army then serving in Flanders. Very soon, however, he retired from service, returned to London in great poverty, and recommenced authorship. Ho now wrote some translations, and many occasional and miscellaneous poems, and produced a new series of plays. Among these were the two tragedies through which his name is remembered: "The Orphan' appeared in 1680, and 'Venice Preserved' in 1682. Both of these, especially the latter, abound in that deep pathos which was so cordially admired by Dryden, and which attracted the sympathy of the poetic and imaginative Collins. Otway continued to be poor; and his unfortunate life came to a close in his thirty-fourth year. He died, 1685, in a house in Tower-Hill, where he was hiding from his creditors; and it is asserted that, suffering from hunger, he eagerly swallowed a crust of bread, and was choked by it. [W.S.] OUGHTRED, WM., a minister of the Church of England, dist. as a mathematician, 1574-1660. OUSELEY, SIR WILLIAM, an Oriental scholar and wr. on Persian history and literat., 1771-1842. OUTRAM, or OWTRAM, WILLIAM, a Church of England minister, celebrated for his learning as a theologian, 1625-1679.

OVERALL, JOHN, a learned prelate, author of a work entitled 'The Convocation Book,' written in opposition to Parsons, to advocate the divine right of government. He had a share also in the translation of the Bible and the Church Catechism. Born 1559, died bishop of Norwich 1619.

OVERBURY, SIR THOMAS, known as an elegant miscellaneous writer, but more especially for his tragical death at the instance of the earl of Rochester and the countess of Essex, was born in Warwickshire about 1581. He contracted an intimacy with the earl, then Robert Carr, at the court of James I., and provoked the anger of the Countess by endeavouring to dissuade his friend from marrying her; the fact being that he was privy to their intrigues, and well acquainted with the infamous character of the lady. Rochester had the address to procure the imprisonment of his friend in the Tower of London, by creating a cause of offence between him and the king, and, some months later, caused him to be poisoned there, September 15, 1613. Though suspicions were entertained at the time, it was not till 1616 that this deed of darkness was discovered, when the inferior agents were all apprehended, tried, and executed. Rochester, now earl of Somerset, and the countess, were also tried and condemned, but they were both pardoned by the king, for private reasons. A nephew of Sir Thomas Overbury, who bore the same names, and inherited his estates, was author of some curious tracts, published 1676-1677.

OWAIN, a famous British or Welch name borne by a son of Mexen Wledig, who was elected king in the time of the Romans, and is numbered with the British saints. Another OWAIN was prince of Powys 1110-1114, when he was killed by Gerald, constable of Pembroke, whose wife he had seduced. A third, OWAIN CIVEILOG, known as a warrior and poet, died about 1197.

OWAIN-GLANDWR. See GLENDOWER.

OWEN, GEORGE, an English physician, d. 1558, OWEN, HENRY, a learned divine of the Church of England, born in Merionethshire 1716, died in London 1795. He is author of Observations on the Four Gospels,'The Intent and Propriety of the Scripture Miracles,' 'An Inquiry into the Present State of the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament,' an Introduction to Hebrew Criticism,' a Treatise on Trigonometry,' &c.

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OWEN, JOHN, D.D., a scion of an ancient Welch family, was born in 1616 at Stadham, Oxfordshire. His precocious talents and acquirements procured him admission into Queen's College at the age of twelve, and he was made Master of Arts at nineteen. Devoted to his studies at that age, he spent only four hours in bed, but at the same time was fond of all manly and athletic sports, which tended greatly to give vigour and stamina to his constitution. When only twentyone, he headed the students in a determined resistance to some superstitious rites which the then chancellor of Oxford, Archbishop Laud, designed to impose: and though successful in putting down the innovation, Owen paid dearly for the part he acted, for he was obliged to leave the university. He immediately took orders, although he entered into no pastoral duties owing to the state of his bodily as well as mental health, for he became subject for a time to a deep and desponding anxiety about his spiritual interests. Owen's prospects in life were greatly affected by the part he acted on the outbreak of the civil war. Having zealously espoused the parliamentary cause, an incensed uncle, who had promised to make him heir to his large estate, expunged his name from his will; and he was left accordingly to his own resources. went an entire stranger to London, and there commenced his career of authorship by publishing his Display of Arminianism,' a work suited to the times. The society for purging the church of heresies rewarded him through their Chairman with the living of Frodham in Essex, and during the year and a-half he resided in that parish, his popularity as a preacher was so great, that crowds flocked to hear him from all the surrounding districts. He resigned this living for a charge at Coggeshall, a market town about five miles distant, where he changed from the presbyterian form of church government to the congregational, as being more accordant with the primitive church of the New Testament. His name and character had risen so high, that he was invited to preach before the liament on 20th April, 1646, and on several occasions afterwards he performed the same duty, being selected particularly from his energy as well as his full approval of the proceeding to preach before that body on the day after the execution of Charles I. He became a favourite with Cromwell, who

