Cambridge, whence he afterwards removed to Christ's college, and obtained a fellowship. After passing thirteen years in the university, during which. he afforded many proofs of extraordinary application and talents, queen Elizabeth gave him his father's prebend in Ely, about 1598, the year his father died. One of his name was also rector of Reed, in Middlesex, in 1613, and of Chishall Parva, in Essex, in 1620, but it is doubtful whether this was the same person. It seems more certain, however, that he had the rectory of Childerley, in Cambridgeshire, and in 1597 that of Little Grantesden, in the same county, for which he took in exchange the rectory of Barley, vacant by his father's death. He was also chaplain to prince Henry. About this time he married a relation to Dr. Goad, by whom he had eleven sons and seven daughters.

* Dr. Willet was usually called a living library, from the great extent of his reading and of his memory. He was also not less admired as a preacher, not only in his parish, but at court. He also obtained a great degree of celebrity by his numerous publications, particularly his "Synopsis Papismi; or a general view of papistrie," a work dedicated to the queen, which, although a folio of 1300 pages, passed through five editions, and was much admired in both universities, and by the clergy and laity at large, as the best refutation of popery, which had then appeared. He died of the consequences of a fall from his horse, at Hoddesdon, in Hertfordshire, Dec. 4, 1621, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. He was interred in the chancel of Barley church, where there is a representation of him at full length, in a praying attitude, and with an inscription, partly Latin and partly English.

Besides his "Synopsis Papismi," Dr. Willet was the author of many works, principally commentaries on the scriptures; as, 1. "Hexapla on Genesis and Exodus," fol. 1632. 2. "On Leviticus," 1631, fol. 3. "On Daniel," 1610, fol. 4. "On the Romans," 1611, fol. &c. 5. "Tractatus de Salomonis nuptiis, vel Epithalamium in nuptiis inter Comit. Palatinum et Elizabetham Jacobi regis filiam unicam," 1612, 4to. 6." De Gratia generi humano in primo parente collata, de lapsu Adami," &c. Leyden, 1609, 8vo. 7. "Thesaurus Ecclesiæ," Camb. 1604, 8vo. 8." De animæ natura et viribus." 9. "Sacra Emblemata," &c. &c. with others, the titles of which are given very inaccurately by his biographers.

One of his descendants was the late Ralph Willet, esq of Merly, in Dorsetshire, and founder and proprietor of the celebrated Merly library, which was disposed of by auction some months ago.

WILLIAM of MALMSBURY. See MALMSBURY. . WILLIAM of NANGIS. See NANGIS.

WILLIAMS (ANNA), an ingenious English lady, was the daughter of a surgeon and physician in South Wales, where she was born in 1706. Her father, Zachariah Wilz liams, during his residence in Wales, imagined that he had discovered, by a kind of intuitive penetration, what had escaped the rest of mankind. He fancied that he had been fortunate enough to ascertain the longitude by magnetism, and that the variations of the needle were equal, at equal distances, east and west. The idea fired his imagination; and, prompted by ambition, and the hopes of splendid recompence, he determined to leave his business and habitation for the metropolis. Miss Williams accompanied him, and they arrived in London about 1730; but the bright views which had allured him from his profession soon vanished. The rewards which he had promised himself ended in disappointment; and the ill success of his schemes may be inferred from the only recompence which his journey and imagined discovery procured. He was admitted a pensioner at the Charter-house. When Miss Williams first resided in London, she devoted no inconsiderable portion of her time to its various amusements. She visited every object that merited the inspection of a polished and laudably-inquisitive mind, or could attract the attention of a stranger. At a later period of life she spoke familiarly of these scenes, of which the impression was never erased, though they must, however, have soon lost their allurements. Mr. Williams did not long continue a member of the Charter-house. A dispute with the masters obliged him to remove from this asylum of age, and poverty. In 1749 he published in 4to "A true Narrative,” &c, of the treatment he had met with. He was now ex- ! posed to severe trials, and every succeeding day increased, the gloominess of his prospects. In 1740 Miss Williams lost her sight by a cataract, which prevented her, in a great measure, from assisting his distresses, and alleviating

Fuller's Abel Redivivus, and Barksdale's Remembrancer, in both of which is Dr. Willet's life by his son-in-law Dr. Peter Smith.-Strype's Whitgift, p. 435,543.-Atb. Ox. vol. I.-Nichols's Bowyer, vol. VIII.

his sorrows. She still, however, felt her passion for literature equally predominant. She continued the same attention to the neatness of her dress; and, what is more extraordinary, continued still the exercise of her needle, a branch of female accomplishment in which she had before displayed great excellence. During the lowness of her fortune she worked for herself with nearly as much dexterity and readiness as if she had not suffered a loss so irreparable. Her powers of conversation retained their former vigour. Her mind did not sink under these calamities; and the natural activity of her disposition animated her to uncommon exertions :

"Though fallen on evil days;

On evil days though fallen;

In darkness, and with dangers compass'd round,
And solitude!"

