If this however had been his only claim to distinction, the name of Dr. Clarke would not have appeared in this work or in the many writings in which, since his death, mention has been made of him. We have already intimated that he was eminently desirous of know ledge of very various kinds, and, while leading the laborious life of a travelling preacher, he found time for a great variety of discursive reading, as well as for much steady application to his philological studies, especially those of Oriental literature. He first gave public evidence of those studies in the year 1802, when he published, iu six volumes, his book entitled 'A Bibliographical Dictionary.' This work gave him at once a literary reputation, and though it is not a work of much original research, it was at the time of its publication un doubtedly a very convenient book for the English student, containing as it did a great body of information well arranged concerning books and authors to which no other easy access was presented. The book had an extensive circulation, and has been more than once reprinted.
This work placed Clarke high in reputation among his brethren and the members of his connexion, though at first some were ready to doubt the value of this kind of book learning. He gained also by it a certain reputation among the bibliographical and philological inquirers of his time. About this period of his life his acquirements in Biblical knowledge and iu Oriental literature began likewise to be taken notice of. On his coming to reside permanently in London, the Bible Society brought him into connection with some of the dignitaries of the church. His connection with the Surrey Institution gave him access to several persons of literary pursuits, and at the same time an easy access to books. He was admitted a Fellow of the Society of Anti quaries. The University of St. Andrews conferred on him the degree of M.A., and afterwards of LL.D. Some time after he became a member of the Royal Irish Academy. Clarke and his writings undoubtedly did much to remove the feeling of contempt with which many of the cultivated classes were apt to regard Methodism and its followers. The most extraordinary circumstance in his literary history remains however to be mentioned. The Board of Commissioners on the Public Records selected Dr. Clarke as a proper person to superintend the publication of the new edition of Rymer's 'Feeders,' with the pre paration of which they were charged. This was a great and difficult undertaking; for it was not the mere reprinting the work of Rymer, but a large macs of new materials were to be found and to be incor porated with the old. Some eminent antiquarian scholars had shrunk from the task. What particularly pointed out Dr. Clarke as a suitable person for this undertaking is not known, as it was evident that his studies had previously lain in a direction very different from that which pointed to such a work as the 'Feeders,' and he himself acknowledged that he came to the task with very little acquaintance with the nature of it. He however laboured at it with much assiduity for several years. It is needless to say that archwology gaiued little by his editorial labours, whatever theology may have lost. His name appears iu the title of both parts of the first volume, and in the first part of the second volume, which was published in 1818, and from that time Dr. Clarke relinquished his share in the undertaking.
From the time when he settled in London he was constantly in communication with the press. Of some works he was only the editor; others he abridged ; and be prepared some original works, among which are particularly to be named a 'Supplement' to his Bibliographical Dictionary,"Memoirs of the Family of Wesley,' and a work for the assistance of biblical students. He was also a frequent contributor to the periodical literature of his day. His, as much
perhaps as ever any man's, was at this period a life of incessant literary exertion.
But there was one great literary undertaking on which above all his mind was intent. This was an edition of the Holy Scriptures in the English version, illustrated with a commentary and critical notes, into which he proposed to throw the results of his own biblical studies, together with much that he might collect from preceding commen: tariea. It was to form a kind of Family Bible, and yet be at the same time a book which the biblical scholar might consult with advantage —a union which has been several times attempted. The first volume appeared in 1810, and excited no small attention on account of the novelty of some opinions expressed in it respecting the tempter of our first parents. From this period be pursued this work as the main business of his life, till he had completed it, which he did in 1826, when appeared the eighth and last volume. For eight of these years, namely, from 1815 to 1823, he lived at a place called Millbrook in Lancashire, where some friends had purchased for him a house and small estate.
We have not attempted to give an estimate of the literary value of Dr. Clarke's publications, or even to enumerate them all. As literary works they have their full mind of fame. It would be absurd to place his scholarship on a level with that of the really great scholar4 who have adorned our country ; and many of the works which he under took were such as required the union of the greatest attainable scholarship with a carefully-trained judgment and sound taste. It is perhaps one of the most observable circumstances about Dr. Clarke that his mind never seems to have acquired that refinement which scholarship, when it is genuine, never falls to give, or that superiority to vulgar prejudices and to the affectation of display which is, we believe, Use usual accompaniment of high attainment.. There is in Dr. Clarke • remarkable affectation of bringing forward the Oriental learning he is understood to have possessed. lie cannot keep it out of the introduction to the 'Fcedera.' It appears still more strangely iu his Lives of the Wesley Family,' where ha labours after au Arabic etymon of the surname of Wesley, a word really formed according to one of the commonest analogies of our own language. In the same work he give. encouragement to the meet vulgar and childish of the popular superstitions. But while we make these remarks, wo wish it to be understood that wo regard Dr. Clarke as a person on whom it is imposs.hie to look bat with very great respect. He was in every sense of the word a good man, and his life presents an instructive lesson of rewards and h000nrs attending useful labours and consistent virtuous action. We may add also that it shows bow the cultivation and encou ragement of the devotional spirit may be united with very vigorous exertion in things which have but a aright connection with it.
We must not omit to add two or three circumstances of his later yearn. While he resided In Lancashire the two Buddhist priests whom Sir Alexander Johnston brought from Ceylon for instruction in Christianity were placed in his family ; he wee the means of establish ing • Methodist mission in the Shetland Islands ; and in 1831, a little before his death, he had the satisfaction of establishing schools in the province of Ulster, the part of Ireland in which he was born. He accumulated • good library, including many manuscripts, and had fanned • small MUM= of natural curiosities. From 1823, when ho left Lancashire, Dr. Clarke resided at Haydon Hall in Middlesex, about 17 miles from London. Ile died of cholera, on the 26th of August 1S32. His 'Miscellaneous Works' have been published In 13 eels. 12mo, London ; and a' Life' by J. B. B. Clarke in 3 vols. 8vo, 1S33.