Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 20.djvu/310

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(the third division of the fourteenth dialogue of the ‘Parallele’), and his reasons why students should study in the morning and not after supper, in the ‘Directions,’ are examples. He enriches his works by quotations from many now forgotten writers. His classical allusions are often happy, and his remarks sound, notwithstanding his euphuistic style.

[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), i. 726; Notes and Queries, 29 July 1866, p. 69; Marvin's Legal Bibliography; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

F. W-t.

FULCHER, GEORGE WILLIAMS (1795–1855), poet and miscellaneous writer, born in 1795, carried on the business of a bookseller, stationer, and printer at Sudbury in Suffolk, where in 1825 he issued the first number of the ‘Sudbury Pocket Book,’ an annual which he continued to publish during his life, and to the pages of which, besides Fulcher himself, Bernard Barton, William and Mary Howitt, James Montgomery, and other less-known writers contributed. A selection from these contributions appeared under the title of ‘Fulcher's Poetical Miscellany’ in 1841, 12mo, reprinted in 1853. Fulcher also started in 1838 a monthly miscellany of prose and verse, entitled ‘Fulcher's Sudbury Journal,’ but this was not continued beyond the year. He made a courageous effort to treat pauperism poetically, publishing ‘The Village Paupers, and other Poems,’ London, 1845. ‘The Village Paupers’ is in the heroic couplet, and betrays in almost every line the influence of Crabbe and of Goldsmith's ‘Deserted Village.’ Of the miscellaneous poems ‘The Dying Child’ is the best. Fulcher also published ‘The Ladies' Memorandum Book and Poetical Miscellany,’ 1852 and following years; ‘The Farmer's Day-book,’ which reached a sixth edition in 1854, and he was engaged on a life of Gainsborough, a Sudbury man, at his death on 19 June 1855. This work, which represents much careful original research, and is written in a terse and scholarly style, was completed by his son, E. S. Fulcher, and published in London in 1856; a second edition appeared the same year. Fulcher was throughout life a diligent student, particularly of Crabbe and Cowper. Boswell's Johnson was also one of his favourite books. He was a practical botanist, and very sensitive to the beauties of nature. He took an active interest in local affairs, being one of the magistrates of the borough of Sudbury, president of the board of guardians, and several times mayor. He gave much to charities. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Gregory, Sudbury, the townspeople closing their shops, and the mayor, corporation, and magistrates of the borough following the bier.

[Gent. Mag. 1855, xliv. 213; Allibone's Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

J. M. R.

FULFORD, FRANCIS, D.D. (1803–1868), bishop of Montreal, second son of Baldwin Fulford of Fulford Magna, Devonshire, by Anna Maria, eldest daughter of William Adams, M.P. for Totnes, was born at Sidmouth 3 June 1803, and baptised at Dunsford, 14 Oct. 1804. He was educated at Tiverton grammar school, whence he matriculated at Oxford from Exeter College 1 Feb. 1821, and was elected a fellow of his college 30 June 1824, but vacated his fellowship 18 Oct. 1830 by marrying Mary, eldest daughter of Andrew Berkeley Drummond of Cadlands, Hampshire. Fulford proceeded B.A. in 1827, and M.A. 1838, and was created an honorary D.D. 6 July 1850. He was ordained a deacon in 1826, and became curate of Holne, Devonshire, afterwards removing to the curacy of Fawley. The Duke of Rutland instituted him to the rectory of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, in 1832, where he resided for ten years, and as a justice of the peace as well as a clergyman commanded respect and conciliated goodwill. In 1842 he accepted the rectory of Croydon, Cambridgeshire, which he held until 1845, when he was nominated by Earl Howe as minister of Curzon Chapel, Mayfair, London. On the projection of the ‘Colonial Church Chronicle and Missionary Journal’ in 1848 he was chosen editor, and in this way acquired a knowledge of the condition of the colonial church. On 19 July 1850 he was gazetted the first bishop of the new diocese of Montreal, Canada, and consecrated in Westminster Abbey on 25 July. He landed at St. John's on 12 Sept. and was enthroned in Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal, on 15 Sept. In the following month he was actively at work, and the church society of the diocese of Montreal was organised. On 20 Jan. 1852 the primary visitation was held, when he won great respect from all parties by his declaration that the church of England in Canada, politically considered, ‘exists but as one of many religious bodies.’ Montreal was next mapped out into ecclesiastical boundaries, and each district thus divided was set apart as the conventional parish of the neighbouring church. The bishop cheerfully co-operated with all the societies that were established for benevolent, scientific, and philanthropic purposes, and wrote papers for, and delivered lectures at, mechanics' institutes and working men's clubs. On 21 May 1857 he laid the foundation-stone