Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 58.djvu/206

 Frederick Schenck, a well-known Edinburgh lithographer.

Vedder wrote and translated verse from a comparatively early age. In 1828 he published ‘The Covenanters' Communion, and other Poems,’ the title-piece comprising fifty-seven vigorous and opinionative Spenserian stanzas, and several of the lyrics being well turned and vivacious. In 1832 appeared ‘Orcadian Sketches,’ a prose and verse miscellany, largely representing the results of direct observation and disciplined experience. In 1830 De Quincey and others supported Vedder's ‘Edinburgh Literary Gazette,’ in opposition to the ‘Edinburgh Literary Journal’ of [q. v.] In 1832 he published a very popular memoir of Scott, freely compiled from Jeffrey's ‘Essays’ and other sources. He edited in 1839 ‘Poetical Remains of Robert Fraser,’ a Kirkcaldy poet, and in 1842 issued a collected edition of his own ‘Poems, Legendary, Lyrical, and Descriptive,’ illustrated by Walter Geikie, the distinguished delineator of Scottish character. With lyric movement usually correct and fluent, Vedder commands at once a certain frank humour, and a pathos unfeigned and manly. His scripture transcripts are marked by grace and reserve. His lyric, ‘The Temple of Nature,’ was a favourite with Dr. Chalmers, who frequently recited it to his students (, Prefatory Memoir to Poems, Lyrics, and Sketches, p. xxii). Vedder collaborated with Frederick Schenck in ‘The Pictorial Gift-Book of Lays and Lithography,’ 1842. In 1852 he published, in one volume quarto, his ‘Story of Reynard the Fox; new version, illustrated by Gustav Canton of Munich.’ With lithographs by Schenck and MacFarlane, this was considered on its appearance ‘the best edition of this famous story yet presented in England’ (London Literary Gazette, 1852, p. 789). Vedder contributed letterpress to Geikie's ‘Etchings,’ and he is represented in the supplementary volume of George Thomson's ‘Scottish Melodies,’ in Blackie's ‘Book of Scottish Song’ (1844), and ‘Whistle-Binkie’ (1853). He wrote for the ‘Edinburgh Literary Journal,’ Constable's ‘Edinburgh Magazine,’ the ‘Christian Herald,’ ‘Tait's Magazine,’ and ‘Chambers's Journal.’ George Gilfillan edited, with memoir, a posthumous undated volume of Vedder's ‘Poems, Lyrics, and Sketches’ (1878?).

 VEEL or VEAL, EDWARD (1632?–1708), nonconformist tutor, was of good family, and born, probably in Gloucestershire, about 1632. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 27 Feb. 1650–1, and graduated B.A. 13 Feb. 1651–2, M.A. 21 Feb. 1653–4. Between these last dates he was elected fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and was promoted to a senior fellowship before 24 Nov. 1656. On 14 Aug. 1657 he was ordained at Winwick, Lancashire, by the fourth Lancashire presbyterian classis, on a call from the parish of Dunboyne, co. Meath, where he had officiated from 1655, with a stipend of 40l. under the civil establishment of Henry Cromwell. On 3 July 1661 he was made B.D. at Trinity College. Shortly afterwards he was deprived for nonconformity, and, having received a certificate (31 Dec. 1661) of his eminent usefulness from [q. v.] and five other nonconformist divines, he left Ireland in January 1662. He became chaplain to Sir [q. v.], after whose death in 1668 he was pastor to a small congregation at New Stairs, Wapping. He kept also an academy at Stepney for ‘university learning;’ among his pupils was (1666? [sic]–1735) [q. v.], the father of John and Charles Wesley. He died on 6 June 1708, aged 76. His funeral sermon was preached in the parish church of Wapping by Thomas Simmons (d. March 1717–18), his successor. He spelled his name Veel, and sometimes Veal; it is also given as Veale and Veele.

Besides single sermons (some in the Morning Exercises at Cripplegate), he published two volumes of ‘Discourses,’ 1703, 8vo, and 1705, 8vo.

 VEEL, VEALE, or VEIL, ROBERT (1648–1674?), poetaster, born at Alveston, Gloucestershire, in 1648, was a younger son of William Veel of Simondshall in the same county, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Gulliford of Purbeck, Dorset.

The poetaster's grandfather, (1591?–1663), born about 1591, was a zealous royalist. He was governor of Berkeley Castle in August 1644. He was afterwards displaced by the influence of Lord Bristol, in spite of his gallant defence of the castle (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1670, p. 668). But he subsequently raised a regiment of horse, and commanded it at the battle of Worcester, whence he escaped with diff-