BERKELEY

Db. Geoboe, Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland, celebrated for his ideal theory. He maintains that the belief in the existence of an exterior material world is false and inconsistent with itself; that those things which are called senaible material objects are not external but exist in the mind, and are merely impre ions made on our minds by th^ immediate act of Grod, according to certain rules termed latos of naturCf from which he never deviates; and that the steady adherence of the Supreme Spirit to these rules is what constitutes the reality of things to his creatures; and so effectually distinguishes the ideas perceived by sense from such as are the work of the mind itself or of dreams, that there is no more danger of confounding them together on this hypothesis than on that of the existence of matter. He was bom at Kilcrin, Ireland, in 1684; became fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1707; travelled in Italy as far as Leghorn in 1713 and 1714, and at a later period accompanied Mr. Ashe, son of the Bishop of Clogher, on a tour through Italy, Sicily, and France. In 1721 he was appointed chaplain to the Lord -lieutenant of Ireland, the Duke of Grafton. He appeared with much applause as an author before he was twenty years old. His works on philosophy and mathematics (among which his Theory of Yision, published in 1709, is tiie most brilliant proof of the author's acutene ) procured him a widespread fame. By a legacy of Mrs. Yanhomrigh, the celebrated Yane a, who has become so generally known through her love to Swift, his fortune was considerably increased. In 1724 he was promoted to the deanery of Derry and resigned his fellowship. He now published his Proposals for the Conversion of the American Savages to Christianity by the Establishment of a College in the Bermuda Islands. The project was very favourably received, and persons of the first razuc raised considerable sums by subscription to aid it; and Berkeley having resigned his preferment set sail for Khode I^and, with several other persons of similar views, to make arrangements for carrying on his college. The a istance of Parliament, wMch had been promised, not being afforded, his undertaking miscarried, after he had spent seven years and a considerable part of his fortune in his efforts to accomplish it. He afterward wrote numerous philosophical, religious, and politico-economical works. Towards his sixtieth year he was attacked by a nervous colic, which he attempted to cure by the use of tar-water, whereby he was induced to publish two treatises on the utility of this water. He died suddenly at Oxford in 1753. Berkeley is said to have been acquainted with almost all branches of human knowledge. His character commanded the respect and love of all who knew him. Pope, hia constant friend, describes him as po e ed of 'every virtue under heaven.* His most celebrated philosophical works are — a Treatise on the Principles of Human Knowledge (London, 1710); Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous (London, 1713); Aidphron, or the Minute Philosopher (London, 1732). His works appeared in London, 1784, two vols. 4to, preceded by a biography written by Arbuthnot. A new edition of his works, in three vols. 8vo, by Profe or Eraser of Edinburgh, was published in 1871, together with his life and Letters in one voL BERKENHOUT, John, a Dutch-English physician and general writer, bom at Leeds about 1780. Having entered the Pru ian service, he rose to the rank of captain. In 1756 he quited that service and entered iuto that of England, where he obtained same rank. At the peace in 1760 he went to burgh and began the study of physic; while there published his Clavis Anglica Linguse Botanicse, book of great merit; in 1765 he went to and took his d^ree of M.D. On his return land he settled at Isle worth, in Middle sex, and after published his Pharmacopoeia Medici, pa ed through three editions. In 1778 he attended the British commi ioners to Americl^ and at delphia he was committed to prison, but afterwards was set at liberty, and returned with oom mi ioners to England, where he obtained sion. He died in 1791, aged sixty. Dr. hout was an industrious writer, and his publications po e considerable meri0 BERKHAMPSTEAD, Great, a town and in England, Hertfordshire. The town is beautifully situated in a hollow, surrounded by hillii, main road leading from London to Aylesbury; side of the Bulboum Stream, and the Grand tion Canal; on the line of the London and Western Railway; 26 miles n.w. of London. consists almost wholly of one main street, and fine old church, several Di enting chapels, and schools and charitable a ociations. Straw-plaiting is largely carried on, and all the army tent made here. Pop. in 1871, 4083. 169