Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 18.djvu/405

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John Anstis, and was buried in Fulham churchyard. The manuscript of his life of More was lost.

Besides the works mentioned, Fiddes published many sermons, most of which were collected into a volume, ‘Fifty-two Practical Discourses,’ 1720; also ‘A Letter in Answer to a Freethinker, occasioned by the late Duke of Buckingham's Epitaph,’ 1721. Birch, in ‘General Dictionary,’ p. 244, prints a letter of Fiddes to a protestant lady to dissuade her from turning Roman catholic.

Fiddes's ‘Life of Wolsey’ was a considerable work, and was founded upon real research; the documents appended still make the book valuable. The view of Wolsey which Fiddes took is in its general outline the same as that taken by Brewer in his ‘History of Henry VIII,’ though Fiddes regarded Wolsey rather as a patron of letters and a benefactor of the university of Oxford than as a great statesman engaged in foreign affairs. Fiddes's style is not happy, being involved and lumbering; but his ‘Life of Wolsey’ marked a real advance in historical insight.

Fiddes had all a student's heedlessness of ordinary prudence. He was continually in money difficulties, and left a wife and six children ill provided for. He was so forgetful of common things when absorbed in study that one night he was lost, and was discovered locked up in the Bodleian Library. He had a very retentive memory, which made his erudition seem greater than it really was. In spite of his physical infirmity he was valued in society and had many friends, both in Oxford and London.

[The only material for a life of Fiddes is the article by Thomas Birch in the General Dictionary, Critical and Historical, v. 238, &c. Birch wrote in 1736, from information supplied by Fiddes's family. All subsequent notices of Fiddes have been repetitions of this. Birch's dates are not accurate, nor is his account of Halsham, which he describes as being in a marsh, and affecting Fiddes's throat by its dampness. The information about Fiddes's literary life is gathered from the prefaces and dedications of his various works.]

M. C.


FIELD, BARRON (1786–1846), lawyer and miscellaneous writer, second son of Henry Field [q. v.], treasurer to the Apothecaries' Company, by his wife, Esther, daughter of John Barron, was born 23 Oct. 1786. Through his father's intimate connection with Christ's Hospital, and through the fact that his brother Francis John Field was a clerk in the India Office, he became acquainted with Charles Lamb, had a large share in his affections, and was admitted a member of that distinguished cluster of literary men which included Coleridge, Wordsworth, Hazlitt, and Leigh Hunt. He was entered on the books of the Inner Temple on 20 June 1809, and was called on 23 June 1814. At this period of his life he supported himself by literature. He contributed several essays to Leigh Hunt's ‘Reflector’ (1811), and among his compilations was an analysis of Blackstone's ‘Commentaries.’ His most lucrative engagement was that of theatrical critic to the ‘Times.’ He had sufficient influence with the proprietors to procure the place of parliamentary reporter for Thomas Barnes [q. v.], and the recruit ultimately obtained the position of editor. Field appreciated English poetry, both ancient and modern; his fondness for Wordsworth's writings was especially marked, and Mr. J. Dykes Campbell possessed a copy of Wordsworth's poems (1815–20, in 3 vols.) which contains Field's book-plate and elaborate variorum readings in his handwriting. He contributed to the ‘Quarterly Review’ for 1810 an article on Dr. Nott's edition of Herrick, and he made a close study of the dramatic works of Heywood. When he had realised the precarious character of literary work and his want of success in the law in England, he secured for himself the post of advocate-fiscal at Ceylon, and then of judge of the supreme court of New South Wales and its dependencies. He embarked at Gravesend on 28 Aug. 1816, with his wife, whom he had just married, and anchored in Sydney harbour on 24 Feb. 1817. His stay in the colony lasted for nearly seven years. He took ship for England on 4 Feb. 1824, and landed at Portsmouth on 18 June. Several articles, including narratives of the incidents on these voyages, were contributed by him to the ‘London Magazine’ (1822–5), and the journals of his voyages were subsequently included in the appendix to the ‘Geographical Memoirs on New South Wales.’ His discharge of his legal duties in New South Wales was marred by some drawbacks. His diligence and professional skill were generally recognised, but he was paid by fees, and this exposed him to the charge, an unjust charge as is acknowledged, of encouraging litigation to augment his income. A more serious error appeared in his readiness to embark in the party squabbles of the colony, which exposed him to the obloquy of his opponents; and when he retired from the presidency of the supreme court the complimentary address of the lawyers did not represent every shade of public opinion. An address which Field delivered to the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, as its president, on 3 July 1823, provoked a printed letter ‘in refutation of the groundless assertions put forth by him to the