THE IMPERIAL MAGAZINE.

JUNE, 1832.

MEMOIR OF THE VENERABLE ARCHDEACON NARES, M.A. F. R.S. F.S.A. V. P. R.S. L. ARCHDEACON OF STAFFORD, CANON RESIDENTIARY OF LICHFIELD, AND RECTOR OF ALLHALLOWS, LONDON WALL..

(With a Portrait.)

Ir titles and marks of honorary distinction could confer lasting fame, the subject of this memoir is sure of immortality. Nothing, however, can be more visionary and evanescent, than such appendages of mortal greatness, when unaccompanied with those virtues, and that personal merit, of which it is presumed they are the evidences and the reward. On occasions like these, they only mock the individual whom they were intended to honour, and, after the glare of the moment has subsided, remain to reproach his memory with a catalogue of excellences which he did not possess.

Essentially different, however, is the case, when these insignia of honourable merit are associated with splendid talents, extensive learning, and literary acquirements, devoted to scientific research, and consecrated by the imperishable emanations of moral worth. Under such circumstances, they stimulate to honest emulation; and, while crowning with laurels successful industry, and arduous competition for fame, derive new lustre from the candidate on whom they are conferred.

There are few individuals to whom these latter remarks can be more justly referred, than to the subject of this memoir; but it is to be regretted that this very circumstance renders those materials scanty, through which a life of utility might be illustrated with advantage to mankind. Devoted to abstract researches and peaceful avocations, the time of the scholar is spent in privacy and concealment. His mind operates in retirement, but its movements are unobserved; and it is only in distant results, that we learn the nature of its silent employment. The information, however, comes too late for us to trace its course, or observe the expedients by which the difficulties were surmounted, that, during the march of intellect, obstructed its progress. Hence, while the forward, the presuming, the clamorous, the noisy, and the vain, furnish, by their ambition, employment for every pen and every tongue, it is the fate of the unostentatious, the wise, and the modest, to become the benefactors of mankind, in "comparative obscurity, and to pass through a considerable portion of their mortal career in the silence of unobserved seclusion.

His study encircles

The life of an author is in general monotonous. him during the greater portion of his time. He lives chiefly in his works; and a few facts and incidents beyond this circumscribed sphere, are nearly all that can be found, to reward the inquiries of the biographer. On the present occasion all the available sources of information have been carefully explored; and the materials which they have furnished, we now proceed to lay before the reader.

2D. SERIES, NO. 18. VOL. II.

2 I

162.-VOL. XIV.

ROBERT NARES, the subject of this memoir, was born at York, on the 9th of June, 1753. His father, Dr. James Nares, a distinguished composer and teacher of music, was for many years organist to George II. and George III. This gentleman died in February 1783, leaving several relatives in exalted stations, on the bench, in the senate, and in the fields of intellect and science.

Thus honourably and variously connected, Robert Nares began life under circumstances every way calculated to stimulate his exertions, and reward his assiduity.

At a suitable period, Mr. Nares was placed at Westminster school, and became king's scholar at the head of his election in 1767, when only fourteen years of age. Pursuing his studies with unwearied application, and correspondent success, in 1771 he was elected to the studentship of Christchurch, Oxford. In 1775, he took his degree of B. A. and in 1778 that of M.A.; about which time he entered into holy orders.

Having attracted notice by his learning, and exemplary conduct, he was selected in 1779, by the late Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, to be the tutor of his two sons, the present baronet, and the Right Hon. Charles Williams Wynn. In consequence of this appointment, he went to reside with the family at their splendid mansion of Wynnstay, paying occasional visits to London, and cultivating light and elegant literature, as leisure and opportunity afforded intervals between the duties of his station, and a rigid attention to classical and scientific learning. In this situation Mr. Nares remained until 1783, during which period he became known to the public and to fame, by an Essay on the Demon or Divination of Socrates," and in 1784 by a work on the "Elements of Orthoëpy." His marriage with Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Thomas Bayley, Esq., of Chelmsford, took place during this latter year; but on that which followed, his connubial happiness received a fatal blow, by the death of this amiable lady, in giving birth to an infant.

