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/415

 A T T E R 3 U R Y. 379 npt exactly known; but may be very nearly afcertaincd by his " Epiftolary Correfpondcnce ;" where a letter to his father in 1690 is highly exprcilive of a fuptrior genius, impatient ot" the (hackles of an humble college life; whilft the fa.her's anfwer difplays the anM.-ty, together with a mixture of the fe- venty, of the pater;, al character, offended by the qucru.ouf- nefs of the fon, and his diflatisfaction. He had taken the degree of B. A. June 13, 1684. (when he was little more than 22 years old) ; and that of M. A. April 20, 1687; an ^ lt lias been ingcnioufly conjectured, that he had applied to the college for perr.udionto take pupils xvhi'ft he was B. A. only (which is unufual), and that he was refufed. After pafling Epiftolary two or three years move in the college, he then feems to Cjrr efpond, have thought too highly of himfelf (when now become M. A.j ence > vol ' to take any at all, and to be Cw pinned down, a?," he .'ays, nefs appears to have broken out in October 1690, when he was Moderator of the college, and had had Mr. Boyle four months under his tuition, who l took up half his time," and whom he never had a thought of parting with till he fhould leave Oxford ; but wifhed he " could part with him November, " You ufed to fay, when you had your degrees, ' you fhould be able to fwim without bladders. You ufed " to rejoice at your being moderator, and of your quantum " and fub-leclurer ; but neither of thefe pleafed you ; nor " was you willing to take thofe pupils the houfe afforded " you when mafter; nor doth your lecture pleafe, or noble- " marrying into fome family of intereft, either bifliop or " arch-biihop's, or fome courtier, which may be done, " with accomplifliments, and a portion too." And to part of this counfel young Atterbury attended j for he foon after <c of Martin Luther, whether Catholic tri;il, in which he vindicates himfelf ' or Proteftant, proved from his own from the fufpicion of a fecret inclina- " Works." Another edition of the tion to Popery, appeals to this book, as in l7-.i in 8vo. It is a very learned ing and writings ever fince : and Mr. performance) and written with uncom- Wynne, his counfel, obferves, in his mon ipirit and vivacity. The Preface defence of the bifhop, how giievousit to it is inlerted among his Mifcel- was for one of his Lordship's character lanies." This vindication of that and function, to be charged with de- great reformer induced bifliop Burnet to figns in favour of Popery, who was the rank the author among thole eminent only clergyman in England, that ever divines, who had diftinguifhed them- thought it worth his while to draw his ielvcs by their admirable defences of the pen in defence of Martin Luther, the Proteftant Religion. Our Prelate him- great inftrument of our reformation frona ifclf, in that part of his fpeech, at his Popery. married
 * ' it is his hard luck to be, to this fcene." This reftlefT-
 * 4 to-morrow on that fcore." The father tells him, in
 * ' men fatisfy you." In the fame letter the father advifes his
 * ' Anfwer" was publifned at London, well as the whole tenor of his preach-