COLLIN HARLEVILLE, Jean François, a dramatic writer, born at Maintenon in 1755. Intended originally for the legal profession, his inclination for the drama proved too strong for the dry study of law. The "Vieux Celibataire," played in 1792, is esteemed the most successful of his thirteen comedies. He died in 1806.—J. F. C.
COLLINGS, John, a learned nonconformist divine, was born in 1623, and educated at Emmanuel college, Cambridge. He was forty years minister of Norwich —a portion of that time he held the living of St. Stephens, from which he was ejected in 1662. He was one of the commissioners at the Savoy conference, and was highly esteemed for his learning and piety. He was the author of many works on controversial and practical theology, the best of which is his "Weaver's Pocket-Book, or Weaving Spiritualized," 8vo, 1675. A considerable portion of Poole's Annotations on the Bible was written by Collings. He died in 1690.—J. T.
COLLINGWOOD, Cuthbert, first Lord Collingwood, a famous British admiral, was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the 26th of September, 1750, of an ancient family, but of slender patrimony. He went to sea when only eleven years of age, under the protection of his uncle. Captain afterwards Admiral Brathwaite; was made a lieutenant by Admiral Graves in 1774; five years later was appointed commander of the Badger, and shortly afterwards post-captain of the Hinchinbroke. In 1780 he was sent under Nelson, his early and intimate friend, to the Spanish main; and when Nelson received promotion, succeeded him in the command, as he did repeatedly on other similar occasions. He served again with Nelson in the West Indies in 1783-86. In 1793 he was appointed captain of the Prince, the flagship of Rear-Admiral Bowyer. He was present in the Barfleur at the great naval battle of 1st June, 1794, under Howe; and in the Excellent in the battle off Cape St. Vincent on the 14th of February, 1797, under Jervis. On both occasions he distinguished himself so much by his judgment and bravery, that his efforts were the theme of universal admiration throughout the fleet. He was raised to the rank of vice-admiral in 1799, and was actively employed in the Mediterranean until the peace of Amiens. On the recommencement of hostilities with France in 1803, Collingwood was recalled to active service, and never again was permitted to return to his happy home. He was made vice-admiral of the blue in 1804; was commissioned to watch the French fleet off Brest, and spent nearly two years in performing that task with unwearied vigilance. In 1805 he was appointed to the command of a squadron, with orders to pursue the combined fleets of France and Spain, which had sailed from Toulon, and fell in with them as they were returning to Cadiz, but, having only three vessels with him, was not strong enough to give them battle. They were at last compelled to quit Cadiz, however, and the battle of Trafalgar followed, in which Collingwood led one of the two lines of the British fleet, and his vessel, the Royal Sovereign, was the first engaged. "See," said Nelson, as this swift-sailing ship penetrated the centre of the enemy's line, "see how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship into action." The glorious result of the battle was in no small degree owing to the consummate skill and valour of Collingwood, and on the death of Nelson he assumed the supreme command of the fleet. He was rewarded for his services by the thanks of both houses of parliament, together with a peerage, find a pension of two thousand pounds a year. In spite of his declining health, Collingwood continued at his post as commander of the Mediterranean fleet, and rendered many important, political as well as professional, services to Great Britain and her allies. For nearly three years he hardly ever set foot on shore. He repeatedly requested to be relieved of his command, but was compelled to remain, by the ungenerous refusal of the government to relieve him, and their urgent representations that his services could not be dispensed with by his country. Completely worn out, he died at his post, on board the Ville de Paris, off Port Mahon, on the 7th of March, 1810.
The selections from the public and private correspondence of Lord Collingwood, published in 2 vols. 8vo, in 1828, exhibit a most beautiful picture of his private character and domestic life, as well as of his public career. His letters, especially those addressed to his wife, are among the best specimens of letter-writing to be found in the English language.—J. T.
