HEBER, REGINALD, an English poet, and second bishop of Calcutta, was b. at Malpas, Cheshire, April 21, 1783. . In 1800 he entered at Brasenose college, Oxford; and:three years after produced his prize-poem Palestine, the only prize-poem perhaps which holds a place in English literature. In 1804 he became a fellow of All Souls. In 1807 he was inducted into the family-living at Hodnet, and entered upon his parochial duties with great zeal. He was a frequent contributor to the Quarterly Review, his political views being those of a tory and high churchman. In the course of 1812 he published a volume of Hymns. He was appointed Bampton lecturer in 1815, and two years after he received a stall in St. Asaph cathedral. He edited the works of Jeremy In 1819, and in 1822 he was elected preacher of Lincoln's Inn. Shortly afterwards the vacant see of Calcutta was offered to him, and after much hesitation on account of his wife and child, it was accepted, and he embarked for India on June 16, 1823. On his arrival, he entered upon his duties with exemplary zeal: and in June, 1824, he began the visitation of his diocese. He spent about 11 months visiting stations in Upper Bengal and the n. of Bombay. From April to Aug., 1825, he remained at Bombay, and sailed from thence to Calcutta, where he arrived on Oct. 21. In Feb., 1826, he proceeded to Madras on a visit to the southern provinces. He reached Trichinopolyon April 1, and
on the 3d, after confirming 15 natives, and bestowing on them the Episcopal benedic tion, he entered a cold bath, in which, half an hour afterwards, he was found dead. The journal which he kept during his tour of visitation was originally published in three octavo volumes, and was afterwards reprinted in two volumes in Murray's Home and Colonial L2brary. His life was published by his widow in two volumes (Lend. 18,A).
As a poet, his fame rests upon Palestine and his Hymns (new edition published by Murray in 1869). They have not much force or depth, but they are pleasingly versified, and are illuminated by graceful fancy. As a poet, lie will be remembered; but as the most learned and zealous of Indian bishops, he is mainly enshrined in the affections of M his countrymen. —thAnD 'WEBER, half-brother of was b. in Westmiu ster in 1773, and died in 1833. He was a famous bibliomaniac. Having succeeded to large estates by the death of his father in 1804, he was enabled to indulge his elegant hobby to the utmost. Dr. Dibdin estimated his collection in England at 105,000 vols., in addition to which he possessed many thousands of books on the continent, the whole having cost him £180,000.