incomparably more agreeable and effective than a bass, and also compares it to the violoncello. His compass was of unusual extent, from E below the bass stave to G above it. The same critic tells us that his intonation was wonderfully true, and that his richness and equality of tone resulted in part from his peculiarities of pronunciation; as instances of which, the words ‘die’ and ‘smile’ are given as ‘doy’ and ‘smawele.’ He had the good sense to perceive the wonderful beauties of Purcell's solos, and in one season he revived nearly all those bass songs which are now the best known specimens of the composer's work. Drs. Callcott and Crotch wrote songs especially for him. He was a beautiful copyist of music, as is shown by a copy of Marenzio's madrigals made by him, which is now in the British Museum. In the ‘London Magazine’ of April 1821, we read that he is too ill to sing, but hopes are held out of his recovery from the disease to which he had long been subject. But on 15 April he died; he was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey.
[Harmonicon for 1830; Miss Hawkins's Anecdotes (1822); London Magazine, December 1820, April 1821; Parkes's Musical Memories, i. 249; and Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians.]
BARTLET, JOHN (fl. 1662), nonconformist divine, was educated at the university of Cambridge, where he enjoyed the friendship of Dr. Sibbes. The authorities are divided as to whether he was the father or the brother of William Bartlet of Bideford. He appears to have been of a somewhat morbid habit of mind, as he is said to have been compelled to abandon the study of anatomy, in which he engaged while at Cambridge, owing to a monomaniacal aversion to food, induced by familiarity with the internal structure of the human gullet. Having entered the church he obtained the living of St. Thomas's, Exeter, being then in high favour with Bishop Hall. Subsequently he was collated to the rectory of St. Mary Major in the same city, which he retained until 1662, when he was deprived for nonconformity. Notwithstanding his ejectment, he continued to reside in Exeter, preaching as he found opportunity. He died in extreme old age, at what precise date is not known. He was a conscientious and laborious preacher, and the author of some works of a devotional and doctrinal character. His chief books are entitled: ‘A Summary View of the chief Heads of practical Divinity,’ 8vo, 1670, and ‘Directions for right receiving the Lord's Supper,’ 8vo, 1679.
[Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, ii. 192; Palmer's Nonconf. Mem. ii. 36; Wood's Athenæ (Bliss), iii. 265.]
BARTLET, WILLIAM (d. 1682), independent minister, educated at New Inn Hall, Oxford, is found officiating to a congregation at Wapping in 1647, and was lecturer at Bideford two years later. He is the author of two learned works: 1. ‘Ichnographia, or a Model of the Primitive Congregational Way,’ apparently an attempt to recover the order of divine service amongst the primitive christians for imitation by the moderns, published in London, 1647, 4to. 2. ‘Sovereign Balsam; gently applied in a few weighty considerations (by way of Query) for healing the distempers of such professors of religion as Satan hath wounded and drawn aside (under the notion of living in God) to the utter renouncing and casting off the use of Divine Ordinances and Gospel Instruments of Worship,’ London, 1649, 4to, a work directed against some sect of fanatics who believed they had reached a state of perfect sinlessness. Bartlet enumerates thirty-two of their tenets, of which the following two may serve as specimens: (1) ‘That they cannot join in prayer with others because of confession of wants, sins, drawing near to God, and petitions for the Lord's presence, giving out of help, &c., with which they cannot close because of denying the first and enjoying the latter;’ and (2) ‘that a saint may outlive all his religion, all ties upon his conscience, and yet remain a saint.’ Bartlet was one of the commissioners for Devonshire; was ejected from Bideford 1662; was once imprisoned; and died in 1682.
[Brit. Mus. Cat.; Wood's Athenæ (Bliss), iii. 264–5; Palmer, ii. 4; Walker's Sufferings, ii. 250.]
BARTLETT, BENJAMIN (1714–1787), numismatical and topographical writer, was of an old-established quaker family at Bradford, Yorkshire, where his father was an apothecary, having for his apprentice the afterwards celebrated Dr. Fothergill. At an early age Bartlett showed a great aptitude for antiquarian pursuits, and leaving Bradford, he removed to London, where he set up an apothecary's business for himself in Red Lion Street. This, however, he was eventually obliged to relinquish on account of failing health, resigning it to his partner, Mr. French. In his spare time he formed an extensive collection of English coins and seals from the Saxon time downwards, which, after his death, were sold by auction. His knowledge, too, in the various departments of numismatology was most extensive, and
