dern Latin poets: for whose writings he entertained (it is said) to the last a decided predilection. During his stay at the University, he formed the design of editing such of the Latin poets as were not printed in Barbou's collection; in pursuance of which, he published "Silius Italicus," in two volumes, in 1792. It is characterized as being a well executed and useful book. "Claudian" was printed the same year, but has not been published. The School for illustrating the Works of Shakespeare and other English Authors, from the pages of contemporary writers at the head of which were the Wartons, George Steevens, Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore, Mr. Malone, and other eminent scholars-occupied, at the time Mr. Heber entered life, a distinguished rank in English literature. From the writings of these gentleman, and his acquaintance with many of them, he imbibed a taste for old English literature; and this, joined to his natural love for the drama, led him to form collections of our ancient poets and dramatic writers. The commencement was, however, sufficiently humble. Being in the habit of making occasional visits to the metropolis, for the purpose of attending the book sales, to purchase classics, he was struck with the high prices which were given for old English books; and having one day accidentally met with a little volume called "The Vallie of Varietie," by Henry Peacham, he took it to the late Mr. Bindley, of the Stamp Office, the celebrated collector, and asked him, "If that was not a curious book?" Mr. Bindley, after looking at it, answered, " Yes: not very-but rather a curious book." Such was the beginning of Mr. Heber's collection of ancient English literature; a collection which for extent and richness has never been equalled, and perhaps never will be surpassed. In the year 1804 he succeeded, on the death of his father, to the estates in Yorkshire and Shropshire, which he augmented by purchase, and considerably improved. In the year 1806 he offered himself as representative for the University of Oxford; but was successfully opposed by the late Lord Colchester. Whilst resident there as a student, he had become a great admirer of Parliamentary oratory; and on any great question arising, was often known to leave the University at mid-day, to be present at the contests of Pitt, Fox, Burke, &c., generally returning to Oxford on the following day. He thus became conspicuous among his contemporaries as a warm politician; and he is supposed to have early formed the desire to become one of the Representatives of the University, which was at length accomplished in 1821. Mr. Heber's station in life, his easy fortune, his gentlemanly manners, literary acquirements, and agreeable conversation, caused his society to be courted at this time by all ranks; and few men could boast so extensive and valuable a circle of friends and acquaintances, among whom were many of the statesmen, wits, and chief literary and scientific characters of the day. The best testimony, however, to the estimation in which he was held is contained in the beautiful lines addressed to him by Sir Walter Scott, in the introduction to the sixth canto of his "Marmion;" where, with his usual discriminating mind, he has so happily alluded to Mr. Heber's literary pursuits and social habits. "Heap on more wood !-the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still. How just that, at this time of glee, Of wonder and of war- Profane! * But why such instances to you, Sir Walter has also, in other of his works, mentioned Mr. Heber; and on the publication of each of the Waverley novels, that gentleman never missed finding a copy on his table. Dr. Ferriar also addressed an elegant poetical epistle on the Bibliomania to Mr. Heber; which led to Dr. Dibdin's addressing to him the first edition of his well known volume under the same title. Mr. Adolphus, jun. addressed to him his series of letters on the Authorship of the Waverley novels; and Mr. Mitford his letter on Weber's edition of the works of Ford the Dramatist. The names of the authors who have acknowledged his assistance in throwing open to them his literary stores, or communicating information, would form a long catalogue; and several works of merit owe their origin entirely to his suggestions. Soon after the peace in 1815, Mr. Heber went on the continent, visiting France, Belgium, and the Netherlands; adding to his literary treasures, and acquiring during his stay the friendship of many eminent literary characters, who were charmed with his agreeable manners and boundless information on every topic of elegant literature. In the year 1818 he was one of the persons whose opinion was taken by the committee appointed by the House of Commons relative to the purchase of Dr. Burney's