Page:Men of Kent and Kentishmen.djvu/39

  never gave it up. He continued through life to sign himself "per legem terræ B. C. of S." (Baron Chandos of Sudeley). From the period of the rejection of his claim the Press teemed with writings bearing upon the decision. For the convenience of publication he set up a private press at Lee Priory, from which almost innumerable works proceeded.' Amongst other compositions he is said to have produced 2000 sonnets in one year. In 1812 he was elected Member of Parliament for Maidstone, and continued a Member till 1818, when he retired to the Continent, where he resided till his death at Geneva in 1837. His first volume of poems was published in 1785. Of his other numerous works, including novels, pamphlets, bibliographies, the most important are "Censura Literaria," 10 vols., 1805-9, and his Autobiography, 1834.

[For further particulars of his life see the above, and for a complete list, with criticisms, of his works see "Allibone's Dictionary of Authors."]

JOSIAH BURCHETT,

NAVAL HISTORIAN,

Was born at Sandwich about 1666. He served in the capacity of Secretary of the Admiralty, a position which probably suggested to him the undertaking with which his name is chiefly associated. This was, what he called "A Complete History of the most remarkable Transactions at Sea from the earliest accounts of Time." To such an ambitious work the author, though not wanting