Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 02.djvu/115

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Arnald
103
Arne

supposed at one time to be that of 'Kinmont Willie,' may really commemorate 'Christie's Will.' The William Armstrong to whom it refers died in 1658 at the age of 56. The ballad of 'Christie's Will,' published by Sir Walter Scott in 'Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,' is, according to Sir Walter, not to be regarded as of genuine and unmixed antiquity.

[Scott's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.]


ARNALD, RICHARD (1700–1756), a distinguished divine, was born in 1700. He was a native of London, and received his education at Bishop Stortford School, whence; he proceeded in 1714 to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. After graduating B. A., he removed to Emmanuel College, where he was elected to a fellowship on 24 June, 1720, and took the degree of M.A. While resident at Emmanuel he printed two copies of Sapphics on the death of George I, and a sermon (on Col. ii. 8) preached at Bishop Stortford school-feast on 3 Aug. 1726. In 1733 he was presented to the living of Thurcaston in Leicestershire, and was afterwards made prebendary of Lincoln. He published in 1746 a sermon on 2 Kings xiv. 8: 'The Parable of the Cedar and the Thistle exemplified in the great Victory at Culloden;' and in 1760, a 'Sermon on Deuteronomy xxxiii. 8.' The work by which he is remembered is his critical commentary on the Apocryphal books. This learned and judicious work was published as a continuation of Patrick and Lowth's commentaries. It embraces a commentary on the Book of Wisdom, 1744; on Ecclesiasticus, 1748; on Tobit, Judith, Baruch, History of Susannah, and Bel and the Dragon, with dissertations on the two books of Esdras and Maccabees, with a translation of Calmet's treatise on the Dæmon Asmodeus, 1752. An edition was published in 1822 under the care of M. Pitman. Arnald died on 4 Sept. 1756, and was buried in Thurcaston church. His widow died in 1782.

William Arnald, his son, was fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1767, and head-tutor in 1768. He became chaplain to Bishop Hurd in 1775, and precentor of Lichfield Cathedral. By Hurd's influence he was appointed in 1776 preceptor to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, and was made canon of Windsor. In January 1782 signs of insanity appeared, and he continued insane till his death on 5 Aug. 1802. It was, indeed, an unfortunate family. 'One of his brothers,' says Cole, 'was drowned, and his sisters ill married or worse.' By the directions in his will, a sermon that he had preached before the university (in 1781) was published in the year after his death.

[Nichols's Leicestershire, iii. pt. ii. pp. 1059, 1071; History of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 1831, p. 456; Cole's MS. Athenæ.]


ARNALL, WILLIAM (1715?–1741?), political writer, was bred as an attorney, but took to political writing before he was twenty. He was one of the authors in Walpole's pay who replied to the 'Craftsman' and the various attacks of Bolingbroke and Pulteney. He wrote the 'Free Briton' under the signature of Francis Walsingham, and succeeded Concanen in the 'British Journal.' One of his tracts, in which he disputes certain claims of the clergy in regard to tithes, is reprinted in 'The Pillars of Priestcraft and Orthodoxy shaken.' 'A letter to Dr. Codex [Dr. Gibson] on his modest instructions to the Crown,' and 'Opposition no proof of Patriotism,' upon Rundle's appointment to the see of Londonderry, are attributed to him. The report of the committee of inquiry into Walpole's conduct states that in the years 1731-41 a sum of 50,077l. 18s. was paid to the authors of newspapers from the secret service money, and from a schedule appended it seems that Arnall received in four years 10,997'l. 6s. 8d. of this sum. It does not appear whether he received any part of this on behalf of others or for printing expenses. Arnall is also said to have received a pension of 400l. a year. He is said to have died at the age of twenty-six in 1741, though 'other accounts' say 1736. Pope attacked him in the 'Dunciad' (Bk. ii. 315), where his name was substituted for Welsted's in 1735, and in the epilogue to the 'Satires' (Dialogue ii. 129): 'Spirit of Arnall, aid me whilst I lie!'

[Chalmers's Biog. Dict.; Pope's Dunciad; Maty's Miscellaneous Works of Chesterfield, p. 5.]


ARNE, CECILIA (1711–1789), the eldest daughter of Charles Young, organist of All-hallows, Barking, was a pupil of Geminiani. Her first appearance at Drury Lane took place in 1730, and in 1736 she married Dr. Arne. She took the part of Sabrina at the first performance of her husband's setting of 'Comus' at Drury Lane, 4 March 1738, and she also sang at Clieveden 1 Aug. 1740, when 'Alfred' and the 'Judgment of Paris' were produced before the Prince and Princess of Wales. In 1742 Mrs. Arne accompanied her husband to Dublin, where she sang with great success both in operas and concerts. On her return, 'Alfred' was performed for her benefit at Drury Lane, 20 March 1745. In the same year she was engaged at