Memoirs of Bernard Gilpin, Parson of Houghton-le-Spring, and Apostle of
the North. By the Rev. C. S. Collingwood. (Simpkin, Marshall, and (io.)—The necessity for a fresh biography of Bernard Gilpin is not evident, and Mr. Collingwood fails to make out his case for re-treading the old ground. He acknowledges that in the quaint pages of Bishop Carlton, a book that has passed through several editions, we have a life-like portrait ; he admits, too, that the life by Prebendary Gilpin is thoroughly trustworthy, and written "in the easy pleasant style of which the writer was master ;" be reminds De that Edward Irving found this volume so satisfactory that, instead of writing a fresh biography, as he had at one time thought of doing, he concluded that "nothing more existed in any quarter," and was con- tent to reprint the work with a preface of his own. This is not all. John Wesley published an abridgment of Gilpin's life, of which Mr. Collingwood writes as follows :—" For completeness and clearness of detail, and for purity and elegance of language, this abridgment is worthy of all praise, and as an epitome of the story of the Rector of Houghton nothing better could be desired." Why, then, write another life ? Mr. Colliogwood asks ; and his answer is, that most of the books referred to are not easily attainable, that the present season of his tercentenary is a proper one for recalling Gilpin's memory, and that possibly his narrative has thrown "some little new light" upon Gilpin's work. Mr. Collingwood, it will be seen, is at once honest and modest in the estimate formed of his predecessors' and of his own labour. The book shows marks of careful and intelligent research ; there is every indication that the facts contained in it are marshalled with accuracy, and the writer's opinions are free from narrowness. This is, however, all that can be said in its favour. Charm of style is wholly wanting ; and we miss the art which enables a skilful biographer to bring us, as it were, into the living preeence of his hero. A new biography of a distinguished man should have some claim to supersede or supplement its predecessors. Readers who wish to know, as he deserves to be known, one of the finest moral characters of the sixteenth century must, however, still go for informa- tion to the pages of Bishop Carlton and of Prebendary Gilpin.
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