Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 02.djvu/173

Asgill unfairly wrested by the committee of the English House of Commons to colour the charge of blasphemy. It interprets the relations between God and man by the technical rules of English law. Death being the penalty imposed by Adam's sin, and Christ having satisfied the law, death could no longer be legally inflicted, and all who claim their rights will be exempt. Asgill professes that, having claimed his discharge, he expects 'to make his exit by way of translation.' The book is written in pithy detached sentences. Coleridge declares that there is no 'genuine Saxon English' finer than Asgill's; thinks his irony often finer than Swift's; and calls him 'a consummate artist in the statement of his case.' The praise seems excessive, though not groundless; but we may accept Coleridge's conclusion that Asgill was a humorist who did not himself know how far he was serious. Full extracts may be found in Southey's 'Doctor.' In recent years Asgill found a disciple in a Mr. Tresham Gregg, an Irish clergyman, who republished the pamphlet with some introductory notes.

Asgill's pamphlet on Registration, with a sequel, is published in the collection of State Tracts for the reign of William III (ii. 693, 704). His chief writings are: 1. 'An Argument proving that according to the covenant of eternal life revealed in the Scriptures, man may be translated from hence into that eternal life without passing through death, although the human nature of Christ himself could not so be translated until he had passed through death,' London, 1700. 2. 'Mr. Asgill's Defence upon his Expulsion from the House of Commons of Great Britain in 1707,' London, 1712. 3. 'The Metamorphosis of Man by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead,' London, 1727. 4. 'De Jure Divino, or an assertion that the title of the House of Hanover to the succession of the British monarchy (on failure of issue from her present majesty) is a title hereditary and of divine institution,' 1710. 5, 'Asgill upon Woolston,' 1730; and other trifling pamphlets.

 ASH, JOHN, LL.D. (1724?–1779), lexicographer, was born in Dorsetshire about 1724. He studied for the ministry at Bristol, under Folkett; became pastor of the baptist church at Loughwood, Dorsetshire, and while there contributed to periodicals. He settled in the ministry at Pershore, Worcestershire, 1746, as the result of a compromise between different parties in the congregation. He obtained the degree of LL.D. from Scotland, 1774, and died at Pershore in March or April 1779, aged 55. He was author of 'Introduction to Lowth's English Grammar,' 1766; 'New and Complete Dictionary of the English Language,' 2 vols. 1775, 2nd edition 1795 (incorporates most of Bailey's collection of canting words, and many provincial terms, with no nice discrimination: best known for the blunder under 'curmudgeon,' which Johnson derived from cœur méchant, on the authority of an 'unknown correspondent;' Ash gives it as 'from the French cœur unknown, méchant correspondent'); 'Sentiments on Education,' 2 vols. 1777; Sermon, 1778; 'Dialogues of Eumenes.'

 ASH, JOHN (1723–1798), physician, was born in Warwickshire, and educated at Trinity College, Oxford; was B.A. in 1743, M. A. in 1746, M.B. in 1750, and M.D. in 1754. He settled at Birmingham, and soon acquired a large practice. The general hospital at Birmingham was founded chiefly through his influence, and he was its first physician. While actively engaged in practice he became affected with temporary mental derangement, for which it is said he found a cure in the study of mathematics and botany. He was admitted a candidate of the Royal College of Physicians 22 Dec. 1786, and in the following year resigned his office in Birmingham and removed to London. He became fellow of the College of Physicians 22 Dec. 1787, and afterwards practised with success in London. He filled the offices of censor of the college in 1789 and 1793; was Harveian orator in 1790, Gulstonian lecturer in 1791, and Croonian lecturer in 1793. He died 18 June 1798, and was buried in Kensington church. His portrait, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, is preserved in the hospital at Birmingham, and was engraved by Bartolozzi in 1791.

Dr. Ash is described as a man of great skill in his profession, and of considerable Rh