ALDRICH, IIENny, an accomplished scholar, and eminent divine, was born at Westminster in 1647. Ile was admitted into Christ's Church College, Oxford, in 1622, where he prosecuted his studies 11 ith ardour and success, and took out the degrees of Bachelor and Mas ter of Arts, and Bachelor and Doctor of Divinity. In 1681 he was appointed canon, and in 1689 dean of Christ's Church ; and in the same year he had the honour of be ing appointed by William III. one of the commissioners for altering the church service, and bringing about an accommodation with the dissenters. During the reign of James II., he wrote several tracts against popery; a subject which, according to bishop Burnet, "he exa mined with a solidity of judgment, a clearness of argu ment, a depth of learning, and a vivacity of writing, far beyond any thing that had before appeared in our lan guage." In 1702, Dr Aldrich was chosen prolocutor of the convocation. He died on the 14th December, 1710, and was interred in the cathedral, according to his own request, without any monument to distinguish his grave.
Music, poetry, and architecture, seem to have been the favourite studies of Aldrich. His musical talents were of the first order, as appears from the anthems, &c. which he composed for the church-service. Ile is the author of the popular catch, entitled, " Hark, the bonny Christ-Church Bells ;" and two of his Latin poems are published in the "Music Anglicanx." The following humorous epigram, entitled, " Cause Bibendi," has been ascribed to Aldrich, though others suppose it to be the production of Pere Sirmond Si bene quid memini, cause stint (iing ue bibendi, liospitis adventus ; prxsens sitis atque fumes; Aut vini bonitas ; ant quxlibet alters cause.
The following translation of this epigram seems to convey the ideas of the original better than those which have been usually given: If memory fail me not a little, There are five reasons why we tipple : Good wine,—an old companion by,— Because I may be dry,— Or any other reason wily.
The talents of Aldrich, as an architect, were of the first order. His "Elements of Architecture," which he left behind him in manuscript, and which were trans lated and published by Mr Smyth, in 1790, display an intimate acquaintance with the science of building ; while the buildings which he designed, form a lasting monument to his taste and genius. Pcckwater Court, at Christ Church, Oxford, and the parish church of All Saints in Oxford, were built from the designs of Dr Aldrich. See Dallaway's :Inecdoees of the dins in Eng land, p. 103.
Aldrich was a man of distinguished talents, admired for the amiable qualities of his heart, and esteemed as the friend and patron of learning. His unaffected mo desty prevented him from putting his name to the tracts which he published. He wrote a work, entitled, .4•tis Logic: Compendium, 1707 ; Elements of Geometry, which were never published; Notes on Havercamp's edition of Joscphus ; and other books, which may be seen in more detailed sketches of his life. (it')