D'OYLY, GEORGE, D.D., was horn October 31, 177S, in London. He was the fourth son of the Ven. Matthias D'Oyly, Archdeacon of Lewes, Sussex, and member of a family which traces its lineal descent from the D'Ouillys of Ouilly in Normandy, who helped to swell the ranks with whose aid 'William conquered this country. In 1796, Mr. D'Oyly proceeded to the University of Cambridge, and became a member of Bene't, or Corpus Christi College. The result of his hard study was his attainment of the high place of second wrangler and second Smith's prizeman previous to his B.A. degree in tSoo. In February iSot he was elected to a fellowship of his college. After holding the office of moderator for three years in rotation, and that of public mathematical examiner for two, and performing the duties of a select preacher during the years iSog, 18 to, 1811 ; he became, in the November of the last-mentioned year, Christian advocate of the University, being already B.D. In this capacity he published.sorne useful writings suitable to his office, but not for enumeration in this work. He also contributed some valuable articles to early numbers of the Quarterly Review, among which may be men tioned a review of the Socinian version of the N. T., and an examination of Dr. Herbert Marsh's Lectures on Criticism and Interpretation. more of his contributions to the Quarterly are inter esting to students of Hebrew criticism, viz., two elaborate articles on Bellany's Translation of the Bible.' In them the proposed version is carefully examined, and the unsoundness of the suggested deviations from our A. V. exposed in a moderate but masterly manner. In 1813, Mr. D'Oyly was appointed domestic chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Manners Sutton. He had held the situation of chaplain a very short time when the idea was entertained among the leading members of the S.P.C.K. of a work which served eventually more than any other to gain for Mr. D'Oyly's name celebrity in the church, i.e., the well-known Com mentary on the Bible. The undertaking (which was first suggested, it is said, by Dr. Cleaver, Bishop of St. Asaph), was eventually entrusted to Dr. Mant, afterwards Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore, and Mr. D'Oyly—both chaplains of the Archbishop. The execution of his share of this useful work occupied the greater part of Mr. D'Oyly's time for the next three years. In the year 1S15, he was presented to the Vicarage of Hernhill, near Feversham, in Kent, which, how ever, he shortly afterwards resigned on being col lated by his former patron the Archbishop to the rectory of Buxted, with the chapelry of Uckfield. Towards the close of the year 1S2o he was ap pointed by the same patron to the rectory of Lam beth, Surrey, and to that of Sundridgc, Kent—pre ferment which he retained to the end of his life. In the management of this most important cure Dr. D'Oyly (for he had proceeded to the highest academical degree at Cambridge on this last pro motion, for which he also resigned his other appoint ments) secured in London general respect as an exemplary and diligent clergyman, a distinguished scholar, and an honourable man.' His active
duties did not quench his literary energy. Besides some volumes of excellent sermons, he published an interesting work, the Life of ArchbzIrhop Sancroft. In 1S27 he became instrumental in the foundation of King's College, London. His life of usefulness was closed January S, 1846, in his 67th year. The title-page of his chief work explains its character ; THE HOLY BIBLE, according to the A. V., with notes explanatory and practical; taken principally from the most eminent writers of the United Churclt of England and Ireland, together with appropriate introductions, tables, indexes, maps, and plans prepared and arranged by the Rev. George D'Oyly, D.D., and the Right Rev. Richard Mant, Bishop of Down and Connor.' This work, which was at first published in 3 volumes 4to, has been often reprinted for popular use by the S.P.C.K. (with the text, in 3 volumes imperial Svo, without the text, in 2 volumes). This work,' says Mr. Hart well Horne (Introduction [9th ed.] vol. v. p. 302), professes to communicate only the results of the critical inquiries of learned men, without giving a detailed exposition of the inquiries themselves. These results, however, are selected with great judgment, so that the reader who may consult them on difficult passages will rarely be disappointed Of the labour attending this publication some idea may be formed, when it is stated that the works of upwards of 160 authors have been consulted for it, amounting to several hundred volumes The imperial Svo edition is perhaps the cheapest commentary in the English language. The reprint at New York, which is very neatly executed in 2 large 4to volumes [annis IS/S-20], was edited by the Right Rev. John Henry Hobart, D.D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, who greatly enhanced the value of this work by numerous additional notes, selected from the writings of upwards of 30 of the most eminent divines (not noticed by Drs. D'Oyly and Mant), whose names are a sufficient pledge for the value of the annotations taken from their writings. . . . Many other notes are likewise selected from several of the authors cited by Dr. D'Oyly and Bishop Mant. Bishop Hobart's additional notes are two fold— I. Critical and explanatory ; 2. Practical. The latter are very numerous, and are calculated greatly to increase the value of this commentary as a FAMILY BIBLE.' We are indebted for the bio graphical details of this article to the Memoir of Gem,ve D' Orly, D. D., F. R. S. etc., by his son, pre fixed to two volumes of Sermons, etc., which were published in the year 1847.—P. H.