Читать книгу Curialia Miscellanea, or Anecdotes of Old Times - Samuel Pegge - Страница 4

He was buried, according to his own desire, in the chancel at Whittington, where a mural tablet of black marble (a voluntary tribute of filial respect) has been placed, over the East window with the following short inscription:

"At the North End of the Altar Table, within the Rails,

lie the Remains of

Samuel Pegge, LL. D.

who was inducted to this Rectory Nov. 11, 1751,

and died Feb. 14, 1796;

in the 92d year of his Age."

Having closed the scene; it must be confessed, on the one hand, that the biographical history of an individual, however learned, or engaging to private friends, who had passed the major part of his days in secluded retreats from what is called the world, can afford but little entertainment to the generality of Readers. On the other hand, nevertheless, let it be allowed that every man of acknowledged literary merit, had he made no other impression, cannot but have left many to regret his death.

Though Dr. Pegge had exceeded even his "fourscore years and ten," and had outlived all his more early friends and acquaintance; he had the address to make new ones, who now survive, and who, it is humbly hoped, will not be sorry to see a modest remembrance of him preserved by this little Memoir.

Though Dr. Pegge had an early propensity to the pursuit of Antiquarian knowledge, he never indulged himself materially in it, so long as more essential and professional occupations had a claim upon him; for he had a due sense of the nature and importance of his clerical function. It appears that he had read the Greek and Latin Fathers diligently at his outset in life. He had also re-perused the Classicks attentively before he applied much to the Monkish Historians, or engaged in Antiquarian researches; well knowing that a thorough knowledge of the Learning of the Antients, conveyed by classical Authors, was the best foundation for any literary structure which had not the Christian Religion for its cornerstone.

During the early part of his incumbency at Godmersham in Kent, his reading was principally such as became a Divine, or which tended to the acquisition of general knowledge, of which he possessed a greater share than most men we ever knew. When he obtained allowable leisure to follow unprofessional pursuits, he attached himself more closely to the study of Antiquities; and was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Feb. 14, 1751, N. S. in which year the Charter of Incorporation was granted (in November), wherein his name stands enrolled among those of many very respectable and eminently learned men[31].

Though we will be candid enough to allow that Dr. Pegge's style in general was not sufficiently terse and compact to be called elegant; yet he made ample amends by the matter, and by the accuracy with which he treated every copious subject, wherein all points were matured by close examination and sound judgment[32].

and a fund of knowledge, more than would have displayed itself in any greater work, where the subject requires but one bias, and one peculiar attention[33].

It is but justice to say, that few men were so liberal in the diffusion of the knowledge which he had acquired, or more ready to communicate it, either vivâ voce, or by the loan of his MSS. as many of his living Friends can testify.

In his publications he was also equally disinterested as in his private communications; for he never, as far as can be recollected, received any pecuniary advantage from any pieces that he printed, committing them all to the press, with the sole reserve of a few copies to distribute among his particular Friends[34]. —No. III. 1766. "An Essay on the Coins of Cunobelin; in an Epistle to the Right Rev. Bishop of Carlisle [Charles Lyttelton], President of the Society of Antiquaries." [105 pages, 4to.] [This collection of coins is classed in two plates, and illustrated by a Commentary, together with observations on the word tascia. N. B. The impression consisted of no more than 200 copies.]—No. IV. 1772. "An Assemblage of Coins fabricated by Authority of the Archbishops of Canterbury. To which are subjoined, Two Dissertations." [125 pages, 4to.] 1. On a fine Coin of Alfred the Great, with his Head. 2. On an Unic, in the Possession of the late Mr. Thoresby, supposed to be a Coin of St. Edwin; but shewn to be a Penny of Edward the Confessor. [An Essay is annexed on the origin of metropolitical and other subordinate mints; with an Account of their Progress and final Determination: together with other incidental Matters, tending to throw light on a branch of the Science of Medals, not perfectly considered by English Medalists.]—No. V. 1772. "Fitz-Stephen's Description of the City of London, newly translated from the Latin Original, with a necessary Commentary, and a Dissertation on the Author, ascertaining the exact Year of the Production; to which are added, a correct Edition of the Original, with the various Readings, and many Annotations." [81 pages, 4to.] [This publication (well known now to have been one of the works of Dr. Pegge) was, as we believe, brought forward at the instance of the Hon. Daines Barrington, to whom it is inscribed. The number of copies printed was 250.]—No. VI. 1780. "The Forme of Cury. A Roll of antient English Cookery, compiled about the Year 1390, Temp. Ric. II. with a copious Index and Glossary." [8vo.] [The curious Roll, of which this is a copy, was the property of the late Gustavus Brander, esq. It is in the hand-writing of the time, a facsimile of which is given facing p. xxxi. of the Preface. The work before us was a private impression; but as, since Mr. Brander's decease, it has fallen, by sale, into a great many hands, we refer to the Preface for a farther account of it. Soon after Dr. Pegge's elucidation of the Roll was finished, Mr. Brander presented the autograph to the British Museum.]—No. VII. 1789. "Annales Eliæ de Trickenham, Monachi Ordinis Benedictini. Ex Bibliothecâ Lamethanâ." To which is added, "Compendium Compertorum. Ex Bibliothecâ Ducis Devoniæ." [4to.] [Both parts of this publication contain copious annotations by the Editor. The former was communicated by Mr. John Nichols, Printer, to whom it is inscribed. The latter was published by permission of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, to whom it is dedicated. The respective Prefaces to these pieces will best explain the nature of them.]—No. VIII. 1793. "The Life of Robert Grosseteste, the celebrated Bishop of Lincoln." [4to.] [This Work we have justly called his chef-d'œuvre; for, in addition to the life of an individual, it comprises much important history of interesting times, together with abundant collateral matter.]—The two following works have appeared since the Writer's death: No. IX. 1801. "An Historical Account of Beauchief Abbey, in the County of Derby, from its first Foundation to its final Dissolution. Wherein the three following material Points, in opposition to vulgar Prejudices, are clearly established: 1st, That this Abbey did not take its name from the Head of Archbishop Becket, though it was dedicated to him. 2d, That the Founder of it had no hand in the Murder of that Prelate; and, consequently, that the House was not erected in Expiation of that Crime. 3d, The Dependance of this House on that of Welbeck, in the County of Nottingham; a Matter hitherto unknown." [4to.]—No. X. 1809. "Anonymiana; or, Ten Centuries of Observations on various Authors and Subjects. Compiled by a late very learned and reverend Divine; and faithfully published from the original MS. with the Addition of a copious Index." [8vo.]]

In the following Catalogue we must be allowed to deviate from chronological order, for the sake of preserving Dr. Pegge's contributions to various periodical and contingent Publications, distinct from his independent Works; to all which, however, we shall give (as far as possible) their respective dates.

The greatest honour, which a literary man can obtain, is the eulogies of those who possessed equal or more learning than himself. "Laudatus à laudatis viris" may peculiarly and deservedly be said of Dr. Pegge, as might be exemplified from the frequent mention made of him by the most respectable contemporary writers in the Archæological line; but modesty forbids our enumerating them.

Whittington Church, Derbyshire.

Gent. Mag. Supp. 1809. Pl. II, p. 1201.

Schnebbelie del. 1789.