _b._ at New York, studied

medicine, _d._ of consumption. He collaborated with F. Halleck in the

_Croaker Papers_, and wrote "The Culprit Fay" and "The American Flag."

DRAPER, JOHN WILLIAM (1811-1882).--Historian, _b._ at St. Helen's,

Lancashire, emigrated to Virginia, and was a prof. in the Univ. of New

York. He wrote _History of the American Civil War_ (1867-70), _History of

the Intellectual Development of Europe_ (1863), and _History of the

Conflict between Science and Religion_ (1874), besides treatises on

various branches of science.

DRAYTON, MICHAEL (1563-1631).--Poet, _b._ in Warwickshire, was in early

life page to a gentleman, and was possibly at Camb. or Oxf. His earliest

poem, _The Harmonie of the Church_, was destroyed. His next was _The

Shepherd's Garland_ (1593), afterwards reprinted as _Eclogues_. Three

historical poems, _Gaveston_ (1593), _Matilda_ (1594), and _Robert, Duke

of Normandie_ (1596) followed, and he then appears to have collaborated

with Dekker, Webster, and others in dramatic work. His _magnum opus_,

however, was _Polyolbion_ (1613?), a topographical description of England

in twelve-syllabled verse, full of antiquarian and historical details, so

accurate as to make the work an authority on such matters. The rushing

verse is full of vigour and gusto. Other poems of D. are _The Wars of the

Barons_ (1603), _England's Heroical Epistles_ (1598) (being imaginary

letters between Royal lovers such as Henry II. and Rosamund), _Poems,

Lyric and Heroic_ (1606) (including the fine ballad of "Agincourt"),

_Nymphidia_, his most graceful work, _Muses Elizium_, and _Idea's

Mirrour_, a collection of sonnets, Idea being the name of the lady to

whom they were addressed. Though often heavy, D. had the true poetic

gift, had passages of grandeur, and sang the praises of England with the

heart of a patriot.