an addition to Hume, was published separately in 1841. In 1848 he owned and edited the ‘Christian Enquirer and the Literary Companion,’ but only seven numbers of it were published.
A life of literary activity brought Stebbing the acquaintance of many distinguished men. He breakfasted with Rogers, and was introduced by Basil Montagu to Coleridge's set at Highgate. He conversed with Scott, corresponded with Southey, heard Tom Moore sing his Irish ballads, and knew Thomas Campbell and Charles Dickens.
With his literary drudgery Stebbing combined much clerical work. From 1829 he was alternate morning preacher, and from 1836 to 1857 perpetual curate, of St. James, Hampstead Road, London. He officiated during the same period at the large cemetery of St. James, Piccadilly, which was situated behind his church, and from 1834 to December 1879 he acted as chaplain to University College hospital. For a few months, from 21 Nov. 1835 to the following spring, he held, on the presentation of John Norris, the vicarage of Hughenden in Buckinghamshire. In 1841 he was chaplain to the lord mayor, Thomas Johnson.
These appointments brought with them small pecuniary reward; but in 1857 Dr. Tait, then bishop of London, conferred upon him the more lucrative rectory of St. Mary Somerset, with St. Mary Mounthaw in the city of London. Under the Union of Benefices Act the parishes of St. Nicholas Cole-Abbey and St. Nicholas Olave were united with them in November 1866, and those of St. Benet and St. Peter, Paul's Wharf, in June 1879. At this composite living Dr. Stebbing did duty for the rest of his days. He was a moderate churchman, inclining to evangelicalism. In 1847 he published ‘A Letter to Lord John Russell on the Established Church,’ in which he argued for a reform of the system of patronage. He died at St. James's parsonage, Hampstead Road, London, on 22 Sept. 1883, and was buried on 27 Sept. in Kensal Green cemetery.
His wife (born at Norwich on 22 Feb. 1805) died on 3 Feb. 1882, and was buried in the same cemetery. Five sons and four daughters survived. Two of his sons, Mr. William Stebbing and Mr. Thomas Roscoe Rede Stebbing, F.R.S., have distinguished themselves respectively in literature and science; while two daughters, Beatrice (now Mrs. Batty) and Miss Grace Stebbing, are also well known as authors. The eldest son, John (d. 1885), translated Humboldt's ‘Letters to a Lady’ and Thiers's ‘History of France under Napoleon.’
Stebbing's portrait was painted at least four times, the artists being Harland, Wivell, Baugniet, and Riviere. There were published an engraving by S. W. Reynolds of the portrait by T. W. Harland, and a large lithograph by C. Baugniet. A portrait, from a photograph, appeared in the ‘Illustrated London News’ (6 Oct. 1883).
Stebbing's chief works, excluding sermons and those already noticed, were: 1. ‘History of Chivalry and the Crusades’ in Constable's ‘Miscellany,’ vols. l. and li., 1830; much praised by Professor Wilson for its clearness of style and picturesque descriptions. 2. ‘Lives of the Italian Poets,’ 1831, 3 vols.; 2nd edit. with numerous additions, 1832, 3 vols.; new edition in one volume, with omissions and alterations, 1860. 3. ‘History of the Christian Church’ in Lardner's ‘Cabinet Cyclopædia,’ 1833, 2 vols. 4. ‘History of the Reformation’ in Lardner's ‘Cabinet Cyclopædia,’ 1836, 2 vols. 5. ‘History of Church of Christ from Diet of Augsburg, 1530, to the Eighteenth Century;’ originally intended as a continuation of Milner's ‘History,’ 1842, 3 vols. 6. ‘The Church and its Ministers,’ 1844. 7. ‘History of the Universal Church in Primitive Times,’ 1845; prefixed is his portrait with autograph signature. 8. ‘The Christian in Palestine, or Scenes of Sacred History;’ to illustrate sketches on the spot by W. H. Bartlett, 1847. 9. ‘Short Readings on Subjects for Long Reflection,’ 1849. 10. ‘History of Christ's Universal Church prior to the Reformation,’ 1850, 2 vols. 11. ‘The long Railway Journey and other Poems,’ 1851. 12. ‘Jesus: a poem in six Books,’ 1851. 13. ‘Christian Graces in Olden Time: Poetical Illustrations,’ 1852. 14. ‘Near the Cloisters,’ 1868, 2 vols.; descriptive of life at Norwich early in this century.
[Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Lipscomb's Buckinghamshire, iii. 587; Notes and Queries, 8th ser. v. 424–5, vi. 11; Athenæum, 29 Sept. 1883, pp. 400–1; Academy, 29 Sept. 1883, p. 214; Annual Reg. 1883, p. 171; Men of the Time, 8th ed.; Times, 7 Feb. 1882, p. 1, 24 Sept. 1883, p. 7; information from Mr. R. F. Scott, St. John's College, Cambridge, and Mr. William Stebbing.]
STEDMAN, CHARLES (1753–1812), military historian, was of a family that claims descent from Andrew Barton [q. v.] According to the Stedman tradition, Andrew Barton left an only son, Charles, who married Susan Stedman of Leith and took his wife's name. His descendants acquired land in Kinross-shire, and supplied many ministers to the kirk. Alexander (1703–1794), the father of the military historian, became an
