THE REVEREND ALBAN BUTLER was the second son of Simon Butler, Esquire, of Appletree, in the county of Northampton, by Miss Ann Birch, daughter of Thomas Birch, Esquire, of Gorscot, in the county of Stafford. His family, for amplitude of possessions, and splendour of descent and alliances, had vied with the noblest and wealthiest of this kingdom, but was reduced to slender circumstances, at the time of his birth. A tradition in his family mentions, that Mr Simon Butler (our Author's grandfather) was the person confidentially employed by the Duke of Devonshire, and the Earl of Warrington, in inviting the Prince of Orange over to England: that he professed the Protestant religion, and that his great zeal for it was his motive for embarking so warmly in that measure; but that he never thought it would be attended with the political consequences which followed from it; that, when they happened, they preyed greatly on his mind; that, to fly from his remorse, he gave himself up to plea sure; and that, in a few years, he dissipated a considerable proportion of the remaining part of the family estate, and left what he did not sell of it; heavily incumbered.

At a very early age, our Author was sent to a school in Lancashire, and there applied himsef to his studies with that unremitted application which, in every part of his life, he gave to literature. Sacred biography was even then his favourite pur

suit. A gentleman, lately deceased, mentioned to the editor, that he remembered him at this school, and frequently heard him repeat, with a surprising minuteness of fact, and precision of chronology, to a numerous and wondering audience of little boys, the history of the chiefs and saints of the Saxon æra of our history. He then also was distinguished for his piety, and a punctual discharge of his religious duties.-About the age of eight years, he was sent to the English college at Douay. It appears, from the diary of that college, that Mr Holman of Warkworth (whose memory, for his extensive charities, is still in benediction in Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire) became security for the expences of his education. About this time he lost his father and mother. The latter, just before she died, wrote to him and his two brothers, the following beautiful letter :

"MY DEAR CHILDREN,

"Since it pleases Almighty God to take me out of this world, "as no doubt wisely foreseeing I am no longer a useful parent to

you, (for no person ought to be thought necessary in this "world, when God thinks proper to take them out); so, I hope, you will offer the loss of me, with a resignation suitable to the religion you are of, and offer yourselves. He who makes you " orphans so young, 'without a parent to take care of you, will "take you into his protection and fatherly care, if you do live and "serve him, who is the Author of all goodness. Above all things,

prepare yourselves, while you are young, to suffer patiently "what afflictions he shall think proper to lay upon you; for it "is by this he trieth his best servants. In the first place, give "him thanks for your education in the true faith, (which many "thousands want): and then, I beg of you earnestly to petition "his direction, what state of life you shall undertake, whether it "be for religion, or to get your livings in the world. No doubt "but you may be saved either way, if you do your duty to God,

•

your neighbour, and yourselves. And I beg of you to make "constant resolutions, rather to die a thousand times, if possible, "than quit your faith; and always have in your thoughts, what you would think of, were you as nigh death as I now think myself. There is no preparation for a good death, but a good

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* life. Do not omit your prayers, and to make an act of contri"tion and examen of conscience every night, and frequent the "blessed sacraments of the Church. I am so weak, I can say no "more to you, but I pray God bless and direct you, and your "friends to take care of you. Lastly, I beg of you never to forแ get to pray for your poor father and mother, when they are not "capable of helping themselves: so I take leave of you, hoping "to meet you in heaven, to be happy for all eternity

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"Your affectionate Mother,

"ANN BUTLER."

Though our Author's memory, for the recollection of dates, was, in his very earliest years, remarkable, he found, when he first came to the college, great difficulty in learning his lessons by heart; so that, to enable him to repeat them in the school as well as the other boys, he was obliged to rise long before the college hour. By perseverance, however, he overcame this disheartening difficulty. Even while he was in the lowest schools, he was respected for his virtue and learning. One of his school-fellows writes thus of him: "The year after Mr Alban Butler's arrival at Douay, I was placed in the same school, under the same "master, he being in the first class of rudiments, as it is there called, and I in the lowest. My youth and sickly constitution "moved his innate goodness to pay me every attention in his power; and we soon contracted an intimacy that gave me every opportunity of observing his conduct, and of being fully acquainted with his sentiments. No one student in the college was more humble, more devout, more exact in every duty, or " more obedient or mortified. He was never reproved or pu" nished but once; and then, for a fault of which he was not guilty. This undeserved treatment he received with silence, patience, and humility. In the hours allotted to play, he rejoiced in the meanest employments assigned to him by his companions; as to fetch their balls, run on their errands, &c. &c. Though often treated with many indignities by his thoughtless companions, on purpose to try his patience, he never was ob"served to shew the least resentment, but bore all with meekness and patience. By the frequent practice of these virtues

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“he had attained so perfect an evenness of temper, that his mind "seemed never ruffled with the least emotion of anger.

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"stricted himself, in every thing, to the strictest bounds of necessity. Great part of his monthly allowance of pocket-mo"ney, and frequently of his daily food, went to the poor. So perfectly had he subjected the flesh to the spirit, that he seem"ed to feel no resistance from his senses in the service of God "and his neighbour."

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As he advanced in age, his learning and virtue became more and more conspicuous. Monsieur Pellison*, in his life of the famous Huet, Bishop of Avranches, observes, that, " from his ten"derest youth, he gave himself to study; that, at his rising, his going to bed, and during his meals, he was reading, or had o"thers to read to him; that neither the fire of youth, the inter"ruption of business, the variety of his employments, the socie"ty of his friends, nor the bustle of the world, could ever mo

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derate his ardour of study." The same may be said of our Author. He generally allowed himself no more than four hours sleep, and often past whole nights in study and prayer. All his day was spent in reading. When he was alone, he read; when he was in company, he read; at his meals, he read in his walks, he read; when he was in a carriage, he read; when he was on horseback, he read; whatever he did, he read. It was his custom to make abridgments of the principal works he perused, and to copy large extracts from them: several bulky volumes of them have fallen into the hands of the editor. Many were surprised to see the rapidity with which he read, or rather run through ́· books, and, at the same time, acquired a full and accurate knowledge of their contents.

II.

AFTER our Author had completed the usual course of study, he was admitted an Alumnus of Douay college, and appointed Professor of Philosophy. The Newtonian system of philosophy was, about that time, gaining ground in the foreign universities. He adopted it, in part, into the course of philosophy which he dictated to the students. He read and considered, with great at

Histoire de l'Academie, I vol. 102.