Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/410

 374 A T K I N S. of fir George Clerk, ot Waltord in Northamptonfhire, and afterwards t-. Anne, tlauehter of fir Thomas Dacres. He hunt him an only fon, fir Robert Atkin?, author of the ncy's " Hiftory of Glocefterfhire." He was born in 1646, and 1 '<' :ucated wr.h great care under the eye of his father. He Kcame vt-* ea !v a great lover of the laws and hiiiory of his country, and was cholen to reprefent his county in parliament, as of'cn as he would accept that honour. Dr. Parfons, chan- cellor of the diocefe of Gloceltcr, had been at great pains tQ collect materials for the " Hiltory of the county of Glo- tion of his dv.fj-.ii], A" Rooert Atkins executed Dr. Parfons's plan in return tor the great affection {hewn by the inhabit- ants of this county for himfelf and his family. The follow- ing p-Jiacre in this wo:k, occafioned by his mentioning the jr of Glocefter in 1643, {hews that he differed greatly from his father in his political principles : "The unfortunate ' fiege of this city gave a Hand to the king's victorious 4t army ; whieh being railed as has been related, it turned " bcftof men, are not iecured from the violence of the wicked. " Chriftinn w rid, had it been as profperous as it is deferv- " in.'. King James I. was the moft learned king; king " Charles J. was ihe molt religiuus king; king Charles II. 4. " A Defence concerning the He- writren a treatife againft the exorbi- .1 [urifdiftioj) in ihe Realm tant power of the court of chancery.'' " o; ' (See Wood's Fafti Oxon. vol. ii. p. ice of the Inc Lord 155-) ' RufleTs Jnnocency, by way of con- The authors of the Biopr. Britan. ' filiation of a libellous Pamphlet, in- remark, that whoever inclines to be l< litulcd, ( An Antidote aeainftPoifon ; thoroughly informed of the true con- tw.. Letters of the Author of ftituticn of his country, of the grounds ' ^, upon the Subject of his and reafons of the Revolution, and of ' L i.'ifc-p'i Tral." The firrt and the danger nf Tuffering prerogative to fhiti ot thcfe letters we have given joltle law, cannot read a better or a plainer book than thofe trails of fir 6. " The Lord Rufl'cl's Inn cenry R. AtkinF. His ftyle is ftrong, but ' iui'. ^y wayof Reply to not fiiiT; there is a mixture of wit, " an Anfvvir, in. iinled, ' The Ma^ift- but of fuch wit as is proper to the fub- and Government of LV.gl.nid iedl ; it comes in pertinently, and ' vir. iicjtcd." It rves to enlighten, not to amul'e or to f Birnn Atkins's mifltrad, the reader; whatever he fays peech to Sir William Alhurfr, Lord is 1'upported by authorities, and there ' r the Ci'y or' London, is fuch a vifible candour in all his dif- a 1 ilii- r.ir.'- (.' hi' !-t:n'.; Kv.nn in ronrit', that if a man does not relift Court ofl -chei] er.'' his arguments, he mull: at leaft admire - '.lacls, he is uid to have ths manner in which they are offered. " was
 * celter;'' but his ill (late ot heJth preventing the comple-
 * the fta'e of the war, and the king could never after obtain
 * ' fuccefs, which conn: ins that the greateft of kings, and the
 * ' This r')al family will always be honoured in the memory
 * : of good m^n, and muft have been fo throughout the