signature of 0.0. In 1795 he published "Poetical Essays, or Short Flights toward Parnassus ;" and in 1805 a larger work entitled "Sacred Dramas." In 1815 Mr. Collett removed his academy to Foregate-street, in Worcester, where he died March 22d, 1816.720 WILLIAM TINDAL, F. S. A.,-named after his ancestor, the translator and martyr,-author of "the History and Antiquities of the Abbey and Borough of Evesham," was born at Chelmsford, May 14th, 1756; and was grandson of the Rev. Nicholas Tindal, chaplain of Greenwich Hospital, the continuator of Rapin's History of England. Mr. Tindal's father, James, was captain in the fourth dragoon-guards, and dying at the age of thirty-three, William, then but four years old, was placed with his mother's brother, a minorcanon of Chichester. There he was sent to a day-school till about the age of ten, when he went to reside with his mother at Richmond. Here, as stated by himself in an autobiography cited by Mr. Chambers, he often visited his grandfather at Greenwich, who thought well of his capacity. Possessing a delicate ear for music he accompanied his mother to Oxford, when about eleven, to be entered as a chorister. But in this, Mr. Tindal was of opinion that his friends did not sufficiently consult his youthful disposition; which he states to have been naturally bashful, reserved, and pensive. He continued a chorister at Oxford for some years; and lodged at the house of the Rev. Mr. Mant. His passion for music reviving with the leisure which left him nearly his own master, he now hired a violin, playing and endeavouring to transpose the solos of Correlli into trios; and at the same period pursued with avidity severer studies: an early love of drawing and a fondness for paintings also continued with him through life. He entered as commoner of Trinity college, Oxford, May 13th 1772, intending to stand for a scholarship during the same year; in which he succeeded, and was elected scholar. In 1774 his grandfather died, leaving him a handsome annuity, till he should arrive at the age of twenty-four; by which time he expected that he would be provided for in the church. In 1776, Mr. Tindal took his first degree in arts; and in December, 1778, the degree of master. In the latter year he was 720 Chambers' Biographical Illustrations, p. 576. ordained at Oxford, and became fellow of Trinity college. His fellowship he lost in early life, by marriage. In August, 1787, his name appears as curate in the register of Fladbury, near Evesham; in which office he continued till February, 1790. During this period, his attention being directed toward antiquities by the architectural vestiges of the monastery, he produced his History of Evesham. The work was printed and illustrated in a manner far superior to the generality of local histories at that period; and in 1794 was published by the late Mr. Agg, of Evesham, at his own entire cost. In consequence of this publication, the author was soon after elected a fellow of the Antiquarian Society. In 1792 he was instituted to the living of Kington in this county, through his father-in-law's interest with the Cecil family; and in 1795 was presented to the rectory of Wallingford, Norfolkshire, in the gift of Mr. Coke. The latter preferment he exchanged, in 1799, for the chaplainship of the Tower of London; where he died, in September, 1804, under depressing mental circumstances, and is buried in the ancient church within that fortress, beneath a stone bearing simply the initials W. T. Beside his work on Evesham, Mr. Tindal was author of "Strictures on Dr. Johnson's 'Life and Critical Observations on the Works of Mr. Gray," published in 1782; of which Bp. Hurd is stated to have said "it was the best defence he had ever seen against the attacks of that Goliah of literature."721 He also published, in 1791, "Juvenile Excursions in Literature and Criticism," which did him considerable credit as a polite scholar; this was followed by "Plain Truth in a Plain Dress ;" and in 1804 by "the Evils and Advantages of Genius contrasted," an essay in three cantos, in blank-verse. He was also the author of six pamphlets,722 the titles of which do not appear; and he left some unfinished works at the time of his decease. His compositions in music are said to have been highly esteemed by the first judges; and some of his juvenile productions had, in 1820, been recently played at the concert of ancient music with great approbation. 721 Chambers' Biographical Illustrations, p. 572. CHAPTER XX. CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS TOGETHER WITH PAROCHIAL PROPERTY. OUR present chapter will present an enumeration of such bequests and donations as have not been already noticed in our account of public institutions. But before entering on this subject, it may not be improper to observe, that the tables upon which the original records are made in All-saints' church-ostensibly for the information of posterity-are in a very confused and decaying state. The benefactions are here painted upon linen cloth, which seems to have been afterward cut and fitted into the present frames. These frames are ten in number; and they are so ranged, that while one table breaks off in the midst of a bequest, the remainder of the benefaction is to be discovered on the commencement of a table by two or three removed. This, with the intermixture of other tables, apparently brought from the church of