library. In the year 1821, there being a vacancy in the representation of the University of Oxford, he again come forward as a candidate. His wide circle of friends, and the great interest made for him, would at once have secured his return, but that the question of Roman Catholic Emancipation being at that time greatly agitated, many members of the University considered themselves bound to elect such a member as they were assured would refuse further concessions to the Roman Catholics; and as Mr. Heber, either from not having made up his mind on a question of such vast political importance, or from want of courage to declare a decided opinion, had not expressed himself so strongly on the subject as they required, these gentlemen either refrained from voting, or voted for his opponent. On the second day of the election, which was very severely contested, Mr. Heber's committee issued a paper, containing his sentiments on the subject of Catholic Emancipation; which being satisfactory to the major part of the gentlemen of the University, he had the honour of being returned-attaining thereby the great object of his ambition. The same year he served the office of Sheriff of Shropshire. It was about this time also that he was engaged in founding the Athenæum Club; besides which, he was member of several other literary Societies; indeed, to use the phrase of Dr. Johnson, "He was an excellent clubber." In the second edition of his Bibliomania, published in 1811, Dr. Dibdin gave the following character of Mr. Heber under the name of Atticus: "Atticus unites all the activity of De Witt and Lomenie, with the retentiveness of Magliabechi and the learning of Le Long. Yet Atticus doth sometimes sadly err. He has now and then an ungovernable passion to possess more copies of a book than there were ever parties to a deed, or stamina to a plant, and, therefore, I cannot call him a duplicate or a triplicate collector. But he atones for this by being liberal in the loan of his volumes. The learned and curious, whether rich or poor, have always free access to his library. In consequence, he sees himself reflected in a thousand mirrors, and has a right to be vain of the numerous dedications to him, and of the richly ornamented robes in which he is attired by his grateful friends." He has been known seriously to say to his friends, on their remarking on his many duplicates, " Why, you see, Sir, no man can comfortably do without three copies of a book. One he must have for his show copy, and he will probably keep it at his country house. Another he will require for his own use and reference; and unless he is inclined to part with this, which is very inconvenient, or risk the injury of his best copy, he must needs have a third at the service of his friends." This was a handsome speech to address to a borrower; but it cannot be denied that Mr. Heber's duplicates were often purchased from that passion of Collectors, which demands not only that an article should be possessed, but that it should also be kept from the possession of others. The fact was that collecting had grown into an uncontrollable habit, and that it was only satisfied in him, as in others, by an almost unlimited indulgence. The same desire of possessing duplicates, or (which is the same thing under another form) preventing other Collectors obtaining them, was not peculiar to Mr. Heber, but is more remarkable because exhibited on a larger scale and with ampler means. Mr. Heber's conduct in Parliament was by no means answerable to the expectations of many of his constituents, as on no occasion did he venture to speak in the House, though constant in his attendance, and frequently engaged on committees. His silence was considered as remarkable by many of his friends, from his known powers and the fluency of his private con versation; but it is to be considered that the studies to which he had devoted himself, were little allied to those which foru the usual topics of discussion in the Senate. There was indeed one great occasion which he might have seized, when the University of Oxford sustained a memorable attack from Brougham; but his colleague Mr. Peel was then at his post, and Mr. Heber considered himself excused or anticipated. It is also probable that his not having practised public speaking in early life occasioned his being diffident of making the attempt at this time; and it must be recollected that his time was so completely absorbed by his bibliographical pursuits, as to account for his neglect of those more important acquirements, and that enlarged circle of knowledge, which could fit him for the politician and the statesman. At length, he felt that the retention of the honour was incompatible with the pursuit to which he had devoted himself, and whilst he was at