RICHARD of CIRENCESTER, an English historian, so named from his birth-place, flourished in the fourteenth century. No traces of his family or connections can be discovered, but they appear to have been such as to afford him a liberal education. In 1350 he entered into the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter, Westminster, and his name occurs in various documents of that establishment in 1387, 1397, and 1399. He devoted his leisure hours to the study of British and Anglo-Saxon history and antiquities, in which he made such proficiency, that he is said to have been honoured with the name of the Historiographer. Pits informs us, without specifying his authority, that Richard visited different libraries and ecclesiastical establishments in England, in order to collect materials. It is at least certain that he obtained a licence to visit Rome, from his abbot, William of Colchester, in 1391, and there can be little doubt that a man of his curiosity would improve his knowledge on such an occasion. He is supposed to have performed this journey in the interval between 1391 and 1397, for he appears to have been confined in the abbey infirmary in 1401, and died in that or the following year. His works are, "Historia ab Hengista ad ann. 1348," in two parts. The first contains the period from the coming of the Saxons to the death of Harold, and is preserved in the public library of Cambridge. Whitaker, the historian of Manchester, speaks of this as evincing very little knowledge or judgment; the second part is probably a MS. in the library of the Royal Society, p. 137, with the title of "Britonum Anglorum et Saxonum Historia." In the library of Bene't college, Cambridge, is" Epitome Chronic. Ric. Cor. West. Lib. I.". Other works of our author are supposed to be preserved in the Lambeth library, and at Oxford. His theological writings were, "Tractatus super Symbolum Majus et Minus," and "Liber de Officiis Ecclesiasticis," in the Peterborough library. But the treatise to which he owes his celebrity, is that on the ancient state of Great Britain, "De situ Britanniæ," first discovered by Charles Julius Bertram, professor of the English language in the royal marine academy at Copenhagen, who transmitted to Dr. Stukeley a transcript of the whole in letters, together with a copy of the map. From this transcript Stukeley published an analysis of the work, with the itinerary, first in a thin quarto, 1757, and afterwards in the second volume of his "Itine

rarium Curiosum." In the same year the original itself was published by professor Bertram at Copenhagen, in a small octavo volume, with the remains of Gildas and Nennius, under the title "Britannicarum gentium Historiæ Antiquæ scriptores tres, Ricardus Corinensis, Gildas Badonicus, Nennius Banchorensis, &c." This work has long been scarce, and in very few libraries; but in 1809, a new edition, with an English translation, &c. was published at London. To this the editor, Mr. Hatchard, has prefixed an account of Richard's life, from which we have extracted the above particulars, and an able defence of his merit and fidelity as a historian, against the objections of certain writers. Among these we observe that Gibbon cannot be reckoned, for he says that Richard of Cirencester "shews a genuine knowledge of antiquity, very extraordinary for a monk of the fourteenth century." This useful and accurate republication is entitled "The Description of Britain, translated from Richard of Cirencester; with the original treatise de situ Britanniæ; and a commentary on the Itinerary; illustrated with maps," 8vo.1

RICHARDSON (JOHN), a learned Irish prelate, was a native of Chester, but a doctor of divinity of the university of Dublin. Of his early life we have no particulars, except that he was appointed preacher to the state in 1601. He succeeded to the see of Ardagh, on the resignation of bishop Bedell, and was consecrated in 1633 by archbishop Usher. He held the archdeaconry of Derry, the rectory of Ardstra, and the vicarage of Granard in commendam for about a year after his promotion to Ardagh. In 1641, being in dread of the rebellion which broke out in October of that year, he removed to England, and died in London August 11, 1654. He had the character of a man of p-ofound learning, well versed in the scriptures, and skilled in sacred chronology. His works are, a "Sermon of the doctrine of Justification," preached at Dublin Jan. 23, 1624, Dublin, 1625, 4to; and " Choice Observations and Explanations upon the Old Testament," 1655, folio. These observations, which extend to all the books of the Old Testament, seem intended as a supplement to the "Assembly's Annotations," in which he wrote the annotations on Ezekiel; and they were prepared for publication by him some time before his death, at the express desire of

1 Life ubi supra.

archbishop Usher, with whom he appears to have long lived in intimacy.'

RICHARDSON (JONATHAN), a painter, and a writer on the art of painting, was born about 1665. He was intended by his father-in-law, apprentice to a scrivener, with whom he lived six years, but by the death of his master, was enabled to follow the bent of his inclination for painting. He then became the disciple of Riley, with whom he lived four years, and finally connected himself by marrying his niece. The degree of skill which he attained, by no means corresponded with the ideas he entertained of the art, which were certainly of a just and elevated kind. There are, however, great strength, roundness, and boldness in the colouring of his heads, which are drawn and marked in the manner of Kneller, with freedom and firmness; though the attitudes in which they and his figures are placed, the draperies which clothe the latter, and the back-grounds from which they are relieved, are insipid and tasteless. It is certainly a very curious circumstance, that, when he wrote with so much fire and judgment, dived so deep into the inexhaustible stores of Raphael, and was so smitten with the native lustre of Vandyke, he should so ill apply to his own practice the sagacious rules and hints he gave to others. Full of theory, profound in reflections on the art, and possessed of a numerous and excellent collection of drawings, he appears to have possessed no portion of invention, as applicable to the painter's art, and drew nothing well below the head; plainly manifesting the peculiarity of taste or feeling which leads to excellence in that profession.

