Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 38.djvu/199

 , and rector of St. Nicholas, Guildford. He died on 9 April 1875, at Guildford, from injuries received in a fall from the roof of his church, then in course of reconstruction.

Monsell was a popular hymn-writer, and not a few of his books ran through several editions. Julian's 'Dictionary of Hymnology' (p. 762) gives a list of seventy-two of his better-known hymns. He has a place in nearly all anthologies of religious verse, eight of his pieces being included in M'Ilwaine's 'Lyra Hibernica Sacra,' 1869. Besides leaflets and occasional sermons, he published: 1. 'Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems,' 12mo, Dublin, 1837. 2. 'Cottage Controversy, or Dialogues between Thomas and Andrew on the Errors of the Church of Rome,' 8vo, Limerick, 1839. 3. 'Parish Musings, or Devotional Poems,' 12mo, London, 1850; 7th edition, 12mo, 1863. 4. 'Daughter of Christian England,' a poem on Miss Nightingale's mission to Scutari, 12mo, London, 1854. 5. 'His Presence, not his Memory,' poems, 1855; 2nd edition, 1858; 3rd edition, 8vo, London, 1860; 8th edition, London, 1881. 6. 'Spiritual Songs for the Sundays and Holidays throughout the Year,' 8vo, London, 1857; 2nd edition, 1859. 7. 'Hymns of Love and Praise for the Church's Year,' 8vo, London, 1863; 2nd edition, London, 1866. 8. 'The Passing Bell, and other Poems,' 1867; 2nd edition, 16mo, London, 1869. 9. 'Our New Vicar, or Plain Words on Ritual and Parish Work,' 8vo, London, 1867. 10. 'Lights and Shadows,' 'by the Old Vicar,' 16mo, 1868. 11. 'Litany Hymns,' 1869. 12. 'Teachings of the Epiphany,' 8vo, London, 1871. 13. 'The Winton Church Catechist,' in 4 parts, 16mo, London, 1871. 14. 'Nursery Carols,' 8vo, London, 1873. 15. 'The Parish Hymnal,' a collection edited by him, 16mo, London, 1873. 16. 'Simon the Cyrenian, and other Poems,' 16mo, London, 1876. 17. 'Near Home at Last,' verse, 16mo, London, 1876.

 MONSEY, MESSENGER (1693–1788), physician, born in 1693, was eldest son of Robert Monsey, some time rector of Bawdeswell, Norfolk, but ejected as a nonjuror, and his wife Mary, daughter of the Rev. Roger Clopton. (The family of Monsey or Mounsey is supposed to be derived from the Norman house of De Monceaux.) Monsey was educated at home, and afterwards at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1714. He studied medicine at Norwich under Sir Benjamin Wrench, and was admitted extra licentiate of the College of Physicians on 30 Sept. 1723. He then settled in practice at Bury St. Edmund's, where he married. While at Bury Monsey had the good fortune to be called in to attend the Earl of Godolphin, who was taken ill on a journey, and recommended himself so well by his skill or by his wit that Godolphin induced him to come to London, and ultimately obtained for him the appointment of physician to Chelsea Hospital, at first without the obligation of residence. This post he held till his death.

Through Godolphin's influence Monsey was introduced to Sir Robert Walpole, Lord Chesterfield, and other members of the whig party, whose principles he warmly espoused. Among them he became so popular as to be considered the chief medical adviser of the politicians of that school. Always eccentric and rough in his manners, he treated his noble patrons with ostentatious familiarity. Walpole once asked how it was that no one but Monsey ever contradicted him. He also acquired connections of a literary kind with such people as Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu [q. v.] and Garrick. For many years he and the Earl of Bath were accounted rivals in a prolonged flirtation with Mrs. Montagu. Monsey's friendship with Garrick was broken off by an unfortunate quarrel, and he was never in favour with Dr. Johnson, who disapproved of his loose style of conversation. A specimen of his rhymed letters to Mrs. Montagu, in the manner of Swift, has been preserved, and shows him to have been a lively correspondent (, A Book about Doctors; cf., Lady of the Last Century, pp. 70, 73, 132, 370).

In religion Monsey was a freethinker. Late in life his peculiarities became accentuated, till his coarse ribaldry and bearish demeanour made him the subject of innumerable anecdotes. It is reported that he was wont to receive with savage delight, in his old age, the expectants who were waiting for the reversion of his appointment at Chelsea Hospital, and came to inspect the place. The terrible old man used to prophesy to each that he would die before him, and in most cases his prediction proved true. He quarrelled with his colleagues, and lived the life of a lettered but morose hermit in Chelsea College. He had given directions that his body was to be dissected after death and the remnants thrown away. On 12 May 1787, when seriously ill, and thinking himself about to