Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 57.djvu/90

 sive appendicula notarum et emendationum in Suidam’ was dated 1775. Copies of these volumes at the British Museum have manuscript notes by Charles Burney and Jeremiah Markland. A second edition of the complete set was published, with F. H. Starcke as editor, at Leipzig, in four volumes (1780–1), and another issue, partly edited by Thomas Burgess, D.D., came from the Clarendon press at Oxford in 1790 (4 vols. 8vo). This edition was due to the rarity of the previous impressions, and to the gift to the university by Toup's niece and heiress of his ‘adversaria,’ containing his criticisms on Suidas. The ‘notæ breves’ (1790 edit. iv. 419–29) were by Thomas Tyrwhitt [q. v.]; others (ib. iv. 433–506) were by Porson, and, though his name is hidden under the initials ‘A.R.P.C.S.S.T.C.S.,’ these notes first gave the world full proof of Porson's powers. The first draft of Porson's preface, expressing ‘the highest respect for Toup's abilities and learning,’ is printed in Beloe's ‘Sexagenarian’ (2nd edit.), ii. 298–9; an English translation is in Watson's ‘Porson,’ pp. 89–91 (cf. also, Tracts, ed. Kidd, pp. 184–9). Toup's labours are embodied in Gaisford's ‘Suidas.’

These volumes obtained an immense reputation at home and abroad. Hurd wrote to Warburton (24 Feb. 1764, and 29 June 1766) in their praise, and lauded Toup's critical power and skill in the niceties of Greek, though he called him ‘a piece of a coxcomb,’ and condemned his ‘superior airs.’ Warburton admitted that learning had been much neglected by the church grandees, but pointed out that he had recommended Toup for higher preferment (Letters from a late Prelate, pp. 257–8, 279–80). Schweighäuser dilated on his wonderful and felicitous sagacity (Emendationes in Suidam, pref. p. 2), and in the notes to Dalzel's ‘Collectanea Græca majora’ his acuteness is the constant subject of remark (ii. 137, 202, 208, 242, 263). Most scholars condemned his immoderate language and his boorish conduct; but a writer, probably the Rev. John Mitford, in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ (1841, i. 349), tries to remove the reproach by quoting Toup's favourable epithets on other scholars.

Warburton, whose patronage was in the first instance unsought by Toup, recommended the scholar to various divines, including Keppel, his diocesan, and Secker, the archbishop of the province. Another prelate urged him to settle in London or Oxford for improved means of study, and also for better chances of preferment. In 1767 Secker desired him to assist in bringing out a new edition of Polybius, but forgot to help him with a better benefice. It is said that Warburton one day asked Keppel very abruptly whether he had taken care of Toup. ‘Toup, who is Toup?’ was the reply. ‘A poor curate in your diocese,’ said Warburton, ‘but the first Greek scholar in Europe,’ and he extorted from Keppel a promise of preferment. A letter from Toup to Warburton (27 June 1767) is in Kilvert's ‘Selection’ (, Works, xiv. 247–8).

When Thomas Warton brought out in 1770 an edition of ‘Theocritus’ in two quarto volumes, it included (ii. 327–44) an epistle from Toup to him ‘de Syracusiis’ and (ii. 389–410) many notes, which were dedicated to Dr. Heberden. Several letters from Toup to Warton on this work, and one on the subsequent edition of Longinus, are printed in Wooll's ‘Memoir of Joseph Warton’ (pp. 318–320, 364–5, 377–8). A prurient note by Toup on Idyll xiv. 37 gave such offence to some people, among whom was Lowth, that the vice-chancellor of the university prevailed on the editor to cancel the leaf and substitute another in its place. In 1772 Toup published, with a dedication to the Archbishop of Canterbury, a volume of ‘Curæ Posteriores,’ or further notes and emendations on Theocritus. In this work he refers to the cancelled note, and has at least three sneering references to the ‘Hebræculi,’ Lowth and Kennicott, of Oxford (, Parriana, ii. 260–1). Reiske, in a letter to Thomas Warton, disparages Toup as ‘homo truculentus et maledicus,’ who had heaped injuries and atrocities on him without any provocation (, Warton, pp. xlvi–vii). He also complained to Askew of Toup's conduct, and in his ‘Oratores Græci,’ iii. 608 (Æschines against Ctesiphon), retorted with an angry note.

After a preparation of thirty-five years Toup's admirable edition of Longinus, in Greek and Latin, came out in 1778. When Ruhnken heard that it was in contemplation, he hastened to send him his notes, and his assistance was mentioned on the title-page. A second edition was issued in 1778, a third in 1806, and their notes were included in the edition of Benjamin Weiske (Leipzig 1809, and Oxford 1820). Ruhnken afterwards regretted that he had given this assistance, for Toup sometimes appropriated to himself the merit of others, and had not even sent him a presentation copy of the work, but he gloried in Toup's ingenious and facile corrections (Life, by Wyttenbach, pp. 168–9, 172–3, 218–20; Letters of Ruhnken to Wyttenbach, 1834 edit. pp. 5, 7, 8, 19, 45). The edition was reviewed in Wyttenbach's ‘Bibliotheca Critica’ (i. pt. iii. 30–52) with great admiration for the perfervid ingenuity