CAMDEN, WILLIAM, one of the most illustrious names in the whole catalogue of learned Englishmen. His father was a paper stainer, living in the Old Bailey, where Camden was born on the 2nd of May, 1551. It is supposed that his father died when he was but a child, having little provision for him. It is certain that he was admitted into Christ's Hospital within a very few yearn after its estab lishment. He was afterwards in St. Paul's School, and finally removed to Oxford, where he appears to have studied in more than one college. He left the university in 1571, and became an under-master of West minster School, the duties of which situation he discharged at the time when he composed the works which have made his name so eminent.
The most celebrated of these is that entitled 'Britannia,' a survey of the British isles, written in elegant Latin. The first edition of this work was published in 1586. Many others appeared in his lifetime with enlargements. A singular fate has attended this book. A long succession of writers have made additions to it, till Camden's • Britanisia: widels as It mow teeth from hiss was but a single volume of is large deessesione, bee bees swelled out In the sumessive r.oglish silassese 01 at length it las become leer folio volumes, though tba west is et-il called by his rams. One effect of this hut been to throw the original work late the shad& and to occasion a wrong apprehension to peered ceseerslat it, as it it bad best composed for the use of the 41esksissau of Britain rather then for the information of learned foreigorre, and as If It were sot that succinct and admirable compo dam wheels does as mesh honour to the taste and judgment at well as to the letanuag of the author.
The Engtiah editions, though the matter Is ill-digeated, hare their 'aims as cestainiag what et the them of publication was the best gene ral description of the Britlah islet Itsbop Gibson and Mr. Gough wee. the compilers and editors of the principal F.nglish editions.
Frees the apparels*. of Ids' Britanula: Camden began to be looked epos as is of the most distinguished scholars of his age. Ile carried Oa 11111 •StallaTO eartomwleoes w,th the learned both at home and abroad, meek of whisk been preserved and published. The prebend of Ilfracombe in the cathedral of Salisbury was given to him, though a layinan. Ile was made head mutter of Weetmloster School In 1592,
sad Clareseissal Kinget-Arseu is 1597, without having passed through the inferior offices of herald or pereuivant. This was diabutteful to the old officers of the College of Arms, and led to what must have bass to hies leanueing dissections.
The remainder of his history Is to be found in a catalogue of his ereitimez We shall touch upon them briefly. His • Annals of the Heirs of Elisabeth • Is the nest in celebrity to his ' Britannic; an ndzairables digest of the events of that reign, delivered in pure and elegant Isstinity. Ile Intended a similar work on the reign of James, bet of this only the heeds were prepared. Ills folio volume of the works of some of our old Latin chroniclers was printed at Frankfurt in 1603. it belongs to the set of Latin chroniclers on English affairs, and cootaltu Auer, Walainghatn, Girsidn. Cambrensie, and others. Among his minor works two only need be mentioned, his 'Remains coseerning Britain,* published in 1601, a very amusing and instructive volume; and a small Greek grammar for the use of Westminster School, which was first published in 1597.
Camden meshed the age of sesenty.two. He died on the 9th of November 1623, at Llaissibunt in Kent, and was interred in West tainetor Abbey, a great assemblage of the learned and illustrious doing him bower at his faneraL A monument was erected to his memory, which etill remains. It has his bust, with the left hand resting on the 'Britannia.' Ile mover martial, and at his death left a good estate, the greater of which be derided, a little before his death, to founding an kdate? rival lecture in the University of Oxford, now called the Camden Professorship of History. Camden has always been regarded with peculiar respect by English historical inquirers and antiquaries; and when in 1834 they founded a "Society for the Publication of early I I [dories! and Literary Remains," it was felt that the most appropriate title which could be given to it would be that of their moat distin geishas' predeoessoe. The • Camden Society' has since continued anenally to plate within the reach of historical students a mass of singularly varied sod valuable ' remains concerning Britain,' and has thus beams. a worthy monument to the memory of Csmdet.