(For the controversy to which it refers see under Atkyns, Richard; see also Nichols, Anecd. iii. 171–7.)
- ‘The History of the Life of M. Tullius Cicero,’ 2 vols. 4to, 1741; 4th edition in 1750.
- ‘The Epistles of M. T. Cicero to M. Brutus and of Brutus to Cicero …,’ the Latin with English translation, and a prefatory dissertation in defence of the authenticity of the epistles, 1743. This was in reply to James Tunstall, who had attacked the use of the epistles in the ‘Life.’ Middleton's opinion was attacked by Markland and others (see Nichols, Anecd. v. 412–14, note). The opinion of modern critics seems to be generally against him.
- ‘Germana quædam Antiquitatis eruditæ Monumenta …,’ 1745 (account of the antiquities bought by him in Rome); with an engraving of Middleton by J. Mynde.
- ‘A Treatise on the Roman Senate,’ 1747.
- ‘An Introductory Discourse to a larger Work … concerning the Miraculous Powers which are supposed to have subsisted in the Christian Church from the earliest ages … with a Postscript … on an Archidiaconal Charge … by the Rev. Dr. Chapman …,’ 1747.
- ‘Remarks on two Pamphlets’ (against the last), 1748.
- ‘A Free Inquiry into the Miraculous Powers,’ &c., 1749.
- ‘An Examination of the Lord Bishop of London's Discourses concerning the Use and Intent of Prophecy, with … a further Inquiry into the Mosaic account of the Fall,’ 1750.
- ‘A Vindication of the Free Inquiry … from the Objections of Dr. Dodwell and Mr. Church’ (posthumous), 1751.
Middleton's ‘Miscellaneous Works’ were published in 4 vols. 4to in 1752, and in 5 vols. 8vo in 1755. They include all the above except ‘The Life of Cicero,’ ‘Germana Antiquitatis Monumenta,’ and the first four pamphlets against Bentley, which are in the quarto but omitted in the octavo edition; and the following, published for the first time:
- ‘Preface to an intended Answer to all the Objections made against the Free Inquiry.’
- ‘Cursory Reflections on the Dispute … between St. Peter and St. Paul.’
- ‘Reflections on the Variations … among the four Evangelists …’
- ‘An Essay on the Gift of Tongues …’
- ‘Some short Remarks on a Story … concerning St. John … and Cerinthus …’
- ‘An Essay on the Allegorical and Literal Interpretation of the Creation and Fall of Man.’
- ‘De Latinarum Literarum Pronunciatione Dissertatio.’
- A few letters to Warburton and others. Further letters to Warburton in Addit. MS. 32457.
In Nichols's ‘Anecdotes,’ v. 521, a list is given of some other manuscripts of little importance left at his death.
[Biog. Brit.; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. v. 405–23 and elsewhere; a few notices are in Nichols's Illustrations; Monk's Life of Bentley, 1833, i. 253, 287, 373–4, ii. 31, 44, 49, 69–73, 91–6, 130–5, 142, 149–54, 199–202, 209–10 (Monk had before him Middleton's correspondence with Colbatch); Watson's Warburton, 1863, pp. 63, 132–5, 141–2, 258–62, 369–73; Addit. MSS. 32457 (Middleton's miscellaneous correspondence), 32458 (correspondence with Lord Hervey); Notes and Queries, 8th ser. v. 285. Some fragments of earlier letters to Hervey are given in this, and were, it is said, circulated ‘all over the nation.’ Another copy is in Addit. MS. 5826, f. 21 (Cole's Collection; see also quotations in Nichols's Anecdotes as above); Addit. MS. 32459 (fragments and rough drafts of writings); Cole's Athenæ Cantabr. Addit. MS. 5833, ff. 229–34.]
MIDDLETON, DAVID (d. 1615), merchant and sea-captain, younger brother of John and Sir Henry Middleton [q. v.], was in 1601 joint commander of a voyage to the West Indies (Purchas, iv. 1246). In 1604 he went to the East Indies with his brother Henry, as second captain of the Red Dragon, and is mentioned as having conducted the negotiations with the native kings of Ternate and Tidore. He returned with Henry in May 1606, and on 12 March 1606–7 sailed from Tilbury as captain of the Consent, one of the ships of the third voyage under William Keeling [q. v.] He had with him as master John Davis [q. v.] of Limehouse. The Consent lost sight of her consorts in the Channel, and, as no rendezvous had been given, went on by herself to the Cape of Good Hope. She anchored in Table Bay on 16 July, with her men in good health. Middleton reluctantly proceeded without Keeling, and after touching in St. Augustine's Bay, arrived on 14 Nov. at Bantam, whence after refitting he sailed for the Moluccas. He found the Spaniards personally friendly, but having a monopoly of the commerce; and it was not till March 1607–8 that he could obtain any open permission to trade. He managed, however, to do business privately, and when the permission was withdrawn, within a few days of its being granted, he went to Bangay, and afterwards to Button, where he was well received by the king, and obtained a full cargo of cloves. By 22 May he was back at Bantam, and sailed for England on 15 July.
The voyage, though irregular, had been both speedy and profitable. Middleton was recognised as a capable and fortunate commander, and was at once sent out again in a larger ship, the Expedition, in which he sailed from the Downs on 24 April 1609, Davis being again his master. Again he reached the Cape of Good Hope with his men
