Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 04.djvu/181

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Bell
177
Bellamy

the doctrine of the Roman religion, in nearly all wherein it differs from the protestant, is contrary to truth and the word of God. This manuscript, together with the 'Traité où l'on expose ce que l'Ecriture nous apprend de la Divinité de Jésus-Christ,' also by Dr. Courayer, were bequeathed to Bell by the princess. Soon after the 'Déclaration' was published a translation of the 'Traité' appeared, with an account of Dr. Courayer prefixed. The writer of this anonymous work was the Rev. Dr. John Calder, and with it Bell was not concerned. A strong dislike to being the editor of a controversial work such as the 'Traité où l'on expose,' &c., in which the doctrine concluded upon is very widely different from that adopted by the church of England, was the cause, according to his own written confession, of Bell's not publishing this work immediately. Till 1810 he therefore withheld it from the world, when be published it, thinking it might be 'a highly blameable presumption' to suppress it longer. In the same year Bell, with great munificence, transferred 15,200l. 3 per cent, consols to the university of Cambridge, in trust to found eight new scholarships for the sons or the orphans of clergymen of the church of England, whose circumstances were such as not to enable them to bear the whole expense of sending their sons to the university. The particulars of the benefaction will be found in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' lxxx., ii, 490. It was especially provided that no scholar was ever to be elected from King's College or Trinity Hall. These provisions have been subsequently altered. Bell, in the course of his life, held several parochial benefices besides those already mentioned, but long before his death he had resigned all such preferment. He died at his prebendel house in Little Dean's Yard, Westminster, on 29 Sept., aged 85. Of Bell's posthumous works the sermons have been highly praised. Lowndes says, as a compendium of Christian ethics they deserve a place among the best writers of our language. Bishop Watson recommends them as 'of excellent instruction.'

The full titles of Bell's works, in the order of their publication, are: 1. 'A Dissertation on "What Causes principally contribute to reader a Nation Populous, and what Effect has the Populousness of a Nation on its Trade,"' Cambridge, 1756. 2. 'An Enquiry into the Divine Missions of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, so far as they can be proved from the circumstances of their births and their connection with each other,' London, 1761. 3. A second edition to which are prefixed 'Arguments in proof of the Authenticity of the Narratives of the Births of John and Jesus contained in the two first chapters of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke,' 1810. 4. 'A Defence of Revelation in general and the Gospel in particular; in answer to the objections advanced in a late book entitled "The Morality of the New Testament, digested under various heads," &c., and subscribed, a Rational Christian,' 1765. 5. 'A Sermon preached in Lambeth Chapel at the consecration of Dr. Thomas, Bishop of Rochester,' 1774. 6. 'An Attempt to ascertain and illustrate the Authority, Nature, and Design of the Institution of Christ, commonly called the Communion and the Lord's Supper,' 1780; a second edition, 1781. 7. 'An Enquiry whether any Doctrine relating to the Nature and Effects of the Lord's Supper can be justly founded on the Discourse of our Lord recorded in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John,' 1790. This is a supplement to the preceding 'Attempt,' &c.

[Gent. Mag. lxxxvi. pt. ii. 371; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Lowndes's Bib. Man. i. 150; Watt's Bibl. Brit.]

J. M.

BELLAMONT, viscount (d. 1660). [See Baud, Henry.]

BELLAMONT, Earl of. [See Coote, Richard.]


BELLAMY, DANIEL, the elder (b. 1687), miscellaneous writer, son of Daniel Bellamy, scrivener of the city of London, was born in the parish of St. Martin's, Ironmonger's Lane, on 25 Dec. 1687. He entered Merchant Taylors' School on 12 March 1702, and matriculated as a commoner of St. John's College. Oxford, on 4 March 1706. In consequence of a reverse of fortune he was forced to leave Oxford without taking a degree in 1709, and became a conveyancer's clerk. He was the author of: 1. 'A Translation of the "Muscipula."' 2. 'Thoughts on the Trinity, translated from the French of Lord Morny du Plessis-Marly,' 1721. 3. 'Love Triumphant, or Rival Goddesses; a Pastoral Drama for Schools.' 4. Various dramatic pieces and moral essays, published together as the 'Young Lady's Miscellany,' 1723. 5. 'The Generous Mahometan;' a novel. 6. 'Moral Tales adapted from Fénelon,' 1729. 7. A Latin edition of the Fables of Phædrus, 1734. 8. 'The Christian Schoolmaster,' 1736. He also began a translation of Picart's 'Ceremonies.' In some other works he was associated with his son Daniel [q. v ]

[Robinson's Register of Merchant Taylors' School, ii. 7; Baker's Biographia Dramatica, I. i. 31; Rawlinson MSS., Bodleian Library.]