Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 61.djvu/24

 Mildert [q. v.] in his Boyle lectures, was severely handled by Coleridge (Literary Remains, 1838, iv. 296). In 1791 he published ‘Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, in vols. iv. v. and vi. reviewed’ (styled by Macaulay ‘pointless spite, with here and there a just remark’); and in 1794 ‘The Course of Hannibal over the Alps ascertained,’ 2 vols. 8vo. The latter was the subject of ‘A Critical Examination’ by Alexander Fraser Tytler (Lord Woodhouslee) [q. v.], 1794, 2 vols. 8vo. In 1804 he issued his ‘Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall historically surveyed,’ 2 vols. 4to, perhaps his ablest production.

He died at Ruan rectory on 30 Oct. 1808. He married Jane, daughter of the Rev. John Tregenna, rector of Mawgan-in-Pyder, Cornwall, and had by her three daughters; she died on 30 Dec. 1828.

His other works were: Among his contemplated but unaccomplished works were histories of London and Oxford, a military history of the Romans in Britain, notes on Shakespeare, and illustrations to the Bible.
 * 1) ‘A Course of Sermons upon Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell,’ 1783; another edition, 1820.
 * 2) ‘The Real Origin of Government,’ 1795, expanded from a sermon against the results of the French Revolution. It was denounced by Sheridan and others in the House of Commons.
 * 3) ‘The Life of St. Neot,’ 1809, upon which he was engaged when he died. He contributed to Richard Polwhele's ‘Poems chiefly by Gentlemen of Devonshire and Cornwall,’ 1792; wrote an introduction and notes to Flindell's Bible, 1800; and ‘Remarks on St. Michael's Mount,’ in vol. iii. of Polwhele's ‘Cornwall;’ besides articles in the ‘English Review,’ the ‘British Critic,’ and the ‘Anti-Jacobin Review.’

His letters to George Chalmers between 1791 and 1804 remain in manuscript in the Chetham Library. They show, inter alia, that he hankered after the wardenship of Manchester Collegiate Church. Other letters, to George Browne of Bodmin, are in the British Museum (Addit. MS. 29763). Polwhele, Britton, Wolcott (Peter Pindar), and others attest great admiration for Whitaker's intellectual eminence and conversational powers. A good portrait, after a miniature by H. Bone, is engraved in Britton's ‘Autobiography,’ 1850, i. 335.



WHITAKER, JOHN (1776–1847), composer, and a member of the music publishing firm of Button, Whitaker, & Co., St. Paul's Churchyard, was born in 1776. He was a teacher of music, and organist to St. Clement's, Eastcheap. In 1818 Whitaker collected and published ‘The Seraph,’ two volumes of sacred music, for four voices, of which many pieces are original. He was better known as a writer of occasional songs introduced in musical plays at the principal theatres between 1807 and 1825. Among those which attained great popularity were: ‘Fly away, dove,’ sung by Miss Cawse on her début in the ‘Hebrew Family;’ ‘O say not woman's heart is bought,’ ‘Go, Rover, go,’ ‘Remember me,’ ‘The Little Farmer's Daughter,’ ‘My Poor Dog Tray,’ ‘The Lily that blooms,’ ‘Paddy Carey's Fortune,’ and ‘Hot Codlins.’

A more lasting claim to celebrity is afforded by Whitaker's beautiful glee, originally written for three voices, ‘Winds, gently whisper.’ He died at Thavies' Inn, Holborn, on 4 Dec. 1847.



WHITAKER, JOSEPH (1820–1895), publisher, born in London on 4 May 1820, was the son of a silversmith. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to Mr. Barritt, bookseller, of Fleet Street. Nine years later young Whitaker was with John William Parker [q. v.] of the Strand. He next entered the house of J. H. & J. Parker of Oxford, for whom he became the London agent, and opened a branch at 377 Strand. Here, in 1849, he originated the ‘Penny Post,’ the first penny monthly church magazine, which long continued in its original form, and edited an edition of the ‘Morning’ and ‘Evening Church Services.’ In 1850 he projected and published for four years the ‘Educational Register’ and ‘Whitaker's Clergyman's Diary;’ the latter is still issued by the Com-