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Ghmalridge

Bishop of Bristol-Born 1663; died 1719.

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Dr. GEORGE SMALRIDGE, Bishop of BRISTOL.

This elegant Scholar and exemplary Divine, son of Thomas Smalridge, gentleman, was born at Lichfield in 1663; admitted a Scholar at Westminster on the Foundation in 1678; and elected thence to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1682.

When a Scholar at Westminster, he wrote the Latin and English Elegies on Lilly's death, annexed to the "History of his Life and Times."

On the first establishment of the Ashmolean Museum, the Founder of that noble repository of treasures, "the worthy Patron" of young Smalridge, who had "received support from him for many years," appointed him to a situation in that Library, not incompatible with his view of taking orders, which he soon after did.

He was admitted B. A. 1685; M. A. 1689; appointed Minister of the New Chapel in Tothil-fields, Westminster, 1692; Prebendary of Lichfield 1693; B. D. 1698; D. D. 1701; and in or about 1708 was chosen Lecturer of St. Dunstan's in the West.

In 1687, he published, " Animadversions on the Eight Theses laid down, and the Inferences deduced from them, in a Discourse, intituled, Church Government;'" and in 1689, a Latin Poem, designed for public performance at an Act in the Theatre, and esteemed a most finished piece of the kind, intituled, "Auctio Davisiana, Oxonii habita per Gul. Cooper & Edw. Millington, Bibliopolas Londinenses *;" which was published in 4to 1689, and afterwards inserted in the "Musæ Anglicanæ."

In 1698 he figured as one of "the Wits of Christ Church," by countenancing at least, if not personally assisting Mr. Boyle in the famous controversy with Dr. Bentley.

"Exquisite as Atterbury's Latin Compositions really are," says my late valuable Friend and Correspondent the Rev. Edward Kynaston, "I do really think them surpassed, both in delicacy and strength of sentiment, and in purity of style and diction, truly Roman, by his Friend Smalridge's."

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In 1704, during the illness of Dr. Jane, at that time Regius Divinity Professor at Oxford, Dr. Smalridge with great dignity and propriety filled the Divinity Chair, as Deputy to his Friend Dr. Jane*; and was afterwards a little disappointed at not being appointed his Successor in that important office.

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In a Dedication to Sir Charles Duncombe, Lord Mayor of London in 1708-9, of a Sermon preached on the 30th of January, he says, "It is to the immortal honour of that great City over which you preside, that it had (even in the worst of times) this character given of it by the Royal Martyr, that much the better and greater part of it was full of love, duty, and loyalty to his Majesty.' And that persons of the like good affections to our present Sovereign may never hereafter, through want of vigilance, zeal, and activity, suffer the infinitely meaner part in quality, and the much lesser part in number, to prevail so far, as to alter the Government so well established amongst us; but may gather up the courage and resolution to join with her Majesty, in defence of that Religion, Law, and Liberty, which hitherto hath, and which only can make themselves, her Majesty, and her kingdom, happy, is the hearty prayer of,

Right Honourable,

"Your most humble and obedient servant,
"GEORGE SMALRIDGE."

*Dr. Atterbury, in a Letter to Bp. Trelawny, May 30, 1704, says, "Dr. Smalridge hath filled the Chair, I find, with great satisfaction and applause; and is this week returning to his parish. He hath undertaken to go down and do the duty of next Term also; but, as I apprehend, not farther. I wish with all my heart (though I can scarce hope) that by that time Dr. Jane may be able to do the duty himself."-Again, June 6, "Dr. Smalridge hath great obligations to your Lordship for your concern in relation to him. I did not mention any thing of his case with the least intention of requesting your Lordship's interposition with Dr. Jane on his behalf; which, I am very sensible, is a point that should be managed tenderly. It is possible, however, as your Lordship says, that a lucky minute and a lucky humour may chance to meet, and give your Lordship an opportunity for it."

In August 1711 he obtained the Deanery of Carlisle, and a Canonry of Christ Church; and in 1713 became Dean of Christ Church.

In 1714 he was elevated to the Mitre, and consecrated Bishop of Bristol on the 4th of April. He was also appointed Lord Almoner to Queen Anne.

In this year he wrote two elegant Epitaphs; one on Archbishop Sharp *; and the other on the pious Robert Nelson, after whose death he became possessed of the MSS. of Dr. Grabe, which had been bequeathed to him in reversion.

The learned Saxonist, Mrs. Elstob, was one, among many others, who about this period experienced the new Bishop's bounty §.

In 1715, Bp. Smalridge lost the office of Lord Almoner, on joining with Bishop Atterbury in refusing to sign the Declaration of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops in and near London, against the Rebellion which at that time greatly alarmed the Kingdom.

In 1717 he published Twelve Sermons, inscribed "to his worthy Friends the Gentlemen of the Vestry and others who frequent the New Church in Tothilfields, Westminster, in public testimony of his sincere gratitude for the repeated proofs they had given him of an hearty affection and undeserved esteem, during the whole course of his ministration amongst them near twenty years."

In 1718 the Bishop delivered his sentiments freely, in a very animated Speech in the House of Lords, in support of the Test and Corporation Acts.

He afterwards held a correspondence with Whiston; and became so suspected of Arianism, that he thought it necessary to write a Letter to Bp. Tre

* "His knowledge of the Archbishop, and his own integrity,' Mr. Le Neve observes, "render every particular in it to be depended on." The Epitaph is printed in the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. I. p. 8. + See it in the " Literary Anecdotes," vol. IV. p. 190.

Ibid. p. 198.

§ Ibid. p. 233.
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