COLLINS, Anthony, a noted controversialist and sceptic, was born at Horton, near Hounslow, Middlesex, June, 1676. After preparatory study at Eton he entered King's college, Cambridge, his tutor being Francis Hare, afterwards bishop of Chichester, and on leaving the university he became a student at the Temple. But he soon relinquished legal pursuit's, and, possessing an estate of considerable value, he married the daughter of Sir Francis Child, lord-mayor of London. He seems at this period to have been on terms of intimacy with Locke, who bequeathed to him some property, and seems to have held him in high esteem. In 1707 Collins published an "Essay concerning the use of reason in propositions the evidence of which rests upon testimony." In this treatise, amidst much sound thinking, there are hints and observations, especially on Gastrell's book on the Trinity, the covert design of which became more and more apparent in subsequent years. During this year, also, he threw himself into the controversy between Clarke and Dodwell, about the immateriality and immortality of the soul, issued no less than five tracts in support of the theory of Dodwell, and denied that the human soul is in itself naturally an undying principle. Dean Swift, in the twelfth chapter of Martinus Scriblerus, has covered Collins' arguments with inimitable ridicule. In 1709 he published "Priestcraft in Perfection, or a detection of the fraud of inserting and continuing that clause—'The church hath power to decree rites and ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith'—in the twentieth article." Collins maintained that the clause was spurious, as it did not form a portion of the articles established by parliament in the 13th of Elizabeth, or ratified by the convocations of 1562 and 1571. The result was a sharp controversy, with shoals of pamphlets. In 1710 he published a "Vindication of the Divine Attributes," in reply to a sermon by Dr. King, the archbishop of Dublin, On divine predestination and foreknowledge. In 1713 he gave out to the world his notorious "Discourse on Free-thinking." The book is ingenious, but dishonest. It takes for granted that those who support revealed religion must be enemies of free inquiry, and the clergy, as being professionally on the side of scripture, are perpetually assailed with invective and ridicule. Nay, it is maintained that scripture has been falsified through pious fraud, and he lays special stress on a story connected with the Emperor Anastasius. He fetches several objections from the various readings which belong to the New Testament, and which, through the publication of Mill's edition, were then attracting some attention. Dr. Bentley, under the signature of "Phileleutherus Lipsiensis," entered the field, and disposed of this literary objection in a masterly style, pointing out the author's blunders, misrepresentations, and artifices, and showing, among other things, by some striking comparisons, that the text of no ancient author is in so satisfactory a state as that of the New Testament. Wharton, Hare, and Hoadley also replied to Collins. After this controversy Collins visited Holland, and on his return was made a justice of the peace and deputy-lieutenant in the county of Essex, where he resided. But his busy brain was ever at work, and in 1715 he published "A Philosophical Inquiry concerning Human Liberty," which was reprinted in 1717. Dr. Clarke replied to it, dwelling more upon what he reckoned the moral consequences of the necessitarian theory so held and argued, than upon its metaphysical nature and grounds. Unfatigued by constant application, and undaunted by so many assaults, he published in 1724 "Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion," in two parts. This book created an immediate and deep sensation, and in two years drew forth no less than thirty-five replies. In defence, Collins published in 1727 "The Scheme of Literal Prophecy Considered," and in it he attacks the antiquity and canonical authority of the book of Daniel. Collins was a man of shrewd mind, throwing off his immature thoughts too rapidly, and seeming to have pleasure in the mere sensation which his books created. He had no conscience in making quotations, but would freely alter, transpose, or gloss, so as to serve his purpose. A second trip to Holland was occasioned by some alarm as to his personal safety, some of his antagonists having, in the spirit of the age, hinted at a civil penalty. His character is said to have been marked by generosity and equity, and he ably discharged his functions as a magistrate. After some months of declining health, he died in London in 1729, saying with his latest breath that he "endeavoured, to the best of his abilities, to serve God, his king, and his country."—J. E.
COLLINS, Arthur, an eminent antiquary, author of a "Peerage of England," 1708—which has gone through many
