HURD, RICHARD, D.D., who was born at Congreve in Staffordshire, in 172o, rose from a comparatively humble rank in life, his parents being (to use his own words) ` plain, honest, and good people, farmers, but of a turn of mind that might have honoured any rank.' They were wise enough to give their son a good education, first at Brewood Grammar School, and eventually at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, of which society Ile was elected fellow in 1742. The result of this education was honourable to Hurd, who became one of the most elegant classical scholars of his time. The first public -proof of this accomplishment he gave in the year 1749, when he published his Commentary on Horace's Ars Poetica ; this publi cation introduced him to Bishop Warburton, on whose recommendation Sherlock, Bishop of Lon don, appointed Hurd, Whitehall preacher, in 1750. Among other results of the sincere friendship which long existed between Warburton and Hurd was the promotion of the latter by his friend to the arch deaconry of Gloucester in 1767. The next year he took his doctor's degree at Cambridge, and was appointed to open the lecture founded by Warbur ton for the illustration of the prophetic Scriptures ; his twelve discourses he published in 1772, under the title of 'An Introduction to the study of the Prophecies concerning the Christian Church, and in particular concerning the church of Papal Rome.' This was the first of the Warburtonian Lectures. Notwithstanding the polemical cast of some of these sermons, the clear exposition of the general principles of prophecy and of the claims which this portion of the sacred Scriptures has on the serious and unprejudiced attention of thoughtful readers, conveyed in perspicuous and even elegant language, has secured a large amount of popu larity for the work even up to recent times. The last edition of these discourses was edited by the Rev. Ed. Bickersteth, who in his prefatory
remarks' mentions many reasons which make this work both seasonable and profitable in the present day.' Hurd, who was promoted to the see of Lichfield and Coventry in 1775, and six years after wards was translated to the bishopric of Worcester, on the death of Archbishop Cornwallis in 1783, was pressed by the king to accept the primacy ; but he humbly begged leave to decline, as a charge not suited to his temper and talents, and much too heavy for him to sustain.' He died in the year 1808, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. Besides the productions of his pen which we have already mentioned, Bishop Hurd wrote various works on the infidelity of the age, including Re. marks on Hume's Essay on the Natural History of Religion,' in 1759 ; and some volumes of sermons. He also edited Cowley's select works in 1769 ; Warburton's works in seven quarto vols. in 1788, with the life of his right reverend friend and patron in 1794 and Addison's works, with notes, in six vols. Svo. Warburton commended Hurd as one of the best scholars in the kingdom, and of parts and genius equal to his learning, and a moral cha racter that adorned both.' Hallam, Lit. History o] Europe [ed. 4], vol. iii, P. 475, note, with greater discrimination praises Hurd as having perhaps the merit of being the first who in this country aimed at philosophic criticism ; as having had great in genuity, a good deal of reading, and great facility in applying it ; but [Ile adds] he did not feel very deeply . . . assumed a dog-matic arrogance, which as it always offends the reader for the most part also stands in the way of the author's own search for truth.' Hurd's works were collected, and, three years after his death, published in eight volumes, 8vo.—P. H.