Webb was appointed by Bishop Jackson of London in 1881 to the prebend of Portpool in St. Paul's Cathedral. From 1881 to his death he was editor of the ‘Church Quarterly Review.’ He died at his house in Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, on 27 Nov. 1885, and was buried in the churchyard of Aldenham in Hertfordshire. A fine monument by Armstead has been placed to his memory in the crypt of St. Paul's.
Webb was throughout his life a consistent high-churchman, although his policy in matters of ritual differed from that of many of his party. He refrained from the adoption of the eucharistic vestments, not from any objection on principle, but, as he stated in his evidence before the royal commission of 1867, on grounds of ‘Christian charity, expediency, and prudence.’ On the other hand, he laid great stress on the ‘eastward position,’ and took an important part in the preparation of the very successful ‘Purchas Remonstrance.’ His refined artistic culture, and his deep conviction that the best of everything should be offered in God's service, prevented him from sharing the prejudice felt by many who otherwise agreed with him against the performance of elaborate modern music in church. He was a good Latin scholar and an accomplished liturgiologist and antiquary. The words of many anthems published by Messrs. Novello, Ewer & Co., and not a few inscriptions, among them those on the windows placed to the memory of Dean Stanley in the chapter-house of Westminster, are from his pen. His discovery, as it may be called, of James Frank Redfern [q. v.], and his encouragement of George Edmund Street [q. v.] in the early stages of his career, should not be forgotten.
He published: 1. ‘Sketches of Continental Ecclesiology,’ 1847. 2. ‘Notes illustrative of the Parish of Sheen’ (a supplement to the ‘Lichfield Diocesan Church Calendar,’ 1859). 3. ‘Instructions and Prayers for Candidates for Confirmation’ (3rd edit. 1882). He contributed numerous articles in the publications of the Cambridge Camden Society (especially on the monogram I.H.S., 1841; on the crypts of London, 1841; on the adaptation of pointed architecture to tropical climates, 1845); and of the Ecclesiological Society, in the ‘Ecclesiologist,’ ‘Christian Remembrancer,’ and ‘Saturday Review.’ He was joint author (with J. M. Neale) of an ‘Essay on Symbolism’ and a translation of Durandus, 1843; editor of Dr. W. H. Mill's ‘Catechetical Lectures,’ 1856, of the second edition of his ‘Mythical Interpretation of the Gospels,’ 1861, and of his ‘Sermons on the Temptation,’ 1873; joint editor of Montague's ‘Articles of Inquiry,’ 1841, of Frank's ‘Sermons’ in the ‘Anglo-Catholic Library,’ and (with W. Cooke) of the ‘Hymnary,’ 1870–2; and one of the editors of ‘Hierurgia Anglicana,’ 1848, the ‘Hymnal Noted,’ 1852, and the Burntisland reprint of the ‘Sarum Missal,’ 1861–83. There is a portrait in oils by E. U. Eddis, A.R.A., in the possession of his widow.
[Private information; obituary notice by A. J. B.-H. in the Guardian, 2 Dec. 1885; Gardner's Admission Registers of St. Paul's School, p. 277. See also an article on Webb in Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology, which gives list of hymns composed by him.]
WEBB, DANIEL (1719?–1798), author, born at Maidstown, co. Limerick, in 1718 or 1719, was the eldest son of Daniel Webb of Maidstown Castle, by his wife Dorothea, daughter and heiress of M. Leake of Castle Leake, co. Tipperary. He matriculated from New College, Oxford, on 13 June 1735. In later life he resided chiefly in Bath. He wrote several theoretical works on art, which had considerable vogue for a time. He died, without issue, on 2 Aug. 1798. He was twice married: first, to Jane Lloyd; and, secondly, to Elizabeth Creed. He was the author of: 1. ‘An Inquiry into the Beauties of Painting,’ London, 1760, 8vo; 4th edit. 1777; Italian translation by Maria Quarin Stampalia, Venice, 1791, 8vo. 2. ‘Remarks on the Beauties of Poetry,’ London, 1762, 8vo; new edit. Dublin, 1764, 12mo. 3. ‘Observations on the Correspondence between Poetry and Music,’ London, 1769, 8vo; German translation by J. J. Eochenburg, Leipzig, 1771, 8vo. 4. ‘Literary Amusements in Verse and Prose,’ London, 1787, 8vo. 5. ‘Some Reasons for thinking the Greek Language was borrowed from the Chinese: in Notes on the “Grammatica Sinica” of Mons. Fourmont,’ London, 1787, 8vo. These five works were republished in one volume in 1802 by Thomas Winstanley [q. v.] under the title of ‘Miscellanies,’ London, 4to. Webb also edited ‘Selections from “Les Recherches Philosophiques sur les Américains” of Mr. Pauw,’ Bath, 1789, 8vo; new edit. with additions, Rochdale, 1806, 8vo.
[Gent. Mag. 1798, ii. 725, 807; Burke's Landed Gentry, 1898, Ireland; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.; Reuss's Reg. of Living Authors, 1770–90, 1790–1803; Ann. Reg. 1760 ii. 249, 1762 ii. 247, 1766 ii. 225.]
WEBB, FRANCIS (1735–1815), miscellaneous writer, born at Taunton on 18 Sept. 1735, was the third son of John Webb of Taunton, by his wife Mary, daughter and coheiress of William Sweet of the same town.