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The marriage of Mr. Nares, as may naturally be supposed, interrupted for a season his close connexion with the family of Wynn. The ties of friendship, however, remained unbroken, since, from 1786 to 1788, he superintended the education of his pupils, while they were at Westminster School, for at this time he was an inhabitant of the metropolis, as assistant preacher at Berkeley chapel.

In the mean while, his college, Christ Church, in 1782, presented him with the small living of East Mauduit, in Northamptonshire; and this was followed in the same year by that of Doddington, in the same county, and in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor. In 1787, he was appointed chaplain to his Royal Highness the Duke of York; and in October of the ensuing year, assistant preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn.

In this latter situation, Mr. Nares remained fifteen years, and while giving entire satisfaction to his enlightened and learned auditory by his strong reasoning powers, and the depth of his erudition, he formed many valuable friendships, which accompanied him through life.

In 1793, Mr. Nares was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, and also one of the Librarians of the British Museum. Shortly afterwards, he was chosen Librarian for the manuscript department, where he remained twelve years, and prepared the third volume of the Harleian Catalogue of Manuscripts for the Record Commission, by which it was given to the world.

In 1794, Mr. Nares was deprived of his second wife. the daughter of Charles Fleetwood, Esq., of London.

This lady was
They had not

been united more than one year, before she was taken from him by death, after having given birth to a son, who survived his parent only a few weeks.

In 1796, Mr. Nares was presented, by the Lord Chancellor, Loughborough, to the rectory of Dalbury, near Derby; and, in 1798, to that of Sharnford, in Leicestershire. This, however, he held for only a short period, being within about six months collated by the Bishop of Lichfield, Cornwallis, to a canonry residentiary in the cathedral of that diocese. In the same year Bishop Porteus, of London, gave him the small prebend of Islington, in the cathedral of St. Paul. In February 1799, he was nominated to preach the Warburton Lecture in Lincoln's Inn; and in 1800 the Bishop of Lichfield conferred upon him the archdeaconry of Stafford. During this year he married the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Smith, many years headmaster of Westminster School. This lady, after nearly thirty years of domestic felicity, still survives, to lament his death.

In 1804, Mr. Nares was elected Fellow of the Royal Society; and in 1805, the Lord Chancellor, Eldon, without solicitation or interest, presented him to the vicarage of St. Mary's, Reading, whither he soon afterwards went to reside, having resigned the vicarage of East Mauduit, his situation at the British Museum, and other appointments which might have interfered with this purpose. Here, at this vicarage, he took up his abode until the year 1818, and during his residence, rendered very essential service to the neighbourhood, by the establishment of the national school, and the active promotion of measures calculated to benefit the community. During the last-mentioned year, being desirous of returning to the metropolis, that he might associate with persons suited to his literary tastes and habits, he obtained permission to exchange his vicarage for that of Allhallows, London-wall, which was at that time vacant. To the duties of this charge he regularly attended in person, during the greater part of the year, until within about three weeks of his death, which took place about two years since. His absence rarely amounted to more than three months annually, two of which he generally spent at his residence in Lichfield. That Archdeacon Nares did not spend his hours in idleness, the following list of his numerous publications will satisfactorily evince :—

1. Periodical Essays, 1781.

2. An Essay on the Demon or Divination of Socrates, 1782.

3. Elements of Orthoëpy, including pronunciation, accent, and quantity, 8vo., 1784.

4. Remarks on the Ballet of Cupid and Psyche, with some Account of the Pantomime of the Ancients, 12mo., 1788.

5. Principles of Government deduced from Reason, 8vo. 1792.

6. An Abridgment of the same, with a new Introduction, 8vo., 1793. 7. Man's best Right, a serious Appeal in the name of Religion, 8vo., 1793. 8. Discourses preached before the Hon. Society of Lincoln's Inn, 8vo., 1794.

9. A Thanksgiving for Plenty, and a Warning against Avarice, a Sermon, 1801.

10. The Benefit of Wisdom, and the Evils of Sin, a Sermon, 8vo., 1803. 11. A Connected and Chronological View of the Prophecies of the Christian Church, in twelve Sermons, 8vo., 1806.

12. Essays, and Occasional Compositions, 2 vols. 8vo., 1810.

13. Protestantism a Blessing to Britain, a Fast Sermon, 1810.

14. On the Influence of Sectaries, and the Stability of the Church, a Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Stafford, 4to., 1812.