[We cordially join in the wish expressed by our correspondent, that the
Vicar of Shoreditch will before long favour us with the publication of
the manuscript life of this amiable prelate, written, we believe, by
his chaplain. It appears to us doubtful whether the bishop ever
published any of his sermons, from what he states in a letter given in
the Appendix to _The Life of John Kettlewell_. "I have often," he says,
"been in the pulpit, in season and out of season, and also bold and
honest enough there, God be praised; but never in the _printing-house_
yet; and believe I never shall be." The longest printed account of this
deprived bishop is given in Rudder's _History and Antiquities of
Gloucester_; and no doubt many particulars respecting him and other
Nonjurors may be found in the Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian Library.]
_Parochial Libraries_ (Vol. vi., p. 432; Vol. vii. _passim_).--At Dunblane
the collection of books bequeathed by the amiable Leighton is still
preserved. At All Saints, Newcastle-on-Tyne, I once saw, among some old
books in the vestry, a small quarto volume of tracts, including Archbishop
Laud's speech in the Star Chamber, at the censure of Bastwick, Burton, and
Prynne. It had been presented by the Rev. E. Moise, M. A., many years
lecturer of that church.
The old library at St. Nicholas, Newcastle-on-Tyne, contains many curious
books and MSS., particularly the old Bible belonging to Hexham Abbey. This
library was greatly augmented by the munificent bequest of the Rev. Dr.
Thomlinson, rector of Whickham, prebendary of St. Paul's, and lecturer of
St. Nicholas, who died at an advanced age, in 1748, leaving all his books
to this church. In 1825 Archdeacon Bowyer presented a series of lending
libraries--ninety-three in all--to the several parishes in the county of
Northumberland. {606} They are in the custody of the incumbent for the time
being. Lastly, there is a very valuable library at Bamburgh Castle, the
bequest of Dr. Sharp: the books are allowed to circulate gratuitously
amongst the clergy and respectable inhabitants of the adjoining
neighbourhood.