St. Lawrence, when that structure fell into decay, and recapitulating in different. order the contents of the former,-confer upon the entire range the character of "confusion, thrice confounded." In Bengeworth church, on the contrary, the benefactions are very properly inscribed upon the front panels of the western gallery. By cancelling the recapitulations on the All-saints' tables, the panels of the gallery here, would probably be found sufficient to present, and thus to preserve the Evesham list, straight-forward and entire. After a careful collation of the contents of these, at present jumbled, records with the twenty-fourth Report of the Commissioners for Inquiry concerning Charities, as also by information personally obtained,-we have been enabled to present the ensuing list, in some degree of order. At the same time we shall classify our information under distinctive heads. 1. CHARITIES FOR THE GENERAL RELIEF OF THE POOR. Thomas LORD COVENTRY, by will dated 31st of August, 1657, bequeathed the sum of £500 for the benefit of the poor of the town of Evesham. This sum was, in September 1668, in conformity with his lordship's will, invested in the purchase of a yearly rentcharge of £25, issuing out of lands in the parish of Bredon, then belonging to John Harlowe, esq. but now to Mrs. Cartwright; to be received by trustees, and to be by them paid yearly to the mayor of Evesham, the three senior aldermen, the recorder, and the town-clerk,-for distribution among such of the poor inhabitants of the town of Evesham as the heirs of the testator should halfyearly appoint. In default of such appointment, the said corporate officers shall then dispose of the portion unappropriated, to such of the inhabitants as they shall think fit. But no person is to receive more than 10s. in any half-year, without written direction from the heir of the testator; nor is any part to be given to any of the kindred or alliance of the corporate officers, without the like special permission. An annual account is to be kept; which being first audited and subscribed in a full chamber, is within twenty days to be sent to the heir of the testator; in default of which, payment of the annuity shall cease, until this provision be complied with. The present trustees, appointed by order of the court of chancery, dated 4th May, 1829-are, John baron Northwick, the hon. Henry Beauchamp Lygon, the hon. Edward Pyndar Lygon, Edmund Thomas Perrott, esq. sir Charles Rushout Cockerell, Thomas Beale Cooper, M.D. the rev. John Marshall, Mr. William Byrch, and Mr. William Soley. To these trustees the annuity, as ordered, was conveyed on the 15th of February, 1830, upon the trusts of the original purchase-deed. Certain arrears of this rent-charge, amounting to £160, were paid up to Michaelmas 1828, to the mayor; by whom a balance amounting, after deducting the costs of the order, to £33 17s. 6d. was paid over to the succeeding mayor, to be applied in furtherance of the charity. Since the passing of the Municipal Act, the trustees aforesaid pay over the net amount-£5 being deducted for land-tax-to the mu nicipal trustees for charities, who, under section 71, distribute the same, according to the will, yearly. Philip Gardner, gent. conveyed three houses in Offenham, to trustees and their heirs, that they should on every 24th of December distribute the rents among forty poor widows, or such poor of the parish of All-saints as they should think fit. Six tenements at Offenham, in possession of All-saints' parish, are understood to have been thus obtained; and are let by the churchwardens, under the direction of the vestry. The present rents amount to £10 4s. yearly. From this amount 52s. are annually given in bread to poor widows, at the church; and the residue, which was formerly applied to church expenses, is now, at the suggestion of the commissioners, annually distributed according to the intentions of the donor. Mrs. ABIGAIL MARTIN gave 20s. per annum, out of Doctor's Close, to be distributed yearly to twenty poor widows and maids, to be nominated by the minister. This close is now the property of Mr. Rudge; by whom the above charges are paid to the minister and churchwardens; who appropriate the same accordingly. The land when purchased by Dr. Jephcott, was, as appears by his will, dated 3d of March, 1712, subjected to other yearly charges; among which were 6s. 8d. to the churchwardens of St. Lawrence, and 10s. to the poor of the parish of All-saints for ever. AIT PAYMENT.-A payment of one shilling, granted to each of the parishes of All-saints and St. Lawrence, out of an ait, or eyot, in the river Avon, between the mills and the bridge, was recovered by the inquiry of the Commissioners; and is now annually paid. to the churchwardens by Mrs. Sarah Smith, the proprietor. This sum, together with Mrs. Martin's bequest, is distributed among poor widows in the two parishes. Mrs. ELIZABETH GARDNER bequeathed £50, to be placed out at interest by her brother and sister, Mr. George Gardner and Mrs. Ann Gardner; to be disposed of yearly to the poor of All-saints and St. Lawrence, as they should think fit. This £50 was, by the will of Mr. Gardner, dated 16th April, 1720, increased to £100; beside which, he also bequeathed to the poor of Bengeworth £50, the interest to be given to aged persons unable to work; and £100 more, the interest of which should be applied in the teaching of |