Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/287

 GREGORY. 283 put him under the care of an eminent schoolmaster, of the name of Holden, from whose tuition he acquired a knowledge of the classics, and made considerable profi ciency in the mathematics. His mother had intended him for trade; but his own ardent love of literature and science, leading him to prefer entering into the church, he removed to Edinburgh, and for two years attended the lectures of the celebrated professors of that university. The mathematical and physical sciences were his favourite pursuits. After leaving Edinburgh, he entered, in 1776, into holy orders, and discharged the duties of curate in Liverpool with fidelity and reputation. His humanity prompted him to oppose the slave trade, in which too many in that city were engaged; and, in a periodical work published there, he exposed in several essays the impolicy and inhumanity of this traffic in human blood. In 1782, he came to London, and obtained the curacy of St. Giles, Cripplegate, where his attention to his duty, and his eminent talents, rendered him extremely popular: in consequence of which, in 1785, after he had resigned his curacy, he was unanimously elected by the parishioners their morning lecturer. He at the same time officiated at St. Botolph's, delivered lectures at the Asylum, and weekly lectures at St. Antholin's. In 1789, he was candi date for the office of chaplain to the Asylum, which from the too great confidence of his friends, he lost by one vote. By the Bishop of London he was presented to a small pre bend in St. Paul's, which he resigned on obtaining from his lordship, the rectory of Stapleford, in Hertfordshire. In 1804, by the interest of Mr. Addington, now Lord Sid mouth, he was presented with the valuable living of West Ham, in Essex. Dr. Gregory's education had been conducted without any fixed plan; but his capacious mind and thirst of knowledge enabled him to acquire vast stores of informa tion on a l l subjects t o which h e directed his attention: and h i s works display a minute and profound acquaintance with the arts and sciences, commerce, manufactures, and