_Did Bishop Gibson write a life of Cromwell?_ (Vol. iv., p. 117.).--In
the Life of the Rev. Isaac Kimber, prefixed to his _Sermons_, London,
1756, 8vo., it is stated that--
"One of the first productions he gave to the world was the _Life
of Oliver Cromwell_ in 8vo., printed for Messrs. Brotherton and
Cox. This piece met with a very good reception from the public,
and has passed through several editions, universally esteemed for
its style and its impartiality; and as the author's name was not
made public, though it was always known to his friends, it was at
first very confidently ascribed to Dr. Gibson, Bishop of
London."--P. 10.
The Life of Kimber appears to have been written by Edward Kimber, his
son, and therefore the claim of Bishop Gibson to this work may very
fairly be set aside.
The _Short Critical Review of the life of Oliver Cromwell, by a
Gentleman of the Middle Temple_, has always been attributed to John
Bankes, an account of whom will be found in Chalmers's _Biog. Dict._,
vol. iii. p. 422., where it is confidently stated to be his. It was
first published in 1739, 8vo. I have two copies of a third edition,
Lond. 1747. 12mo. "Carefully revised and greatly enlarged in every
chapter by the author." In one of the copies the title-page states it to
be "by a gentleman of the Middle Temple;" and in the other "by Mr.
Bankes." Bishop Gibson did not die till 1748, and there seems little
probability that, if he were the author, another man's name would be put
to it during his lifetime.
I conclude therefore that neither of these two works are by Bishop
Gibson.