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took him as his chaplain first to Ireland, and at a later period into Scotland. On returning home, his design was to resume his pastoral labours at Coggeshall. But the parliament having nominated him dean of the university of Oxford, he removed thither in 1651, and was soon after chosen vice-chancellor. During his administration of the chancellorship, which he held for five years, he rendered important services, and by his moderation, amid the sectarian contests that were then bitterly carried on, secured the love and respect of all parties. His duties as chancellor, though onerous, were not allowed to interfere either with his labour in preaching, or his pursuit in literature. He preached every Sabbath at St. Mary's, and he published several of his best works, such as 'The Perseverance of the Saints,' in 1654, 'The Vindicia Evengelicæ, or the Mystery of the Gospel Vindicated,' and 'Communion with God,' which has been valued by many as one of his greatest performances. The restoration of the Stuart dynasty led, amongst other changes of government, to Owen's ejection from his university offices: and, having gone to reside at Stadham, a small estate he possessed, lived there in retirement, till, things having become settled and tranquil, he ventured to return to London, and take a public share in works connected with the interests of religion and learning. The rancour of the royalist and High Church party raged so violently against dissenters generally, and Owen in particular, that he contemplated seriously two successive offers made him of important offices in American colleges. His personal safety was sometimes endangered, for on one occasion, his mansion at Stadham was beset by troopers, and he narrowly escaped being made prisoner, by flight through a postern door. He was, even when invested with power and the chief direction of affairs, an enlightened and consistent advocate of the right of private judgment and religious toleration. A brief period of respite was granted to the nonconformists, during Buckingham's administration which commenced in 1667, and Owen undertook the charge of a numerous and influential congregation in Leadenhall-Street. But this interval of indulgence was of short duration. A bill against conventicles was passed into a law in 1670, and by the fines and imprisonments it imposed, gave a heavy blow and great discouragement to the cause of dissent. Owen about this time began to decline in health. His great and long-continued labours had made serious inroads on a frame naturally robust and athletic, and having retired to a house at Ealing, occupied himself in preparing his last work, The Glory of Christ,' for the press. He expired on 24th August, 1683, and was interred in the cemetery of Bunhill Fields. Owen has been often styled The Prince of Divines,' and his works, though marked by the tedious prolixity of the age, are a storehouse of valuable matter. [R.J.]

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OWEN, JOHN, a Welch epigrammatist, d. 1622. OWEN, JOHN, a minister of the Church of England, born about 1765, known as the secretary and historian of the Bible Society. He wrote also, 'Reflections on the State of Religion and Politics in France and Great Britain,' and 'The Christian Monitor for the Last Days.' Died 1822. OWEN, LEWIS, a Welch Jesuit, born 1572. OWEN, THOMAS, a learned judge, died 1598. OWEN, WILLIAM, one of the ablest English portrait painters, was born at Ludlow in Shropshire in 1769. He came to London, by the advice of Payne Knight, at the early age of seventeen, and became the pupil of Catton the Royal Academician. He attracted also the notice of Sir Joshua Rey nolds by a copy he made of the 'Perdita' of that painter. Owen first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1792; his connections increased so rapidly that in the following year he exhibited seven portraits. He frequently very much enhanced the value of his portraits by making them generally interesting as fancy pictures, such as Venus' -The Bacchante'-Cottage Child from Nature' The Children in the Wood,' &c. His success was certainly very great; notwithstanding the rivalry of Lawrence, Beechey, and Hoppner; he had painted the Lord Chancellor and William Pitt before his thirtieth year; and the list of Owen's portraits comprises a very large proportion of the men of rank and talent of the early part of this century. He was superior to Lawrence in male heads: they were void of the simpering prettiness and delicacy of complexion which injures many of Lawrence's heads: the sitting full length of William Scott, Lord Stowell, in his robes, is worthy of Vandyck. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1806; in 1810 he was made principal portrait painter to the Prince Regent, and in 1813 he declined the honour of knighthood. He died 11th February, 1825, in his fifty-sixth year, after a lingering illness, though the immediate cause of death was his taking opium instead of an aperient draught, owing to the mistake of the druggist, who had misplaced the labels.-(Cunningham, Lives of the Most Eminent British Painters, &c.) [R.N.W.]

OWTRAM. See OUTRAM. OXBERRY, W. H., a popular English comedian, 1808-1851.

OXENBRIDGE, J., an English theologian, 1609-1674.

