BOULTER, fluor', D. D. Archbishop of Ar magh, and primate of Ireland, was born in or near London, of respectable and wealthy parents, on the 4th of January 1671. He received the rudiments of his education at merchant-tailors' school ; and was ad mitted a commoner in Christ-Church, Oxford, sonic time before the revolution. Soon after that event, he was, on account of his great merit, elected a Demi of Magdalen-College, along with Mr Addison and Doc tor Joseph Wilcox. He was afterwards made fellow of the same college. He remained in the university till the year 1700, when he was called to London by Sir Charles Hodges, principal secretary of state, who made him his chaplain. Not long after, he was preferred to the same honour by Dr Denison, Arch bishop of Canterbury. While in these situations, he had occasion to appear often at court. There his merits attracted the notice, and procured him the pa tronage, of the Earl of Sunderland, principal Secre tary of State, by whose influence he was promoted to the parsonage of St Olave in Southwark, and to the archdcaconry of Surrey. As pastor of St Olave, he distinguished himself by his unremitting attention to the temporal comfort and spiritual welfare of the people over whom he was set. In 1719, he went to IIanover with George I., in the capacity of his chap lain : and at the king's desire, undertook to instruct young prince Frederic in the English tongue. His majesty was so much pleased with his temper and conduct, that he promoted him to the bishopric of Bristol, and cleanly of Christ-church, Oxford, which had become vacant by the death of Dr Smainidge. As a bishop, he was extremely zealous in promoting the interests of religion throughout his diocese ; and this he did, particularly, by enforcing on the clergy the necessity of personal respectability, and of a faith ful discharge of their peculiar duties. In 1724, he was nominated by the king to the archbishopric of Armagh, and primacy of Ireland. This nomination, of which most men would, on many accounts, have accepted with the utmost readiness, Dr Boultcr beg ged leave to decline : and it was only in consequence of the absolute command of his majesty, and not with out great reluctance, that he at length agreed to leave his present situation, for one so much superior to it in dignity and importance. The king and his minister urged the promotion, not only in consideration of Dr Boulter's general merits, and peculiar qualifications for the spiritual jurisdiction to which he was appointed, but also because at that time, in consequence of Wood's coinage of base copper, Ireland was in an alarming state of ferment and agitation, which they hoped to remedy by the sound judgment, and firm yet conciliating temper of the bishop. And he did
not disappoint the expectations of his royal patron. As soon as he was formally introduced into his new office, he began to study the prosperity of Ireland, which he thenceforth called his country ; and to this end devoted a great proportion of his time and for tune. Ilis life, indeed, was almost solely spent in deeds of public usefulness and private charity. To do good, as he had opportunity, was his business and his plea sur. Whatever plan was deemed useful to promote the commercial prosperity, the religious instruction, the domestic happiness, or the individual comfort of the Irish, found in him a steady and efficient friend. More than once, he was instrumental, by his activity and in averting the evils of famine and pestilence, with which the country was threatened. To the scheme for a canal from Lough-Neagh to Newry, by which the whole kingdom, especially the northern division of it, was to be greatly benefited, he gave not only his best counsel, but considerable sums of money and contributions of timber. The oor clergy of his diocese frequently experienced his kindness, by having their children educated at school and the university at his individual expense. For clergymens' widows, too, he erected four houses at Drogheda, endowed them suitably, and put them un der proper and judicious regulations. The same thing he directed by his will to be done at Armagh. He expended 30,000/. in augmenting small livings, and buying glebes in Ireland, besides what he be queathed for similar purposes in England. He was a zealous and active member of the Incorporated So ciety in Dublin for promoting English Protestant Schools in Ireland, the benevolent object of which he forwarded by annual subscription, occasional be nefactions, and every means in his power. His private charities, from the secret and unostentatious manner in which they were conducted, cannot be easily ascer tained ; but from the information of those who had access to know, it is certain that they were uncom monly great, and quite worthy of his humane and li beral mind. The archbishop took a considerable part in the political government of the country. When health permitted, he gave regular attendance at the council board, and contributed his full share in giving dignity to their debates, and wisdom to their deci sions. He was particularly active in supporting and carrying into effect a measure for reducing the value of the gold coin, for the purpose of putting a stop to the injurious practice of sending silver abroad.