Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 11.djvu/342

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Colleton
336
Colley


coming to England in 1623 and erecting a chapter, Colleton was constituted dean of the English clergy and also the bishop's vicar-general. As he could not thoroughly discharge the duties of those offices in consequence of his great age and declining health, George Fisher, alias Musket, archdeacon of Surrey and Middlesex, was appointed his coadjutor by letters bearing date 10 Feb. 1625-6, and signed by the bishop of Chalcedon.

On 22 Nov. 1624 he wrote to Pope Urban VIII, praying his holiness that a dispensation for the marriage of Prince Charles with Henrietta Maria, sister of the most christian king, might be issued as speedily as possible, inasmuch as complete ruin would impend over the afflicted church in this country if the negotiations for the marriage were broken off. He adds that the puritans were bitterly opposed to the match, and concludes by urging the pontiff to obtain the best possible conditions for the English catholics with a guarantee for their fulfilment (Addit. MS. 24204, f. 25). In a letter to Colleton on 24 Dec. the pope announces that the negotiations for the marriage have been concluded, and expresses a hope that, as a consequence, the catholics who were languishing in prison will be released (ib. 15389, f. 60). Colleton spent the latter part of his life in the house of Mr. Roper at Eltham in Kent, where he died on 19 Oct. 1635, aged 87. Dodd says that his candid behaviour and long experience in affairs had gained him great esteem, not only among his brethren, but also with the moderate party in the church of England. Even James I depended very much upon his sincerity in matters relating to catholics.

His works are : 1. 'A Ivst Defence of the Slandered Priestes: "Wherein the reasons of their bearing off to receiue Maister Blackwell to their Superiour before the arriuall of his Holines Breue are layed downe . . . Newly imprinted 1602,' 4to, sine loco. 2. A supplication to the king of Great Britain for a toleration of the catholic religion. 3. Epistle to Pope Paul V.

[Addit. MS. 22052, f. 30; Bayley's Tower of London (1830), p. 164; Brady's Episcopal Succession, iii. 76; Dodd's Church Hist. ii. 507, iii. 83, and Tierney's edit. vol. iii. Append, pp. cxxxiii, cxliv, cxlv; Diaries of the English College, Douay, pp. 6, 7, 13, 25, 100, 105, 108, 181, 204, 206; Flanagan's Hist, of the Church in England, ii. 209, 290, 308; Gillow's Bibl. Dict. i. 538; Oliver's Catholic Religion in Cornwall, p. 266; Panzani's Memoirs, pp. 53, 59, 72, 92, 104; Sergeant's Account of the Chapter erected by the Bishop of Chalcedon (1853); Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), ii. 696.]

T. C.

COLLEY, Sir GEORGE POMEROY (1835–1881), major-general, governor of Natal, was third and youngest son of the Hon. George Francis Colley of Ferney, co. Dublin (who took that name instead of his patronymic Pomeroy), by his wife, Frances, third daughter of Thomas Trench, dean of Kildare, and was grandson of the fourth Viscount Harberton. He was born in November 1835, and educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he was first in general merit and good conduct at the examinations in May 1852, and was appointed at the age of sixteen to an ensigncy without purchase in the 2nd or Queen's foot. After two years' service with the depot, he was promoted to a lieutenancy without purchase, and joined the headquarters of his regiment, then on the eastern frontier of Cape Colony. In 1857-8 he held a border magistracy at the Cape, and showed great energy. On one occasion he received notice from the governor, Sir George Grey, of an insurrection which he had already suppressed. He was also employed to execute a survey of the Trans-kei country, a dangerous service in the then disturbed state of Kaffirland. When the Queen's were ordered to China, Colley rejoined his regiment, in which he obtained his company on 12 June 1860, and was present with it at the capture of the Taku forts, the actions of 12-14 Aug. and 18-21 Sept. 1860, and the advance on Pekin. His regiment went home, and he returned for a brief period to the Cape to complete his work there, and then entered the Staff College, Sandhurst. He came out at the head of the list the same year, having passed with great distinction in ten months instead of the ordinary two years. Colley was an accomplished artist in water-colours, and spent much of his leave in sketching tours on Dartmoor, in Normandy, Spain, and other places. His literary attainments were considerable. He was in the habit of rising early, and securing always two hours before breakfast time for some special study. He thus acquired the Russian language, and studied chemistry, political economy, and other subjects not directly connected with his profession. In recognition of his services he was promoted to a brevet-majority on 6 March 1863. After serving for some years as major of brigade at Plymouth, the headquarters of the western district, he was appointed professor of military administration and law at the Staff College. While there he wrote the article 'Army,' extending over sixty pages, for the ninth edition of the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' He was engaged on this work from June to November 1873. The last portion of the manuscript was sent in a few days before the author, now a