TAYLOR, ISAAC, b. at Lavenham, in Suffolk, 1787, d. at Stanford Rivers, in Essex, 1865, eminent as a Christian philosopher, artist, and mechanician, was the third of his name who attained distinction—his grandfather and father (known as 'Isaac Taylor of Ongar) being both named Isaac, and each in his way distinguished. Charles Taylor, the editor of Calmet, was an uncle, and Jane Taylor (author of the Q. Q. Papers) and Ann Taylor (Mrs. Gilbert of Nottingham), joint-authors of Hymns for infant Minds, were sisters of the subject of this article. The literary career of Isaac Taylor extended over nearly half a century. It began in 1818, in contributions to the Eclectic Review, for which Robert Hall, John Foster, and Josiah Conder then wrote, and ended in 1865, in contributions to Good Words, in which the name of the veteran figured with those of men who were unborn when he was in the height of his reputation. Between 1822 an& 1827 be published Elements of Thought; Characters of Theophrastus , with illustrations, etched by himself; The History of the Transmission of Ancient Books to Modern Times; The Process of Historical Proof, a translation of Herodotus, and the Memoirs and Corre spondence of :lane Taylor, his sister, who has already been mentioned. In 1829 he pub lished, anonymously, The Natural History of Enthusiasm, which ran rapidly through several editions; and between 1829 and 1836 he published in succession Fanaticism, Spiritual Despotism, Saturday Evening, and The Physical Theory of Another Life. In
1836 appeared Home Education. Thereafter he was a long time occupied upon a new translation of Josephus, undertaken jointly with the rev. Dr. Traill, and which was illustrated by etchings executed by himself. Within the last 13 years of his life appeared Loyala, Wesley, The Restoration of Belief, Logic of Theology. Ultimate Civilization, and The Spirit of Hebrew Poetry. Besides these numerous works, Isaac Taylor wrote many articles for the graver quarterly reviews, which are as vet uncollected. IIe had been educated as an artist, and some of his designs, executed before lie betook himself chiefly to literature, have evoked the warmest praise from the most scrupulous critics, who have wondered how one with such a genius for art could have deserted it. It would be impossible to give here any account that would be intelligible of his numerous mechan ical inventions; it must suffice to say that, by two of his inventions, he revolutionized the art of calico-printing. Isaac Taylor married in middle life, and had a large family, whose borne education, as liberal-minded but pious Christians, was among, and not one . of the least of, the tasks of his life.