to its harsher features unnecessary prominence. Indeed, the line of action pursued by the home government was, to some extent, traceable to his unfavourable representations of the original designs and motives of the colonists, and his fatal deficiency in political tact and insight undoubtedly assisted to hasten the war. In addition to this he manifested an unhappy facility for wounding the amour propre of the colonists. On the repeal of the Stamp Act he delivered a speech fitted completely to counteract the loyal sentiments awakened by the concessions. In February 1768 the assembly, not withstanding his most earnest representations, addressed a letter to the assemblies of the other provinces, inviting co-operation against the new duties then despatched to Boston, an greatly excited the population, and gave an enormous impetus to disaffection. The new assembly requested the removal of the king's ships and troops, and, this being refused, declined to transact any business. The conduct of Bernard had, as it undoubtedly deserved, so far as firmness and administrative ability were concerned, meanwhile secured the high approval of the home government, and in April 1769 he was created a baronet as of Nettleham in the county of Lincoln. Notwithstanding this it was deemed advisable to recall him, on the plea of consulting with him personally on the circumstances of the province. He continued nominally governor for two years longer, but he never returned to America. For some time after his arrival in England he resided at Nether Winchendon, which he inherited in 1771 from his cousin-german Jane, widow of William Beresford; but afterwards he took up his residence at Aylesbury. In 1772 he received the degree of D.C.L. from the university of Oxford. He died at Aylesbury 16 June 1779, at the age of sixty-seven, and was interred in the chancel of the church. His portrait, painted by Copley, of Boston, is in the hall of Christ Church. He left six sons and four daughters.
Bernard's 'Case before the Privy Council' was published in 1770; 'Letters to the Ministry,' 1769; 'Letters to the Earl of Hillsborough,' 1769; and 'Select Letters on the Trade and Government of America, and the Principles of Law and Polity applied to the American Colonies,' 2nd edition, 1774. While resident in America he took a special interest in Harvard University, and, when the library was destroyed by fire, exerted himself in the raising of funds on its behalf. He was a good classical scholar, and edited in 1752 'Antonii Alsopi Ædis Christi olim Alumni Odarum libri duo.' Governor Bernard's ' Letter Books' were bought by Dr. Jared Sparks in 1848 for six hundred dollars (Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, 1835-66, p. 384), and by his will were bequeathed to the library of Harvard College (Proceedings, 1867-69, p. 297).
[Scots Mag. xli. 341; Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, ii. 235-7; Lipscombe's History of Buckinghamshire, i. 519-22; Allen's American Biog. Dict. pp. 87-8; the various Histories of the period.]
BERNARD, HERMAN HEDWIG (1785–1857), Hebraist, for many years Hebrew teacher in the university of Cambridge, died on 15 Nov. 1857, aged 72. He was the author of 1. 'The main principles of the Creed and Ethics of the Jews exhibited in selections from the Yad Hachazakah of Maimonides, with a literal English translation, copious illustrations from the Talmud, &c., and a collection of the abbreviations commonly used in Rabbinical writings,' Cambridge, 1832, 8vo. 2. 'The Guide of the Hebrew Student, containing an Epitome of Sacred History,' London, 1839, 8vo. 3. 'Cambridge Free Thoughts and Letters on Bibliolatry,' translated from the German of Lessing, Cambridge, 1862, 8vo, edited by J. Bernard, 4. 'The, Book of Job, as expounded to his Cambridge pupils, edited, with a translation and additional notes, by F. Chance,' London, 1864, 1884, 8vo.
[Gent. Mag. cii. (ii.) 62, cciv. 112; Notes and Queries, 3rd ser., v. 205; Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.]
BERNARD, JOHN (d. 1567?), author, received his education at Queens' College, Cambridge, proceeded B.A. in 1543-4, became Trotter's priest in that college about 1544, and a fellow shortly afterwards, probably in 1545. He commenced M.A. in 1547, and was bursar of his college for the years 1550-1 and 1551-2. At the beginning of Queen Mary's reign he either resigned or was deprived of his fellowship. During the troubles of the protestants he composed 'Oratio pia, religiosa, et solatii plena, de vera animi tranquillitate.' This was found in the author's study, after his premature death, and published at London, 1568, 4to, with a dedication to Peter Osborn, lord-treasurer's remembrancer of the exchequer, by his brother Thomas Bernard, M.A. A