In 1746, notwithstanding her blindness, she published the "Life of the emperor Julian, with notes, translated from the French of F. La Bleterie." In this translation she was assisted by two female friends, whose names were Wilkinson. This book was printed by Bowyer, in whose life, by Nichols, we are informed, that he contributed the advertisement, and wrote the notes, in conjunction with Mr. Clarke and others. The work was revised by Markland and Clarke. It does not appear what pecuniary advantages Miss Williams might derive from this publication. They were probably not very considerable, and afforded only a temporary relief to the misfortunes of her father. About this time, Mr. Williams, who imparted his afflictions to all from whom he hoped consolation or assistance, told his story to Dr. Samuel Johnson; and, among other aggravations of distress, mentioned his daughter's blindness. Ha spoke of her acquirements in such high terms, that Mrs. Johnson, who was then living, expressed a desire of seeing her; and accordingly she was soon afterwards brought to the doctor's house by her father; and Mrs. Johnson found her possessed of such qualities as recommended her strongly for a friend. As her own state of health, therefore, was weak, and her husband was engaged during the greater part of the day in his studies, she gave Miss Williams a general invitation: a strict intimacy soon took place; but the enjoyment of their friendship did not continue long. Soon after its commencement, Mrs. Johnson was attended by her new companion in an illness which terminated fatally. VOL. XXXII

H

Dr. Johnson still retained his regard for her, and in 1752, by his recommendation, Mr. Sharp, the surgeon, undertook to perform the operation on Miss Williams's eyes, which is usual in such cases, in hopes of restoring her sight. Her own habitation was not judged convenient for the occasion. She was, therefore, invited to the doctor's. The surgeon's skill, however, proved fruitless, as the crystalline humour was not sufficiently inspissated for the needle to take effect. The recovery of her sight was pronounced impossible. Afrer this dreadful sentence, she never left the roof which had received her during the operation. The doctor's kindness and conversation soothed her melancholy situation: and her society seemed to alleviate the sorrows which his late loss had occasioned.

When Dr. Johnson, however, changed his residence, she returned to lodgings; and, in 1755, her father published a book, in Italian and English, entitled "An Account of an Attempt to ascertain the longitude at sea, by an exact Theory of the magnetical Needle."

In 1755, Mrs. Williams's circumstances were rendered more easy by the profits of a benefit-play, granted her by the kindness of Mr. Garrick, from which she received 200l. which was placed in the stocks. While Mrs. Williams en joyed so comfortable an asylum, her life passed in one even tenour. It was chequered by none of those scenes which enliven biography by their variety. The next event of any consequence, in the history of Mrs. Williams, was the publication of a volume of "Miscellanies in Prose and Verse," in 1766. Her friends assisted her in the completion of this book, by several voluntary contributions; and 1007. which was laid out in a bridge-bond, was added to her little stock by the liberality of her subscribers. About 1766, Dr. Johnson removed from the Temple, where he had lived, for some time, in chambers, to Johnson's-court, Fleet-street, and again invited to his house the worthy friend of Mrs. Johnson. The latter days of Mrs. Williams were now rendered easy and comfortable. Her wants were few, and, to supply them, she made her income sufficient. She still possessed an unalterable friend in Dr. Johnson. Her acquaintance was select rather than numerous. Their society made the infirmities of age less intolerable, and communicated a cheerfulness to her situation, which solitary blindness would otherwise have rendered truly deplorable.

She died at the house of her friend, in Bolt-court, Fleetstreet (whither they removed about 1775), on the 6th of September, 1783, aged seventy-seven years. She bequeathed all her little effects to a charity, which had been instituted for the education of poor deserted girls, and supported by the voluntary contributions of several ladies.

WILLIAMS (CHARLES HANBURY), a statesman and wit of considerable temporary fame, was the third son of John Hanbury, esq. a South Sea Director, who died in 1734. Charles, who in consequence of the will of his godfather, Charles Williams, esq. of Caerleon, assumed the name of Williams, was born in 1709, and educated at Eton, where he made considerable progress in classical literature; and having finished his studies, travelled through various parts of Europe. Soon after his return he assumed the name of Williams, obtained from his father the estate of Coldbrook, and espoused, in 1732, lady Frances Coningsby, youngest daughter of Thomas, earl of Coningsby.

On the death of his father in 1733, he was elected member of parliament for the county of Monmouth, and uniformly supported the administration of sir Robert Walpole, whom he idolized; he received from that minister many early and confidential marks of esteem, and in 1739 was was appointed by him paymaster of the marines. His name occurs only twice as a speaker, in Chandler's debates but the substance of his speech is given in neither instance. Sprightliness of conversation, ready wit, and agreeable manners, introduced him to the acquaintance of men of the first talents: he was the soul of the celebrated coterie, of which the most conspicuous members were, lord Hervey, Winnington, Horace Walpole, late earl of Orford, Stephen Fox, earl of Ilchester, and Henry Fox, lord Hol land, with whom, in particular, he lived in the strictest habits of intimacy and friendship. At this period he distinguished himself by political ballads remarkable for vivacity, keenness of invective, and ease of versification. In 1746 he was installed knight of the Bath, and soon after, appointed envoy to the court of Dresden, a situation which he is said to have solicited, that its employments might divert his grief for the death of his friend Mr. Winnington. The votary of wit and pleasure was instantly transformed into a man of business,

1 Gent. Mag. vols. XX. LIII. and LVII.-London Mag. 1784.-Hawkins's Life of Johnson.-Boswell's Life of Johnson.-Nichols's Bowyer.