Brussels in 1826 he resigned his seat. He had quitted England in the preceding year, and he prolonged his stay for several years, during which he was occupied in increasing his collection; keeping up at the same time, through his agent in London, his intercourse with the sale-rooms in England, so as to let nothing escape him that was valuable and rare. In the year 1831 he returned to England, but, alas! not into the society which he had left; living, with the exception of his visits to the auction-rooms and booksellers' shops, entirely secluded among his books at Pimlico or Hodnet. His constitution, from fatigue and anxiety, united to considerable irregularity of hours both in diet and sleep, had become greatly impaired, and his friends saw with anxiety his health suffering those changes which he either did not, or would not see, himself. During the last six weeks of his life, his decline was very rapid, and he did not take that care of himself which his delicate state required. Even in the last week of his life he was imprudent enough to venture out in the night air, against the kind remonstrances of his attendants. This accelerated the progress of his disorder an attack on the lungs, attended with great difficulty in breathing, and jaundice. He retained to the last an anxiety to accumulate still further literary stores; and within the last few days of his life was in communication with several booksellers and auctioneers. Mr. Heber was tall, strong, and well made; and, until his health was impaired, had the appearance of a person likely to live to an advanced age. In person and features he was not very unlike his bro ther, the late Bishop of Calcutta, though he was considerably taller, and better looking. Mr. Heber was very nearsighted. His address and manners were extremely courteous and gentlemanly. His cheerfulness and the charms of his conversation, which he knew well to adapt to please all ranks and ages, and supplied with a fund of amusing anecdote, rendered him a most acceptable and delightful companion. In addition to Greek and Latin, he acquired the Italian and French languages; and had some little knowledge of the Spanish and Portuguese. Besides the editions of Silius Italicus, and Claudian, already noticed, he superintended the publication of the third edition of "Ellis's Specimens of the English Poets," which was remodelled and greatly improved from his rich and unrivalled collection of old poetry. His valuable dra matic collection was ever in the hands of the late Mr. Gifford, while he was editing Jonson, Massinger, and Ford. He also published an edition of Brewster's Translation of Persius, with the Latin text. These constitute, so far as is known, the extent of his literary labours; but he has left behind him a vast monument of his industry, in the catalogue and collations of a great portion of his library. In early life he devoted some time to the sports of the field, and also to agricultural pursuits, but more from a general activity of mind and body, than from any knowledge of that subject. His pride was to tire out his bailiff in a ramble across his fields, walking from an early hour of the morn ing till night closed upon them. But it was from his library that he derived the great source of his pleasure; and to the enlargement and improvement of which he latterly devoted the whole of his time and too much of his fortune. Mr. Heber's mania for book collecting commenced, as we have said, at an early period of life; and at every sale during the last thirty years he was a great purchaser. His library contains many of the principal treasures possessed by the late Dr. Farmer, Isaac Reed, J. Brand, George Steevens, the Duke of Roxburghe, James Bindley, Benj. Heath, J. Perry, Gilb. Wakefield, J. Kemble, E. Malone, R. Wilbraham, J. Dent, Dr. Gosset, Sir M. M. Sykes, &c. He collected with great avidity the manuscript as well as the printed works of the early English poets; and was well acquainted with their contents and merits. He was very nearly becoming the purchaser of Mr. Jean Francois Vandevelde's entire collection, which has been lately sold at Ghent contained in 14,000 lots; and he purchased an entire library of 30,000 volumes at Paris. He was in constant communication with most of the old-booksellers in every city and town of the United Kingdom; and those that periodically published catalogues frequently sent the sheets to Mr. Heber by post, as they were printed. On hearing of a curious book, he has been known to put himself into the mail coach, and travel three, four, or five hundred miles to obtain it, fearful to entrust his commission to a letter. Nor was it in English literature alone that his stores were extensive. His collection of Greek and Latin classics, Spanish, Italian, Portugeuse, and