In reply to your correspondent TWYFORD (Vol. ii., p. 73.), the original
of the common surname _Ogden_ is doubtless Oakden. A place so called is
situated in Butterworth, Lancashire, and gave name to a
family,--possibly extinct in the sixteenth century. A clergymam, whose
name partook both of the original and its corruption, was vicar of
Bradford, 1556, viz Dus Tho. _Okden_. The arms and crest borne by the
Oakdens were both allusive to the name, certainly without any reference
to King Charles's hiding-place.
Dr. Samuel Ogden, born in 1716 at Winchester, was the son of Thomas
Ogden, a man of very humble origin: but he had the merit of giving a
liberal education to one whose natural talents well deserved culture;
and both his parents, in the decline of life, owed their support to
Ogden's filial piety and affection. Cole is quite mistaken in fixing the
father's residence at Mansfield, and in stating that he had been in the
army. The monument, spoken of by Cole, is not at Mansfield, but in the
cathedral of Manchester: nor is it a memorial of Dr. Ogden. It was
placed by him in memory of his _father_. Ogden was buried in his own
church, St. Sephlchre's, Cambridge.
The following epigram, it is believed, has not been printed. It is
transcribed from a letter in my possession, addressed by the first Lord
Alvanley, when at college, to his former tutor, Mr. Thyer, editor of
_Butler's Remains_:--
"When Ogden his prosaic verse
In Latin numbers drest,
The Roman language prov'd too weak
To stand the Critic's test.
"To English Rhyme he next essay'd,
To show he'd some pretence;
But ah! Rhyme only would not do--
They still expected Sense.
"Enrag'd, the Doctor said he'd place
In Critics no reliance,
So wrapt his thoughts in Arabic,
And bad them all defiance."