Thus much, however, must be said of him, that when Kneller and Dahl were dead, he stood at the head of the portrait-painters in this country, and practised in it sufficiently long to acquire a tolerable competency. He quitted his occupation some years before his death, when Hudson, who had married one of his daughters, maintained the family honours for a while. Richardson himself, by temperance and tranquillity of mind, enjoyed a life, protracted amidst the blessings of domestic friendship, to the advanced age of eighty, and then died, May 28, 1745, respected and lamented. He had had, a short time previously, a paralytic stroke that affected his arm, yet never disabled him

1 Harris's Ware.—Ath. Ox. vol. I.-Lloyd's Memoirs, fol. 607.

2

from taking his customary walks and exercise; and it was after having been in St. James's park, he died suddenly, at his house in Queen-square, on his return home.

He had a son, with whom he lived in great harmony, as appears by the joint works they composed. The father, in' 1719, published two discourses; 1. "An Essay on the whole art of Criticism as it relates to Painting" 2. "An Argument in behalf of the Science of à Connoisseur." In 1722, came out "An Account of some Statues, Bas-reliefs, Drawings, and Pictures, in Italy, &c." The son made the journey; and, from his observations and letters," they both at his return compiled this valuable work. In 1734, they published a thick octavo of "Explanatory Notes and Remarks on Milton's Paradise Lost, with the Life of the Author." In apology for this last performance, and for not being very conversant in classic literature, the father said, "that he had looked into them through his son." Hogarth, whom a quibble could furnish with wit, drew him peeping through the nether end of a telescope, with which his son was perforated, at a Virgil aloft on a shelf; but Hogarth, it is but justice to add, destroyed the plate upon due reflection, and recalled the prints, as far as he could. The sale of his collection of drawings, in Feb. 1747, lasted eighteen days, and produced about 2060l. his pictures about 7001. Mr. Hudson, his son-in-law, bought in many of the drawings.

Besides the works published in conjunction with his father, there was published in 1776, five years after the son's death, "Richardsoniana; or, occasional Reflections on the Moral Nature of Man; suggested by various authors, ancient and modern, and exemplified from those authors, with several anecdotes interspersed, by the late Jonathan" Richardson, jun. esq. Vol. I." an amusing work, although there are some opinions in it which are not altogether free from censure. He did not love to contemplate the bright side of human nature and actions. Besides this work, there' appeared about the same time an 8vo volume of "Poems" by Jonathan Richardson, senior, with notes by his son. They are chiefly moral and religious meditations, but not greatly inspired by the Muse. The son, it remains to be added, never painted otherwise than for his amusement.' He died in 1771, aged seventy-seven.'

Walpole's Anecdotes.-Nichols's Bowyer, and Collection of Poems.'

RICHARDSON (JOSEPH), a man of letters, was originally of Hexham in Northumberland; and was entered of St. John's college, Cambridge, in 1774. Dr. Ferris, the present dean of Battle, and Dr. Pearce, now dean of Ely, were his tutors at the university. Under the superintendance of those two excellent scholars, he acquired sound learning and a correct taste. He possessed, indeed, an excellent understanding, and a sort of intuitive knowledge of mankind. He distinguished himself at college by the elegance, beauty, and vigour, of his prose and poetical compositions; a love of the Muses very early in life took possession of his mind, and often interfered with the laborious duties of his studies. He entered himself a student of the Middle Temple in 1779, and was called to the bar in 1784. But literary pursuits and political connections took up too much of his time to admit of his pursuing, with sufficient diligence, the study of the law; otherwise, it is highly probable that he would have become a distinguished ornament of the bar. The chief works in which he was publicly known to have taken a part were in those celebrated political satires, "The Rolliad," and the "Probationary Odes," in the composition of which his talents were conspicuous. He wrote also the comedy of "The Fugitive," which was honoured by a considerable share of applause, both on the stage and in the closet. In private life so happily was the suavity of his temper blended with the vigour of his understanding, that he was esteemed by his adversaries in political principles, as well as by a very large circle of private friends. He was brought into parliament by the duke of Northumberland, in whose friendship he held a distinguished place, and by whose loan of 2000l. (which the duke has given up to his family) he was enabled to become proprietor of a fourth part of Drury-lane theatre. He was suddenly taken ill on June 8, 1803, and died next day, leaving a widow and four daughters, to lament the loss of their affectionate protector. He was interred in Egham churchyard.'

RICHARDSON (SAMUEL), a celebrated writer of novels, or, as his have been called, moral romances, was born in 1689, in Derbyshire, but in what part of that county has not been ascertained. His father descended of a family of middling note in the county of Surrey, and his

1 Gent, Mag, 1803.