Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/378

 374 LESLIE. a specimen, by attacking Bishop Warburton’s “Doctrine of Grace,” with great elegance and eloquence; and was replied to by Dr. Hurd, in a manner grossly illiberal and unmanly. Dr. Leland, however, published a reply to Dr. Hurd, which terminated the contest. In 1765, through the suggestion of Dr. Leland, the university of Dublin bestowed on Dr. Johnson - their highest honour, by creating him doctor of laws, a favour which he acknowledged in a letter to Dr. Leland, which may be seen in the last edition of Boswell's Life. In 1768, Dr. Leland was appointed chaplain to Lord Town send, lord-lieutenant of Ireland; and his friends enter tained hopes that his merits would have raised him to the episcopal bench; but he only obtained in that year the prebend of Rathmichael, in the cathedral church of St. Patrick, Dublin, united with the vicarage of Bray, both of small value, but tenable with his fellowship. In 1773, appeared his “History of Ireland, from the invasion of Henry II. with a preliminary discourse on the ancient state of that kingdom,” 3 vols. 4to, the merit of which has been much disputed by critics. Dr. Leland's other publications in his life-time, were only a few occasional sermons, of greater merit than those contained in the three volumes published after his decease. He died in 1785.—His fame rests on his “Life of Philip,” his “Demosthenes,” and his “Dissertation upon Eloquence.” Of the two former, suffice it to say, they are classed among the best translations in the English language, and of the latter, an eminent living scholar has observed, that it contains “great accuracy of erudi tion, great perspicuity and strength of style, and, above all, a stoutness of judgment, which, in traversing the open and spacious walks of literature, disdained to be led captive.” CHARLES LESLIE, A very distinguished theological author, was the second son of Dr. John Leslie, Bishop of Clogher, and was born in