French, far, very far exceeds any that ever was made by a private individual. His collection of Mexican books is singular, indeed. He had an insuperable objection to books printed on large paper, because they occupied so much room on his shelves. Some years ago he built a new library at his house at Hodnet; which is said to be full. His residence in Pimlico, where he died, is filled like Magliabechi's at Florence, with books from the top to the bottom-every chair, every table, every passage, containing piles of erudition. He had another house in York-street, leading to Great Jamesstreet, Westminster, laden from the ground floor to the garret, with curious books. He had a library in the Highstreet, Oxford, an immense library at Paris, another at Antwerp, another at Brussels, another at Ghent, and at other places in the Low Countries and in Germany. In short, there is neither end nor measure to his literary stores. But Heber was not a mere book collector -“he was a scholar, and a ripe and good one;" few men were better acquainted with the contents of their books, or could more eloquently expatiate on their respective merits. He has always been considered as a delightful companion, abounding with literary, political, and critical anecdote, relating to past and present times. He had been the friend or companion of Professor Porson, Dr. Charles Burney, Dr. Routh, Dr. Raine, the present Lord Lyttelton, the late Earl of Dudley, the Bishop of Exeter, Mr. Kett of Trinity; and particularly his relation, Dr. Martin Routh of Magdalen, Dr. Whitaker the Historian of Yorkshire, the Rev. Stephen Weston, the Hon. and Rev. Wm. Hurbert, George Ellis the elegant Historian of the Poets, Professor Gaisford, Mr. Kemble, Sir Walter Scott, Southey, Malone, Bindley, Lord Spencer, Lord Grenville, the Duke of Buckingham, George Canning, Mr. Frere, Wm. Gifford, Lord Seaford, Charles Wynn, Sir Jas. Mackintosh, Dr. Goodall, Dr. Keate, Mr. Cracherode, Lord Holland, Lord Dover, Lord Cawdor, Lord Bute, Lord Clive, the Duke of Devonshire, Sir Fran cis Freeling, Dr. Dibdin, Mr. Amyot, Prince Cimitelli, Bishop Copleston, &c. &c. He was the medium by which Porson was introduced to Lord Grenville, for the purpose of editing or correcting the sheets of the "Oxford Homer." Mr. Heber was never married. His father had, by a second marriage, three children, two sons and a daughter. Reginald Heber, the late lamented Bishop of Calcutta, is so well known to the public as to render any further mention of him unnecessary. The youngest son, the Rev. Thomas Cuthbert Heber, died in 1816; he was a young man of promising parts, particularly fond of heraldry and genealogy, very quiet, good-tempered, amiable, but somewhat indolent, with none of Reginald's activity. The daughter was married to the late Rev. Charles Cowper Cholmondeley, who succeeded the Bishop in the rectory of Hodnet, and died Feb. 5, 1831 (see the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. i. 281). The Bishop of Calcutta left two children, both daughters; and Mrs. Cholmondeley has by her late husband four sons. The funeral took place at Hodnet, on Monday the 16th of November. It was strictly of the most private character, and a walking procession from the Hall to the church, a distance of some 500 yards. The tenants, about 36 in number, preceded the Rector and his two Curates; then the body, immediately followed by the four Masters Cholmondeley, nephews of the deceased; the Messrs. Wrightson, his first cousins; the Rev. Dr. Dibdin, his old friend and literary associate; Mr. Macaulay, domestic tutor to the family; R. Fisher, esq. solicitor; and John Newell and John France, each upwards of 40 years the confidential servants of Mr. Heber. Notwithstanding the untowardness of the morning, the churchyard and the church were crowded with sympathizing spectators. The service was read by the Rev. Oswald Leycester, the Rector, (now in his 82d year,) with a most peculiar distinctness, power, and propriety. H. J. HEARD, LL.D. Sept. 23. At his residence, Ballybrack, near Cork, Henry Joseph Heard, Esq. LL.D. Vicar-General of the united dioceses of Cork and Ross. The Heard family is of English extraction. The first of that name who appeared in Ireland was John Heard, Esq. who, emigrating from Wiltshire, enrolled himself amongst the followers of Sir W. Ralegh. This person settled at Bandon, in the county of Cork, where he died in 1619. Of his two surviving sons the eldest remained in Ireland, and was great grandfather to the late Dr. Heard; the second, Isaac, passed over to England, and taking up his abode as a merchant at Bridgewater, was grandfather of the celebrated Sir Isaac Heard, Garter King of Arms, who died April 29, 1822. See his Memoir in the Gentleman's Megazine, vol. XCII. p. 466. Dr. Heard was