Page:Our Hymns.djvu/203

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THEIK AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 183

when it was under the care of Dr. Doddridge ; but he turned aside from the orthodox doctrine to the school of his friend Dr. Lardner.

After exercising his ministry for a few years at Boston, Lincoln shire, whither he went in 1746, and at Dorking, Surrey, from 1751-53, he undertook his life-work in London, in 1753, as pastor of a congregation of Presbyterian dissenters, who met in Prince s Street, Westminster. In this position he continued till his death, which took place on the 8th of October, 1795.

In 17G3, Dr. Kippis became classical and philological tutor in Coward s Academy, an office he held till 1784, when his diver gence of doctrine rendered it desirable that he should retire from his position. He was a man of great and varied learning. In 1771 he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and in the following year a Fellow of the Royal Society. His degree of D.D., was from the University of Edinburgh.

Dr. Kippis was a most productive author. He was a principal contributor to the " Monthly Review," the leading periodical of that day. He also assisted in "The New Annual Register." He published a volume of sermons and several pamphlets, also " The ethical and theological lectures of Dr. Doddridge," in two volumes, with valuable notes; and the " Collected edition of the works of Dr. Lardner, with a life," 1788; also "A Vindication of the Protestant Dissenting Ministry in their application to Parlia ment, 1773."

But his greatest work as an author was the assistance he rendered in the production of the second edition of the "Biographia Britannica." (1777 1793), our first national biogra phical dictionary. Unfortunately this edition was not carried farther than the letter F. But this portion consisted of five folio volumes, and contained several lives by Kippis, and especially that of Captain Cook, which was also published separately.

Dr. Kippis also published a " Collection of Psalms and Hymns," 1795. He wrote a few himself.

" With grateful hearts, with joyful tongues." No. 997.

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