OZELL, JOHN, an English writer of great learning and industry, whose principal works are translations from the French, Italian, and Spanish. Among these are Don Quixote, Fenelon on Learning, Rabelais, a complete version of Molière, and some of the dramas of Corneille and Racine. He is introduced into the Dunciad by Pope, whose rival he was. He d. in the office of auditor for St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Thomas's Hospital, 1743.

probably even no fondness for it, while he had long cherished a strong desire for foreign travel, it was natural that Park should offer himself to the Association when they were looking out for a successor to Major Houghton, who had perished in a late attempt to reach the Niger from the west coast. Park's knowledge of natural history and medicine, his age-the full vigour of youth-his previous experience of a hot climate, his enthusiasm, and a reputation for courage and address, founded, it would seem, rather upon an observation of his personal qualities and general bearing, than upon anything which he had yet done, formed recommendations of so strong a nature that the Association accepted his offer. After due preparation he left England on the 22d May, 1795; and on the 5th July reached Pisania, a British factory 200 miles up the river Gambia, where he remained some time with Dr. Laidley, the resident agent. Beginning his journey on the 2d December, he first crossed the country E.N.E. to Yarra, and then turning S.E. traversed the kingdoms of Leedamar and Bambarra, till he came in sight of the Niger near Sego: 'I saw with infinite pleasure the great object of my mission, the long sought-for majestic Niger, glittering to the morning sun, as broad as the Thames at Westminster, and flowing slowly to the eastward. I hastened to the brink, and having drunk of the water, lifted up my fervent thanks in prayer to the Great Ruler of all things, for having thus far crowned my endeavours with success.' Thus, the first step was gained in the solution of a most difficult problem, deemed by his country of great importance, and which had already baffled the skill of numerous enterprising travellers, and the efforts of powerful states. Park was determined to work the problem fully out, by tracing the mysterious course of this great river. He found it impossible, however, to proceed farther down than Silla, near Jenné, and on the 30th July he began his homeward journey towards the Gambia. Following the Niger as far up as Bammakoo, and there turning to the right, he crossed the country watered by the streams of the Senegal, by a route more southerly than his former track, and at length reached Pisania on the 10th June, 1797; having thus accomplished a journey whose hardship and suffering are, perhaps, without a parallel in the history of inland discovery. Soon after he returned home; and residing mostly at his native place, occupied himself in preparing an account of his travels. In August, 1799, being then in his twenty-eighth year, he married the daughter of his former master, Mr. Anderson, and, in October 1801, settled in the town of Peebles for the practice of his profession. During the few years which he spent here, he enjoyed much domestic happiness, and the privilege of associating with Sir Walter Scott, Dr. Adam Ferguson, the historian, and other persons of note. His mind was, however, kept in an unsettled state up till the end of 1804, by several proposals from government for new schemes of discovery. One for a new expedition to Central Africa was at length matured, and Park was requested to take the com

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mand. Park,' says his biographer, was so much afraid of encountering the distress of his family, that he proceeded directly to London from Edinburgh without returning to bid them a formal adieu.' Towards other friends he practised the same constraint upon his feelings. He sailed from Portsmouth January 30th, 1805. Pisania was again fixed on as the point of departure. His companions on his former journey were two negroes, and even these had accompanied him no farther than Yarra, so that for more than three-fourths of his journey he was quite alone. On the second journey he had stipulated for a good escort; and the presence of two friends, Mr. Anderson, his wife's brother, as surgeon, and Mr. Scott, a young neighbour, as artist. With these two friends, five artificers from the royal dock-yards, Lieutenant Martyn, thirty-five privates from the garrison at Goree, and Isaaco, a Mandingo, a priest and trader, as guide and interpreter, and forty asses with baggage, Park left Pisania on the 4th of May, 1805. He chose the route by which he had returned on his first journey; but the time of starting was most unfortunate and ill-chosen,-less by any fault of his, than the delay of the government in despatching the ships from England. On the 8th June the rainy season set in, and the misfortunes of the expedition began. On the 19th August, Park reached the summit of the mountain ridge, dividing the river basins of the Senegal and Niger, and came once more in sight of the latter, rolling its immense stream along the plain,' and, on the evening of the same day, pitched his tent on the banks of the Niger at Bammakoo, where he had struck off from the river on his homeward route. Only seven men now remained; most of the rest had died of fever or dysentery by the way, among whom was Mr. Scott the artist; a few had been left sick in charge of friendly natives, but were not afterwards heard of. Nearly a month before, the last of the forty asses had died. The expedition now descended the river in two canoes to Sansanding, between Sego and Silla, where his brother-in-law, Mr. Anderson, and two of the men, fell victims to the dreadful climate. Lieutenant Martyn and three soldiers were all who now survived. With their aid, Park constructed a vessel, which was named the schooner Joliba, 40 feet long by 6 broad, and drawing, when loaded, only one foot water; and having engaged a guide and interpreter, named Amadi Fatouma, instead of Isaaco, who was sent back to the Gambia with his journal and letters, purchased three slaves, and laid in a stock of provisions, he set sail down the river on the 17th November, in the hope of tracing the remaining course of this famed stream, the lower part of which, according to the theory which he had formed, was identical with the Congo, or Zaire, entering the Atlantic in lat. 15° S. This, however, it was destined that the intrepid and enthusiastic traveller was not to accomplish. His despatches, forwarded by Isaaco, contained the last intelligence ever received from him, and for many years his fate was involved in mystery. It was at length distinctly made out by information gleaned from various quarters, that, about the beginning of