the eldest son of Henry Heard, Esq. formerly an opulent merchant in Cork, and was born in that city, in the parish of St. Mary's Shandon, in the month of August 1764. At an early age he was put to school with the Rev. Joshua Browne, D. D. Vicar of Castlelyons, under whose tuition he made great progress in classical study. Dr. Browne, discerning the powerful talents of his pupil, distinguished him early by his favour. A mutual attachment ensued, which ripened into a friendship terminated only by the death of that exellent man. It was at first designed to rear the subject of this memoir as a physician; however, an eminent Scotch practioner represented that the constitution of young Heard was not sufficiently robust to support the fatigues of that profession. He was therefore sent to Mr. Furlong, a solicitor in Dublin, with a view to being subsequently entered at the Temple. Whether ill health or other causes operated, he never became a member of any of the Inns of Court, although he went over to England for that purpose, and remained for some time in London. Returning to Dublin, he was sworn in an attorney, and practised in that calling at the Irish Bar. In 1791 his father died, and from that time Mr. Heard resided at Ballybrack, his patrimonial property. In the year 1802 the Hon. Dr. Thomas Stopford, then Bishop of Cork and Ross, appointed him Registrar to the united dioceses. In 1815, having been created Doctor of Laws, he was promoted by the late Bishop St. Lawrence to the place of Vicar-General, the duties of which office he most zealously and efficiently discharged until a short time before his death. Although Dr. Heard did not enjoy an university education, this circumstance proved, in his case, of little disadvantage. Stimulated as much perhaps by a sense of this deficiency, as by an innate thirst of knowledge, he employed himself in the cultivation of learning in every branch. Being possessed of a mind ardent in research, deliberate in judgment, and wonderfully tenacious in memory; and having the gifts of indefatigable application, acute reason, and a singular clearness of apprehension, his diligence was rewarded with unusual success. The vast fund of knowledge, which under self-tuition he thus contrived to amass, concurrently with the laborious education and practice of his profession, astonished even his intimate friends. When he came permanently to reside in his native county, he was confessed to be the first as to erudition there, and for extent and variety of information he had perhaps few equals any where. As an historian and antiquary, as well as in his legal capacity, he was looked up to and consulted by all within his sphere. Nor did he neglect the pursuit of lighter literature. As a linguist he had mastered most of the modern tongues. In particular may be noticed his proficiency in the Irish language. In addition to these attainments he had much rare and curious reading. He was peculiarly felicitous in quotation, and could make prompt and dextrous use of what he knew. Without seeking to display his multifarious acquirements, he was not unwilling to communicate information, and as he was skilful in maintaining hilarity by repartee, wit, and lively anecdote, it was the delight of his admiring friends to court his society and draw from his richly stored memory. He was equally ready to take a part in the conversation of the learned, or to join in the amusements of children, which he well knew how to promote. In fine he had the remarkable art of winning the esteem and respect of the old and of attaching the affections of the young. Dr. Heard spent a life of the strictest celibacy, owing, it is said, to an early disappointment of the heart. His disposition was distinguished by the sterling qualities of generous hospitality, and a bountiful though secret charity. In his friendship he was active and sincere. His manners were mild, affable, and diffident. In his latter days a painful disorder, which had been preying on him for upwards of 20 years, and at length hastened his end, rendered his temper a little irritable. There was also some tincture of eccentricity in his character; but it has been shrewdly, though quaintly, observed by a learned man, that "he must be an odd man, who has no oddities." An anecdote highly illustrative of his idiosyncracy is related on good authority. While he was yet a young man, being warmly engaged in an argument, he either fell or was pushed from his chair when he supported the debate as he lay upon the ground, nor did he rise until the dispute was over. It is much to be regretted that he has left no lasting record of his extraordinary talents and varied information. He employed his pen indeed frequently, but his friends could not prevail upon him to print his productions. |
